That's Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger (ARC Review)
Hello Everyone,
I want to tell you about a moment of human kindness that I happened to me a couple of months ago. Something that I haven't experienced in a while from a stranger.
I was YA'll West, in Santa Monica, and in line for an author signing. This was my third year attending, and I was a bit disappointed by how the event was going. Don't get me wrong, I still had a great time, and got to add quite a few signed copies to my collection.
But when I first started going to YA'll West, it was only in it's second year, here on the West coast. It was a two day event, with so much to do, easy to get around, SOOOOOOO many giveaways (which were not the main reason I was there, but a wonderful bonus!), and you could literally just walk up to 80% of the authors without waiting in line, to get your books signed.
This year, my husband and I got there at opening. We went in, the first giveaways had already been given away, before anyone could even get in line. We were turned away from signings, within ten minutes of the signing starting. It got cut down to a one day event, with about three times, if not more, of the amount of people during my first year attending.
When I went this year, my goal was obviously the signings, but I had just heard that Kody Keplinger was going to be there, and that she was releasing a new book this August, which meant there was a really good chance they would be giving away Advanced Copies this year. So I was REALLY hoping to get my hands on one. My first year, in 2016, my husband and I were literally able to walk up to the giveaway table, NO LINE, and they handed me a free copy. This year, within half an hour of the event starting, the giveaway had happened, with no word, just people being there at the right time, and getting their hands on the book. This is not me saying I felt entitled to a free copy, but just trying to give you an idea of how crowded this event has gotten; because my first year everything had been so nicely scheduled out.
Anyway, flash forward to later on in the day. I'm waiting in line for a signing. I start talking to the people in line with me, as you should totally do at book events, because it is really fun! We were talking about our favorite authors and books, and how the event was going for each of us. I ended up mentioning how I was having fun, but I was little bummed that I wasn't able to get a copy of Kody Keplinger's latest book, because I've been such a fan since the beginning, and would have loved to read it over the summer, before my work schedule picked up again in the fall.
That was when the girl next to me, reached into her HUGE crate that she wheeling around, and pulled out THE book! She said, "Do you mean this one?"
"YES! Oh my God, you got so lucky!! She is one of my favorite authors, so I'm sure it will be good!"
Then she did the unthinkable. She reached out with the book in her hand, and said, "Well, here you go, enjoy!"
If she told me her name, earlier in the conversation, I unfortunately don't remember, I really wish I did! I wish I could reach out to her, and tell her, that what she did was the kindest thing that a stranger has done for me in a really long time, and that it meant a lot to me. As some of you may know, I have been having a hard time in the last couple of years, and this just meant so unbelievably much to me.
Anyway, end of story.
I ended up reading That's Not What Happened this week. First book I have picked up all year. And I read it in a week. Something I haven't done in quite a while.
From Goodreads:
My Thoughts:
Like I mentioned above, I had a hard time putting this book down. I know a week for some of you may seem like a good while to read a 300 page book, but for the fact that I have a read a total of like three physical books in the last year, tells you I don't read very often. So reading a book in a week, for me, is incredible right now.
I have read all of Kody Keplinger's book. I have truly enjoyed each one of her books, The DUFF being my favorite.
That Is Not What Happened may now be my absolute favorite by Kody. I'm not sure if this is one I will be able to reread as much as I have The DUFF, but this book really showed growth in Kody's writing and story telling. Her last book, Run, already had been quite a bit different than her original releases, but this really changed the game I feel.
School shootings.
I think we can all agree, a sensitive subject right? The main subject school shootings usually bring up is, gun control. That is what the media focuses on.
Kody decided to take the total opposite stance on this, and focus on the point-of-view of the victims. The ones who actually had to suffer from the tragic event.
This book, I felt, was not a rant on gun control, it was not preachy on political matters. It just wanted to portray the other sides of the stories that the media don't consider, when reporting.
This book is on a really tough subject matter, and as someone have mentioned online, this may be a book that could be a trigger for trauma for some people. So be cautious when considering to read this. However, if you can, I do recommend reading it, because it was a really good read. It was not detailed, in that she talks about the bloody aspect of the shootings, or dead bodies; it was just about people attempting to cope with something that a majority of this world will never truly understand, because it will never happen to them in their lifetime.
I am someone, who doesn't truly understand, I have always known that. I know people who were at the Route 91 shooting last year, some went into semi-detail about happened to them and what they saw, and some just kept quiet. I just remember thinking, "Oh my God, I can't imagine."
With all of the crap going on right now in this country, and the world, I, myself, have struggled with being in crowds. Shootings scare the living crap out of me. It is a legit nightmare of mine...that an being bitten by a snake.
But Kody's book, That's Not What Happened, really made me consider once again, that I will never (hopefully) know how these people, who have through such a tragic event, feel.
I really hope to never know. And that's the scary thought, isn't it? The fact that it COULD happen to anyone, including yourself, me, your friends, family...anyone!
Rating:
Really great read. Highly recommend it. But just remember if this is a subject matter that is troubling for you read about, then be careful when deciding to read That's Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger.
I want to tell you about a moment of human kindness that I happened to me a couple of months ago. Something that I haven't experienced in a while from a stranger.
I was YA'll West, in Santa Monica, and in line for an author signing. This was my third year attending, and I was a bit disappointed by how the event was going. Don't get me wrong, I still had a great time, and got to add quite a few signed copies to my collection.
But when I first started going to YA'll West, it was only in it's second year, here on the West coast. It was a two day event, with so much to do, easy to get around, SOOOOOOO many giveaways (which were not the main reason I was there, but a wonderful bonus!), and you could literally just walk up to 80% of the authors without waiting in line, to get your books signed.
This year, my husband and I got there at opening. We went in, the first giveaways had already been given away, before anyone could even get in line. We were turned away from signings, within ten minutes of the signing starting. It got cut down to a one day event, with about three times, if not more, of the amount of people during my first year attending.
When I went this year, my goal was obviously the signings, but I had just heard that Kody Keplinger was going to be there, and that she was releasing a new book this August, which meant there was a really good chance they would be giving away Advanced Copies this year. So I was REALLY hoping to get my hands on one. My first year, in 2016, my husband and I were literally able to walk up to the giveaway table, NO LINE, and they handed me a free copy. This year, within half an hour of the event starting, the giveaway had happened, with no word, just people being there at the right time, and getting their hands on the book. This is not me saying I felt entitled to a free copy, but just trying to give you an idea of how crowded this event has gotten; because my first year everything had been so nicely scheduled out.
Anyway, flash forward to later on in the day. I'm waiting in line for a signing. I start talking to the people in line with me, as you should totally do at book events, because it is really fun! We were talking about our favorite authors and books, and how the event was going for each of us. I ended up mentioning how I was having fun, but I was little bummed that I wasn't able to get a copy of Kody Keplinger's latest book, because I've been such a fan since the beginning, and would have loved to read it over the summer, before my work schedule picked up again in the fall.
That was when the girl next to me, reached into her HUGE crate that she wheeling around, and pulled out THE book! She said, "Do you mean this one?"
"YES! Oh my God, you got so lucky!! She is one of my favorite authors, so I'm sure it will be good!"
Then she did the unthinkable. She reached out with the book in her hand, and said, "Well, here you go, enjoy!"
If she told me her name, earlier in the conversation, I unfortunately don't remember, I really wish I did! I wish I could reach out to her, and tell her, that what she did was the kindest thing that a stranger has done for me in a really long time, and that it meant a lot to me. As some of you may know, I have been having a hard time in the last couple of years, and this just meant so unbelievably much to me.
Anyway, end of story.
I ended up reading That's Not What Happened this week. First book I have picked up all year. And I read it in a week. Something I haven't done in quite a while.
From Goodreads:
It's been three years since the Virgil County High School Massacre. Three years since my best friend, Sarah, was killed in a bathroom stall during the mass shooting. Everyone knows Sarah's story -- that she died proclaiming her faith.
But it's not true.
I know because I was with her when she died. I didn't say anything then, and people got hurt because of it. Now Sarah's parents are publishing a book about her, so this might be my last chance to set the record straight... but I'm not the only survivor with a story to tell about what did --- and didn't -- happen that day.
Except Sarah's martyrdom is important to a lot of people, people who don't take kindly to what I'm trying to do. And the more I learn, the less certain I am about what's right. I don't know what will be worse: the guilt of staying silent or the consequences of speaking up...
My Thoughts:
***Disclaimer: I did receive an ARC of this, so there may be changes to actual release copy on August 28th, 2018***
Like I mentioned above, I had a hard time putting this book down. I know a week for some of you may seem like a good while to read a 300 page book, but for the fact that I have a read a total of like three physical books in the last year, tells you I don't read very often. So reading a book in a week, for me, is incredible right now.
I have read all of Kody Keplinger's book. I have truly enjoyed each one of her books, The DUFF being my favorite.
That Is Not What Happened may now be my absolute favorite by Kody. I'm not sure if this is one I will be able to reread as much as I have The DUFF, but this book really showed growth in Kody's writing and story telling. Her last book, Run, already had been quite a bit different than her original releases, but this really changed the game I feel.
School shootings.
I think we can all agree, a sensitive subject right? The main subject school shootings usually bring up is, gun control. That is what the media focuses on.
Kody decided to take the total opposite stance on this, and focus on the point-of-view of the victims. The ones who actually had to suffer from the tragic event.
This book, I felt, was not a rant on gun control, it was not preachy on political matters. It just wanted to portray the other sides of the stories that the media don't consider, when reporting.
This book is on a really tough subject matter, and as someone have mentioned online, this may be a book that could be a trigger for trauma for some people. So be cautious when considering to read this. However, if you can, I do recommend reading it, because it was a really good read. It was not detailed, in that she talks about the bloody aspect of the shootings, or dead bodies; it was just about people attempting to cope with something that a majority of this world will never truly understand, because it will never happen to them in their lifetime.
I am someone, who doesn't truly understand, I have always known that. I know people who were at the Route 91 shooting last year, some went into semi-detail about happened to them and what they saw, and some just kept quiet. I just remember thinking, "Oh my God, I can't imagine."
With all of the crap going on right now in this country, and the world, I, myself, have struggled with being in crowds. Shootings scare the living crap out of me. It is a legit nightmare of mine...that an being bitten by a snake.
But Kody's book, That's Not What Happened, really made me consider once again, that I will never (hopefully) know how these people, who have through such a tragic event, feel.
I really hope to never know. And that's the scary thought, isn't it? The fact that it COULD happen to anyone, including yourself, me, your friends, family...anyone!
Rating:
Really great read. Highly recommend it. But just remember if this is a subject matter that is troubling for you read about, then be careful when deciding to read That's Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger.
The Romance Bookie :)
I didn't know she has a new book out! I'll have to check it out - maybe NetGalley will have it, too.
ReplyDeleteIt was really good! Definitely check it out if you can! I didn't find out about it until right before Ya'll West, because I saw she was there, and checked if she had anything new out. I'm so behind on the new releases!
ReplyDelete