Local bookworm Tori Gellman is back in the new semester with three more books to read if you’re feeling alone, repressed or lovestruck.
If you’re feeling: alone, lost or in denial
“Lily and the Octopus” by Steven Rowley
We all have that special person in our lives. The one we couldn’t imagine living without. For some of us, that person is our pet, just as it is for the main character of Steven Rowley’s first novel, “Lily and the Octopus.” When Ted discovers the eponymous octopus on the top of his elderly, yet still playful dachshund, Lily, he begins an intense examination of his life thus far and the life he will inevitably have to live without his fierce and loyal companion. A beautiful book, equal parts heartbreaking and heart wrenching, “Lily and the Octopus” is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on those who mean the most to us.
If you’re feeling: repressed, different or disconcerted
“The Unraveling of Mercy Louis” by Keija Parssinen
Speaking as someone who grew up in the Galveston area and went to school with a lot of people like Mercy Louis, this book provided a trip down memory lane that made me smile, cringe and think about certain aspects of my adolescence a bit differently. Mercy is the estranged daughter of a woman who she has been told was a junkie whore. Raised by her grandmother in a shack of secrets, lies and prophecies, Mercy finds her only solace in basketball. When basketball leads to information about her mother and feelings for a boy, Mercy’s life becomes more threatened than even her grandmother could have imagined. A twisted mystery of growing up under unique circumstances and having everything you’ve ever known turned upside down, TU faculty Keija Parssinen’s novel is an enthralling ride from start to finish.
If you’re feeling: lovestruck or nostalgic
“Jane Two” by Sean Patrick Flanery
This isn’t necessarily a book about second chances, and it certainly isn’t about a raging case of puppy love, because puppy love is too mundane and cliché of a phrase to describe what Mickey feels for the elusive and captivating Jane. As Mickey’s life unfolds, alongside his Southern grandfather’s one-of-a-kind wisdom, we experience all the pains that go along with adolescence, and the sheer pride and wonder we have when we listen to the ones we so admire. Witty, relatable and absolutely devastating, “Jane Two” is a roller coaster of emotion ending with a firm message of to not live life wondering, What if?
