It’s always a little nerve-wracking to read the books your friends have written because dear god what if you don’t like it and then you have to pretend that you do but what if you’re not a good liar and they can tell you don’t really like it and then it becomes a Thing and so you try to insist, “No, I really do like it” and the other person says, “It’s okay, it’s totally cool if you don’t like it” and BOTH OF YOU ARE LYING*.
Well. Thank goodness I had an entirely non-awkward experience when I first read the brilliant YA novel All the Pretty Songs by my good friend Sarah McCarry. I sailed right past “Whew, I like this” to “Holy crap this is so insanely good I can’t believe I even KNOW you!!!”
Sarah might have thought I was kidding when I called her the LeBron James of YA. I was not. All the Pretty Songs is absolutely amazing.
If you don’t believe me, ask Neil Gaiman, who tweeted his approval!
(Wait, you trust Neil Gaiman more than me??? I thought we were blog friends!!)
All the Pretty Songs is about two girls who were raised without fathers in the Seattle area. Aurora’s dad was a rock star in the grunge era who committed suicide, and the narrator, her insanely close friend. When a young rocker enters the picture it throws them both for a loop and they engage in activities that are not recommended by the surgeon general but learn a whole lot about themselves and life in the process.
The relationships are memorable and the writing is incredible.
You may know Sarah as the author of the legendary blog The Rejectionist, or for her chapbook series Guillotine, or because she wrote great articles in publications or maybe this is the first you have heard of her but I assure you it won’t be the last.
Please please go check out All Our Pretty Songs, which is available simultaneously in e-book, paperback and hardcover from St. Martin’s Press.
Enjoy, and congratulations, Sarah!!
(*Note: This has never actually happened to me but what if it does. My imagination keeps me up at night)
Will have to check this one out
Nit pick alert = you called the bok All The Pretty Songs in your last but one para.
Looking forward to this.
Book not bok!
*Sigh*
Callie-
Thanks, fixed!
This is why I don't have any friends who are writers. That way, none of my friends ask me to read their books. Also, writers are weird.
Unless my mail has been bouncing, long time no post. Great to read a new post from you, Nathan.
Thanks for the heads up on All Our Pretty Songs by Sarah McCarry – aka The Rejectionist. Really sounds like my beverage. I'll go further with it.
But wait – we are blog friends? 0.0 A response tinged with gentle caution has been the only interaction I can remember. 😉 *g*
wendy-
Oh please we are totally blog friends!!
I worship Sarah's writing. All of it. I think, to be honest, she is one of the coolest people on the planet. Thanks for the notification. I can't wait to read it.
Wow, sounds like an amazing read! I'll need to check this book out!