Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Tuesday Talk: The Sea of Tranquility

16151178I received a free copy of The Sea of Tranquility, by Katja Millay, from the publisher, and I just kept putting off reading it.  There was a time I even considering not reading it at all.  Lucky for me, I was in need of something to read and decided to give it a try.  I was not at all sorry.  This is one of the best books I read this year.  Of course, that could mean I read a lot of bad books, or perhaps this really was that good.  You decide.  Now as a disclaimer, the publisher has classified (and priced) this book as an adult romance novel.  I would never in a million years classify it as anything more than young adult/teen.  Yes, there is romance in it.  But let's be honest.  There is hardly a YA novel out there that doesn't have some aspect of romance to the story.  I wouldn't even say this is a love story.  To me it was more a story of friendship, healing, and new beginnings.  The story follows Nastya, a brilliant piano prodigy, full of life and sunshine.  One fateful afternoon, all of that changes, leaving a broken mess of a girl (I don't want to give away the details).  Then, without her family knowing why, she simply stops talking.  Wanting to get away from her family's constant scrutiny (they can't stop looking for the girl she was BEFORE), she moves to a new town to live with her aunt.  A new name, a new life, a new chance at beginning.  Enter Josh Bennett.  He is a loner, by choice.  Everyone around him seems to die.  First his mother and sister, then his father, and finally his grandfather.  He is left all alone and finds solace in woodworking/furniture building.  When Nastya starts showing up, uninvited, at his garage, the two begin to form a bond that may just be the answer to all the unhappiness in their lives.  The question is, can Nastya open up about her mysterious past, or will she let it drown her future?  The characters are wonderful.  The supporting players around them are fantastic (Drew and his family, Clay, etc.).  It draws you in and leaves you wanting more.  I thought it was brilliant.  It simply got under my skin in a way most books don't.  I highly recommend giving it a try.  Happy reading!

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