CBR Bingo – Hold Steady
I don’t know what I thought this book was going to be, but this novel exceeded all of my expectations. Someone who recommended it to me said she could have read 200 more pages and I agree. 300 even. 400! IT WAS SO GOOD. I wanted to follow the characters forever and ever.
Weepy Warning – this book brought me to tears, to be clear, I was full-on sobbing to the point that my husband was concerned about me. This is a book where the characters are REAL and you will feel things. Proceed with caution, but also with your whole heart ready to be impacted.
So then what’s this great book about? Sam and Sadie were fast friends as children, an unlikely pair who met while Sam was undertaking his umpteenth hospital stay after a tragic accident and Sadie was dutifully visiting her sick sister. Drawn together by their mutual love of video games but pulled apart by Sadie’s childhood betrayal, a rift is formed. Years later they reconnect in a chance encounter, both in college, and embark on making their mark on the video game industry. We see them grow into adults together yet distinctly apart as Sam is steadfast in both his commitment to Sadie and his desire to keep her at bay from his disability and perceived inability to connect.
It’s a history of video games and a deep dive into friendship and what it means to build a legacy and follow your dreams. If I lost you at “video games,” know that I’m not a gamer but this book sucked me in: the gaming world is a vivid backdrop to a greater understanding of the vulnerability of humanity. This book is also about what success looks like and also feels like, and the cost it can extract. The writing is lyrical and poetic and did I mention there is an in joke about the game Oregon Trail?! (Squeeee!)
I am often envious of other Cannonballers’ writing styles and narfna absolutely NAILED her review of this one, so imma straight up steal her line, giving credit of course because I literally couldn’t have said it better myself, “If you are a human being, there is a good chance you will love this book, so you should go pick it up right now.”
BOOM goes the mind dynamite. What are you waiting for??