Ten Profound Quotes from "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" by Gabrielle Zevin

"But people - the ordinary, the decent and basically honest - couldn't get through the day without one indispensable bit of programming that allowed you to say one thing and mean, feel, even do, another." - Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

There is nothing better to me as a reader than a book that leaves me with little nuggets of wisdom that I want to share, tattoo on my body, and scribble in a notebook. "Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" by Gabrielle Zevin is packed with insightful quotes and today I'm sharing my top ten from the book. Keep reading to check them out or watch the video below!

14 Book Club Discussion Starting Questions and Answers for "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" by Gabrielle Zevin

Did your book club choose "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" by Gabrielle Kevin to read this month? Then congratulations on the excellent book choice! "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" has a ton of potential as a book club pick! This book covers so many emotional and important issues and there are definitely plenty of easy discussion-starting moments in the novel. Haven't read the book yet and need to catch up quickly? Think of this post as your "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" SparkNotes - I promise, you'll catch up quickly! Keep reading this post for some "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" book club discussion starters as well as how I would answer to help get the conversation started!

Book Club Discussion Starters for 
"Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" by Gabrielle Zevin

1. Some books are easier to describe than others. How would you describe "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" to another potential reader? What would feel like too much info to give away because of spoilers?

I think this one is fairly easy to describe, but a lot happens in the book so it feels like just barely scraping the surface, especially emotionally! A good place to start in "pitching" "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow,  and Tomorrow" to another reader would be explaining the start of the relationship between Sadie and Sam. I think the tug and pull between those two characters and their artistic lives( and day-to-day lives) really sum up the book. But, I think my biggest challenge in describing this book to another reader is how much to emphasize the technology. I know that that could be a huge turnoff and might scare away someone who would really enjoy it. But I also think it is important to be honest that most of the plot is in the tech and gaming world. 

2. How much information about "gaming" and computers do you think is needed to enjoy this book? Were there any moments where that element of the book made it more difficult to follow?

Were I reading this book in a real-life book club, this is honestly one of the questions I would be most interested to hear others answer! I take a lot of my familiarity for granted, and I had also totally forgotten that I learned BASIC in middle school, one of the computer languages used in the novel. It's easy for me to say, oh you don't need much - but for another reader, the gap could be much larger. Reading through those technology and computer science heavy scenes wouldn't necessarily be "too complicated" but they could definitely feel like boring drudgery. And I get it - personally, I can't stand novels with lots of geography/ maps, elaborate fight or car chase scenes, really anything with complicated moving parts or directions. I either skip over them or completely make up the scene with my best effort because I am severally directionally challenged.

3. Did you feel a sense of nostalgia for  any of the "old tech" references when the timeline for the book was set in the 1990s?

Oregon Trail! What a super fun throwback. And also so interesting to see it influence one of their created games as well. I remember spending hours playing that in late elementary and middle school. There were also mentions of the first Harvest Moon and Sims games which were super nostalgic for me as well!

4. Do you have a favorite quote from "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" that you kept?

SO many! In fact, I made a YouTube video and a blog post with all of my favorites. Check out the video below or the image below for the post!

5. "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" has been picked up as a potential future film! What actors do you think would be best to fill the main roles? Do you think that the book will translate well to film?

I wish I was good at these questions, but alas, I'm not - they do make really fun discussions for book clubs though! I think one of the casting elements that would be essential is making sure that the nationalities of the characters are accurate - important in its own right but also something that is discussed in the book, being half Chinese, being Japanese, etc. I tried to find Chinese American actors for Sam's part and definitely came up short just through my own lack of exposure. Also, casting for the main character parts would be difficult because the characters know each other from middle school onwards so multiple Sam and Sadie actors would be needed. 

6. Some readers hesitate before reading a book this long. Did you feel like "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" was too long or just right? What parts would you have removed/ made shorter if needed?

I primarily read loaned library books on my Kindle, so I had no idea going into "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" that it would be so long! I know the length is definitely on many readers' minds. One of the book clubs I have been in asked that book suggestions not be longer than 350 pages. While I enjoyed reading the section of the book where Sadie plays the pioneer game, I can definitely see how that section could be cut. The whole middle of the book moves *very* slowly but that's also when a lot of character development happens so it's hard to say cut it.

7. During the book, we frequently see Sam's actions through Sadie's eyes and vice versa. Did you feel like their versions of the story were accurate or fair to the other character? Who did you side with?

This is one of my absolute favorite writing "tricks" that Gabrielle Kevin used in the book. I constantly felt myself being pulled between Sam and Sadie. I still don't know who I trust when it comes to whether Sam knew that Sadie had previously been in a ( very unhealthy) relationship with Dov. One of my favorite things about Marx's character, and one of the reasons I missed him, was he really gave a fresh and fair perspective to the Sadie Sam squabbles.

8. Did you enjoy reading "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow"? Why or why not? 

I did! It's been a while since I was so sucked into a book but also my absolute favorite things about books are those quotes that stick with you, and this book is FULL of them. I did start to get burned out towards the end of reading it because it is a longer read, but that almost always happens to me because as much as I love reading, I'm not an especially fast reader.

9. Some novels stick with readers for a long time because of a theme or idea in the book. What messages and ideas did you take away from reading "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow"?

I think the way Gabrielle Zevin shows the reader how differently Sam and Sadie experienced the exact same moments in their relationship will definitely stick with me. Not only does every story have a million different ways that it can go, but their struggles are definitely proof that every story has two sides. for example, when Sadie sees that Sam shaved his head she assumes he is trying to make a statement about her relationship with Marx. Later on, the author revisits that moment from Marx and Sam's side and you find that it's actually a far more complex event than just a childish cry for attention. I love that dynamic story complexity as a reader.

10. After reading "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow", who would you recommend this book to? Who would you not recommend the book to?

I would recommend this book to most fiction readers! I definitely think it is one to give a shot even if technology might not be your thing. I read a few comments on Goodreads from other readers who had written off the book because of the technology plot and really loved it. However, I wouldn't recommend it to fans of romance. I just don't think there's enough there, or really any steam, to keep reading it.

11. This novel had several "will they/ won't they" potential romances. Who were you rooting for? Did any take you by surprise?

I was more conflicted than I expected when Marx and Sadie got together. I think that the author could have built that up a little better before their trip to Japan to make it not feel quite so unexpected! I love them together, but that is also a difficult triangle to be a part of, particularly for Sam.

12. Which game that they created did you think would be the most fun to play in real life?

The pioneer role play, an updated version of Oregon Trail, would definitely suck me in!

13. What books, movies, or TV shows does "Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" remind you of? How are they similar or different?

Pretty sure Oregon Trail will always remind me of this book now. There were a couple of other books that I thought of while reading - Sam's precarious health, physical and mental, reminded me of Jude from "A Little Life" and also the behind the scenes rise to fame and fighting reminded me of "Daisy Jones and the Six".

Good luck with your book club discussion! Comment below and let me know what questions helped generate the most conversation. 

Why ( & How) To Get Outside with Kids - Five Things I Learned from "Outdoor Kids in an Inside World" by Steven Rinella

I'm not outdoorsy by nature. For a large chunk of my life I really leaned into the "indoors" aesthetic, and then - then I had kids. Sure, there are a lot of easy excuses and a million ways for me to reason my way out of being outside - I'm allergic to everything definitely being at the top of the list! But over the last seven years of parenting,  I have also been surprised by my strong desire for my kids to be outdoors as often as possible. I love seeing them outside and I can clearly see the value in their time spent there. But in a world that feels set to keep you and your kids engaged inside, how do you overcome this conflict?

In an effort to motivate myself, I recently picked up "Outdoor Kids in an Inside World" by Steven Rinella and I learned a lot. Not only was I inspired by Steven Rinella's attitude and the situations he described in the book, but he also sprinkled lots of nuggets of wisdom that I want to share with you. Keep reading for my top five takeaways after reading “Outdoor Kids in an Inside World”

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Ten Breathtaking Quotes from "Malibu Rising" by Taylor Jenkins Reid

 

"Destruction. And renewal, rising from the ashes. The story of fire... Because just as it is in Malibu's nature to burn, so was it in one particular person's nature to set fire and walk away." - Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

 

TJR does is again, book buddies! I was *so* totally sucked into this novel - the story, the characters, the settting(!!!). And now that I'm done reading, I can not wait for everyone to pick it up this summer.  "Malibu Rising" by Taylor Jenkins Reid is an unputdownable family story that yes, will be the perfect beachy read for the season. But it's also the perfect cuddled under blankets, or on the subway, or with your morning cup of coffee read. Because however you read, I definitely recommend you pick this one up.

More than any book I've read in 2021, this one had quotes that just totally knocked me off my feet. Keep reading this post to see what quotes from "Malibu Rising"by Taylor Jenkins Reid stuck with me long after I finished the last page!

 

 

 

10 Books on my Spring 2021 TBR List

Currently, I am a disorganized reading mess, and I *hate* it. SO - this post is for Top Ten Tuesday, but it is also for me as much as anything because I am a type A organized reader, or at least under the best of circumstances that is how I prefer to read! I love stories and the cozy reading life, sure - but I think part of why I love reading is also the sense of accomplishment from finishing a book - it's addictive and a less talked about perk of reading. And so being organized and having a plan, like a seasonal TBR, keeps me in a good headspace and I definitely get more reading done. So what is my plan? Keep reading to see what I plan to finish this Spring!

 

We Begin at the End 

Chris Whitaker

Pub Date: 3/2/21

Goodreads Ave: 4.33 

 

Everyone is raving about this book and I can not wait to get into it! “We Begin At The End” seems to have something for every kind of reader. It is part murder mystery, part coming of age tale, it’s both character driven and also has an engaging plot! Sign me up. This is truly the kind of book that I always hope to pick up and seeing everyone's glowing reviews about it has me very, very hyped!

 

The Final Revival  

Dawnie Walton

Pub Date: 3/30/21

Goodreads Ave: 4.14

 

Anything compared to "Daisy Jones and the Six" by Taylor Jenkins Reid, definitely catches my eye. I have read many rave reviews about this oral history style afro punk historical fiction novel. This is also a debut work for the author, Dawnie Walton. I love reading debut novels so this definitely at the top of my Spring 2021 reading stack!

Everything is Fine 

Vince Granata 

Pub Date: 4/27/21

Goodreads Ave:  4.69

I just can not get enough non fiction / memoir reads in my life. I was sucked in by the cover for “Everything Is Fine”. After reading the reviews I can not wait to pick it up. It sounds like this is going to be the perfect reading combination of page turning real life story telling coupled with breathtaking writing!

Broken in the Best Possible Way

Jenny Lawson

Pub Date: 4/6/21

Goodreads Ave: 4.39

 

Yay for a new book from Jenny Lawson! But also ugh, I am so disappointed that because this is releasing during a pandemic and that means we wont get to enjoy a book tour because I would definitely be down for that! I absolutely love her genuine and hilarious writing style and it has been too long since I've read a book from her! Check out my thoughts on her last book in my post - Ten Hidden Gems of Non Fiction 

 

Girl One

Sara Flannery Murphy

Pub Date: 6/01//21

Goodreads Ave: 4.07

 

And now we get into the advanced copies I need to tackle before the book’s release! "Girl One" is described as a supernatural thriller, which is a tad bit out of my reading comfort zone, but I'm going to give it a shot. I haven't heard very much about this book yet, but the first chunk of the goodreads summary definitely caught my eye. The main character, Josephine, is the first of nine "miracle babies" that are conceived without male DNA. They are raised on an experimental commune called The Homestead.

 

Mary Jane

Jessica Anya Blau

Pub Date: 5/11//21

Goodreads Ave: 4.22

 

Another “Daisy Jones and the Six” comparison that I am excited to pick up! *And* this one is also being compared to Almost Famous, which is one of my favorite movies. Definitely a winning combo in my opinion. I haven't heard very much about this book yet, but the reviews so far have been really encouraging and I love mixing it up with historical fiction that isn't set too far back in history.

 

Together We Will Go

J Michael Straczynski

Pub Date: 7/06//21

Goodreads Ave: 4.31

 

Do you know what your reading buzzwords are? This book's description had *so many* of mine and it totally got me - endearing, heartfelt, charming, and deeply moving. Just take my money already lol. But really, this book is so up my alley, also that cover (so wonderful!) and I definitely hope that it lives up to the hype that I have created for it in my mind.

Group

Christie Tate

Pub Date: 10/27/20

Goodreads Ave: 3.76

I'm part of a real life, sometimes in person but lately only over zoom, book club in my neighborhood. It has been such an easy and fun way to get out of the house, socialize, but also not have to go too far. And I get the bonus of having an easy icebreaker because talking about books is super easy. Two reads that are on the list for the spring month meet ups are "Group" and "Greenlights".

 

Greenlights

Matthew McConaughey

Pub Date: 10/20/20

Goodreads Ave:4.27

 

I started out listening to "Greenlights" through Audible, but I am definitely going to have to return it and try reading the book instead. Unless I was devoting 100% of my attention to the audio book I had no absolutely idea what Matthew was talking about. It felt like I had one of his car commercials playing in the background. I am sure his memoir will be an interesting read though, and I'm impressed by the good reviews!

The Therapist 

B.A. Paris

Pub Date: 7/13/21

Goodreads Ave: 3.80

 

I've been hooked on B.A. Paris every since reading my first and favorite novel of hers, "Behind Closed Doors". Her twisty thrillers are unputdownable, in my opinion. And while at times her storylines can be a little far fetched, not even the so far less than stellar reviews will stop me from reading this book as soon as I can!

 

And that's what I have planned, reading buddies! Drop a comment down below and let me know your reading plans for this spring. Do we have any books in common? Any books you think I should pick up, too? Or maybe you think having reading plans takes all of the fun out of reading! Let me know how you feel and thanks for reading! ❤

Five Things I Learned About Ebola from "Ebola" by Laurie Garrett

Why read a book about the Ebola virus in this our most awful year that is 2020? *deep shoulder shrug* honestly, I really don't know what I was thinking, *but* this book caught my interest and I'm glad I read it! I learned a lot and gained some perspective and insight into viruses and outbreaks. Perhaps reading a book about a far deadlier and more contagious virus than COVID was sort of refreshing and perspective-shifting? And also, reading about the cleanliness and supply issues faced in Africa during their Ebola epidemics was a much needed dose of gratitude for me, as well. Keep reading this post to learn five things you might not know about Ebola!

Five Unforgettable Quotes from "The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue" by V.E. Schwab

 

I'm absolutely *blown away* by how much I enjoyed "The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue"! I'm not typically a fantasy reader, which is usually Schwab's genre - but this book was a hit for me! Keep reading to see my favorite quotes from this genre-bending, unputdownable, reading slump breaker!

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There are so many things you know you should do as a parent, but sometimes - eh, really, most of the time - there just isn't enough time in the day to get it all done. If like me, you could use some help in this area, keep reading for some inspiration!