Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez

Furia
by Yamile Saied Méndez
narrated by Sol Madariaga

Published: 2020
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Hardback: 368
Rating: 5
YA, Sports, Soccer, South America, Argentina | Goodreads | Website

First sentence(s):
Lies have short legs.

In Rosario, Argentina, Camila Hassan lives a double life.

At home, she is a careful daughter, living within her mother’s narrow expectations, in her rising-soccer-star brother’s shadow, and under the abusive rule of her short-tempered father.

On the field, she is La Furia, a powerhouse of skill and talent. When her team qualifies for the South American tournament, Camila gets the chance to see just how far those talents can take her. In her wildest dreams, she’d get an athletic scholarship to a North American university.

But the path ahead isn’t easy. Her parents don’t know about her passion. They wouldn’t allow a girl to play fútbol—and she needs their permission to go any farther. And the boy she once loved is back in town. Since he left, Diego has become an international star, playing in Italy for the renowned team Juventus. Camila doesn’t have time to be distracted by her feelings for him. Things aren’t the same as when he left: she has her own passions and ambitions now, and La Furia cannot be denied. As her life becomes more complicated, Camila is forced to face her secrets and make her way in a world with no place for the dreams and ambition of a girl like her.

Filled with authentic details and the textures of day-to-day life in Argentina, heart-soaring romance, and breathless action on the pitch, Furia is the story of a girl’s journey to make her life her own.

My two-bits:

Empowering. Loved the passion this protagonist has to motivate towards her dreams and desires. Wonderful "Go Girl!" story.

~*~
* Listened to audiobook version.
* part of Armchair Autumn Travel (here)
* part of Reese's Book Club 2020 (here)

Lovely Books and Things - 9.27.20

Lovely Books and Things
My Weekly Books and Films Update

Linking up with:
Sunday Post (details)
Mailbox Monday (details)

~*~

HAPPY THINGS:

1. Falling into the internet rabbit hole about Book Nooks shelf inserts. Inspired to make one. See samples (here).
2. Exploring colors to select for a crochet project. I have to pick out 10 balls of yarn.
3. Sitting under a steampunk goddess at Patricia's Green in Hayes Valley, San Francisco. This is Tara Mechani by artist Dana Albany which is described as a sculpture of a robot-like female Buddha.

~*~

Library: audiobook

Beach Read
by Emily Henry
Romance | Goodreads

Furia
by Yamile Saied Méndez
YA, Sports, South America | Goodreads

~*~
AND watched: on Netflix

The Last Dance (2020)
TV series
Director: Jason Hehir
Stars: Phil Jackson, Michael Jordan
Documentary, Biography, History | imdb | my rating: 5
Charting the rise of the 1990's Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, one of the most notable dynasties in sports history.

SUCH drive and passion. Wow.

AND watched: on Kanopy

The End of the Tour (2015)
Director: James Ponsoldt
Screenplay: Donald Margulies
Based on book by: David Lipsky
Stars: Joan Cusack, Jason Segel, Jesse Eisenberg
Biography, Drama | imdb | my rating: 5
The story of the five-day interview between Rolling Stone reporter David Lipsky and acclaimed novelist David Foster Wallace, which took place right after the 1996 publication of Wallace's groundbreaking epic novel, 'Infinite Jest.'

POIGNANT, loved this insight on the writer.

~*~
* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently

*** THANKS to those on the front line during these times ***
Shelter In Place - Day 195, Week 29

Stay healthy! Be safe!

Thanks for stopping by :-)

Armchair Autumn Travel

Armchair Autumn Travel
September to December 2020


Starting out my trip with this while sitting in a virtual airport...

The Jetsetters
by Amanda Eyre Ward
Contemporary, Chick-lit | Goodreads | my review
Countries in this story include:
Greece
Malta
Italy
France
Spain

ASIA
NEPAL: The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen - my review

EUROPE
DENMARK: The Tenant by Katrine Engberg - my review
FRANCE: The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel - my review
SWEDEN: Beartown by Fredrik Backman - my review

MIDDLE EAST
Israel: The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd - my review

SOUTH AMERICA
Mexico: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - my review
Argentina: Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez - my review

AFRICA
Ghana: His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie - my review

OCEANIA

NORTH AMERICA
California, Los Angeles: The Bookshop of Yesterdays by Amy Meyerson - my review
California, Los Angeles: The Last Story of Mina Lee by Nancy Jooyun Kim - my review
Virginia: Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby - my review

And when all is said and done with this travel interlude, I will catch a ride on...

The Last Flight
by Julia Clark
Thriller, Mystery | Goodreads | my rating: 4
my two bits: Really engaging with a good pace for a thriller mystery read. I liked how the switcheroo trope played out.

~*~

* header image source: Compartment C Car 293 by Edward Hopper

Reese's Book Club 2020

Reese's Book Club
@ReesesBookClub

2020

JANUARY:

Such A Fun Age
by Kiley Reid
Contemporary | Goodreads | my rating: 5
FEBRUARY:

The Scent Keeper
by Erica Bauermeister
Women's Fiction | Goodreads | my rating: 5
MARCH:

The Jetsetters
by Amanda Eyre Ward
Women's Fiction, Travel | Goodreads | my review | my rating: 4
APRIL:

Untamed
by Glennon Doyle
Memoir, Self-help | Goodreads | my rating: 5
MAY:

The Henna Artist
by Alka Joshi
Historical, India | Goodreads | my rating: 5
JUNE and JULY:

I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
Memoir, Race | Goodreads | my rating: 4

The Guest List by Lucy Foley
Mystery, Thriller | Goodreads | my review | my rating: 5

AUGUST:

Everything Inside
by Edwidge Danticat
Short Stories | Goodreads | my rating: tba

You Should See Me in a Crown
by Leah Johnson
YA, LGBTQ | Goodreads | my rating: tba

SEPTEMBER:

The Last Story of Mina Lee
by Nancy Jooyun Kim
Contemporary, Mystery, Korean | Goodreads | my review | my rating: 4

Furia
by Yamile Saied Méndez
YA, Sports, South America | Goodreads | my review | my rating: 5

OCTOBER:

His Only Wife
by Peace Adzo Medie
Contemporary, Feminism, Western Africa, Ghana | Goodreads | my review | my rating: 4

Fable
by Adrienne Young
YA, Fantasy | Goodreads

NOVEMBER:

Group:
How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life
by Christie Tate
Memoir, Psychology | Goodreads

A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow
by Laura Taylor Namey
YA, Romance, Travel | Goodreads

DECEMBER:

The Chicken Sisters
by K.J. Dell'Antonia
Chick-lit | Goodreads | my rating: tba

The Light In Hidden Places
by Sharon Cameron
YA, Historical, Poland | Goodreads | my rating: tba
~*~
* header image source: reese