-Does your sister let you touch her, Gemini?-Barely, but, yes, more than anyone else. I remember even in preschool when the teacher would grab her hand, she’d stare at the spot where their skin connected as if it were an affront to her existence. Just stand there and glare like she wanted to hurt someone. -Junipera suffers from a rare phobia.-Please, what does June not suffer from?-When did she … from?
-When did she start chasing storms?
-In third grade she started obsessing about the rain. Full blown? I’d say after hurricane Katrina she never looked back. And she didn’t just chase them, June became those wild storms.
Junipera and Gemini Jones, Irish twins born during the month of June, survive a childhood of neglect and poverty by looking out for one another. Destined for a group home, the girls are rescued by a rich aunt and uncle who move them from Northern Minnesota to Fairfield, Connecticut. One sister thrives while the other spins out of control. A violent assault leaves Gemini searching for clues, but what she finds might be questions that are better left unanswered.
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”Mother Earth lets us live here but we are insignificant, specks of muffin crumbs on her galaxy-sized bakery floor, and she sweeps us aside when it conveniences her, no matter how much significance we bestow on ourselves.”
I am quite certain that I don’t have the ability to express how deeply this book touched my soul. It was a deep, thoughtful, and soul searching read that demanded I pay attention, ask questions and change myself accordingly. Any story that demands this much is not easy but is more than worth the effort.
All the characters in this book are unique and add purpose and meaning to this story but it was June who absolutely stole the show. She was such a force of nature. The sum of her imperfections created a beauty and light that pulled people in just as much as she pushed them away. Destined to be surrounded by love but always alone.
” “You never knew with June. She herself was like the weather. Temperamental, unpredictable, capable of both destruction and unexpected symbiotic perfection.”
Much like life, this story is served one small piece at a time. The pieces never quite fitting together until you have them all laid out on the table. And only when the final piece is placed, can you stand back and in wonder at its awesome genius. This gift of words from Mara was an absolute pleasure to read and I urge anyone contemplating this book to snatch it up and hold on for the storm. For me, this was a profound and heartfelt read that will have a lasting impact.
4.5 soul food stars
The book reminds me of the movie Insidious. The more you step into the chapters, the deeper it gets. There’s so much depth into the characters and their environment is so dismal that their personalities develop phobias to protect themselves.
Junipera Jones and Gemini are Irish Twin sisters to a junkie , depressed Mother -Anne. She’s on a deliberate suicide mission, withering away into oblivion, leaving the girls to fend for themselves , barely surviving on scraps . Junipera and Gemini find a surprisingly “normal” companion -Alaric . They form a dysfunctional love triad and just string along together
Alaric was connected to Gemini and Junipera in a tenacious bond. Their friendship was a pact. He became the third sibling and alongside them, suffered through their woes. Gem was ripe. June, green and prickly. Alaric was smooth. He was solid and sturdy. He could carry them both. Be it through snow, cold and poverty, or even death if it came to that.They were a three-person link. He felt plugged in, like the energy could finally circulate.
Alaric had told her, “You’re the captain, I’m the ship and June is the storm .”
And they fall in love…..
It’s a wonderment to see how Mara has written Junipera. She’s the most unique character with storm in her eyes. She chases danger, wants to taste the adventure, she controls the air around her. Her persona one with the nature. Hepephobic June is of virginal body and soul yet her heart is full to the brim with compassion and love .
A most wonderful person is Cheron . His entry into the story comes at a very complexed moment. June stumbles upon him and a weird ,but unbreakable , soul connection develops over soul food .
Trust means more to Junipera than anything else, second only after food, And Cheron delivers both !
Junipera was his untouched, very real Lover
There’s so much crystal clear purity and perfection in their union, I was in awe.
From hunger to poverty to Hepephobia to her unquenching thirst for storms to her connection with supreme being, Juniepra endures and evolves though all
She herself was like the weather. Temperamental , unpredictable, capable of both destruction and unexpected symbiotic perfection.
The only point of contention I had was the huge White Elephant – Metaphor.
Like The Naked Chef , Jamie Oliver says, if you have fresh , exquisite ingredients, no need to over flavour it. It spoils the freshness and taste.
The story is so fresh and raw, it doesn’t need embellishments of any kinds and Mara has the most fantastic stories in her Pandora’s Box .
Very sensitive , yet tough .
Very stark , yet full of soul.
Very dismal, yet full of hope
An immensely engrossing read which redefines the parameters and definition of Love & Acceptance.
You will not remain untouched by this story of Soul Mates – Untouched and Real Loves
The good Lord made us the way he intended us to be. There are no mistakes in His divine hands.
4.5 Stars
Well my goodness, where to start with this fantastic story!! Mara White has become an author that I expect a great story from. One that is so unlike any other books out there. This one is no exception!
It is a story that from the very beginning till the very last page will have you so enthralled in it, your real life will suffer.
This book is broken down into 2 parts. Part 1 is June and Gem growing up and the life these two girls were brought up in. Part 2 is the adult lives of June and Gem. No description I could give could do this book justice. It’s a book that needs to be read, to give this book all the credit it deserves. I will say though, this is not a romance book, this is a wonderful story that everyone needs to read!
A couple things I want to mention, the layout of this book is a bit confusing to begin with. The jumping back and forth in years, places, make sure to read the chapter titles to keep up with where you are. It helps tremendously. Took me a couple chapters to get this down pat. While the story is a beautiful story, I felt as though situations were over descriptive. Finding myself having to go back and re-read what I was reading just to back up and grasp what I was reading. Sometimes, in my opinion too much takes away from the beautiful story that is trying to be told. For this alone, I am taking a .5 star off my rating. Otherwise, this fantastic book would have been a Solid 5-star book. Just my opinion.
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I fell in love with Mara’s writing when I read Maldeamores. She sets the background to her story in the run down, poverty stricken area of Harlem, NY. Instantly your heart goes out to Gem and June for their less than fortunate start. It’s a harrowing, heart breaking story of two Irish twins who basically bring themselves up, fighting for survival. Despite having the same parents they are polar opposites. Together with their friend Alaric who is in an even worse position than they are, if that is even possible. This story grounds you and I get far more enjoyment from a book like this than one full of egotistical millionaires that sail through life without a care in the world.
Mara writes with feeling and passion that you can feel in your gut, the struggles, the sacrifices. Her writing flows and before you know it you are sucked into the lives of the characters. So many taboo topics covered but they fit the story, they are not forced and the story isn’t centred around the taboo it just is. If you need trigger warnings then perhaps you shouldn’t read this book; it covers under age sex and relationships, rape, inter racial relationships, age differences, eating disorders… topics that everyone will either have an opinion on or will have been part of at some point. And THAT is why I like this author because she’s not afraid to go there. It’s not glamourised, it’s raw, tragic, gritty and life!
The only reason I have knocked a star off this book is I felt some areas were left open; it doesn’t lessen the book any but I hate finishing a book with questions; which I can’t include because it would be a spoiler. I like to feel like I’ve reached closure and I need to know what happened to some of the characters. One other point that I didn’t like was that it constantly jumped around between different times. Not just the past and the future but times in the middle to. It felt confusing. It is a standalone and doesn’t end on a cliffhanger.
“Her sister was made exactly how she was supposed to be. Untouchable.”
The blurb summarizes the story well however it doesn’t prepare you for the impact it’ll have on you. Touched was unpredictable, I had no idea what to expect and the direction the author would take with this story. I was blown away with how much I was sucked into Junipera and Gemini Jones’ story. I was intrigued by these unique and beautiful characters, I especially loved how free and fearless June was. She touched so many characters in this book, and she touched me as well. The layout of the story in regards to the timeline could be a bit confusing, but I didn’t really mind them at all. I think it was the perfect way to tell this story.
“June was a free bird; no cages could withstand her. Escape or die trying.”
Touched was fun, emotional, heartbreaking, magical and sad at times. But it felt real and raw. I also appreciated that the author highlighted one particular disaster that happened in the USA. I loved how everything eventually fell into place, how everything was connected. It was hard for me to contain my tears, so I went ahead and cried my eyes out. Touched was such a powerful story and definitely one of my favorite reads of the year. I am going to miss all the characters, and wish there was an epilogue, but it didn’t me bother as much as it would for other stories. The author did such a phenomenal job with this book and it will always have a special place in my heart. I didn’t go into the plot on purpose because I think it’s best to go in blind!