This book tells the story of Natalie, a full-time mother who has a lot of emotional issues because she feels utterly unhappy in her marriage. She had to put her career on hold for her husband and has two children who were not planned and she feels angry because she’s not leading the life she wants, the life she was meant to lead. She’s not only truly unfulfilled in the present, she also thinks constantly about the past, about her first boyfriend. Ryker was the love of her life but then he went to Afghanistan and came back not the same person anymore. She had no choice to eventually move on and she met and married Eric. She still feels guilty because she did not stick with Ryker in the end, guilty about ruining her ex-boyfriends life,.. Then, ten years pass and as her marriage crumbles, Ryker walks back into her life. As a result of all that’s going on she cuts herself in order to deal with her feelings and escape them for just a few moments. The author portraits a real and raw account of her emotions and her cutting. It was interesting to learn about her struggle. I so wanted there would be some turning point, some way she could sort through all of it and start healing. When things which remained bottled up and unsaid for 10 long years are finally spoken out loud between Ryker and Natalie, she can start to do just so. ( )

EDIT NOVIMEBRE 2014:

3

No era tan terrible relatando lo que es el PTSD. En ese sentido, la autora acertó bastante.



RESEÑA ORIGINAL

2.5

Las concepciones ridículas que tiene la autora (y por ende , los personajes del libro) sobre la guerra por el petróleo me las paso por el --- Me interesan muy poco el nacionalismo fanático que usan para justificar sus crímenes en otros países ... A pesar de que no es un ´patriotismo' tan vomitivo como el que se ve en las peliculas de Katherine Bigelow , el sentimiento está presente , más tranquilo y sutil ; aún así , en ciertas partes , se ocupa de mostrar un poco puntos de vistas opositores .

En fin , a lo que voy es que si el libro tratara sólo de eso , ni me hubiera molestado en terminarlo .

Sin embargo ,

Me gustó como se representa lo que hace esa guerra sin sentido a los que van a suicidarse en nubes de balas y bombas . Van a morir pero viven y vuelven a casa con la muerte en la cabeza .

Es más bien una historia de Estrés Post-Traumático y como afecta , no sólo a los que lo sufren sino a las personas que tienen que convivir con eso todos los días . Por ese lado , sí me gustó la historia . La autora no disfraza la brutalidad de ese trastorno y escribe una historia de amor que , si bien en un principio es muy convencional y empalagosa , por la mitad empieza a enfermarse y teñirse de locura (pfff) .

Si se bancan las boludeces que mencioné en el primer párrafo , seguro les va a gustar . Una novela de amor con EPT y un poco del trastorno de la personalidad Borderline . ( )

This book will rip at your emotions, put your heart back together, then rip some more. It is so real, honest, and in depth. Randall explores feelings that many go through but would never admit. I find her honesty very refreshing. Having these thoughts doesn't make you a bad person, or any less of a mother. This book shows that through strength and pure determination, anything is possible. Everyone could use a helping hand. ( )

review to come. this book took me there and back, through all sorts of emotions. this author covered these highly charged emotional subjects really well. ( )

In The Stillness is A-FREAKING-MAZING!!!!!! 6 STARS

It deals with some very serious issues and hits home in a lot of ways! I can hardly write this review without getting choked up...



This book will rip your heart to pieces..



It is dark and depressing and you can literally feel yourself going down that Natalie's path of despair. Into the path of self-harm and despair. She is strong, yet weak. Natalie loved Ryker but after tragedy struck, and he left for war, could she be strong enough for the both of them? Her strength was well hidden in between the lines in her skin. She tries to be strong for him, but he has issues of his own to deal with. And their whole world goes tumbling down.



When I started reading this book I had no clue what to expect, but what I found struck me in an extremely profound way. It's so easy for people to pretend to be happy and that's where we meet Nat, in a 5 year old, very unhappy marriage with Eric. While he's making a successful life for himself, Nat is hitting rock bottom as a stay at home mom. Slowly, the past that she's tried to forget comes back to haunt her. Natalie realizes that she has to deal with her issues from 10 years ago, to get on with her current life.

I'm not going to go into much more details as that, for you NEED to read this book! It is very gritty and deals with PTSD, Abuse, Adultery, and Self-harm. It will take you some very dark places but you will see the light at the end of the tunnel. It has inspired me!

On a more personal note, I've have a friend that struggles with self harm, and it has helped me more than anything understand her pain and where she is coming from. While looking for pictures for this review on Tumblr, I was devastated at the number of people that struggle with the same issues. And today happens to be Project 4/16, and I will be wearing my ; in support of everyone who suffers from anxiety and depression. Your story isn't over yet!

( )