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A review by okiecozyreader
Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Finally reading a Katherine Center book for 23 books in 2023 challenge - and a buddy read. I’m about to read last year’s book The Bodyguard next!
I really enjoyed this look at a strong, brave female firefighter who has worked hard to prove herself when she almost attacks her old love interest. She ends up going to live with her mom (who walked out on her when she was 16) and starting over.
It is a beautiful story of forgiveness on so many levels and for almost every character in the book. Her mother leads the discussion with her with 3 points of “chipping away at forgiveness”:
“Just saying the words ‘I forgive you,’ even to yourself can be a powerful start. …
Forgiveness is about a mindset of letting go, …acknowledging to yourself that someone hurt you, and accepting that…
Then it’s about accepting that the person who hurt you is flawed, like all people are, and letting that guide you to a better, more nuanced understanding of what happened. …
And then there’s a third part… probably the hardest, that involves trying to look at the aftermath of what happened and find ways that you benefited, not just ways you were harmed.” P112
“Firefighters are, on average, very funny people. All the sorrow you absorb in that job makes you funnier. You have to balance out the pain somehow, and joking around is one of the best things about the job. There’s so much death in that world, but laughter is life.” P98
“If you play it right, your struggles might even lead you to your strengths. …
Find one person you can count on.” P45
“It’s a big deal to share your grief with other people - to give them a glimpse of the pain you carry. It connects you in a profound way.” P284
I really enjoyed this look at a strong, brave female firefighter who has worked hard to prove herself when she almost attacks her old love interest. She ends up going to live with her mom (who walked out on her when she was 16) and starting over.
It is a beautiful story of forgiveness on so many levels and for almost every character in the book. Her mother leads the discussion with her with 3 points of “chipping away at forgiveness”:
“Just saying the words ‘I forgive you,’ even to yourself can be a powerful start. …
Forgiveness is about a mindset of letting go, …acknowledging to yourself that someone hurt you, and accepting that…
Then it’s about accepting that the person who hurt you is flawed, like all people are, and letting that guide you to a better, more nuanced understanding of what happened. …
And then there’s a third part… probably the hardest, that involves trying to look at the aftermath of what happened and find ways that you benefited, not just ways you were harmed.” P112
“Firefighters are, on average, very funny people. All the sorrow you absorb in that job makes you funnier. You have to balance out the pain somehow, and joking around is one of the best things about the job. There’s so much death in that world, but laughter is life.” P98
“If you play it right, your struggles might even lead you to your strengths. …
Find one person you can count on.” P45
“It’s a big deal to share your grief with other people - to give them a glimpse of the pain you carry. It connects you in a profound way.” P284
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Rape, and Death of parent