Brooksie's Blog

Welcome to Brooksie's Blog, a place where you will find book reviews, quotes, photography and the occasional hockey post. Have any comments, feel free to drop them in the inbox!

[andallshallbewell]

[strangesilversea]

Maybe who we are isn’t so much about what we do, but rather about what we’re capable of when we least expect it.

Jodi Picoult (via strangesilversea)

[nondualreality]

You don’t love someone because they’re perfect, you love them in spite of the fact that they’re not.

Jodi Picoult, My Sister’s Keeper (via notjustinspirationalquotes)

[tattoosandrainydaysakauckoff]

[brooksiesblog]

Jerk Bait Review

Book: Jerk Bait by Mia Siegert

Genre: Young Adult

 Jerk Bait depicts the lives of two young brothers in high school that are trying to find themselves. Like any teenagers, they are discovering who they are and exactly what they want in life, all while trying to live up to their parent’s standards. The story is told in the ‘younger’ twin brother’s point of view, Tristan. We learn about his troubled past with his twin brother Robbie and how there is a misconception with the idea that twins have a unique bond. While they both play ice hockey, Robbie is the star and Tristan is just, there. Throughout the story the relationship between Robbie and Tristan shifts and they begin to form a bond after Robbie tries to commit suicide and Tristan is forced to babysit him. All the while,  their parents try to cover it up so as not to ruin Robbie’s chances at being drafted into the NHL.

 This story goes through the emotional roller-coaster of a sibling dealing with a mentally unstable brother and having nowhere to turn to about it all while trying to figure out a motive. The story allows the reader to learn to look for signs in a person whom you didn’t know was struggling. The realism that depression and mental health can affect anyone and that it doesn’t matter what your social status is driven home and allows the reader to see that metal health doesn’t discriminate, it can affect even the most endearing and popular people. The message of “you truly never know what a person is going through no matter how close you are to them’ is driven home right until the very end of this story.

 For me this book was a real page-turner and I didn’t want to put it down. I was captivated and felt my own emotions pairing with Tristan’s as a bystander to his own brother’s mishaps. This book easily gets 5 out of 5 stars from me. For a young adult novel, it carries a strong message and portrays real-life scenarios for upcoming athletes and the pressures they may face. In an era where sexual equality and mental health in sports are just being brought to light, this is a must read.

[brooksiesblog]

January Book Totals

14 books read in January for a total of 2,854 pages. Okay, so I may or may not have read some short stories, but they still count! Best book of the month: Jerk Bait, a combination of mental health, coming out and hockey diversity. SO intriguing! That Tattooist of Auschwitz was also a top read. I highly recommend both! 

[brooksiesblog]

Having a child is a terrible risk, no matter what. You might have a healthy baby who gets a heart condition, diabetes, addicted to opioids. You might raise a kid who gets her heart broken, who miscarries her own baby, whose husband dies fighting overseas. If we are meant to only have children who never encounter difficulty in life, then no one should be born."

Jodi Picoult, A Spark of Light

[prettypachyderms]

Mom and baby, ❤️

[brooksiesblog]

Nick has always dreamed of playing hockey, but has always been told because of his disabilities he couldn't. Now, he has the chance. Will he be able to fulfill his dream or realize it's a lot more difficult than he ever imagined?

[brooksiesblog]

It's Time to Trade Zdeno Chara - DYST Now

I’m probably in the minority on this judgement, but I’m going to toss this out there for debate. The Boston Bruins NEED to trade Zdeno Chara. He’s going to be turning 40 this season and entering into his final two years of his contract. Two years ago, around the same time the Bruins dealt Shawn …

[brooksiesblog]

Hockey Writers Wanted

DYSTNow.com is looking to expand our team. We're dedicated to bringing top notch, credible and valid information regarding everything NHL, AHL, ECHL and international hockey related, including some humor and fun stuff along the way. Some of us will have some podcasts for you to download and follow, while others will provide you with live, in-game blogging/tweeting to keep you in the know! Do you have follow your favorite hockey team religiously and want an outlet to express your opinions? Are you considering a career in the writing field, but aren't sure where to start? This is the site for you. DYSTNow is looking for dedicated people who share our love of ice hockey and want to share their opinions with the interwebs. This is an unpaid opportunity to start with the potential to grow into more.

Currently looking for writers for all NHL and AHL teams.

[did-you-know]

To celebrate their 57 years of marriage, Clemma and Sterling Elmore had a photo shoot inspired by one of their favorite films, The Notebook. They used real love notes in the photos, and Clemma was moved to tears when she saw the finished product - which she says she’ll remember for the rest of her life. Source

Could this couple be any cuter?! 

[brooksiesblog]

This is a classic, fairytale type of love. This is what I hope Josh and I can spend a lifetime building together.

[brooksiesblog]

Anton Khudobin 'Came Back to the Family' - DYST Now

“I was always saying that I was really happy here. Whenever my time was here in Boston or Providence, I was really happy…with the organization, with the team, with the coaching staff and with everything. So I was really missing this place, to be honest.” Anton Khudobin has officially made it back to Boston. Today …

[brooksiesblog]

Will Zac Rinaldo Stick Around in Boston? - DYST Now

When news broke that Zac Rinaldo had been signed to a two-year deal last season, some Bruins fans were left scratching their heads. If the Bruins were trying to stray away from the rough and tough image, why sign a goon? He will be able to help out on the penalty kill, Sweeney said. Unfortunately, …

[brooksiesblog]

Bruins Add Depth Over the Summer - DYST Now

During the course of this offseason, the Boston Bruins organization have been looking at a variety of options to make the team better. While we all know that the Bruins need to be more consistent on the defensive end of things, the offensive lines could use some tweaking as well, especially without guys like Loui Eriksson. The …

It’s no secret that the Bruins needed to add some depth to their lines over the summer. The question is, are the players they added going to be good enough?

[brooksiesblog]

“I was more disappointed that we weren’t able to keep Loui. I felt like we had some good chemistry going”-David Krejci Today the Boston Bruins held their first informal skate of the year at the Warrior Ice Arena and while talks should have been about how they liked their new facility, the key topic of …

Taking a stab at the writing thing again.  This one is rough aroud the edges but it’s been a good year since the last article, so give me a little bit of a break here everyone.

[memoriesofelephants]

No.1 reason to love elephants: They protect the vulnerable.

When threatened, an elephant herd will form a circle, enclosing the most vulnerable - the elderly, the sick, the young - on the inside.

As we celebrate our love for elephants, it’s important to recognise this is a species under serious threat. Do all you can to protect the vulnerable - orphaned, injured and threatened - from poaching.

To learn more, visit here