Beckham Bumblebee Can't Do It Alone: A Story for Young Kids About Teamwork, Listening, and Pollinating a Garden (Pollinator Path Series) by Jerry Fleury
This is a fun book for all ages of kids. The illustrations are so cute. I really like how the book is leveled. For my 3 year old the main interested was the pictures — we turned the pages and talked. The next time I was able to read the bolded sentence and keep their attention. For the slightly older kids, 4-5, we were abled to read the entire page and keep their interest. For even older kids, there is plenty of detail, and even parent hints in the back. Really nice book to add when you are talking about insects!
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
I was excited to read it because I’ve read and enjoyed other books about the Manhattan Project at Oak Ridge. Unfortunately, I didn’t love this book the way I’d hoped I would. I think my expectations may have been too high. The other books I’d read had a lot more detail about the project itself and what it entailed, and I found that part of the stories fascinating. This book just skimmed the surface of the project. I also felt that the characters were not well-developed.The cover bills the book as ‘A Novel of Atomic Heartbreak’ but I did not feel the heartbreak. I also knew from the synopsis that the main character was going to make some bad choices, but when she did, I did not feel WHY she made the choices. And I thought the repercussions from her choices were resolved too easily. It all felt superficial. The story could have ended a few chapters earlier. The last few chapters didn’t really add anything to the story. This is not a terrible book. It was a quick, easy read. It just didn’t grab me that way I expected. Maybe your experience with the book will be different.
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
This book surprised me. I won an e-copy on Library Thing and don't remember entering. I didn't expect much from the book, but I was hooked almost from the beginning. I will admit there were a few times it slowed for me in the middle, but a lot of that is because I like a story to move and don't really care about descriptive landscapes. If you enjoy detailed descriptions about the surroundings, you will find the descriptions of Ecuador and the mountains very interesting.
I think this book can be described as a 'coming of age' story where the main character is not a teen, but a 46-year old woman. After some serious upheavals in her life — her daughter leaves the nest, her husband leaves her for another woman, and her boss announces major changes where she works — Jane takes off to Ecuador to find herself. One of the things I enjoy is Jane's wit and sense of humor. The book is predictable at times and there is a lot of foreshadowing, but to be honest, I would have been unhappy had the book ended any differently. My biggest disappointment is that I wanted a little more. We do get a glimpse into Jane's life down the road a couple of years, but it is not a complete picture and I wanted to know more. Overall, I really enjoyed this one!
My rating: 4.5
I think this book can be described as a 'coming of age' story where the main character is not a teen, but a 46-year old woman. After some serious upheavals in her life — her daughter leaves the nest, her husband leaves her for another woman, and her boss announces major changes where she works — Jane takes off to Ecuador to find herself. One of the things I enjoy is Jane's wit and sense of humor. The book is predictable at times and there is a lot of foreshadowing, but to be honest, I would have been unhappy had the book ended any differently. My biggest disappointment is that I wanted a little more. We do get a glimpse into Jane's life down the road a couple of years, but it is not a complete picture and I wanted to know more. Overall, I really enjoyed this one!
My rating: 4.5
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
This is a hard one for me to rate. I'm still deciding how I feel about it.
The story was interesting, but very slow. This last chapter was pretty intense, but until that point, I felt like I was reading because I knew SOMETHING was going to happen, but I didn't know what. I didn't particularly like the writing style, but I can't put my finger on anything specific about it that I didn't like. It just wasn't holding my interest well.
I did bond with characters, and cared what happened to them. I just wish it would have happened a little soon. The final chapters had me on edge, but the ending was a little lacking. I was happy with what happened, but it felt incomplete. I don't want to give spoilers, so I can only ask; what happens next?
This wasn't a page turner, but it was a pretty good story—especially for those who enjoyed The Godfather and The Sopranos.
The story was interesting, but very slow. This last chapter was pretty intense, but until that point, I felt like I was reading because I knew SOMETHING was going to happen, but I didn't know what. I didn't particularly like the writing style, but I can't put my finger on anything specific about it that I didn't like. It just wasn't holding my interest well.
I did bond with characters, and cared what happened to them. I just wish it would have happened a little soon. The final chapters had me on edge, but the ending was a little lacking. I was happy with what happened, but it felt incomplete. I don't want to give spoilers, so I can only ask; what happens next?
This wasn't a page turner, but it was a pretty good story—especially for those who enjoyed The Godfather and The Sopranos.
The first chapter or two in, I was pretty well convinced I would not like this book. Helen was a very young bride, immature and flighty, and making a series of bad choices. But it didn’t take long before the book hooked me. I came to like most of the characters very much. And Helen showed a remarkable amount of growth.
I learned a little about the period before the Civil War from a northern point of view. I’d known that come people had suggested colonizing the slaves back to Africa, but hadn’t realized how concrete that plan was, with a colony already in place. It was also interesting to read the points of view of the ‘colonists’ vs. the ‘abolitionists’. They both had the same goal—to end slavery—but favored different paths to reach this goal. They let their differences divide them to the point they attacked each other and forgot about their common goal. I think that has some lessons for us today, and would make a great topic for book clubs to discuss.
One thing I didn’t like so much was the ending. Overall I was happy with it; it had the ‘happy ending’ I wanted for most of the characters. But I also felt some of it was a little unrealistic. Without giving spoilers, I can only say that there seemed to be no consequences for the actions at the end, and I don’t think that was realistic.
This wasn’t the type of historical fiction that sent me rushing to Google to learn more, and the only real people in the story had minor roles, but it was a show more book that I enjoyed, and a story that will keep me thinking about it for quite some time.
I received this book as part of the Library Thing Early Reviewers program. show less
I learned a little about the period before the Civil War from a northern point of view. I’d known that come people had suggested colonizing the slaves back to Africa, but hadn’t realized how concrete that plan was, with a colony already in place. It was also interesting to read the points of view of the ‘colonists’ vs. the ‘abolitionists’. They both had the same goal—to end slavery—but favored different paths to reach this goal. They let their differences divide them to the point they attacked each other and forgot about their common goal. I think that has some lessons for us today, and would make a great topic for book clubs to discuss.
One thing I didn’t like so much was the ending. Overall I was happy with it; it had the ‘happy ending’ I wanted for most of the characters. But I also felt some of it was a little unrealistic. Without giving spoilers, I can only say that there seemed to be no consequences for the actions at the end, and I don’t think that was realistic.
This wasn’t the type of historical fiction that sent me rushing to Google to learn more, and the only real people in the story had minor roles, but it was a show more book that I enjoyed, and a story that will keep me thinking about it for quite some time.
I received this book as part of the Library Thing Early Reviewers program. show less
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
Sunflower Sisters is the third book in a trilogy by Martha Hall Kelly which includes Lilac Girls and Lost Roses. But it is not a sequel to these books and is only loosely related. It is a stand-alone novel that takes place decades before the others, during the time of the Civil War. The connection is very loose—the main character, Georgy Woolsey, is an ancestor to the main characters of the other books. You can read these in any order, or even read only this one.
This book got off to a slow start for me. There were three storylines going, from three points of view, and I think I expected the storylines to merge much sooner than they actually did. While I enjoyed all the storylines, I felt like I was in a tv series where every time a story got going, the commercial came and we switched gears. I did like many of the characters. Georgy was a woman with a sense of purpose who has the strength to stand up to the norms of the time, insisting on a place for women in nursing. Jemma was also a strong, brave woman who survived cruelty and oppression, and took great risks to help others. Anne-Mae, on the other hand, was not a likable character. Not only was she cruel and demeaning, but she was also a spoiled brat, and a ditz, who was led into a spying scheme by a man who knew how to flatter her. The men in the story were really secondary characters, some good and some bad, and some stereotypical (Lebaron Carothers, the plantation overseer). For all her strengths, Georgy was a show more frustrating character at times, particularly in her relationship to Dr. Frank Bacon. There were times I just wanted to give her a shove, and yell “Tell him, already!” (as did her sisters!)
While the book started slow, and it is my least favorite of the three, I did enjoy the book. Though it took about at third of the book to get going, it did read the point that I didn’t want to put it down. However, it wasn’t a historical fiction book that inspired me to read more, one of my criteria for good historical fiction. I think a book club would enjoy discussing this, with the discussions of the obvious—slavery and the laws regarding runaways, women’s place in nursing and society in general, etc.—but also specific discussions about the characters—Georgy’s treatment of Frank, decisions Anne-Mae made, risks Jemma took. There is a book club kit available on the author’s website, which includes discussion questions, recipes, a family tree, and more.
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. show less
This book got off to a slow start for me. There were three storylines going, from three points of view, and I think I expected the storylines to merge much sooner than they actually did. While I enjoyed all the storylines, I felt like I was in a tv series where every time a story got going, the commercial came and we switched gears. I did like many of the characters. Georgy was a woman with a sense of purpose who has the strength to stand up to the norms of the time, insisting on a place for women in nursing. Jemma was also a strong, brave woman who survived cruelty and oppression, and took great risks to help others. Anne-Mae, on the other hand, was not a likable character. Not only was she cruel and demeaning, but she was also a spoiled brat, and a ditz, who was led into a spying scheme by a man who knew how to flatter her. The men in the story were really secondary characters, some good and some bad, and some stereotypical (Lebaron Carothers, the plantation overseer). For all her strengths, Georgy was a show more frustrating character at times, particularly in her relationship to Dr. Frank Bacon. There were times I just wanted to give her a shove, and yell “Tell him, already!” (as did her sisters!)
While the book started slow, and it is my least favorite of the three, I did enjoy the book. Though it took about at third of the book to get going, it did read the point that I didn’t want to put it down. However, it wasn’t a historical fiction book that inspired me to read more, one of my criteria for good historical fiction. I think a book club would enjoy discussing this, with the discussions of the obvious—slavery and the laws regarding runaways, women’s place in nursing and society in general, etc.—but also specific discussions about the characters—Georgy’s treatment of Frank, decisions Anne-Mae made, risks Jemma took. There is a book club kit available on the author’s website, which includes discussion questions, recipes, a family tree, and more.
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. show less
I chose to read this book for my library’s AAPI challenge. I enjoyed the book very much.One thing I really appreciated is that unlike a lot of books that take several chapters to begin the story, this one dove right in, with a lot of action even in the first chapter! I found it hard to put the book down!
The story is told in alternating points of view, a technique that work really well for me in this book. Hana, the older sister, tells her story as current in 1943, when Japan occupied Korea and was in the midst of WWII. Emi, the little sister, tells her story in present day (almost) 2011, but much of the story she tells takes place in the past, and fills in the blanks of Hana’s story. As the story is about kidnapping and the forced sexual slavery of the ‘comfort women’, there is a lot of physical cruelty and it gets intense at times. I appreciated the breaks provided by alternating to Emi’s story, though it was not without cruelty of its own.
I liked most of the characters in the book, but was especially drawn to Hana. I particularly enjoyed reading of her days in Mongolia. Many of the events related in the story were new to me. I may have heard of the Japanese comfort women, but I hadn’t realized it wasn’t usually a voluntary ‘contribution’ and that the women weren’t always Japanese. I didn’t know much of the history of Korea either before or after WWII, so this was interesting to me. And I was fascinated with the details of the haenyeo women, the show more Korean women who dive the ocean to provide food and income for their families. I also did not realize that there was a movement for the plight former comfort women to be recognized and apologies made, and that this movement still is going on today.
I think this would make a good book club selection for groups who are not overly squeamish. There are scenes of sexual violence as well as physical violence that some readers may not want to read. For those that are not opposed, there is plenty to discuss, from the obvious sex slave trade to war in general and the consequences of war to even those who are not direct participants. There is a book club kit available on the publisher website that includes discussion questions and background information.
I read an ebook copy borrowed from my local library. show less
The story is told in alternating points of view, a technique that work really well for me in this book. Hana, the older sister, tells her story as current in 1943, when Japan occupied Korea and was in the midst of WWII. Emi, the little sister, tells her story in present day (almost) 2011, but much of the story she tells takes place in the past, and fills in the blanks of Hana’s story. As the story is about kidnapping and the forced sexual slavery of the ‘comfort women’, there is a lot of physical cruelty and it gets intense at times. I appreciated the breaks provided by alternating to Emi’s story, though it was not without cruelty of its own.
I liked most of the characters in the book, but was especially drawn to Hana. I particularly enjoyed reading of her days in Mongolia. Many of the events related in the story were new to me. I may have heard of the Japanese comfort women, but I hadn’t realized it wasn’t usually a voluntary ‘contribution’ and that the women weren’t always Japanese. I didn’t know much of the history of Korea either before or after WWII, so this was interesting to me. And I was fascinated with the details of the haenyeo women, the show more Korean women who dive the ocean to provide food and income for their families. I also did not realize that there was a movement for the plight former comfort women to be recognized and apologies made, and that this movement still is going on today.
I think this would make a good book club selection for groups who are not overly squeamish. There are scenes of sexual violence as well as physical violence that some readers may not want to read. For those that are not opposed, there is plenty to discuss, from the obvious sex slave trade to war in general and the consequences of war to even those who are not direct participants. There is a book club kit available on the publisher website that includes discussion questions and background information.
I read an ebook copy borrowed from my local library. show less
I’ve read several books by Sally Hepworth and enjoyed them all, so when I saw this one on the ‘coming soon’ list, I added it to my holds list on Overdrive. This one did not disappoint!
The story is about a set of twin sisters, Rose and Fern. Fern is probably autistic and depends on Rose to help her out of difficult situations. The story is told from alternate points of view; Rose through her diary and Fern in 1st person. From the diary we learn that the girls grew up with a mother who could be cruel, especially to Rose. Fern did not necessarily see her mother that way, but with Rose there to interpret the situation and tell her how to think and react, she accepted that her mother was cruel, even though she didn’t ‘feel’ it. And we know that Fern has done ‘a very bad thing’.
Rose is having fertility problems and marriage issues, and Fern gets the idea that she can help by becoming pregnant and having a baby for Rosy and Owen. Enter Wally, the ‘sperm donor’. Some of the story is predictable, and some is surprising, but I enjoyed the journey, even when I was pretty sure I knew what would happen next. I really bonded to Fern and to her ‘boyfriend’ Wally, who is also a little ‘neurodiverse’. I was pulling for them the whole time. I was not a fan of Rose’s mother as I read Rose’s diary entries about her mother’s treatment of her. And while at first I was not a fan of Carmel, the library ‘boss’, I came to like her very much!
The only thing I show more didn’t like about the story is the very end—no spoilers here! So I will only say that it was too open-ended and left me wondering what happens next. It wasn’t the neat ending that I would prefer.
I think bookclubs would enjoy this one. It is a really quick read (I finished in 2 days!), but has plenty to discuss—sister relationship, neurodiversity, infertility, how point of view influences what we see, and so much more!
I read a digital copy of the book borrowed through my library. show less
The story is about a set of twin sisters, Rose and Fern. Fern is probably autistic and depends on Rose to help her out of difficult situations. The story is told from alternate points of view; Rose through her diary and Fern in 1st person. From the diary we learn that the girls grew up with a mother who could be cruel, especially to Rose. Fern did not necessarily see her mother that way, but with Rose there to interpret the situation and tell her how to think and react, she accepted that her mother was cruel, even though she didn’t ‘feel’ it. And we know that Fern has done ‘a very bad thing’.
Rose is having fertility problems and marriage issues, and Fern gets the idea that she can help by becoming pregnant and having a baby for Rosy and Owen. Enter Wally, the ‘sperm donor’. Some of the story is predictable, and some is surprising, but I enjoyed the journey, even when I was pretty sure I knew what would happen next. I really bonded to Fern and to her ‘boyfriend’ Wally, who is also a little ‘neurodiverse’. I was pulling for them the whole time. I was not a fan of Rose’s mother as I read Rose’s diary entries about her mother’s treatment of her. And while at first I was not a fan of Carmel, the library ‘boss’, I came to like her very much!
The only thing I show more didn’t like about the story is the very end—no spoilers here! So I will only say that it was too open-ended and left me wondering what happens next. It wasn’t the neat ending that I would prefer.
I think bookclubs would enjoy this one. It is a really quick read (I finished in 2 days!), but has plenty to discuss—sister relationship, neurodiversity, infertility, how point of view influences what we see, and so much more!
I read a digital copy of the book borrowed through my library. show less
I enjoyed this book very much, but it got off to a slow start. The book is told from three points of view in alternating timelines—Augusta Longstreet and her niece Lilly Forsyth in 1838 when the disaster took place, and Everly Winthrop in current day, when the story of the disaster is being uncovered. While alternating timelines is a common technique that I normally enjoy, I found it to be a little distracting in this book. I was really engrossed in the 1838 timeline and wanted to get to the story! However, it didn’t take long before I was enjoying both stories.
One thing I really enjoyed was following Everly, the museum curator hired to put the Pulaski exhibit together, on her journey to uncover the family history of the Longstreet family. As a family historian, I could really relate to her hunt, and her excitement when she uncovered details that let her, not to a conclusion, but to more searching. I think family historians in particular would enjoy reading this book.
I enjoyed the characters in the book, particularly Augusta. She was a strong, yet vunerable, woman and I enjoyed watching her grow and survive the shipwreck. I’ve always been fascinated with the story of the Titanic, and reading about the actions and fates of the passengers of this ship was just as engrossing. [confession; when I chose this book, I knew it was a bout a shipwreck, but I confused ‘Savannah’ with ‘Sultana’ so did not get the shipwreck I thought I was going to be reading about.] I show more thought some of the ‘romance’ of the story was a little predictable, but I did really enjoy the interaction of Everly and Maddox, the leader of the diving expedition. He was a character that I really enjoyed.
Like all good historical fiction does, this book inspired me to ‘read more about it’! Book clubs will enjoy this book and particularly enjoy discussing ‘survival’ and the different levels of meaning illustrated in this book.
I won a Kindle copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. show less
One thing I really enjoyed was following Everly, the museum curator hired to put the Pulaski exhibit together, on her journey to uncover the family history of the Longstreet family. As a family historian, I could really relate to her hunt, and her excitement when she uncovered details that let her, not to a conclusion, but to more searching. I think family historians in particular would enjoy reading this book.
I enjoyed the characters in the book, particularly Augusta. She was a strong, yet vunerable, woman and I enjoyed watching her grow and survive the shipwreck. I’ve always been fascinated with the story of the Titanic, and reading about the actions and fates of the passengers of this ship was just as engrossing. [confession; when I chose this book, I knew it was a bout a shipwreck, but I confused ‘Savannah’ with ‘Sultana’ so did not get the shipwreck I thought I was going to be reading about.] I show more thought some of the ‘romance’ of the story was a little predictable, but I did really enjoy the interaction of Everly and Maddox, the leader of the diving expedition. He was a character that I really enjoyed.
Like all good historical fiction does, this book inspired me to ‘read more about it’! Book clubs will enjoy this book and particularly enjoy discussing ‘survival’ and the different levels of meaning illustrated in this book.
I won a Kindle copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. show less
I won this book through a Fall Preview giveaway at bookreporter.com. I enjoy WWII fiction so it was a good bet that I would enjoy this one. A plus is that it is based on the stories of real people. I felt like a got a good look into the lives of the French people, and especially the French Jews, during the Nazi occupation. I also felt like a got a better appreciation for what those that joined the Resistance went through — the planning, the dedication, the risks of daily life as a member of the Resistance. This book met one of my key wants in historical fiction; it inspired me to read and learn more. I spent time on Wikipedia reading about Madeleine Levy’s grandfather, Alfred Dreyfus, and his trials. Sadly, there is at this time no entry for Madeleine Levy.
While I enjoyed this story and found it very readable, I also found it repetitive at times. The fact that they were living in dangerous times and that Madeleine and Claude might not survive the war to have a future was mentioned every time they got together. There were similar repetitive lines. I wish some of this could have been cut. The book would have been shorter and the story flowed a little more quickly without the repetition.
I also felt that the story didn’t have the emotional impact it might have, had the author not included a spoiler in her author notes on the very first page—before the story even started!. Once she did, I read between the lines and knew what was going to happen. The only questions show more were when and how. But the time it did happen, I was resigned to it. My suggestion is that you save the author notes for the end!
I did enjoy the book and learned some history from it. I think readers of WWII historical fiction, and particularly fans of Kristin Hannah’s ‘The Nightingale’ will enjoy this one! show less
While I enjoyed this story and found it very readable, I also found it repetitive at times. The fact that they were living in dangerous times and that Madeleine and Claude might not survive the war to have a future was mentioned every time they got together. There were similar repetitive lines. I wish some of this could have been cut. The book would have been shorter and the story flowed a little more quickly without the repetition.
I also felt that the story didn’t have the emotional impact it might have, had the author not included a spoiler in her author notes on the very first page—before the story even started!. Once she did, I read between the lines and knew what was going to happen. The only questions show more were when and how. But the time it did happen, I was resigned to it. My suggestion is that you save the author notes for the end!
I did enjoy the book and learned some history from it. I think readers of WWII historical fiction, and particularly fans of Kristin Hannah’s ‘The Nightingale’ will enjoy this one! show less
I don't like to give up on a book, but this time I had to. I tried to read it—3 times! But it just didn't work for me. Maybe it's because I haven't read the Wednesday Sisters?? I don't know. I received this book several years ago as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program, and I am finally admitting defeat and giving up on the book so I can clear it off of my shelves.
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
The premise of this book was a good one. Willa wants to become a doctor, which is not something done at that time. Her father wants her to marry. Willa discovers a love note and wants to track down the intended recipient. While the premise is a good one, the book was a struggle for me. To be honest, I almost gave up about a third of the way into the book. It's not a bad book, or a bad story—it just moves s-o-o-o-o s-l-o-w-l-y. To be fair, I'm sure many readers would describe the book as beautiful and lyrical, but I'm not the reader for that sort of book. If you are, you will probably like this one very much.
For me, the book did pick up a bit right about a third of the way through, but it wasn't long before it stalled out again. And seeing the letter fall into so many different hands frustrated me—it was like watching game of 'telephone' work it's way around the room. Another issue for me was that, though the book moved slowly, making me feel like it was going on too long, I did get left at the end wondering what happened with some of the characters. I felt like other than the Willa storyline, many of the threads were left hanging, or the storyline was wrapped up very rapidly with no real development. I came to like some of these characters and would have liked to know what happened with them. I did finish the book, and I did like it ok—but it was just ok (for me).
I received an advanced copy of this book through the Library Thing Early Reviewers program.
For me, the book did pick up a bit right about a third of the way through, but it wasn't long before it stalled out again. And seeing the letter fall into so many different hands frustrated me—it was like watching game of 'telephone' work it's way around the room. Another issue for me was that, though the book moved slowly, making me feel like it was going on too long, I did get left at the end wondering what happened with some of the characters. I felt like other than the Willa storyline, many of the threads were left hanging, or the storyline was wrapped up very rapidly with no real development. I came to like some of these characters and would have liked to know what happened with them. I did finish the book, and I did like it ok—but it was just ok (for me).
I received an advanced copy of this book through the Library Thing Early Reviewers program.
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
I always like Hazel Gaynor books and I particularly enjoyed this one. Like many of her books, this one goes back in time. Nancy Plummer, now a grown woman, was a young girl at the time of WWII, when she was in a boarding school in China for children of missionaries. Elspeth Kent was one of her teachers and the leader of her Girl Guides group. Japan is at war with China, and takes over the school. The children and staff are sent to another school, and eventually, to an internment camp. I've read of the concentration camps in Germany, and of the Japanese interment camps here in the U.S., and I'd even read of the POW camps in which Japan held military prisoners. But I had not read of the interment of civilians by the Japanese, so I learned something new, a mark of good historical fiction!
One thing I really liked about the book is that while conditions were bleak and the Japanese soldiers were often cruel, the author also showed us that there is another side. Sometimes the guards could be quite humane! I also enjoyed how the prisoners pulled together to keep everyone's spirits up. I also appreciated that there was an epilogue to bring up up to date on some of the characters. I would like to have known the fate of some of the guards, but then that probably would have been unrealistic since the prisoners most likely didn't befriend the guards afterwards.
If you are looking for a quick read that may teach yo a little history, this is the book for you!
I received an advance copy show more of this book through the Library Think Early Reviewers program. show less
One thing I really liked about the book is that while conditions were bleak and the Japanese soldiers were often cruel, the author also showed us that there is another side. Sometimes the guards could be quite humane! I also enjoyed how the prisoners pulled together to keep everyone's spirits up. I also appreciated that there was an epilogue to bring up up to date on some of the characters. I would like to have known the fate of some of the guards, but then that probably would have been unrealistic since the prisoners most likely didn't befriend the guards afterwards.
If you are looking for a quick read that may teach yo a little history, this is the book for you!
I received an advance copy show more of this book through the Library Think Early Reviewers program. show less
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
I rate this somewhere between 3½ and 4 stars.
While I have 3 books by Janie Chang on my shelf—the covers are beautiful!—I've never read one until now. One reason is that I thought I had a trilogy here and thought I had to read the other books in order. In case you were wondering, you don't. This one is a stand-alone. It got off to a slow start for me, possibly because it is set in a period I have no familiarity with. It took place in China just before WWII, but in many ways it felt like I was reading about ancient times! I won't repeat the synopis here, but the book is historical fiction with elements of fantasy; stories about Gods and Spirits. While the book started slow for me, about 40% of the way through, it really clicked. I became attached to several of the characters, particularly the servant girl, Sparrow, and finished to book quickly.
Update: over a year later and this one has really stuck with me!
I won this book through the Library Thing Early Reviewers program.
While I have 3 books by Janie Chang on my shelf—the covers are beautiful!—I've never read one until now. One reason is that I thought I had a trilogy here and thought I had to read the other books in order. In case you were wondering, you don't. This one is a stand-alone. It got off to a slow start for me, possibly because it is set in a period I have no familiarity with. It took place in China just before WWII, but in many ways it felt like I was reading about ancient times! I won't repeat the synopis here, but the book is historical fiction with elements of fantasy; stories about Gods and Spirits. While the book started slow for me, about 40% of the way through, it really clicked. I became attached to several of the characters, particularly the servant girl, Sparrow, and finished to book quickly.
Update: over a year later and this one has really stuck with me!
I won this book through the Library Thing Early Reviewers program.
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
I have read Beatriz Williams before, so I expected to like this book, but I did not expect to love it as much as I did! This book was fantastic! I’ve read and enjoyed many books about female aviators, but most have been about women in the WACS era. I’ve also always been intrigued by Amelia Earhart, who served as inspiration for this book, so this was a must read for me.
The story is centered around two women and the man they loved. The man, Sam Mallory was an early aviator. Irene Foster was his protege who disappeared on an attempted circumnavigation flight. Janey Everett is a young photojournalist who has always been a fan of Sam’s, and now wants to write a book about him, but to do that, she needs the story from Irene, who she finds living in Hawaii.
The book is written in alternating times; present day 1947 and the years from 1928 until Irene disappeared. I found it interesting one chapter tells the present day story from Janey's point of view, then the next chapter is a chapter from Janey's book telling Irene's story from her point of view. Until I figured this out, I did have a little bit of an issue because the voice of Irene and the voice of Janey was very similar, but I think that is because the women were so similar; both strong women who knew how to get what they wanted.
The story had so many twists! I can’t tell you how many times I put the book down for a moment to say “Wow! I did NOT see that coming!” I can’t think of a thing I would have changed show more about this book. It’s early in the year, but I won’t be at all surprised in December if I say that this is the best book I read in 2020!
I won an advanced copy of this book through the Library Thing Early Reviewers program. show less
The story is centered around two women and the man they loved. The man, Sam Mallory was an early aviator. Irene Foster was his protege who disappeared on an attempted circumnavigation flight. Janey Everett is a young photojournalist who has always been a fan of Sam’s, and now wants to write a book about him, but to do that, she needs the story from Irene, who she finds living in Hawaii.
The book is written in alternating times; present day 1947 and the years from 1928 until Irene disappeared. I found it interesting one chapter tells the present day story from Janey's point of view, then the next chapter is a chapter from Janey's book telling Irene's story from her point of view. Until I figured this out, I did have a little bit of an issue because the voice of Irene and the voice of Janey was very similar, but I think that is because the women were so similar; both strong women who knew how to get what they wanted.
The story had so many twists! I can’t tell you how many times I put the book down for a moment to say “Wow! I did NOT see that coming!” I can’t think of a thing I would have changed show more about this book. It’s early in the year, but I won’t be at all surprised in December if I say that this is the best book I read in 2020!
I won an advanced copy of this book through the Library Thing Early Reviewers program. show less
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
For me, this book was ‘meh’; ok, but nothing special. I didn’t quite get what I was expecting. I thought the book was going to be about the immigrant experience in the early 1800s. This was a family who immigrated from Ireland ca 1819. The mother immediatedly died in childbirth, and the father abandoned the remaining children soon after. From here, the story could have been about any family of struggling orphans of that time, whether or not they were recent immigrants. Instead the main focus of the story was about slavery; the injustice, the people risking their lives to either escape or aid escape. It was interesting, but I’d been looking forward to the immigrant story.
The focus aside, I found the book difficult to get through. At times the story would pick up steam, only to veer off again into a s-l-o-w moving portion. There were a lot of characters in the story; some with no real purpose. One example — after one brother attains some financial and social success, a cousin comes over from Ireland with proposition. It really didn’t add much to the story, and could have been omitted, allowing the story to progress more smoothly.
There was an epilogue of sorts; a chapter that jumped several decades into the future. Much of it was a rehash of the story, and much of it was confusing. It wasn’t satisfying in the way most epilogues are, but just made me antsy to get through it.
This wasn’t a terrible book; it just wasn’t one I was in the mood for. It may hit show more you differntly than it did me and become your ‘book of the year’ so give it a try!
I won a copy of this book through the Library Thing Early Reviewers program. show less
The focus aside, I found the book difficult to get through. At times the story would pick up steam, only to veer off again into a s-l-o-w moving portion. There were a lot of characters in the story; some with no real purpose. One example — after one brother attains some financial and social success, a cousin comes over from Ireland with proposition. It really didn’t add much to the story, and could have been omitted, allowing the story to progress more smoothly.
There was an epilogue of sorts; a chapter that jumped several decades into the future. Much of it was a rehash of the story, and much of it was confusing. It wasn’t satisfying in the way most epilogues are, but just made me antsy to get through it.
This wasn’t a terrible book; it just wasn’t one I was in the mood for. It may hit show more you differntly than it did me and become your ‘book of the year’ so give it a try!
I won a copy of this book through the Library Thing Early Reviewers program. show less
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
This was a good beach read that I was able to finish in a day. Tt was an easy read, with plenty of time spent at the beach or relaxing watching the ocean. Of course not everything was easy for the characters; most of them had problems they were dealing with. But since this was a ‘feel good’ type of story, you knew it would all turn out.
I can’t say this is a story that will stick with me for a long time, but i did enjoy it. I tired sometimes of the descriptoins of the food served at meal times, but I enjoyed the descriptions of the beach; the sounds, the smells, and the colors. While I enjoyed the story, i did find the last chapter, where we finally got to the wedding, was a little anti climactic. The book could have easily ended a chapter early and I wouldn’t have felt that I’d missed anything. If you are lookinig to get away to the beach, but can’t work it in right now, this book may provide a taste of the beach until you get there!
I won a copy of this book through the Library Thing Early Reviewers program.
I can’t say this is a story that will stick with me for a long time, but i did enjoy it. I tired sometimes of the descriptoins of the food served at meal times, but I enjoyed the descriptions of the beach; the sounds, the smells, and the colors. While I enjoyed the story, i did find the last chapter, where we finally got to the wedding, was a little anti climactic. The book could have easily ended a chapter early and I wouldn’t have felt that I’d missed anything. If you are lookinig to get away to the beach, but can’t work it in right now, this book may provide a taste of the beach until you get there!
I won a copy of this book through the Library Thing Early Reviewers program.
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
This was a book club selection, so I really wanted to finish it, even though I knew I could not be at the meeting this time. I tried the ebook, and then when it was apparent that I didn't have time to sit and read, I downloaded the audiobook for my commute. Unfortunately, it just didn't grab me. I gave up after getting about 20% into the book. My book club friends told me I didn't miss much, so the book is officially DNF!
I received an advance copy of this book through the Library Think Early Reviewers program. I chose the book because I’ve always been fascinated by the Titanic disaster, so am drawn to stories about other shipwrecks. I’d never heard about this one, the loss of the Asia on the Great Lakes, and the story about Christina sounded interesting and full of drama; after losing her twin brother to consumption, she runs away, because she believes her mother wishes she had died instead. I also expected that a romance would develop between Christina and the only other person to survive the shipwreck, a young man named Daniel.
However, the story left me disappointed. The story seemed to build up to a romance, and then the story just ended. There was a lot of tragedy to write about, but while the bodies stacked up, I never FELT the loss. I never connected with any of the characters, and I never really felt the fear or danger during the storm.
While the story wasn’t a total waste of my time, tt didn’t do many of the things that I expect in good historical fiction. The story was ok—but just ok. It didn’t leave a lasting impression and I don’t feel like I came away having learned something new. Most importantly, it certainly did not inspire me to learn more or to do my own research. This is not a book I’d recommend you move to the top or your list.
However, the story left me disappointed. The story seemed to build up to a romance, and then the story just ended. There was a lot of tragedy to write about, but while the bodies stacked up, I never FELT the loss. I never connected with any of the characters, and I never really felt the fear or danger during the storm.
While the story wasn’t a total waste of my time, tt didn’t do many of the things that I expect in good historical fiction. The story was ok—but just ok. It didn’t leave a lasting impression and I don’t feel like I came away having learned something new. Most importantly, it certainly did not inspire me to learn more or to do my own research. This is not a book I’d recommend you move to the top or your list.
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
I read this one almost a year and a half ago and have yet to review it. I just didn’t know what to say about it. I read it, but it was a very slow read and I never really connected to it. I’m not sure why, because it gets high ratings on the review sites.
It wasn’t a particuarly memorable story for me. The story reminds me a lot of The Guernsy Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—The setting is a small town in Great Britain during World War II. The people are facing hardship. They bond together and prove to be resilient. But still, there is a difference. I can’t put my finger on it, but I connected much more to ‘Guernsy’ and enjoyed it. ‘Guernsey' was a book club selection and often a good discussion improves how I feel about a book, so that may be part of why I feel that was a better book.
I won a copy of this book through the Library Thing Early Reviewers program.
It wasn’t a particuarly memorable story for me. The story reminds me a lot of The Guernsy Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—The setting is a small town in Great Britain during World War II. The people are facing hardship. They bond together and prove to be resilient. But still, there is a difference. I can’t put my finger on it, but I connected much more to ‘Guernsy’ and enjoyed it. ‘Guernsey' was a book club selection and often a good discussion improves how I feel about a book, so that may be part of why I feel that was a better book.
I won a copy of this book through the Library Thing Early Reviewers program.
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
This was a Feb 2019 Book ot the Month selection. It was billed as thriller, but to be honest, it wasn’t all that suspenseful.There was not a lot of suspense because we already know there was a murder 16 years ago, but there is a mystery, because the murderer has never been identified. Nevertheless, I did find it very interesting; almost ‘unputdownable’. I would call if more of a family drama with a touch of mystery.
The story reminds me a little of All The Missing Girls and the Long and Faraway Gone, where young woman solve confront cold case murders from the past. In this story, Sylvie is the younger sister who was 14 at the time of the murder of her older sister, Persephone, and Sylvie feels responsible. Her mother, who she was formerly close to, abandoned Sylive emotionally after Persephone’s death, submerging herself in drugs and alcohol.
There was a twist to the story that I guessed early on, maybe 50 pages in. But while I guessed the twist to the family drama, it could have gone 2 or 3 slightly different ways and I wasn’t sure which way it would go. The murderer was a little harder for me to figure out. The author did a pretty good job of playing ‘it was him….wait, no…it was him….wait, maybe it WAS him…’.
While I enjoyed the story, it left a few questions unanswered. These were not directly related to the murder, so it’s fair to say the story ended, but an epilogue telling a bit about the characters 5-10 years down the road would have left me show more feeling more satisfied with the book.
This is a great pick for readers who enjoy occasional mysteries and family dramas. This book will give book clubs plenty to discuss. There are discussion questions on the publisher’s website. show less
The story reminds me a little of All The Missing Girls and the Long and Faraway Gone, where young woman solve confront cold case murders from the past. In this story, Sylvie is the younger sister who was 14 at the time of the murder of her older sister, Persephone, and Sylvie feels responsible. Her mother, who she was formerly close to, abandoned Sylive emotionally after Persephone’s death, submerging herself in drugs and alcohol.
There was a twist to the story that I guessed early on, maybe 50 pages in. But while I guessed the twist to the family drama, it could have gone 2 or 3 slightly different ways and I wasn’t sure which way it would go. The murderer was a little harder for me to figure out. The author did a pretty good job of playing ‘it was him….wait, no…it was him….wait, maybe it WAS him…’.
While I enjoyed the story, it left a few questions unanswered. These were not directly related to the murder, so it’s fair to say the story ended, but an epilogue telling a bit about the characters 5-10 years down the road would have left me show more feeling more satisfied with the book.
This is a great pick for readers who enjoy occasional mysteries and family dramas. This book will give book clubs plenty to discuss. There are discussion questions on the publisher’s website. show less
I've had this book on my shelf for at least a year, and haven't gotten around to reading it until now. To be honest, even though I love the cover, and the synopsis is intriguing, I found the length of the book a little intimidating! Finally I picked it up and decided to trudge through it, and I'll admit it; after a quick start with the Jefferson family escaping from the British, the story began to drag a bit. But it quickly picked up again and I suspect the 'drag' was because I was getting to know the characters and the 'lay of the land'; where the plantations were located relative to each other. Once I got past that, the story moved very quickly.
I came to the book with a bit of knowledge—a very tiny bit—about Thomas Jefferson, but knew virtually nothing about his eldest daughter, Patsy Jefferson. What a strong woman she turned out to be! And while I'll always appreciate the sacrifices of Thomas Jefferson and his leadership in forming out nation, I now realize he was a flawed man.
The book was everything I ask of historical fiction. It is very well researched and the story flows smoothly. I learned something new (a lot actually!) and I was inspired to read more about it! The authors also included notes at the back of the book, explaining what liberties they took to move the story along—something I consider mandatory for a book to be good historical fiction! If you enjoy reading about our nation's early days and want to learn more about the women and men who played show more key roles, you definitely should add this book to your list!
I received this book as part of the Library Thing Early Reviewers program. show less
I came to the book with a bit of knowledge—a very tiny bit—about Thomas Jefferson, but knew virtually nothing about his eldest daughter, Patsy Jefferson. What a strong woman she turned out to be! And while I'll always appreciate the sacrifices of Thomas Jefferson and his leadership in forming out nation, I now realize he was a flawed man.
The book was everything I ask of historical fiction. It is very well researched and the story flows smoothly. I learned something new (a lot actually!) and I was inspired to read more about it! The authors also included notes at the back of the book, explaining what liberties they took to move the story along—something I consider mandatory for a book to be good historical fiction! If you enjoy reading about our nation's early days and want to learn more about the women and men who played show more key roles, you definitely should add this book to your list!
I received this book as part of the Library Thing Early Reviewers program. show less
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
Kick's brother, Joe, dies just weeks after her wedding, while her new husband is off at war. While she is still in NY mourning her brother and preparing to return to London, she learns her husband has also died. She returns to her work with the Red Cross in London
Review I’ve been wanting to read this for awhile, but hadn’t gotten to it. Last week, I'd finished my book club read and was on Overdrive looking for my next read when I came across this one on my wishlist. It was available so I checked it out. I’m really glad I did!
This book is exactly what I want from historical fiction! I learned something new—a lot, actually! Being a Boomer, I grew up knowing a lot about the Kennedy’s, but while I knew the name ‘Kathleen’, I really didn’t know much about her. In fact, until a few years ago, I think I had her and her older sister, Rosemary, fused into one person in my mind! So this was really an interesting read. The book also propelled me to Google, Wikipedia, etc. in search of more information! And I even picked up two ‘Kick’ Kennedy biographies at the library this weekend! Historical fiction at its best!
The story starts with Kick’s society debut, as she is presented to the King and Queen. I loved reading about the ‘requirements’ of society in the era, and how mother Rose positioned her family to be insinuated into society. In many ways the book reminded me of the ‘rules’ of Gilded Age society that I had just read about in A Well-Behaved Woman: show more A Novel of the Vanderbilts. Kick turns out to be a bit of a rebel, falling in love with a Protestant who would be exactly what her mother was looking for in a son-in-law had he been a Catholic. Her mother, and to a leser extent, her father, go to great links to keep the couple apart. I guess I was a little surprised to learn just how rigid her mother was, not only about this, but about many other things. While she had a reputation as a great mother with an ideal family, that was a smoke and mirrors image. She often placed appearances and her desires before her children’s well-being, at least in this story.
It was also interesting to read about the events leading up to WWII, especially from the perspective of the British. Father Joe Kennedy was the US Ambassodor to Britain at the time, so Kick was in London with her family in the years leading up to the war. One thing that really surprised me was the calm approach Londoners took to the bombings. They were prepared, and it was always in the back of there minds, but they seemed to take it in stride, going about their lives as normally as they could under the circumstances. I guess I’d pictured them as cowering in shelters just waiting for the next bombs to fall. I’m sure I would have!
Really, I can’t think of anything I didn’t like about the book. Rose was not a pleasant person, and of course I didn’t like the ending, but this story is based on fact, and a lot of times facts aren’t happy. If you are curious about Kathleen, a Kennedy afficiando, or just want to read more about the atmosphere in the times leading up to the war, pick up this book! You won’t be sorry!
ebook borrowed from library show less
Review I’ve been wanting to read this for awhile, but hadn’t gotten to it. Last week, I'd finished my book club read and was on Overdrive looking for my next read when I came across this one on my wishlist. It was available so I checked it out. I’m really glad I did!
This book is exactly what I want from historical fiction! I learned something new—a lot, actually! Being a Boomer, I grew up knowing a lot about the Kennedy’s, but while I knew the name ‘Kathleen’, I really didn’t know much about her. In fact, until a few years ago, I think I had her and her older sister, Rosemary, fused into one person in my mind! So this was really an interesting read. The book also propelled me to Google, Wikipedia, etc. in search of more information! And I even picked up two ‘Kick’ Kennedy biographies at the library this weekend! Historical fiction at its best!
The story starts with Kick’s society debut, as she is presented to the King and Queen. I loved reading about the ‘requirements’ of society in the era, and how mother Rose positioned her family to be insinuated into society. In many ways the book reminded me of the ‘rules’ of Gilded Age society that I had just read about in A Well-Behaved Woman: show more A Novel of the Vanderbilts. Kick turns out to be a bit of a rebel, falling in love with a Protestant who would be exactly what her mother was looking for in a son-in-law had he been a Catholic. Her mother, and to a leser extent, her father, go to great links to keep the couple apart. I guess I was a little surprised to learn just how rigid her mother was, not only about this, but about many other things. While she had a reputation as a great mother with an ideal family, that was a smoke and mirrors image. She often placed appearances and her desires before her children’s well-being, at least in this story.
It was also interesting to read about the events leading up to WWII, especially from the perspective of the British. Father Joe Kennedy was the US Ambassodor to Britain at the time, so Kick was in London with her family in the years leading up to the war. One thing that really surprised me was the calm approach Londoners took to the bombings. They were prepared, and it was always in the back of there minds, but they seemed to take it in stride, going about their lives as normally as they could under the circumstances. I guess I’d pictured them as cowering in shelters just waiting for the next bombs to fall. I’m sure I would have!
Really, I can’t think of anything I didn’t like about the book. Rose was not a pleasant person, and of course I didn’t like the ending, but this story is based on fact, and a lot of times facts aren’t happy. If you are curious about Kathleen, a Kennedy afficiando, or just want to read more about the atmosphere in the times leading up to the war, pick up this book! You won’t be sorry!
ebook borrowed from library show less
I read this one for an online book club I participate in. I’d heard good things about it, but didn’t have it high on my to read list, so I probably would not have gotten to it for a long time. That would have been sad, because I very much enjoyed the book.
This is historical fiction based on the life of Alva Smith Vanderbilt Belmont. Alva came from a good family, a well-respected family, but a family that had suffered financial reversals. Her mother was dead and her father quite ill, so Alva and her younger sisters had no means of support. Alva saw it as her duty to marry well so that her sisters would not go hungry. She set her sights on Willam Vanderbilt, a son of the wealthy Vanderbilt family. Unlike the Smiths, the Vanderbilts had plenty of money, but no social standiing. All of their money could not buy their way into High Society, led by Mrs. Astor. Consequently, William was all for a marriage with Alva, who he saw as the ticket to his family’s entrance into society.
The bulk of the story takes place during the years of Alva’s marriage to William, and her journey into the upper ranks of society. It is a fascinating look into the workings of high society at the time; who was out and who was in, marriages of convenience, unfaithfulness, and partying. The Vanderbilts were know for building lavish mansions, some of which still stand today. Alva was very involved in the design of her family’s mansion, and reading the details of the planning and architecture were show more fascinating. (I’ve added The Last Castle: The Epic Story of Love, Loss, and American Royalty in the Nation's Largest Home, the story of Willam’s brother Georges home, Biltmore, to my reading list!)
I learned a lot from reading this novel—a keynote of good historical fiction for me. I had not realized that the Vanderbilts were not considered ‘good enough’ to be admitted into upper echelons of society. And while I knew the name Vanderbilt, I mostly knew them as a wealthy family whose descendants include Gloria Vanderbilt and her son, Anderson Cooper. I was not aware that many of the well-known institutions of today are associated with them—Vanderbilt University, Madison Square Gardens, the Belmont Stakes (this is actually associated with Alva’s second husband), among them.
After the death of her second husband, Alva became involved in the women’s sufferage movement, however the book barely touches on this aspect of Alva’s life. While she was well-respected by suffragettes, it seems others did not hold her in high esteem. I would have liked to have learned more about this aspect of her life.
This will make a great selection for book clubs, both those that want to have a serious discussion about social mores of the day and those that are just looking for a fun read!
I read a ebook copy of this book that I borrowed from the library show less
This is historical fiction based on the life of Alva Smith Vanderbilt Belmont. Alva came from a good family, a well-respected family, but a family that had suffered financial reversals. Her mother was dead and her father quite ill, so Alva and her younger sisters had no means of support. Alva saw it as her duty to marry well so that her sisters would not go hungry. She set her sights on Willam Vanderbilt, a son of the wealthy Vanderbilt family. Unlike the Smiths, the Vanderbilts had plenty of money, but no social standiing. All of their money could not buy their way into High Society, led by Mrs. Astor. Consequently, William was all for a marriage with Alva, who he saw as the ticket to his family’s entrance into society.
The bulk of the story takes place during the years of Alva’s marriage to William, and her journey into the upper ranks of society. It is a fascinating look into the workings of high society at the time; who was out and who was in, marriages of convenience, unfaithfulness, and partying. The Vanderbilts were know for building lavish mansions, some of which still stand today. Alva was very involved in the design of her family’s mansion, and reading the details of the planning and architecture were show more fascinating. (I’ve added The Last Castle: The Epic Story of Love, Loss, and American Royalty in the Nation's Largest Home, the story of Willam’s brother Georges home, Biltmore, to my reading list!)
I learned a lot from reading this novel—a keynote of good historical fiction for me. I had not realized that the Vanderbilts were not considered ‘good enough’ to be admitted into upper echelons of society. And while I knew the name Vanderbilt, I mostly knew them as a wealthy family whose descendants include Gloria Vanderbilt and her son, Anderson Cooper. I was not aware that many of the well-known institutions of today are associated with them—Vanderbilt University, Madison Square Gardens, the Belmont Stakes (this is actually associated with Alva’s second husband), among them.
After the death of her second husband, Alva became involved in the women’s sufferage movement, however the book barely touches on this aspect of Alva’s life. While she was well-respected by suffragettes, it seems others did not hold her in high esteem. I would have liked to have learned more about this aspect of her life.
This will make a great selection for book clubs, both those that want to have a serious discussion about social mores of the day and those that are just looking for a fun read!
I read a ebook copy of this book that I borrowed from the library show less
When I saw that Reading Group Gold was offering ARCs of this book I grabbed it. The synopsis reminded me a bit of Five Days Left and Still Alice. While I didn’t like it quite as much as I did those, it was a fantastic read! In this story two young people are suffering from different forms of dementia: Anna has early onset Alzheimer’s which results in progressive memory loss for her, and Luke has frontotemporal dementia which results in his slowly losing his ability to speak coherently. There is also a secondary story of Eve Bennett who suddenly finds herself with financial difficulties and a young child to care for. Though she is a trained chef, she takes a job as a cook at the assisted living facility where Anna and Luke live in order to keep her daughter at the school she loves.
I thought the author presented a very realistic picture of what it must be like for people coping with dementia, both as patient and as caregiver. While at times Anna was completely lucid and able to reason, at other times, she was disoriented and unable to function. This of course go worse as time progressed. It was interesting to see Anna was able to recognize that she was no longer thinking clearly and to understand why this was happening. This was very frustrating, not only for Anna, who knew she was not always making sense, but also for her family, who while they knew why this was happening, still couldn’t quite grasp how much she had deteriorates. I also enjoyed many of the show more characters we met, especially the older married couple, Laurie and Clara, who shared a suite at the assisted living center, and Bert, the ‘grumpy old man’ with a soft heart!
The secondary story of Eve was one I didn’t enjoy so much. While I appreciated Eve’s ability to see through the disease and appreciate Anna and all the residents as people, I thought some of her actions were unrealistic, and the resolution came about a little too easily. At the same time, I felt that her story was left up in the air, and we don’t really know what happened down the road with her romantic interest.
Despite this minor short-coming, I enjoyed the book very much! This was a story of hope and redemption that showed us that even when very bad things happen, good things can come out of it. This will be another great pick for book clubs to discuss, with topics ranging from ‘what would you do’ as one of the characters, to what makes a person’s life worth living, priorities, and more! I found a discussion guide online at Book Browse, but I think a group could have a great discussion centered around this book even with no guide!
My Rating: ★★★★½ 4½ Stars
I received an Advanced Reader’s Edition of this book from Reading Group Gold. show less
I thought the author presented a very realistic picture of what it must be like for people coping with dementia, both as patient and as caregiver. While at times Anna was completely lucid and able to reason, at other times, she was disoriented and unable to function. This of course go worse as time progressed. It was interesting to see Anna was able to recognize that she was no longer thinking clearly and to understand why this was happening. This was very frustrating, not only for Anna, who knew she was not always making sense, but also for her family, who while they knew why this was happening, still couldn’t quite grasp how much she had deteriorates. I also enjoyed many of the show more characters we met, especially the older married couple, Laurie and Clara, who shared a suite at the assisted living center, and Bert, the ‘grumpy old man’ with a soft heart!
The secondary story of Eve was one I didn’t enjoy so much. While I appreciated Eve’s ability to see through the disease and appreciate Anna and all the residents as people, I thought some of her actions were unrealistic, and the resolution came about a little too easily. At the same time, I felt that her story was left up in the air, and we don’t really know what happened down the road with her romantic interest.
Despite this minor short-coming, I enjoyed the book very much! This was a story of hope and redemption that showed us that even when very bad things happen, good things can come out of it. This will be another great pick for book clubs to discuss, with topics ranging from ‘what would you do’ as one of the characters, to what makes a person’s life worth living, priorities, and more! I found a discussion guide online at Book Browse, but I think a group could have a great discussion centered around this book even with no guide!
My Rating: ★★★★½ 4½ Stars
I received an Advanced Reader’s Edition of this book from Reading Group Gold. show less
Wow! This book was not what I expected! And I mean that in the best possible way! I’d read and enjoyed previous books by Joshilyn Jackson, so as soon as I saw she had a new one, I was interested. And I expected to be entertained, so that wasn’t a surprise. What DID surprise me was how much depth the story had! I mean, if you only want to read it as a quick summer read, you can do that and enjoy it, and it won’t take you more than a couple of sittings to finish it!
But there is so much more going on in this book if you want to dig deeper. There is the story of 2 little old ladies who are best friends and protective of one another. There is the mystery of the bones in the long hidden trunk in the attic. There is the broken marriage and the teenage girl dealing with paternal abandonement. There is an unexpected pregnancy after a one-night stand complete with biracial child. And the story even has Batman! Book clubs are going to love this one!
I really connected with the characters and cared what happened to them, especially Wattie and Birchie, the two little old ladies, and Leia and Batman. I also love the cover! It kept me guessing awhile though about the sisters on the cover. Are they the little old ladies in the youth, or Leia and her step-sister Rachel?
This will be a fun summer selection for books clubs with a plot that you can move through quickly to finish in a sitting or two, but enough depth to lead to interesting discussions!
Visit the publisher’s website to show more read an excerpt or download a reader’s guide. You can view a book trailer below.
This book review is included in a tour by TLC Book Tours. I was provided a copy for review purposes. show less
But there is so much more going on in this book if you want to dig deeper. There is the story of 2 little old ladies who are best friends and protective of one another. There is the mystery of the bones in the long hidden trunk in the attic. There is the broken marriage and the teenage girl dealing with paternal abandonement. There is an unexpected pregnancy after a one-night stand complete with biracial child. And the story even has Batman! Book clubs are going to love this one!
I really connected with the characters and cared what happened to them, especially Wattie and Birchie, the two little old ladies, and Leia and Batman. I also love the cover! It kept me guessing awhile though about the sisters on the cover. Are they the little old ladies in the youth, or Leia and her step-sister Rachel?
This will be a fun summer selection for books clubs with a plot that you can move through quickly to finish in a sitting or two, but enough depth to lead to interesting discussions!
Visit the publisher’s website to show more read an excerpt or download a reader’s guide. You can view a book trailer below.
This book review is included in a tour by TLC Book Tours. I was provided a copy for review purposes. show less
This one was a disappointment to me. I received a copy from the Penguin First To Read program, and picked it because it appeared to be a good summer read, complete with a family vacationing on a beautiful island. Unfortunately, the book got off to a slow start and never really picked up. The highlight of this book was the description of the scenery.
The Post family is incredibly dysfunctional. Jim has recently lost his job due to a very poor decision he made. He is married to Franny, who is ready to leave him because of his mistake. She is justifiably angry, and normally I would be in her corner, but within the first few pages, I began to wonder why Jim was even worried about her staying. He should have been out of there long ago! She is self-centered, loud, and controlling. Their son Bobby is a needy, 20-something, who brings his 40 year old live-in girlfriend, Carmen, along on the vacation. They have been together for quite some time, but Carmen is still treated like an unwanted outsider, tolerated but not welcomed. Daughter Sylvia has just graduated high school, dislikes everyone from her school and can’t wait to move on from them, and seems to have the sole goal of losing her virginity on vacation. Accompanying them on vacation are Franny’s gay friend, Charles, and his husband, Lawrence, who is about the only semi-likeable character in the book! This is about as dislikeable a cast of characters as I’ve come across.
While there is some resolution of the problems show more at the end of the book, it comes just a bit too neatly.
Just one example, Lawrence really wants to adopt a child but Charles is not sure he is on board with that, and neither of them really hold out much hope that as a gay couple, they will be chosen as adoptive parents anyway. Miraculously, by the end of the two weeks, a baby has become available to them and Charles is completely ready for this baby to come into their lives. I don’t remember him ever even discussing his hesitation with Lawrence!
This book did not work for me, but if you take a look at Goodreads, you will see ratings are all over the place. Just because I didn’t like the book does not mean you will not like it. Read through some of the reviews on Goodreads and at First To Read to help you decide if this book is for you!
I received an advanced review copy of this book through the Penguin First To Read program in return for an honest review. show less
The Post family is incredibly dysfunctional. Jim has recently lost his job due to a very poor decision he made. He is married to Franny, who is ready to leave him because of his mistake. She is justifiably angry, and normally I would be in her corner, but within the first few pages, I began to wonder why Jim was even worried about her staying. He should have been out of there long ago! She is self-centered, loud, and controlling. Their son Bobby is a needy, 20-something, who brings his 40 year old live-in girlfriend, Carmen, along on the vacation. They have been together for quite some time, but Carmen is still treated like an unwanted outsider, tolerated but not welcomed. Daughter Sylvia has just graduated high school, dislikes everyone from her school and can’t wait to move on from them, and seems to have the sole goal of losing her virginity on vacation. Accompanying them on vacation are Franny’s gay friend, Charles, and his husband, Lawrence, who is about the only semi-likeable character in the book! This is about as dislikeable a cast of characters as I’ve come across.
While there is some resolution of the problems show more at the end of the book, it comes just a bit too neatly.
This book did not work for me, but if you take a look at Goodreads, you will see ratings are all over the place. Just because I didn’t like the book does not mean you will not like it. Read through some of the reviews on Goodreads and at First To Read to help you decide if this book is for you!
I received an advanced review copy of this book through the Penguin First To Read program in return for an honest review. show less
Becoming the Talbot Sisters: A Novel of Two Sisters and the Courage that Unites Them by Rachel Linden
I like reading stories about sisters and especially twin sisters, so the title called to me immediately, and the synopsis sealed the deal. Waverly and Charlie are twins who were very close growing up, but have become, if not exactly estranged, at least very distant with one another. Both have secrets they have kept from the other twin, something that was unheard of while they were growing up! Waverly wants to become a mother very badly, but cannot have children. Charlie has a dark secret of failure and personal shame that she has kept from her sister. When they come together at the Aunt Mae’s funeral, they begin to bridge the rift when Charlie offers to carry a baby for Waverly.
There are some unexpected complications along the way, some of which seem a little unrealistic, but still make for an interesting story. Parts a little predictable but that doesn’t damage the story; I expected the outcome, but enjoyed the journey anyway. One thing I did appreciate was that the author provided an epilogue. While I might have enjoyed a few more detail on HOW the characters got to where they were, I can honestly say there are no questions that were left unanswered.
This is a quick read and one of those books that can be read on different levels, which means it will be a great selection for book clubs. You can read this as an individual and enjoy the story, but if you want to go deeper with your book club, you will find plenty to discuss, from surrogacy, to sex trafficking, to show more family relationships, and more. I read an ARC and there is space left for discussion questions at the end which book clubs may find helpful.
This is classified as Christian fiction, from a Christian publisher, but there is nothing that smacks you in the face shouting ‘I am a Christian book!’ There are a couple of scenes in church and recurring references to Aunt Mae’s motto: Whatever the Good Lord puts in you hand you give back to others. Those are pretty subtle and probably few people would notice or feel offended by them, however a group with a Christian slant could find enough in the book to fuel a discussion of how their values apply in this book. show less
There are some unexpected complications along the way, some of which seem a little unrealistic, but still make for an interesting story. Parts a little predictable but that doesn’t damage the story; I expected the outcome, but enjoyed the journey anyway. One thing I did appreciate was that the author provided an epilogue. While I might have enjoyed a few more detail on HOW the characters got to where they were, I can honestly say there are no questions that were left unanswered.
This is a quick read and one of those books that can be read on different levels, which means it will be a great selection for book clubs. You can read this as an individual and enjoy the story, but if you want to go deeper with your book club, you will find plenty to discuss, from surrogacy, to sex trafficking, to show more family relationships, and more. I read an ARC and there is space left for discussion questions at the end which book clubs may find helpful.
This is classified as Christian fiction, from a Christian publisher, but there is nothing that smacks you in the face shouting ‘I am a Christian book!’ There are a couple of scenes in church and recurring references to Aunt Mae’s motto: Whatever the Good Lord puts in you hand you give back to others. Those are pretty subtle and probably few people would notice or feel offended by them, however a group with a Christian slant could find enough in the book to fuel a discussion of how their values apply in this book. show less
I had this one on my TBR for a long time. I’d heard good things about it and it was a recurrent selection for various book clubs hosted by our library system, so I knew I wanted to read it. When our book club realized that several of us had the book on our lists, AND that the movie version is set to be released later this summer, we decided to make it one of our 2018 book club selections..
Sadly, after that build-up I really didn’t enjoy the book much. One thing was the writing style, a epistolary novel written as a series of letters between the main character, Juliet, and other characters in the book. While I think this worked great as an introduction to the story, after a while it became tedious and made it difficult to discern between the characters.
That was another issue for me—keeping the characters straight. In particular, it was hard for me to distinguish between Eben and Dawsey for much of the book. There were just too many characters introduced too early for me to keep them straight.
Another problem for me was the slow pace of the story. Had it not been a selection for my book club, I’m sure I would have given up on it. As it was, I didn’t get finished before my book club meeting, but pushed myself to get to the second part of the book. At that point, the pace picked up, the story got more interesting, and I was able to finish that evening. Unfortunately, just when I finally felt like the story got started—it ended!
The book is classified as historical show more fiction, but it is not historical fiction at its best. I would classify it as ‘period fiction’; set in a particular period. I didn’t really learn much from the book (other than that Guernsey cows really originated in a place called Guernsey) and I wasn’t inspired to learn more about the period. Admittedly, that may be due to the fact that I read the ‘Deluxe Reading Group Addition’ that was well annotated, giving information about people, events and places mentioned in the book. I actually enjoyed the annotations more than the story! However, that probably slowed my reading and made the story appear more disjointed than it was. I’m not sure whether I’d recommend the annotated edition or not, so use your own judgement here!
One thing I did enjoy were some of the quotes about books that most readers will relate to. Here are a couple I liked.
About a visit to the local bookstore...
“always finding the one book I wanted—and then three more I hadn’t known I wanted”
“It was a sad wrench to part with the Selected Essays of Elia. I had two copies and a dire need of shelf-room, but I felt like a traitor selling it”About giving away a favorite book....
In fairness, I do have to mention that, as often happens, my book club rated the book much differently than I did. There were only four of us in attendance, and the ratings were 4, 4.5, and 5. After finishing the book yesterday, I give it a 2.5, for a book club average rating of 4. show less
Sadly, after that build-up I really didn’t enjoy the book much. One thing was the writing style, a epistolary novel written as a series of letters between the main character, Juliet, and other characters in the book. While I think this worked great as an introduction to the story, after a while it became tedious and made it difficult to discern between the characters.
That was another issue for me—keeping the characters straight. In particular, it was hard for me to distinguish between Eben and Dawsey for much of the book. There were just too many characters introduced too early for me to keep them straight.
Another problem for me was the slow pace of the story. Had it not been a selection for my book club, I’m sure I would have given up on it. As it was, I didn’t get finished before my book club meeting, but pushed myself to get to the second part of the book. At that point, the pace picked up, the story got more interesting, and I was able to finish that evening. Unfortunately, just when I finally felt like the story got started—it ended!
The book is classified as historical show more fiction, but it is not historical fiction at its best. I would classify it as ‘period fiction’; set in a particular period. I didn’t really learn much from the book (other than that Guernsey cows really originated in a place called Guernsey) and I wasn’t inspired to learn more about the period. Admittedly, that may be due to the fact that I read the ‘Deluxe Reading Group Addition’ that was well annotated, giving information about people, events and places mentioned in the book. I actually enjoyed the annotations more than the story! However, that probably slowed my reading and made the story appear more disjointed than it was. I’m not sure whether I’d recommend the annotated edition or not, so use your own judgement here!
One thing I did enjoy were some of the quotes about books that most readers will relate to. Here are a couple I liked.
About a visit to the local bookstore...
“always finding the one book I wanted—and then three more I hadn’t known I wanted”
“It was a sad wrench to part with the Selected Essays of Elia. I had two copies and a dire need of shelf-room, but I felt like a traitor selling it”About giving away a favorite book....
In fairness, I do have to mention that, as often happens, my book club rated the book much differently than I did. There were only four of us in attendance, and the ratings were 4, 4.5, and 5. After finishing the book yesterday, I give it a 2.5, for a book club average rating of 4. show less
I read a preview of this one on the First Look Book Club and and could not put it down. The terror felt by the teacher and her students hiding in the closet while listening to the gunshots felt so real to mel, as did the terror of the mother when she did not find her other son waiting in the church with the other survivors. I read the preview morning of February 14. Just hours later that day, I learned of yet another school shooting, this time at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. I was not ready at that point to continue reading the book, but I did put it on reserve. It came in from my library a few weeks later and I finished the book in two days. The terror and emotions still felt real, as did the thoughts of Zach, the 1st grader who survived the shooting, but lost his brother.
Obviously, this was not a fun read, but it was a good read. We followed a family in recovery, hurting so bad that they were not able to give other members of the family the support that was needed. We saw the different ways that different family members attempted to deal with their grief. I especially liked how the book was written from the point of view of 7-year-old Zach, who witnessed a lot of things in his family that he just could not understand, but tried to. For the most part, his voice sounded authentic, though there were a few times when he sounded much older than his 7 years. He occasionally used a word that would make me stop and think “How does a first grader show more know that word?” Admittedly, I’ve done the same with my own kids, so maybe we just aren’t giving kids credit for what they know. But in his innocence, his observations were spot on, for example, when he wondered at his brother’s funeral why his daddy said Andy always made him happy and he was always proud of him, when Zach knew that wasn’t true.
At first I was sympathetic towards Zach’s mother, Melissa. She had just lost a child and was grief-stricken. But after a short while, my sympathies were with Zach’s father, who finally seemed to get that Zach was hurting and needed his father to put his own grief on hold. Melissa, on the other hand, went on the attack, trying to get revenge on the shooter’s parents, and making Zach an afterthought while she contined her crusade. Everything was probably wrapped up a little too quickly, but it did make a good story.
This will be a great book club selection for clubs that are looking for something topical, and can discuss the questions with respect when there are conflicting opinions. Some of the topics are obvious; how to prevent school shootings, who is responsible when a shooting occurs, the process of grieving, etc. There is also a reader’s guide at the back of the book.
If you do decide to read this one, and are interested in pairing it with a nonfiction book about gun violence, take a look at Another Day in the Death of America by Gary Younge. show less
Obviously, this was not a fun read, but it was a good read. We followed a family in recovery, hurting so bad that they were not able to give other members of the family the support that was needed. We saw the different ways that different family members attempted to deal with their grief. I especially liked how the book was written from the point of view of 7-year-old Zach, who witnessed a lot of things in his family that he just could not understand, but tried to. For the most part, his voice sounded authentic, though there were a few times when he sounded much older than his 7 years. He occasionally used a word that would make me stop and think “How does a first grader show more know that word?” Admittedly, I’ve done the same with my own kids, so maybe we just aren’t giving kids credit for what they know. But in his innocence, his observations were spot on, for example, when he wondered at his brother’s funeral why his daddy said Andy always made him happy and he was always proud of him, when Zach knew that wasn’t true.
At first I was sympathetic towards Zach’s mother, Melissa. She had just lost a child and was grief-stricken. But after a short while, my sympathies were with Zach’s father, who finally seemed to get that Zach was hurting and needed his father to put his own grief on hold. Melissa, on the other hand, went on the attack, trying to get revenge on the shooter’s parents, and making Zach an afterthought while she contined her crusade. Everything was probably wrapped up a little too quickly, but it did make a good story.
This will be a great book club selection for clubs that are looking for something topical, and can discuss the questions with respect when there are conflicting opinions. Some of the topics are obvious; how to prevent school shootings, who is responsible when a shooting occurs, the process of grieving, etc. There is also a reader’s guide at the back of the book.
If you do decide to read this one, and are interested in pairing it with a nonfiction book about gun violence, take a look at Another Day in the Death of America by Gary Younge. show less