The Life She Was Given by Ellen Marie Wiseman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Life She Was Given is a frustrating and sad story about a young girl who is forced to stay in her parent's attack and then she is sold off to the circus. The author's descriptions of the 'Freak Show' characters and their lifestyle is vivid and shocking. The young girl, Lilly faces unimaginable abuse, yet she still manages to have a deep compassion, especially for animals. The author alternates between the story of Lilly and the story of Julia, another young girl who faced the cruelty of her parents. After the death of her parents, Julia begins to unravel a mystery about a sister who died, but she struggles to make sense of the clues she discovers.
I really enjoyed this book, and the only reason I am giving it 4 stars is because the ending felt awkward, the resolution dragged on and left the reader with so many unanswered questions.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fiction.
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Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This haunting tale will stay with you long after you finish reading, especially when you realize the story is based on real events that actually occurred. The book is split into a modern day story and a story set in 1930's Memphis Tennessee. Twelve year old Rill and her little siblings were happily raised on the Mississippi River by two loving parents, but when something goes wrong with her mother's pregnancy Rill is left to fend for her siblings as her parents rush off to the hospital. Rill and the children are taken by the police and brought to the Tennessee Children's Home Society, an orphanage run by a despicable person named Miss Tann. The children there are mistreated and sold into illegal private adoptions. Rill is powerless as she watches her siblings being taken from her. Avery Stafford was born into wealth and privilege, her father the esteemed Senator is grooming Avery for her eventual turn to run for office. Avery faces pressure from her family to carry on the Stafford name, and she struggles to meet everyone's expectations until she has an encounter with a very strange woman in a nursing home named May Weathers. Avery begins to uncover a connection between May Weathers and her grandmother, and she knows she has to uncover the truth. This story is captivating. At times I felt like reaching through the pages to comfort these poor children and to fight the injustice they faced. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
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A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed “A Gentleman in Moscow”. This story had captivating characters and the writing was superb. The author’s descriptions were so vivid; reading became an experience for my senses. I could almost taste the food as I read. After the Russian revolution, the main character, the Count, is living in the Metropol hotel under house arrest, yet he manages to have such a full life. The Count lives through significant political and cultural changes in his beloved Russia, and yet he is able to remain positive and always a gentleman. This story is lengthy, at 480 pages, but the story never lags. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fiction.
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