Last Christmas in Paris: A Novel of World War I by Hazel Gaynor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this lovely book. The story is told primarily through letters that Evie sends to her brother Will and his best friend Thomas during The Great War. These letters start more formally, with every hope for a quick victory so the soldiers can soon return home, but as the war drags on, the letters become an important connection between the war front and the home front. As the letters progress it is clear that Evie and Thomas have strong feelings for each other, but the struggles of war are ever present. Through the letters we get to know each character and feel their pain of loss, their love of literature, and the unique positions they are each in as they endure this war to end all wars. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves historical fiction.
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Greece - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture by Constantine Buhayer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I picked out this book thinking that it was a simple guide for tourists, but it is actually a deeper look into the culture, history and customs of Greece and the Greek people. Although the information is interesting and even helpful at times, the author presents much of the information as absolute fact, when it is actually more opinion-based (which is something the author says is quite common in Greece). Despite not having the usually tourist info I was hoping for, I did enjoy hearing more about the personality of everyday Greeks and the author's suggestions for successfully navigating the social and cultural aspects of this wonderful country.
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Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I am a big fan of Liane Moriarty's books and I was excited to read her newest work, but sadly this new book was definitely not my favorite. The story idea is interesting, Nine different people who all come to a fancy health resort for a variety of different reasons attempting to change or improve their lives, but then things begin to get very strange and the owner of the health resort decides to challenge the guests to reach a higher level of transformation by locking the guests in a basement...and then things get really strange. Overall the story felt extremely odd and forced at times. There were too many characters so it took awhile to feel any genuine connection with them and the story itself took such strange and bizarre turns. I kept reading, hoping for the interesting twist that Moriarty often puts in her stories, but the events that unfolded were just too bizarre to relate to.
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Mistletoe at Moonglow by Deborah Garner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Mistletoe at Moonglow is sweet holiday escape, describing the challenges of a small group of travelers who plan to spend their holiday at the unique Timberton Hotel. The story was short but charming, with a cast of interesting characters. The central character, Mist, has the magic touch helping to create the perfect holiday for the guests. This light-hearted short novella is the perfect way to get in the holiday mood.
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A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Author Jodi Picoult has never been afraid to take on controversial topics, but this may be her most provocative book so far, digging deeply into the many nuances surrounding a woman's choice to end a pregnancy. The story is centered around fictional"The Center"- the sole provider of abortions in Mississippi and the many women who just happened to be there on the day a crazed gunman entered the Center and began shooting. Each of the men and women in the Center has a story that the author expertly shares as she weaves the narrative of the events and the decisions that led each person to be in that building that day. Two of the people in the the Center happen to be the daughter and Aunt of the police negotiator, tasked with finding a solution to save the hostages and prevent more bloodshed. I found the book to be fast-paced and it kept me reading long into the night just to see what would happen next. The topic is emotionally charged, yet the author manages to make each woman's story unique and deeply personal.
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Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I found this quirky little book on a list of Christmas stories and I decided to try it; I am so glad I did. Dash and Lily are two very charming and decidedly unique teenagers who begin communicating with each other through a series of interesting clues involving a red journal. Dash and Lily are both without their families in New York City during Christmas and their connection through the red notebook links them to each other in a charming and sometimes surprising way. I really enjoyed this sweet little story. A very fast read, it is a perfect holiday escape.
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Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed the story of Kya, the marsh girl. This beautifully written book is a love story with nature and despite Kya's tragic upbringing, she manages to survive alone in the marsh for much of her life. Kya finds love only to have her heart broken. The beautiful descriptions of the plants and animals in the marsh add to the unique story of Kya. When a dead body is found, Kya becomes the main suspect. Once again Reese Witherspoon has found an incredible choice for her book club and I would highly recommend this book to others.
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Beautiful Exiles by Meg Waite Clayton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I have always been interested in history, so this story with larger-than-life Ernest Hemingway, set across a decade of world events was interesting, but I found the writing itself to be difficult to follow at times. Martha Gellhorn is an interesting character, but the author presents her as confused and scared, rather than the dynamic and courageous war correspondent that she was. Fans of Hemingway will be disappointed to see how the author presents him as a petulant child and raging alcoholic. I would recommend reading this book if you love history, but it would not be my first choice.
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The Girl from Krakow by Alex Rosenberg
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I have to admit I struggled to get through this book, it was long and really seemed to drag on in places. This historical epic gave insight into the Spanish Civil war, the rising factions in the communist movement, and of course the rise of the Nazis. Through all of this, the main character Rita was not especially likable. There were some parts I enjoyed, but overall this was not a book I would highly recommend.
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If You Ask Me: And of Course You Won't by Betty White
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed the short and sweet book with rambling conversation from the affable star of TV. Betty recorded the book herself, which is what makes this little book so enjoyable. There is no plot, just random thoughts that Betty chooses to share about herself and her life, or really any topic that she finds interesting. What a great way to spend a couple hours.
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The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
With all the buzz about the new Hulu series, I knew I had to read the book before I could watch any of it so I finally made the time and wow, this book is incredibly disturbing. The future that Margaret Atwood describes is horrifying, and her depiction of the personal story of one of handmaids, Offred, is both poignant and shocking. The ability of the regime to break down social barriers so quickly, and regress women to a state of only being worthwhile as long as they can bear children is frightening. This dystopian future is the stuff of nightmares, and Atwood's ability to share the emotional struggle of the handmaids is phenomenal. It is hard to say I would recommend this book, because I think only certain audiences would truly appreciate the depth of emotion and the nuance that fills these pages. Atwood is brilliant and a future where handmaids are possible should be terrifying to all of us.
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What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I am struggling to find the words to adequately review this book because it felt unlike so many other books I have read. I found parts of the book fantastic, but at other times it seemed repetitive and off topic. Overall, listening to this book felt like sitting with a close friend and talking about the election and everything that went on. I didn't find this book as politically divisive as all of the cable news shows, I found this to be a personal reflection, almost like reading her journal or diary of the past two years. There was some defensiveness, and although she was careful in her phrasing, there are still clearly some hard feelings about some individuals, but overall I found this book very interesting and it added a new layer of knowledge about the events of the Presidential election from Hilary's unique point of view.
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The American Spirit by David McCullough
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is a collection of speeches made by the author, and they are a perfect antidote to the partisan bickering that currently fills our media. David McCullough is not only a respected historian, he is a lover of words. His speeches show the depth of his passion for history and his admiration for the unique characters of the men and women throughout our history that have made us who we are. Although many of the speeches are from a decade or more ago, they continue to be relevant today. The wisdom offered by Mr McCullough is inspiring. I listened to the audiobook so I was able to enjoy the speeches in the authors own voice. I highly recommend this book, especially at a time like the present when we all need a reminder of the many courageous individuals who have contributed so much to this country.
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Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This story is a haunting look at the lives of four young women in New York City in the 70's. The lyric writing style is beautiful but at times very confusing. I know this book has many glowing reviews, but for me the writing style with short choppy thoughts and sentences and rapid switching from different time periods made it hard to follow. I wanted to know more of what August, the main character, was thinking and feeling. The author left so many thoughts incomplete, as a reader I was confused and had so many questions.
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Fat Girl on a Plane by Kelly deVos
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The story begins with Cookie Vonn, the main character, as she is forced to purchase an extra seat on a plane due to her weight. The first chapter tells us everything we need to know about Cookie, she has a love for fashion and a strong personality and when she is pushed too far, Cookie will not back down. Cookie is continually frustrated by the very beautiful and very rich Kennes Butterfield, who manages to take away Cookie's job and her best friend and seems bent on humiliating Cookie at every turn. The book jumps back and forth between the story of Cookie Vonn before and during/after her weight loss as Cookie begins to see that losing weight is not necessarily the answer to all her problems. What makes this book so special is the brutally honest portrayal of emotions that Cookie deals with as a fat person, particularly in the fashion field. Even after loosing weight, Cookie is still acutely aware of her weight at all times and how it affects her life. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it highly.
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The Saturday Evening Girls Club by Jane Healey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I love history and this charming book took an important historical place, the Hull House, and made it into an engaging story about four young women who spent time at Hull House participating in the Saturday Evening Girls club. The four characters Caprice, Ada, Maria and Thea are best friends trying to make their way into adulthood, but for an immigrant in a poor neighborhood of Boston that is not always easy. Supporting each other as only a group of girlfriends can, the author makes these four young women engaging and interesting. This was a fun book and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fictions.
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Fascism: A Warning by Madeleine K. Albright
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Secretary Albright gives a fascinating lesson in the history and political science of the past century. This timely and extremely relevant book is eye opening. Albright discusses the peril we confront and it is clear that the election of Trump is a shadow that looms over this book. The book goes into detailed accounts of how famous historical and current fascists achieved power. Albright shares that Fascism poses a more serious threat now than at any time since the end of World War II. I listened to the audio book, which added to the message by hearing it in Secretary Albright’s own voice.
Relaying her own family’s escape from two different fascist regimes, she doesn’t resort to hyperbole or dramatics, but instead lets the facts speak for themselves. Her accounts of her time as Secretary of State are engaging and enlightening, from her visits with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un to her interactions with Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin, her credibility on the subject is well established.
Albright refrains from lecturing the reader; instead she lays out a complex and detailed set of facts and challenges the reader to ask their own questions about the likelihood of fascism’s possible rise here in the United States. She asserts that we should all be awake to the assault on democratic values that has gathered strength abroad and has been diving America at home. According to Albright history tells us that for Freedom to survive it must be defended.
The parallels to historical events that Albright describes astounded me. I was completely engrossed in this book and felt as I was taking a graduate course on the subject as I read (listened).
Her closing words are chilling in their simplicity; she implores us that recent events are a warning we dare not ignore.
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Rejected Writers Take the Stage by Suzanne Kelman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A sweet fun story that continues the escapades of the Rejected Writers Book Club. These women are all charming, quirky and lovable. Although they get themselves in zany adventures, they somehow manage to make it through their chaos and leave us laughing. This is a perfect summer reading book.
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The Rejected Writers' Book Club by Suzanne Kelman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This quirky story was absolutely fantastic. It started out a bit slowly, but as the strange cast of characters began to emerge the hilarity reigned. The Rejected Writers Book Club had me laughing out loud and desperately wishing I could go on a trip just like theirs. Suzanne Kelman is a genius at tickling our funny bone, and her characters are bold and audacious. I would highly recommend this book, its a perfect light hearted summer read.
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The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Hypnotist's Love story is a oddly charming story about a young woman named Ellen who works as a professional hypnotist. When Ellen meets a nice widower named Patrick through an online dating site, she is hopeful that this might bloom into something special, but his ex-girlfriend stalking them is not exactly what she had in mind. Liane Moriarity is a wonderful writer, her characters are quirky and fun and this book was no exception. Told from the alternating viewpoints of Ellen and Saskia, the stalking ex, this story moves along and is an easy read. The only reason I did not give 5 stars for the review was the ending. I tend to dislike stories that wrap up like a nice bow at the end, and this ending felt just a little too neat and convenient, but overall I enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend it for a fun summer read.
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The Nix by Nathan Hill
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Despite its daunting length I really enjoyed this book. The Nix is the story of a video game playing professor who reunites with his Mother in an attempt to understand her past so he can write her story. Although I was not a fan of the detailed video game descriptions, the rest of the book was captivating with interesting characters and a story with many twists and turns along the way. From Samuel's childhood to his present day struggles, Samuel continues to pine for his childhood sweetheart. As Samuel explores his mother's past he finds out more about the connection between her time at college in Chicago during the turbulent 1968 riot and her current legal situation as a now infamous criminal for throwing rocks at a political candidate. Both Samuel and his mother are struggling with relationships and trying to come to terms with their past. This book was well written and I would recommend it to any one who enjoys fiction.
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Origin by Dan Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Professor Robert Langdon is back in this action mystery story, where he is attending a presentation by his extremely talented former student who bears a striking resemblance to a Steve Jobs, as a visionary computer geek. When his student is assassinated, Professor Langdon is once again on a mission to find out what happened and help his former student fulfill his plan to share a mysterious discovery that will change how the world will view organized religion. A central figure in the story is an A.I named Winston. While it was fun to read along as Robert Langdon figures out each clue in the mystery, this book felt forced and lacked the originality of Dan Brown's earlier books. Origin gets very repetitive at times and instead of letting the readers come to their own conclusion, the book feels preachy and strained. The minor characters were dull and uninteresting, with stereotypical villains and an actual charming prince. Despite all of that, I would recommend this book because Robert Langdon is always a fun character.
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The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
WOW! The Hate U Give may be a young adult novel, but this story is a must read for every age. This powerful story shares the experience of Starr, a young black girl who feels torn between two worlds, her impoverished neighborhood and her white school. Starr finds herself witness to a senseless shooting of her childhood friend at the hands of the police, and as she struggles to deal with what she saw and experienced, the shooting has much bigger implications for her family and her entire community. Starr finds the courage and support to speak out about what happened, but in doing so she also realizes that her voice can be a powerful tool. I was so impressed with this book, it felt like a glimpse into a world that I don't understand very well, and I ached for Starr and her friend Khalil and so many others who have faced injustice.
“What's the point of having a voice if you're gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn't be?”
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The Magnolia Story by Chip Gaines
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
As a fan of the show Fixer Upper, I really enjoyed this glimpse into the lives of the show's stars Chip and Joanna Gaines. The book is a first person account of their lives and the path that led them to a career in home renovations and an eventual highly popular series on HGTV. This book was a quick and easy ready that jumped back and forth between Joanna and Chip's perspectives. With an easy style, the book felt more like sitting at a kitchen table chatting than a serious detailed biography. Joanna is the primary storyteller and she has an incredible ability to share her hard-earned wisdom and life-lessons without sounding preachy. Fans of the show will enjoy this glimpse into the personal world of the Chip and Joanna.
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Everything We Keep by Kerry Lonsdale
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Everything We Keep started out grabbing the reader's attention with the main character Aimee attending her finance's funeral on the day that was supposed to be her wedding. As the story develops, Aimee is led to believe her fiancé might not be dead after all, but this is the point where the story seemed to drag on and the writing felt cumbersome. There were some good parts, but overall I was not impressed with this book and would not necessarily recommend it.
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The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Liane Moriarty does an incredible job of interweaving rich characters into a deep and satisfying plot which keeps the reader guessing. When Cecilia accidentally discovers a letter from her husband that he intended to only be opened after his death, she struggles with curiosity but decides to put the letter away until after she mentions the letter and her husband begins to act strangely. Opening that letter will lead Cecilia and those around her on a path that will alter all of their lives. “Some secrets are meant to stay secret forever.” I really enjoyed this story and would definitely recommend this book.
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Hunger by Roxane Gay
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Roxane Gay shares her honest account of a violent sexual attack and her resulting lifelong struggle with weight as a way to deal with the emotions of her attack. The writing is raw and authentic, but at times the writing feels repetitive and lacks structure. Gay's experiences an a morbidly obese person in our culture are frustrating and at times overwhelming. This book brings a new level of empathy for the struggles of the morbidly obese.
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As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Overall I enjoyed this book. If I were rating the first two-thirds of the book I would have given 5 stars easily, but the last third of the book dragged on and felt too contrived. As Bright as Heaven was the very personal story of one family during the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918. The Bright family had a unique relationship with death. After their new born son dies, they move from the country into Philadelphia to live with their uncle who owns a funeral parlor. They are literally surrounded by death, so when people around them begin to die from the Spanish flu they have a unique perspective on the epidemic. When the flu strikes in their own family it consequences are severe, but a chance encounter leads them to find a small infant who needs their help. This child helps them deal with the death that surrounds them. The story is told through multiple perspectives, and the grief and loss of this family felt raw and real. The epidemic left almost no one untouched and this story did a fantastic job of showcasing the enormity of the epidemic. The characters were beautifully developed, and the details of the flu and the war added depth to the story, but it felt like the part of the story that came after the flu epidemic was forced. While the author did try to address some of the loose ends, she chose to over simplify a case of PTSD for the sake of a 'happy ending' and introduced extremely unrealistic elements like a child working in a speakeasy, and a female psychiatrist that falls in love with a patient's husband, which all felt artificial and took away from the genuine quality of the earlier chapters. Overall I did enjoy this book and I would recommend it, despite my opinion of the ending.
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Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Truly Madly Guilty is the story of regret and shame. The two main characters Erika and Clementine have been friends from childhood, but it is a strange relationship. Clementine feels a sense of obligation toward Erika, who is socially awkward. Both Erika and Clementine are dealing with the remnants of their childhood as it was, rather than how they wished it could be. When Erika's loud and congenial neighbor invites both couples over for a barbecue, events unfold that cause everyone involved to rethink their actions that night. The characters were well developed and the story moved quickly, with chapters jumping from the night of the barbecue to the present. I wish I could give this book a four and a half stars, it had great potential but at times felt almost too suspenseful which took away from the overall impact. Truly Madly Guilty explores the aftermath of bad decisions and how regret affects each of us differently. I would highly recommend this book.
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Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have had this book on my to read list for awhile, and I am glad I took the time to finally read it. Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood was insightful and honest. I was amazed and horrified to realize that Apartheid still ruled in South Africa until 1991. Trevor's childhood was such a combination of love and anguish, it gives me such a different view of him as a person and a comedian. This book is a quick read, Trevor uses humor and brutal honesty to share the story of his life and those around him. His descriptions of life in South Africa both during and after Apartheid are shocking and very eye-opening. The institutional racism and sexism was evident throughout the the stories, which made it almost hard to read at times. His mother sounds like an incredible person, despite all of the hardships she went through and I have no doubt she is a big part of why Trevor is so successful now. Much more than just a biography, this book should be required reading for everyone for the light it sheds on racism and its lasting effects on a community of people. I highly recommend this book.
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The Kommandant's Girl by Pam Jenoff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Kommandant's Girl is an engaging story about a young jewish girl from Poland who reluctantly becomes involved with the resistance. Emma is a young newlywed when the war breaks out and when her husband fails to come home, she returns to her parents house only to find them gone. Searching for her parents leads Emma down a path to an assumed identity and ultimately to a relationship with a powerful german officer. While the characters were well developed, the story itself was incredibly unrealistic. While some jews were able to hide in plain sight, this story felt so unbelievable. The Kommandant's Girl is a dark story about a terrible time in history, yet the author manages to include some moments of hope.
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Beartown by Fredrik Backman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow! I have loved all of the books from Fredrik Backman, but Beartown is unforgettable. This story was so moving, so heart wrenching and so so so good. Beartown is a story about a small town and its obsession with hockey. The Beartown hockey program is such an integral part of this community that the highly successful team provides a source of hope and identity, but its star player makes a choice that will divide the community and threaten to tear apart the hockey program itself. Bachman tackles so many important topics with subtlety and authentic emotion. The characters are so well developed and the story is compelling, but the writing itself is what makes this book so special. Bachman has a gift for using very few words to make a big impact. This book is the kind of story that will keep you awake reading far into the night. Yes this is a story about hockey, but it is so much more than that. Bachman shows us the best and worst part about sports and it impact upon all of us. I highly recommend this book, you don't need to love hockey to love this book. Put Beartown on your to-read list.
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Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I have read quite a few stories from WWII but I had never heard the tragic story of the Wilhelm Gustloff. I found this book to be fast paced and interesting, but the constant switching from one character to another's point of view made the story feel choppy at times. The characters were well developed and I enjoyed the relationship that began between Florian the 'Prussian Spy' and Joana the nurse. I especially enjoyed the Shoe Poet character. The story explored a horrific time when some terrible atrocities were committed on both sides of the war. One particular line in the story illustrated this so well, "No one wanted to fall into the hands of the enemy. But it was growing harder to distinguish who the enemy was." The struggles and hardships that each of the characters had faced drew the reader in and created tension and the ending felt genuine, unlike many stories where the author feels the need to tie everything together neatly. Although the writing was not my favorite, I found this story compelling and would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
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Let it Snow by John Green
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Let it Snow is a quirky collection of three intertwining stories with a fun holiday theme. This book is a quick enjoyable read, with three separate authors coming together to combine their talents for a sweet young adult story. Various groups of teenagers deal with life and love in the middle of a colossal snowstorm that brings adventure and romance into each of their holidays. A snowed-in train and an all night Waffle House add extra chaos to the mix to create a sweet, yet predictable trio of stories that will brighten anyone's holiday season.
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