Book Review: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Some race to win. Others race to survive.

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. 

Some riders live.

Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn't given her much of a choice. So she enters the competition - the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. The fact that the races involved flesh eating water horses that seek to drown humans and return to the sea was pretty intriguing. They are born of the sea and surface from the waves, naturally wild and fierce. The riders of the annual Scorpio Races must try and capture a horse and train it as best they can to compete in the annual event where for most the goal is just to make it out alive. On the small island of Thisby where the competition takes place, the sea and the races are an important part of the inhabitants lives. Horse breeders and wealthy tourists come from far and wide to be spectators to the wild and dangerous race. Sean Kendrick, a four time winner of the races, has put it all on the line for this years race. The stakes are higher than ever before. His honor, his livelihood, and his favorite horse Corr. Puck (Kate) Connelly, is a feisty and tough island girl who along with her two brothers have been trying to make a living and survive after their parents death. Running out of money and hope, she decides to enter her pony in the races. Against much opposition and danger she finds a determination inside of her to give it everything she has and not let anyone scare her away from the big race day amidst the crashing waves, biting horses, and men that don't want her in the competition and one that might even want her dead. Sean Kendrick and Puck also develop a friendship and mutual respect for each other as Sean helps her train for the races and despite the danger of it, he finds he just might be falling for Puck as well.

I thought this book was well written, had interesting characters, and is appropriate for ages 13+. It took me a few chapters to really get invested in it, but then I couldn't put the book down. I was excited to find out that a movie is also in the works. That was the first thing I told my husband when I got done reading it last night is that it would make a fantastic movie.

Moloka'i

(Overview)

This richly imagined novel, set in Hawai'i more than a century ago, is an extraordinary epic of a little-known time and place—-and a deeply moving testament to the resiliency of the human spirit.

Rachel Kalama, a spirited seven-year-old Hawaiian girl, dreams of visiting far-off lands like her father, a merchant seaman. Then one day a rose-colored mark appears on her skin, and those dreams are stolen from her. Taken from her home and family, Rachel is sent to Kalaupapa, the quarantined leprosy settlement on the island of Moloka'i. Here her life is supposed to end—-but instead she discovers it is only just beginning.

With a vibrant cast of vividly realized characters, Moloka'i is the true-to-life chronicle of a people who embraced life in the face of death. Such is the warmth, humor, and compassion of this novel that "few readers will remain unchanged by Rachel's story" (mostlyfiction.com).


Being that historical fiction is my favorite genre, I was very intrigued to read this true to life story about a secluded leprosy colony in the Hawaiian islands. This is a heart wrenching tale that includes many interesting and informative facts not just about the leprosy colony, but also about the end of the Hawaiian monarchy, technological advancements of the day, and Pearl Harbor just to name a few. The main character Rachel is only 7 when she is literally whisked away and forced to begin a new life in a tiny quarantined settlement where she finds and forms a new "family" and makes friends that will help make her life and her future easier to bear. I could only imagine the sorrow and loss of families being torn apart and ostracised by this disease that the society of the time did not understand or know how to sufficiently treat medically. There are so many wonderful life lessons in this book. The lepers try to carry on a life that is meaningful and filled with as much joy as is possible. They form a strong community bond, there are those that get married, and they also care for those to weak to care for themselves. They watch out for each other and also many times are helpless to watch them succumb to the disease and are left to bury their friends and know that they are all destined to the same fate. Set in such a beautifully exotic location, I could imagine the crashing waves, the swaying palm trees, and the balmy weather that was the backdrop of the story but almost became like it's own character. I was glad to learn something new by reading this book and I think Rachel is now one of my favorite characters. Her life takes so many interesting twists and turns, I had no idea how it would all wrap up in the end. As I finished the last page of the book, I instantly thought of a quote to summarize my feelings from the book - "bloom where you're planted".  Rachel had a life that was doomed to death and despair and instead made it into something to be admired.

Summer Reads

I recently finished a couple of books that still have me thinking about them and turning the story over in my mind. They were both excellent reads and I'm looking forward to discovering more books by these authors.

The first book is

Here is the summary for The Story of Beautiful Girl:

It is 1968. Lynnie, a young white woman with a developmental disability, and Homan, an African American deaf man, are locked away in an institution, the School for the Incurable and Feebleminded, and have been left to languish, forgotten. Deeply in love, they escape, and find refuge in the farmhouse of Martha, a retired schoolteacher and widow. But the couple is not alone-Lynnie has just given birth to a baby girl. When the authorities catch up to them that same night, Homan escapes into the darkness, and Lynnie is caught. But before she is forced back into the institution, she whispers two words to Martha: "Hide her." And so begins the 40-year epic journey of Lynnie, Homan, Martha, and baby Julia-lives divided by seemingly insurmountable obstacles, yet drawn together by a secret pact and extraordinary love.

I was totally wrapped up by this story written by Rachel Simon who also wrote "Riding The Bus With My Sister". The characters in this book were unique and interesting and each of them had a sad life that they had turned into something happy and uplifting. Lynnie was put in the institution by her parents as a child, and reading about her tiny little figure being taken into the school and her parents visits that became farther and farther apart until they finally ceased to come at all broke my heart. But her resilient spirit and will to find a way to carve out a better existence for herself shined a brilliant light on the sorrows and sadness she experiences and the cruel and sometimes undignified environment of the institution. They say a baby changes everything, and in this story in particular it catapults life altering change into each and every character that plays a role in Lynnie's story and helps secure a safe and securely guarded future for baby Julia. I loved Homan's character as well and the frustration I could only imagine someone like him had to endure not being able to properly communicate and convey his thoughts since he was deaf and had never been taught proper sign language or to really read or write. He is Lynnie's knight in shining armor however and the ending to this story proves that love really does conquer all and that even though years may pass by, sometimes the universe has a way of righting it's wrongs. This story is about two very different disabled people who fiercely love each other and the people who help them find a way to be treated better and ultimately live happy and fulfilling lives. This book moved me and kept me up late into the night. It is a treasure.

The second book is

Summary:

Ann Patchett raises the bar with State of Wonder, a provocative and ambitious novel set deep in the Amazon jungle.
 
Research scientist Dr. Marina Singh is sent to Brazil to track down her former mentor, Dr. Annick Swenson, who seems to have disappeared in the Amazon while working on an extremely valuable new drug. The last person who was sent to find her died before he could complete his mission. Plagued by trepidation, Marina embarks on an odyssey into the insect-infested jungle in hopes of finding answers to the questions about her friend's death, her company's future, and her own past.
 
Once found, Dr. Swenson is as imperious and uncompromising as ever. But while she is as threatening as anything the jungle has to offer, the greatest sacrifices to be made are the ones Dr. Swenson asks of herself, and will ultimately ask of Marina.

State of Wonder is a world unto itself, where unlikely beauty stands beside unimaginable loss. It is a tale that leads the reader into the very heart of darkness, and then shows us what lies on the other side.

This was one of the most fascinating books I've read in a while. A major pharmaceutical company has sent a research team headed by a highly esteemed and revered doctor to the Amazon to find a fertility drug that will change the world. Dr. Swenson is a hard nosed, no-nonsense woman with an intelligence and scientific mind that goes a mile a minute and plays second fiddle to no one. The secret she's looking for lies in a reclusive tribe deep in the jungle and far from the world's eyes. When Marina who works for the drug company is sent to find out about her deceased colleague and his unfortunate end, she encounters a world not many ever get to live to see and tell the tale. The author has a captivating writing style that had me unable to stop reading. Her descriptions were so detailed and concise I felt like I could picture everything in my mind as if I were there. The plot twists when Marina finds out the doctors are not singularly studying fertility, but also on the cusp of finding a cure for a deadly disease, a cure that could save thousands and thousands of lives. Marina is forced to think about ethics and what is best for human kind. She also has to face down her fears of the past and comes home a changed person. This book is a gigantic adventure, I felt like I took an exotic vacation while reading it. Time magazine calls this one of the authors best books.


I highly recommend both of these books.

Book Review: Divergent

Synopsis

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
 
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

If you enjoyed the "Hunger Games" series and you are looking for something with the same edge and excitement, I think you will enjoy this book. I had this book on pre-order for a month and had been anxiously awaiting it's arrival last week. I was so into the story I made short work of it in a day or two. I am so excited this is a series, just disappointed I will have to wait so long to read the next one. There is a lot of buzz surrounding this new "young adult" story, and I think it lived up to the hype.

I loved the whole concept of the new society being split into particular virtues -- it made me think throughout the book which one I would have chosen had I been in the main characters shoes. Not only do the 16-year-olds choose a particular virtue that they will devote their lives too, but the people of that "faction" become their new family and they all live in their own separate communities where they are responsible to perform tasks and jobs specifically assigned to their group. They basically have to give up the life they knew before and leave their families behind if they choose to transfer to a new "faction". The main character Tris grows up in Abnegation, the faction in charge of the government of the other factions. They are the most peaceful and selfless group which is never allowed to think of themselves before others, look at themselves in the mirror because that would be vain, or wear anything but the simplest of clothing, but she always feels like she does not quite fit in and there could be something more out there for her. Like all of the other 16-year-olds, she undergoes the testing that will help them decide where they should be placed except for her results are anything but normal, and can be very dangerous if anyone else finds out. After her choice is made, there is no going back. During her initiation into her new faction, she discovers the city gates are locked not from the inside like she had always believed, but on the outside. As if they are trying to keep everyone IN. The story continues to unveil the rivalries and politics between the factions and plans for a war that could wipe out one of the factions forever. The plot just keeps building and building and building.

I thought this was an interesting, fast paced, intense, and well written book. I can't wait to read where the rest of the series will take the characters. I think you will be hearing a lot about this author and this series in the months and years to come.

******If you'd like to have a chance to read the first 100 pages to see if you want to keep reading and get the book (which I'm sure you will), you can go to this link from the Harper Collins website and check it out.

Book Review: "A Kiss in Time" by Alex Flinn

{This book is from the author of "Beastly" which has now been made into a movie.} Alex Flinn takes a genre of fairy tales and is giving them a modern day twist. In "A Kiss in Time" she takes the well known story of Sleeping Beauty and turns it into the story of princess Talia who has laid asleep for 300 years only to be awakened by 16 year old American tourist Jack who was sent on a European summer tour by his parents. When Jack and his friend Travis break away from the rest of their tour group to try and have a day at the beach, they get lost and discover the slumbering and well hidden kingdom of Ephrasia where everyone seems to be peacefully asleep and no amount of their yelling and noise can wake them. While exploring the castle,  Jack happens upon the stunning sleeping princess and cannot resist giving her one kiss before leaving. Upon waking princess Talia, chaos ensues as the rest of the kingdom awakes after 300 years as well. Who is this peasant boy who broke the curse? The stipulation was that it must be from her one true love. After a rebellious Talia convinces Jack to help her escape her unhappy existence in her kingdom he takes her back home to Florida where she is thrust into the world of cell phones, TV, modern teenage drama, and a wicked witch who just won't leave her alone. She has to find out if Jack is really her one true love before it is too late.

The story alternates back and forth each chapter between Jack and Talia's point of view. There is no denying this is written for the young adult crowd, that became apparent from the very first chapter. I think it could have been written a little bit better and captivated more of an older audience as well. It is was a quick, easy, and fun read however but did not really engage me as much as I'd hoped since I had heard good things about the authors other books. It is recommended for ages 12 and up, but there are a few references to things like "jell-o shots" and "making out" type things that might be better left for someone a little bit older. That was kind of the puzzling contrast to me was some of the more mature content, but the writing was a little dumbed down for the audience, especially since children these days are accustomed to more challenging vocabulary and plot lines that come from books like "Harry Potter". It does however have a typical fairy tale happy ending and has some good themes of finding yourself  and the person you really want to be, and trying harder to have better relationships with your family. I have been trying to find some younger reader type fiction books that my daughter Kendle would enjoy, and unfortunately I don't think this one passed the test. All in all, it was just alright for me. I am still interested to try out another of her books and give the author one more shot.

Overall Rating:

2 1/2 out of 5 Bookmarks

 

Book Review: "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" By Jamie Ford

Synopsis:

In the opening pages of Jamie Ford’s stunning debut novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Henry Lee comes upon a crowd gathered outside the Panama Hotel, once the gateway to Seattle’s Japantown. It has been boarded up for decades, but now the new owner has made an incredible discovery: the belongings of Japanese families, left when they were rounded up and sent to internment camps during World War II. As Henry looks on, the owner opens a Japanese parasol.

This simple act takes old Henry Lee back to the 1940s, at the height of the war, when young Henry’s world is a jumble of confusion and excitement, and to his father, who is obsessed with the war in China and having Henry grow up American. While “scholarshipping” at the exclusive Rainier Elementary, where the white kids ignore him, Henry meets Keiko Okabe, a young Japanese American student. Amid the chaos of blackouts, curfews, and FBI raids, Henry and Keiko forge a bond of friendship–and innocent love–that transcends the long-standing prejudices of their Old World ancestors. And after Keiko and her family are swept up in the evacuations to the internment camps, she and Henry are left only with the hope that the war will end, and that their promise to each other will be kept.

Forty years later, Henry Lee is certain that the parasol belonged to Keiko. In the hotel’s dark dusty basement he begins looking for signs of the Okabe family’s belongings and for a long-lost object whose value he cannot begin to measure. Now a widower, Henry is still trying to find his voice–words that might explain the actions of his nationalistic father; words that might bridge the gap between him and his modern, Chinese American son; words that might help him confront the choices he made many years ago.

Set during one of the most conflicted and volatile times in American history, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is an extraordinary story of commitment and enduring hope. In Henry and Keiko, Jamie Ford has created an unforgettable duo whose story teaches us of the power of forgiveness and the human heart.

This was such a sweet, sweet story. It must be a coincidence that the last two books I'm reviewing have both been intertwined with World War II although they are both from completely different parts of the war. I thought the author took a really interesting angle with showing a young Chinese American boy who falls in love with a young Japanese American girl in a time in our country's history where Japanese were seen as the enemy. Henry's father who is rigid and strict and very patriotically Chinese (they were allies with the United States during the war) makes him wear an "I am Chinese" button wherever he goes so that he is not mistaken for being Japanese and taken away to an internment camp or be subject to harassment and problems at his all white school where he is "scholarshipping".  He forces him to only speak English and not his native Cantonese. Little does his father know that the children at school still want nothing to do with him, except for Keiko who also works in the kitchen during lunch time with Henry. They form a fast friendship and learn to navigate the bullying by their classmates together. I loved the descriptions of 1940's Seattle Chinatown and Japantown, the feel of Seattle during that time, and the jazz music that was alive and thriving and which was a shared joy for Henry and Keiko. The story is told in retrospect from an older Henry who still holds a very dear spot in his heart for the young Keiko he had to say goodbye to all of those years ago when her family was taken away first to an internment camp at the fair grounds in Puyallup, WA and then later to one in Idaho. The author touches on cultures, loyalties, politics, language, heritage, and what it means to live out your own dreams and also how sometimes down the road in life we end up acting like our parents whether we realize it or not.

I'm a big fan of historical fiction and when it inspires me to learn more about the issues and hardships of that time. It is sad to look back on that time in our country's history and think about all of the citizens that were rounded up and forced to leave their homes and belongings and relocate forcibly to another place even when the majority of them were American born citizens. After the war was over, they did not have much to come back to and they were forced to start new lives elsewhere many times. It made me think a lot about my own heritage. This was just such a beautiful book, not really sad at all, just bittersweet like the title says. The innocent love and friendship of Henry and Keiko was a breath of fresh air in modern literature and one I will think about for a long time. This is not a book to rush through, take your time and enjoy it. There are parts that can seem a little slow, but overall it all came together to tell a wonderful story.

Overall Rating:

4 out of 5 bookmarks



Book Review: "The Winter Garden" by Kristen Hannah

Synopsis:

Meredith and Nina Whitson are as different as sisters can be. One stayed at home to raise her children and manage the family apple orchard; the other followed a dream and traveled the world to become a famous photojournalist. But when their beloved father falls ill, Meredith and Nina find themselves together again, standing alongside their cold, disapproving mother, Anya, who even now, offers no comfort to her daughters. As children, the only connection between them was the Russian fairy tale Anya sometimes told the girls at night. On his deathbed, their father extracts a promise from the women in his life: the fairy tale will be told one last time—and all the way to the end. Thus begins an unexpected journey into the truth of Anya’s life in war-torn Leningrad, more than five decades ago. Alternating between the past and present, Meredith and Nina will finally hear the singular, harrowing story of their mother’s life, and what they learn is a secret so terrible and terrifying that it will shake the very foundation of their family and change who they believe they are.

When I first started reading this book I had no idea where the story was going and it took me a chapter or two to really get into. Once I realized where the story was going and got swept back in time to World War II and the devastated Russian city of Leningrad, I found myself totally fascinated about this story of daughters really having no clue who their mother truly was, and the type of unimaginable circumstances she had lived through. Death, starvation, despair, but ultimately a chance at another life far far away in America. Their mother Anya can only manage to tell her experiences by means of a fairytale format where she can pretend those things happened to someone else. Because the sisters promised their father by his last dying wish that they would make their mother tell them the entire story, it forces them to spend more time with their mother and learn to look past her seemingly cold and uncaring exterior to what was really just a way of coping with her prior life. It also begins to form a stronger bond between the sisters who have lived apart for many years. Again, I love a good story within a story so I found it had a lot of different depths - mother/daughter relationships, sibling relationships, marital relationships, it all comes together in the end after the two sisters convince their mother to join them on an Alaskan cruise where they can finally all find closure to what's been troubling them most in their lives. This book was both funny and sad and inspired me even more to share my life experiences with my own children - good and bad. It was especially touching to read about the cycle of care giving between mothers and daughters. It also describes lots and lots of wonderfully yummy sounding Russian cuisine which has interested me to find out more about that as well.

**On a side note, the historical events intertwined into the story are actually true and very sad.  I myself was not very familiar with the siege of Leningrad, which is considered the most lethal siege in World History, and all that that entailed. It inspired me to research and educate myself on that particular part of World War II, and I was fascinated that such a horrific battle is not very well known about in the larger spectrum of the war. It you are unfamiliar with it as well, I encourage you that it is definitely worth learning about.  Here is a brief breakdown --

The Siege of Leningrad, also known as the Leningrad Blockade was a prolonged military operation by the German Army Group North and the Finnish Defence Forces to capture Leningrad in the Eastern Front theatre of the Second World War. It started on 8 September 1941, when the last land connection to the city was severed. Although the Soviets managed to open a narrow land corridor to the city on 18 January 1943, the total lifting took place on 27 January 1944, 872 days after it began. It was one of the longest and most destructive sieges in history and one of the most costly in terms of casualties. The city was cut off from food, communication, and constantly bombed.

The two-and-a-half year siege caused the greatest destruction and the largest loss of life ever known in a modern city. On Hitler's express orders, most of the palaces of the Tsars, such as the Catherine Palace, Peterhof Palace, Ropsha, Strelna, Gatchina, and other historic landmarks located outside the city's defensive perimeter were looted and then destroyed, with many art collections transported to Nazi Germany. A number of factories, schools, hospitals and other civil infrastructure were destroyed by air raids and long range artillery bombardment.

The 872 days of the siege caused unparalleled famine in the Leningrad region through disruption of utilities, water, energy and food supplies. This resulted in the deaths of up to 1,500,000 soldiers and civilians and the evacuation of 1,400,000 more, mainly women and children, many of whom died during evacuation due to starvation and bombardment. Piskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery alone in Leningrad holds half a million civilian victims of the siege. Economic destruction and human losses in Leningrad on both sides exceeded those of the Battle of Stalingrad, the Battle of Moscow, or the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The siege of Leningrad is the most lethal siege in world history, and some historians speak of the siege operations in terms of genocide, as a "racially motivated starvation policy" that became an integral part of the unprecedented German war of extermination against populations of the Soviet Union generally.

Civilians in the city suffered from extreme starvation, especially in winter of 1941–1942. For example, from November 1941 to February 1942 the only food available to the citizen was 125 grams of bread, which by 50–60 per cent consisted of sawdust and other inedible admixtures, and distributed with ration cards. For about 2 weeks at the beginning of January 1942 even this food was available only for workers and military personnel. In conditions of extreme temperatures (down to −30 °С) and city transport being out of service a few kilometers to the food distributing kiosks were insurmountable obstacles for many citizens. In January–February 1942 about 700–10,000 citizens died every day, most of them from hunger. People often died on the streets, and citizens shortly became accustomed to the look of death.

Reports of cannibalism appeared in the winter of 1941-1942, after all birds, rats and pets were eaten by survivors.  Hungry gangs attacked and ate defenseless people. Leningrad police even formed a special unit to combat cannibalism.


As horrible as all of this sounds, the book still managed to have a spirit of overcoming life's hardest obstacles as only women can do. We have families and children to take care of and life marches on whether we want it to or not. We can not stand idle, we are called to action when our families and loved ones need us and sometimes we have to make harder choices than we could have ever imagined. I absolutely loved the ending to this book and I plan on reading more from this author.

Overall Rating:

4 out of 5 bookmarks

Book Review: "Juliet" By Anne Fortier

Everyone is familiar with Shakespeare's epic drama "Romeo and Juliet", where two feuding families, the Montague's and the Capulet's  are corrupted by rivalry, power, and tragedy in Verona Italy. But what if instead of two families there were actually three, and what if the real story took place in the lovely and magical Siena where young Giulietta Tolomei met a young hero named Romeo Marescotti.

Six centuries after the most famous love story of all time,  25 year-old Julie Jacobs receives a key after the passing of her beloved aunt who raised her and her twin sister. This key was once carried by her mother on the day she herself died and opens a safety deposit box in Siena, Italy. Feeling betrayed that all that was left to her in her aunt's will was this key while her sister inherited the entire estate, Julie sets out for Italy to discover what importance lies in the safe keeping of the box that is hidden away in a bank in Sienna. What she finds will change her life forever and connect her to the troubled past of her ancestor Giulietta Tolomei who was smuggled into Siena after her parents were murdered, whereupon she would meet young Romeo who instantly falls in love with her and vows that they will be married. The events that would follow their ill-fated love would cause much grief and destruction for medieval Siena which in turn inspired many poets and artists and finally Shakespeare's most famous tragedy.

Now in present day Siena, hunting a long hidden treasure, Julie begins to feel like the past and present are starting to intertwine. Meeting old relatives and crossing paths with the descendants of the other families, she begins to understand that the notorious curse -- "A plague on both your houses!" was taken very seriously by the families and may still be at work.  The more she researches and learns about the history of Siena, the personal vendetta's, the family rivalries, and the curses and superstitions surrounding the tale of their tragedy, the more danger she realizes that she could be in and that the story is still unfinished. Julie learns that her fate has always been tied to Romeo and Giulietta, literature's most famous star-crossed lovers.

This was a beautiful and totally captivating story. From the historical references and the archeology and landscape, to the lovely descriptions of present day Siena, I just could not put this book down. The author Anne Fortier packed in almost everything I love in a good book - mystery, intrigue, clues, long lost letters, genealogy, local historical data, romance, danger, and lots of twists and turns. I can honestly say, I did not know how the story was going to unfold and that was really refreshing. I do not like to be able to figure out the end of the book in the first few chapters. There are so many traditions in these ancient countries and cities that we do not have here in the United States, and it was fascinating to read about the family pride and symbols that adorned many houses and parts of the city in the story and to imagine the way of life and the politics that were involved in just trying to get married and join families together. And sometimes you find that history truly does repeat itself.

This is a perfect book to read with Valentine's Day approaching, but you might have to clear your schedule if you can't seem to put it down. If you can't reserve it at the library, I think it is worth buying. As for myself, I think it is safe to say I will never look at the story of Romeo and Juliet the same way again.

Overall rating:

4 1/2 out of 5 bookmarks

Book Review: "Every Last One" by Anna Quindlen

As mothers, there are times when we focus the most on the child in our family that needs the greatest amount of  help or attention at that moment in time.  As we do this, sometimes our vision becomes clouded to see what is happening with the rest of our family members and their needs can become secondary. In this new release from New York Times best selling author Anna Quindlen, we are invited into the lives of the Latham family. A typical suburban family with three children, a beautiful and unique teenage daughter, and two twin sons just about to enter high school who could not be more different from another. Told from the perspective of the matriarch of the family Mary Beth, the story reveals the worry and struggles she faces while trying to help one of her twin boys that has become depressed and withdrawn. While all of her attention is aimed at him, a shocking and tragic event happens that completely changes every last bit of her life.

Maybe it is because I now have twin sons of my own, but this book drew me in and really tugged at my heart. I felt for Mary Beth as her and her husband walked a fine line of praising and congratulating one twin on their accomplishments, while the other struggled and felt like the misfit of the family. There is also a part of the book that focused on the older daughter and her boyfriend, and not just their relationship but the boyfriend's relationship with the family. The sympathy Mary Beth feels for her daughter's boyfriend because of his past makes the lines blur a bit on what starts to be inappropriate behavior and signs that something bad could occur. As a reader, I could see the signs and think to myself, "how as this girls mother can you not see what is happening?" But I think that is an important element of this book, that sometimes we try to see the best in people and think that we can help them when we truly can't and that we choose to see what we want to see.

Mary Beth Latham had to face every last one of the things she feared most and was forced to set out on a path that she never intended to travel to discover if there really can be happiness after tragedy strikes at the heart of everything you held dear. Can you create a new and fulfilling life? Can your heart begin to heal? Will your new life ever feel normal? Ultimately, "Every Last One" tells the story of how the effect of small and simple acts can have the ripple effect to make the most dramatic changes we never saw coming, but how with determination and hope there is a new life to discover where happiness awaits if we let it.

Overall rating:

4 out of 5 bookmarks

Kendle's Favorite Books

In Kendle's downtime, I can almost always find her reading a book. I am glad there are so many wonderful children's books out there to choose from that are not only fun to read, but also sneak in lots of educational tidbits. If you asked her who one of her favorite fictional characters is, she would tell you she loves Geronimo Stilton. The Geronimo Stilton series are all she wants to read right now and luckily for her there are a lot of them.

Geronimo Stilton is a mouse who happens to be editor in chief of The Rodent's Gazette, the most famous newspaper on Mouse Island, but his true passion is to write books which all happen to become bestsellers. He likes to read books, listen to classical music, play golf, and collect antique 18th century cheese rinds. He hates to travel because he gets sea sick, car sick, and air sick but somehow still manages to get involved (through friends and relatives) in extreme adventures and travels all around the world. The books are written as though they were autobiographical adventure stories.

The series originated in Italy and have become the most popular children's book series in that country (even besting Harry Potter). They have now been translated into more than 35 languages. Although the series credits it's title character as the author, they are actually written by Elisabetta Dami. They are intended for readers in the 9-12 year old range, but if you have an avid younger reader they would enjoy them as well  as a read along or a read together at night type of book.

The books incorporate a lot of famous world landmarks and geography which have sparked many conversations between Kendle and I as she wants to learn more about those places and countries. The stories contain mystery, adventure, comedy, and problem solving as well. I would say they could be compared to some Indiana Jones and/or National Treasure type journeys. There are also some fun holiday themed stories in the series for Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine's Day. They are so cleverly written and the supporting characters are just as charming and interesting as Geronimo.

*Fun Facts:
-Geronimo Stilton must have cheese with every meal
-Geronimo loves one thing more than cheese -- books! He also loves hot showers and clean sheets.
-Geronimo prides himself on filling his books with plenty of humor and cheesy capers, but also with friendship, sincerity, love, respect, peace and hope.
-His favorite activity is reading to his nephew Benjamin.
-His younger sister is Thea Stilton, who accompanies him on many adventures. She is gutsy, adventurous, a black belt in karate, and has violet eyes. She is a special correspondent for the Rodent's Gazette. 

These are really witty, entertaining and well written books for children filled with the "cheesiest" puns ever. I highly recommend them.

Book Review: I'd Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman

What would you do if suddenly, after years and years of trying to forget, you were contacted by the person who destroyed every sense of safety and security you ever had? The person that changed your life in such a horrible way that they altered your entire being and forced you to live in fear the rest of your life, afraid to sleep with windows open or leave doors unlocked.

This is the case with this story's main character Elizabeth (Eliza) Benedict, an ordinary suburban housewife who spends her days chauffeuring her daughter Iso to soccer practice and chasing after her young son Albie. Married to a loving husband with a successful career, her life is peaceful and fulfilling, just how she likes it. That is until she receives a letter from the last person she would ever expect or want to hear from - Walter Bowman, a Virginia death row inmate who kidnapped her and held her hostage for six weeks when she was fifteen. After seeing her picture with her husband in a magazine, Walter writes to Eliza - "There was your photo, in a magazine. Of course, you are older now. Still, I'd know you anywhere."

Now awaiting his sentence on death row for the murder of his last victim, Eliza is skeptical and horrified by his attempts to make contact with her and his desire for reconciliation with Eliza who was his only victim to live and testify against him. Why did Walter spare Eliza's life, and what psychological games is he using as his last attempt to escape the death penalty? The author Laura Lippman takes a true crime and then weaves her own tale using perspective from both the victim and the perpetrator. This story reminded me of the Elizabeth Smart case in some ways.

As I was reading the book, different circumstances would occur and I would ask myself - what would I have done? What would I do if it was my daughter or family member? Is justice served after years and years of waiting?  I wouldn't classify it necessarily as a crime drama, it reads like a novel and it was definitely thought provoking and relevant to the world we live in today.

Overall Rating:

3 1/2 out of 5 bookmarks.

Hunger Games Vs. Twilight

Entertainment Weekly online recently published an article in their book section explaining why the Hunger Games Trilogy is not the new Twilight.

Here is an excerpt:

"Could it be that people compare the two books because their heroines must choose between two men? Again, I don’t find this valid. Bella, it seems to me, never wavers in her love for Edward, despite Jacob’s devotion. In contrast,  I’m left with the feeling that Katniss may very well not know what love is at all. She may have been too badly damaged by war, by deprivation, by emotional and physical torture to ever be able to love fully and normally. Whatever she feels for Peeta or for Gale, it isn’t the headlong devotion Bella has for Edward.  More importantly, the question of whom Katniss will end up with isn’t what drives the narrative.  In other words, the question isn’t, Which one will she marry? The question is, Will she live until the end of the book?"

I thought it summed it up perfectly for me. Go here to read the full article.

Book Review: The Hollow by Jessica Verday

Summary:
The main character of "The Hollow" is Abbey Browning, a 16 year old high school student mourning the loss of her best friend who is presumed dead after vanishing by the bridge near the Sleepy Hollow cemetery. Accusations fly about her disappearance and death and amidst the turmoil, Abbey feels lost and alone until meeting an intriguing young man named Caspian from a nearby town who she instantly feels a connection with. When Abbey finds her best friends journals, she discovers a shocking secret that may leave clues to her mysterious and fatal end. These discoveries also send Abbey into a spiral of disbelief that her best friend had kept secrets from her and she feels totally betrayed. Abbey also befriends an elderly couple that help take care of the Sleepy Hollow cemetery which is one of Abbey's favorite places to visit. She finds it peaceful and beautiful and routinely pays tribute to local celebrity and author of the famous "Legend of Sleepy Hollow", Washington Irving. After finally starting to feel like her life is getting back to normal, she uncovers more unbelievable secrets about her new friends that will force her to question what is real and what isn't.
 
This story makes many references to the original "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and I would put it in the "spooky romantic" genre similar to Twilight. It is also the first in what is soon to be a trilogy, the second book "The Haunted" was just released. The writing style can be a bit "young adult" there are definitely avenues the author could have expanded on and gave more detail about as the premise and setting for the story gives so much possibility for a more in depth storyline.  I think teenage girls would really like these. All in all it was an easy enjoyable read and I will give the second book a try. This book made a good read for the autumn season.
 

Overall rating:

  3 out of 5 bookmarks 

Fall Books

With the crisp fall weather and the chilly nights that accompany it, fall is the perfect time to enjoy some good book reading. I don't know if there are many things that can top cozying up with a blanket and a new story that's waiting to be delved into. Here are a few of my picks for some cozy (and maybe a little spooky) fall reading:

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
If you haven't read them yet, what is stopping you? They are honestly some of the most genius, intriguing, and entertaining books ever written. They are the epitomy of cozy book reading and definitely not just for the younger crowd.

The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan
This book is set in Niagara Falls during the World War I era. The main character Bess experiences a family tragedy and after her father loses his job, a fall in social class. She must make decisions that will affect her life forever. Everything changes when she meets the rough and fearless Tom Cole who is a master river man and who has a mysterious connection to the falls. I enjoyed this book, it was one that I could take my time on and not feel rushed and gave me an interesting look at the social classes and domestic life of the times.

The Passage by Justin Cronin
I was ready to say goodbye to Twilight and take on this grownup vampire thriller. This story centers on a new virus testing to create a super soldier staged by the military gone horribly wrong. With the world nearly destroyed, all hope rests with a 6 year old girl who is the only chance the survivors may have of saving what's left. The story follows the aftermath and destruction of the "virals" and spans forward into many, many years into the future and the new civilization the survivors have carried on with hoping that one day the military will come to save them. It was a mix between "I am Legend" and "The Road". I could not put this book down, it's definitely one you might not want to read if you're home alone at night. There are some instances of strong language and violence, so be forewarned. This is rumored to be a trilogy and also being made into a movie.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
The first chapter or so of this book I thought, what am I reading? But after settling in and getting used to the letter writing style that makes up the meat of the book I was totally captivated and intrigued. Set on the English island of Guernsey just after World War II which was under German occupational rule, this story follows the lives of the inhabitants and a writer who is receiving letters from them about their experiences during the war and their book club they formed. I was expecting this to be a sad and dreary tale of war, but instead was pleasantly surprised at what a heartfelt and cheerful feel it had to it. This was such a sweet story and one you could recommend to friends, parents, and grandparents alike.

So there are a few of my picks.

Feel free to comment about some of your favorite reads for fall as well.

Starting This Blog

I thought it would be fun to start a new blog all about books. Since reading is one of my favorite hobbies and I devote as much time to it as I can, I figured I would never have a hard time finding things to write about and it would be better to have it on a separate blog than on my family blog. There are truthfully few other things I would rather do than curl up with a good book. Some people collect things, I collect stories and words. People are always asking me what I am reading or if I have any books I would recommend, so this is the perfect forum for me to put all that information out there for anyone interested, and also for others to share as well. I've loved to read ever since I can remember and would spend hours pouring over books even when I was too young to read the actual words. I have a family of readers and I'm glad it is something we all enjoy. I will be trying to post as often as I can good or bad, because let's face it -not all books are winners.