It would be virtually impossible for me to give this book anything under a four or five.
At the same time, it is an incredibly painful story to read, aIt would be virtually impossible for me to give this book anything under a four or five.
At the same time, it is an incredibly painful story to read, as the subject matter is human trafficking.
It takes place in Cambodia. There are two storylines going on, from the beginning, which, as you might suspect, come together, somewhere in the middle, to form a beautifully written, yet harrowing tale of human trafficking, strength, resilience and survival.
There is talk about the Khmer Rouge.
I admit, I don’t know as much as I’d like about this savage and evil group . Many years ago, however, I read a book about what they did, and it was a lyrically beautiful book but like this one quite harrowing. If any of you reading this are interested in reading this book, it’s called “In the shadow of the Banyan.” It was excellent just like this book.
Anyway, I should warn you about some trigger warnings. The girl sold into sexual slavery is eight years old. It is a brothel with many other young girls. There is physical and verbal abuse but no actual sex. if there had been, I don’t think I’d have been able to continue on.
Our protagonist is a gentle and sensitive and uniquely special girl, who sees life in colors, a subject I can relate to because I myself, am a very visual reader. There is also an author, who inadvertently get swept up into the saga of the girls in the red dresses.
This was a very good novella that starts off, searing and brutal, though, like I said, even though it may seem like you will, you will not witness any rape in the book.
The book reminded me of a colorful, tropical bird. It was so visual, and had such a beautiful melody to it. It’s a short book, more than a short story, but less than a full book. I would call it a novella.
I would definitely recommend it if you can handle the subject matter....more
I kind of wish I’d read this book when I was younger. I’m not really a fan of for lack of a better term the war genre.
So this is a book I sort of neveI kind of wish I’d read this book when I was younger. I’m not really a fan of for lack of a better term the war genre.
So this is a book I sort of never rushed to read. I recently read it for the first time as an adult.
All quiet on the Western front is a spectacular read. It’s rather short as well, much shorter than I anticipated.
This book has been reviewed so many times, literally millions so what I am going to do is just explain why people might be interested in reading this. I feel if one person reads this because of my words I will have done good.
It put you there. I know many say that in reviews. You feel like you’re right there in the story? Yes you do. You kind of feel adrift along with the main character. It is an extremely raw read. I did not expect to make it through the whole book quite honestly but I did.
Who should not read this book?
I think if someone does not want to feel the pain and the loss of war they should stay away. I imagine for those with PTSD it can be triggering. This is also not a fast paced book at all. It’s not long at all but it feels longer than it is. I would describe it as a slow burn.
Even though it is dark and raw and painful there is honestly not one dull moment in the book. You probably will not be tempted to skim and you may be a little bit teary-eyed at the end.
I can see why this book was such a big deal when it came out and remains a classic today. It’s a very visceral and deeply moving story and for me I felt everything from anger to sadness to empathy to pain. This is one classic that lives up to the hype. Many of them don’t. I have DNFed many classics. Not this one. I don’t think you will either. ...more
Bright vivid blue eyes -- the deepest, most vivid, enchanting shade of ocean blue in the entire galaxy.
Bluer than the This book weighed down my soul.
Bright vivid blue eyes -- the deepest, most vivid, enchanting shade of ocean blue in the entire galaxy.
Bluer than the sky at night -- bluer than any ocean wave.
I can understand that desire.
If you have not read this you may not understand what I'm talking about. That's OK. No other spoilers for this one. I thought -- I really thought about what to write and what to say. This is one of the heaviest books I've ever read and by far the heaviest this year.
So what's it about? It's about exactly what the title is. I am not saying anything more than that. I do think one should be prepared when they go into this.
Sexual abuse, child rape, I mean -- I can just say everything you can possibly think of including animal cruelty.
I usually do not read books involving animal cruelty. I'd known this book had that but it is considered such a classic I had to try. At the end of the day, while it was horrible to read about, the power of the book was just very strong.
I can't say this is an enjoyable book. I can say it's a very good one. It reminded me of books I'd read in childhood. That same feeling of desolation was there.
The color purple for one.
For colored girls (which almost destroyed me) for another.
And back then, in my childhood, For colored girls was NOT a film -- it started as a play and I saw it. That feeling of being weighed down by absolute dull agony is exactly what I'd say compares to the bluest eye.
And yet I'd recommend it if you think you can handle it. It's not that long and I will say -- there is not a boring moment in the whole book.
It is aching sad, brutally bitter and changes are you will not forget it easily but it is an extraordinary novel. Highly recommended....more
I had to wait a while before doing a review of this book.
You see it’s the kind of book where I’m hesitant to review it because it’s a masterpiece and I had to wait a while before doing a review of this book.
You see it’s the kind of book where I’m hesitant to review it because it’s a masterpiece and so much is already been said about it, so much praise heaped upon it, I don’t know if I could do it justice.
I speak specifically of the full length book. I’ve never read the short story on which it was based.
I read it in one sitting. As the clock ticked it’s time away, as hours flew by, I was in this world.
I didn’t want to be there. I knew how it was going to end. I wanted to turn and run down the corridars and Leap out of the book and forget Algernon, and forget Charlie.
But I couldn’t do it. This seemingly innocent looking little book, took my soul and tore it to shreds. It was ruthless in its pain and love and tears and brilliance.
Is this too much purple prose? That’s too bad because it could never be enough.
It’s beauty, it’s pain, it’s loathing sad book endings.
The words that sit inside this extraordinary tale wrap themselves like a locket around you. I will never read this again, most likely, but I can tell you definitively I will never ever forget it.
You know how some books, you read them and then a week or two later you can’t remember the names of the characters? And there’s nothing wrong with that either. We all read so much that of course we’re bound to forget some.
You will not forget this. You might wish that you could.
I have to put a spoiler here now.
SPOILER:
I don’t know how I feel about the ending. It was like a train wreck. I couldn’t turn away from. Many thought Charlie died at the end, others thought he merely existed as his former self.
But he wasn’t back to his former self.
In the heat of the loss of memory, in the middle of his mental torture, Charlie never forgot Algernon.
Makes me wonder just how much did Charlie’s brain shrink at the end?
Not enough, evidently to forget his partner in crime, Algernon.
I think some of Charlie was still there.
He also never lost his soul, even when he became a genius. I know many people think he did but he really didn’t.
If Charlie was without soul, he would’ve turned in that guy from the bakery in a minute but he didn’t. He felt loyalty.
if you have no soul, you cannot feel for other people.
Charlie always did.
And no matter what happened to our guy at the end, he lived, and he loved.
I am on a kick to read classics that I never read before or read but do not remember well. This is one I had never read.
You know it's a funny thing wiI am on a kick to read classics that I never read before or read but do not remember well. This is one I had never read.
You know it's a funny thing with books written so long ago. I just go right back to childhood. It's like that time of magic and innocence is right around you again and it reminds me of other books I'd read when I was young.
Anyway this is short -- very but malevolent although not in the normal way. For those who do not know it -- it takes place in a house that becomes one of the central characters -- that and the narrator, a woman, who resides in that house -- in a room filled with brooding, gothic yellow wallpaper.
The yellow wallpaper.
It (the wallpaper) is really the other central character -- the wallpaper is infinite and tells a story.
And that is really all I can say. Nothing else would be good because the element of surprise would be taken away. I'd heard of "The yellow wallpaper" before and am deeply glad to have read it and to be able to add it to my "classic" list. It has a mystery and an elegance that digs its way inside you and though it's a short story that does not take away from its impact.
"women pay the price when their passions threaten men.” ― Tess Gerritsen, Choose Me
Choose Me by Tess Gerritsen and Gary Braver
My review:
Have you ever h"women pay the price when their passions threaten men.” ― Tess Gerritsen, Choose Me
Choose Me by Tess Gerritsen and Gary Braver
My review:
Have you ever had a book that showed hints of greatness?
Maybe the whole book wasn't a ten but elements of it were absolutely extraordinary? This is how I felt with "Choose me."
On the surface, the plot appears nothing more then the tragic tale of a young woman's fall from a window. Or was it a fall? Was it suicide? Could it have been murder? It is up to a stoic Police Officer by the name of Frankie to find out.
There is so much more crackling beneath the surface of this book. While it is seemingly your standard Police procedural mixed with some naughty "gone wrong" romance, there is more to it then that.
Choose me grapples with the question of passion. And sin. What happens when you play by the rules all your life? What happens when you think you are a good person-and then engage in behavior that until the moment you do it, you'd always thought was behavior that was beneath you?
There are elements of Shakespearean tragedy to "Choose me." You can see aspects of other great books as well. One of my favorite books in the world is called "Damage" by Josephine Hart and if you are lucky enough to have read that, you may understand what I am trying to tell you with "Choose me." Because this book reminded me so much of Damage.
It also reminded me of the book, "The Drowning girls". This was also a book I enjoyed greatly. Forbidden fruit is not a new theme in literature but when done well, it holds much power. I was mesmerized by aspects of Choose me.
And this book contains much Historical aspects as well. The themes of Greek Mythology are huge and as I am a fan of the subject, that appealed to me.
The characters are etched in shades of gray. No one character is all good or all bad, although at times that would not seem to be the case. And although my opinion will not be popular, there were times I felt for Taryn. Did I also at times despise her? Oh yes! But all of the characters are complex.
And so yes, the book was good. I would give it 3.5 stars. The reason I cannot go higher is because of the same problem that plagues many books. It simply became to unreal.
As we get closer to the end, many things happen that caused me to raise my eyebrows and shake my head in disbelief. The thing about great tragic books is that they never feel like books. But toward the end-well-for me anyway-this became very much like the standard thriller. Elements made no sense. Characters did things that were not needed. It started to feel like twists for the sake of twists. And by the end, I was a bit exhausted.
That doesn't mean I did not like the book. I did and would recommended it. But I didn't LOVE it. It would be more accurate to say I loved aspects of it.
SPOILERS:
I was actually glad John lived so I had no issue with that nor the fact that Maggie and Frankie became friends. My problem was the fact that John got shot in the first place. It was obviously done to move the plot along. I was let down, I'll admit. There wasn't any need for that. And making Charlie the one who shot him was bizarre.
Also I could not figure out what Cody's purpose in the book was. I felt like his whole arc changed very suddenly and I wish the end, where they're all in the house and bullets start ringing out could have been omitted. It should have been just an intense scene with John and Charlie.
It seems every book these days, has to have crazy stuff happen at the end and most people I know do not like that. It's a long time from Gone Girl. And the book is good enough on its own that no real twist was even needed. I will say I was pretty sure who did it from almost the beginning.
So, I would rate this a three although I wish GR would allow for .5 ratings. I'd recommend it but you have to suspend some disbelief as the book goes on....more
“It's only by facing things that you ever put them behind you." ― Lois Duncan, Killing Mr. Griffin
Words cannot describe how much I disliked this book w“It's only by facing things that you ever put them behind you." ― Lois Duncan, Killing Mr. Griffin
Words cannot describe how much I disliked this book which is actually quite good but was not for me.
First off, if anyone knows me well, they know that Lois Duncan was my favorite author growing up. And that "Daughters of Eve", her masterpiece, is on my top ten lists for best books ever.
So there have been only two books of hers I did not like. One was "Summer of fear". But in that case it was simply because I loathed the villainess.
This was emotionally painful. Killing Mr. Griffin has an important message but that does not mean I have to like the book itself. Every page for me was painful. I hated the students. I felt so bad for Mr. Griffin. I could not and do not relate to these monster kids.
The whole experience of reading this was painful in a grind your teeth way. I finished it. I disliked it and in spite of my love for and admiration for, The wonderful Duncan this is one that I sadly cannot recommend.
Oh..if your actually wondering what it is about...well a group of spoiled kids do not like their teacher and decide to kidnap him when it all goes wrong resulting in tragedy. It was to much even for me and I love dark books. This also can be a bit triggering for young adults or kids. I really think one should read ALL her books...except maybe this one. Two stars from me....more
“Because the truth was that she belonged anywhere she wanted to be, and she was beautiful just for being brave.” ― Victoria Helen Stone, Evelyn, After
I“Because the truth was that she belonged anywhere she wanted to be, and she was beautiful just for being brave.” ― Victoria Helen Stone, Evelyn, After
I found this book curiously touching and a bit painful at times. It was sure different than I had thought it would be.
Evelyn, the central character is on the verge of a breakdown. I really do not want to say WHY but suffice to say, she is not happy. And much of her anger is direct ed at her husband.
This isn't a mystery. In fact, I do not really know what I'd classify it as.It is pretty dark with alot of inner dialogue which can be either good or bad depending on the book but I loved it here. It fit.
I think I'd call this book a mid life crisis gone wrong. There are affairs and sordid happenings. But at the essence of the book is finding oneself and one's identity.
I did not adore this. It will not go down as a favorite. But it is one of the more interesting books I've read this year. The writer really gives the characters depth. Evelyn is pitiful at times but who isn't on their worst day? And these are some bad days for Evelyn.
She's reevaluating everything..and it doesn't help that Hubs is a jerk and a half. She hates herself, her life, her body and her spirit. She feels she's gone nowhere in life and seeths with resentment, causing her to go down a rather sordid and bitter path.
I enjoyed the book. It is a quick read but is quite reflective and I enjoyed it more than expected.
The themes here are more abstract than originally presented and I even (without spoilers) found the ending beautifully written and appropriate.Recommended for fans of Women's fiction....more
"I am the shelter that provides you sanctuary and you are the beginning and I am the end".
The Widow Verses by Ken Levine
Beautiful..just lovely.
The Wid"I am the shelter that provides you sanctuary and you are the beginning and I am the end".
The Widow Verses by Ken Levine
Beautiful..just lovely.
The Widow Versus is about marriage and life and grief and loss and love. It is beautifully written and I would recommend it to any fan of Literary Fiction.
The author, Ken Levine takes us on a literary journey as we meet Marian and relive her early romantic years with her husband. We are with her as she mourns him and she is a wonderful character, brimming with love, compassion and imagination. She is a complex character and much fun to read about.
There is much bittersweet beauty in the story. So much. There is also poetry interspersed through the book. It is not to long and can be read in one or two sittings.
This was my first book by Ken an d I will be on the lookout for other works by him. He writes beautifully about real life issues and so glad I read this one. For all the people who have this on their TBR list, maybe bump it up a bit.Five stars....more
“Max was a lover of dogs the way some men are indiscriminate lovers of women. Nothing turned his head more quickly than a dog trotting down the street“Max was a lover of dogs the way some men are indiscriminate lovers of women. Nothing turned his head more quickly than a dog trotting down the street or cutting through a backyard. Dogs could do no wrong; no amount of garbaging, rug pissing, or flea infestation could alter the course of Max’s true love.” ― Jon Cohen, Max Lakeman and the Beautiful Stranger
My review:
Imagination is a powerful thing.
Are you a dreamer? Do you spend much time in your head? Do you imagine other worlds, have imaginary conversations in your heads with people?
Do you yearn?
If so..this enchanting little book maybe for you.
I do not really want to say to much about the plot. I went in knowing little, which is a good idea.
This book is about what is mentioned above. Imagination. memory . Love, fantasy. magic, other worlds in which exists things nobody except the dreamer would think about.
And it all manifests itself in Max.
Max is a quirky, fun, off beat lawn care specialist. Lawn care...not a job all people would love but Max loves it. With passion.
And he loves his dog Bilky. His wife, Nellie. His kids. His best buddy. Yes..Max is a good man. And Max loves.
But Max is one of those people..you know the type. The ones who are always in their head. The type who see the world and what's in it, just a tad bit differently.
I am one of those people. I bet many of you are. Readers in general tend to have that aspect to them.
Max lives in two realities. The real world and his imaginary one, filled with luminous ponderings, conversations with John F Kennedy and many moments where he spaces out, lost in day dreams.
But what happens when imagination coincides with reality?
Max has never cheated on Nellie. NEVER! They have a great marriage.
Until the beautiful stranger comes along.
She glides out from the Rose Bushes. She billows out from the sea. Who..who..is this exquisite, mysterious and stunning stranger and what does she want with Max?
I am stopping here.
The book is odd..like Max. It is also lovely and ethereal. And there is a Whimsical quality about this book. It is pretty short (although longer than a Novella) but the characters are etched in humility and are so exquisitely drawn. And we love Max. And Bilco. And Nellie. It is amazing how this book has such a timeless feel. It felt like it could have been written last year..or one hundred years ago.
Of coarse there is more going on besides the Beautiful stranger. And trigger warning: Max's wife is a nurse and her days are described so there will be scenes in hospitals with patients who do not survive. I myself skimmed those scenes. They are not for everybody and I am one they were not for. You can still read the book as these scenes do not dominate and can be skimmed over.
Now I must warn of spoilers as I want to discuss the end. Before I do so, let me have the honor of recommending this enthralling little book that is packed full of sparkling words and atmosphere, and filled with love and dreaming and simple beauty. I think many may love this.
END SPOILERS:
The end has been discussed. My opinion is..we are not meant to know. More on that in a minute.
My first thought was that she was Aphrodite. If you are familiar with Mythology, you know Aphrodite, rose from the sea. That scene in MLATBS reminded me of the stories of Aphrodite.
But I am not so sure. I also started shifting my opinion feeling that she was a lovely siren whom Max summoned with his mind.
Or she was simply a product of Max's very active imagination.
Was she real? I believe so. To many people saw her. Unless this was one long dream (and I am not ruling out that possibility) she would have had to exist.
Or maybe not. LOL. There is so much about the world we do not know. I think it comes down to what the doctor told Nellie: there are things and people in other worlds we cannot begin to imagine. But Max can.
Maybe we are not meant to know what happened. Because there is so much about the Universe we cannot and do not understand.
So, to sum up..a strangely beautiful and beguiling book that is most definitely different. I will not forget Max, Nellie and Bilco anytime soon....more
“Find what you love and let it kill you.” ― Colleen Hoover, Verity
Verity by Colleen Hoover
My review:
This.
People....especially people who HAVE NOT read “Find what you love and let it kill you.” ― Colleen Hoover, Verity
Verity by Colleen Hoover
My review:
This.
People....especially people who HAVE NOT read this and, like myself, are burnt out on thrillers that go nowhere.
READ. THIS. BOOK. This. BOOK. IT. IS. EXTRAORDINARY.
I was up until 6:00 AM THIS MORNING reading. You cannot start this and just simply put it aside.
OK..What to say? Well my review will have two parts. Spoiler free and spoilers. This part is spoiler free.
So everyone knows the basic plot right? Lowen is an out of work writer who accepts a new job..to take over the book series, started by the legendary Author, Verity. Verity has been injured and cannot write.
To do this, Lowen must move into Verity's house for a short time, living with the injured Verity, her husband Jeremy and their son Crew.
They had two other children. Both were killed in tragic accidents.
As Lowen acclimates, she discovers a dusty journal belonging to Verity. Lowen decides to read it.
Bad idea.
We, the readers, are also reading it. A book within a book. The chapters of Verity switch it up. One chapter is in Lowen's voice in the present,...as she starts becoming drawn to Jeremy and infused with the house and its painful and tragic history. But then we go back to the journal, Verity's journal, written before her tragic injury.
I am saying no more about specific plot points for now.
Gothic books are a genre I am so picky about. I like almost nothing in that genre because they are all the same. But when that genre is good..it's REALLY good. Several books in my favorite lists, including "Fiona, "The girl in the swing" and "My cousin Rachel" are Gothic. But there are not that many Gothic books that are tens.
Verity is Gothic. Verity is a ten. I loved it.
I am burnt out on thrillers. They all churn out the same stuff. But when they are good..they rock!
Verity is a thriller. I loved this book.
I am a fan of writers who can create atmosphere. I like to see the colors, the patterns, before me, as I read.
Verity? Many colors. Shades of dark, gun metal gray, black, moody coal, imagery is haunting and antique, swirling in shadows and secrets and eerie and haunting Prose.
There are many a republican who say corporations are people. If books are people..if the book Verity was a person..she would be a dark haunting sublime person with windswept hair who would invade the reader, encapsulating them with intoxicating and piercing darkness and Gothic whispers. The reader would never ever forget Verity.
I have been soooo burnt out lately on DNF'S. This was a pleasure..an absolute pleasure.
NOW..SPOILER ALERT: do not read on if you have not read the book.
I loved the end. I was reminded of My Cousin Rachel. SO..my opinion.
I think the journal was real. I do. Not that murder is ever OK. But I do believe the letter at the end was her way of trying to reel Jeremy back in. In other words, another lie.
Honestly I could not and cannot, see any mother writing those horrible entries, even if not true. Bragging about her children's pain, trying to self abort twins, attempted murder, successful murder.
I cannot see, a day or two after my child dies, writing a false confession and going into painful detail about my daughter's screams. I just can't.
But what if the journal was not true? Verity, in my humble opinion, had many options. Let's say it wasn't true. Verity's solution in the book?
Kidnapping her traumatized son and living like a fugitive, cutting him off from his dad and friends after he has already lost all his siblings?
If it were not true..Verity could have gone to the police and hired a smart attorney. What about the entry on how she hated breast feeding and would not do it? Easy enough to find out if that were true. If it is found to be false that would strengthen case. The stolen dress? Trace it. See if she lied about that.
Did Jeremy and she really have that conversation where he accuses her of ignoring one child? How was she as a mother? So much could have been checked out and proven.
There were many ways she could have handled it. She made some really bad decisions. But I do not think the journal was fake. This would be such a great book club read. And The ending was so well written. Amazing!
Anyway..read this book. It will keep you up and is one of the best thrillers I have ever read. Seriously..this is why we suffer threw the bad ones, to get to the gems like these. Colleen Hoover, you are quite the outstanding writer....more
I feel like the penguin, diving deep until the danger passes, ignoring lurking predators in the temporary safety of the underwater confines.
4 RiversidI feel like the penguin, diving deep until the danger passes, ignoring lurking predators in the temporary safety of the underwater confines.
4 Riverside Close
by Diana Wilkinson
My review:
This book reminds me of the night.
Like the the night, 4 Riverside Close is mysterious and dark, dusky and unlit, filled with shadows and illuminated by moody and inky twilight with the occasional flash of Neon. It is mesmerizing.
At first, the book appears to be about nothing so much as nosy neighbors and a mysterious online group called "JOIN ME".But you kind of know from the start this is not your average every day thriller.
This was an ominous read. It is told from multiple perspectives, four different women, all struggling with inner demons. And at the center of the story is Jason.
Jason..he is almost unreal in his physical beauty. Think JFK Junior. The type of guy, to quote Sarah Jessica Parker, one feels is almost to beautiful..making it unfair as a woman to have to stand beside him.
Join Me is the new Website that offers fun and bonding to the local townspeople, particularly bored housewives. Or at least it would appear to..
Join Me is way more than a social media site where people met up but I really cannot say more. I went in blind and that is exactly what you should do.
You may find some of the women hard to like. I know I did. You may think the book starts slow. It does. It is the definition of a slow burn. This book is NOT fast paced at all.
But the dark and unsettling tone..I mean it hooked me from page one.
Each of the four women are going through their own personal hell. And there are trigger alerts. Without disclosing all the details..some of the issues and themes explored include Spousal Abuse, Obsessive compulsive disorder, Aging, adultery, suicide, anorexia and sex for money. Also so much more.
The murder DOES NOT even come into the equation until almost 75 percent into the book. So it really is not a murder mystery, in the conventional sense.
The book messes with your head. There are constant sounds of breaking glass, cats wailing (NO ANIMAL ABUSE THOUGH!) and the constant theme is what happens in the deepest and darkest time of the day..the inscrutable darkness.
I have been reading many 2 and 3 star books lately so this was such a welcome change.
I adore the modern day Noir element that ripples through the book. I wonder how this would be as a film. Murky for sure. I'd like to see it on the big screen photographed in the same way the film "Miami Vice" was.
The voices of the characters were all so authentic and I even adore the ending.
There are just a few twists here..but the book does not need them to stand out. One twist will be impossible to guess, trust me on that.
A strong four stars. People if you like a slow burn..this one is not to be missed....more
“Unless I confess to a crime that I did not commit, I will be sentenced to death. The irony does not escape me. Lying before God will buy my freedom a“Unless I confess to a crime that I did not commit, I will be sentenced to death. The irony does not escape me. Lying before God will buy my freedom among men.” ― Heather B. Moore, Condemn Me Not: Accused of Witchcraft
This book is about Susannah North Martin who was an ancestor of the author. It is also a masterpiece of writing, one that I suspected I would like and did. Loved. It is so good when the high hopes you have for a book are met or even exceeded.
I am not including spoilers because we know how this one ends.
Susannah was accused of witchcraft during the era of the Salem witch trials, as were many other people. This book is told in two parts. In the present, she is jailed and awaiting her trial. But the book also goes back in time to tell of her life as a young girl and how she came to met and know her true love, George.
I have read many books on this period in time. It both fascinates and horrifies me. But what really makes this book stand out ate two things.
One: we get to know the other women in the cell as well. And we see the absurdity of these accusations and just how out of hand..crazy..things got. Condemn me not shows the tragedy so deeply that it is impossible, I think, not to feel emotional reading this. And angry as well.
The other aspect that makes it stand apart...is the tenderness. Aching tenderness and the love story between George and Susannah.
In as much as you weep for her fate, you rejoice knowing how deeply loved she was and I will freely admit that romances in books are not always my thing but I found the romance in this one as good as the other aspects of it. It completely carries one away and I adored reading about this wonderful couple's courtship. Five stars for sure.
I will admit that I am a bit more hardened than I used to be and way more jaded. I now see how such a thing could have happened. It saddens me that I CAN see it. People are very gullible. And suggestible. And some people are just evil. And for me, I wanted to reach through the book and scream at all this lovely woman's accusers. So will you, I think. As great a book as this is, it's deeply painful too.
In closing..highly recommended. A masterpiece. One of my best reads of 2020. And this is a book I will not forget any time soon or ever....more
It does indeed sadden me that this little jewel of a story has no reviews.
So many beautiful and deeply moving books from my childhood seem to have beeIt does indeed sadden me that this little jewel of a story has no reviews.
So many beautiful and deeply moving books from my childhood seem to have been.if not forgot..just left languishing, which is really the same thing as forgot.
This one I read when in High School. Warning: it is depressing. There is illness and death and so much human sadness. And there is Mollie.
Mollie is just starting her life. She is to graduate from High school and then. .the sky's the limit!
Except Mollie does not WANT to graduate. She does not WANT to become an adult. To the contrary, she is TERRIFIED of the world..and what it holds.She would prefer to be a kid forever, wrapped in a cocoon of rosy sweetness, never having to deal with college and adult relationships, with love and sex..and dying.
For Mollie's grandmother is ill and she has not long. But Mollie will not..cannot..admit this to herself..Grandma is the Matriarch..Of Course she will get better. Because in Mollie's world, death does not exist..
This aspect of Mollie will interfere with all her choices..and when she encounters Jaime, a hippy who "went to Harvard" (and whom Mollie will not admit to herself she is attracted to), she will be forced to look at herself and make some tough decisions..
I do not mind saying I identified with Mollie to a very strong degree. I totally understood..Many things Mollie felt I'd also felt in my childhood and early adult years.
This was a gem of a read that explores love and loss and adulthood. It is deeply moving and demands the reader's attention. I so wish more people had rated it. As it stands, I believe this is a YA Classic and certainly worthy of a read no matter what your age....more
"The deeds of our husbands, our brothers, and our sons have eclipsed our own as surely as when the moon ate the sun during the first battle of Nishapu"The deeds of our husbands, our brothers, and our sons have eclipsed our own as surely as when the moon ate the sun during the first battle of Nishapur. "
The Tiger Queens, Stephanie Marie Thornton
Five stars. Maybe the best of the year so far.
I am having such a year with books in 2020. I have had the pleasure to read lots of 4 and 5 star books, particularly in the last month or so. This maybe the best of the year so far.
For a book about Genghis Khan, I did not think this book would be so....soulful. But it is. The story is told by the women he loved and who loved him.
And I went into it, thinking I'd not like it or maybe even DNF. I took a chance. The last book I attempted to read, told about a famous warrior from the viewpoint of the women who loved him, was "The conqueror's wife" about the women who loved Alexander the Great and I never finished it.
But how wrong was I! This book is amazing. It is narrated by four different women, all of whom were intricate parts of Genghis Khan's life.
The first part of the book..and the longest story..is told by his first wife, Borte Ujin. What a woman she was! I love reading about strong women and Borte Ujin falls into that category. She had more strength in one finger than many have in a lifetime. Reading about her was a wonderful experience.
As I said, her story is first and the longest. It starts shortly before she meets Genghis for the first time, when she is just a young girl. But it continues through many many days and years of both deep darkness and tragedy as well as searing and intense beauty.
Then there are three other point of views, including Alaqui, the first daughter of Khan, Fatima, (The Rose), a captured slave and Sorkhokhtan, his daughter in law.
All four women's stories are fascinating in their own right. And all four women live through so much tragedy.
Tiger Queens spans years. It is a long book filled with love, loss and mesmerizing stories and events. It is also not for the faint of heart. There is blood and gore and rape and death..just know that before you go into it. And there is also extreme violence, torture and rape. So TRIGGER ALERT! Also, I am the first to turn away from stories involving animal cruelty but this story is about a culture that did indeed do things like eat horse meat on a regular basis. I was OK during these scenes but do feel compelled to let the reader know.
But that is a small part of the book. Tiger Queens is at once a cultural read as well as a story about families and love, friendships and loyalty. The story that emerges is hauntingly lovely and captivating. I was..and am..enthralled.
Atmosphere plays a big role and the villages and customs of the Mongol empire are described in detailed and starkly gorgeous prose that is all consuming and drops you right into the book itself. Time will slip away from you are you read this.
I think you will know, almost from the start if this is a book for you or not. I love the sensitivity in Khan that the reader is made deeply aware of. He loved and he loved hard. He loved his wife, his children and his whole family as they did him. I was struck by the loyalty and devotion depicted here.
It is impossible..or at least it was for me..not to feel as though I am walking in the villages with these people. You will feel everything from the winds blowing across the villages to the glimmering snowmelt to the lush fields and lakes and streams. I do not see how once read, anyone will be able to ever forget this book....more
“There’s a big difference between a man who genuinely wants to be with her, and a man who just doesn’t want to go home.” ― Jennifer Hillier, Little Sec“There’s a big difference between a man who genuinely wants to be with her, and a man who just doesn’t want to go home.” ― Jennifer Hillier, Little Secrets
OK..Literally ALL my GR friends..well..most of them..have read this. I have seen this book reviewed and read the reviews while carefully avoiding spoilers. I knew I'd read it at some point. Finally, I could wait no longer.
Not going over the plot..this one's to well known and frankly I am tired as I was up all night reading this so..
It did live up to the hype. Yay!
So I read so many thrillers. I think, what I really liked about Little Secrets was how..compelling virtually ALL the characters were. All of them. Even the ones who are only in the book briefly. When I started this I was very skeptical because frankly the plot did not sound all that interesting to me and I tend to avoid books about missing children.
Little Secrets was delicious. It was a dark, delicious work of modern day Noir, simmering mystery, shadowy bur fully realized characters and and an expertly crafted plot line. It also demands attention. This is NOT the type of book that you can read two pages of and put down. No way.
I loved the book, including the end. (no spoilers). It was a plot that was complicated but that somehow made complete sense. I have read other thrillers I maybe liked better in the moment but few that contained such fully realized characterizations and strong mood and atmosphere. She just gets everything right.
4.5 Stars. Believe the hype thriller fans an d read this one!...more
“Who are we after we’re gone? I wonder. It’s a good question to ponder. Most people can’t come up with an answer right away. They frown, consider it f“Who are we after we’re gone? I wonder. It’s a good question to ponder. Most people can’t come up with an answer right away. They frown, consider it for a minute. Maybe even sleep on it. Then the answers start to come. We’re our children. Our grandchildren. Our great-grandchildren. We’re all the people who will go on to live, because we lived. We are our wisdom, our intellect, our beauty, filtered through generations, continuing to spill into the world and make a difference.” ― Sally Hepworth, The Mother-in-Law
So many thoughts on this one.
And first off..two things.
This is NOT a domestic thriller. It is NOT a conventional mystery. It is NOT a horror novel.
I have chosen many categories for this book, among them "Literary Fiction", "character study" and even "Historical" based on it's flipping so much to the past.
Second thing..TRIGGER ALERTS..Lots of em.
Suicide, Assisted suicide, Fertility issues, Death, Disease..cancer and ALS, mourning of family members, Immigration and depression,.
It's alot.
By the way.this book is sensational.
The Mother-in-Law, at first glance would appear to be a standard thriller. But it is not and one can figure that out just a small way in.
It is really a character study about the relationship between a new bride..and her mother in law.
Lucy is getting married. She hopes to have a mother/daughter relationship with her new mother in law, Diana. Lucy lost her mom a long time ago and could use a warm and kind older female in her life..a mother figure.
Diana? She is not quite what Lucy expected.
Diana is elegant, dignified and serious. She devotes her time to helping pregnant immigrants.
She frowns on excess. She does not smile a whole lot of the time.
Lucy on the other hand, is quirky and fun loving, prone to wearing sparkly tops and needy.
The two women don't hit it off.
This book really is about the evolution of their relationship. The mysterious death is always there and you know from page one who is dead.But it is not the focus. Rather, the focus are the two women themselves and how their relationship ebbs and flows through time. It covers many years and many tragedies. Along the way, we are taken through Diana's past to show the reader how she became the woman she is.
There is quite alot of sadness in this book. It's a thinker's book..not a light and fun mystery.
And it is also educational. Very much so.
Diana wouldn't have liked me. I am a bit like Lucy. I am also quirky, wear sparkly tops, am a dreamer, am lost in my head frequently and perhaps am somewhat immature..Diana would certainly say I was. And I'm lousy at managing budgets. I could never be an accountant.
And I'd have disliked Diana. I DID dislike Diana. She is one of those women who would (most likely) say things that irritate me like "put on your big girl panties" or "don't sweat the small stuff" or "that's life". She regards anyone who has a liking for the frivolous as being childish and she is not shy about letting them know it. She has no use for people who come from a comfortable Backround unless they have worked hard and suffered and pulled themselves up by the bootstraps. She is openly judgmental of peoples' choices and does not believe in being happy..she believes in working hard to earn your place and not getting what you want so you can be tough and not needy.
I have always disliked this type of personality. The type that is devoid of any and all empathy for anyone or anything. Being from a middle class Backround myself, I have encountered this type of person all my life. Although my Backround is not wealthy it is solidly middle class and I have actually felt anger from people and judgement from people of the type I just described. Many of my friends have had the same and as we look at it, "It's almost like we have to apologize for having been happy".
That does not mean I have not suffered or known pain. I think every human being has had their share. And in this book, Lucy is no different.
So reading this story I brought many of my old wounds to my reading experience.
And then we get to know Diana. And we see for ourselves who she is and what she believes..and things are not so simple anymore.
When I started this book I LOATHED Diana. When I ended, I loved her deeply and wept for her. That is the mark of an amazing writer. To be able to put you on that journey.
And I learned about myself too. I have as many judgments and preconceived notions as the people who judged me have .
No, Diana would not have liked me but I adore her. And hopefully her feelings would have changed as we got to know each other.
And that is what this book is about. Assumptions. And judgments. And pain.
Lucy and Diana's relationship..that is the focus of this wonderful book. All else is secondary.
It is bitingly, achingly sad. And there are so many triggers. But if you, like myself have ever been judged or judged others..you may want to take a serious look at this one. A "THRILLER" that can educate. How many of those are there around? Five stars for one of the best books I have had the pleasure to read this year....more
“So, if people don't want a war - are opposed to a war - how do you get away with it? You change public opinion and manufacture consent, that's how. Y“So, if people don't want a war - are opposed to a war - how do you get away with it? You change public opinion and manufacture consent, that's how. You construct a carefully organised deception. A well-crafted and perfectly executed lie. Stage a false flag attacks, created by our own security services, blame it on terrorists, blow up British or US soldiers, bomb our buildings, fly planes into them, lie about weapons of mass destruction that can annihilate us in forty-five minutes flat. And bombard people with it in the media. Terrorists! Terrorism! Cells! Al-Qaeda! Isis! So every single time you turn on the new or read a paper, it's there. Despite the fact that statistically, you're more likely to be killed in a car accident or by your own bathtub than killed by a terrorist! And all the while, they're hiding the real reasons. Oil and gas. Gold. Regime change. Land. Power. Money. So they carry on until the public gets scared and angry, and yes, let's bomb these bastards! And how dare these people threaten and attack us! Then they want the war. The public are practically begging for it by then! Like George Orwell said, "The people believe what the media tells them". And if you control the media, the money, the politics, and the military, you control the whole systems.” ― Sibel Hodge, Untouchable
I do not even know what to say about this book.
When I picked Untouchable to read, I, like many others, had no idea child abuse and pedophilia would play such a prominent role. And believe me they do. The whole book is basically about this subject. It is really difficult to read.
I must include trigger warnings here for both the above mentioned subjects as well as child murder, torture..etc..you get the idea. And it is not subtle either. There are very graphic scenes and it is upsetting so please know that before you start.
So, I have mixed feelings In a way, I loved the book. It catches you in its grip and will not let you leave until you finish. It is a dark and sinister read and you wait with baited breath for the sickos to get what is coming to them.
The characters are so fleshed out and I was so deeply moved by Jaime's story. I adored Mitch as well as Maya. I cannot imagine the courage the writer had in writing this! Really! It is remarkable, in the deep and searing character development. But it is also deeply painful and skim those scenes as I might..it is just tough to skim all of them. Sometimes your eyes act before your brain, and your reading something before you even realize it.
This book deeply reminded me of another book/movie called "Sleepers". That was extremely painful as well.
But there were a few things I did not like either that prevented me from giving it a five. Two other things..and do not get me wrong, there was WAY MORE to like than not to like..but two other things bothered me.
I do not ..I mean I am not sure..what to think about the focus of the media being complicit. To an extent I agree the media are "owned". But not all of them. I have a hard time with blanket generalizations. Although I am aware this book does not take place in the United States, I'd like to think..and maybe I am a silly little girl or naive or whatever..but I would like to believe that if a video such as that made its way to Rachel Maddow, a mainstream Media darling whom I watch weekly..or Lawrence O'Donnell..same..I would like to believe they would find a way to get it out there. I really do. And call me crazy but I believe they would too.
OK..Off my soapbox now..I do believe in corruption at the highest levels..look at the Jeffrey Epstein case. I admire the writer's guts. I do.
The only other thing I did not care for was:
spoiler:
The ending. I wanted more! It is not fair we go through 93 percent of the book with terror and dread and the ending is almost blink and miss it. I so wanted more. And yes the bad guys get what is coming but..they never get punished by the law. I would have LOVED to see that stuff go viral. In fact that is what I really thought the book was leading up to.
I have found this before in books about dreadful people. Monsters actually..doing dreadful things. Sometimes the endings are so quick. After hours of reading about these human scum masquerading as people, I just needed more good stuff at the the end.
Still..this was a smart and provocative read, incredibly well written and deeply emotionally upsetting. If you can get through the highly painful subject matter you will want to read this book....more
"I don't want to be pulled out of it, April. I like my misery. It's taken alot of effort to be this miserable. Why would I throw it all away?"
The Hous"I don't want to be pulled out of it, April. I like my misery. It's taken alot of effort to be this miserable. Why would I throw it all away?"
The Housekeeper by Natalie Barelli
Where do I begin?
It is rare for me to cry from a domestic thriller. We read these books..and all genres provoke different reactions.
In the case of the domestic thriller, we read them for fun, for suspense..but usually we are not TOUCHED..to the point that what we're reading ceases being a standard thriller and becomes something else all together.
Well that is how I felt about The Housekeeper.This is a book I chose because I was in the mood for a non thinking book where I didn't have to try to hard to follow.
Turns out it was anything but non thinking. This is one of the best thrillers I've read all year. Don't get me wrong..this IS a domestic thriller. And it is written so well.
If I had to describe this book I'd say "Jane Doe" meets "Girl on a train" meets "the woman in the window". But it was original and unpredictable. It does not go in the direction I figured it would.
The plot revolves around Claire. Claire is hurting. Actually she's dying inside a little bit more each day. She is angry, has let her looks go..has let her life go..all because of Hannah.
From the start. we the readers, know Hannah did something terrible to Claire and her family which broke apart Claire's whole family. It ruined her life and the lives of both her parents who are now deceased.
When Claire sees Hannah at the hair salon, she is triggered. She wants revenge. For what we do not know. This will slowly be revealed to us.
Adding to the mystery..Claire and Hannah have only ever met once. And briefly at that. Which is why Claire is able to get a job working for Hanna..the rich and beautiful Hannah..as her housekeeper What will happen next? What will Claire do? What DID Hanna do? And who is the enemy? How will this enemy pay?
I cannot say anymore. This book started out great but it builds in intensity as more and more are revealed to the reader. It's a mindfuck of a book..in a good way..but there are important and serious themes it carries and there is a depth to this book that one rarely sees in books of this genre. Yes, my eyes watered a bit as the book went on to its powerful and totally unpredictable conclusion.
I would recommend this book to any fan of the genre. Stay with this one, do not even try to figure it out. There are so many twists in this one but it is written so seamlessly I just floated through it in one sitting.
The character of Claire was written beautifully and I do love when writers are able to capture the humility of a character, who may do bad things but are not bad themselves.
I would give this a strong four stars and highly recommend The Housekeeper....more
“Words can evoke emotions, change minds, teach lessons, convey ideas, lift spirits, or simply make us smile. I am here to tell you that as a young boy“Words can evoke emotions, change minds, teach lessons, convey ideas, lift spirits, or simply make us smile. I am here to tell you that as a young boy, when I read the great authors, the words sang and danced for me; the words caused me to dream; the words caused me to laugh and smile; The words gave me hope; The words brought me to tears". ― Michael Bowe, The Weight of a Moment
I received a free copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
I had no idea how haunting this book would be, though maybe I should have by the title, which is in itself, deeply moving.
So, continuing my winning steak of 4 and 5 star reads that has been going on lately, this one joins the ranks of the unforgettable reads of 2019.
As others have mentioned, Nick and Tom are two men, deeply haunted by the past for different reasons. Tom had a brief moment where he lost control of his emotions which, sadly was captured in a viral video almost destroying his life.
Nick was a reporter who blames himself for a man's death that happened after he published a Newspaper article that had far reaching and deadly consequences.
Both men are lost in a Sea of angst, despair and self loathing. They are unable to move forward with their lives because in their own minds they are not good people. Nothing could be further from the truth. But they are to guilt ridden to see that.
This book is about their meeting each other..which happens in a beautiful and small farming community in rural Pennsylvania. It's about their friendship and their healing..their fight for forgiveness, redemption and salvation.
I found aspects of this so deep and so bittersweet. I like to read reviews both negative and positive and in some of the negative ones it is mentioned that the whole thing with the viral video was not realistic. I beg to differ.
I think the way the writer portrays the internet..and the dire consequences that can happen even in the most innocent of moments..was fantastic. I had no issue with believing anything in this book and since I also love redemption stories, this one was a hit with me.
I loved reading about Einstein's time theory. I think almost anyone will be able to identify with the humility in this story. There can be few among us who have not had a moment..probably more then one..that have changed our lives either for better or worse. And what some of us would give to change those moments..but no matter how badly we want to, one thing that is not possible in this world is to go back in time and alter time..even if it leads us to a destiny or time period we would rather never have had to deal with.
This book is unique. One will have to get used to the jumping around..there is much of that..but the poignancy is strong. Read it when you are in the right mood.
If I had one negative..and it really is not a negative it is that the side stories really did not interest me so much. I liked the main stories of Tom and Nick and felt like there was a bit to much going on with everything else . Even the murder mystery did not get me as much as the characters current situations and learning to heal from them. I also wish the end had been a bit longer.
I think this would make a fine book club selection. It's powerful and thought provoking and I would highly recommend it....more
Bren fall in love with the sea.
>
Books:
drama-tearjerker
(239)
