I appreciate what the author has done here: educated us about the rape Nanjing. I didn't know a thing about it till I picked up this book. But where II appreciate what the author has done here: educated us about the rape Nanjing. I didn't know a thing about it till I picked up this book. But where I was expecting a historical novel about a strong missionary woman named Minnie, I got just what I said above, the rape of Nanjing.
The first part of the book... is one brutality after another, page after page of rape, sexual molesting and deforming of women, head slashing, and even urinating on children. The Japanese committed the foulest of acts.
The second part is the aftermath. The raped women are now pregnant or committing suicide. Older women are sent home from the refuge only to be raped in the streets. Food is going missing from the soup kitchen. The world is not hearing the right story of Nanjing. Women are trying to get their husbands out of prison/work camps.
In the third part, Minnie tries to pick up the pieces of what is left of her school.
This was supposed to be a novel, but it read more like a war report. It completely lacked a personal feel. The narrator had a husband and children and rarely said anything about them. I didn't learn anything about Minnie that I couldn't find by googling or looking at Wiki. I wanted inside her head. I never got there. Where does she sleep? Does she cry herself to sleep? How does she FEEL? What were her hopes and dreams? Her past? It told me about nothing except the fall of Nanjing....more
Wow. I'm still reeling a bit from what this woman has gone through. First of all, her memoir is extremely well told. I was expected a lot of telling, Wow. I'm still reeling a bit from what this woman has gone through. First of all, her memoir is extremely well told. I was expected a lot of telling, no showing and was pleasantly surprised to find myself hooked from the get go. She tells her story well, keeps the reader hooked, educates as well as entertains.
Feels kinda wrong to be entertained by a memoir such as this. The book starts in Lebanon.. Nada comes from an abusive household. Her parents considered her and her sisters worthless.. didn't even celebrate their birthdays. They doted on her brother, gave him the better food, paid for his education, held the girls down so he could beat them. Yea, shocking stuff.
Nada doesn't dwell on that overly long though. Soon she is finding a way to escape to the U.S. where she finds "not all Americans were on drugs or in a constant state of drunkenness" after all. (LOL!!! That made me laugh.) There's a sham marriage, her family coming and taking over, her break from them, another marriage, obtaining a job with the FBI and finally having a "family" within that organization, an organization that later betrayed her.
She talks about Pan Am flight 73 hijacking. Though she went on a bit too much about this, I found it fascinating. Having been a child in the 90s, I wasn't aware of this history. Shocking stuff. She also talks about a murder case. Then she moves on to the CIA...takes covert missions until her pregnancy hinders the investigation.. and just wow. I'm gonna stop there.
The anthrax on the plane.... OH MY. I was biting a finger nail while reading that.
The books ends with her family again. Their mess, their accusations, their greed and hate got her in trouble with the FBI and CIA. Very sad and exciting story both. Well done. I think this woman could have a career as a writer if she never goes back to law enforcement....more
I bailed somewhere in part 2. Though rich in history, the story is extremely slow moving.. It's too darn busy introducing one character after another.I bailed somewhere in part 2. Though rich in history, the story is extremely slow moving.. It's too darn busy introducing one character after another.. Just when you feel you have it all straight in your mind, so and so is married to so and so, he is a general, she is secretly in love with this other guy who is a lawyer/doctor or whatever, yet another character is introduced, an aunt, a painter... OMG. What I failed to realize when I signed up to read this book is that there are so many characters, a list is provided in the back. It really is too much. So much time is focused on trying to keep the characters straight, that the story is lost.
Also, the first part of the synopsis of this book had me thinking there would be more women than there is. The male to female character ratio is way off.. one woman for every ten men? (That's just an off the top of my head guess)
I don't read futuristic stuff usually, but this really got my attention. 1. A world in which coffee is illegal. (My first thought was, 'OMG! The MormoI don't read futuristic stuff usually, but this really got my attention. 1. A world in which coffee is illegal. (My first thought was, 'OMG! The Mormons took over!) 2. Chocolate is illegal. (Gasp. My curiosity was piqued. How the heck can we possibly survive?) 3. The heroine is part of a mafia (spelled mafiya in the book) family. Those three things were enough to make me step out of my comfort zone and read this YA novel.
I wasn't disappointed. It's a really good, entertaining read with a very likable heroine. The story is told from her POV but she's involved in so much excitement that the first person narrative works well.. At no point does the reader feel as though she's on the outside looking in. I liked the girl's sense of humor, the sarcastic way she tells things, the inner turmoil she deals with.
Just didn't do anything for me. At all. I guess it's just one of those authors that works for everyone else, but me. I occasionally find myself in theJust didn't do anything for me. At all. I guess it's just one of those authors that works for everyone else, but me. I occasionally find myself in the minority and feel embarrassed about it, but oh well. I thought this was too slow. It was interesting (but slow) in the beginning, but I kept saying, "oh once it gets its plots and characters laid out, it will get going." Not really. Not fast paced enough for me and the love story.. I didn't feel it. Course, I sorta went for the other guy. LOL Regardless by page 300, I was nodding off and found I couldn't care less what happened. ...more
I thought this was a decent read though it is def aimed at an even younger crowd than I originally thought. It's not aimed at teenagers, but the 9 to I thought this was a decent read though it is def aimed at an even younger crowd than I originally thought. It's not aimed at teenagers, but the 9 to 12 year olds. I don't normally read books aimed at kids that young, but I love women in aviation and wanted to learn more about Beryl Markham, the woman who crossed the Atlantic, East to West.
The novel chronicles Beryl's childhood in Africa, her forays into hunting with the native tribes, her rocky relationship with her father's mistress, her stubborness not to learn math, lion attacks and lion hunts, her year at boarding school, etc. The author did a superb job balancing Beryl's childhood with journal accounts/interviews with an adult Beryl preparing for and then attempting her Atlantic crossing.
My only quibbles: 1. Though most of the story is true and based on real accounts, sometimes it was a bit unbelieveable, such as when Beryl grabs her teacher and throws her down. 2. I would have liked this book to go further into Beryl's life. I respect that the author stuck to an eleven year old Beryl as that's the age group this was intended for, but I wanted more about her getting into aviation, learning to fly, and so on. Except for the journal excerpts, there was no aviation. The book ends before Beryl even lays eye on an airplane....more
This is a very engrossing read. I found myself wishing I had a dress like this, that conformed to whatever figure I have, that sewed itself up immaculThis is a very engrossing read. I found myself wishing I had a dress like this, that conformed to whatever figure I have, that sewed itself up immaculately, and told the future.. but is know the future really such a good thing?
It can affect different people differently as we see here in this novel following the lives of two sisters and a daughter. Evie is the reasonable and smart older sister. She is the "good girl." When her younger sister, Anna, dons a little black future telling dress and just up and destroys everyone's lives by running off the night before her wedding, Evie struggles to hold her crumbling family together to no avail. And Anna never comes back... not right away at least and when she does, not for the right reasons.
Anna and the black dress don't do so well together and she, on top of being selfish, self centered,and irresponsible, goes a bit batty and becomes manipulative and sly as well. At least, this is what I thought. Evie also experiences the magic of the dress, but reacts in an entirely different way.
And there's Antonia... Antonia is 46 and still not married and waiting for Greg to pop the question, but the little black dress and the future it tells may show her something different. If it does, will she react like Anna or Evie? The sad thing is, Antonia must make some hefty decisions, experience the magic of the dress, and learn her family's secrets while Evie lies in a coma.
Conclusion: Very well written, really sucked me into the story, so much so that I found myself wanting to rush into the pages and b**ch slap Anna to the moon. The book goes back and forth from Evie in the past (50s, 60s) to Antonia in the present and pulls this off perfectly, without missing a beat or confusing the reader.
Quibble: I would have liked a more drawn out romance and just plain more of the romance between Antonia and... I'm-not-saying. He sounded like a hottie.
I am very disappointed in this one and was unable to read past the halfway point. What I was expecting: A historical novel that would provide some enlI am very disappointed in this one and was unable to read past the halfway point. What I was expecting: A historical novel that would provide some enlightenment into the trials and tribulations that people of African descent faced in post war Paris.
What I got: a) A bunch of mindless chatter phrased in complicated ways. I get this takes place in France, but... they talk funny, pure and simple. b) Ditzy heroines with sprained ankles and though I can't explain it, I kept imagining teeny, weak voices.. again, the speech pattern. c) A heroine that couldn't shut up about being from Martinique. d) A historical novel that apparently is not historical accurate even remotely.
The only thing I liked: The somewhat slutty Glovia. At least she was sleeping around for the right reasons. ...more
I first discovered this book while browsing Amazon one night. I typed "historical fiction" in books and then "coming soon." This is NOT historical ficI first discovered this book while browsing Amazon one night. I typed "historical fiction" in books and then "coming soon." This is NOT historical fiction, however. I need to get that out there, because the search and the lovely Civil War dress on the front will have people expecting a historical fiction.
It's a good book, just not what it appears to be. Until page 200 or so, it is all contemporary. Marielle marries a man and gains an instant family and household. She suddenly has a husband, two kids, a "haunted" house, and to make matters more complicated, the house actually belongs to her new husband's deceased first wife and the first wife's grandmother is still residing in it. Talk about awkward!
Lots of bad things have happened in this house that survived the Civil War. The grandmother, Adelaide, blames all the death and misery on the house.. but then again, she says it isn't the house's fault. I had a hard time understanding this old lady and her riddles. Nevertheless, some say the house is haunted by Adelaide's grandmother, Susannah, who was said to be a spy.. for the UNION. (This is a southern home.)
Is it a ghost or is it just some bad luck that could happen to anyone anytime? The finding of Susannah's old letters could clear it all up. Susannah's letters were the most interesting part of the book, though too small a part. There's covert activity, shifting loyalties, love for two men... Great stuff!!! But sadly it was only 100 pages and even worse, it was all in letters. This would've been just fine had the letters been scattered throughout the novel, mixed in with the contemporary story, but all at once? Too much "telling" all lumped in one part.
Great idea, but I would have preferred to EXPERIENCE Susannah's tale rather than read it in letters and I would have preferred more of the Civil War and less of the contemporary. Sadly, the heroine, Marielle, didn't interest me near as much....more
The Joy of Letting Go of the Lead - On the Dance Floor and Off.... Yep, that's the "subtitle" of this book. And something the modern day woman needs aThe Joy of Letting Go of the Lead - On the Dance Floor and Off.... Yep, that's the "subtitle" of this book. And something the modern day woman needs a bit of guidance with...
This book tells us, basically, that the modern day woman has become so adamant about being independent and strong and not dependent on men that we have become anti man and that we no longer LISTEN to them at all. And sometimes, well, we need to let men be men.
Okay, my bad. I requested this ARC because the story line, three chicks going thru midlife crisis totally interests me as I sometimes wonder if I am gOkay, my bad. I requested this ARC because the story line, three chicks going thru midlife crisis totally interests me as I sometimes wonder if I am going through one myself. Ha ha. I should have searched further than the little blurb that caught my eye on the publisher website. Why? I don't do poetry. On the few occasions, I will sit down and read a poem, I'm one of those rare people that expects it to at least rhyme.
This entire novel, all 517 pages is told in poems. That. Do. Not. Even. Rhyme.
This is a memoir.. of a woman who chooses one wrong man after another. By wrong man, I don't mean men that leave the toilet seat up, have chronic bad This is a memoir.. of a woman who chooses one wrong man after another. By wrong man, I don't mean men that leave the toilet seat up, have chronic bad breath, little peckers, or incredibly annoying habits, but men with violent tendencies.
Ever heard the saying about how women choose husbands like their dads? The memoir starts with telling readers a bit about Nina's parents and their failed marriage. It goes on to chronicle an attack she received from a potential rapist at the age of 18... and how no one in her family wanted to talk about it, to defend her... This is a huge turning point and I'm not a psychologist, but I think it determined a lot of choices that Nina goes on to make.
When Kate, a cancer survivor is challenged to go rafting down the Grand Canyon to celebrate her victory over disease, she challenges her friends to thWhen Kate, a cancer survivor is challenged to go rafting down the Grand Canyon to celebrate her victory over disease, she challenges her friends to their own adventures. They seem like mundane, everyday things, but to each women, the challenge is tough for their own reasons.
I feel the book pontificates too much.. Each woman is the highlight of the tale for say, twenty pages? So I don't need their entire life story. I also found it way too descriptive.
I liked the way Caroline stuck up to the author. Whoo hoo! I was bored by Daria's bread making and clay molding. I loved Marion's story... partly because I love tattoos and understand there's a story or reason behind every bit of ink. The 80 year old lady whose fingers are so curled with arthritis that she decides to tattoo her wedding band onto the finger it had to be cut from... that's love. The woman missing a breast who was told to cover up her scar.. that's bs. That stuff moved me.
Ava's story kind of showed how everyone deals with grief and loss differently. I was also impacted by something Robin says regarding the Grand Canyon trip and why she chose that particular trip for herself and her cancer kicking mom, "I just wanted to be scared by something I could put my hands on."
Some of this was good, some of it was boring. Three stars....more
This has something for the ladies (passionate love that survives the trials of time) and something for the fellows (brutal POW scenes, political corruThis has something for the ladies (passionate love that survives the trials of time) and something for the fellows (brutal POW scenes, political corruption, and war).
It's 1950 and Jack decides to join the Marine Reserves. He only has to attend one meeting a month, he likes the uniform, and everybody else is doing it too. Just as things are getting really serious and heated with his girlfriend, Babe, his one meeting a month in exchange for 30 some bucks every third month backfires. He gets called up and sent to Korea, to war.
Mind boggling: He gets no basic training unless you count learning to shoot a rifle while on the ship to Japan. He and his comrades are literally thrown into a war zone with no experience whatsoever. It comes as no big surprise that he is captured and made a POW. What comes as a surprise is how he handles it.. He doesn't whine, bellyache, cry, or go crazy. He makes the most of it.. at the risk of being branded a defector. He passes himself off as a medic and saves lives, meets fascinating people, becomes a business man despite his prisoner status.
First of all, I didn't read the first one, Velva Jean Learns to Drive. There was nothing in a premise about a girl learning to drive a truck and sing First of all, I didn't read the first one, Velva Jean Learns to Drive. There was nothing in a premise about a girl learning to drive a truck and sing in the Grand Ole Opry that appealed to me. However, I must read any women in aviation book I can get my hands on, especially concerning the WASP, the Women Air Service Pilots. So I got my hands on this one thanks to LibraryThing and despite the fact I didn't know much about Johnny Clay, Harley, or the history of Velva Jean, I loved it.
The book begins with a Velva Jean driving her yellow truck away from her husband and family. She don't like being tied down. She's not cut out to be a preacher's wife... she has dreams that extend beyond her little town. She's gonna make it big in Nashville and sing. She thinks, however, that a business card given to her long ago is gonna lead to fame.... to read full review, click the link below:
Simply wasn't for me. I found the writing to be be eloquent and well done, but the story too drawn out for my taste and boring. Really, I guess there Simply wasn't for me. I found the writing to be be eloquent and well done, but the story too drawn out for my taste and boring. Really, I guess there isn't much you can do with this particular woman in history though. Her character, in other books, as well as this one is ditzy and frivolous.
I thought this was a YA novel when I first heard of it so was expecting more action. Not sure how I had gotten that impression. Perhaps all the pink on the cover. :)
I'm passing this ARC on to someone who I hope will enjoy it more than I did. ...more
The front of my ARC has a quote from an author. It says, "A wonderful, guilty pleasure of a read." And that's exactly what it was for me... A guilty pThe front of my ARC has a quote from an author. It says, "A wonderful, guilty pleasure of a read." And that's exactly what it was for me... A guilty pleasure. It's about the most incredibly rich and snotty people... people I would never associate with in real life, yet I found myself entranced by their ways, their obsession with fashion, name dropping, gossip, affairs, jewels, status, protocol.. Wow.
Cora Cash is an American heiress whose controlling, manipulative mother will not rest until her daught marries a man with a title and here in America, we don't do titles (even in 1895) so Cora must travel to England. A strange twist of fate lands her injured on a Duke's estate. This is where it gets interesting... They suddenly decide to marry. (I knew it was coming, but expected more lead up to it.. some courtship.) But the big question readers will keep asking themselves throughout the entire novel is: Does he love HER or HER MONEY?
While Cora is learning how to be a duchess, entertain the prince of Wales, outdo her controlling mother in law, preparing to birth an heir,and pondering sleeve width, it seems like the Duke is possibly having an affair. On top of that, he is very moody, doesn't like asking his wife for money, and disappears to India for 5 months. It starts to look like Cora's marriage is going to be one of those unhappy marriages of convenience when she wanted so much more.
There's also a sideline story about Cora's African American maid, Bertha. Bertha is having a fling with a white Englishman/valet. I would have liked more of this story.
Liked it, but it doesn't get a five because there were some parts about artists, paintings, and literary things that bored me. Those parts were limited to mundane discussions among the rich at parties and there wasn't much of it though.
This is a novel aimed at ages 12 and up but I thoroughly enjoyed it and I am way past 12... The year is 1896, the setting a small, struggling farm in This is a novel aimed at ages 12 and up but I thoroughly enjoyed it and I am way past 12... The year is 1896, the setting a small, struggling farm in Washington state. The mother, Helga rarely gets out of bed, the father has a back problem, there are a total of 8 living children, the oldest being Clara. Clara has to take care of everything.. but there's one thing she cannot do: save their family's farm.
So.. her mom comes up with this idea: they will walk all the way from Spokane to New York. Yes, I said walk, no taking trains or anything. They find a publisher willing to pay them ten grand to do this.. upon arrival by a deadline, of course. So Helga and Clara set off.
How did this book compare to a fifty year old novel telling the same story, Imperial Highness? Or to the movie, The Scarlet Empress produced in 1935 sHow did this book compare to a fifty year old novel telling the same story, Imperial Highness? Or to the movie, The Scarlet Empress produced in 1935 starring Marlene Dietrich? Click here to find out: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2011/......more
This is one of those books that I felt I should like and I feel guilty for not liking it. The author's story is sad and I am not without sympathy for This is one of those books that I felt I should like and I feel guilty for not liking it. The author's story is sad and I am not without sympathy for what he has gone through... However, I'm rating the book, not him or his story. He does have a story that should be heard (and the dog does too), but his writer's voice put me to sleep.
A common problem with memoirs: telling, telling, telling, no showing. This can be worked around, however. Keep your story short and to the point, add some action. Take "A Dog Named Slugger" for example, also a memoir about a service dog and short and well told. It kept me interested. This one didn't. I felt the author pontificated too often and went on and on.
Don't be deterred from trying it out for yourself though. So far, I'm the only reviewer who hasn't liked it....more