Marilyn (recuperating from hip replacement surgery
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Books:
marilyn-s-challenge
(741)
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| 9781250329516
| unknown
| 4.01
| 9,941
| Feb 13, 2024
| Feb 13, 2024
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liked it
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The Fox Wife was a well written book by Yangsze Choo. It was the second book that I had the opportunity to read by her. I listened to the audiobook th
The Fox Wife was a well written book by Yangsze Choo. It was the second book that I had the opportunity to read by her. I listened to the audiobook that was narrated by the author herself. It was a book that portrayed magical elements, some elements of fantasy, a mystery that was woven throughout the story and even some romance. The Fox Wife took place in Manchuria during the early 1900’s. To my dismay, I found The Fox Wife to be extremely slow. It was hard to get into the crux of the story and follow all the characters. For those reasons, I was disappointed that I didn’t like it more than I did. There were two main characters in The Fox Wife. Snow was a Huxian or a “supernatural, shape shifting being derived from a Fox and often depicted as female”. In Chinese mythology, a huxian was also known as a Fox fairy and was regarded in high esteem across northern China. Snow transformed into a woman and found employment as a maid to an elderly woman. Snow accompanied the woman to Japan and then back. As Snow moved across Manchuria, she had one thing on her mind. Snow was determined to seek out a way to avenge her daughter’s death that occurred two years prior. She was looking for the photographer who had commissioned a hunter to take her daughter’s life to secure her beautiful white fur coat. Bao was getting on in years. He was still working as a detective even though many thought he should stop. Bao had a very unique inborn talent. From a very young age, Bao was easily able to distinguish between when a person was telling a lie and when the truth was being told. This ability helped Bao enormously in his role as a detective. Bao had also always been curious about foxes and fox spirits. His curiosity stemmed back to an old nursemaid that took care of Bao when he was a young boy. Bao had been sequestered to investigate a death of a young woman who was found at the door of a restaurant frozen to death. No one seemed to know her identity. She was dressed as a courtesan but with no coat in the cold winter weather of Manchuria. As Bao interrogated various people along his way, many mentioned a woman looking for a photographer. Bao was determined to find this woman. What would happen when his path crossed with the woman he sought? The Fox Wife was not my favorite novel by Yangsze Choo. I felt that it was both too long and extremely slow. Perhaps others will find it more enjoyable than I did. There were parts that I enjoyed, however. I really liked the parts when Bao was young. His friendship with the daughter of a local neighbor was one of my favorite parts in the book. I really enjoyed how their relationship developed despite their class differences. The Fox Wife was about revenge, solving murders, hunting fox spirits, Asian folklore and mythology and all with a touch of fantasy. Even though this was not my all time favorite of Yangsze Choo I will recommend it if you enjoy elements of magical realism and fantasy. It was well written but very slow as I have already mentioned. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 13, 2024
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Feb 17, 2024
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Sep 11, 2023
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Audiobook
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| B0CB73SL5Q
| unknown
| 3.70
| 11,632
| Mar 05, 2024
| Mar 05, 2024
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really liked it
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The Great Divide by Cristina Henriquez was a very engaging book about both the construction of The Panama Canal and the effect it had on the Panamania
The Great Divide by Cristina Henriquez was a very engaging book about both the construction of The Panama Canal and the effect it had on the Panamanian people and those that came from far and near to help build it. The people of Panama were divided about how they felt about the construction of the canal. For some it was an opportunity to find employment and earn some income. A great many saw the canal as an infringement of their rights and a way for the Americans to take advantage of their country’s future. Those who chose to work to build the canal were subjected to long and grueling hours of hard manual labor. Some of the American supervisors were unrelenting and demanded unrealistic expectations of the workers. Other supervisors were verbally abusive and cruel to the men who worked for them. Mosquitoes also posed a serious threat to spreading disease among the workers, especially malaria. Many local people living in Panama were ordered to move their homes to make way for the canal. This was a hardship for a great many of the people who were being forced to comply with the directive. Some of these people banned together and refused to move but ultimately they were forced to move anyway. Cristina Henríquez vividly portrayed the conflict, consequences, dangers and opportunities that the construction of the Panama Canal brought to the people of Panama and beyond through the lives of several different characters. She masterfully wove the lives of these characters together to create a truly unique glimpse into how the construction of the Panama Canal changed and altered the lives of the people that both helped build it and were living there at the time it was being built. The Great Divide was beautifully written with much compassion and insight. I enjoyed the main characters and their stories and how they were flawlessly connected by the end. There were a lot of characters, though, and I did find that I got confused at times. Cristina Henriquez‘s impeccable research was extensive and well done. I listened to the audiobook of The Great Divide that was beautifully narrated by Robin Miles. Of all the characters in The Great Divide, Ada Bunting and Omar were my favorite characters. There was something about their innocence and yet insightful thoughts and actions that moved me. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of The Great Divide by Cristina Henriquez and highly recommend it if you enjoy historical fiction. Thank you to Harper Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Great Divide by Christina Henriquez through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 29, 2024
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Mar 31, 2024
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Sep 11, 2023
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Audible Audio
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| B0BZQC5JL3
| 3.88
| 13,853
| Jan 02, 2024
| Jan 02, 2024
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really liked it
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The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan was the third book that I had recently read that was written about the Japanese occupation during World War II. It w
The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan was the third book that I had recently read that was written about the Japanese occupation during World War II. It was author, Vanessa Chan’s debut novel. The Storm We Made took place in Malaysia which back in the 1930’s and 1940’s was known as Malaya. The chapters alternated between 1945 and the early to mid 1930’s and were told from several different POV’s. Malaya was under British colonial rule during the 1930’s until the Japanese occupation that occurred in 1941. The characters in The Storm We Made were completely fleshed out. They were absolutely believable and well developed. The Storm We Made centered around the lives of the Alcantara family prior to the Japanese occupation and during it. Cecily and Gordon Alcantara were married, lived in Malaya and over time had three children together. Their lives in Malaya were better than many others because Cecily’s husband, Gordon, worked for the British in a better than average position. Cecily and Gordon were occasionally invited to some social functions that were hosted by the British. It bothered and annoyed Cecily to no end how their British counterparts looked down upon them. Cecily disliked the way the British treated the locals. The British displayed an attitude of superiority. Cecily was bored with her life as it was. She went through the motions of being a housewife and mother but she wanted something more. Then she met Bingley Chan who was really Fujiwara, a Japanese General in the Japanese Army. He was in Malaya for the purpose of gaining information from the British. When Cecily met Fujiwara, he appealed to her dislike of the British. Fujiwara was looking for any information he could secure that would aid in the infiltration of the Japanese army into British ruled Malaya. He convinced Cecily to become a spy for the Japanese army. Cecily agreed with Fujiwara that “Asia for Asians” was what the people of Malaya needed and would ultimately want. She was fed up with the British and their treatment. Cecily saw hope in a Malaya ruled by Asians. She was enticed by Fujiwara’s plan and was willing to help him in any way she could. His vision for Malaya was so in line with the one she had. Cecily believed whole heartedly in the cause he made her believe they were working towards. She ultimately fell in love with Fujiwara over time. There is a saying that goes like, “the grass is always greener on the other side”. By the time Cecily came to see her errors it was too late. After the Japanese infiltrated and occupied Malaya, Cecily realized how mistaken she had been about Fujiwara’s position and predictions. Life under the Japanese occupation was far more brutal, dangerous and violent than life had been under British rule. There were now imposed curfews, major food shortages, dangers around every corner, adolescent boys were being rounded up never to be seen again and young girls were being kidnapped to serve as comfort girls for the Japanese soldiers. By this time, Cecily was feeling guilty about the role she played abetting the Japanese in their successful attempt to occupy Malaya. How wrong she had been. Cecily had three children. Jujube was the oldest. She worked in a tea house and was often the recipient of uncalled for advances by drunken Japanese soldiers. Abel was the middle child. He was a handsome and well liked adolescent boy. When Abel turned fifteen, he was forced into the back of a Japanese truck and taken to a work camp where he was abused and mistreated. His family had no idea where he had disappeared to. That broke Cecily. Her guilt was even stronger than ever. She had to prevent her family from ever finding out what she had done in helping facilitate the Japanese occupation. Jasmin, Cecily’s youngest child, was only seven at the time the Japanese occupied Malaya. Japanese soldiers began to go door to door in search of young female children. These young girls were used as comfort girls for the Japanese soldiers’ pleasure. Cecily and Jujube insisted that Jasmin remain in their basement during the day, out of sight from Japanese soldiers. Cecily insisted on chopping off Jasmin’s beautiful hair and dressed Jasmin in Abel’s clothes. She tried to make Jasmin look like a boy as much as possible so the Japanese soldiers would leave her alone. This was such a painful time in the life of the Malayan people. Most Malayans blatantly refused to speak about this time because their memories were just too brutal to recall. I was traumatized to learn about how the Japanese treated the people they ruled. I applaud Vanessa Chan for the research she conducted and many interviews she organized in order to present an accurate account of what happened in this part of the world during World War II. Some parts were difficult to read. I had a hard time liking Cecily’s character. Some if not all of her choices were self serving. It bothered me that she completely lost herself in her guilt, shame and despair and thus neglected her own family especially her children. The Storm We Made was a moving debut novel and I can’t wait to see what Vanessa Chan writes next. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to Simon & Schuster Marysue Rucci Books for allowing me to read The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jan 06, 2024
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Jan 11, 2024
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Sep 11, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| B0BZWMJFDJ
| 4.20
| 1,497
| Oct 2023
| Oct 31, 2023
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it was amazing
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The Letter Tree by Rachel Fordham was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by this author. It pulled me in from the onset and held my att
The Letter Tree by Rachel Fordham was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by this author. It pulled me in from the onset and held my attention until the very end. I found that The Letter Tree was well written, paced just right and had several strong and well developed characters. It took place in Buffalo, N.Y. during the 1920’s. I enjoy reading books that were written during that time period and The Letter Tree was no exception. The author, Rachel Fordham, relied on her positive experiences she had when she first read Romeo and Juliet and watched You’ve Got Mail to create The Letter Tree. Those influences truly worked in every way and made The Letter Tree a delight to read. I listened to the audiobook that was very well narrated by Kira Fixx. The Bradshaw family and the Campbell family both resided in Buffalo, N.Y. Both families shared a special friendship and relationship with each other’s family. The fathers jointly owned a thriving shoe business together. Laura Bradshaw, the only daughter, enjoyed Isaac Campbell’s company and friendship as well, even though he was a little older than Laura. All of this was well and good until something happened between the two families that led them to immediately terminate their friendship and business. As close as they had once been they now considered each other enemies. The families avoided each other entirely. No one ever revealed why the rift occurred but they avoided each other entirely now. Thus, Laura’s and Isaac’s friendship ended as well. All this drama occurred right around the time Laura lost her mother. Laura’s mother had died when she was hit by a car while she was crossing the street. Laura had accompanied her mother on an outing to the Post Office. Laura was waiting for her mother across the street from the Post Office. From her vantage point, Laura witnessed the tragic death of her mother. From that point on, her father became quite distant, strict, demanding and very overprotective of Laura. She felt the effects of her mother’s death on many different levels. Laura grew up to become a very lonely and sheltered child. Her only companion and confidant was the housekeeper that her father employed. Laura possessed one very special thing, though, that was hers alone. It was something she came to look forward to. It was her guarded secret. There was an old yet familiar maple tree on the grounds of the Buffalo Zoo. The tree was quite close to the home she lived in with her father. Right after her mother’s death, Laura began leaving letters in the hallow of the tree. She soon discovered that someone had discovered her letter and replied to her. Over the course of seven years, Laura and her secret pen pal friend wrote to each other and shared their dreams, fears and secrets with each other. Laura never learned the identify of the recipient of her letters but over time the person became her confidant and best friend. Laura was more determined than ever to escape her father’s house but she wasn’t sure how she was going to accomplish that. Then a handsome stranger appeared and seemed to take a romantic interest in Laura. His name was Abel and he was not only handsome but rich. Abel was interested in developing a business relationship with her father so Laura’s father encouraged her to pursue a courtship with Abel. Laura knew that a marriage proposal was her best way to escape the confines of her father’s home. Could Laura find happiness with Abel. Was she willing to leave her special tree and the person who she had written her most precious thoughts to behind? Like Laura, Isaac Campbell was an only child. As he grew older, his father had him join him in his shoe business but Isaac’s father would not give Isaac the respect and responsibilities he so desperately wanted. Isaac’s father was also overprotective of him. Isaac soon became quite frustrated with his father’s treatment of him. His mother encouraged Isaac to choose a bride but Isaac was uninterested in anyone his mother chose for him. Like Laura, Isaac had also lost someone very close to him. His uncle was killed in the war and Isaac missed him very much. Even though Isaac and Laura were forbidden to communicate or see each other, their circumstances were very similar over the years. Could the families forgive one another? Would Isaac and Laura renew their friendship? I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of The Letter Tree by Rachel Fordham. It was such a feel good story. There was romance, two separate mysteries, strong characters and a well plotted feel good storyline. I really enjoyed the part the tree played in this book. It was very heartwarming to know that Laura had a special friend that she could share her thoughts with. I also enjoyed the relationship Laura had with the animals and nature. Laura and Isaac were by far my favorite characters but I also appreciated the housekeeper and the special bond she formed with Laura over the years after her mother died. Overall, I really enjoyed The Letter Tree by Rachel Fordham and highly recommend it. Thank you to Harper Collins Christian Publishing/ Thomas Nelson Fiction for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Letter Tree by Rachel Fordham through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Nov 03, 2023
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Nov 14, 2023
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Sep 09, 2023
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Audiobook
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| 1400243076
| 9781400243075
| B0CBH3L4H4
| 4.22
| 3,504
| Mar 05, 2024
| Mar 05, 2024
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it was amazing
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The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay was a fast paced and riveting book. It was written in a duel time line and narrative. The characters were compell
The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay was a fast paced and riveting book. It was written in a duel time line and narrative. The characters were compelling and well developed and there were several twists and turns throughout the book. The Berlin Letters was well written and impeccably researched. It covered the years from when the Berlin Wall was first built through the years of the Cold War in a very believable manner. I listened to the audiobook that was very well narrated by Saskia Maarleveld, Ann Marie Gideon and P. J. Ochlan. For several years before the concept of the Berlin Wall was implemented, many families began leaving East Berlin, choosing to live in West Berlin instead. Monika Voekler’s parents, Gertrude and Walther and her younger sister, Alice, had done just that. They had left East Berlin a few months prior to the wall being built. Even though the city of Berlin was divided into the American sector or West Berlin and the Democratic Sector of Berlin or East Berlin, it was easy enough to cross over into one or the other without any difficulty. Prior to her parents’ move to West Berlin, Monika had married Haris Voekler. Monika and Haris now had a three year old daughter named Luisa. Haris worked at the Party’s newspaper, the Neues Deutschland. He was considered a highly regarded reporter. Haris believed in the Party and supported them completely so he refused to follow Monika’s parents to West Berlin. Monika and Haris had a good life in East Berlin. On the morning of August 13, 1961, everything changed. Haris got a phone call that morning that something was happening at Potsdamer Platz. He was told that an “anti-Fascist protection barrier” was being constructed and that he was expected to cover it and write about it for the evening edition of the newspaper. Monika, Haris and Luisa had plans to have lunch with Monika’s parents that day. Haris was unsure that he would be able to join them. Monika and Luisa went on their own. When Monika arrived at the border crossing she was surprised by what she saw. The crossing was heavily guarded and barbed wire had been installed. Monika was prohibited from entering West Berlin. She spotted her family and learned from her father that the Party had secured the border crossings because they saw it as “necessary to keep unsavory western influences away from their pure ideology“ and that it would not be coming down any time soon. In that instant, Monika made the most difficult decision of her life. Monika lifted Luisa high above her head and propelled her through the air into her father’s arms. She would never hold or be able to kiss her little daughter again. In the following days, Monika lived for the few moments she was able to see Luisa. Her parents brought Luisa to the wall everyday. Monika treasured those moments even though they were from a distance. She got as close to the wall as was allowed so she could see her daughter. Then word came to Monika that her parents, Alice and Luisa immigrated to America. Monika was beyond distraught and inconsolable. Luisa grew up in America and was brought up by her grandparents. She was told that her parents had died in a car crash. Luisa was encouraged by her grandfather from early on in her life to help him solve puzzles and decipher codes he made up for her. It was no wonder, then, that Luisa trained to become a member of the CIA. After Luisa’s grandfather died, she found herself living with her grandmother. While going through some of her late grandfather’s things, Luisa discovered a stack of correspondence between her grandfather and her father. Luisa discovered that her father was still very much alive and still in East Berlin. What will Luisa do with this newly acquired information? Will she be able to discover a way to get her father out of East Berlin and be reacquainted with him after all these years of believing that he was dead? The Berlin Letters alternated between Luisa’s and Haris’s narratives and alternated between the years of the 1960’s and the latter years of the 1980’s. It was a superb example of a parent’s heartbreaking sacrifice for the future welfare of their child and a child’s determination to rescue a parent they were denied of knowing. The Berlin Letters focused on family, choices, grooming and preparation for the future, secrets, lies, hope, resilience, bravery and courage. Be prepared for lots of espionage, a way of life that made my heart pound and lots of twists and turns along the way. I really enjoyed reading The Berlin Letters. It was a very telling book that disclosed much about the life that people in East Berlin led during the Cold War years. I highly recommend it. Thank you to Recorded Books for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 08, 2024
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Mar 11, 2024
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Sep 05, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| B0C3WX5F59
| 4.19
| 3,806
| Jan 23, 2024
| Jan 23, 2024
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really liked it
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4.5 / 5 stars. When the Jessamine Grows by Donna Everhart was a captivating historical Southern fiction novel. It was the first book that I have read
4.5 / 5 stars. When the Jessamine Grows by Donna Everhart was a captivating historical Southern fiction novel. It was the first book that I have read by this author. Her research for this book was quite thorough and detailed. It took place in Nash County, North Carolina just before the onset of the Civil War and then during the long, hard and violent years that the war was fought. Even though it took place during the Civil War, When the Jessamine Grows was more about one very strong woman’s determination to stay true to her convictions. I listened to the audiobook of When the Jessamine Grows by Donna Everhart that was well narrated by Tiffany Morgan. When the Jessamine Grows was well written and kept me immersed throughout. Joetta and Ennis McBride owned a small farm in Nash County, North Carolina. They lived on the farm with their two sons Henry and Robert. Their farm, unlike many of the plantations in North Carolina, was self sufficient. Joetta, Ennis and their two sons worked in the fields to harvest their crops. They had some animals as well. Unlike many of their neighbors, the McBride’s did not own slaves. They performed the work that was required of them themselves. Therefore, when talk began to circulate about the possibility of war and succession, Joetta and Ennis McBride remained neutral on the issue of what side they supported. Ennis’s father, Rudean, lived in a separate cabin on the property. Rudean was a stout believer in all that the confederacy stood for. He supported the confederacy and let everyone know it. Rudean shared his beliefs and convictions with his grandsons. Henry and Robert listened eagerly to his grandfather’s stories and news that he heard from his trips into the town about the real possibility for war. At fifteen, Henry was very impressionable. He listened to the stories that Confederate soldiers told him as they passed by his family farm. Between his grandfather’s stories and the information Henry gathered from the soldiers passing through, Henry was determined to sign up. He left the farm one night without telling anyone his plans. He took off in the middle of the night. Henry was determined to become a soldier for the Confederacy. He simply disappeared one night. Joetta was distraught when she realized what her oldest son had done. She tried very hard to persuade Ennis to go after him and bring Henry home but Ennis believed that the army would make Henry come home. He was just too young to volunteer. Each passing day that Henry remained missing was more than Joetta was able to tolerate. Finally, Ennis agreed to go after Henry, find him and bring him home. Weeks went by though and neither Ennis nor Henry returned. Ennis had also signed up. Joetta and her younger son, Robert, were left to run the farm. Now Joetta had to worry for the safety of her husband and her son. Even though all of Joetta’s friends and neighbors had taken the stance to support the Confederacy, Joetta remained neutral. She and Ennis owned no slaves so the war that was being fought did not affect her and her farm. As Joetta openly expressed her neutrality, her neighbors began to mistrust her, shun her and warn her that by not supporting the Confederacy she was committing an act of treason. When either Confederate soldiers or Union soldiers found their way to Joetta’s farm, she treated them the same. Joetta provided food and water to any soldiers passing through. As the war progressed, Joetta found that she had to take precautions to keep herself and her family safe. Although she never wavered from her convictions, she became less vocal and kept her thoughts to herself. Through this journey, Joetta discovered who her real friends were. There were not very many of them. I really admired Joetta’s courage and determination to stick to her convictions. She was such a strong woman with an unbending attitude about what she believed was right. Even when threatened, Joetta did not back down from her convictions. I really enjoyed how her and her younger son, Robert’s relationship, evolved over time. I even came to like Rudean by the end of the book. He was not very nice to Joetta during most of the book but he did come around near the end. The relationship Joetta forged with young Charlie was really special as well. Although she discovered Charlie on her property wearing a Union uniform, she did not see the uniform. Joetta saw a young, scared and frightened boy. Everyone else saw a Union spy. To Joetta, he was a boy, just a boy who needed help. When the Jessamine Grows by Donna Everhart was about a very sad time in the history of the United States. It spoke about family, loyalty, trust, friends, staying true to one’s beliefs and convictions, betrayals and the treatment of others. I really enjoyed Joetta’s character. She was so strong, level headed and determined. This was the first book that I read by Donna Everhart but I will look forward to reading more books by her, both older ones and new ones. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of When the Jessamine Grows and highly recommend it. Thank you to Tantor Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of When the Jassamine Grows by Donna Everhart through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jan 15, 2024
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Jan 16, 2024
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Sep 03, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| 1250890780
| 9781250890788
| B0C1X77V48
| 4.22
| 1,361
| Mar 12, 2024
| Mar 12, 2024
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really liked it
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In Sunshine or in Shadow (Molly Murphy Mystery #20) by Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles was another historical fiction mystery co-authored by this talente
In Sunshine or in Shadow (Molly Murphy Mystery #20) by Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles was another historical fiction mystery co-authored by this talented mother/daughter duo. It took place during the beginning of the summer months of 1908 in New York City where there was an outbreak of typhoid. Since Daniel, Molly’s police detective husband, was concerned about the cases of typhoid that were being reported in the city, Daniel suggested that Molly and the children spend the summer with his mother at her home in Westchester County. After all, Molly was now carrying their second child and there was concern for their young son, Liam, and their charge, Bridie. Molly loved being in the city and the thought of leaving it for the entire summer was not something that she wanted to do. When Molly found out that her dear friends, Sid and Gus, were planning to also escape the city to the Catskills, Molly’s decision became a bit easier. Molly made Daniel promise her that he would try and visit her at his mother’s home often. Daniel wasn’t sure how often he would be able to leave his detective work behind but he promised he would do his best to come see Molly and the children as often as his job allowed. Molly, Liam and Bridie traveled to Westchester County by train and soon arrived at Daniel’s mother’s home. The children settled in nicely but Molly soon discovered how bored she was. Luckily, Sid and Gus checked in with Molly and invited her to come stay with them at the all women artist community, Amicitia, that they were staying at for the summer. Among the women at Amicitia were a journalist for Ladie’s Home Journal, some women that were very active in the women’s suffragette movement, a New York City actress, a psychologist, an architect and several artists. One of the reasons that Sid and Gus had chosen to stay at Amicitia was because Sid had been asked to visit her grandparent’s farm and the artist community was not too far away. Sid had been told that her grandfather’s health was getting worse and that Sid should make an effort to see him. Sid’s family was Jewish. Her grandparents had come to the United States from Poland and had bought land in the Catskills and started their farm. When Sid, Gus and Molly arrived at the farm they were greeted warmly, especially by Sid’s younger seventeen year old cousin Mira, her Bubbe and Zayde ( Yiddish for grandma and grandpa) and the rest of Sid’s family. There were several bungalows on the property and several guests that had been invited to stay in them over the summer. Sid soon learned that her mother had conceived her in order to get her to visit. Zayde’s health seemed to be just fine. Among the guests that Sid’s grandparents had invited to stay with them that summer were three men from New York City. Sid and her cousin Mira were soon to hear the last thing they ever expected to hear. A matchmaker, Mrs. Ella Birmbaum, had been consulted and invited to join the family for an elaborate luncheon celebration. She was about to announce the “perfect matches” for both young Mira and Sid, their grandparent’s only two granddaughters. Unfortunately, that would only be the start to the problems that the family would have to face. A few days later, a murder occurred on the farm. Young Mira became the main suspect. Could Molly use her detective skills to clear Mira’s name and discover who the real murderer was? I enjoyed reading In Sunshine or in Shadow by Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles. Some of the plot and actions throughout the book were somewhat predictable but I was intrigued enough to keep reading. I loved that many of the characters from the past books were present in this one as well as some colorful new ones. The setting in the Catskills brought back fond memories of my childhood years when I spent several summers at a bungalow colony with my family. The description of the traditional Jewish foods that were served and the lush landscape were very well described. I enjoyed that several historical references from that time period were present in the plot. Women’s Suffrage was incorporated into the story as well as the typhoid outbreak in New York City. I look forward to reading the next installment in this series and recommend In Sunshine or in Shadow highly. Thank you to Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read In Sunshine or in Shadow by Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 20, 2024
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Mar 26, 2024
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Sep 01, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| 1250236800
| 9781250236807
| 1250236800
| 4.01
| 14,348
| Jan 23, 2024
| Jan 23, 2024
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really liked it
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Laurie Frankel has become a favorite author of mine over the years. I had previously read her books One Two Three and This is How It Always Is and enj
Laurie Frankel has become a favorite author of mine over the years. I had previously read her books One Two Three and This is How It Always Is and enjoyed them both very much. Therefore, when I saw that Laurie Frankel had written a new book I was so excited to get my hands on it. Family Family was centered around the concept of adoption, among other things. If we are honest with ourselves, when we hear the word “adoption”, many of our minds often think that it was probably a last resort, that it might prove challenging for both the adoptive parents or parent and the child who was adopted and that a stigma might be attached to the adoption. Laurie Frankel presented such a refreshing outlook on the process of adoption through India Allwood, one of the main characters in the book. India aspired to become an actress since she was a young girl and fortunately for her that dream came true. The latest movie that India had been cast in happened to be about adoption. India was not pleased with the way the movie portrayed adoption. In the movie, adoption was seen as something that was tragic. India knew it was nothing close to being tragic and so she could not he,p herself when she voluntarily voiced her opinion about abortion to a journalist. As a result of that unplanned and out of character decision, India found herself in the middle of a “media storm”. India’s unsolicited comments proved to have provoked dire consequences for her acting career unless her family can come to her rescue and figure out a way to save her career. The topic of adoption was one that meant a lot to Laurie Frankel. I really enjoyed the way Laurie Frankel presented adoption in Family Family. It was positive and uplifting. She created characters that were believable and quite likable. I don’t think that there were any characters that I did not like in this book. There were quite a few twists in this book that I didn’t see coming. I enjoyed that certain parts of the book that made me laugh, shake my head in agreement and even say good for you. The author’s notes at the end were very informative and so worth reading or listening to. I was lucky enough to have won a print edition of Family Family in a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to Henry Holt and Company for providing me with this ARC. I was also approved to listen to the audiobook of Family Family through Netgalley. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to it. The audiobook was narrated very well by Patti Marin. I mostly listened to the audiobook but did occasionally read the print version at the same time. Family Family was about choices, adoption, pregnancy, single parenting, how to find a good balance between a demanding career and bringing up children, standing up for what you believe in, a father’s involvement in an unplanned pregnancy, the choices available after the birth and the ability to follow your dreams. I really enjoyed Family Family and recommend it very highly. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Family Family through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. Thank you also to Henry Holt & Company for allowing me to read the print edition book of Family Family through Goodreads in exchange for a honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Publication is set for January 23, 2024. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jan 12, 2024
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Jan 15, 2024
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Aug 30, 2023
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Hardcover
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| unknown
| 4.05
| 91,210
| Apr 23, 2024
| Apr 23, 2024
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really liked it
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4.5 stars! I am a big fan of Sally Hepworth’s work. Her talent as a masterful storyteller has been proven over and over again to me through the years
4.5 stars! I am a big fan of Sally Hepworth’s work. Her talent as a masterful storyteller has been proven over and over again to me through the years with each new book that she writes. Darling Girls was no exception. It was dark yet heart wrenching. The setting for Darling Girls was a place called Wild Meadows Farm in Port Agatha, Australia. Sally Hepworth painstakingly detailed and portrayed a very flawed foster care system. She exemplified how that broken and sometimes uncaring system left its undeniable mark on each of three young girls who managed to grow into strong women years later, after they had aged out of the system and went on to live their adult lives. I listened to the audiobook that was narrated by Jessica Clarke. Darling Girls captured my attention immediately and drew me into the lives of the characters that were both deeply flawed yet so believable. Three young girls, each with her own reasons, were placed in the foster care system within years and months of each other. All three of these girls were placed with Miss Holly Fairchild at her home at Wild Meadows Farm. They were each told how lucky they were to be placed in such a nice home with such a caring and loving person to take care of them. The house was lovely and it even had a pool and horses as well. Even though everything appeared to be perfect, the young girls learned very quickly that the things that were perceived as perfect were often deceptive. How true that was for Jessica, Norah and Alicia. Living under Miss Fairchild’s roof was their worst nightmare. Miss Fairchild proved to be manipulative, a stickler for rules that suited her, an abusive caregiver who exerted her authority both physically, mentally and emotionally and she managed to leave permanent scars on all three girls that remained throughout their adult lives. Jessica arrived at Wild Meadows in Port Agatha, Australia when she was only five years old. She craved approval, attention and acceptance from Miss Fairchild. There was nothing that Jessica wouldn’t do to be able to earn those things from Miss Fairchild. For several years, it was just Jessica and Miss Fairchild. Then one day, about six years after Jessica had arrived, Norah was brought to Wild Meadows. Miss Fairchild agreed to foster Norah as well as Jessica. Norah, a troubled and sometimes violent child, was eleven years old when she started living at Wild Meadows. The last to arrive was twelve year old Alicia. Miss Fairchild agreed to foster Alicia as well. Alicia’s stay was supposed to be temporary and short term. Her grandmother had been taking care of Alicia but when she got ill and had to go to the hospital, Alicia had no one to take care of her. Miss Fairchild played one child against the other. She was relentless with her rules that she imposed, the amount of chores that the girls were forced to do and the isolation they were meant to endure. The girls were lucky to have one another. They each promised to always have one another’s backs. Even though they were not sisters by blood they were sisters in every sense of the word. They promised each other that they would always be there for each other and remain together for the rest of their lives. Twenty five years later, all three girls, Jessica, Norah and Alicia were contacted by a detective from Port Agatha. The detective told each of the three women that human bones of a baby were discovered under the foster home that they had resided in all those years ago. When the detective had asked Jessica, Norah and Alicia if they would return to Port Agatha to help with the investigation their first instinct was to decline. Port Agatha was a place that each Jessica, Norah and Alicia hoped to never step foot in again. The memories they carried from their time with Miss Fairchild were painful and they had tried very hard to leave those years behind them. In the end, they decided to go, though. What would be revealed about the bones? Who did they belong to? Who had buried them under the house? What secrets would be revealed? Could Jessica, Norah and Alicia finally bury their pasts and begin to live more productive and healthier lives? Where was Miss Fairchild? Could she still hurt Jessica, Norah or Alicia? Darling Girls alternated between the past and the present in a very cohesive way. As always, I enjoyed the characters that Sally Hepworth created in her novel. They spoke to me and I felt their trauma, pain and healing that was evident throughout their lives as young girls and then as adult women. I disliked Miss Fairchild with great intensity. She was so manipulative and went out of her way to be hurtful and mean. She left permanent scars on each of the girls she fostered. I particularly enjoyed the part with the therapist but had a hard time figuring out who he was counseling. There were so many twists and turns in this book that I didn’t see coming. I enjoyed the ending and found it very satisfying. Sally Hepworth did an exemplary job portraying the challenges that the foster care system faced and still does on many different levels. She also did an excellent job portraying drug abuse, rehabilitation and mental health issues. Overall, I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Darling Girls and highly recommend it. Publication is set for April 23, 2024. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. ...more |
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2
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Apr 09, 2024
Apr 09, 2024
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Apr 10, 2024
not set
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Aug 28, 2023
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Audiobook
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| unknown
| 3.91
| 1,267
| Feb 06, 2024
| Feb 06, 2024
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really liked it
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Queens of London by Heather Webb was a captivating historical fiction novel that took place in London during the 1920’s. It was inspired by real event
Queens of London by Heather Webb was a captivating historical fiction novel that took place in London during the 1920’s. It was inspired by real events and real people. Queens of London was about the notorious all women’s gang known as the Forty Elephants who earned their living by stealing. At its helm was no other than Diamond Annie. Annie Diamond demanded respect, loyalty and trustworthiness. She would protect and defend her members if they were in danger but if any of them dared to cross her or proved unworthy of her trust, Annie would not hesitate for a second to take matters into her own hands and teach the member a lesson or worse. The Forty Elephants were notorious for their heists and professionally orchestrated shoplifting escapades they accomplished. Diamond Annie and her gang members had evaded the police and capture as a result of their careful preparations and elusiveness. The British police department in the 1920’s was completely dominated by male officers with very few exceptions. Lillian Wyles was one of those exceptions. She was one of the first women to grace the police force of the United Kingdom. Lillian Wyles was trying very hard to forge her way in a male dominated agency. Her male counterparts were not willing to give her the opportunities she so desperately sought. Lillian Wyles knew if she could devise a way to capture and arrest Diamond Annie, she could earn the recognition she deserved. For right now, though, she was splitting her time between guarding a well known department store and capturing street orphans. Hiro Wickham was born to an Indian mother and British father. She was sent to live with her uncle in London when her parents thought it unsafe for her to be in India with them. Her uncle made sure she was well educated and that her manners were impeccable. He showed her no love though and barely tolerated Hiro’s existence in his home. When it was revealed that Hiro’s parents had died, her uncle wasted no time in making it known that he would send Hiro to a boarding school for orphans. Hiro made up her mind right then and there that she would run away. Where would she go? She had no money and had no acquaintances to help her. Hiro found herself on the streets of London. She was lonely, scared and hungry. Her loneliness was remedied when a stray dog befriended Hiro. She named her new friend Biscuit. Hiro and Biscuit looked out for each other and became inseparable. Diamond Annie discovered Hiro one night. She offered Hiro a place to stay and food to eat. Diamond Annie had watched Hiro in the act of pickpocketing and was surprised and impressed by her ability to get what she wanted. Hiro soon learned that Diamond Annie and her friends did some bad things but she needed a warm place to sleep and food to survive so she decided to ignore some of the things. At the same time, Hiro was also befriended by a woman salesperson at an upscale department store. Hiro made weekly visits to the woman who shared her food with Hiro. The woman developed a soft spot for Hiro and looked forward to her weekly visits. What would happen to Hiro? How did Lillian Wyles plan on capturing Diamond Annie? Would she get the recognition she so desperately wanted? I listened to the audiobook of Queens of London by Heather Webb. The audiobook was brilliantly narrated by Amy Scanlon. Before listening to this audiobook, I had no prior knowledge of the Forty Elephants and Diamond Annie. The fact that there was such an elusive gang of women that operated around London during that time period was fascinating to me. I thought the characters were well written and thought out. Hiro found a spot in my heart from the beginning. I enjoyed her relationships with her little dog, Annie and the department store saleswoman. Her uncle was despicable and was my least liked character. Heather Webb included an author’s note at the end of the audiobook that explained which characters were real and what really happened to the members of the Forty Elephants and the other characters in Queens of London. I thought this book was very well written and enjoyable. I recommend it highly. Thank you to Recorded Books for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Queens of London by Heather Webb through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 07, 2024
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Feb 09, 2024
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Aug 28, 2023
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Audiobook
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| 3.71
| 469
| Feb 06, 2024
| Feb 06, 2024
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it was amazing
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The Lost Dresses of Italy was the first book that I had the privilege of reading by M. A. McLaughlin. It was set in the romantic city of Verona, Italy
The Lost Dresses of Italy was the first book that I had the privilege of reading by M. A. McLaughlin. It was set in the romantic city of Verona, Italy during 1864 and then almost a century later in 1947. The Lost Dresses of Italy was an intriguing historical fiction mystery that centered around three incredible Victorian dresses that were believed to have once belonged to the English poet, Christina Rossetti. I was drawn into this captivating story immediately and was shocked and surprised by the more than satisfying ending. The two timelines were seamlessly woven together by the conclusion of the book and never caused any confusion as I progressed through the book. It was well paced and had me turning the pages as quickly as I could. Marianne Baxter had recently become a widow. Her husband had lost his life during World War II. Even though the war had been over for several years, Marianne still missed her husband terribly. When Marianne’s good friend from college, Rufina Rovelli, invited Marianne to Verona, Italy in 1947 to lend her expertise at restoring three recently discovered Victorian dresses that were believed to have belonged to English poet, Christina Rossetti, Marianne jumped at the opportunity. Perhaps a change of scenery would do wonders for Marianne. After all, Maryanne was a textile historian. The exhibit was to be held at the Fondazione Museo Menigatti which was being renovated from the damage it suffered during the war. Upon Marianne’s arrival, Rufina brought Marianne to the museum and introduced her to the owner, Alessandra Forni, who appeared to be far from gracious, helpful or welcoming. There was also an obvious reluctance by the local residents to frequent the museum. Something happened there during the war and the people of Verona had a hard time forgetting about it. Marianne was excited, though, to restore these dresses and learn more about Christina Rossetti and why these dresses had been hidden away for all this time. As Marianne began to restore the dresses she also discovered messages hidden carefully inside the dresses. What would Marianne discover about the dresses and their owner? Cristina Rossetti, daughter of Gabrielle Rossetti, struggled with the lack of recognition and acceptance she received as a woman poet in England in 1864. Only male poets were recognized for their artistic contributions. Therefore, Christina viewed her poetry as merely mediocre. Christina was one of four siblings. She had a sister who was planning on taking her vows to become a nun, a younger brother who was a very talented artist and an older brother who held a steady job. Christina, her brother, William and their mother had recently decided to finally visit Italy, the birthplace of her late father. Several days before their departure, Christina unexpectedly met a friend of her late father’s that he had known since his childhood. This encounter reminded Christina about a box that her father had given her before he died. While Christina examined the box and its contents, she discovered a hidden compartment within the box. Inside the compartment was a handwritten letter to her from her father that he must had written right before his death. In her father’s letter to her he wrote about a pendant and a stolen book. Christina decided to keep the letter and its contents to herself. Since her father’s old childhood friend was planning on being in Italy at the same time as her family and had graciously offered to show them around, Christina decided to share her secret with him and employ his help in returning the book. The Lost Dresses of Italy was inspired by the real-life mysteries of the English poet, Christina Rossetti. Marianne’s curiosity and passion to discover more about Christina’s trip to Italy in 1864 and why she left her beautiful dresses behind led her to a whole lot more questions than answers but Marianne was determined to find the answers that plagued her. Would Marianne be able to unravel all the clues that led to the mysterious life Christina led? What occurred during that trip to Italy that made her leave her beautiful dresses and significant treasures behind? Will Marianne be able to put the pieces together to solve the mystery? I was very impressed with M. A. McLaughlin’s impeccable research she conducted in order to write this book. It was well written and the ending was so unexpected. The Lost Dresses of Italy was about art, family, poetry, history, friendship, fashion, romance, secrets and losses. I really enjoyed reading The Lost Dresses of Italy and highly recommend it. Thank you to Alcove Press for allowing me to read this advanced reader’s copy of The Lost Dresses of Italy by M. A. McLaughlin through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Dec 09, 2023
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Dec 16, 2023
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Aug 27, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| 0369747607
| 9780369747600
| B0C1T118ZZ
| 3.66
| 16,933
| Mar 26, 2024
| Mar 26, 2024
|
really liked it
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I always look forward to reading books by author Heather Gudenkauf. Everyone Is Watching, her newest book, was no exception. As I began to read Everyo
I always look forward to reading books by author Heather Gudenkauf. Everyone Is Watching, her newest book, was no exception. As I began to read Everyone Is Watching, I realized that this was a diversion from Heather Gudenkauf’s typical books. It portrayed her usual feelings of suspense and tension but between the setting, the characters and the premise that was established early on I knew that I was in for something very different. Everyone Is Watching was very clever and gripping at the same time. I had a hard time putting this one down. Five random people received invitations to participate in a reality show called One Lucky Winner where the grand prize was to be ten million dollars. What if anything gave these five potential contenders the opportunity to compete for the unexpected but welcomed prize of ten million dollars? As each of the five contestants arrived at the magnificent estate, Bella Luce, in Northern California where the reality show was to be filmed, they were dubbed with the titles of The Best Friend, The Confident, The Senator, The Boyfriend and The Executive. Each contestant had their own personal reason for accepting the invitation to compete for the ten million dollars prize money. Through competitions and challenges, each winner collected “Super Clues”. There were also “ Game Changers” that the contestants gathered during each competition. Winning and securing the Super Clues and the Game Changers could tip the outcome of the competition in the direction of the contestant that accumulated the most. The object was to try and win as many competitions and challenges as possible. After each competition, a contestant was voted off by the audience that was following the reality show on YouTube, Instagram, Twitter or TikTok. As soon as a contestant was voted off, their deepest and darkest secrets were revealed to the millions that had chosen to follow the show. What secrets would be revealed? Would one contestant prevail over the others to win the ultimate prize of ten million dollars? I really enjoyed reading Everyone Is Watching by Heather Gudenkauf. It was not what I expected but in a good way. I had not guessed the ending and was quite surprised by it. This was a clever concept that Heather Gudenkauf brought to fruition in a way that was believable and quite suspenseful. The pace was perfect and the characters were interesting and well developed. There were lots of secrets that all the contestants were harboring. I liked how the secrets were revealed as Heather Gudenkauf explored the contestants’ pasts in alternating chapters. I highly recommend Everyone Is Watching by Heather Gudenkauf if you enjoy suspenseful thrillers. Thank you to Park Row for allowing me to read Everyone Is Watching by Heather Gudenkauf through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 29, 2024
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Apr 2024
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Aug 20, 2023
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ebook
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| B0C1X7H75Y
| 3.67
| 567
| Jan 30, 2024
| Jan 30, 2024
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really liked it
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3.5 stars for the second book in the Dear Miss Hermione series. Of Hoaxes and Homicide (Dear Miss Hermione, #2) by Anastasia Hastings proved to be ano
3.5 stars for the second book in the Dear Miss Hermione series. Of Hoaxes and Homicide (Dear Miss Hermione, #2) by Anastasia Hastings proved to be another entertaining cozy mystery. This one was set in London and the English countryside in 1885, at the height of the Victorian era. Half sisters, Violet and Sephora, along with several new and returning characters, took a prominent role in this next book in the series. Violet reluctantly resumed her role as Miss Hermione. It seemed that both Violet and Sephora were feeling the effects of the boredom that was so prevalent in their lives, now that they were no longer involved in solving a murder mystery. Both Violet and Sephora had settled back into their old lives with the help of their faithful housekeeper, Bunty. Out of obligation, Violet started reading the new correspondence addressed to Miss Hermione. She could not be bothered with such trivial matters as whether it was proper to have one pot of tea or two while serving guests. Then just as Violet was about to abandon the enormous pile of letters addressed to Miss Hermione, one particular letter intrigued Violet. It was from “A Heartbroken Mother”. The mother confided in Miss Hermione that her daughter had been lured into joining and living with a cult called the Hermetic Order of the Children of Aed. There was a popular book series that had been written using the cult as its main focus. Violet’s half sister Sephora was obsessed with these books. The author of the series, Count Orlando, had become an overnight sensation. The Hermetic Order of the Children of Aed were known for their human sacrifices, orgies and mystical powers. As Violet read more about the plea for help and advise from the heartbroken mother she suddenly realized that the daughter in question was no other than Sephora’s best friend, Margaret. Violet felt compelled to try and convince Margaret to leave the Hermetic Order of the Children of Aed. Violet had to try and convince Margaret to return home to her parents. In order for Violet to convince Margaret that she should return home, Violet decided to feign interest in the Children of Aed and signed on for a trial stay. During her stay, one of the Children of Aed was found dead. Margaret was accused of the crime. Violet changed gears and began to investigate the murder. She knew that Margaret was incapable of committing a murder. Who was behind this heinous crime? Will Violet, Sephora and Bunty be able to clear Margaret’s name and save her from the fate that awaited her? I enjoyed reacquainting myself with the characters I met in the first book of this series. Violet, Sephora, Eli Marsh, Bunty, Margaret and Sephora’s policeman friend were all back. There were lots of new characters as well. Will Violet and Eli finally give in to the feelings they were developing for each other? I was able to correctly identify who was behind all the foul play at the Hermetic Order of the Children of Aed pretty early. To me, it was fairly obvious. Even though I guessed the person that was responsible for the murder and all the other things that were happening at the Hermetic Order of the Children of Aed, I still found myself absorbed in this well plotted book. I enjoyed this new book in the Dear Miss Hermione series and recommend it if you enjoy cozy mysteries with a touch of romance. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read Of Hoaxes and Homicide by Anastasia Hastings through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 02, 2024
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Feb 13, 2024
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Aug 20, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| unknown
| 3.83
| 934
| Mar 12, 2024
| Mar 12, 2024
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really liked it
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The Woman With No Name was the third book that I had the pleasure of reading by author, Audrey Blake. I enjoyed that she had chosen to write another b
The Woman With No Name was the third book that I had the pleasure of reading by author, Audrey Blake. I enjoyed that she had chosen to write another book about a strong and determined woman. It was based on the true story of Yvonne Rudellat, a forty something year old woman who helped the members of the French Resistance slow down and derail the Nazi’s attempts to overtake France and demoralize the people of France during World War II. She was the oldest and first woman that was recruited by the SOE to be sent into war torn France for this purpose. Yvonne might have been older and slight in built or petite but she made up for those things with her courage, foresight, leadership and attention to details. She excelled at bomb making and sabotage and was respected by the members of the resistance she worked with. Yvonne Rudellat’s code name was Jacqueline but the Germans referred to her as the “saboteur with no name”. I listened to the audiobook of The Woman with No Name by Audrey Blake. It was very well narrated by Amy Scanlon. I really enjoyed listening to this gripping story about Yvonne Rudellat and highly recommend it to those of you that enjoy reading about strong women and historical fiction that is based on true accounts. Thank you to Recorded Books for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Woman with No Name by Audrey Blake through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 11, 2024
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Mar 16, 2024
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Aug 20, 2023
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Audiobook
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| unknown
| 3.91
| 583
| Feb 20, 2024
| Feb 20, 2024
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really liked it
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The Trouble With You was the second book I had the pleasure of reading by Ellen Feldman. It was well written and well plotted. The Trouble With You to
The Trouble With You was the second book I had the pleasure of reading by Ellen Feldman. It was well written and well plotted. The Trouble With You took place during the years of World War II and then through the decade of the 1950’s in New York City. The men that had served in World War II had either come home or had unfortunately died and had not returned from the war. There were so many women who had rushed to marry their husbands before they were sent off to fight in the war only to learn that they were widows before their lives together had even had the chance of starting. It was a time when women were expected to be housewives and mothers first and foremost. Women who chose to work outside the home during this time were frowned upon. Suspicion of Communist ties was becoming increasingly common especially among the men and women who worked in the arts as actors, writers or producers during this time period. During the McCarthy era, people were often convicted of having ties to the Communist Party with very little tangible proof. Those people were most often fired from their jobs and blacklisted so that they never worked in the industry again. During the 1950’s, Polio also became a real scare. Parents avoided letting their children swim in public pools and took other precautions as well. The Polio vaccine had not been discovered yet so it was a serious threat. This was the era that Fanny Fabricant, her husband Max and their young daughter Chloe lived in. Fanny attended one of the seven sister colleges and met her husband, Max there. In those days, most women who attended college went for the main purpose of finding their husband and getting married. Fanny succeeded in doing just that. Max was to become a doctor. They married and had Chloe. Max was one of the lucky ones who returned unscathed by the war. Fanny’s cousin had lost her husband in the war. Max and Fanny were well suited for each other. One night they attended a wedding while a major snowstorm hit. Chloe who was five years old at the time had been a flower girl in the wedding. The storm made it extremely difficult to drive home. They had just barely gotten home from the wedding safely. A little after Max and Fanny went up to their bedroom and were preparing for sleep a terrible and unexpected thing happened. Max had died suddenly and with no warning, leaving Fanny and Chloe to live their lives without him. Fanny was distraught and inconsolable. She had lost the love of her life. Fanny’s life was about to change drastically. Fanny sought help and guidance from her beloved Aunt Rose. Fanny knew that she had to find a job but what could she do? She tried working at a department store initially but that was not working out for her. She was actually let go from her position. Fanny next went on an interview for a secretary job to a woman who produced serial radio shows or soap operas. She somehow got the job, made several good friends and became good at what she was doing. During that time, two very distinct men came into Fanny’s life. There was Ezra, the pediatrician doctor who had known Max from Medical School and the war and Charlie, one of the writers for the radio shows. Ezra was the type of man she would be expected to end up with. Charlie, on the other hand, signaled danger, the type of man Fanny should avoid. There was so much pressure on women to do the right thing and avoid scandals during those years. What would Fanny decide to do? Would she listen to her heart or be led by what she was expected to do? The Trouble With You by Ellen Feldman was a well written historical fiction book about a time I can relate with. I remember as a young child standing in line in my school gymnasium waiting to receive my first dose of the Polio vaccine. One of my parents very close friends was a victim of Polio. I remember asking my parents about why he walked funny. I never knew anyone who was blacklisted or accused of being a Communist. That might have occurred a little before I was old enough to be aware of it. When I attended elementary school, I came home everyday for lunch. My mother was always home and had a yummy lunch waiting for my brother and myself. She was a stay at home mom until I was in high school. That was just how it was in the 1950’s and 1960’s. I felt that Ellen Feldman captured that time period perfectly. The characters in The Trouble With You were believable and well executed. I listened to the audiobook that was superbly narrated by Kathryn Markey. Overall, I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of The Trouble With You by Ellen Feldman and highly recommend it. Thank you to RB Media/ Recorded Books for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Trouble With You by Ellen Feldman through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 21, 2024
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Feb 23, 2024
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Aug 18, 2023
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Audiobook
| ||||||||||||||||
| 1728257204
| 9781728257204
| B0C7DZV68Q
| 3.95
| 3,648
| Mar 05, 2024
| Mar 05, 2024
|
really liked it
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The Girls We Sent Away was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by Meagan Church. I listened to the audiobook that was well narrated by S
The Girls We Sent Away was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by Meagan Church. I listened to the audiobook that was well narrated by Susan Bennett. It was a heartbreaking, emotional and thought provoking book about a subject that has been written about over the years. The Girls We Sent Away took place in the southern state of North Carolina during the 1960’s. It was a time where society dictated the role that women were expected to play. Any deviations from what was considered the “norm “ was frowned upon, challenged and covered up if possible. One was led to believe that mistakes had to paid for. The payoffs could be demoralizing, lonely and life changing. Lorraine Delford was the kind of daughter any parent would have been proud to call their own. At sixteen years old, Lorraine was on the trajectory to becoming the valedictorian of her graduating high school class. Her aspirations were to become an astronaut and discover things about space that had never been explored. Lorraine’s ambitions were to attend college and have a career. This was not the norm in the 1960’s. Women were expected to marry, have babies and keep home for their husbands. That was what her mother’s life looked like but Lorraine wanted more. She was an only child of parents who provided Lorraine with a good upbringing that emphasized recognizing right from wrong. Her mother was quite strict with Lorraine and always warned Lorraine about living a life that portrayed her as a good girl. Lorraine had her father wrapped around her little finger. She knew how to get her father’s approval for things she wanted to do. It was her father and not her mother that finally had given Lorraine permission to become the only female lifeguard the summer before her senior year of high school. Her mother was worried more about how revealing Lorraine’s bathing suits were. Lorraine had a steady boyfriend. Clint was a regular guest at the Delford home for family dinners. He was about to go off to college in the fall. As that summer progressed, Lorraine felt herself giving in to more of Clint’s urges and desires. Lorraine expected that someday in the future she would probably marry Clint. He had told Lorraine that he loved her and had given her a promise ring before he left for college. One night, though, would change Lorraine’s life forever even though Clint’s would remain unchanged. There was no sense in trying to deny the facts any longer. Lorraine knew deep down in her gut that she was pregnant. It had only been that one time but here she was pregnant with Clint’s baby. She knew deep in her heart that Clint would do the right thing by her. They would get married. Clint was only in his freshman year but they would find a way for him to continue his education, have the baby and become a family. How disillusioned Lorraine had been. Clint wanted nothing to do with Lorraine’s plan or her. Lorraine was forced to divulge everything to her parents. After the pregnancy was confirmed, Lorraine’s parents saw that sending her away for the last few months of the pregnancy was their only choice. They were disappointed and embarrassed by her actions. Lorraine’s parents wanted to avoid the shame and humiliation they would experience if their friends, neighbors or family discovered Lorraine’s situation. Arrangements were made for Lorraine to spend the last few months of her pregnancy at a home for unwed mothers. Lorraine was fed falsehoods about the life she was expecting to live at the home. More than anything, Lorraine wanted to graduate from high school. She only had a few months left. Surely she could attend school at the home. Lorraine couldn’t have been more wrong about the expectations she had for her life at the home her parents had selected for her to live at. She would soon learn that all the girls who entered this home were only expected to give birth to the baby they were carrying, give the baby up and then return home to their former lives as if nothing had occurred. Would Lorraine be able to do that? The Girls We Sent Away by Meagan Church was well written and researched. The fates of these young girls and what was expected of them were dictated by a society that was burdened down with “norms and expectations”. Most often these girls were left on their own to endure the remainder of their pregnancies and the births of their babies. Many of these girls were so naive. Mothers never explained a great many things to their daughters just because those subjects were not usually spoken about. It was a sad time to be a woman. How unfair that society recognized the acts performed by women as scandalous but placed no consequences on men! My heart went out to Lorraine and all she had to endure on her own. As a mother, I find it extremely difficult to understand Lorraine’s parents decisions, actions and why they prioritized the opinions and attitudes of their friends over the welfare of their only child. I know times were different but a parent should always choose their child first and above others. I enjoyed reading The Girls We Sent Away by Meagan Church and highly recommend it. Thank you to Recorded Books for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Girls We Sent Away by Meagan Church through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Publication was March 5, 2024. ...more |
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Aug 06, 2023
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| 1496742923
| 9781496742926
| B0BKTZFCVB
| 3.45
| 1,625
| Jul 25, 2023
| Jul 25, 2023
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really liked it
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The Woman in the Costello by Kelsey James was a captivating historical fiction mystery. It was her debut novel and it was a good one. I was initially
The Woman in the Costello by Kelsey James was a captivating historical fiction mystery. It was her debut novel and it was a good one. I was initially intrigued by the cover until I began reading it. This well plotted debut novel captured my attention from the first page and held on to it to the surprising and very satisfying conclusion. I loved the colorful collection of characters Kelsey James created for this suspenseful book. It was set during the 1960’s in a small Italian village outside of Rome. Sylvia Whitford was determined to secure a role as an actress in a movie. When she was offered a small part in a movie that was being filmed in Italy she, her mother and precious young daughter all traveled to Italy. Sylvia was accompanied by her terminally ill mother, Elana, who had been born in Italy but had not been back since she and her late husband left for the United States shortly after World War II. She also brought Lulu, her precocious two year old daughter. Unfortunately, as soon as Sylvia reported to the movie set she learned that the film had been cancelled. What was she going to do now? Her money was running out and her opportunities to find another role in a movie were bleak. Sylvia could think of only one thing that she could do. Her mother had an estranged sister, her Aunt Gabriella, that lived in a Costello outside of Rome. Surely, her aunt would lend her some money. Sylvia found her way to the Costello that was in dire need of repairs. It was a crumbling building that Sylvia imagined might have hosted a ghost or two over the years. She wasn’t sure of the reason why but her mother and aunt hadn’t seen each other or communicated with each other since her mother left Italy all those years ago. Her mother had forbidden Sylvia from contacting her aunt. Sylvia knew that she had no choice though. What had happened all those years ago to cause such a rift between these two sisters? Sylvia hoped that she might find out more about what happened between her mother and aunt. While Sylvia was pleading her case to her aunt and getting acquainted with her, a production team that was working on securing a site to film their horror movie was checking out her aunt’s Costello as a possible backdrop for their movie. When Sylvia’s aunt Gabriella was offered a substantial monetary sum for the use of her Costello she agreed immediately. To Sylvia’s surprise, she was cast in the starring role. It was not the type of acting role she had imagined but she was glad for the opportunity and the pay. Everything was going well until Sylvia’s aunt simply vanished. What had happened to Gabriella? Where had she disappeared to? Was foul play involved? I really enjoyed The Woman in the Castillo by Kelsey James. It was very atmospheric and fun to read. I loved the array of characters Kelsey James incorporated into this well plotted novel. It was suspenseful and had a few twists that I did not see coming. I loved how it ended. It was surprising yet satisfying. The Woman in the Castello touched on the importance of family, it had romance, mystery and quite a few secrets that some were harboring. Women’s roles were defined as they existed in the 1960’s. I am so glad women have moved beyond those years and the limitations they were faced with back then. The Woman in the Castello examined the complex roles of professional actors and actresses during that time period. This was an impressive debut novel and I look forward to reading more books by Kelsey James in the future. I listened to the audiobook of The Woman in the Castello. It was performed quite well by Patricia Santomasso. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to High Bridge/Recorded Books for allowing me to listen to this audiobook through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
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| 0008600279
| 9780008600273
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| 4.35
| 3,220
| Dec 28, 2020
| Sep 19, 2023
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really liked it
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The Girl Who Survived Auschwitz: A remarkable memoir of love, loss and hope during World War II by Sara Leibovitz, Eti Elboim and translated by Esther
The Girl Who Survived Auschwitz: A remarkable memoir of love, loss and hope during World War II by Sara Leibovitz, Eti Elboim and translated by Esther Frumkin was powerful, tragic, and compelling. Sara Leibovitz was born Sara Hershkovits in 1928. She grew up in a small village in the Czech Republic which was eventually annexed to Hungary when the Nazis invaded. Today that same little village that Sara grew up in is located in Ukraine. Sara was the oldest daughter of six children. In 1944, Sara and her entire family were brought to Auschwitz in cattle cars. Her mother and her five younger brothers were sent to the gas chamber upon arrival. The last time Sara saw her mother and brothers was on the platform at Auschwitz. Of course she had no idea that she would never see them again after that day. Sara’s father was assigned to work in the Sonderkommando where he was required to remove the bodies of the gassed victims and burn them in the crematorium. Sara was fifteen years 10 months old when she arrived in Auschwitz. She became a number on that horrific day. Tattooed on her wrist were the numbers that would define her for all of the nine months she managed to survive in Auschwitz. Despite all the atrocities, backbreaking work, disease, starvation and loss, Sara never lost the will to survive. She tried hard not to ever loose her faith or courage and tried to be kind even when it was not easy. Sara was the only member of her family to survive. Seventy years later, Sara Leibovitz, married to another Holocaust survivor and mother to three daughters was living in Israel. She had immigrated to Israel in 1947. Sara’s youngest daughter, Eti, experienced what it meant to be the child of a Holocaust survivor. Eti realized at a young age that there were things that were different about her mother but she did not understand or grasp those differences as a young child. The Girl Who Survived Auschwitz was written in alternating perspectives of both Sara and Eti on how the Holocaust affected their lives and shaped them as survivor and the child of a survivor. Sara recounted her harrowing existence in Auschwitz, her eventual liberation by the Russians, meeting her husband and immigrating to Israel. Eti grew up with many questions both from her own observations and those of her friends. She never quite understood why her mother had numbers on her wrist and why she didn’t have a big extended family with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins like most of her friends. When Eti was old enough to understand the concept of the Holocaust, she sought out information without her parent’s knowledge. Finally, Eti demanded to be told. She wanted to understand what her parents had gone through. Sara shared her story with her daughter and since then has accepted many speaking engagements to talk openly about her experiences and the atrocities that she witnessed. In Sara Leibovitz’s words, “I survived to tell.” I found this particular Holocaust memoir quite powerful. It was compelling to hear the thoughts of a Holocaust survivor’s child in relation to her understanding her parent’s moods, secrecy and lack of extended family. Since there are so few Holocaust survivors left, it is so important that their stories be shared either through their children or through memoirs like this one. The cruelty, hatred, atrocities and antisemitism that was experienced during those terrible years, known as the Holocaust, must never be forgotten. We must do everything in our power so the Holocaust cannot and will not be repeated. Unfortunately, there are some who have not learned from the past. We must find ways to be strong, resilient and hopeful that one day there will be peace and harmony for all despite the color of anyone’s skin, ethnicity, religion or any other differences that define us. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to Harper 360 and One More Chapter for allowing me to read the very moving memoir, The Girl Who Survived Auschwitz: A remarkable and compelling memoir of love, loss and hope during World War II by Sara Leibovitz, Eti Elboim and translated by Esther Frumkin through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ...more |
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| 4.20
| 79,765
| Jul 18, 2023
| Aug 01, 2023
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it was amazing
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Strange Sally Diamond was a magnificently written piece of literature! Liz Nugent has proven once again what a masterful storyteller she is. Strange S
Strange Sally Diamond was a magnificently written piece of literature! Liz Nugent has proven once again what a masterful storyteller she is. Strange Sally Diamond was a dark and twisty psychological thriller mystery that was creepy and even tense at times. Sally, the protagonist in Strange Sally Diamond, had suffered from a horrific childhood trauma. As a result, her social and emotional development was greatly affected. Even as an adult in her forties, it was hard for Sally to show and feel emotions. She was socially awkward and took everything she heard literally. Sally was a loner and preferred to stay that way. She shied away from social encounters. Her one passion was the piano. She was a very talented pianist and enjoyed playing for own enjoyment. When Sally’s adoptive father passed away, Sally obediently granted his dying wish. As good as her intentions seemed to be to Sally, she soon found herself in serious trouble with the police. Sally had a hard time understanding what she had done that was so wrong that it brought the police to question her about what she had done. After all, she just followed her father’s instructions. Those set of events would ultimately change Sally’s life. They would also expose her story that had been kept private until then. How would that affect Sally’s life going forward? Liz Nugent brilliantly portrayed several disturbing themes throughout Strange Sally Diamond. Although Sally faced many uphill challenges, I found myself rooting for her. Although, some of the subject matter was quite disturbing, I found that it was hard to put this book down. As I already mentioned, I really enjoyed Sally’s character. She was such a unique character. I really enjoyed reading Strange Sally Diamond and highly recommend it. Thank you to Gallery/Scout Press for allowing me to read the digital version of Strange Sally Diamond through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ...more |
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really liked it
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The Connellys of County Down was the second book I had the pleasure of reading by Tracey Lange. Just like her first book, We are the Brennans, The Con
The Connellys of County Down was the second book I had the pleasure of reading by Tracey Lange. Just like her first book, We are the Brennans, The Connellys of County Down was about family. I listened to the audiobook that was narrated by Barrie Kreinik. Her narration was well done. I always enjoy listening to Barrie Kreinik. She has become one of my favorite narrators. The characters were well developed and quite believable. I was drawn into the story immediately and it held my attention until the very end. The Connelly family was not your typical family. Geraldine, Eddie and Tara lost their mother when they were young. Their father was involved in criminal activity and abandoned his children shortly after their mother died. Geraldine, the oldest, assumed responsibility for caring and bringing up her two younger siblings. Shortly before their father left them, Eddie was in an automobile accident. The accident greatly impacted Eddie’s life. It left him with a brain injury. Present day, Tara, the youngest Connelly at thirty years old, was being released from prison where she served an eighteen month sentence for a drug charge. As Tara walked out of the prison, she expected that either Geraldine or Eddie would be there to take her home but neither one was there. Instead, Tara discovered Brian Nolan, the police detective who helped put her in prison, was waiting outside the prison. He offered to drive Tara home. Why was he there and at the exact time of her release? With no other options, Tara allowed Brian to drive her home. When Tara arrived home, she found that the house was empty. When her siblings finally arrived home, Tara was taken aback by how domineering Geraldine still appeared to be even though Eddie and she were adults now. As Tara settled back into her family home and began to involve herself with the logistics of restarting her life, she quickly discovered that that all was not as it appeared to be. Her sister and brother were both harboring secrets. Those secrets threatened the balance and well being of her family. Tara took it upon herself to learn what secrets her family members were trying to hide and to try and fix whatever problems they were facing. Could Tara get her brother and sister to open up to her? Would she be able to discover what was going on before it was too late? Tracey Lange wove together a family drama with a romance that was destined to be. She sprinkled in elements of surprise, crimes, action, drugs, secrets, sibling relationships, loyalty and obsessions. The Connellys of County Down was a character based novel. Each character was well developed and believable. I really enjoyed the relationship Tara had with Eddie’s son Connor. I found it touching that Tara, although the youngest, tried to take her sibling’s problems and make them her own. She was determined to make sure their lives were secure even if it meant upsetting her own. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of The Connellys of County Down and recommend it highly. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen the audiobook of The Connellys of County Down by Tracey Lange through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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Jul 29, 2023
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Aug 04, 2023
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