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Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
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Every year, the booksellers at Powell’s submit their Top Fives: their five favorite books that were released in 2023. It’s a list that, when put together, shows just how varied and interesting the book tastes of Powell’s booksellers are. I highly recommend digging into the recommendations — we would never lead you astray — but today...
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Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
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Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
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Customer Comments
The Lost Entwife has commented on (179) products
The Death of Jim Loney
by
James Welch
The Lost Entwife
, March 22, 2015
It's difficult to talk about books one reads when they correspond to the area of research that individual is involved heavily in. I picked up The Death of Jim Loney by James Welch on the recommendation of a mentor of mine and I knew, going in, that there would be a lot of times I would want to stop reading and start really diving into what I was reading and analyzing it and driving myself crazy with new research thoughts and ideas. But, about a chapter in, I put that part of my mind back into a box and I decided that I would give Jim Loney my full attention: as someone who was reading the book to listen to the story of this character. This is not a happy-go-lucky, feel-good story. Jim Loney is a man who struggles with identification, having a Native mother and a White father. His struggles with identity bleed into all aspects of his life, and even though he recognizes this fact, and recognizes that he is surrounded by people who could, potentially, help him get past all of it, he is a man who realizes that ultimately it has to be his choice to do so. The Death of Jim Loney, as a book, explores that idea. It gives us insight into the man who is Jim and takes us down that dark path right along with him. I've been of fan of James Welch's writing for a few years now. Fool's Crow was one of the first books I was introduced to and I've read it three times now and get something out of it each time I read it. As a child, I always wanted to read western stories and was fascinated with the romantic notions of cowboys and indians, but I never actually made the leap into the genre and let myself go crazy. Something always felt off. Now, I recognize that the stories I was craving then were stories like Jim Loney's. Authors like James Welch and Louise Erdrich. And as a child, these stories would have been over my head. The Death of Jim Loney is not a book I would recommend to get into this genre of literature. It's small, and as such, it's deceptive in a way that may make you think it'll be an easy one to get. But, ultimately, this one packs a punch that I'll be feeling for days. If you want recommendations, please comment and ask me for some. If you decide to go ahead and read this one as your first foray into Native literature, then ask me questions - I'm right here. Mostly, I invite you to start exploring, and if this review helps you get there, then I've done something right.
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Buffalo for the Broken Heart Restoring Life to a Black Hills Ranch
by
Dan OBrien
The Lost Entwife
, March 21, 2015
In a book that combines honest details about the bitter realities facing environmentalist ranchers with informative facts about wildlife, grass, and the struggles and rewards of raising Bison, Dan O’Brien manages to transform what might otherwise be a dull story story into one that tugs at the heartstrings. One of the first observations made in Buffalo for the Broken Heart gets to the figurative “heart” of the matter: the idea that, when it comes to the Great Plains, “it’s just a big, empty land” (6). The following pages in O’Brien’s memoir prove otherwise. Recently divorced and struggling to marry his desire to preserve the wildlife and start down the path to the restoration of the Great Plains, O’Brien sells off his cattle and decides to invest in thirteen buffalo “runts,” nicknamed “The Gashouse Gang” after a cartoon that O’Brien’s working partner recalls seeing when he was young (76). Although the majority of the book is dedicated to chronicling the journey of the Broken Heart Ranch as it transitions to a bison ranch, there are detoured moments that enhance the storytelling atmosphere while also bringing home O’Brien’s message. Drawing from real life anecdotes about learning to work with teenage boys, tragedies involving the health of the community people around the ranch, the budding start of a relationship with a woman who is now his wife, O’Brien deftly draws his reader in and makes the story a personal one. In addition to these moments of life, O’Brien provides his readers with a history lesson by addressing both the northern Great Plains of the “American imagination” as a “product of popular culture, mythology, and Madison Avenue” when it comes to cattle farming, as well as the benefit the buffalo provides to the reality of those same plains (25). In a similar fashion, the “mythic American character” that is lauded for “fairness, self-reliance, toughness, and honesty” is discussed mid-way through O’Brien’s narrative (95-96). Rather than leaving his reader to believe that O’Brien represents that myth, he addresses reality through the following quote from real estate broker, Dick Saterlee: “These are good people out here,” he said “Most honest people in the world. They wouldn’t lie to you for anything.” He shook his head. “But they’ll lie to themselves every time. (102)” One of the most compelling moments in Buffalo for the Broken Heart has very little to do with buffalo, on the surface at least. In a moving section about the struggle the state of Utah Division of Parks and Recreation was having with the peregrine falcon project of Antelope Island and the exploding population of the great horned owl, O’Brien steps into the role of a peregrine, shedding his human identity in order to fill the role of a “surrogate daddy falcon” (147, 150). In this section, O’Brien balances the distastefulness of the act against the horned owls with the knowledge that what he is doing is something that would have been handled in a different way in a time when the land and wildlife were living in balance. In telling this story, O’Brien sets the tone for the treatment of his own bison toward the end of the memoir. The final pages of the memoir deal with death. Both the death by suicide of a young man who had worked with O’Brien and been included in this narrative, and the death of five bulls by an arrangement intended to provide them with the most humane death possible. Life on the Great Plains is never easy and that is stressed throughout this narrative. Additionally, O’Brien refers time and again to the Sioux (Rosebud, Lakota) philosophy on life and it is apparent that he not only values the sentiment and tradition that inform those philosophies but also that he works to incorporate them into his own daily life and work. O’Brien’s memoir is a moving, interesting, alternatively funny and emotion-tugging look at the struggles of a modern-day rancher. He provides his readers with an open look into his life, both personal and professional, and by doing so, his love of the land and his desire to see it restored and healed comes across loud and clear. There is a distinct call to action to support the Broken Heart Ranch in his Afterword with the inclusion of his website and, after reading his story, I was quite ready to look it up and read more.
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The Tarball Chronicles: A Journey Beyond the Oiled Pelican and Into the Heart of the Gulf Oil Spill
by
David Gessner
The Lost Entwife
, March 20, 2015
Travel stories, personal anecdotes, scientific evidence, soul-searching questions, and environmental tourism all combine in David Gessner’s beautifully written book, The Tarball Chronicles. Even the cover, featuring the image of a man’s body, clad in protective gear, with the head of the infamous “oiled pelican” gives the reader a predictive look into the story held within the pages of Gessner’s book. Much like the illustrative pelican/man, Gessner draws heavily on the idea of connectivity and how it is impossible to escape that web that binds us together with every other thing. One of the most prominent themes in The Tarball Chronicles is the expansion on a John Muir quote: “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe” (157). Gessner argues that while we think we can outsmart nature, the reality is that we may fool her for a lifetime but “She’s coming to get us eventually, and she’s coming back to haunt us right now” (63). In this book he shows evidence of this time and time again, tracing the damage of the oil spill path now just across the beaches of the gulf but into the depths of the marshes and through the stories of the people who are dealing with the consequences. In a poignant statement near the end of his book, we are reminded that the spider’s web “takes the genius of time to weave it, but, as hard as it is to construct, its easy to rip apart” (255). In a similar fashion, Gessner weaves together the strands of his story to create a delicate, balanced web that demonstrates in a remarkable fashion the interconnectivity between humankind and nature ��" from the diving gannets down to the proliferation of periwinkles. Part of that web involves asking some hard questions, and Gessner does not shy away from not only asking those questions but admits that, at times, he does not have the answer either. He spends time challenging the idea of what makes us human by engaging subjects like sacrifice, hypocrisy, insatiability, tradition and identity, the need to belong, and ambition. Gessner asks if it is impossible for us to be “happy with less,” or if that is a sacrifice we are willing to make in order to “keep living the way we do” (279, 4). He argues that perhaps, instead of sacrificing, we should rework what it is we are looking for, to “refine and revise what we mean by ‘more’ and ‘better’” (67). Or is it in the process of looking for this “more and better” that our desire to control and fix is an urge that we have to live with (39)? In a statement that reverberates throughout the book, Gessner points out that some of the things that were broken “had taken a million years or so to make” (39). Arguing against excess and fixing things means that Gessner is pointing us in the direction of doing less or changing our definition of what “more” could be. He quotes John Hay who “spoke of our need to ‘marry’ the places where we live, to spend a lifetime learning the land and people” (188). It stands within reason that in marrying a place and learning it, the desire to break and try to fix would lesson and, instead, one would seek to learn to live in harmony with the place. Gessner’s book provides stories of individuals who have learned to do just that. Finally, Gessner’s book is a call to action. He points out the hypocrisy in the oversight of BP during the oil spill clean up through interviews with those who are working in the interest of the natural world and not in the interests of the company (22). He highlights the insanity of watching big business continue to make the same mistakes and expect different results (51). Gessner also does not shy away from giving voice to environmentalists who have willingly embraced the capitalistic nature of the society here; who point out that it is possible to make money while not causing harm to the environment (66). He admits that things have become “muddied and complicated” when it comes to a “clear-cut definition of what it means to be environmental” (69). When it all comes down to it, Gessner points out that the “oiled pelican” is more of a symbol for humankind in that it is our attempt to distill complex issues into something simple or obvious (137). The Tarball Chronicles is definitely not that oiled pelican; rather, much like the image on the cover, it is something much more complex that deserves a serious amount of attention.
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Flowers in the Attic
by
V C Andrews
The Lost Entwife
, January 07, 2015
First, let me get a few things straight. I don't know in what universe this book would have been acceptable to read at 12 years old, but I think part of the horror of this book is the thought that 12 year old kids were reading it. I mean, if you were a pretty knowledgeable 12 year old who could handle graphic sexual abuse, incest, physical abuse, and mental abuse and be able to put the book down and go along your way unaffected, then... I guess more power to that 12 year old you. But let me tell you know, as a 38 year old woman, this book affected me and I only picked it up because I'd purchased it a while back for a read-along and thought.. what the heck, I'm in the mood for a story and this looks interesting. So the premise is this: there is a mother, a father, and four children - they've been nicknamed The Dresden Dolls for their looks. A tragic accident happens and the mother and children make their way to the mother's parents home - where horrible things are waiting. Namely - the children are locked into a room (and an attic) and are made to follow a set of rules put forth by a fanatical grandmother and there they wait... and wait... and wait. When I say all sorts of things happen in this book that would have massively disturbed a 12-year-old me, I mean there are things that happen. Religious abuse is rampant throughout the book. So is parental abuse. The children turn to each other for comfort and while it was disturbing, it also makes sense because who else would they have turned to? The horror in this book is not the slash blood and gore type of horror - it's a subtle horror that plays with your mind and makes you start to doubt common-sense ideas. I found myself justifying things and then immediately giving myself a mental smack to remind myself that the stuff I was justifying is not justifiable in any sort of healthy environment. I don't think I'll continue this series, as curious as I am to see if the kids make out okay. That said, I had no idea that a book like this existed and I'm so very, very glad I wasn't forbidden to read it as a kid because I, like many others have said, would have eagerly sought it out.
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Fangirl
by
Rainbow Rowell
The Lost Entwife
, January 07, 2015
I'm in two camps when it comes to Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl. First, I absolutely, "five-star" loved this book due to its setting and the description of Lincoln/Omaha area - in fact, Rowell's heart is definitely in Nebraska and that's why I'm drawn to her storytelling as much as I am. On the other hand, there were several elements of Fangirl that I really struggled with. So I'm going to flesh out each of these camps and leave it to you to decide if you want to pick this one up. First, the good stuff. Rowell completely incorporates the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus into her storytelling. The descriptions of downtown Lincoln, of campus and the buildings (Yes, we do have Love Library and yes there is a strange breeze down in its depths), the dorms (I've eaten in Selleck many a time - both this year as well as back in the 90's), and the atmosphere (it's Nebraska, there are a lot of white people on campus). But she does't stop there. Cather (Willa Cather, notable Nebraska author) is a celebrated name on campus and also one of the dorm names - and Rainbow makes her the protagonist of Fangirl. Then there's Abel (also a dorm on campus), the long-distance "boyfriend" to Cather. Sprinkled throughout the pages of Fangirl is, ultimately, an ode to the school and to life in Lincoln, NE - and being a student at UNL currently, one who is frequently in Andrews Hall (getting an M.A. in English Lit will do that to you), I felt like I was roaming the campus while away from it on Christmas break. The only glaring thing that was missing was the presence of the Cornhuskers, although there is a nod to gameday in the pages which I appreciated. (Seriously, even East Campus gets some love here!) If you've never been to Lincoln, NE or seen the UNL campus, Rowell nails it, basically. Except for the walking to Valentino's thing - I don't know of one within walking distance of City Campus (well, there's a small one, but no buffet there anymore). Oh! And the cheeseburger pizza? It's a thing here. But where were the Runza references? So, now that I've gone through all of that, let's talk about the actual story. First of all, flat out, I'm going to say I hated the fanfic parts. I wasn't interested in the story there, the resemblance to Harry Potter and Twilight (or a mix of the two) was really strong and I just wasn't interested in reading it. This means that there were huge sections of the book that I just skimmed pretty much. I did appreciate, however, the distinction made to Cather about writing from her own experience and writing using the "borrowing" of another authors world and characters. I don't read fan-fiction, not because I have a moral issue with it, but because I don't think anyone can truly capture what it is to live in the world except for the author who created it. As for Cather, as a character, she seemed just... weak to me. I get that Rowell was trying to show two sides of the same coin with the twin girls and the fall-out from a mother who abandoned them, but that story really struggled under the weight of the romance and the fan-fiction and the plethora of Simon Snow references. I got, very early on, that Cather was a Simon Snow fan, but still all the way through the book the proof of that kept being described. Instead, I wanted to see the mental health issues being addressed, because every member of that family had them. I wanted to see more of a support system being built and, with access to a place like UNL, see even some of the benefits of being a student being worked into the story (there is a great counseling center right on campus as well as numerous groups that can provide support). Instead, we got just a taste of how the bad stuff can get out of control and then a quick, band-aid fix that really didn't provide much closure. I think, primarily, I kept reading this book because it reminded me of my now-home. I loved seeing places I adore referenced in the pages of a book and knowing that there are so many people out there also reading about that place. Lincoln doesn't get enough credit - it's a great little city and the UNL campus is a beautiful one. I just wish the rest of the story had held up to scrutiny.
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The Martian
by
Andy Weir
The Lost Entwife
, December 19, 2014
I picked up a copy of Andy Weir's The Martian when it was released because, frankly, I absolutely adore survival stories. I blame my love of them totally on Swiss Family Robinson and The Myserious Island. I also have a major fascination with space (and the ocean) - basically anything that represents places that have been left completely unexplored and have the potential for so much. However, once I'd purchased The Martian, I found myself diving into required reading for my first semester of graduate school so, alas, it had to be put on the back burner. My father read it, and laughed out loud several times - also, he took the time to update me on the spectacularly hilarious, crass opening line. It's a doozy, folks. But it's perfect because it sets the story up remarkably well. Mark Watney is the perfect character for a story like this. He's filled with humor and just the right blend of sarcasm and hope. The book, similarly, was also filled with a perfect blend of science, implausible plausibility (oxymoron? it works though), and outright funny moments. It deals with everything from human waste, immature behavior that comes as a result of massive responsibility, and a message of hope for the working together of the humans of the world. What I also loved was that the book dealt SOLELY with the survival aspect. There was no extended story about everything that happens after, it revolves completely around the obstacles Watney faces and how it all works out in the end. I very much recommend this book for science lovers, adventure lovers, and people who just enjoy a good laugh at some pretty crude jokes. My dad and I both loved it and I enjoyed chatting with him about it once I'd finished.
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Eleanor and Park
by
Rainbow Rowell
The Lost Entwife
, December 17, 2014
Have you ever put off reading a book because you know that there is no way it can be as perfect as it is, unread, in your head? That's been the case for me with Eleanor and Park. I've read Rowell before (Attachments) and I've purchased Fangirl, and I want to read it, but first I knew I needed to pick up E&P. So, as I sit here coming off of a brutal first semester of graduate school and many, many books read that have challenged me, I knew I needed to pick something up that would make me laugh, a bit. Make me cry, a bit. And, basically, remind me of what it's like to live life and be young, a bit. I definitely got that with Eleanor and Park. This is what I loved the most about this book - although Eleanor does not fit the mold of most female YA protagonists, there's not a big deal made over that, really. Rowell is realistic. Eleanor, at one point, realizes she's not that "nice" girl that you bring home to your parents. She's Eleanor. And the best part of that realization is when Park affirms that's what he sees in her - that she's not something that is the same old same old, she's something different. The same goes for Park. I loved seeing him break out and grow throughout the year (and man, 1986 - what a great year for a book to be set - I was 10 years old in 1986 and loved life). I loved seeing his family dynamics change, the love (and lust) his parents had for each other, the stereotypes they also had to break through and the growth they had. You know what else I loved? Having parents up front and center in a young adult book. And not just any parents, a wide variety of the sort - from absent fathers, to brutal step-fathers, to worn-down mothers, to functional marriages with their own problems and, hey, even grandparents. I loved seeing the mean guys actually step up and show humanity in instances, and seeing family step in to protect and care for one of their own. Basically, Eleanor and Park reminded me of life. Messy, full of big moments and not-so-big moments, that can break your heart or fill it so full you don't even know how to breathe. I wish I had been given this book as a teenager (and that it had existed to be given to me). And I love, love, love Rowell for choosing Omaha to set it in - a place that was home to me in 1986. Now, I can't wait to crack open Fangirl.
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Reuben and Rachel: Or, a Tale of Old Times
by
Susanna Rowson
The Lost Entwife
, September 07, 2014
If you are anything like me, Susanna Rowson is not a name you've stumbled across at any point in your life. I've read a lot of books, but I tend, generally, to avoid early American novelists because, well, the puritan thing really gets to me. However, now I'm in a class that has me studying four of those novelists and Rowson was first up on the list. I got a taste of her in reading CHARLOTTE TEMPLE, but REUBEN AND RACHEL really took that taste and made it into a full-fledged meal, including dessert. If you are at all interested in exploring this author, let this review serve as a guideline to help you through the book. First, have a pen and paper handy. No, make that a pencil and paper, because you will be erasing things. This is important because, ultimately, REUBEN AND RACHEL is a multi-generational saga that will expand on a family tree way too intricate for you to keep track of in your head. And, to make matters worse, the story will begin somewhere in the middle of that family tree, trace itself back through a series of letters, and then continue forward in a way that reminded me of a full-speed locomotive. Now that you are prepared, let's talk about the two volumes of this story. The first volume is mostly historical. There's not a lot of action, there is some, but it's nothing compared to the second. Mostly, you need to remember that Rowson was playing with a very important historical figure here (Christopher Columbus) and teasing out his relationship with Ferdinand and Isabella. This leads into a very convoluted story that explores the exploitation of people in Peru, the glorification of Columbus into a sort of Christ-like figure, and finally, the worship of Isabella as she reappears in the names of various women in Columbus's genealogy throughout the book. That said, once you get through the letters and move onto the the actual saga, things get interested. Provided you keep track of where you are (again, the pencil and paper help for notes - get used to pinging and ponging back and forth across the Atlantic), the story moves at a good pace. Just don't expect the title characters to show up for a while. On page 194, just a mere page away from the start of Volume 2, REUBEN AND RACHEL make their appearance. It's incredible what you've gone through at this point. There's incest, murder, various deaths due to other natural reasons, chains, arrests, rape, accusations... the list goes on and on. So it was a relief to finally get to the title characters, as you can imagine. Little did I know. Volume 2 flies by, folks. Seriously, hang on to your seat and keep that pencil and paper handy because all sorts of men will fly in and out of Rachel's life. If you get invested into stories like I do, you will find yourself gasping out loud and angry and righteously incensed at the mistreatment of Reuben and Rachel from the various people in their lives but that is what Rowson wants! Remember that! There are even moments when she interjects her own voice to bring you around to her way of thinking. This is a book that spawns hours of conversation in a classroom so keep that in mind when you pick it up. Choose it for a book club or read it in partnership with a friend so you can have someone to discuss it with. I promise, REUBEN AND RACHEL will hold your interest just as much as any modern thriller would. Just give yourself time to invest yourself in it.
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Naked & Marooned
by
Ed Stafford
The Lost Entwife
, September 07, 2014
It's only natural that since I am fascinated by survival stories in fiction that I should also look to some crazy real-life stories. That's exactly what caught my eye when I saw Ed Stafford's book. NAKED AND MAROONED is a heck of a title and a little bit of marketing genius. Who could pass something like that up? Then, upon further reading, I noticed that he spent his time in the South Pacific and, given my recent time spent in the Pacific, I had to know what it was like. I've never been a survivalist. I cringe away from bugs, scream at snakes and rats, and would not be able to spend the night outside even if you promised me a really, really big paycheck at the end of it all. Knowing this, I opened up Stafford's story fully aware that there would be parts of his story that would have me gagging at the thought of it all and I was not mistaken. Stafford does not hesitate to talk about the most minute detail of his experience - from the shape and texture of his "poos" to the day in and day out eating of raw snails. Yes. Raw snails. Gag. Still, it was what I was expecting from a survival book and, I'm sad to say, that the first few weeks were the most interesting because he was actually exploring and learning his new surroundings. Where the book faltered and eventually died off for me was when he got into the building mode. From shelters to traps to rafts, I just could not picture what he was doing and, I think unless one was very "build-mode" oriented, not many people would be able to see it well either. I got lost in descriptions of "Y" shaped poles and something about hibiscus something-or-other and it just wasn't all that interesting. There were moments when Stafford would say something out loud or look at the camera and joke or reveal a bit of the turmoil he was going through, but the majority of those pages focused so much on the building that there wasn't much of anything else happening. I don't know if my expectations were just unrealistic, but I never once felt as if he was really exploring this to the full. He was there with cameras, antibiotics, a phone, and a beacon and just 8 sea miles away there was help. So yes, he was naked and marooned and I have no doubt that it was the hardest experience of his life, but it never actually was something he had to be fearful of - because help was just a phone call away. So overall, NAKED AND MAROONED came off as just an experimental journey, something to see if he could do it but with a catch in the contract to help him if he couldn't. Maybe I should look to my survival stories in fiction because there is no real guarantee there that the character will actually survive. That sounds extremely thoughtless and uncaring of me, but there's enough of the bloodthirsty adventurer still inside, under all that wishy-washy, scaredy-cat-ness, to wish that this story had been just a little more dangerous.
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The Hidden Child: A Fjallbacka Novel: Fjallbacka 5
by
Camilla Lackberg
The Lost Entwife
, September 06, 2014
I don't read a lot of crime books. I was burned out on them years ago, but there are a few authors that make the cut for me and Camilla Lackberg is one of them. I've been following her Fjallbacka series since the first book was released and I'm always excited to see a new release pop up in my notices. THE HIDDEN CHILD did not disappoint. It solidly landed among some of my favorites of Lackberg's books and I was reminded, once again, of just how intensely absorbing this genre of book can be when it's written well. In THE HIDDEN CHILD, Lackberg explores the relationship of two brothers, each with a vastly different view of WW2 due to each of their circumstances (age, etc). She takes her readers through the story by revealing other bits and pieces of what the war was like in Sweden; how it affected families and lives and the dynamic of life - especially as relating to the border of Norway. But more than just a history lesson, Lackberg immerses us in the story through Ericka, a crime writer/new mother who just happens to be married to a detective Patrik Hedstrom. So in addition to the story of a crime unfolding, the story takes on a more personal, human feel as the couple tries to navigate their lives and who fits what where and learns that, well, life can be messy. I really enjoyed THE HIDDEN CHILD. I read it in a single afternoon/evening and not once thought about putting it down to do something different - including dinner. I snacked and laughed and gasped as various aspects of the story were revealed to me and I think fondly of that day as a day that I just had a really good time. I don't think there really is higher praise that I could give a book, so I'm going to leave it at that.
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Stone Mattress Nine Tales
by
Margaret Atwood
The Lost Entwife
, September 06, 2014
I have a confession to make. I haven't been reading as much as I want to - well, I haven't been reading fiction "for fun" as much as I have wanted to. The reason is that now that school is in session and I'm focusing on a specific area of literature and navigating my way through graduate school, I just can't afford to set aside time to read for pleasure. But then, the other night I was thinking about that and I realized that it shouldn't be the case. Just because I'm in school and reading other things doesn't mean I can't pick up a book for fun and so the first one I picked up was STONE MATTRESS by Margaret Atwood. There's a reason I went to Atwood. She never fails - not once - to get me out of a reading slump. Her style of writing just grabs me by the throat and, essentially, forces me to continue to read until the last page has been turned and the story finished. STONE MATTRESS was no exception. I loved - no I adored this collection of short stories. I think it's Atwood at her absolute sharpest in wit and her best in storytelling. There's a story in here where a woman commits the "perfect murder," a connected group of stories about the art of writing and what makes for good literature and what doesn't and explores the lives of people who think they determine these things... the stories just go on and on and every one kept building on the one before until I felt completely overwhelmed (in a good way) with the sheer genius on the page before me. I know it's a stylish thing these days to gush over Atwood. If you are any serious sort of book lover, it seems to be expected that she ranks high on your list, but I have to say all that aside, she's just a damn fine writer and deserves every bit of praise coming her way. STONE MATTRESS is testament to that and I highly recommend you pick it up as soon as possible and discover what I found in there. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
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Memory Garden
by
Mary Rickert
The Lost Entwife
, August 08, 2014
I finished reading THE MEMORY GARDEN by M. Rickert last May and now, months later, I still have conflicted emotions when I think about it. I remember thinking that this should be the perfect story for me - an old family secret, a girl surrounded by characters who have rich pasts, conflict, friendship, love - maybe even a little magic, be it of the supernatural or the chemistry kind. Unfortunately, I think THE MEMORY GARDEN really fell short for me on most of these. I remember, while reading, that I would feel these little kindling thoughts like.. this could be it, this could be where the story really gets moving - but instead those bits of kindling died out and, instead, I found myself trudging through more story and more text (because some of it, honestly, was quite dull). That's not to say it was all bad. There were those moments. And that's why I'm having a hard time giving this book less than a 3-star rating, in spite of my reservations about it. Because those moments were...almost... magical. I can practically feel my fingertips tingling a bit as I remember the bits and pieces, and I just wish that the rest of the book would have followed suit. THE MEMORY GARDEN by M. Rickert may just have been one of those books I read at the wrong time. Perhaps it needed to be read when there was rain outside and fall colors and a cup of tea by my side instead of in sunny Hawaii while sitting at the beach. Maybe I'll try it again and see if the setting can make a difference. I wouldn't discourage anyone to not pick this one up because maybe you will just have better luck with it than I did this time.
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The Returned
by
Jason Mott
The Lost Entwife
, August 03, 2014
It's been quite a few months since I read THE RETURNED by Jason Mott, but the story still lingers and every once in a while, when I see someone experience a loss on television, or hear of someone losing a loved on via my Facebook feed, or even the happy news of lost strangers being united with their families, my mind returns to the story in THE RETURNED. It's quite the story. Imagine losing a child or a loved one and then, years later, they appear on your doorstep, completely unchanged. And it's not just happening to you - people around the world are experiencing the return of their loved ones. For Harold and Lucille, the story becomes very real when their son, Jacob, appears on their doorstep as a young, nine-year old boy, just the same age as when he was lost to them. But Harold and Lucille have changed. And soon the town finds itself divided as some families seek to protect their returned and others fear who may just turn up on their doorstep; the fear being for various reasons. But even more than an interesting story line here is the light it shines on our society and our grief and coping mechanisms. Additionally, it questions just what our definition of life should be. Now, granted, I don't see a story like this happening any time soon, but it's really not a surprise that the Returned (as those who were dead but now aren't are dubbed) are treated in some sectors as less than human. There is so much in this world that is evidence of the inhumane treatment of those living that I can't say that I was really surprised by the events that unfolded in THE RETURNED. I saw that THE RETURNED was also being made into a television show and, while I think that the concept would play well on the screen, it's not something I would care to see recreated. While the story still lingers in my mind, it's not a story that begs for me to return to it. Still, it was quite the interesting read and I can remember staying up late into the night to finish it.
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Boy Snow Bird
by
Helen Oyeyemi
The Lost Entwife
, August 03, 2014
I'm struggling so much right now because I really, really wanted to fall in love with BOY, SNOW, BIRD by Helen Oyeyemi. I'm sitting here, struggling with a lack of words to convey my disappointment and struggling as well to try to articulate what exactly about BOY, SNOW, BIRD disappointed me. I asked myself when I finished reading if maybe I had expected too much - Snow White has always been one of my favorite stories, but I really went into this book without reading much of anything except the brief synopsis on the back. My mind was open to the possibilities and I had absolutely every hope of being drawn in. What happened was that, ultimately, I got bored. I had a reasonable amount of interest during the entire first section, but after a while it felt like I was reading fragments of a story loosely bound together. When the sections shifted to a new voice, I struggled for almost 30 pages with trying to get my head in the right place. I felt like I'd been rudely ripped from one story and thrust into another without so much as a warning. I really, really think that what Oyeyemi was attempting to do here is a fantastic thing. I really wanted to be blown away with her insights and strong characters that would pummel me from the pages and make me think long and hard. Unfortunately, my thinking was solely to do with wondering when the book was ending and asking myself if I should just put it down and DNF it. I didn't, but there's a strong part of me that wishes that I had, because BOY, SNOW, BIRD ended up being, in my humble opinion, a pretty cover, a cool concept for a story, but something that ultimately just did not deliver.
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Children Act
by
Ian McEwan
The Lost Entwife
, August 02, 2014
There are three types of books I enjoy reading and, as a result, there's generally three types of authors that go along with those books. Sometimes an author will cross over and write something that dabbles a little bit (or jumps completely into) one of those other two types of books, but generally speaking, they stick to what's been done before under their name. One of those types of books (and authors) I really enjoy employs beautiful language and a storytelling ability that transcends everything else. When I read this type of book I can feel my world view expanding and my thoughts and ideas and preconceptions being challenged and tested. Ian McEwan writes books that not only deliver a sucker punch to my gut, but makes me grateful for being there to get punched in the first place. THE CHILDREN ACT delivered yet another punch and, while it didn't hurt as much as ATONEMENT or SOLACE did, the after-effects are still rocking me a bit. There are really two stories happening in THE CHILDREN ACT. One story deals with the marriage of Fiona Maye and the bomb that's dropped into her lap by her husband of 30-odd years. The other story deals with the legal system in England, specifically those cases which, repeatedly, brought to mind the old stories of Biblical Solomon that I was taught as I was growing up. You know the cases - the separation of twins that will lead to the death of one of them; the determination of which parent takes the child home when, quite frankly, neither may deserve it, and finally, the case the book centers around, the battle between religion and medicine. This second part of the story is a big part. It trumps even the issues within Fiona's marriage, but rather than completely overshadowing them, it brings details like the discussions and interactions of Fiona and her husband into delicate, crystal-clear view. Everything seemed so sharp and the case had me on such pins and needles that everything else just seemed to poke and prod at me in all my weak spots. If it was affecting me, the reader, in such a way, man...my imagination goes crazy on how it would have affected anyone living this in real life. McEwan is a masterful storyteller, there's no doubt about that. In the pitch I received for this book, the writer said he experiences awe and envy at the ability that McEwan has with words. There is absolutely no doubt that McEwan's vocabulary and, more importantly, his perfect execution of that vocabulary, makes anything he write a masterpiece. It's such an added bonus when the story lives up to it.
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Afterworlds
by
Westerfeld, Scott
The Lost Entwife
, August 02, 2014
I'm a fan of Scott Westerfeld, but his books make me often frustrated. He has this knack, this ability to come up with really interesting ideas and then get about 80% of the way into really knocking them out of the park but then the last 20% of that effort just never seems to match up with the rest of it. I was hoping AFTERWORLDS would finally push that 80% to a 90% or even, dare I say it, 100% ... but unfortunately, it fell right into the same trap that LEVIATHAN and UGLIES did for me. What do I mean by that 80/20% thing? Well 80% of AFTERWORLDS was absolutely fantastic. I loved having a heroine last name Patel, I loved hearing descriptions about a life that is different from your average, run-of-the-mill white girl experience that YA fiction seems to center around. I loved the introduction of a very adult, very out-of-the-norm for YA fiction relationship as well as the family's reaction to it. I adored Darcy's little sister to pieces. But there were so many missing pieces connecting all of these things that I felt a bit, at the end of the book, as if I'd been smacked around. While I love the concept of a novel within a novel (and the book is told in alternating chapters, we read Darcy's story in-between chapters of her own real life story), I think the effort put into creating a book like this means that something had to give. Unfortunately, in this case, it was Darcy's real life story. AFTERWORLDS became more believable in the Afterworlds sections of the book than in the real words section. I had a hard time getting behind an instant love connection. I had a very, very hard time with the simplistic budget that Darcy seemed to be able to live on (and honestly, $150k/year is not much at all when it comes to NYC). It felt very unreal that she was able, for example, to find an apartment that was large enough to host a fairly good size party and she didn't need a roommate to help with the payment of rent. Then there's the Aunt figure, that mysterious family member who is able to grant wishes because it's inconvenient for the parents to do so. I just wasn't buying it all. That said, I did love the introduction to the Hindu death god, and the whole incorporation of the Hindu religion. Not something you see in literature and something I would love to see explored more. I really enjoyed the AFTERWORLD part of the story, and although there were issues there as well, they were nothing as glaring as the real world story. Would I recommend picking up AFTERWORLDS? That depends. If you are a huge fan of Westerfeld and have faith in his ability to tell a good story, yet still can accept some disappointment and move on, then sure - pick it up. If you don't want to sink into this 600+ page book without knowing that it will reward you for your efforts, I'd say move on. In fact, I wish it would have been possible to release this novel in a two-set book or something, allowing us to read AFTERWORLDS before, or after, we read Darcy's story. Probably impossible, but something neat to think about.
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Florence Gordon
by
Brian Morton
The Lost Entwife
, July 30, 2014
I read a book recently about an older man who was grouchy and all "get off my lawn!" and...well, you know the type, surely you do. I loved that book. I wanted to meet that old man and live in his world and keep him company as he went about his daily routine. When I picked up FLORENCE GORDON by Brian Morton, I have expected to have found the companion to that book - now I'd be reading about a grouchy old lady and I'd be falling in love all over again. What I got was something totally unexpected. FLORENCE GORDON was a helluva surprise. I laughed in shock and shook my head more times than I can count. Florence, the title character, is quite the character. She's brash, borders on rude but leans more toward the very outspoken side of the thin line, and she makes absolutely no excuse for who she is because she doesn't need an excuse. She's Florence Gordon, a leading feminist voice who lived during a time when women's rights made huge strides. She married a disappointment of a man, had a son who married a woman that views Florence as some kind of saint, and she has a granddaughter who, she might admit, to having a feeling here and there of sentimentality toward. Unlike that first book I was talking about, there is very little heart-warming going on in FLORENCE GORDON. Instead, Brian Morton paints a picture of how this generation of women differs from Florence's generation. How little we actually know about the feminists of the 70's and how little, yes this, how little respect is actually shown for them. Florence is not a mean, bitter old woman. She's a woman who learned early to speak up and to make her voice heard. She's a woman who felt so much passion that she refused to bow to societal norms - even to the end of her story. I loved that about her and I am very, very thankful that this book did not bow to what society may expect from it as well. FLORENCE GORDON is not a sappy story about an eccentric, endearing old woman. It's a story that motivates and inspires and I'll take that kind of story over one that has me weepy and lovey any day.
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Sudden Light
by
Garth Stein
The Lost Entwife
, July 30, 2014
I have a confession to make. I have not read THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN. I've seen the title - in fact, my feed reader was inundated with book reviews and buzz about the book when it came out, but for some reason, I've just never felt the urge to pick it up and read it. Still, I've spent quite a bit of time looking at the cover on Amazon, in my local bookstore, and I've even seen it at some garage sales. I can picture it clearly in my mind, and so, when I saw that A SUDDEN LIGHT was being released I thought - why not read the newest Garth Stein book and actually be on top of things? And it was going well at first. I really dug the concept of the book - man returns home with son to put to right some ancient wrong and make peace with his past. I loved the setting - I've always been a huge fan of the Pacific Northwest and, in fact, it's my dream to live there someday. I really loved the writing style - Stein has a poetic way with words, there is no denying that. But something happened when I hit about the midway point. Things started to get a bit dull. I wasn't as creeped out as I had been by the ghost element for the first half. I didn't care nearly as much about the outcome of certain events because, due to extensive explanations and histories being fleshed out, I had an idea of where things were going to go. By the time the end of the book came around, I felt like Stein had taken my hand and carefully led me through the maze of a story then handed me a shiny lollipop at the end of the story and said, here you are! Aren't you surprised by my treat? I wasn't. But that's not to say that I didn't enjoy the journey to some extent. Parts of the book reminded me of a creepy, modern Jane Eyre type story. I was fascinated by the initial descriptions of the house and loved and devoured the portions of the book that described secret stairways and rooms. I drooled as certain items were revealed (rare books - looove) and found myself daydreaming a few times about how amazing it would be to stumble upon such a treasure. But ultimately, what it came down to was, I felt the book was just too long. There was too much detail, too much explaining and history-story telling, and not enough left to the reader to puzzle out along the way. Just before I felt like I was reaching an "aha!" moment, Stein would sweep the rug out from underneath me by telling me exactly what I had been about to come up with. So, yeah, I felt cheated a bit, and that's why I didn't rate this book higher, even though I would have dearly loved to.
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Close Your Eyes Hold Hands A Novel
by
Chris Bohjalian
The Lost Entwife
, July 28, 2014
If you are at all familiar with my reviews, then you know that I am a fan of Chris Bohjalian. He first won me over with THE DOUBLE BIND, then he wrecked my heart with MIDWIVES, and it's all been over since those two books. While I've loved some of his books more than others, I have to say that CLOSE YOUR EYES, HOLD HANDS, is by far the most inventive and out-of-his-box book I've seen yet. When I finished CLOSE YOUR EYES, I didn't even know what to think and, I'm not even kidding here, I even double-checked to make sure that the author was the same guy I thought it was. But that's not a bad thing at all because, let me tell you, I can always count on Bohjalian to throw me for a loop and this time he did it with the very style of writing he was doing. But let's talk about the story because there were several things about this story that I loved. The style of story-telling reminded me of a book I read by N. Scott Momaday called THE WAY TO RAINY MOUNTAIN. Now, the similarities stop at the style only - because the content is very, very different. But in RAINY MOUNTAIN, Momaday tells three different narratives - a legend, an historical account, and a personal story or anecdote, if you will. Similar to this style, Emily Shepherd is, in bare-bones terms, telling three stories. The history of the girl Emily before the accident, the history of the girl Emily before we know her, and the current narrative of the girl Emily. All three of these stories come together to form a confession of sorts that tore at my heart and had me crying in sympathy and sorrow by the end of the book. Then there's the way that Bohjalian handled being inside the mind of a teenage girl who has suddenly found herself bereft. She's lost her parents, she's lost her dogs, she's lost her home, and she's lost her identity. Not only the last of these, but she's learned that she is hated by anyone who hears her name. It's no wonder that her primary goal is to go home - even if that means a loss of her life. She's 14 years old, life as a 14 year old girl isn't concerned with your mortality, it's about needing to feel safe and secure and loved. And Emily is sorely lacking in all three of those things. I really, really loved CLOSE YOUR EYES, HOLD HANDS in a way that I've not loved Bohjalian's books before. I loved the way it challenged me and made me think. I loved how it realistically portrayed the life of a 14 year old girl during a disaster that is not all that far-fetched to imagine. Once again, I was not let down by Bohjalian and I cannot wait for the day when I can shake his hand and thank him for the hours of reading pleasure he's given me.
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Decompression A Novel
by
Juli Zeh
The Lost Entwife
, July 26, 2014
This is not going to be a long review. To be honest, it's been two months since I read DECOMPRESSION by Juli Zeh and the most excitement I can gather when I think of it is a mild, distracted, "meh." That sounds really bad, but I was so taken in by the interesting cover and the synopsis and setting (The Canary Islands!) that I couldn't help but imagine something exciting and thrilling. What I got, instead, was something that made me feel slightly dirty and more than a little frustrated that I spent so much of my valuable free time trying to muddle through the whole thing. Honestly, this should have been a DNF (did not finish) book for me. I kept hoping that the story would get better, that it would be revealed that there actually was a good person in all of this, and other than a brief glimpse at the end of a character who was really kept in the background, I didn't really get that. Instead, I got a story about some self-centered, rich people who live in seclusion in paradise and who have been hired out to cater to some more self-centered rich people. The suspense was all built around sexual tension. That's not to say there can't be suspense there, but it never actually felt dangerous. Instead, it felt like Zeh was trying too hard to put suspense and tension into the book and was way overshooting the mark. I didn't believe it, I didn't believe that the characters actually had passion and drive and desire. Instead, what I felt like was that I was reading a mediocre play that involved a mediocre cast trying to put some life into it. I was deeply disappointed by DECOMPRESSION, but I'm more disappointed in myself that I got sucked in by yet another pretty cover and the idea of a story that really wasn't delivered.
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The Home Place
by
La Seur, Carrie
The Lost Entwife
, July 25, 2014
Unless you have been out west (Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, etc) it's impossible to describe the sheer beauty and enormous space there is there. I spent a few years living in Wyoming, in Laramie where I went to school at the Univ. of Wyoming, and as much as I hated the brutal winters that would rip my face open it felt like with the wind and the snow and the ice, I also admired on a near-daily basis the beauty of the mountains and the majesty of the land surrounding me. In THE HOME PLACE by Carrie La Seur, some of that is captured and I was impressed in the reverence with which La Seur approached her subject. THE HOME PLACE is first a story of a broken family and the death of one of its members. Vicky, the youngest in a family torn apart by an accident years before, has been found dead, supposedly of the elements. It's January and her older sister, Alma, has less than a week to get everything squared away, including figuring out where to settle Vicky's daughter, Tiffany, before she has to be back in Seattle for her work. The problem is the land and the people on it - they are hard to get out and away from and if you go back, they attach right back to you, as Alma learns. Immersed in memories and family and the love/hate relationship that goes along with all of that, Alma has to struggle to figure out what it is she really wants. What made this book so irresistible to being put down, however, is the depth and breadth that Carrie La Suer went to in order to give a diverse and interesting look at life in modern-day Billings, Montana. From the Native American factions and descriptions, to a brother who lives a lifestyle that, to this day, required strength of character and bravery in order to live every day life, to the sweeping descriptions of both the land, as well as a home that made me want to curl up next to the fire and read, the true beauty of THE HOME PLACE is the story that isn't being told. It's the background and the secondary characters and the feelings those evoke in the reader. Like the sweeping vastness of Montana, it seems unattainable yet feels like home all at the same time.
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Lucky Us
by
Amy Bloom
The Lost Entwife
, July 25, 2014
LUCKY US by Amy Bloom starts with the following line: ""My father's wife died. My mother said we should drive down to his place and see what might be in it for us." Unfortunately, things did not stay with that same level of awesomeness. What I was pitched by the synopsis was a story that involved two sisters stumbling through life together. What I got was two sisters thrown together until something happened that tears them apart and the rest of the story we only really get to see the life of the one sister - Eva - the sister who, in spite of Bloom's best efforts, was somewhat of a wet-rag type of character. Am I being too harsh? I don't think so. I really tried to get on Eva's side. I wanted to be able to root for her, but she just kind of floundered around in this story. She never takes a stand for anything, never speaks up for herself, and instead, she seems to constantly be apologizing for being just ... there. Some very interesting characters enjoy Eva, so I'm sure that there was an intention there for her to be interesting and worth following, but instead I felt just a bit gypped because I wanted to follow Iris through her life and, through an interesting turn of events, all I got were letters and a wrapped up ending. Bloom touches on some heavy subjects in LUCKY US - from Japanese internment camps, Nazi sympathizers, deportation, and gay and lesbian issues during the WW2 era. But she only touches on them, leaving the exploration out of the picture and using only parts of those issues in order to make her story seem more.. legitimate perhaps? I'm not really sure how to put it other than that way, because what I got out of LUCKY US was a that it was an historical novel that saved face as an historical novel because it included some pretty big issues from the WW2 era. Strip those issues away and all that would be left is a mediocre relationship between two girls - only one of whom flirted at being something more than a two-dimensional character.
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Big Little Lies
by
Liane Moriarty
The Lost Entwife
, July 24, 2014
Liane Moriarty snagged me with her smash hit, THE HUSBAND'S SECRET. I read it last year and my jaw dropped at how hard of a punch it packed. So when I saw that BIG LITTLE LIES was coming out, I knew this would be one I couldn't pass up. I was a bit worried, I'll admit, that it wouldn't live up to what its predecessor did for me, but almost immediately that worry was put to rest as I started in, immediately fascinated by the names floating on the page and the gossip they were revealing. Let me give you a piece of advice before you pick up BIG LITTLE LIES. Don't worry about the names or keeping them all straight. The book is separated into segments and the traditionally written parts deal with the main characters (three women, really). You will get to know them very well. The rest of the book is in interview bites and the names will become familiar but in a less personal way. You may see them in passing in the stories of Jane, Celeste, and Madeleine, but they aren't super vital to the story right away. So, don't be like me and anxiously flip back and forth trying to figure out who is who. With that said, now you can dive into the meat of the book. BIG LITTLE LIES takes on all sorts of issues facing couples, parents, and families today. It talks about big issues that face the world and more intimate issues that only surface in the bedroom. It talks about issues of seeming lack of importance in a Kindergarten classroom and it talks about issues that can bring about death in a fierce, unexpected, and hard way. BIG LITTLE LIES talks about all of this and still managed to make me laugh in the midst of my tears. Also, it made me shout out loud. I'm not even joking. I was reading in bed, my sister was outside of my door, and I shouted NO so loudly she wondered what the heck was going on (she knew I was alone and I'm really not a crazy person who normally talks out loud when I'm alone). I can remember the last time I read a book that had me exclaim out loud - it was a book by Jeffrey Archer (A PRISONER OF BIRTH), and I still think of that book fondly. Now it has another book to join it on that lonely shelf. If you haven't read Moriarty's books then I envy you. They are not really re-readable, due to the fact that the surprise is half the fun, but they are indeed fun, interesting, heart-wrenching, and filled with character. I recommend you pick up BIG LITTLE LIES as soon as you can, and if you are one of the few people who hasn't read THE HUSBAND'S SECRET, pick that one up too.
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Life Drawing A Novel
by
Robin Black
The Lost Entwife
, July 22, 2014
I made a mistake in reading LIFE DRAWING by Robin Black. The mistake was not in the reading of the book, but the reading of the book after a piece of fluff that had my mind going 100mph. The first half of LIFE DRAWING had me groaning out of boredom and struggling to calm my racing thoughts, but then.. once I was able to calm down, I began to see just how beautiful the scenery was. Here's the thing about LIFE DRAWING. It's actually a word-painting of life and the struggles that come, inherent, with any close relationships. Who do you trust outside of your partner? What do you trust your partner with? Can your partner handle if it you decide to go ahead and spill? If not, what do you do from there? These are just a few of the questions being addressed in Black's story about a husband and wife and their neighbor next door. August, or Gus, is an artist in her 40's and she and her husband, Owen (a writer), came into some money that, by their standards, is a fortune. This money enabled them to move away from the city and all of the issues that plagued them there and try to start over in a quaint home that has excellent light for Gus and a perfect barn for Owen to write in. Their life is not idyllic, but it's comfortable for them. Then everything is disrupted when a woman moves in next door. The woman, Alison, is also a painter, and with that bit in common with Gus, a friendship is formed. Gus, who has never had a close friendship with a woman, is left to navigate some tricky waters and trouble starts to brew. August also comes with her own special set of baggage. I thought I knew where the story was going to take me, but to be honest, I should have known better. The weaving of the stories becomes so complex that LIFE DRAWING really becomes quite the masterpiece by the end. Black is extremely patient in her storytelling and paints a very intricate, very detailed picture of the lives of Owen and Gus. The result was surprising and had me completely floored. And here I thought the book was going to be boring.
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Dear Daughter
by
Elizabeth Little
The Lost Entwife
, July 21, 2014
I honestly don't know what possessed me to send in a request for a review copy of DEAR DAUGHTER by Elizabeth Little. Books about "It" girls are not really my thing, and I really waver on whether I actually enjoy suspense/thrillers or whether they are just good to pass the time with. Still, no matter what possessed me at that point in time that I requested a copy, I do know that total boredom and needing to read something out of my norm possessed me to pick up DEAR DAUGHTER last night. So let me say, right off the bat, that this book does not pull punches. In a way that really reminded me of NIGHT FILM by Marisha Pessl (a book that I loved, by the way), Elizabeth Little incorporates various parts of the large amount of media in our world today into the world of this book. Also, as I know by association someone who is currently being completely torn apart by the media, the book was made even more real to me and the result was a sort of horrifying fascination. DEAR DAUGHTER is the story of Jane (Janie) Jenkins and her desire to start life again after being released from ten years of imprisonment for the murder of her mother. Determined to figure out the real story behind her mother, and her mothers death, and to fill in the missing blanks from that horrifying night, she sets off on a quest to follow a clue she heard her mother speak moments before dying. Jane is anything but sweet and innocent and pure. The character is an extremely unsympathetic one and at no point in time does she make any excuses for her behavior, nor is her awful relationship with her mother ever fully explored or explained. Instead, we get the same bits and pieces of Janie's mothers past that Jane does and together, reader and protagonist, progress toward the ultimate goal. The "who done it." The ending of DEAR DAUGHTER puts me in mind of GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn. I glanced around at online reviews and found what I expected - people upset and disappointed and not understanding of just why DEAR DAUGHTER ends the way it does. I'm somewhat in the minority, because it made perfect sense to me. DEAR DAUGHTER isn't about happy endings or perfect love stories. It's the story of a daughter and her messed up relationship with her mother and the consequences of choices made by both.
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We Were Liars
by
E Lockhart
The Lost Entwife
, July 20, 2014
I've been putting off reading WE WERE LIARS by E. Lockhart for a few reasons. The first reason is that I really, really loved THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU-BANKS. Like.. I adored it. The second reason is that, for some reason, this book made all the bloggers out there go nuts and that really put me off. I figured there was no way that this book could be that good and so, I prolonged what I was sure to be disappointment. While there is definitely an oh my goodness moment in WE WERE LIARS, I'm relieved that I put off reading it long enough for the disappointment to not sting so much. I was enthralled at the instructions at the start of the book. It's marketing genius for sure. "Oh! You should read this book, I can't tell you what happens in it but, well, I could but I'd have to lie, so you can go into it completely blind." That's what the book actually depends on. It depends on you going in knowing absolutely nothing about it. And, accordingly, the reviews are very careful (or, at least, the ones that I saw) to not spoil things for you. So, I am going to respect that and not spoil it, but I do want to give a warning here. The book is about some very privileged children and their family. There's no social justice or rough subjects taking on world issues here except for what is mentioned in passing by one of the characters in an effort to tie the story into the real world. In short, WE WERE LIARS is the perfect book if you enjoy suspenseful, drama-filled TV... only this time it comes in a book setting. Lockhart knew what she was doing when she was writing. The book is designed in such a way that some pretty graphic visuals takes your mind places you weren't aware that it could go to. Lockhart's ability to write down what pain feels like is admirable and had me thoroughly admiring sentences two or three times longer than I normally would have. Her craft is definitely there and it's a testament to why I loved her previous book so much. Still, the substance is missing and there is no re-readability factor even possible in this book for me. It's been read, spoiled, and now I move on. That in itself is so much a disappointment that I wish I hadn't picked it up last night and just lived a few more months in anticipation.
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Art of Adapting
by
Cassandra Dunn
The Lost Entwife
, July 20, 2014
I struggled with THE ART OF ADAPTING because in some ways, I really loved it and in others I found it predictable and a bit boring. In this story by Cassandra Dunn, a newly-separated mother of teenagers has to deal with putting herself back out there, adapting to life without her husband (but still with him in it some, as they are only separated), and watching out for a grown brother who has struggles with Asperger's Syndrome. It seems like it's almost too much for one book to handle, but that's where the beauty of the story came in. THE ART OF ADAPTING is told from four different viewpoints. Lana, the mother mentioned above, her brother Matt, her daughter Abby, and her son Byron. In reading the synopsis, I figured Abby and Byron to be the secondary characters but what I found instead was that they shone - quite a bit. In fact, I became very quickly attached to Abby and I continuously craved more of her story. What I was disappointed in was the somewhat limited view we have of Matt. Very little is explained about his lifestyle or how he managed to fall as deeply as he did into a life with Spike (or who Spike even was to him? I first thought a lover but then later wasn't so sure). Instead, Dunn latches on to some Asperger's traits and uses them to tell the story of Matt. The result was that I felt I was reading the story of a diagnosis and not the story of a man. I really struggled with it, and it's hard to put my finger on just what didn't work for me but that's the best that I can explain it. In spite of its failings, THE ART OF ADAPTING is a read that caught my attention from the first set of narratives. Each character teased me with just enough to keep me turning the pages until I saw them again and before I knew it, I'd come to the end of the book. I will say that the story did drag a bit as well about 250 pages in - I was somewhat surprised to check my pages and saw that I still had over a hundred more to go. Dunn took the story further, involving some characters in it at the last minute and, while it worked, it also led to an ending that was a bit too clean-cut to be realistic. Still, if you are looking for a good, end-of-the-summer, poolside book, you wouldn't be disappointed in THE ART OF ADAPTING. Just don't go into it expecting a lot from the Asperger's angle and maybe you won't be as disappointed there as I was.
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Our Happy Time
by
Ji Youn Gong, Sora Kim Russell
The Lost Entwife
, July 19, 2014
This has been the year of delicate, perfect, death-row stories for me. Stories that gripped me and held tight, even when I was crying angry tears and railing against the injustice of it all. OUR HAPPY TIME by Gong Ji-young is the perfect knitting together of the stories of two people who could not be more different: Yujeung and Yunsu. My initial impression is that both of these characters were young, but as the story develops it is revealed that they are, in fact, adults. The rich development and emotional tension of this book depends on that age, so don't let initial impressions fool you. OUR HAPPY TIME is told in two alternating narratives. Yunsu's "Blue Notes" usually have a relevant quote at the start of them and, by contract, Yujeung's journal is a bit more detached and shows a perspective that's set a bit away from the emotion of the story. What connects both of their stories, however, is one of the best characters in the book, Yujeung's Aunt Monica. Monica is a nun who has made it her mission to visit those on death-row and try to bring them to a place where they can make peace with their lives and those who are still in it. Secrets and dark pasts are revealed, both in Yunsu and Yujeung's lives - and even Monica and Yujeung's family come into play. The differences between the rich and the poor are marginalized as two people who suffered from similar circumstances have to face life (and in Yunsu's case, death) with a shrugging off of their burdens. I'm not going to lie, you will reach a point half-way in the story where hope steps in and you start to think, improbably, that your hope will be enough to change the course of events. Let me warn you, don't let that hope overshadow what is happening in the story because I almost did and almost lost sight of what was really beautiful here. OUR HAPPY TIME is a deceptive name for this book, I think. It fits, but not in the way you would think it would fit. I loved the look into life in South Korea and I always appreciate any book that makes me think, hard, on what I value in my life. It makes me realize just how privileged I am and how much I could be doing with that privilege, and it makes me want to learn more and teach more and love more.
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Land of Love & Drowning A Novel
by
Tiphanie Yanique
The Lost Entwife
, July 18, 2014
If you are any sort of reader you know that there are different categories of books. There's easy, light reads that can be finished in an afternoon, there's tense, gripping reads that won't release you until you turn the last page - and even then, you struggle with moving on from them for several days to weeks. And then there's the type of book that weaves a spell around you. It slowly entrances you in a way that hides the entrancement and, when you finish it, you end up dreaming about it and feeling caught in an otherwordly-type of spell. That's what I've been doing today. I finished LAND OF LOVE AND DROWNING by Tiphanie Yanique last night and I dreamed I was in her world all through the night and woke up in a daze this morning. That's some powerful storytelling, folks. It's the kind of story-telling that I love, too. The incorporation of myths and gods, of tall tales and history; the weaving of all of these things until you don't know (or care) what is true and what's not. Add into it real events dealing with parts of the world I had never even heard of and... well, it was a heck of a story. Still, there were some flaws. I wasn't gripped by the first 100 pages, in fact, I dabbled with putting the book down and not finishing it at all. While it was interesting, it was very strongly dealing with some issues that made me more than a little uncomfortable. As the book progressed, I understood more that it was more about symbolism and feminine power - but still, that's hard to grasp in the opening chapters of a book, especially if the story is one that's not often told. I have absolutely no doubt that people with a broader worldview than my own or more knowledge of the culture and society living in the USVI may view this differently. I'm just a single reviewer and, while I appreciate the education and feel enriched by the story, it doesn't take away from the fact that I had to push myself to get past those first 100 pages. I think Yanique is going to be an author to watch. She tied the civil rights movement in to the lives being lived in the USVI in a way I've never seen before. She talked about characters that were familiar to me from my readings in other areas (Western African literature and Native American). I was thrilled to see a version of the trickster that I don't come across often being spoken of and I was entranced by the idea of the duane. More than anything else, LAND OF LOVE AND DROWNING has kindled a curiosity in me about the USVI and the British Virgin Islands. I want to know more and, if the other books I find that take on these subjects and the locations are only half as good as LAND OF LOVE AND DROWNING, then I consider myself fortunate.
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One Plus One
by
Jojo Moyes
The Lost Entwife
, July 17, 2014
I've been a fan of Jojo Moyes since THE LAST LETTER FROM YOUR LOVER came out. She consistently gets 4-star ratings from me, even though I've found myself drifting away from contemporary women's fiction these past few years. I think, what it boils down to, is that Moyes writes with heart. She takes real issues and she makes me care about her characters. ONE PLUS ONE is another book in Moyes arsenal that hits hard and doesn't apologize for what it is: a story about the strength of a family being a one family - no matter how strange and seemingly unfitting ways the pieces go together. In ONE PLUS ONE, Moyes introduces us to two people who are in a downward spiral. There's Ed, a man who could be loosely classified as a bit of a geek, and there's Jess, a woman who ended up with quite the mis-matched pair of children and one heck of a wayward ex. I can hear what you are thinking right now - sounds like a typical love story: richer man meets poor, working mom and needs help and he sweeps in to save the day. Let me save you the trouble and say that, while some of that might be true in a sense, you really have to give Jess credit here. She works hard and I found myself rooting for her from the first page. That's not to say she's perfect. Between trying to help the son of her ex who she has assumed responsibility for, trying to do what's best for a daughter who is a whiz when it comes to math, and trying to give her ex the time he needs to get back on her feet, she somehow manages to juggle quite a few jobs. Quite frankly, Jess is barely hanging on. And when you are barely hanging on, decisions are made that one might regret later. Ed, in a sense, is also barely hanging on, and due to a very poor judgement call, he does something that puts everything in danger - his company, his life, his wealth, and his family relationships. So what better way to hook a reader than to throw these poor, tired individuals together in an Audi and send them on a road trip that can go no faster than 40mph along with a teenager, a girl who gets carsick at fast speeds, and a farting dog. Even if contemporary lit isn't your thing and you roll your eyes at "Best-selling" on the front of any book, please do me a favor and give ONE PLUS ONE a try. I think you may find yourself hooked, much like I did. Every time I pick up a book by Moyes I dread it until I read the first page and then I remember why I put it on my pile to begin with.
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Torn Away
by
Jennifer Brown
The Lost Entwife
, July 15, 2014
When was the last time you picked up a book and, upon reaching the end of it, were genuinely surprised that it was over already? Granted, this happens easier on e-reading devices (which was what I was reading TORN AWAY by Jennifer Brown on) but I've had it happen once or twice with a hard copy of a book as well. Chances are, if something like that happens to you, you may end up feeling like I did when I reached the end of TORN AWAY. I felt sad and a bit bereft. I wanted the story to keep going. To be honest, I've never, ever felt that way about a young adult contemporary novel. But TORN AWAY also had something I connected hard to. You see, my home (my family almost all lives there still) is a little town in Illinois called Washington. Last November, an EF4 tornado ripped through the center of town destroying hundreds of homes. In a town of 15,000 people, that's a big blow. We have friends that lost their homes, their items, and are struggling to get their lives back together. Thankfully, the townspeople were almost all in church so the homes, for the most part, were empty. There was 1 death in Washington, unlike the large number of deaths in TORN AWAY. But, we were lucky. In this book, Jersey was not. Tragedy strikes Jersey from every angle and, once I got past the shallow dislike of her name being Jersey (seriously?), I immediately began to connect with her. I'm not gonna lie, there were some honest to goodness sobs coming out of me as I read Jersey's struggles. I felt her anger, I was angry myself at how unfair everything was - from her losses to the actions taken by those who were supposed to be there for her. Brown does a beautiful job of ripping away everything and making her reader understand just how powerless a natural disaster like a tornado can make a person. But Brown doesn't leave us there. Instead, we, along with Jersey, start the healing process and hope springs. It was while it was springing, however, that I stumbled into the end of the book. I stared in disbelief, thinking I'd gotten a defective copy but - upon thinking about it, it was right to end it there. My emotions were still in a jumble, but they were settled and, while I still felt sorrow, I knew that things would be okay for Jersey. And the best part? Jennifer Brown did not compromise her character. People who were mean and nasty didn't do a complete 180 and become someone they weren't. Instead, Brown worked within the confines of the story to give it the ending it deserved. I very much recommend TORN AWAY by Jennifer Brown. I'm giving it a full five-stars because of how quickly I became invested and how much I really didn't want it to end. This is my first book that deals with a tornado and the aftermath it causes and it was something I really needed to read right at that moment in time.
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The Kiss of Deception
by
Mary E Pearson
The Lost Entwife
, July 15, 2014
Right off the bat, let me say this: THE KISS OF DECEPTION almost got a 2-star rating from me. I thought, until about 3/4ths of the way through, that it was predictable, sappy, and eye-roll worthy. Then something happened that knocked it up a star rating. Still, for a book that's been raved about by people I really trust, THE KISS OF DECEPTION had a lot of flaws and quite a few holes in it. First, Pearson works so hard to set the reader in a familiar, comfortable place, that I almost feel the story suffers as a result. The book is told from three perspectives: Lia's, The Assassin's, and The Prince's. Pearson leaves the reader to figure out who is the assassin and who is the prince, but she never actually identifies Lia's narrative (after a bit I got used to it and just started assuming). But all that aside, let me talk about the things that really bugged me about THE KISS OF DECEPTION. First, I'm so tired of all fate and the world resting on the shoulders of a lone, teenage girl. If that was the case, the protection surrounding Lia would have been so dense that she would have never taken the fateful steps leading her toward her adventure. Secondly, Lia has some ambitious plans - who trusts a random person as much as she does in a way that makes this adventure even plausible? Lia and her ladies maid friend were not close and then were close, or were they close? These are the things I start to think about as I read something that seems slightly improbable. Then... there's the assassin. First of all, don't get me started on "Assassins" being in fantasy novels - especially ones involving some strange love triangle or wanna-be love triangle. If there is going to be an assassin, he should be an assassin.. not some guy who plays at being tough when he needs to be tough but can be brought low by the smile of a girl. So, unfortunately, THE KISS OF DECEPTION didn't do it for me. My 3-star rating is merely because I was so sure I knew everyone's roles that the ending completely surprised me, but the rest of the story, I'm sad to say, was stuff I've seen before and am ready to move on from.
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Robopocalypse
by
Daniel H Wilson
The Lost Entwife
, July 14, 2014
I have to admit something right now. I am a bit of an addict when it comes to shiny, interesting, unusual, eye-catching book covers. I love them. Honestly, if the walls to my house were covered in dust-jacket art I would be a very, very happy woman. There's just something about it...I know, I know, the marketers and artists know what they are doing but still, it's addicting. What does this have to do with ROBOPOCALYPSE by Daniel H. Wilson? Well... take a look at that shiny cover. It's even prettier in person (is prettier the right word to use here?). Unfortunately, what was spectacular on the outside didn't quite make the cut on the inside. Until about halfway through ROBOPOCALYPSE I thought this book would be a four-star from me. It was gripping, interesting, the premise was horrifying and fascinating all at once. I thought I was enjoying the little snippets at the beginning and end of each chapter, but unfortunately those snippets were also the nail in the coffin of that 4 star rating for me. You see, I am a fan of classy foreshadowing in books. But when each chapter ends with the narrator talking about the great works the person did later on...it just takes some of the surprise and fun out of the story. By the time I got to the climax of this first book, all the surprise element was sucked out. The ending was absolutely, dead-on predictable and I felt cheated as a result. Don't get me wrong - there's nothing wrong with the bare bones of the story. The whole idea of a robot-uprising is one that's interesting and still fairly unique in these days of vampire/werewolf and/or religious uprisings. And I really liked how Wilson formed the consciousness of the robots doing their work in ROBOPOCALYPSE - but it was the packaging that just did not work for me at all. Will I pick up ROBOGENESIS? I probably won't buy it like I did ROBOPOCALYPSE. I do have an advanced copy that I'm looking at picking up in the next few weeks, but I'm not very hopeful and kind of dreading it. What would you do if faced with this predicament? Liking the story but hating the way its told? I guess time will tell for me.
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The Book of Life
by
Deborah Harkness
The Lost Entwife
, July 12, 2014
When I finished SHADOW OF NIGHT, the second book in Deborah Harkness' DISCOVERY OF WITCHES trilogy, I wasn't certain if I would even pick up THE BOOK OF LIFE. Why was that? Well, SHADOW OF NIGHT had me feeling overwhelmed and confused. So many names were being thrown around and so much stuff happening that even pushed the boundaries of fantasy in my mind, that I really struggled with enjoying the story. On top of that the romance was nearly to the sickening level. I'd picked up a fantasy book, and while I don't mind romance at all, this was over-the-top puppy swooning. Now, there was some of that happening in THE BOOK OF LIFE. The dynamic between Matthew and Diana is near soap-opera level (and don't even get me started on the pregnancy of Diana. Twins? Really?). But what saved THE BOOK OF LIFE from being a total disaster was, once again, the story pushing through. There was drama here, and action, and horror, and stories coming together. And there was the magic. It wasn't until I was about half-way through that I finally began to feel the excitement that I experienced in DISCOVERY OF WITCHES. I was reminded of what drew me to the trilogy to begin with and became even more convinced, as I read, that I needed to recommend this trilogy to my Outlander-loving friends. Yes, there were moments still when things were pushed a little far, and the relationships were a bit strained (so much testosterone between Gallowglass and Matthew) beyond the borders of reality, but overall, THE BOOK OF LIFE was a fun, satisfying read that kept me up until the wee hours of the morning.
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Going Over
by
Beth Kephart
The Lost Entwife
, July 11, 2014
Have you ever read a book that you knew, instinctively, that you have to love it even though you don't like it very much? Often, I'll pick up a very artistic, beautifully written book and feel disconnected in that way. I love the idea behind the book, I love the way the words flow and the images that the book is evoking in my imagination, but I really just don't like the book very much. Unfortunately, GOING OVER by Beth Kephart was one of those books for me. I've been sitting here trying to figure out why exactly it didn't click. What I've come up is as follows. I'm 37 years old, as of the time I'm writing this review, and while I grew up in a time where I can remember the coverage of the Berlin Wall coming down, I know that my younger siblings, and definitely those young adults that this book is targeting, did not. In fact, in asking around briefly, they really don't know much about it. So I should be thrilled that GOING OVER has been released, right? It's a way to get those curious juices flowing. But here's my issue - GOING OVER really doesn't address much about life on each side of the wall. In fact, there are portions of the book that make it seem like the East side was the better side to be on, aside from that whole... you can't leave rule. Even the sections of the book (Ada's are labeled by postal code and Stephen's by his city name) make it appear as if the sides have been flipped. So immediately, even someone like me with an idea of what was going on, was confused as to who had the harder life. I have no doubt that Kephart did her research, please don't misunderstand me. I just was confused at the approach that was taken when it came to Ada and Stephen's story. This confusion was magnified by the choice that Kephart made in Stephen's narration. Second person narration is just not a style that's easy to get used to, but switching from third to second and so on throughout the book really threw me for a loop and made it exceptionally hard to connect and sympathize with the story. Finally, and this is such a petty thing - but it's one of my biggest pet peeves, there's a moment when Ada is listening to someone playing a Bach concerto and over and over refers to it as a "song." I've been a classical pianist for over 30 years. I have a degree in Piano Performance. Any classical musician capable of playing Bach will tell you that a song is a piece of music that is actually sung... with the voice. A Bach Concerto is a musical "piece." It frustrates me to no end when authors (and their editors) do so much research in so many areas, but feel comfortable throwing out classical names and musical terms and not getting it right over and over again. That's my rant. If I've enlightened even one mind, then I feel as if it was justified. Overall, I think GOING OVER is a good starting point. I hope to see more books written during this time period and I think that literature exploring both sides of the Berlin Wall is desperately in need. It's a fascinating, interesting part of the world's history and something that is rich in stories, as Kephart and her editor both realized. I'm hoping that GOING OVER proves to be the catalyst to get the internet searches going and this part of history something that lives and breathes again in teenagers today.
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Man Called Ove
by
Fredrik Backman
The Lost Entwife
, July 10, 2014
I don't know when Fredrik Bachman met the men in my family, but he had to have met my grandfather and my father at some point in order to portray them so well. Now, granted, A MAN CALLED OVE is dealing with a 59 year old man who has lived a full life and now is ready to take steps to move on to... the next step - and that's not something I see my father doing any time soon, but the rest of it? Spot. on. When I started to read A MAN CALLED OVE, I knew I'd happened on a winner because I wanted to read everything out loud to my dad. I'd read a paragraph, laugh about it with him, then continue on to the next paragraph silently only to pause and read that one out loud to my dad as well. This continued through all of chapter 1 and into chapter 2 before life stepped in. I grew up in a family that loves reading out loud. My earliest memories of visiting my grandparents include my dad reading Patrick McManus books out loud in my grandparents living room. I remember the redness that would infuse my grandpa's face as he struggled for breath through the laughter. I remember the painful stitch in my side as I watched these two men in my life, the two steadfast, strong, pillars brought low with laughter. I knew at that point that McManus had done something right. So when I saw my father, now at the age my grandfather was in some of those memories, laughing in the same way I knew that Bachman had done something well. A MAN CALLED OVE is a story filled with humor, with heart-touching moments, and with life. This book is, hands down, in my top five for this year and I expect it will be a book I pass out many, many times to the loved ones in my life.
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While Beauty Slept
by
Elizabeth Blackwell
The Lost Entwife
, July 09, 2014
I've said time and time again that I have a special fondness for fairy tale retellings. I've been fascinated with The Brothers Grimm since I was a teenager and, having grown up on Disney cartoons and musicals, it's no surprise that I leap for anything that looks to have even a hint of an association with fairy tales. That's, unfortunately, led to some pretty gnarly reads (Ninja Cinderella, anyone?) but I'm happy to say that WHILE BEAUTY SLEPT was just nearly perfect. So nearly perfect that I may have shed a tear when it came to an end. Let me give you an example of how engrossing this book was. The hardcover edition has 432 pages. Last night, I curled up in bed having read 70ish of those pages throughout the day. I thought... how in the world will I put this book down? And that was the last thought outside of the story I can remember having. I closed the book at 1am with a tear and a sigh and I woke up this morning completely engrossed in the story, still. The book may have finished last night at 1am, but my imagination is still blooming. That, my friends, is what I love about a good book. Now, WHILE BEAUTY SLEPT is not perfect - don't get me wrong. There were some issues I struggled with, such as the cheesy way the narrator continued over, and over, and over again to foreshadow some great tragedy ahead. I also struggled a bit with the ending as everything seemed to tie up very neatly for a story that had been so convoluted. Also, by the end of the book, I wasn't sure who exactly the story was being narrated to and why and I had to revisit the beginning to get a sense of that (although I'm still not really sure). But all those things aside, WHILE BEAUTY SLEPT is a strong re-telling of the Sleeping Beauty story that fits magnificently into a world that's welcomed Frozen and Maleficent into being in the last year. Strong female characters, an intriguing way of dealing with the fabled curse, and a story that is more real than the fairy tales of my youth, WHILE BEAUTY SLEPT reads like a strong, historical fiction novel that will ring very, very familiar in the imagination of the person reading it.
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The Fortune Hunter
by
Daisy Goodwin
The Lost Entwife
, July 08, 2014
Having had my fill of British Royalty, at least in my historical fiction reads...I still check out Prince Harry now and then because, well, you know, I decided it was time to turn my eye to other monarchs/royal families/emperors/etc. THE FORTUNE HUNTER by Daisy Goodwin fit the bill perfectly. Going into this story, I knew very little about Sisi, the Empress of Austria and a grandmother (!) at 38 years old. A quick glance at Wikipedia showed me pictures of a beautiful young woman with a wealth of hair... so you could say my interest was piqued. Unfortunately, what I got in THE FORTUNE HUNTER was a romance novel dressed up as an historical fiction. The majority of the story was not about Sisi, as I had hoped, but rather was split between Sisi and a young woman named Charlotte. While I'd been warned about Charlotte in the synopsis, I had no idea that she would have such a focal point in the story. In fact, as I write this review, I'm looking back at the synopsis and wondering how in the world anyone could think this book was about Sisi. So, please, do not be fooled. I have nothing against a romance, but I very much object to being marketed a story about something or someone when the book cannot live up to that promise. That said, the story was still interesting. The bits and pieces we are given into Sisi's life were fascinating, I just wish there'd been more of them and less focus on Charlotte. Charlotte's life, while interesting in its own right, paled in comparisons to what Sisi's must have been like and I resent it a bit that I was forced to read so much about Charlotte. The love story, as a result, seemed a bit forced and the ending very choppy and thrown together. I believed much more in the chemistry between Sisi and her lover than, for example, I believed in Charlotte and hers. I won't say that you should avoid THE FORTUNE HUNTER, but I do think that if you are looking for serious historical fiction that's interested in actually exploring more of history than just a love story or two, then I would give this one a pass. But, if you are looking for a book that will entertain and amuse you as you pass your summer, then this would definitely fit the bill - provided you don't mind a story that takes its own, sweet time.
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Young World 01
by
Chris Weitz
The Lost Entwife
, July 07, 2014
I'm about done with dystopia these days. It seems like every storyline bears strong resemblances to a storyline I feel like I just put down. That said, I'd requested a copy of THE YOUNG WORLD by Chris Weitz several months ago and, as such, I felt like I needed to at least give it a shot. I am very, very pleased to say that it had me laughing out loud throughout the book and, honestly, when I'm that amused, I don't give a fig if it's a story that has been overdone to death. THE YOUNG WORLD is narrated by two young people, Jefferson and Donna. Jefferson has big shoes to fill when placed in charge of a group of teens by his older brother, Washington. Donna is, as she says right off the bat, a "reliable narrator," and in doing so, immediately makes her reader wonder exactly what can be trusted. Between the two narrators, the story moves quickly, but it was Donna who, ultimately, had me laughing (to the point of tears) and thoroughly enjoying this book. The story is a familiar one. Adults have all been wiped out by a virus (as have young children). All that's left are the teens. They've split into factions and now are trying to figure out a world where breeding no longer exists, rules are gone with the adults, and they have a limited amount of time before the last of them witness the end of the human race. Enter Donna and Jeff and a mission, posed to them by a brainy boy in the group who has a far-fetched idea. What makes THE YOUNG WORLD stand out from the other stories along these lines is the humor. I've said a few times now in this review that I was laughing out loud, and let me say it again...this book will have you laughing. out. loud. The pop-culture references are fantastically placed, the snarky remarks about certain things our society has embraced that we should be embarrassed by - yeah, they are called out and mocked ferociously. I found myself nodding and vehemently agreeing when a comment is made about fifty shades of grey - for example. If you are anything like me, you are also over this genre of young adult fiction. But please, don't let that hold you back from giving just one more book a try. Even if you are tired of the same story being told, it's always nice to see it just one more time through fresh, witty, and downright funny perspectives. THE YOUNG WORLD is worth a shot and I bet you will enjoy it just as much as I did.
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Frangipani Hotel Stories
by
Violet Kupersmith
The Lost Entwife
, April 29, 2014
I'm a fan of short stories. I think I say that at least once a month when reviewing books, but it still sometimes amazes me - because back in the day I couldn't stand them. A good short story, in my opinion, is like a snapshot of time and in that snapshot, gives the reader a good sense of what happened before and after. In a way, The Frangipani Hotel by Violet Kupersmith does that, but in some ways, it does not. First, Kupersmith does a beautiful job of putting pen to paper and communicating the history of the Vietnamese people as connected to the Vietnam war. The idea is inspired, using older ghost stories and updating them to show a stunning, if a bit bleak at times, "snapshot" of those terrifying years. But what it felt like, in parts, was also like I was sitting in one of my advanced creative writing courses at school and reading the stories there. I think it was a lack of polish? Or maybe just that the first story, with its reference to "Grandmother" and the dialog between the 1st person narrator and his/her grandmother, just did not work at all for me. Unfortunately, that was just the first story and since it held that prized position, it set the tone of the entire book for me. However, Kupersmith showed some fantastic humor and a deft writing style with some of the great sentences scattered throughout the stories. I remember in class hearing about lines that just worked hard, i.e. "Swanky name, shitty place" as describing the hotel named in the title. With just a few simple words, Kupersmith is able to convey the erstwhile glory (or want-to-be glory?) of the place while embracing what it is when one takes off the rose-colored glasses. I still rate The Frangipani Hotel high, however, because of its uniqueness. I've not read or experienced stories written like this before and I enjoyed the exposure to older ghost stories as well as the education of what it would have been like to be on the other side of the Vietnam war. I'd recommend this book as interesting reading for a book club - it would make for some great discussion.
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Garden of Burning Sand
by
Corban Addison
The Lost Entwife
, April 21, 2014
Last Spring I was in a class that focused heavily on the issues surrounding the continent of Africa. There were a lot of misconceptions, there was a lot of ignorance (myself included) and there was quite a bit of curiosity. We watched movies, read short stories by South African authors, and were each assigned one country to thoroughly research - both the history as well as current events. I was given the country of Nigeria - an assignment that has awakened a love for Nigerian literature (I just wish it wasn't so hard to come by). The Garden of Burning Sand by Corban Addison is a story involving Zambia, a country is in the southern part of Africa. Much like many of the other countries on the continent, Zambia struggles with corrupted politicians, massive amounts of crimes, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic - although the improvements in the last area are intense. What Corban Addison does in The Garden of Burning Sand is shed light on the corrupt system and some of the issues that are very prevalent today. Namely, the rape and abuse of young Zambian girls. One of the focuses is on the myth that a young man with HIV can "transfer" the disease to a virgin girl - and who better to be a virgin than a child, in their minds. Corban approaches the story from the point of view of Zoe, a young, American woman with a love gifted to her from her mother, for the people of Africa, and whose father is currently on the campaign trail to become the President of the United States. There's politics surrounding all of Zoe's life, but her focus is on those who cannot defend themselves. The Garden of Burning Sand is part legal thriller/part social justice commentary. It's interesting, quite unputdownable as far as stories go, and definitely does not pull punches. What I struggled with, a bit, was how neatly the story wrapped up - but that may be just personal taste, since many of the books and stories I've read out of other African countries do not end so neatly. I would say if you are looking to learn more about Zambia or enjoy legal stories and want to branch away from more well-known places, then pick this one up. I'm looking forward to reading Addison's previous novel as well.
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Phoenix Island
by
John Dixon
The Lost Entwife
, April 17, 2014
Before I start this review, I want to note that I had absolutely no idea that this book was being made into the TV series, Intelligence. I have never seen that show, and I think that I would not be inclined to based on my reaction to Phoenix Island by John Dixon. In short, the violence in this book was really over-the-top and had me scratching my head a few times as I tried to figure out how the world created in Dixon's future could resist at that level. That said, it did not fail to deliver in terms of suspense, action, and intrigue. Phoenix Island is a toss-up of Hunger Games meets Frankenstein meets The Detainee by Peter Liney. As a last resort, delinquents are shipped off to the island where they, essentially, drop off the map from their home countries. It's on the island that they learn that their future is a grim one and that their lives may, in fact, be forfeit. Honest, I was really with the book as all of this is being explained. I enjoyed the boxing lessons as they pertained to the protagonist, Carl Freeman, and I really was digging the sort of end of the world vibe the story gave off. But then, something happened. This is where the book really dove downhill for me. While I'm not a fan of violence, and there was plenty, I can understand it in this sort of book. I'm also not a fan of killing off characters because you can, but again... some of it made sense here. What I hated was the complete giveaway that happened halfway through the book. Seriously, having the main character find a book that details out exactly what is going on, instead of letting your readers discover it on their own, is bad form. I got this horrible taste in my mouth and only finished because I wanted to see how Carl managed to finish off the story. So while there is tons of action and blood and gore and fighting going on in Phoenix Island, the mystery is not so much. And, since the main reason I was reading was to try to figure out what was going on... well, as you can imagine, my rating won't be really high as I am a reader who very much dislikes having her hand held and everything explained outright to her. I think had the intrigue been left alone in the story, the outcome would have been a bit different for me. It's a shame, really.
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Perfect
by
Joyce, Rachel
The Lost Entwife
, April 13, 2014
Rachel Joyce has been on my radar for a while now. I remember the first time I saw the cover of her first book, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry - I was completely smitten with it. In fact, I fell in love with it so much that I have yet to pick up the book for fear that it won't live up to the cover. But then, I picked up Perfect, excited to see it offered by NetGalley, and I was immediately sucked into the story. The premise: two boys in 1972 and a problem with time, appealed to me and I couldn't wait to find out what exactly the big mystery was.story of the story as well as the modern day problems of Jim. I sympathized with the boys and wondered just when the mystery surrounding James would be completely revealed. I was, frankly, obsessed. I stayed up late to find out just what would happen and I will say that it was totally worth the reveal. I have to say that I thoroughly admire Joyce's way of weaving a web of a story. I was captured completely by both the history of the story as well as the modern day problems of Jim. I sympathized with the boys and wondered just when the mystery surrounding James would be completely revealed. I was, frankly, obsessed. I stayed up late to find out just what would happen and I will say that it was totally worth the reveal. What I found most interesting, however, was Joyce's treatment of differences. I loved how sensitive she was when dealing with a modern-day Jim, and how patient she was in telling the back-story of Byron and James. I will admit to being a bit frustrated, at times, at the leisurely path the story took to get to the ending, but I wasn't disappointed. I do want to say, however, that if you are looking for an ending that will make you gasp out loud and exclaim about how crazy good this book is, you may not find it here. Instead, what I experienced was a deep sense of satisfaction when I closed the book. I have to say that if a book moved a bit slowly at times is the only criticism I can make, then I have to say that Perfect by Rachel Joyce is just nearly ... well, perfect. I would recommend this story to any that feel as if they need to explore the quieter, but just as desperate, side of life.
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Tyringham Park
by
Rosemary McLoughlin
The Lost Entwife
, April 10, 2014
It's hard to find someone who hasn't heard of Downton Abbey these days. And most of those people have watched at least an episode or two. I am in the camp that looks forward to every episode with an aching heart, knowing that in spite of every good intention, the family lives in an era where heartbreak is bound to happen due to various things well beyond their control. So, since I already harbor a desire to immerse myself in the world of Downton Abbey, it's only natural that when it's on break, I look to find other things, shows or books, to check out. Tyringham Park by Rosemary McLoughlin is one of the books that was on my radar and it was with a very hopeful heart that I dove in. I will admit that there are definitely elements to Tyringham Park that gave me the some sort of nostalgic feeling that I get when watching an episode of DA. I didn't really go into the book prepared to compare and contrast and, after the first fifty pages or so, I found myself thinking of another book I've read in recent years more than I found myself thinking of DA. Tyringham Park has moments that really ring true in comparison to The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton, but where the comparisons come out strong in the case of a missing child and cross-continent mysteries, they fall apart when it comes to the humanity and sympathy I felt for Morton's characters. You see, there was really not a single person I felt I could cheer for. In her effort to make her characters lifelike by providing them with flaws, it seemed to me as if the flaws seriously outweighed the good. I really struggled, trying to find some purchase in a character that would give me a home port, someone that I could side with willingly, but I struggled even with the innocent victims in the story due to their very eccentric ways and the pronounced problems they exhibited. So while I am thoroughly acquainted with the idea of a tragic story in a family saga like the one in Tyringham Park, I find that in order to balance such a tragedy out there has to be an element of hope. I'm not talking hope as in this or that person gets what's coming to them, but hope in that things can change and lives can be renewed and given new meaning. Unfortunately, I did not find that in Tyringham Park.
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Under the Jeweled Sky
by
Alison Mcqueen
The Lost Entwife
, April 10, 2014
I've noticed there are two distinct types of books about India that come across my reading desk. The first is those books that showcase the lives of the privileged; the people who are without caste, who don't struggle against poverty and the other injustices meted out by a flawed system. The second are books that really dive deep into the lives of the underprivileged. Those books tend to either produce an underdog who rises above or serve their purpose by educating the reader about a life that, quite frankly, 99.9% of those lucky enough to be reading the book, will probably never have to experience. Under the Jewelled Sky by Alison McQueen is one of the books that fits the first category. That's not to say it wasn't a good book. I was thoroughly engrossed, I'll readily admit to that. But what I become completely enthralled with was a life that, on some level, I could relate to. The forbidden romance, the struggles that, while terrifying in the form of Sophie's mother, could be overcome and were overcome by the removal of Sophie from her life. What I felt was lacking was more of the story of Sophie's first love. Instead, after making his brief and permanent mark on Sophie's life, he disappears, leaving me with only Sophie to follow. So I guess what I would have loved to see more of in Under the Jewelled Sky was a split narrative. While Sophie moved on with her life outside of India, I wanted to know what Jag was doing, what his life was like, how he managed to survive after the blow dealt to his family with the discovery of the forbidden romance. Unfortunately, aside from a mere glimpse of Jag, the story focuses more on Sophie. Now, don't let that influence you, because I will say that Sophie's life is pretty fantastic to follow. She's a strong woman who feels the pull to return to India and does what is necessary in order to life a "normal" life while still capturing that dream. Still, compared to what Jag's life must have been life, I felt like I was being robbed a bit. It's due to that feeling only that this book does not get a full five stars from me. I enjoyed McQueen's writing and I am looking forward to seeing what she does next. I just hope, in her next novel, that she explores more the two sides that make up forbidden love and gives us more of a rounded picture.
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He Drank & Saw the Spider Eddie Lacrosse
by
Alex Bledsoe
The Lost Entwife
, April 09, 2014
It's settled. I'm a fan, Alex Bledsoe. I'm ready to dive in and explore all of the titles I've missed (especially the Eddie LaCrosse books - where have these been hiding?). I haven't been moved to laugh out loud at a book in a long time and just a page or so into He Drank, and Saw the Spider, I was snorting and looking around quickly after to make sure I hadn't been heard. Although this was #5 in the series, I never once felt like I was out of my depths. Everything made perfect sense and I felt a connection to both Eddie and Liz that was strengthened as the story was told. This book has it all. It's urban fantasy - medieval style. Everything that is great about those times - sword fighting, kings and queens, intrigue ... but cleaned up to include modern euphemisms and not quite so much smelliness, making the sexy times much, much sexier. And the quest storyline was pretty damn strong too. I do love a good quest storyline. He Drank, and Saw the Spider takes you on a journey, that's certain. From the rescue of a baby that involves the slaying of a bear to the 16 years that pass by before that baby is grown and is in danger once more, this time as a young woman. There's romance, cheeky remarks, strange creatures that tug at the heartstrings, and... did I mention sexy-times? Those were unlike anything I've read in urban fantasy as well - there's a scene between Liz and Eddie that had me laughing out loud. Have I mentioned I just thoroughly enjoyed this read? If you are wanting series fantasy, then don't go here. This is a tongue-in-cheek, very clever book that combines some of the best elements of urban writing and yes, some of the worst, and manages to make quite the story out of them. It's fairly predictable, but it's entertaining, and that's what I was looking for.
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Cambridge
by
Susanna Kaysen
The Lost Entwife
, March 30, 2014
I had high hopes for Cambridge by Susanna Kaysen. I should have paid closer attention, however, to the summary because I usually read them in advance, just to be sure, but I didn't in this case because I was too enamored by the beautiful cover. So, instead, I read it just before cracking the book and it put a bad taste in my mouth. You see, I don't like feeling as if the author has put herself into a fictionalized story, no matter how loosely based it is. I've never liked that, with any author I've read that has attempted it. I've always felt that if a story needed to be told that closely resembled the life of the person telling the story, then make a creative non-fiction with it. Don't try to market it as fiction. Why do I feel that way? Because ultimately the title character, Susanna, in this book came off as self-important, a bit whiny, and really.. she was all over the place. Over and over I kept thinking about how privileged she was and how she showed so little gratitude for the things she had that she took for granted. Sure, I can understand a feeling of unhomeliness, the idea of being caught between places and not sure where you belong, but it just seemed a bit over the top in this story. Susanna traveled all over the world throughout this story and the result? She feels like an outsider in the place she considers to be her "home." I just had a really hard time buying it - especially considering the age at which it all began. Another reason I had a hard time with this story, why it was such a hard sell for me, is that I am surrounded by military kids here in Hawai'i. I see them come and go and come again (when orders are cancelled or family life resolves itself) and you don't see books written by those children in the guise of fiction, talking about feeling like an outsider in their home port. This is something that happens to so many children in the world - and those are the ones who are fortunate enough to have parents with jobs and a life that involves seeing the world. So, as you can gather, Cambridge just didn't work for me. I was bored and annoyed with the main character and really didn't give a flip by the end of the book about what she felt. Maybe if the book had gone a different way, approached as a coming-of-age story influenced by the different cultures she experienced, it would have worked better. Sure, that may not have happened in the life of the author, but ... then... this is a fictional story, right?
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Be Safe I Love You
by
Cara Hoffman
The Lost Entwife
, March 25, 2014
I've had Be Safe I Love You by Cara Hoffman on my radar for a while but it was a twitter exchange between two bloggers that I trust that had me pulling it out finally to dive in. The story here is deceptively simple: a young woman from a small town escapes a life of poverty by enlisting and, by enlisting, is able to help her brother and her father financially. Little did I know, however, how quickly the story would move on from that into something much deeper and of more impact. In Be Safe I Love You, Hoffman switches voices from that of Danny, a young boy who writes emails to his sister from home (and pretends that she is on a fantastic vacation instead of in Iraq) and Lauren, the young woman to whom the emails are being written. While we don't see much of the Lauren of Iraq, we do see what has become of that young woman after she has finished her tour of duty and returned home to pick up the pieces of her life. It doesn't take much to imagine that, while on the surface things may seem okay, there are some deeper issues that need to be worked out. What I appreciated the most in Be Safe I Love You was how sympathetic and delicate Hoffman was in talking about Lauren's changes in behavior and thinking. Being away from home is already enough of a change to cause a feeling of displacement when you get back to your hometown, but even more so, being away in order to do and see things that happen in war is even more traumatic. Then, there are the other issues which are slowly explained over the course of the story. I don't want to give away too much, because I think this is a very valuable read and should be explored. While I've read quite a few books dealing with traumatic situations, I've never read anything quite like Be Safe I Love You and I think that it is a book that will help open the eyes of those who haven't enlisted (like myself) or seen situations like those described in the book.
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Detainee
by
Peter Liney
The Lost Entwife
, March 24, 2014
I was really, really hooked by the premise of The Detainee. I've been in the mood for a good, gritty, adult post-apocalyptic book and, having read Traci Slatton's work in the more recent past, I really wanted to get a fix of the genre before her next book releases. I'm impatient like that sometimes. So The Detainee by Peter Liney looked like it just might satisfy my craving and, for the most part, it definitely did. I will say this, however, before I get into the praise-worthy bits. There were times that things seemed just a bit implausible. The entire explanation for all the fear, and the subsequent complete change of atmosphere later on in the book pushed the boundaries a bit for me. But, the good in the book was strong enough to overcome those little nagging thoughts in the back of my mind. I pushed them aside and continued to read in gleeful pleasure. The Detainee isn't really a thriller or suspense novel. It may seem like that, at the get-go, but I believe that sort of beginning is necessary and that Liney did a great job setting the mood for the book as a whole. "Big Guy" Clancy is living a miserable excuse of a life on an island in an age where Big Brother is even more invasive then the loudest-mouthed privacy advocates today could dream of. Imagine being completely policed, at all time, and not only policed, but arrested, tried, and potentially executed all in the space of mere minutes, or even seconds? That's the world that Clancy is living in throughout the story of The Detainee. There's also quite a bit of the survivalist feel throughout the book. Between the tinkering of one character, the assured actions of another, and finally, the take-action attitude of Clancy, I felt myself getting caught up in the day-to-day details of living in a place, or a world, like that described in The Detainee. I'm glad I requested to read The Detainee by Peter Liney. It seems to be running a bit under the radar and I hope it gets more attention as time passes. It certainly kept a grip on me and I'm looking forward to seeing what Liney comes out with next.
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Corpse Exhibition & Other Stories of Iraq
by
Hassan Blasim, Jonathan Wright
The Lost Entwife
, March 21, 2014
I'm at a bit of a loss on where to start with the short story collection of Hassan Blasim. It's been my goal this week to read with intention; to explore works by authors that are not white and/or male. That's not to say that I'm able to fully get away from works by white men (or women), but that I wanted to broaden my worldview and start seeing things that have been in my life, sometimes in the background barely paid attention to, for some length of time. The war in Iraq is one of those things. So I was a bit nervous going into The Corpse Exhibition: And Other Stories of Iraq and the first story, right away, knocked me off my feet. I felt weighed down and seriously put in my place. I had no idea. None. It took me some time to recover and then I picked up the next story, determined to read more. What a rewarding experience it has been, and I don't mean that in a way that implies that I got something great out of these books. Don't get me wrong - anytime I get taken to school and put in my place, I consider it to be a good thing because I need that reminder that I have it good, I have it great. I'm living in a place considered by most of the world as paradise, I'm free to practice religion and politics without fear of repercussions. I have a tumbler full of water sitting next to me that speaks of pride in my hometown and my iphone is charging and beeping at me, reminding it's time to go to bed so that I can wake up tomorrow and enjoy a day in the sun, doing what I love to do. But the people in the stories of The Corpse Exhibition: And Other Stories of Iraq are not as fortunate as I am. They are not given the opportunity to do what they love; instead, they are given hopeless choices, choices that make me wonder how on earth a person could decide. I was completely wrecked by the story of a son's love for his mother and the lengths that he will go to protect her. I was overwhelmed by the multitude of stories and symbolism in the tale of a newspaper man who thought he could make a quick buck by exploiting someone else. But most of all, I was so incredibly grateful that I live in a country where a book like The Corpse Exhibition: And Other Stories of Iraq is ready and available for me to read and is not banned nor forbidden. What would the world we like if we were all unable to experience, through books like this, what life is like on the other side? And what would the world be like if more of us chose to do just that? The Corpse Exhibition: And Other Stories of Iraq is not an easy, simple read. It's gruesome and horrifying and real and it will completely take control of you while you read it. While, at times, the symbolism is a bit heavy and hard to understand (some of the endings of the story, I admit, completely went over my head), I think what I ultimately took away from this book was well worth the time taken to read it.
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Sun & Other Stars
by
Brigid Pasulka
The Lost Entwife
, March 20, 2014
I've been stewing on this review for quite some time now. You see, I read The Sun and Other Stars by Brigid Pasulka in early December. I couldn't wait, because it was in my hands, I loved her previous (and debut) novel, A Long, Long Time Ago & Essentially True, and the cover..it just taunted me every time I opened my e-reader. So I read it. And it was completely unlike anything I expected. You see, I went into The Sun and Other Stars thinking it would be similar to Pasulka's previous novel, but it was so very different - or so I thought. But now, as I sit here months later, thinking back on the story, on the parts that really stuck with me, I realize that in spite of having a completely different setting, the magic was still there for me. I know absolutely nothing about football (or, as we call it here, soccer), yet I was completely sucked in by the story that Pasulka told in this book. The reason that the story has stuck with me for so long in such an intense way is because, in spite of the sport involved and all of the jargon that's part of writing and reading about that sport, and in spite of my lack of interest in it at all, I still absolutely loved every element of The Sun and Other Stars. What Pasulka does best is write romantic love stories. I'm not talking sparks flying, instant love between two gorgeous people who have no flaws, love stories. I'm not talking Twilight creepy stories or love stories that seem as if they are teetering on a very high cliff, ready to fall off and into pieces at the merest breath of a wind. I'm talking a love story that grows from the roots up - that takes two seemingly ordinary people and makes them extraordinary, simply because of the love they share for the other person. That's what The Sun and Other Stars is about, at its core. It's about love: not just romantic stories either, but love between family and friends, and love within the community. I identified so well with The Sun and Other Stars in spite of our differences. I don't speak the jargon that Pasulka had to beef up on in order to write a story that used sports as its platform, but I know what her heart was saying through the medium of this book, and I have to say, I'm just as in love with what she wrote here as I was with her previous book. I'm a fan and cannot wait for her next release.
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Mind of Winter
by
Laura Kasischke
The Lost Entwife
, March 18, 2014
Well, this was quite the psychological thriller. I mean, when people say they are reading a psychological thriller you don't think that they are really reading from the point of view of someone who, in the first few pages alone, comes off as really struggling to get a grasp on reality, but that's definitely how Laura Kasischke starts off Mind of Winter. There is a serious bang - I could almost hear the shot, and the book was off. I don't want my three-star rating to fool you, I did enjoy Mind of Winter. There were parts of it that just kept me from giving it one more star and, since