Songs of Summer
by Jane L. Rosen
Songs of Summer (12/31/2024)
Songs of Summer had ups and downs. My favorite part of the book was the incorporation of music, especially the song titles for each chapter. That would have made it a 10 for me if the story line had not become a young adult beach read. Just when I would start to get into the characters the 30 and 50 year olds would begin behaving like 18 year olds. Mama Mia is one of my favorite musicals, and this story was obviously trying to copy the gist of the story. Like most sequels, in my opinion, it fell far short.
A note for authors - please be very careful when using something very sensitive and personal such as adoption for the story line. As an adoptive parent I did not feel the author knew enough about all of the emotional struggles for the child, the adoptive parents, and the birth parents. The "welcomed with open arms" and "happily ever after" scenarios depicted in the book usually do not happen as easily as was portrayed.
All in all, this is a good light summer beach read - not something to be taken too seriously.
The Secret History of the Rape Kit: A True Crime Story
by Pagan Kennedy
The Secret History of the Rape Kit (11/6/2024)
This book did a good job of weaving personal stories in with the history of the Rape Kit. I was fortunate to not have to deal with the trauma of a rape or sexual molestation but knew young women who were. Rape and molestation are emotionally charged subjects and at times difficult to read about. For me, as someone who lived during these times, it brought up memories and also a history of which I had not been fully aware. I felt anger toward those in power. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in women's history and anyone who is concerned about the current climate surrounding women and decisions regarding women's bodies. I would recommend this to Book Clubs who are used to dealing with emotionally charged subjects. This would not be fitting for a Book Club, such as one I belong to, where there are members who want to read "happy" books.
All You Have to Do Is Call
by Kerri Maher
History and Today (6/21/2023)
All You Have to Do Is Call was an easy read in terms of the writing style of Kerri Maher; the plot was simple and the characters easy to get to know. All You Have to Do Is Call was, for me, a difficult read as I lived this time and had many friends who had to face the difficult decision of abortion and resulting angst and sometimes shame. This story is difficult because today the future of choice is unknown.
I do wish that in the book men had been portrayed in a more favorable light. In the 70s many men were very supportive of women and walked with them on the journey of abortion and made decisions together. This is not a male vs female issue and to portray it that way is damaging.
I would recommend this as a good book for Book Clubs. This is an issue that needs to talked about openly in a safe space.
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder
by David Grann
The Wager (2/26/2023)
Chilling and thrilling are the best words that I can use to describe David Gann's "The Wager." I found myself torn between being fascinated by how the men and boys could have endured this tragedy on the sea and cringing from the graphic descriptions of the fight for survival. The author did a fantastic job of drawing the reader into the minds and hearts of the characters. He also left the reader grappling with the question of "who is/are the hero(es) and who should be hanging for their deeds?"
This is a book for someone who enjoys digging into the back stories in history. This would be a fitting discussion for a book club that discusses personalities, events, and motivation for actions. I would not recommend to a book club that prefers lighter subjects.
The Last Russian Doll
by Kristen Loesch
The Last Russian Doll (11/4/2022)
I enjoyed The Last Russian Doll despite some difficulties in reading it. I felt that the author's style was engaging and targets a more sophisticated reader. I did have trouble at times following the events and the characters. A single character was called by multiple names which possibly would be alleviated by a list of characters and their relationships in the front of the book. I also had trouble at times following the events. I usually don't mind when a book jumps back and forth in time, but in this case it felt like just when I was following the plot then it jumped to something else. It may have helped it I had been able to read the book in just a few sittings, but I often had to set it aside for several days. I wish that I had kept notes while reading as I think that may have helped. By the end of the book though, I was engaged with the characters and anxious to see how the book ended.
I think this book would appeal to someone who appreciates a little "heavier" book and has an interest in history.
The Paris Bookseller
by Kerri Maher
The Paris Bookseller (11/19/2021)
It was with mixed emotions that I finished The Paris Bookseller. I could hardly stop reading it but I hated to see it end. This has been my favorite book of the year.
I had almost given up reading historical fiction because other authors had so completely and dismally strayed from the real people and real events. Kerri Maher was masterful in using the real people, real events, and the setting and then added to the story. I was not familiar with Sylvia Beach or Shakespeare and Company and I truly enjoyed learning about her influence on literature. The author brought all of the other real people to life and revealed their personalities. I also appreciated that the author told the story linearly as opposed to the popular jumping back and forth in time that many authors are employing today.
I would love to discuss this book in a book club. The characters are rich and deserve us diving into their lives and relationships. I researched some of the events while reading the book, and would like to learn more about the events depicted in the book. I will definitely recommend it to my book club after the book is published.
I think this book would appeal to people who enjoy historical fiction and literature lovers. I will watch for more Kerri Maher books in the future.
Beasts of a Little Land: A Novel
by Juhea Kim
Beasts of a Little Land - Stalking the Tiger (8/19/2021)
I enjoyed this book on two levels. One, I was very interested to learn of the history of Korea in that time period. I find my education of that era has been centered in the USA and Europe; but to truly understand and have empathy for the peoples of the world one should know what was happening everywhere. Two, I found the characters woven into a fascinating story of love, deception, trials, greed and survival. The fact that the story took place over half a century allowed the characters to grow and change through the story. What I found that the author, Juhea Kim, did so well was to connect these two areas together in a novel that was hard to put down.
This book is not a "beach read" because the reader needs to keep track of events and characters. It would make an excellent book club choice though as analyzing the characters, their actions and reactions would be very interesting to compare with others.
I would suggest that the reader keep a list of the characters handy as they enter and exit the story many times.
The Widow Queen: The Bold #1
by Elzbieta Cherezinska
An Adventure of a Different Time (11/29/2020)
The Widow Queen is not just a story, it's a saga. Elzbieta Cherezinska writes so powerfully that her words pull one through the story. The lands and the times are as foreign as the names of the characters that you can't forget. This book is packed with timeless stories of love, deceit and power. This is not a "beach read." One must take the time to explore the many plots and subplots, know the many characters, and discover the many foreign places. The author leaves the reader ready for her promised next book "The Last Crown."
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