Moonrise Over New Jessup
by Jamila Minnicks
Immersive historical fiction (12/20/2022)
This book was a beautifully written piece of historical fiction. Taking place during the period of integration in the South, we follow a woman who moves to an all-black town in Alabama. While most in the town are content to live in their own bubble, some have an eye toward the equality for blacks being spoken about up north. Alice finds herself caught in the middle. My one quibble would be that I thought the day to day descriptions of Alice's life did drag the storyline down a bit, and I didn't really understand the inclusion of her sister in the plotting of the book. Putting those minor issues aside, it was a great exploration into integration from a different viewpoint.
Our Missing Hearts: A Novel
by Celeste Ng
A Timely Novel for Our Country Today (9/16/2022)
I feel like this book doesn't need anything said except:
JUST READ IT
However for those who may need a bit more proof (or prodding), I offer my thoughts. This book is set in a dystopian world that is scarily comparable to where we may be heading. Many of the themes are ones that have already occurred, are presently happening, and could happen if we continue down the path some people in power want us to follow. This is a dark look at what happens when the government institutes a new policy, and you either follow along or suffer the devastating consequences. The characters in this book are ones that I will remember (and worry about) for a long time to come. The writing is beautiful, and the protagonists are so well developed. The ending is devastating, yet somehow also manages to convey a sense of hope for the future. I absolutely loved the role of the librarians, major kudos to all of you! Such an impactful novel about family bonds, and trying to change a broken system.
An amazing book that I hope everyone gets their hands on!
Peach Blossom Spring: A Novel
by Melissa Fu
Stunning generational story! (2/17/2022)
The writing was exquisite, and the characters in this novel will resonate long after finishing. The book is based on the author's own family, and what she learned about her father and grandmother's lives. I loved that I got to learn about WWII in an entirely different continent other than Europe. It also touches on the cultural revolution and the rise of communism, and how this affects Henry's fear and actions in America. The beautiful bond between Renshu and his mother in the early days was lovingly characterized, and there is a point about 2/3 of the way in that my heart absolutely ached for what plays out for them. While I found parts of Lily's story interesting (she is based on the author), my heart was really in it for Meilin and her fate. This story spans across three generations and many decades, and I was engaged until the very last page (and now I want to plant peach trees!).
An epic depiction of three lives, which includes instances of war, immigrant experience, immigration, parent/child bonds, activism, and more. Based on the author's family, the gorgeous cover of this one is definitely just a prelude to what is inside.
The Family Chao: A Novel
by Lan Samantha Chang
Dysfunctional Asian family story (12/4/2021)
I loved the premise of this book. I'm a fan of family sagas, and this fit that perfectly. The fact that it was an Asian family was also a plus since I like to read about diverse populations in my fiction. Loved that much of the story takes place in a Chinese restaurant, it was fun to read about the food and cooking. I thought the author did a great job in writing these characters, none of whom were particularly likable at one point or another. For the most part I found the writing propelled the story along, however there were a few places it seemed a bit stilted and did effect my overall enjoyment. I liked most of the ending, but there was one thread left hanging that bothered me. I waited through the whole book and never got a definitive answer.
Good story with great characterization, but the ending left me wanting more answers.
The Forest of Vanishing Stars: A Novel
by Kristin Harmel
The Forest of Vanishing Stars (5/14/2021)
he first few pages of this book made me nervous about my ability to connect with the story. It's very spiritual/mystical, which is not something I ever seek out in picking up a book. I'm happy to say that for the most part, once the main character Yona is left on her own, and begins to help the Jewish families learn to live in the forest (as a way to escape death by the Nazis), my interest was piqued. I absolutely loved the descriptions of how they survived in the forest. The people who end up following Yona know very few survival skills before taking this last resort to avoid death. I was completely captivated by how she taught them to make shelters, procure food, for not only immediate use, but to survive the dreadfully cold winters. There was an element of suspense created when the camp had to keep moving so that they would not be found by the Germans, who roamed the forest on the lookout for them. This book definitely brought up a gamut of emotions. I was sad, angry, frightened, hopeful, and dejected throughout various scenes. I wasn't a big fan of the spirituality, as I am not really a believer, but I do understand that for the time period in the book, faith played a big part in people's lives. Of course there was, as I like to call it, the obligatory romance, which was not my favorite part, but it was well done and tolerable to me. It is well worth it to read the author's notes at the end of the book, where she delves into the actual history the book is based on.
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