The Sisters: A Novel
by Nancy Jensen
Excellent debut novel (8/29/2011)
"The Sisters" covers a span of years from 1927 to 2007 in the lives of two related families. We see the years unfold through the lives of the female offspring of the two sisters. Even though years pass between chapters (the family tree certainly helps keep track of names, ages, etc.), the main characters are well developed, with their rich voices and strong unique natures. Various kinds of relationships are explored, besides sister to sister, with good effect. This is a book I would read again to capture more of its subtle symbolism and nuances.
The Art of Saying Goodbye: A Novel
by Ellyn Bache
Very disappointed (3/28/2011)
The brief intro at the beginning of this book does not accurately describe this book at all. It states that the four women, (who find ways to comfort their friend who is dying), "grow closer as the days go by." Actually, none of these four women are good friends, merely acquaintances. They rarely interact during the course of the book. If they had, there would have been some depth and interesting reading. But to me, it felt disjointed.
The last page was beautifully written and there was some sense at the end that each of the four women and their lives had been changed in a good way.
Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal
by Conor Grennan
Outstanding book!! (11/25/2010)
This amazing book came about because the author decides to take a trip around the world but makes the decision to start out by volunteering for three months at an orphanage in Kathmandu, Nepal. He does this even though he read in the volunteer brochure that there is a civil war going on in Nepal (1996-2006), but it is not directly affecting Kathmandu. He even admits this whole idea seemed "ludicrous", as he has never spent much time with kids and cannot think of a single skill he possesses. He even admits to doing it mainly to impress people.
He walks through the gate of the orphanage and his life is changed forever. He learns that he is good with children, they love him and he falls in love with them. But he also comes to learn that they are not truly orphans, but have been stolen from their families by human traffickers, gone through who knows what - including slavery, and then were rescued by the orphanage. He learns of several more orphanages like this in Nepal and that there are thousands more children in Nepal who have not been rescued.
What follows shows what one person, with a strong, single-minded conviction, along with many other like-minded people he has met in Nepal, can accomplish when they set their minds and hearts to it and never give up, even in the face of extreme hardship. I laughed, I cried, I fell in love with the children and was amazed over and over again at their resilience, strength and ability to laugh and play as a way to cope with their inner pain. And most of all, I thanked God for people like Conor Grennan, for this outstanding book and for the work his organization continues to do for the lost children of Nepal.
The Stuff That Never Happened
by Maddie Dawson
An excellent read! Highly recommended. (9/7/2010)
I loved this book. Told in the voice of the main character,
Annabelle. The timeline goes back and forth between 1977-'81 and 2005. It deals with choices made in love, promises made and broken, trust and family relationships. I found myself wanting to keep on reading to find out what would happen, not just at the end, but throughout the book. Even through difficult times and self-doubt, Annabelle had a great sense of humor. I am eagerly anticipating the next book by this author.
Ten Minutes from Home: A Memoir
by Beth Greenfield
Ten Minutes From Home (5/18/2010)
As the title says, the author was ten minutes from her home when, at 12 years old, she was involved in a car crash which killed her younger brother and also her best friend. She herself was injured and spent some months recuperating. The author does an excellent job describing poignantly and openly how these deaths affected her as she navigated her way through junior high and high school. She also relates some of how her parents grieved and how that affected the family dynamics. I found the book to be very moving and interesting. I only wish that I knew how the author is doing today, how this event is playing out in her adult life. I would definitely recommend this book as valuable reading.
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