The Forest of Vanishing Stars: A Novel
by Kristin Harmel
A Very Different Setting for WWII Historical Fiction (5/20/2021)
This book is based on true stories of survival in the forests of Eastern Europe during WWII. I have read many books that take place during this era but I never heard about some of the Jews escaping the ghettos and fleeing into the surrounding wilderness.
The amount of research and knowledge the author gave about the subject made quite an impression on me and helped make the book very believable. Kristin Harmel knows how to keep the reader interested by mixing love, betrayal, murder, survival, and so much more throughout the pages. I was extremely interested in all the survival skills that each character in her book had to learn. The main character, Yona, had only nature at her disposal most of the time, so the author needed to learn the plants, mushrooms, and berries that were not only edible but could provide medicinal benefits as well. How can anyone build a shelter and have enough food to survive the harsh Winter? The details were very descriptive and I did learn quite a bit.
There were heroes and there were cowards. Human nature at its worst and at its best. There were moments and descriptions in the book that were hard to read, but without them the book wouldn't seem real. The atrocities were real.
Several times the author made the characters see that there would and could be moments of joy in their futures despite their horrific memories and pain. Her characters did believe it imperative that the Jewish faith survive and their stories must be told to future generations. I found that to be a very necessary and important message.
I recommend this book for book clubs and readers that seek out historical fiction. This book is very different from the other WWII novels I have read before. The setting was unique and I'm surprised, almost ashamed, that it never occurred to me that of course there would be thousands driven into the forests.
This book gave so much information, and was so well written it kept me up at night waiting to see if somehow, some way, these women, children, and men could somehow overcome all the odds.
The Days When Birds Come Back
by Deborah Reed
Enjoyable, Easy Read by an Excellent Author (12/3/2017)
This book surprised me in many ways. First, I read the book without looking at the synopsis on the back cover so had no clue what it was about or what to expect. There were times I thought one of the characters might turn into a very dark, crazy, evil person. The next minute I would be enthralled by the empathy and compassion of the same character. This is one of the reasons why I wanted to keep reading until everything would be revealed. I liked the way the chapters went back and forth between the two main character's lives . Each chapter gave small hints that there was much more to learn about their past with possible hidden secrets. I loved her descriptions of the Oregon coast and wildlife intermingled in the chapters.
This book is about rebuilding and reshaping a life after the unthinkable happens. It is heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking. I highly recommend for adults and book clubs. I know I will be checking out this author's other novels.
The Garden of Small Beginnings
by Abbi Waxman
Move Ahead with the Help of a Garden or Two (4/20/2017)
As a debut author, Abbi Waxman is a breath of fresh air. The Garden of Small Beginnings is written in real life language, which at times, could be extremely blunt. I easily related to the dialogue between characters, and the narrator's humorous inner thoughts. The author's candid words made the characters seem more personable, in my opinion.
I enjoyed her use of personifying garden vegetables in the middle of her "how to grow" excerpts. She writes how it "freaks" strawberries out when planted near certain other vegetables. I learned about gardening, but with a dose of humor.
In this book relationships developed and matured between complete strangers, friends, siblings, parents, spouses, and lovers. Moments of tragedy, and the grief that occurs in its aftermath, are written with honesty and intimacy. What I first thought was a light and easy book became one that made me stop and think about my own life and relationships.
I recommend this book whether you like to garden or not. It would also work well as a book club pick. Any adult who has dealt with grief will certainly be able to relate to this book. This will be a book and author I remember.
The Tea Planter's Wife
by Dinah Jefferies
Easy and Interesting Read (7/8/2016)
This book was easy and quick to read and held my attention. The Tea Planter's Wife is a historical fiction novel that takes place in Ceylon (which is now Sri Lanka,) between 1913 and 1933. The book intrigued me because of it's setting. The history of the area, the culture and the tea trade was something I did not know anything about. I was fascinated by the author's description of the tea factory and inner working of a tea empire. However, I did find myself wishing that the author would incorporate more of this history into the novel.
Family relationships, romance, discrimination, loss, and the keeping of secrets were all themes in this novel. Gwen, the main character, was developed well. I did wish there was a little more information about Gwen's husband, Laurence, and his sister, Verity. What emotions ran through their heads? What were the motives for their actions?
I think this is an excellent vacation read, interesting and easy. I enjoyed this book for the simplicity, after reading a heavier novel, this was perfect. I wanted to learn the secrets at the end of the novel, and quickly finished the book.
The Wild Girl
by Kate Forsyth
The Fictional Account of the Grimm Tales (4/21/2015)
i was excited to read an account, albeit fictional, about Germany's Grimm's brothers. I know there is a Grimm's Fairy Tale Road in Germany that brings to life castles and other places that were the inspiration behind many of the stories. This book disappointed me because it didn't follow the journeys of the Grimm brothers, but the "wild girl,"Dortchen Wilde, who lived next door to the brothers.
The author focused on this character and her life. Many characters, such as her sister, Rose, were introduced and after my interest was peaked, following her arranged marriage to a man many years her senior, she was never written about again.
There were parts of the storyline that were hard and disturbing to absorb. Most of the story was dedicated to Dortchen's life in the same house, with her family, in the same town and situation. It was interesting, but could have been expressed in many less pages, in my opinion.
I wanted more information about the Grimm's travels and what inspired their tales. I didn't learn anything new but kept hoping for more. I finished the book, but it, unfortunately, took a long time. I was hoping for more.
Glitter and Glue: A Memoir
by Kelly Corrigan
A Daughter Must-Read (12/28/2013)
The mother-daughter relationship is often very complex and unique. Corrigan begins her memoir as a young woman, who travels the world with her college roommate. I liked that the author not only included her own inner voice, but also her mother's and how she would have responded in different situations. I laughed when I recognized some of the same phrases my mother had used when I was growing up. I found the author's sometimes blunt words refreshing because I know similar thoughts go through my own head! I liked this style of writing because I could easily relate to it and it held my interest.
I would recommend this book to any woman, but especially to someone who is mature enough to have insight into the special bond between daughters and mothers. Having recently lost my own mother, this book had special meaning and brought a few tears to my eyes. As the story unfolds, I found myself thinking of the important roles other people have played in my own life.
I believe this would be a good book for a bookclub discussion because of the many themes involved. A few of the themes in the book are loss and grief, coming of age, motherhood, women and self discovery, and the wisdom that comes from experience. This author points out the fact that we often find it difficult to respect, or appreciate our mothers until after they are no longer with us. Her voice may continue in our own heads, hopefully in mine, forever.
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry: A Novel
by Rachel Joyce
Put This on Your Reading LIst! (7/16/2012)
I never would have guessed that a book about an elderly man, Harold, who walks over six hundred miles, would be so intriguing and enlightening. What could have been a slow moving story, about ordinary people, and ordinary lives, became a fascinating tale of hope, discovery, and love. I will be using this book as my pick for our monthly book club, and I believe it will lead to a fascinating discussion. This book led me to think about life, death, marriage, friendship, religion, guilt, blame, obligation, fame, and so much more.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I look forward to reading more books by this new author.
Three Weeks in December
by Audrey Schulman
Lots for Book Clubs to Discuss (12/31/2011)
I enjoyed reading Three Weeks in December and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. Book clubs could have a number of topics to discuss, such as the impact of "progress" on the environment, countries in Africa's past and current political unrest, genocide, pharmaceutical companies and their priorities, homosexuality, animal rights, to name a few.
This book alternates between two different times in history, which adds to the drama, keeping the reader's interest. Max, one of the main characters, has Asperger's Syndrome, and the author does a good job of describing how everyday objects, people, sounds, textures, smells and social encounters can affect her. It made me understand why she related so well to the animals in the book. Even though the stories take place in Africa, the reader can easily make comparisons to other similar times and places in history.
Folly Beach: A Lowcountry Tale
by Dorothea Benton Frank
Add it to your Suitcase (6/18/2011)
Folly Beach is one of several books written by this author that takes place near Charleston, South Carolina. I love this part of the country, and therefore I do enjoy her descriptions of the beach, the sounds, smells, houses, food, and people. Some of the characters are quirky, a bit eccentric, and endearing.
The book includes the script of a play, which I was a little skeptical about when I started reading. As I read, I realized how much it added to the storyline and characters. The author also included, and used, historical information about well known people living in the nineteen twenties and thirties. Historical fiction lovers will enjoy this addition to the plot.
Folly Beach was an easy read. This book is written for women, and will be the perfect book to read on vacation because it is light, keeps your interest, and takes you away to another place and time. Take it to the beach!
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