I am always hesitant to read a book after I have watched a movie that was adapted from a book. Back in 2018 I tried reading the book shortly after I wI am always hesitant to read a book after I have watched a movie that was adapted from a book. Back in 2018 I tried reading the book shortly after I watch the movie but was unsuccessful – it just was not catching my interest. Last month’s book club decided to read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society written by Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows. On the recommendation from one of the book club member I decided to try the Audiobook. Once I adapted to the epistolary format I found the story told entirely through letters and telegrams quite enjoyable.
The story starts out post WWII in 1946 with Juliet Ashton fresh off a book tour, experiencing writers block and looking for new book ideas. After receiving a letter from Dawsey Adam, a native from the island of Guernsey, a small farming island located between Britain and France in the English Channel. This letter would peak Juliet’s interest in corresponding not only with Dawsey but many of the residence of Guernsey and the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Many of these letters recounted stories of the German occupation, an illegal pig dinner, the bravery Elizabeth McKenna and her quickly fictitious a tale about the first gathering of a new literary club on the island. Once finding out that Elizabeth was deported to a concentration camp and died there Juliet decided to dedicate her new book to honor the life of Elizabeth McKenna — a woman whose spirit and zest for life never left the island of Guernsey. This is a story of love and perseverance to survive during the worst of times, testament to humanity.
This was an audiobook that was narrated by John Leed, Juliet Mills, Paul Boehmer, Susan Duerden and Rosalyn Landor wnich made the storytelling even more delightful.
“Life goes on." What nonsense, I thought, of course it doesn't. It's death that goes on.”...more
Barbara O' Neal is a recently discovered author for me. Having enjoyed When We Believed in Mermaids I decided to give The Lost Girls of Devon a try. ABarbara O' Neal is a recently discovered author for me. Having enjoyed When We Believed in Mermaids I decided to give The Lost Girls of Devon a try. Another beautiful written novel about 4 generations of the Fairchild women, all reunited in the search for a missing friend. It is a story of mothers and daughters; mystery and revelations; of being cherished and feeling unwanted and coming to terms with hidden secrets.
Zoe Fairchild living in Sante Fe has been summoned back to her childhood home of Devon to help her grandmother, Lillian, find her missing caregiver and Zoe’s best friend Diane. This reunion has many mixed emotions for Zoe, one being a chance encounter with her estrange mother who abandoned her at the age of 7 to travel the world. Isabel, Zoe’s teenage daughter, is harboring her own ghost; ghost of being bullied and humiliated by her friends back in Sante Fe. Poppy, Zoe’s mother, is hoping for some forgiveness from her lost daughter. Finally we have Lillian, a famous author and matriarch of the Fairchild family who is facing dementia.
The Lost Girls of Devon is written in the POV of Zoe, Isabel, Poppy and Lillian. This book was narrated by Helen Lloyd, Esther Wane, Sarah Naughton, and Pearl Hewitt. I thought they did a fabulous job with the story. definitely 4 1/2 stars for me...more
From Sand and Ash is a story of love, faith and how horrendous crime against a race can bring out the best and worse in people. It is a study of the lFrom Sand and Ash is a story of love, faith and how horrendous crime against a race can bring out the best and worse in people. It is a study of the loss of hope and the power of hope that keeps us from giving up. Eva Rosselli and Angelo Bianco as children grew up as family, one Jewish one headed to priesthood. Fast forward to 1943 Rome Italy; Germany inhabits most of the country placing the Jewish community in harm way. But Father Angelo uses his position as a priest to help place many Jewish families in safe places under the Churches eye including Eva. Eva, not wanting to sit by and watch her friends, family and Jewish community be torture and murdered at the whim of the Nazi that occupy Rome, finds a way to steal back gold and secretly convey strategic information about Nazi moments in the city.
I have read several books by various authors about the Holocaust and with each one I have finish it makes me understand more why we should never vote fascist narcissists into power .. how pertinent for 2020!
This is my 3 rd Amy Harmon book and she has such gift of storytelling and pulling you in, I love her writing style. This audiobook was narrated by Cassandra Campbell and her accent were stunning and made the story very realistic.
“Many will seek to tell me what God’s will is. But nobody knows. Not really. Because God is quiet. Always. He is quiet, and my anguish is so intense, so incredibly loud, that right now I can only do my will and hope that somehow, it aligns with his.”...more
I have enjoyed my return to Virgin River, enjoyable story and enjoyed the Theresa Plummer as the narrator. At times I found Kaylee a little too melodrI have enjoyed my return to Virgin River, enjoyable story and enjoyed the Theresa Plummer as the narrator. At times I found Kaylee a little too melodramatic about her Mother’s death. This was more of a 3 1/2 stars....more
Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev is the retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, where one of the main characters is Indian the other Brazilian. We pRecipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev is the retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, where one of the main characters is Indian the other Brazilian. We pick up the story with Ashna Raje who is the owner and chief of an Indian Restaurant, a restaurant in need of renovation and customers. Frederico “Rico” Silva a renown FIFA player struggling with a force retirement due to a recent knee injury. In comes a last chance opportunity for Ashna not to lose her family restaurant by participating in a reality TV show Cooking with the Stars. Unbeknown by Ashna, Rico has decided he wants to reconnect with his former high school love and joins the competition with one caveat.. he must be paired up with Ashna .
This could have been fun but I found the story at times rather sad .. family turmoil between Ashna and an absentee mother, marital rape, suicide, child neglect, alcoholism. I found Ashna wallowed in guilt and unhappiness, and did not want to reconnect with Rico. Everything seemed to come together in the last 50 pages.
Recipe for Persuasion was a bit of a slog for me – it just did not hold my interest for many pages and took me way to long to read. There were just times when I just wanted the story to move forward because nothing seem to happening that made me want to turn the page – definitely less than 400 pages would have been better. While I enjoy learning about other cultures this story was laden with a lot of Indian and Brazilian terminology in which I would have to look up (thank God for my Kindle) after awhile I just gave up. Reading is a form of escapism for me I want to be taken away not research!
I love stories that take place in NE .. this was a cute story, a little predictable and sappy at the end. First Nancy Thayer novel and would definitelI love stories that take place in NE .. this was a cute story, a little predictable and sappy at the end. First Nancy Thayer novel and would definitely try another novel of hers....more
This book took me some time to get through – it dragged a little at the beginning. The only other LJG book I read was Lord John and the Hand of the DeThis book took me some time to get through – it dragged a little at the beginning. The only other LJG book I read was Lord John and the Hand of the Devils, in general it got good reviews – it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I loved LJG as a secondary character especially in DOA during the period at River Run with Brianna.
I found that the THE SCOTTISH PRISONER was as much about Jamie Fraser as Lord John Grey. It fills in some of the gabs during the 20 years Claire and Jamie were not together, while at Helwater, a time during which Jamie and LJG settle their dispute (silently) and reconciled their friendship. The store centers on LJG and Jamie's adventure to Ireland to uncover a plot of corruption and murder against a British officer, Major Gerald Siverly – the only clue being a cryptic poem written in `erse', an old form of Irish Gaelic. We also get a glimpse into several very memorial moments between Jamie and Willie.
9/5/2020 - this was a reread for the LJG Summer Book read. second time around I got the audiobook . The Narrators for this book are Jeff Woodman and Rick Holmes. While I really enjoy Jeff as LJG, Rick just sucks as Jamie. I did enjoy the reread....more
Phew finally after 25 hours and 49 minutes I finally finished the audiobook Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyers. First let me say I was a fan of the TwilPhew finally after 25 hours and 49 minutes I finally finished the audiobook Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyers. First let me say I was a fan of the Twilight book series partially because Ms Meyers got young adults to read – I also enjoyed the movies and maybe because it was a fun event I did with co-workers. I also remember reading the leak partial draft that that made it to the internet.
With that being said … Midnight Sun was a BIG disappointment.. at times I found it monotonous and tedious; Edward’s ramblings of his fascination with Bella (BIG yawn!) and his low self-esteem about himself. I also don’t remember Bella being such an obnoxious people pleaser. I kept asking myself was Rosalie that hateful and intolerable? Was Emmett that big of a goof ball? And Ms Meyers did not paint a very complementary picture of Bella’s mother. I think the part I enjoyed the most was Edward getting to see what happened in the ballet studio between James and Bella.
Jake Abel was the narrator for this book. While he isn’t bad narrating I don’t think he was right for this book. In my opinion I don’t feel the book was very well written, it was too wordy, 50% of the book is done before the famous meadow scene! I am glad I read it but if any of the other books are written from Edwards’s perspective I won’t be reading them. The best I can give this book is 2 stars. ...more
When We Believed in Mermaids is a heartbreaking beautifully written novel about 2 sisters growing up Santa Cruz in a very toxic and dysfunctional famiWhen We Believed in Mermaids is a heartbreaking beautifully written novel about 2 sisters growing up Santa Cruz in a very toxic and dysfunctional family.
The story begins with Kit seeing a news clip of a very horrific accident in New Zealand and in the background she believes she see her sister Josie .. a sister that tragically died in a terrorist train accident in France. This image haunts Kit and with encouragement from her mother, Kit begins her journey to New Zealand – a journey of memories; of a life with parents that loved too much and fought as hard, that partied , drugged and drank too much ignoring 2 little girls. Of Dylan, the lost and abused teenage boy that becomes part of the Bianci family. . And of the devastating events that would change all their lives.
The emotional journey for these 2 sisters will test their strength and faith in each other as sisters.
This is my first book by Barbara O Neal and not my last. I totally enjoyed her writing style, her character development and her ability to keep me intrigued. This was an audiobook narrated by Sarah Naughton and Katherine Littrell both did an excellent job. ...more
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2020
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