Starting the new year with a 5 star book is the way to go! Seriously, this book is amazing. Martha Ballard was not a woman from history I knew anythinStarting the new year with a 5 star book is the way to go! Seriously, this book is amazing. Martha Ballard was not a woman from history I knew anything about, and I’m so glad this book changed that. Everyone should know about this badass midwife. The final conflict between the protagonist antagonist alone is worth the read—seriously it left me gasping, shouting holy fuck, and then laughing and cheering! ...more
Here’s another one everyone is loving that I couldn’t even finish. After reading 200 pages, I just couldn’t slog through anymore. The promise of dark Here’s another one everyone is loving that I couldn’t even finish. After reading 200 pages, I just couldn’t slog through anymore. The promise of dark academia, the critique of racist colonialism, and secret societies just fell flat when most of the pages just ended up being long winded etymology lectures. This perhaps would have been okay if the plot would have picked up, but it just never did. I didn’t even find myself invested in the characters. So bummed, but that’s the way it goes. ...more
What an intriguing story about the aftermath of WWII. Although I figured out the mystery of the 3 identities immediately, I still really enjoyed this What an intriguing story about the aftermath of WWII. Although I figured out the mystery of the 3 identities immediately, I still really enjoyed this one. Also, even though this isn’t the first I’ve heard of the experiments done at concentration camps, it was still horrifying and fascinating to read about....more
The spot-on voice of the mother in the first few pages drew me into this one right away, but that quickly ran it's course after a few chapters, and whThe spot-on voice of the mother in the first few pages drew me into this one right away, but that quickly ran it's course after a few chapters, and what I was left with was one hot mess of a story. I expected this to be Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets book club, but the empowering women theme was utterly destroyed by the blatant sexism and racism in this book. Other than the female protagonist, most of the other women were spineless and cold. To make matters worse, they were all married to awful men! Every single husband in this book was a despicable control-freak. I had a hard time not throwing the book across the room with the way the husbands treated their wives and how the wives just collapsed under them. Also, what the hell is up with the way people of color were treated in this book? I get that this book was set in the early 90s in the South, but this author made sure to pack every stereotype into it's pages including everything from the blacks living in trailers to the menacing, hoodlum b-ballers. Even the vampire only attacks people of color! Also, the son is weirdly obsessed with the Nazi regime which is never explained. Finally, at the end, when the women do get their shit together, the destruction of the vampire is proceeded by an extremely uncomfortable, sexually charged rape-like scene that the main character describes as the best feeling in the world. It was beyond disgusting and annoying! Ugh! I simply can't believe this book is so widely popular....more
This book had me absolutely in awe of the human spirit and at the same time absolutely embarrassed. Let me explain. Obviously, the strength and faith This book had me absolutely in awe of the human spirit and at the same time absolutely embarrassed. Let me explain. Obviously, the strength and faith of this family and the hell they went through had me astounded and believing in people like only a good story can. However, a hundred years later and I look around to find so little of that strength, faith, and compassion in people around me today. This family of the past was able to give up literally everything--their house, family, safety, food, and more--to survive and hope for a better life under unimaginable circumstances, and yet, here in present day America, we can't even get the majority of people to wear a mask or get a shot to help themselves and their fellow man out. It makes me wonder how we got here? How did we become so incredibly selfish and privileged? The sad truth is that this little Russian family and their harrowing story of the past represents the true spirit of America more than most Americans living today. I encourage any reader yearning for a reminder of what true strength, freedom, and faith looks like to pick up this book. You won't be disappointed....more
I used to devour romance books like an addict. I was completely content to read book after book that solely focused on some sexy relationship and littI used to devour romance books like an addict. I was completely content to read book after book that solely focused on some sexy relationship and little else. As I got older, however, books like that got old for me. Now, what I crave is a good story. A romance that develops within an epic story is ten times better than any bodice-ripping romance book will ever be. That was exactly the case with this novel. During the amazing and terrifying journey across the Oregon Trail, two people find themselves and each other in the everyday struggles of life and what it is to live and survive. Love takes a backseat to life, and to be honest, I find that more in touch with reality than the romanticized version of love that movies, TV, and romance books try to sell. Afterall, life tests love and ultimately shows whether it is true or not, and this book reiterates that fact quite clearly. All the while, the reader gets both a amazing plot and a great love story....more
I wanted to get caught up in the excitement of the roaring twenties with all the booze, dancing, and dresses, and this book looked liked it was just tI wanted to get caught up in the excitement of the roaring twenties with all the booze, dancing, and dresses, and this book looked liked it was just the ticket. However, all of that takes a back seat to a mobster story that I just didn't find myself all that interested in. The characters were all really rough around the edges, and the plot was one dimensional. I didn't even really understand the need for the present day story line except for the "big reveal" about who the old Honoree really was, and even that was really lack-luster. Too bad, the setting and premise promised so much more!...more
This book had two very interesting historical topics--first, the pack horse librarians and second, the Blue People of Kentucky. While I had heard of tThis book had two very interesting historical topics--first, the pack horse librarians and second, the Blue People of Kentucky. While I had heard of the former in another book I'd read, I definitely had never heard of the latter until reading this novel. The genetic problem was quite fascinating to discover, but the abuse the people who carried this genetic issue suffered was not. It was like the Blues were a sub sector of colored prejudice only they were treated sometimes even worse than African Americans of that time since their minority was even smaller. While I know Cussy's story was fictional, it still makes you wonder just what type of horrors the Blue People of Kentucky actually endured. Also, I'd like to mention the comparison this book is getting to it's very similar counterpart called The Giver of Stars. While I enjoyed both, this book was far grittier than the other. I think Kim Michele Richardson does a better job at capturing the true wildness and toughness of life at that time in Kentucky while Jojo Moye's story The Giver of Stars is more about the storyline of the women. Nevertheless, both, I think, are worth picking up and reading....more
Every time I read about US's history of slavery, I am horrified and ashamed, and this book proved no different. The way we treated humans like animalsEvery time I read about US's history of slavery, I am horrified and ashamed, and this book proved no different. The way we treated humans like animals, hell, worse than animals, was appalling. All I can say is that the protagonist, Pheby, was one tough, extraordinary woman. The fact that she was based on a real black woman made the story all that more poignant. I don't know if I could have done what she did. To have that type of grit and bravery in the face of evil and injustice is truly unbelievable. Another aspect I found unbelievable was the cruel and unusual ways slave owners came up with to punish their slaves. You have to be incredibly twisted to imagine doing the things they did let alone actually carrying them out on living souls. It makes me wonder where that evil comes from? How does one's humanity slip that low? In short, if you want to read an awe-inspiring book about the fight and survival against slavery, you need to pick this one up. You won't be disappointed....more
I read 100 pages of this and couldn't get it into it. Don't get me wrong, the writing is really strong and the characters really dynamic, but the plotI read 100 pages of this and couldn't get it into it. Don't get me wrong, the writing is really strong and the characters really dynamic, but the plot was way too slow for my taste. There didn't seem to be anything happening. It was just a lot of telling about the past. Perhaps I didn't hold out long enough, but I have other books coming in at the library that I'd rather get to than hoping this one gets better. Once again, I'm mad I didn't like this one when so many others are raving about it. I hate when that happens....more
This was a harrowing story written in a style(graphic novel) that I don't often read, but it definitely hit the feels. Going into this, I didn't know This was a harrowing story written in a style(graphic novel) that I don't often read, but it definitely hit the feels. Going into this, I didn't know much about Vietnam except the basics of the US involvement during the war, so a lot of the history presented in this book was new to me. Once again, I was overcome with the horrors that immigrants face in their home countries that ultimately lead them to run. I wish more people would pick up books like this and open their eyes to the true story of immigrants instead of continuing to digest the despicable political propaganda....more
I loved reading about Nancy Wake. Talk about one badass woman! Her wit, strength, and bravery was incredible. The fact that she did what she did with I loved reading about Nancy Wake. Talk about one badass woman! Her wit, strength, and bravery was incredible. The fact that she did what she did with such sass and fearlessness made her even more memorable. The story of her marriage also added depth and a human touch to her unbelievable tale. I love reading about these female spies from the war that seem to be popping up in the last few years, and this one was no different for me. ...more
I had never heard of the Packhorse Librarians before, and as a reader, this little bit of literary history was so much fun to uncover. Brave, strong wI had never heard of the Packhorse Librarians before, and as a reader, this little bit of literary history was so much fun to uncover. Brave, strong women delivering books and information by horseback to people out in the wild? How badass! Jojo Moyes also developed a wonderful, intriguing story around this time period. I loved reading about the beautiful Kentucky landscape, and the characters especially were all well developed and dynamic. Each character offered a unique viewpoint that had me either cheering for or hating them. In short, I will definitely be recommending this book to my fellow book readers that I know. By the way, can we take a moment to mention how awesome Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine book club picks are? I love so many from her list and always look forward to seeing what she picks next!...more
This one was very slow starting but eventually picked up toward the 100 page mark, and yet, I'm not sure how I feel about it. It was a cool concept, aThis one was very slow starting but eventually picked up toward the 100 page mark, and yet, I'm not sure how I feel about it. It was a cool concept, and the language was beautiful, but I wasn't as invested in it as I wanted to be. I guess I wanted the story to be more about the worlds behind the doors than the doors themselves. I am left with this meh! feeling. It wasn't bad; it wasn't great; it just...was....more
This one started out at a slow amble, but soon enough, it picked up pace and had me fully engaged. The history of how the Aborigines were treated in AThis one started out at a slow amble, but soon enough, it picked up pace and had me fully engaged. The history of how the Aborigines were treated in Australia is not a well known one for most people. I only finally learned about it when I studied abroad there in college. It's beyond brutal, and what's more, is intolerance for the natives is still pretty rampant even today. I was shocked to hear kids my own age spewing racist names and judgement whenever the subject came up when I was there in 2007, and I doubt much has changed since then. Although, to be fair, America isn't much better with its current increase in white supremacy. As so, this book is one to be read by all. It's a coming of age story for a young teenage boy named Tommy that gets caught up in the racial tension of Australia in the late 1800's. He's struggling with the loss of most of his family and soon a brother that seems to be morally corrupted as he's thrown into a posse of Darkie killers. It's intense, but so eye opening. Although Tommy feels defeated and guilty at the end, I felt he was beyond brave and did the best he could considering the situation he was in. As I was reading this, I kept thinking of this book as the Australian version of How to Kill a Mockingbird....more
Luckylyn86
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