November, 2013

It's NaNoWriMo time again!  If you are participating, please add me as a friend, JanaRose1. 

"Vienna Nocturne" by Vivien Shotwell         

Anna Storace is an instant hit when she begins her opera career.   Singing with masters, she finds herself in love.  When her lover leaves her pregnant, she is forced to marry lest her reputation be destroyed.  Her husband is abusive and is eventually run out of town.  In Vienna, Anna befriends Mozart and the two work together on several         

The book features very interesting characters and dynamic scenes.  Although it moved slowly at times, the characters kept me reading.  The author used a lot of opera lingo, which had me looking up words left and right.  At times this distracted from the story.  Overall, not a bad book.

"Divergent" by Veronica Roth         

When Beatrice (Tris) turns 16, she must choose which faction she will belong too.  Growing up in the abnegation, a faction that is known for its selflessness, she shocks her family and chooses to join Dauntless, a courageous yet deadly faction.  Immediately after joining, she realizes that she will have to make it through a competition in order to prove herself.  Only the top ten initiates will be allowed to join dauntless.        

I thought this was an interesting world.  The faction system was unique and something new.  Tris was a very realistic character.  She struggled with herself throughout the book and showed real growth.  I picked up this book because Veronica gave a pep talk during NaNoWriMo.  I read the series in a weekend and look forward to reading more from her.  Highly recommended.

"Insurgent" by Veronica Roth         

After the dauntless were used horribly to murder the abnegation, the factions begin to split, creating chaos throughout their political and social structure.  Grappling with the death of her parents, Tris must decide who she wants to be and what her priorities are.        

Overall, I thought this was a pretty good sequel.  Tris showed some real growth, which was interesting to watch.  I'm not sure the big reveal at the end was all that big or life altering, but it certainly created a set-up for the third book.

"Pigs Can't Swim" by Helen Peppe         

Helen and her endless number of siblings live on a farm in Maine.  With out of touch parents who are determined to instill right and wrong in their children, Helen finds that life is not black and white.         

I thought this was an interesting book.  However, I grew annoyed with the authors refusal to use anyone's names  "hair twirling pretty sister" and the other descriptions she used because repetitive and annoying.  I thought this technique really took away from the book and the entire reading experience.  It made the other people in her life very forgettable.  Overall, not a bad read, I think it just needs some polishing.

"The Girl on the Cliff" by Lucinda Riley         

When Grania suffers from a miscarriage, she runs away from her boyfriend Matt and life in New York.  Finding herself back on the family farm in Ireland, she meets a young girl, Aurora.  Warned by her mother to stay away from the family, Grania finds herself drawn to Aurora and her father.   Switching to World War I, the story shifts to tell the story of Grania and Aurora's relatives.         

Overall, I thought this was an interesting and well crafted book.  I enjoyed the present and past passages and found myself drawn to the characters.  I did think Grania was extremely stupid in refusing to speak to her boyfriend, and utterly shocked that Matt waited months and months for her without any word.  I think their relationship was poorly handled and unrealistic.  I also hated how the book ended, I thought it was just unnecessary.  Perhaps the fact that the book elicited strong emotions from me, is a testament to the authors talent.

"Pawn" by Aimee Carter         

When Kitty is labeled as a III she knows her life is over.  Destined to be a sanitation worker, to be deprived of fruit and other luxuries she runs away to a brothel, hoping to bide time until her boyfriend can be tested and labeled.  When the ruling family notices her uniquely colored eyes, they quickly take her and surgically transform her into Lila, the Prime Minister's niece.  Forced to take Lila's place, Kitty must learn to live a lie.         

Overall, I thought this was an interesting society with equally interesting characters.  The book was fast paced and well written.  I think teenagers and young adults will love this book.  I can't wait to read the sequel.  Highly recommended.

"The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy" by Kate Hattemer         

When a reality t.v. show turns up at their school to film "For Art's Sake" Ethan and his friends are dismissive and uninterested.  When Ethan's best friend Luke abandons his friends to join the show, they realize how evil it really is.  Determined to uncover the truth, the trio finds the script and decide to infiltrate the finale.         

I found this book to be a bit juvenile for my tastes but  think it is something that will appeal to pre-teens and young teenagers.  The characters were interesting but I thought the plot moved a bit slowly.  Overall, not for me, but I'm sure some will enjoy it.

"Unspoken" by Dee Henderson         

When a woman buys the shop next door to Bryce and threatens to open a competing coin store, he is highly annoyed.  When she offers to let him buy her inventory of rare and unique coins and a bottom dollar price, he becomes a bit intrigue.  Thus begins their interesting relationship, where Bryce learns that sixteen years earlier, Charlotte was kidnapped and tortured for four years.         

I thought this was an interesting premise but it felt like nothing really was concluded.  I wanted to know more about her kidnapping, but instead the author focused on the present and their relationship.  I found the snippets of God talk a bit annoying, especially because they seemed to happen at very random moments.  Overall, not a book I would reread or recommend to others.

"An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo         

Dying in a hospital bed, Lizzie tells her story to a nurse and her young son.  During World War II, Lizzie's mom brought home an elephant, Marlene, from the local zoo.  Karli, Lizzie's brother instantly fell in love with Marlene.  Forced to flee the city when it was destroyed by bombs, the family takes the elephant with them.  Often, the elephant acted as an ice breaker between the family and other refugees.         

This was a fast paced quick read.  I think it is perfect for pre-teens and young teenagers.  The characters were well designed and were very realistic.  Overall, I really enjoyed this book.

"The Wives of Los Alamos" by TaraShea Nesbit         

This novel is about the wives of scientists who were recruited to work on a new bomb design during World War II.  It was written in a very odd and unique way.  I think that you will either love it or hate it.  I started out loving it, but about halfway through it turned to hate.  Instead of telling a story, the author spoke of we "we were young, old, thin, fat, tall, short" which she used throughout the entire book.  I would rather have read stories about real people, not lists of descriptions.

"Wake" by Anna Hope         

In London, during the aftermath of WWI, the city is preparing for Armistice Day and the burial of the unknown soldier.  This book tells the story of three women, Hettie a dance instructor, Evelyn a rich woman working at the pensions office and Ada, a mother who lost her son in the war.         

I'm not entirely sure whether or not I liked this book.  The characters were interesting, but the story seemed to go nowhere.  It was just an odd book, something quickly read and quickly forgotten.

"The Weight of Blood" by Laura McHugh         

When Lucy's friend Cheri is found murdered, she instantly thinks about her own mother's disappearance when she was a baby.  Determined to uncover the truth about Cheri, and her mother, she starts poking around in dangerous territory.  Alternating with Lucy's story, is Lila, her mother's, story.         

I found this story and the characters to be fascinating.  I had trouble putting this one down.  I loved the back and forth between Lila and Lucy's stories and thought the book unraveled the mystery at the perfect pace.  I would love to read more from this author.  Highly recommended.ggests that her mother was a Nazi sympathizer.  Convinced that the murder, kidnapping and her mother’s past are connected, Nora zips off to Amsterdam, determined to find her daughter.