August, 2014
"The Sweetness" by Sande Boritz Berger
This book alternates between the lives of Rosha and Mira. Although they are both Jewish, their lives are completely different. When Rosha and her parents are rounded up by Germans, Mira is living a life of luxury and fashion in New York. Mira's main concerns revolve around fashion school, the family business and family. Rosha finds herself living in a small cellar, struggling to survive.
This was a very well written book. The characters had depth, emotions and showed growth throughout the book. The survivors guilt aspects of the book were fascinating. Overall, highly recommended.
"Burying Water" by K. A. Tucker
A girl wakes up in the hospital, badly beaten, barely alive and unable to remember a thing. The book alternating between her point of view in the present and Jesse's, whose point of view starts from the past. As Jesse's story climbs forward, their points of view merge, unraveling a sinister story.
This was an interesting story with realistic characters. I felt really bad for Water and even worse for Jesse. This book will appeal to those interested in romance and relationships. Overall, a good read.
"California" by Edan Lepucki
The world has gone to pot and Frida and Cam decide to leave LA behind and settle in the wilderness. Struggling to exist, they live without electricity, medical care and away from society. When Frida discovers she is pregnant, the two set off to join a nearby community, hoping to find safety and security. However, the group is not what they expect and they are forced to make decisions about their future.
I thought this was a very interesting premise. I can easily imagine this world view coming to pass. The beginning of the book was a bit slow, but picked up pace once they decided to find the nearby settlement. I thought Frida was very hard to like. She was a complainer and a daydreamer. I thought it a miracle that she had survived. I liked Cam at first, but over time I really began to wonder how he ended up with Frida. They definitely didn't seem to be a real couple. Despite this criticisms, I would pick up the next book. Just to find out what happens next.
"Call Me Leila" by N. G. Hanna
This story outlines the lives of Meshmesha and her daughter Leila. Meshmesha falls in love with her employer's son and gives birth to Galilea. When the son is injured in war, he loses his memory, leaving Meshmesha and her daughter in a dire predicament. When he marries a well-to-do girl, Meshmesha is heartbroken, but determined to survive. Jumping forward in time, Galilea leaves her husband during a revolution and find herself living with fundamentalist Muslims. When she decides to leave the group, the group accuses the Christians of kidnapping her. Forced to take on a new identity, Leila is left distraught and alone.
I found this book a bit difficult to read. The story itself was a bit disjointed. It went into the minutia of a characters life and then jumped forward in time. I didn't really like Leila and found her difficult to relate to. I thought she made poor decisions and then she came across as obstinate and stubborn. Overall, not a book I can recommend.
"Mean Streak" by Sandra Brown
When Dr. Emory goes running on a remote rail, she wakes up with a head injury in a small cabin. The man holding her refuses to give up his name but continually tells Emory that he won't hurt her. I had a hard time with this book. I did not like Emory and thought that she was making some fundamental mistakes. I did not finish the book and cannot see myself picking it back up. Overall, a bust.
"Meeting Rozzy Halfway" by Caroline Leavitt
Ultimately, this is the story of two sisters, Bess and Rozzy. As Bess goes through the normal growing pains and adulation of her older sister, slowly the family begins to realize that Rozzy is different. Once an eccentric child, it soon becomes clear that Rozzy is mentally ill. Bess life and relationships soon become defined by Rozzy, as she attempts to be there for her sister. Overall, this was a well written and engaging book. It read like a memoir and I found the ending to be very emotional. Highly recommended.
"The King's Curse" by Philippa Gregory
Named as governess over King Arthur, Margaret Pole is heartbroken when he dies shortly after his marriage to Katherine of Aragon. When Katherine asks her to deny that her marriage was consummated, Margaret Pole is forced to choose alliances. Once Katherine has taken the throne, she is richly rewarded, and becomes her friend and trusted adviser. However, her fortunes wane as Katherine is unable to bear a living male heir.
This is yet another masterpiece from Philippa Gregory. It was hard to put down and I found myself reading long into the night. The ups and downs of Margaret Pole's life were fascinating. I also thought the relationships between her and her children were intriguing and interesting to read. Overall, a home run!
"Enchantress: A Novel of Rav Hisda's Daughter" by Maggie Anton
This is the second novel in a series about Rav Hisda's Daughter. This book begins where the second left off. Hisdadukh has left Ersatz Israel and is studying with a sorcerer skilled in the knowledge of healing. Rava, her second love, is studying under the same roof. The two come together and after much turmoil are married. The book continues to follow their life as they have several children, gain secret and esoteric knowledge and become preeminent scholars and practitioners.
I can't praise this book enough. It was well written, engaging and featured fascinating characters. I do wish that towards the end of the book it didn't skip so much time. I just wanted to read more, and wished the gaps had been filled in. Overall, highly recommended.
