December, 2014

"Golden Son:  Book II of the Red Rising Trilogy" by Pierce Brown                 

In the sequel to "Red Rising" Darrow continues to work his way through gold society. I thought there was a big disconnect between the first and second books.  I feel like I missed part of the story.  Overall, I was more interested in the people surrounding the ruler than the people surrounding Darrow.  Darrow just was not a particularly lovable, relatable or endearing character.  I doubt that I will read the next book in the series.

"The Witch of Painted Sorrows" by M. J. Rose         

Sandrine flees her husband and travels to Paris to live with her grandmother.  Her grandmother has moved out of her mansion and insists that her house is being renovated.  When Sandrine visits the mansion, she finds out that her grandmother is intending to turn the property into a museum.  Drawn to a hidden room, she discovers the paintings of La Lune, a 16th century courtesan.  Bewitched, Sandrine begins to change.         

This was a very well written and engaging book.  I had trouble putting it down.  Sandrine, LaLune and Julien, her love interest, were full, rich people, not the stereotype you sometimes find in books.  Overall, well worth reading.  Highly recommended.

"When Books Went to War:  The Stories that Helped Us Win World War II" by Molly Guptill Manning         

This book recounts the efforts of librarians, governmental agencies and individuals to ensure that our soldiers had books to read during WWII.  Although I thought the book was very repetitive, it also taught me a great deal.  Overall, good for informational purposes.

"Esther:  Royal Beauty" by Angela Hunt         

Hadassah is taken from her cousin's home in Susa to the palace of King Xerxes of Persia.  After undergoing months of preparation, Esther is taken to Xerxes chambers.  Her quick wit, intelligence, and novelty quickly excites Xerxes and it isn't long until Xerxes takes her as a wife.  When the king is swayed by a counselor to exterminate all of the Jews, Esther pleads for her people’s lives.         

This was a well written and engaging book.  It wasn't preachy or overly biblical.  I felt that as a non-Christian, it was a fascinating story.  I really wanted to read more, I would love to see a sequel, or other books from this author.  Overall, highly recommended.

"The Nightingale" by Kristin Hannah         

This is the story of two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, and how they survived in France during World War II.  Vianne's husband Antoine is sent to the front, leaving her and her daughter to fend for themselves.  Shortly after he leaves, a German soldier is billeted in her home.  Isabelle joins her sister in the country, but is angry and frustrated with the war.  She soon channels her energy in the French Resistance, where she is known as the nightingale.         

I have to say that this is the best book I've read in 2014.  It was fascinating, I just couldn't put it down.  The characters were so realistic, I found myself worrying and caring about them.  In my opinion, this is a must read!  I am excited to have discovered this author, and have already picked up several of her other books.

"All But My Life" Gerda Weissmann Klein         

When the Nazi's invade Poland, Gerda and her family are forced to move into their basement.  Eventually, her family is separated and sent to different German labor camps.  The Germans seem to take everything from Gerda, everything but her life.  She barely survives the horrors of the concentration camp but quickly regains her spirit and determination.  A well written book, this is a look into a difficult part of history.  Overall, highly recommended.  

"Magic Hour" by Kristin Hannah         

After a patient of hers goes on a killing spree, psychologist Julia Cates is dragged through the mud by the media.  When her sister, the chief of police in a small Washington town, finds an abandoned child, she calls in her sister to help.  The child is filthy and wild.  Once Julia begins working with her, she realizes that Alice, as she calls the girl, is a feral child, one she speculates was raised in the woods without human companionship.         

This was a very intriguing book.  I find the idea of feral children interesting.  I thought that the author treated the subject with compassion and realism.  I am falling in love with this author and can't wait to read more of her books.

"Seed" by Lisa Heathfield         

Raised in a cult-type group, Pearl's life is turned upside down with the community admits a new family.  Ellis, a young man about her age, questions everything she has been taught.  This book was both heartbreaking and fascinating.  I really felt for Pearl and the rest of the kids and teenagers in the book.  This easily could have been based on a true story, which is a bit frightening.  I would love to read a sequel and find out what happens next.  Overall, highly recommended.

"True Calling" by Siobhan Davis         

When Ari and her family are sent to Planet Novo, their memories of people on earth are erased.  However, Ari keeps having these strange dreams, focusing on a guy named Zane.  She thinks she knows Zane but has no memory of him.         

I was really into this book until it switched to Zane's point of view.  The story kinda stalemated there, as the author recapped everything that Ari had experienced up to their.  After the switch, it seemed like the whole story resolved around whether or not Cal was going to sleep in Ari's bed for the night.  The characters has no consistency.  One moment they were concerned that they were being monitored and the next moment they were talking about topics they should have kept quiet.  By the end of the book I was tired of Ari and Cal.  I will not read this sequel.

"The Orphan of Torundi" by J. L. McCreedy         

Sam was orphaned as a child and raised in a pharmaceutical research compound in the rain forests of Torundi.  When she is sent away to boarding school, she quickly feels out of place.  Despite her "fish out of water" feelings, she quickly makes friends and finds herself embroiled in a mysterious plot.          

Overall, I thought the characters and their actions were very unrealistic.  I thought that Sam could have been a great character, but instead she spent most of the pining over the guy sent to follow her.  I think there was just too much teenage angst in the book.  Overall, not a book I enjoyed.

"Captive" by Aimee Carter         

This is the sequel to "Pawn."  It picks up where the last book left off, with Kitty Doe still impersonating Lila Hart.  When Daxston decides she is no longer of use, he sends her to Elsewhere, where she must learn how to survive all over again.         

I hate to say it, but Kitty was such a whiner throughout this whole book.  It was completely off-putting.  The scenes at elsewhere were very interesting, but the rest of the book was just eh.  I don't think I will pick up the next book in the series.  For me, this was a total bust.

"Unwind" by Neal Shusterman         

Abortions have been outlawed.  Instead, a parent may decide to unwind their children between the ages of 13 ad 18.  Unwinding, is essentially an organ/body part donation system, where the body parts are sold to the highest bidder.  Connor, Risa and Lev decide to run rather than being unwound.          

For a book that deals with abortion, death and the selling of body parts, something felt really juvenile about the story.  I'm not sure what audience the author is writing too.  Overall, not a bad book, just not for me.

"Vivian Apple at the End of the World" by Katie Coyle         

Across the world, believers of the Church of America are raptured from their homes.  When Vivian Apple finds two holes in her parents ceiling, she begins to wonder if the church could be right. Along with her best friend and a boy they just met, they travel across the country, determined to get to the bottom of what really happened.         

Overall, this was an interesting story.  It wasn't as juvenile or childish as I thought it would be.  I would like to know what happens next.  It definitely set itself up for a sequel. 

"In a Vertigo of Silence" by Miriam Polli         

As Emily's grandmother is dying, she discovers that her entire family has been keeping a secret.  Who is this mysterious aunt, who no one has ever mentioned?  I read this book quickly, but I didn't think it was very memorable.  It's been a few days since I read it, and I've almost forgotten it completely. 

"The Truth About Twinkie Pie" by Kat Yeh         

After winning a million dollars in a cooking contest, DiDi takes her younger sister, GiGi and enrolls her in a New York City private school.  This was an interesting book, but I didn't think it was very realistic.  I think GiGi would have been teased mercilessly at the private school due to her background, her sister being a hairdresser and the lack of designer clothes.  I think twelve year old kids aren't as mean as teenagers, but I think she would of had a harder time fitting in.  Overall, not something I can recommend.