October, 2014

"Article 5" by Kristen Simmons         

When Ember's mother is arrested for noncompliance with the moral statutes, Ember is sent off to a camp/institute.  In comes Chase, a boy from her childhood to rescue her.         

I really did not like this book.  I thought Ember was self-righteous, close minded and just plain annoying.  She constantly worried about others taking lives, which seemed very hypocritical and out of place in a post-apocalyptic world.  Overall, a bust.

"Japanese Roses:  A Novel of the Japanese American Internment" by Theresa Lorella         

After the bombing of pearl harbor the Miramoto family is separated.  Their daughter Kimiko is stranded in Japan, where she is labeled a traitor to her people.  At home, Akio and his Caucasian wife Rose Marie are forced to leave their home and enter into an internment camp.  Akio's father is imprisoned immediately, while his sister Maggie and mother are sent to a different camp.         

I thought this was a wonderfully written and engaging book.  My heart went out to the family as they were separated and forced to endure trials and tribulations.  I've never read a book from a Japanese American stranded in Japan during the War, and I found Kimiko's tale particularly haunting.  The only thing I can criticize is that I would have loved an epilogue.  Overall, this was a wonderful book, highly recommended.

"The Hormone Factory" by Saskia Goldschmidt         

Businessman Mordecai, reflects on his long illustrious career as a pharmaceutical entrepreneur and businessman.  Although this description is accurate, it doesn't really do the book justice.  It doesn't describe the humor and irony that kept me reading throughout the night.  Mordecai and his relationships were just fascinating to read about.  If anything, I wanted to know more.  The book briefly described his later adult life, which should have been included.  Overall, a great read!

"House of Closed Doors" by Jane Steen          

When Nell finds herself pregnant, her step father sends her to the Poor Farm, where she can give birth in secret and the baby can be adopted out.  When the body of a mother and baby are found in the unused wing of the Farm, Nell is determined to uncover the mystery.         

I didn't think the mystery, was much of a mystery.  It was fairly easy to figure out who did it and why.  However, I really enjoyed reading about the poor farm and the societal restrictions and regulations.  Overall, an interesting read.

"Romanov Prophecy" by Steve Berry         

After the Russian people vote to bring back a tsar, attorney Miles Lord was hired to dig through the Moscow archives and find out information on Romanovs.   Through diligent searches, he uncovers much more than he expected, documents that lend credit to the rumors that two of the Romanov children survived the massacre.  When others begin realizing what he has found, he is hunted down by a secret group, determined to influence the choice of the tsar.         

I thought this book was fairly well written.  The plot seemed to move quickly, but it seemed that everything was just too easy for Miles.  He was always one step ahead, or miraculously escaping the hit men hired to take him out.  Overall, not something I would re-read.

"Girl on a Wire" by Gwenda Bond         

Jules and her family find a chilly reception when they join the Cirque American.  Jules quickly learns that her family, the Maroni's, has a feud with the Garcia family.  While Jules and her father are hire-wire walkers, the Garcia family are trapeze artists.   When bad luck items are planted on Jules, she realizes that the feud is stronger than ever.  Determined to get to the bottom of who is working with the bad luck items, Jules finds herself in more danger than ever.         

I think this book will appeal to young teenagers a lot more than it appealed to me.  I thought the book was a bit predictable.  I did not care for the ending, I wanted something more dramatic, something more complicated.  Overall, not a bad book, just not for me.