February, 2017

“Clara’s War” by Clara Kramer        

During WWII Clara, her family, and two other families lived in a bunker dug for eighteen months. Beck, a known anti-Semitic, hides them, all the while having Nazi’s and German’s in and out of his house for drinks and parties.         

This was a well written, engaging book. It was heartbreaking at times and showed both the good and evil within humankind. Overall, highly recommended.

“Caged Eyes” by Lynn K. Hall         

With a passion for flying and the dream of becoming an astronaut, Lynn joined the Air Force Academy. During the first year, cadet’s are hazed, undergoing extreme conditions by both upperclassmen and instructors. When Lynn is raped by an upperclassman, she contracts herpes. Diagnosed with meningitis she is in constant pain but, determined to succeed, she pushes through, trying to survive the grueling schedule despite her illness.        

This was a gritty, tell-all story. I wanted Lynn to succeed and was rooting her for to overcome the harsh and unfair treatment at the Air Force Academy. I also felt for the other women who had been raped, and cheered as they forced the issue to the forefront. Although the book was heartbreaking, this is a story that needs to be shared.

“The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds” by Selina Siak Chin Yoke        

This story follows the life of Chye Hoon, a mixed Malayan-Chinese woman. The book focuses on the traditions of her heritage, and how the western world is modernizing her culture. Overall, I had a hard time getting into this book. It was a bit slow-moving and tedious. This one just wasn’t for me. 

“Ice Ghosts” by Paul Watson         

John Franklin and a crew of 129 set off into the freezing Arctic to uncover the northwest passage. When he never returns, his widow spends an untold amount of time and money to find him. When nothing more is uncovered but rumors, it seems that the expeditions fate will remain a mystery. Over more than 150 years, people around the world delve into the mystery, each uncovering more and more of the story. Finally, in 2014 one of the two ships is found.        

Well written and engaging, the author lays out the history of the Franklin Expedition and the decades of mystery that follow. What I found most fascinating about this book was the cultural descriptions of the Inuit. I know very little about the Inuit and found their customs and history of oral tradition to be intriguing. Overall, highly recommended.

“The Blood of Emmett Till” by Timothy B. Tyson         

Beaten and murdered, the face of Emmett Till’s lifeless body helped spark the civil rights movement. This book describes the events surrounding his death, his mother’s courageous decision to display his body and the trial that followed. Overall, I thought this was a well written and interesting book, most of it read like a novel. It was certainly meticulously researched and contained a wealth of sources. 4 out of 5 stars.

“The Foundling” by Paul Joseph Fronczak         

In 1964, newborn Paul Fronczak was taken from the hospital by a woman dressed like a nurse. Nearly two years later, a baby boy was found abandoned outside a department store several states away. Based on a photograph of Paul, it was determined that the abandoned baby was Paul. As an adult reflecting on his childhood, Paul felt like an outsider, as if something was missing. When he talked his parents into taking a DNA test, he knew for sure, he was not the baby kidnapped from the hospital. What follows is an incredible search to uncover who is really is and what happened to baby Paul.

     Truth is definitely stranger than fiction. This story outlines a set of crazy, nearly unbelievable circumstances. Although I thought the book was a bit repetitive – each chapter repeated background facts and emotional upheaval – it certainly kept my attention. I would love to know what happens to Paul next – I’ll definitely be following his Facebook page. Overall, well worth picking up.

“Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail” by Malika Oufkir        

Malika, the oldest child of General Oufkir, is chosen as a companion for the princess, and spends her life growing up in Morocco’s palace. However, when her father attempts to overthrow the King Malika, her mother, and her five siblings are imprisoned. For over fifteen years, the family is completely isolated, surviving on starvation rations and the stories they make up and tell one another. Depressed, starving and dealing with a hopeless situation, they decide to dig a tunnel out of their prison. When Malika and two of her siblings escape, attention is brought back to the plight of the family and once recaptured, their conditions greatly improve. After several more years in captivity, the family is freed and makes their way out of Morocco.

     Wow. I was amazed by the plight of the Oufkir family and the lack of attention their imprisonment caused. I can’t imagine how they survived with their spirits intact. I found myself googling the family, wanting to know what happened to them afterwards. I plan on reading Malika’s second book shortly. Overall, highly recommended.

“Into Thin Air” by Jon Krakauer        

In May of 1996, eight people died when they were caught in a blizzard while trying to summit Mt. Everest. Jon Krakauer, part of the Adventure Consulting Group, was one of the survivors. Outlining his journey on the mountain Jon describes the struggles of high altitude, freezing temperatures, and the physical toll that Everest demands.        

Well written and engaging, Jon tells it all, leaving in the mistakes, arguments and tough decisions that were made during the climbing season. My heart goes out to everyone involved in the disaster. After reading this book, I would like to read some of the other survivor’ accounts.

“After the Bloom” by Leslie Shimotakahara        

When Rita’s mother Lily goes missing, Rita immediately begins her own search. When Rita realizes that Lily was involved in a movement for reparations for WWII Japanese internees, she must rethink her mother’s motives and the assumption’s Rita has already made.     Alternating between Lily’s war time internment and Rita’s search, the book explores the issues of dissociation, memory and recover.         

The modern day story seemed a bit lacking to me. I would rather have read about Lily’s life and taken out the back-and-forth story line. At times the book seemed to drag, and could have been formatted in a different way. Overall, not a bad story, but not one that I would re-read.