July, 2017

"We Are All Shipwrecks" by Kelly Grey Carlisle         

Kelly's mother was murdered when she was a newborn. She lived first with her grandmother and her grandmother's partner. When her grandmother died, she was moved to the home of her grandfather and much younger wife. Her grandfather ran a porn store and eventually moved his family to a boat. Here, she grew up among a variety of eccentric characters.         

I thought the first half of the book was well written and interesting. Her life and realizations about her family were both quirky and entertaining. The second half of the book read more like a therapy exercise as she began analyzing. I wish the second half of the book had been more carefully edited, as large sections could have been removed. Overall, a bust.

"Love and Other Consolation Prizes" by Jamie Ford         

As a young boy, Ernest's mother put him on a boat bound for the united states. After surviving the journey, Ernest is taken on as a charity student at an elite boarding school. When twelve year old Ernest he tells his benefactress that he wants, he is taken to the World's Fair and auctioned off. He is won by a madam of a brothel, whose women are known for both their beauty and their brains.         

The book alternated between a young Ernest and Ernest fifty years later. I thought the elder Ernest storyline was unnecessary. It made the book move slowly and took away from the shocks and growth young Ernest experienced. Despite this criticism, the book was well written and mostly entertaining. Overall, worth picking up.

"The Bettencourt Affair" by Tom Sancton         

Liliane is one of the world's richest women. As she ages, she begins giving lavish gifts to Banier, a friend. Her daughter Liliane is furious, believing that Banier is taking advantage of her mother.         

Although I was interested in this story, the book itself was very boring. It was just a recitation of fact after fact. It was very dry. Overall, a bust.

"When It's Over" by Barbara Ridley         

After meeting Otto in Prague, Lena becomes his lover and secretary. When he moves to Paris, she travels with him. When Otto travels alone to England, Lena becomes stuck in Paris with the outbreak of WWII. Using his connections, Otto obtains a visa for Lena, allowing her to join him in the countryside. Years pass, the two have grown apart and Lena finds herself growing close to another man.         

Although this was an interesting book, it felt a bit hastily written. It skipped through a lot of time, which could have added to the book. Because of the time skips, it was harder to see how Otto and Lena both changed throughout the war. Overall, a decent book, 3 stars.

"Princess Margaret" by Theo Aronson

This book outlines the life of Princess Margaret of England. It is very comprehensive and well researched. At times, the author appeared biased as he discussed certain individuals, particularly towards the second half of the book. Further, I don't understand why the book, originally published in 2013, discusses Margaret as if she was still alive. It stops a few years before her death and funeral, making the book incomplete. Overall, an interesting read.

"White Chrysanthemum" by Mary Lynn Bracht         

Hana, a Korean female diver, sacrifices everything to save her little sister from a Japanese soldier. Taking her place, Hana is captured and sent to a brothel to live as a comfort woman. 70 years later, Emi, Hana's little sister, takes part in a demonstration, demanding that the Japanese government acknowledge the atrocities that happened in Korea under Japanese occupation. When Emi see's a newly revealed statue of a comfort woman, she instantly knows that it is her sister.         

This was a fascinating, and heartbreaking story. The writing style itself was beautifully written, conveying the devastation that both sisters felt. This is definitely one of the best books that I've read in 2017 and I look forward to reading more from this author.

"The Address" by Fiona Davis         

When Sara is offered a job at the new Dakota apartment house in New York, she lives her job in London for the unknown. In the present day, Bailey is out of rehab and looking for a job. When her cousin offers her the opportunity to refurbish her apartment in the Dakota, she jumps at the chance.         

This book was just mediocre. The characters were shallow and poorly developed. The story line and conclusion was extremely predictable. Overall, a bust.

"Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows" by Balli Kaur Jaswal         

Nikki is a typical modern young adult. Much to the dismay of her parents, she dropped out of law school to work in a pub while she discovers who she is. When looking for work, she notices an advertisement for a teacher for creative writing classes at Southall, a traditional Punjabi community center. When she shows up, the classroom is full of widows, expecting her to teach them basic literacy skills.         

I really wanted to like this book but I thought it was slow moving and shallow. Nikki was not a particularly smart or likeable character. I really wanted to know more about the widows individual lives, but instead they were ancillary to the story. Overall, a bust.

"The Girl in Between" by Sarah Carroll

A young homeless girl and her mother live in the ruins of an abandoned mill. While the girl stays inside to avoid the authorities, the mother begs for change on the street. While the mother fights addiction, the girl creates her own fantasy life.         

I have to admit that I don't really get this book. I couldn't figure out how old the girl was, which really bothered me. Although this book isn't for me, I'm sure there are many out there who will be caught in its flowery language and dream like quality.

"The Wardrobe Mistress" by Meghan Masterson         

Giselle is an undertire woman for Marie Antoinette. She spends her working hours sewing and dressing the queen and her long periods of off time at her family home in Paris. Outside of Versailles, the peopled are caught in a revolutionary frenzy, calling for a violent end to the monarchy.         

This was a quick paced and interesting read. The dichotomy between the queen's household and revolutionary Paris really brought the story and situation to life. I look forward to reading more from this author. Overall, a hit!