April, 2020

"Universe of Two" by Stephen Kiernan         

Mathematician Charlie Fish is put to work in New Mexico on the Manhattan project. His fiancée, Brenda, travels across the country to live in New Mexico, where they can meet up on weekends and at the odd time. Thinking of the implications of his work, Charlie suffers greatly, unsure if he is able to do his part in building the bomb. Left in the dark about his true work, Brenda encourages him to "man up" and "do his part."         

This book was well written, and engaging. I could not put it down. Both Charlie and Brenda were dynamic and interesting characters. I really felt for their plight, and found myself rooting for them. Overall, well worth picking up.

"The First Actress" by C. W. Gortner         

Sarah, the daughter of a courtesan, feel very much unwanted and unloved. Her mother sends her away to a convent, unsure what to do with her daughter. Once she graduates, her mother tries to marry her off, but Sarah has a different idea. Instead, she wants to become an actress. Rebelling against the system, she wants to act her way, which gets her into trouble time after time.          

Sarah was a very engaging and likeable character. She was realistic, flaws and all! The dynamic between Sarah and her mother felt relatable, and will resonate with many people. The book was well paced and engaging. Overall, well worth reading!

"Miss World 1970" by Jennifer Hosten          

In 1970, Jennifer Hosten became the first Miss World of color. From the small Caribbean island of Grenada, she was a long shot in the competition. Amidst protests by the Women's Liberation movement, sexist, and racism, she rose above.          

Overall, this book was a bit bland. It lacked details and skimmed over events. Although Jennifer came across as a very determined and intelligent women, her personality did not shine through. Overall, a bust.

"Adele: The Forgotten Sister of Fred Astaire" by Nicola Cassidy         

This book follows three points of view - Ellie Morgan, set in 1973 California, Adele Astaire, spanning her life and career, and Patricia Ryan, late 1920's - 1930's. After the death of her mother, Ellie Morgan begins researching the life and times of Adele Astaire. Adele's story begins at childhood as she, her mother, and brother Fred travel to New York to study dance and performance. It continues through her career in successful, and not so successful shows, and her marriage to Lord Charles Cavendish. Patricia's story begins as she takes a job as a housemaid in Lismore Castle, in Ireland.

     This book was a bit clumsy, a bit awkward. Ellie has some brief scenes at the beginning of the book and one or two scenes at the end of the book. Patricia's story starts over halfway through the book. I felt that Ellie and Patricia's points of view should have been left out entirely. They did not add anything to the book. Adele's story was very interesting and kept me reading. She was a fascinating character, and I enjoyed the relationships she made throughout the story. Overall, 3 out of 5 stars.

"The June Boys" by Court Stevens         

Every June 1st, the Gemini Thief kidnaps three boys and holds them captive until June 30th of the next year. Thea believes that the Gemini thief has taken her cousin, Aulus. The book alternates between Thea and her friends as they search for clues, and Aulus writing a series of letters while in captivity. When the FBI discovers one of the boys dead, a keychain links the boy to Thea's father. Thea is left with the unsettled thought that her family, or someone close to her family, is the Gemini Thief.         

This book was extremely predictable. I thought there were very few twists or surprises. Some things, felt less than realistic, particularly when Thea's boyfriend was being fed information by his FBI sister. The letters that Thea wrote from captivity were particularly hard to read on the Kindle - perhaps because they were images instead of text. Overall, this one was a bust.

"The Lost Orphan" by Stacey Halls         

Six years after leaving her daughter at a Foundling Orphanage, Bess has scrimped and saved and is ready to reclaim her. When she returns to the orphanage, she is astonished to learn that someone has already reclaimed her daughter. Alexandra, a young widow, is practically a shut-in. The only time she leaves her house is once a week, for her and her daughter to attend church. When she is persuaded by a close friend to hire a nursemaid to care for her daughter her secrets slowly begin to unravel.         

I thought this premise was pretty interesting, but the characters themselves felt very stereotypical. The story itself unraveled in a pretty predictable way. Overall, not a book I would reread or recommend.

"Hunger Winter" by Rob Currie         

When 13 year old Dirk receives word that his older sister has been arrested, he flees with his younger sister Anna. Together they face arrest, escape, hunger, and German soldiers. This was a well written, engaging middle school book. The care Dirk showed for his sister was inspiring, and a good lesson for that age group. Overall, highly recommended.