March, 2021

"Eternal" by Lisa Scottoline         

This book follows the lives of three young adults in Italy during WWII. Elisabetta struggles to make ends meet as a waitress. Marco finds a job with Mussolini's government, rising quickly in the ranks. Sandro, a Jew, finds his life increasingly restricted, as he and his family struggle to find work and feed themselves. Both Marco and Sandro are in love with Elisabetta, and she must decide which one holds her heart.         

This book was a bit slow moving. It did not handle time transitions very well, which was a bit off-putting. The characters felt a bit stereotypical, but they were still likeable. Overall, not a bad book, but not one I would re-read.

"The Women of Chateau Lafayette by Stephanie Dray         

This books follows three story lines. The first, beginning in 1774, is Adrienne, the wife of American hero and French patriot Lafayette. The second, set during WWI, is Beatrice, a woman who does everything she can to raise money and support the troops. The third, Marthe, takes place over WWII, as Marthe learns how to survive and secretly fight back. What ties together the women is Chateau Lafayette, a home, crumbling mansion, orphanage, and sanatorium.         

This was an absolutely fascinating book. I was instantly captivated and found it very hard to put down. The three story lines worked really well together. The characters were well rounded and dynamic. Overall, 5 out of 5 stars.

"The Dictionary of Lost Words" by Pip Williams         

Esme's father is one of a handful of men working on the first Oxford English Dictionary. Esme grows up among the scraps of paper, quotations, and catalog of words. When one word bondmaid slips under the table, Esme takes it for herself. This is only the beginning of her collecting discarded and neglected words.         

This was a well written and engaging book. Esme was a dynamic character, who grew throughout. The author did a great job with the passing of time and time transitions. I look forward to reading more from this author. Overall, 5 out of 5 stars.

"The Last Bookshop in London" by Madeline Martin 

        After moving to London, Grace finds a job at the Primrose Hill Bookstore. Determined to set the dusty uninviting space right, Grace discovers her love of books. When German forces begins to bomb London, Grace is determined to carry on and serve the community.

        Although this was a good read, the characters seemed to lack depth. They seemed a little stereotypical and one dimensional. I did enjoy reading about the bookstore and how Grace began reading during bomb attacks to calm those around her. Overall, 4 out of 5 stars.

"Girl One" by Sara Flannery Murphy         

Josie, Girl One, was the first of nine babies conceived through a virgin birth. When she was 6, the Homestead burned, the experiment ended, and the mothers and children scattered. As an adult, Josie is away at medical school when her mother disappears. Determined to find her, Josie begins tracking down the other babies and mothers.         

This was a quick read that kept me turning pages long into the night. However, I wanted to know more about the homestead and the virgin birth process. I wish the girls had been pre-teens or teenagers when the fire happened and everyone scattered. Josie, and the other characters seemed a bit flat. They were not very dynamic or well developed. Overall, 3 out of 5 stars.