April, 2022

"The Foundling" by Ann Leary

When Mary Engle is hired to work at the Nettleton State Village for Feebleminded Women of Childbearing Age, she is both excited and nervous.  Her quick wit and loyalty endear her to the medical director, Dr. Agnes Vogel.  While Mary starts out naive and unquestioning, her beliefs are challenged when she discovers that a girl from her childhood is now an inmate.

  This was a very compelling read.  I found it hard to put down.  The characters were well developed and realistic.  The plot moved quickly, unraveling secrets as it went.  Overall, highly recommended.

"Siren Queen" by Nghi Vo

Pre-teen Luli stumbles onto a Hollywood set and is immediately hired as an extra.  As she ages, she becomes determined to shine bright as a Hollywood star.  She finagles a studio deal and encounters a world she is unprepared, yet strangely attracted too. 

  With its supernatural elements, this book weaves a tale of monsters, demons, and stars determined to shine.  I found this story to be unpleasantly hypnotic.  I didn't want to continue, but found myself compelled to read on.  Although this book wasn't quite to my likely, it was extremely unique and well developed.  Overall, a strange story, for a strange world.

"My Mother's War" by Eva Taylor

This is a daughter's tribute to her mother, Sabine Zuur.  During WWII, Sabine fought in the Dutch resistance.  Once captured, she spent two tears in three different concentration camps.  Her strength of will, convictions, and determination led to her survival.

  As a story, this book was a bit lacking.  It wasn't written from Sabine's point of view, but as a retelling of Sabine's story by her daughter through letters and documents.  This turned it into a recitation of facts rather than a readable book.  I do appreciate the author's attempts to document her mother's life, I believe more resistance stories should be preserved and told.  Overall, not a book I would reread or recommend.

"Otherland: City of Golden Shadow" and "Otherland: River of Blue Fire" by Tad Williams (audio book)

This is one of my favorite series.  I find myself re-reading it every few years.   This time, I listened to the audio books while commuting.  Please visit my previous review under June, 2016 for details on the series itself. .My biggest thought about the audio books is that the accents are just awful.  The Australian sounds American, the American's sound English, the African's sound Indian, it's just a big mess.  In the second book, either I had gotten used to the accents, or they were slightly improved.  Regardless, I was able to let the accents go and just relax and enjoy the audio books.  The reader does a good job with inflections and expressing emotion.  Overall, highly recommended!

"The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle" by Jennifer Ryan

This book follows three women through WWII.  When fashion designer Cressida's house and workshop is leveled during the Blitz, she is forced to go back to the family manor house that she left years ago.  While her brother has passed, his two children remain.  Cressida's niece Violet appears to be just another socialite, but when forced to join the service as a mechanic, she begins to grow up and realize what is important in life.  At the nearby vicarage, Grace is engaged to an indifferent clergyman.  When she takes mother's old wedding dress to the local sewing circle, a plan is hatched to rehab and circulate wedding dressing.

  I found this book to be a bit boring and predictable.  The characters were extremely stereotypical.  The romances were bland and unremarkable.  Everything progressed exactly as expected.  Overall, not a book I would reread or recommend.

"Jackie & Me" by Louis Bayard

Lem Billings, close friend of JFK, is asked to vet and entertain JFK's paramour, Jacqueline Bouvier.  While Lem courts Jackie on JFK's behalf, he slowly begins to fall in love with her.  I did not like this book.  I had a hard time with the writing style and plot movement.  Whenever someone is telling stories of their past, there is a danger of nostalgia.  This entire book felt nostalgic and slow moving.  Overall, a bust.

"Sadistic Pleasures:  Silent Crimes of Azerbaijan" by Arakelvan & Diehl

For a harrowing 40 days in 2020, Azerbaijan soldiers fought, killed, and captured Armenian soldiers and civilians.  Most of these prisoners were subjected to physical and psychological torture during their captivity.  Afterwards, a journalist interviewed the survivors. 

  This book was absolutely heartbreaking.  I found it difficult to read about the stories of torture and pure hatred.  It is hard to believe that such human rights violations are still occurring in our modern day world.  When will people learn to treat others with dignity and respect?!?