October, 2022

"Wayward" by Chuck Wendig

This is a sequel to Wanderers.  This novel is a bit hard to describe, it is complex and highly detailed.  It continues the story of the sleepwalkers, the shepherds, and those left alive after a pandemic devastates the world.  Black swan, the artificial intelligence who orchestrated the pandemic and the shepherds begins to develop feelings and starts to resent those she was previously protecting.

  This was an extremely engaging book.  It was hard to put down and I found myself reading long into the night.  The word is extremely detailed and well thought out.  Overall, I highly recommend this book, and the author.

"My Mother's Secret:  A Novel of the Jewish Autonomous Region" by Alina Adams 

After her friend and neighbor is arrested, Regina flees from her home in Moscow to Birobidzhan, the Jewish autonomous region located between Russia and China.  She expects to find a Jewish paradise, where the community works together for the greater good.  Instead, she finds tired and hungry people, doing everything they can to survive in the harsh and unforgiving land.  There she meets Aaron, someone who fights against the communal mind think is slowly starving its citizens.  The second timeline follows Lena, immediately after her father passes away.  Lena's mother Regina begins to tell Lena her story, uncovering a secret hidden for decades.

The timelines seemed to work really well together.  The characters were well developed and multi-dimensional.  I knew nothing about the Jewish Autonomous Region before reading this book and found it fascinating.  The plot moved along nicely.  Overall, highly recommended.

"Lost in China" by Jennifer F. Dobbs

Siblings Jennifer and John are living in China with their parents during the outbreak of WWII.  For years they constantly move from one place to another as their father's job transfers him to different location.  When Pearl Harbor is attacked, their parents are away in Hong Kong and unable to get back to China.  After the war, they are reunited with their mom in the U.S.

I was a bit bored with this story.  It seemed like a recitation of places that they moved to, without any real details between.  I can only guess that this is because Jennifer was so young when she went through these experiences.  I wanted to know more about life after Pearl Harbor, but this time period was given little attention.  Overall, not a book I would reread or recommend.

"Pieces of Me" by Kate McLaughlin

Dylan wakes up in an apartment unsure of where she is, who she is with, and unaware of the past three days.  After her best friend suggests that she has DID - dissociative identity disorder - the diagnosis is confirmed by a doctor.  Unsure what trauma caused the DID, she begins delving into her past.

  I'm not sure how to rate this book.  I think DID is a fascinating topic, particularly the therapy and integrating personalities.  However, everything seemed to come so easily to Dylan.  She didn't struggle with the diagnosis, but seemingly accepted it with very little questioning.  The process of meeting her alters seemed routine, as if she was meeting a new neighbor.  The ease just did not seem realistic.  I understand this may appeal to a young adult/teenage reader, but it didn't work for me.  Overall, 3 out of 5 stars.

"Winterland" by Rae Meadows  

This book follows Anya who lives with her father in Siberia, enduring cold, endless nights, and harsh conditions.  At the age of 8, Anya is selected to train as a gymnast in an elite state run program.  Her love of gymnastics slowly changes to a need to become bigger and better than her competitors. Although she suffers injury, she works through the pain, muscle aches and pushes her body to the breaking point.

I enjoyed reading this book.  I've never read anything about the soviet gymnastics program and thought it was fascinating.  I felt for the girls, who had to sacrifice their health for the state as they pushed to constantly do more and more.  The book had a sad, nostalgic feel to it, permeated by the secondary characters sadness and struggles.  Overall, 4 out of 5 stars.

"The Lost and Found of Green Tree" by Bobbie Candas

Nanette and Mariah are both born and raised in Green Tree, a small Midwestern town.  Mariah marries at a young age and has twin girls.  When her husband is killed in an accident, she must find a way to survive and hold her family together.  Nanette moves to a slightly bigger town and finds work in a photography study.  When Mariah is looking for someone to temporarily care for her daughters, Nanette volunteers to watch one of them.  When Mariah is ready to take her daughter back, Nanette bolts to Hollywood, determined to make the girl a star.

This was a well written and engaging book.  It was hard to put down and I found myself reading long into the night.  I became extremely invested in the characters and the challenges and situations they found themselves in.  Overall, well worth picking up!