This one would honestly be a 4.5. Backman is a very talented author. I enjoyed how realistic he was in his writing. His characters were brutally flawed, representing a realistic cross-section of humanity. There isn't a lot of frou frou pandering and Backman doesn't shy away from making the reader occasionally uncomfortable. Those who don't enjoy sports should not be turned off by the premise in the least. Yes, hockey is a big focus in the narrative, but it is very well done. It's more of a character study and reflection on both small town life and humanity as a whole.

A very good read. The story is so amazingly emotional and beautiful while just being incredibly heart-wrenching. The plot vacillates between the perspectives of Josef and Lenka, giving pieces of their lives over the past 60 years, flanked at beginning and end with a current point in time. More of the book is dedicated to Lenka's story, as would somewhat be expected, but it leaves Josef's story feeling somewhat watery and lacking. Though it was still very good, I could have done with more from his perspective. I also struggled with not being extraordinarily angry about the ending, but ultimately the lack of a satisfying ending (a lack of closure more than a lack of good storytelling) is what caused me to demote this to 4 stars.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the characters in this book were based on real people. This was a new piece of history for me and I found it very interesting. Kibler's writing is very good and very comfortable. She has the ability to develop characters that feel very real, flaws and all. The plot is developed with the existence of two separate storylines and four separate narrative views. It sounds terribly complex and confusing, but it is masterfully done and at no point did I feel lost or confused by this. I was, unfortunately, disappointed by the swiftness of the ending and the author's choice to leave a major plot point open and ambiguous. I would very much have appreciated something more comprehensive and concrete.

For the full review: Home for Erring and Outcast Girls on EPJ

** Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. **

This is actually a 2.5 star read. I wanted to give it a 3, but just couldn't justify it. Ridker's writing is smart and well-formulated with well fleshed out characters and good components. The feeling of the book was just too overwhelmingly gloomy for me and I couldn't attach myself to anything for a bit of a bright spot. There is a lot of family dysfunction and I guess I just need a little happiness in my reads.

For the full review: The Altruists on EPJ

4.5 stars. *Review to come*

Let me start off by saying that I am not a fan of politics. Also, I don't read a lot of nonfiction. So...this book was definitely out of my usual comfort zone. That being said, I have the utmost respect for Michelle Obama. She is intelligent, thoughtful, and inspiring. She speaks in the book of having to "earn [her] grace". I think she has more than enough of it. Though there were certainly slow spots that didn't intrigue me (I'm not into the details of campaigning, for example), she presents a fairly candid picture of her life and the things that have motivated and inspired her along the way. It was long, but well worth my time.

4.5 stars. Moving, compelling, beautiful, and heartbreaking.

**Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**

The Murmur of Bees by Sofia Segovia is a beautiful and intelligently written generational saga set in revolutionary Mexico. The writing is fantastic with description that I can only explain as gently comprehensive. The book just flows in a way that feels comforting, despite the tense moments in the narrative. The entire story was engaging and I kept consuming the pages late into the night.

The Murmur of Bees by Sofia Segovia was hauntingly beautiful and emotionally heart-wrenching. It shows such great talent in the author and presents a story that feels so amazingly real and tangible. It is historical fiction at its finest and shows amazing ingenuity and uniqueness in its construction and execution. Very much worth the read.

For the full review: The Murmur of Bees on EPJ

4.5 stars.

This book was so surprising. It is a different feel than Holmberg's other novels and definitely shows an increased maturity over the YA intention of the Magician series. It is well-written and intriguing, creating a world(s) that is interesting and beautiful. The story is confusing in a good way and kept me incredibly involved. I wanted to know more. I couldn't get enough. It's odd, it's beautiful, it's fantastic.