Take a photo of a barcode or cover
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
Ok...WOW! Watch out The Hunger Games, there's a new kickass dystopian in town. If you put Lord of the Flies, The Crucible, The Handmaid's Tale, and The Hunger Games into a blender, the result might give you a taste of what to expect with The Grace Year.
This was terribly dark and magnificent. I was both intrigued and disgusted as the story moved along. The pacing felt good and there didn't seem to be a lot of down time, every bit of the story felt relevant and moved the narrative forward. Because of this, I was totally hooked, on the edge of my seat for nearly the entire thing. I devoured this book and I am really hoping that there is going to be a sequel.
Though it is listed as YA fiction, I would put it more in the New Adult category due to some more descriptive violent content. For those who are turned off by violence in their novels, this one is one you should stay away from, but the writing is fantastic and creepy and very atmospheric.
If you enjoy dystopian reads, The Grace Year is a must! It's a disturbing narrative, but it is so incredibly intriguing. This was the perfect October read.
Ok...WOW! Watch out The Hunger Games, there's a new kickass dystopian in town. If you put Lord of the Flies, The Crucible, The Handmaid's Tale, and The Hunger Games into a blender, the result might give you a taste of what to expect with The Grace Year.
This was terribly dark and magnificent. I was both intrigued and disgusted as the story moved along. The pacing felt good and there didn't seem to be a lot of down time, every bit of the story felt relevant and moved the narrative forward. Because of this, I was totally hooked, on the edge of my seat for nearly the entire thing. I devoured this book and I am really hoping that there is going to be a sequel.
Though it is listed as YA fiction, I would put it more in the New Adult category due to some more descriptive violent content. For those who are turned off by violence in their novels, this one is one you should stay away from, but the writing is fantastic and creepy and very atmospheric.
If you enjoy dystopian reads, The Grace Year is a must! It's a disturbing narrative, but it is so incredibly intriguing. This was the perfect October read.
4.5 stars.
I listened to the audiobook of this novel, which was narrated fantastically by Tom Hanks. The book is a character-driven novel focusing on the life of two siblings in Pennsylvania, following them from their childhood years into the ends of adulthood.
The writing is descriptive and flowing with great character to the dialogue. The narrative is delivered by Danny, the younger of the two siblings, and the portrayal of him by Hanks in the audio version is incredibly well done.
This is not a book for those who are bothered by a shifting and non-linear timeline in a plot. Though I feel it was done quite well, I can see that some may become confused, and even potentially aggravated, by this approach. For me, it added another layer of complexity that helped to keep the book interesting and to develop the plot in small strokes as the chapters moved on.
I enjoyed this sweeping narrative and felt that it added a bit more diversity to my reads this year. It's a good story and well-balanced between positive and negative events. There is a large range of emotion in the pages and the saga kept me intrigued. Though not in my usual range of reading (I prefer plot-driven stories), The Dutch House was definitely worth the time and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a strong narrative with full-bodied characters and a family focus.
I listened to the audiobook of this novel, which was narrated fantastically by Tom Hanks. The book is a character-driven novel focusing on the life of two siblings in Pennsylvania, following them from their childhood years into the ends of adulthood.
The writing is descriptive and flowing with great character to the dialogue. The narrative is delivered by Danny, the younger of the two siblings, and the portrayal of him by Hanks in the audio version is incredibly well done.
This is not a book for those who are bothered by a shifting and non-linear timeline in a plot. Though I feel it was done quite well, I can see that some may become confused, and even potentially aggravated, by this approach. For me, it added another layer of complexity that helped to keep the book interesting and to develop the plot in small strokes as the chapters moved on.
I enjoyed this sweeping narrative and felt that it added a bit more diversity to my reads this year. It's a good story and well-balanced between positive and negative events. There is a large range of emotion in the pages and the saga kept me intrigued. Though not in my usual range of reading (I prefer plot-driven stories), The Dutch House was definitely worth the time and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a strong narrative with full-bodied characters and a family focus.
I put off reading this one for a long time because I knew it would be an emotional read. And that was before I discovered that it is truly based on the life and experiences of one man. Though still historical fiction due to the license with which Morris paints her literary picture as well as the fact that memories don't always hold all of the details to tell a full story, this novel is really quite close to a biography. And yes, it was a VERY emotional read.
There are moments of levity and love and wonderful things, but this story is rife with things that made my stomach churn, my heart hurt, and my eyes fill with tears. It is heartbreaking, but still lovely. And had it not been based on a true story, there would be many who would easily say that there was just too much that seemed unlikely, both good and bad. So, those things that would otherwise have felt convenient to the plot instead filled me with hope and wonder at the human spirit and the humanity that can still remain in the direst of situations.
I know that many readers feel that there is too much WWII based historical fiction out there, or they just don't feel like reading it, or they're just (as I read one blogger write) "sick of Hitler". And I get that. But I don't think there can be enough of these stories out there. Not until everyone can recognize that there is some evil in humanity and that it takes the rest of the world stepping in and loving and caring for one another to keep in from getting a foothold. And this story...Lale's story...is a very important part of that. It needs to be read.
There are moments of levity and love and wonderful things, but this story is rife with things that made my stomach churn, my heart hurt, and my eyes fill with tears. It is heartbreaking, but still lovely. And had it not been based on a true story, there would be many who would easily say that there was just too much that seemed unlikely, both good and bad. So, those things that would otherwise have felt convenient to the plot instead filled me with hope and wonder at the human spirit and the humanity that can still remain in the direst of situations.
I know that many readers feel that there is too much WWII based historical fiction out there, or they just don't feel like reading it, or they're just (as I read one blogger write) "sick of Hitler". And I get that. But I don't think there can be enough of these stories out there. Not until everyone can recognize that there is some evil in humanity and that it takes the rest of the world stepping in and loving and caring for one another to keep in from getting a foothold. And this story...Lale's story...is a very important part of that. It needs to be read.
Fredrik Backman has a way of connecting with the souls of his characters. Even though this is a novella, he still manages to get at the core of something painful and heart-wrenching. There is something so true and raw about his words and the way he can conjure a scene.
Nearly the entirety of this short story takes place in the mind of an elderly gentleman with dementia. Backman captures the fear and confusion of living with the disease as well as the odd movements of time. This short read is nearly as powerful as his full-length works, moving in a swift and effective way within its short 97 pages.
Nearly the entirety of this short story takes place in the mind of an elderly gentleman with dementia. Backman captures the fear and confusion of living with the disease as well as the odd movements of time. This short read is nearly as powerful as his full-length works, moving in a swift and effective way within its short 97 pages.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
4.5 stars.
This is yet another emotional historical read from Heather Morris. It explores the world of the Gulag in post-WWII Russia. That was an area of history that I was highly unfamiliar with.
Having read The Tattooist of Auschwitz prior to this one, I was familiar with Cilka as a person and a character and this was a very good follow up. It was not as involved as Lale's story, but Morris does admit that she had much less information to utilize on this novel and so a good portion of the story comes from the melding of the histories of multiple people or solely from her imagination. That didn't take away from the power of this narrative. The writing remains intriguing and the topic remains gut-wrenching. This wasn't as emotional a read for me as Tattooist, but this may have been due to a few possible things, including the fact I was already emotionally drained from reading The Tattooist of Auschwitz JUST prior to this one.
Overall, I very much enjoyed the story and thought it was well done. However, the ending just didn't feel complete to me. It felt like too quick of a wrap up and didn't give me any sense of closure or transition. That may just be my own personal experience, as we all know I tend to be rather picky about my endings. Regardless, this is still a very good read and a solid follow up novel.
4.5 stars.
This is yet another emotional historical read from Heather Morris. It explores the world of the Gulag in post-WWII Russia. That was an area of history that I was highly unfamiliar with.
Having read The Tattooist of Auschwitz prior to this one, I was familiar with Cilka as a person and a character and this was a very good follow up. It was not as involved as Lale's story, but Morris does admit that she had much less information to utilize on this novel and so a good portion of the story comes from the melding of the histories of multiple people or solely from her imagination. That didn't take away from the power of this narrative. The writing remains intriguing and the topic remains gut-wrenching. This wasn't as emotional a read for me as Tattooist, but this may have been due to a few possible things, including the fact I was already emotionally drained from reading The Tattooist of Auschwitz JUST prior to this one.
Overall, I very much enjoyed the story and thought it was well done. However, the ending just didn't feel complete to me. It felt like too quick of a wrap up and didn't give me any sense of closure or transition. That may just be my own personal experience, as we all know I tend to be rather picky about my endings. Regardless, this is still a very good read and a solid follow up novel.
This is an incredibly good middle grade book. The writing is age appropriate with good establishment of foreshadowing (without being blatantly obvious). There is great information with regard to the wilderness and wilderness survival. I appreciate that Paulsen doesn't let things be easy for Brian in the wilderness. He fails at some things and has to learn how to make things work. It takes practice, trial and error. The book, though intended for middle graders, still reads fairly solidly for an adult. The intended age group does have to be kept in mind, but overall the writing is really good for nearly every age. A good narrative and a great story.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. *
Gravemaidens is a YA fantasy set in an area similar to ancient Egypt or Mesopotamia. In this society, maidens are chosen to accompany the ruler to the afterworld should he perish. These "chosen ones" are sealed in a tomb with the deceased and then made to drink poison or assassinated by a selected guard. Kammani, the daughter and apprentice to a local healer, has seen her younger sister Nanaea be chosen as one of these sacred maidens. She is distraught at this choice and wants to do all she can to save her sister from such a fate, as she sees it for what it really is...not a blessing, just an early death.
Both the premise and the cover of this one had me hooked. It was a good spookyish setup for a fall read and I really liked that it was set in a setting that is not common in current fantasy reads. I enjoyed the world building and the detail, the blending of existing cultures and imagination to create something that really is Coon's own. I enjoyed this atmosphere and the overall story was intriguing and entertaining.
The characters were dynamic and believable for the most part, though I did have some issues with Kammani as a consistent character in her actions (sometimes smart characters make dumb choices) and the supporting character of Iltani (she was a bit too flighty for my liking, though I did appreciate her sarcasm). Any other issues I had with the individual characters themselves really worked themselves out nicely for me with the ending, though I won't say more than that. Just trust in the author to have it make sense.
The pacing seemed a little up and down at some bits, but overall the plot moved nicely and the narrative kept me interested from very early on in the book. I will admit that I had somewhat figured out the plot by fairly early on in the book, but the writing did have me second guessing myself here and there, so I call that a win. This was a good and quick read that I wanted to get back to and I am looking forward to reading the sequel and seeing how this all shakes out.
Gravemaidens is a YA fantasy set in an area similar to ancient Egypt or Mesopotamia. In this society, maidens are chosen to accompany the ruler to the afterworld should he perish. These "chosen ones" are sealed in a tomb with the deceased and then made to drink poison or assassinated by a selected guard. Kammani, the daughter and apprentice to a local healer, has seen her younger sister Nanaea be chosen as one of these sacred maidens. She is distraught at this choice and wants to do all she can to save her sister from such a fate, as she sees it for what it really is...not a blessing, just an early death.
Both the premise and the cover of this one had me hooked. It was a good spookyish setup for a fall read and I really liked that it was set in a setting that is not common in current fantasy reads. I enjoyed the world building and the detail, the blending of existing cultures and imagination to create something that really is Coon's own. I enjoyed this atmosphere and the overall story was intriguing and entertaining.
The characters were dynamic and believable for the most part, though I did have some issues with Kammani as a consistent character in her actions (sometimes smart characters make dumb choices) and the supporting character of Iltani (she was a bit too flighty for my liking, though I did appreciate her sarcasm). Any other issues I had with the individual characters themselves really worked themselves out nicely for me with the ending, though I won't say more than that. Just trust in the author to have it make sense.
The pacing seemed a little up and down at some bits, but overall the plot moved nicely and the narrative kept me interested from very early on in the book. I will admit that I had somewhat figured out the plot by fairly early on in the book, but the writing did have me second guessing myself here and there, so I call that a win. This was a good and quick read that I wanted to get back to and I am looking forward to reading the sequel and seeing how this all shakes out.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. *
Jerkwater by Jamie Zerndt is a short, contemporary read that feels as if it has much more to say.
Zerndt's characters are well-written with strong personalities. The story pivots through several points of view, giving a well-rounded picture of the setting and each of the protagonist's lives. Though not feeling fully developed, the character of Peyton Crane exists more as an evil shadow, a non-traditional but still fairly effective approach to the creation of an antagonist.
The narrative can be a bit choppy, moving from one story to the next with occasionally hazy transitions. This tends to slow the read a bit. However, the bones of the story are very solid and the crux of the story is one that is very powerful and important.
This is a definite adult novel with situations and language that can easily prove uncomfortable for some readers. It is humanity stripped bare. Zerndt does not shy away from painting a clear picture of the racism present in his fictional presentation of the community, including some very brash language. This can feel (rightly so) a bit like a gut punch upon reading, but keeps the realism of the narrative plain.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and found myself both comfortable and appropriately uncomfortable with Zerndt's writing. Though the book does work okay as a short standalone, I was left wanting. This may be a good thing, as it has prompted me to continue to consider the characters and the narrative, but I feel as though this serves as more of a snippet of the potential that this story contains. I hope to see more of Zerndt's exploration of these characters in the future.
Jerkwater by Jamie Zerndt is a short, contemporary read that feels as if it has much more to say.
Zerndt's characters are well-written with strong personalities. The story pivots through several points of view, giving a well-rounded picture of the setting and each of the protagonist's lives. Though not feeling fully developed, the character of Peyton Crane exists more as an evil shadow, a non-traditional but still fairly effective approach to the creation of an antagonist.
The narrative can be a bit choppy, moving from one story to the next with occasionally hazy transitions. This tends to slow the read a bit. However, the bones of the story are very solid and the crux of the story is one that is very powerful and important.
This is a definite adult novel with situations and language that can easily prove uncomfortable for some readers. It is humanity stripped bare. Zerndt does not shy away from painting a clear picture of the racism present in his fictional presentation of the community, including some very brash language. This can feel (rightly so) a bit like a gut punch upon reading, but keeps the realism of the narrative plain.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and found myself both comfortable and appropriately uncomfortable with Zerndt's writing. Though the book does work okay as a short standalone, I was left wanting. This may be a good thing, as it has prompted me to continue to consider the characters and the narrative, but I feel as though this serves as more of a snippet of the potential that this story contains. I hope to see more of Zerndt's exploration of these characters in the future.
My love for magical realism continues. I will admit that I didn't enjoy this book as much as McLemore's The Weight of Feathers, but it was still a beautiful story. Taking inspiration from their own life, McLemore creates heartbreaking characters facing personal struggles that are both internal and external in nature. The language is melodic and wonderful, describing things with a fantastic clarity while still leaving some magical edges and whimsy. The magical element of the novel is creative and quirky and initially didn't quite meet the mark for me, but it developed through the story quite well and I really came to embrace it in the end. Speaking of endings, this one is great. It is full of emotional content that hit me hard and really drove home the underlying topics of equality. It wasn't a perfect read, but it was a darned good one.