The Doll Funeral by Kate Hamer is a beautifully written atmospheric novel that follows 13 year old Ruby as she learns shes been adopted and sets off to find her real parents. Set somewhere in a forest town in England, Ruby befriends a group of siblings living on their own who she thinks might help lead her to her real family.
Hamer crosses seamlessly back and forth between the living and the dead as the mystery of Ruby's true family unfolds. A wonderfully hypnotic read.
Saturday, December 23, 2017
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Things Fall Apart
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe was written in 1959 and is one of the first great novels to come out of Nigeria, a country with a rich literary history, so I thought it was time to finally read it. It tells the story of Okonkwo, a strong man of an Ibo village, a warrior with three wives and many children.
This book gives the reader an inside look into African tribal life, and also shows what happens when the missionaries arrive and cultures clash. We see Okonkwo's village life become divided and things begin to fall apart, leading to an ultimately tragic ending. A beautifully written book full of powerful images that will stay with me for a long time.
This book gives the reader an inside look into African tribal life, and also shows what happens when the missionaries arrive and cultures clash. We see Okonkwo's village life become divided and things begin to fall apart, leading to an ultimately tragic ending. A beautifully written book full of powerful images that will stay with me for a long time.
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Origin
Origin by Dan Brown is the latest in the Da Vinci Code Series. This one finds Professor Langdon traipsing around Europe again with another beautiful woman in search of the answers to the questions "Where do we come from and where are we going?" while trying to prevent an all out war between science and religion.
I've always enjoyed Brown's books and never expected excellent writing, but this one was rather silly. If you're a fan of the series, you'll probably want to read this book, if not, don't start here!
I've always enjoyed Brown's books and never expected excellent writing, but this one was rather silly. If you're a fan of the series, you'll probably want to read this book, if not, don't start here!
Friday, December 1, 2017
Reluctantly Charmed
Reluctantly Charmed by Ellie O'Neill is a book set in Ireland, and not nearly as bad as the title would lead one to believe. Kate McDaid inherits an estate on her 26th birthday from her long dead great great great great aunt of the same name. First she must publish "The Seven Steps" once a week under her own name in order to receive her inheritance. Her aunt was believed to be a witch and the poems written by Fairies.
What follows is a mysterious journey as Olde Ireland meets modern Ireland and thousands around the world come to see if Fairies really do exist. A mildly entertaining read.
What follows is a mysterious journey as Olde Ireland meets modern Ireland and thousands around the world come to see if Fairies really do exist. A mildly entertaining read.
Friday, November 24, 2017
We'll Always Have Paris
We'll Always Have Paris by Jennifer Coburn is a Mom/Daughter travel memoir that follows an 8 year old and her mother across Europe on several trips over the course of 8 years. Coburn is convinced she is going to die young since she lost her father at age 19. She decides to take off to Europe with her daughter and make memories while she can.
This is not an exceptionally daring, adventurous or even interesting book. It could have been, but Coburn is a pretty timid traveler and there's nothing much out of the ordinary here. I applaud her for doing this with her daughter despite her fears, it just wasn't enough to make a memorable book. An ok read.
This is not an exceptionally daring, adventurous or even interesting book. It could have been, but Coburn is a pretty timid traveler and there's nothing much out of the ordinary here. I applaud her for doing this with her daughter despite her fears, it just wasn't enough to make a memorable book. An ok read.
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Daughters of Ireland
Daughters of Ireland by Santa Montefiore is a big sweeping novel about three women who grew up in a small village in West Cork Ireland. Their lives have gone in different directions, one to New York, one to South Africa, while the third stays behind in Ireland. The novel moves back and forth through time telling the history of their families and the castle that they all grew up playing in.
A decent read, somewhat forgettable. It left the reader hanging at the end, so surely there is a sequel in the works.
A decent read, somewhat forgettable. It left the reader hanging at the end, so surely there is a sequel in the works.
Saturday, November 11, 2017
Make Your Home Among Strangers
Make Your Home Among Strangers by Jennine Capo Crucet is a great debut novel about a Cuban immigrant family. It is about the first in the family to go to college and what that experience is like.
Lizet is accepted to an elite, white, New England college and leaves her family behind in Miami. She finds herself swimming in unknown waters, while an Elian Gonzales based story plays out back home. This novel delves into what it means to be true to yourself, your culture, your family and how hard navigating those waters can be even for the smartest of us. A great read.
Lizet is accepted to an elite, white, New England college and leaves her family behind in Miami. She finds herself swimming in unknown waters, while an Elian Gonzales based story plays out back home. This novel delves into what it means to be true to yourself, your culture, your family and how hard navigating those waters can be even for the smartest of us. A great read.
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