The Wonder by Emma Donoghue

My rating: 4.8

An English nurse, Lib, that was trained under Florence Nightingale is brought to a small Irish village to observe what appears to be a miracle-a girl. The girl, Anna, is said to have survived without food for months.

I found myself following Lib's emotional journey starting with her skepticism to understanding more as she got to know all of the villagers. This was based on the compilation of several real-life phenomenon of girls appearing to live without food. I thought the author presented this in such a beautiful way and the story was a rich tapestery of so many threads.

Columbine by Dave Cullen

My rating: 4.7

This is presented in a straightforward factual way of what led up to the shooting, what happened during the shooting and after the shooting. This covers all perspectives - the shooters, psychiatrists, the police, the students and the parents.

It lays everything out very factually and shows how many myths and false evidence were believed as fact. This is a very thorough examination of a very sad event. 

Indelible by Karin Slaughter

My Rating: 4.5

Indelible is the 4th of 6 books in the Grant County series and continues with the Jeffrey Tolliver as the Chief of Police and his ex-wife/medical examiner Sarah Linton. Two armed men enter the police station and start shooting.  When the firing subsides, an officer is dead and several are wounded.  Slaughter flashes back to Jeffrey Toliver's home town where we get background on the events that lead up to the stand-off.

As with all the previous books, there are gruesome details and Slaughter is able to make this feel like a fluffy beach read while still having a great writing and a solid story line. The perfect thing to escape to.

Bookmarks Magazine - March/April 2017

I always get so excited to get my new Bookmarks magazine.  Curling up and reading the reviews is such a special time and it really gets me so excited about settling in with a good book and being transported away by the story. There were a few in here that I am super excited to read:

      

      

Transit is a sequel so I want to read the first book in this series, Outline:

  

If you get Bookmarks, I would love to hear your picks and/or what good books you are reading right now.

All The Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood

My Rating: 4.9

WARNING: This book is not for everyone as it covers subject matter that could make some VERY uncomfortable. If you can't suspend your discomfort, then this book isn't for you. If you can, don't read too much about this book, just get it and read ... and prepare for the most amazing ride.

Eight year old Wavy's father runs a meth ring and this book follows Wavy's journey as she grows up amidst so many challenges. One night, everything changes when she sees Kellen, a tattooed ex-con that works for her father, wreck his motorcycle.

This was such a beautiful book that captured so much on so many levels. It also made me explore some of my own perceptions which I always find interesting.

To cover such a taboo topic matter where the reader gets past the feelings of discomfort (sometimes skin crawling discomfort!) and are cheering for the characters takes amazing skill...and Greenwood pulled it off impeccably. There were a few parts that I felt didn't fit Wavy's characters and the last portion of the book didn't have the same depth but Greenwood's writing would have me overlook just about anything. Emotionally stunning.

The writing was exquisite and the characters were real. I love you all the way.

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North

My rating: 3.3

No matter what he does, when Harry August dies he goes right back to where he started but retaining full memory of his previous lives...until he comes to the end of his eleventh life and a little girl appears at his bedside. ‘I nearly missed you, Doctor August,’ she says. ‘I need to send a message.

While I really enjoyed many parts of this book there was a lot that I was surprised wasn't edited out as it seemed unnecessary and made the story drag.  All in all, it was a very creative concept and well told. 

Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay by Elena Ferrante

My rating: 2.4

This continues the story of Elena and Lila's on again/off again friendship. They have such a dysfunctional complex relationship and Ferrante exposes every last nuance and is so raw.

The thing that I love about Ferrante's writing is probably the reason why I didn't care for this final book.  She captures dysfunction so well that it makes you uncomfortable. I really enjoyed her first few books but just found this depressing.