Bookmarks Magazine Nov/Dec 2018

For a change, it felt that I was last on the list to get my Bookmarks magazine.  This is something that I look forward to getting so when you hear all your friends are receiving their copy, it makes you almost want to tackle your Postman and demand to know where your copy is.  Luckily no bail money was required, as my copy arrived today - YEAH!

There were quite a few selections this month that, while they sounded very intriguing, just didn't make my list. Maybe it is my current frame of mind but, that is why I save all the magazines so I can go through past editions again for anything I may have missed that may appeal to me later.

Here are my picks:

      
      


  

As always, please share your picks or any great books you think I should add to my queue!

Rust and Stardust by T. Greenwood

My Rating: 2.5

11 year old Sally Horner is kidnapped and raped for two years by Frank LaSalle.

This is very loosely based on the real life kidnapping of Sally Horner, who was the inspiration for Lolita. This horrible sad story was also long and tedious and bordered on boring. I am clearly in the minority in finding that every detail of the 2 years of her kidnapping, dragged out too long not just for Sally but also for the reader..

It Ain't So Awful, Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas

My Rating: 4.9

Zomorod Yousefzadeh (Cindy) and her parents move from Iran to California and she is determined to fit in. Despite the overthrow of the Shah, Iranian hostage takings and other Iranian events that some people feel Cindy must be personally responsible for, this is such a fun book filled with bean bag chairs, puka shells and other things I remember. It captures being a young girl and friendships.

This book kept me up far too late reading and laughing. That newspaper route scene still can make me chuckle! It captured so much including how it would feel to immigrate with your family and, despite being a child, that they look to you to understand the language and culture. The history lesson portions felt objective and well done. I absolutely LOVED this book and will be reading more by this author.

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

My Rating: 4.8

After serving 10 years for murder, when Oliver is finally released from jail Detective Colborne meets him wanting to know the truth of what really happened. This flashes back to 10 years prior, when Oliver is one of seven young Shakespearean actors at the Classical Conservatory who form a close friendship despite their fierce competition with each other for the various roles in the plays.

This book, that is told in 5 "Acts" will not be for everyone - if you don't like Shakespeare, then you will hate this book (there are literally PAGES of Shakespeare and the students continuously quote him in their daily interactions). I felt that Rio captured the pretentious, self-indulgence of youth who feel they know more than the adults while also showing their insecurities. This is about friendship and rivalry and seeing how far both can go. Well played!

Himself by Jess Kidd

My Rating: 3.5

Orphaned as a child, Mahony returns to Mulderrig on Ireland's West Coast.in search of his mother and to know why he was given up. Despite many of them having answers, no one living or dead will tell Mahony what happened to his teenage mother all those years ago.

This is a quirky novel with beautiful writing, ghosts and magic. It is hard to capture this novel which has everything from uncomfortable violence to a lot of levity with the dead interacting with the living. While I was completely enthralled with Kidd's writing, the story was rather slow at many points throughout the book. I am glad I read it and would definitely read more by Kidd as his writing is magical. 

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

My Rating: 4.8

Lale and Gita meet in Auschwitz. Lale is given the prestigious job of being the Tattooist of the numbers for all the new prisoners. This position gives him a small amount of freedom that he uses to get extra food and distributes to keep others alive. As Lale falls in love with Gita, he gives her hope to stay alive by picturing life together after they get out.

Knowing that this is a true story makes it all the more amazing. Like Viktor Frankl's book Man's Search for Meaning, Lale discovers that the key to life and survival is having hope and he spreads that hope throughout Auschwitz. As horrific as this was, it is also the story of overcoming incredible odds, survival and of love.

Love You More by Lisa Gardner #5 D.D. Warren & #1 in Tessa Leoni Series

My Rating: 4.6

Detective Tessa Leoni's 6 year old daughter is missing and her husband is dead on her kitchen floor from her service revolver.  Tessa says she shot him in self-defense and has the bruises to prove it. Detective D.D. Warren and Bobby Dodge have to figure out what really happened and that means a twisting turning plot!

I love these easy popcorn thriller reads of Gardner's and will definitely be reading more.  This is Book #5 in the Detective D.D. Warren series but also Book #1 in the Tessa Leoni series (like a spin-off) I loved Tsssa's character so will be reading that series after I finish with the DD Warren series.

Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier

My Rating: 4.8

Three best friends, one is murdered, one becomes a policeman and one goes to jail.. Georgina is an fast up and coming executive in a pharmaceutical company when she is suddenly arrested for what happened 14 years ago. Add in the Sweet Bay Strangler, Calvin James and you have an edge of your seat thriller / mystery.

This gripped me from the very beginning and didn't disappoint. This was fabulously twisted and well written. An easy page turner. Loved it!