Fatherland by Robert Harris

My Rating:  4.1

It is 1964 Berlin and the Fatherland is preparing for a celebration of Adolf Hitler's 75th birthday. A detective is called to investigate the discovery of a body in a lake found by Xavier March. Xavier and his girlfriend stumble onto a conspiracy that goes up to the highest ranks of the government. Xavier and his girlfriend go on the run and want to defect to America.

I listened to this on audio and this was done like a play (telephones ringing, street noise, etc.). It was very enjoyable but, I think that I would have followed the plot better if I had read it. 

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughy

 My Ratings: 4.8

Full of stories from Matthew's life. It is very entertaining and felt very open and real. I highly recommend the audio version 

We listened to this audio book on our weekend commute. It is the first time we have listened to an audio book together and thoroughly enjoyed it. Matthew is quite a unique individual with a compelling way of telling a story.

Bookmarks Magazine May/June 2021

There weren't as many books that got my attention in this magazine. The one by Ethan Hawke really has me curious as do a few others in here. Let me know if you are reading any great books.

  

     

White Ivy by Susie Yang

 My Rating: 4.4

Ivy was raised by her immigrant grandmother. As always when raised in one life and going to school in another, she is pulled and doesn't feel she fits in anywhere. She is a thief and a liar but as a young adult, appears very poised. When she runs in to the sister of her high-school crush, it seems like fate and soon she is dating her old crush.

This was an easy read although I felt it was slow at parts until....the twist. WOAH! Did not see that coming. Actually, there were a few twists I didn't see coming. This suddenly changed from a immigrant coming of age story to a thriller - with it being cross genre it is hard to recommend but I did enjoy it.

The Sundown Motel by Simone St. James

My Rating:  4.4

Told in alternating points of view in 1982 by Viv and 2017 by Carly (Viv's niece). They never knew each other but both are working the night shift at the Sundown Motel. Both are encountering extremely creepy things and trying too hard to understand what is going on.. 

This is a supernatural thriller/mystery. It was a light easy read with a few twists and well written. 

The Color of Lightning by Paulette Jiles

 My Rating:  4.6

1863 former Kentucky slave Britt Johnson and his wife Mary venture West looking to start a new life. Mary and her three children are kidnapped during a brutal Indian raid. Britt goes on a quest into Indian territory in hopes of restoring not only his family, but any other non-Indians that he believes have been kidnapped.

This was a very interesting perspective with Britt  If I had to recommend one book on American Indian kidnapping, it would be Follow The River which was excellent. 

The Only Woman In The Room by Marie Benedict

 My Rating:  4.7

Hedy Kiesler's beauty leads to a starring role in a controversial film and marriage to a powerful Austrian arms dealer, allowing her to evade Nazi persecution despite her Jewish heritage. But Hedy is also intelligent. At lavish Vienna dinner parties, she overhears the Third Reich's plans. One night in 1937, desperate to escape her controlling husband and the rise of the Nazis, she disguises herself and flees her husband's castle to America.

    

This historical fiction covered so much that I was continually looking things up and was astounded at how much research the author did. What an amazing life Hedy led (although her personal life was a train wreck). Definite recommend.