The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry

 

My Rating: 4.5

1939, fourteen-year-old Hazel and five-year-old Flora are evacuated to a rural village to escape the horrors of the Second World War. Living with the kind Bridie Aberdeen and her teenage son, Harry, in a charming stone cottage along the River Thames, Hazel fills their days with walks and games to distract her young sister, including one that she creates for her sister and her sister alone—a fairy tale about a magical land, a secret place they can escape to that is all their own. But the unthinkable happens when young Flora suddenly vanishes while playing near the banks of the river. Shattered, Hazel blames herself for her sister’s disappearance, and she carries that guilt into adulthood as a private burden she feels she deserves.

I read this book club and everyone enjoyed it. The children getting sent off to the country is so sad but I loved that Hazel and Flora ended up in a wonderful family with Bridie and Harry, Hazel never gives up on Flora and the guilt she feels is so sad. An enjoyable read that felt 'light' despite the topic.

Babel by R.F. Kuang

 

My Rating: 4.0

Orphaned by cholera in Canton, Robin is brought to London by the mysterious Professor Lovell. There, he trains for years in Latin, Ancient Greek, and Chinese, all in preparation for the day he’ll enroll in Oxford University’s prestigious Royal Institute of Translation—also known as Babel. The tower and its students are the world's center for translation and, more importantly, magic. Silver-working—the art of manifesting the meaning lost in translation using enchanted silver bars—has made the British unparalleled in power, as the arcane craft serves the Empire's quest for colonization. s his studies progress, Robin finds himself caught between Babel and the shadowy Hermes Society, an organization dedicated to stopping imperial expansion. When Britain pursues an unjust war with China over silver and opium, Robin must decide . . . Can powerful institutions be changed from within, or does revolution always require violence?

I am so torn over how to rate this. On one hand, the author is BRILLIANT! Unique and creative story lines with wonderful writing. On the otherhand, I felt that this was redundant, preaching and strident in some of the point. It was also VERY dry in that a large portion of this book was told through lectures. I absolutely loved The Poppy Wars and will be reading more in that series but felt that was maybe too ambitious in what Kuang was trying to convey.

Sunday's Child: Book I in the Pea Island Gold Trilogy by Tom Lewis

My Rating: 4.4

On North Carolina's stormy Outer Banks. Sunday is raised on the Pea Island Life-Saving Station by the influence of the Station's heroic all-black crewmen. Under their loving protection, she blossoms into a strong and beautiful young woman with a spirit to match. But Sunday's secluded paradise cannot last. Her calm, simple days by the sea must inevitably give way to the fast-approaching storms of life. Unexpectedly, those darkening skies bring with them an unlikely mix of forbidden love, murder, and revenge along with a Nazi submarine carrying millions of dollars in gold stolen from Hitler's Third Reich. First in a trilogy, Sunday's Child begins the saga of three unique families from across the world, flung fatally together by three of mankind s most basic traits: war, love, and greed.

I really enjoyed the first 3/4 of this book with it's well developed characters and interesting story-line. As other reviewers have mentioned, the last 1/4 felt so far fetched and written with an forced sequel in mind that it was very off putting. As much as I enjoyed this book, I won't be reading any more from this series.

The Guest by Emma Cline

 

My Rating: 3.0

Alex is a very calculating young girl. She is at a dinner party with an older man she has been involved with and makes a mis-calculation - ending her being welcome at his home or on Long Island. When he has her taken to the train to send her back to the city, she decides to stay and meander from one bad decision to another.

This is a difficult book for me to review. On one hand Alex is such a mess and makes such horrible decisions that this was a very uncomfortable read. On the othe rhand, Cline's writing is so beautiful that I couldn't stop reading this. I will try other books by her and hope that the characters aren't such train wrecks.

A Beautiful Rival

 

My Rating: 4.8

Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein and their infamous rivalry that spanned not only decades, but also broken marriages, personal tragedies, and a world that was changing dramatically for women

I really enjoyed this historical fiction and learning more about both Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein - individually as well as their rivalry. They both were amazing women who had incredible lives. Their rivalry was interesting but, it was sad how rather than simply having a good competition it showed their insecurity (especially Elizabeth Arden). A very enjoyable read that I would recommend.

The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff

My Rating: 4.2

A servant girl escapes from a colonial settlement in the wilderness. She carries nothing with her but her wits, a few possessions, and the spark of god that burns hot within her. What she finds in this terra incognita is beyond the limits of her imagination and will bend her belief in everything that her own civilization has taught her.

This book got RAVE reviews so I am in the minority. For me, the story dragged at times and I felt it should have been edited down. Some mentioned that this book was dark and depressing which I can see when she was questioning God and thinking that bears had souls. Overall, I was fascinated by her ability to survive and her resourcefulness. As always, even if the storyline doesn't enthrall me, Groff's writing is lyrical.

 

Njuta: Enjoy, Delight In: The Swedish Art of Savoring the Moment by Niki Brantmark

 

My Rating:  4.2

Njuta (pronounced “nyutah”), which means “enjoy” or “delight in,” is the Swedish art of savoring the moment. Focused on finding happiness in even the smallest things, njuta can be applied to every area of life: Daily rituals Creating a comfortable home Nature and friluftsliv (open-air life) Meal times and fika (coffee breaks) Adapting to the seasons Celebrations with family and friends From relishing a quiet moment of comfort to enjoying the beauty of nature or even just reveling in the deliciousness of a favorite snack, you too can do like the Swedes and open your eyes to all of life’s pleasures, no matter how simple.

Maybe it is the fact that I have been blessed to live in European countries but I didn't find anything profound in this book. That being said, it was a good reminder to not let work swallow me up and to make the time for those little wonderful breaks that are the things you will remember about your day.

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

My Rating: 4.9

1789 Maine: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own. Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie.

I absolutely LOVED this book. It transported me back in time to this small town in Maine. I got immersed not only in the rape trial, the question of the drowning but also in Martha's life. Her diary entries made the weather, her work and her family come alive.  The writing was beautiful and I will definitely read more by this author.

Dear Child by Romy Hausmann

 

My Rating: 4.7

A woman held captive finally escapes and wakes up in the hospital. She says her name is Lena. Lena, who disappeared without a trace 14 years prior. She fits the profile. She has the distinctive scar. But her family swears that she isn’t their Lena.

I am a huge fan of books translated from other languages. Combine this with a great narrator on the audio version and it is a definite win. I had only some very minor pieces figured out and there were some definite 'reveals' that I had no clue about. Well done! Great thriller/mystery.

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

 

My Rating: 4.6

Lara’s three daughters return to the family's orchard in Northern Michigan. While picking cherries, they beg their mother to tell them the story of Peter Duke, a famous actor with whom she shared both a stage and a romance years before at a theater company called Tom Lake. As Lara recalls the past, her daughters examine their own lives and relationship with their mother, and are forced to reconsider the world and everything they thought they knew.

As with all of Patchett's work, this is about people - their lives, the dynamics and the many layers of their lives. It is well told and makes you feel like you know all of the characters intimately. 

Beyond That The Sea by Laura Spence-Ash

 

My Rating: 4.8

In 1940 London, Millie and Reginald Thompson make the extremely difficult decision to send their eleven year old daughter to live with a well off family in America. Scared and angry, feeling lonely and displaced, Bea arrives in Boston to meet the Gregorys. Mr. and Mrs. G, and their sons William and Gerald, fold Bea seamlessly into their world and Beatrix will be racked with guilt when she thinks about how they feel as much her family as her mom and dad back in London. In fact, as the years go by, her London life becomes a fuzzy memory. Still, she knows she'll have to go back to London, there is no way she can stay in the US and break the mother's heart.

This was very well told and made me feel for all involved but most especially Bea. Both families were torn at what they gained/lost at various times but the transition was the hardest on Bea. I loved that the story didn't end there but continued on for years afterwards.

The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin

 

My Rating: 4.7

Zofia and Jenna grow up as best friends - barely a day goes by when they don't see each other. Then the Nazi occupation of Warsaw happens. While bombs rain down on the city, Zofia finds that the library books are in need of saving. Zofia and Jenna start recovering the books and hiding the books banned by Hitler. 

I love when historical fiction books teach me something. I didn't know anything about the underground library in Warsaw. This showed not only the power of books but, the power of friendship. Zofia, Jenna and so many other characters came to life for me. I really enjoyed the writing and will read more by this author.

Where The Forest Meets The Stars by Glendy Vanderah

 

My Rating: 4.9

Joanna returns to her graduate research on nesting birds in rural Illinois, determined to prove that her recent hardships have not broken her. She throws herself into her work from dusk to dawn, until her solitary routine is disrupted by the appearance of a mysterious child who shows up at her cabin barefoot and covered in bruises. 

The girl calls herself Ursa, and she claims to have been sent from the stars to witness five miracles. With concerns about the child’s home situation, Jo reluctantly agrees to let her stay—just until she learns more about Ursa’s past. Jo enlists the help of her reclusive neighbor, Gabriel Nash, to solve the mystery of the charming child. But the more time they spend together, the more questions they have. How does a young girl not only read but understand Shakespeare? Why do good things keep happening in her presence? And why aren’t Jo and Gabe checking the missing children’s website anymore?

I absolutely LOVED everything about this book - the writing, the characters and the story line. The perfect trifecta! I love that there was still a bit of an unanswered question at the end. If all of her writing is this gorgeous then I have no idea how I haven't heard of this author sooner. I will definitely be reading more by her.

The Postcard by Anne Berest

 

My Rathing: 2.0

2003. Together with the usual holiday cards, an anonymous postcard is delivered to the Berest family home. On the front, a photo of the Opéra Garnier in Paris. On the back, the names of Anne Berest’s maternal great-grandparents, Ephraïm and Emma, and their children, Noémie and Jacques—all killed at Auschwitz. Fifteen years after the postcard is delivered, Anne, is decides to discover who sent it and why. Aided by her chain-smoking mother, family members, friends, associates, a private detective, a graphologist, and many others, she embarks on a journey to discover the fate of the Rabinovitch family: their flight from Russia following the revolution, their journey to Latvia, Palestine, and Paris. What emerges is a moving saga that shatters long-held certainties about Anne’s family, her country, and herself.

The story of Auschwitz is horrific and needs to never be forgotten. That being said, this book is not the one to read and I am shocked it won an award. Yes, I know I am in the minority but this was a struggle to finish and I should have left it in my DNF pile. The first half of the book was interesting but the last half was very long and boring. I didn't care about any of the characters and the idea of the postcard felt contrived and drawn out till it couldn't be stretched anymore. There was a family saga worth telling in here but for me, it was lost amongst the bad writing and flimsy storyline.

Fearless by Eric Blehm

My Rating: 4.9

Fearless takes you deep into SEAL Team Six, straight to the heart of one of it's most legendary operators. When Navy SEAL Adam Brown woke up on March 17, 2010, he didn't know he would die that night in the Hindu Kush Mountains of Afghanistan--but he was ready. In a letter to his children, not meant to be seen unless the worst happened, "I'm not afraid of anything that might happen to me on this Earth, because I know no matter what, nothing can take my spirit from me.

FEARLESS is the story of a man of extremes, whose determination was fueled by faith, family, and the love of a woman. It's about a man who waged a war against his own worst impulses and persevered to reach the top tier of the U.S. military. Always the first to volunteer for the most dangerous assignments, Adam's final act of bravery led to the ultimate sacrifice. FEARLESS is the intimate story of a devoted man who was an unlikely hero but a true warrior, described by all who knew him as just that--fearless.

This is less a story about the Navy Deal than it is about the man Adam Brown. It starts with him as a boy growing up in Arkansas and unfolds his life. Even though I knew from the beginning that Adam died, I cried. My heart ached for him and his family. He was such an amazing man and, even though this will sound strange, I will miss him. Definite recommend.