Commonwealth by Ann Patchett

My rating: 2.4

Uninvited, Bert Cousins shows up to the christening of Fix and Beverly Keating's daughter. Bert kisses Beverly and sets in motion the end of both of their marriages and changes the course of everyone's life. This spans 50 years and is a grand undertaking in trying to capture each person's perspective of so many situations in detail.

I absolutely loved Ann Patchett Bel Canto but need to remember that, for myself, that was the only one of Patchett's books that I have enjoyed. While Commonwealth started off strong for me, it quickly dwindled and I had to slog through it. It wasn't poor enough to toss aside but in hindsight, I am not sure why I pushed myself to finish it.

A Mother's Reckoning by Sue Klebold

My rating: 4.8

Columbine is a word that we all know from that horrific school shooting in 1999. For Sue Klebold, this was the day her son turned into a murderer and committed suicide. She walks through everything from Dylan's childhood, the day of the shooting and the aftermath. She also explores mental illness and bullying in trying to understand what happened.

While this is so sad and disturbing, it was also so well done. It was 'real'. Sue Klebold's honesty, openness and ability to consider all sides of the situation in order to try to understand what happened was incredible. Her grace and dignity brought tears to my eyes. So very sad but also a worthwhile read.

Into The Dark Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

My rating: 4.5

Nora is invited to spend a weekend at a countryside for a Hen Party (Bachlorette) for a friend, Clare, that she hasn't seen in 10 years. She has misgivings over whether or not to accept but is talked into it by her friend Nina, who is also going. They both soon have misgivings, although they are trapped at the house out in the woods and don't feel right leaving before the weekend is over.

It doesn't take long (ok, it took me well over half way but I was just enjoying the ride) to figure out 'whodunnit'.  Still, I found this to be a very enjoyable read and just the type of brain popcorn I needed after a hectic day when I wanted something light to escape to. I believe Reese Witherspoon has purchased the movie rights and I could see it would make an entertaining Netflix watch (if they pick it up.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

My rating: 5.0

5th grade August (Auggie) who has been homeschooled is about to go to mainstream school for the first time. Auggie was born with a severe facial deformity. This book is told from several perspectives - Auggie's, his sisters, friends at school - and captures all viewpoints in such an amazingly plausible way that you feel for each and every person. The writing is amazing and captures each person's voice and has you ready to cry one minute and truly chuckling the next.

My oldest niece was born with a hair lip cleft palette (which Auggie has as well but, he has so much else) and I know what she went through and I felt for her. This made me understand so much more, from all sides. This has been in my TBR queue for a long time and I am so glad it finally bubbled up to the top. What an amazingly well written book.  Strongly recommend.

Follow The River by James Alexander Thom

My rating: 5.0

This is the true story of Mary Ingles kidnapping by the Shawnee Indians. After a brutal raid by the on Mary Ingles settlement, she is taken captive along with her two boys and her sister-in-law to live hundreds of miles away. Mary is 9 months pregnant. This is an incredible journey of what she endured during her journey and living for months among the Indians.

The author does an amazing job of capturing the suffering - both mental and physical - of what Mary endured. This story left me in awe. Such incredible writing that truly made me feel all of what she experienced. Definite recommend.

The Indian raid in the beginning is very brutal. If you stopped reading at that point, I strongly encourage you to read past that point before deciding if this book is for you.

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

My rating: 2.8

This is about the hellish lives of the slaves on a cotton plantation in Georgia. Most of this story centers around Cora. While this captures the horrors for black people in the pre-civil War era, this book does not accurately portray history (the Underground Railroad was NOT literal) and was poorly written. While I obviously felt for the plight of the people and what happened, the writing was so poor that I didn't feel any attachment to any of the characters.

There is no denying that this was a horrible time in American history but there are so much better books about this. One of my favorites is Someone Knows My Names which accurately captures history and has fabulous writing with characters that you care about so much that it will wrench your heart. 

Harmony by Carolyn Parkhurt

My rating:  3.8

A family living in Washington D.C. with their 2 girls - Iris a neurotypical and Tilly who has been diagnosed with a disorder on the autism spectrum - PPD-NOS,  This book is told from the mother Alexandra and each of the two girls perspective. It captures so well a parent's thought process, emotions and handling of a different child and, how when she reaches the end of her rope, that she grabs on to the lifeline offered by Scott Bean. Scott is establishing Camp Harmony in the woods of New Hampshire.

Parkhurt did an amazing job at making me feel Alexandra's desperation in dealing with Tilly. Despite doing an amazing job of having each person's story so well told, all of the threads didn't come together to weave the story as seamlessly as it could have been.  The final chapter of having a child with wings was so beautiful but all told this was good but not great.

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.

News of the World by Paulette Jiles

My rating: 4.7

Captain Kidd is an elderly widower who in 1870 makes his living by traveling throughout Texas reading the newspapers. He is offered a 50 cent gold piece to deliver a 10 year old girl, Johanna, who after spending 4 years with the Kiowa Indians, was rescued and needs to be returned to her family.

Their 400-mile journey south through unsettled territory and unforgiving terrain proves difficult and at times dangerous. Johanna has forgotten the English language, tries to escape at every opportunity, throws away her shoes, and refuses to act “civilized.” Yet as the miles pass, the two lonely survivors grow a bond with each other and with the reader.

I have read several books on Americans encountering Indians such as: Wild Girl, 1000 White Women, and, for real historical insights Empire of the Summer Moon,  This book skimmed on some of the historical facts of the kidnapping by the Indians and then the reluctance to re-enter their former world but Empire of the Summer Moon definitely covers that best.

I fell in love with the quiet ways of Captain Kidd and the sweet mischevious spirit of Johanna. A very enjoyable read.