#NoEscape

by Gretchen McNeil

"a #murdertrending novel" #3

Libby audiobook 10 hours

Narrated by: Rebecca Gibel

Published:  2020 (this version 2022)

Genre: YA murder mystery

There WILL be spoilers, so stop now if you plan to read this book. Persey (short for Persephone, but that's her middle name and she's really touchy about being called anything other than Persey) is a 17 year old who is freakishly good at figuring out puzzles. She solves the "unsolvable" library escape and wins a place in the national escape room championship. (First prize is $11 million  . . . )

What I liked:

• the escape room theme (Office, Loft, Collection, Cavethedral, Spike Pool, Classroom, Tea Room, . . . )
  
• interesting characters
  
• the curiosity about who was the killer and how the story would turn out
• the narrator's vocal work
  

 

What I didn't like:

• virtually everything else!
• there was no indication in audio of when we were experiencing a flashback to the protagonist's earlier story, so that was jarring. One moment, you're in an escape room trying frantically to solve a puzzle and the next you're in Persey's dining room having a shouting match with her dad.
• Persey's dad was beyond horrible. To constantly berate her and tear her down while idolizing his awful son . . . it was unimaginable. No wonder mom is a raging alcoholic.
• The scene in the Iron Maiden room . . . I was shouting "narrate what you see!" Because of course the people without the night vision goggles wanted information about what she was seeing and what all of them were facing. So frustrating!
• So many times, they were having stupid teen conversations instead of focusing on the task at hand. That was maddening.
• The deaths - Bryan smashed on the head, Arlo decapitated, Shawn drugged and frozen in place, Wes . . . well that was understandable. He has only himself to blame. Riot crushed to death, McKenzie shot by "Kevin," . . . Nila spared, Persey of course surviving.
• Kevin actually being Lincoln Brown, sadist and brother of Persey was almost the most disappointing part of the story. Persey going along with his plan was the worst!!!
• What an awful story. 

Mentor: The Kid & The CEO

subtitle: A Simple Story of Overcoming Challenges and Achieving Significance

by Tom Pace with Walter Jenkins

paperback 175 pages

Published: 2007

Genre: motivational

This was donated to a middle school I worked at over fifteen years ago. It sat in a pile at my house and so I decided to read it (finally). It isn't really middle school level . . . though I thought about which readers might benefit from it.

The basic premise is that a dumb entitled teen gets in trouble with the law and ends up in prison on a felony conviction. A motivational mentor offers a weekly class and the teen eventually goes just to get out of his cell. Over the weeks and months, his life is transformed.

Overall, this is a fairly cheesy simplistic book but it is definitely a positive and encouraging one. Two big themes from this mentor are to read and to run. It also touches on the reality of how hard life can be for ex-cons who are trying to turn their lives around after leaving prison. And of course, there is a huge emphasis on finding a mentor and / or being a mentor.

One thing I liked were the very faint phrases on the bottom of every page. "Dream big." "Share hope." "Be loyal." "Concentrate." I almost got out my highlighter to make them more prominent, but I knew I wasn't planning to keep this book. I'm trying to decide if I will drop it off at a Little Free Library, a jail, or a high school.

The Duke and I

by Julia Quinn

Libby audiobook 12 hours

Read by: Rosalyn Landor

Published: 2016

Genre: historical romance fiction

I have seen ads for the show Bridgerton, but never watched it. When I saw that this audiobook was available and had "Bridgerton" about the title, I was curious. I listened to the entire thing and here's my reaction.

It's basically just a romance / lust story set in the Regency era. Quinn does a nicer job of storytelling than many other Harlequin-style authors, but the main draw is the sexual attraction between the Duke of Hastings and Daphne Bridgerton.

My favorite aspects:

• Simon's childhood and overcoming his speech problems
• the Bridgerton brothers and that dynamic
• the alpha order of the Bridgerton children
• Violet, the Bridgerton matriarch. What a hoot! Especially her "night before the wedding" talk with poor Daphne

 

Overall, though, I don't feel a need to read any more of the books or watch the show.

Beyond the Bright Sea

by Lauren Wolk

Hennepin County hardcover 283 pages plus author's note and acknowledgements

Published: 2017

Genre: Children's historical fiction

 

I borrowed this for a sixth grade student who wanted to read it (after she enjoyed the author's book Wolf Hollow so much). Of course, I needed to read it myself before returning it to the library. It was enjoyable and unpredictable. Little Crow was set adrift in a small boat as an infant. Osh rescued her and raised her on one of the Elizabeth Islands. 

This book made me interested in Cuttyhunk, Penikese, and other islands. I have already read quite a bit about Hansen's disease (leprosy) and wasn't surprised by people's attitudes (especially in the 1920s). I love books that made me think and wonder. I was surprised that we didn't learn more about Osh's past by the end of the book! 

Page 6: "I wanted to know why there were pearls tucked inside some of the Cuttyhunk oysters but not others. I wanted to know how the moon could drag the ocean in and out from such a distance, when it couldn't stir the milk in Miss Maggie's tea. But I needed to know, among other things, why so many of the Cuttyhunk Islanders stayed away from me, as if they were afraid, when I was smaller than any of them."

Crow is such a lovely protagonist. I love this distinction between wanting to know and needing to know. I also love the language choices.

Page 34: "I read a dozen new books, like The Secret Garden and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - books that rang bells in my heart - and I devoted myself to my lessons with Miss Maggie, who taught me things like why salt water boiled faster than fresh."

First of all, the "books that rang bells in my heart" is simply beautiful! Secondly, why does salt water boil faster than fresh?

Page 82: "the 8th of June, 1925 . . . Carville, Louisiana"

Until the signature on this letter from a doctor, I didn't realize the time period. Interesting, but not enough to make me go back and see if I should have picked up on the time period earlier!

Page 91: "The chickens liked me, as long as I didn't bring Mouse along."

This made me laugh! Mouse is the name of her cat. I'm quite sure the chickens wouldn't like a cat to come along with young Crow. 

Page 113 - I was so surprised when Crow rescued Mr. Sloan, and a bit worried at what he might do to her. The danger element in this book was high enough to make it very captivating, especially later when Mr. Kendall is after them.

Page 137: "'Things are usually better when you don't mess with them too much,' he said."

Osh is wise and he imparts his wisdom to Crow whether she's aware of it or not. Beyond the simple meal they're having, he's referring to her getting involved in what happened to her family before she came to him on the sea.

Page 165: "'I suspect they pay attention to what they know.' As he had told me I should."

Again, Osh is teaching Crow. They're talking about baby birds learning to fly. And about Crow.

Page 166: "The breeze curtsied as it passed by.

A chimney swift sketched a curlicue overhead.

If there had been music, it might have been too much to bear."

Osh, Miss Maggie, and Crow are eating a meal together. This book is filled with lovely language as well as a wonderful mystery and adventure story. I was a bit surprised that the ending didn't tie up all the loose ends, but glad that it wasn't just a pat, predictable story.

Secrets in the Snow

by Michaela MacColl

Libby ebook

Published: 2022

Genre: YA historical fiction

 

This story was enjoyable but didn't blow me away. Jane Austen is the central figure and it's an interesting blend of real history and creative writing. I liked Jane's spunk and the whodunit murder mystery. I liked her disabled brother George and her love interest Tom being pleasant when he met this brother. A lot of other parts were a bit meh.

 

Chapter 3: "Besides," Jane continued, "you must stay here and find out as much as you can. Edward won't suspect you of ulterior motives." 

"Unlike you, I have no hidden depths," Cassandra said. "I seem scrupulous because I am." 

I love that Cassandra is just so WYSIWYG! (What You See Is What You Get) These sisters are such a great pair!

Chapter 18: What possibilities there were in Tom's story! A family desperate for a son. Perhaps the property is entailed and only a male relative can inherit. But daughter after daughter is born. Their only hope is to marry well. But how can five girls all manage to find husbands? The Austens couldn't manage two!

In the author's note, she provides a bit more background information. She really did her research on Jane Austen, but also took a few liberties. It was kind of sweet how info like this popped up. Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite books, so this made me smile.

Chapter 22: Imagine a gentleman with five daughters and no fortune. The business of his wife is to get her daughters married. The two eldest sisters might resemble us: one who is sweet and kind like you, and another who is too clever for her own good. Of course there will be dances, misunderstandings, heartbreak, and at least one engagement. No murder, however. I am done with that.

In her last letter to her sister Cassandra, Jane lays out the plot for her next story. The murder aspect in this book was interesting, but a bit of a stretch. The cousin Eliza and her story were prominent.

Ladies of the Lake

By Cathy Gohlke

Dakota County Library paperback 352 pages plus author’s note, acknowledgements, and discussion questions

Published: 2023

Genre: Christian historical fiction

 

I hope I remember details when our book club meets in a week and a half! There are things I loved about this book and things that bugged me. I learned about the Halifax explosion of 1917. In fact, I looked it up before I was even halfway through the book. I’d never heard of it before!

 

Young Adelaide Macneill becomes an orphan when her parents don’t return one night, lost in a storm at sea. Her much older brother removes her from PEI and sends her to a girls boarding school in Connecticut. She becomes friends with three other girls and the “Ladies of the Lake” pledge to be eternal friends.

 

There will be spoilers, so stop here if you've not yet read the book!

 

Pg 4: “Not my concern after looking after the both of you all these years? You’ve gotten to be like that Miss Haversham woman in that Dickens book you’ve been reading aloud. You'll keep on till you die like - - "

"Portia, please. And it's Havisham."

 

I love the reference to Dickens and the correction of the character name! Portia and "Rosaline" (Aka Addie) have a unique connection and a long history.

Pg. 13: "Dear God and Father of us all, we come to You tonight heartbroken, grieving the sudden and terrible loss of Adelaide's beloved mother and father. We grieve for the loss of their strong arms about her, for the loss of the home she dearly loved - the home where she was born, felt safe, and had expected to grow to womanhood."

Mrs. Simmons is the woman I want to be - attentive, sensitive, kind, and willing to pray with someone who clearly needs prayer. The prayer goes on and was such a great counterbalance to young Addie's brother's coldness and her grief.

Pg. 57: "The gulp in Bernadette's throat was visible. She looked at the headmistress, set her mouth in a firm line, and looked away. 'I've been better, but it costs more.'"

We've traveled from 1910 and Addie to 1935 and her daughter Bernadette. The headmistress at Lakeside Ladies Academy is now Dorothy Meyer (aka "Dot," one of the Ladies of the Lake). When Bernadette utters those words, Dot is immediately reminded of her dear friend Addie (who theoretically died in 1917 . . . ). There were so many hints and clues . . . and it seemed pretty apparent to this reader where the story was going.

Pg. 63: "I'd never tasted alcohol, but I was certain those racings of brain and pulse signified intoxication."

Ah, young love! Just being near Stephen makes Addie feel intoxicated. Sigh, swoon.

Pg. 185: "Miracles are Your department, aren't they, Lord? Dorothy wondered if that was sacrilege, to beg God when she needed Him and ignore Him when things were fine. But things aren't fine, Lord! They've never been fine, not for a long time."

I love that God's grace is bigger than our sin! But it does frustrate me when people only cry out to God when they want something from Him. Ignoring God when "things are fine" is such a huge mistake.

Pg. 274: "And how can I hope to be forgiven if I don't forgive? Each day I pray the Lord's Prayer - 'Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.' Dear God, forgiveness depends on both of us; I know this. We're in this hole together and together we can climb out. That's where freedom is born, isn't it?"

 

I love how Addie / Rosaline, Dot, Ruth, and Susannah all had such distinct personalities and strengths. I love how Addie grows throughout this story. Her ability to recognize the need for forgiveness is powerful.

 

Pg. 284: "Stephen is no longer that young man any more than I am that young woman. Who is he now? Who am I without the shield of memory I've built to protect myself? Lord, you've built an identity in me while I've stood unaware, grieving a broken monument. The wonder overwhelmed me."

 

Sometimes we forget that others' lives have moved, as ours have moved. Memory can be powerful and positive, but it can also be deceptive.

Pg. 309: "I'd vowed to the Lord yesterday that I wouldn't waste one more moment of my life in fears and regret, but carrying that out was harder than I'd imagined."

Amen, sister. Good intentions, even vows to God, doesn't equal a clear path to follow in words and actions.

Pg. 315: "I don't want to lose another minute of our friendship, girls. The truth is, children grow up and move on with their lives. Husbands become busy with their work and who knows what. But women need friends, read, true friends, and we're the best we've got."

I don't remember which character said this! (I've already returned the book to the library and I'm just using screenshots of pages for the quotations.) It's one of my favorite lines from the book.

Pg. 325: The big reveal - that Dot had married Jonas Meyer and not Stephen Meyer kind of ticked me off. It was so strongly implied that she had betrayed Addie because she was pining for Stephen . . . Ugh. The wasted time and lives . . . All's well that ends well, I suppose. But that part kind of bugged me.

The whole drama about Addie being Bernadette's mom (vs. aunt) and going to the graduation were also mixed with the board treasurer embezzling money and the school's danger of closing. It was a wonderful book to read! Oh, and the Meyer family were of German descent and faced persecution during the war. The girls taunting men with the white feather . . . there were so many details. The author's note was quite good, too.

 

 

 

Just Because

by Matthew McConaughey

Illustrated by Renée Kurilla

Hennepin County Library hardcover children's book

Published: 2023

Genre: children's fiction, encouragement

 

I don't remember where I saw a blurb about this book and got curious, but I've been on the waiting list for a while. It's a beautifully illustrated picture book where the text only carries half the message. 

 

Some might say the author is promoting social relativism, but I think he's showing situations where nuance is required. He writes (and Kurilla illustrates) in such a kid-appropriate way that many good conversations about how to handle life situations could follow.

"Just because you're a bully, doesn't mean that you're strong." The illustration shows a boy angrily snatching a basketball from another child's hands. The bottom half of the page says, "Just because it felt right then, doesn't mean it won't feel wrong." That illustration shows the bully with tears as his back is turned to the other child, who looks forlorn.

The other thing I love about this book is how grays and full color illustrations are mixed to highlight the point of the text.

This is a wonderful picture book, worth having in an elementary school collection or a child's home.

The Awe of God: The Astounding Way a Healthy Fear of God Transforms Your Life

by John Bevere

Hennepin County Library hardcover 279 pages + notes

Published: 2023

Genre: Non-fiction Christian faith

I didn't realize this was just published this year . . . until now. There's a LONG waiting list for it and I'm six days over my return date. (Last week was super busy and then we went to the lake.) I will return it today and request it again because it is so good! I thought about buying a copy, but I'm trying really hard to spend less money and have fewer possessions. 

It is written in such a way that it could be used as a six week (42 day) devotional. He has at the end of each day a "Making it Personal" section with a Scripture passage, a main point, questions to ponder, a prayer, and a statement of profession. (I love the alliteration! Passage, Point, Ponder, Prayer, Profession.)

Page 11: "I realized that morning the pastor had confused the 'spirit of fear' with the 'fear of the Lord.' There is a huge difference, . . . "

Yes! As a child, I heard the refrain, "God will get you for that!" We were taught to be AFRAID of God, and in my child's mind I just wanted to avoid Him. He was scary. The fear of the Lord is so very different from being afraid. I'm so glad that I've learned to have a healthy awe and respect for the Lord!

Page 48 (Your Value): "Once again, we see a differentiation of holy fear and unholy fear. I cannot stress enough that holy fear does not mean being scared of God and consequently withdrawing from Him, but unholy fear does. It's imperative that we know the difference and are established in this truth."

Obviously, I'm not the only person who has struggled with this. As I am revisiting this book, I remember why I thought about buying my own copy. I may have to buy it yet . . . And I concur with his recommendation to use a journal with the daily readings.

Also on page 48, I wonder if I could get a job as a proofreader. "The two will be a significant part our discussion moving forward . . . " I read that sentence at least four times, my brain filling in the word "of" between "part" and "our." Ugh.

I am on week 2 day 4 "Fear and Trembling." Ironic, huh? After I get this book again, I will try to be more diligent in reading it daily and returning it on time!

<Above posted 1.16.24. Below added 2.13.24. More to come later . . . >

The "ironic" above was having had the book for 27 days (21 day checkout and 6 days late) and only getting to entry #11!!! I've been more diligent this time around, but I have finally put it on my Wish List. If no one buys it for me, I'll cycle back to getting it from the library again when it's not so new.

It is worth owning, though. So many Christian books make me think, "I can just read my Bible! That's where the knowledge comes from - the Word of God." But some help guide and direct my thoughts and prayers. This is one of those books. I'm really enjoying the time drawing into God's Word. I love his "Making It Personal" at the end of each section. (And yes, I love the alliteration of Passage / Point / Ponder / Prayer / Profession, but that's only a small part of it!)

Page 105 (Depart from Evil): "I loved Jesus, but I didn't fear God." 

Bevere is talking with a jailed evangelist who repented of his sinfulness. This is in answer to Bevere's question, "You committed adultery seven years before you were prosecuted for the mail fraud that ultimately put you in this penitentiary. How can you tell me you loved Jesus those seven years?"

This reminded me of Pastor Jamie talking about "Mush God" - some people's perception that "God is love" means whatever people want it to mean and there are no limits.

Page 160 (A Good Pain): "Peter instructs us to arm ourselves. Can you imagine a military going to war without any planes, ships, tanks, guns, bullets, knives - unarmed? Just the thought of it seems ludicrous. In the same way, it's just as crazy for a believer to be unprepared to suffer, yet many are. An unarmed believer can easily bypass hardship for the sake of self-preservation. The fear of the Lord is what arms us; it maintains a deep resolve in our will to obey God no matter what suffering it may entail."

I don't love the military / war analogy, but it makes sense. It's too easy in American Christianity to want everything to be pleasant. That's not what God's Word tells us! Following Him is a sacrifice and we WILL have troubles. Trusting Him is what gets us through the hard times.

Page 167 (It Is Finished): "Likewise, most would affirm he did well by completing 99.99 percent of the assignment, but very few would classify his actions as rebellion. If we were in Saul's shoes and received this correction, how many of us would protest, 'Come on, be reasonable! Why are you so focused on the little I didn't do, instead of acknowledging all that I accomplished?' In light of this, it's safe to conclude this truth: almost complete obedience isn't obedience at all."

Ouch. This hit me. I'm pretty quick to rationalize and celebrate what I DID get done, rather than asking God what HE wants me to do. I really need to work on seeking His will, listening, and obeying. 

 

I need to get this back to the library (again). I'm on week 5 day 1. Week 5 is "Intimacy with God." Week 6 is "The Treasure's Benefits." Six weeks x seven days = 42 day devotional. Seriously, I should just buy this!

The Bullet

by Mary Louise Kelly

Libby audiobook 12 hours

Read by Cassandra Campbell

Published: 2015 

Genre: murder mystery

Warning! I WILL include spoilers in this review. Stop after the first paragraph if you're curious to read it yourself.

Initially, I liked this book and was curious to see where it would go. Caroline is a thirty-something year old college professor and has been dealing with wrist pain for a year. Her doctor seems dismissive, but finally has her go in for an MRI. There's a bullet lodged in her neck!

My first thought was that the MRI would have caused the bullet to go toward the powerful magnet . . . but a few chapters later, they explain that the bullet is lead and so not magnetic.

Her parents are cagey when she asks them how it is possible that she has a bullet in her neck. She learns that they are her adoptive parents and she was shot as a three-year-old when her birth parents were murdered. This sets her off on a discovery research trip to Atlanta to find out about her own past.

The things I disliked most about this book:

1. The excessive use of the Lord's name as a swearword. (Ironic that I'm also reading The Awe of God right now . . . God is Holy, His Name is Holy, He is not a casual swearword.) Even more ironic is that the main character actually prays when she is in a place of need! What?!

2. Her physician, Will, seduces her then ghosts her! That whole thing was ick on a deeper level than I was ready for. I thought he had to be in cahoots with her parents' murderer. How else could he possibly make so many awful choices about his relationship with a patient?! (And then they get back together at the end of the story . . . yuk.)

3. When she killed Ethan Sinclair. Of all the ways this could have resolved, her becoming a murderer herself did not seem to be a very fitting way to get justice for her birth parents and her own lost childhood. Then her going on the run, buying burner phones, etc. . . . Jason Bourne she is not.

4. Finding out the identity of the actual killer. It was maddening that it was so apparent well before the lightbulb went on for Caroline. The ending was definitely anticlimatic.

Campbell's vocal work was fantastic. I love that the author translated the French words and phrases. (I knew many of them, but not all.) I liked the main character's brothers. They were probably my favorite characters!

The Ballad of Lucy Whipple

by Karen Cushman

Libby audiobook 5 hours

Read by Christina Moore

Published: 1996 (this version 1997)

Genre: YA historical fiction

I can't believe I've never blogged this story, either! I just checked my old Excel sheet and found nothing.

I remember the first time I read this (in print) and I sobbed at a sad part. I laughed at Lucy's brother learning all the different words for alcohol. There are both surface things and deep things to enjoy in this story.

Lucy "California" Whipple has gone west with her mother, brother, and two little sisters during the 1850s. Her mother will start a boarding house in Lucky Diggins while they figure out life without Pa and two sisters who have died.

Lucy just wants to go home to Massachusetts. I really like Cushman's writing. This is a wonderful book.

Pride and Prejudice

by Jane Austen

Libby audiobook 12 hours

Read by Kate Kellgren

Published: 1813 (this version 2010)

Genre: historical fiction, romance

 

I can't believe I've never blogged this book before! It's one of my favorites. Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy are so delightful. I have so many favorite scenes. This audiobook was sheer pleasure to listen to (except for Mr. Collins' long-winded obnoxiousness, of course). 

 

I love Keira Knightley in the 2005 film version (and most of the rest of the cast). But Colin Firth in the 1995 television series is an amazing Mr. Darcy. Ahh. I could rewatch, relisten, and reread again and again. But I have so many other books right now! 

I just went to my old Excel spreadsheet of reading response and found this:

Pride and Prejudice

Austen, Jane

4/26/07

Love story from the 1800s. Who was more prideful - Elizabeth Bennett or Mr. Darcy? 

 I love this story! The movie version with Keira Knightley was my first experience with Jane Austen's work. The language, manners, and social conventions are so different from our age, but it's a wonderful love story nonetheless.

 

 

Wow! I didn't realize I hadn't read Austen before watching the movie back in 2007! Memory can be deceptive . . . 

CD / Carver County / unabridged / approx. 16 hours

May, Nadia - beautiful British accent, but she sounded too old for the young characters. . .

Les Trois Petits Cochons

 by Anonymous (fairy tale, oral traditions)

Narrator: Olivier Lecerf

Libby audiobook 5 minutes

Published (this version) 2011

Genre: Children's fiction, French

Again, I had to listen multiple times to get more than a few isolated words. I also had to slow it down a LOT.

I finally got to the point where I understood the wolf's threat to "huff and puff and blow your house down" and also when he "mangez le cochon" (eat the pig). 

I like listening to the French and trying to understand words and phrases better, but I'm surprised at how hard this is!

Le Petit Monde de Pierre Lapin

by Beatrix Potter

Translated by Erik Bjork

Read by Erik Bjork

Libby audiobook 49 minutes

Published: 1901 . . . 2016 this version

Genre: Children's fiction, French

I only listened to the first story (The Tale of Peter Rabbit). There are seven of Beatrix Potter's books on this! It was only 5:42 of the full 49 minutes.

The first time I listened, I only caught isolated words - "jardin" (garden), "lui dit" (he said), etc.

The second time I listened, I slowed it down to about 85% and could understand a bit more.

The third time, I followed along with the print version (in English) and I could more clearly understand some of the French. My language skills have really gotten weak!

L'histoire de Pierre Lapin was delightful!

Mabuhay!

by Zachary Sterling

Scott County Library paperback 229 pages

Published: 2023

Genre: YA graphic novel

 

I saw this showcased at the Scholastic Book Fair at NPMS and was curious. I love graphic novels! This one has the tagline "Can two kids save the world and still work their family food truck?" 

JJ is the older brother who wants to be part of the cool crowd. He's embarrassed by his weird family and having to wear the "beautiful pig" costume at their food truck stops. Althea is younger and loves horror films. She loves being weird and is pretty angry that her former best friends have changed so much and now avoid her. She can be downright hostile.

A strange person turns up at their food truck one day and pays with an ancient Filipino coin. She is a witch and she is determined to get back the kids' mother who has a powerful relic. There's a lot of mythology, magic, and superhero style fighting. There's also a lot of Filipino food and culture in this book (with footnotes and a glossary). 

My favorite part was when Althea became attached to Juan and Pinya. So sweet! It's a delightful book that I would gladly purchase for a middle school collection (if I were still a librarian).

The Wings of Poppy Pendleton

by Melanie Dobson

Scott County Library paperback 326 pages plus author's note, discussion questions, and acknowledgements

Published: 2023

Genre: Christian historical fiction

With chapters focusing on Chloe in 1992 and Amelia Pendleton in 1907, this book has a lot of mysteries for the reader to figure out. I ended up grabbing scrap paper to make notes about the timeline as I tried to connect the dots. I thought about taking a picture and including it here, but I'm too lazy! (Plus, it has spoilers on it . . . ) Reader hint: you may want to make your own timeline with major events and characters' ages.

I missed book club discussion last week because I wasn't finished reading and didn't want the mysteries solved for me! I didn't fall in love with this book and I'm not sure why. My favorite character was Logan. I liked the islands, the boats, the castle, the candy store, and the ending. 

Page 186: "No one knew what went on sometimes in families. The good and the bad. No one could possibly understand except those who had lived through it."

 

This struck me! Some people act as though everything is fine when it's not; others overdramatize their experience and create trauma that didn't happen. ALL of us have experienced unique things in our family history that can't necessarily be explained. Life is meant to be lived. 

Page 204: "While Chloe's earthly father might have failed, Nana liked to say, her heavenly Father would never fail her. Instead of scattering the pieces of her life, God would help her mold them into something good."

 

For people who DO have disappointing fathers, I think it's so wonderful to know that God is our perfect heavenly father who loves us unconditionally.

Page 212: "Chloe glanced down at Joe's colorful tackle box, still partially filled with candy. She wanted to bring joy to people, but too much of anything could hurt. How did one enjoy the simple pleasures without being consumed?"

 

I'm not sure if the author was comparing candy to opium . . . but it is an interesting conversation to talk about pleasures and what our role is in being faithful to God. Seeking holiness is not about making sure you get your own needs and wants met!

Page 238: "'We have that in common then. I like words and stories and uncovering the mysteries in this life, whether made by man or God Himself."

 

It took Chloe way too long to actually like Logan! I'm also a person who likes words and stories.

Page 268: "The lie of Poppy Pendleton had been erased, and a new reality had been born. She'd never tell Birdie what happened back in England or on Koster Isle. Instead, Birdie would live free from any worry of becoming like her mother and grandmother or Sarah, for that matter. And neither of them would have to worry if Ellie defied the registrar after the accident, like Sarah had done, and was searching for them both."

I'm honestly not sure why I tagged this. I guess because I don't like secrets. I'm a firm believer in telling the truth! I mean, it worked out well for Birdie . . . but I still think truth is best.

I didn't write about all the bird imagery or the human trafficking or the high society stuff . . . there's a lot in this book!

Page 286: "'God is good,' he said, his eyes on the rain-soaked window. 'I'm just trying to partner with Him.'"

The Hunger Between Us

by Marina Scott

Libby audiobook 8 hours

read by Julia Emelin

Published: 2022

Genre: YA historical fiction WWII Soviet Union

This review WILL have spoilers, so stop now if you don't want the story ruined. Here's a blurb from Amazon: "There are some lines that should never be crossed―even in a city ruled by hunger. The black market is Liza’s lifeline, where she barters family heirlooms and steals whatever she can get her hands on just for enough food to survive. Morality, after all, has become a fluid thing since the Nazi siege has cut off her city from the rest of the world. Hope for a quick liberation is obliterated as the Soviet government focuses on sustaining the Red Army and not the city, subjecting its people to unimaginable cruelties at the hands of the secret police. When Liza’s best friend Aka proposes that they go to the same bullying officials, rumored to give young women food in exchange for “entertainment,” Liza thinks there surely must be some other way. Then Aka disappears and Liza resolves to rescue her no matter the cost, entangling herself in an increasingly dangerous web with two former classmates, one a policeman, the other forced to live underground."

 

Things I appreciate about this story:

• the severity of starvation's effect on people was very realistic
• that moral ambiguity that comes with having a survival mentality . . . again, believable
• both Maxim and Luka (?) are amazing young men 
• the narrator sounded very Russian! Halting phrasing, accent, . . . perfect
  
• reading about the author, this is her debut novel. Good job! (And she grew up behind the Iron Curtain!)
  
• Who was worse for the Russian people - the German Nazis or the NKVD (Russian secret police)? Again, the horrors of starving to death were very realistic.
  

What I didn't appreciate:

• what a jerk Liza could be at times! She was not willing to trust either Luka or Maxim, even though neither one DID anything to make her believe they were untrustworthy. Fine. Be suspicious. But to lie and behave selfishly when it endangers others is reprehensible!
• chucking the pot of stew onto the ground because you think the "meat" is human . . . when people are starving to DEATH . . . is unconscionable. Don't eat it. Walk away. Throwing the soup on the ground isn't going to bring back the dead people!
• Also, when she kept wandering around the Mansion to look for Aka . . . how stupid can you be? Don't mess with the secret police in their own lair!
  
• Seriously, it took until chapter 19 to reveal who the creepy dude at the apartment really is? Gaganov (?) seemed like an awful man who had done something inexcusable. Liza avoided him like the plague. Then we find out he's her dad?!? And the horrible thing he did was suggest selling dead bodies so they could survive? Then she's all "Daddy" and talking to him. What?!?
• Okay, it gets worse when we find out that he basically sold her best friend Aka for food . . . and kept her necklace and shirt. Super creepy awful.
• The number of times Liza said she had no choice or "what choice do I have?" bothered me. There are ALWAYS choices! Some of them may be horrific, but you can choose what you think, say, and do.

I like Ruta Sepetys' books better. Her WWII Soviet book is called Between Shades of Gray. I highly recommend it!

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

by Suzanne Collins

Scott County Library, hardcover, 517 pages

Published: 2020

Genre: YA dystopian fiction

I have heard that the movie was fantastic, but I wanted to read the book first! I kind of want to re-read all the Hunger Games books now (and re-watch the movies) but I have too much to do! (FYI, this review assumes one understands the trilogy concept and content.)

This story takes place in the tenth year after the rebellion. For the tenth Hunger Games, mentors from students at the Academy have been chosen for each of the tributes.

 

Part I: "The Mentor"

Part II: "The Prize" (page 155)

Part III: "The Peacekeeper" (page 321)

Epilogue (page 511)

I love when authors reference other literary works! Collins opens the novel with this page of quotations. I'm guessing for most readers, this page is glossed over. But if I were reading this with a book club of teens, we'd spend a whole discussion on this! Wow. Lots to think about here.

Page 12: "As she led Coriolanus into the kitchen, he reminded himself that self-control was an essential skill, and he should be grateful his grandmother provided daily opportunities to practice it."

For most of the story, Coriolanus Snow is a fairly sympathetic character (which is surprising considering the Snow of the trilogy). His grandmother, her roses, her daily singing of the anthem, and her old ways are irritating to young Coryo, but this attitude of gratefulness for helping him learn a skill caught my attention. I'm often just quick to be crabby and forget to look for the opportunity when I feel frustrated.

Page 15: "Really, she needed to get her drinking under control, although the same thing could be said for half the adults he knew. Self-medication was a citywide epidemic."

This caught my attention because it saddens me and it's the reality for too many people over too many eras. Self-medicating to numb the pain, anger, grief, sadness, etc. does not solve a person's problems.Yet it's the go-to for many people.

Page 76: "'It's just this whole Hunger Games thing is making me crazy! I mean, what are we doing? Putting kids in an arena to kill each other? It feels wrong on so many levels.'"

When Sejanus expresses his true opinion, I agree whole-heartedly. I was surprised, though, that he trusted Coriolanus enough to say something that he must have known would mark him as a treasonous traitor.

Page 158: "Oh, to be seven again, in a happy pile with his friends, with nutritional crackers waiting at his desk."

When life and the decision-making gets hard, wanting the carefree joys of younger years rears up. 

Page 227: "The right thing to do. Coriolanus realized that this was what had always defined Sejanus's actions, his determination to do the right thing."

I love that about Sejanus - wanting to do what is right whether it is beneficial to him or not. What a difference between him and Coriolanus! (But Collins writes this cleverly, because the latter character is still sympathetic . . . )

Page 243: "'A boy with a club who beats another boy to death. That's mankind in its natural state.'"

Dr. Gaul's attitude about human nature is chilling. This sentiment brings to mind The Lord of the Flies. I haven't read that book since I was a teen in the 1980s. I should probably re-read it, but it was such a distressing book the first time! Human nature. Nature vs. nurture. Good grounds for discussion here!

Page 338: "He felt sure he was having a heart attack but made no attempt to call for help, instead curling into a ball and pressing his face against the wall."

This is such a turning point for Snow. A letter from his cousin Tigris has let him know that they are completely destitute and need to sell their luxury apartment in Panem. He envisions a future for himself of being an old Peacekeeper and missing out on all his hopes and dreams, with the Snow name ground into the dirt. 

Page 423: "'Every one of us Covey owes our name to a ballad, and this one belongs to this pretty lady right here!' She held out a hand to Lucy Gray, who curtsied to scattered applause. 'It's a really old one by some man named Wordsworth.'"

I love The Ballad of Lucy Gray by William Wordsworth! I love how Collins uses literary allusions to feed the reader more literature. I like the Covey, their music, and their names.

I think my favorite character was Pluribus, the nightclub owner and black market guy in Panem. I like how cleverly Collins wove in the details that "set up" the Hunger Games stories . . . which were written more than a decade ago. 

The epilogue wasn't really surprising, but his little interview with Dr. Gaul when he thought he was headed to officer school was an eye opener. She orchestrated a lot more than just the Hunger Games! This is actually a very chilling dystopian story. But it is well-written!

Learn French: Level 1: Introduction to French

by Innovative Language

Libby audiobook 3.5 hours

Published: 2012

Genre: non-fiction, language

I got this audiobook because I love the French language. I was so close to being bilingual as a teenager, but I gave up when it got too hard with verb tenses. 

Listening to this was fun, especially when they used pauses for the listener to practice. Other parts were just plain interesting. If I were truly a beginner, I may have been discouraged. There is a LOT of content in this audio. It's nicely broken up into short lessons. If I were truly trying to learn the language this way, I would probably just buy the resource to practice over and over. 

It's also interesting to primarily listen and speak without seeing the text. They often spelled out what they were saying, but I could mostly picture the words because of my past experience with studying French (in the late 1970s and early 1980s!).

I also checked out a copy of Nelson Mandela in French. It's the one that's part of the Little People, Big Dreams series. That was an eBook and hard to read because I had to keep enlarging the page to be able to see the text, then zooming back out to see the entire page. It was tedious. I like reading children's books in French because they're less demanding than novels for adults. But I think I'll have to check out print books for this so I can take my time, see the text, and look up words I don't know. (I'll have to pull out my old French / English dictionary.)

I highly recommend this audio for anyone trying to become more familiar with French. The co-hosts (Virginie & ??? I forgot the guy's name) were cute and playful but not obnoxious.

Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade (Enola Holmes #9)

by Nancy Springer

Libby audiobook 4 hours

Read by: Tamaryn Rayne

Published: 2022

Genre: YA historical fiction, mystery

 

I hadn't planned on continuing with this series, but this audiobook was available and I decided to listen. 

 

I enjoyed the story for the most part. Lady Cecily is once again in trouble. Her despotic father has locked her in her room with no clothing (other than a nightgown), no books, and no art supplies. Enola is determined to rescue her.

The part I didn't like in this story was the continual emphasis on Lady Cecily's two personalities - her "left-handed" persona of strength, determination, and creativity, and her "right-handed" weak, docile, and vapid personality. It just got old after a while.

Overall, Springer has done a delightful job with these books. I like the interplay between Enola and her brother Sherlock. I really liked the playfulness between Enola and her usual cabbie Harold. Fun!

<Above posted 11.13.23. Below added 5.29.25.>

This one is a no-go for me for future. Interesting that I gave it a pretty positive review previously. I do like how the other women at the club help Enola with her costumes. I like Harold. But honestly, the whole split personality thing is just too dumb and irritating.

Framing Cecily's dad for his illegal disposal of servants' bodies and Sherlock's unwillingness to engage in blackmail . . . that's interesting.

The Revenge of the Radioactive Lady

by Elizabeth Stuckey-French

Libby eBook 23 chapters plus acknowledgements

Published: 2011

Genre: realistic fiction

 

I'm not sure how this book caught my attention, but I could not stop reading it even when I didn't like where it was going.

 

Part of the blurb (which I'm just reading now) says, "Told from the varied perspectives of an incredible cast of endearing oddball characters and written with the flair of a native Floridian, this dark comedy does not disappoint."

 

Marylou Ahearn is 77 years old and determined to exact revenge on Doctor Wilson Spriggs. "In 1953, he gave her a radioactive cocktail without her consent as part of a secret government study . . . " 

 

I can understand the depth of her anger. She watched her daughter die, her marriage break up, and eventually received money for what was done to her while she was pregnant. But revenge . . . doesn't just destroy the person you're trying to wreak it upon. Marylou becomes "Nance" as she relocates to Tallahassee, Florida, to take Wilson Spriggs' life. When she realizes that his dementia has taken away his ability to truly understand the damage he has caused her, she decides to destroy the lives of his children and grandchildren.

 

Chapter 4 (Ava): "She just didn't like her own kind. She could understand why typical people avoided people with Asperger's. They were obnoxious know-it-alls."

 

Ava is the oldest daughter in the family. She resents being made to go to Asperger's Group, but her mother Caroline is insistent. Caroline is Dr. Spriggs' unhappy adult daughter who tries to live vicariously through the beautiful Ava.

 

Chapter 4 (Ava): "Ava knew then that Nance was no Miss Clavel from the Madeline books. Nance, unlike Miss Clavel, didn't care about something being not right." 

This is where I started to hate the book (but also kept reading . . . sigh). Nance convinces Ava to go ahead and pose nude for the photographer who is shooting her for a possible modeling job. I wish Ava had stuck to her guns and refused! I was horrified that Nance would do such a despicable thing.

Chapter 5 (Otis): "In the book was a detailed diagram of a breeder reactor. Once he saw that drawing, almost a blueprint, he was hooked. Otis had never doubted that he had the persistence and focus and intelligence to make a reactor. Asperger's was good for something."

I'm curious about the author's connection to people with Asperger's, but not curious enough to do any digging. I wonder about Caroline's intense focus on Ava, but not on her son Otis, in regard to their neurodiversity and their futures. Otis' goal also reminded me of The Radioactive Boy Scout (and the author mentions this book at the end!).

Chapter 6 (Suzi): ". . . like one you'd fine (sic) in a fancy hotel . . . "

Ugh. Typos. I'm a bit surprised I highlighted this, but I definitely notice and re-read sentences like this several times. "Fine. Fine? Shouldn't it be find?" How ironic that I sometimes re-read my own blog entries and notice silly errors! But I'm not paid to publish, am I? And I'm often in a hurry to just dump my thoughts and move on to something else. Excuses, excuses, excuses . . . 

Chapter 8 (Vic): "But Caroline never hesitated to throw those A-words out like firecrackers. Although she wouldn't admit it, she enjoyed the disturbance those words caused. If asked why she brought it up with people, she would say that she was only making people aware so they'd be more sympathetic to Ava and Otis, cut them some slack, realize that they weren't just weird but weird for a reason."

Vic wasn't my favorite character, lost as he was in his own fantasy world (where he had imaginary affairs and hurricanes tore through Florida). But I like his observation about his wife's obsession with the two older children and their place on the spectrum. The rest of his observation about all people being weird in different ways is something I can agree with!

Chapter 8 (Vic): " . . . he didn't want to add to the damage that had already been done by the everyday wear and tear of life with three kids, two of them with 'disabilities,' and an old man with dementia."

I can agree with Vic here. The "wear and tear" of life can definitely impact our marriages, personal well-being, etc. I didn't like his flagrant flirting with Gigi, though, even though he didn't actually have sex with her.

Chapter 9 (Caroline): "She despised July Fourth and all the forced gaiety around it, gaiety that required one to endure the heat, eat bad food, and subject oneself to fiery things that banged and popped and had been known to 'take out an eye' or 'blow off a finger.' She felt guilty about hating Independence Day, so she usually went overboard in the opposite direction - baking cupcakes with red, white, and blue icing; organizing a cookout buying tons of sparklers and snakes; forcing gaiety on everyone else."

 

I don't understand people like this. "Forced" gaiety? If you don't like a holiday, that's okay. I eat yummy food at picnics and barbecues, 4th of July or no! Guilt . . . I can understand that.

Chapter 10 (Ava): "And what would Elvis think of this church? He'd probably like it, being kind of a Christian and a showy guy, but she didn't like it. It reminded her of a poor man's version of one of Elvis's Vegas shows. There was too much going on at once with the screens and music and live entertainment and headline news, everything way too loud. It was like they were trying to duplicate what it was like in her own house. Why would she want to go to church for more competing noise? What happened to church being quiet? Did everything have to be like a video arcade?"

 

Ouch. All the Genesis Church scenes were  so interesting. I think of the phrase "style over substance" in this scene. Then later, the fact that the youth pastor was a sex addict just made me so incredibly sad. If you're serving the Lord, you need to avoid sin, not seek it out in your position of authority. Good on Ava for refusing him and avoiding that church.

Chapter 11 (Otis): "In her bedroom they rifled through her old lady underwear and jewelry. Rusty helped herself to a pair of rhinestone clip earrings."

 

This was another scene I hated. I get that Rusty (the youth pastor's daughter) was a juvenile delinquent. I sort of understand why she was targeting Nance / Marylou with her pranks. I actually liked that Rusty befriended Otis in a manner of speaking! But when they go into Nance's house, they crossed a line. Their violation of her personal space and stealing from her is beyond a prank.

Chapter 12 (Suzi): "She liked going to Genesis, she'd accepted Christ as her personal savior and planned to start read the Bible, very soon."

 

Suzi was the most likeable character, but she was playing a role in her family. "The normal one." Even when she offered herself to the youth pastor - "Buff" - she said she was doing it to save Ava, but she secretly wanted more attention on herself. So sick.

Chapter 13 (Marylou): "She wanted to run over her options in her head once again, but she'd recently had trouble thinking clearly. Maybe it was the torpid subtropical heat here. It was hard to focus."

 

Marylou / Nance had to figure out what her new plan was once she decided not to murder Wilson Spriggs and she actually started to care about other family members. Florida heat making people not think clearly . . . that's a well-worn meme.

Chapter 13 (Marylou): "She liked Suzi. Plain and simple. In fact, she liked her so much that she wished she could adopt her. Who knew why you liked one person more than others?"

That question fascinates me. Sometimes I meet someone and just feel such a strong connection so quickly. It often doesn't make sense. I don't try to "play favorites."

Chapter 13 (Marylou): "She'd hoped that Suzi would embrace fundamentalist Christianity and become a zealot, but she was wrong there, too. She'd underestimated Suzi's ability to fold religion smoothly into her already well-rounded life like eggs into a batter."

 

This sentence is part of what kept me reading. Stuckey-French is a talented author and she uses language effectively.

Chapter 13 (Marylou): "Living well is the best revenge, he always reminded her."

Nance's husband Teddy had tried so hard to help her let go of her pain. 

 

"That's what he'd said when she expressed to him her anger at her own parents, telling him how they'd abandoned her at her grandmother's house in Little Rock so they could go off gallivanting in Hollywood. Teddy, while not making light of her anger, had encouraged her to forgive them, and after a time she had. But forgive Helen's death? Never."

 

Nance had a lot of pain and a lot of anger in her. But her decision to exact revenge was incredibly destructive. I wish she'd seen a counselor instead!

Chapter 13 (Marylou): " . . . the same lady librarians working behind the counter, probably they were only in their forties but they looked, to Marylou, to be 140."

 

This made me laugh. Librarians as timeless, ancient old ladies. Yep, that's me.

Chapter 13 (Marylou): "Mostly she felt terrible for Suzi, because she knew, from her own experience with a nasty uncle, that this event would affect her the rest of her life. This sort of thing happened to a lot of girls, but that fact didn't lessen the pain of it, not one iota."

 

Ugh. I'm glad that at least Suzi only gave Buff a blowjob instead of having sex with him, but ick. An older married man with a sex addiction working in a church . . . and the consequence of revelations about him is to have a prayer service with the victims there to forgive him? Massive yuk!

Chapter 16 (Ava): "Why did the good and the bad have to come together? It seemed, often, that they did."

Liking Travis and realizing that she wanted to study history were counterbalanced with what had happened to Suzi and what Ava had to tell her family about (her nude photos). Plus a hurricane heading their way. . .

Chapter 18 (Suzi): "'By trying to get revenge, I hurt lots of people. People I care about.' She turned and smiled a suck-up smile at Suzi, but Suzi just made a disgusted face."

 

Good on Suzi for not instantly giving Marylou what she wanted. That was NOT a sincere apology!

Chapter 23 (Marylou): ". . . in the lobby while the Peabody's famous ducks waddled out of the fountain and over to the elevator to ride up to their penthouse coop . . . "

 

I've read about those ducks before! Fun. The ending was a bit too neat for me (and I usually like happy endings!) Everyone in Memphis and a surprise wedding announcement. And who tipped off the EPA? This was not what I expected. Weird book, but intriguing.

The Broken Blade

by William Durbin

NPMS paperback 163 pages

Published: 1997

Genre: historical fiction, YA

I am positive I've read this book before, but when I checked the spreadsheet I used before I started this blog, I only found the entry for Blackwater Ben. I decided that I will move my reading entries from that document to this blog as I have reason to open it. (Hence the entry from 2007 for that other Durbin title.)

This book is one that I was using in a social studies class with sixth graders. Our task was to read chapters 7 and 8, so I quickly read chapters 1 - 6 in the morning. 

I went back to that classroom yesterday to borrow a copy of the book so I could finish it.

Google Books says: In 1800, 13-year-old Pierre La Page never imagined he'd be leaving Montreal to paddle 2,400 miles. It was something older men, like his father, did. But when Pierre's father has an accident, Pierre quits school to become a voyageur for the North West Company, so his family can survive the winter. It's hard for Pierre as the youngest in the brigade. From the treacherous waters and cruel teasing to his aching and bloodied hands, Pierre is miserable. Still he has no choice but to endure the trip to Grand Portage and back.

 

I really enjoyed this book for a whole host of reasons. 

 

Page 95:

McKay paused to open a small brown Bible. "The Lord warns us to prepare, saying, 'What man is he that liveth and shall not see death?'" 

McKay looked up at his men and continued. "Whether our parting from this world comes early or late, sudden or slow, it is not our place to question. We take up our journey without knowing where or when it will end. Each man in his turn must one day pass on to greater kingdoms."

Though the voyageurs worked hard and fought hard, they acknowledged death as a part of life. The impromptu funeral brought some serious contemplation for Pierre and the other men.

 

Page 99-100:

" . . . lake is two hundred fathoms in places and so cold she makes a climate all her own. It might be summer up on those hills, but here on the water, a squall can bring it down to freezing in minutes."

I didn't grab the part on page 99! But it was talking about Lake Superior. It made me think of Nick and Mari. They really do have a special ecosystem in Grand Marais!

Page 129: 

"You give the Indians trade goods before they even bring in furs?"
"Aye," McKay responded. "It's all based on trust. I've seen some cheating done, but the whites mainly author it. If you give an Ojibwa a rifle in the fall, you can count on twenty pelts come spring."

Pierre is such a wonderful young character. I love his homecoming. This is a lovely book, but I'm still convinced I've read it before!

Blackwater Ben

by William Durbin

I read / wrote about on 9.3.2007 (before I started this blog)

Carver County paperback 245 pages

Genre: YA historical fiction

 

 

Summary: 

Ben has trouble sitting still in school and is thrilled when his dad invites him to work at the lumber camp with him. He's less thrilled when he finds himself as the cookee, his dad's kitchen helper.

 

My reaction:  

Pretty slow, but had some nice points. I liked Charlie & Mrs. Wilson best. Even with a glossary in front, the use of unusual loggers' terminology was confusing.

Mixed Up

by Gordon Korman

Libby audiobook 6 hours

Read by: Christopher Gebauer and Mark Sanderlin

Published: 2023

Genre: YA realistic / fantasy

Why both realistic fiction AND fantasy? Because the premise of the story is that two boys (Reef Moody and Theo Metzinger) start forgetting their own memories as they are somehow transferred to the other boy's mind. 

The story opens with Reef, who is forgetting his mother. She died the previous year from Covid and he believes he is at fault for her illness. He is living with her best friend Jenna Helmer, Jenna's husband Will, and their three kids. The oldest two are barely part of the story, but Declan is the youngest . . . and two years older than Reef. He treats Reef horribly! But of course, Reef doesn't want to jeopardize his situation and end up in foster care so he just keeps quiet.

Then we meet Theo, who loves gardening and is averse to "Jaws," the rabbit nibbling on his flowers and working his way to the vegetables. His dad "ruled the school" back in his day and he expects Theo to do the same. Theo goes to karate begrudgingly, but isn't like his dad and prefers to keep to himself.

The story was interesting enough for me to want to know how it resolved and I generally enjoy Korman's stories, but this one bugged me. And the resolution at the end wasn't great! Reef not being able to remember his childhood experiences with his mom, his guilt over her dying of Covid being "his fault," . . . there were just so many things that bothered me. Ugh. Maybe I'm just done with YA fiction.

Letters From My Sister

By Valerie Fraser Luesse

Libby eBook 

Published: 2023

Genre: Christian historical fiction

I enjoyed this book, but didn't love it as much as her title Under the Bayou Moon. Sisters Emmy and Callie Bullock are incredibly close even though they are very different in so many ways. Emmy loves dresses, tea parties, and is excited to be affianced to Knox. Callie would rather ride horses and go hunting with her dad and brothers.

Some parts of this book were very predictable and others took me by surprise. I was almost halfway though the book when I thought, "Emmy and Knox better hurry up and get married so they can move away and start the letter writing of the title . . . " How wrong I was!

Chapter 1: "Perfection made her uneasy."

This is from Callie. She is observing Knox looking over all the people at the May Day picnic. He is searching for Emmy and Callie thinks that the love her sister and Knox have is too perfect. Perfection makes me uneasy, too, but I think this was just simple foreshadowing.

Chapter 5: "Callie did her crying alone."

I'm not at all shy about letting others see me cry. I can appreciate people who prefer to be a bit more private with their feelings, though. 

Chapter 17: "'Everybody thinks I look after you,' she said, 'but they've got it backwards. They've always had it backwards.'"

Emmy is confiding in Callie about the conflict caused by Knox's twin brother Ryder (a real cad). Callie is the braver of the two of them. The sister bond is powerful for them!

Chapter 21: "She had taught Hepsy about the dangers of 'bad juju,' which they now met not with spells or incantations, as in the old days, but with prayers for the protection of Almighty."

I thought it was interesting that a Christian author would have characters (Hepsy, who ran the Bullocks' house and her mother Tirzah, the midwife and healer) who had special giftings that are generally considered paranormal. Their faith in God was emphasized, but there were a lot of very other worldly things in this book.

Chapter 32: "Now that Callie was married, she could understand how awful it would be to endure the kind of distance that separated her parents, whom she had never thought of as a married couple before - just her mother and father."

This made me laugh to think about how self-focused children are. (I remember not really considering my parents' lives, interests, etc. until I was much older!)

Chapter 32: "And life is very short - no matter how many years we're given." 

Amen to that! Life is short. And precious.

Chapter 33: "If there was one thing Callie understood now, it was the loneliness of bearing a burden all by yourself."

Again, the sisters have such a close connection to one another. It is sweet that she's more concerned about Emmy having to carry a terrible secret by herself than she is about her own situation.

Chapter 34: "It was thrilling to have a sense of purpose, to do something about her sister's sickness instead of helplessly grieving it."

When they decide to reopen the mill and Callie is on board to do the cooking for the men, it didn't seem very realistic. But I know that it is often easier to have a task or challenge than to sit around worrying!

Chapter 35: "Callie took a sip of hot coffee. 'A toothache beats those tea parties.'"

I'm with Callie! Drinking the coffee and avoiding the tea parties.

Chapter 37: "I will find a way to tell you everything. Just trust me as you always have. I promise to be worthy of it."

This is from Emmy's letter to Callie. The big secret and Callie's lost memories . . . all got a little overdone for me. But I did appreciate the sisters' relationship.

Chapter 44: "Callie had always found it odd that, at a time when people felt the least equipped to be social, a family funeral forced them to entertain everyone they knew."

Ugh! We shouldn't put burdens on people who are already grieving! I'm glad we don't have to host post-funeral gatherings in our home nowadays. My house is rarely clean.

Author's Note: "And I believe our innate humanity, a gift from God, will always have the power to overcome hatred and injustice."

That is a lovely sentiment. I like her positive perspective. I like that she had some really cool characters (both black and white) in this story. Ryder was a proper villain. Callie was a wonderful protagonist. It will be nice to discuss this at book club tomorrow evening.

The All-American

by Susie Finkbeiner

Scott County Library paperback 337 pages

Published: 2023

Genre: Christian historical fiction

I loved this book! I was out of town when book club discussed it, but I didn't get this copy from the library until the week after anyhow. (The hazard of selecting brand new books for book club and some people - me - wait until a library has a copy available.) Mixing the Red Scare and "girls" baseball, this novel set in 1952 was incredibly delightful! I love this author even more than I did before!

Since I have about two dozen post-it notes in the book, I may have to be more judicious in what I blog about. There were so, so many things that I loved about her story!

Told from the perspectives of sisters Bertha (teenager) and Flossie (precocious 11-year old), the Harding family is living life in Michigan just like everyone else. When a neighbor accuses Mr. Harding of being a Communist, their lives are turned upside down. This book mixes humor, history, grief, love, and faith in such a beautiful way!

Page 11 - When dreadful home ec teacher Mrs. Higginbottom grabbed her purse and left her class, I thought, "Could that really have happened in 1952?!" I barely leave students in a classroom for two minutes so I can use the bathroom. This blows my mind.

Page 29 - "Good grief, that Holden Caulfield was a whiny boy. 

He certainly was no Gilbert Blythe."

Oh Flossie! She picks up her older sister's book and starts reading The Catcher in the Rye. Her lack of understanding Holden's situation is quickly flipped by her recognition that the boy from Anne of Green Gables is the kind of young man who "made me weak in the knees." I loved all the literary allusions in this book! Like Flossie (Florence), I grew up reading books and being "friends" with my favorite characters.

 

Page 52 - "I hated, hated, hated John Steinbeck. 

And I would hate, hate, hate him forever."

 

Again, Flossie is reading a book she isn't emotionally ready for. Of Mice and Men disturbs her, but at least she can talk with her dad about it. The conversations between the little girl and her literary dad are some of the best parts of this book.

 

Page  56-7 - When Bertha (flashback as a younger girl) writes letters to Dottie Fitzgerald (baseball player) and gets letters back, I loved the impact that this has on Bertha's life! Any time someone in a position of power or authority (or fame) chooses to be a blessing to a youngster, it warms my heart. Dottie's mysterious disappearance from the Workington Sweet Peas (fictional town and team) had me curious. I was so sure she'd gotten pregnant. The truth surprised me, but I'm glad we finally found out where she went.

Page 59 ' "At the end of the day, I went to the public library and, in an act of utter rebellion against Miss Lange, I told Mrs. Maxwell that I wanted to check out a copy of Johnny Tremain. She didn't flinch and she didn't argue that it wasn't a book for me.

Mrs. Maxwell was a good egg."

Miss Lange was Flossie's classroom teacher who told her she couldn't read Johnny Tremain because it was about war and therefore "a boy's book." Mrs. Maxwell is the most excellent librarian who knew Flossie's interests and abilities and encouraged her.

 

Page 66 - "I supposed Dottie had been right. It was easy to forget about everything else when it came to boys. 

But, oh, how fun to be distracted."

 

Although Bertha played baseball with the neighborhood boys and seemed to be very tomboyish, when Leo started being extra sweet to her, she was flattered. Yes, it was fun to be a teenager and to be distracted by guys' attentions!

 

Page  104 - "When I asked him what that word meant, he told me to consult the dictionary. 

I hated when he said that."

Again, Flossie and her dad have such a cool relationship. He used the word "blunderbuss" and she wanted to understand. Throughout the book, he sends her searching the dictionary. I can relate to Flossie because I am curious, too! I like to understand. Nowadays, kids seem to either not care or they just ask their phone, "What does blunderbuss mean?" That's wonderful in some ways and horrid in others.

Page 116 - "The trunk was dusty, a sure sign that things had been good for quite some time. Nobody'd had a need to hid bad news, I supposed."

This was interesting - having a trunk where they put things that signified trouble. News articles, reminders of baby Amos who died young, etc. When things are going well in life, we sometimes forget our sorrow and troubles. 

Page 124 - "It wouldn't have surprised me if they'd all thought that Dad shot bald eagles for sport and used strips of Old Glory instead of toilet paper."

Flossie didn't like kids teasing her before her father was accused of being a Communist, but she is absolutely refusing to go to school after kids get really nasty. Finkbeiner writes with such vivid details. This observation about Flossie's perception of her peers just jumped out at me.

Page 129 - "By Friday I had resigned myself to being as good as Hester Prynne. All I needed was a bright red C to sew onto my dress and a weird little girl following me all over the place.

Well, I did have Flossie."

The rampant fear and accusations of Communism (and black-listing of people) in the 1950s is not funny. Bertha's observation about the way her peers are treating her amused me, though. "Well, I did have Flossie." Oh my! Again, the literary allusion and intelligent observations about human behavior are fantastic.

Page 132 - "He hadn't been embarrassed to be my friend then. It hurt all the worse to think that now he'd only talk to me if he thought nobody was looking."

Bertha is a tough cookie, but Leo giving her the cold shoulder and then suggesting they meet in a very out-of-the-way place makes her sad. The adults in this story! Leo's mom, the bakery lady, the butcher . . . how they could justify their cruelty and hurtfulness (especially toward kids!) is unreal. Based on accusations and suspicions, they mistreated and shunned their neighbors. How awful. I spent a lot of time thinking about the political climate today. People are very quick to pass judgment and shut people with differing opinions out. In Leo's defense, he apologized to Bertha for all of this. He recognized that he was wrong.

Page 135 - "They were, of course, out of tune. But I didn't think that was the time to let them know."

Flossie is being chased by a mean group of boys singing "Catch the Commie" at her. Her observation made me smile. I love Flossie! And Bertha, too. What wonderful characters Finkbeiner wrote.

Page 139 - "That was when Mrs. Maxwell glanced at me and winked.

Maybe there weren't many in the world who were quite so loyal and strong as Anne Shirley. But Mrs. Maxwell was among them. 

I decided that I was glad that I could live in a world where there were librarians."

A "concerned" citizen demands that Mrs. Maxwell remove Mr. Harding's books are removed from the public library. She refuses. She's fantastic. Oh! And between many of the chapters are little news clippings, personal letters, or other things that add to the story and the observations of the two sisters.

Page 156 - "Then Mam winked at me twice with her left eye. That was the signal to me that I should remember to be 'seen and not heard.' I touched the end of my nose to let her know that I got it."

Flossie is impulsive and the Harding family has just shown up at her Uncle Matthew's house for a respite while they look for a new place to live. I love that she and her mother have these signals to communicate expectations and understanding.

Page 160 - 

This is one of those letters I mentioned. Flossie is writing to her brother Chip. This made me laugh! Matthew has been fairly taciturn and his laughter at the mouse made me laugh, too. Sully is their cat (who only truly likes Chip, but Chip's wife Peggy doesn't want a pet).

 

Page 165 - "And Matthew Cuthbert loved Anne just as much as I knew Uncle Matthew loved me, even if he had no idea how to show it."

Flossie makes lots of comparisons between her uncle and another of her favorite literary characters. It was such a sweet observation. This also made me think of Jodi, who likes Anne of Green Gables too.

Page 187 - "Do you think it's okay for me to pray that God changes her mind? I know that we aren't supposed to bother him with silly prayers - I heard that in a sermon one time. But I also recall memorizing the Bible verse that says we should cast our cares onto God because he cares for us.

Do you think God cares about baseball?"

In this letter from Bertha to Leo, my heart was broken by her initial question. So many people have the perception that prayer is only for serious topics. But prayer is about drawing closer to the Lord and having a relationship with Him. Bertha's mother does not want her to try out for the Sweet Peas until after she graduates from high school. But Bertha loves playing baseball and really wants to try out!

SPOILERS AHEAD! STOP HERE IF YOU PLAN TO READ IT YOURSELF.

Page 192-3 - Oh my! Her dad and Uncle Matthew sneak her out of the house and drive her to the tryouts! And when her dad assures her that her mom won't be mad, the glance between her and her uncle show that they both know that's just not correct.

Pages 212-3 - This whole scene where first Bertha and Flossie, then the girls and their uncle get the giggles in church on Easter Sunday . . . oh my. What a delightful book!

Page 216 - "When he finally gave in, we'd been disappointed that it was just full of paper. One hundred forty-seven pieces of paper, to be exact. Each one a rejection."

The girls learned from their dad, and in this scene, Chip is helping Bertha remember the lesson of the mysterious box. Don't give up. Keep trying. Improve and keep at it.

Page 232 - "'We all have our portion of the burden, but God has the lion's share. Trust that, dear heart. I pray you'll come to trust it.'"

Their "Mam" is a wise and wonderful woman. I love that she is both strict with her daughters and very loving. Here she's encouraging Flossie after a tough day.

Page 233 - "The lie of the American dream - the lie we all bought at some point or another - was that we were masters of our own fate.

Work hard, mind your manners, help old ladies cross the road, eat your spinach, say your prayers. That's the way to win the day, get the girl, earn your ride into the sunset.

What we didn't know was that we couldn't strong-arm the American dream into coming true. We mastered nothing. Not one blessed thing."

This is from one of William Harding's "books" excerpted at the start of part four of the book. But it beautifully encapsulates the "All-American" theme of the book. What does it mean to be American? Is our idealized vision of the American dream possible? Are people who raise these questions subversive Communists? This book is amazing.

Page 238 - "I didn't have to ask to know what happened. I'd been in school with a handful of kids with braces just like those. Polio was a nightmare."

It's so strange to me (born in 1966) that most people alive today don't remember what a horrible disease polio was . . . and that polio has a chance to come back due to a few isolated cases from other countries and people's unwillingness to vaccinate their children against this disease. Here, Bertha finally realizes why Dottie disappeared from the Sweet Peas and from communicating with her.

Page 255 - "And his wife's name was . . . oh . . . I could not remember it."

Flossie! Jane Eyre is one of my personal favorites and you refer to Mr. Rochester as "Mr. Richardson" and don't remember who the mad wife in the attic is?! She does remember a few paragraphs later that the name is Bertha, but continues with "Mr. Richardson - or whatever." Ugh!

 

Page 265 - "I wondered if William Shakespeare really was as great as everybody seemed to think he was. After all, how good could a writer be if everything he wrote was so doggone hard to understand?"

Flossie makes me laugh with this observation. I also loved when she referred to Shakespeare as someone who lived a thousand years ago and Lizzie corrects her. Oh! And I love that she becomes friends with Lizzie and doesn't ditch her for the mean girls. This book was great.

Page 275 - "'Be slow to talk and quick to listen,' Mam was always telling me, advice I couldn't recall ever taking."

I love that in this instance, she does follow her mother's advice. She is a good friend to Lizzie and listens to her.

I should go back and re-read this post to clean up any errors, but this has taken long enough and I want to move on with my day! Plus, I'll need to get reading the October book club title which I have on the Libby app. Onward! Finkbeiner rocks!

The Maid

by Nita Prose

Scott County Library hardcover 285 pages

Published: 2022

Genre: realistic fiction

 

I don't remember where this book was recommended, but I'm glad I read it! There are spoilers toward the end of this, so stop reading if you want to discover the story on your own. Google the teaser / blurb for this book and you'll think you know what you're in for . . . but it is so worth the read. I actually struggled through the first third or so, but couldn't turn the pages fast enough toward the end. Molly is clearly on the autism spectrum. It's hard to reconcile her perception of people and situations with what is obvious to "everyone" else. 

 

As the story progresses and we learn more about the day Mr. Black died, it gets more and more intriguing. My first post-it note is on page 149 (more than halfway through the book) and then I have six total. I probably would have done more, but I was eagerly reading to finish the story! If you can be patient with the first part and get to know the characters, you will be rewarded.

Page 149: "That's the trouble with pain. It's as contagious as a disease. It spreads from the person who first endured it to those who love them most. Truth isn't always the highest ideal; sometimes it must be sacrificed to stop the spread of pain to those you love. Even children know this intuitively."

Molly is referring to not telling her grandma about being bullied at school as a child. Her grandma found out anyway, but Molly had not told her because "what happened at school was bad enough, but Gran knowing about my suffering meant she experienced my pain too." This is so sad! Even as a child, Molly's love for her grandma was powerful. Kids who are bullied shouldn't have to carry this kind of burden alone. So very sad.

Page 232: "The more you live, the more you learn."

This was some of her grandma's wisdom that is relevant for all of us! In this specific situation, Molly is cognizant of her own growth in reading people's facial expressions. "I will know that it means fear because I'm getting better at this - understanding the subtle cues, the body language that expresses emotional states." But really, the hubris of youth (in my case) can be replaced with wisdom if a person is open to learning.

Page 236: "Give my regards to Detective Stark." / "You want me to . . . are you sure?" / "There's no reason to be impolite."

Out of context, this doesn't seem noteworthy. But boy did it make me smile! How very Molly like to want to be polite, even to the detective who accused her of murder and was rude to her! I love Molly as a character.

 

Page 247-8: " For the first time in my life, I think I understand what a true friend is. It isn't just someone who likes you; it's someone willing to take action on your behalf."

I'm so very blessed to have wonderful true friends! Poor Molly has had no one since her grandma died. Now she has Mr. Preston, his daughter Charlotte, and Juan Manuel in her corner. I love this! 

SPOILERS AHEAD! Please stop reading this entry and just go read the book!

Page 256 - I don't have a specific quotation from this page, but I was so shocked by the revelation that Molly had helped her grandma to die. When the pain was too much and the meds just weren't cutting it, Molly helped her die. This page is beautiful and horrible. It ends with her Gran's advice to "count your blessings." Oh my. 

Page 267 - I love that Molly becomes the head maid! I love that she is a good leader who is considerate of the other maids. I love that she is earning more money and working toward her goals.

I didn't mark the page, but I was gobsmacked when I learned that Mr. Black's real killer was the first Mrs. Black. AND that Molly saw her and talked to her the day of the murder. And Molly didn't ever tell anyone! I did not see that coming. 

I love that Giselle got the villa and got away and that the sleezeball Rodney was nailed for the crimes. I love that Molly and Juan Manuel were so compatible! (Including the jigsaw puzzles) 

 

I was a bit disappointed that Molly did not get her grandma's hard-earned "Fabergé" back from Wilbur, the scoundrel who deceived Molly and stole all the money. An unrealistic part of me wanted her to confide in Charlotte and see justice happen!

Oh! It was implied (quite strongly) that Mr. Preston was Molly's grandfather. Charlotte "got" it after hearing about Molly's mother's story . . . oh my, this book has layers and levels!

Page 285: Gran was correct after all. About all of it. About everything. 

The longer you live, the more you learn.

People are a mystery that can never be solved.

Life has a way of sorting itself out.

Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.

What a delightful book!

<Above posted 10.10.23. Below added 11.12.24.>

I just found a clipping from the Costco Connection with a review for this book and my note - "Hold in Scott County Library 9.4.23." So that's where I first heard about this book. Apparently, my hold came in within a month after I placed it and I read it and blogged it without remembering where I heard of it! (This is part of the reason I blog my books. My short-term and long-term memory seem to have challenges retaining info. It's nice to have a holding place for thoughts online!)