Wednesday, 16 April 2014

Review: All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr


From the highly acclaimed, multiple award-winning Anthony Doerr, a stunningly ambitious and beautiful novel about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.

Marie Laure lives with her father in Paris within walking distance of the Museum of Natural History where he works as the master of the locks (there are thousands of locks in the museum). When she is six, she goes blind, and her father builds her a model of their neighborhood, every house, every manhole, so she can memorize it with her fingers and navigate the real streets with her feet and cane. When the Germans occupy Paris, father and daughter flee to Saint-Malo on the Brittany coast, where Marie-Laure's agoraphobic great uncle lives in a tall, narrow house by the sea wall.

In another world in Germany, an orphan boy, Werner, grows up with his younger sister, Jutta, both enchanted by a crude radio Werner finds. He becomes a master at building and fixing radios, a talent that wins him a place at an elite and brutal military academy and, ultimately, makes him a highly specialized tracker of the Resistance. Werner travels through the heart of Hitler Youth to the far-flung outskirts of Russia, and finally into Saint-Malo, where his path converges with Marie-Laure.

Doerr's gorgeous combination of soaring imagination with observation is electric. Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, Doerr illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another. Ten years in the writing, All the Light We Cannot See is his most ambitious and dazzling work


Hardcover, 544 pages
Expected publication: May 6th 2014 by Scribner
 
Terri's Thoughts
 
I received an advanced copy of this novel from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  The expected publication date is May 6, 2014.
 
I will not be able to put in to words how this book has touched me and I am not sure if it is even worth the effort to attempt it.  There is simply no way to describe how wonderful it is without the novel speaking for itself.
 
This story depicts the war from both sides of the battle however it focuses on the emotional journey of its main characters and the inner battles that they must deal with.  It also outlines the circumstances that bring each character on its journey and shows the human side of war and the fact that you can not label everyone based on which side they were on.
 
The stories of Marie Laure and Werner were both intriguing, tragic and wonderful.  I was in both of their corners from day one.  The way the story weaved from each of their stories and intertwined the past working its way to the present was brilliant.  The writing style had me glued to the pages
 
This is not a happy go lucky story.  It is honest and truthful and a deeply powerful portrayal of wartime.  Readers who are expecting everything to be wrapped up neatly and happy by the end will be disappointed.  Those who want a story that depicts real wartime with likeable characters will be rewarded.  I tend to read stories very fast and I took my time with this one.  I am glad I did as I may have missed the true essence of this story.
 
I feel like I have said nothing about this book however it is one that must be experienced and not described.  I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of wartime stories and wants to read something that does not sensationalize the war.  This story is going to stick with me for a long time.  I will be looking for more work by Doerr after losing myself in this story
 
About the Author


Anthony Doerr is the author of five books, The Shell Collector , About Grace , Memory Wall , Four Seasons in Rome and All the Light We Cannot See . Doerr’s fiction has won four O. Henry Prizes and has been anthologized in The Best American Short Stories, The Anchor Book of New American Short Stories, and The Scribner Anthology of Contemporary Fiction. He has won the Barnes & Noble Discover Prize, the Rome Prize, the Story Prize, the New York Public Library’s Young Lions Fiction Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Sunday Times EFG Private Bank Award, and the Ohioana Book Award three times. Doerr lives in Boise, Idaho. Become a fan on Facebook and stay up-to-date on his latest publications


Website:     

 


Tuesday, 15 April 2014

Review: The Belief in Angels by J. Dylan Yates

Growing up in her parents’ crazy hippie household on a tiny island off the coast of Boston, Jules’s imaginative sense of humor is the weapon she wields to dodge household chaos. But somewhere between routine discipline with horsewhips, gun-waving gambling debt collectors, and LSD-laced breakfast cereal adventures, tragedy strikes with the death of her younger brother—a blow from which Jules may never fully recover.

Jules’ story alternates with that of her Grandfather Samuel, a man with a sad story of his own. Samuel, once called Szaja, is an orthodox Jew who lived through the murderous Ukranian pogroms of the 1920s and the Majdanek Death Camp—but whose survival came at a price that’s haunted him for years.


Paperback, 320 pages
Expected publication: April 28th 2014 by She Writes Press 

Kristine's Thoughts:

* I received an advanced readers copy of this book from She Writes Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!*

The Belief in Angels is a truly haunting story of one girl as she struggles with the cards that she has been dealt from a very young age to adulthood. Dysfunctional doesn't even begin to describe her family life and the things she was forced to endure. As I read I felt every emotion from disbelief, anger, sadness, shock and I was glued to the pages.

The story is told from Jule's point of view with the occasional chapter from her grandfather telling his story. Both stories were equally interesting but I struggled at first to understand the connection. As the story went on it became a little more clear and I could see that it was sort of a way to explain how the events of the past shape the who, what, where and why of the now.  His story needs a book of its own (which I see is happening) and I am anxious to know it in more detail.

Ultimately this is a coming of age story about a girl who is forced to grow up too fast because of her selfish, messed up parents. Jule's is a beautifully strong character that I fell in love with. I loved the writing style and could feel every emotion right along with her. I must warn future readers that if you are looking for the silver lining in this book there aren't many. It is a dark, haunting story with not much happiness in the mix. The story is going to stick with me for some time. It would make an excellent book club book as there are many things to talk about and debate. I am curious as to how other people feel about it and will be watching future reviews.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more from J. Dylan Yates.





About the Author
 Raised on a tiny, New England peninsula, J. Dylan Yates pursued her BFA from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

THE BELIEF IN ANGELS,Yates’s debut novel, was written over the course of many years while she attempted a number of BFA-related jobs, including: teaching, corporate training, real estate, nursing, interior design, parenting, and reluctant housewifery.

Yates’s next novel, SZAJA'S STORY, focused on the character created in The Belief in Angels, invites the reader back to the Ukrainian orchards of Szaja Trautman’s tragic childhood, tracing his ultimate journey to America via the desperate Ukranian refugee work camps of the ’20s, his amazing survival of both the Majdanek death camp and the torpedoing of refugees aboard the Mefkura, and his fascinating experiences in the post-war Parisian couture houses.

Prior to publication, THE BELIEF IN ANGELS won the Alexis Masters Scholarship Award at the February 2012 San Francisco Writers Conference.

Yates worked with Boulder County’s Voices for Children program as a CASA volunteer for 15 years and now volunteers with the Big Sister program. She lives in San Diego with her partner and a talking cat. Her son, Jaime, is a professional musician.

Monday, 14 April 2014

Review: The Forgotten Seamstress by Liz Trenow


It is 1910 and Maria, a talented young girl from the East end of London, is employed to work as a seamstress for the royal family. As an attractive girl, she soon catches the eye of the Prince of Wales and she in turn is captivated by his glamour and intensity.

But careless talk causes trouble and soon Maria’s life takes a far darker turn. Disbelieved and dismissed she is thrown into a mental asylum, shut away from the real world with only her needlework for company.

Can a beautiful quilt, discovered many years later, reveal the truth behind what happened to Maria?



Paperback, 336 pages
Expected publication: May 6th 2014 by Sourcebooks Landmark

Terri's Thoughts:

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Source Landmark via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.  The expected release date is May 6, 2014.


I will begin by saying that I love stories that take place in the past with a present day story intertwined. Historical fiction is my favorite genre and this book fit the bill for me with two female main characters that I was invested in from the very beginning.

Starting with Maria her story was simply tragic and I was glued to the pages to find out what happened to her.  I liked how her story was told in the form of recorded interviews so that there was tangible evidence of her portrayal of her life events.  I also found it interesting that due to the fact that she was diagnosed with a mental disorder which describe her as having delusions and making up stories that you were left wondering if her stories were indeed truthful or part of an elaborate imagination. I will not disclose which was what however I will say that the story could have successfully progressed with either outcome.

The story of Caroline came with modern day issues however her journey in some way mirrored the one Maria.  They both had to deal with a similar loss and learn how to move on.  I enjoyed that her journey and growth was closely linked to the quilt and it provided her the inspiration to make some choices that she had been unable to make previously.

I'm not going to lie, I was able to figure out some of the twists of the story before they were disclosed within the pages however this did not ruin the story for me.  I was still interested to find out how the storyline would play out and how the secrets would be exposed.  The only difficult part of the read for me was when the story delved in to the intricacies of quilting as I have no knowledge of the process.

Overall I really enjoyed this read.  The writing style made it easy to follow and the storyline was very interesting.  I would recommend this to novel to fans of historical fiction.  Also peaking at Trenow's profile on Goodreads it looks like she may have another publication out later this year.  I will anxiously be awaiting it's release so that I can once again get lost in her words.
About the Author


Liz Trenow's family have been silk weavers for nearly three hundred years, and she grew up in the house next to the mill in Suffolk, England, which still operates today, weaving for top-end fashion houses and royal commissions.

It was the recollections of Liz's father about how, during the Second World War, the mill worked night and day weaving parachute silk, that inspired her first novel, "The Last Telegram". It is the story of Lily Verner, a young woman who has to grow up very quickly and learn to manage the stresses and trials behind the Home Front in the Second World War.

The love story at the heart of the novel is also based on real life events and characters. In 1939, when war was imminent, Liz's family were so concerned about the plight of their many Jewish friends and business colleagues in Europe that travel to England and work at the mill. One of them fell in love with a local girl and, after internment in Australia and fighting for the Allies in Burma, returned to work at the mill, married and had a family, and lived a long and happy life. Unfortunately the story in "The Last Telegram" is not quite so straightforward!

Liz says: 'It is a coming of age story, a tale of love and loss, and how we come to terms with the mistakes we make.



Website:     



Sunday, 13 April 2014

Blog Tour: The Wrong Woman by Brenda J. Brown Giveaway & Guest Post






Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for The Wrong Woman by Brenda J. Brown presented by TWCS Publishing.

Norah Rothe dreams of being an actress—a real worth-the-price-of-admission actress. She wanted her name in lights and a life in the big city but just when everything she’d worked for was going according to script, a dramatic plot twist forces her to abandon the stage to fulfill family obligations in her tiny home town.
Settled and accepting her life as a single mom and co-owner of her parents’ café, Norah’s slumbering dreams are reawakened when Hollywood comes to her. A chance encounter leads to an epic opportunity when Norah discovers that the movie being shot on the outskirts of town is in trouble; the leading lady is out of commission, and the production team is scrambling to replace her. Two lunch specials and a limo ride later, Norah finds herself back in the spotlight.
David Raurke dreams of being more than just a big-screen heartthrob with throngs of screaming fans. He gambles his movie star status for a chance to direct an independent film, but when it seems as if everything that can go wrong will, David wonders if he’s about to become the lead in his own cautionary tale.
Norah sees past the gossip columns. In David, she sees kindness, a sense of humour, and a passion for his craft. David sees an undiscovered talent in Norah. The camera loves her, and he knows he’s found the match to ignite his directorial debut and bring it blazing onto the big screen . . . and something much, much more.
Can a romance between a talented small-town girl next door and one of Hollywood’s hottest stars survive the cutthroat world of the film industry? Come behind the scenes and see for yourself if dreams can become reality and what really happens once the lights fade to black.

Expected publication: April 17, 2014 by The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House
Genre: Contemporary fiction

Kristine's Thoughts:

* I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank You!*

The Wrong Woman is a typical but cute story of a small town girl (woman) with big dreams who finds herself living those dreams almost by accident alongside a hunky leading man. The story itself is not that original but the variety of characters more than makes up for it.

I'll start  by talking about Norah. Her dreams were put on the back burner when she had to take over the family business and with the birth of her child Ella who is 2 when the story takes place. She is a strong, quit witted woman with a no nonsense attitude and some tiny insecurities buried deep down. I loved the fact that she was not the typical leading lady with the perfect "everything" that you read so much about. She felt more real because of it.

David, David, David...what can I say about David? Ummm...could a man be any more perfect? Not only were his physical attributes spot on but he had the personality to match. I kept waiting for something to dislike about him but it never came. Everything he said and did was perfect. Younger readers may be turned off by his age, thinking him too old, but age is just a number and he was pretty drool worthy.

Norah and David together screamed sexual chemistry. It was literally dripping off the pages. Not only was the sexual chemistry evident but so was the emotional chemistry. It made for some pretty satisfying reading. I was in their corner for the duration.

An honourable mention needs to be said for Norah's younger brother Brett. He was a hoot and I could have read about him all day. Notably his reaction to David when they first met and the struggle alongside Norah to get her journal back from David. It had me laughing out loud!

This book was exactly what I was in the mood for when I read it. With the main characters being in their 30's I would recommend it to readers in their mid twenties and older. Although I did not consider them old, younger readers may. I am glad I had the opportunity to read this book and was not disappointed.








Guest Post and Author Bio


Talk us through your writing process. How did you manage to finish this manuscript in three months?

I had a dream one night, not kidding, a really good dream. It stayed with me all the next day…and the next day.

And then it started to evolve. It expanded. The scene from the dream asked the question, “How did she get there?” and then “What happened next?” All the answers came, pictures painted themselves in my head, brief exchanges turned into pages of dialogue, new characters turned up asking to be let in. I expect that’s what it’s like to go insane. In fact there were moments that I wasn’t entirely certain that that wasn’t what was happening.

It got to the point where I’d be crossing the room and would come to a complete standstill as I tried to make sense of the words and imagery that pounded at me demanding attention. It was…intense.

Finally, my roommate, upon observing one of my little shutdowns, suggested that I “write the damned thing down”. So I did, intending only to lay down, in no particular order, the fragments that had surfaced so far.

But, once I started, it took me over. At first, I had bits and pieces from all over what would become my manuscript, with no idea how to connect them, or if they were even connectable. Then, in an attempt at disciplined writing, I worked back from that original scene (which ended up, slightly paraphrased, in chapter 1), found myself a beginning, and got down to it.

Every spare moment of every day, late into the night, I would write. It didn’t feel as obsessive as it had before, once I got going, but then, I didn’t ever try to stop. Writing it, finishing it, was simply the thing that needed doing. So I did; 130,000 words in three months.

When I write now, I feel a bit more in control. For good or bad I’ve not been ‘possessed’ by a story like that since. But I’m very glad it did. If it had been any ‘quieter’ I might not have succumbed to the riot, I’d never had gotten published, and I wouldn’t be talking to you. J

It’s all good.





Author Bio:
Before writing The Wrong Woman, Brenda dabbled in a myriad of professions. She’s been a waitress (back in the day before they were called servers), a security guard, a ballroom dance instructor, an interior decorator and design consultant, a set dresser for the film and television industry, where she is still a member in good standing, and a restaurant manager. She is currently working as a visual merchandiser for The Brick, a chain of furniture stores throughout the lower mainland.
In the midst of all that, she’s been an active part of the Community Theatre scene, doing set design but principally acting and studying most of the great works since her late teens. She currently lives in Coquitlam, British Columbia, with her beautiful daughter, one dog, and two cats.
Connect with Brenda J Brown on: 


The Wrong Woman
By 
Brenda J Brown 
Release Date: 17th April 2014
Available from Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and TWCS PH





Giveaway!

Saturday, 12 April 2014

Terri's Review: A Life Apart by L.Y. Marlow


When Morris Sullivan joins the navy in 1940, his hopes are high. Though he leaves behind his new wife and their baby daughter, he is thrilled to be pursuing his lifelong dream-only to be shipped off to Pearl Harbor when the war begins. When he narrowly survives the 1941 attack, thanks to the courage of a black sailor he doesn't know, Morris is determined to seek out the man's family and express his gratitude and respect. On leave, he tracks down the man's sister, and finds an immediate, undeniable connection with the nurturing yet fiercely independent Beatrice, who has left the stifling South of her upbringing for the more liberal, integrated north.

Though both try to deny their growing bond, their connection and understanding is everything missing from Morris's hasty marriage to his high school sweetheart Agnes, and from Beatrice's plodding life as she grieves the brother she has lost. At once a family epic, and a historical drama that takes readers from World War II through the Civil Rights Movement to the present day, A Life Apart is about a love that creates complicated and unbreakable ties between two families that live worlds apart. L.Y. Marlow brings readers along for the emotional journey as Morris and Beatrice's relationship is tested by time, family loyalties, racial tensions, death, unending guilt, and the profound effects of war.


Paperback, 400 pages
Expected publication: April 22nd 2014 by Broadway Books
 
Terri's Thoughts:
 
I received an advanced readers copy of the book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.  The expected publication date is April 22, 2014.
 
After reading the synopsis of this story I was really excited to receive this book as it was right up my alley.  A historical fiction with some family drama is the perfect book for me.  This book did not disappoint me with this.
 
Since I do not like to discuss the plot of a story in my reviews I am going to stick to how this book made me feel.  The first point is the era in which this story took place.  Starting with the events in Pearl Harbour up to the civil rights movement this story covered some very interesting and significant aspects of American history.  Although myself no American I am fascinated with both events/movements.  This alone was enough to keep me interested in the book.
 
Then there are the characters of Agnes and Beatrice.  I adored both of them.  Although both had been dealt some harsh realities, I found both women to be strong in their own way and likeable.  I was cheering for both of them throughout the story and hoping that both would choose the path to a better life.  For both of them their only flaw was Morris.....which leads me to discuss Morris.
 
I hated Morris.  Despised him.  Wished horrible things would happen to him.  I'm not sure if this was by design that I disliked him so much or if the reader was supposed to sympathize with his plight.  I could not.  I found him selfish and cold from almost the first page.  His inability to do the right thing was infuriating.  If only he did the right thing for one person he could have been somewhat redeemed in my eyes.  Instead he wronged everyone including his children.  He is portrayed to be completely devoted to his children however giving complete devotion sometimes is not the same as always.  I am getting angry writing this review just thinking about him. 
 
I am still on the fence regarding my overall take on this story.  On the one hand my utter distaste for Morris slightly ruined the book for me.  On the other hand, if a story evokes this much emotion from me that has to mean something?  To summarize this was a great story covering some historically significant times and dealing with interracial relations which was fascinating.  The female characters were great and likeable with only one common flaw and that was who they chose to love.  This was a good read.
 
My sister is currently reading this story and doing a review as well and I refuse to discuss it until she has finished and written her review.  I am curious to know her thoughts and if she was a passionate about Morris as I was.  I can't wait to discuss with her!
 


      


Thursday, 10 April 2014

Feature and Follow Friday #23






Feature & Follow Friday is a weekly meme that allows book bloggers to interact with each other and find new blogs! It has two hosts, Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. The rules are...

 
(Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say “hi” in your comments and that they are now following you.
If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn’t have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don’t just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don’t say “HI”
If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love…and the followers
If you’re new to the follow Friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog.

This week's question is...

 Tell us about a book that you didn’t like and why we shouldn’t read it…nicely.

Kristine's answer...

I want to start out by saying that this is the part about blogging that I like the least. I hate having to give a bad review and I struggle to do so in as nice and kind a way as possible. I am normally very easy to please so a book has to be really bad for me to give it a not so nice review. This was the first "1 star" that I ever gave on the blog and that was last October.





There are multiple reasons that I disliked this book so much but I'll be brief and I won't mention them all. Mainly I disliked the characters, the plot lacked depth, the roommate's death was too unbelievable and there was way too much selfishness and immaturity. One of the biggest kickers (although there were many) was competing with her roomate to see who could be the loudest while having sex. What??? Then something happens at the end to the only character I actually liked that had me shaking my head. My original review can be found here.

Terri's answer...

The Blindness of the Heart by Julia Franck was perhaps the most disappointing book I have ever read.  I had been eager to read it after reading the synopsis as it advertised a tragic story spanning both wars and I am a huge fan of historical fiction.  The problem is that the main character had no redeeming qualities which made it hard to be in her corner.  This was just a dull read with horrible characters and no underlying themes that I could identify.  This book was originally written in German and then translated to English so I think it may just be that some of the story and emotions got lost in translation.

I could also add any of the 50 Shades series as well for the overuse of the word gasp ;-)

That is our Feature and Follow Friday for this week! Comment down below if you're a new follower of ours with a link to your blog and we will make sure to follow you back. You can follow us via gfc, bloglovin, facebook and/or twitter.


Review: Shadow Fire (The Light Chronicles #1) by Kimber Leigh Wheaton

Ashlyn – a free-spirited teenager whose peaceful life is shattered when the village elders honor her with a perilous quest to recover a stolen relic.

Zane – a jaded mercenary, torn by his undeniable desire for Ashlyn and the dark secret that could make her hate him forever.

Delistaire – a malevolent sorcerer driven by an insatiable lust for power.
All three are bound together by an ancient relic supposedly infused with the power of a Goddess.

Shadow Fire - adventure, passion, secrets, and betrayal

As Ashlyn and Zane race to stay one step ahead of the evil lurking in the shadows, their passions are ignited and their bond strengthens. But will they find the relic before Delistaire? Or has their entire quest been orchestrated from the very beginning by a madman in pursuit of ultimate power? 


Kindle Edition, 310 pages
Published February 24th 2014 by Astraea Press 
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy

Kristine's Thoughts:

I received a copy of this book direct from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Kimber Leigh Wheaton for the opportunity!

This book started out as an adventure as Ashlyn set off on an impossible mission to recover a stolen goddess statue with Zane the mercenary by her side. It was very clear from the beginning that there was an attraction between the two and that we would be in for a good romance. Little did I know that it would be a whole lot more.

As the two pursue their quest we are introduced to unusual creatures, magic and evil sorcerers. This is where I need to back up a little bit. It is these types of stories that can be hit or miss for me. A story has be written just so in order for me to enjoy a plot that takes me away from something that could actually happen in real life. I have to say that Wheaton did just that. She penned the story in a way that had me believing the story and wanting to know more. I wasn't shaking my head at the unusual events because she was able to find a perfect balance to make the story flow. By the half way point the story was off and running at full steam with twists and turns that kept me glued to the pages.

I enjoyed Ashlyn's character because she was not a weak and needy girl. She had a strong will and the ability to defend herself to some degree. Zane was also extremely likeable. Not only were his physical characteristics pleasing but his personality and kind heart were equally so.  The two together were a joy to read. There was a ton of chemistry to go along with the budding romance but it was kept clean enough that it is appropriate for readers of any age.

Over all I have to say that a really enjoyed the book and I will definitely be reading the rest of The Light Chronicles when it comes out.

Buy Shadow Fire here




About the Author
Kimber Leigh Wheaton is a YA/NA author with a soft spot for sweet romance and is a member of Romance Writers of America. She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs and four cats. No, she doesn’t live on a farm, she just loves animals. Her house is filled with dragons, though she does lament that they are the porcelain, non-flying variety. Kimber Leigh is addicted to romance, videogames, superheroes, villains, and chocolate—not necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose, she’ll take a chocolate covered superhero!) Her debut novel, Shadow Fire, is the first book in The Light Chronicles series. Watch for book two, Stolen Moon, a standalone sequel, coming soon.

She currently lives in San Antonio, TX but has been somewhat a rolling stone in life, having resided in several different cities and states. Her family enjoys travel, anime & are video game fanatics. Zelda, Fire Emblem & Namco 'Tales of" are some of her favorite franchises. Kimber Leigh is addicted to fairy tales, both the dark and the light. The Brothers Grimm is one of her favorite reads.


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