The Haunting of Hill House - Shirley Jackson

Summary: The classic supernatural thriller by an author who helped define the genre

First published in 1959, Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House has been hailed as a perfect work of unnerving terror. It is the story of four seekers who arrive at a notoriously unfriendly pile called Hill House: Dr. Montague, an occult scholar looking for solid evidence of a "haunting"; Theodora, his lighthearted assistant; Eleanor, a friendless, fragile young woman well acquainted with poltergeists; and Luke, the future heir of Hill House. At first, their stay seems destined to be merely a spooky encounter with inexplicable phenomena. But Hill House is gathering its powers—and soon it will choose one of them to make its own.

For more than sixty-five years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,500 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators. (picture and summary from goodreads.com)

My Review:  Dracula. Frankenstein’s Monster. Hill House? Oh, you betcha peeps. This book is not only a horror classic, but Hill House itself deserves its place in the pantheon of classic monsters.

The book starts out with the description of the characters, which I feel really describes the time period in which it was written. It gives an introduction of each player—including the house, cause it’s cool like that—with enough information that you can tell that the people are not only doomed, but that they’ve been groomed and hand-selected for an adventure such as this. I think this is great about books from this era—there is no need for pop psychobabble or too much delving into feelings or drama. This person has this background. They may or may have not killed their mother. They may or not be a psychopath, time will tell. They may have a temper problem. The end. It’s a fun and spooky way to introduce the characters and lets them to develop in a way that allows me as the reader to not be too involved in their psyche, but also to be involved in a way that only a person very removed can see the degradation of character and the rising of insanity.

And oh, does this ever happen. Because Hill House is a force unto itself. There are things that happen in Hill House that are the stuff of nightmares. It’s not the covert blood sucking of Dracula, but a more visible and psychological assault that you can’t help but watch and experience with horror.  The writing is great and allows for this, too. Shirley Jackson doesn’t beat around the bush. She’s writing a horror story about a monster house and you bettah believe she’s gonna deliver.

There’s nothing much cooler than a scary atmosphere, right? It’s all about the atmosphere. Even the best villains are nothing if they aren’t set in a scary atmosphere. And so that’s what’s great about Hill House. The background—the very atmosphere—is the actual monster. Even if there are, per se, monsters within Hill House, it’s Hill House itself that creates this fear and dread and in the end, claims something for its very own.

The thing I loved about this book is that it really is legit scary, and it doesn’t need to be all Walking Dead with visible gore and pushed-to-the-limits language and happenings. Now don’t get me wrong, I love me some Walking Dead. But I really loved the creepy, wait-for-it dread and then downright scary moments that Hill House had to offer. It’s a great Halloween read, a definite classic, and one to check out if you’re looking for something a little off the beaten path with a monster that isn’t your normal run of the mill vampire or other Halloween trickster.

My rating: 4 Stars

For the sensitive reader: This book is uber creepy and does have some shocking scenes, but it is relative to the time period and pretty light sauce for today’s horror standards.

Rooms - Lauren Oliver

Summary: Lauren Oliver makes her adult debut with this mesmerizing story in a tale of family, ghosts, secrets, and mystery, in which the lives of the living and the dead intersect in shocking, surprising, and moving ways.

Wealthy Richard Walker has just died, leaving behind his country house full of rooms packed with the detritus of a lifetime. His estranged family—bitter ex-wife Caroline, troubled teenage son Trenton, and unforgiving daughter Minna—have arrived for their inheritance.

But the Walkers are not alone. Prim Alice and the cynical Sandra, long dead former residents bound to the house, linger within its claustrophobic walls. Jostling for space, memory, and supremacy, they observe the family, trading barbs and reminiscences about their past lives. Though their voices cannot be heard, Alice and Sandra speak through the house itself—in the hiss of the radiator, a creak in the stairs, the dimming of a light bulb.

The living and dead are each haunted by painful truths that will soon surface with explosive force. When a new ghost appears, and Trenton begins to communicate with her, the spirit and human worlds collide—with cataclysmic results.
Image and summary from http://www.laurenoliverbooks.com/

My Review: Loner and eccentric collector Richard Walker has passed away. Now his estranged family including ex-wife Caroline, teenage son Trenton, and daughter Minna with her own child Amy in tow, arrive to clean up the house and claim their inheritance. Returning to this home they once shared as a family will draw up memories, some better left forgotten. And serveral surprises await them. Richard did not lead a nice and orderly life. His avid collecting has left the large house in dire straights. The will, with it's mention of an unheard-of woman, is not as expected. Oh and the house is shared by two ghosts.

The ghosts, Alice and Sandra, died years ago and cannot leave the house. They have no voice so they use the sounds of the house to communicate with the inhabitants (except for Trenton who seems to be able to hear them well). Perhaps because of this restriction all the action in the story takes place on the estate, either in the house itself or on the grounds outside. When a third ghost enters the scene things become a little claustrophobic and the house seems to be breaking at the seams, as do the occupants, both living and dead. The only way out is to face the inner demons each character carries but this is not an easy feat.

The story is told in alternating voices. Each chapter is narrated by one of the main characters, including ample time for the ghosts. The chapters are  neatly labeled for easy distinction. This allows the reader to quickly get familiar with the characters, to know what each is not only saying but thinking and feeling. Each character is carrying a heavy secret that is drowning the happiness out of life (or death in the case of the ghosts). These secrets are slowly unraveled throughout most of the story, hooking the reader. The stories begin to weave together allowing the book to flow effortlessly, much like a ghost on the move.

Readers who must like the characters in order to enjoy a book be forewarned. These are not likable characters. If fact, with the exception of Amy (because an unlikable six-year-old would have been unbearable), none of the characters possess a redeeming quality until the final chapters, where even then it it questionable for a few. Their words, actions, and self-destructive behavior will leave a bitter taste. Yet despite all these individual flaws the relationships between the characters really work. Alice and Sandra banter like an old married couple. Minna and Trenton struggle to understand each other but the sibling love is evident. And mother Caroline, while she has no chance of winning mother of the year, no doubt wishes to protect her children.

The story overall is suspenseful and packed full of drama. It has touches of humor and plenty of surprises throughout. It is haunting in unexpected ways. Though this might not prove to be an all-out genre break through, Oliver has proven her skill to write for a more mature audience. The end encompasses a solid message regarding the power of forgiveness, especially self-forgiveness, and the importance of letting go of past mistakes.

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

Sensitive Readers: Oliver leaves no question that this is a adult book. She does not hesitate to use profane language, sexuality, drugs, and alcohol throughout. Some of it is necessary for the plot while other instances are over-the-top, almost as if thrown in just to prove this is not a young adult title.

To Sum It Up: A fantastic premise with a well done, though not perfect, execution. Rooms is a mix of the the fantasy Oliver is known for in her young adult books and realities of life.

GUEST REVIEW: The Paper Magician - Charlie N. Holmberg

Please join me in welcoming our guest reviewer today, Sally Treanor!!

Summary: Ceony Twill arrives at the cottage of Magician Emery Thane with a broken heart. Having graduated at the top of her class from the Tagis Praff School for the Magically Inclined, Ceony is assigned an apprenticeship in paper magic despite her dreams of bespelling metal. And once she’s bonded to paper, that will be her only magic…forever.

Yet the spells Ceony learns under the strange yet kind Thane turn out to be more marvelous than she could have ever imagined—animating paper creatures, bringing stories to life via ghostly images, even reading fortunes. But as she discovers these wonders, Ceony also learns of the extraordinary dangers of forbidden magic.

An Excisioner—a practitioner of dark, flesh magic—invades the cottage and rips Thane’s heart from his chest. To save her teacher’s life, Ceony must face the evil magician and embark on an unbelievable adventure that will take her into the chambers of Thane’s still-beating heart—and reveal the very soul of the man.

From the imaginative mind of debut author Charlie N. Holmberg, The Paper Magician is an extraordinary adventure both dark and whimsical that will delight readers of all ages.  (Summary and image from Goodreads.com)

My Review: This is the first novel in a series and Holmberg has done an excellent job on several fronts. The novel is takes place in an alternate, early 20th century England where schools of magic are as common as secondary school, and the practitioners of magic are well-respected. The world-building is subtle and well integrated into the story, with the main character acknowledging the way things are without digressing from the story. The main character, Ceony Twill, is vivacious and believable. She has a kind heart without being perfect and with a back-up plan...she could always go to culinary school if the magic thing doesn't pan out. She accepts her world the way it is and so does the reader. The secondary characters are also fleshed out enough to make them interesting without threatening to steal the show. Her villain is appropriately evil with enough backstory to know the villain wasn't always dark.

The journey that Ceony must take is one of self-discovery and serves as the backstory for the other main character, the paper magician of the title. Ceony walks through the memories, hopes, and doubts of her teacher to unravel the mystery of his character and learn how to defeat the evil magician who remains hard on her heels. Though this is the first novel in a series, it does not end on a cliffhanger or leave a reader with too many unanswered questions, though Holmberg wove in several excellent, unfinished plot threads. I can put the date for the next book on my calendar but I will not lose sleep over wondering what will happen next.

I have only two complaints. (1) The continued description of the stifling physical troubles of going through the valves of the heart was ridiculous. Once was enough. (2) I also felt there was a lack in keeping the language period correct, but since this is an alternate world...that can slide a little.

Rating: Four and a half stars.

For the Sensitive Reader: The dark magic performed in this book involves blood and dismemberment as well as murder. Thought this is not dwelt on at length, it is mentioned and could be disturbing to some.

Parallel Journeys - Eleanor Ayer

Summary:  Helen Waterford and Alfons Heck were born just a few miles from each other in the German Rhineland. But their lives took radically different courses: Helen's to the Auschwitz extermination camp, Alfons's to a high rank in the Hitler Youth. This book tells both of their true stories, side-by-side, and shows that two people, cast by fate as mortal enemies, can emerge from war with respect and empathy for each other. (Summary and Image from goodreads.com)

My Review:  Two lives.  Two radically different fates.  Helen Waterford, born in Germany, married and fled to Holland in fear of the newly elected Nazi regime is a working mother, a wife, and a Jewish woman doing her best for her family.  Alfons Heck, only ten years old, is a little boy being raised by his grandparents in a farming community, seduced by the power, prestige, and allure of the Hitler Youth.  Eleanor Ayer has captured their stories, two very different journeys, and presented them side by side in this amazing, chilling, book.

When I was in sixth grade, it was my ambition to learn everything about the Jewish Holocaust I could.  World War II history has always fascinated me and I frequently return to the genre.  However, although I have read numerous stories of survivors, I had never, ever picked up a book telling the story from the other side.  Heck was only a boy when Hitler came to power and was only 17 when his world crumbled and the War ended.  It was fascinating to read his story - the measures that the Nazi regime took to brainwash a generation, the methods that were used to insure their devotion, blind obedience, and willingness to serve the Third Reich, and the overwhelming guilt and self-discovery he had to endure as he saw the lies unravel.

Juxtaposed with Helen Waterford's story, entering into hiding, only to find herself betrayed and sent to Auschwitz, (look for some names you definitely know from history) miraculously surviving the war, finding her young daughter safe (but unsure of this woman claiming to be her mother) and fighting to reclaim her life, this book was a heart-wrenching and enlightening one.  

Waterford and Heck both immigrated to America after the war, and met up, years later, by happenstance.  They were able to find forgiveness, form a friendship, and embark on lecture tours nationwide as they shared their stories of the war.

This is a difficult book to find, but it is definitely worth the read.  The chapter on Heck's journey to Nuremburg, as he witnessed the trials and sentencing of men he viewed to be heroes, then as he came to grips with the reality of the Nazi goals and struggled to find peace and forgiveness are haunting.  His story, and the story of an entire generation, are largely untold.  The victors write the history books, and all.  But his struggle to forgive himself, to change his own mind about the lies he had been fed, was heart-wrenching.  

My Rating: Four and a half stars

For the Sensitive reader:  There are brief descriptions of the concentration camp conditions.  As fas as Holocaust books go, however, it's rather mild.

Nick and Tesla's Super-Cyborg Gadget Glove - Bob Pflugfelder and Steve Hockensmith

Summary: Bright siblings—and amateur inventors—Nick and Tesla Holt are back in this fourth installment of their whiz-bang middle-grade series. This time, the twins are out to save science itself, as they race against the clock to figure out why a robotic assortment of history’s greatest scientists and inventors keeps going haywire. Is this sabotage, robo-geddon…or something more sinister? To unravel the mystery, they’ll have to keep adding all-new gadgets to their cyborg glove as they stay one step ahead of a hidden adversary. Together with zany scientist Uncle Newt and their friends Silas and DeMarco, Nick and Tesla won’t give up until an answer is found…but can they do it before time runs out? In this book, readers will learn how to construct a super-cyborg gadget glove that has four incredible functions: LED signal light, ultra-loud emergency alarm, handy sound recorder, and UV secret message revealer. Science and electronics have never been so much fun! (Summary and image from goodreads.com.  I was provided a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.)

My Review:   Nick and Tesla are back, and this time, they only have four hours to save a museum, uncover a sinister plot, oh, and rescue their friend DeMarco.  They don't have the benefit of their lab, they are stuck in a maze of museum that has more secrets than science, and it seems like at every turn they run into a new adversary ... or could they be a friend?

Yet again, my scientist son stole the book from me the minute it was out of the envelope and ran off. He loved it.  The idea of "Glovey", the glove that holds all of the tech experiments included in the book, has completely fascinated him.  Unfortunately, Silas' suggestion of a web shooter wasn't realized in the book, so C1 just has to theorize.

This book differed quite a bit from the previous three Nick and Tesla adventures.  Instead of days to mull over the issue, the kids only have a few hours from start to finish to solve the questions that keep arising.  They have to use what's on hand (but since they're assisting their uncle repair an Animatronics exhibit, they're still plenty around).  They're still trying to  digest the shocking news that their parents aren't growing soybeans ... and what is the duct tape doing all over the Nikolai Tesla signs?  Although it wasn't my favorite book of the series, I enjoyed the character development.  These are still twelve-year old kids, but they're starting to grow up, and they're starting to recognize it for themselves. 

My Rating: Four stars

For the sensitive reader:  Squeaky clean.  The worst I could find is that Nick is a pessimist and Tesla is bossy.

Happy, happy birthday, Lara!!

We'd like to wish our very own Lara a most happy birthday! We wish you all the books (and the time to read them) you could hope for!!

Never Fade - Alexandra Bracken

Summary:  Ruby never asked for the abilities that almost cost her her life. Now she must call upon them on a daily basis, leading dangerous missions to bring down a corrupt government and breaking into the minds of her enemies. Other kids in the Children’s League call Ruby “Leader”, but she knows what she really is: a monster. 

When Ruby is entrusted with an explosive secret, she must embark on her most dangerous mission yet: leaving the Children’s League behind. Crucial information about the disease that killed most of America’s children—and turned Ruby and the others who lived into feared and hated outcasts—has survived every attempt to destroy it. But the truth is only saved in one place: a flashdrive in the hands of Liam Stewart, the boy Ruby once believed was her future—and who now wouldn’t recognize her. 

As Ruby sets out across a desperate, lawless country to find Liam—and answers about the catastrophe that has ripped both her life and America apart—she is torn between old friends and the promise she made to serve the League. Ruby will do anything to protect the people she loves. But what if winning the war means losing herself? (Summary and image from goodreads.com)

My Review:  Ruby walked away from her friends, from her love, and from any chance of security she had in order to save them.  She's joined the Children's League - a splinter organization labeled a terrorist group by the government - not only to keep her friends safe, but to figure out what to do next.  Uneasy about the choices she's made, worried that the Children's League may truly not have the interest of the children in mind, and desperately missing Liam, an opportunity presents itself giving Ruby the means to fix things.

Middle novels are always tricky.  There's just so much information to convey, but there's also no resolution - just movement.  And sometimes, (really a lot of times), the movement can feel forced.  That isn't the case here!  Bracken has done a wonderful job moving the story forward, creating tension, showing the hazards of the promise of a utopia, and reuniting the majority of the group we saw torn apart in the first book.  New and old villains resurface, Ruby is compelled into a position of leadership and growth, and yet that urgency and tension that was so delicious in the first book is just as present here.

She also drops a huge bombshell at the end of the book that reminded me of the end of Catching Fire.  And darn it all ... the next book doesn't come out for months!!  Do you know how frustrating it is to wait?!

My Rating: Four stars

For the Sensitive Reader:  There is definitely more adult language in this book than in the first.  There's also some pretty brutal battles and a scene in "East River" that demonstrates the depravity that power can give.

Inside/Outside - Jenny Hayworth

Summary:  Award winning book - Finalist Beverley Hills Book Awards 2014
Jenny Hayworth grew up within the construct of the Jehovah's Witnesses, which she describes as a fundamentalist, cult-like religion. She devoted her life to it for over thirty years. Then she left it. The church "disfellowshipped" her- rendered her dead to those family and friends still committed to the church.

Hayworth is a sexual abuse survivor. The trauma changed her self-perception, emotional development, trust, and every interaction with the world. Inside/Outside is her exploration of sexual abuse, religious fundamentalism, and recovery.

Her childhood circumstances and tragedies forced her to live "inside". This memoir chronicles her journey from experiencing comfort and emotional satisfaction only within her own fantasy world to developing the ability to feel and express real life emotion on the outside.

It is a story that begins with tragic multigenerational abuse, within an oppressive society, and ends with hope and rebirth into a life where she experiences real connections and satisfaction with the outside world.

Those who have ever felt trapped by trauma or circumstances will find Inside/Outside a dramatic reassurance that they are not alone in the world, and they have the ability to have a fulfilling life, both inside and out. (Picture and description from goodreads.com)

My Review: Honestly, this is a difficult review to write. What do you say when someone has poured their heart out into a book? They've shared their heartaches, their shame, the ups, the downs, everything. And not only that, but those of their children as well?

And I understand that all authors feel this way. The proverbial blood, sweat, and tears go into their writing, and whether or not it actually turns into that epic smash of their dreams, there's something to be said for the actual cathartic process of writing and getting it out and having a physical copy of all that thinking and planning and mental toil.

So with this book, that pain and cathartic process is more obvious than other books. This woman has led a tough life. Really tough. She has had some genuinely difficult problems, many forced upon her by those she loved and trusted, and she has tried her best to overcome them. She made difficult choices and distanced herself from the only support she had, at times making things worse, but always trying again and not giving up.  The writing is not necessarily stellar, although I think it is definitely comparable to others in this genre. It is written in almost disconnected chapters with random anecdotes here and there, which makes it seem journal-like and unfinished in places, but all that being said, it is powerful in its honesty and rawness. And horrible. Because she has encountered some truly horrible people. It's heartbreaking and tough to read, especially when both she as a child as well as her children are involved in repeated sexual abuse.

As far as the Jehovah's Witness aspect is concerned, although her descriptions of them and their practices and beliefs seemed extreme, I'm not sure that labeling it a "cult" was fair, and possibly more just a label from the publishers. However, that does not excuse how she was treated by them or their seemingly close-minded beliefs on things like sexual abuse and mental illness.

I don't feel that this book offered a lot of hope or redemption in the end, but I do think that it was certainly helpful to the author and to any others who have experienced such abuse, isolation, and related problems that go with those unfortunate experiences. This book is a testament to the bravery of the author and the resiliency of the human spirit. It is certainly a book I would suggest to anyone who has experienced abuse in various forms, or persecution from within their own religion and who is looking for someone to relate to and commiserate with.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating:  3 stars

For the sensitive reader: This is a tough read that includes sexual abuse of adults and children, and although it is not irreverent in its description, it is graphic.

Pets Aplenty - Malcolm D. Welshman

Summary:  Join novice vet, Paul Mitchell, in a further six months of hilarious escapades he experiences while working at Prospect House Veterinary Hospital. He's confronted by a ravenous pig while sunbathing naked in a cornfield. He locks jaws with a caiman with scale rot and battles with Doug, a vicious miniature donkey that's always sinking his teeth into him. It ends with a Christmas pet blessing which erupts into pandemonium as frightened pets and owners scatter through the pews. Throughout his adventures, Paul is loyally supported by the team at the hospital - in particular Beryl, the elderly one-eyed receptionist, and, Lucy the junior nurse - together with whom he shares this merry-go-round of mayhem. It's a gripping, fast page-turner that's guaranteed to keep animal lovers entranced. (Summary and image from goodreads.com.  I was provided a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.)

My Review:  Paul Mitchell is a novice vet in an English vet clinic.  Single, lonely, and trying to find his footing both personally and professionally, he tries to navigate working with his ex-girlfriend, as well as doing his best in Prospect House.

This book should be titled Puns Aplenty.  The novel was rife with them, fairly choking every chapter with them.  A few I could stomach.  But puns on this scale were much too much to handle.  They obscured the storyline entirely, becoming so obvious and so desperate that it distracted me entirely.

Second, I had a really difficult time empathizing with our protagonist Paul.  I didn't find the character extremely likable, and in fact, his, um, excessive hormones nearly made me abandon the attempt to read this book more than once.  Not only were his musings unnecessary, they succeeded in making Paul utterly repellant.  I found myself rooting for the badger, the caiman, and the mad donkey.

My Rating:  One and a half stars

For the Sensitive Reader:  Paul's imagination is clearly R-rated.  There is also a bit of foul language.

Abraham Lincoln and Joseph Smith - Ron L. Anderson

Summary:  What could Abraham Lincoln and controversial Mormon founder possibly have in common?  According to Lincoln Leadership president Ron Anderson, more than you would think.  Using historical records from Illinois, where Smith and Lincoln were living in the 1840s, this book shows you new sides to both men, including their surprisingly similar views on God and their involvement with each others' politics. Find out how two young 'backwoods boys' crossed paths and led parallel lives before each was martyred for his cause in this exhaustively researched dual biography.  Image from goodreads.com, summary from Amazon.  I was provided a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.)  

My Review:  Have you ever had a book hangover?  You've read a book so amazing and well-written and perfect that no other book in the same genre will be able to ever compare?  Even years later, sometimes this affliction can strike, and sadly, this was a casualty of my Team of Rivals hangover.  Sadly, it just can't compare.  Goodwin did such an amazing job that I'm STILL recommending it to anyone and everyone who may be interested!  

Please don't get me wrong, Anderson truly did a wonderful job with the writing.  He has an educated and approachable style which I did find enjoyable to read.  However, although there are surprising similarities between the two figures, they never met.  There is no concrete evidence anywhere that there was any interaction or even recognition between the two, and this left Anderson stretching coincidental research to cover the lost ground.  There was a lot of conjecture.  It was distracting.  It wasn't implausible conjecture, but conjecture nonetheless.  Unfortunately, between the Team of Rivals comparisons I couldn't shut off and the amount of conjecture, I just couldn't finish this.  Perhaps someday.  But the timing is just not yet right.  

I'd love to return to this book soon and eat my words.  And I guarantee you that when the time is right to revisit this book and finish it, I'll be updating my review!

My Rating:  For now, two stars. 

For the Sensitive Reader:  Squeaky clean. 

After the Parch - Sheldon Greene

Summary:  It's 2075. California is nothing like we know it. The USA has broken up and California has become an independent refuge dominated by a single omnipotent corporation. Eighteen-year-old Bran, a shepherd, is given a mission to traverse the California republic in ten days, in order to save his rural community from forfeiting its land. On the way, he teams up with a seventeen-year-old girl who has the skills and prowess of a warrior, an eleven-year-old wild boy with uncanny survival skills, and a wandering musician with a secret revolutionary agenda. After the Parch is a fast-paced, vivid, dystopian fantasy with a chilling resemblance to the way we are, and a vision of what we might become. It's a well-crafted story and the plot flows naturally from one crisis to another, with three-dimensional characters right up to the taut and positive climax. (Summary and image from goodreads.com.  I was provided a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.)

My Review:  When I was growing up, I had a dog who loved to chew up puzzle pieces.  Well, the darn dog would chew up anything -- but she had an affinity for puzzle pieces.  The incomplete puzzles would drive me absolutely crazy, and since my family loves doing puzzles, having an intricate, beautiful puzzle completed except for the five or so pieces that our dumb dog had snacked on drove me nuts.   Frankly, the only thing I could imagine that would frustrate me further would be mixing the puzzle pieces together, throwing the boxes  and half the pieces away, and trying to build one puzzle of the mess.

Upsettingly, that's what After the Parch reminded me of.  There were too many puzzle pieces missing.  The characters were frustratingly one-dimensional, and worse - they were despicable creatures with no redeeming qualities to be found.  The writing style, present tense, works so well when done correctly to convey a sense of urgency.  However, since the novel is in the third person, it fell completely flat to me, and frankly made it more difficult to follow the story.  

Bran is tasked with purchasing a patent for the land he and his group have been living on illegally for the last few years.  Things don't go as planned, and he finds himself embroiled in more trouble than he imagined.  A three-day errand ends up with Bran as an outlaw, a terrorist act (I think) gone wrong, and a hodge-podge of characters weaving in and out of the mix. 

I just couldn't bring myself to care about the struggle, because it fell too flat.  It felt more like a (no-details-spared) narrative of going on a ten-day trek to the DMV.  Coupled with the numerous spelling and grammatical errors throughout the book, I struggled to finish it.

My Rating:  One star

For the Sensitive Reader:  Numerous and graphic descriptions of sex, including the seduction of a child, murder, sexual torture ... stay away.  

Ravensbruck: Everyday Life in a Women's Concentration Camp - Jack G. Morrison

Summary: Ravensbruck was a labour camp within German borders, not far from Berlin. In the beginning it was, by camp standards, a better camp, designed for indoctrination and industrial production, but by the end of the war it was just another overcrowded locus of horror complete with gas chamber. The result is a fascinating case study of how women of different nationalities and social backgrounds coped for years with lack of food and basic sanitation, illnesses, prejudices and death by carving out their own cultural life. (Summary and pic from goodreads.com)

My Review: I feel a little guilty saying this, but I loved this book. There’s something that feels really wrong about saying that you enjoy a book about a concentration camp, but I found Ravensbruck absolutely fascinating.

After reading Rose Under Fire (see review here), I wanted to know more about Ravensbruck. Because Wein had so many great resources, I was able to totally geek out like I love to do when I read a really interesting book, and I did all kinds of research about Ravensbruck. This book was a gem. It changed my view on concentration camps.  Don’t get me wrong—they’re still horrible (and I’m still hoping that Hitler is burning in hell), but I had no idea the depth and breadth of what went on there, what it was like, and especially how an exclusively women’s concentration camp differed so greatly from a men’s concentration camp.

First off, this book is really well written. It’s non-fiction and Morrison obviously did a ton of research (a lot of it firsthand from writings and interviews of women who survived the camp), but the writing isn’t so heavy or the language so dense that you have to slog through it. It read very quickly. Admittedly, this may be because it was just so fascinating. But I guess if that’s the reason, it doesn’t matter, right? Really, it’s completely accessible.

Secondly, I loved the description of the culture of the camp. I had no idea the humanity and caring, and also the prejudices and hatred that existed within the camp—both between the inmates and the staff. It is just so much more complex than I ever knew. I had no idea there were so many nationalities and cultures represented.  And I loved the women’s camp perspective of a concentration camp. It makes sense that a woman’s camp would function differently than a men’s camp, and this book beautifully illustrates this very unique situation.

Another thing that I found so amazing about this book was the art work and pictures. There were a few pictures of the camp, and the author describes early on that these cannot be trusted as many of them were taken by the SS to display to the Red Cross and various organizations concerned with the well-beings of captors.  The art was drawn by some of the women inmates. Obviously much of this was destroyed as it became clear to the SS that Germany was losing and the war was imminent, but the surviving pictures are haunting and descriptive of what it was like. And oh, was it horrible. But there were good things, too, and I loved that the author not only gave you a sense of how horrible things were and how horrible some people were, but also that many retained their humanity and generosity even in the worst of times. It really is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the resilience of individuals.

This book was really a life-changing experience for me. I’ve always heard about concentration camps, I’ve read some WWII fic and limited non-fic, and I have been to the inspiring (and horrible) Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., but I was not prepared for having my eyes opened to what a camp was like—both the good and the bad. I felt like after all this time, I had just been viewing the people in the camps as inmates as a whole, and hadn’t really considered the day to day living or the culture that existed within the camp. I just can’t say enough about how amazing I thought this book was and what it did for me and my knowledge of concentration camps and the very tenor of the war. I highly recommend it.

My rating: 5 stars

For the sensitive reader: This book is about concentration camps. There are horrible things, but they are all true and not sensationalized. The author treats the people with respect and dignity, despite them having experienced the worst atrocities one can imagine.

The Shoemaker's Wife - Adriana Trigiani

Summary:  The majestic and haunting beauty of the Italian Alps is the setting of the first meeting of Enza, a practical beauty, and Ciro, a strapping mountain boy, who meet as teenagers, despite growing up in villages just a few miles apart. At the turn of the last century, when Ciro catches the local priest in a scandal, he is banished from his village and sent to hide in America as an apprentice to a shoemaker in Little Italy. Without explanation, he leaves a bereft Enza behind. Soon, Enza's family faces disaster and she, too, is forced to go to America with her father to secure their future.

Unbeknownst to one another, they both build fledgling lives in America, Ciro masters shoemaking and Enza takes a factory job in Hoboken until fate intervenes and reunites them. But it is too late: Ciro has volunteered to serve in World War I and Enza, determined to forge a life without him, begins her impressive career as a seamstress at the Metropolitan Opera House that will sweep her into the glamorous salons of Manhattan and into the life of the international singing sensation, Enrico Caruso. 

From the stately mansions of Carnegie Hill, to the cobblestone streets of Little Italy, over the perilous cliffs of northern Italy, to the white-capped lakes of northern Minnesota, these star-crossed lovers meet and separate, until, finally, the power of their love changes both of their lives forever. 

Lush and evocative, told in tantalizing detail and enriched with lovable, unforgettable characters, The Shoemaker's Wife is a portrait of the times, the places and the people who defined the immigrant experience, claiming their portion of the American dream with ambition and resolve, cutting it to fit their needs like the finest Italian silk.

This riveting historical epic of love and family, war and loss, risk and destiny is the novel Adriana Trigiani was born to write, one inspired by her own family history and the love of tradition that has propelled her body of bestselling novels to international acclaim. Like Lucia, Lucia, The Shoemaker's Wife defines an era with clarity and splendor, with operatic scope and a vivid cast of characters who will live on in the imaginations of readers for years to come.  (Summary and image from goodreads.com)

My Review:  I'm not a huge fan of Adriana Trigiani's Big Stone Gap series.  I liked them, don't get me wrong, but they just weren't my cup of tea.  This is nothing at all like her previous books.  At all.

Trigiani has penned a novel that easily could be coined an epic.  Spanning two continents, two lifetimes, and giving insight into a time of history we tend to overlook (pre-WWI into the Great Depression), she has crafted a story that stuck with me more than I realized during my reading.  She has held nothing back, meticulously crafting her descriptions of the food, the scenery, smells, clothing, motions, and other characters.  While some readers may get bogged down, I thought it did nothing but enhance the story - breathing a deeper, fuller life into the characters than otherwise could have been achieved.  I loved how the mountain itself became a character.  I loved the span.  I loved the lifelong development of the characters - to me, it was such an organic development I found myself with wet cheeks as one character dies.  Frankly, I can't remember the last book that has made me cry hard enough to actually have tears leave my eyes.

I was a little daunted when I first picked up this book on recommendation from my neighbor.  It's long. (It's been a crazy busy time of year, but there's a lot of description to fit in.) However, I was completely surprised at how quickly it read.  Frankly, it may have been a little too quickly - I enjoyed it so much!

The only qualm I have about giving this five stars is the unrealistic depiction of the Depression era.  The characters seemed to be utterly untouched, like the Great Depression just didn't exist in the Midwest, and that just didn't ring quite true.  (I'm a little bit of a history geek and stickler, though.)

My Rating:  Four stars

For the Sensitive Reader:  There are a few scenes where sexual relations are mentioned, but they are not explicit.  It's more of the "this happened, so here we are" kind of a deal.  

The Horse Lover - Alan Day

Summary:He already owned and managed two ranches and needed a third about as much as he needed a permanent migraine: that’s what Alan Day said every time his friend pestered him about an old ranch in South Dakota. But in short order, he proudly owned 35,000 pristine grassy acres. The opportunity then dropped into his lap to establish a sanctuary for unadoptable wild horses previously warehoused by the Bureau of Land Management. After Day successfully lobbied Congress, those acres became Mustang Meadows Ranch, the first government-sponsored wild horse sanctuary established in the United States.
The Horse Lover is Day’s personal history of the sanctuary’s vast enterprise, with its surprises and pleasures and its plentiful dangers, frustrations, and heartbreak. Day’s deep connection with the animals in his care is clear from the outset, as is his maverick philosophy of horse-whispering, with which he trained fifteen hundred wild horses. The Horse Lover weaves together Day’s recollections of his cowboying adventures astride some of his best horses, all of which taught him indispensable lessons about loyalty, perseverance, and hope. This heartfelt memoir reveals the Herculean task of balancing the requirements of the government with the needs of wild horses. (summary and pic from goodreads.com)

My Review: I loved this book. And yes, I am biased because I love horses. But it wasn’t just about the horses. I mean, sure, there were plenty of horses and all (it is about a wild mustang ranch after all), but it was a really great look at ranch life and politics in the ranching business as well.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I got this book. The author, Alan, is Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s brother, so I expected that he would be intelligent and well-spoken, but since he’s a cowboy, I wasn’t sure what the actual writing would be like. Well, it turns out it was great. Not only was the book very well-written, but I loved his insight and conversational style.  It made the book really accessible. He had a way of telling the story and bringing to life the events of the past that really made it interesting. The author is a kind person, very insightful to both humans and animals, and he conveyed that well in his writing. It really is great that way.

I read this book quickly. I’m never sure what to expect with memoirs, sometimes they are a long slog and in the end it’s been months and months, much like living the person’s life in real time. I read this in just a few days, picking it up whenever I got a chance. It really was captivating and interesting. 

Although I had quite a bit of exposure to horses when I was growing up, I didn’t live on a ranch. We had a couple of acres with our house and arena and we had show horses, so I was actually not familiar with this type of ranch life. I found it fascinating and I loved hearing about Mr. Day’s experiences and knowledge about the horses and the ranch. One thing I really liked about the book is that he didn’t skip over the difficult things. Ranch life isn’t easy for the cowboys or the animals, and when working with wild mustangs, it’s even different because no one has much experience with them to start out with. Mr. Day was a pioneer in working with the mustangs and I enjoyed hearing about his successes as well as the times he had to learn something the hard way. He is an honest, hard-working man, and one who I feel privileged to have learned from in this book.

The Horse Lover is not just for horse lovers. Anyone who loves memoirs or reading about nature or animals would especially enjoy it. It really has something for everyone.

My rating: 5 stars

For the sensitive reader: There is some mild cowboy language as well as ranch situations that include the death of some animals, although nothing is gruesome or irreverent about the deaths. 

A Time to Die - Nadine Brandes

Summary: How would you live if you knew the day you'd die?

Parvin Blackwater has wasted her life.  At only seventeen, she has one year left according to the Clock by her bedside.

In a last-ditch effort to make a difference, she tries to rescue Radicals from the crooked justice system.  But when the authorities find out about her illegal activity, they cast her through the Wall -- her people's death sentence.

What she finds on the other side about the world, about eternity, and about herself changes Parvin forever and might just save her people.  But her Clock is running out.  (Summary and image from goodreads.com.  I was provided a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.)

My Review: Parvin is utterly forgettable.  She's spent her whole life in Unity, doing nothing much more than surviving.  She sews.  She reads.  She doesn't understand it, but she also craves life.  With one year left on her Clock, she's granted special status by her government: a few wishes, some extra money.  But they can't grant her deepest wish - she wants to be remembered.  She wants to change the system - go back to a time when Clocks didn't dictate everything. What she truly wants is a trip (just a trip) over the Wall to see what is on the other side.

Oh, my goodness, I couldn't put this book down.  Brandes has crafted such a compelling story that just grabbed me from the first pages and wouldn't let go.  Parvin is stronger than she thinks, but completely relatable.  She felt real.  Her motivations weren't always altruistic, she has her own inherent flaws, she makes mistakes, but she does her best.  She has a growing relationship with God, which compels her after her exile to continue to strive, but never did I feel like the relationship was preachy or obligatory.  In fact, it added to the storyline in such a way that I found it integral.

There were points that this book reminded me of both Legend and the Divergent series -- the elements of fear simulations, neighboring (but not necessarily friendly) societies with radically different socioeconomic philosophies, but they were combined and presented with enough newness that it didn't bother me.

This is the first in a series of books, and I can't wait for the next installment!

My Rating:  Four and a half stars.

For the sensitive reader:  There are two scenes of involuntary amputation, a surprise delivery, and a shocking murder, but other than that, the raciest it gets is some hand holding.