I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is July 26th, 2016.
I tend to shy away from coming of age stories as a lot of them tend to be slow moving and dull. Something convinced me to give this one a chance and I am sure glad I did. I was drawn in from the beginning and I am still thinking about it hours after I have read the last sentence.
As someone who writes a lot of reviews, I am almost hesitant to try to capture my thoughts on this story. What if I can't do it justice? I know I don't have the right words to do so. This story deals with issues prevalent in the 50's & 60's with racial relations and an unpopular war. I can't help but notice that after all this time these are still issues within our society. It is sad but I am here to talk about this book.
Those seeking happy go lucky should look elsewhere as these pages are filled with conflict, tragedy and hard lessons. The things that Junebug has to deal with in his young life is overwhelming. The loss of his parents, the loss of other loved ones and the fact that he loves someone that is not accepted within his society. I was glued to the pages to find out what would happen next.
You also have the characters that easily earn your hatred. From Lightning, to Mr Wilson, to the cast of characters that don the white sheet over their bodies. It is easy to see how Junebug did not necessarily know how to make the best choices. Then there are the ones you are rooting for such as Fancy and Junebug. You can't help but wish the world was a different place so that they could conquer it together.
I found that this story split nicely into to separate parts. The story before the war and then the rest. This kept the pace interesting. The enjoyed the war aspect and all the heart wrenching and disgusting details. For me it added another layer of believability. It really was a volatile time.
I wish that I could discuss the ending however I do not want to include any spoilers in my review. I could dedicate a whole paragraph/page to my thoughts on it. All I will say is that I feel it was an appropriate and consistent ending for the story.
This book has been on my to read list forever. My sister read it a long time ago and recommended it to me and I just never got around to it. When I was watching TV one night, the trailer for the movie came on and I knew my time had run out. I must always read the book before the seeing the movie and I know we will be going to see this.
I am not going to give an in depth review as this story has been reviewed thousands of times. I think it is fair to say that the majority of the population loved this story as did I. What I do want to say is that for those who have not yet read this story but plan to, do it quickly before you see the movie trailer. For me, the trailer provided a little too much insight in to what the story is about and therefore I found that there were no real surprises and I knew what would happen. This was slightly disappointing for me as I did not experience the full impact of the story.
That being said, I am smart enough to know that the disconnect was due to the exposure I had to the book before reading it. Had I have gone in to it with no expectations or knowledge, I know I would have felt the emotional connection that is present in the story. I really really wish I had read this before it was made in to a movie!
On another note, I can see how this story would be a great reading group book. There are so many topics that I would love to debate in this review however cannot as it would disclose too much of the story and in the event that I am not the last person to read this, I do not want to spoil it for others.
Overall, I highly recommend this book. My only regret is taking so long to get around to reading it ...more
I received and advanced copy of this book from the publisher Kensington via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is May 31st, 2016.
I need to be upfront about my thoughts on this story. I took a risk when I selected this book for two reasons. First being that the title is very odd. The second is that the story takes place in a convent. I could not visualize where the story would take me.
Let me tell you the risk paid off! I absolutely loved it! Having literally just finished reading the last sentence, I am currently experiencing that feeling you get when a story really touches you. You know that feeling that you just can't put in to words? Where you will find yourself thinking about the story long after finishing it? Avid readers will know this feeling I talk of, and please, someone tell me a good word for it!
It is no secret that I am a big fan of this type of story. Where the secrets of today are answered by the secrets of the past. Where the story slowly unfolds of the past as you anxiously wait to find out what happened to the characters and are almost always certain it will be tragic.
The story of Rosalia was both tragic and uplifting. While her journey did not take her where I wished it would have, I knew it would not. The big secret reveal was really not so much to the reader as it was obvious pretty early on, as was the "secret" ingredient. Regardless, the story captured me and kept me glued to the pages until the story ended.
I have a love/hate relationship with this feeling I currently have. I say get past the weird title and pick this one up. As an added bonus there are all sorts of recipes at the end for how to make the pastries mentioned in the book. Which reminds me, you may not want to pick this up on an empty stomach, the pages are filled with sinfully delicious sounding pastries!...more
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is April 25, 2016.
To start off with, this story deals with the C word. Oh how I hate the C word, to the point that I can't even say it. It seems that at every turn I hear about someone near and dear to me that has been diagnosed with this. With that in mind this story hits close to home. Add to that the story deals with children, it makes it even more tragic.
I will not go in to the plot as I feel the synopsis covers it fairly well. I will discuss the powerful message that is evident throughout the pages. It is that nobody is guaranteed a tomorrow and we have to do our best today to live life to the fullest. It is about letting go of the baggage you carry and having no regrets. It is about forgiveness and accepting the cards that you have been dealt with.
I found the message in this story extremely powerful. For a read that was so easy, this story really packed a punch for me. It made me realize that I shouldn't sweat the small stuff and to make today count, no matter what. Although not in the same situation I can see how the message in this story can translate to my own life.
This is one of those stories that I will carry with me for a long time. While the message is subtle and not in your face or preachy, it is no less impactful as a result. While I admit the ending may have been a tiny bit cheesy I am so happy that I had the opportunity to read this story. I would recommend it to almost anyone. ...more
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Atria Books via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is March 22, 2016.
I am in no way, shape, or form able to do this story justice so I am not going to try. I am simply going to try to jot down whatever random thoughts pop in to my head.
First thing, I have waited forever for this story to come out. I read the first book in the series The Seven Sisters almost a year ago and have been anxiously waiting for the second story ever since. It will be with great agony that I will be waiting for the next story as this is part of a seven story series that Lucinda Riley is working on. Why, oh why, did I have to discover this series at the beginning. I have to wait for the next instalments to be written.
That brings me to my second point. I have read all of Lucinda Riley's works. For her fans, you will not be let down. For fans of historical fiction who have not yet discovered her work, pick it up now! She is a master of weaving the past and the present in to compelling stories that you can't put down.
This instalment is Ally's quest to discover her heritage. Through her journey you are taken through not one but two stories in the past. First Anna and Jens, and then later Karine and Pip. Both equally interesting and tragic (as one would expect). I will divulge not details as I will let the story sell itself.
I enjoyed the fact that Ally's present day story was very different form her sister Maia's (from the first story) and also a little bit different than the standard formula you tend to find with some historical fiction. I may have enjoyed her story the most in this book which is rare, I almost always prefer the story in the past.
It is said that this can be read as a stand alone, and that all in the series can be, however I don't see why. There is a little bit of a mystery that has surrounded these first two stories which I believe will surround all of the stories of the sisters. I believe I mentioned it in my review of the first book (have not gone back to check) but I believe the mystery of Pa Salt will become a story of its own in the end. There are bits and pieces, I would almost say teasers, woven in to both stories. Then there is also the fact that the series is called The Seven Sisters yet there are only six. Hmmmmmmm, I sense a master plan here. In fact looking at the Q&A at the end of the story, Riley herself admits that she already knows the plot for the last book which supports my theory.
Don't hesitate to read this book. In fact, stop reading the reviews and just pick it up. Start with the first and then pick this one up. While you wait for the next one, go back and read her other stories. I am sure you will not be disappointed. This is my first 5 star rating this year.
My only complaint (as it was with the first one) is that I discovered it too soon. I now wait and wait until the next one comes out. Sigh... ...more
**I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher William Morrow via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is July 21st 2015**
I was pretty excited for this read. I had read Hashimi's previous novel The Pearl That Broke it's Shell (review here ) and loved it so my expectations were set high for this book. I can say I was not disappointed.
I won't re-hash the story as I feel the book synopsis does a good job describing the plot. As Hashimi's previous novel did, this story educated me more about a region that I honestly know little about. I am going to assume that some of the background information is historically accurate. I did not know that women in Afghanistan used to have the same liberties as I currently know. I had assumed that it had always been the way we know if now where woman are not treated as equal. When Fereiba described her outfit of a pencil skirt I was initially confused until the story described the transition of the Afghanistan of old to the new one.
I am not sure why stories that take place in this geography fascinate me so much. Maybe it is because it is so different from what I know, or maybe because it is almost always tragic, I don't know. I am really not going to analyze it to much.
Back to the plot...a little bit. I could not even imagine going through what this family went through in order to try to escape their reality. Does it ever put things in to perspective when I am sweating the small stuff. My reality is a dream compared to theirs.
I encourage anyone who likes to read about the plight of people in real places to pick up this book. Both books actually. They are eye opening, compelling, well written and simply entertaining. I look forward to discovering any future work by Hashimi.
In closing I have to say that I felt the ending to the story was completely appropriate. Symbolic in a way. For anyone who has read this I would love to know if you agree. ...more
**I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Hachette via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication data is April 28th 2015**
OMG....I have to wait until September to read the next in the series?!?! That is simply cruel that I can't get my next fix of the drama that is Lexie's life until then!
It is safe to say that this story hooked me. I will admit to being a little bit surprised, I expected it to entertain me but not as much as it did. This type of story is a guilty pleasure for me however I usually keep my expectations tempered. This story changed up the formula for me.
I am not going to give spoilers but I am going to give my thoughts on where I see this story progressing going forward. I do not know how many books this series will amount to however it felt like this inaugural story was setting up a framework for things to come.
The chemistry between Ballantine and Lexie was evident from the beginning and there verbal sparring was entertaining. I eagerly awaited each moment they had together to see where it was going to go. I also sensed some chemistry between Lexie and a certain other character and I feel that it is setting the framework for a future plot twist. Do I sense a love triangle in the future? It certainly appears that way and the relationship between the characters certainly adds to the drama factor.
That is all I am going to say. I would recommend this to fans of NA and YA although there is a bit of sexual content so YA audience be warned (so maybe not). This story to me seemed to fit outside of the usual formula of the genre and I found that refreshing. I also think that the story was framed in such a way that several instalments could be made and it would still be compelling to keep wanting to come back for more. I personally can not wait until the next book is out so I can find out what happens. ...more
**I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Atria via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is May 5th 2015**
I will start by saying that I was beyond excited to receive a copy of this book. I discovered the writing of Lucinda Riley some time ago purely by accident when I saw one of her titles recommended to me on Goodreads as something I may be interested in based on other novels I liked in the same genre. I have then gone on to read all of her works (that I am aware of) and enjoyed them all immensely. When I saw this one I knew I had to have it....and that it was a part of a series...even better as I know there is more upcoming work of hers to enjoy. As a huge fan of historical fiction her work thus far has provided me with countless hours of entertainment.
I am going to draft this review a little bit different than others I have done in the past. As I have high expectations I am going to write little by little as I go through the book so that I can give it the justice I am sure it will deserve...no pressure here! I am also going to try to avoid any spoilers which may be difficult in this format
20% complete
I have reached the 20% completion mark and I am completely excite where this story is headed. The only reason I have put the boo down is that my kindle has ran out of power and I am currently charging it.
The beginning of the story has the reader meeting Maia as well as five of her sisters. I have questions already....the title is The Seven Sisters...who and where is the seventh sister? I am sure that will be the last sister we here about and will wrap up the series...oh so long to wait but so much to look forward to in the meantime. I can see how this series is going to unfold with each novel telling the story of each sister.
As the synopsis of the book indicates all of the sisters are adopted and have been given a clue to their heritage. As a huge fan of Riley's I know that this will be an opening for us to learn the story of Maia's heritage and as the story progresses we will read the story of her birth family along with her journey in the present time. This is what Riley does so well and let's be honest...the blurb on this book also tells us so!
As of now the story has remained firmly entrenched in the present day and I eagerly await for it to turn to the past. I have not been this excited for a story in a while! Let's hope the remainder lives up to the high expectations that I have for it.
50% Complete
I have just spent the majority of the 20-50% in the past learning about Izabela's story. As always the past is what captivates my attention. The story remained there and did not flip back in forth so it appears that it will be chunks of time between the present and past as opposed to moving back and forth within each chapter. I am not giving any plot away but it pulled at my heartstrings. I simply cannot wait to see what happens. The big question I have at this period is how Izabela is linked to Maia's story. We know that she is not her mother as it happened too long ago however she is linked by birth relation. I am not sure how or when her mother is going to fit in to the story or if at this point it will make sense. I must move on to find out.
Remainder of Book
I knew this would happen. I got so involved in the book that I couldn't stop along the way to pen my thoughts. I had to find out what happened next so essentially this review is going to be all over the place. I refuse to give away any of the plot however I will note some random thoughts
•I will cut to the chase and say I LOVED this book. For the fans of Lucinda Riley, this is my undisputed favorite book of hers so far. For those who have not discovered her work and like historical fiction...pick this book up now •I can see how there are going to be several layers to this story within the subsequent stories of the other sisters. The major mystery being who is the girls adopted father and what is/was his story? I'm guessing here but I think we will see tidbits thrown in to each story and perhaps it will all tie together when we get to the story of the seventh sister. I predict that story will be about him. I am completely intrigued. •I love the fact that this will be a series and I am excited that we will learn more about this family and most likely the tragic stories of where each sister came from.
I do have one rather large disappointment about this book. I read this as an advanced copy and it is only the first in the series. I do not know how long I will have to wait until the next one comes out but I simply have to read it now! I almost wish I didn't discover this book until the entire series was released so I could read them back to back! I will be checking daily to see when the next one will be released. You can be sure I will be the first in line to receive it. Lucinda Riley has very quickly made it to the top of my must read and own authors. Thank you for continuing to entertain me. The best book that I have read so far this year. ...more
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher William Morrow via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is February 3rd 2015.
Yet again words escape me and I do not know how to express my thoughts on this story. I loved it, that much I know but how do I share my reasons why?
This was a heart wrenching and beautifully written story. Set back in the later 1800's and early 1900's it tells the story of two girls a few decades apart. From the tragic story of Florrie and the flower sellers of London's streets to the story of Tilly working with the afflicted flower girls who had been rescued from the streets of London.
I knew nothing of the story of the flower sellers in London and their tragic stories. I do not know if they are still there as I have never been to London however I have seen them in other places I have travelled in Asia which made it all the more real to me. To think that young children were living under such circumstance (and could still be) is absolutely heartbreaking. I was glued to the pages of Florrie's story.
While the story of Tilly offered up no real surprises I was equally invested. I wanted to find out what happened to her father and her sister. I wanted to know if she would be able to find Florrie's sister. Would she make it in London?
Although Gaynor does not really keep what happened to the characters a secret and you know throughout, I couldn't wait to see how it would unfold for the characters. I had an emotional attachment to them and the outcome. This is always the sign of a good book for me.
This is the second time I have read one of Gaynor's works. Both times I enjoyed her writing immensely. She is quickly rising on my list of must read authors and I am eagerly awaiting her next work. For those who like historical fiction this would be a must read.
Random thought: All stories I have read about London during this era depict a filthy and smelly city. This does not match up with my current image of the city however must be accurate as too many have described it that way. It is interesting how a city can transform it to the one we know today. Perhaps there are still areas like this however it is not what we see I the media. It is just interesting and not necessarily related to this book...more
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Kensington via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is January 5th, 2015.
This is a classic case of do not judge a book by its cover because lets be honest, it is pretty dreadful. This story turned out to be so much more than I expected. Perhaps I pre-judged it. This genre is typically for me an enjoyable one and a somewhat guilty pleasure however tends to lack the wow factor. This book changed it for me.
I don't know where to start. From the moment that Tink and Locke met I knew I was in for a ride. There was humour mixed in with the attraction and I am stifling a laugh as I picture Tink's beer bottle making contact with Locke's head. The forbidden romance while not exactly a new concept really worked in this story as it was set in the military landscape where there is added elements of why they couldn't be together.
Tink's unresolved feelings regarding her brothers death added an additional element to the story and explained her drive to become a fighter pilot. It also explained her fear to let go and love and be loved. It also gave the story a little more depth and helped you become invested in Tinks journey.
There were two elements that pushed this story in to the standout category for me.
1. This story moved in to a warzone. It wasn't all about romance and the inner angst of two lovers. It brought to the forefront true conflict and outlined the military life in a time of conflict. It also shed some light on the brotherhood (or sisterhood) of the military family and how they stick together and support each other no matter what. This was moving for me and I came to love all of characters...well except for one. This was unexpected and a good move on Rae's part.
2. Ash. Never in all of the hundreds of books I have read has there ever been a secondary character that I adored more. His relentless and humorous pursuit of Tink and then his humble acceptance that they would never be made me fall in love with him. The fact that he would still do anything for her with nothing in return but her friendship up to and including risking his life and career brought tears to my eyes. If there is any one character that deserves his own story it is him...hint hint. I looked forward to every time he was involved in the plot and I feel that there is more that can be done with him. He truly is what is sticking with me the most.
I guess it is safe to say that I really enjoyed this book. Although I didn't intend to I read it in one sitting and it is still resonating with me as I write these words. I want to thank Rae for writing a story that has shattered my pre-conceived notions regarding this genre and writing a story with a little bit of depth while still delivering everything I expect of the genre. I will definitely be looking for more of her work. ...more
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Knopf via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. THANK YOU! The expected publication date is January 6th 2014.
I have to be honest that I was skeptical about this read before starting it. The blurb compares it to some heavy weight books by heavy weight authors in this genre who have had a lot of media attention in the last year. I felt that this could be a disservice to the book as it would raise expectations that may be hard to meet. Needless to say that there was no fear in that as I absolutely adored this book (although I stand by my thoughts about the risk of comparing it to other blockbuster books).
No matter what I write down on this page I will not be able to do this story justice. I will not capture the humour, the love, the emotions or the tears so I wont try. Instead you are stuck with my measly attempt to form some kind of thought. Here goes nothing....
Every so often a character comes along that you just fall in love with. While you can't completely pinpoint the reason why, you just know that this character will stick with you and you will remember them long after you have moved on to the next 500 books and characters. This was Finch for me. His seize the day attitude had me from the very beginning when he spoke his first words to Violet. Although he was dealing with some very dark issues his approach to life was completely refreshing. How he said what he wanted, acted the way he wanted and continually reinvented himself was so overwhelmingly charming that I found myself constantly smiling. His attributes that resulted in him being labeled as a "freak" are the same ones I repeatedly fell in love with. He has made my top five list of all time favorite book characters.
Although not as charismatic as Finch, Violet held her own in the story. She was essentially a nice girl who was drowning in grief and needed to find her way again. The way she never looked at Finch with the same eyes that her friends did was endearing.
Put these two together and I was lost. The concept of them "wandering" for a school project was as unique as the characters. With Finch's outlook of living for today their adventures were amusing and heart warming. Their exchanges on Facebook were relevant with today's times and the messages completely sweet.
I will stop here. I think you get the picture as I seem to be gushing a little bit here. To me this is one of the best YA books that I have had the luxury to read. I laughed out loud in one moment and shed tears like a blubbering idiot in another. This was simply a beautiful story about two people dealing with dark issues who ultimately save each other. I say just go out and read it now.
On a side note: My fifteen year old niece usually recommends to me what novel to read in this genre. This time I get to recommend one to her that I know she will love and will resonate with her demographic. I predict great things with this novel. I see it is already slated to become a movie...I am not surprised....more
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Harper Paperbacks via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is August 5, 2014.
This is the type of read that is right up my alley. A mystery from the past being solved in the present day. This book is slightly different than most of this genre that I have read that with the exception of the first chapter it is told entirely in the present day and the story is unraveled through clues found in the present.
I am a sucker for a tragic love story and this book delivers. As we learn more about Janie's past I became more hooked. I could not wait to find out what happened with George and Oliver even though I knew the outcome could not be good.
Another strength in this book was the story-line and relationships in the present day. I really enjoyed the interactions between Olivia and her fourteen year old niece. It added an additional element that kept the story ticking. And then there is Elliot. I could write forever about him but I won't. He had me at hello and I just loved him. The additional conflict that he created by his presence in Olivia's life as she was dealing with her current issues added another layer to the story. Did I mention that he was totally dreamy? Not necessarily in the physical aspect but his personality. He was the perfect male. I fell in love with him.
Overall I really liked this story. I found myself ignoring all the things on my to do list in order to finish this book. Before starting this story I had pre-judged it to be a fluff story but it had so much more to it. I will be recommending this to everyone. ...more
I received an advanced copy of this novel from the publisher via Edelweiss in return for an honest review. The expected publication date is July 3, 2014. Thank you!
This story was absolutely wonderful! I'm tempted to end my review here. The reason is because a) it is true and b) this is a story that the reader needs to discover on their own and not through a bunch of other peoples opinions. Therefore I will not discuss the plot at all in my thoughts
There are so many elements that are woven together that make this story worth reading. The wonderful portrayal of the south, the racial divide of the 60's, family secrets and an abandoned girl who does not know what family means. Mixed together it makes a story that is understated and powerful at the same time. Truly a gem of a read. Fans of historical fiction will love this read.
I admit I figured out some of the secrets before they were revealed however this did not hamper the story. I understand that this is a debut novel and I must give a big round of applause for having such an impactful story the first time out of the gate. I will be keeping my eye out for future work by Laura Lane McNeal based on this home-run!...more
I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. It appears that this book has been released for quite some time now however there are minimal reviews or information about it. Hopefully that will change.
This is a story right up my alley. The story is the life and love story of Emma (Mrs. Berlinski) as she shares all of her secrets to a journalist who is interested in her deceased husbands story. The end result is that her story is much more interesting and haunting then her husbands was.
I do not want to give away the plot as this is not a long read however the readers learns about a forbidden love and the path these choices take the characters on as a result. It describes an innocent love that becomes not so innocent due to the marriage of one of the characters.
I have to say that although I was drawn in to the love story I was not a fan of Jack. I must stand on my moral high horse and the fact that he was married made all of his actions (to me) seem manipulative. I understand the deep love that they shared however I do feel that a better man would not have led the lifestyle that he did. To top it all off the direction he took his life toward the end of the book added to my dislike of him. I loved Harold on the other hand and felt that he may have been too good for Emma.
Essentially the story was about Emma and not so much Jack so I was able to forgive his actions. I loved how it was from an older Emma's voice that we hear of the story of her life. The way she made her decisions and stuck to them reflected a great strength of character although it did not necessarily lead to the best choices for her well being. Add to that the era of the great depression and it spun a magical story for me.
To go back to the question posed in the books synopsis. Is Mrs. Berlinski's tale of one great love or great foolishness? My answer is it doesn't matter. Regardless of opinion this book had me glued to find out how it would all end. My only wish is that this book was marketed a little bit more as I had a hard time finding information on it and I feel it may get lost in the shuffle as a result. ...more
I won an advanced copy of this book via Goodreads first reads in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is June 17 2014.
I have not read any of Jennifer Weiner's other books however I had certainly heard of her and I have been curious for some time. I was overjoyed when the opportunity arose to read her latest work. I have to say it was truly worth the wait.
While an easy read in style it is not an easy read in content. Dealing with the subject of addiction this story weaves a scary tail of drug abuse and the nose dive your life can take when your addiction takes over. I loved that this look in to addiction was told through an everyday ordinary person. Great family, great job, "mcmansion" in the suburbs. I found it realistic in the fact that addiction does not discriminate and stereotype and it can happen to anyone.
I have to admit that there were many times that I wanted to slap Allison and tell her to wake up! I couldn't believe what she was doing to herself. I guess that is the whole point. Friends and family who are powerless to help and angry because they can't get through. In this sense I found the story realistic, If I was angry I can only imagine what it is like for people who have to live with it.
I am not going to detail too much about the story since it has not yet been released and I don't like to include spoilers in my review. I will say that this story really made me think. It is incomprehensible to me what thousands of "Allisons" go through on any given day as they battle with addiction be it alcohol or narcotics. The lives it touches and the damage it does. When I was younger I thought that everyone had a choice and that this can only happen if you let it. I am older and wiser now and this story dispels that notion and tells it like it is. There is not necessarily always a rock bottom sob story tail behind an addict however regardless of the story there is no less damage.
I feel lucky to be introduced to Weiner's work through this story. Without a doubt I will be checking out her other works. I highly recommend....more
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher William Morrow via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is May 6 2014.
It is not too often that a book will render me speechless. Many times I may find the wrong words but never speechless. This book has done that to me. I don't know where to start! To top it off, this is Hashimi's debut novel? You have to be kidding me! She really nailed it her first time out of the gate.
This story was haunting, tragic and infuriating all in one shot. Hashimi weaves a tail of two different women years apart who suffered from the oppression experienced towards woman in Afghanistan. Many times I had to remind myself that this was just a story however sadly I feel that the way these woman were treated is not purely fiction. I will be honest and say I do not know a whole lot about Afghanistan aside from the current events of the last years and I know nothing of their culture. This story did not shed a positive light on that.
To think that there are woman out there that have to endure what Rahima and Shekiba went through is the part that angered me. To know that this occurs while I am living the life of luxury also humbled me and made me thankful for what I have. This story opened my eyes to some of the "ugly" things out there in the world. To think that you have no real value because you are a daughter instead of a son. In my reality that would have made my father a failure as he had three daughters - who have all gone on to successful and fulfilling endeavours I might add.
In my opinion the mark of a truly great read has two criteria. The first is it evokes emotion and the second is that it makes me think. This did just that. I was sad and angry throughout this read. More importantly is the thoughts that it put in my head. The majority of this review has been made up of my reaction to the story and less about the plot. That my friends means this is a winner.
This was an emotional and moving read (I would say poignant however I never use the most overused word in the literary review world). I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a serious yet entertaining read. This is not for the light hearted however you are rewarded ten times over. I still cannot believe this is Hashimi's first novel. I wish a had a quarter of her talent. I truly hope she releases more work in her future...more
I received an ARC of this book from HarperCollins via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication data is April 22, 2014.
I feel the need to add an additional disclaimer before I begin. I am a huge fan of historical fiction and more specific stories centralized around WWII and its events. I was pre-dispositioned to like this novel based on the synopsis given. I was right and I was wrong.
I was right because I thoroughly enjoyed this read. I was wrong because this story took place before the war and at the beginning of Hitler's rise to power. I have to admit it was strange having Hitler referred to as Uncle Dolf however it offered an interesting perspective to the story. To have someone who knew no other way than his become enlightened to the world outside her bubble. The transition was wonderful to read.
Add in the forbidden love story. Blankman came up with a real gem with the character of Daniel. The way he opened Gretchen's eyes and supported her was priceless. Their chemistry was undeniable. What was really refreshing is that the love story remained clean so that it is suitable for younger readers. This is a great book to introduce the younger generation to the horror's of the time yet still keep them entertained.
This was a great read and I believe there will be two more books to make this a series. I will be keeping my eye out for their release so that I can continue on the journey with Gretchen. There are so many possibilities where this story can go from here and I can't wait...more
I may be a little late jumping on the bandwagon for this book however I knew I had to read it. The reason is simple. The movie is coming out this month and I will be going to see it with my nieces who have both read the book and loved it. I can not in good conscience see a movie if I have not yet read the book. So I sat down with no expectations although I may have seen the movie trailer once or twice.
This is one of those books that are considered YA that can appeal to all audiences. I have left my YA days behind a few years ago and I was glued to this story. From the very beginning I loved the character of Tris and I knew I was going to be invested in her journey. In a way it was a coming of age story where she left behind all that she knew to find herself in the Dauntless world. She was a character that was not without flaws however strong and courageous.
Then there was Four. I need not say more. I fell in love with him from the moment he was introduced. He was the perfect character for this story and the his connection to Tris was what made this story in my opinion. His story is what kept me glued to the pages.
I won't go in to detail about the plot as there have already been thousands of reviews of this novel. I will say that I do feel that this story is just a cut above the other similar stories that are popular these days and have been made in to movies. There is just something that has stuck with me on this one. I was not planning on reading the next instalment right away however I think I will have a hard time staying away as I need to know how this story evolves.
I won this book in exchange for an honest review via a Goodreads giveaway.
I will start by saying that this is the second book in a series and I did not read the first one. I was able to understand everything and felt like it was not required to read the first book but how I wish I did. Not because I needed to but based on this read I really think I would have enjoyed the first read. If Kate and Mac had this much chemistry in the second instalment I can only imagine what the first one was like.
I almost hesitate to say how much I enjoyed this read. I normally save all of my praise for those books that I consider "epic" which if I am honest with myself are normally tragic stories that seem to revolve around war times. This was not one of those stories yet I found I took great pleasure within the pages, For this reason I am changing my rating system. I am now going to base my ratings strictly on how a book made me feel and stop benchmarking them against my "top 5 reads of all time" list.
The story of Kate and Mac was one of great chemistry. I can't believe that I am admitting that I was rooting for the married guy in this story! What female cheers for the married cheater when the perfect guy is waiting in the wings? I can honestly say I have never before this story. This is part of the reason I want to go back and read the first book. If I was cheering for him in this story how would I have felt if I read the first one? I have a feeling it would be the same but with more feeling. Kudos to George for coming up with two characters that do not seem to be whole without the other
Putting the characters aside I loved that this book was centralized around the publishing industry. As someone who reads a lot and blogs for fun, I have a fascination with the entire industry. The fact that George has admitted that some of the stories are true (and some are not) only adds to my interest. The inside view in to the publishing world was just as interesting to me as the actual character storyline. I believe that the world is just as crazy as described in the book and only wish that I could join their ranks someday.
Overall this was a great and fast read for me. I acknowledge that it is not going to make my epic list however something about this book stuck with. It was pure entertainment for me and provided the needed escape to my everyday life. I will be looking forward to going back and reading the first book and will also be reading the third instalment. Thank you to Christina George for getting me out of my book comfort zone and allowing me to enjoy something that is not within my regular genre. I will be keeping an eye out for future work...more
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