Making a Home - October 13, 2014

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Recent Reviews:

Home Leave by Brittani Sonnenberg (received through NetGalley)

4 stars

 

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book judging from the relatively mixed reviews, however, I really liked it.  This novel follows one family as they move around the world and explores the meaning of home.  Told from differing perspectives, the four members of the Kriegstein family each experience different emotional adjustment at each locale until an unthinkable tragedy leaves them wondering how to have a home again.  I enjoyed the perspective of the expatriate lifestyle and thought if felt authentic.   I’m not sure the conclusion brought any sort of closure to these character’s stories but it was well written and fascinating novel.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

 

Hand to Mouth: Living Bootstrap in America by Linda Tirado

3.5 stars

 

This was an oddly compelling book because while it wasn’t especially well-written, there were so many really great insights into poverty and being poor.  Linda Tirado initially wrote in response to a question posted on a forum about why poor people seem so self-destructive.  This 200 page book is an expansion of her answer.  She has first-hand experience living from paycheck to paycheck while raising two children and she definitely uses great examples from her life.  It could have been organized better in order to eliminate its repetitiveness but overall I think this is one of the best books that takes an inside look into actual poverty.  I received this book in a giveaway from the publisher. 


Trapped at the Altar by Jane Feather (received through NetGalley)
2.5 stars

Ivor and Ari knew from an early age that they would be married in order to create an alliance between two opposing families, however, Ari falls in love with a poet before the marriage can take place causing all forms of drama.  I liked that this historical romance centered on a period of time, the late seventeenth century, that I have not encountered in this genre before.  The setting and the politics seemed authentic and I found it very interesting.  The storyline and the hero I liked fine but I found it incredibly hard to root for the heroine as she was just not incredibly thoughtful.  Since the heroine is such a main part of the historical romance genre, I rated this book a bit lower.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.