The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah - February 28, 2015

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (received via NetGalley)
4.5 stars



For some reason I have avoided reading Kristin Hannah, grouping her with other women authors who just want to make readers cry and while I am not saying that didn't happen, this book was amazing, engrossing and so much more than I expected.  Two French sisters, Vian and Isabelle, are young women during World War II.  Vian is married with a daughter and fearful of surviving without her husband who has left to fight.  Isabelle is fearless, rash and reckless and wants to fight the Germans in every possible way.  The characters here are rich, complicated and evolve over the course of the novel.  The war took center stage and the scenes are vivid and heartbreaking.  This book took me by surprise and once I have recovered from reading it, I will begin to explore Kristin Hannah's other works.  I received an E-Galley of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

We Should All Be Feminists - February, 19, 2015

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (received through NetGalley)
5 stars



This essay is a written form of Adichie's TED talk about feminism.  I think this short piece does more to summarize the importance of feminism more than anything else that I have read.  She explains how gender is its own issue and one that deserves its own term and that gender issues cannot just be grouped under human rights.  She details some of the road blocks that women face as they try to assume roles of power and some of the negative connotations that should not be associated with feminism.  Sometimes the best argument is made using fewer words and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie does makes a succinct, yet powerful statement in this speech.  I received this digital copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

I Am Radar by Reif Larsen

I Am Radar by Reid Larsen (received through Penguin's First to Read Program)
4 stars



Radar Radmanovic is born under mysterious circumstances with very black skin to two white parents.  His mother's obsessive search for answers to his condition leads them to the arctic circle and a troupe of puppeteers who use electricity for all sorts of purposes.  Sound strange?  I found this book very strange and entrancing.  The five parts take place in New Jersey, Norway, war-torn Serbia, and war-torn Congo.  Puppets become living creatures and the science of electricity is an underlying theme.  All of the characters have extremely well developed backstories and unusual talents.  I really enjoyed this book and for some reason it reminded me a bit of Jeffrey Eugenie Middlesex.  I did think this was too long and some parts were a slog to get through, however, it is one of the most fascinating books I have read lately.  I received a digital ARC of this book through Penguin's First to Read Program in exchange for an honest review. 

Prudence by David Treuer - February 15, 2015

Prudence by David Truer
4 stars



Every summer of his youth, Frankie Washburn spendt time at his family's resort in Minnesota.  He returns to the Pines before entering World War II and a series of moments lead to a horrendous mistake that haunts all involved forever.  This book encapsulates a lot of different issues.  There is a beautiful romance between Frankie and his boyhood friend that captures so much of the innocence and scandal of same-sex relationship during that period of time.  Frankie also deals with the disappointment of his father who wished for a manlier son and the resentment flowing from both characters is palpable in sections.  The plight of the Native Americans on the reservation and their relationship to the wealthy white family played a big part of the story and all of the characters were extremely well developed. 

All of this was so well done and beautifully written during the first part of the book.  However, as the book progresses into the years following the war, all of the different storylines just stall and really nothing is resolved.  I even wished that the book was longer and more of the character arcs fleshed out more.  Overall, though, there was a lot here that I really enjoyed and I thought the writing was beautiful and the storyline kept me interested.  I received an ARC of this book free from the publisher. 

Temptation - February 15, 2015

Temptation Has Green Eyes by Lynne Connolly
3 stars



This historical romance has a really interesting storyline.  Maximilian, Marquess of Devereux has worked hard to rebuild his family's fortune by aligning himself with self-made men outside of the aristocracy.  Of these men, one of the wealthiest merchants wants to improve his daughter's social circumstances by marrying her to the Marquess.  The social and political situations highlighted in the book are fascinating and I really enjoyed the storyline.  The characters, though, were rather flat and I really didn't connect to the romance between them.  Overall, I liked this and enjoyed the story but I wasn't blown away by the romance.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

The Spinster Bride - February 7, 2015

The Spinster Bride by Jane Goodyear (received through NetGalley)
4 stars



This is a lovely historical romance and it surprised me by the depth of its characters and entertaining storyline.  Lady Marjorie is twenty three and unmarried.  Her mother stubbornly requires her to marry a titled gentleman and Marjorie refuses to abandon her younger brother who has social issues and would probably be considered Autistic in the present day.  Mr. Charles Norris is desperate for love, a wife and a gaggle of children.  He has a tendency to fall in love with young debutantes and has problems talking normally to women.  Charles tricks Marjorie into helping him find a match, because there is no way they will ever be together since he is untitled.  These characters are just awesome.  It is so infrequent that the male actually wants to fall in love and it is refreshing when it happens.  There is also a side story that tells Marjorie's mother's heartbreaking history and why she is the way she is.  The only reason that I didn't give this romance five stars is because there are a few ridiculous scenes that are cringe-worthy but otherwise I really thought this a wonderful book.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Insightful Reads - February 6, 2015

Ghettoside: a Story of Murder in America (received through NetGalley)
4.5 stars



In this incredible piece of nonfiction, Jill Leovy reports on the murders of young black men by other young black men in South Los Angeles and the stories of the handful of detectives determined to solve them.  This book excels at putting a face on this violence which occurs so frequently but which is hardly ever covered in the media.  She follows individual cases, the history of the neighborhood, and the relationships between the LAPD and the community.  The stories of these young men, of parents who tried to keep them safe and of witnesses so scared to report were heartbreaking and difficult to read.  Difficult but important and the stories have stuck with me since finishing.  I received an eGalley this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


The Jaguar's Children by John Gallant (received from publisher)
4 stars



While trying to cross the border into the United States in an enclosed water tanker, fourteen Mexican citizens, a left in the middle of the dessert.  One young man, Hector, leaves a voice recording on his friends phone of the ordeal, his history and the moments that led to this crossing.  As an extreme claustrophobe, I found the events in the truck were horrifying and by far some of the most riveting passages that I have ever read.  This book tells an important story of the people that might be making the dangerous trip across the border.  Hector becomes not just another illegal immigrant but someone with a family, a history and a story to tell.  It portrays the beauty of the countryside and the corruptness of the power structure.  There is also a story involving Hector's friend César and the murky Mexican underworld but I almost didn't feel it was a necessary addition and I actually think it took a bit away from the rest of the book.  Overall, this book is mesmerizing and insightful and one I am not likely to forget anytime soon.  I received a print copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

Veronica Mars: Mr. Kiss and Tell - February 3, 2015

Veronica Mars: Mr. Kiss and Tell by Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham (received through NetGalley)
4 stars



Disclaimer:  I am the biggest Veronica Mars fan and have been since the beginning of the T.V. show.  I still often marathon episodes when I am in need of a pick-me-up.  That said, it would be hard for me to dislike anything about the woman written (in part) by Rob Thomas.  These books read like you are watching the show as the dialogue and mannerisms of the characters are pretty much the same.  In this storyline, a woman is found in a junk pile raped and beaten and left for dead.  Veronica is hired by the hotel in which the prime suspect works in order to establish his innocence.  There are all of the normal Veronica Mars methods including undercover work, extreme hacking and inducing favors from friends.  There is nothing really new here but the old formula works and I do like that Veronica has grown up and is starting to make grown up decisions.  Basically, if you are a fan you will definitely enjoy this.  If not, you might want to start with the show, which is a blast to marathon, and then follow up with the movie and the books.  I received this an eGalley of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.