The Strangers on Montagu Street

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Ahhh the third installment in the Tradd Street series made me happy. Melanie, Jack and the gang were joined by Nola, Jack's daughter that showed up at the end of book two. I loved Nola and I love how she fit seemlessly into the story. I was worried when she showed up at the end of the last book that she would be too much of a foil to Mellie. I should never doubt Karen White.

In this installment the gang has to figure out the secrets behind a doll house given to Nola by her grandmother. While uncovering it's secrets a murder and plenty of secrets are uncovered. Admittedly, this series is not life changing or thought provoking; it is pure entertainment and I love it. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

Before I Go To Sleep

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I really enjoyed this book. It is the story of a woman with amnesia who awakens every morning with no memories and is dependant on her husband to help her rediscover herself everyday. After finding a young doctor with new ideas on how to help her, Christine finds out that every thing may not be as it appears and with the help of her journal she can trust only herself.

This book kept me turning pages late into the night. At different points in the book I thought I had it figured out and admittedly I did figure it out but the author did a wonderful job of telling the story and moving the story along.

UR

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This is the story of a nerdy professor who buys a Kindle to impress his ex-girlfriend but when it arrives he quickly finds out that there is something different about his device. It provides a window into other realities and into the future. When he reads information about a tragedy he has to decide what to do. I didn't love this story. I found it predictable and not up to King's usual standard. Usually King's characters are more interesting than I found any of these characters.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

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This is one of those books that many read during high school but I didn't and it's always been on my list of "when I have time" books. I'm so glad I made time. I loved this book and I found myself stealing away minutes when ever I could to read a few pages.

The story opens when Francie Nolan is 11 years old in 1912. The book follows her into young adulthood. Things are never easy for the Nolans and yet they survive. Her father is an alcoholic and yet he was likable. He and Francie had a special relationship that benefited her. Katie, her mother was strong and a survivor. She always did what was needed and she never complained. At times I disliked Katie especially in her favoritism of Francie's brother Neeley. I hated that she didn't go to Francie's graduation because she decided to go only to Neeley's.

Francie's speech toward the end of the book to her mother said everything I was thinking. Yet I understood when she apologized because she recognized her mother's flaws.

This was one of those books that left me sad when I was finished because I will miss the Nolans and peeking into their world.

Ravenous

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I so wanted to love this book, but I didn't. In fact I stopped reading at 69% (according to my Kindle) which is rare for me. My OCD usually won't let me not finish. This is a journal written by a woman who has an obsession with food-I can relate (LOL). So she decides to try to demistify her favorite foods by learning all she can about them. She hopes by doing this she will overcome her obsessive eating habits. It started out well enough. She reminices about her childhood; bakes bread, eats chocolate, cooks from the land, etc., but then she decides it is a good idea to go to a slaughterhouse. That is where I decided to make my exit. I am all for the humane treatment of animals and I suppose you could call me a hypocrite but I can't know how the animals are killed. Awful, I know.... To me the book had already become quite boring any way. After the first few chapters it was the same thing with a different food. There were a few interesting recipes scattered throughout but not nearly enough for me to recommend the book. Liquid chocolate sounds very yummy!

The Glass Castle

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It's hard to say that I loved such a horrible story but I loved this book. Jeannette Walls told her story with such honesty and feeling that as I read I found myself really cheering for her and family. I wanted things to work out for them. Jeannette is the daughter of an alcoholic father and mentally unstable mother. I can't imagine the struggles she lived through and I find it amazing that she was able to not only make it through but that she did it with out a regret or apology. This is not a memoir that blames or complains but rather a story of survival and triumph. Ms. Walls seems to have made her peace with her parents and I saw and understood how she loved them despite their faults. The way she shared her complicated relationship with her father touched me. I understood how she loved him and remained hopeful that he might actually turn it around until the end. Her relationship with her mother baffled me. Her mother who is clearly mentally ill was not a very likable character yet again the relationship is so complicated. I admire that Ms. Walls is able to now accept her for who she is with only small pangs of guilt at not being able to help. I get that.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

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It was raining when I downloaded this book onto my Kindle. I guess I was in the mood for something peculiar...This is a fantasy story despite the scary cover. I believe this will be book one in a ongoing series. I liked it but I'm in no rush to find book two. It is the story of a lonely teenager, Jacob, who is searching for answers to what is real in his life and what is fantasy. Jacob was very close to his grandfather who told wild stories about strange friends that he had in his youth and about fighting the monsters during WWII. When Jacob was a child he believed every word about a levitating girl, an invisible boy and other odd characters, but as he grew up he began to think his grandfathers stories were just that, stories. Scattered throughout the book are pictures of the peculiar friends. When his grandfather dies under questionable circumstances and Jacob finds a mysterious letter, a quest begins to find answers. Maybe his grandfather was telling the truth. Jacob always assumed that the monsters his grandfather fought were the Nazis but maybe there are other monsters and maybe there was some truth to his stories. The book kept me turning pages as the secrets unfolded but I have to say I was a little let down by the ending. Although as my sister (who loved this book) pointed out the author was setting the stage for the next installment. If you like fantasy quest type stories you will like this book. I would however put it with young adult fiction rather than adult.

Mockingjay

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I'm so sad that this is the last book in the trilogy. Already I miss Katniss, Peeta and Gale. I'm not sure if it was because I knew the series was ending or because of the way it ended that this was my least favorite of the books. I still raced through it at record speed and enjoyed every minute. I felt like there was so much build up and then...well it just ended. In some ways I felt it ended the way it had to end but yet the ending made me sad. I am an eternal optimist so I wanted a happy ending where everyone is content.

I cannot wait for the movie so I can revisit The Hunger Games.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

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I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book. It is the true story of Henrietta Lacks who is unknowingly and unrecognizably one of the most famous people in the scientific community. Many only know her as HeLa which is the common name for her cells. Her "immortal" cells have even been sent into space. I left this story feeling sad and worried. Despite all the good HeLa cells have been involved with, I can't help but wonder if the end justified the means. In this case I'm not entirely sure it did.

Henrietta Lacks died of cervical cancer in 1951 and before she died one of her doctors took cells from her tumor. These cells were the the first to be successfully grown in a lab. They are still available in most every lab today.

The story focuses on Henrietta's family and how they felt about what happened to their mother. I am a bit embarrassed to reveal that I didn't know about the treatment blacks received from doctors and hospitals. I was shocked to find out some of the awful things that were done in the name of science.

I loved the way it was written. Rebecca Skloot told the story with all it's awful details with incredible respect for Henrietta and her family. I hope this book helps give Henrietta and her family the recognition they deserve.

Catching Fire

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I am so happy to report that Book 2 did not disappoint and Book 3 is on my Kindle (lol)! Catching Fire begins exactly where The Hunger Games leaves off. Catniss and Peeta are home after the winning the games. Life, of course, can never be the same. Catniss has embarrassed the Capitol and become an unwilling folk hero. There is unrest in Panem and President Snow blames Catniss. He visits her at home and lets her know that she must convince the country that she is truly in love with Peeta and not making a mockery of the games. Unfortunately, he is not convinced and uprisings begin within Panem. As a result, the anniversary games will find Catniss and Peeta going back into the arena. Again, they must figure out how to survive. Only this time there are secrets, alliances and plans.
Book 2 ends at the end of the anniversary games....Book 3 picks up. What will I do when I finish Book 3??? Note: I did not ask that question at the end of Twilight. Actually I wished all the characters dead. I know, a little harsh but I have to save Breaking Dawn was one of the worst books I have ever read.
This series is sooooooo much better and not just for kids.

The Hunger Games

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After a brief hiatus, I'm back. The long cold winter had me reading The Black Dagger Brotherhood series which I've chosen not to review. Briefly, a friend describes it as vampire smut. I'll leave it at that. In fairness to the author they are good vampire smut books (lol). I'm a bit behind on my reviews and I will add a few out of order as I get to them.

Where to begin with The Hunger Games? I was wary to begin this series because of all the hours I spent with the Twilight Series. The books belong to the teenage market but have crossed over into the adult market. A major difference between the two series would have to be that Suzanne Collins is a much better writer. That, in and of itself made me happy!

The Hunger Games is set in post apocalyptic North America. Every year two young people representing the 12 districts of Panem are chosen to participate in the games. The game is a fight to the death survival contest orchestrated by the government. The games are thought to be an integral part of reminding the citizens who is in charge and what can happen if you rebel. The government tries reminding the citizens of the dark days and how they saved everyone after the dark days.

The actual games reminded me of Running Man--that old Arnold Scwartzenegger movie about a convict who is given a chance at freedom if he can elude hunters whose only job is to kill hunt him down and kill him.

The Distrct 12 representatives will change the face of the games. It is a survival and coming of age story. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to finding out what happens in book two (which I have downloaded and have not started for fear of getting nothing done today because you know book 2 will lead to book 3).

Heaven is For Real

This is the true story of 4 year old Colton Burpo who took a quick trip to heaven as the result of a ruptured appendix. It is told by his Father, Pastor Todd Burpo using Colton's stories about what happened to him. I loved this book. I wasn't sure what to expect and I was a bit apprehensive about it after reading Embraced by the Light which I found to be self-serving and hard to believe. Embraced by the light had none of the warmth or in my opinion honesty that the Burpo family shared. I am a Christian and I believe in Heaven but every once in a while it is nice to hear about what it might be like. Colton Burpo painted a picture of heaven that is so lovely.

Being a Pastor Todd Burpo was able to cross reference Colton's insights with Bible verses and it was at times astonishing. It was also a bit ominous. I'm not sure I wanted to know that the battle rages on with Satan. Of course I know there is evil but thinking about Satan is scary.

Colton didn't sit down and tell his parents he visited heaven when he was sick. He shared his experience with his family in a very matter of fact and ordinary way. He would mention something while driving in the car or playing quietly on the floor.

He told his family things that he as a four year old never could have known. He met a great grandfather, a sister who was never born, and he met Jesus. What could be better than that? I was so happy when he told his family there were animals in heaven--I personally always thought there would be.

It is a quick read. It is sweet and life affirming. It is faith renewing and thought provoking. If you have a few hours, read it. At the very least it will put a smile on your face at the innocence of a child but maybe it might also help you sleep better knowing that Jesus is waiting for you in heaven.

Falling Home

I was in the mood for something light and easy so of course I chose another Karen White. I've read several of her books and I am a fan but I have to admit that this one was disappointing. While her roots are as a romance writer her recent books have been better than your average romance novel and her stories are usually tight. This is one of her earliest books and unfortunately it showed. It is another story about a woman who leaves a small town for the bright lights of New York City. She heads to the big city after her sister steals her prom date and elopes with him. She spends the next 15 years making something out of herself that is the very antithesis of what she was in her home town. She became the post card image of a successful city girl complete with a high power job, high heels, tight skirts and a seemingly perfect fiance. When her father is on his death bed she returns home. She has no intention of forgiving her sister nor giving up the city for small town life. Yet after wrestling with her demons she quickly realizes the city might not be what she really wants. In the process she finds forgiveness, falls in love and grows up into the person she always was. It is very melodramatic and predictable. There is an unnecessary sub-plot about a lost sibling after finding out her father had a secret affair with someone in town before he married her mother that resulted in a child. This sub-plot seemed so out of place and as an after thought. It started and finished in just pages. It was obvious who the woman involved in the affair was and who the child was from very early on...I didn't care for that part of the story. Overall, I was less than impressed with this story and a little disappointed.

The Color of Light

I've loved so many of Karen White's books and I liked this one. Again, she makes me want to jump in my car and drive to the beach. Her descriptions of the sights, sounds and smells of the low country transport me there every time.
Color of Light is the story of Jillian who returns to her favorite summer spot after a long absence. She is the product of a dysfunctional childhood and has grown up with those scars not allowing her to be happy. After her husband cheats on her because she was completely unavailable throughout their marriage she and her daughter Grace escape to the former home of her grandmother. She has been able to purchase the home at a bargain price. Her daughter has an imaginary friend that just happens to share the name of a missing teenage friend of Jillian's. Once at her grandmother's home Jillian re-connects with people she remembers from spending summers with her grandmother. She re-connects with Linc who was the boyfriend of the missing girl and the prime suspect. Together Linc and Jillian and Grace put together what happened to Lauren and in the process find what they both have been missing for so long.

I liked this book but it's definitely more like a romance novel than true mystery. I didn't enjoy this story as much as On Folly Beach or the Tradd Street novels...which I can't wait for the next installment.