9.29.2018 - The Dream Daughter

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Diane Chamberlain for the opportunity to read and review her latest novel - a good one!

This is one of those books that the less said the better and I don't want to ruin the reading experience for anyone else.  The premise of the book is that it is 1970 and Carly is newly widowed when her husband is killed in Vietnam.  She then finds out she is pregnant and that the baby has a fatal heart defect.  Her brother-in-law, Hunter, comes up with a way to save the baby but one that requires Carly to take a leap of faith, both literally and figuratively.

It comes down to what we would do to better the lives of those we love and what motherhood really means.  This book also requires that leap of faith when reading but it is certainly worth it.  A great read!

9.26.2018 - A Spark of Light

Many thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Jodi Picoult for the opportunity to read and review her latest novel.

This book takes place over one day at an abortion clinic in Mississippi as a desperate father bursts through the doors and starts shooting, taking all of the people inside hostage. The hostage negotiator soon learns his 15-year-old daughter is inside, along with his older sister.

This is a wonderful book of characters. The book goes back in time and gives the reader background into each of the people inside as well as Hugh. I also loved the story behind the title.

As always, Jodi Picoult takes a controversial issue and makes you see all sides of it. While it may not change anyone's opinions on the subject, it may open our hearts to understand others' stories and opinions too.

9.24.2018 - The Ancient Nine

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Ian Smith for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is a mystery that involves so-called final clubs at Harvard University and takes place in 1988. Spenser Collins was raised by a single mother in Chicago so is the least likely prospect to be "punched" by the Delphic Club - given an invitation to join the process of possibly being picked to be a member of this exclusive club. Dalton is the son of Harvard legends and is Spenser's opposite but the two become close friends. Dalton's aged uncle belonged to the Delphics and Dalton believes he is a member of the Ancient Nine - an ultra-secret group of the club in charge of all its secrets.

This is a good mystery as the two friends investigate all the secrets. I enjoyed less the portrayal of women in this book - naked women as prizes for winning a contest? The beginning of the book said it was based on real events so I would have loved to know more about that.

9.15.2018 - Boomer1

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Daniel Torday for the opportunity to read and review this timely book.  3.5 stars.

This book centers on the generational divide between millennials and boomers and is told in 3 different voices.  Cassie is a younger millennial who left her Ohio family, changed her name, and reinvented herself in NYC.  She gets hired at an emerging internet content firm.  She's a bassist in a band and is in an on/off relationship with Natalie as well as Mark.  Mark is a bit older - in his early 30s - also a musician.  He works as a journalist but eventually loses that job.  His relationship with Cassie also ends and he winds up living in the basement of his parent's house.  Mark starts a revolution online blaming the boomer generation for all that is wrong - they have all the jobs that should be going to the millennials, they are materialistic, on and on.  Julia is Mark's mom - she was a rebellious musician in her youth and is not sure how she wound up being a suburban wife and mother.

I loved the thought-provoking elements in this book.  Being a boomer myself and having 2 millennial children, there was a lot to ponder.  However, none of the characters were especially likeable and the book felt a bit slow and plodding at points.  Still an interesting read.

9.11.2018 - Button Man

Many thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Andrew Gross for the opportunity to read his latest book.  If you aren't familiar with Andrew Gross' work - you need to be!  His books are always wonderful and typically teach you some part of history that really stays with you.

This book takes us back to the Depression and the garment industry in NYC, where the mobs disguise themselves as union people and own the companies.  Three brothers - Sol, Harry and Morris - have to earn a living when their father dies to help their mom take care of the rest of the kids.  Sol is the bright one who wants a career as an accountant.  Harry has struggled since a childhood accident where he feels at fault and ends up with the wrong crowd.  Morris is the tough one - he talks himself into a job in a garment factory at the age of 12 and works his way up to own the company.  As fights with the union mobs increase, the brothers become at odds with each other.

A suspenseful, rich book that is based on Gross' family history - don't miss it!

9.10.2018 - Rising Out of Hatred

Thanks to NetGalley, Doubleday, and Eli Saslow for the opportunity to read this most-timely book about racism.

A Pulitzer Prize winning journalist writes about Derek Brown, the son of Don Brown who started Stormfront, the internet community that promoted white nationalism, and the godson of David Duke, a KKK Grand Wizard.  Raised by radical parents and home-schooled basically on his own, Derek was groomed to be the face of the white nationalism movement going into the future.  He started his own radio show and was involved in politics while still in his teens.  When he started college at the New College of Florida, he was suddenly thrust into a very liberal, intelligent, diverse community of people.  He hid his past, continuing in secret to broadcast his radio program while starting relationships with Jewish and immigrant people.  Once he was "outed," the college community was intensely divided into those who hated him and those who urged a different approach - talking to him and trying to understand his beliefs.  Derek's eyes were opened by people who were exceedingly patient with him until he had to make a personal decision that would put him at odds with his entire family.

This book is a beacon of hope in today's increasingly hate-filled society.  By sitting down calmly with people from different backgrounds and with different beliefs, we can impact change. 

Highly recommended - would be great high school/college required reading.

9.7.2018 - Lies

Thanks so much to NetGalley, St Martins Press, and TM Logan for the opportunity to read this great book!  4.5 stars!  I really enjoyed the cat-and-mouse game, made all the more prevalent with today's social media thrown into the mix.

Joe and Melanie (Mel) are happily married with a small son, William.  Joe is a teacher and does the lion's share of work raising William, while Mel has the more high-powered job.  Joe is taking William home from school one day when William spots "Mommy's car" and wants to follow her.  They find her at a hotel and when Joe briefly leaves William in the car to investigate, finds Mel and a family friend, Ben, arguing in the lobby.  Mel slips away and when Joe confronts Ben in the parking lot, a fight ensues, leaving Ben on the ground, bleeding and unconscious - or worse?  Just then, William has an asthma attack and Joe makes the decision to rush home for his inhaler.  When he returns to the scene of the crime, as they say, Ben is gone.  And so it begins.

In typical psychological thriller fashion, you will question everyone in this book to see where all the lies come into play.  A good read - and scary social media thoughts too!

9.5.2018 - When the Lights Go Out

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Park Row Books, and Mary Kubica for the opportunity to read her latest thriller.  I'm a big fan of Kubica's writing and this one - for the most part - didn't disappoint. 

Told in the voices of Eden in 1996 and Jessie in present time, Jessie is struggling to start a new life after the death of her mom and years spent taking care of her.  When Jessie tries to enroll in a community college to fulfill her mom's wish that she move on with her life, she finds that her social security number shows her as being deceased.  In fact, it shows her as being a deceased 3 year old child.  Jessie has horrid insomnia and hasn't slept in days - she starts imagining things and people in her home and on the streets.

Meanwhile, twenty years earlier, Eden and her husband Aaron are starting their lives with a new home on the lake and are anxious to have children.  But Eden struggles with infertility and it's causing a rift in her life and marriage.

I couldn't put this down but I'll admit that the ending was disappointing and had me reeling!  Go into this one blind, without reading the reviews (except mine maybe!).  Kubica's beautiful writing kept me glued to the pages.

9.3.2018 - A Key to Treehouse Living

 

Thanks to NetGalley, Tin House Books, and Elliot Reed for the opportunity to read this most unusual debut novel.  I love quirky and unusual books and this one fit the bill perfectly - I've definitely never read a story told in this format before.

William is an orphan, being raised by his uncle in name only - he is basically raising himself.  He tells his story by way of a glossary of words - Absence, Lonely - starting with A and going through the alphabet, giving us a glimpse of the story of his life and the lessons he has learned along the way.

A sweet coming-of-age book - William will tug at your heartstrings!  This is definitely an author to look for in the future.

9.2.2018 - Sold on a Monday

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Kristina McMorris for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.

Set in the Great Depression, an ambitious young reporter, Ellis, is on another society page assignment when he happens upon two young children sitting outside a home holding a sign that read, "2 Children for Sale."  He snapped a picture for his personal collection before leaving.  A secretary at the paper, Lily, finds the picture in the darkroom, she slips it to her boss who then wants a story written.  When someone accidentally ruins the negative, Ellis is forced to go back to the area to take another one.  He ends up having to "recreate" the scene to get the shot.  When the picture and article are published, it brings much attention to both the children and Ellis.  The long-range implications of this decision change both Ellis and Lily and their lives.  Both are also dealing with their own family issues and are faced with trying to right a wrong out of this situation.

An excellent read with such a sad situation at its core - what will we do to insure a better life for our children? - and one that too many faced in such desperate times.