The Women by Kristen Hannah – a Book Review

Posted on December 27, 2024 by Amy @ A Librarian and Her Books

I feel I’m cheating a bit with this pick of The Women by Kristen Hannah as my reading challenge choice as a book recommended by a fellow blogger. I have, after all, read a lot of Kristen Hannah and would have eventually picked this one up on my own, but WHO CARES? I was definitely inspired to move it up a bit in the rotation, one would say, by Bob at Bob on Books who even chose it as one of his Best of 2024. That’s high praise.

Synopsis

Hailing from a highly respected family with deep military roots, Frankie McGrath grew up believing in heroism, having long admired the family pictures of servicemen on her father’s “wall of heroes.” When her brother, Finley, signs up as a helicopter pilot for the Vietnam War, Frankie chooses to follow him in the only capacity in which she can, as an army nurse stationed in the thick of the turmoil. Though completely ill-prepared, Frankie arrives in Vietnam during a mass casualty event, finding herself thrust into a trial-by-fire situation in which she must endure the most horrifying tests of her courage and endurance or crumple into a heap.

The novel follows Frankie through the horrors of war back to the States where she must endure a new kind of hell, a world that has no respect or understanding for what she’s been through and has no desire to help her come to terms with the things she’s seen and experienced.

Review

I love Kristen Hannah, but let me say this. She does not hold anything back. This is a novel of war, and Vietnam was a particularly brutal and controversial war. Hannah spares her readers nothing. There were times I wondered how any one person could ever mentally or emotionally survive the things Frankie endures during the war. Just when I thought it was bad, it got worse. But that’s what makes this novel so powerful. It’s raw, visceral, and the intent is to make you want to look away from the mental images placed in your head. What’s important is that these moments inspire in us the ability to truly empathize with those heroes who went off to war and came back utterly broken only to be ostracized and vilified at home.

Hannah also doesn’t spare us a deep-dive look into the controversy. She presents the war as it truly was: a senseless, poorly-executed, and patently immoral fuck-up of epic proportions. She does, however, place the blame on the shoulders of those who should have borne it rather than the people sent by the higher-ups to fight such a senseless war. Honestly, put into perspective it becomes so much more tragic realizing so many lives were lost for nothing.

Probably the most poignant aspect of this novel is its treatment of women during the Vietnam war. Their presence was completely and utterly overlooked. These nurses who often had to treat the wounded while their camp was actively being bombed came home looking for assistance with PTSD only to be told that “there were no women in Vietnam,” even by veterans and veterans’ aid groups who should have known better. The way Frankie and her fellow nurses (and other women who served in other capacities) were treated after showing acts of uncommon valor was utterly infuriating, and that’s actually an understatement. There’s also a very powerful family element here that shows the intense strain placed upon Frankie’s relationship with her very traditional parents who seem utterly incapable of embracing the true Frankie, a woman so obviously the antithesis of the debutante daughter they thought they’d raised. The way each family member processes their own separate grief and trauma with bumbling imperfection just accentuates the authenticity of this novel.

For the most part, I loved the way Hannah handled all aspects of the war and the way it followed Frankie home to the United States. She’s such an effective story teller, and she’s crafts her characters and their imperfections deftly and with a purpose. I could have done without some aspects of the love triangle. I would have preferred one of the men be removed entirely because he only provided more frustration in an already frustrating story. Sadly, there was a lot of realism in his character. I’m certainly not complaining about authenticity. The remaining love story arc I found to be a bit predictable, but in this book it was more of a needed sigh of relief. Everything else was so dark and dreary it’s nice to be thrown a tiny little lifeline to relieve some tension.

Overall, I’m very glad I read this book. It will stick with me for a long time and I will recommend it, especially to lovers of historical fiction. I will do so carefully, however, because it’s only suited for those with thick armor against intense brutality.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Published February 6, 2024 by Macmillan Audio. ISBN 9781250317957. Runtime 14 hrs, 57 mns. Narrated by Julie Whelan.

Posted in Coming of Age, General fiction, Historical Fiction, Uncategorized, Women's fiction | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells – a Book Review

Posted on December 26, 2024 by Amy @ A Librarian and Her Books

I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday, whatever it may be that you celebrate. For my family, we celebrate Christmas and everyone had a wonderful and relaxing time opening presents and eating wonderful food. The last few days of the year will find me tying up loose ends here at the blog, posting my final reviews, and completing my reading challenge (hopefully). What better way to follow up a Holiday that celebrates cozy goodness and cheer than to talk about a seriously disturbing book!

The Island of Dr. Moreau was published by H.G. Wells in 1896. At the time, it wasn’t exactly welcomed by many sectors of society, many finding it blasphemous and too horrendous for print. (Wonder how those people would have felt about The Human Centipede.) In my words, that’s called being “ahead of your time.” This story of an eccentric doctor who has hidden out on his private island in order to enact some horrific experiments on all forms of living creature, including humans, was certainly shocking in its day, but he certainly wasn’t the first to question the ethical boundaries of scientific research. The people pissed about this one had been pissed for the whole of the 19th century at that point, so nobody really cared what they thought.

This one does pack a punch, however. It is grotesque, violent, and it certainly didn’t age well in some respects. There are some notable blatantly racist passages to the point that the audiobook version inserted a disclaimer just prior to one particularly bad section asserting the publisher’s apologies for what Wells put into print all those years ago. Then again, anyone who is a frequent reader of classic fiction must have a thick skin when it comes to exposure to the bad ideas of our predecessors in history. I will forever be in the camp that we can’t forget about or censor history lest we be doomed to repeat it. We are protecting no one, especially our children, if we deny the ugly parts of our history.

Overall, I think this is an important book in the classic science fiction canon, if only for its place as a subversive text that dared to challenge the delicate sensibilities of polite society.

Yeah, I’m here for that.

It’s a quick read despite being a little difficult to digest at times. I wouldn’t say any character is particularly likeable, but that is somewhat the point in addition to being a reflection of the time. There are certainly some eras I enjoy reading about, but I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to exist within them. *shudder*

Overall, I would give this one 3 stars. It’s important, yes, but it’s not a book I will read again.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Published originally January 1, 1896. Edition published 2023 by Findaway Voices. ISBN
9798868639975. Runtime 4 hrs. 12 mins. Narrated by Mike Cuellar

Posted in Classic, Horror, Science Fiction, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Many Lives of Mama Love: A Memoir of Lying, Stealing, Writing, and Healing by Lara Love Hardin – a Book Review

Posted on December 19, 2024 by Amy @ A Librarian and Her Books

Forgive me if I quickly blaze through my next few reviews. I’ve been moving lately and life has been so chaotic. I find myself at the final hour trying to finish my books and reviews for my reading challenge this year. I’m going to make it, but my reviews might not be quite as well-thought-out as I usually attempt.

For my Oprah’s Book club selection, I chose this one. It’s a very highly-rated memoir about a woman who destroyed her soccer mom existence with a drug habit that led her to financial ruin and then to massive identify theft out of desperation to maintain the status quo. The goodreads synopsis claims this book “recounts her slide” but it’s really more of the upward climb back up that’s the focus of the memoir. We start at the very bottom, the lowest of the low, in which Love is attempting to sign herself into a hotel with a neighbor’s stolen credit card only to have the law come calling not too much later. Sure, she looks back a bit into the “how did I get here” realm, but it’s really very simple. It’s the tale as old as time. What truly matters is how she left that behind and created a future for herself that a ridiculously low number of people are able to obtain.

I found it difficult to get into this one because of the initial frustration. It’s difficult having a birds-eye view into someone destroying their own life and that of their children. You will not like Lara in the beginning chapters, but please stick with it. If anything, this book draws some striking and important attention onto the way our society is not just hesitant to give second chances to people who’ve made mistakes but downright campaigns against them and does everything in its power to ensure they will never again be able to lead a normal lives. You can do your time, but you’ll never be free of the stigma. This book also highlights the importance of finding those people in your life willing to stick their necks out for you, even through a faith that may be tenuous at best. In Lara’s case, she got insanely lucky. But she also had her own tenacity and willingness to fight. She knew she had made terrible mistakes, but she never gave up on the idea that she had something to offer. She was smart, resourceful, and dedicated. Her story shows us that with a little faith placed upon someone hard on their luck, anyone can come back from the hellish existence of an addict. Sometimes opportunity is all one needs to realize their own potential.

Ultimately this is a beautiful story of survival and perseverance. It is, however, also about atonement and a giving back where someone has only been previously willing to take. It’s about forgiveness given and even forgiveness denied. If you’re looking for a good uplifting memoir, this is a good one. There’s a lot of ugly stuff in the world and a story of one person’s escape from the ugliness is quite worth it. The audio is read by the author, which gives it a very personal feel. Overall, 4 stars for this one.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Published August 1, 2023 by Simon & Schuster. ISBN 1982197668. Runtime 8 hrs 59 mins. Narrated by the Author.

Posted in Memoir, Nonfiction, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Divine Rivals (Letters of Enchantment #1) by Rebecca Ross – a Book Review

Posted on December 5, 2024 by Amy @ A Librarian and Her Books

In my quest to check off more titles on my reading challenge at the last minute, I’ll add this one for my alliterative author pick. It was also the book club selection for Read Between the Wines this month, chosen by me. I did a bit of double dipping, as you can see. Having been feeling a lot of weight in the things I was reading and experiencing, I decided a nice YA title would be a good choice. It wasn’t exactly light, but I certainly could have chosen worse. And a good fantasy is able to pull me out of the overwhelming nature of reality.

Divine Rivals follows Iris Winnow, a young journalist who finds herself battling the conflicting emotions of her rivalry with a fellow journalist from the other side of the tracks, as they used to say. Iris, with her off-to-war brother and substance-addled mentally absent mother, struggles to keep afloat under the mental load that comes with being the lone breadwinner of the family. Roman Kitt, conversely, enjoys a privileged moneyed life but lacks the freedom and independence he desires due to his controlling family. While the two clash on a professional level, they find themselves drawn to one another by threads they never knew existed and will have to choose between what is expected by the outside world and what they want for themselves.

I don’t think it’s too much of a spoiler to say that Iris and Roman find themselves corresponding magically through their typewriters, two devices that have a shared history that left them connected permanently. They are like little teleportation devices for the written word. Old-timey email, if you will. This is essentially a war novel, but there’s a twist. Taking place in the mid-to-late 1910’s, the novel proposes an alternate history in which the mythologies of Gods and Goddesses have a basis in fact and the two warring Gods have returned to wage their war, pulling humans into the line of fire. Iris and Roman join the soldiers at the front as war correspondents, an act that pushes the novel to its dramatic cliffhanger of a conclusion.

What I like about this is the clever conventions Ross uses to set up her narrative. I liked both Iris and Roman and thought they had good chemistry that was fraught with just a bit of angst. It’s certainly a passionate relationship, and I even thought maybe things progressed rather rapidly once they reached the front. Like I said, this is a first book and it has quite the cliffhanger, so be prepared to not have ultimate satisfaction, but that’s something to be expected with this genre so I don’t see that chasing anyone away.

Interestingly enough, more than one of our book club members said they found themselves pulled in more to the story when they read the physical book than when they listened to the audio. I didn’t have any issues with the audio, but that’s food for thought if you’re looking into this book and trying to decide which format to choose. Overall, I found this to be an engaging and enjoyable read and look forward to the second installment.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Published April 4, 2023 by Wednesday Books. ISBN 9781250857439. Runtime 10hrs 50mins. Narrated by Rebecca Norfolk and Alex Wingfield.

Posted in Alternate History, Fantasy, Romance, Uncategorized, Young Adult Fiction | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

James by Percival Everett – a Book Review

Posted on December 4, 2024 by Amy @ A Librarian and Her Books

I hope you came here for unpopular opinions, because I’m about to throw one at you. I’m not a big Mark Twain fan. I know, I know, but hear me out… It’s not his ideas. I love the concept of his books. He was ahead of his time, and I think satire is a very effective tool as a force for change. Humor has healing properties, and writers like Mark Twain were positively revolutionary in the world of literature. I value his books and his ideas very much. I just don’t care for his writing style and didn’t exactly enjoy reading his work. I’m sorry, Mark. Please don’t haunt me. Hannibal really isn’t that far from here.

With all that being said, I think that’s what I love so much about this particular novel. Let’s face it. We all know Jim, the escaped slave who accompanies Huck on his journey, is truly the more compelling character. Mark Twain couldn’t really write THAT particular book at the time as it wouldn’t have been as well received by the target audience, but he still presented the character of the honorable and intelligent black man who could actually forge a deep connection with a white boy in such a way that made people question their own preconceived notions and prejudices. And the original really is about Huck’s coming of age to realize the prejudices of his ancestors don’t have to define his own truth or the truth of future generations. Friendship is friendship regardless of race, age, or class. A trusted friend is a treasure, and there’s nothing wrong with doing something your elders tell you is wrong if it’s for the right purpose, especially if it’s to protect someone who needs protection. Wisdom is knowing that the old people who tell you what to do can be stupid, too. That’s a valuable narrative, and I in no way mean to de-value it by showing a preference for this new adaptation. In fact, were I to teach an American Literature course, I’d be teaching these two in tandem because the two different perspectives help the story come full circle.

Percival Everett, in his rewrite of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, presents the side of the story Twain didn’t put to paper. It’s the intimate account from Jim’s point of view, including all those times in which Jim is separated from Huck and we don’t get his experiences in the original text. What Everett gives us is a sometimes humorous, always harrowing, and often tragic view into the innermost soul of James. In his novel, James is a highly intelligent self-educated man who strategically wields his ability to play the part of the “dumb slave” for the mere purpose of survival. While covertly teaching the younger generation to read, write, and think critically, he also teaches them how to fly under the radar and tow the line so as to best protect themselves from harm as they navigate the dangerous world of the “peculiar institution” that is slavery. In this way, Jim and James almost become two different people. As the novel progresses, we see James more forcefully embracing his true identity while leaving Jim as a remembrance of a past to which he will not return. In that respect, this story is as much his coming of age as it is Huck’s.

Everett’s writing is stunning, and the moments he crafts are poignant and profound. During one particular confrontation between James and his prior abuser, I found it so damn satisfying and perfect I wanted to engage in a full-blown fist-pumping couch-jumping session of gleeful abandon. I refrained and settled for quiet glee, but it was difficult to control myself.

Like any great novel involving such an ugly time in history, much of this is difficult to stomach. It will make you angry, make you cry, and make you want to rage at the casual callousness and cruelty that infects the entirety of human history, including the history currently being written. The current cancer of human intellect is deflection and denial, a willful ignorance of the past that doesn’t allow for the prospect of remorse. How could history not repeat itself if half of us choose to deny the mere existence of the past? It makes things so much more difficult for those of us who actually want to believe in the capacity for human growth and enlightenment. Pardon me while I take a break to go scream into the void.

Ok, that’s better.

Truly, however, this novel is a marvel. It’s no surprise that it was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Not having yet read the actual winner, I won’t make the claim that James should have won, but I would say it’s definitely worthy of any and all accolades. I also highly recommend the audio as narrated by Dominic Hoffman. Looking through his catalog of other narrations, I see he also narrated Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, which is one of the most stunningly beautiful books I’ve ever read. I’m sure he did it justice though I didn’t originally read in that format. Along all fronts, this one is a five-star read.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Published March 19, 2024 by Random House Audio. ISBN 0385550367. Runtime 7 hrs 49 mins. Narrated by Dominic Hoffman.

Posted in General fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, own voices, Reimagined Classic | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Funny Story by Emily Henry – a Book Review

Posted on November 18, 2024 by Amy @ A Librarian and Her Books

Yes, this will be an actual book review. While my last two reviews were stark reminders of how truly FORKED the United States is, this book is like basking in the warmth of the sun on a sandy beach with a margarita in hand and no worries in your head. In case you are in need of a respite from the perils of the world, look no further than this charming contemporary romance.

Synopsis

Daphne and her fiance, Peter, have the perfect meet cute, a story Peter loves to tell any chance he gets. It would be straight off the screen of a blockbuster romcom if not for one inconvenient detail. With their wedding just around the corner, Peter leaves Daphne for his childhood best friend, Petra. Daphne, having dropped everything to move across country with Peter finds herself without support or even a place to live when she’s ejected from their communal home that Petra will be moving into in her place. The solution? She turns to the one person who can also share in her pain and who now just might need a roommate. The ex of her ex-fiancé’s new fiancé. While they are polar opposites, buttoned-up Daphne and pot-smoking croc-wearing Max form a kind of unique friendship based upon their common desire to irritate the hell out of their exes with their new fake relationship. As they fall further into the lie and Daphne sets plans in motion for the return to her hometown, their shenanigans just might bring them more trouble than they anticipated. And Daphne might come to see she has a few reasons to stay, after all.

Review

You have probably heard me say before that I’m not a big fan of romance. Well, that’s not completely true. I actually love quirky contemporary romances with heroines that don’t seem to be cut out of a magazine and leading men who don’t spend the whole book shirtless with a smoldering smirk. If that is your thing, you go, girl (or guy). I’ll take the book with the awkward librarian who has difficulty connecting with her peers and the scruffy dude in crocs with an affinity for Bridget Jones and farmers’ markets. It’s all in the little details that make characters enjoyable and relatable. Henry really excels at those fine-tuned details in this novel. Her writing is competent, witty, and smart. It’s not just about Daphne’s love story, but it’s Daphne’s human story. It’s her growth as a woman, a friend, and a lover. It’s the way Max opens her up to aspects of the world she’s never let in before and the way she’s willing to make a life of her own, not one that’s built around someone else.

I think that’s often what bothers me about a lot of romance novels. A woman’s worth is not wrapped up in who she is in relation to men. Maybe, like Daphne, she has always viewed herself as important only because she’s in a relationship, but a truly good book will be about her coming of age. It will about her realizing her own worth. I’d much rather see her grow to love herself before focusing on her love for someone else. Only then can she find a partner who values her for the right reasons. It’s certainly not about sex, though a little of that spice is welcome if it’s done well. In this case, I think Henry captured the spice quite well.

Over all, I thought this was a very solid and satisfying contemporary romance that checks all the boxes. It’s sweet, authentic, and highly relatable with an understated spiciness.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Published April 23, 2024 by Penguin Audio. ASIN B0CCPPQ38D. Runtime 11 hrs. 23 mins. Narrated by Julia Whelan.

Posted in Chick Lit, General fiction, humor, Romance, Uncategorized, Women's fiction | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Somewhere Beyond the Sea (The Cerulean Chronicles Book #2) by T.J. Klune – a Book Review (and more random thoughts for society)

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Amy @ A Librarian and Her Books

This is the second book that it makes me sad to read in the era of Donald Trump’s second reign of terror. But… this time, I’m going to take a different tone. Less “burn it to the ground” and more “let’s start rebuilding.” I’ve spent the last 24 hours reflecting on this book. I loved The House on the Cerulean Sea. This whole series is full of wonderful and quirky characters who I desperately wish I could know in real life. It’s a celebration of the weird and wonderful, and it’s a call for unity in the face of division. Honestly, as a review portion I’m just going to say I adore this book, the follow-up to House on the Cerulean Sea. Everything, just everything, is sweet, profound, beautiful, heartwarming, and perfect. I can not pick a favorite character, especially amongst the children because they are amazing. And Daniel Henning, the narrator, I’m speechless. Give the man an award. Give him ALL the money. There you go, there’s your review. Now the rest is going to be another one of my essays because I’ve got a lot of things to say lately.

I don’t like spoilers, but I need to talk about one specific scene in this novel, because it’s important and it’s timely. Arthur, a character who I adore more than I ever thought I could adore a character, finds himself, usually the optimist, filled with despair and finally giving up hope. No matter how hard he’s tried, his efforts to protect his children have failed. He’s spent his life teaching his children to love, to accept others with grace and understanding, to forgive ignorance and prejudice, and to allow others to realize the depths of their wrongs in time. Love always wins. People can change. But they aren’t changing, and he wearies of trying and waiting. As a phoenix, Arthur finally allows himself to lose control. In his rage and sadness, he burns. He unleashes the fire that has seethed within him for decades. The fire of his trauma as an abused child, the fire of his hurt and anger for his children who society continues to condemn and reject, and the fire of a man who was born different only to be viewed with fear rather than an appreciation for his beautiful and unique qualities. Are some of you thinking you can totally empathize with this lately? Have you felt the same way when you look at the state of world and wonder just how so many people could be so cold and unfeeling?

It is at this lowest point when his anger threatens to burn away the last good shred he has within him that his own goodness, his own lost hope, is brought back to him by one of his precious children. They still see that the fight is worthwhile, and that’s because he believed in them. It’s not over. One person can not bring color back to the black hearts of a million people. But sometimes one is enough. One touch, one kind word, one assurance that things will be ok is enough. Every time I open social media, I see hate. I see gleeful gloating goons reveling at the pain, sorrow and fear they are able to inspire in their fellow humans. But when I push those aside I also see reasons to hope. I see people processing their own pain with wit, humor, and encouragement for their fellow humans. They both can have power but only if we let them have power. It’s up to us to channel our attention back toward hope, optimism, and a sense of growth. Protect those you love who are in those groups most vulnerable to harm at the moment. Check in on them. But do not let them or yourself give up hope.

Now, I’m going address something a bit inconvenient, and it might piss some of my fellow liberals off. I know this book is a bit controversial. The reason, however, I feel it is controversial is that the left has this rather nasty habit of looking for something to complain about. For that reason, I’m not even going to address the controversy because that would give it power. Seriously, have we lost the ability to approach our fellow humans with empathy and grace? So many people these days overlook the beauty of a work of art based on who wrote it and whether or not they have “the right” to tell that particular story. Do you know what this does? It negates the message. It encourages more hate and division WHEN THAT’S LITERALLY THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS STORY. It is about setting aside hate and prejudice in order to forge a better and more accepting future. As people, we only stop growing when we die, so we have to give our fellow humans the ability to grow by forgiving past mistakes and setting aside the concept of revenge. Stop looking for reasons to hate things because the rest of the world is so full of hate that it’s made you bitter. Take a page from Arthur’s book and reach out when a helping hand is given and listen to what they have to say. Don’t extinguish the fire, but direct the flame in a direction that’s productive rather than destructive.

In the face of so many people who want to be our enemies, we can’t shut out those who want to be friends because they take an approach we wouldn’t take ourselves. You may be woke, but if you woke up cranky you won’t change any minds or hearts. You only make enemies of your friends and give the real enemies more traction. Truly, I hate the word enemies, because I don’t think it applies to people who are merely ignorant. They truly can still grow if given the appropriate information to process. If we want to be true champions of diversity and inclusion, we have to also champion ideas. Bring back civil discourse. Criticize a work without negating its purest essence. If we can’t do that, we are no better than those on the other side who are burning books.

Love each other. Listen. Heal your own heart and then heal the world.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Published September 10, 2024 by Macmillan Audio. ISBN 9781035009411. Runtime 15hrs 48 mins. Narrated by Daniel Henning (seriously… this man… *chef’s kiss*)

Posted in Coming of Age, Fantasy, General fiction, humor, Uncategorized, Young Adult Fiction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Book of Thorns by Hester Fox – a Book Review (Sort of)

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Amy @ A Librarian and Her Books

It makes me tremendously sad to review this book at the moment. Here we have yet another incredible work of literature that celebrates those women throughout history who toiled and fought for the respect they should be given only to be time and time again weighed down by the prejudices of men. And I’m reviewing it at a time in which more than half of my countrymen and women have once again turned our country over to the hands of a cruel, sexist, racist imbecile who only emboldens those with old antiquated ideas of women’s subservience to men. As we speak there’s some ignorant sociopath making jokes about ownership of women’s bodies based solely on the presence of the tiny penis in his trousers. Who am I kidding? There are millions of these ignorant trolls and they feel validated, vindicated, and invincible. Out of the shadows they slink to stand in the light as they once did and they laugh at those who fear for the future of their civil liberties and sense of safety.

Truly, the past week I’ve simply been numb and haven’t been able to get myself to do anything, but I’m rising above that. Because those lowlifes want me to sit down and shut up, and I’m not ok with that. I will not allow the bottom feeders of society who lack any shred of empathy or integrity to intimidate me into silence no matter how loud they squawk into the void.

So let’s talk about witchcraft then, shall we? Afterall, what must we make of women who are strong, courageous, intelligent, and capable? They must be witches, right? This book is a celebration of the perseverance of womanhood, the powerful bond of sisterhood, and the reasons to hope for a better tomorrow. Both Cornelia and Lijsbeth, the two heroines of this novel, are well drawn and beautiful examples for young girls. Lijsbeth, especially, endures the kind of indignities that no woman should ever have to bear, but she does so with a fortitude no 21st century incel could ever come close to mustering. In her muteness, she suffers in silence but she does not suffer alone. Most importantly, she does not allow herself to be broken. Hers and Cornelia’s stories are beautiful, and they show us how we are so much stronger when united. There’s beauty in despair, and the battles worth fighting are never easy.

So how do we do fight against this new era of the emboldened misogynist? First of all, don’t stop reading. Pick up a book by a person of color. Pick up a book by a nasty woman who takes no shit. Start with this one. Don’t stop asking questions. A quiet and understated refusal to bend is so much more powerful than a loud and aggressive order to break. More than anything, keep teaching your children the true difference between right and wrong. Keep teaching them that respect is important, that it is earned and not demanded, and kindness always wins. One day, maybe, it will be true.

And, certainly, don’t be afraid to channel your inner witch.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Published April 2, 2024 by Graydon House. ISBN 9781525812019. Paperback. 320 pages.

Posted in Fantasy, General fiction, Historical Fiction, magical realism, Women's fiction | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Sleeping Giants by Rene Denfeld – a Book Review

Posted on October 10, 2024 by Amy @ A Librarian and Her Books

Real life has been a little daunting lately. As such, I have done quite a bit of reading but very little reviewing. I just can’t get my mind back in the game for some reason. I fear with how the next few months will go that will get much worse, but I’ll do my best. I am determined to finish my reading challenge, so I’m going to try my best for that final push. With so many reviews on deck, I’ve found myself having to think back very hard about some reads to remind myself of what they were even about. Sadly, some books just don’t leave an impression and thoughts get muddled afterward. This one, however, is not one of those books.

Synopsis

Twenty years ago, a troubled boy from a local orphanage is swept away by the unforgiving arms of the vicious sea off the Oregon coast. Most people forgot about Dennis, but everyone will remember him when a young woman claiming to be the lost boy’s sister turns up out of the blue looking for information. Amanda Dufresne, always having felt like an outsider unable to connect with anyone, seeks the answers that tell her who she is and why she is so different. With the help of her new friend, retired police officer and recently widowed Larry Palmer, a new resident to the sleepy town, Amanda will wake the sleeping giants of the past which might just unearth more secrets than Amanda had anticipated.

Review

If I were to write a book, I would hope it would turn out like this. It has this effortlessly beautiful ambience that has just the right amount of darkness. Every character oozes a complexity that muddies the reader’s perspective. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a clear sense of right and wrong. It just says so much about how one person’s repressed pain can be wielded like a weapon. It’s about how we can hurt each other and how those lasting reverberations affect those who come in our wake. Thematically this is so tragic but so profound. It’s a difficult read, as so much of it revolves around abuse and neglect as well as loss. Amanda is such a refreshingly unique main character, a bit strange and awkward but so relatable on a human level. Each character, including those just supporting the narrative, is finely tuned with intricate imperfections. I could really feel the spirit of the town and the people in it, complete with its sadness and repressed memories.

It’s not a long book. It’s well paced and competently crafted, neither lagging nor rushing the conclusion. Denfeld is a true wordsmith. Her language is lyrical without being pretentious, and it mirrors and accentuates the dark undertones of the setting. Honestly, there’s just so much I could say about this book. I found the big reveal to be a bit predictable, but it really didn’t bother me. I enjoyed the journey of walking with Amanda as she sought to find herself and to help another (a non-human other) find herself as well. Vague, I know, but it’s just one you have to experience for yourself. It’s a lovely, amazing book.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Published March 26, 2024 by Harper. ISBN 9780063014732. Hardcover. 293 pages.

Posted in Coming of Age, General fiction, Literary Fiction, mystery, thriller, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

WWW Wednesday – October 2, 2024

Posted on October 2, 2024 by Amy @ A Librarian and Her Books

I haven’t done a great job at keeping up with my weekly WWW meme, so I’ll remedy that this week. WWW Wednesday is a weekly series where bloggers share their reading progress for the week by answering 3 questions. It’s hosted by Sam at Taking On a World of Words.

The three questions are:

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What have you just finished reading?
  • What will you read next?

What am I currently reading?

I am currently reading two novels. The first is Love and Fury by Samantha Silva. This is a novel about the birth of Mary Shelley and the very brief amount of time she had with her mother before the elder’s passing. Literally, it begins with the midwife showing up at the door of a currently-in-labor Mary Wollstonecraft as she’s about to welcome her second daughter into the world. I’ve barely scratched the surface so far but I’m looking forward to the experience of reading this one.

The second book that I’m listening to is Funny Story by Emily Henry. So far this is a delightful and lovely novel with a quirky main character and a very charming leading man. I’m highly enjoying it and will be sad when it’s over. It’s narrated by Julia Whelan. who just might be the queen of audiobook narration.

What have I just finished reading?

I just finished reading the novel, Clear, by Carys Davies. I’m a bit behind on reviews and it may take me a bit to get to this one. Stay Tuned.

On audio, I can’t wait to review Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T.J. Klune. I was really anticipating this sequel to House on the Cerulean Sea, and it did not disappoint. I’m not sure a review could include all the things I loved about it, but I’ll do my best.

What will I read next?

First of all, I want to pick up a copy of our next Read Between the Wines book club selection, The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes. I have read some of Moyes’ other work and enjoyed them, so I’m looking forward to picking this one up.

I really haven’t decided on an audiobook just yet. I figure I’ll let my mood navigate me at the time and choose on a whim. Realistically, it’s getting late in the year and I’m really going to have to buckle down in finding the final reading challenge selections. Eek!

Until next time, happy reading!

Posted in General fiction, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment