Mailbox Monday-Aug. 18

Mailbox Monday is a great meme that has us list the books that we receive. You can check out the Mailbox Monday blog to see what everyone else found in their mailboxes.

Here is what showed up at my door:

 And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

What a surprise it was to get home from our trip to Colorado only to find a box filled with twelve of these books for my entire book group!  I love these surprises!

Review: Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Here is a summary of the book from the Goodreads website:
  
August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances?

R. J. Palacio has written a spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short chapters, Wonder is accessible to readers of all levels.

My Review:
I didn't know much about this book when my book club chose this one as a selection.  I knew that it was about a young boy that was being bullied, but I wasn't aware about his physical differences.  Kids can be mean to children who are just average, so imagine the things kids can think of when someone with so many differences, like Auggie, is cast into their school and lives.

Auggie knows he is different and he has come to accept that.  He has become accustomed to others being uncomfortable in his presence, and even the shock people experience when first encountering him.  Auggie is a normal boy underneath all his differences and although he is nervous about attending school for the first time he is excited about the possibilities.   

This book is told from various perspectives of people who are a part of Auggie's life.  Some of the characters that we gain some insight from are his sister, and even some of the new kids he meets at school.  Of course I loved the chapters narrated by Auggie himself, but I also enjoyed the sections narrated by his sister.  Via is older than Auggie and things changed drastically for her after he was born.  As much as she loves her brother she also struggles to find her place in the world.  I loved watching her character grow in this book.

I don't want to give too much of this book away as it unravels perfectly while reading.  With themes of family, friendship, differences, and forgiveness, I hope you love this book as much as I did.  I highly recommend this book for all age groups, for either personal leisure or as a book club selection.

My Rating:  5/5

Disclosure:   I borrowed this book from the school library to read for my own entertainment and as a book club selection.

Teaser Tuesday-Aug. 5

Check out Teaser Tuesdays from Should Be Reading. TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

This week my teaser is from Safe With Me by Amy Hatvany:
Her breath freezes in her lungs, worried about what might happen next.  But then he lifts her hand to his mouth and kisses the inside of her palm.

pg. 278

Review: The Promise of Stardust by Priscille Sibley

Here is a summary of the book from the Goodreads website: 

Matt Beaulieu was two years old the first time he held Elle McClure in his arms, seventeen when he first kissed her under a sky filled with shooting stars, and thirty-three when he convinced her to marry him. Now in their late 30s, the deeply devoted couple has everything-except the baby they've always wanted.

When an accident leaves Elle brain dead, Matt is devastated. Though he cannot bear the thought of life without her, he knows Elle was afraid of only one thing-a slow death. And so, Matt resolves to take her off life support.

But Matt changes his mind when they discover Elle's pregnant. While there are no certainties, the baby might survive if Elle remains on life support. Matt's mother, Linney, disagrees with his decision. She loves Elle, too, and insists that Elle would never want to be kept alive on machines. Linney is prepared to fight her son in court-armed with Elle's living will.

Divided by the love they share, Matt and Linney will be pitted against each other, fighting for what they believe is right, and what they think Elle would have wanted resulting in a controversial legal battle that will ultimately go beyond one family . . . and one single life.

My Review:  
Let me tell you that this controversial novel made an excellent book club selection.  Most of the ladies in my book club are conservative so although we loved the story most of us found ourselves frustrated with the situation at hand.  Sibley did a wonderful job of creating a story that could easily be ripped from the headlines of today, making you wonder, "What is the right decision?"

Linney had an advanced directive in place indicating she never wanted to be kept on life support if there was no chance for recovery from an illness or accident.  She watched her mother die a slow and painful death and did not want to put herself or her loved ones through a similar experience.  How could she foresee that she could possibly be pregnant in this exact situation?  Would she change her mind about life support if it could save the life of the unborn child that she and Matt have tried so desperately to conceive?  These are the questions Matt struggles with as he fights for the life of his unborn child.  

As Matt struggles to keep Linney alive long enough to bring their baby into this world, he must confront a new fight against several people who believe the physicians should follow her wishes.  This book tugged at the heartstrings page after page as we watch Matt struggle with his decisions.  He reads through her many journals that were started before they were even married, looking for clues to what she would actually want.  

I don't want to give any more of this novel away as the intensity builds as new legal implications arise with the situation.  I did enjoy this novel and you may find it just as enjoyable with themes of love, promises, and a medical lawsuit.  I don't hesitate in recommending this novel for either personal leisure or as a book club selection.

My Rating:  4/5

Disclosure:  This book was from my personal library and I read it for my own entertainment and as a book club selection.

Audiobook Review: The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory

Title:  The Lady of the Rivers

Author:  Philippa Gregory

Narrator:  Bianca Amato

Unabridged Length:  19 hrs, 11 mn.

Here is a summary of the book from the Goodreads website: 
Jacquetta, daughter of the Count of Luxembourg and kinswoman to half the royalty of Europe, was married to the great Englishman John, Duke of Bedford, uncle to Henry VI. Widowed at the age of 19, she took the extraordinary risk of marrying a gentleman of her household for love, and then carved out a new life for herself.

My Review:   
I have been listening to this series of books on audio, and let me tell you, I am so glad that I have chosen this method.  Amata has done most of the narrating in the series so far and she doesn't fail to nail the characters every time!  You get a glimpse of Jacquetta in previous installments so it was interesting to see things from her point of view this time.

When Jacquetta is just a young girl, one of her aunts sees a special gift in her.  A mysterious gift that has been attained by many females in the family.  Jacquetta will spend years learning to harness her powers to help herself and her entire family.  Although the book touched on this subject it wasn't overwhelming as it really was a small but important element of the story.  It did help to clarify events from the previous installments though.

From the previous books I had labeled Jacquetta to be a heartless and cruel woman, but this novel proved her to be the exact opposite.  She was a passionate woman who would do anything to protect those she loves.  And the love she declared for her mate was proved countless times, with the many children they had together.  

Although this is part of a series, I think this book would also be fine as a stand alone novel.  I did enjoy this audiobook, but it probably is my least favorite so far, but maybe that's because Jacquetta is my least favorite character!  With themes of love, family, and war, you may enjoy this book just as much, if not more, than I did.  I recommend this novel for either personal leisure or as a book club selection.

My Rating:  3/5

Disclosure:  I borrowed this audiobook from the local library to read for my own entertainment.

Mailbox Monday-July 7

Mailbox Monday is a great meme that has us list the books that we receive. You can check out the Mailbox Monday blog to see what everyone else found in their mailboxes.

Here is what showed up at my door:

2 A.M. at The Cat's Pajamas by Marie Helene Bertino

A Wedding in Provence by Ellen Sussman

I was so excited to open my package and find the Cat's Pajamas in it!  Something about this book is calling my name.  A Wedding in Provence was a total surprise to me as I didn't request it.  I have to admit that I am a cover judger and this one looks like it may be too sappy for me...we will see!

Audiobook Review: Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler

Title:  Shotgun Lovesongs

Author:  Nickolas Butler

Narrators:  Scott Shepherd, Ari Fliakos, Holter Graham, Scott Sowers, Maggie Hoffman

Unabridged Length:  9 hrs, 59 mn.

Here is a summary from the publisher's website:

Welcome to Little Wing.

It’s a place like hundreds of others, nothing special, really. But for four friends—all born and raised in this small Wisconsin town—it is home. And now they are men, coming into their own, or struggling to do so.

One of them never left, still working the family farm that has been tilled for generations. But others felt the need to move on, with varying degrees of success. One trades commodities, another took to the rodeo circuit, and one of them even hit it big as a rock star. And then there’s Beth, a woman who has meant something special in each of their lives.

Now all four are brought together for a wedding. Little Wing seems even smaller than before. While lifelong bonds are still strong, there are stresses—between the friends, between husbands and wives. There will be heartbreak, but there will also be hope, healing, even heroism as these memorable people learn the true meaning of adult friendship and love.

Seldom has the American heartland been so richly and accurately portrayed. Though the town may have changed, the one thing that hasn’t is the beauty of the Wisconsin farmland, the lure of which, in Nickolas Butler’s hands, emerges as a vibrant character in the story. Shotgun Lovesongs is that rare work of fiction that evokes a specific time and place yet movingly describes the universal human condition. It is, in short, a truly remarkable audiobook—a novel that once listened to will never be forgotten.

My Review:
How could I pass up the opportunity to listen to this audiobook after living in Northern Wisconsin for most of my life?  I just couldn't!  I've always enjoyed reading books that take place close to where I live and Shotgun Lovesongs delivered.  Butler did a wonderful job of creating a fictional town containing the things that make our little piece of the world special.  From Friday fish fry, shopping trips to  Duluth, to commuting to Minneapolis for the airport, Butler didn't miss a beat.

The story is told from various viewpoints and each character had a different narrator.  Our main characters all grew up together in Little Wing, and although a few left the small town early in their lives, they all find themselves building their lives back where they started.  Beth and Hank married and work on a farm, Kip married a woman from Chicago and moved back to Little Wing to restore the old mill, Leland is a rock star who spends time in the town recuperating between gigs, while Ronny may be the most loved character of all-having to give up the rodeo circuit after sustaining too many injuries.

The book opens as the town is getting ready to attend Kip's wedding.  Kip doesn't spare any expense for his wedding and it is apparent that he has let the powerful persona he developed in Chicago take over.  His attitude did not come across well to his home-town friends, setting a tension that would separate Kip from the rest of the group throughout the novel.

Leland and Hank were best friends since they were kids, but with Ronny's injuries Leland always took the initiative to take Ronny under his wing.  Whether it was paying for Ronny's medical bills or not indulging in alcohol at bachelor parties, Leland did whatever he needed to do to help Ronny feel like he belonged.

A couple of our characters hold a secret from years before, and once it is revealed friendships will never be the same.  I think all of the narrators did a wonderful job of bringing these characters to life for me.  My ONLY complaint about the audiobook was the choice of narrator for Leland.  Although I enjoyed his narration, the voice just did not fit the character for me.  Obviously this was a very small distraction for me as I absolutely loved the book otherwise.  With themes of love, secrets, and forgiveness, you may enjoy this book as much as I did.  I don't hesitate in recommending this book for either personal leisure or as a book club selection.

My Rating:  4/5

Disclosure:  This audiobook was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.