Review: And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

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

Khaled Hosseini, the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, has written a new novel about how we love, how we take care of one another, and how the choices we make resonate through generations.

In this tale revolving around not just parents and children but brothers and sisters, cousins and caretakers, Hosseini explores the many ways in which families nurture, wound, betray, honor, and sacrifice for one another; and how often we are surprised by the actions of those closest to us, at the times that matter most.

Following its characters and the ramifications of their lives and choices and loves around the globe—from Kabul to Paris to San Francisco to the Greek island of Tinos—the story expands gradually outward, becoming more emotionally complex and powerful with each turning page.

My Review:
As soon as this book was published, my book club decided this would be added to our reading list.  So when we won a set of books this last year we figured it was meant to be.  Hosseini crafted a creative tale for us once again, this time spanning several generations and from various points throughout the world.

Each chapter of this novel is told from a different character of the book.  I must admit that it was quite confusing at times, because when starting a new chapter it would sometimes go on for many pages until you realize the common thread it has with the rest of the book.  Since we hear from so many different narrators, I don't even think I can give you a favorite character.

The story opens with a young family in Kabul and how they are torn apart, being sent in different directions.  For some children, they were so small that the rest of the family is so faint a memory they don't even know if it is true.  As they grow and become wiser as they have continued on with their lives in various global destinations, they can't help but feel an emptiness within their hearts.

As they struggle with the memories of their youth, they must admit their past in order to be a part of each other's futures.  Like I said earlier, each character in the book had some connection to these children.  Sometimes it may have been only a small connection, but still a very important one that was needed to help them find each other once again.

Considering how much I loved Hosseini's other books, I wanted to enjoy this book much more than I did.  I think because there were so many different narrators it did not allow me to get close to any individual character.  But with themes of family, love, forgiveness, and sacrifice, you may enjoy this book too.  It did make a great book club discussion and I recommend it for your reading group or for personal leisure.

My Rating:  3/5

Disclosure:  This book is from of my personal collection and I read it for personal leisure and as a book club selection.  

Review: The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst

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

Paul Iverson's life changes in an instant. He returns home one day to find that his wife, Lexy, has died under strange circumstances. The only witness was their dog, Lorelei, whose anguished barking brought help to the scene - but too late. In the days and weeks that follow, Paul begins to notice strange "clues" in their home: books rearranged on their shelves, a mysterious phone call, and other suggestions that nothing about Lexy's last afternoon was quite what it seemed. Reeling from grief, Paul is determined to decipher this evidence and unlock the mystery of her death. But he can't do it alone; he needs Lorelei's help. A linguist by training, Paul embarks on an impossible endeavor: a series of experiments designed to teach Lorelei to communicate what she knows. Perhaps behind her wise and earnest eyes lies the key to what really happened to the woman he loved. As Paul's investigation leads him in unexpected and even perilous directions, he revisits the pivotal moments of his life with Lexy, the brilliant, enigmatic woman whose sparkling passion for life and dark, troubled past he embraced equally.

My Review:
I am not a stranger to Parkhurst's writing, so when I found The Dogs of Babel at a used book sale, I snatched it up!  Plus, add the cover of a woman sleeping with a dog and it's a done deal for me.  We are brought along on a journey with Paul as he strives to uncover the reason for his wife's odd death.  

As Paul uncovers various clues that will hopefully help him figure out the reason for Lexy's death, we learn about their lives together and the darkness that she could not expel from her soul.  It really didn't matter what Paul did to try to make Lexy happy, because the darkness was always there, hovering just below the surface.  

Knowing that their dog Lorelei was with Lexy when she died, he feels that the dog would be able to offer him substantial information.  Paul then sets forth on a quest to try teaching his dog to talk.  Immersing himself in research, he is led to an organization that swears they have made strides in their experiments with dogs.  Paul can't help but have faith in the possibilities that lay ahead, but in the process he puts Lorelei's life in danger.  

This was an interesting story that left me on the edge of my seat quite often.  With themes of love, trust, and depression you may find this book as interesting as me.  I don't hesitate in recommending this novel for either personal leisure or as a book club discussion.

My Rating:  4/5

Disclosure:  This book is from of my personal collection and I read it for my own entertainment.

Review: An Unexpected Grace by Kristin von Kreisler

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

From bestselling author Kristin von Kreisler comes a poignant, uplifting novel of one woman's journey to healing, and the surprising soul mate that helps guide her there. Lila Elliot knows she's lucky. A shooting rampage at her office left several colleagues dead and others seriously wounded. Lila's injuries will heal in time. Yet though she gratefully retreats to her best friend's house to recuperate, Lila can't quite move past her fear and anger. Being drafted into caring for Grace--a shaggy, formerly abused golden retriever--only adds to her stress. Lila has been terrified of dogs since childhood. But Grace, like Lila, needs time and space to recover.

Grace keeps her distance, sensing Lila's wariness, and only perks up for Adam, the neighbor who rescued her. Though struggling to make sense of her recent tragedy, Lila, an accomplished artist, begins to see beauty in Grace's wisps of fur and haunted eyes. As Adam points out, Grace, too, has suffered through no fault of her own. And in helping Grace to trust, Lila is being gently nudged toward the courage she needs to do the same.

Rich in warmth and humor, An Unexpected Grace is a story of compassion and connection, and of finding that what truly makes us whole again may be the love we give away.

My Review: 
My book club has read a couple of books about dogs and considering the premise of this novel, we thought it would be enjoyable.  Although I did feel compassion for the trials that both Lila and Grace encountered, this novel did not resonate with me.

As the summary above indicates, Lila was a survivor in a shooting that took place where she worked.  She struggles with her feelings after the incident-violation, trust, and nervousness invade her thoughts constantly.  A friend opens her home to Lila, a refuge where she can spend time alone, hoping to come to terms with the violence that was thrust upon her.  Her world of safety is shattered when Lila finds out that another house-guest happens to be a dog that was rescued from an abusive home.  Since Lila has always been afraid of dogs, she finds herself on the brink of a breakdown once again.

Lila doesn't plan on getting close to Grace, but Grace inches closer and closer without Lila even realizing it.  Both of these souls have experienced trauma on a grand scale so they must learn to trust each other to get through the day.  Lila finds solace in the company Grace offers during the storms of life.

It doesn't take long for Lila to realize that she needs Grace as much as Grace needs her.  Knowing this is just a temporary home for Grace until the humane society finds a permanent home for her, Lila must figure out a way to keep her for her own.  When Lila realizes that Grace could end up with the owner that abused her, she becomes even more determined to keep the animal.

Like I said earlier, this book just didn't cut it for me, or for the rest of my book club for that matter.  Many parts of the story just did not seem believable to me and the writing was just odd at times.  With themes of violent acts, trust, and forgiveness, you may find more enjoyment from this book than I did.  

My Rating:  1/5

Disclosure:  This book is from of my personal collection and I read it for personal leisure and as a book club selection.  

Audiobook Review: The White Princess by Philippa Gregory

Title:  The White Princess

Author:  Philippa Gregory

Narrator:  Bianca Amato

Unabridged Length:  19 hrs, 5 mn.

Here is a summary of the book from the publisher's website:
Philippa Gregory, #1 New York Times best­selling author and “the queen of royal fiction” (USA Today), presents the latest Cousins’ War novel, the remarkable story of Elizabeth of York, daughter of the White Queen.

When Henry Tudor picks up the crown of England from the mud of Bosworth field, he knows he must marry the princess of the enemy house—Elizabeth of York—to unify a country divided by war for nearly two decades.

But his bride is still in love with his slain enemy, Richard III—and her mother and half of England dream of a missing heir, sent into the unknown by the White Queen. While the new monarchy can win power, it cannot win hearts in an England that plots for the triumphant return of the House of York.

Henry’s greatest fear is that somewhere a prince is waiting to invade and reclaim the throne. When a young man who would be king leads his army and invades England, Elizabeth has to choose between the new husband she is coming to love and the boy who claims to be her beloved lost brother: the rose of York come home at last.

My Review: 
When starting another Gregory audiobook narrated by Bianca Amato, it is like welcoming an old friend back into my life for awhile.  She truly has a way of embracing the characters and bringing them to life.  The story of young Elizabeth was no different, as we find ourselves wishing the best for the young woman who has so many odds stacked against her.

We learn early on of the love affair Elizabeth had with the late Richard III, and realize that her marriage to Henry is a political move to appease her parents.  Henry has fought against everything Elizabeth held dear, her father, family, and even her lover.  He, in some way, is responsible for all of their deaths, but in order to secure his crown, Henry did what needed to be done.

Now that Henry has the crown and a beautiful bride at his side, one would think that he would not feel the threat of betrayal.  But that is not the case, especially with his mother Margaret dictating his every move and somehow controlling his thoughts.  When the possibility of a York heir returning to England arises, everything Henry and his mother have worked for could be lost.  

This was a very passionate novel as Elizabeth pines for her lost love, but then also embraces the open arms of her new king and husband.   Just when she thinks there may be hope for a real relationship with her husband, his mother intercedes, reminding him what is at stake.  Since Elizabeth is a York heir herself, her motives can never be trusted.

I think this review sums up the novel pretty good and overall it was an enjoyable experience.  With themes of love, honor, family, and royalty, you may enjoy this book as much as I did.  I don't hesitate in recommending this novel 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.

Audiobook Review: All Fall Down by Jennifer Weiner

Title:  All Fall Down

Author:  Jennifer Weiner

Narrator:  Tracee Chimo

Unabridged Length:  12 hrs, 44 mn.

Here is a summary of the book from the publisher's website:
Allison Weiss got her happy ending: a handsome husband, an adorable daughter, a job she loves, and the big house in the suburbs. But while waiting in the pediatrician's office, she opens a magazine to a quiz about addiction and starts to wonder: Is a Percocet at the end of the day really different from a glass of wine? Is it such a bad thing to pop a Vicodin after a brutal Jump & Pump class, or if your husband ignores you? 

She tells herself that the pills help her make it through her days; but what if her increasing drug use, a habit that's becoming expensive and hard to hide, is turning into her biggest problem of all?

My Review:
Do you ever pick a book without knowing anything about it?  That's what happened with this one, and it turned out to be a winner in my book!  I've always liked rollercoasters so maybe that is what attracted me to this novel.  This audiobook turned out to be a rollercoaster ride of Allison's life that was non-stop, from beginning to end.

As the book opens I thought Allison to be your average mother/housewife, taking her daughter to the pediatrician.  It doesn't take long to catch on to her abuse of prescription painkillers, as with every little crisis in her day, she finds herself needing to pop a pill to get her through the next couple of hours.

Wiener did a wonderful job of of relaying the thought process of someone addicted to painkillers.  I've heard of people seeking prescriptions from various doctors, and this method is explored in this novel.  She even goes so far to cover up her abuse that she opens another bank account to transfer funds, allowing her to keep an ample supply through the mail.

It's easy to see Allison's life spinning out of control as she makes her downward spiral.  When she no longer can complete daily tasks it doesn't take her family long to figure out what is transpiring.  When they confront her with their discoveries, of course she tries to pass it off as if no problem exists, but finally, she concludes that her daughter deserves more than this.  This decision starts Allison on a new rollercoaster ride as she is admitted into a treatment center.

This book turned out to be so much more than I expected and Tracee Chimo did a great job of narrating Allison's character.  There was no doubt of Allison's need and desire of her painkillers with Chimo's narration.  With themes of addiction, family, and perseverance, you may enjoy this book as much as I did.  I don't hesitate in recommending this book for 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.

Audiobook Review: The Women of Duck Commander by Kay, Korie, Missy, Jessica, and Lisa Robertson

Title:  The Women of Duck Commander

Authors:  Kay, Korie, Missy, Jessica, and Lisa Robertson

Narrators: Kay, Korie, Missy, Jessica, and Lisa Robertson, Alex Robertson Mancuso

Unabridged Length: 6 hrs, 22 mn.


Here is a summary of the book from the publisher's website:
In the pages of this book, you'll find both fun and inspirational stories . . .

Kay shares the honest story of her relationship with Phil-and his wild and philandering years-and the challenges of being a teenage mother. Even more amazing, she shares the forgiveness she offered Phil and how they have now celebrated forty-eight years of marriage.

Korie tells of her first encounter with Phil when she was in just the fifth grade. At that first meeting Phil came right out and told her what good husbands his boys would make and that she should keep an eye on them. She also shares the reaction her parents had when she told them that she and Willie were getting married when she was only eighteen.

Missy tells the story of their daughter, Mia, who was born with a cleft palate, and their adjustments to this condition and Mia's joyful spirit that inspires them all.

Jessica recounts her first conversation with Jep and how unimpressed she was when Jep bragged that his dad was the Duck Commander Phil Robertson. She told him she'd heard of Daffy Duck, Donald Duck, and Duck, Duck, Goose-but not the Duck Commander.

Lisa reveals the serious marriage problems she and Al had problems that almost ended their marriage for good and how they worked through those issues to have a more stable and loving marriage than she ever imagined possible.

My Review:
If you are a fan of Duck Dynasty this is one book you will not want to miss.  I listened to Happy, Happy, Happy on audio and new that I had to follow that up with the women's story.  All of the women give little tidbits of their lives as they open their hearts to us.

The one thing that resonates loudly for me from this book is the relationship Miss Kay has with all of her daughters-in-law.  She takes each of them under her wings and accepts them for who they are.  And in return, these ladies treat Miss Kay with the respect she so well deserves.

The Robertson clan has obviously come a long way, but life wasn't always full of roses and butterflies for this family.  Before Phil became a man of God, he led a life that is not suitable for a young family.  But Miss Kay did not have an alternative, she raised her boys the best she could, even when Phil was not around.  I knew Phil was not a good man in the early days of their life together, but Kay did not sugarcoat it.  I have to admit that while listening to this book, I actually became quite angry with Phil, but thankful that he found the Lord and changed his ways.

I think one of the most powerful stories in this book is when Lisa shared her story.  I'm sure it was hard for her to confide in us about her tragic past, and I can't help but appreciate her as a woman.  I don't want to give away anything about her story as I feel it should only be told by her.  She also shares with us the ups and downs of her marriage to Alan, taking full responsibility for any wrongdoing she may have caused.

Although I enjoyed listening to Lisa's story the most, all of these christian women have plenty to contribute with their personal tidbits.  Each of the women narrate their own segments, and I have to admit that as much as I respect these ladies, I did not care for their narration at all.  That honestly is my only criticism of this book, and had I physically read the book I'm sure I wouldn't have a negative word to say.

With themes of family, love, and forgiveness, I'm sure many of you will enjoy this book as much as I did.  I recommend this book for either personal leisure or as a book club selection, especially for the christian readers.  And please keep in mind that my rating is specifically for the audio version.

My Rating: 3/5

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

Review: Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

Here is a summary of the book from the Goodreads website:
The author of Bird in Hand and The Way Life Should Be delivers her most ambitious and powerful novel to date: a captivating story of two very different women who build an unexpected friendship: a 91-year-old woman with a hidden past as an orphan-train rider and the teenage girl whose own troubled adolescence leads her to seek answers to questions no one has ever thought to ask.

Nearly eighteen, Molly Ayer knows she has one last chance. Just months from "aging out" of the child welfare system, and close to being kicked out of her foster home, a community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping her out of juvie and worse.

Vivian Daly has lived a quiet life on the coast of Maine. But in her attic, hidden in trunks, are vestiges of a turbulent past. As she helps Vivian sort through her possessions and memories, Molly discovers that she and Vivian aren't as different as they seem to be. A young Irish immigrant orphaned in New York City, Vivian was put on a train to the Midwest with hundreds of other children whose destinies would be determined by luck and chance.

The closer Molly grows to Vivian, the more she discovers parallels to her own life. A Penobscot Indian, she, too, is an outsider being raised by strangers, and she, too, has unanswered questions about the past. As her emotional barriers begin to crumble, Molly discovers that she has the power to help Vivian find answers to mysteries that have haunted her for her entire life - answers that will ultimately free them both.

Rich in detail and epic in scope, Orphan Train is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of second chances, of unexpected friendship, and of the secrets we carry that keep us from finding out who we are.

My Review:
This is a wonderful story that plunges us into the lives of two people on completely different roads of their lives.  On the outside they appear to be complete opposites, but through their companionship they find a common bond.  There are two parallel stories being told.  Vivian's story takes places years ago, while we hear Molly's story in the present tense.  This method does not always work for me, but the Orphan Train had me hooked from page one.

Molly is a young girl who unfortunately is a product of our foster care system.  She has a mother who couldn't handle the responsibility of caring for another person, so early on Molly was removed from her care.  Molly struggles to find both her identity and her place in the world.  When she is faced with the project of helping an old woman clean out her attic, she cannot know that she will finally come to terms with the person she truly is.

As Molly helps Vivian sort through all the items in her attic, the task apparently is going to take longer than anticipated.  Every item has a story that needs to be shared and Vivian can't seem to part with a thing.  So rather than throwing items in the trash or sending to a thrift store, they organize the remnants from Vivian's past, as Molly learns about the life this woman led.  Molly never would have guessed that Vivian was once penniless and orphaned, as she herself is today.

The most important part of this novel was learning about the real orphan trains that brought children of all ages across the country in search of homes for them.  I'm sure there are plenty of good stories, but many experiences seemed to mirror Vivian's, as the children were advertised as cheap labor.  Your heart will probably break, as mine did, just trying to imagine the living conditions these children were placed in.

This truly was a wonderful story bringing to life to me a period of history that was new to me.  With themes of family, secrets, and friendship, I'm sure you will enjoy this book as much as I did.  I highly recommend this book for both personal leisure or as a book club discussion.

My Rating:  5/5

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

Audiobook Review: The Innocent by David Baldacci

Title:  The Innocent

Author:  David Baldacci

Narrator:  Orlagh Cassidy

Unabridged Length:  12 hrs, 17 mn.



Here is a summary from the Goodreads website:
It begins with a hit gone wrong. Robie is dispatched to eliminate a target unusually close to home in Washington, D.C. But something about this mission doesn't seem right to Robie, and he does the unthinkable. He refuses to kill. Now, Robie becomes a target himself and must escape from his own people.

Fleeing the scene, Robie crosses paths with a wayward teenage girl, a fourteen-year-old runaway from a foster home. But she isn't an ordinary runaway -- her parents were murdered, and her own life is in danger. Against all of his professional habits, Robie rescues her and finds he can't walk away. He needs to help her.

Even worse, the more Robie learns about the girl, the more he's convinced she is at the center of a vast cover-up, one that may explain her parents' deaths and stretch to unimaginable levels of power.

Now, Robie may have to step out of the shadows in order to save this girl's life... and perhaps his own.

My Review: 
Baldacci does a wonderful job once again of creating an action-packed novel full of intrigue and suspense.  This is the first book in the Will Robie series and he leaves off in a way that makes the reader want more.  We get caught up in Robie's quest to keep himself, and a young girl that crosses his path, alive.  

At the start of the book Robie decides not to finish a job, allowing people to live.  While people are spying on him to verify completion of the job, they realize Robie's hesitance, and decide to finish the kill job for him.  Unfortunately, this also puts Robie's life on the line as he finds himself a new target for the agency he has been employed by for years.

He comes across a young girl who seems to be in quite the predicament of her own.  As the duo flee for safety they find they have something in common, as they are both running from the same assassins.  As they fight to stay alive they learn to work together, solving the clues that could possibly end the madness.

Cassidy did a great job of narrating and there were even some sound effects to keep you on the edge of your seat.  With themes of murder, mystery, and survival, you may enjoy this book as much as I did, especially if you are a Baldacci fan.  I don't hesitate in recommending this book for either personal leisure or as a book club discussion.

My Rating:  4/5

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

Review: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Here is a summary of the book from the Goodreads website:
The beloved American classic about a young girl's coming-of-age at the turn of the century, Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a poignant and moving tale filled with compassion and cruelty, laughter and heartache, crowded with life and people and incident. The story of young, sensitive, and idealistic Francie Nolan and her bittersweet formative years in the slums of Williamsburg has enchanted and inspired millions of readers for more than sixty years. By turns overwhelming, sublime, heartbreaking, and uplifting, the daily experiences of the unforgettable Nolans are raw with honesty and tenderly threaded with family connectedness -- in a work of literary art that brilliantly captures a unique time and place as well as incredibly rich moments of universal experience.

My Review: 
Let me start this review by saying this is a classic that every American citizen should read.  It brings you back to a time when life was much harder than it is today-people actually had to work hard and sometimes fight for every single piece of bread being put on the table.  Our society has evolved into something allowing people to just get what they want, so it was refreshing to read a book about people who worked hard for their earnings.

The Nolan family has definitely had their fair share of hardships, but that doesn't stop Katie, Francie's mother, from trying to create the best home for her family that they can afford.  They go out of their way to make every penny stretch.  From going to different butchers for better cuts of meat, to walking an extra couple of blocks for a less expensive bread at a bakery, this family knew how to save money.  And with Johnny, Francie's father, spending all of his extra earnings at the local tavern, Katie found her way of saving a necessary way of life.

We follow Francie through her daily life and sometimes wonder how she and her young brother can make it another day when they are cold and hungry.  They look forward to school knowing they at least will not be cold for the day.  Francie has high expectations early on in life when she sets her eyes on a school in another District that would offer her a better education.  Her father may have been the local drunk, but he helped Francie do what she needed to attend that school.

There were moments in this book making me giggle with delight, while others had me gasping with astonishment.  I can't help but consider this book a great American novel that should be read by everyone, especially young kids that have everything given to them.  With themes of family, struggles, and America, I'm sure you all would enjoy this novel as much as I did.  I highly recommend this novel for either personal leisure or as a book club discussion.

My Rating:  5/5

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

Audiobook Review: Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King

Title:  Mr. Mercedes

Author:  Mr. Mercedes

Narrator:  Will Patton

Unabridged Length:  14 hrs, 25 mn.





Here is a summary of the book from the publisher's website:
In a mega-stakes, high-suspense race against time, three of the most unlikely and winning heroes Stephen King has ever created try to stop a lone killer from blowing up thousands. 

In the frigid pre-dawn hours, in a distressed Midwestern city, hundreds of desperate unemployed folks are lined up for a spot at a job fair. Without warning, a lone driver plows through the crowd in a stolen Mercedes, running over the innocent, backing up, and charging again. Eight people are killed; fifteen are wounded. The killer escapes. In another part of town, months later, a retired cop named Bill Hodges is still haunted by the unsolved crime. When he gets a crazed letter from someone who self-identifies as the perp; and threatens an even more diabolical attack, Hodges wakes up from his depressed and vacant retirement, hell-bent on preventing another tragedy. 

Brady Hartfield lives with his alcoholic mother in the house where he was born. He loved the feel of death under the wheels of the Mercedes, and he wants that rush again. Only Bill Hodges, with a couple of highly unlikely allies, can apprehend the killer before he strikes again. And they have no time to lose, because Brady's next mission, if it succeeds, will kill or maim thousands. 

Mr. Mercedes is a war between good and evil, from the master of suspense whose insight into the mind of this obsessed, insane killer is chilling and unforgettable.

My Review:
Although there is no way I would have "read" this book, I have to admit the audio version was wonderful!  This book kept me interested the entire time, gripping my steering wheel some days, and I found myself wanting to get in my car to listen to it.  I've always had a problem reading King's novels, but I thought I would try an audio this time, and that proved to be a great experience!

Hodges is an overweight, retired cop who seems to have lost his zest for life.  He starts every miserable day alone, mindlessly completing his daily tasks.  A couple of unsolved cases bother him, but one day the case of the Mercedes Killer is opened up all over again.  He knows when he receives a letter from someone identifying himself as the Mercedes Killer, that he should contact the police, but he decides to take matters into his own hands.

As Hodges follows clues he becomes rejuvenated.  He feels better than he has felt in years and can't help but keep this case to himself, rather than contacting the police, just a little longer.  He recruits a couple of unlikely characters from the book to help him with his investigation.  We grow to care about the welfare of these characters, not wanting them to be hurt by this wackjob throughout the story.

Patton did a great job of bringing these characters to life for me.  I honestly don't know if I would have enjoyed "reading" this book as much as listening to it, so I have to thank Patton for his narration skills.  Since this is a book from the mystery genre, I'm not going to give any more away.  With themes of friendship, suspense, and murder you may enjoy this book as much as I did.  I highly recommend this audiobook for personal leisure or even for book clubs that enjoy the murder/mystery genre.

My Rating:  5/5

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

In a mega-stakes, high-suspense race against time, three of the most unlikely and winning heroes Stephen King has ever created try to stop a lone killer from blowing up thousands.

In the frigid pre-dawn hours, in a distressed Midwestern city, hundreds of desperate unemployed folks are lined up for a spot at a job fair. Without warning, a lone driver plows through the crowd in a stolen Mercedes, running over the innocent, backing up, and charging again. Eight people are killed; fifteen are wounded. The killer escapes.

In another part of town, months later, a retired cop named Bill Hodges is still haunted by the unsolved crime. When he gets a crazed letter from someone who self-identifies as the “perk” and threatens an even more diabolical attack, Hodges wakes up from his depressed and vacant retirement, hell-bent on preventing another tragedy.

Brady Hartsfield lives with his alcoholic mother in the house where he was born. He loved the feel of death under the wheels of the Mercedes, and he wants that rush again. Only Bill Hodges, with a couple of highly unlikely allies, can apprehend the killer before he strikes again. And they have no time to lose, because Brady’s next mission, if it succeeds, will kill or maim thousands.

Mr. Mercedes is a war between good and evil, from the master of suspense whose insight into the mind of this obsessed, insane killer is chilling and unforgettable. - See more at: http://books.simonandschuster.com/Mr-Mercedes/Stephen-King/9781476754451#sthash.Q9aFpPS2.dpuf

In a mega-stakes, high-suspense race against time, three of the most unlikely and winning heroes Stephen King has ever created try to stop a lone killer from blowing up thousands.

In the frigid pre-dawn hours, in a distressed Midwestern city, hundreds of desperate unemployed folks are lined up for a spot at a job fair. Without warning, a lone driver plows through the crowd in a stolen Mercedes, running over the innocent, backing up, and charging again. Eight people are killed; fifteen are wounded. The killer escapes.

In another part of town, months later, a retired cop named Bill Hodges is still haunted by the unsolved crime. When he gets a crazed letter from someone who self-identifies as the “perk” and threatens an even more diabolical attack, Hodges wakes up from his depressed and vacant retirement, hell-bent on preventing another tragedy.

Brady Hartsfield lives with his alcoholic mother in the house where he was born. He loved the feel of death under the wheels of the Mercedes, and he wants that rush again. Only Bill Hodges, with a couple of highly unlikely allies, can apprehend the killer before he strikes again. And they have no time to lose, because Brady’s next mission, if it succeeds, will kill or maim thousands.

Mr. Mercedes is a war between good and evil, from the master of suspense whose insight into the mind of this obsessed, insane killer is chilling and unforgettable. - See more at: http://books.simonandschuster.com/Mr-Mercedes/Stephen-King/9781476754451#sthash.Q9aFpPS2.dpuf

Audiobook Review: Love Life by Rob Lowe

Title:  Love Life

Author:  Rob Lowe

Narrator:  Rob Lowe

Unabridged Length: 7 hrs, 35 mn.

Here is a summary of the book from the publisher's website: 

When Rob Lowe's first book was published in 2011, he received the kind of rapturous reviews that writers dream of and rocketed to the top of the bestseller list. Now, in Love Life, he expands his scope, using stories and observations from his life in a poignant and humorous series of true tales about men and women, art and commerce, fathers and sons, addiction and recovery, and sex and love.

In Love Life, you will find stories about:

• Kissing Unexpectedly
• The secrets they don't teach you in acting school
• His great, great, great, great, great-grandfather's role in the American revolution
• Parks and Recreation, Behind the Candelabra, and Californication
• Trying to coach a kids' basketball team dominated by helicopter parents
• The hot tub at the Playboy mansion
• Starring in and producing a flop tv series
• Camping at Sea World
• Playing saxophone for president Bill Clinton
• The first journey to college with his son
• Warren Beatty
• The benefits of marriage

Throughout this entertaining book, you will find yourself in the presence of a master raconteur, a multi-talented performer whose love for life is as intriguing as his love life.

My Review:
Let me start by saying how much I appreciated this audiobook narrated by Rob Lowe.  When I listened to Stories I Only Tell My Friends, I found myself laughing quite often.   This book still had a few humorous moments, but overall it carried more of a serious tone.  Lowe didn't hold back with his life experiences once again and my heart just melts as he proclaims his love for his wife.  

When I think back on the book, it is hard to pick just one story that stuck with me more than any other.  One instance that brought tears to my eyes is when he shared with us about his stint in rehab.  This was obviously a turning point in his life as he came to accept how drugs and alcohol were controlling his life.  The part that really got to me was the therapy session about the NFL player.  How the entire group came together to support and comfort this man when no-one else would was beautiful.

The other "Holy Smokes" moment for me was when he was telling us about his experience with the Nip/Tuck television series.  I absolutely loved this show, clearing my calendar once a week so as not to miss an episode.  I won't say any more about this in case you are a Nip/Tuck fan too!

I truly enjoyed all Lowe's stories in this book and having him narrate just enhanced my listening experience.  I was able to pick up on the love and emotions regarding the subjects he was talking about.  With themes of love, family, career, and opportunities, you may enjoy this book as much as I did.  I highly recommend this book for personal leisure or as a book club selection, especially if you are a fan of Rob Lowe.

My Rating:  5/5

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

Audiobook Review: Safe With Me by Amy Hatvany

Title:  Safe With Me

Author:  Amy Hatvany

Narrators:  Cassandra Campbell, Joy Osmanski, Rebekkah Ross

Unabridged Length:  10 hrs, 23 mn.



Here is a summary of the book from the publisher's website:
The screech of tires brought Hannah Scott’s world as she knew it to a devastating end. Even a year after she signed the papers to donate her daughter’s organs, Hannah is still reeling with grief when she unexpectedly stumbles into the life of the Bell family, whose child, Maddie, survived only because hers had died. Mesmerized by this fragile connection to her own daughter and afraid to reveal who she actually is, Hannah develops a surprising friendship with Maddie’s mother, Olivia.

The Bells, however, have problems of their own. Once on the verge of leaving her wealthy but abusive husband, Olivia now finds herself bound to him as never before in the wake of the successful transplant that saved their fifteen-year-old daughter’s life. Meanwhile Maddie, tired of the limits her poor health puts upon her and fearful of her father’s increasing rage, regularly escapes into the one place where she can be anyone she wants: the Internet. But when she is finally healthy enough to return to school, the real world proves to be just as complicated as the isolated bubble she had been so eager to escape.

A masterful narrative, shaped by nuanced characters whose fragile bonds are on a collision course with the truth, Safe with Me is a triumph.

My Review: 
This was a beautifully crafted story that puts us in the lives of those personally effected by a tragedy.  The story is told from three different perspectives in alternating chapters and Hatvany did a great job of bringing these characters to life for us.  The narrators in the audioversion were equally exceptional.

Maddie is the young girl who has spent the majority of her life in and out of hospitals because of her illness.  Had it not been for an organ transplant she received a year ago, she would probably be dead today.  She finds herself struggling with her identity and even goes as far to create a Facebook page with an entirely different persona.  The name on her secret Facebook page is Sierra and she looks like a twenty-year-old supermodel.  Sierra possesses all the looks and qualities that Maddie does not.

Olivia is Maddie's mom, and is thankful for every day that her daughter breathes life.  Olivia has been keeping a secret throughout her married life that is about to unravel.  She has been able to protect Maddie so far and believes if she stays under the radar she can continue with her escapade.  But this becomes nearly impossible when she meets Hannah, who is the first woman to offer her true friendship in years.

Hannah is a single, independent woman whose daughter, Emily, was killed a year earlier.  Emily was the light of Hannah's world and when Emily was taken from her, that light was extinguished, and she has been floundering day to day trying to live a normal life.  When Maddie and Olivia walk into her life, she feels a closeness with Maddie she can't explain.  She develops a bond with both the mother and daughter and can't stop the friendship from developing.  Suspicions of who these people really are creep into her mind and she knows she will have to reveal her true identity eventually.

I truly enjoyed this story that takes the lives of these three wounded individuals and forces them into a hurtful situation that allows them to heal.  And let me tell you, the tension mounted towards the end of the book taking my breath away.  Since I had technical difficulties with my iPod, I was only able to listen to about two-thirds of the book, then had to request the physical book from my library.  I can tell you I thoroughly enjoyed both versions.  With themes of family, friendship, secrets,  and organ donation, you would probably enjoy this book as much as I did.  I don't hesitate to recommend this book for 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.

The screech of tires brought Hannah Scott’s world as she knew it to a devastating end. A year after she signed the papers to donate her daughter’s organs, Hannah is still reeling with grief when she unexpectedly stumbles into the life of the Bell family, whose fifteen-year-old daughter, Maddie, survived only because Hannah’s daughter had died. Mesmerized by this fragile connection to her own daughter and afraid to reveal who she actually is, Hannah develops a surprising friendship with Maddie’s mother, Olivia.

The Bells, however, have problems of their own. Once on the verge of leaving her wealthy but abusive husband, Olivia now finds herself bound to him in the wake of the transplant that saved their daughter’s life. Meanwhile, Maddie, tired of the limits her poor health puts upon her and fearful of her father’s increasing rage, regularly escapes into the one place where she can be anyone she wants: the Internet. But when she is finally healthy enough to return to school, the real world proves to be just as complicated as the isolated bubble she had been so eager to escape.

A masterful narrative shaped by nuanced characters whose delicate bonds are on a collision course with the truth, Safe with Me is a riveting triumph. - See more at: http://books.simonandschuster.com/Safe-with-Me/Amy-Hatvany/9781476704418#sthash.pfcU8VZu.dpuf

Blog Tour and Review: The Bully of Order by Brian Hart

Thanks once again to Trish from TLC Book Tours for inviting me to be a part of this tour. I'm sure I would not have picked this book up on my own otherwise.

Here is a summary of the book from the publisher's website:
Set in a logging town on the lawless Pacific coast of Washington State at the turn of the twentieth century, a spellbinding novel of fate and redemption—told with a muscular lyricism and filled with a cast of characters Shakespearean in scope—in which the lives of an ill-fated family are at the mercy of violent social and historical forces that tear them apart.

Keen to make his fortune, Jacob Ellstrom, armed with his medical kit and new wife, Nell, lands in The Harbor—a mud-filled, raucous coastal town teeming with rough trade pioneers, sawmill laborers, sailors, and prostitutes. But Jacob is not a doctor, and a botched delivery exposes his ruse, driving him onto the streets in a plunge towards alcoholism. Alone, Nell scrambles to keep herself and their young son, Duncan, safe in this dangerous world. When a tentative reunion between the couple—in the company of Duncan and Jacob’s malicious brother, Matius—results in tragedy, Jacob must flee town to elude being charged with murder.

Years later, the wild and reckless Duncan seems to be yet another of The Harbor’s hoodlums. His only salvation is his overwhelming love for Teresa Boyerton, the daughter of the town’s largest mill owner. But disaster will befall the lovers with heartbreaking consequences.

And across town, Bellhouse, a union boss and criminal rabble-rouser, sits at the helm of The Harbor’s seedy underbelly, perpetuating a cycle of greed and violence. His thug Tartan directs his pack of thieves, pimps, and murderers, and conceals an incendiary secret involving Duncan’s mother. As time passes, a string of calamitous events sends these characters hurtling towards each other in an epic collision that will shake the town to its core.

My Review:
Let me start by saying this was a very interesting novel giving you an honest look at life in a logging town at the height of the industry.  Hart shared with us the raw and primal lives of the people of this community as they lived day to day.  With that being said, I need to warn you that this book is definitely not for the faint-hearted.  But if you are looking for an honest glimpse into this piece of history, then this novel is for you.

There are a lot of characters in the book and different chapters offer narrations for several characters.  I was impressed with Hart's ability to introduce new characters to us, because even though they have similar needs within the community, they all come from different walks of life.  We learn about Jacob, who works hard his whole life but makes bad decision after bad decision.  Then there is his son Duncan, who is an unfortunate victim of circumstance.  Jacob's wife, Nell, who blindly followed him to this wild country in search of a better life, only to be cast aside by the community because of her husbands actions.  These are just a few of the characters in the novel with just a fraction of their personal predicaments.

Besides Jacob's lies about who he really is, his brother Matius has a downright evil streak.  When Jacob seems to be getting things back on track with his family, Matius does something that will shatter Jacob's family as he knows it.  The Ellstrom family will never be the same and young Duncan can't help but be drawn down a dark path of his life.  Violence becomes a normal part of Duncan's life, and he can't help but embrace his violent tendencies when things do not work out as planned.

This book was kind of a slow read for me as it was packed with vivid details and information.  One of the most difficult chapters for me to read was about Jacob when he was in a very dark time of his life, probably drunk most of the time.   That chapter was so scattered that I couldn't help but compliment the author, because I imagine these thoughts could be pretty accurate for a man in his circumstances.

For those that are history buffs and interested in the early logging industry, this book would be right up your alley.  With themes of family, secrets, lies, and survival you may enjoy this book too.  I recommend this novel for either personal leisure or as a book club discussion.

Disclosure:  This book was provided to me by the publisher to participate in this blog tour and provide an honest review.  

Audiobook Review: Breathless by Dean Koontz

Title:  Breathless

Author:  Dean Koontz

Narrator:  Jeffrey Cummings

Unabridged Length:  8 hrs, 12 mn.






Here is a summary of the book from the Goodreads website:
In the stillness of a golden September afternoon, deep in the wilderness of the Rockies, a solitary craftsman, Grady Adams, and his magnificent Irish wolfhound Merlin step from shadow into light…and into an encounter with enchantment. That night, through the trees, under the moon, a pair of singular animals will watch Grady's isolated home, waiting to make their approach.

A few miles away, Camillia Rivers, a local veterinarian, begins to unravel the threads of a puzzle that will bring all the forces of a government in peril to her door.

At a nearby farm, long-estranged identical twins come together to begin a descent into darkness…In Las Vegas, a specialist in chaos theory probes the boundaries of the unknowable…On a Seattle golf course, two men make matter-of-fact arrangements for murder…Along a highway by the sea, a vagrant scarred by the past begins a trek toward his destiny…

In a novel that is at once wholly of our time and timeless, fearless and funny, Dean Koontz takes readers into the moment between one turn of the world and the next, across the border between knowing and mystery. It is a journey that will leave all who take it Breathless. 

My Review:
Back in my mid-twenties I devoured Koontz novels like they were going out of style.  I do still enjoy them once and awhile, but I found more enjoyment lately from the audio versions.  Although this novel had a creepy murderer, as most of his books do, it did not seem to reach the level of intensity I expect from Koontz.  Usually this intensity stems from the actions of a psychopath, so this novel offered a more relaxed tone.

The book follows the narratives of several different characters.  The various characters come from different parts of the country and various walks of life.  Grady could not have imagined that his stumbling upon two magnificent creatures frolicking on his land would bring them all together.  The appearance of the creatures creates a sea of change, but unfortunately, not everyone involved has good intentions.

When Grady discovers the creatures he contacts his friend Camilla, who is also a veterinarian, to see if she knows anything about them.  She is amazed by Grady's discovery, and after referring to a colleague, the government swoops in, trying to take control of the situation.  Grady and Camilla fine themselves doing whatever is necessary to protect these two magnificent creatures.

Cummings did a good job narrating, considering there were many characters he needed to bring to life for us.  My biggest complaint with this novel was that there were too many characters to learn as new ones were even introduced within the last couple of discs.  With themes of unexplained beings, conspiracy, and evil, you may enjoy this book as much or even more than I did.  I recommend this book for personal leisure or for book clubs that enjoy reading books with an extra-terrestrial content.

My Rating: 3/5

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

Audiobook Review: The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman

Title:  The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman

Author:  Alice Hoffman

Narrators:  Judith Light, Grace Gummer

Unabridged Length:  12 hrs, 20 mn.

Here is a summary of the book from the publisher's website:

Coralie Sardie is the daughter of the sinister impresario behind The Museum of Extraordinary Things, a Coney Island boardwalk freak show that thrills the masses. An exceptional swimmer, Coralie appears as the Mermaid in her father’s “museum,” alongside performers like the Wolfman, the Butterfly Girl, and a one-hundred-year-old turtle. One night Coralie stumbles upon a striking young man taking pictures of moonlit trees in the woods off the Hudson River.

The dashing photographer is Eddie Cohen, a Russian immigrant who has run away from his father’s Lower East Side Orthodox community and his job as a tailor’s apprentice. When Eddie photographs the devastation on the streets of New York following the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, he becomes embroiled in the suspicious mystery behind a young woman’s disappearance and ignites the heart of Coralie.

With its colorful crowds of bootleggers, heiresses, thugs, and idealists, New York itself becomes a riveting character as Hoffman weaves her trademark magic, romance, and masterful storytelling to unite Coralie and Eddie in a sizzling, tender, and moving story of young love in tumultuous times. The Museum of Extraordinary Things is Alice Hoffman at her most spellbinding. - See more at: http://books.simonandschuster.com/Museum-of-Extraordinary-Things/Alice-Hoffman/9781451693560#sthash.0q9nkrox.dpuf

Coralie Sardie is the daughter of the sinister impresario behind The Museum of Extraordinary Things, a Coney Island boardwalk freak show that thrills the masses. An exceptional swimmer, Coralie appears as the Mermaid in her father's "museum" alongside performers like the Wolfman, the Butterfly Girl, and a one-hundred-year-old turtle. One night Coralie stumbles upon a striking young man taking pictures of moonlit trees in the woods off the Hudson River.

The dashing photographer is Eddie Cohen, a Russian immigrant who has run away from his father's Lower East Side Orthodox community and his job as a tailor's apprentice. When Eddie photographs the devastation on the streets of New York following the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, he becomes embroiled in the suspicious mystery behind a young woman's disappearance and ignites the heart of Coralie.

With its colorful crowds of bootleggers, heiresses, thugs, and idealists, New York itself becomes a riveting character as Hoffman weaves her trademark magic, romance, and masterful storytelling to unite Coralie and Eddie in a sizzling, tender, and moving story of young love in tumultuous times. The Museum of Extraordinary Things is Alice Hoffman at her most spellbinding.

My Review:
Let me start by saying that Hoffman has seemed to be hit or miss for me.  Here on Earth was the first book I read by Hoffman and I absolutely loved it.  Her books I have read since then, not so much.  This audiobook kept me engaged, without including any mystical elements contained in some of her past books, allowing me to enjoy the story at hand.

Coralie is a young girl who possesses some odd, physical differences from the general population.  She longs to be a normal young girl, but can only seem to attain that feeling when she dons her white gloves before heading to the city.  While Coralie strives for normalcy, her father embraces her differences, using her appearance to create a new curiosity in his museum.  This sets Coralie on a new path, questioning her existence.

I think my favorite part of the book was the description and investigation of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.  When a piece of history that is new to me is included in a novel, I am not only finding personal enjoyment, but increasing my knowledge of historical events.  The fire was a horrendous event in our country's history and the events behind it incredibly corrupt.  As horrid as the fire was, this was the reason for Eddie and Coralie's meeting.

After meeting Eddie, Coralie finally believes she can lead a normal life.  The odds are not in their favor, especially when Coralie's father realizes Eddie's intentions.  This romance could cause him to lose one of his best performers from the museum so he does all he can to keep them apart.  In Coralie's fight to have a relationship with Eddie, secrets about Coralie's life are uncovered setting her on a new path once again.

Judith Light and Grace Gummer both did a wonderful job of narrating this fascinating novel.  I started listening with pretty low expectations, but was pleasantly surprised by the storyline.  With themes of secrets, love, corruption, and history, you may enjoy this novel as much as I did.  I highly recommend this novel for personal leisure or as a book club discussion.

My Rating:  4/5

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

Coralie Sardie is the daughter of the sinister impresario behind The Museum of Extraordinary Things, a Coney Island boardwalk freak show that thrills the masses. An exceptional swimmer, Coralie appears as the Mermaid in her father’s “museum,” alongside performers like the Wolfman, the Butterfly Girl, and a one-hundred-year-old turtle. One night Coralie stumbles upon a striking young man taking pictures of moonlit trees in the woods off the Hudson River.

The dashing photographer is Eddie Cohen, a Russian immigrant who has run away from his father’s Lower East Side Orthodox community and his job as a tailor’s apprentice. When Eddie photographs the devastation on the streets of New York following the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, he becomes embroiled in the suspicious mystery behind a young woman’s disappearance and ignites the heart of Coralie.

With its colorful crowds of bootleggers, heiresses, thugs, and idealists, New York itself becomes a riveting character as Hoffman weaves her trademark magic, romance, and masterful storytelling to unite Coralie and Eddie in a sizzling, tender, and moving story of young love in tumultuous times. The Museum of Extraordinary Things is Alice Hoffman at her most spellbinding. - See more at: http://books.simonandschuster.com/Museum-of-Extraordinary-Things/Alice-Hoffman/9781451693560#sthash.0q9nkrox.dpuf

Audiobook Review: Kicking the Sky by Anthony De Sa

Title:  Kicking the Sky

Author:  Anthony De Sa

Narrator:  Tomas Marsh

Unabridged Length:  Approx. 9.75 hrs






Here is a summary of the book from the publisher's website:
In 1977 a shoeshine boy, Emanuel Jacques, is brutally raped and murdered in Toronto. In the aftermath of the crime, twelve-year-old Antonio Rebelo and his rapscallion friends explore their Portuguese neighborhood’s dark garages and labyrinthine back alleys. The boys develop a curious relationship with a charismatic, modern-day Fagin who is master over an amoral world of hustlers, thieves, and drug dealers.

As the media unravels the truth behind the shoeshine-boy murder, Antonio starts to see his family—and his neighborhood—as never before. He becomes aware of the dashed hopes of immigrants, of the influence of faith and the role of church, and of the frightening reality that no one is really taking care of him. So intent are his parents and his neighbors on keeping the old traditions alive that they act as if they still live in a small Portuguese village, not in a big city that puts their kids in the kind of danger they would not dare imagine.

Antonio learns about bravery and cowardice, life and death, and the heart’s capacity for both love and unrelenting hatred in this stunning coming-of-age novel set against the backdrop of a true crime that shook the city.

My Review:
Listening to this audiobook brought me back to a time when the world is just being revealed to this young person.  I was close to Antonio's age in 1977 and I can recall the feelings of protection from my parents, but yet wanting to venture on my own as new things are experienced.  Listening to this novel brought many memories back for me.

Antonio is our twelve-year-old main character who lives with his parents in a predominantly Portuguese neighborhood in Canada.  Life seems pretty normal for Antonio and his friends, but things take a drastic turn as events unfold throughout the novel.  Antonio certainly didn't expect to become a religious icon just from eating a meal at the dinner table.  This seemed to be more of a burden than a blessing to Antonio, and luckily the faith the neighbors placed in him stopped abruptly.

When James moves into a garage in Antonio's neighborhood, all the young boys become intrigued by him.  He is an older boy, living on his own, who can do basically anything he wants and also has dirty pictures hanging on the garage walls.  The boys are drawn to James because he enjoys spending time with Antonio and his friends, and doesn't treat them like children.  James has a dark side that he tries to keep hidden from Antonio, but unfortunately some of Antonio's friends become corrupted by James charms.

A murder takes place in the beginning of the novel, setting the tone for discord and danger.  Marsh did a great job of narrating this book, bringing to life Antonio's character while allowing me to recall precious memories from my own childhood.  With themes of murder, faith, and friendship, you may enjoy this book as much as I did.  Even though this is considered a Young Adult novel I don't hesitate in recommending this book to anyone for either personal leisure or as a book club discussion.

My Rating:  4/5

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

Review: Carrie and Me: A Mother-Daughter Love Story by Carol Burnett

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

You are about to meet an extraordinary young woman, Carrie Hamilton. The daughter of one of television’s most recognizable and beloved stars, Carol Burnett, Carrie won the hearts of everyone she met with her kindness, quirky sense of humor, and wonderfully unconventional approach to life. Living in the spotlight of celebrity, but in an era when personal troubles were kept private, Carrie and Carol made a brave display of honesty and love by going public with teenager Carrie’s drug addiction and recovery. Carrie lived her adult life of sobriety to the fullest, enjoying happy and determined independence and achieving a successful artistic career as an actress, writer, musician, and director. Carrie’s passion for life and her humorist’s view of the world never wavered as she aggressively battled cancer. Carrie died at the age of 38.

Carrie and Me is Carol Burnett’s poignant tribute to her late daughter and a funny and moving memoir about mothering an extraordinary young woman through the struggles and triumphs of her life. Sharing her personal diary entries, photographs, and correspondence, Carol traces the journey she and Carrie took through some of life’s toughest challenges and sweetest miracles. Authentic, intimate, and full of love, Carrie and Me is a story of hope and joy that only a mother could write.

My Review: 
My book club usually reads one non-fiction/memoir every year, and this last year Carrie and Me was the second memoir we read.  Memoirs are either hit or miss for me and this one was a sure fire miss.  The gal in my group that picked this one had just finished reading This Time Together by Burnett, and after loving that one, thought this would be a good pick for our group.

Had Burnett actually shared more about her relationship with Carrie, I think I would have appreciated this book more.  It seemed to me, the majority of the book contained personal e-mails between the mother-daughter team, and I just found that annoying.  I found myself thinking, "Who can't print a bunch of e-mails and arrange them into a book?"  

Burnett obviously was trying to relay to the public what a wonderful heart her daughter had.  She definitely accomplished that through this book.  She may have used the mode of e-mails because writing from her heart may have been too painful.  The photographs that she chose to share with us were incredibly fun though.

The mother-daughter team worked on several projects together and the last section of this book was a story that Carrie was working on herself.  It was unfinished and she asked her mother to complete the project for her.  Burnett was understandably at a loss as to how to complete the project, so she put it at the end of this book as a stand-alone section.  Most of my book group did not like this part of the book, but I read it as if reading a script of some kind and did find some enjoyment from it.  

Although this wasn't one of my favorites, Burnett's love for her daughter definitely shone through the pages.  With themes of parenthood, illness, and addiction, you may enjoy this book more than I did.  I recommend this book for those that are fans of Carol Burnett.

My Rating:  2/5

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

Review: China Dolls by Lisa See

Here is a summary of the book from the publisher's website:

It’s 1938 in San Francisco: a world’s fair is preparing to open on Treasure Island, a war is brewing overseas, and the city is alive with possibilities. Grace, Helen, and Ruby, three young women from very different backgrounds, meet by chance at the exclusive and glamorous Forbidden City nightclub. Grace Lee, an American-born Chinese girl, has fled the Midwest with nothing but heartache, talent, and a pair of dancing shoes. Helen Fong lives with her extended family in Chinatown, where her traditional parents insist that she guard her reputation like a piece of jade. The stunning Ruby Tom challenges the boundaries of convention at every turn with her defiant attitude and no-holds-barred ambition.

The girls become fast friends, relying on one another through unexpected challenges and shifting fortunes. When their dark secrets are exposed and the invisible thread of fate binds them even tighter, they find the strength and resilience to reach for their dreams. But after the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, paranoia and suspicion threaten to destroy their lives, and a shocking act of betrayal changes everything.

My Review:
What a wonderful story Lisa See delivers to us once again.  We follow the lives of these three women who are introduced to us at a young age in San Francisco, as we share in their friendships and heartaches.  The story is told from the perspectives of each of our main characters, Grace, Helen, and Ruby, so we get a glimpse into the reasons for their actions.

Grace is a young and innocent chinese girl that has fled to San Francisco in search of a better life.  Grace is probably the most talented of our characters, but she will not experience success until later in the novel.  Grace is an honorable friend who would do anything for those that she loves, so when her friendships with Helen and Ruby become stressed, her whole world is cast into turmoil.

Helen comes from a noble and wealthy Chinese family and lives with her entire family in a compound in the middle of Chinatown.  Her family's status has given Helen a life of privilege, allowing her to not really want for anything.  There is more to Helen that meets the eye as she fled from Shanghai with her family during the war, so she struggles to start her life over again.

Our third main character is Ruby, whose actions are wild and unpredictable.  Ruby uses her body and beauty to help her advance quickly among the Chinese nightclubs.  Ruby has her own dark secret, that once uncovered, will knock her status rank out from under her.

The main characters are brought together from odd circumstances, and even though they have different roles in various nightclubs, their friendship remains strong.  After the bombing of Pearl Harbor the boundaries of their friendship becomes tested, sending the girls lives in separate directions.  Lies and secrets keep them apart for years afterward leaving them yearning for the lost relationships.

Lisa See does a great job, as she always does, of setting up the time period for us.  I learned several things from this novel about how oriental people were treated during this time, even before the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  With themes of love, friendship, secrets, and forgiveness, I think you would enjoy this book as much as I did.  It would be a great novel to read for personal leisure or as a book club discussion.

My Rating:  4/5

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

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.

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.