Summary: Megan Abbott meets M.O. Walsh in Christine Lennon's compelling debut novel about a group of friends on the cusp of graduating from college when their lives are irrevocably changed by a brutal act of violence.
Present Day…
For two decades, Elizabeth has tried to escape the ghosts of her past…tried to erase the painful memories…tried to keep out the terrifying nightmares. But twenty years after graduating from the University of Florida, her carefully curated life begins to unravel, forcing her to confront the past she’s tried so hard to forget.
1990s, Gainesville, Florida…
Elizabeth and her two closest friends, Caroline and Ginny, are having the time of their lives in college—binge watching Oprah, flirting for freebies from Taco Bell, and breaking hearts along the way. But without warning, their world is suddenly shattered when a series of horrific acts of violence ravage the campus, changing their lives forever.
Sweeping readers from the exclusive corners of sorority life in the South to the frontlines of the drug-fueled, slacker culture in Manhattan in the ‘90s and early ‘00s, when Elizabeth is forced to acknowledge her role in the death of a friend in order to mend a broken friendship and save her own life, The Drifter is an unforgettable story about the complexities of friendships and the secrets that can ultimately destroy us. -- William Morrow
I picked up THE DRIFTER by Christine Lennon with the intent of reviewing it as part of this week's Mystery Mondays feature; however, when I finished it two days ago, I had second thoughts. While I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, it definitely wasn't the typical thriller or mystery that I usually read and review. In fact in many ways, THE DRIFTER was more of a coming-of-age story. However, I checked out the publisher's website and they are classifying it as thriller/suspense, so I am too for purposes of today's review!
THE DRIFTER follows the life of Elizabeth, a University of Florida sorority girl who later reinvents herself in New York City. The novel begins in present day New York City when Elizabeth is a married woman and mother; however, it also takes place in the early 1990s in Gainesville, Florida, when "Betsy" was in college. After a killing spree on the campus of University of Florida in which Elizabeth's best friend Ginny was brutally murdered, Elizabeth and her new boyfriend run away from Gainesville as fast as they can!
Elizabeth has been hiding from her past for almost twenty years. She feels party responsible for Ginny's death and the guilt has destroyed her friendships as well as her her happiness as a wife and mother. Elizabeth is so disturbed by these past events that she's afraid to let her daughter out of her sight. She eventually realizes that she must to return to Gainesville to deal with her past so she can move forward with her future.
I found THE DRIFTER to be a terrific novel. I'm still not quite certain that I'd classify it as a thriller; however, the ending actually did have quite a few surprises and twists. In all honestly, though, I thought this book was more of a story about Elizabeth and how she coped (or should I say didn't cope) with the murder of her best friend. In many ways, it had the feel of a coming-of-age story, and I do love a good coming-of-age story!
I was extremely impress with the writing in THE DRIFTER, and I was quite surprised to discover that this is Ms. Lennon's debut novel. She did a remarkable job of bringing Elizabeth to life, and an even better job of describing a college campus in the early 1990s -- and I should know because I attended a major state university during the exact same time period. Maybe one of the reasons I enjoyed this novel so much is that it was like a trip down memory lane for me; however, I think the author deserves a lot of credit for writing a story that captured my attention... and help it for the 350+ pages.
Ms. Lennon did a terrific job of highlighting sorority life and female friendships. (Megan Abbott fans -- take note!) They dynamics she portrayed between Betsy, Ginny, and Caroline were spot-on... and not always in a good way. You know how with three friends, someone always feels left out; and this friendship triangle was no exception. I also was impressed with how well the author portrayed the effects of Ginny's death on her friends.
One thing that ended up surprising me about this novel was the ending. I had a feeling that Elizabeth would have to head back to Gainesville before she could move on, and I also suspected that she'd need to talk with her frenemy Caroline; however, I didn't see what was coming. I don't want to give too much away, but suffice it to say that her heart-to-heart with Caroline was extremely interesting and answered a lot of questions -- some that I didn't even know needed to be answered.
I think THE DRIFTER would make an excellent book club selection, and I think women my age would really relate to the novel. I was so excited to find that the publisher has a reading guide available with ten thought-provoking questions. Some of the themes you might want to explore include loss, grief, guilt, fear, friendship, and forgiveness.
Overall, I thought THE DRIFTER was a fantastic debut novel. Highly recommended to fans of women's fiction and coming-of-age stories as well as fans of suspense (I guess!)
I received a copy of this novel at last year's SIBA.
Mystery Mondays is a regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read.
Monday, February 27, 2017
Saturday, February 25, 2017
Kid Konnection: Celebrate Black History Month!
Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week I'm going to share with you two educational books that teach kids about two largely unknown events in black history... or at least unknown to me!
Summary: A pile of lime-encrusted shackles discovered on the seafloor in the remains of a ship called the Henrietta Marie, lands Michael Cottman, a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and avid scuba diver, in the middle of an amazing journey that stretches across three continents—from foundries and tombs in England, to slave ports on the shores of West Africa, to present-day Caribbean plantations. This is more than just the story of one ship—it's the untold story of millions of people taken as captives to the New World. Told from the author's perspective, this book introduces young readers to the wonders of diving, detective work, and discovery, while shedding light on the history of slavery. -- National Geographic
I will never claim to know much about black history in our country, and that's why I think I was so interested in the new book SHACKLES FROM THE DEEP: TRACING THE PATH OF A SUNKEN SLAVE SHIP, A BITTER PAST, AND A RICH LEGACY by Michael H. Cottman. This book, aimed at children ages ten and up, was written by a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist; and it's truly a fascinating story.
SHACKLES FROM THE DEEP is Michael Cottman's story about the discovery of the remains of a slave ship deep in the ocean. Naturally, he was interested in the remains of the ship, but as a black man, he also felt a deep connection to the story. His interest took him on a journey to sites in three continents including a slave port in West Africa. I found the book to be not only a great story but an emotional one as well.
SHACKLES FROM THE DEEP is a deeply personal story that will being to life the ugliness of the slave trade. I admired the author's honesty as well as his desire to share this story with today's kids, and I thought he balanced the actual story with his emotions extremely well. The book was extremely readable, and the pictures added a nice touch.
Kids who are interested in history as well as exploration will enjoy this book. Highly recommended!
Summary: James Meredith's 1966 march in Mississippi began as one man's peaceful protest for voter registration and became one of the South's most important demonstrations of the civil rights movement. It brought together leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Stokely Carmichael, who formed an unlikely alliance that resulted in the Black Power movement, which ushered in a new era in the fight for equality.
The retelling of Meredith's story opens on the day of his assassination attempt and goes back in time to recount the moments leading up to that event and its aftermath. Readers learn about the powerful figures and emerging leaders who joined the over 200-mile walk that became known as the "March Against Fear."
Thoughtfully presented by award-winning author Ann Bausum, this book helps readers understand the complex issues of fear, injustice, and the challenges of change. It is a history lesson that's as important and relevant today as it was 50 years ago. -- National Geographic
I feel as if I should have been more familiar with the subject matter of the book THE MARCH AGAINST FEAR: THE LAST GREAT WALK OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND THE EMERGENCE OF BLACK POWER by Ann Bausum. In fact after I picked up the book and started reading the first few pages, I was shocked that I didn't know more about this major event in the fight for equality.
THE MARCH AGAINST FEAR gives a detailed account of James Meredith's 1966 march in Mississippi. This march began with one man wanting to peacefully protest for voter registration and turned into one of the most important events in the fight for civil rights. All of the major players, including Martin Luther King Jr., were part of this 200-mile walk; however, the walk really showed the emergence of the Black Power movement.
THE MARCH AGAINST FEAR is aimed at kids ages twelve and up, but I have to say that I thought the book was a little too long for my twelve year old. It's not that he couldn't read this book because of it's page length. Rather, it's just a lot of detailed information about the history of the Black Power movement... and I don't think he would have stayed focused for the entire book. Having said that, I do think older kids (especially teens) would appreciate this book more than most middle schoolers.
This book tells an important part of our country's history and should be part of every middle school and high school library.
Thanks to Media Masters for providing review copies of these books.
If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
The Booking Mamas' February Meeting
Summary: New York Times bestselling author Beatriz Williams recreates the New York City of A Certain Age in this deliciously spicy adventure that mixes past and present and centers on a Jazz Age love triangle involving a rugged Prohibition agent, a saucy redheaded flapper, and a debonair Princetonian from a wealthy family.
When she discovers her husband cheating, Ella Hawthorne impulsively moves out of their SoHo loft and into a small apartment in an old Greenwich Village building. Her surprisingly attractive new neighbor, Hector, warns her to stay out of the basement at night. Tenants have reported strange noises after midnight—laughter, clinking glasses, jazz piano—even though the space has been empty for decades. Back in the Roaring Twenties, the place hid a speakeasy.
In 1924, Geneva "Gin" Kelly, a smart-mouthed flapper from the hills of western Maryland, is a regular at this Village hideaway known as the Christopher Club. Caught up in a raid, Gin becomes entangled with Prohibition enforcement agent Oliver Anson, who persuades her to help him catch her stepfather Duke Kelly, one of Appalachia’s most notorious bootleggers.
Headstrong and independent, Gin is no weak-kneed fool. So how can she be falling in love with the taciturn, straight-arrow Revenue agent when she’s got Princeton boy Billy Marshall, the dashing son of society doyenne Theresa Marshall, begging to make an honest woman of her? While anything goes in the Roaring Twenties, Gin’s adventures will shake proper Manhattan society to its foundations, exposing secrets that shock even this free-spirited redhead—secrets that will echo from Park Avenue to the hollers of her Southern hometown.
As Ella discovers more about the basement speakeasy, she becomes inspired by the spirit of her exuberant predecessor, and decides to live with abandon in the wicked city too. . . . -- William Morrow
Last night, we met to discuss THE WICKED CITY by Beatriz Williams. I am a huge fan of Ms. Williams' and I couldn't wait to read her latest historical fiction novel. As is the case with most of Ms. Williams' books, THE WICKED CITY told the stories of two women in totally different time periods whose lives were tied together by a building that housed a secret speakeasy back in the jazz age. For the most part, everyone that read the novel agreed that it was an entertaining book.
One thing that stood out to a few of our members was Ms. Williams' writing. She has a unique way with words and dialogue, and it was fun to see how she captured the essence of the Jazz Age. She also moved back and forth between the present and past quite well, and we liked how she tied the characters together.
We also appreciated the main characters in the novel. I especially enjoyed the character development of Gin, a young woman who grew up in the mountains of West Virginia. She tried to recreate herself when she hit New York City (aka The Wicked City), and I thought Ms. Williams did a great job in balancing her old life with her new one.
Overall, THE WICKED CITY was a popular pick, and I think more than a few members of my group will read additional Beatriz Williams' novels... especially after I talked up so many of them!
I'd like to thank the team at William Morrow for selecting The Booking Mamas as a Book Club Girl Book Club for 2016. We were honored to be chosen and we had a fabulous time reading the books and discussing them!
Next month we will be reading COMMONWEALTH by Ann Patchett. Needless to say, I'm super excited to read this one. You really can't go wrong with an Ann Patchett novel. She has the amazing ability to take on complex themes and characters while also writing beautifully.
Summary: The acclaimed, bestselling author—winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Orange Prize—tells the enthralling story of how an unexpected romantic encounter irrevocably changes two families' lives.
One Sunday afternoon in Southern California, Bert Cousins shows up at Franny Keating's christening party uninvited. Before evening falls, he has kissed Franny's mother, Beverly—thus setting in motion the dissolution of their marriages and the joining of two families.
Spanning five decades, Commonwealth explores how this chance encounter reverberates through the lives of the four parents and six children involved. Spending summers together in Virginia, the Keating and Cousins children forge a lasting bond that is based on a shared disillusionment with their parents and the strange and genuine affection that grows up between them.
When, in her twenties, Franny begins an affair with the legendary author Leon Posen and tells him about her family, the story of her siblings is no longer hers to control. Their childhood becomes the basis for his wildly successful book, ultimately forcing them to come to terms with their losses, their guilt, and the deeply loyal connection they feel for one another.
Told with equal measures of humor and heartbreak, Commonwealth is a meditation on inspiration, interpretation, and the ownership of stories. It is a brilliant and tender tale of the far-reaching ties of love and responsibility that bind us together. -- Harper
In 1924, Geneva "Gin" Kelly, a smart-mouthed flapper from the hills of western Maryland, is a regular at this Village hideaway known as the Christopher Club. Caught up in a raid, Gin becomes entangled with Prohibition enforcement agent Oliver Anson, who persuades her to help him catch her stepfather Duke Kelly, one of Appalachia’s most notorious bootleggers.
Headstrong and independent, Gin is no weak-kneed fool. So how can she be falling in love with the taciturn, straight-arrow Revenue agent when she’s got Princeton boy Billy Marshall, the dashing son of society doyenne Theresa Marshall, begging to make an honest woman of her? While anything goes in the Roaring Twenties, Gin’s adventures will shake proper Manhattan society to its foundations, exposing secrets that shock even this free-spirited redhead—secrets that will echo from Park Avenue to the hollers of her Southern hometown.
As Ella discovers more about the basement speakeasy, she becomes inspired by the spirit of her exuberant predecessor, and decides to live with abandon in the wicked city too. . . . -- William Morrow
Last night, we met to discuss THE WICKED CITY by Beatriz Williams. I am a huge fan of Ms. Williams' and I couldn't wait to read her latest historical fiction novel. As is the case with most of Ms. Williams' books, THE WICKED CITY told the stories of two women in totally different time periods whose lives were tied together by a building that housed a secret speakeasy back in the jazz age. For the most part, everyone that read the novel agreed that it was an entertaining book.
One thing that stood out to a few of our members was Ms. Williams' writing. She has a unique way with words and dialogue, and it was fun to see how she captured the essence of the Jazz Age. She also moved back and forth between the present and past quite well, and we liked how she tied the characters together.
We also appreciated the main characters in the novel. I especially enjoyed the character development of Gin, a young woman who grew up in the mountains of West Virginia. She tried to recreate herself when she hit New York City (aka The Wicked City), and I thought Ms. Williams did a great job in balancing her old life with her new one.
Overall, THE WICKED CITY was a popular pick, and I think more than a few members of my group will read additional Beatriz Williams' novels... especially after I talked up so many of them!
I'd like to thank the team at William Morrow for selecting The Booking Mamas as a Book Club Girl Book Club for 2016. We were honored to be chosen and we had a fabulous time reading the books and discussing them!
Summary: The acclaimed, bestselling author—winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Orange Prize—tells the enthralling story of how an unexpected romantic encounter irrevocably changes two families' lives.
One Sunday afternoon in Southern California, Bert Cousins shows up at Franny Keating's christening party uninvited. Before evening falls, he has kissed Franny's mother, Beverly—thus setting in motion the dissolution of their marriages and the joining of two families.
Spanning five decades, Commonwealth explores how this chance encounter reverberates through the lives of the four parents and six children involved. Spending summers together in Virginia, the Keating and Cousins children forge a lasting bond that is based on a shared disillusionment with their parents and the strange and genuine affection that grows up between them.
When, in her twenties, Franny begins an affair with the legendary author Leon Posen and tells him about her family, the story of her siblings is no longer hers to control. Their childhood becomes the basis for his wildly successful book, ultimately forcing them to come to terms with their losses, their guilt, and the deeply loyal connection they feel for one another.
Told with equal measures of humor and heartbreak, Commonwealth is a meditation on inspiration, interpretation, and the ownership of stories. It is a brilliant and tender tale of the far-reaching ties of love and responsibility that bind us together. -- Harper
Monday, February 20, 2017
Review: Behind Your Eyes
Summary: Only two can keep a secret if one of them is dead.
David and Adele seem like the ideal pair. He's a successful psychiatrist, she is his picture-perfect wife who adores him. But why is he so controlling? And why is she keeping things hidden?
As Louise, David's new secretary, is drawn into their orbit, she uncovers more puzzling questions than answers. The only thing that is crystal clear is that something in this marriage is very, very wrong. But Louise can't guess how wrong--and how far a person might go to protect their marriage's secrets. -- Flatiron Books
I read a fair amount of psychological thrillers, and I have to say that BEHIND HER EYES by Sarah Pinborough was a treat. Rarely do I find a novel that truly leaves me guessing... and one whose ending felt like a sucker punch right in the stomach. I honestly loved how this book toyed with my emotions, and I honestly never saw the strange twists coming.
BEHIND HER EYES tells the story of a beautiful couple, David and Adele, as well as Louise, the woman who becomes entwined in their lives. David is a successful psychiatrist and Adele is his gorgeous wife. They seemingly have it all; however, Louise quickly realizes that neither one is exactly as they seem.
Louise, a single mother of a young son, meets David one evening at a bar. They hit it off and even share a kiss. Imagine Louise's surprise when she discovers that the man she is attracted to is her new boss! They play it rather cool in the office, but Louise finds herself drawn to him despite knowing that he's her boss... and a married man.
Coincidentally, Louise literally bumps into Adele one morning after dropping her son off at school. They decide to have coffee together and become quick friends. Louise is playing with fire as she continues to become closer to both Adele and David... without the other one knowing. It becomes crystal clear to Louise that something isn't quite right with David and Adele's marriage, and she finds herself caught up in a love triangle not knowing who to believe or trust!
I thought BEHIND HER EYES was a real page-turner -- one that managed to capture my interest from the start. The characters were definitely intriguing; and, like Louise, I wasn't really sure what to make of either David or Adele. All I knew is that both seemed a little unstable to me, and Louise was caught right smack dab in the middle of the mess. Even though I understood Louise's attraction to the couple, I wanted to shake her that something bad, something very bad, was going to happen.
I actually loved how the author created the tension in the story and then continued to build it until I couldn't put the book down. Part of this excitement was in how Ms. Pinborough chose to write this story. She used different time periods as well as different viewpoints to give readers a better understanding of the complexity of the characters. In addition, there were little hints that something was very off about this couple.
As far as endings go, this one is definitely something that will have you scratching your head... at the very least. I couldn't believe what I was reading, and I actually went back a few pages to do a re-read because I wasn't sure I had processed everything. It's a real zinger... and that's all I'm going to say... except for this. You know you're in for a twisted ending when the ARC has #WTFthatending on the front cover!
Overall, I enjoyed BEHIND HER EYES and recommend it to fans of psychological suspense stories.
I received a copy of this novel at last year's SIBA.
Mystery Mondays is a regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read.
David and Adele seem like the ideal pair. He's a successful psychiatrist, she is his picture-perfect wife who adores him. But why is he so controlling? And why is she keeping things hidden?
As Louise, David's new secretary, is drawn into their orbit, she uncovers more puzzling questions than answers. The only thing that is crystal clear is that something in this marriage is very, very wrong. But Louise can't guess how wrong--and how far a person might go to protect their marriage's secrets. -- Flatiron Books
I read a fair amount of psychological thrillers, and I have to say that BEHIND HER EYES by Sarah Pinborough was a treat. Rarely do I find a novel that truly leaves me guessing... and one whose ending felt like a sucker punch right in the stomach. I honestly loved how this book toyed with my emotions, and I honestly never saw the strange twists coming.
BEHIND HER EYES tells the story of a beautiful couple, David and Adele, as well as Louise, the woman who becomes entwined in their lives. David is a successful psychiatrist and Adele is his gorgeous wife. They seemingly have it all; however, Louise quickly realizes that neither one is exactly as they seem.
Louise, a single mother of a young son, meets David one evening at a bar. They hit it off and even share a kiss. Imagine Louise's surprise when she discovers that the man she is attracted to is her new boss! They play it rather cool in the office, but Louise finds herself drawn to him despite knowing that he's her boss... and a married man.
Coincidentally, Louise literally bumps into Adele one morning after dropping her son off at school. They decide to have coffee together and become quick friends. Louise is playing with fire as she continues to become closer to both Adele and David... without the other one knowing. It becomes crystal clear to Louise that something isn't quite right with David and Adele's marriage, and she finds herself caught up in a love triangle not knowing who to believe or trust!
I thought BEHIND HER EYES was a real page-turner -- one that managed to capture my interest from the start. The characters were definitely intriguing; and, like Louise, I wasn't really sure what to make of either David or Adele. All I knew is that both seemed a little unstable to me, and Louise was caught right smack dab in the middle of the mess. Even though I understood Louise's attraction to the couple, I wanted to shake her that something bad, something very bad, was going to happen.
I actually loved how the author created the tension in the story and then continued to build it until I couldn't put the book down. Part of this excitement was in how Ms. Pinborough chose to write this story. She used different time periods as well as different viewpoints to give readers a better understanding of the complexity of the characters. In addition, there were little hints that something was very off about this couple.
As far as endings go, this one is definitely something that will have you scratching your head... at the very least. I couldn't believe what I was reading, and I actually went back a few pages to do a re-read because I wasn't sure I had processed everything. It's a real zinger... and that's all I'm going to say... except for this. You know you're in for a twisted ending when the ARC has #WTFthatending on the front cover!
Overall, I enjoyed BEHIND HER EYES and recommend it to fans of psychological suspense stories.
I received a copy of this novel at last year's SIBA.
Mystery Mondays is a regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read.
Saturday, February 18, 2017
Kid Konnection: Bedtime Books
Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week I'm going to share with you two fun picture books that are perfect bedtime stories.
Summary: Whether they're dashing, splashing, munching, or crunching, baby animals are ever-exploring! At home in their natural habitats, baby animals learn about the world that surrounds them. When the fun is done, it's time for baby animals to go to sleep. After all, every baby animal has to rest.
Full of action, sound effects, and patterned text, each story features the adorable antics and accurate behavior of six wild animal babies: tiger, elephant, giraffe, rhinoceros, panda, and gorilla. This 64-page, beautifully designed story book is perfect for bedtime. -- Henry Holt
GOOD NIGHT, BABY ANIMALS YOU'VE HAD A BUSY DAY by Karen B. Winnick and illustrated by Laura Watkins is a collection of six stories about baby animals. These stories feature animals who live in the wild like tigers, elephants, gorillas, and giraffes; and they show the many adventures that animals can experience in a day. After a fun-filled day of play, they babies are tired and need their sleep.
Kids will love seeing these wild animals in their natural habitats, and parents will love the overall message of the story -- that it's fun to play all day but babies need their rest! Each of the stories are written in fun verse with lots of animal sounds and repetition so they are perfect for read-aloud, bedtime stories. The end of the book features a fun section titled "Animal Facts" which gives a little information about each of the animals featured in the stories.
As you can see from the picture below, the illustrations are absolutely adorable. I love the mommy and baby animals as well as their gorgeous surroundings. The stories about the rhinos is especially cute with them frolicking in the mud!
Summary: It’s bedtime for superheroes . . . and KIDS! Young ones will enjoy this sweet, short rhyming story that lulls them into bedtime with the promise that all their heroes are getting tucked into bed too. And the book comes with stickers and a reward chart, so good bedtime habits can be reinforced each night when kids brush their teeth, put on their pj’s, and settle down to sleep. It’s a book and sticker package that will help parents achieve bedtime peace each night. -- Doubleday
EVEN SUPERHEROES HAVE TO SLEEP by Sara Crow and illustrated by Adam Record is another fantastic book that will surely help make bedtime easier. This picture book aimed at toddlers shows that heroes of all types need their sleep too! To make bedtime even more enticing, the book includes stickers and a reward chart that rewards kids for completing their bedtime activities like brushing teeth, getting their pjs on, reading a book, etc.
EVEN SUPERHEROES HAVE TO SLEEP is so cute! The book has whimsical illustrations that are guaranteed to make parents and kids laugh out loud. The heroes just look so silly! The book includes many different types of heroes such as construction workers, doctors, astronauts, princesses and more. The text is very fun too -- it's has a rhyming cadence and provides toddlers with the message that everyone needs their sleep!
All in all, GOOD NIGHT, BABY ANIMALS YOU'VE HAD A BUSY DAY and EVEN SUPERHEROES HAVE TO SLEEP are ideal bedtime books for parents and kids alike!
Thanks to the Get Red PR and the publishers for providing review copies of these books.
If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!
Thursday, February 16, 2017
Review: Perfect Little World
Summary: When Isabelle Poole meets Dr. Preston Grind, she’s fresh out of high school, pregnant with her art teacher's baby, and totally on her own. Izzy knows she can be a good mother but without any money or relatives to help, she’s left searching.
Dr. Grind, an awkwardly charming child psychologist, has spent his life studying family, even after tragedy struck his own. Now, with the help of an eccentric billionaire, he has the chance to create a “perfect little world”—to study what would happen when ten children are raised collectively, without knowing who their biological parents are. He calls it The Infinite Family Project and he wants Izzy and her son to join.
This attempt at a utopian ideal starts off promising, but soon the gentle equilibrium among the families disintegrates: unspoken resentments between the couples begin to fester; the project's funding becomes tenuous; and Izzy’s growing feelings for Dr. Grind make her question her participation in this strange experiment in the first place.
Written with the same compassion and charm that won over legions of readers with The Family Fang, Kevin Wilson shows us with grace and humor that the best families are the ones we make for ourselves. -- Ecco
One of my many highlights at SIBA last September was meeting Kevin Wilson, author of FAMILY FANG. He was there to take about his new novel PERFECT LITTLE WORLD, and he was absolutely delightful. He talked about how hard it was to be a parent... and how it would be great if he could have some "help" from other parents to raise his kids. And that's how the idea behind PERFECT LITTLE WORLD began percolating in his mind!
PERFECT LITTLE WORLD tells the unique story of Izzy, a teenager who finds herself pregnant to one of her high school teachers. Her mother died when she was young, her father has basically checked out, and she's pregnant and all alone. Isabelle wants to keep her baby, but she isn't sure how she's going to manage with no family help and a job as a pork barb-b-quer.
And that's when Dr. Grind enters the picture. He is a child psychologist who focuses on families, and he's trying something very new called The Infinite Family Project. He wants to create an ideal world where ten children are raised collectively on a compound for then years... and when I say collectively, I mean that none of the kids know who their parents are!
Dr. Grind asks Izzy and her baby boy to join the group; and Izzy feels as if she has no choice but to enter the project. At first, things work out pretty well, but as is the case of most families, the dynamics aren't always pleasant. Couples have marital issues, friends stop getting along, funding becomes questionable, and parents find that they love their biological children more than the others. In addition, Izzy finds herself attracted to Dr. Grind and wonders if she should have ever agreed to being part of The Infinite Family Project.
I adored PERFECT LITTLE WORLD. It's such a wonderful idea for a novel and Mr. Wilson's writing is just about perfect! I admit that I was drawn to the subject matter of this novel after hearing Mr. Wilson talk about it. The premise is fantastic, but I knew the author would explore love, parenting and families in a special way. And I wasn't wrong -- this book is not only entertaining with wonderful characters, but it is truly insightful into relationships and life!
You have to admit that the premise is a good one. Who hasn't wanted some help at some point with bringing up their kids? But living with ten families for ten years is bound to have some problems. So, of course, the novel explores the ups and downs of the families' lives. Needless to say, there is lots of drama and funny moments; however, there are also some touching ones as well. It kind of reflects life!
I really fell in love with Izzy. This young girl was willing to do whatever it took to take care of her son... and be part of a family. She didn't have a good family life, or even a good experience with her first romantic relationship; however, she wanted to make things right for her child. Her insights into the other nine families as well as the experiment were so wise for such a young person. I couldn't help but root for her as she spent years living with these people.
I also found the Dr. Grind's character to be interesting. He had a very unusual childhood that left him with a lot of baggage. He had become a leader in his field and was definitely dedicated to his project; however, that didn't make him a happy and complete adult. Like Izzy, he wanted to do what was right for others for a greater cause; and I found that I wanted him to work through his past issues and find some peace.
As entertaining as PERFECT LITTLE WORLD was, this book is so much more than just a fresh story. This novel is one of the best I've read about life... and love... and families. It's smart, funny, and truly thought-provoking; and I think every reader will find something to relate to in this story. As a result, I do think it would make a wonderful book club selection. I wasn't able to find discussion questions but I'm certain most book clubs would find plenty to talk about!
Overall, I adored PERFECT LITTLE WORLD and highly recommend it to fans of literary fiction!
I received a copy of PERFECT LITTLE WORLD at this year's SIBA.
Dr. Grind, an awkwardly charming child psychologist, has spent his life studying family, even after tragedy struck his own. Now, with the help of an eccentric billionaire, he has the chance to create a “perfect little world”—to study what would happen when ten children are raised collectively, without knowing who their biological parents are. He calls it The Infinite Family Project and he wants Izzy and her son to join.
This attempt at a utopian ideal starts off promising, but soon the gentle equilibrium among the families disintegrates: unspoken resentments between the couples begin to fester; the project's funding becomes tenuous; and Izzy’s growing feelings for Dr. Grind make her question her participation in this strange experiment in the first place.
Written with the same compassion and charm that won over legions of readers with The Family Fang, Kevin Wilson shows us with grace and humor that the best families are the ones we make for ourselves. -- Ecco
One of my many highlights at SIBA last September was meeting Kevin Wilson, author of FAMILY FANG. He was there to take about his new novel PERFECT LITTLE WORLD, and he was absolutely delightful. He talked about how hard it was to be a parent... and how it would be great if he could have some "help" from other parents to raise his kids. And that's how the idea behind PERFECT LITTLE WORLD began percolating in his mind!
PERFECT LITTLE WORLD tells the unique story of Izzy, a teenager who finds herself pregnant to one of her high school teachers. Her mother died when she was young, her father has basically checked out, and she's pregnant and all alone. Isabelle wants to keep her baby, but she isn't sure how she's going to manage with no family help and a job as a pork barb-b-quer.
And that's when Dr. Grind enters the picture. He is a child psychologist who focuses on families, and he's trying something very new called The Infinite Family Project. He wants to create an ideal world where ten children are raised collectively on a compound for then years... and when I say collectively, I mean that none of the kids know who their parents are!
Dr. Grind asks Izzy and her baby boy to join the group; and Izzy feels as if she has no choice but to enter the project. At first, things work out pretty well, but as is the case of most families, the dynamics aren't always pleasant. Couples have marital issues, friends stop getting along, funding becomes questionable, and parents find that they love their biological children more than the others. In addition, Izzy finds herself attracted to Dr. Grind and wonders if she should have ever agreed to being part of The Infinite Family Project.
I adored PERFECT LITTLE WORLD. It's such a wonderful idea for a novel and Mr. Wilson's writing is just about perfect! I admit that I was drawn to the subject matter of this novel after hearing Mr. Wilson talk about it. The premise is fantastic, but I knew the author would explore love, parenting and families in a special way. And I wasn't wrong -- this book is not only entertaining with wonderful characters, but it is truly insightful into relationships and life!
You have to admit that the premise is a good one. Who hasn't wanted some help at some point with bringing up their kids? But living with ten families for ten years is bound to have some problems. So, of course, the novel explores the ups and downs of the families' lives. Needless to say, there is lots of drama and funny moments; however, there are also some touching ones as well. It kind of reflects life!
I really fell in love with Izzy. This young girl was willing to do whatever it took to take care of her son... and be part of a family. She didn't have a good family life, or even a good experience with her first romantic relationship; however, she wanted to make things right for her child. Her insights into the other nine families as well as the experiment were so wise for such a young person. I couldn't help but root for her as she spent years living with these people.
I also found the Dr. Grind's character to be interesting. He had a very unusual childhood that left him with a lot of baggage. He had become a leader in his field and was definitely dedicated to his project; however, that didn't make him a happy and complete adult. Like Izzy, he wanted to do what was right for others for a greater cause; and I found that I wanted him to work through his past issues and find some peace.
As entertaining as PERFECT LITTLE WORLD was, this book is so much more than just a fresh story. This novel is one of the best I've read about life... and love... and families. It's smart, funny, and truly thought-provoking; and I think every reader will find something to relate to in this story. As a result, I do think it would make a wonderful book club selection. I wasn't able to find discussion questions but I'm certain most book clubs would find plenty to talk about!
Overall, I adored PERFECT LITTLE WORLD and highly recommend it to fans of literary fiction!
I received a copy of PERFECT LITTLE WORLD at this year's SIBA.
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Review: True Love
Summary: Color your way through a romantic journey with a cow named Lulu as she searches for her true love.
Lulu the cow knows there is a special someone out there waiting for her. With her curious parrot, Nina, at her side, Lulu hits the road to find Mr. Heart—an enchanting adventure filled with strange and wonderful places, unusual new people, and surprising challenges and opportunities. Lulu and Nina must draw out the shy, bashful people who call Hide & Seek Town home, while in Topsy-Turvy Town, they discover a world turned upside-down and backwards.
As they reach their final town, the friends are dazzled by the bright sunshine. In the distance, Lulu spies a bull with a heart shape mark. Could he be Mr. Heart at last? Combining stunning, intricately designed black-and-white illustrations with a unique love story, True Love: A Romantic Coloring Book will enchant readers and coloring enthusiasts. -- Harper Design
Happy Valentine's Day! I didn't really have a post planned today and then I received a copy of the beautiful coloring book TRUE LOVE: A ROMANTIC COMEDY ADVENTURE by Inko Kotoriyama. This coloring book is an adorable story about a cow named Lulu who is lookin' for love!
TRUE LOVE is truly a special coloring book. It has gorgeous detailed black and white illustrations along with a story within its pages. TRUE LOVE begins by showing some ideas about how to use this book. For instance, you can use different art materials as well as differing coloring methods. The book clearly shows how each method (colored pencils, watercolor pencils, and gel pens) would look. For a beginning "colorer" like me, I loved this!
The next page introduces the main characters in the story. Lulu, the cow, is the heroine of the story. Nina is a parakeet who travels with Lulu on her romantic adventure, and Mr. Heart is the bull who might or might not be the bull of Nina's dreams! Then the coloring book provides a page titled, "About the Story," which explains Nina's journey to find Mr. Heart as well as the settings for the story.
And then the story begins! There are dozens of ornate coloring pages full of animals, flowers, and shapes. The drawings are really beautiful and Lulu is just too cute. In addition, there is text explaining the story or the naming the various settings. A pleasant surprise is that there are five puzzles within the story. For example, there are seek and finds, a maze and spot the differences. It really is a very fun coloring book!
If you are looking for a fun gift for Valentine's Day or even Galentine's Day, then look no further than TRUE LOVE!
Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this coloring book.
Lulu the cow knows there is a special someone out there waiting for her. With her curious parrot, Nina, at her side, Lulu hits the road to find Mr. Heart—an enchanting adventure filled with strange and wonderful places, unusual new people, and surprising challenges and opportunities. Lulu and Nina must draw out the shy, bashful people who call Hide & Seek Town home, while in Topsy-Turvy Town, they discover a world turned upside-down and backwards.
As they reach their final town, the friends are dazzled by the bright sunshine. In the distance, Lulu spies a bull with a heart shape mark. Could he be Mr. Heart at last? Combining stunning, intricately designed black-and-white illustrations with a unique love story, True Love: A Romantic Coloring Book will enchant readers and coloring enthusiasts. -- Harper Design
Happy Valentine's Day! I didn't really have a post planned today and then I received a copy of the beautiful coloring book TRUE LOVE: A ROMANTIC COMEDY ADVENTURE by Inko Kotoriyama. This coloring book is an adorable story about a cow named Lulu who is lookin' for love!
TRUE LOVE is truly a special coloring book. It has gorgeous detailed black and white illustrations along with a story within its pages. TRUE LOVE begins by showing some ideas about how to use this book. For instance, you can use different art materials as well as differing coloring methods. The book clearly shows how each method (colored pencils, watercolor pencils, and gel pens) would look. For a beginning "colorer" like me, I loved this!
The next page introduces the main characters in the story. Lulu, the cow, is the heroine of the story. Nina is a parakeet who travels with Lulu on her romantic adventure, and Mr. Heart is the bull who might or might not be the bull of Nina's dreams! Then the coloring book provides a page titled, "About the Story," which explains Nina's journey to find Mr. Heart as well as the settings for the story.
And then the story begins! There are dozens of ornate coloring pages full of animals, flowers, and shapes. The drawings are really beautiful and Lulu is just too cute. In addition, there is text explaining the story or the naming the various settings. A pleasant surprise is that there are five puzzles within the story. For example, there are seek and finds, a maze and spot the differences. It really is a very fun coloring book!
If you are looking for a fun gift for Valentine's Day or even Galentine's Day, then look no further than TRUE LOVE!
Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this coloring book.
Monday, February 13, 2017
Review: My Husband's Wife
Summary: When young lawyer Lily marries Ed, she’s determined to make a fresh start. To leave the secrets of the past behind. But then she takes on her first murder case and meets Joe. A convicted murderer whom Lily is strangely drawn to. For whom she will soon be willing to risk almost anything.
But Lily is not the only one with secrets. Her next-door neighbor Carla may be only nine, but she has already learned that secrets are powerful things. That they can get her whatever she wants.
When Lily finds Carla on her doorstep sixteen years later, a chain of events is set in motion that can end only one way. -- Pamela Dorman Books
When I learned that the new psychological suspense novel MY HUSBAND'S WIFE by Jane Corry was from the Pamela Dorman imprint, I knew I had to read it. I am always up for a new thriller and Pamela Dorman books are always a treat. MY HUSBAND'S WIFE pretty much lived up to my expectations. This novel was a fast-paced suspense novel that definitely had some intriguing characters... and a pretty twisted ending!
MY HUSBAND'S WIFE tells the story of Lily McDonald, a newlywed and lawyer, who is more than anxious to start a new life and leave the secrets from her past behind. She has a new husband, a new flat, and even a new job -- she's handling her first murder case. Joe was convicted of murdering his girlfriend by pushing her into a scalding bathtub.
When Lily enters the prison to meet Joe, she isn't quite sure what to make of him or his story. He's not exactly up front with Lily. Rather, he sets creates a game of sorts to see if she's "worthy" of defending him. Their encounter is extremely awkward and more than a little uncomfortable; however, there is something about Joe that Lily is drawn to. It's likely that he reminds her of her autistic brother who died as a teenager.
Meanwhile, Lily's nine year old neighbor Carla enters the picture. She becomes close to Lily and her husband Ed when they watch her when her mother is out. Carla is a beautiful girl and Ed is fascinated with drawing her. Carla begins to realize that the secrets she learns can help her to further her own agenda. She's quite the manipulative little girl!
Fast forward sixteen years when Carla shows up at Ed and Lily's home. She is even more beautiful than before and also extremely scheming. Carla ends up causing a great deal of trouble for the couple, and tensions escalate into a stunning conclusion!
I really enjoyed MY HUSBAND'S WIFE. The story was fast-paced and the characters were definitely interesting. The story was written in a such a way that kept me guessing, and the ending was fairly shocking. I appreciated the twists and turns in the story and the way that everyone's secrets were eventually revealed. All in all, MY HUSBAND'S WIFE was a very good read!
I mentioned that the characters were interesting -- maybe a little too interesting if that's possible. I'm not really sure that I liked any of them (and that includes Lily), and I certainly didn't trust them. It seemed like they all had selfish motives, multiple character weaknesses, and lots of secrets. Having said that, they did keep me guessing so that's something.
In addition, I enjoyed how Ms. Corry told this story. The book begins with a brief prologue that alerts the reader that the ending will most likely have someone die. Who that someone is is the question. The book then goes back fifteen years in the past and introduces Ed and Lily and eventually Carla. After their story is established, the book moves ahead fifteen years and picks up on these individuals' lives... and explains what happened in the prologue. I really liked how I wondered for 350+ pages what the first page of the novel was all about.
If I had a knock against the book (and it's not a big one), it's that there were a few too many coincidences in the novel. I don't want to give away anything, but there was a tie between the characters that just seemed a little too easy for me, if that makes sense? It didn't affect my appreciation of the novel and the connection was a little surprising, but it made sense and worked out in the end.
Overall, I liked MY HUSBAND'S WIFE a great deal and recommend it to fans of psychological suspense novels.
Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.
Mystery Mondays is a regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read.
But Lily is not the only one with secrets. Her next-door neighbor Carla may be only nine, but she has already learned that secrets are powerful things. That they can get her whatever she wants.
When Lily finds Carla on her doorstep sixteen years later, a chain of events is set in motion that can end only one way. -- Pamela Dorman Books
When I learned that the new psychological suspense novel MY HUSBAND'S WIFE by Jane Corry was from the Pamela Dorman imprint, I knew I had to read it. I am always up for a new thriller and Pamela Dorman books are always a treat. MY HUSBAND'S WIFE pretty much lived up to my expectations. This novel was a fast-paced suspense novel that definitely had some intriguing characters... and a pretty twisted ending!
MY HUSBAND'S WIFE tells the story of Lily McDonald, a newlywed and lawyer, who is more than anxious to start a new life and leave the secrets from her past behind. She has a new husband, a new flat, and even a new job -- she's handling her first murder case. Joe was convicted of murdering his girlfriend by pushing her into a scalding bathtub.
When Lily enters the prison to meet Joe, she isn't quite sure what to make of him or his story. He's not exactly up front with Lily. Rather, he sets creates a game of sorts to see if she's "worthy" of defending him. Their encounter is extremely awkward and more than a little uncomfortable; however, there is something about Joe that Lily is drawn to. It's likely that he reminds her of her autistic brother who died as a teenager.
Meanwhile, Lily's nine year old neighbor Carla enters the picture. She becomes close to Lily and her husband Ed when they watch her when her mother is out. Carla is a beautiful girl and Ed is fascinated with drawing her. Carla begins to realize that the secrets she learns can help her to further her own agenda. She's quite the manipulative little girl!
Fast forward sixteen years when Carla shows up at Ed and Lily's home. She is even more beautiful than before and also extremely scheming. Carla ends up causing a great deal of trouble for the couple, and tensions escalate into a stunning conclusion!
I really enjoyed MY HUSBAND'S WIFE. The story was fast-paced and the characters were definitely interesting. The story was written in a such a way that kept me guessing, and the ending was fairly shocking. I appreciated the twists and turns in the story and the way that everyone's secrets were eventually revealed. All in all, MY HUSBAND'S WIFE was a very good read!
I mentioned that the characters were interesting -- maybe a little too interesting if that's possible. I'm not really sure that I liked any of them (and that includes Lily), and I certainly didn't trust them. It seemed like they all had selfish motives, multiple character weaknesses, and lots of secrets. Having said that, they did keep me guessing so that's something.
In addition, I enjoyed how Ms. Corry told this story. The book begins with a brief prologue that alerts the reader that the ending will most likely have someone die. Who that someone is is the question. The book then goes back fifteen years in the past and introduces Ed and Lily and eventually Carla. After their story is established, the book moves ahead fifteen years and picks up on these individuals' lives... and explains what happened in the prologue. I really liked how I wondered for 350+ pages what the first page of the novel was all about.
If I had a knock against the book (and it's not a big one), it's that there were a few too many coincidences in the novel. I don't want to give away anything, but there was a tie between the characters that just seemed a little too easy for me, if that makes sense? It didn't affect my appreciation of the novel and the connection was a little surprising, but it made sense and worked out in the end.
Overall, I liked MY HUSBAND'S WIFE a great deal and recommend it to fans of psychological suspense novels.
Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.
Mystery Mondays is a regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read.
Saturday, February 11, 2017
Kid Konnection: Picture Book Round-Up
Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week I'm going to share with you two cute picture books -- one that is aimed at preschoolers and one that is perfect for toddlers.
Summary: Told in rhyming text, Excavator, Bulldozer, Crane Truck, Dump Truck, and Cement Mixer will all need to work together as they tackle their biggest job yet--a massive building.
Check out the entire Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site and Steam Train, Dream Train family! -- Chronicle
MIGHTY, MIGHTY CONSTRUCTION SITE by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld is the perfect book for preschoolers who love all things construction. Case in point: I babysit a four year old and when he saw the "pitch" on my email for this book, he asked me if I could get it for him. He just knew he'd love this adorable book that's chockfull of construction vehicles!
Fans of the best-selling GOODNIGHT, GOODNIGHT CONSTRUCTION SITE have been anxiously awaiting its sequel... and with good reason. MIGHTY, MIGHTY CONSTRUCTION SITE is a great picture book that has already received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. In MIGHTY, MIGHTY CONSTRUCTION SITE, the familiar trucks that readers know and love are all back; and this time, they are working together to complete their biggest project yet.
MIGHTY, MIGHTY CONSTRUCTION SITE is adorable. I love the rhyming text as well as the fantastic illustrations. The book also has a pretty great message -- it teaches youngsters that anything is possible when you work together. Highly recommended!
Summary: Babies can explore different textures and expand their senses as they discover this padded board book’s tactile elements. They can touch soft bunnies, fuzzy teddy bears, sparkly hearts, and more, and feel all the love you have for them. Baby Touch and Feel: I Love You promotes sensory development and early language skills, and is the perfect size for small hands to hold.
With simple images that are clearly labeled, and an amazing range of novelty textures, Baby Touch and Feel books capture the attention of the very youngest children and create an experience they’ll want to repeat again and again.
Baby Touch and Feel books are the perfect series for the very youngest readers. These small, padded books excite babies and toddlers with their foil and touch-and-feel covers. Each book in this affordable series contains twelve vibrant interior pages with bold, engaging images and large word labels, and each page has foil or glitter to behold or a texture to touch. These safe novelty textures immediately intrigue babies and are perfect for little fingers to feel. The Baby Touch and Feel series encourages sensory development, language skills, and early reading skills while teaching colors, shapes, patterns, and opposites. -- DK
I just had to feature BABY TOUCH AND FEEL: I LOVE YOU this week. Valentine's Day is only three days away, and this book is the perfect gift for the baby/toddler in your life. My kids are twelve and seventeen; and needless to say, they are way beyond picture books. However, I fondly remember how much they loved DK books and especially "touch and feel" ones.
BABY TOUCH AND FEEL: I LOVE YOU is just precious. It's a padded board book and small so tiny hands can hold it. It's also full of colorful photographs that babies will appreciate. My kids loved books with photos of animals and babies! In addition, there are bright colors, foil images, and plenty of textures to feel including a basket, a sweater, and fur. Even the cover has rabbit fur for little ones to touch. Way too sweet!
BABY TOUCH AND FEEL: I LOVE is perfect for Valentine's Day... and really every day!
If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Review: Egg Drop Dead & Giveaway
Summary: In Laura Childs’s New York Times bestselling mystery series, Suzanne, Petra, and Toni—co-owners of the Cackleberry Club café—are back to track down another bad egg…
Maintaining good personal relationships with their suppliers is one of the secrets of the Cackleberry Club café’s success, so Suzanne doesn’t mind going out to Mike Mullen’s dairy farm to pick up some wheels of cheese. She’s looking forward to a nice visit with the mild-mannered farmer before heading back to their hectic kitchen.
But when she arrives, Mike’s nowhere to be found. The moaning of his cows leads her to look in the barn, where she discovers a bloodcurdling sight—the farmer’s dead body. Apparently not everyone was as fond of Mike Mullen as the Cackleberry Club.
Churning with grief and outrage, Suzanne, Petra, and Toni vow to find the farmer’s murderer—but as they get closer to the truth, the desperate killer gets whipped into a frenzy and plans to put the squeeze on them… -- Berkley
I haven't been reading many cozies these past few months, but I was in the mood for one now that the weather is cooler and the skies have been so dreary. I decided to pick up EGG DROP DEAD by Laura Childs, an author who never fails to entertain me. EGG DROP DEAD is her latest in the Cackleberry Club Mystery series, a set of books that stars three women who own and operate the Cackleberry Club cafe.
EGG DROP DEAD begins with Suzanne, the owner of the cafe, heading out to pick up some wheels of cheese from her local supplier, Mike Mullen. She always enjoys her visits with the kind man; however, when she arrives at his farm she notices something isn't quite right. (This happens a lot with Suzanne!) She is shocked to discover that Mike has been brutally murdered! (This also happens a lot with Suzanne!)
Suzanne immediately calls the local police with whom she has an interesting relationship -- Suzanne has assisted them with murder cases in the past. The lead cop warns her that Mike's killer was a very angry person and that she should leave the investigating to the professionals... but Suzanne can't help by get involved. It's just her nature.
Suzanne, along with her besties Petra and Toni, are determined to find this mild-mannered farmer's murderer. Despite his calm demeanor, it's obvious that he upset at least one person. Could it be Mike's wife who was very eager to sell the farm after his death? Or, maybe the wheeler and dealer land developer who just came to the town? Or, is it the even scarier thought that it's someone they don't even suspect?
Laura Childs has done it again! EGG DROP DEAD was a fun cozy that managed to keep me guessing. It has fantastic characters whose interactions are both sweet and entertaining, and the murder mystery had some intriguing side stories... that may or may not have been red herrings. In addition, the book takes place in a cafe so there's lot of talk about food and drink. And the author even includes some recipes in the back of the book. What more could a cozy reader ask for?
If you are a fan of cozies, you really need to read the Cackleberry Cozy Mystery series! They encompass everything readers would want in a cozy, and you can just jump in with any of the books -- you don't need to read them in order. Ms. Childs has a few other series like her Scrapbooking Mysteries and her Tea Shop Mysteries that you should check out too!
I am so excited that I have a copy of EGG DROP DEAD to share with one lucky reader. To enter, just fill out the form below before February 21st at 11:59 p.m. EST. I will randomly select and notify the winner the following day. This contest is open to those of you with U.S. addresses only. Good luck!
Maintaining good personal relationships with their suppliers is one of the secrets of the Cackleberry Club café’s success, so Suzanne doesn’t mind going out to Mike Mullen’s dairy farm to pick up some wheels of cheese. She’s looking forward to a nice visit with the mild-mannered farmer before heading back to their hectic kitchen.
But when she arrives, Mike’s nowhere to be found. The moaning of his cows leads her to look in the barn, where she discovers a bloodcurdling sight—the farmer’s dead body. Apparently not everyone was as fond of Mike Mullen as the Cackleberry Club.
Churning with grief and outrage, Suzanne, Petra, and Toni vow to find the farmer’s murderer—but as they get closer to the truth, the desperate killer gets whipped into a frenzy and plans to put the squeeze on them… -- Berkley
I haven't been reading many cozies these past few months, but I was in the mood for one now that the weather is cooler and the skies have been so dreary. I decided to pick up EGG DROP DEAD by Laura Childs, an author who never fails to entertain me. EGG DROP DEAD is her latest in the Cackleberry Club Mystery series, a set of books that stars three women who own and operate the Cackleberry Club cafe.
EGG DROP DEAD begins with Suzanne, the owner of the cafe, heading out to pick up some wheels of cheese from her local supplier, Mike Mullen. She always enjoys her visits with the kind man; however, when she arrives at his farm she notices something isn't quite right. (This happens a lot with Suzanne!) She is shocked to discover that Mike has been brutally murdered! (This also happens a lot with Suzanne!)
Suzanne immediately calls the local police with whom she has an interesting relationship -- Suzanne has assisted them with murder cases in the past. The lead cop warns her that Mike's killer was a very angry person and that she should leave the investigating to the professionals... but Suzanne can't help by get involved. It's just her nature.
Suzanne, along with her besties Petra and Toni, are determined to find this mild-mannered farmer's murderer. Despite his calm demeanor, it's obvious that he upset at least one person. Could it be Mike's wife who was very eager to sell the farm after his death? Or, maybe the wheeler and dealer land developer who just came to the town? Or, is it the even scarier thought that it's someone they don't even suspect?
Laura Childs has done it again! EGG DROP DEAD was a fun cozy that managed to keep me guessing. It has fantastic characters whose interactions are both sweet and entertaining, and the murder mystery had some intriguing side stories... that may or may not have been red herrings. In addition, the book takes place in a cafe so there's lot of talk about food and drink. And the author even includes some recipes in the back of the book. What more could a cozy reader ask for?
If you are a fan of cozies, you really need to read the Cackleberry Cozy Mystery series! They encompass everything readers would want in a cozy, and you can just jump in with any of the books -- you don't need to read them in order. Ms. Childs has a few other series like her Scrapbooking Mysteries and her Tea Shop Mysteries that you should check out too!
I am so excited that I have a copy of EGG DROP DEAD to share with one lucky reader. To enter, just fill out the form below before February 21st at 11:59 p.m. EST. I will randomly select and notify the winner the following day. This contest is open to those of you with U.S. addresses only. Good luck!
Monday, February 6, 2017
Review: Everything You Want Me to Be
Summary: Full of twists and turns, Everything You Want Me to Be reconstructs a year in the life of a dangerously mesmerizing young woman, during which a small town’s darkest secrets come to the forefront...and she inches closer and closer to her death.
High school senior Hattie Hoffman has spent her whole life playing many parts: the good student, the good daughter, the good citizen. When she’s found brutally stabbed to death on the opening night of her high school play, the tragedy rips through the fabric of her small town community. Local sheriff Del Goodman, a family friend of the Hoffmans, vows to find her killer, but trying to solve her murder yields more questions than answers. It seems that Hattie’s acting talents ran far beyond the stage. Told from three points of view—Del, Hattie, and the new English teacher whose marriage is crumbling—Everything You Want Me to Be weaves the story of Hattie’s last school year and the events that drew her ever closer to her death.
Evocative and razor-sharp, Everything You Want Me to Be challenges you to test the lines between innocence and culpability, identity and deception. Does love lead to self-discovery—or destruction? -- Atria/Emily Bestler Books
EVERYTHING YOU WANT ME TO BE by Mindy Mejia has certainly been receiving some stellar reviews. It received a starred review from Booklist along with accolades and Best of lists from People Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, BookBub, and Bustle. I was extremely excited to read this novel because it sounded like a book I'd enjoy... and I'm happy to say that I did like this one quite a bit.
EVERYTHING YOU WANT ME TO BE tells the story of Hattie Hoffman, a teenage girl who lives in a small town in Minnesota. Hattie is nearing graduation and she can't wait to leave her hometown for New York City and Broadway. Hattie has always been an actress (and quite an impressive one at that), but she feels trapped because she's always been playing parts -- the ambitious student, the attentive daughter, the doting girlfriend, and so on.
On the opening night of her high school play (which she, of course, stars in!), Hattie is found dead in a barn. The local sheriff Del Goodman, a close Hoffman family friend, is determined to find her killer; however, it's not as cut and dry as he hoped. The most obvious suspect is Hattie's married, high school English teacher with whom she has been having an affair. But as Goodman digs into the investigation, he uncovers more and more secrets... and more and more questions.
Hattie is far from the teenager that the local folks thought they knew and loved. She is an extremely complex teen who had her sights set on something more... and her ambitions just might be the reason she ended up dead.
EVERYTHING YOU WANT ME TO BE is a very readable thriller. I enjoyed the characters and story, and I thought the mystery was well constructed. I admit that I didn't like Hattie at all (I don't think I was supposed to!), but that didn't change my opinion of the novel. She wasn't a very nice girl; and as the novel progressed, she became more and more manipulative. I also didn't exactly like her love interest, a married high school teacher -- yuck!, but I found him much more human... and maybe even forgivable because he did have guilt and remorse. Hattie, on the other hand, was all about Hattie.
I did liked the sheriff, Del Goodman, though. He was a good man (no pun intended), and he really wanted to get to the bottom of Hattie's death so her parents could have some closure. As he learned the truth about Hattie's last few months of her life, he was kind of between a rock and a hard place because of his closeness to the family. He also had some complexity because of his past; however, I feel as if the author could have developed him a bit more. Maybe that's because I actually liked him and wasn't fond of the other main characters.
I found EVERYTHING YOU WANT ME TO BE to be a true page-turner, and I definitely appreciated the twists and turns! One thing I felt made this novel special was how the author decided to tell the story. The story was told in alternating chapters by Hattie, Goodman and the teacher; and as a result, the reader gets an inside view into all of their characters. The book also had flashbacks to events during Hattie's senior year, so we can see how her murder and the events surrounding it occurred.
I did appreciate the murder mystery aspect of the story, and it definitely kept me guessing. There were a few twists and turns, and I have to say that I thought the culprit was somebody else entirely. I'm not sure that all readers will be surprised, but I liked that I was.
Overall, EVERYTHING YOU WANT ME TO BE is a strong suspense novel with some interesting characters. Highly recommended to fans of literary suspense.
Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.
Mystery Mondays is a regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read.
High school senior Hattie Hoffman has spent her whole life playing many parts: the good student, the good daughter, the good citizen. When she’s found brutally stabbed to death on the opening night of her high school play, the tragedy rips through the fabric of her small town community. Local sheriff Del Goodman, a family friend of the Hoffmans, vows to find her killer, but trying to solve her murder yields more questions than answers. It seems that Hattie’s acting talents ran far beyond the stage. Told from three points of view—Del, Hattie, and the new English teacher whose marriage is crumbling—Everything You Want Me to Be weaves the story of Hattie’s last school year and the events that drew her ever closer to her death.
Evocative and razor-sharp, Everything You Want Me to Be challenges you to test the lines between innocence and culpability, identity and deception. Does love lead to self-discovery—or destruction? -- Atria/Emily Bestler Books
EVERYTHING YOU WANT ME TO BE by Mindy Mejia has certainly been receiving some stellar reviews. It received a starred review from Booklist along with accolades and Best of lists from People Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, BookBub, and Bustle. I was extremely excited to read this novel because it sounded like a book I'd enjoy... and I'm happy to say that I did like this one quite a bit.
EVERYTHING YOU WANT ME TO BE tells the story of Hattie Hoffman, a teenage girl who lives in a small town in Minnesota. Hattie is nearing graduation and she can't wait to leave her hometown for New York City and Broadway. Hattie has always been an actress (and quite an impressive one at that), but she feels trapped because she's always been playing parts -- the ambitious student, the attentive daughter, the doting girlfriend, and so on.
On the opening night of her high school play (which she, of course, stars in!), Hattie is found dead in a barn. The local sheriff Del Goodman, a close Hoffman family friend, is determined to find her killer; however, it's not as cut and dry as he hoped. The most obvious suspect is Hattie's married, high school English teacher with whom she has been having an affair. But as Goodman digs into the investigation, he uncovers more and more secrets... and more and more questions.
Hattie is far from the teenager that the local folks thought they knew and loved. She is an extremely complex teen who had her sights set on something more... and her ambitions just might be the reason she ended up dead.
EVERYTHING YOU WANT ME TO BE is a very readable thriller. I enjoyed the characters and story, and I thought the mystery was well constructed. I admit that I didn't like Hattie at all (I don't think I was supposed to!), but that didn't change my opinion of the novel. She wasn't a very nice girl; and as the novel progressed, she became more and more manipulative. I also didn't exactly like her love interest, a married high school teacher -- yuck!, but I found him much more human... and maybe even forgivable because he did have guilt and remorse. Hattie, on the other hand, was all about Hattie.
I did liked the sheriff, Del Goodman, though. He was a good man (no pun intended), and he really wanted to get to the bottom of Hattie's death so her parents could have some closure. As he learned the truth about Hattie's last few months of her life, he was kind of between a rock and a hard place because of his closeness to the family. He also had some complexity because of his past; however, I feel as if the author could have developed him a bit more. Maybe that's because I actually liked him and wasn't fond of the other main characters.
I found EVERYTHING YOU WANT ME TO BE to be a true page-turner, and I definitely appreciated the twists and turns! One thing I felt made this novel special was how the author decided to tell the story. The story was told in alternating chapters by Hattie, Goodman and the teacher; and as a result, the reader gets an inside view into all of their characters. The book also had flashbacks to events during Hattie's senior year, so we can see how her murder and the events surrounding it occurred.
I did appreciate the murder mystery aspect of the story, and it definitely kept me guessing. There were a few twists and turns, and I have to say that I thought the culprit was somebody else entirely. I'm not sure that all readers will be surprised, but I liked that I was.
Overall, EVERYTHING YOU WANT ME TO BE is a strong suspense novel with some interesting characters. Highly recommended to fans of literary suspense.
Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.
Mystery Mondays is a regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read.
Saturday, February 4, 2017
Kid Konnection: Mr. Fuzzbuster Knows He's the Favorite & Giveaway
Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week I'm going to share with you a fun picture book that's sure to be a hit with kids who have a pet!
Summary: Mr. Fuzzbuster knew he was Lily’s favorite. They did everything together. Naps. Story time. Walks. And more naps. But now four more animals lived in the house.…
To prove he’s still Lily’s favorite, Mr. Fuzzbuster will have to ask her, but will her answer surprise him? This funny, heartwarming story is for every child who has ever wondered if there’s a favorite in the house. -- Two Lions
MR. FUZZBUSTER KNOWS HE'S THE FAVORITE by Stacy McAnulty and illustrated by Edward Hemingway is an adorable picture book. The story is pretty cute and the illustrations are the perfect complement to the fun story! I have a feeling that many young kids are going to relate to this book.
Mr. Fuzzbuster is pretty darn confident that he's Lily's favorite. After all, they've been together for a very long time; and they done a lot together like taking naps, taking walks, and even story time. However, four more pets have arrived since Mr. Fuzzbuster; and maybe, just maybe, Mr. Fuzzbuster needs a little affirmation.
Mr. Fuzzbuster asks Lily which pet is her favorite. Lily is no dummy and assures each animal in turn that they are her favorite bird, fish, iguana, etc. Mr. Fuzzbuster is feeling pretty good with his odds of being the one and only favorite, when Lily tells him that he's her favorite... cat!
MR. FUZZBUSTER KNOWS HE'S THE FAVORITE is too cute, and I know it would have been a hit with my kids because they were always saying the other one was the "favorite." Heck -- they still say that! The story is sweet and you can't help but root for Mr. Fuzzbuster; however, there is a little twist at the end of the book that will readers (and Mr. Fuzzbuster) guessing!
I found the illustrations in MR. FUZZBUSTER KNOWS HE'S THE FAVORITE to be quite adorable too! The big eyes on the various pets are very cute, and Mr. Fuzzbuster's facial expressions are laugh out loud funny. The colors are also bright and will keep both children and their parents entertained.
Overall, MR. FUZZBUSTER KNOWS HE'S THE FAVORITE is a very fun book geared towards three to seven year olds. Highly recommended!
Thanks to Blue Slip Media for providing a review copy of this book.
Giveaway alert: I have a copy of MR. FUZZBUSTER KNOWS HE'S THE FAVORITE for one lucky reader. To enter, just fill out the form below before February 17th at 11:59 p.m. EST. I will randomly select and notify the winner the following day. This contest is open to those of you with U.S. addresses only. Good luck!
If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!
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Thursday, February 2, 2017
Review: A Million Little Things
Summary: From the bestselling author of The Girls of Mischief Bay and The Friends We Keep comes a twisty tale of family dynamics that explores what can go terribly, hysterically wrong when the line between friendship and family blurs…
Zoe Saldivar is more than just single—she's ALONE. She recently broke up with her longtime boyfriend, she works from home and her best friend Jen is so obsessed with her baby that she has practically abandoned their friendship. The day Zoe accidentally traps herself in her attic with her hungry-looking cat, she realizes that it's up to her to stop living in isolation.
Her seemingly empty life takes a sudden turn for the complicated—her first new friend is Jen's widowed mom, Pam. The only guy to give her butterflies in a very long time is Jen's brother. And meanwhile, Pam is being very deliberately seduced by Zoe's own smooth-as-tequila father. Pam's flustered, Jen's annoyed and Zoe is beginning to think "alone" doesn't sound so bad, after all.
Friendship isn't just one thing—it's a million little things, and no one writes them with more heart and humor than book club sensation Susan Mallery. -- Mira
I have to say that I wasn't sure I wanted to read A MILLION LITTLE THINGS by Susan Mallery. I can assure you that it had nothing to do with the book's description or the author -- I always appreciate a story about female friendship and Ms. Mallory is a #1 New York Times Bestselling Author. However, this novel was the third in the Mischief Bay series (and I don't like picking up a new series part-way through it!), and the story is technically a romance (a genre that I don't normally read.) Despite that, I decided to dig in... and I'm so glad I did!
A MILLION LITTLE THINGS tells the story of Zoe, a woman who has just broken up with her long-time boyfriend (a guy no one really thought was good enough for her!) She is pretty secluded, working from home; and her best friend Jen is caught up with her young child... so much so that she kind of ignores everyone else. After a strange accident where she ends up trapped in her attic, Zoe begins to realize that she's by herself way too much with little interaction with people.
Zoe hopes to get closer to her long-time friend Jen but finds that she actually begins hanging out with Jen's mom, Pam. In addition, she finds herself drawn to Steven, Pam's son and Jen's younger brother. Things gets even more complicated with Pam starts seeing Jen's dad Miguel. (Can you follow all that?) Zoe isn't sure that a new relationship with Steven is worth hurting Pam and Jen or losing them as friends; however, she also realizes that Pam and Jen have their own set of issues that they need to resolve. Needless to say, these blurred lines between family and friendship are quite complicated!
A MILLION LITTLE THINGS is an entertaining story that explores love, relationships, friendships, and new beginnings. I totally understand why Ms. Mallery has had so much success as a writer -- her stories are about real people with real problems... and she does a terrific job of bringing them to life and making readers fall in love with them.
I think the strength of this novel was definitely in the character development. I adored Zoe and was totally interested in her story. She was in a bit of a funk when the novel began, especially after getting locked in her attic!); and I knew it was going to be fun seeing her journey towards happiness. Zoe was struggling with finding herself, but she also had a terrific sense of humor which made her all the more likable. Her friends, Pam and Jen, were also interesting characters who were struggling with issues in their own right; and while they definitely upset me at times, I ended up loving them too!
My other favorite thing about A MILLION LITTLE THINGS was how it focused on women and their relationships. Of course, there was some romance in the story, but it wasn't over-the-top -- it was actually very sweet. However, the true themes of the novel were about friendship. Even though there were issues in each woman's life that challenged their relationships, ultimately these three came together and realized the value in their friendships. I really loved that about this novel!
A MILLION LITTLE THINGS will be available the beginning of March. I recommend it to fans of the Mischief Bay series and readers who enjoy a sweet story about women and love!
Thanks to Tandem Literary for providing a review copy of this novel.
Zoe Saldivar is more than just single—she's ALONE. She recently broke up with her longtime boyfriend, she works from home and her best friend Jen is so obsessed with her baby that she has practically abandoned their friendship. The day Zoe accidentally traps herself in her attic with her hungry-looking cat, she realizes that it's up to her to stop living in isolation.
Her seemingly empty life takes a sudden turn for the complicated—her first new friend is Jen's widowed mom, Pam. The only guy to give her butterflies in a very long time is Jen's brother. And meanwhile, Pam is being very deliberately seduced by Zoe's own smooth-as-tequila father. Pam's flustered, Jen's annoyed and Zoe is beginning to think "alone" doesn't sound so bad, after all.
Friendship isn't just one thing—it's a million little things, and no one writes them with more heart and humor than book club sensation Susan Mallery. -- Mira
I have to say that I wasn't sure I wanted to read A MILLION LITTLE THINGS by Susan Mallery. I can assure you that it had nothing to do with the book's description or the author -- I always appreciate a story about female friendship and Ms. Mallory is a #1 New York Times Bestselling Author. However, this novel was the third in the Mischief Bay series (and I don't like picking up a new series part-way through it!), and the story is technically a romance (a genre that I don't normally read.) Despite that, I decided to dig in... and I'm so glad I did!
A MILLION LITTLE THINGS tells the story of Zoe, a woman who has just broken up with her long-time boyfriend (a guy no one really thought was good enough for her!) She is pretty secluded, working from home; and her best friend Jen is caught up with her young child... so much so that she kind of ignores everyone else. After a strange accident where she ends up trapped in her attic, Zoe begins to realize that she's by herself way too much with little interaction with people.
Zoe hopes to get closer to her long-time friend Jen but finds that she actually begins hanging out with Jen's mom, Pam. In addition, she finds herself drawn to Steven, Pam's son and Jen's younger brother. Things gets even more complicated with Pam starts seeing Jen's dad Miguel. (Can you follow all that?) Zoe isn't sure that a new relationship with Steven is worth hurting Pam and Jen or losing them as friends; however, she also realizes that Pam and Jen have their own set of issues that they need to resolve. Needless to say, these blurred lines between family and friendship are quite complicated!
A MILLION LITTLE THINGS is an entertaining story that explores love, relationships, friendships, and new beginnings. I totally understand why Ms. Mallery has had so much success as a writer -- her stories are about real people with real problems... and she does a terrific job of bringing them to life and making readers fall in love with them.
I think the strength of this novel was definitely in the character development. I adored Zoe and was totally interested in her story. She was in a bit of a funk when the novel began, especially after getting locked in her attic!); and I knew it was going to be fun seeing her journey towards happiness. Zoe was struggling with finding herself, but she also had a terrific sense of humor which made her all the more likable. Her friends, Pam and Jen, were also interesting characters who were struggling with issues in their own right; and while they definitely upset me at times, I ended up loving them too!
My other favorite thing about A MILLION LITTLE THINGS was how it focused on women and their relationships. Of course, there was some romance in the story, but it wasn't over-the-top -- it was actually very sweet. However, the true themes of the novel were about friendship. Even though there were issues in each woman's life that challenged their relationships, ultimately these three came together and realized the value in their friendships. I really loved that about this novel!
A MILLION LITTLE THINGS will be available the beginning of March. I recommend it to fans of the Mischief Bay series and readers who enjoy a sweet story about women and love!
Thanks to Tandem Literary for providing a review copy of this novel.
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Review: Born a Crime
Summary: Trevor Noah’s unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of The Daily Show began with a criminal act: his birth. Trevor was born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a union was punishable by five years in prison. Living proof of his parents’ indiscretion, Trevor was kept mostly indoors for the earliest years of his life, bound by the extreme and often absurd measures his mother took to hide him from a government that could, at any moment, steal him away. Finally liberated by the end of South Africa’s tyrannical white rule, Trevor and his mother set forth on a grand adventure, living openly and freely and embracing the opportunities won by a centuries-long struggle.
Born a Crime is the story of a mischievous young boy who grows into a restless young man as he struggles to find himself in a world where he was never supposed to exist. It is also the story of that young man’s relationship with his fearless, rebellious, and fervently religious mother—his teammate, a woman determined to save her son from the cycle of poverty, violence, and abuse that would ultimately threaten her own life.
The stories collected here are by turns hilarious, dramatic, and deeply affecting. Whether subsisting on caterpillars for dinner during hard times, being thrown from a moving car during an attempted kidnapping, or just trying to survive the life-and-death pitfalls of dating in high school, Trevor illuminates his curious world with an incisive wit and unflinching honesty. His stories weave together to form a moving and searingly funny portrait of a boy making his way through a damaged world in a dangerous time, armed only with a keen sense of humor and a mother’s unconventional, unconditional love. -- Spiegel & Grau
I mentioned last week that I'm on a bit of a non-fiction/memoir binge lately. It's probably not much to read two memoirs in just a little over a week's time, but for me, that's a lot! I recently finished BORN A CRIME: STORIES FROM A SOUTH AFRICAN CHILDHOOD by Trevor Noah. I can't say that I watch The Daily Show regularly, but I do appreciate Mr. Noah's humor... and I really enjoyed his coming-of-age story.
BORN A CRIME is a terrific memoir about growing up bi-racial in South Africa. Noah was born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother when it was illegal for them to have a relationship; and in fact, Noah's birth was actually a crime. As a result, he was kept hidden for the beginning of his childhood; and his mother was determined to keep him safe. After the laws were finally relaxed in South Africa, Noah and his mother lived openly, and they had some pretty fantastic adventures.
Noah was a bit of a troublemaker as a kid... which I probably don't need to tell you makes for some pretty hilarious stories. He took chances and openly defied authority -- probably helped to make him a great comedian. However, the book was also interesting because Noah didn't really fit in with the normal crowds because of his parentage and upbringing. His very religious mother was determined to give him the best education she could, but Noah had some difficulties along the way.
I found BORN A CRIME to be a great read! I thought the book was extremely well written, and there's no doubt that Noah's story about growing up in South Africa is enlightening to someone like me that didn't know a lot about Apartheid. Noah's voice shines through on every page and I could almost hear his voice reading the book to me. As expected, there was a great deal of humor in this book, but this story was also about a young man's relationship with his mother. In fact, in many ways, it was a touching tribute to Noah's mother and how determined she was to keep her son out of trouble... even when she wasn't always able to do the same for herself.
Some of the stories from Noah's childhood are downright hilarious. The book opens with a story about Noah's mother throwing him out of a moving car when they were being kidnapped. The story itself is quite scary, but Noah's version makes it also extremely funny. Noah also has some cute adventures about his naughtiness while growing up as well as some awkward tales about being a teen and dating.
Overall, I enjoyed BORN A CRIME very much, but I have to say that it was Noah's keen insight and smart wit that made this book extra-special. I highly recommend BORN A CRIME to fans of The Daily Show as well as individuals who appreciate intelligent memoirs.
Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.
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Born a Crime is the story of a mischievous young boy who grows into a restless young man as he struggles to find himself in a world where he was never supposed to exist. It is also the story of that young man’s relationship with his fearless, rebellious, and fervently religious mother—his teammate, a woman determined to save her son from the cycle of poverty, violence, and abuse that would ultimately threaten her own life.
The stories collected here are by turns hilarious, dramatic, and deeply affecting. Whether subsisting on caterpillars for dinner during hard times, being thrown from a moving car during an attempted kidnapping, or just trying to survive the life-and-death pitfalls of dating in high school, Trevor illuminates his curious world with an incisive wit and unflinching honesty. His stories weave together to form a moving and searingly funny portrait of a boy making his way through a damaged world in a dangerous time, armed only with a keen sense of humor and a mother’s unconventional, unconditional love. -- Spiegel & Grau
I mentioned last week that I'm on a bit of a non-fiction/memoir binge lately. It's probably not much to read two memoirs in just a little over a week's time, but for me, that's a lot! I recently finished BORN A CRIME: STORIES FROM A SOUTH AFRICAN CHILDHOOD by Trevor Noah. I can't say that I watch The Daily Show regularly, but I do appreciate Mr. Noah's humor... and I really enjoyed his coming-of-age story.
BORN A CRIME is a terrific memoir about growing up bi-racial in South Africa. Noah was born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother when it was illegal for them to have a relationship; and in fact, Noah's birth was actually a crime. As a result, he was kept hidden for the beginning of his childhood; and his mother was determined to keep him safe. After the laws were finally relaxed in South Africa, Noah and his mother lived openly, and they had some pretty fantastic adventures.
Noah was a bit of a troublemaker as a kid... which I probably don't need to tell you makes for some pretty hilarious stories. He took chances and openly defied authority -- probably helped to make him a great comedian. However, the book was also interesting because Noah didn't really fit in with the normal crowds because of his parentage and upbringing. His very religious mother was determined to give him the best education she could, but Noah had some difficulties along the way.
I found BORN A CRIME to be a great read! I thought the book was extremely well written, and there's no doubt that Noah's story about growing up in South Africa is enlightening to someone like me that didn't know a lot about Apartheid. Noah's voice shines through on every page and I could almost hear his voice reading the book to me. As expected, there was a great deal of humor in this book, but this story was also about a young man's relationship with his mother. In fact, in many ways, it was a touching tribute to Noah's mother and how determined she was to keep her son out of trouble... even when she wasn't always able to do the same for herself.
Some of the stories from Noah's childhood are downright hilarious. The book opens with a story about Noah's mother throwing him out of a moving car when they were being kidnapped. The story itself is quite scary, but Noah's version makes it also extremely funny. Noah also has some cute adventures about his naughtiness while growing up as well as some awkward tales about being a teen and dating.
Overall, I enjoyed BORN A CRIME very much, but I have to say that it was Noah's keen insight and smart wit that made this book extra-special. I highly recommend BORN A CRIME to fans of The Daily Show as well as individuals who appreciate intelligent memoirs.
Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.
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