Born Survivors by Wendy Holden

 

Book Title: Born Survivors: Three Young Mothers and Their Extraordinary Courage, Defiance, and Hope
Author: Wendy Holden
My Rating: 3.75/5 Stars
Content Rating: R for war violence and concentration camp atrocities
Tidbit: The stories of three Jewish women who carried and delivered their miracle babies while in concentration camps ruled by the Nazis.
Quote: "'The more people who know about what happened, the less likely it is to happen again, I hope,' [Anka] said. 'This is a story which should teach people that it mustn't happen again.'"

So many of the events during World War 2, and specifically the Holocaust, were horrifying and unbelievable. The worst atrocities imaginable... and then some. 

Yet even in the midst of all that unspeakable horror, there were miracles. This is the story of such a miracle. Three of them, in fact. This is the story of three Jewish women who experienced some of the worst things humans can do to each other.  But is also the story of the babies they each carried and then delivered in the worst of circumstances and the vilest conditions. It is the story of three miracle babies who were born survivors. 

I'm not sure the reason, but this book took me about 2 months to finish. Was it the heaviness of the content? Or was I just not giving it its due time, and was instead prioritizing other books over it? I'm not sure. I do feel the book was very detail heavy. The history of each mother was given before her time in the concentration camp. This one also ranks up there with one of the most raw World War 2 books I've ever read, as far as description of what life was like, particularly once these women had been taken into the concentration camp existence. It is not easy stuff. 

But so unbelievably amazing that these three women: Priska, Rachel, and Anka, fought to survive for the life they carried within them. While their bodies wasted away, another tiny body was growing within each of theirs. That alone seems impossible. Yet it happened. A true miracle. Three miracles. Proof that life - and love - can overcome hate and death. I believe, ultimately, that is the truth.

Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer

 

Book: Defy the Night
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Audiobook Performers: Christopher Ragland and Lexie McDougal
Series: Defy the Night (Book 1 of 2 currently announced/published)
Reading Level: Young Adult
My Rating: 4/5 Stars
Content Rating: PG-13 for some language, steamy scenes, violence
Tidbit: In the Kingdom of Kandala, a sickness rages.  Tessa, an apprentice apothecary, tries to help the poorer people get the medicine they need amidst political turmoil.
Quote: "I keep my eyes fixed ahead, on the flickering torches of the arch, watching how embers fall in tiny bursts, defying the night before burning out in the water below."

Tessa is an apothecary's apprentice in The Wilds. Though officially she makes tinctures and salves for skin conditions and other such minor maladies; in her off time, she and her friend Wes are smuggling an elixir made from stolen moon flower petals to the less affluent people of Kandala so they can survive while a sickness rages. Ever since watching her parents die at the hand of the night patrol, she's loathed King Harriston and Prince Corrick, the King's Justice. 

Meanwhile, in the palace, King Harriston and Prince Corrick have problems of their own. With moon flowers not in abundant supply, they rely heavily on certain areas of the kingdom to provide the life-saving petals. Smugglers are starting to attack the supply trains, and the King and his Justice will have to make examples of any who are caught to send a message. 

This YA fantasy is well-done, and I enjoyed it. I generally love books with dual perspectives, and this one did not disappoint. I listened to the audio, which was read by two people. I'm not going to lie: when Christopher Ragland was reading the dialogue for Tessa, I kind of cringed and had a hard time taking it seriously. In that respect, I think I would have enjoyed the hard copy more. But the story itself was good and engaging. I'll definitely read the next one (the cover has been revealed for it, so I'm guessing it'll be out soon-ish). 

There is some language, a steam level below Twilight (and though the romance aspect definitely plays a part in the story, there's much more to the story than that), and some pretty descriptive violence for a YA (in my opinion), but far less than in the Ember in the Ashes series (which is a series I loved).

Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe

 

Book Title:  Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty
Author: Patrick Radden Keefe
Audiobook Performer: Patrick Radden Keefe
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
Content Rating: R (for language, drug use)
Tidbit: A shocking look into the Sackler family and the drug that made them their billions (OxyContin) and helped America fall into an opioid crisis.

"Of course, Oxycontin was stronger than morphine, that was a simple fact of chemistry, but one that the company would need to carefully obscure. After all, there were only so many cancer patients... The real jackpot was non-malignant pain." 

My husband is sick of hearing me talk about this book, I'm sure. But I could not believe it. It completely blew my mind. Just this morning I was telling my dad about it. Let me go ahead and warn that my review will not do this book justice. I've been pondering this for a day and I know I won't find the right words. So check out my stories for the reviews that motivated me to read this book. 

I'm pretty naive in a lot of ways about the drug world. But even I had heard of the opioid crisis in America before this book. Well, this book takes you into the history of the Sackler family, the family who started Purdue Pharma. And Purdue Pharma produced and marketed OxyContin/Oxycodone. And that drug was largely responsible for the crisis. 

Deceit, infidelity, narcissism, greed, power, corruption (including in governmental agencies)... it's all here in the pages of this book. It kind of reminded me of another book I read about the Stock Market Crash in the 1980s called Den of Thieves. 

At 18 hours, this audiobook was a commitment... but I say this honestly: it never dragged for me. I was riveted. If you already have strong feelings against Big Pharma, this book won't give you warm fuzzies. 

"If the true personality of oxycodone was misunderstood by America's doctors, [Purdue] would not correct that misunderstanding; instead, they would exploit it."

Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin

 

Book Title: Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
Author: Doris Kearns Goodwin
Audiobook Performer: Richard Thomas
Audiobook Length: 9+ hours
My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Content Rating: PG (no real content concerns, but probably not engaging for a younger audience)

"There was little to lead one to suppose that Abraham Lincoln, nervously rambling the streets of Springfield that May morning, who scarcely had a national reputation - certainly nothing to equal any of the other three - who had served but a single term in Congress, twice lost bids for the Senate, and had no administrative experience whatsoever, would become the greatest historical figure of the 19th Century."

This book was so good. Usually, when I think of Abraham Lincoln, my thoughts are focused on his role in the emancipation of the slaves and the Civil War, or his assassination. Those are, of course, such vital aspects of him and his presidency. But I loved that this book was about so much more than that. 

To learn that Lincoln was running for the Republican nomination against men who were much more qualified and much more well-known than he was eye-opening. I had no idea. I feel like that fact alone could qualify this story to be part of a book I read last November called Seven Miracles That Saved America. 

But then, to see that each of those men whom he beat out for the nomination were men he requested to be part of his Cabinet was amazing. That, plus his response to some underhanded things done by certain members of that Cabinet, speak volumes about his character. 

And I LOVED how his friendship with Seward developed. 

I found out at the end of the audiobook that this was the abridged version.  I was somewhat disappointed, because it was so good, I think I could have listened to the whole thing!  So I am contemplating ordering the hard copy so I can read the book in its entirety one day.

InvestiGATORS Take the Plunge

 

Book: InvestiGATORS Take the Plunge
Series: InvestiGATORS (book 2 of 5 currently published + 1 announced)
Author: John Patrick Green
Reading Level: Middle-Grade
Genre: Graphick Novel
My Rating: 5/5 Stars!
Content Rating: G (potty humor present)
Tidbit: Mango and Brash are the InvestiGATORS, and they may or may not be responsible for some of the chaos in the city they've now been tasked with fixing.

I LOVE THIS SERIES! It makes me laugh! And I love all the allusions to other things that I'm certain go right over kids' heads, but hit their parents (like me) right on the target (Aisle of Dr. Morrow). And I love the way the end of each book leads you right into the next one. I'm so glad I have numbers 3 and 4 on my shelf already, and number 5 was just published! I need to get that one!

In this fun story, Mango and Brash inadvertently cause catastrophic Combinotron chaos. While being tasked with finding their nemesis Crackerdile in the sewers (using their cool plumber V.E.S.T.s), they will also have to figure out how to uncombine all the strange combinations which are cropping up following a city-wide flood!

Prior to picking up this series, I was totally not a fan of graphic novels. Kudos to Mr. Green for making a believer out of me!

If potty humor bugs you, be aware there is some of that in here.

The Boys by Ron & Clint Howard

 

"I learned that success didn't need to be painful or punishing, though it did require hard work."

Book: The Boys: a memoir of Hollywood and Family
Authors: Ron & Clint Howard
Audibook performers: Ron & Clint Howard
My Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Content Rating: PG-13/R (for language, drug use, and some sexuality)
Tidbit: Nostalgic memoir about Ron and Clint Howard's life in Hollywood and show-business.

This was a fun book, and I do recommend it on audiobook, because you can hear Ron and Clint tell their story. There's just something added when you hear their own tones and inflections as they share the stories of their lives growing up in Hollywood.

I love that they started with the story of their own parents: Rance and Jean Howard. It was so fascinating to hear how they got started in acting, what kept them going, and what drove them to pursue different aspects of the Hollywood life. Ron's drive to become a director was really impressive, and really loved how he focused on the value and importance of hard work. I appreciate how Clint was honest about his own past with drugs and the choice he made to get sober.

There's a lot I could say. It was so fun to hear some background stories about The Andy Griffith Show as well as Happy Days. The Howards really do come across as a family that love and support each other, and I thought that was beautiful.

A bit of strong language and references to drugs and male puberty-related things are present. While the sexuality isn't particularly explicit, there are enough instances and topics covered that I think readers should be aware, particularly when listening to the audiobook with younger ears present.

Though I didn't grow up watching Ron on TV (aside from the random episode of Happy Days on Nick at Night or something), I have watched several of the movies and shows he was involved in: Apollo 13! Arrested Development!) The book just had a nostalgic feel. And you know I'm all about some nostalgia! I really enjoyed this one!

 

A Place Called Hope -- Philip Gulley

Backlist Review from 2016

Book: A Place Called Hope
Author: Philip Gulley
Series: Hope (Book 1) (Also reference Gulley's Harmony series)
My Star Rating: 2/5 stars
Tidbit: A new chapter of Pastor Sam Gardner's life as he begins preaching in a new church.  Lost the magic, for me, of the original Harmony series.
 

For 14 years, Sam Gardner has been the pastor at Harmony Friends Meeting in his small home-town of Harmony, Indiana. Nostalgia had returned him to his roots, and a desire to help the congregation kept him there.

But Sam's sons have grown up. And, quite frankly, after 14 years of dealing with the likes of Dale Hinshaw and Fern Hampton, Sam is fed up with Harmony Friends. He is unhappy and complains often to his wife, Barbara. The truth is, it's time for a change. But Sam isn't one to just walk away. So he stays. And he gripes. Until one day, on accident, he does something his congregation views as unforgivable: while filling in for a fellow pastor, he prays a blessing over a same-gender union. Now faced with being fired by the congregation he grew up with, Sam decides not to give them the pleasure and resigns.

Jobless and in no financial position to be so, Sam begins searching for a new job. Having been black-listed by the area's Quaker superintendent, Sam struggles to find a job and wonders if he ever will. But then there is Hope. Hope Friends Meeting has been searching for a new pastor for 3 years. And they have a hunch Sam may just be the right man for the job. And, suspecting nothing else will turn up anytime soon, Sam is inclined to believe them!


***It was okay. Worth the read, because I have read all the other Harmony books. But this one definitely has a different feel. I didn't get the warm fuzzies like I always did with the Harmony books. In fact, it seems as though Sam's character is quite different. Granted, a person will change over the years... It was just surprising. And a bit disappointing.

The Nightingale -- Kristin Hannah

 Originally Read and Reviewed in 2016.

Title: The Nightingale
Author: Kristin Hannah
My Star Rating: 5/5 Stars
Tidbit: Historical Fiction set in WW2 France. A story of strong women and their resistance to German occupation, though each resisted in her own way.

2022 Commentary:  Even after almost 6 years, this book remains one of my all-time favorites.  I've never forgotten it, and I have recommended it so many times.  Such a powerful book.

My original review:
In a world at war, nothing is guaranteed. When Vianne Mauriac's husband Antoine is called up to fight for France, he leaves his wife and daughter to care for their beautiful country estate Le Jardin. At first, all is well. Vianne has a good job as a teacher and her best friend lives next door. She has a beautiful and fruitful garden and she and Sophie want for little except the presence of their husband and father.

But soon France falls to the Germans, and Germany occupies the beautiful country. Isabelle, Vianne's impulsive and often-reckless sister, arrives from a war-torn Paris and moves into Le Jardin, and soon a German captain billets at the home, a fact Vianne has no choice but to accept. A house full of love becomes a house full of tension as Vianne tries to keep Isabelle from saying anything in front of the Captain that will bring punishment for her family.

Meanwhile, Isabelle yearns to join the war and fight for French freedom. With that desire burning in her heart, she lies to Vianne and returns to Paris, joining the French Resistance and ultimately risking her life again and again to help some of the Allies escape France. Her hope is that her efforts will help the Allies win the war against Germany and liberate German-occupied France where the food and supplies for the French are as rare as they are plentiful for the Germans who occupy.

In a war that seems endless, each woman finds herself choosing between impossible choices; hoping against hope that one day, life will be "normal" once again. Both women fight the war in their own way, choosing to believe and hope for a future.

***Initially, I thought I'd give this a 4.5. But upon reflection, it occurred to me that this novel actually made me cry. That never happens. And so I decided it must be a 5. It impacted me. A lot. There were things I wish weren't in the book; but I'm a realist, and I realize that what was depicted in this novel is very likely how things actually happened. Even if I wish we, as humans, didn't have the capability to do such horrors to each other. But what a beautiful message of love and the endurance of the human spirit. Hannah has a beautiful way of wording things in many parts -- and I knew that right from the opening chapter in which I read: "...I know that grief, like regret, settles into our DNA and remains forever a part of us." The Nightingale is a book that will stay with me for a long, long time.

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser

Book: The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street

Series:  The Vanderbeekers #1

Author: Karina Yan Glaser

Reading Level: Middle-grade (4th to 6th grade)

My Content Rating: G

My Star Rating: 4/5

 

The Vanderbeekers have lived on 141st Street for a long as most of them can remember. All their ideas of the future include them living in their beloved brownstone. Thus, it comes as quite a shock when Mr. Beiderman, their grumpy landlord and top-floor neighbor informs them, 5 days before Christmas, that he will not be renewing their lease and they will need to move out by the end of the month. The children take this news particularly hard, but they set out to win Mr. Beiderman's favor so they can stay in their home. In the process, they all come to learn a little more about life, love, and what motivates people.

This was a cute, heart-warming middle-grade read! I love the growth of many of the characters and the lesson of coming to understand others, recognizing that others have pain and sorrow we don't know, and learning to show love to even the most unlovable.

No content concerns.

Nancy Drew and the Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene

 

Title: Nancy Drew and the Secret of the Old Clock
Author: Carolyn Keene
Reading Level: middle-grade
Movie rating equivalent (in my opinion): G

It was very interesting to read this as an adult. In my pre-teen years, I loved Nancy Drew and read all these original books. I didn't remember them seeming quite so unrealistic back then. But I was young, and they are certainly written for young girls. And I think they are perfect for readers moving from early chapter books into middle-grade books. So while I can't say I enjoyed the story as an adult, I 100% feel this series has merit and is still a great choice, and I'm so glad my daughter loved it and is now on the 3rd in the series!!

 

If I had to apply a movie rating to this book, I'd definitely rate it a G.  Though my daughter did say she felt anxious during a couple parts, it was nothing too scary.  And there certainly aren't any other content concerns with language, mature themes, or otherwise.  

Also, I may have known this before, but I forgot it: Carolyn Keene wasn't  a real person!! It was a pen name for a variety of writers over the years. It makes sense, of course, but I felt surprised when I googled it.

Playing with Fire -- Tess Gerritsen

 A talented violinist, Julia Ansdell travels around the world with her quartet to play beautiful music. Always on the hunt for rare music, Julia happens upon an old piece of music in a Roman antique shop. She purchases it and flies home to Boston.

And that's when everything changes. Every time she plays the music she bought in Rome, something awful happens: the family cat is stabbed to death, Julia is stabbed with a large piece of glass. The only other person present is Lily, her 3 year old daughter. Suddenly Julia is afraid of her own precious daughter. She's also afraid of the haunting music and the power it holds. With her own sanity being questioned, Julia boards a plane to Venice to hunt down the history of this mysterious piece of music. What she learns will both endanger her life and save it.


***Not my favorite Gerritsen book, for sure. At first it was just disturbing (possibly due to the fact I have a daughter roughly the same age as Lily). Then it became a little too "convenient" in some areas (which surprised me for a Gerritsen book). But I'm glad it ended as it did. Made it more believable to me. I guess I was kind of disappointed in this book -- but it's not a Rizzoli/Isles, so it's okay.

Brave New World -- Aldoux Huxley

***Thought provoking for sure. Depressing to me. Not my favorite dystopian novel. One thing I do find interesting that is common among several dystopian novels is their view of motherhood, or child-bearing. In The Giver, child-bearing is viewed as a lowly "assignment." In BRAVE NEW WORLD, the term mother is considered pornographic. Again, in both books, the idea of the traditional family is balked at as ridiculous and unnecessary. How interesting it is to me that these books which are written to point out how awful these so-called utopias actually would be also break down the fundamental unit of our society. Methinks the authors, whether consciously or not, recognized the importance of the traditional family.

Orphan Train -- Christina Baker Kline

Molly Ayer is a 17 year old Foster-care child who has been moved from home to home for nearly a decade after her father died. Learning quickly that she was basically a money-maker for most of her foster parents, Molly built a huge wall to keep everyone out -- and her feelings in. She took on the most off-putting persona she could imagine (Goth) and chose to live up to everyone's expectations of her, though they were all negative ones. She finally finds herself in Spruce Harbor, Maine; and though she tried to keep people at a distance, somehow she found a friend and boyfriend in Jack who believes in her despite her telling him he shouldn't.

And then Molly gets in trouble for trying to steal a copy of JANE EYRE from the library. It's either juvie or community service for Molly, and with Jack's help, Molly ends up choosing community service. That's how she meets Vivian Daly, a wealthy 90-something year old widow with secrets of her own.

Vivian Daily was once named Niamh. But that was before she was named Dorothy. And before she was an orphan who had lost everything in a fire. Her family had come to America from Ireland with hopes of a better life in the late 1920s. But a better life was not to be found, and soon it was much worse than anything she could ever have imagined. After the death of her family members, Niamh is taken by the Children's Aid Society and put on an orphan train to the Midwest where she would eventually be taken in by a family in Minnesota. And kicked out of their home. And taken to another family. And kicked out... Until she finally finds a place.

A story of love, loss, and reinvention, Vivian's resonates with Molly and the two of them change in unexpected ways as a result of their association.

***I really liked this book. There was some language I didn't appreciate and a few scenes that were shocking. But it was one I kept wanting to return to in my quiet moments -- a sure sign of a good book! Which is awesome, since I didn't vote to read this one for Book Club. I love the way the story ends (mostly... but it would be a spoiler to talk more about it...).

The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia -- Candace Fleming

The Romanov family ruled in Russia for 300 years. But in the early 20th Century, their reign ended with the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II, a man ill-suited (and uninterested) in being the Emperor of Russia; but who initially accepted his responsibility as heir to the throne willingly. Living the lavish lifestyle of royalty, the Romanov family was quite detached from the conditions of the people of Russia -- and they didn't even seem to care. And so was set in motion a series of events that would bring down Imperial Russia and result in the murders of the Tsar and his family and creating a mystery that lasted almost a century.


***I didn't know anything about Russian history before reading this. I learned A LOT. Most notably that the cartoon "Anastasia" was very historically inaccurate. (Haha.) I was appalled by a lot of what I learned. Initially, I felt sorry for Nicholas, who was never taught how to rule by his iron-fisted father; and who was ridiculed by that same father for being "too weak." But as I continued reading and learned of how he behaved with future events (particularly with regards to Rasputin, who was a completely distasteful person), my sympathy for him waned. Not that I agree with how things played out: the murders of the entire family. But I could definitely understand why the Russian people revolted as they did and can't help but wonder how different things would have been if Nicholas would have been a wiser ruler. Overall a good read and an opportunity for me to learn more about some world history to which I was quite oblivious.

Die Again -- Tess Gerritsen

A renowned taxidermist in Boston is found dead, his body displayed in a macabre and even ironic way, considering his line of work. Leon Gott, the taxidermist who also cherishes the hunt and has a home filled with mounted trophies, had plenty of enemies amongst the animal-loving crowd. But could one of them responsible for his horrific murder?

Six years ago, a group of seven strangers traveled deep into the safari of Botswana for the experience of a lifetime. Surrounded by beasts who could devour them, their only safety comes from the man with the rifle: their bush guide. But the wild animals of Africa aren't the only ones willing to hunt and kill. There is a hunter amongst them. And only one will walk away from that safari alive.

Horrors on two different continents years apart. And yet, as Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles dig deeper into the investigation of Leon Gott's homicide, the connections start appearing. Could the person responsible for a massacre of seven people in Africa have come to Boston to hunt?


***Tess Gerritsen has done it again! I was sucked in almost immediately and didn't want to put the book down. I really enjoyed the flashback chapters and changing from third-person narrative to first-person. Another skillfully written suspense novel that kept me riveted and leaves me anxiously anticipating her next Rizzoli and Isles thriller!

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt -- Beth Hoffman

At the tender of age of 12, Cecelia Rose Honeycutt has already experienced more life than some adults. She has no friends in her town in Ohio; and, in fact, is either pitied or teased by the majority of the town. This is through no fault of her own. It is because her mother has lost her mind, and the whole town knows it. While her mother parades around town in a variety of ill-fitting pageant and prom dresses mentally living in 1951, Cecelia (better known as Cee Cee) hangs her head in embarrassment and horror. And because Cee Cee's father is never around -- he's a traveling salesman who checked out on the family situation long ago -- it falls to Cee Cee to care for her mother when she has an episode.

Sad, frustrated, and alone, Cee Cee wishes many times her life was different. And then one day, it is. Because one day, in a tragic accident, Cee Cee's mother dies. In swoops Cee Cee's great-aunt Tootie, whom Cee Cee met only once, as an infant. With the permission of Cee Cee's father, Aunt Tootie takes Cee Cee to live with her in Savannah and Cee Cee's life changes forever. In Savannah, Cee Cee meets strong woman of many varieties and backgrounds. She learns and grows; and, perhaps most importantly, she is allowed to be a child. She experiences love and kindness and even a few shockingly hilarious situations. And through this new environment, she is able to work through her struggles with the past and the demons she battles within.


***This was a cute read. There were a few areas I felt were unrealistic, and I am a bit disappointed that nearly every male character who actually played a part in the novel is portrayed in a negative light (with the exception of Aunt Tootie's husband, but he isn't actually in the novel, as he has passed away). I'm not saying women aren't great... But men aren't all jerks, yet that's how they all come across in this novel, at least in my opinion.

The Fault in Our Stars -- John Green

Dying of cancer sucks. That's pretty much how Hazel Grace Lancaster feels about it. But she is dying of cancer, and she'd just as soon live out the remainder of her life the way she wants to: at home, reading the same book over and over, and watching TV with her parents. Her mother, though, wants Hazel to "have a life." And so, to appease her ever-hovering and loving mother, Hazel agrees to attend a cancer support group at a local church. And that's where she meets Augustus Waters, a cancer survivor with a charismatic smile and intriguing personality. Hazel never thought she'd be particularly interested in romance, given her own situation. But Augustus Waters changes all that the day he stares at her through support group.

As Hazel and Augustus' relationship develops, even as Hazel tries to prevent it, for she sees herself as a grenade who will explode and destroy the people close to her, they experience moments of a lifetime. They create their own infinity in a finite number of days. And Hazel comes to learn the power of love and to realize we can avoid oblivion.


***I thought this was a powerful and beautiful novel. The author has an amazing way with words and expresses some very deep and beautiful things through the characters in this novel. My only regret is I watched the movie first. One of my favorite quotes: "Love is keeping the promise anyway."

If I Stay - Gayle Forman

On a snow-dusted morning, Mia and her family pile into the family car and head to visit relatives. But they never arrive there. Instead, Mia sees the horrors of a car accident that left her parents dead and her younger brother Teddy in a hospital. Mia can't believe she wasn't harmed in the accident that killed her parents... Until she finds her own body and realizes she was. And she is seeing everything from outside herself.

While in the hospital, Mia comes to realizes she is still here because she gets to choose if she stays. And so Mia spends the following 24 hours remembering, pondering, and deciding. Does she stay with the friends, boyfriend, and hopes of the future (Julliard, graduation, possibly marriage one day)? Or does she let go and join her family, for before long, she learns she's even lost her little brother.

Only Mia can choose. And the choice is not an easy one.


***So this was a quick read. I just didn't like it. I didn't care for a lot of the behaviors condoned in the novel and felt irritated by a lot of it. I don't plan on reading the sequel.

Unbroken: a World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption -- Laura Hillenbrand

Louis Zamperini was a rabble-rouser in his youth, known in the neighborhood for beating kids up, stealing, and defying authority. Though he was nothing like his older brother Pete, Louis practically idolized him. And so, over time, and with the help of Pete, Louis eventually worked to channel his rambunctious energy into something more productive and less destructive: running. Louis had a talent for speed, and by the time he was 19, he was competing in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Though Louis did not go home with a gold medal, he knew the future was bright for him; so he set his eyes on winning in the 1940 Olympics.

But Louis would never run in those Games. The Games would be cancelled as a result of World War II; and Louis would instead find himself a bombardier in the Army Air Corps, flying over the Pacific in the war against Japan.

As part of the crew aboard the plane known as "Super Man", Louis was responsible for many successful missions. And like the others in the crew, he sometimes miraculously escaped serious harm and death in spite of the many precarious situations they flew into. Such was the case on "Super Man's" last mission -- the mission in which the crew's pilot Allen Phillips managed to nurse the plane home riddled with almost 600 bullet holes and multiple mechanical failures.

While "Super Man" would never fly again, and some of the plane's crew would be replaced due to injuries, the crew would not be so lucky. One day in May 1943, the crew was called up on a rescue mission and given "The Green Hornet" to fly, a plane in which none held much faith. And so it was, aboard "The Green Hornet" that Louis' luck seemed to run out. The plane went down over the Pacific, killing all but 3 of the crew. Louis, pilot Allen Phillips, and a crewman named Mac survived. With few survival supplies, the 3 men floated on rafts in shark-infested waters, hoping -- and eventually praying -- for rescue.

But rescue did not come. Instead, after nearly 50 days drifting at sea, surviving on raw albatross and tern, infrequent rain water, and the very rare fish, the rafts reached land. Only when the survivors realized they had landed on a Japanese-occupied island and began experiencing the horrors faced by Prisoners of War in Japan did they realize they would long for the days in the raft.

Over the course of the next two years, Louis and Allen Phillips would endure torturous beatings, starvation, interrogation, and humiliation. They faced guards full of cruelty who ignored the rules of the Geneva Convention regarding POWs, and learned just how much they could endure before they would break. It seemed the war would never end -- and if it did, that it would not be soon enough.

Still, Louis and many other POWs held onto the hope of America winning the war. Though beaten and practically broken, these men pushed through the horrors of being Prisoners to the Japanese. And one day, the war ended. Louis and his fellow POWs were able to return home. But their lives were forever changed. Their dreams were haunted, and sometimes, most cruelly, their waking hours were as well as they flashed-back to the horrors of the past. For Louis, who had tried everything he could think of to escape his nightmares, the only thing that released him from the grasp of terror was finding Christianity and realizing the worth of his soul. His dignity was restored, and he was able to face the future with hope and optimism once again.


***I knew, just by reading the prologue, that this would be an intense book. I found myself talking often of it to my husband. At once appalling and enthralling, this book is an amazing read. I feel Hillenbrand handled a lot of sensitive topics with tact. I was horrified, still, by all that the POWs were forced to endure. Sometimes shocked by the cruelties human beings are capable of inflicting. But the book held hope throughout. A great read, indeed. I am glad to have added it to my "read" library.

The Girl Who Came Home -- Hazel Gaynor

In 1912, following the death of her mother, 16 year old Maggie Murphy is to leave her home of Ireland and the man she loves to live in America with her aunt. Along with several others from her little town of Ballysheen, Maggie is to travel aboard the great Titanic on her maiden voyage. What she experiences on that fateful journey is not ever forgotten; but only 70 years later does she choose to share the events of that those tragic days with anyone. And the person she chooses to share them with is her great-granddaughter Grace.

Grace is a young woman who walked away from college and her boyfriend on the day her father was killed in an accident, so that she could take care of her ill mother. A talented writer, Grace had been on the cusp of a great career when the events unfolded which would change the direction of her life. But not for forever. For Maggie's keen eye could see what Grace truly needed. And when Maggie gives Grace her story, Grace is given the opportunity at the chance she thought she'd forfeited those two years previous.


**It was a good story. I liked the flash-back style of writing. I can't say it was the best novel I'd ever read, but it was good and it left me feeling happy. That's always a good thing.