TLC Book Tours: Glimpsing Heaven

Sypnopsis:

If you caught a glimpse of heaven, would you choose to come back to life? Investigative journalist Judy Bachrach has collected accounts of those who died and then returned to life with lucid, vivid memories of what occurred while they were dead, and the conclusions are astonishing. Clinical death—the moment when the heart stops beating and brain stem activity ceases—is not necessarily the end of consciousness, as a number of doctors are now beginning to concede. Hundreds of thousands of fascinating post-death experiences have been documented, and for many who have died and returned, life is forever changed. These days, an increasing number of scientific researchers are turning their studies to people who have experienced what the author calls death travels -- putting stock and credence in the sights, encounters, and exciting experiences reported by those who return from the dead. Through interviews with scores of these “death travelers,” and with physicians, nurses, and scientists unraveling the mysteries of the afterlife, Bachrach redefines the meaning of both life and death. Glimpsing Heaven reveals both the uncertainty and the surprising joys of life after death.

My Review:

I think it's only natural to be curious about the experiences of those who have briefly experienced death and have come back to life, and that curiosity is what led me to agree to review Glimpsing Heaven by Judy Bachrach. It ended up being a really quick read as I read it in less than a day.  It was interesting of hear first hand accounts of several people who had vivid memories of dying and then coming back to life.  Their experiences were all unique and different, but one theme that tied most of the experiences together was the sense of peace and calmness that they experienced.  I can't say that I give death and dying all that much thought, but I have lost loved ones so it's comforting to read about the experiences of the people interviewed by the book as, for the most part, they came back feeling less frightened of death.

I do think that the title of the book is a bit misleading as I think the use of the word "Heaven" implies that there is more of a spiritual or religious theme to the book.  However, I did not find that to be the case as the author interviewed individuals with religious affiliations as well as atheists. That's not a critique of the book but just an observation. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review, and the opinions are my own.

TLC Book Tours: The Vineyard

Synopsis (from Goodreads.com):  

Dory Delano, Charlotte Harris, and Turner Graham have been drifting through life since their days as roommates at Smith College, ten years ago. Dory is resisting taking the reins of her family’s legacy and fortune even as she relishes the fabulous lifestyle it affords her in the fashionable seaside resort of Martha’s Vineyard. She invites her old friends to join her for a summer on the Vineyard in hopes of rediscovering the innocence of old days and healing new wounds. But hidden in their midst and unknown to all but a few, a reclusive—some say dangerous—fisherman wanders alone, fueling wild speculation about his purpose and his past. None of these women can imagine the events their encounter with the fisherman will set in motion, the shadow he will cast over their destinies, or the transformation that awaits the world they know.

My Review:

The Vineyard by Michael Hurley caught my eye as I tend to enjoy books that focus on the friendship between women.  But early on it seemed like the book was less about their shared past and more about the individual lives of the three women that reunited at the estate of one of the friend's on Martha's Vineyard.  I think it had the makings of a good story but I struggle to connect with the readers or really empathize with them.  Plus, early on there was a negative storyline about the Catholic church and as a practicing Catholic, it's unlikely for me to connect with a book with that kind of storyline. I also struggled with the fact that these women are all in their early 30s, yet they are able to take off and spend several months on Martha's Vineyard?  It seemed like that would be more likely or expected if they were closer to retirement age.  I guess I am just too practical to relate to a storyline that involves women my age who don't have or don't have the desire to work...

The book has an average rating above 4 which is quite high so clearly others had a different reaction to this book.  So, if the description is intriguing to you, don't let my inability to connect with the book deter you from reading it. 

For more information about the book, you can watch a trailer about it here!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review, and the opinions are my own.

TLC Book Tour: The Lost Tribe

Synopsis:

Readers of Erik Larson will love this tale of sex, greed, and the American dream: A huckster imports a tribe of Filipinos to Coney Island’s Luna Park, and two cultures collide.

The Lost Tribe of Coney Island unearths the forgotten story of the Igorrotes, a group of “headhunting, dog-eating savages” from the Philippines, who were transported to New York in 1905 to appear as “human exhibits” alongside the freaks and curiosities at Coney Island’s Luna Park. Millions of fair-goers delighted in their tribal dances and rituals, near-nudity, tattoos, and stories of headhunting.

Journalist Claire Prentice, who has spent years researching the topic, brings the story to life with her fluid prose and vivid descriptions. The book boasts a colorful cast of characters, including the disgraced lieutenant turned huckster Truman K. Hunt; his Filipino interpreter, Julio Balinag; the theme park impresarios behind Luna Park, Fred Thompson and Elmer “Skip” Dundy; and Dogmena, a beautiful girl who became a favorite with New York’s social elite. The Lost Tribe of Coney Island  is a fascinating social history and a tale of adventure, culture-clash, and the American dream.

My Review:

The Lost Tribe of Coney Island was an interesting read. Sometimes non-fiction books feel like a synopsis of dates and events with little color in between but this was not the case with Prentice's book.  I learned a lot while reading this book but there was also enough of a story to keep me interested and engaged in the book.  It's about a tribe of natives from the Philippines that is brought to America. They are told that they will be there for a year and the opportunity is painted as an opportunity to achieve prosperity for their family.  Unfortunately, they were misled, exploited and abused by Truman Hunt, the American they had placed their trust in.  

It's hard to imagine a time in our country when "human exhibits" were in vogue.  It was sad to read about their exploitation.  They were cheated by Truman Hunt every step of the way and I can only hope that Truman Hunt eventually had some sort of karmic payback down the road.  

I recommend this book for other non-fiction readers.

Do you read much non-fiction?  What was the last great non-fiction book you read?

TLC Book Tours: A Breast Cancer Alphabet

I wish that I didn't have any personal connection to breast cancer, but unfortunately I do.  I've lost an aunt to it, have a friend currently battling it, have sisters of friends who are or have battled it and am close to others who have lost their mom to this disease.  The list of people I know that are impacted by this disease seems to grow and grow and in recent years, it seems like I hear of more women being diagnosed with this disease that are close to my age, which scares me as I feel like we are still at that invincible "I won't get cancer" age.

There is a lot to know about this disease, which is where a book like "A Breast Cancer Alphabet" by Madhulika Sikka comes in handy.  This is not a novel and is instead a reference book about breast cancer, written by a woman who has battled this disease herself.


About the book:

From NPR News executive editor comes an indispensable and approachable guide to life during, and after, breast cancer.

The biggest risk factor for breast cancer is simply being a woman.  Madhulika Sikka’s A Breast Cancer Alphabet offers a new way to live with and plan past the hardest diagnosis that most women will ever receive: a personal, practical, and deeply informative look at the road from diagnosis to treatment and beyond.

What Madhulika Sikka didn’t foresee when initially diagnosed, and what this book brings to life so vividly, are the unexpected and minute challenges that make navigating the world of breast cancer all the trickier.  A Breast Cancer Alphabet is an inspired reaction to what started as a personal predicament.

This A-Z guide to living with breast cancer goes where so many fear to tread: sex (S is for Sex – really?), sentimentality (J is for Journey – it’s a cliché we need to dispense with), hair (H is for Hair – yes, you can make a federal case of it) and work (Q is for Quitting – there’ll be days when you feel like it).  She draws an easy-to-follow, and quite memorable, map of her travels from breast cancer neophyte to seasoned veteran.

As a prominent news executive, Madhulika had access to the most cutting edge data on the disease’s reach and impact.  At the same time, she craved the community of frank talk and personal insight that we rely on in life’s toughest moments.  This wonderfully inventive book navigates the world of science and story, bringing readers into Madhulika’s mind and experience in a way that demystifies breast cancer and offers new hope for those living with it.

*******

I'll be sharing this book with my friend who is receiving chemo treatments and will have a mastectomy early in 2015 once she finishes her treatment.

TLC Book Tours: Return to the Beach House

While summer does not officially start until June 21st, today seems to kick off the start of summer in my mind as "lake season" starts Memorial Day weekend in my family.  So it's the perfect time to share my review of "Return to the Beach House" by Georgia Bockoven, a book I reviewed for TLC Book Tours.

Synopsis:

Over the course of one year, in a charming cottage by the sea, eight people will discover love and remembrance, reconciliation and reunion, beginnings and endings in this unforgettable sequel to Georgia Bockoven’s The Beach House and Another Summer.

Alison arrives at the beach house in June to spend a month with her restless grandson before he leaves for his first year of college. More than a decade earlier, Alison lost her beloved husband, and has faced life alone ever since. Now she discovers a new life and a possible new love.

August brings together four college friends facing a milestone. During summer’s final days, they share laughter, tears, and love—revealing long-held secrets and creating new and even more powerful bonds.

World-class wildlife photographer Matthew and award-winning war photographer Lindsey arrive at the beach house in January, each harboring the very real fear that it will mark the end of their decade-long love affair. Alone in the house’s warm peace, they are forced to truly look at who they are and what they want, discovering surprising truths that will change their lives forever.

My review:

This was a fun, summery read.  When I realized it was a sequel to "The Beach House," I read that first just in case they were tied in together.  "Return to the Beach House" touches on some of the story lines from the first book but you would not have to read the first book to enjoy the second book.  

Each chapter introduces us to another set of people who are staying at the beach house which is located in the Santa Cruz area of California.  They each come to the beach house needing some sort of healing and the beach house provides the perfect environment for this.  I was drawn into some characters stories more than other but all in all the different sets of characters were interesting and I had a hard time putting the book down.

Reading this book makes me want to rent a beach house on the coast of California.  It's a light, easy read that's a perfect one to pack in a beach bag for a trip to the beach!

TLC Book Tours: A Snug Life Somewhere

Synopsis from goodreads.com:

A Snug Life Somewhere is about Penny Joe Copper, daughter of a roustabout shingle weaver, who is caught up in a 1916 union tragedy known as the Everett Massacre. Her brother Horace is killed, as is the cousin of a radical organizer, Gabe. When her love affair with Marcel, a music student seven years her junior, is thwarted, she is pulled into Gabe as campaign to avenge the Everett Martyrs.She follows Gabe to Mexico (where they live in a household of Bolsheviks bent on smuggling jewels), then to Chicago (where she rediscovers Marcel, steals a Faberge egg and escapes from Gabe). Then a second event intervenes at the Seattle General Strike of 1919. Penny Joe returns to Seattle to confront Gabe and meets up with a mysterious stranger who turns out to be J. Edgar Hoover. Should she give the Faberge egg to Hoover as evidence against Gabe or just disappear and start a new life? Is she ever going to reunite with her lost love, Marcel?

My review:

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, so I was drawn to this book which was set in a time period that I haven't read much about.  We learn at the beginning that the brother of the main character, Penny, has been killed, so it gets off to a heavy start.  Penny's parents have sort of turned her out on her own so she is on her own to deal with her feelings of grief and because of the vulnerable state she is in, she gets mixed up with a character, Gabe, who is not exactly the best influence on her.  Yet she follows him to Mexico and their story winds and weaves from there.  

While this book is fiction, the style of writing almost reminded me of a non-fiction book and felt less like a novel.  It read a bit slowly for me at various points, but it seems like I am in the minority in feeling that way since others who reviewed it, loved it, so take my opinion on it with a grain of salt.  

What is your favorite genre?  Mine is historical fiction and I especially love books set in France.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review, and the opinions are my own.

Book Review: The Cost of Love and Sanity

Synopsis from Goodreads.com:

For Alex Carter, everything is going according to plan—she’s built a successful career and has a steady boyfriend—until life decides to throw a wrench in the mix. Suddenly, her company threatens to downsize and her boyfriend ends their relationship. It is then that she realizes that, like many women, she has neglected to pursue love and family—the goals closest to her heart—in favor of a career.

As a new year begins and Alex decides to focus on personal concerns, she runs into an old flame, Nathan Chestnut. Though she once had it bad for Nathan, she’s careful about trusting him again. Alex’s remedy is to ask him for an unexpected favor, which seems like the perfect resolution to her broken belief in happiness until she realizes that it can only grant her a piece of her dreams.

As her heart and reality get in the way of her request, Alex reaches a major crossroad. Will she gather her faith and fix the situation? Or will she suffer in silence for the rest of her life?

When I read the synopsis of this book, I was drawn to it as right now I feel like everything is taking a back seat to my career.  Not exactly by choice, as I did not feel this way when I lived in Minneapolis, but since moving to Charlotte that is how I feel.  I sometimes wonder if marriage and children will be part of my future, hence the reason I was interested in reading this book since the main character is wondering the same thing.

Unfortunately the book fell a bit flat for me.  The main character is 35 but I felt like she acted like a naive 20-something at times (no offense to the 20-somethings out there, I was naive at one point, too).  The book spans about 2-3 months and within that time span she makes some huge decisions that I don't think most people can or should make in that short of a time frame, so it felt a bit unrealistic to me.  

I received a complimentary copy of this book from TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review, and the opinions are my own.

TLC Book Tours Review: The Supreme Macaroni Company

The Supreme Macaroni Company synopsis from Goodreads:

For over a hundred years, the Angelini Shoe Company in Greenwich Village has relied on the leather produced by Vechiarelli & Son in Tuscany. This historic business partnership provides the twist of fate for Valentine Roncalli, the school teacher turned shoemaker, to fall in love with Gianluca Vechiarelli, a tanner with a complex past . . . and a secret.

A piece of surprising news is revealed at The Feast of the Seven Fishes when Valentine and Gianluca join her extended family on a fateful Christmas Eve. Now faced with life altering choices, Valentine remembers the wise words that inspired her in the early days of her beloved Angelini Shoe Company: "A person who can build a pair of shoes can do just about anything." The proud, passionate Valentine is going to fight for everything she wants and savor all she deserves-the bitter and the sweetness of life itself.

Romantic and poignant, told with humor and warmth, and bursting with a cast of endearing characters, The Supreme Macaroni Company is a sumptuous feast of delights: a portrait of a woman and the man she loves, her passion for craftsmanship, and the sacrifices it takes to build and sustain a family business while keeping love and laughter at the center of everything.

My Review:

The Supreme Macaroni Company by Adriana Trigiani is the 3rd book in Trigiani's "Valentine" series which you maybe wouldn't realize if you picked this book up because it's the first book that doesn't use Valentine's name in the title.  Nora introduced me to Trigiani years ago and it has been fun to read her books over the years.  They tend to be fairly light reads, but have enough depth to keep them from really falling into the "chick lit" category, although some of them dip their toe into that category. 

In The Supreme Macaroni Company, the main character has just gotten engaged on Christmas Eve to her Italian boyfriend.  This final book in the series follows the ups and downs of her relationship to an older man with a bit of a past.  Valentine is in her mid-30s and is a bit stubborn and unwilling to compromise at times, so there is plenty of conflict in the book and at times you wonder how this couple will make it.  While Trigiani's books tend to be light reads, there are some sad elements to this book.  

Overall, I enjoyed the book.  I feel like Valentine could have maybe grown more as a character over the course of the series, but I will say that she grew quite a bit in this group.  I am glad I read this final story as it completed a story that I had read over the course of several years.  Lastly, I will say that Trigiani did a good job of weaving in details from past books so it made it easy to follow if it had been awhile since you had read the other books.

Have you read anything by Trigiani?

I received a complimentary copy of this book from TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review, and the opinions are my own.

Book Review: The First Phone Call from Heaven

I have read all of Mitch Albom's Books, so when I saw it on the list of books to review for TLC Book Tours, I was excited to check it out.  I just love Albom's books as I usually walk away with such a sense of perspective about life.  I usually try to read Tuesdays with Morrie once a year as out of all of his books, that one impacted me the most!

Synopsis from Good Reads:

The First Phone Call from Heaven tells the story of a small town on Lake Michigan that gets worldwide attention when its citizens start receiving phone calls from the afterlife. Is it the greatest miracle ever or a massive hoax? Sully Harding, a grief-stricken single father, is determined to find out. An allegory about the power of belief--and a page-turner that will touch your soul--Albom's masterful storytelling has never been so moving and unexpected.

My review:

This book could almost be classified as a mystery as one of the main character, Sully Harding, is skeptical about the truth behind these "phone calls from heaven."  We spend part of the book learning about the various characters who are receiving phone calls from loved ones who have passed, and part of the book following Sully's search for the truth.  

The book held my attention until the end, but I will say it was not my favorite Albom book.  I brought it with me on my trip to Myrtle Beach and it was a good book for a trip like that as it was easy to pick up and put back down and it was a pretty light read, which is what I prefer on relaxing beach  vacations.  I think if I had not read Albom's other books, I might have liked this more, but having read all of his other books, I was a little bit disappointed.  But I am still glad I read it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review, and the opinions are my own.   

Book Review: Carly's Gift

From Goodreads:

What's in the past is over and done with . . . or is it?

Sixteen years ago Carly Hargrove made a decision that would irrevocably alter her life. With little comprehension of the life-long consequences of her actions, she trades her own future happiness to protect the man she's loved since kindergarten, David Montgomery.

With an ocean separating them, Carly builds a life for herself without David. She's the mother of three, lives in a beautiful house, and is married to a man who comes home every night—even if most of those nights he drinks too much. What more could she want?

Her answer arrives on a cold fall day when David shows up at her door. In town for his father's funeral, he has come to see Carly one last time, hoping to rid himself of the anger that still consumes him.

Instead, he is drawn into a web of secrets that rekindles the fierce need he once felt to protect Carly. He becomes caught up in her life in a way he never could have imagined—a way that will bind him to her forever.

My thoughts on the book:

I really enjoyed this book.  I wouldn't classify it as chick lit because the characters had more depth and the situations addressed in the book were more complex, but it tended towards that sort of genre.  I was engaged in the book early on as I was curious about the choice Carly had made all those years ago as it is not revealed until you are quite a ways into the book. 

In summary, it was a fast and engaging book. I gave it 3 stars on Goodreads.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review, and the opinions are my own.  

Book Review: Very Recent History

Synopsis from good reads:  

In one of the greatest cities in the world, the richest man in town is the Mayor. Billionaires shed apartments like last season's fashion trends, even as the country's economy turns inside out and workers are expelled from the City's glass towers. The young and careless go on as they always have, getting laid and getting laid off, falling in and falling out of love, and trying to navigate the strange world they traffic in: the Internet, complex financial markets, credit cards, pop stars, microplane cheese graters, and sex apps.

A true-life fable of money, sex, and politics, Very Recent History follows a man named John and his circle of friends, lovers, and enemies. It is a book that pieces together our every day, as if it were already forgotten.

Very Recent History by Choire Sicha sparked my interest when I saw it on the list of books I could review for TLC Book Tours as I work in the financial field and am fascinated by the period covered by this book (2009) as it's a period in time when as Warren Buffet has famously said "Only when the tide goes out do you discover who's been swimming naked," which means to me that sometimes wealth or success is an illusion or a temporary state of being.  But for whatever reason, possibly my inability to focus on reading heavier or more academic type of writing, I struggled to get caught up in the story.  It was interesting to read about a time I have lived through, told by a narrator who lives far in the future.  

I think maybe if I had read this during a different phase of my life, a phase that is less taxing, I might have enjoyed it more...  

I received a complimentary copy of this book from TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review, and the opinions are my own.  

Book Review: Indiscretion

I typically shy away from books that deal with infidelity - mostly because it is often either justified or dismissed as an acceptable part of life.  So I would usually avoid a book like Indiscretion by Charles Dubow as it deals with the subject of infidelity.  But then I read Marisa's review of this book and thought maybe it was something I should check out.  So when it showed up on the list of books I could review for TLC book tours, I decided to give it a chance.  I am so glad that I did. 

Indiscretion tells the story of Harry and Maddy Winslow, a couple that seems to have a picture perfect marriage. But then young, sweet, and seemingly naive Claire arrives on the scene and a marriage that had the strongest foundation is swept away.  The book addresses the consequences of Harry and Claire's actions, and the reason I really liked it is that is does justice to the way lives are torn apart and the irreparable damage that is done when a spouse decides to cheat.

The story is told from the perspective of Maddy's best friend from her childhood and at times, it reads as if the narrator is talking to you - which is unique.  But it works.  I thought the book was well-written and I found myself marking various passages and sentences such as "We make so many right decisions in life, but it is the wrong ones that can never be forgiven."

Do you struggle to read books about infidelity or do you do ok with that topic? 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review, and the opinions are my own.    

Book Review: The Keeper of Secrets

When I saw this book the list of books available to review for TLC book tours, I was immediately drawn to it by it's title and the fact that it's set during WWII.  For those who know my reading preferences well, you know how much of a sucker I am for the WWII genre.  I don't think I will ever get sick of reading books set during that time.  The Keeper of Secrets by Julie Thomas covers a span of years, from pre-WWII times to present day times.  It tells the story of a Jewish family from Berlin.  This family was particularly musical and had a prized collection of violins.  However, these prized violins were taken by the Nazi's when they rounded up the family to take them to a concentration camp.  The family assumed they were lost forever, along with many other possessions and their way of life.

Flash forward to present-day times, and the great-grandson, Daniel, is taking violin lessons.  Daniel clearly has inherited the musical abilities of his great grandfather, and is destined for great things.  He meets a maestro who learns more about Daniel's family, and the prized violins that were lost during the Nazi round up, and the maestro makes it his mission to track down the violins, as difficult as it may be.

I really loved this story.  As a lover of music, I also enjoyed the musical aspect of the story.  The author did a great job moving back and forth through different time periods and different sets of characters without confusing the reader.  There were of course sad parts as the family spent time in the concentration camp, Dachau.  I had visited Dachau on a trip to Germany in 2004 so reading about the horrors of life in that concentration camp brought back the memories of touring it and the awful feeling I had when I was there. 

If you enjoy WWII genre books, I recommend this one! 

Is there a particular genre that you are drawn to?  Do you play any musical instruments?  I play the piano and played the trumpet in high school.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review, and the opinions are my own.    

Book Review: Time of My Life

I typically stay away from books that fall under the "chick lit" category, but when I saw a Cecilia Ahern book on the list of books to review in May, I couldn't resist.  Plus these days my brain is so bogged down with the heaviness of CFA studying, I needed a little break!  The Time of My Life is Ahern's newest book which was released this spring. It tells the story of Lucy, a soon-to-be-30 woman who makes some poor decisions on the tale of a break-up. She tries to cover up the truth of what is happening in her life by telling a couple of lies... which lead to more lies...  She retreats within and shares less and less with her friends and family in an attempt to not reveal some of the lies she has told, until an intervention of sorts is staged.

It all comes to head when she has an appointment with "her life" - err, a character that represents her life.  He comes on the scene to straighten things out and to help her get back on the right path.  It's hard to explain the storyline of this book as it is unrealistic and very fictional...  but it works.

All in all, it's a light, easy read.  The storyline is pretty unrealistic, which kind of seems to be a trend for Ahern as one of her other books I read had an adult with an imaginary friend...  but she seems to make it work.  The main character, Lucy, is not exactly likeable and the extent of her lying was kind of annoying.  But it was a pretty light read, which was just what I needed right now. 

Book Review: The Bequest of Big Daddy

When one of the tour arrangers for TLC Book Tours found out that I was moving to the south, she contacted me to see if I'd like to review this book since it is set in the south.  The Bequest of Big Daddy by Jo-Ann Costa tells the story of Big Daddy. Big Daddy was one of those 'larger than life' types with a past that is nothing short of jaw dropping. The book starts off at the end of his life, but quickly flashes back to when his live began during the Civil War era. 

Costa weaves the fictional tale of Big Daddy's life together with stories of the hardships he encountered (such as being essentially disowned by his own mother) to trouble with the law to becoming an entrepreneur and making a name for himself.  It was interesting and fun to read a book set in a region of the country that I now call home. While I certainly do not live in the heart of the south, I do live close by and the area I live was certainly influenced by the events of the past, such as the Civil War. 

All in all it was an entertaining read.  I can't say that Big Daddy was the most likeable character, between his philandering way of life and violent streak, but it was still an entertaining read.

Book Review: Capital of the World

Truth be told, I haven't been seeking out much non-fiction these days given the amount of heavy reading I do for the CFA each week.  But when I was asked if I'd like to review "Capital of the World" by Charlene Mires for a TLC Book Tour, I couldn't say no!  It tells the story of the the race to host the United Nations.  While I knew the UN was headquartered in New York City, I did not know much more about the roots of that organization.  I had a vague recollection of learning about the formation of the UN in a high school history class, but that is about I knew about the UN.  It was interesting to read about the various cities that campaigned hard for the opportunity to host the United Nations in their city.  A lot of cities threw their name in the hat from big cities like San Francisco to smaller, less known areas like the Black Hills of South Dakota.  That one shocked me the most to be quite honest.  I have been to the Black Hills several times, but I can't say I would have ever guessed that they tried to house the United Nations headquarters!

If you enjoy reading non-fiction and are curious about the origins of the United Nations, then this is the book for you!

Do you enjoy non-fiction?  Do you read many non-fiction books each year?  These days I don't but once the CFA is behind me, I would like to start reading a non-fiction book every 2-3 months.  My heart will always belong to fiction, but I do see the benefits of sprinkling in some non-fiction among the lighter fiction books I read!

Book Review: The Secret of the Nightingale Palace"

The book cover of "The Secret of the Nightingale Palace" by Dana Sachs is definitely one of those book covers that really drew me in.  Then when I found out it was partially set during WWII, I was sold!  The author winds two stories together.  The first story is about Goldie, a young southern woman who moves to San Francisco in the early 40s to start a new life.  While she is living there, she becomes friends with a Japanese family who is eventually sent to an internment camp during the war.  Before the family left for the camp, they gave her a set of Japanese prints to keep while they were away.

Flash forward 50+ years.  Goldie is now in her 80s and she asks her grand daughter, Anna, to drive from New York to San Francisco so that she can return those prints to the Japanese family.  Anna and Goldie had an estranged relationship as Anna married someone that Goldie did not approve of.  Anna's husband has since died so this trip is their chance to rekindle their relationship.

The book is broken out into different sections for the different time periods, which made it easy to follow.  I loved hearing about Goldie's time in San Francisco, especially since I recently visited that area.  I also liked the section that covered Goldie and Anna's trip across the country as Anna spends much of this trip reflecting on her marriage and dealing with the grief of losing her husband at a young age.

I really enjoyed this book and gave it 4 stars on goodreads.com!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review, and the opinions are my own.   

Book Review: All That I Am

Happy Friday!  Today I'm participating in the TLC Book Tour for "All That I Am" by Anna Funder.  Historical fiction books set during WWII are my favorite genre, so it was an easy choice to select this book from the list that my TLC contact sent me.  This book was a bit different than other WWII books I have read as it was focused on around 1933, the time when Hitler was building his empire.  Most of the books I have read were set during the 1939-1945 time frame so it was interesting for me to read about a different aspect of the war.  It tells the story of a brave group of friends who tried to warn the world about the evils empire Hitler was building.  Instead of looking the other way, they put their lives on the line and joined the Resistance Movement.

The story is told from the perspective of two different characters.  The narrators flipped back and forth from present day to the time of war which was a bit confusing at time.  I think some date references during the chapters would have helped, but I quickly got a feel for the change in the time setting.

I really liked this book and gave it 3 stars on goodreads - I would have given it 3.5 if that had been an option.  I thought that the writing was great and there were several sentences and passages that made me stop and think - wow, she said that well.  I thought I'd share a couple with you:

"When you are in love with someone you cannot see around them, you cannot get their human measure.  You cannot see how someone so huge to you, so miraculous and unfathomable, can fit, complete, into that small skin."  (p. 150)

"But I saw then that everyone thought her so independent as to have no needs, or at least none that they, single-handedly, could met.  This is the curse of the capable; it leaves them prone to pockets of aloneness, sudden elephant traps in the ground."(p. 285)

"Most people have no imagination.  If they could imagine the suffering of others, they would not make them suffer so." (p. 358)

If you enjoy books set during WWII, I think this one is worth checking out.

When you read books, do you flag quotes that really speak to you?  That is one thing I love about my nook - I can easily bookmark or highlight a passage.  When reading physical books, I try to have post-its to flag pages with great passages/quotes, as my Grandma McDougall taught me from a young age that it was abusive to fold down the 'ear' of a book and that lesson has stuck with me for life!

Book Review: Cascade

When I saw Cascade by Maryanne O'Hara on the list of TLC Book Tours available, I was instantly drawn - first by the cover art, and secondly when I saw that it was set during the 1930s as that is an era that has always fascinated me.  Cascade, in my opinion, has two main stories:  first there is the story of a young artist, Desdemonda (shortened to Dez), who marries a man she really does not love for financial security (and to satisfy her dying father's wishes), and second story is the story of the battle to save the town of Cascade from being flooded to create a reservoir which will supply water to a larger city in close proximity.  Early in the book, we learn that Dez has met her temptation in the form of a fellow artist, Jacob, who seems to be a perfect match for her, and she must choose between the vows she made and the life she pictures with Jacob.

When I started this book, I honestly thought it would be a book that I would struggle to finish, but this did not end up being the case at all.  It did take a good 100 pages for me to get into it, but once I got caught up in the story of the town of Cascade and the internal battle that Dez was fighting in deciding to stay with her husband or persue her dreams, it became a page turner for me.

Dez was not the most likeable character, but I did sympathize with her position as dire financial straights drove her to marry the man she chose, and it was clear that it was a forced, loveless marriage.  In this day and age, she likely would have had other choices, but I know that things were different in that era and she likely did not really feel she had any other choice than to marry this man - especially given the fact that it would satisfy the wishes of her dying father. It definitely makes me thankful that we live in a different era with more choices and freedoms!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review, and the opinions are my own.   

Book Review: The Round House

 I have wanted to read a book by Louise Erdrich for quite awhile as her books tend to be set in or around my home state of North Dakota.  So, when I saw her newest release on the list of books I could review for TLC Book Tours, I jumped at the chance.  While Erdrich doesn't explicitly state where her newest book, The Round House, is set, I could tell that it was close to the area I grew up based up on the towns mentioned in the book.  Like Erdrich's many other books, this book is also set on an Indian Reservation.  When the book opens, we quickly learn that the mother of the main character, Joe, has been violently assaulted on or near the grounds of a sacred Ojibwe site, The Round House.

 

The identity of the attacker is uknown, so Joe and his father, a tribal judge, seek to find to the attacker on their own.  The author weaves in information about the history of the tribe, The Round House, and the background of the other characters amidst the story of the search for the attacker. 

 

I really enjoy the elements of the story related to figuring out who the attacker was, but found the parts regarding the history of others in the book sort of distracting.  I tended to lose focus during those parts until the the author returned to the investigative aspect of the story.

 

All in all, it was a well-written book, but not something that really grabbed me.  That said, it is National Book Award Finalist, so clearly it is a piece of fiction that has received accolades. 

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review, and the opinions are my own.