The Nightingale is a book that I feel like everyone has read but me. It came out in 2015 when I was still saying "No, I don't read historical, especially not war." I have to thank some former co-workers for pushing me to just try one. Over holidays I read The Great Alone which left me wanting more Kristin Hannah books.
The Nightingale is based during World War II. Vianne and Isabelle are sisters that life had already been struck by World War I. Their father fought in World War I and then after the sisters mother died the dad just couldn't cope with raising two young girls.
Isabelle, now 19, has grown into an impulsive young woman looking for love, while Vianne has sought out a safe life and is married with a daughter when war strikes again. Vianne's husband leaves for war and her world is upset even more when a German soldier decides her home is a great place to billet. Isabelle wants to fight. She isn't willing to just sit and watch the men fight this battle. But what can a pretty young woman do to save France?
The Nightingale tells the painful story of life in France during World War II. It is also the story of the bravery of the women who risked it all to save a few. It is hard to imagine the risks, suffering and loss that was World War II.
Kristin Hannah is a very talented author and I look forward to reading more of her novels.
I picked up this book because it reminded me of Where'd You Go Bernadette? which I enjoyed. Where'd you Go Bernadette? has now been made in to a movie that I must still see.
Minor Dramas & Other Catastrophes revolves around the parents, students and teachers at a privileged school. Isobel Johnson is trying to make a difference teaching grade 9 English. She encourages her students to look at other perspectives in their novel studies. The story begins with an anonymous phone message suggesting Isobel stop teaching anti-American ideas. The message is a little worrisome but Isobel is accustomed to the controlling parents in the school community.
Julia is a parent to two children at the school. For years she's been hoping her son will make it to a leading role in the school play. She has generously donated a costume room. She has worked on the board helping to fund raise for the productions. Her son deserves this role and to be certain she's made a strong suggestion to the principal that the lead is the role for her son.
Things begin to unravel for Julia and Isobel and it's all being displayed and discussed on the parent's Facebook gossip page. But who is the person that owns and mediates the page? Why are they constantly stirring things up? How do they have know so much?
The Great Alone looks daunting with well over 400 pages. I, on the other hand love a big book, especially when travelling. My only complaint was I loved it so much I read it too fast. I ended up finishing it 1 hour into my 4 hour flight with nothing left to read.
Leni Allbright is 13 years old and has grown accustomed to always being the new girl in school. Her parents are constantly moving. When her mom and dad sit her down to tell her the next big idea is to move to Alaska and live off the land she's not too surprised.
Leni's dad, Ernt, fought in the Vietnam War. When he came back from war years later he is haunted my nightmares. Leni's mom wishes that she remembered him as the loving man he was before 'Nam. Everyone thinks that Alaska will give Ernt a place to breathe and clear his head.
For a while things are great. They all work together as a team to clean up the house and land that they've been gifted from one of Ernt's old war buddies. The days are long and the sun in Alaska summer never sets. There is lots to learn about living in Alaska and the neighbours are all welcoming and willing to help in any way.
Unfortunately, the winters are long and dark. With dark comes nightmares. Now the Allbrights are living in a small one room house and it becomes impossible for mom to hide Ernt's abusive side.
I loved reading about the beautiful Alaskan scenery. The characters were so easy to get attached to. This is the first book I've read by Kristin Hannah. I definitely plan on checking out more of her books.
I picked up The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian from Indigo because my son will be reading it for his grade 9 English class.
Junior is a 14 year old boy that lives on the Spokane Reserve. Throughout the book he describes the life of living on a Reserve. One day he finds himself in class and notices that his mom's name is written in a text book. This makes him furious to think that they don't have new resources. As a result, Junior makes a major decision to attend white school off the reserve. Risking the hatred of his community, family and best friends Junior sets off each day off the reserve to find out how the other half live,
I was a bit surprised at a few of the pages. I think the author could have shared the truths and reality of life on reserve and still left out a few of the stories/words. My son believes that it will be a story that each student will read a chapter out loud in class and I think that will make a few students uncomfortable if they have to read certain chapters. However; I do think it is age appropriate and an important subject matter.
I have been following Neil Pasricha for many years. A friend introduced me to his 1000 Awesome Things blog years ago and I have been following him ever since. I've even had the chance to hear him speak.
Years ago Neil found himself recently divorced, struggling with a friends suicide and where his path in life was going. This began his 1000 Awesome Things blog which evolved into his first book The Book of Awesome. I really enjoyed reading his picture book Awesome is Everywhere with children at school as well.
I was really excited when I got an advanced copy of You are Awesome. This book was so easy to read because Neil doesn't come across as someone who has life all together. You are Awesome is lessons Neil has learned from his mistakes and life experiences. The message I took away is that you are awesome despite failure or poor choices. Learn from your mistakes, move forward and let it go. I found while I was reading it that there were chapters that I thought I my teenage son should read this and then others where I thought my busy husband should read. I think many people would find different things to take away from this book.
You are Awesome is out today - November 5th, 2019. Check out Neil Pasricha. He has some great books and blogs. Also, if you ever get a chance to hear him speak - go!
I have read a few of Lisa Jewell's books so I was excited when I got the chance to review The Family Upstairs.
The Family Upstairs is a story about Libby Jones. She's living a pretty simple life designing kitchens. Libby was adopted when she was a few months old. On her 25th birthday she inherits her birth parents estate. She has no idea what the inheritance might entail - she is just excited to know more about her birth parents. Libby is very surprised to find out that she is now the owner of a mansion. She's rich!
Many people have been waiting for Libby to turn 25. This mansion holds a whopper of a story and it's tale is not over yet. With the help of a newspaper reporter, Libby begins to unravel the history of the mansion and those who lived there.
The Family Upstairs is filled with tons of twists and turns that kept me intrigued right to the end. This novel comes out on November 5th, 2019. It is available for pre-order from Indigo.
I remember reading Room by Emma Donoghue. It was days away from my youngest son's 4th birthday. That first line stuck with me "Today I am three but tomorrow abracadabra I will be four!" After that I proceeded to cry through the entire book. Even though I was crying, I loved this book.
Then Emma Donoghue other novels that were so different from Room I didn't think I would like them so I didn't try. Something about Akin, maybe the passage of time, made me think maybe I could enjoy one of Donoghue's new books.
Michael is an 11 year old boy that seems alone in the world. Dad has died of a drug overdose. Mom is in jail. Grandma has died. There is no one willing to take care of Michael. Desperate to avoid the foster system his case worker reaches out to Noah - Michael's 79 year old Great Uncle on his dad's side that he has never met.
Noah, who has never had children, has out lived everyone in his life. He spends his days having a conversation in his head wife his dead wife. When his sister passed away she made him promise he would do something fun so he booked a trip to Paris and is leaving in a few days.
When it is proposed that Noah take care of Michael the timing couldn't be worse. Soon Noah and Michael find themselves getting to know each other on a trip to Paris. The two couldn't be more different but there a string of DNA that links the two.
I very much enjoyed Akin and will be seeking out Donoghue's other books that I passed by before.