The Picture of Dorian Gray

 Well  I must say that between my book club and the challenges I have read a number of books that I would not have chosen otherwise this year.  This book by Oscar Wilde certainly falls in that category.  There is a story that is captivating in itself but then there is a much deeper philosophical discussion going on within the book as well. You can definitely see the influence of Wilde's life and experiences in this work and it definitely feels like a great big stick it to the upper class of England  novel as well.  This is definitely a novel with layers and it feels like a gothic novel with some super natural elements as well.  If you are looking for a classic for the Halloween season this would be a good choice

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Wow is this book a bit creepy and deep. Definitely not a quick read but it is engrossing. Makes you stop and think about who is good and evil in the world. Definitely need to remember the era it was written in when reading it. A good classic that isn't necessarily heavily read.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #114
2. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #16 banned book 
3. 2021TBR  #2021ReadingChallenge # 3 friend recommendation 
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #121
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #135
6. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #12. A book you have seen on someone’s bookshelf
7. BooklistQueen   #16. Published in the 1800s 
8. NJM Book Challenge  #NJMBookChallenge2021  #8 written pre 1900
9. While I was Reading  #1 A book published before 2000
10. Pick your Poison #11-4 A book with a monster on the cover 
11. Bloggers Bookshelf   #bloggersbookshelf #15 mentioned in a tv show or film 
12. Beyond the Bookends  mental health fiction

  

Steampunk Poe

 This is the first book I have ever truly DNF'd.   There have been other books I lost interest in and set aside to never have picked up again yet, but this one I made a conscience decision to stop reading.  I had selected this book to meet a prompt regarding steampunk.  I am still glad I did so as I thoroughly enjoyed looking through the book at all the illustrations.  I just could not adjust to Poe's reading style.  I tried several of the stories- Tell Tale Heart (reread),  The Masque of the Red Death, The Fall of the House of Usher and the poem the Raven.   I just struggled to read the language and finally decided to stop instead of forcing myself through the book just because it's a classic author and a book I picked up at the library.  Boy did it feel good to make that decision.

Steampunk: Poe by Edgar Allan Poe
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I must admit I ended up DNF thins book. I just could not get past the formal old style of writing. I tried reading 3 stories and several poems but just found myself not enjoying the reading. I gave this a 3 star because the steampunk illustrations were wonderful. I found myself lingering over the drawings and really seeing them relate to the stories Poe wrote. If you enjoy the classics and Poe this is a book worth checking out

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #110
2. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #49 written in verse
3. 2021TBR  #2021ReadingChallenge #  9 a classic 
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #117
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #131
6. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #13
7. BooklistQueen   #9 Poetry
8. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  - Shadow/ black cover
9. 52 books in 52 weeks  #3-4 steampunk

Shadow of the Wind

 This is a translated work by Carlos Ruiz Zafron.  It is a bit historical mystery, a bit magical realism with some romance thrown in.  This book was selected for my book club and I wasn't too sure about the selection but I ended up really enjoying the book.  It is a bit of a slow read at the beginning, not in the sense that you feel as though you are trudging through chapters.  Rather, it is just a slow methodical read that is quite enjoyable.  As the book progresses the pace definitely picks up and I was hard pressed to put the book down.  The mystery unravels as you learn about the characters and their intertwining stories.  There are lots of characters that can be a bit difficult to keep straight initially, but as the story progresses the familiarity grows as well. The book spans a period of 9 years in Daniel's life and reveals his growth and obsession with Julian Carax, the author he has become enamored with after selecting his work from the Cemetery of Lost Books

Zafron writes characters that draw emotion from the reader.  Some you cannot help but root for as an underdog type character, others are down right despicable and unlikeable.  The story definitely draws the reader in and it would be impossible not to feel emotion for the characters and their plights.  He is also a masterful story teller who weaves different character storylines together masterfully.  Each section reveals someone else's connection to the narrator, Daniel, and Julian Carax.  I thought the stories were well connected and made sense.  There are other works in the series and I look forward to seeing if they are separate storylines about books selected from the Cemetery of it there will be stories told from others' perspectives.   Time will tell but I do intend to try the next book for sure.  

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book starts out at a slow steady pace but gradually picks up to a fast paced Nobel you don’t want to put down. Ruiz creates characters and a storyline that weave together in amazing intricacies but are still quite plausible. The whole novel is set amid the lure and mystery of Barcelona and is set in the era of turmoil surrounding the civil war. The implicit lack of trust of Barcelona citizens helps fuel the story more. I look forward to reading more in this series

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #107
2. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  "Z"
3. 2021TBR  #2021ReadingChallenge # 9 a classic 
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #115
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #129
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #109
7. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #12
8. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #21  A genre hybrid 
9. Around the Year in 52 Books #37. A book from the Are You Well Read in World Literature list  

Sharp Objects

 It feels like I was one of the last people to read Sharp Objects or any book by Gillian Flynn for that matter.   Wow is her book intense.  I listened to the audiobook and it is definitely not for public consumption.  If you are offended by language or sexual content you will want to avoid this book.  

It is a psychological thriller that has a cast of very blunt characters.  Camille is sent home to Missouri to cover a missing person's case involving a 10 year old girl.  The second tragic crime to happen in this very southern Missouri small town in less than a year.   Camille's return home it quite startling and it opens many old memories and insecurities.  Flynn definitely captures the cruelty of teenage girls especially in a small town that is divided by the wealthy and the working class.  She creates characters that are complex and unlikeable.  

Witnessing Camille struggle to fit into her family which consists of a very passive aggressive mother- Adora, a timid step father, Allan, and a half sister, Amma, she doesn't know is intense and heartbreaking at times.  Her personal struggles to deal with the loss of her younger sister, Marian when she was a 13 yr old and the resulting spiral of grief is intense.  

The mystery of the crimes is intense and is wrapped into glimpses of Camille's past, Amma's current duality of life and Adora's terrifying mothering.  The mystery has plenty of twists and turns and pokes fun at the small town stereotypes that come up in the characters.  An attempt to relieve the intensity of the psychological topic I would imagine.  

I am not sure whether I want to watch the show based on this book or not.  It could be very engaging but also disturbing.  I may need to watch though since I have managed to survive watching Riverdale and it has some similarities in topics.  Maybe on a hot summer day when hiding in AC I will try it out.  

I think I am interested in reading Gone Girl at some point but I do need to retreat to cozy mysteries and the lighter presentation for a bit before doing so.  

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an intense psychological thriller. If you are easily offended by sexual lingo/scenes or foul language then do not read this book. It is definitely not for the faint of heart as it deals with the murder of children but it is an amazing ride that takes the reader through dealing with abuse, self injury and the consequences of it all. The ending is a twisty one although I had my suspicions about the guilty party at times while reading. It was still a shocking ending.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #65
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes MO
3. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #46 good book, bad cover
4. 2021TBR  #2021ReadingChallenge # 2 controversial book
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #72
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #85
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #69
8. Bookworm  #10.) Read a book that's been turned into a TV series or a Movie
9. Pick your Poison #11-3 A book about something that scares you
10. Medical Examiner Challenge 4 Toe Tags
11. Audiobook  #2021AudiobookChallenge  Book #7

The Sanatorium

 This is a very dark thriller by Sarah Pearse.  It is set in a remote area of forest in the Swiss Alps at a new ultra modern hotel built on the footprint of an old Sanatorium.   There are mysterious deaths that play a role in the plot and at times the reader can even question if there is supernatural aspects to the story.  

The lead detective is Elin, a UK detective on leave for PTSD and at the hotel to celebrate her brother, Isaac's engagement to Laure.  Unfortunately the weekend is far from the pleasant vacation she and her boyfriend, Will, were hoping for when they flew to Switzerland.  

The story has plenty of plot twists and drama that leads the reader to suspect many of the different characters of being the guilty killer.   The reader is easily talked into suspecting different people and honestly I thought I had figured it out at points and then was shown why I was wrong.  

The remote setting and snowstorm definitely play a vital role in the story.  I also felt as though the hotel itself was a character with its own history and major role in the story.   It definitely played a key role and the story would have been weaker without the weather and location.  

Elin is a character rift with self doubt and questions her relationships with her brother and Will.  We slowly learn about her physical and mental stress and how it affects her entire being.  She is portrayed as someone haunted by her past and is obsessed with seeking answers.  I think it was an accurate portrayal of someone who suffered a tragedy at a young age and never had proper treatment to deal with it.   It affects her whole life and relationships.  

The only real issue I had with the story was the conclusion. I am not sure of the purpose of the epilogue unless it is to provide a setup for a sequel.  Otherwise, it is a very large unanswered question to the story.

The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I thought this book was good. I don't agree with the negative reviews but I understand where they were coming from. I think I didn't have as high of expectations as some of those readers so I didn't build myself up. The cover absolutely made me think of the Shining as did the description. There is a creepiness factor with the setting of blizzards and avalanches in a remote location in the Swiss Alps. The body count does rise and makes the story suspense grow.
Elin as the main character definitely comes across as a damaged character. Her full story is revealed to us as the plot goes along and some of it is more believable than others. Her relationships with her boyfriend and brother are definitely not perfect and the story demonstrates that.
Pearse provides many different potential villains and each make sense in their own right. As a reader I kept thinking it has to be this person, they don't seem the most obvious. In the end the true culprit is revealed and while the motivation behind their crimes is a bit weak, the explanations make sense and are given but this is why I gave it a 3 instead of a 4 star rating. There is an epilogue that completely confused me though, not sure if it's a set up for a sequel or just meant to leave you wondering.


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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #42
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes   Switzerland
3. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #39 book where the woods/forest are important
4. 2021TBR  #2021ReadingChallenge # 18 gothic novel
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #50
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #58
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #42
8. Around the Year in 52 Books #16. A book with a building in the title
9. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #2. The Buried: a Bottle Episode (set in a single room/place)
10. Pick your Poison #12-4 A book from a celebrity favorite list
11. Medical Examiner Challenge   4 Toe Tags
12. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 4

Hotel room
Swimming pool, spa, jacuzzi

• Row 3
• Drowning, water, ice
• Detectives- Elin
• Victims- Dennis/Margot/Laure/Adele
13. 52 books in 52 weeks  #17 ice or snow bound

A Burning

 This is the debut novel by Megha Majumdar.  It is a very good book that highlights many aspects of Indian culture that many Americans are most likely unaware of.  I have many Indian American friends so I am familiar with their culture particularly since they have immigrated to the US.  I don't think you can truly understand the deep division in socio economic situations and opportunities unless you travel there. This book definitely brings many of those issues to the forefront and they are a big factor in the interweaving stories in the book.  The idea of wealth and those having a life you want is all very perspective based, many want wealth and power, whereas there are those in this story who just want a basic existence- to not be hungry and have somewhere safe to live.  

There are  deeper undertones in the book about what people are willing to sacrifice and do in order to reach their dreams.  There are characters who are willing to turn their backs on others in order to get ahead, no matter the cost.  

What is interesting is how there are many parallels with the US and how the media and politics are able to set a narrative that then has much of the public following along regardless of facts.  The other takeaway for me from the novel is just how much better off the opportunities are in the US than in other parts of the world.  There are those who suffer in this country and that needs to be addressed, but for the most part we are offered more opportunities and basic needs than in many of the third world nations.  The ability to freely speak your opinions without being arrested is a true blessing our Constitution provides.  

The reason I only gave this book 3 stars is the feeling of incompleteness I had when I finished the book.  There were several story threads that did not feel completed to me.  They were characters and storylines that supported the main thread but still left unanswered questions that I would have like to have seen resolved.  

If you are looking to immerse yourself in another culture and read about the decisions people make shen faced with opportunities to improve their lot in life then this is a book you should read.

A Burning by Megha Majumdar
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book provided a thought provoking read about the differences in opportunities based upon socioeconomic as well as gender. The book is set in India but many of the deeper issues can be reflected upon within our lives here in the US. This book highlights how easily people can be swayed by public opinion, particularly by the narrative the media might take. It also shows how seemingly good people can be caught up in bad situations. The reason I did not give it more stars is I felt the story lacked a resolution for many of the characters. I finished with a sense of incompleteness, there were certain story threads that were just sort of dropped and hinted at, but no real resolution occurred. The book was a good read and demonstrated the fact we should appreciate what we have in life and be sure to provide kindness and assistance to those who need it= no matter how little we might have, there are others with less.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #29
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes India
3. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #25 book centered around politics
4. 2021TBR  #2021ReadingChallenge # 17 own voices
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #37
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #42
7. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #34 A book about a social justice issue
8. Around the Year in 52 Books #45. A book related to a codeword from the NATO Phonetic Alphabet
9. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #10 Related To The Word "Fire"
10. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #33. Tim: with fire on the cover
11. BooklistQueen   # 15. Own Voices Story
12. A Pretty Mess Challenge # 18. A book on a controversial topic
13. Bookworm  #8.) Read a book where the main character is a High School or College Student
14. Magic in the Books Book 7 #2 Ugly Cover
15. Pick your Poison #14-3 A book about oppression
16. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  set in India
17. Backpacking Bookworm  #bbReadingChallenge2021 celebrates diversity
18. 52 books in 52 weeks  #5 silence

Olive Bright Pigeoneer

 This novel by Stephanie Graves is a great combination of a historic fiction novel and a cozy mystery in the classic styling of Agatha Christie.  It is a well written mystery that has quite a few suspects and a surprise ending.  The main character, Olive is a well developed character that demonstrates multiple layers of her personality.  She is a young woman torn between helping her family and a need to feel like she is helping her country.

The Bright family has a dovecote of winning racing pigeons.  They have appealed to the war department to utilize their pigeons in the war effort, unfortunately Olive's father has a reputation that precedes him and makes that an impossibility.   Olive is feeling restless in her hometown and is seeking to signup for war work.   Then along comes a suspicious death in town and a strange visitor to their home.   The visitor insists on secrecy but offers to let Olive and her pigeons play a role in the war effort but she cannot tell her family.    The resulting cover story makes for some interesting plot lines.  Meanwhile Olive is investigating the mysterious death of the town's opinionated busybody.   Olive decides to channel her inner Hercule Poirot and investigate this death which she feels is not the accident that the inquest determines it to be.  

All in all this is a well written and entertaining historic cozy.   I recommend it as a great combination of historical fiction and the mystery included in the plot.  

Olive Bright, Pigeoneer by Stephanie Graves
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fun take on a cozy mystery. It really read more like a historic fiction novel for quite awhile. There is lots of historic detail and story based around WWII era England. The mystery that is included is well written and intertwined with the storyline well. The investigation leads to a surprise ending and guilty party. If interested in reading historic cozy mysteries this is a good choice

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #22
2. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge "O"
3. 2021TBR  #2021ReadingChallenge # 16 war novel
4. Cozy Mysteries   # 13 you picked for title
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  #9 historic #2
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #24
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #21
8. Around the Year in 52 Books #48. A book that might cause someone to react “You read what?!?”
9. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #7 An Author With Only 1 Published Book
10. BooklistQueen   # 21. A WWII Story
11. NJM Book Challenge  #NJMBookChallenge2021  #24 occupation in title
12. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #10. DEBUT AUTHOR
13. Magic in the Books Book 2 #1 Bird on the cover
14. Pick your Poison #6-3 A book about baby boomers
15. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2021 – Historical Fiction Novel Featuring Inspiring Women
16. Diversify your reading #DYRC21-  Historical Fiction
17. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
18. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 5
• Garden, park, gazebo
• Weapons
• Row 1 
• Poison, poisoned food
• Detectives- Olive/Jamie
• Victims- Miss Buxelbee
19. 52 books in 52 weeks  #37 military

Dry

 Wow, this is an impactful memoir by Augusten Burroughs.  He manages to write a memoir as though it is a novel.   As the reader, I felt like I was right there going through all his experiences with rehab and sobriety.  He is very honest about the process and his feelings as he goes through this experience. it is not a light read.   This is a very emotional book that has levity interspersed that keeps the book from being too depressing or emotionally wrought.  I found myself rooting for his success and stressing as he was faced with tough life moments.   

 If you have anyone in your circle who has experienced addiction this is a brutally honest insight into what it feels like.  I would imagine if you are an addict or a recovering addict this book will hit upon feelings/emotions you have experienced.  According to his forward it has touched many lives in positive ways and continues to inspire those struggling through this awful affliction.  

Dry by Augusten Burroughs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Poignant memoir

A brutally honest memoir about an alcoholic going through rehab and approaching sobriety. Burroughs journaled while in recovery and he shares his experiences forthrightly in this book. Anyone who has a family member or friend who has or does struggle with addiction should read this to gain insight into the honest struggle it takes to push the beast down. There are plenty of emotions in this memoir so be prepared for a roller coaster of a read

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #17
2. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  "A"
3. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #17 cover features your favorite color prominently
4. 2021TBR  #2021ReadingChallenge #7  about mental health
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #25
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #28
7. Memoir  #10. _ Written by a person who identifies as LGBTQIA
8. Around the Year in 52 Books #4. A book with a monochromatic cover
9. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #37 An Educational Read
10. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #17. WRITTEN BY A QUEER AUTHOR
11. Bookworm  #57.) Read a book without a picture on the cover
12. Magic in the Books Book 7 #6 Been on your TBR forever
13. Pick your Poison #21-4  A nonfiction book about alcohol
14. Diversify your reading #DYRC21  Memoir
15. 52 books in 52 weeks  #3 12 things 

Egg Shooters

 Another fun installment in the Cackleberry Club by Laura Childs.  I always enjoy reading this series by her, second only to her Carmela Bertrand Scrapbooking series.   This is the ninth installment in the series and there were a few twists from a typical book in the series.  This time Suzanne was involved in the primary crime as a witness so she is caught up in the case from the start.  There are definitely some plot twists involved and there are some parallel crime stories going along in this book.  

All in all it is an enjoyable series and I find it easy to get lost in the book for the day or two it takes to complete.  If you like reading about recipes and a trio of female business owners this is a great series to read.

Egg Shooters by Laura Childs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Always enjoyable to read this series based around the Cackleberry Club. The usual trail of crimes seems to find Suzanne. This time it's much closer to home when she is caught up in a hospital shooting. The relationships between Suzanne and Dr. Sam is developed a bit further in this installment as is her relationship with Toni and Petra, her business partners/friends.
The book does a wonderful job of mixing the mystery and its solution with the side plots of the Cackleberry Club and its meal and tea services. Anyone who likes charming books stores and cafes will like this series plus it's full of recipes for those who look to expand their recipe box.

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #16
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  TN
3. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge-  "E"
4. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021   series 11
5. 2021TBR  #2021ReadingChallenge # 20 Wild Card
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #24
7. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #27
8. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
9. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice #3
10. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #18
11. Craving for Cozies  Book #16
12. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #22 SFF or Mystery
13. Bookworm  #18.) Read a book by an author born in the 20th Century (1901-2000)
14. Magic in the Books Book 3 #1 Read a Guilty Pleasure
15. Pick your Poison #23-4 A book that comforts you on a rainy day 
16. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
17. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 3  Free square- hospital
• Weapons
• Row 2  Hand gun
• Detectives- Suzanne/Toni/ Dooger
18. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #1  Shot #4

A Piece of the World

This is the first novel I have read by Christina Baker Kline and I am definitely interested in reading more.  I read this novel as a selection for our book club this month.   Previously I had placed her book "The Exiles" on my reading list for this year's challenges and now I cannot wait to read that selection.

This book is a fictional piece based upon the work "Christina's World" by Andrew Wyeth.  This story is wonderfully written and the characters well developed.  They exhibit realistic emotions and reactions to their lives.  I appreciated that their shortcomings, moments of jealousy,  spite and self pity are portrayed along with their strengths and admirable traits.  It made them feel real.   

Kline's descriptions of the landscape and the farming and fishing life was wonderful.  Not too descriptive to lose readers who prefer more active text but enough to really paint the picture.   I think I may have had a very vivid image of the landscape in my mind as I actually had the opportunity to discuss this piece of art with my son's elementary class for art appreciation.  This novel gives so much more depth and "life" to the art piece.  I really enjoyed it.  

My only hesitation and why I didn't give it 5 stars was a bit of confusion at times remembering where in history the particular portion of the story was set.  Since the dual time progressions were both historic it wasn't always easy to discern where in time the story was a moments.  This did not ruin the story at all, but rather just slowed down my progression as I either had to flip back or keep guessing until the context came into focus.  

I highly recommend this book and cannot wait to read her other works as well.  

A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is an amazing novel delving into the story behind Andrew Wyeth's famous painting, "Christina's World" The characters are well developed and truly realistic. They each exhibit selfishness, love and compassion. They truly feel like real people. The fictional weaving of a story around the painting and the relationship between Christina Olson as Wyethy's muse and as a person is amazing. My only hesitation in giving it 5 stars was the fact that at times it was hard to remember where in the dual timeline the story was at the moment. It is especially tricky since all of it is in the past; the modern piece was in the late 1940s so there were not ready clues to ground my awareness especially since the story spans 2 World Wars. The depiction of the hardship and the challenges of living on a farm in Maine is well portrayed and it is easy to see the paradox between year round residents and the summer visitors. Some of the temporary residents fit in better than others.
All in all this is a great book and I recommend it highly, I especially think it is well worth reading the author's note at the end to give full context.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #14
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  ME
3. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #29 historical with a twist
4. 2021TBR  #2021ReadingChallenge # 1 historical fiction
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #20
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #23
7. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #4
8. Around the Year in 52 Books #18. 3 books related to "Past, Present, Future" - Book 1
9. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #47 A Character With A Disability
10. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #34. Martin: by/about a poet OR includes poetry
11. BooklistQueen   # 27. Book Club Favorite
12. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #23. A NEW AUTHOR TO YOU
13. Bookworm  #55.) Read a book (fiction or nonfiction) about a topic that's always interested you, but you haven't read about it yet
14. Magic in the Books Book 2 #6 A book that was borrowed
15. Pick your Poison #5 occupations- about a farmer
16. 
    

Ms. Marvel Vol 2

 This is the 2nd installment of the G. Willow Wilson Graphic Novels I have read.   Last year for my graphic novel selection I picked Vol 1 of the series.   See my review here.    I decided to pick the next one in the series for this year as well since it covered several of my topics for different challenges.   

I continue to realize I am not the best audience for graphic novels, even though I do enjoy the Marvel movies.  I think I just have trouble following the flow of the story line.  This plot was a bit confusing for me at times but I also think so of that relates to the fact this is a compilation of several issues of comic books.   I do like that there is a strong young female as the lead in the story.  The dynamics are especially complex as she is a Muslim teen trying to balance her religious beliefs and constricts with being a typical American teen.  I appreciated that she sought the advice of her church leader in this book and came to realize the applicability of his advice.  

The target audience is YA for this series and the messages at the end were a bit too "woke" and preachy for my taste at times.  I truly hope not all fiction geared toward YA is so pessimistic and fatalistic.   I think this is often the message given to them in school as well and I worry about their outlook for their futures. There are many positive aspects of life today versus the past.  We have progressed while realizing we can still grow as a nation.  This might also explain the popularity of dystopian tomes with that generation as well.   I suspect much of it is just this generation's cause and as they take on responsibilities their outlooks may change some and balance the extremes with the possibilities.  

Ms. Marvel, Vol. 2: Generation Why by G. Willow Wilson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

great story with a strong teenage girl in the lead character role. I appreciate watching her growth as a person/superhero while enjoying the action. I did find the storyline hard to follow at times, not always certain who was talking but the general idea was readily able to be followed.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #12
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes NJ
3. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  "G"
4. 2021TBR  #2021ReadingChallenge #13 ya book
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #16
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #19
7. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #24. A book by a Muslim American author
8. Around the Year in 52 Books #17. A book with a Muslim character or author
9. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #26  An Author Of Color
10. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #26. Titan: a graphic novel
11. BooklistQueen   #8. An Author Who Uses Initials
12. A Pretty Mess Challenge #6. YA book by author of color 
13. NJM Book Challenge  #NJMBookChallenge2021  #14 with images
14. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #11. RELEASED IN APRIL
15. Bookworm  #47.) Read a book with the main character  of a different ethnicity than you 
16. Magic in the Books  Book 4 #4 Includes a shapeshifter
17. Spells and Spaceships Monster Badge
18. Pick your Poison #27-3 A comic book 
19. Bloggers Bookshelf   #bloggersbookshelf #1 an unusual format 
20. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2021 Contemporary Black Author
21. 52 books in 52 weeks  #19 robot

In a Holidaze

 This romantic chick lit by Christina Lauren was a nice refreshing read for a cold winter day.  It felt like reading a Hallmark movie.   This is the second novel by this author pair that I have read.  Last year I read Twice in a Blue Moon and this book continued to be a good decision to read their work.  

The characters are well developed and relatable to the reader.  The unconventional family holiday book is a bit like the movie groundhog day and you cannot help but root for Maelyn to figure out her dilemma and find her happiness.  

The book is well written for a novel representing the repetition of a day.  The book does not feel monotonous and I found myself waiting to see what would happen next.  The book definitely has a sappy happy ending feel to it but but it is not without drama and uncertainty.   

The certainly provides a few thought provoking scenes where you wonder what determines a happy outcome.  Sometimes you have to fight for what you want and getting it too easily can ruin the outcome.  Is there such a thing as being too truthful.  

The book does contain a few detailed romantic scenes so this may  not be the most appropriate book for all readers.  

    

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars 

I enjoyed this romance quite a bit. I think Christina Lauren did a wonderful job of not making the repetitive nature of the storyline boring. The book does a wonderful job of making the reader think about what happens if we really get a chance to do things over and what would we do with that opportunity. If we get what we've always wanted can we make the best of it. 

The characters are a charming untraditional family that just makes things work because they want to be together and part of each others' lives. It is easy to imagine oneself dropped into all their family holiday festivities and wanting to be a part of it. 

The book is a charming exploration into dealing with acknowledging our feelings and the outcomes of that willingness to expose ourselves. Being true means giving others a chance to show their true selves as well.

Be aware that there are some moderately detailed sexual encounters in the book so it may not be the best choice for every reader. 

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #10
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  UT
3. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  "I" 
4. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  "L"
5. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #11 chapter title page has art
6. 2021TBR  #2021ReadingChallenge # 10 chick lit
7. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #12
8. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #15
9. Around the Year in 52 Books #43. A book with elements of magic  
10. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #40 Found Via #Bookstagram  
11. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #43. Jane Prentiss: with a found family
12. BooklistQueen   # 33. Time Travel Novel
13. A Pretty Mess Challenge #7. A love story
14. NJM Book Challenge  #NJMBookChallenge2021  #16 genre not typical 
15. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #18. RECOMMENDED ON SOCIAL MEDIA  
16. Bookworm  #4.) Read a stand-alone novel (not in a series) 
17. Magic in the Books 
• Book 1 #1 With a written letter in it
18. Pick your Poison #27-4 A book by two or more authors 
19. Bloggers Bookshelf   #bloggersbookshelf #18  with snow on the cover 
20. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  Read a relationship story, romance, comedy, or feel good contemporary.

The Three Mrs. Wrights

 Wow, didn't realize one person could be so deceitful and able to keep their stories straight.  Linda. Keir created quite a tangled web of a story and an amazing male main character.  Jonathan/Jack/Trip is quite a charming and proficient liar.  His ability to deceive others in his life makes you wonder if he is even sure what the truth is any longer or if he is the ultimate sociopath.   The story is quite well written and you cannot help but cheer for the leading ladies of the story. They are strong women who are duped and it seems easy to judge from a distance but if you think of the many busy lives we encounter in today's world you will soon realize the premise isn't as far fetched as it would first seem.   The conclusion to the story is quite intriguing and as happy as can be hoped for under the circumstances laid out by the plot.

Highly recommend for anyone interested in a non mystery suspense book.

The Three Mrs. Wrights: A Novel by Linda Keir
My rating: 4 of 5 stars 

Quite an intriguing novel of suspense. It definitely created an atmosphere where trusting others seems to be impossible. As you read you cannot wait to find out what the real story is, not the fabricated identities you are meeting, but rather the real truth. There is quite a fun twist at the end that leads to as happy an ending as can be found in a book about so much deceit and lying.
Very glad I picked this book out at the library 

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #7
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  IL
3. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge "T"
4. Color Coded #5  Brown
5. Around the Year in 52 Books #32. A book whose cover shows more than 2 people
6. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #32 A Selfish Character
7. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #52. Manuela Dominguez: author/MC works in the sciences
8. BooklistQueen   #12. With a Number in the Title 
9. A Pretty Mess Challenge #12  book with 2 authors 
10. NJM Book Challenge  #NJMBookChallenge2021  #11 multiple authors
11. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #42. WRITTEN BY TWO AUTHORS  
12. Bookworm  #16 Read a book that has a person on the cover
13. Magic in the Books 
• Book 6 #2 with a number in the title/on the cover
14. Pick your Poison #22-4 A book about an estranged family
15. Bloggers Bookshelf   #bloggersbookshelf #10  set at or featuring a wedding 
16. 52 books in 52 weeks  #41 hide in place
17. Unruly Reader Bingo  #18 blurb

Red at the Bone

 I read this book by Jacqueline Woodson for my January read for our book club.  It is a fast read, I basically read it in one sitting.  I found it engaging although I did struggle with the time line hopping around as well as the narrator.  It wasn't always easy to tell who was telling the story and when in the time frame it was occurring.  I did find the  story to be an engaging one and the characters definitely intrigued me.  There were aspects of the story that lead me to look at different aspects of socio economics and cultural differences from a different perspective.  I found it interesting how Aubrey's mother viewed the government Welfare programs and her attitude toward accepting the assistance.  The other very interesting perspective was how Blacks of differing skin tones are perceived even within the Black community.   

The coming out party was and interesting cultural phenomena that I wasn't familiar with but seemed to be a tradition that Melody's somewhat old fashioned grandparents cherished.  They seemed to struggle to hold on to the past traditions and to want to keep a perception of innocence alive.  They seemed to be a bit naive in their approaches and attitudes.  I cannot help but wonder if their naivete/apparent lack of acceptance regarding sexual orientation was common in the Black community as a whole or if  it was an outcome of their traditional religious foundations.   Perhaps I am just overlaying a misconceived timeline to general acceptance of sexual preferences and believing it was later in my life than I remember it being.  Although, while reading another book recently that had a Black LGBTQ character the statement made to them was it must be hard being gay and black so maybe the acceptance is lower within the Black community or took longer to be as acceptable as I perceive it to be on average in the US.  I would hope at this point we could all just come to see each other as humans and judge us on our individual personalities and behaviors rather than lumping people into buckets and making assumptions about each other.

Overall this was an enjoyable read despite the difficulties I had following the storyline at times.  I also have decided I am not a fan of the dialogue not being placed in quotations.  It makes it difficult to ascertain whether it is actual conversation or an internal dialogue in my opinion.  These factors are why I gave the otherwise interesting and engaging story only 3 stars.   

Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars 

Wonderful story teller

This is the first book by Jacqueline Woods I’ve read. I enjoyed it but didn’t love it. Her story is a great read about families and the different ways they interact and love each other. This book is full of glimpses of hope loss and sorrow all rolled into one. The reason I didn’t give it 4 stars is I found the story a bit disjointed at times. It was often times difficult to tell who was narrating the section I was reading at the time and also where in time we were in the story. Overall I enjoyed the book and the glimpse into perspective of the different experiences a POC has of events in history and society. I may not totally understand or agree with the depiction of historical events as Ms Woods represented them but I found the correlation to Iris’ history interesting. At the heart of it all we are all human and we experience love and loss during our lives 

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #3
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes    NY
3. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge #AlphabetSoupChallenge  R
4. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  W
5. Color Coded #2  Red
6. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #  45  book about bones OR “bone” in the title
7. 2021TBR  #2021ReadingChallenge # 6 can read in a day
8. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #3
9. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #4
10. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge  #8. A book that has won the Women’s Prize for Fiction
11. Around the Year in 52 Books #5. A book by an author on USA Today's list of 100 Black Novelists You Should Read
12. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #3 A Dual Timeline 
13. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #12. The Corruption: about a family
14. BooklistQueen   # 42. Recommended by a Librarian
15. A Pretty Mess Challenge # 1. 2020 Bestseller
16. NJM Book Challenge  #NJMBookChallenge2021  #12 read in a single day
17. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #37. BIPOC AUTHOR 
18. Bookworm  #35 by an author of a different ethnicity than you 
19. Magic in the Books Book 4 #3 Includes a rebel character
20. Spells and Spaceships  Standalone Badge:  standalone story
21. Pick your Poison #51 Crossing Boundaries 3- A book about reconciliation
22. Bloggers Bookshelf   #bloggersbookshelf #3 LGBTQ protagonist 
23. Diversify your reading #DYRC21  January: Literary Fiction
24. 52 books in 52 weeks   Row 2-7 skin diving
25. Unruly Reader Bingo  #  Uncoventional