July 21 Reviews

This week, we had only four readers but we had sixteen book reviews submitted!  That’s because we had one reader who submitted four reviews and our most avid reader this summer submitted eight reviews!  Out of sixteen books, two different reviewers noted the stories were based on Romeo and Juliet.  It would be impossible to figure out how many books and stories have been based on that story – in fact on how many are based on any Shakespeare plays.  One of the other reviews compared the book they read to the Twelfth Night.  I think, if my memory serves me, Shakespeare borrowed the plotline for Romeo and Juliet (and probably many of his plays) on another even earlier author’s work.  Some themes are timeless!

Ninth Girl – Tami Hoag (NR) - “This is a very good book.  Very well written and it kept my interest.  I have read many books by this author and they are all great.”

The Pack – Jodi Picoult (NR) – “Good book; not her best though.  Sad story but I am sure these things happen.  It is like Romeo and Juliet.”

Eleanor & Park – Rainbow Rowell (5¯) - “Eleanor reunites with her mother and siblings after her step-father threw her out of the family for about a year.  As the new girl, Eleanor suffers from bullying from her fellow high-school companions, starting from day one on the bus to school.  Park and Eleanor strike up an unlikely friendship and teenage romance by bonding over comic books and music.  Unfortunately, Eleanor’s home situation threatens to divide them.  This emotional read gives a different take on a Romeo and Juliet story of star-crossed love.”

Talon (YA) – Julie Kagawa (4¯) - “Dragons live undercover among humans in this first in a series.  Ember and her brother Dante have the chance to spend a summer “free” of the organization known as Talon and just be ‘normal’ teenagers.  However, like regular human teenagers, Ember encounters all sorts or reasons to rebel against authority when she meets a rogue named Ridley.  She also finds young love with Garrett who harbors secrets of his own.  This story is full of action-paced storytelling and good character development with a spot-on cliffhanger that tantalizes the reader to search out the rest of the series.”

By Invitation Only – Dorothea Benton Frank (4¯) - “This book highlights two very different families – one who have owned and worked a farm for generations in South Carolina and the second who lives the ritzy life in Chicago.  They are brought together by the upcoming marriage of their kids.  Told mostly from the side of the mothers of the bride and groom, Susan and Diane.  This tale shows the good and the bad of united two very socially and culturally distinct groups of people.  All in all, the book has a rather predictable storyline and outcome that the author does a good job of foreshadowing, but the importance of the family shines as the central theme.”

All the Light We Cannot See – Anthony Doerr (5¯) - “In this story set during WWII, the author takes a different tract to tell the individual stories of Werner, an orphaned German boy who has a knack for fixing electronics, especially radios; and Marie-Laurie, a French girl who is blind and lives with her father.  The reader has a chance to view the ware from the perspective of children, as well as to see how the existence of radio drastically influenced the methods of communication and warfare.  Radios had a large impact on how WWII differed from all previous wars.  It is further interesting how the story is told chronologically except for the interludes from August 1944, marking that as a central and important turning point to each character.”

Christmas at the Little Beach Street Bakery – Jenny Colgan (5¯) - “For this third and perhaps final installment of the Little Beach Street Bakery series, all of the beloved characters show up for Christmastime mayhem.  Between babies and meeting people the characters never thought they would encounter, Polly and company still search for that happily ever after.  All in all, it is a little bitter-sweet to say good-bye to these characters, but rest assured that Colgan gave them an ‘ending’ fit to satisfy loyal readers.  A Merry Christmas indeed."

Shelter in Place – Nora Roberts (4¯) - “Ms. Roberts’ novel spooks with how it rings true to fears of the present society.  Beginning with a mall mass shooting, set in 2005, this story follows the characters over a decade later as apparently the event did not conclude completely in that night.  The tale is rich with relationships built by shared experience, how experiences can alter previously expected futures and how somethings the real danger comes from unexpected sources.  Truly a cautionary and relevant story to our times, as we have experience an increase in gun violence and planned shootings of innocent civilians, especially this year.”

Enchantress of Numbers – Jennifer Chiaverini (4¯) - “A wonderful addition to the literature of fictionalized real-life women; this historical novelization of the story of Ada Byron, countess of Lovelace, serves as an inspiration to women pursuing careers in mathematics (and science). Told primarily (after the opening chapter) from the first person perspective of Ada herself, this tale balances her secluded and trying childhood under constant disappointment of her mother.  Ada’s joy of learning math, her fascination with the ‘Difference Engine’ designed by her friend and her marriage and children come to life in this story.  This is a read for those looking to learn more about obscure women of history and an inspiration to those women in typically ‘male’ professions.”

The Best Kind of People – Zoe Whittal (5¯) - “An accusation of rape/sexual harassment of a long-time revered high school teacher threatens to shake up a small, high-society community.  Told through the perspectives of the accused’s wife, daughter and son, this story deals with various struggles and relationships between family and friends as people search for truth and seek a new idea of identity in the midst of the current situation.  Who really are ‘the best kind of people?’”

Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard – Kiran Desai (NR) - “This was a hilarious novel that remains relevant in its scathing take-down of the Indian fascination with God men.  It follows the adventures of a slightly dimwitted boy, his curious sister, eccentric mother and the rest of the towns folk.  And there are drunk monkeys, which is always fun.”

The Power – Naomi Alderman (5¯) - “This book was an interesting inversion of the current social climate.  I liked how the author used different viewpoints to interrogate the effects of race and gender on opportunity and life experiences.  It combined a critique of religion, politics, media and the people behind them very effectively into a sci-fi novel.  I wouldn’t really consider it dystopian since it so heavily parallels contemporary reality with the sole exception of superpowers.”

Bad Feminist – Roxanne Gay (NR) - “While I did not agree with all of Gay’s opinions and perspectives, this is one of the best and most balanced books to come in a while.  I appreciate how she takes the time to include personal anecdotes while still admitting that she is learning along with the rest of us.  Definitely intersectional, too.”

The Girl Who Was a Gentleman – Anna Jane Greenville (NR) - “This was a really cute Victorian romance that, while a bit tropey or trite in its twelfth-night-esque girl-as-boy plotline, did attempt to address the norms and societal biases of the time.  Really cut, if a bit angsty in some parts, but how better to describe young love?”

Gathering of Secrets – Linda Cashillo (4¯) - “I © Linda Castillo’s Amish mysteries!  Full of suspense, twists and turns. Kate Burkholder, Chief of Police, is a great character – so likeable.  I never guess the killer – always keeps me guessing.”

Commencement – Courtney Sullivan (3¯) - “This is J. Courtney Sullivan’s debut novel.  Not nearly as good as her latest novels.  Tells the story of four friends at Smith College and continues during their later years.  I didn’t really relate to the characters but it did get you thinking about friendships, feminism and relationships in general.”

Great  reviews everyone.  Keep on rocking and reading.  Libraries Rock!