This was a really good book! What does a German plane painted in allied colors carrying Germans and Americans reveal about WW2? Back in 1945 just prior to the end of WW2 this plane carrying seven high ranking military individuals from opposing sides comes into some horrendous weather over Iceland. Due to massive icing the plane just can't make it and crashes into a glacier. Fifty plus years later we come into the krux of the story as only a handful of American military know what damning cargo was aboard that downed craft. An all out mission to recover this plane is launched and nothing will stand in the way of recovery.
This story has it all! Intrigue, plot, conspiracy theories, "good guys" and "bad guys". This book would make a great movie! Be ready for some thought provoking possibilities about government cover-ups.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Saturday, September 24, 2011
The Radleys by Matt Haig
My first "vampire book" ever! :) On that note and perhaps thankfully so, I have no comparison at all that I can make. Having seen many books in this genre and the apparent blood lust going on, I can say this one may be a bit different.
Primarily a story about a family of abstainers, well at least the mother and father. The two teenage children have no idea they even are vampires, until the sister crosses path with an unsavory young man who has other plans in a darkened field.
What kind of tickled me was the fact that in the story all mention of vampires seems a quite normal happening. Police are aware and have made deals with certain members in that society, people have seen killings, and there is even mention of Neckbook (a play on Facebook) for those that partake. It all seems a perfectly normal part of society.
Even though this is a book about a family of abstainers, there is still quite a bit of tasting and thirst going around, towards the end of the book I felt I was reading the word "blood" at least every sentence and I was getting a bit worn out by reading it over and over. Despite that, it was an interesting read and quite fun for my first introduction into this sort of story. Now all other vamp books will be compared to The Radleys.
This book was a gift through Goodreads.com, to read more about the author and his works visit www.matthaig.com
Primarily a story about a family of abstainers, well at least the mother and father. The two teenage children have no idea they even are vampires, until the sister crosses path with an unsavory young man who has other plans in a darkened field.
What kind of tickled me was the fact that in the story all mention of vampires seems a quite normal happening. Police are aware and have made deals with certain members in that society, people have seen killings, and there is even mention of Neckbook (a play on Facebook) for those that partake. It all seems a perfectly normal part of society.
Even though this is a book about a family of abstainers, there is still quite a bit of tasting and thirst going around, towards the end of the book I felt I was reading the word "blood" at least every sentence and I was getting a bit worn out by reading it over and over. Despite that, it was an interesting read and quite fun for my first introduction into this sort of story. Now all other vamp books will be compared to The Radleys.
This book was a gift through Goodreads.com, to read more about the author and his works visit www.matthaig.com
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
The Crossing by Serita Ann Jakes
The Crossing is a surprising read. Upon reading the book jacket I was anticipating not much more than a murder mystery with a few possible twists. What I wasn't expecting was a Christian murder mystery.
This story is told from the voice of several different characters and flashes back and forth between the time of the murder and present day, I actually like this style of writing. It gives us a bit more indepth feel for what is happening and why.
While at a train crossing, a bus loaded with football players, cheerleaders and teachers is the scene to a terrifying event that haunts two of the main characters to this day. An unknown man enters the stopped bus and starts shooting. Among the chaos a young teacher is fatally shot and here the story begins. One of her students (and best friend) Claudia is by her side until her last breath. The unusually long train seems to never end and because of this the young teacher really stands no chance of surviving but during this time we experience the last thoughts of a dying person and the uncanny realizations that come too late to act upon. The beginning of each chapter captures these moments of clarity 10-years ago as BJ Remington's life is fading away.
In present day, Claudia is now married to an up and coming ADA, she is a mother and a woman going through the nightmare haunting her to this day of the unsolved murder of her friend BJ. Through a series of happenstance meetings, the three students most involved on the bus long ago are reunited and as a result the process of opening and solving this cold case comes to fruition.
Along the way, we follow these characters seeing their good side and not so good side. Each follows paths that will either lead them to happiness and faith or to the depths of despair.
This story has a number of twists and will keep you guessing (or at least in my case) up until the end when the final "ah ha" is revealed. Although I would definitely classify this as a Christian fiction it is not filled with a preachy style, it would be appealing to a wide variety of readers. One of the bonuses to having a faith based novel, is that a lot of the "fillers" some authors tend to use to fatten up their stories (unnecessary expletives, graphic scenes of a sexual nature, etc) just are not here and instead you get more of a storyteller version of a good story.
* This book was a gift through Goodreads.com giveaway. Thank you!
This story is told from the voice of several different characters and flashes back and forth between the time of the murder and present day, I actually like this style of writing. It gives us a bit more indepth feel for what is happening and why.
While at a train crossing, a bus loaded with football players, cheerleaders and teachers is the scene to a terrifying event that haunts two of the main characters to this day. An unknown man enters the stopped bus and starts shooting. Among the chaos a young teacher is fatally shot and here the story begins. One of her students (and best friend) Claudia is by her side until her last breath. The unusually long train seems to never end and because of this the young teacher really stands no chance of surviving but during this time we experience the last thoughts of a dying person and the uncanny realizations that come too late to act upon. The beginning of each chapter captures these moments of clarity 10-years ago as BJ Remington's life is fading away.
In present day, Claudia is now married to an up and coming ADA, she is a mother and a woman going through the nightmare haunting her to this day of the unsolved murder of her friend BJ. Through a series of happenstance meetings, the three students most involved on the bus long ago are reunited and as a result the process of opening and solving this cold case comes to fruition.
Along the way, we follow these characters seeing their good side and not so good side. Each follows paths that will either lead them to happiness and faith or to the depths of despair.
This story has a number of twists and will keep you guessing (or at least in my case) up until the end when the final "ah ha" is revealed. Although I would definitely classify this as a Christian fiction it is not filled with a preachy style, it would be appealing to a wide variety of readers. One of the bonuses to having a faith based novel, is that a lot of the "fillers" some authors tend to use to fatten up their stories (unnecessary expletives, graphic scenes of a sexual nature, etc) just are not here and instead you get more of a storyteller version of a good story.
* This book was a gift through Goodreads.com giveaway. Thank you!
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Historical fiction may not seem like a fun subject, but I have to say, reading stories such as "Between Shades of Gray" are worth our time and effort. To imagine and get into a character and experience just some of what others truly lived through and managed to survive is an incredible journey.
This story follows three members of the Vilska family; a mother (Elena), her 15-year old daughter (Lina) and her 10-year old son (Jonas) on what begins a 12 year imprisonment in a labor camp in Siberia. The Vilska family, in part, are gathered up one night and wisked away with only the clothes on their back and what they had an opportunity to pack in a single suitcase each in less than 20 minutes. The timeframe is early 1940's and the Soviets are on a mission (just as Hitler is at the same time) to purge itself of people's who they deemed 'criminals'. During Stalin's reign he was responsible for over 20 million deaths. The happenings in this fictional account were taken in part from interviews the author had with actual survivors.
The Vilkas, an educated and beautiful Lithuanian family, were crammed into cattle trains and hauled across Russia over a manner of 12-14 months until they reached their final destination. The father, Kostas, had been separated from him family and likely died in a slave camp, the rest of the family went to labor camps. Along the way, many died, families were separated, they were forced to work and live in deplorable conditions with no medical care, little to no food, housing which was barely above living in a cardboard box at times.
Despite horrific happenings, we read a story that is sad, scary, moving although the writer kept much of the graphic horrors off her pages. You will be left realizing that irregardless of what is going on the human spirit can still survive and smile and find hope. If you are even remotely interested in the history during this timeframe, you will want to pick up this book.
http://www.rutasepetys.com/ for more information about the author and this book. There is a 11 minute video on the author's website that you may want to view.
This story follows three members of the Vilska family; a mother (Elena), her 15-year old daughter (Lina) and her 10-year old son (Jonas) on what begins a 12 year imprisonment in a labor camp in Siberia. The Vilska family, in part, are gathered up one night and wisked away with only the clothes on their back and what they had an opportunity to pack in a single suitcase each in less than 20 minutes. The timeframe is early 1940's and the Soviets are on a mission (just as Hitler is at the same time) to purge itself of people's who they deemed 'criminals'. During Stalin's reign he was responsible for over 20 million deaths. The happenings in this fictional account were taken in part from interviews the author had with actual survivors.
The Vilkas, an educated and beautiful Lithuanian family, were crammed into cattle trains and hauled across Russia over a manner of 12-14 months until they reached their final destination. The father, Kostas, had been separated from him family and likely died in a slave camp, the rest of the family went to labor camps. Along the way, many died, families were separated, they were forced to work and live in deplorable conditions with no medical care, little to no food, housing which was barely above living in a cardboard box at times.
Despite horrific happenings, we read a story that is sad, scary, moving although the writer kept much of the graphic horrors off her pages. You will be left realizing that irregardless of what is going on the human spirit can still survive and smile and find hope. If you are even remotely interested in the history during this timeframe, you will want to pick up this book.
http://www.rutasepetys.com/ for more information about the author and this book. There is a 11 minute video on the author's website that you may want to view.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
The Terror by Dan Simmons
What I liked and didn't favor about this book: the story is based upon the failed Franklin Expedition to find and navigate the Northwest Passage in the early-mid 1800's. The captain's and crews of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror (Her Majesty's Ship) set forth and quickly find themselves trapped in ice in the Arctic. Brutal weather keeps them virtually locked in place for years, with ever increasing disease, dwindling stores of food and medicines and no rescue in sight.
The author takes this horrific tale and weaves a "what could've happened" scenario and overlays a creepy element of horror on top of that. Be prepared to be immersed though! At nearly 800 pages this book goes into detail at times that although sets a tone of accuracy and historical relevance, can sometimes wane on being excruitatingly tough to plow through. By page 150 or so I finally became hooked into the story, up to that point it was tough for me to feel like I knew or cared about the characters. For me it was similar to reading the first couple books of the Old Testament, a lot of names and not a lot of "meat and potatoes".
The entire middle portion of this story is in depth, you can nearly feel the horror and pain of the men who made this type of journey and wonder how on Earth anyone could have ever survived such an ordeal back in the days when this type of exploration was all the rage.
During the last 75-100 pages or so, the book moves from the story line in a huge leap. Once I traversed the complete change of story and got on board with the new direction, I liked it as well but it almost seemed like a "sequel" portion to what had transpired previously. All in all, I enjoyed this historical fiction. I think I learned a lot on my journey through this tale both in terms of exploration, survival, and eskimo life and folklore.
To learn more about this story or other's that Dan Simmons has written, visit www.dansimmons.com
The author takes this horrific tale and weaves a "what could've happened" scenario and overlays a creepy element of horror on top of that. Be prepared to be immersed though! At nearly 800 pages this book goes into detail at times that although sets a tone of accuracy and historical relevance, can sometimes wane on being excruitatingly tough to plow through. By page 150 or so I finally became hooked into the story, up to that point it was tough for me to feel like I knew or cared about the characters. For me it was similar to reading the first couple books of the Old Testament, a lot of names and not a lot of "meat and potatoes".
The entire middle portion of this story is in depth, you can nearly feel the horror and pain of the men who made this type of journey and wonder how on Earth anyone could have ever survived such an ordeal back in the days when this type of exploration was all the rage.
During the last 75-100 pages or so, the book moves from the story line in a huge leap. Once I traversed the complete change of story and got on board with the new direction, I liked it as well but it almost seemed like a "sequel" portion to what had transpired previously. All in all, I enjoyed this historical fiction. I think I learned a lot on my journey through this tale both in terms of exploration, survival, and eskimo life and folklore.
To learn more about this story or other's that Dan Simmons has written, visit www.dansimmons.com
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman
I closed my eyes and opened them in a world of Georgian charm. This story transported me into the heartbreak and wonderment of a 12-year old girl.
When do you know that an author has crafted a story so well written? For me it is when I am seeing or feeling the story through one of the characters and am so invested in the "what's next" that I just cannot put the book down. That is exactly how I felt while reading "Saving CeeCee Honeycutt". I found myself with tears streaming down my face in sadness, in happiness; I laughed out loud; I was angered and a page later touched by the raw emotion of kindred spirits.
There are just not enough good things to say about CeeCee and the journey she finds herself on. What begins with the burden of a young girl trying to manage and live with a mother who is spiraling hopelessly into psychosis while her father all but abandons the family to work, alcohol and implied marital infidelities; turns into a tale of emotional healing.
The road is bumpy getting there and along the way we are introduced to memorable characters who, like a beautiful lace pattern, surrounds a young girl and allows her to blossom into what she was always destined to be...happy.
Pick this one up! To read more about this book or the author visit http://bethhoffman.net/
When do you know that an author has crafted a story so well written? For me it is when I am seeing or feeling the story through one of the characters and am so invested in the "what's next" that I just cannot put the book down. That is exactly how I felt while reading "Saving CeeCee Honeycutt". I found myself with tears streaming down my face in sadness, in happiness; I laughed out loud; I was angered and a page later touched by the raw emotion of kindred spirits.
There are just not enough good things to say about CeeCee and the journey she finds herself on. What begins with the burden of a young girl trying to manage and live with a mother who is spiraling hopelessly into psychosis while her father all but abandons the family to work, alcohol and implied marital infidelities; turns into a tale of emotional healing.
The road is bumpy getting there and along the way we are introduced to memorable characters who, like a beautiful lace pattern, surrounds a young girl and allows her to blossom into what she was always destined to be...happy.
Pick this one up! To read more about this book or the author visit http://bethhoffman.net/
Saturday, September 3, 2011
The Last Jew of Treblinka a Memoir by Chil Rajchman
Let's face it, a book about the Holocaust and it's survivors are grim. It is a period in our world's history that is so undeniably wrong and filled with horror that to read any account is heart wrenching.
This is a very short read and I completed it in less than two hours. However, unlike other stories told on this subject this one did not bring me to tears, it is told in a pointedly direct manner and almost devoid of emotion. I dare not suggest that the experience was less emotive, it's just the way the story is told. In all fairness, I would expect any survivor of Treblinka, as there were very few, to process their time spent at this slaughter camp in a way that no other human who has not experienced the same atrocities could probably imagine. So to have the story (which was originally written in Yiddish and subsequently translated) to be blunt is almost welcoming. I am not sure if this particular account was shared more deeply on a different level if reading it would not leave the reader with nightmares.
If you are interested in the history of this general time period in Germany and the leadership and actions during that time, it is well worth adding this to your library.
Stories like this become embedded in your person and part of the learning experience then becomes part of you. Perhaps I am fascinated with this as I come from some German heritage, I joined the military and specifically asked to be stationed in Germany; it is part of my "cleansing of guilt" for the behaviors of those who shared some of what my ancestors may/may not have agreed with?
This is a very short read and I completed it in less than two hours. However, unlike other stories told on this subject this one did not bring me to tears, it is told in a pointedly direct manner and almost devoid of emotion. I dare not suggest that the experience was less emotive, it's just the way the story is told. In all fairness, I would expect any survivor of Treblinka, as there were very few, to process their time spent at this slaughter camp in a way that no other human who has not experienced the same atrocities could probably imagine. So to have the story (which was originally written in Yiddish and subsequently translated) to be blunt is almost welcoming. I am not sure if this particular account was shared more deeply on a different level if reading it would not leave the reader with nightmares.
If you are interested in the history of this general time period in Germany and the leadership and actions during that time, it is well worth adding this to your library.
Stories like this become embedded in your person and part of the learning experience then becomes part of you. Perhaps I am fascinated with this as I come from some German heritage, I joined the military and specifically asked to be stationed in Germany; it is part of my "cleansing of guilt" for the behaviors of those who shared some of what my ancestors may/may not have agreed with?
The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman
This is one of those books that I loved the way it began and loved the way it ended, it the middle I was wishy-washy at times, but as I said the ending pulled it back up into one I like and would recommend.
Accepting blame for what there is no blame to be had, making wishes and having them come true, living in despair over one's life; these are the makings of this story. But this is also a tale woven with hope, triumph, and a little bit of that "happily ever after".
One of the sentences that summed up this whole book to me is found on the very last page, "The best way to die is while you're living..."
I don't like giving reviews with all the spoilers, a story is to be read and experienced for the first time by each reader, anything less makes it not worth the time to dive into in the first place. I will say, if you like a book with a little magic - a bit of the unbelievable intermixed with a heartfelt story about the relationship of friends and family then you will be delighted to invest a few hours with this in your hands. Enjoy!
Here is a link to the author's website if you are interested http://alicehoffman.com/
Accepting blame for what there is no blame to be had, making wishes and having them come true, living in despair over one's life; these are the makings of this story. But this is also a tale woven with hope, triumph, and a little bit of that "happily ever after".
One of the sentences that summed up this whole book to me is found on the very last page, "The best way to die is while you're living..."
I don't like giving reviews with all the spoilers, a story is to be read and experienced for the first time by each reader, anything less makes it not worth the time to dive into in the first place. I will say, if you like a book with a little magic - a bit of the unbelievable intermixed with a heartfelt story about the relationship of friends and family then you will be delighted to invest a few hours with this in your hands. Enjoy!
Here is a link to the author's website if you are interested http://alicehoffman.com/
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
I started reading this book and realized about 10 pages into it that I have read it before in the past. Having no recollection of what happened in the book other than knowing it was familiar I continued on. Maybe logic should have told me, if it were a story I liked particularly I would have remembered it?
What drew me in? The front jacket. Highway 66 sign with the Arch in the background. I'm a Missouri girl and the cover is what got me.
This is a dark tale about three women, a mother and her grown daughter and teen daughter, all of whom are quite disturbed in different ways. If you are pulled into what is dark and bad in life, by people who self-hate and abuse their bodies and souls, then this is a great book for you. I, however, found it wrought with deep seated issues that sometimes were completely unnecessary for story development.
As I said once before, I don't like writing a CliffNotes version of ta book as proof that I read it, I don't want to give the story away and ruin it for another reader - I prefer impressions and how the story made me feel. With that said, it's a good story about all that can go wrong in mother-daughter relationships, with a small town double murder as the main story line. I wouldn't recommend this for a young adult though (someone under 16) as there are quite a few adult moments and situations.
If you'd like to visit the author's website here is a link http://gillian-flynn.com/.
What drew me in? The front jacket. Highway 66 sign with the Arch in the background. I'm a Missouri girl and the cover is what got me.
This is a dark tale about three women, a mother and her grown daughter and teen daughter, all of whom are quite disturbed in different ways. If you are pulled into what is dark and bad in life, by people who self-hate and abuse their bodies and souls, then this is a great book for you. I, however, found it wrought with deep seated issues that sometimes were completely unnecessary for story development.
As I said once before, I don't like writing a CliffNotes version of ta book as proof that I read it, I don't want to give the story away and ruin it for another reader - I prefer impressions and how the story made me feel. With that said, it's a good story about all that can go wrong in mother-daughter relationships, with a small town double murder as the main story line. I wouldn't recommend this for a young adult though (someone under 16) as there are quite a few adult moments and situations.
If you'd like to visit the author's website here is a link http://gillian-flynn.com/.
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