When the Emperor was Divine by Julie Otsuka

 

What is your favorite banned book?

A Japanese family that is living in Berkely California is evacuated to a Japanese internment camp in Utah.  Their father was arrested on December 7^th and shipped somewhere separately.  Each family member is impacted in a different way.  As they return after the war, it is hard to adjust back to life amongst neighbors who labeled them the enemy.

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This was a short, but powerful book.  It was very thought provoking.

·       Sparse prose describes the story of one family of Japanese heritage that was taken to an internment camp by the U.S. Government during WWII and how it impacted their lives.

·       The book is written in five chapters, each with a different perspective (mother, daughter, son, family, father).

·       The family remained unnamed through the novel and could have been anyone.

·       This book was banned in Muskego, Wisconsin, by the school board in 2022 for the advanced English class as it did not have a “balanced” viewpoint as it only showed the Japanese internment camp survivor’s perspective.  What a ridiculous reason to ban a book.  I thought this book would be a perfect book to read and discuss in a literature or history class.

·       This was a great read for Asian American Pacific Islander month.

Overall, When the Emperor was Divine by Julie Otsuka is a powerful book about one family’s experience in the Japanese Internment campus during WWII.  I’m still thinking about this book a week after finishing it.

Book Source:  Purchased from Amazon.com

 

Six Days in Bombay by Alka Joshi

 

Title: Six Days in Bombay

Author:  Alka Joshi

Narrated by:  Sneha Mathan

Publisher: Harlequin Audio

Length: Approximately 12 hours and 24 minutes

Source: Audiobook from NetGalley.  Thank-you!

What is your favorite coming of age story?

Sonia is a young nurse in Bombay.  She has grown up ostracized as the daughter of Englishman and an Indian mother.  Her father left the young family when she was three years old.  Her brother died shortly after, and her mother worked hard to raise her.  Now at twenty-three, she takes pride in her work as a nurse.  Over the course of six days, she spends time with a new patient, Mira Novak.  Mira helps her to see life in a new way and to help her to leave her sheltered world and take a new look at life.  Will Sonia find love, closure on what happened to her father, and what she wants to do with her life moving forward?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This was a great coming of age novel and I liked seeing Sonia’s growth through the novel. 

·       I previously read and enjoyed The Henna Artist by this author, and I enjoyed reading this work by her as well.

·       This novel was set in the spring of 1937, mostly in Bombay, but there is also travel to Europe.  I thought it was a fascinating time period as Ghandi was mentioned and the relationship between Indians and the English is tense.  There is also signs of the lead up to WWII.

·       Sonia has unresolved issues with her father Owen Falstaff.  Owen swept her mother off her feet and lived with her as a husband until he suddenly announced one day that he was leaving for England and that he already had a family back there.  He sent money for Sonia’s birthday every year, but she never heard from him again after he left when she was three.  It made me wonder how many children were born like this and abandoned? Why did some men abandon their Indian wife and children while others brought them back to England?

·       Sonia is called blackie by English people and white by Indian people.  She doesn’t feel comfortable in either world and is constantly trying to prove herself.

·       Mira Novak was a fascinating character.  I was interested to learn at the end that she was based on real artist.  She challenged Sonia’s feeling on what life could be.  Mira is also half white and half Indian, but she has become a successful artist and does not live by modern conventions.  Sonia is half scandalized by her tales and half fascinated.

·       Women’s health was a big issue in this book.  It disturbed the characters that in 1937, a woman could die from a miscarriage.  It’s unfortunate that is can still happen today.  An Indian doctor realized things were going wrong, but his superior, a white doctor, did not take him seriously.

·       I enjoyed the narrator of this audiobook.  It was a great story.  It moved a little slow at first, but once the story was set, I couldn’t stop listening to it.

·       There was some romance in this story, but really it was Mira and Sonia’s story. There were also a few slight mysterious events that were resolved by the end of the story that kept me hooked.

·       This was a perfect book to read for Asian American Pacific Islander Month

Overall, Six Days in Bombay by Alka Joshi was a fascinating historical fiction novel with great characters and setting. 

The Pursuit of Elena Bradford by Ann H. Gabhart (Austenprose PR Tour)

 

Do you have a favorite vacation spot?  One place I think is wonderful is Mackinac Island in Michigan.  It’s a beautiful and unforgettable place full of history and natural beauty.  My great great grandparents met on the island working there one summer and married.

Elena Bradford’s father has recently died, and her mother discovered that he left them greatly in debt.  The only way she can think of to save the family from destitution is to find a wealthy husband for her “old maid” daughter, twenty-two-year-old Elena.  Her younger daughter, Ivy, is the beauty of the family, but is considered too young for this task.  They travel to a resort, Graham Springs, Kentucky for the summer.  While there, Elena works on her artwork and meets two men who will not meet her mother’s standards.  Kirby Frazier is a penniless artist, while Andrew Harper has come to the resort to repair his wounded heart after being left at the altar.  Will Elena find love, or will she marry an older wealthy suitor to save her family?  When a mysterious woman arrives alone at the resort, her fate will change the Elena’s path.

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I always love a good love triangle and the Elena, Kirby, and Andrew love triangle was a good story.  I liked the resolution.

·       The story had an interesting mystery about halfway through and also some action/suspense towards the end of the novel.

·       I loved the setting of the Graham Springs resort in Kentucky.  I didn’t realize this was a real place until the end of the novel.  The author’s note was so interesting.  I was especially fascinated to learn that the mysterious death was a true mystery that was never solved.

·       This was a slower read for me, but I still enjoyed the story.  It seemed to slow down in the middle for me, but once the mysterious beautiful Vanessa arrives alone at the resort, the action picked up. 

·       I loved the focus on healing throughout the novel.  Elena, her sister Ivy, and her mother are still healing from her father’s death.  Andrew is healing from his fiancée’s betrayal. Other characters have similar stories of coming to the resort to heal.

·       I loved the beauty of nature that was woven throughout the story.

·       Cats were a key feature.  Elena must leave her beloved cat at home and then a mysterious cat at the resort helps her to survive a misadventure.

·       I loved how there was dancing every night at the resort.  It sounded like such a wonderful place to visit.

Overall, the Pursuit of Elena Bradford by Ann H. Gabhart is a delightful historical romance and a perfect read to bring along on any vacation.

Book Source: Thank-you to @annhgabhart @revellfiction @austenprosefor the review copy of this novel as part of the Austenprose PR Tour

Verity by Colleen Hoover

 

Title:  Verity

Author:  Colleen Hover

Narrated by:  Vanessa Johansson, Amy Landon

Publisher: Audible Studios

Length: Approximately 8 hours and 10 minutes

Source: Audiobook from Amazon Music monthly allotment and physical book from the Kewaunee Public Library.

What is your favorite novel with an unreliable narrator?

Lowen Ashley has been caring for her mother who was dying of cancer.  She put her career as an author on hold and now that her mother has passed away, she finds herself in financial ruin.  She is offered a job to finish the remaining books in a wildly successful series by Verity Crawford.  Verity has been in an accident and has also recently lost her two daughters.  Lowen goes to Verity’s home to go through her notes to make an outline to finish eh series.  While there, she discovers Verity’s shocking autobiography. She also finds herself attracted to Verity’s husband, Jeremy.  Is Verity all that she seems to be?  What will Lowen do with the information that she has?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This was the Page-turners Book Club selection for May at the Kewaunee Public Library.  Sadly, I had to miss the meeting due to a luncheon.  Happily, the luncheon was for my oldest son who won a scholarship.

·       The audiobook had great narrators, but I really didn’t like listening to an audiobook that was filled with constant F bombs.  That’s not how I talk in my everyday life, and I don’t really care to hear it.  There was also a LOT of sex scenes which were also awkward to listen to on an audiobook.

·       This was a hard book to read, there were scenes of violence against unborn children and babies.  It was really hard to imagine a mother that is obsessed with her husband and hates her own children.

·       There was a gothic Jane Eyre type vibe to this book.  Verity is the “wife in the attic” while Lowen is the young new author working downstairs.

·       Positives about this book:

o   The story moved along, and I wanted to know what would happen.  It was an engaging plot.

o   It reminded me of a soap opera with lots of drama.

o   It had an open ending – what was the truth?

·       Negatives about this book:

o   Violence against children. I could hardly read it – I was horrified.

o   Graphic, constant sex scenes.

o   Cheating.

o   Repetitive and not well written.

o   There were a lot of plot holes, and the ending wasn’t plausible.

Overall, I didn’t really care for Verity by Colleen Hoover. This is my first Colleen Hoover novel and I’m not sure that I want to read more.  Are all of her other books like this?

Every Hour Until Then by Gabrielle Meyer (Austenprose PR Tour)

 

What book did you read over the weekend?  I read Every Hour Until Then by Gabrielle Meyer while camping this weekend and I couldn’t put this book down!

Kathryn lives in two worlds.  In 1888, she is a Victorian lady from a rich and socially prominent  family while in 1938 she is a museum curator putting together an exhibit for the British Museum on Jack the Ripper.  She lives a day in one world, goes to sleep, and then wakes up in the other.  She has until the age of 25 to pick the timeline that she would like to live in forever.  As she goes through the material for the museum exhibit in 1938, she realizes that her beloved sister in 1888 is Jack the Ripper’s last victim.  How can she save her sister in 1888, but not impact history?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This is the fifth book in the timeless series.  I seem to love each book even more than the last book.  This book can be read as a standalone, but it’s fun to see returning characters from other books and know their back stories.

·       I really liked how Kathryn was able to use both timelines to put together the clues to solve the mystery of her sister’s exile from her family, and to solve the ultimate mystery of who was Jack the Ripper.  It definitely kept me riveted!!  I have always been fascinated by Jack the Ripper and I though author Gabrielle Meyer really put the facts together in an engaging way while also putting together an interesting theory of who the Ripper was and why he committed his crimes.

·       The love between Kathryn and Austen in 1888 was palpable and alive.  I greatly enjoyed their romance.  It was very poignant in the future timeline when she saw old Austen from afar and he would not come to her.

·       This is a clean read.  There is some kissing.  Jack the Ripper and his crimes are discussed, but they happen off screen and the story doesn’t go into detail on the gruesomeness of the crimes.

·       There were lots of goodies at the end of this novel including an author’s note, historical note, a chapter from the next novel, and discussion questions.  I can’t wait for November and the next novel in this series – Through Each Tomorrow.  One setting is Fredericksburg, Virginia.  I have visited that beautiful city a few times in my life.

Overall, Every Hour Until Then is a captivating time travel historical romance with plenty of mystery and suspense and great characters.  I highly recommend it and this entire series!

Book Source: Thank-you to @gabrielle_meyer @bethanyhousefiction @austenprose for the review copy of this novel as part of the Austenprose PR Tour

To Kiss a Knight by Grace Hitchcock (AustenProse PR Book Tour)

 

What are you planning to read this weekend?  It’s a holiday weekend in the United States (Memorial Day) and I am going camping with family and friends. I am loading up my bag with lots of different types of books to read from nonfiction to historical romance.

Vivienne Poppy is a young woman and orphan who writes novels using the nom de plume of Lady Larkby.  Her evil stepbrother is trying to force her to marry a man that she finds contemptable.  She runs away to live in the home that is her only inheritance and to support herself through her writing.  She is kidnapped by a handsome highwayman along the way only to find out once she reaches Bath that there is actually a Sir Larby who everyone assumes is her husband.  Sir Sebastian Larby’s dying grandmother has found out about Vivienne’s existence and is thrilled.  Will pretending to be married to Sebastian solve her problems while keeping his grandmother happy?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This novel starts off with great exciting with Vivienne being kidnapped by a dashing highwayman.  Things about him don’t add up and he rescues her in her time of need.  They also share a passionate kiss before he leaves her at her home in Bath. 

·       This novel engaged me from the first page until the last.  It was a quick read and a real page turner!  Adventure sure seemed to follow Vivienne and Sebastion.

·       I liked how Vivienne was an independent woman trying to support herself as an author.  I loved her independence!

·       This was a lovely historical romance.  I felt the romance throughout the novel and was routing for the two main characters to get together.

·       I like the trope of fake marriage and I really like stories with honorable men who work as highwaymen.  Sebastion is a Yeoman of the Guard for the Prince Regent and uses his disguise as a highwaymen to take care of delicate matters for the Prince Regent.

·       This is a regency historical romance and takes place in 1813 primarily in Bath.

·       Vivienne has a tendance to get herself into scrapes that made me laugh out loud a few times.  I liked the humor in this novel.

·       I liked the Author’s Note at the end about the real locations and history in the novel.

·       This is the second book in the “A Novel of Best Laid Plans” series.  I read it fine as a standalone novel, but I definitely need to go back and read the first book in the series.

Overall, if you are looking for a light, romantic Regency historical fiction novel full of adventure, look no further than To Kiss a Knight by Grace Hitchcock.  I need to read more novels by this author!

Book Source: Thank-you to  @gracehitchcockbooks @kregelbooks @austenprose for the review copy of this novel as part of the Austenprose PR Tour

GIVEAWAY- For a chance to win a copy of this novel, please enter the giveaway on Instagram at:  https://www.instagram.com/laurasreviews_1/p/DJ4LTfHuQRX/

Persuasion by Jane Austen

 

Title:  Persuasion

Author:  Jane Austen

Narrated by:  Terah Tucker, Catherine Bilson, Graham Scott, Linda Barrans, Denis Daly

Publisher: Blackstone Publishing

Length: Approximately 8 hours and 23 minutes

Source: Checked out with Hoopla through the Kewaunee Public Library.  Thank-you!

What is your favorite book that has an amazing friendship portrayal?  I love Anne and Mrs. Smith’s friendship in Persuasion by Jane Austen.

Anne Elliot is the middle-overlooked daughter of a baronet that has fallen on financial hard times.  They rent out their estate and travel to Bath.  Captain Wentworth, a man that Anne had broken an engagement with eight years before, has returned. How has time changed them and their relationship?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I started Persuasion in April and finished it in May for the What the Dickens Book Club.  I also read it to celebrate Jane Austen’s 250^th birthday.  I am trying to reread all six of her novels this year.

·       I loved the full cast audiobook!  It was so fun to listen to and brings an extra depth to the story.

·       As I started this book again, I immediately thought, poor Anne.  Her family does not value her at all.

·       I love when she visits her sister Mary, and everyone finds her a comforting person to talk to and lays out their woes.  They all have conflicting stories about each other.  It was so funny!

·       I like when Captain Wentworth notices other men, like Mr. Eliot, admiring Anne.

·       I love that Anne maintains her friendship with Mrs.  Smith against her family’s wishes.  Mrs. Smith is in poor position with her husband dying, no wealth, and poor health.

·       Mr. Elliot seems like a nice man until Mrs. Smith shares his real personality.  He did not like Sir Walter nor Elizabeth as a youth and openly mocked them amongst his friends.  Now that he is an older wealthy widower (although not old!), he sees the importance of titles and connections.  He tries to win the affections of the Elliots.  He is afraid Sir Walter will marry Mrs. Clay and disinherit him.  Anne is very conflicted as Mr. Elliot is attractive, interesting, and pleasing, but it disguised a “user’s” personality.  It’s a surprise when he runs off with Mrs. Clay in the end.

·       I can excuse Mr. Elliot as Captain Wentworth explains that jealousy of him is what finally prompted his  wonderful letter as well as Anne’s thoughts on the constancy of women.

·       Where do you think Anne and Captain Wentworth ended up?  Sailing the high seas?  Kellynch?  Other?

Overall, Persuasion by Jane Austen is still one of my favorite Austen novels.  I get something new out of it every time I read it.  I really liked reading it as a full cast audiobook this time around.

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

 

Are you reading any books this month for a book club?  If so, what book?  Do you like it or dislike it?

In a retirement community in England, four friends (Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron) have a weekly meeting whether they work on solving cold cases from the past.  When a murder takes place in their community, will they be able to catch the killer before they strike again?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       The Thursday Murder Club was my pick for the Rogue Book Club in May.  Only one person had finished the book, so we unfortunately were not able to have a good discussion about it.  There were great questions at the end of my copy of the book which would be good to use at a future book club.  Some book club members found it too slow with too many characters.  The book club member who had finished it had read it on audiobook and greatly recommended it.  I usually always finish my book club books but didn’t quite made it this time.  I finished it two days after book club!

·       This book was more about character building than even the mystery itself.  I loved the quirky and likeable characters.  I loved all the different characters in the senior community.  They felt like friends, and I can’t wait to read the next book.

·       The characters do face the realities of aging in both positive ways (experiences, contacts, etc.) and negative ways (dementia, health, etc.)

·       Joyce has recently moved to the community and is the newest member of the club.

·       PC Donna has recently moved to the area from London and is happy to be working on the murder case.

·       This novel has short chapters that keep the story moving.  I also enjoyed the humor.

·       The book is told through many point of views.  Joyce is the only first-person point of view.

·        I really enjoyed the ending of this mystery.  A lot of loose ends were tied up.

·       The next book in this series is The Man Who Died Twice and I can’t wait to read it!

Overall, The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman is a great cozy character driven mystery.  I look forward to the movie later this year.  I’m glad I finally read this and can’t wait to continue with the series.

Book Source:  This was a gift from a dear friend.

Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang

 

Title:  Julie Chan is Dead

Author:  Liann Zhang

Narrated by:  Yu-Li Alice Shen

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Length: Approximately 9 hours and 39 minutes

Source: Review Copy from Simon & Schuster Audio.  Thank-you!

Who is your favorite book villain and why?

Julie Chan’s parents died in an accident when she was a child.  A wealthy couple adopts her twin, Chloe, while their cruel aunt raises Julie.  Julie is struggling to make ends meet while her twin, Chloe, is a wealthy influencer.  They live estranged lives until Julie receives a mysterious call one day from Chloe.  She investigates and discovers Chloe dead in her apartment.  Instead of reporting Chloe’s death, she reports her own and takes over Chloe’s fabulous life.  Will the truth be discovered?  What is going on with the mysterious group of premier influencers that have invited her for a week long getaway on an island?

My thoughts on this audiobook:

·       This was a very unique story and audiobook, and it definitely caught my attention on a long drive for work.  Yu-Li Alice Shen was a great narrator and storyline was riveting.

·       I was surprised to learn that this was Liann Zhang’s debut novel.  It was a great debut!

·       The story grew very surreal when they were on the island.  The story was weird at times, but also enjoyable.

·       It was an interesting look into how seductive social media likes and validation are and how that can take over your life.

·       Roughly half of the book was a look into Julie taking over Chloe’s life and the other half was going to the island with the other premier influencers.

·       This was both a dark comedy and a thriller.

·       I came into this book knowing nothing about it and it took me by surprise.  The twists and turns in the story made for a wild ride.

·       I didn’t really like the character of Julie Chan at all, but that didn’t stop me from wanting to read about her and see where all the craziness went.  She was a good anti-hero.

·       The ending was open and intriguing. I’m still thinking about it.

·       This was on NPR Book of the Day this week with a nice interview with author Liann Zhang.  She was an Instagrammer and influencer herself in her teens.  It was interesting!

Overall, Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang was a unique enthralling dark comedy and thriller.  I recommend for someone who is looking for something new and different to read.

Heartwood by Amity Gaige

 

Title:  Heartwood

Author:  Amity Gaige

Narrated by:  Justine Lupe, Alma Cuervo, Rebecca Lowman, Ali Andre Ali, Cary Hite, Helen Laser

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Length: Approximately 8 hours and 45 minutes

Source: Review Copy from Simon & Schuster Audio.  Thank-you!

What is a goal that you hope to accomplish in the next ten years?  I hope to get back to the Grand Canyon so that my kids can see it for the first time.

Valerie Gillis is forty-two years old and close to finishing her goal of hiking the Appalachian Trail when she goes missing in Maine.  Alone and lost, she writes her thoughts down for her mother.  Maine State Game Warden, Beverly, is leading the task force looking for her.  Lena is a seventy-six-year-old retired woman in Connecticut that is fascinated by the disappearance.  Will her armchair sleuthing help to find Valerie?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I love, love, loved the full cast audiobook recording.  There were three main points of view:  Valerie, Beverly, and Lena.  I also loved the interviews/conversations that popped up throughout book with her hiking buddy, Santo.  The voice actor really brought Santo to life!  I loved his story of being a black, “fat” hiker on the Appalachian Trail.  I want a book just on Santo’s adventures.

·       I enjoyed the hiking aspects of the Appalachian Trail as well as the relationships between hikers on the trail. 

·       Valerie’s husband, Gregory, also follows along and meets Valerie at stops along the way to keep her supplied.  She decides during the hike that she no longer loves Gregory and lets him know. Did Gregory have anything to do with her disappearance?

·       Valerie’s trail nickname was Sparrow.  I thought the trail nicknames were interesting.

·       Valerie decided to go on this hike after being burned out as a nurse during the pandemic.

·       I enjoyed the guitar music at the end of the audiobook.

·       Over the course of the book, I grew to love Valerie, Beverly, and Lena as well-rounded characters.   I like how the book looked to the future to where their lives went after this mystery.

·       The pacing of this book was slow at times, it’s not a fast-running thriller, but I was intrigued and wanted to know why Valerie was lost and whether she would be found.

·       This is a Read with Jenna Book.

Heartwood by Amity Gaige was an intriguing contemporary suspense audiobook set in nature with well rounded characters.  The audiobook with the full cast was a great experience.