What a joy! This book was a delight from start to finish!
The story takes its time, moving slowly but with great atmosphere and nuance. The depictions What a joy! This book was a delight from start to finish!
The story takes its time, moving slowly but with great atmosphere and nuance. The depictions of the relocated British children during WWII were very well-rendered, and this book struck all the right notes of sorrow and hope and fear and loss. The novel's plot is absolutely beautiful—sad but not bleak—with memorable characters on a quest for life and redemption. The author did a phenomenal job of imbuing the whole book with a fairy-tale-like quality, without ever once drawing on any supernatural element. The novel reads almost like a journey, taking its readers on a long adventure through dark and perilous places, and as the tale goes on, the tension grows and the drama unfolds, until finally the readers reach the journey's end and its thoroughly satisfying conclusion....more
A joyful look at a year of Jewish holidays. The short descriptions of this collection function almost as free-verse poems. They capture a bit of the eA joyful look at a year of Jewish holidays. The short descriptions of this collection function almost as free-verse poems. They capture a bit of the emotion and history behind each holiday, and the slender volume would function well both for very young Jewish children and for non-Jews who have never been introduced to these holidays. Don't look for great depth of information here, but if you would like a charming and informational account that conveys a sense of childlike wonder, you won't be disappointed....more
Fantastic book, and well-plotted, with characters so vivid they seem to leap off the page. I enjoyed every moment of this story, and watching the fourFantastic book, and well-plotted, with characters so vivid they seem to leap off the page. I enjoyed every moment of this story, and watching the four main characters grow and change was delightful. Some other good things: • The book centers on shortages and rationing, an aspect of WWII with which I was largely unfamiliar. (How does one even write a WWII novel? What's left to talk about? Well, this, apparently. Educational, and it stands out sharply from the sea of other WWII novels.) • The supporting characters. The teenage son, the elderly cook, the MIA RAF husband—I don't read a lot of books with characters like these, and it was nice to see them here. • The recipes! Don't know if I'll try them, but they were fun to imagine. • The poignant moments. It would be easy for the dramatic moments to be overblown, but these were not. Beautiful, powerful, and unutterably sad at times. • The tone: Not bleak. It was even hopeful. I would recommend this for anyone who is interested in historical fiction, particular with regard to the home front and the families of soldiers who have gone to fight....more
As of this moment, this book has one review and only three ratings (not including mine). That's a pity, because Steve Vernon's Sea Tales deserves to bAs of this moment, this book has one review and only three ratings (not including mine). That's a pity, because Steve Vernon's Sea Tales deserves to be read by a much wider audience. Unfortunately, that audience is not I. I DNF'd after only 4 of the 7 stories.
The writing is great. Moody, atmospheric, gripping. Characters are more nuanced and developed in their few pages here than some other characters are in novels. This author really knows his craft.
That said, I don't care for his style. I stopped reading Stephen King because I decided that gruesome horror tales are not for me, and it turns out, that a large part of what this collection is. I don't know if I'd call this horror, per se—maybe disturbing magical realism—but the subject matter is a little too disturbing for me. If you like authors with excellent skill, are okay with supernatural elements in tales, and can stomach a few morbid and unsettling plot twists, you may love this book....more
Haunting, evocative, tragic. A perfect pairing of poetry and illustrations, this little book captures the crushing tragedy of the Holocaust while stilHaunting, evocative, tragic. A perfect pairing of poetry and illustrations, this little book captures the crushing tragedy of the Holocaust while still acknowledging—even celebrating—the Jewish people, their faith, and their history....more
Well this was certainly different: a celebration of cats that’s too disturbing for me to recommend wholeheartedly to other cat-lovers.
What’s good: QuiWell this was certainly different: a celebration of cats that’s too disturbing for me to recommend wholeheartedly to other cat-lovers.
What’s good: Quite a lot. Beautiful illustrations, bite-sized chunks of information, a wide range of countries, historical context about felines, a timeline—the list goes on and on. I appreciated the mini-biographies for the 30 courageous cats, but I also liked that in between these sections, the author included things that expanded the focus beyond these 30 felines. For example, one section describes a cat’s physical characteristics. Another lists cats with amazing survival stories. These aren’t the 30 cats referred to in the title; they’re simply other cats who are noteworthy. Quick, informative, and fun.
What’s troubling: The cat deaths. Or maybe it’s not just the deaths themselves, but the vague way the book hints at them. For example, there was a cat sent into outer space. She survived the journey and returned safely to Earth. The author makes a big deal about saying that this cat survived the trip; she went to space and lived to tell about it. The author also says that scientists were interested in learning what effects the space travel had had on her brain. And that’s it. Except at the bottom of each cat’s page are the years for its birth and death, and this cat’s death year is the same as her spaceflight. So my initial reaction was horror, because it sounded as though she survived the journey only to be killed by the same scientists who sent her on the mission in the first place . . . and yet I wasn’t sure. It wasn’t stated outright, and so I was left to wonder about it. Eventually, I looked it up, and yes, it was exactly what it sounded like: she came home safely, and they killed her and examined her brain. And now I’m still horrified but also disgusted.
There were other cats whose violent ends are hinted at but never explicitly stated, such as the cat whom pilots took in their planes during WWII missions in 1945. It also died in 1945. (That isn’t a coincidence.) I can’t decide how I feel about this particular approach. I expect that she’s trying to shield her child viewers from something uncomfortable and upsetting, but she’s dropping enough hints that it might be unsettling anyway. And if the hints go unnoticed, then she’s perhaps being misleading. One final example that seems to go the other direction is that of Mrs. Chippy, a male cat who sailed on Ernest Shackleton’s ship. The cat was named Mrs. Chippy because he belonged to (and constantly followed) the ship’s carpenter, who was called Chippy. When the ship was destroyed by ice, Shackleton decided that they couldn’t risk taking the cat away with them. The author states that they gave the cat its favorite food, and that it lay down for a sleep from which it would never awake. So from this, I knew that the healthy cat was killed. But based on this text, I was picturing a cat freezing to death slowly on the ice, or perhaps drowning. I looked for more information online, and it looks as though the cat was shot. As much as I hate the idea, at least it was a much quicker death than I’d envisioned. So how much information is too little? Are kids going to imagine something that’s worse than it was? Or are children going to assume a happy ending where there wasn’t one, as with the cat in space? Would it have been better for some of these cats to have been left off altogether? I don’t know. I was so distressed after reading the section on Mrs. Chippy that I went back to re-read some of the happier chapters until I felt a little better. So this book was both the cause of and the cure for my disquiet.
To be fair, there were only a few cats with disturbing deaths. Many lived long lives and died of natural causes. Some are still alive at the moment. But between even this small amount of disturbing content and the confusing way that it was handled, I feel compelled to take off a star. I’m giving this one a 4....more
This was a lovely WWII story about a very young woman trying to keep her spirits up during the Blitz. I have read several nonfiction accounts praisingThis was a lovely WWII story about a very young woman trying to keep her spirits up during the Blitz. I have read several nonfiction accounts praising the British for their staunch refusal to flee or despair; they kept living their lives as normally as possible in an impossible situation. I loved this book for many reasons, not least of which was the writing style. Pearce seems to have channeled the correct voice for her characters: the slang feels natural, and the mix of optimism, fear, and determination seems spot-on. The characters she has written are lovable, even when the mess up. They are young and brave; they are naive and rash. The whole story feels incredibly realistic because the characters embody the same attitudes that historians describe. The tone might feel too light to some—but that's because it's told in first person from someone who is trying, very deliberately, to be upbeat. My only complaint, such as it is, would have been for the book to be a little bit longer. I felt that the ending was a little bit rushed. And yet, I can't help thinking that the ending is a lot stronger because of the ambiguity. The author didn't spell everything out, and that's probably a good thing. An excellent story....more
Most of these were interesting, although some don’t seem very mysterious, and their inclusion is a bit of a stretch. Some of the people I was expectinMost of these were interesting, although some don’t seem very mysterious, and their inclusion is a bit of a stretch. Some of the people I was expecting to read about weren’t included at all, although I think they are probably featured in other books of this same series. It’s divided into sections by type of mystery (e.g. disappearance), and each section is chronological, which was wonderful. There are illustrations—portraits, photos of interest, and other pictures of the people involved. There is also plenty of background information, with pictures of vehicles and terrain, and maps, too, to help set the scene. This book also makes clear what is known and what is conjecture. It explores a few different theories for the different people involved, and it tells what evidence has led to those suppositions. In the hands of a lesser author, this fascinating and slightly morbid subject matter might be used only for its shock value; here, however, the book’s emphasis is exactly where it belongs: on the historical record, and the analysis of facts....more
This moody and atmospheric tale weaves a story of hope and heartbreak across two timelines. Four unwanted children languLoved it, loved it—SO amazing!
This moody and atmospheric tale weaves a story of hope and heartbreak across two timelines. Four unwanted children languish in boarding school in the 1950s, and a modern woman comes to terms with the murder of her sister years before. The connection between them is a single spooky location, a haunted boarding school that is so well-described in this novel that it’s practically another character. This is a ghost story, but it’s also a mystery with flesh-and-blood characters following concrete evidence—in fact, it’s an almost-perfect blend of the realistic and the supernatural. There is some romance, some intrigue, some terrifying villains, some amazing character development, and some strong protagonists, both male and female. The characters are memorable, and I found myself thinking of them long after the story’s end. Fabulous!...more
World War II, nazis, intrigue, secrets, romance, fine art, a stolen baby, a locked room—what a story! Too bad I didn’t like it.
Don’t get me wrong—it’sWorld War II, nazis, intrigue, secrets, romance, fine art, a stolen baby, a locked room—what a story! Too bad I didn’t like it.
Don’t get me wrong—it’s not bad. In fact, It’s pretty solid in many respects. But despite the amazing content, I thought it was boring. I know that’s only my opinion, and other people loved it (and I’m glad they did), but I thought the first half, at least, was really, really boring. I wouldn’t have finished it if it hadn’t been a book club read, and even then, it was a close call. I don’t know how a story with this much going on could be anything less than gripping, but this was. Again, this is only my opinion, and it was only my own experience. That said, the story picked up about halfway through and got a lot better, and I enjoyed most of the rest of the book. I think with better editing this could have been a much stronger narrative. There are lots of details about things that don’t matter, and stuff that’s really interesting is shoved into the background and never addressed.
My thoughts: The plot, once it gets going, is really pretty good. There are plenty of twists and turns, and not every character is being honest. The secrets are nicely set up. I don’t know much about art, but I didn’t need to in order to follow the story. The artwork is central to the plot, but information about art that’s important to the story is explained in the story. I didn’t like the romance; the whole good-girl-falls-for-bad-boy type has been done before, and this doesn’t take it in any new direction. He says he’s bad for her and should leave. Then he doesn’t. He says she’s somehow special, different from everyone else (but he doesn’t say how).
The whole book really fell apart for me with the storyline about the brother. The very first chapter introduces Flora, her brother, and their parents. They’re nice people, and Swan really made me want to know more about them. The brother has a terrible secret, but we don’t know what. He’s in trouble, but we don’t know why. Chapter one ends with him about to tell Flora. Chapter two opens with Flora already knowing, but the readers don’t, and she has gone off to Paris to look into the apartment with artwork, something completely unrelated to her brother’s crisis, whatever that is. In chapter two, I wanted to know. As the story progresses, Flora is troubled, but we readers still don’t know why. If the main character is bothered by something, readers probably should know about it. The author keeps dropping tantalizing hints about the brother’s mysterious trouble, but now we’re shut out of both characters’ minds. A third of the way through, I still wanted to know. Half way through, I felt really distant from all the characters, but I was still kinda curious. The big reveal (the one that the characters themselves knew from chapter one) doesn’t happen until 73% into the story, and by then, I really didn’t care. She was trying to sustain the tension, I think, but she killed it.
And that leads me to my biggest issue: I don’t know anything about Flora. She spends almost three quarters of the book struggling with some mysterious problem, so how she feels or what she does is never really described. She’s the main character, but she doens’t have much personality, and she just goes along with everything that happens to her. She never came alive in the way that other book characters did for me. I know how Jane Eyre or Samwise Gamgee might react in a given situation because I know their characters so well. I have no idea what Flora would do in any circumstance.
It’s not a bad book, certainly, and when it finally gets going, it’s really something. In fact, this book does something very unusual for a WWII novel: (view spoiler)[It turns an evil nazi into a sympathetic character. (hide spoiler)] Now THAT’s really interesting. It just took too long to happen that I’m not sure it was worth the wait. This book is like a picture that focuses on the wrong thing. It’s definitely solid, and parts of it are interesting, but it could have been so much more.
EDIT: Stumbled across this book on Goodreads. It’s only been two years, but I barely remember it. I don’t even recall what the big secret with the brother was, nor did I remember that there was a romance subplot until I reread my review. Overall, not very memorable....more
This was a difficult book to read. It’s an inspiring story of survival and integrity, but it’s also a story of a mentally ill narcissist and possible This was a difficult book to read. It’s an inspiring story of survival and integrity, but it’s also a story of a mentally ill narcissist and possible serial killer. He was a war hero who may have cracked in Korea, and she was a little girl who found that she was strong. When Terry Jo was 11 years old, her family’s dream vacation at sea turned to tragedy. She was awakened in the night, found her brother and mother murdered, and barely escaped with her life. She spent four days alone on the ocean with no food or water, and, against all odds, she managed to survive. This is her story: a thorough account of the events that led to that horrible night, and a glimpse of the dreadful aftermath....more
Some of these were good, and some weren’t, but this is definitely a case of the whole being better than the sum of its parts. I enjoyed the experienceSome of these were good, and some weren’t, but this is definitely a case of the whole being better than the sum of its parts. I enjoyed the experience of listening to these stories far more than I enjoyed some of the individual contributions. These stories are all related to Sherlock in some way, but there is tremendous variety in each interpretation. Some of the stories are about Sherlock, or about minor characters in the Sherlock stories, or about Doyle, or about people who have read the Sherlock stories; the tones are pleasant, or bleak, or serious, or humorous. They are parodies, or straight retellings, or brand-new stories. They are set in modern day, or Victorian England, or WWII. There is one crossover and one graphic novel. This collection, one big celebration of Sherlock Holmes and Sherlock culture, offers the unique chance to see the iconic character from a variety of perspectives. And while some of these stories would get 5 stars from me and some others only 2, I relished the chance to see Sherlock from someone else’s eyes....more
A highly detailed, clear, non-biased account into a great tragedy of WWII. Well-written and engaging.
The last voyage of the ship U.S.S. Indianapolis wA highly detailed, clear, non-biased account into a great tragedy of WWII. Well-written and engaging.
The last voyage of the ship U.S.S. Indianapolis was one of those events where everything goes wrong. The sinking was only the beginning of the nightmare for the 900 men who went alive into the water. Many days (and many deaths) later, only 316 were alive tell of it.
This is not a happy story: injury, dehydration, insanity, and sharks all claimed victims in the water. This isn’t even a story with a single clear “bad guy.” Who caused the disaster? Was it the man who fired the torpedo, the submarine commander, Hashimoto? He is described in great detail here: a loyal Japanese military man, also a family man with a wife and kids, and a man of honesty and dignity. Or was the disaster caused by the U.S. Navy brass, who refused the Indianapolis’ request for an escort? Or by the internal workings of the navy itself, whose SOPs at the time made it all too easy for the ship, once sunk, not to be missed? How many lives might have been saved if the navy had only gone looking for the ship and its crew? And who was blamed for the senseless loss of life? The Indianapolis’ captain, McVay, remains the only skipper in US navy history to be courtmartialed for losing a ship a wartime. His conviction and subsequent suicide—tragedies compounded on an already-tragic situation—were shocking and infuriating.
The book’s afterward offers a look at some of the survivors, and it describes an unexpected turn of events regarding McVay’s conviction. An 11-year-old schoolboy, while watching the movie Jaws, became deeply moved at the scene which mentions the Indianapolis. He began investigating the tragedy, met with survivors, was named an honorary survivor, and, along with many of McVay’s surviving crew, spearheaded the movement to get the former captain exonerated. I am in awe of this child who took on the navy, of the survivors whose strength allowed them to endure unthinkable suffering, and of the victims whose deaths were keenly felt, not only by their loved ones, but the whole nation. This book provides a clear account of some shocking casualties of war, as well as of the courage and cowardice that so often go hand-in-hand....more
Interesting premise, but disappointing execution. For one thing, it needed better editing. Too much of it felt like filler. For another thing, it’s a Interesting premise, but disappointing execution. For one thing, it needed better editing. Too much of it felt like filler. For another thing, it’s a frame story, jumping back and forth between two timelines, WWI and post-WWII, respectively. I think it would have been stronger if she’d ditched the dual-timeline idea and only told the WWI story—her heart seemed more in it. In places, the tone felt too modern and anachronistic.
I was excited to read about a ring of women spies from WWI, but I just didn’t care for Eve, the main character, and I didn’t find her especially believable. For most of her chapters, I was either uninterested or annoyed. This is just an opinion—I know a lot of people liked this book and Eve—but I just wasn’t feeling it. I was also quite surprised to see that the single biggest horrifying part of her story was spoiled right off the bat in Chapter 1. That should have been the edge-of-my-seat, nail-biting, can’t-turn-these-pages-fast-enough part, and instead it really fell flat for me because I’d known it was coming since page 14. Seriously, she spoiled it on page 14. That’s the latter timeline, before we even get to a chapter from Eve’s POV. We pretty much see Eve’s arc before Eve even really begins. I also thought she showed poor judgment on a number of occasions; I know she’s young and scared and in the middle of a war . . . but she’s a spy, right? She was prepared for this, right? She shouldn’t be losing control at the first sign of trouble, and she shouldn’t have destroyed a possible asset and safeguard (and risked her cover) just for some immediate convenience. There were some brave (real) women who risked their lives in this spy network during this war, and I think these particular fictional adventures don’t represent their intelligence and heroism as fully as they might.
I thought the post-WWII romance plot was interesting. Charlie can be annoying at times, but I think she’s meant to be that way. She’s had some personal tragedy from the war, but she was never in the thick of things the way Eve was in WWI, so her character is somewhat lighter and contrasts nicely. She grows stronger during the story, too; she’s pretty awful (again, I think it’s intentional by the author) in the first chapter, but she comes into her own. She’s self-centered. She’s passive and air-headed. She’s a hot mess. Then she grows a backbone, becomes strong, becomes generous. I enjoyed these chapters, but they did make for a major shift in tone from the 1915 plot. It would have been a stronger spy story without Charlie’s segments, but I think Charlie was the only reason I kept reading. And yeah, it’s not the most believable storyline, and Charlie feels a bit too much 21st-century, but it’s certainly interesting.
Some final thoughts. From this book, I learned about a WWII atrocity that I’d never heard of before. I think it’s great when fiction helps us learn about fact and makes us curious to know even more. I also really liked the last third of the story. It took way to long for stuff to happen, but then when it did, it was really something. I raised my rating by a whole star because of the last third of this book. I also liked that the two timelines merged in the end, although it felt a little far-fetched to me. It was still gripping and well-written....more
Heartbreaking and meticulously researched, this book makes for a powerful read. Moore covers a broad scope while still depicting certain historical chHeartbreaking and meticulously researched, this book makes for a powerful read. Moore covers a broad scope while still depicting certain historical characters in great detail. The book is highly readable and feels like fiction. I think that Moore, in a few places, tried a little too hard to make the book flow. For example, she tried to draw a parallel between the girls' plight and the Easter celebrations that were happening at the same time; she described Easter as Christ being "reborn." I get that she's being poetic, but it isn't a rebirth. It's a resurrection. There are a few other times when she'll add in details that seem impossible to verify. For example, one of the girls who died of radium poisoning was walking to work on a specific day and checked her watch so she wouldn't be late and stumbled but didn't think too much about it. Did the girls really try to be on time? I assume so. Did that particular girl check the time on that particular day? Maybe. Likely. But impossible to know. Did they stumble as they started to get sick? Yes, often. Their bones were shrinking. Did that particular girl stumble on that particular day? How could we know? I understand that Moore is setting up the subtle beginnings of the disease, but there does seem to be a little bit of poetic licensing happening, too. Even so, well worth the read. Excellent prose, thought-provoking, and highly informative....more
This was a wonderful nonfiction account of two men’s Christmas celebration just a hundred miles away from the North Pole. The vivid descriptions of thThis was a wonderful nonfiction account of two men’s Christmas celebration just a hundred miles away from the North Pole. The vivid descriptions of the landscape, the arctic winter, the darkness, and the -27 degree freeze are atmospheric and nuanced. The quiet, peaceful celebration within the close confines of the arctic post is described gently and realistically. These men from different backgrounds (and from different countries) have been stuck together for weeks on end, and yet their shared enjoyment of the holiday cuts across all barriers.
This Christmas, 1938, was the last one before the war, and even at the Pole, these men were troubled by Europe’s growing tension. It seems as though de Poncins wrote this memoir during the war, and perhaps because of it. Its message of friendship and peace would have been comforting then, and it’s just as timely and uplifting now. A beautiful Christmas gem....more
An enlightening account of the connection between Protestantism and politics. This book is highly detailed and informative, following Lutheran thoughtAn enlightening account of the connection between Protestantism and politics. This book is highly detailed and informative, following Lutheran thought through 500 years of German history. Having already studied Muntzer, who in Luther’s time stirred up war in order to implement his vision of a more perfect society, I was fascinated by this account of Adolph Hitler as Muntzer’s spiritual successor. Luther, who for his part encouraged nonviolent interactions and civil disobedience in the face of extreme suppression and injustice, is here compared to such activists as Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Moreover, I enjoy reading about history, and I was glad to read accounts of the Nazi regime, the anti-Nazi resistance, and the fall of Communist East Germany—all viewed through the lens of Lutheranism. Looking at how different churches, ministers, and congregations either supported or opposed Hitler certainly opened my eyes to a nuanced social, political, and religious movement. Finally, I have long been interested in the history of the Second World War, but I have never studied it from a German point of view, nor ever encountered such a detailed and nuanced portrait of the complexities of WWII German politics. While much of what I had previously read paints all of 1930’s & 1940’s Germany with the same wide brush, this account describes the German resistance—the German citizens who tried to depose Hitler, who sought aid from Allied forces, and who risked and sometimes lost their lives in the attempts. We all know stories of American and British heroes who moved against Hitler. It was nice to learn of the resistance from within Germany as well....more
This book was fantastic--a perfect mix of background information and how-to's. This excellent volume is a very fast read, and it's divided into sectioThis book was fantastic--a perfect mix of background information and how-to's. This excellent volume is a very fast read, and it's divided into sections by decade, making it easy to see how one fashion or tradition led into another. In addition to full-color photos showing the different projects, Ms. Waggoner also offers clear directions, suggestions for other quick ways to imitate a specific decade, a brief overview of the factors that contributed to each decade's unique characteristics and celebrations, and the distinctive approach to the holidays that each separate era embraced. Although I have not yet tried the projects, they seem simple and straightforward even for noncrafty people. Covers the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50 s, and 60s. Wonderful book for anyone with an interest in vintage Christmas....more
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