Plot: Lydia Pallas is a translator with the U.S. Navy in Boston. She’s content with her life of calm and certainty after a chaotic childhood. Her parents passed when she was young, then she grew up in an orphanage. Not long after she’s settled into her new life, her talents catch the eye of Alexander Banebridge. His friends call him Bane, if you can call them friends. Bane asks Lydia to help translates some documents for him. He won’t say what they are or what they mean to him. Bane offers a fair amount of money and she reluctantly accepts. While Lydia works on the translation, Bane’s past catches up to him. They find out what Bane is doing and try their hardest to stop him. They discover that he brought Lydia into the plot and go after her as well. Bane has a soft spot for Lydia. Now he must choose; save Lydia, or save himself. What will Bane decide? Can they both escape? What is Bane after? What do the people of his past want with him?
Rating: 4.0 – a great historical fiction with a hint of mystery and sappy romance
Opinion: This was the first book I’ve read by Elizabeth Camden. I made me fall in love with her books. I love that she intertwines historical fiction with mystery and romance. I highly enjoy that there are hints of Christianity of her books, too. This one has more depth to its mystery I feel like than some of Elizabeth Camden’s books. I bought it because of the fact that the main character is an interpreter and is a historical fiction with some mystery. It’s a combination that I always love in books. It’s why I keep reading her books. This book is no exception. It kept my interest the whole time. I was not disappointed at all. I enjoyed the mystery of this book. It brought two unlikely people together and had them find ways to work together and overcome difficulties together. There are realistic relationships in this book. I like that about Elizabeth Camden’s books. The relationships including hardships and working through them. This book is no exception. If you’re looking for a good historical fiction with mystery then I highly recommend this book.
Plot: Mark Watney has just woken up on Mars after being knocked uncounsious during a Martian storm. His crew left him there as they were evacuating, thinking he was dead. He had a piece of antenna in his stomach. That, with the blood that seeped into the suit, saved his life. Now he must find a way to survive on an inhospitable planet for four years. NASA notices one of the rovers moving and see that Mark Watney is still alive. But all they can do is wait and watch. They have no way to communicate until they notice Mark taking a rover away from the HAB (living place for the astronauts). That’s when they remember Pathfinder. With Pathfinder, Mark Watney and NASA start to help him find a way home. But with everything going against Watney, can he survive long enough for a rescue to reach him? NASA tries to send Watney food, but that fails as well. How will Watney survive? He has his homemade potato farm, but how long will that last? Will Watney survive long enough for a rescue to reach him? Can a rescue even be mounted to save him?
Rating: 3.5 – a very scientifically accurate book about a stranded astrounaut
Opinion: This was a new style of book for me. It was a great book and I enjoyed it plenty. It is very factual. Though it was very scientific, it was written in such a way that I could understand it. When it got super scientific, it made my brain hurt a little. But then Mark Watney would make a snarky comment and make me smile. Mark Watney is very snarky. It made the book that much better. With all of the bad luck that happened to Mark Watney, I’m glad he never really lost that sense of snark and wit. With the snark came a foul mouth. It was as bad of a foul mouth as I was expecting. It was the standard to emphasis his mood or situation. The intro of the book has become one of my favorite intros ever, and that’s saying a lot. I’ve read plenty of books. This book has also been made into a movie. The movie does a great job of representing the book. Though the movie does add a little more to the ending of this book. Which I really appreciated. I would’ve liked a little more closure from the book. The movie also used quotes from the book, which I always appreciate. It also remained fairly close to the book. Obviously, few things were left out. Some of the more technical science parts were left out, the some of the foul language, and some of the snark. If you’re looking for a good science factual book, then I recommend this book. It’s great for anyone one who loves a snarky narrator, too.
Plot: Cadi Forbes in a young girl living in a small Appalachian Mountain town during the 1850’s. The families all come from Wales and have brought Christian traditions, and a few Welsh, with them. One is that of a mysterious man, called a Sin Eater. His burden is to take the sins of those who have recently died onto himself. He lives in the mountains above the town and is only allowed to enter town when he hears the bells tolling for someone who died. When Cadi’s grandmother dies, she finally gets to meet the Sin Eater. The only thing is that, no one is allowed to look at him, otherwise they’ll be cursed. Cadi hears his sad voice at the funeral and ignores all warnings and looks at the Sin Eater. A few days later, an outsider enters their little valley, preaching Christianity, true Christianity. Her friend Kai and her start secretly visiting the preacher. But Kai’s father forbids it. Anyone who goes to hear what the preacher says is punished. This starts Cadi’s journey into learning more about the outside world, and about the town’s mysterious past. What happened to the town at its foundation? What is the town hiding? Who is the Sin Eater? Why is he the Sin Eater? Will anyone hear what the preacher has to say? Will the preacher be allowed to stay? Or will he be forced out?
Rating: 4.5 – a good historical fiction with mystery
Opinion: I highly enjoyed this book. I definitely had a hard time putting it down. It was interesting learning about different parts of the past that you don’t normally hear about. I enjoyed learning about what other cultures brought with them when they emigrated to the States. As usual, Francine Rivers tugged at my heart with this story. It was a good coming of age story and forgiveness. It tells a lot about holding onto secrets and the pain and damage they can cost. Francine Rivers does a great job holding the reader’s attention. It’s easy to get lost in the book. I have yet to be disappointed in a Francine Rivers book. This one is no exception. Though it was the shortest one I’ve read by her, it still delivers a heart felt message. There’s also a low budget movie based off the book. It does a good job portraying the book and is a good adaption. It leaves a few things out and changes a few things, but that’s no different than any other book. I was okay with the changes that they made. The acting wasn’t amazing, but they did a good job with their characters. If you’re looking for a good historical fiction book that will tug at your heart, than I highly recommend this book.
Plot: Bethia Mayfield is a bright daughter of the town’s Puritan minister. Her grandfather settled the town on what’s to become Martha’s Vineyard among the local Native Americans. While Bethia is gathering clams, she meets Native American, Cheeshahteamauk (English name Caleb). Caleb is the chief’s son and nephew to the shaman. The two become close friends, meeting in the wilderness and teaching each other about their worlds. Bethia’s father takes Caleb in after most of his tribe is taken by sickness. Caleb proves himself a quick learner. With her father and grandfather’s help, Caleb goes to Harvard along with Bethia’s brother, Makepeace, and another Native American, Joel. Both Caleb and Joel excel in their studies and become the first Native Americans to graduate from Harvard.
Rating: 3.4 – a good story of coming of age and the bridging of worlds
Opinion: This was a good story. I thought it would more on Caleb than it did but it still told his story wonderfully. I enjoyed learning about how Native Americans and English Puritans could live together. Albeit not everyone got along, but for the most part they were civil. It made me happy to know that Bethia’s father encouraged his congregation to foster good relations with the Native Americans and consider them neighbors. It was also nice to see another side of Puritan life. The author makes it well known that it was not always so strict and proper, but there was kindness and encouragement in there, too. Yes women were still very limited in what they could and could not do, but they could still make some choices. This is a good story of perseverance, coming of age, and the bridging of cultures. If you’re looking for a good historical fiction, then I highly recommend this book.
Plot: A man has been killed near the small town of Hyde River. His wife, Evelyn Benson, was picked up by a local trucker half crazed with a broken knife in her hand. While she heals in the hospital, her brother-in-law Steve Benson searches for what happened. At first, he suspects it’s a grizzly bear attack that got his brother. But not all of the evidence lines up. The locals in Hyde River are reluctant to help. It’s a close knit community that doesn’t trust outsiders. They don’t want Steve to stick around. They’ve already agreed that it’s a grizzly bear attack. But Steve doesn’t buy it. He plans to stick around and see what’s going on. Steve meets Levi Cobb. He’s got some interesting ideas of what’s going on. Levi says that this isn’t the first time someone’s died. And that it’s not the first time the community’s covered up the deaths. But Steve doesn’t buy into Levi’s theories at first. Then people start disappearing. And there starts to be a pattern in their disappearances. Pieces start coming together. But the community in Hyde River are fighting to get Steve to leave town. Steve must resort to sneaking around. Even then, he’s found out and arrested. The arresting officer agrees with Steve and agrees to help him. Slowly, they realize what’s been stalking the town. It has everyone in its sights. But what is the creature? What does it want? Who does it want? Will anyone survive?
Rating: 3.5 – great book, lots of good parallels
Opinion: I enjoyed this story. The book makes great parallels about life and faith. Though some parts were repetitive. The people disappeared in the same way. The book still left me wondering who was next. It still got my heart pounding as a thriller should, though not as much as other books I’ve read by Frank Peretti. I still thought ‘don’t do it dude, don’t do it.’ Enough people disappeared that I started wondering if anyone would make it out alive. The pattern of disappearances were strong enough that I started to predict when they would disappear. Once the characters changed, it was easy to say ‘and they’re gone.’ On the other hand, Frank Peretti was trying to make parallels to real life. People act certain ways. It may not be as obvious as a black mark on the chest, but it can be easy to see when people start acting selfishly and denying what should be staring them straight in the face. It’s all a matter of heart. It’s easy to see what Frank Peretti is alluding to. It was nice to see Steve Benson’s story arch. I enjoyed seeing his transformation. As much as I saw things coming, the ending was still a nice surprise. I hope to read more of Frank Peretti’s books. If you’re looking for a good thriller with parallels to real life, then I highly recommend this book.
Plot: A.D. 30 (1) – Maviah is the daughter of a great Bedouin sheikhs. She is an outcast, unwanted, and illegitimate. When another tribe attacks and destroys most of her tribe, Mariah manages to escape with two of her father’s warriors, Saba and Judah. They have limited supplies and are in the desert. Judah knows the stars and can help them find their way. With him guiding them, the three arrive in Israel. There, Maviah hopes to make to make an alliance with King Herod. Maviah hopes that King Herod will help Maviah take back her people and take revenge on those who attacked her people. While in Israel, Maviah meets someone else. He’s a rabbi, teacher, who’s teaching are different than anything Maviah has heard before. She learns much from the rabbi they call Yeshua and becomes his follower along with Saba and Judah. Maviah feels like Yeshua’s teachings could help save her people. More than King Herod and his alliance. Can Maviah save her people? Will King Herod help her? Or even listen and believe what she has to say? What of Yeshua? Can he help?
A.D. 33 (2) – Maviah has been made a queen, a queen of the outcasts. She has taught her people the ways of Yeshua. The advisors, and her people, are slow to learn. The other tribes around her are massing their armies. They don’t like what she’s been doing and seek to destroy her and her tribe. Once again, Maviah, with Saba and Judah, is forced to flee after the attack. Once again they make their way to Israel to ask for help for her people. They seek Yeshua. They join him in his final days until his death on a cross. Maviah is distraught after his death. The three of them return to the desert and wonder what to do. After some time, they meet Yeshua, alive. Their hope is restored. The three of them march into the desert towards their enemy. Maviah tries to bargain with the enemy leader. Instead of talks, Maviah is thrown into jail with Saba and Judah. Their fate is uncertain. Their faith is not. But what will happen to Maviah? And to Judah and Saba? Will they survive? What will happen to Maviah’s people?
Rating: 3.2 – a very different style of books for Ted Dekker
Opinion: This was a great series. It was very different than what I’m used to with Ted Dekker. This series is purely historical fiction. There is no fantasy tied in, which is unusual for Ted Dekker. I enjoyed the series because it brought a different side of the story of Jesus. It came from a culture we don’t usually hear much about in popular books. It focuses more on Arabic culture, more specifically Bedouin culture. Ted Dekker did lots of research for this series. At the daycare where I work, there are lots of Arabic families. When I had a question about the book, I’d ask one of the families. What I learned lined up with what was going on in the story. That being said, it was accurate culturally, too. I also enjoyed the fact that Ted Dekker used quotes from the Bible for what Jesus said, instead of making up his own quotes. Obviously, he couldn’t do that all of the time, especially when talking to Maviah after his crucifixion. But he did a good job of trying to keep it consistent with what the bible says. If you’re looking for a great historical fiction series, then I suggest this series. This is a great series for those who’d like to hear about a common story from a different point of view.
Thanks to Mindbuck Media for letting me have an early access look at this book. This book is available to read on June 9.
Title: A Week at Surfside Beach
Author: Pierce Koslosky Jr.
Genre: Short stories, realistic fiction
Plot: Each chapter of the book is a different family’s, or families, week at a group of beachside houses, Portofino II in Surfside Beach, South Carolina over the course of a rental season. For most families, it’s a week of discovery, whether good or bad. There are many feuding families who use the beach as an escape. Though, the week doesn’t often go as planned. During their week at Surfside Beach, they find some sort of forgiveness. Whether it’s a father forgiving his son, parents realizing what’s important in life, or finding a person to talk to. For others, it’s a simple week away from life, or a break form the what the future holds. For two retired couples, it’s a rest from an uncertain future at a company, or a break from treatments. The beach rental can bring out the best in people, or sometimes the worst. Through it all, there is something that connects everyone who goes there.
Rating: 4.0 – a great collection of short stories
Opinion: Since I moved to Oregon, I’ve always enjoyed going to the beach/ocean. It’s somewhere I try to go at least once a year. There are many a time where I wish I could swim in the ocean like some of the characters. This book brought the beach to me in a new way, through the eyes of others. Though I wish I could go to boardwalks like the characters. It was fun to see how others take to close quarters and to not always getting their way, and it’s not always a good thing to witness. Though, it’s a growing opportunity for them. It’s a good learning experience for the characters, and the reader. It’s a chance for everyone to learn how to adapt to things not going their way. It’s good for the readers to learn about different lifestyles and to think about what they would do in that sort of situation. Some of the weeks were heartbreaking, others made me laugh, others were good for learning about life. This was a great first book for Pierce. I highly enjoyed this book. It’s one I’ll have to read again. This is a good book for those who enjoy going to the beach and good beach side stories.
Plot:1 (Green Rider): Karigan G’ladheon was running away from school. She was running for fear of punishment for fighting with another student. While in the middle of the Green Cloak Forest, she met dying F’rygan Cobblebay. F’rygan was a Green Rider, messengers for the king. He begs her to take his messages to the king. She accepts his promise, takes his horse, and starts towards the king’s castle. Not long after Karigan starts her journey, she is pursued by soldiers intent on killing her. As she continues on her way, Karigan realizes there are many strange things in the world. There are ghosts, and one in particular is following her. Her horse seems to know the way more than she does. She gets captured by Weapons, the king’s most elite and loyal soldiers and guards, who have loyalties elsewhere. Karigan barely escapes thanks to the ghost. More ghosts join him and propel Karigan into the king’s castle. She informs Captain Laren Mapstone of F’rygan’s fate. While Karigan rests and recovers, she learns that the letters she carried were of a plot to overthrow the king. Will anyone believe the letters? Will there be a call to action? Will there be enough time? Can Karigan and her new friends save the kingdom?
2 (First Rider’s Call): With the kingdom safe for the moment, Karigan returned to finish school. She wanted nothing to do with Green RidersNot long after she returns, she finds herself riding into town in nothing but her nightgown. Karigan gives up and returns to join the Green Riders. While at the castle, she realizes that magic has become unpredictable, unreliable. Green Rider’s abilities have gone haywire. Blackveil, where dark magic is contained, has a breech in its wall. Its dark magic is seeping into Sacoridia. The breech is growing larger every day. Many are sent to see if the breech can be fixed. All the while, Karigan is being visited by Lil Ambriodhe, the first Green Rider. Captain Mapstone has been in hiding in her room and refusing to come out. The mythical Elitians have made themselves known. What does Lil want? Its Lil there to help? What do the Elitians want? Can they help? Can the breech be fixed? Will magic be contained again? What can be done about the breech and the magic escaping?
3 (High King’s Tomb): A new threat has made itself known in Sacoridia. Mornhaven the Black was responsible for the breech in the wall. Thankfully, Karigan pulled him into the future with the help of Lil Ambriodhe. But now another threat is growing. The descendants of the Acrosia empire, who once tried to take over and rule Sacoridia, are now showing themselves. They call themselves the Second Empire. Over the years they’ve embedded themselves in Sacoridian society. Where they’ve placed themselves, no one is certain. The king sent Karigan on an errand to deliver a message to the Lord of Mirwell, find any source of magic book or scroll, and buy new Green Rider horses. While on her errand, she has Fergal, a Green Rider trainee, with her. He is brash, irresponsible, and rubs Karigan the wrong way. Slowly, they open to each other. While buying horses, Karigan sees the death god’s horse. Karigan and Fergal receive a letter about a rendezvous point near Mirwell. They see that the future queen, the king’s fiancé, has been taken hostage. Karigan thinks of a plan that can save the future queen. While saving the queen, she learns of another plot to take over the kingdom. Will Karigan save the queen in time? Will the plot be stopped? Will the Second Empire be stopped?
4 (Blackveil): The Elitians have shown themselves again. They want to go into Blackveil to see what remains of their ruined kingdom and city of Argnthyne. Their king wants to make a joint mission to go with the Sacoridians. The king accepts. They have until the spring equinox to arrive at the breech of Blackveil. Captain Mapstone and the king want some of the members of the Sacoridian team to be Green Riders. Karigan is asked to go. Two other Green Riders join, as well as three soldiers. The night before they leave, Karigan is asked to go to a royal ball. While there, Karigan looks into a looking mask a gymnast was wearing. She sees a vision of the future. How true is the vision? The next morning, the leave for Blackveil. They arrive the night before the spring equinox. The Elitians arrive the morning of. All of them are nervous. Almost immediately, the dangers of Blackveil make themselves known. The further they travel, the greater the dangers become. Unbeknownst to the group, another group is also traveling to Argnthyne with a darker purpose. Both groups wish to find the Sleepers, ancient Elitians who took an eternal sleep. Karigan’s group wishes to save them them. The other group wishes to use them for their dark purposes. Who will arrive at Argnthyne first? Will Argnthyne still be there? What will become of the sleepers? Will everyone be able to escape?
5 (Mirror Sight): Karigan was thrown into a new world after the events of Blackveil. She shattered the looking glass and everything went black. She woke up and was pulled from a coffin at a circus. She runs away into an unfamiliar city. Karigan is captured and brought to a house. A few days later, she awakes from a drug induced sleep with a cast on her wrist and bandage on her leg. The head maid commands her to stay in her room to heal. Karigan rebels and is punished. Slowly, she finds little ways to rebel. She learns she’s been takin in my a professor of history and archeologist, and is his ‘niece’ for the time being. Over time, Karigan learns she was brought to the future. She is appalled at what she sees. The people have been taken over and suppressed by an emperor. She learns that the professor, her ‘uncle,’ is part of a resistance movement. His assistant, Cade, is also a part of the resistance. In exchange for information about the forbidden past, Karigan learns of what happened to her Sacoridia. Soon after, she asks to join the resistance. She helps to plan an attack on the new capital. Will the plan succeed? Will Karigan be able to return to the past? Or will she stay in the future?
6 (Firebrand): Karigan has returned to the past, to her Sacoridia. Its been months since the trip from Blackveil has returned, Karigan was declared missing, then presumed dead until she reappeared during a royal celebration. It took her some time to readjust to life and to heal. Too short of time after she healed, the king asked her to go on another mission. This time, she is asked to join the Elitians again and look for the p’hedrose, a moose, human centaur looking creature. Her friend, Estrel, asks to join to help look for her father. Everyone agrees to let her come. A few days before they leave, ice and snow creatures attack the castle. Their journey leads them north, near where the Second Empire are thought to be hiding for the winter. After Karigan, the Eleatian Enver, and Estral leave, the king begins to act strange. The now queen brings it up to Captain Mapstone. Together, the learn that the king has been replaced with another, an aureas slee, a creature of ice and snow, who assumed the form of the king. When aureas slee is ousted, he disappears, leaving the kingdom to look for the true king. The true king was taken tot the aureas slee’s lair. Thanks to some magical creatures, he escapes with others who were captured, but captured by the Second Empire. He becomes a slave and forced to dig a tunnel. To where, he has little idea. Karigan, Enver, and Estral have run into some problems. They have found some clues as to where Estral’s father is. Estral is desperate to find him and sneaks away. Karigan rushes after her friend. They find more clues, but not before they are captured by the Second Empire as well. Karigan and Estral are separated. Kerigan is tortured for information and Estral is forced to watch. Both are strong and give up no information. The girls learn that the Second Empire is trying to find a way into the hells. They seek to control the dark forces there. Will Karigan, Estral, and the king escape? Will the Second Empire succeed? Will someone find the king? Will there be a strong enough force to stop the Second Empire?
Rating: 3.5 – a good series, can’t wait for the next book (hopefully)
Opinion: This series was recommended by a friend of mine. As we enjoy a similar taste in books, I thought I’d give the series a try. I do agree with her in the fact that the books plod along for the first 3/4 of the book and really pick up in the last 1/4. But lots of interesting things happen in the book to keep you reading. With Green Rider, the main plot ended earlier than I thought it would. I kept reading because I was curious about the author would end it. Mirror Sight was the slowest of the books. But with the ending of Blackveil, I was intrigued for the first part, until I found out what I wanted to find out, then the plot started to drag until the last quarter. The fun thing about high fantasy books like theses, with all the made up names, you can say it however you want. My friend and I talked about the books often, we agreed about the pronunciation most of the time. Kristan Britain did a good job with the world building. There were compelling reasons for why things they way they were. Kristan did her research and provides explanations for how things came to be. The only thing I was miffed about was the relationship between Karigan and the king. Well that, and how the end of Mirror Sight worked. It’s one of the downsides of dealing with time travel. I haven’t read many books that have dealt with time travel, but this wasn’t the better ways to handle it, in my opinion. These books are good for those who love fantasy books. It has excellent use of magic and a highly developed world. Kristan is a highly descriptive author, which took me a little to get used to. I’d highly recommend this series for any fantasy lover.
Plot: Bud Frazer is a ranch hand from Eastern Oregon. In 1938 he decides to leave his family’s ranch and head for Hollywood. He hopes to become a stunt rider for the movies. On his bus ride down, he meets and befriends Lily Shaw. Lily is a screen writer hoping to make it big in Hollywood. She is the outspoken, confident one. She helps Bud get set up with his first apartment in Hollywood. Through some of her friends, Bud finds his first job. It’s not much, but Bud works as a stable hand, cleaning stalls and taking care of the horses. The horses are well taken care of. Bud learns more of the world of Hollywood. He is amazed and awed by it at first. As he learns more of the movies, the less he enjoys. The owner of the ranch starts letting Bud work more of the horses and taking them to movies. Another company starts hiring work hands. The pay is better. They let more people ride. Bud is saddened when learns of trip wires. Trip wires are what they sound like. Horses run towards the wires and trip over them. After helping in a few movies, Bud finally gets to be a part of a bigger movie. During the big scene of the movie, they use trip wires. The scene goes to pieces. Bud finally sees the horror and carnage. He decides that the stunt rider life isn’t for him. But what of Lily? They’ve become good friends. Will he leave Lily in Hollywood? Will he be accepted back at home? Where will he go from there?
Rating: 3.0 – a good book about old Hollywood westerns
Opinion: This was a slow and steady read. I enjoyed learning about Hollywood movies. I knew a little about trip wires from another horse book, but I didn’t know how widely used they were. It was nice to know that not all of the Hollywood horse ranchers wanted their horses to be used so rough. It was also nice to know about the writing side of Hollywood. Lily worked hard to become a writer. It’s always been tougher for women to make it, much harder in the 30’s. This was a good story about growing up and learning about life. Sometimes your dreams aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. What we want in life doesn’t pan out the way we think it will. It’s a hard lesson, but a good one. This book was a good book about life, horses, and old Hollywood westerns. Molly Gloss is also a local author for me. It’s nice to support a local author. She’s a great author and knows her history and local places in Oregon. This is another great book for those who love histories and horses.
Plot: Richard is a well known, accomplished pianist. He can no longer play. He just had to cut his tour short. Richard has retreated to his house, alone and frustrated. Richard can no longer use his right arm. He has ALS. Richard is resistant to the changes. He is slow to hire people to care for him. He wants to keep his independence. Karin is his estranged ex-wife. She is a piano teacher supporting their college age daughter. When Richard can no longer take care of himself and his care takers cannot be there when he needs it, Karin becomes his unwilling caretaker. They quarrel for days until they ignore each other, unless Richard needs it. Slowly, they start talking and listening to each other. As Richard’s ALS progresses, Karen is forced to do more and more for him. Some intimacy returns to their relationship. Karin’s friends and Richard convinces her to go on a weekend trip. Their daughter begrudgingly returns home to care for her father. While there, Richard loses the ability to walk completely. Their daughter is forced to take him to the hospital. Then they begin to talk again. As Richard continues to lose more muscle control and voice, he seeks forgiveness from Karin and their daughter. But will it be in time? Or will his offers of forgiveness be in vain? Doctors can offer Richard ways to extend his life, breathing tubes, artificial lungs, etc. but will Richard want that?
Rating: 3.0. – a slow and steady read about a man’s journey of forgiveness
Plot: This was another book I read for a class. Of the choices I was given, this one seemed the most interesting. I was intrigued by the protagonist being a musician and learning more about ALS. At first, I thought the book a bit dramatic. It took me a little to get into the book. I tried not to get too attached to Richard because I knew ALS isn’t curable. But it was inevitable because you can relate to his need for forgiveness. It is also easy to relate to Karin and their daughter. They are hurt by Richard’s betrayal and deal with in their own way. It is only when they can see Richard making efforts that they start to forgive him. At the end, I got upset along with the characters because I’d grown attached to them all. I felt what they were going through. The author does a great job going through what Richard and Karin are going through and thinking about. The author knew what she was writing about. I was curious about how the author knew so much about ALS and the process of the disease. Lisa Genova is a neuroscientist who’s turned to writing. She’s also written books of Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases. This book is good if you’re looking for a book about forgiveness, loneliness, and coping with loss. This book also teaches about ALS and how to best provide for their help, if and when they want it. This was a good book and I recommended it, though some tissues might be needed.
A Bookworm's Book Reviews 