Summer Secrets by Jane Green

Reading Challenge: A book from an author you love that you haven't read yet 

Rating:   5/5

When I heard this book was coming out I didn't hesitate one moment to pick it up. Being a huge fan of Jemima J, I was looking forward to reading Summer Secrets. I read this book within 2 days, it was so good. An easy read, the book centers around Cat, an alcoholic and her struggle to get help and remain sober. She finds out she has another family she never knew about, visits them during a summer and her drinking leads to chaos. Unfortunately, even with all that happens, Cat continues to spiral downward eventually losing her family. Jane Green details the struggles of addiction which can be applied not only to alcohol but drugs, sex, food, etc. I like that the author doesn't just have the character go to rehab and then everything is dandy. No, she clearly wants us to see how an addiction is not easy to overcome. How it affects your work, your family, your health, your perception of yourself and others and making amends doesn't mean having others forgive you but forgiving yourself if you want to continue to live. Green shows that it's beyond the addiction. She shows Cat's struggle with acceptance of herself and others. A must read.  

The Lunch Witch by Deb Lucke

                                                                         Rating: 4/5


Reading a Graphic Novel is part of my reading challenge but this was not the book I selected. I was handed this book from someone in a library and I sat during lunch and read it. Yes, it's more for kids and yes I'm an adult but guess what? I enjoyed this book.......a lot! It's the first time I've read a Graphic Novel and now I will be reading more.

This book was funny, the illustrations are great. I like the fact in some cases whatever was happening in the book, it affected the page. For example, there is a fire and it looks like the page had burned. At first I thought someone had ripped part of the page until I realized what had happened. Definitely recommend this book. I like it's simpleness, humor and the story itself, it kept a smile on my face. Makes you wonder what kind of job can a witch have besides being a witch? 

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Interview With A Vampire by Anne Rice

Reading Challenge: A book with nonhuman characters
Rating: 3/5

I saw the movie years ago and couldn't remember much except the actors of course. I enjoyed the movie, not so much the book. 

The most exciting part was Claudia's revenge of Lestat. She was a child and rightfully upset that he took her life. Me personally, I would love to be a vampire, but not a vampire child, never to grow and experience. I can see why she was mad. Basically Louis, a vampire, courtesy of Lestat never grasped that fact what it means to be a vampire. He doesn't want to kill and drink blood and hurt others. This basically is the entire book. Half way through I was ready for it to be over. I love books on vampires and thought I would read this series of books but I don't know if I can. I may continue and try but right now I need a break from it. 

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The Immortal Life O Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Reading Challenge:  A Nonfiction Book
Rating: 4.5/5

First let me say, I'm not in any way a science person. It's not that I don't like it, it's just soooo much information. Science makes my eyes water the moment I see the word "formula." With that being said I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. In all honesty, I didn't even think I would finish it. Its been sitting on my shelf for a long long time. 

Boy was I wrong about this book. You can definitely tell that the author did her research in this. I mean this woman not only identify the family and their struggles, but their extended family and their cousins cousins and the mother of the brother whose cousin's uncle married the daughter of their niece, the doctors, their secretaries, partners, the journalist, the magazines, everybody. It felt like she didn't leave anyone or any details out and that's what made this a great read.

The book was knowledge and you get a grasp of how things work and why things happened. I understood everything, including science terms and the author explained it to us just like she did to Henrietta Lackses family. It's a sad story of struggle, abandonment, fear and anger and really you don't get the end result that you want but you do get a great read and a wonderful understanding as to why the author wanted to tell this story. 

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Medea by Euripides

Reading Challenge:  A Play

Rating: 4/5

 

First, can we talk about how much this woman on the cover looks like Salma Hayek? Too much of a resemblance.

The play centers around Medea, a goddess who falls madly in love, emphasis on MADLY, with Jason. She gives up everything for this man. We're talking killing, stealing, betraying her father and home, the whole kitten caboodle. She has 2 sons by him then one day, bang........homeboy hooks up with this younger chick, leaves Medea and the kids and marries this home-wrecker. Say what???? Say it isn't so........ oh, it's so!

To put icing on the cake, this home-wrecker's daddy (Creon) banishes her from the land. Allowed to stay one more day she plots her revenge and baby she went for it. Unfortunately her revenge is an act that would cost a lifetime of suffering not only for her husband but herself as well.

Medea, although a quick read, is very powerful. You will agree with Medea and understand her pain but will hate her for her decisions. Jason is a loser who tries to convince Medea that what he was doing was for a good reason. Let me tell you something, no one (woman) in there right mind would believe it. What's interesting is the mentality of both individuals. Medea was not afraid to show her emotions, whether sadness, fear or anger but Jason remained calmed and had no hatred towards her. She screamed at him, called him names, yet he thought they could still remain friends until the end.

I had no idea what this play was about or how it would turn out. I just chose it for my reading challenge and I'm glad I did.

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The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Reading Challenge: A Book that takes place in your hometown
Rating: 4/5

While searching for a book for this category, I was excited when I came across The Lovely Bones which of course took place in Philadelphia....my hometown.

Yes I had seen the movie and most times I try to read the book before seeing the film but this is one of those instance where I did the reverse. Either way, I'm glad I took the time to read this book.

This book is sooo full of emotions and from so many people. I like that the author not only focused on Susie's character, who of course was the main character but those surrounding her and I'm not talking just about her family. We see the emotions of everyone, from her family to the first boy to kiss her, her friend, her teachers, a friend of a friend, heck even the dog. I'm also glad that this story went beyond the girl's death. I'm talking years later, when everyone has grown up and many in the neighborhood have moved on. 

This story truly shows the meeting of not letting go when you lose someone and it makes you wonder if those you have lost are really watching you or can hear you or are right there next to you. This book will make you cry if not at least tear up. I wanted more, I wanted the family to have that piece of mind but deep down in my opinion, it never came and it wouldn't if you are left wondering why, how or what if?


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All The Lights We Cannot See Anthony Doerr

Can you guess why I chose this book for my reading challenge? No? Believe it or not, it was:

Reading Challenge: A book based on its cover
Rating: 4/5

Of course this picture does it no justice but seriously I was drawn to this book from the beginning. I think it also has to do with the fact that I had purchased another book, that reminded me of it and that was The Light Between Oceans. I don't know if it was the words, the blue color but it definitely drew me into it.

Now let's talk about how wonderful was this book. I read somewhere and don't quote me but I believe they said it took the author 10 years to write this and it's perfection shows how much dedication he put into it. The details of this story will captivate you.

A blind girl and her father flee when the Nazi's take over Paris. Her father, a creative gentle man makes sure that his daughter's blindness does not interfere with their daily living and this helps her when she can not longer count on him to lead the way.

A young man, orphaned yet extremely talented joins a Hitler youth academy where it's do or die.

This story leads us to the battles they both must face, a battle of fear, a loss of innocence and the consumption of death.  Their paths cross even if only for a few moments, it last  a lifetime.

You will find that this book does not end up how you want it. At least for me it didn't. I was hopeful when they finally came together but all that quickly changes. This book is about their journey, not so much about how or if they come together but just the journey they took, what they were forced to see, their emotions and in particular their courage as children to survive when hate is all around them.


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