Review: A Gathering of Finches

Title A Gathering of Finches
By Jane Kirkpatrick
Genre Historical Fiction
Format Print
Rating ⭐️⭐️

Synopsis
When her father dies, Cassie feels pressured to marry Josiah Stearns to help her destitute mother and sister. Traveling west with her new husband brings Cassie to the wilds of Washington. Seemingly the girl who has everything with a doting husband,  a beautiful daughter and her mother and sister close, Cassie still longs for something more. When she meets the handsome Louis Simpson a forbidden love affair will end with the woman behind the man who founded North Bend, Oregon and inspired the most beautiful mansion and gardens on the Oregon coast.

First Sentence 
My friend Annie and I sat in our family's closed Victoria carriage peering out through the round, isinglass window.

Though I love the history of North Bend (the town my husband grew up in) and can imagine the beautiful house that once stood on Shore Acres, I never would have picked this book up. My husband is a little bit (okay, A LOT) obsessed with Louis J. Simpson and Shore Acres State Park. When he saw this book he bought it for me and eagerly awaited my thoughts.

The book is a historical fiction and a slow one at that but I did find it interesting. I liked that the author wrote the story from Cassie's point of view. Everything about this story and history is ALWAYS about the man. Typical. So, getting the woman's point of view was nice.

Sadly, I couldn't quite find it in my heart to care for Cassie. She was pretty selfish which always makes it hard to sympathize with. Still, the history was fun and now I know almost as much as my husband about his home town. Not a complete loss.

Review: The Chaperone

Title The Chaperone
By Laura Moriarty
Genre Adult Historical Fiction
Format Audio
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis
Cora's children are grown and off on their own so when the chance to travel to New York City as a chaperone for the beautiful 16 year old Louise Brooks comes up, she jumps at the opportunity. She has her own secret reasons for going to New York and can use this opportunity to fulfill her goal. But where Cora is traditional and a bit uptight, Louise is wild and modern. The two struggle to understand each other and get along as they spend the hot summer together and learn about each other and themselves.

First Sentence
The First time Cora heard the name Louise Brooks, she was parked outside the Wichita Library in a Model T Ford, waiting for the rain to stop.

I can't remember when I first heard about this one but it must have caught my attention because I added it to my TBR list. When it came up on Overdrive I downloaded it as began to listen.

There's a reason this book is a New York Times best seller. It was rich with details and heart and I cared deeply for the characters. Cora was incredibly traditional. In the early 1920s when hemlines were raising she still wears a corset. Watching her interact with a young, modern and headstrong teenager was amusing. I loved how Cora grew as a person and was open minded enough to realize maybe her way wasn't the best. It was one of my favorite things about this book.

I really felt for Cora. She had a pretty awful life. It could have been worse but a lot of things that happened to her were just unfair and frustrating. I was rooting for her happiness through the whole book.

I love when historical fiction is done right. When you can love the characters enough to gladly follow them through lots of historical events with out a single yawn I think the author has done their job. Not that the '20s and '30s were boring but I can see how some people might think so.

I really liked this epic story and won't soon be forgetting it. I want to check out what else the author has written and get my hands on it.

Should you read it
I think this one has A LOT of things going on in it so there's something for everyone. I'd recommend it!

Mini Movie Reviews #12

Oi! I've fallen behind in movie reviews. Life is not going so great for me right now and blogging is becoming a last priority.  Still, I'm seeing movies so I thought I'd do my old style Mini Movie Reviews to catch you up.

Flatliners
I'm not sure why they felt the need to remake this one. There's not some amazing story here that's worth retelling but since I never saw the original I figured what the hell. I was more entertained than I thought I'd be. It was creepy and enjoyable enough but nothing special...or memorable.

Victoria & Abdul
I was really excited to see this one. It seemed like it would be cute and fun. And it was...to a point. And then it just got weird. I don't know how accurate this was to real history, I'm guessing not very. And while I wanted to just watch and appreciate the relationship between these two it just got a little "what's-the-point" and I was left slightly disappointed.

Made in America
This one was the husband's pick. I had no desire to see it. And, as usual when I don't want to see it and he convinces me, I ended up liking it. I know Tom Cruise isn't anyone's favorite anymore but I thought he did a great job. It was very entertaining to watch this guy's life. It does end sadly but you know it's coming. I'd actually recommend this one. I guess I should listen to the husband's recommendations a little more often, huh?

 The Mountain Between Us
Why I didn't realize this one was going to be a romance I'll never know. I thought it was going to be about these two completely different people surviving some horrible stuff together. And it was but...then romance came into it. And the romance wasn't bad but when you're not expecting it and have to adjust your perception mid movie it can be a bit jarring.  It was still very entertaining and emotionally investing, though. I'd recommend it.

Review: The Warden's Daughter

Title The Warden's Daughter
By Jerry Spinelli
Genre Middle Grade Historical Fiction
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis
Cammie O'Reilly lives and unusual life. Her father is the warden at the Hancock County prison and they live in an apartment on prison grounds. When Cammie was a baby her mother died saving her life. Now at the cusp of 13 her need for a mother has made her desperate. Finding a mother figure in a prison probably isn't the best idea but desperate times call for desperate measures.

First Sentence
It's a birdhouse now.



I'm not a huge middle grade fan so I'm not sure why this one ended up on my tbr list but it did and I'm very grateful. Actually, I think it's right on the line between middle grade and YA.

This was such a beautiful little story about a girl healing from the death of the mother she never knew. I found Cammie a bit of a brat at the beginning of the book and though I could clearly see why she was the way she was it still bothered me. Eventually she started to grow on me and I became very invested in her happiness.

I've heard people have a problem with this one because they think there's some stereotypical racism going on and I just have to smack my face. As I listened to his one I didn't have a clue what anyone's race was because no one in the book mentions race. They all treat each other the same which I'll admit was rare as this book takes place in 1959 but there you have it. Sheesh! Some people!

Anywho! The story wasn't perfect. I found some things to be skeptical about but I also found a thousand little moments that tugged at my heart strings. I really ended up liking it. I want to read more of Spinelli's books now.

Should you read it
I would highly recommend this one.

Review: My Lady Jane

Title My Lady Jane (The Lady Janies #1)
By Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows
Genre Historical Fiction Romance
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis
The (not quite true) story of Lady Jane Grey. Queen of England for only nine days.


First Sentence
The King, it turned out, was dying.

I read this one for several different reasons. First: It's Utah Book Week and it's written by three authors, one of which is from Utah, Two: My book club was reading it for August's meeting, and Three: I wanted to. It sounded amusing. I liked the idea of taking a historically sad story and rewriting it to be humorous, romantic, and happily ending.

Somewhere between hearing about this one and buying it and actually reading it, I had gotten the idea it was going to be overly cheesy and badly written. I was  (blessedly) wrong on all accounts. It was written very well. We got three perspectives: Lady Jane, (written by Jodi Meadows) Gifford (written by Utah Author Brodi Ashton) and King Edward (written by Cynthia Hand).

The story was fun and adventurous with lots of romance and nods to pop-culture like The Princess Bride, Monty Python etc. With all that maybe you can see how I thought it was going to be cheesy too? Maybe not but I was worried. It wasn't bad at all, however, the writing was well done and easy to read and I liked the story even if it did end a little too happily? *shrugs*

My only real problem with the book was the length. It was nearly five hundred pages and easily could have been cut down to around 300 and not lost much. That, and it's overly happy ending made this one likable but not lovable for me.

Should you read it
Yeah, I'd recommend it just be ready for that length!

Review: Code Name Verity

Title Code Name Verity
By Elizabeth Wein
Genre Adult Historical Fiction
Rating ⭐⭐


Synopsis
Follows the friendship between two women as they put their lives in danger during WWII.


First Sentence
I am a coward.






Another book club read and another book that got rave reviews and I just don't get it. I promise I don't just choose to not like books like this because everyone else loves them. I have my reasons.

First of all it was slow. So Slow! It had the longest slowest start to a book ever. And it's not just that it's slow but so confusing. I mean, for like 100 pages I was desperately trying to grasp exactly what was going on. That's not a good thing! It's one thing to have mystery, it's another to be so vague and unreliable that I'm losing interest by page 10.

Don't believe me? At our book club discussion there were several people there who had read this one a while ago so they kept asking questions about things to refresh their memory and those of us there who had just read it kept looking at each other in confusion trying to remember as well. And we'd JUST read it. Geeze! I hope the author is proud of herself; that she pats herself on the back because she wrote the first ever book where you need to reread the four hundred plus pages right after you finish it just to figure out what the hell you just read. You should want to reread books because they're good, not because you have to.

I'm not sure why this book is considered YA. It's about adult women in war, There's torture and death and a lot of things that made me think it should have been marketed as adult not YA.

In the end, I didn't outright hate this one but I did have a lot of issues with it.

Should you read it?
I think most of you have. If you haven't and choose to, plan on reading it twice. *rolls eyes*

Review: All The Light We Cannot See

Title All The Light We Cannot See
By Anthony Doerr
Genre Adult Historical Fiction
Rating ⭐️⭐️

Synopsis
A blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II. (From Goodreads)

First Sentence

At dusk they pour from the sky. 

There's something about these prize winning books that I just never get. While I get that the writing was poetic and the story takes place in a historical setting, I just don't think that makes it worthy of all the praise. 

The strange, fantastical element to the story just didn't do it for me. It's as if the author came up with this stupid little story that would NEVER sell so he decided to set it in WWII because, well, then it would sell. I'm not sure what the two story lines (of the diamond and WWII) had to do with each other. And when I'm reading a story with two main characters just waiting for their lives to collide it sure as hell better be more than a few pages of the books when they do meet! 

And after all that, Marie-Laure doesn't even remember or care about Werner, the boy who saved her sorry life. 

Stupid story. Honestly wished I had skipped it. 

Should you read it?

If you haven't already read this one, just skip it. 

Review: Memoirs of a Geisha

Title Memoirs of a Geisha
By Arthur Golden
Genre Adult Historical Fiction
Rating ⭐️⭐️

Synopsis
This fictional story follows young Chiyo as she's sold from her family home and enters the world of a Geisha.

First Sentence
Suppose that you and I were sitting in a quiet room overlooking a garden, chatting and sipping at our cups of green tea while we talked about something that happened along while ago, and I said to you, "That afternoon when I met so-and-so...was the very best afternoon of my life, and also the very worst afternoon."




This one was another book I read for book club. And let me tell you, I was completely against reading this book. I saw the movie and though I remember nothing about it I remember not liking it so reading the 500 page book really didn't appeal to me, you know?  But I sucked it up and picked up the book and as it often goes, I actually didn't mind the book. I didn't love it... I didn't even like it. I thought it was OK. But I did enjoy reading it. The writing is perfect for this type of story. It's like the fictional character is right there telling you all about their past over a cup of tea. I was quite engrossed. The story was interesting and engaging. It was fun following Chiyo as she lived her life.

I had several grievances with the book, however, and that's why it was only an "OK" read for me. I hated the way the Translators Notes at the beginning seem to trick you into thinking this is a real story. It's not. Nothing in it is real or based on real people. Yes, there were Geisha and I believe the author interviewed one for the book but the story is completely made up.

And if I'm being honest, it shows. Things just worked out a little too neatly for our MC and that always bugs me. Not to mention it makes things feel fake. I just didn't get her attraction to the Chairman. He was old and completely cold and distant with her and yet, she worshiped him. In fact, her adoration of him seemed to be the whole driving force behind her story. *shrugs* I just didn't find it satisfying.

 Should you read it?
I seem to be in the minority once again. So, sure, read it. The writing is great and the story engaging but the ending was too neat.

Review: Life After Life

Title Life After Life
By Kate Atkinson
Genre Adult Historical Fiction
Pages 544
Rating ⭐️

Synopsis
A woman is born again and again living the same life during WWI and WWII. Bringing up questions of fate and blah blah blah!

First sentence
A fug of tobacco smoke and damp clammy air hit her as she entered the cafe.

•  

                                        
via GIPHY

• Honestly I could just leave that gif and you'd probably get my whole feelings towards this book. 
• But I'll share a few thoughts anyway. And hey! I squeezed in another book for my Adult Literarture Month! Looking for a bright side here, people! 
• This is my book club's pick for March. Honestly, working my way through this 500+ page book was torture enough. Really not looking forward to talking about it. Especially because I'm pretty sure everyone else will love it. Figures.
• My biggest problem with this book was how boring it was. It's so freaking long and repetitive. Did she really have to live THAT many lives? And every time you get into one life, she dies and it starts all over again! *rolls eyes*
• You can get on your soapbox and talk to me all you want about how deep this book was and how it makes you think about fate and choices but I just don't care. If an author wanted to make me think they should keep me interested and invested enough to give a damn! 
• And go ahead and yell at me about how this is about WWI and WWII. Yeah, I know! I read that part like 50 times on repeat! I honestly just stopped caring...if I ever started. 
• So, yeah, sorry but this books was slow, boring and repetitive. It was torture to pick it up and finish. If it hadn't been a book club book I would have quit 50 pages in. Not exactly a glowing recommendation, is it? 

Should you read it?
Once again, I seem to be alone in my opinion but don't say I didn't warn you about the blow your brains out monotony.  

Review: The Golem and the Jinni

Title The Golem and The Jinni
By Helene Wecker
Genre Adult Magic Realism Historical
Pages 486

First Sentence The Golem's life began in the hold of a steamship.

Synopsis
Chava is a golem, a creature made of clay, brought to life by a disgraced rabbi who dabbles in dark Kabbalistic magic. When her master, the husband who commissioned her, dies at sea on the voyage from Poland, she is unmoored and adrift as the ship arrives in New York in 1899. Ahmad is a jinni, a being of fire, born in the ancient Syrian desert. Trapped in an old copper flask by a Bedouin wizard centuries ago, he is released accidentally by a tinsmith in a Lower Manhattan shop. Though he is no longer imprisoned, Ahmad is not entirely free – an unbreakable band of iron binds him to the physical world. The Golem and the Jinni is their magical, unforgettable story; unlikely friends whose tenuous attachment challenges their opposing natures – until the night a terrifying incident drives them back into their separate worlds. But a powerful threat will soon bring Chava and Ahmad together again, challenging their existence and forcing them to make a fateful choice. (From Goodreads) 

What it has going for it
I really don't have many nice things to say about this book. I will say, I enjoyed the historical look at New York and Ellis Island etc. I also liked the magical element and the story held me just captivated enough to finish but I was reading it for book club and that might have been why I really finished it. The character development was good but I didn't particularly like  any of them. Chava was too...good and proper and Ahmad was kind of a jerk. 

What's lacking
Any time a book makes you drag yourself through it, it's not a good thing. And if it going to make you work to get through it, the least it could do is have a decent ending. This one feels like the whole book, or at least three quarters of it are setup. The rest was meandering nonsense where very little was happening. Back in the day authors were paid by the word. Now all those endless, wordy classics make sense, don't they? Well, guess what, Helene, you're not getting paid by the word so how about a little editing. All that set up, all that endless nothingness building up to...what? That ending? That's it?! Thanks a lot for wasting my time. Argh! 

Yea or Nay
Hell NO!   

Review: The Other Queen

Title The Other Queen
By Philippa Gregory
Genre Historical Fiction
Pages 438

First sentence Every woman should marry for her own advantage since her husband will represent her, visible as her front door, for the rest of his life.

Synopsis
Queen Mary of Scots, not to be confused with Mary Catherine and Henry VIII's daughter, has been fighting for her throne nearly her whole life. Accused of planning the death of her husband and marrying his murderer she is now at the whim of her cousin Queen Elizabeth. Held captive by an Earl and his wife she must plan and hope for escape while trying to win over her captives.


What it has going for it?
Oh boy. How do I even begin to write my feelings for this one? I like Gregory's books. I like how she brings England's History to life in a readable and captivating way. Her books often have a steamy romance to cling to amidst the history and, call me sucker for romance, but I like it. This book however has no romance and is as much about Bess of Hardwick, Mary's captor, and her husband George, than it is about Mary. But I digress. The good thing about this one is Gregory's capacity to take a neutral look at both women and let you form your own opinion about them. While very different from Gregory's other books it still kept me reading, even if it did go a little slower than I like.

What's lacking?
Forgive me but I thought this book was supposed to be about Queen Mary and so I expected to be sympathetic to her. What actually happened was there were two other characters vying for sympathy and Queen Mary, who I wanted to like, was freakishly annoying. Now don't get me wrong, I thought she was treated completely unfairly by Queen Elizabeth but the way Gregory wrote her...I really didn't care that she got what she did. And then, because of the three different characters, there's no one to really root for, no hero or heroine. I can see why Gregory wrote it the way she did  but I would have preferred one character to sympathize with rather than three I couldn't stand.

Favorite moment
I'm not sure I had one.

Yea or Nay?
Meh, it was OK but I just didn't like any of the characters enough. You have to at least like one, right?

Review: Out of the Easy

Title Out of the Easy
By Ruta Sepetys
Genre YA Contemporary
Pages 346

First Sentance My mother's a prostitute.

Synopsis
It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer.   She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street. Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test. (from Goodreads)


What it has going for it
Phew! This book tugged at my emotions in every way possible. I loved, I laughed, I cried, I raged. I read this one for book club and had no idea what it was about and when I read the first sentence in the book it was like being slapped across the face, but once I got used to the idea of the main character's, Josie, life I was completely entrenched in the story. I'd have to say the best thing about this one is the characters and I'm a plot girl myself but the characters in this one were just so real and colorful and they made the book. They really did. The plot was nothing to sneeze at either. It held me captivated from page one. Hey, the book even kept me reading while I was sick as a dog with a fever, cough, yucky achy-ness, and I never can read when I'm that sick.

What's lacking
Honestly, I was so upset with Josie's mothers and the things she did that for awhile, after finishing the book, I wasn't sure I liked it.  The content could be a big turn off for people and though I was too sick to go to book club, I heard there were those who were very unhappy with it. It's hard to read, I'm not going to lie, but keep in mind this is a YA book and there wasn't, in my opinion, anything too risque.

Favorite moment
When Cokie gives Josie the money.

Yea or Nay?
I honestly think the characters and plot were worth the read.

Review: Between Shades of Gray

Title Between Shades of Gray
By Ruta Sepetys
Genre YA historical
Pages 344
Recommended by Book Club

First Sentence They took me in my nightgown.

Synopsis
Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions. From Goodreads

What is has going for it
Once again I'm reviewing a book I read quite awhile ago so I'll do my best to remember what I thought. I remember liking it. I thought the history was fascinating. Everyone knows about Hitler and Germany's role in WWII but no one really know...or I should say I  didn't know what was going in Russia at the same time. Learning about it was so interesting. I thought the authors idea of using a young adult girl to tell the tale was a great idea too. I have a hard time hearing about the awful things that happened to people in those types of situations and hearing it from a younger perspective kept it a little more toned down. Not so graphic, if you know what I mean. The characters actually stuck with me. I do remember them even if I don't remember the details of the story. So if you love characters, I think you'll like this one.

What's lacking
Despite enjoying the book and reading it pretty quickly I wasn't riveted. I could easily put the book down and wasn't dying to pick it back up. I also thought the ending was a bit too open ended. I wanted a little more closure.

Favorite moment
I loved Nikolai. When he cried near the end I just about lost it!

Yea or Nay?
Yeah, I'd say give it a go. 

Blog Tour Review: The Queen's Vow

Title The Queen's Vow By C.W Gortner Genre Adult Historical Fiction Pages 370 Recommended by: Blog Tour

First Sentence "Hold the reigns, Isabella."

Synopsis
A historical fiction based on the life of Queen Isabella of Spain.

 What it has going for it
Obviously I haven't been around for awhile. There are reason for that and I'll tell you about them soon but for now; a review. I couldn't pass down reading this book despite the fact that I haven't read a book the entire way through since March. I love historical fiction IF it's about a part of history that I love...and this one was. I've always been interested in Isabella of Spain and it was interesting to learn more about her. I learned things I had no idea about and isn't it great to read and enjoy a book AND learn something? Until, a few moments ago I had no idea that the author was a guy. Wow! That kind of shocked me...and explained a few things. The writing was good. It evoked emotions in me. The yell-at-the-characters-like they're-real-people kind. All in all it was a good read.

What's lacking
I sometimes found my eyes glazing over when it got too historical. I like my historical fiction to be enough about the characters that I hardly notice the history. This one sometimes felt a bit too much like a history book. Other than that, I enjoyed it.

Favorite moment
I loved when Isabella talked to Colon (Christopher Columbus). It was just too fun to see that moment take place.   

Yea or Nay?
If you like historical fiction then, yes, give this one a shot.

Review: Spartacus The Gladiator (Blog Tour)

Title Spartacus The Gladiator
By Ben Kan
Genre Historical Fiction
Pages 448
Recommended by Me

First sentence When the village came into sight at the top of a distant hill, a surging joy filled him.

Synopsis
Spartacus has returned, after escaping from life as an auxiliary in the Roman army. But he quickly falls foul of his overlord, the Thracian king, who has set his heart on Dionysian priestess, Ariadne -- later to become wife of Spartacus. Betrayed again to the Romans by his jealous king, Spartacus -- and with him Ariadne -- are taken in captivity to the school of gladiators at Capua. It is here -- against the unbelievable brutality of gladiatorial life -- that Spartacus and Crixus the Gaul plan the audacious overthrow of their Roman masters, escaping to Vesuvius, where they recruit and train a huge slave army -- an army which will keep the might of Rome at bay for two years and create one of the most extraordinary legends in history.  (From Goodreads) 

What it has going for it
I read and enjoyed Ben Kane's Forgotten Legion Chronicles  during the past few years so when I was offered a chance to participate in the blog tour of his new book, Spartacus, I was excited. I don't, or didn't, know squat about Spartacus. I haven't even seen the famous Kubrick film, so this was my first foray into getting to know him. I have to give a shout out to the author for writing historical fiction that gets you invested in the characters. I love learning history without realizing I'm actually learning something. ;) The fighting scenes, whilst very violent, are always my favorite. Kane gets you invested enough in a character's well being that when said character is thrown into a battle you're left gripping the book a little too firmly hoping that character survives. My favorite character was, no, not Spartacus, but Carbo. He was, as far as I could tell, not based on a real person but I loved him. I'm very interested to see where the author takes this character. See, we already know what happens to Spartacus, or least you will after reading this book, but the author could do anything with Carbo and I'm dying to know what?! All in all, a fun read with great battle scenes and characters worth caring about.

What's lacking
Since this book was about Spartacus I wanted to like him better. His story felt a little too check list of historical events. Make sense? Till halfway through I didn't know there was a going to be a second book, or, for that matter, that Spartacus doesn't make it. I still don't know whether he's killed or just captured but I can guess. (I repeat, I know squat about Spartacus) Needless to say finding out both those things in the middle of a book can be a bit of a let down but, I digress, that's not really a reflection on the book.

Favorite moment
When Carbo gets the girl!

Yea or Nay?
This book, and all of Kane's books, are very violent. They aren't for the faint of heart. But if you can handle the violence and learning while enjoying a good read then, yes, I'd recommend it.

 Ben Kane was born in Kenya and raised there and in Ireland. He studied veterinary medicine at University College Dublin but after that he travelled the world extensively, indulging his passion for ancient history. Now he lives in North Somerset, where he researches, writes and practises as a small animal vet. The Forgotten Legion, born of a lifelong fascination with military history in general, and Roman history in particular, is his first novel. (From Goodreads) 


 My thanks to St Martin's Press for a review copy of this book.

Review: Precious Bane

Title Precious Bane
By Mary Webb
Genre Adult classic/historical fiction
Pages 320
Recommended by Kim and Melissa 

First sentence It was at a love-spinning that I saw Kester first.

Synopsis
Prue lives with her brother and mother on a farm in England in the 1820s. Cursed with a cleft lip, Prue has little hope for romance but when Kester enters her life, she dares hope.

What it has going for it
Wow, where do I begin? I struggled through the first 120 pages of this one. The writing style and character slang was hard to get the hang of, and it said it was a romance and after 120 pages I was like, "hello, where's the romance?" ;) The funny thing is, that by the end of the book I was much more touched by the symbolism (yes, that's right, you heard me, the symbolism was done right! Not too subtle, not too blunt, just right.) than the romance. I did love the romance, though. I kept thinking it was completely unrealistic but still so sweet until I started to see the symbolism in it and realize why it seemed "unrealistic". What I loved the best, though, was Prue. Here you have a character who's looked at like she's a freak and who is even thought of as a witch by some people, that rises above all that because of how good she is. She loved everyone and was so good and kind, trying to do what's best in every situation and it completely conquers the fact that she has a cleft lip. Oh, I just can't say enough kind things about this book! You must read it!

What's lacking
Those first pages were hard to get into but they were, actually, setting up the plot, I was just being impatient for the romance.

Favorite moment
When Prue realized Kester knows it was her playing the part of Venus. I was humiliated and thrilled right along with her!

Yea or Nay?
Yes, just yes!

Review: The River Between Us

Title The River Between Us
By Richard Peck
For Book club
Pages 158
Recommended by Book club

First sentence To me, the best part was that we'd make the trip by car.
Synopsis
With the Civil War looming Tilly Pruitt is struggling with her younger sister, Cass and her visions and her twin brother Noah and his desire to join the fighting. Then one night, a mysterious girl and her dark traveling companion arrive on a steamboat and Tilly's mother offer to take them in.

General thoughts
This is the first Richard Peck book I've ever read and I've heard good things about him. I'm happy to say I agree with all of Richard Peck's fans. This one was a historical fiction about more than just the civil war. I found it all very interesting. Unfortunately I didn't  LOVE this book, but I didn't hate it. It was just a fast, interesting read. I read it in one sitting and enjoyed the writing; laughed out loud a few times and got a little choked up too. I'm just afraid it won't be very memorable which is a shame cause it was quite good.

Characters
Tilly, Very relatable teen girl. Even back then she had the same feelings teen girls have now.
Delphine, I tend to be bothered by girls like this, but Peck handled her well and I found myself liking her.
Calinda, I always admire girls like her.
Noah, Typical teen guy. ;)
Cass, Heartbreaking story, I wished she could have had a happier ending.

Would I recommend it? 
Yes, it's a quick interesting read and Peck is a very talented writer.