Rise and Shine, Benedict Stone
By Phaedra Patrick
This was a cute and entertaining read.
Benedict Stone is a middle aged man whose wife is taking a break from their marriage. He is obsessed with having a child, and after ten years of marriage, the couple remains childless, with no identified cause.
His teenaged niece arrives on his doorstep in the middle of the night, and her presence proceeds to create changes in Benedict's life.
Benedict is a jeweller, and his niece is interested in gemstones and their meaning. The duo start creating jewelry with gems with properties needed by the recipients, and gradually Benedict's life becomes more creative and fulfilling.
Eventually, his wife recognizes that her husband has put a lot of effort into wooing her back and recognizing that having a child is not the most important part of their relationship.
Rating: 3.4/5
Recommendation: Sure. Cutesy.
Friday, June 30, 2017
#55 After the Fire
After the Fire
By Lauren Belfer
This was an interesting book, combining the world of music manuscripts with an historical backtracking into how a fictitious Bach cantata manuscript came to be in a drawer in a modern day home.
A compelling read, however, a shocking rape at the beginning of the book is kind of a turnoff and seemed unnecessarily violent in relation to the plot of the story.
The novel also delves into some WWII history, when the Americans are liberating parts of Europe and an accidental murder, which is how the manuscript finally makes its way to the bureau drawer.
Rating: 4/5
Recommendation: A good solid read.
By Lauren Belfer
This was an interesting book, combining the world of music manuscripts with an historical backtracking into how a fictitious Bach cantata manuscript came to be in a drawer in a modern day home.
A compelling read, however, a shocking rape at the beginning of the book is kind of a turnoff and seemed unnecessarily violent in relation to the plot of the story.
The novel also delves into some WWII history, when the Americans are liberating parts of Europe and an accidental murder, which is how the manuscript finally makes its way to the bureau drawer.
Rating: 4/5
Recommendation: A good solid read.
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
#54 The Scribe of Sienna
The Scribe of Sienna
By Melodie Winawer
A "time travel" novel, which is not really my thing PLUS a romance. Oh well, it was readable and kept me going. Also a bit of a mystery, again not my normal type of read.
Moving between current day New York city and 14th century Sienna, Italy, the novel tells of Beatrice, of Italian descent. Her brother is a medieval scholar doing research into Sienna during the plague. After his sudden death, Beatrice goes to Sienna to finish up his affairs, but ends up continuing his research.
She then time travels back to 14th century Sienna, where she "lives" the actual history her brother had been researching, and solves the mystery of why Sienna suffered so badly during the plague, much worse than other Tuscan cities.
Rating: 3/5
Recommendation: If you like this kind of novel, it's an easy read.
By Melodie Winawer
A "time travel" novel, which is not really my thing PLUS a romance. Oh well, it was readable and kept me going. Also a bit of a mystery, again not my normal type of read.
Moving between current day New York city and 14th century Sienna, Italy, the novel tells of Beatrice, of Italian descent. Her brother is a medieval scholar doing research into Sienna during the plague. After his sudden death, Beatrice goes to Sienna to finish up his affairs, but ends up continuing his research.
She then time travels back to 14th century Sienna, where she "lives" the actual history her brother had been researching, and solves the mystery of why Sienna suffered so badly during the plague, much worse than other Tuscan cities.
Rating: 3/5
Recommendation: If you like this kind of novel, it's an easy read.
#53 The Performance
The Performance
By Ann Eriksson
This book tells the story of Hana, a concert pianist, and how her career unfolds. She moves to New York from Vancouver and finds a rich patron. She gets caught up with a homeless woman who seems to be following her and attending her concerts.
Hana's father was an investment advisor and swindled hundreds of people, ending up in prison. The homeless woman's husband was one of the people to be swindled and eventually, Hana figures out the connection.
Hana gets rid of her patron, starts to find her own way as a concert pianist, and takes up the cause of homeless people in New York.
Rating: 3/4
Recommendation: An easy read.
By Ann Eriksson
This book tells the story of Hana, a concert pianist, and how her career unfolds. She moves to New York from Vancouver and finds a rich patron. She gets caught up with a homeless woman who seems to be following her and attending her concerts.
Hana's father was an investment advisor and swindled hundreds of people, ending up in prison. The homeless woman's husband was one of the people to be swindled and eventually, Hana figures out the connection.
Hana gets rid of her patron, starts to find her own way as a concert pianist, and takes up the cause of homeless people in New York.
Rating: 3/4
Recommendation: An easy read.
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
#52 Saints for All Occasions
Saints for All Occasions
By Courtenay Sullivan
An great read EXCEPT for the ending! I wanted this book to keep going and for the ending to continue with how good the rest of the book was, so when I read the ending, then turned the page expecting more, I was very disappointed.
The story of two sisters, Nora and Theresa, who move to the U.S. in the 1960s. Nora, the older sister, is responsible and mature and looks after the younger Theresa. However, the Theresa gets pregnant by a man she doesn't know is already married. She gives up the baby, Patrick, and Nora raises the boy as her own, without telling her own children. Theresa becomes a cloistered nun, though she always keeps track of what her beloved son's life. When Patrick is killed in a drunk driving accident, the family comes together for the funeral, and Theresa comes to them from the silence of the monastery.
Secrets are revealed.
Rating: 4/5
Recommendation: Yes.
By Courtenay Sullivan
An great read EXCEPT for the ending! I wanted this book to keep going and for the ending to continue with how good the rest of the book was, so when I read the ending, then turned the page expecting more, I was very disappointed.
The story of two sisters, Nora and Theresa, who move to the U.S. in the 1960s. Nora, the older sister, is responsible and mature and looks after the younger Theresa. However, the Theresa gets pregnant by a man she doesn't know is already married. She gives up the baby, Patrick, and Nora raises the boy as her own, without telling her own children. Theresa becomes a cloistered nun, though she always keeps track of what her beloved son's life. When Patrick is killed in a drunk driving accident, the family comes together for the funeral, and Theresa comes to them from the silence of the monastery.
Secrets are revealed.
Rating: 4/5
Recommendation: Yes.
#51 Not on the Label
Not On the Label
By Felicity Lawrwence
A look at the food supply chain and food production in the U.K. The usual horror stories about adulterated food, excessive sugar in prepared food, where food comes from, the monopolies of mammoth companies and their power to control people's lives, how farmer's lives have changed with the way supermarkets order food, and on and on.
If you want to eat will, grow your own, buy local, and cook your own food! Then you know what's in it and where it came from, and that it's REAL FOOD!!
Rating: 4/5
Recommendation: A sobering read on the reality of food in the 21st century.
By Felicity Lawrwence
A look at the food supply chain and food production in the U.K. The usual horror stories about adulterated food, excessive sugar in prepared food, where food comes from, the monopolies of mammoth companies and their power to control people's lives, how farmer's lives have changed with the way supermarkets order food, and on and on.
If you want to eat will, grow your own, buy local, and cook your own food! Then you know what's in it and where it came from, and that it's REAL FOOD!!
Rating: 4/5
Recommendation: A sobering read on the reality of food in the 21st century.
Friday, June 2, 2017
#50 The German Girl
The German Girl
By Armando Lucas Correa
An interesting novel based on the true story of the St. Louis, a ship that took almost 900 German Jews from Germany to Cuba just before WWII, where they hoped to find refuge before going on to permanent residence in the U.S. After only a few days in the port, the ship was not allowed to dock and sets sail to try and find refuge for the Jews in other countries. They are turned away by the U.S. and by Canada. Eventually, they sail back to Europe, where some find refuge in England, Holland, France and Denmark. Many of the Jews end up being killed by the Nazis as WWII spreads.
The language in the novel at first seems very stilted and awkward, but then I realized that it's a translation, though not a very good one, from Spanish.
The novel begins in Germany and is told through the eyes of a young Jewish girl in 1939 alternating with a young American girl in 2007. Eventually, the two stories come together in Cuba, and the story of the St. Louis and the fate of the Jews is revealed.
An interesting read, once you get over the awkward writing.
Rating: 4/5
Recommendation: Yes.
By Armando Lucas Correa
An interesting novel based on the true story of the St. Louis, a ship that took almost 900 German Jews from Germany to Cuba just before WWII, where they hoped to find refuge before going on to permanent residence in the U.S. After only a few days in the port, the ship was not allowed to dock and sets sail to try and find refuge for the Jews in other countries. They are turned away by the U.S. and by Canada. Eventually, they sail back to Europe, where some find refuge in England, Holland, France and Denmark. Many of the Jews end up being killed by the Nazis as WWII spreads.
The language in the novel at first seems very stilted and awkward, but then I realized that it's a translation, though not a very good one, from Spanish.
The novel begins in Germany and is told through the eyes of a young Jewish girl in 1939 alternating with a young American girl in 2007. Eventually, the two stories come together in Cuba, and the story of the St. Louis and the fate of the Jews is revealed.
An interesting read, once you get over the awkward writing.
Rating: 4/5
Recommendation: Yes.
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