February Reads

Jack's Widow by Eve Pollard DNF fictional account of Jackie O after JFK's assassination. I thought it would be interesting but she just whined over and over about his affairs. Gave up halfway through.

The Dark Room by Rachel Seiffert 3* actually 3 short stories all pertaining to WWII. The first story is about a boy/young man who has a missing chest muscle so can't fight for his country (Germany) during the war. It was an okay story 3*, the second story is about 5 children abandoned by their Nazi mother at the end of the war. Awesome, heartbreaking story 4* would have given it 5 * but i wanted more detail, i think this story alone would have made a fantastic book, the third story is about a man in the 90's who finds out his beloved grandfather was a Nazi 3*

Snow Angels by Stewart O'Nan 3.5* would have been 4 stars but the ending was horrible, it just ended. I kept looking to see if I was missing some pages or something! It's a story revolving around a teenage boy and his divorcing parents and then a parallel story about his old babysitter.

The Summer Guest by Justin Cronin 4* revolves around a summer camp in Maine and the family that runs it and one frequent visitor, evolves over several decades

The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan (NF) 3* History of those who stayed behind in the dustbowl. Parts of it were fascinating, parts of it were boring and dragged. I had to push myself to finish, but I learned a lot about that time that I wasn't previously aware of.

Gossip of the Starlings by Nina de Gramont (ARC) 3* the story of 2 rich teenage girls in private school. How their lives intersect their and outside of school with their outside friends. Hard to tell who is the bad influence as they both have their own issues. I found some of it unbelievable, but still couldn't put it down until the end.

An Absolute Gentleman by R.M. Kinder 4* a charming college professor is also a serial killer. Engrossing story, pulls you in from page 1. Not graphic or bloody.

The Dead of Summer by Camilla Way 4* the story of 3 oddballs who become friends and the horrible outcome of their summer

Ties That Bind, Ties That Break by Lensey Namioka (YA) 3* nice story about a young Chinse girl in 1911 who refuses to have her feet bound. Her father indulges her and forever changes her life.

A Ship Made of Paper by Scott Spencer 4* a white man begins an affair with the black mother of one of his step-daughter's friends.

Every Last Cuckoo by Kate Maloy 3* an okay story about an elderly lady who takes in "strays" when her husband dies

The Life You Longed For by Maribeth Fischer 4* a couple's 3 yr old son has a rare incurable disease. the mother is having an affair when she is accused of having Munchausen (intentionally causing her son's illness).

Orchard by Larry Watson 3* The story of a painter and his muse, the feelings of her huband and his wife. Not his best.

In My Hands by Irene Gut Opdyke (YA) (NF) the true story of Irene's life as a Polish resistance fighter during WWII. She helped many Jews, risking her and her families lives. Inspiring story, I just felt there wasn't much emotion in the telling.

Night of Flames by Douglas W. Jacobson 3* set during WWII, tells of a man and his wife who are seperated at the beginning of the war. They both fight, he for the Polish Army, she for the resistance. Interesting story, I just felt the ending was unrealistic.

No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarty (audio) 3*

A.D. 62 Pompeii by rebecca East 3* time travel A young college graduate volunteers to go back to AD 62 Pompeii. She ends up a slave. Light, easy read, somewhat of a romance.

Liars and Saints by Maile Meloy 4* the story of a Catholic family told from the 50's to the present. Each chapter is told by a different family member so you get different points of view from one event.