November Reads

The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher by Kate Summerscale 3* the true crime story of the killing of a 3 yr old boy who is murdered in 1860. Interesting look at that time, but boring in places, information overload.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shafer and Annie Barrows 5* set in England after WWII, the story is told in a series of letters from a writer to a book group in Guernsey. They share their stories of the war and it’s after-effects. I couldn’t put the book down and read it in less than 24 hours. I hated that it ended! It had parts that made me laugh out loud and parts that made me cry.

Bound by Sally Gunning 3* the story of a 7 year old girl who comes from England with her family, but due to hardships on the crossing her father has to use her to pay his debts by making her an indentured servant. Luckily she is picked by a benevolent family and is well taken care of until the daughter marries. Alice goes with her to the new husband’s house. Things change dramatically there, and Alice has to run away. The story starts out strong but ends a little weak, overall a pretty good read.

The Given Day by Dennis Lehane 3* set in 1919 in Boston The story revolves a round a black man, Luther and a white cop, Danny and their families. While I love historical fiction, I think Lehane was so busy trying to tell the story of the times that the characters fall flat.

The Road Home by Rose Tremain 4* Lev leaves his country in Eastern Europe to find work in London so he can send money back home to his mother and daughter. It was interesting to see what immigrants go through when coming to a new country, and the reasons why they come. I found the ending a tad unbelievable but overall it was an excellent book. I like that she didn’t make Lev perfect since everyone has flaws.

Pioneer Women by Joanna L. Stratton 3* true stories of pioneer women in Kansas, parts of it were fascinating, I just wish she had just compiled all the letters/stories of each woman instead of just putting pieces in.

Not Me by Michael Lavigne 4* a man is taking care of his father who has Alzheimer’s when his father gives him a set of journals. Through the journals he finds out his father isn’t who he always thought, a kind giving Jewish man, but a Nazi war criminal.

She Was by Janis Hallowell 3.5* a 60’s radical has turned her life around and become a wife, mother, and doctor and feels safe when her world comes crashing down with the appearance of an old college friend.

The Wedding Officer by Anthony Capella 2* romance set during WWII in Italy. I love that time but just too romancy for me….

Anybody Any Minute by Julie Mars 3* a woman buys a house in the middle of nowhere during a midlife crisis

After River by Donna Milner 4* a teenage girl’s life changes after an American draft dodger comes to work at her family’s Canadian farm

Soiled Doves, Prostitution in the Early West by Anne Seagraves 3* interesting look at the old West, great pictures, but really no new information to me.

The Rope Walk by Carrie Brown 3* would have been 4* but the story is told by a 10 yr old but the thoughts were just too adult for a child, drove me crazy. Alice becomes friends with a bi-racial child (who is a curiosity in her small Vermont town) and an elderly man with AIDS the summer she turns 10.

The Girls Who Went Away by Ann Fessler 4* true stories told by many woman who gave up their children for adoption in their teens between 1940 to 1960-ish. Hit home for me as my father was an adopted child in the 50’s. The only bad thing was I felt it got a little repetitive by the end.

Women of the West by Cathi Luchetti 3* no new info to me, but great pics and still interesting reading

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher YA(audio) 4* a teenage girls sends out 13 tapes to 13 people she feels that led to her suicide. I think listening to the book as opposed to reading it is the way to go with this story since you get to hear her voice and then the voice of the boy listening.