The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan

Interestingly enough, this story (fiction) takes place two years after the Titanic sank - and they refer to this in the book. This time, they apparently had enough lifeboats, unlike the Titanic, but the lifeboats were not made to the originally planned dimensions. So, even though they were supposed to be big enough to fit 40 people each - and the plaques in each boat stated that the capacity was 40 - the boats were actually made smaller. And then, of course, half the boats were on the side of the ship that was inaccessible so they couldn't be launched. So, a tragedy is born....

This was difficult to read for a few reasons. First, why do the wealthy "cut corners" to save money, allowing innocent people to suffer for their frugality and dishonesty! Secondly, when you have an overloaded lifeboat, already sitting too low in the water because it really doesn't fit 40 people, and other people are in the water begging to be saved - including a child with his dead mother....well, need I say more? Thirdly, it is difficult to read about people starving to death and becoming mentally unstable and doing things to each other they probably wouldn't dream of doing in any other situation.

So, this isn't exactly a cheerful book. ;) It was interesting though and I liked it. This is somewhat odd to me because normally I have to "connect" to at least one character in a book in order to really like it. I really didn't connect to anyone in this story. At times I admired Grace, but then....not so much. I respected Mr. Hardie and his "sea experience", but then I didn't. Mary Ann was annoying; Mrs. Grant and Hannah were suspicious; it was hard for me to keep the men straight. But yep, I liked it. Go figure.

I can't presume to know what I would do in a situation like this: 21 days in a lifeboat, starving, with people dying all around me - or being killed, eating raw fish and then raw birds. I hope I never do! True survivors make tough decisions to survive in these kind of conditions. Not sure I have that true survivor mentality.

I definitely didn't like Mrs. Grant and Hannah by the end of the story. By the time they got to court, I wanted them to pay for what they had done to Grace and Mr. Hardie, and the rest of the people in the boat by dividing it: divide and conquer. They were quite successful at it. Not that I liked some of Mr. Hardie's decisions either. Or Grace's.

Not bad for a first novel. ;)

Wendy's Rating ****

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

This is my third novel by Liane Moriarty. I really liked "What Alice Forgot" and "The Husband's Secret". This one started a bit slow for me - the story that is, because the writing style is a fast read. The more I read though, the more I got invested in the various character's stories. Madeline was most definitely my favorite! She was funny and kind and loyal. There were times I laughed out loud at her. :) The only thing that I didn't like, since she was such a good person, was that she made a conscious decision every day to not forgive Nathan. Her life has gone on, alone at first and then with Ed. Nathan's life has gone on. They both seem happy with their current spouses. They both have children with their current spouses. They live in the same community. Let. It. Go. Honestly, I don't get it. It's not worth hanging on to it.

Celeste's story clearly showed how difficult it is to leave an abuser. Her rollarcoaster life was demonstrated very well. Two beautiful people with a beautiful home, twin boys and money. But, that's not what kept her with Perry. Terror kept her with Perry. She was going to lose either way. She was going to die either way. Leave or stay, she would eventually end up dead way too young. Perry was never going to let her go. I did NOT want her to go home with Perry after Trivia Night, that's for sure! I thought it was really important that she accepted (finally) that her boys WERE very much affected by the abuse in their home. Kids always know a lot more than you think they know. In my opinion, her story wrapped up quite nicely.

Jane. Wow. Didn't see the twist coming at all in her story!! It did not even cross my mind. All of Liane Moriarty's books have twists, but I usually see them coming.  This one was very well played. I guess you could say this story is an example of nurture over nature, since Ziggy was not exposed to violence/abuse, while Max and Josh were.

I quite enjoyed this book after getting into it. Maybe it was my mood when I first started it too, since that always makes a difference.  I had just finished "Me Before You", which I absolutely loved! It's hard to switch gears sometimes. ;)

Wendy's Rating: ****