The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende

I really liked this book. There was a lot going on for a 300+ page book however. It would have been nice to delve into all of the key relationships more: Alma & Ichimei; Alma & Nathaniel; Alma & Irina; Irina & Seth. As far as that goes, I would have liked more information about the personal lives of Ichimei, Nathaniel, Irina and Seth! They each had an interesting history and we barely get a hint of what each of their experiences were like. 

We know that Ichimei spent time in the "relocation camp" Topaz, and that his family ended up in Arizona at the end of the war, but we find out nothing about his marriage and kids. Obviously, Nathaniel was gay - and a gay man in San Francisco at the beginning of the AIDS epidemic! Did Alma suspect anything? At one point she surmised that he must have been discretely sleeping with other women, since he wasn't sleeping with her, but she didn't seem all that surprised when he fell ill with the "gay man's disease". I would have loved to know more about Nathaniel's life - although it explains why he so willingly married Alma. Marrying your first cousin is definitely odd though....

Obviously Irina had a horrible life. It wasn't surprising why she kept disengaging from Seth. What her mother did to her - or at least allowed to happen (and don't tell me she didn't know anything!) - was disgusting. How wonderful for Irina that she met Alma - and through Alma, Seth. And speaking of Seth. Other than falling in love with Irina - and being a huge support to Alma - we really don't know anything about his upbringing at all.

So, yes, lots of interesting people and several interesting relationships. I can't say that my favorite relationship was Alma  & Ichimei though. Alma's materialism and self-centeredness really bothered me. I completely understand why she felt she couldn't marry Ichimei at that time. A mixed-race marriage, with mixed-race children between two people that lived on completely different social levels. That would have been incredibly difficult for even the bravest of women at that time. Alma loved her creature comforts too much. To me, that makes their love story flawed. I loved Ichimei though. And I am glad that they found each other again. I do believe that Ichimei is the only man that Alma ever truly loved romantically.

I suspected that Ichimei had already died, so it didn't surprise me when we find out he had died before Alma moved to Lark House. Irina was caught up in the love story of Alma & Ichimei, so she was waiting for him to come to Alma in the hospital at the end, and he did. The mind can be very powerful. So whether he was a figment of Irina's imagination, or a "ghost" coming to lead the love of his life "home", I thought it was a nice ending.

Wendy's Rating: ****

America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray & Laura Kamoie

What a wonderful book! I loved that the authors used excerpts from real letters. One thing I have learned over the years is that our Founding Fathers were flawed people, just like the rest of us. Thomas Jefferson wrote that all men were created equal, but was unable to free his own slaves. He had a long-term a relationship with a slave - and (potentially) fathered 5 or 6 children with her - despite the fact that she was his daughter's age, a slave, and at the time it would have been considered an incestuous relationship since Sally was his deceased wife's sister. It doesn't really seem that much has changed in politics over the decades, generations, centuries.... Men in power do what they want.

I really loved William Short. He was willing to sacrifice everything to hold to his principles. It's amazing that he could hold such strong beliefs and still consider Jefferson his respected mentor. I think that Martha (Patsy) was put in an impossible situation. Her father was giving her a MAJOR guilt trip, her mother made her promise at her death that she would look after her father, William Short wouldn't sacrifice his beliefs about the evil of slavery and return to Virginia.... Martha was presented with a lose/lose situation. So, she lost William and suffered through an abusive marriage with an alcoholic husband. I was actually quite shocked - and impressed - that she sought advice about divorce. I didn't think that was done in those times - especially in the upper classes where reputation is everything. I was so relieved that she reconnected with William Short after Tom's death in the book - and even more relieved that the real William Short was a significant person in Martha Jefferson's real life!

I admired Martha/Patsy for the strong woman that she was. I was also impressed that the men around her let her be strong (for the most part). Even Tom seemed to appreciate her strength - unless it went directly against what he wanted or believed. Obviously, both Thomas Jefferson and his daughter were highly intelligent. Too bad Thomas Jefferson and Tom Randolph didn't hire financial advisers! Their debts were staggering! 

Really loved this book!

Wendy's Rating: *****

Faithful by Alice Hoffman

I really loved this book! Yes, it's sad for several reasons: Helene's comatose state for ten years and counting; Shelby's guilt; the death of Sue; the estranged relationship between Shelby and her father; Shelby losing Ben....  For every sadness though, something positive happens - even if it's just a deeper understanding of something or someone.

Shelby talks about her "angel", but I think she had four "angels" looking after her: her mother, Ben, Maravelle and James. If every person had four people in their lives that loved them unconditionally and never gave up on them, no matter what, there would be less troubled people in the world.

I really wanted Shelby to end up with Ben. Ben loved her so much - and tried so hard - and was so incredibly patient and kind. I kept waiting for them to reunite. I thought their online dating match would be the catalyst for them starting over. I was so bummed when he walked away, even though I understood it too. Then when he announced he was getting married, my heart broke for Shelby. Too little too late. In the end, when Ben came back, I was relieved that they came to terms with each other - and also that Shelby didn't hurt James by going back to Ben. I honestly don't know who was the better match for Shelby, but at that point, James loved her just as much and Ben was married with a baby on the way. Shelby definitely made the right choice.

I am a firm believer that when someone is despondent, like Shelby was after the accident, that giving them responsibility is a great way to fight depression. I think it was awesome for the pet store owner to tell Shelby that she was the new store manager, even when she didn't deserve it at the time. His belief in her was the starting point for Shelby's life turning in a different direction.

There was an underlying sense of forgiveness throughout the book. People got hurt, both physically and emotionally, but people worked through their hurt/anger/sadness and came out the other side of it. Helene's parents welcomed Shelby into their home; Shelby understood that she had shut her dad out of her life after the accident and that their estrangement wasn't all on him; Ben & Shelby made peace with their life choices and not ending up together; Sue was unhappy in her marriage, but didn't lay that burden on Shelby; Harper felt remorse for what he had done for Shelby and Shelby trusted him so much as a vet that she brought her dying dog to him despite what had happened between them. 

Loved it!

Wendy's Rating: *****

The Brave by Nicholas Evans

This book had a different feel for me than Nicholas Evan's other books. Usually his settings are in the great outdoors - on a ranch, in the woods. This book's main focus was Hollywood - in the early days. I liked the book, but it had a layer of sadness running throughout. Just about all of the main characters had to live with decisions they had made in the past, which may or may not have been the best decisions. There were certainly some significant repercussions regardless.

I liked Tommy as a boy - and as a man eventually. He felt so out-of-tune with his "parents". This was curious to me. First of all, they were his grandparents, so you would think they would have loved him deeply and showed it, like many grandparents. Secondly, they wanted another child and could never have one. Here was an opportunity to "have" another child. I guess I just didn't understand their "distance" from Tommy. But then, when Diane tells Tommy that she is actually his mother, instead of his sister, Diane's mom reportedly dies from a broken heart. Really? She just didn't seem that invested in Diane or Tommy. I am so glad that Tommy had Cal after Diane was gone, but apparently Cal's love wasn't enough for Tom to carry on with life without feeling the heavy weight of what happened. I get that. He killed to protect his mother - and his mother took the blame. The whole thing was very sad.

I really liked Diane. She was obviously talented and beautiful. As Tom says late in the book, her life could have been so different if she had met Cal first (before Ray). Oh, what might have been.... Many of these characters would have led a very different life most likely, had that happened.

I am happy that Tom reunited with Danny - and developed a relationship of peace with Gina & Dutch. I also liked that he ended up with Karen's mom and not Karen herself! Despite the "happy ending" however, I finished the book feeling sad for Tom, losing his mother - and his guilt associated with that; for Cal - for losing Diane too; for Danny - who will now have to live his life with innocent blood on his hands. It was a melancholy read for me.

Wendy's Rating: ****

The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand

I enjoy a good summer read. Elin Hilderbrand's books always take place in a nice setting. I really don't know anything about Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket, so it was interesting to read about the rivalry between the two islands - and how people prefer one over the other - even though they are only eleven miles apart. I would like to visit both and form my own opinion one day!

I had an issue with Tabitha blaming Harper for the death of Julian. Why on earth would Tabitha waste 14 years blaming her sister for her premature son's death when all Harper did was come to help? As far as splitting up the twins, that didn't bother me as much because people split up their children, twins or not, all the time for various reasons. Tabitha's REAL issue with Harper was that she "got to go" with their father while she was "forced to stay" with their mother. The odd thing about that is that I don't think Tabitha would have been happier with Billy. But maybe she wouldn't have been so uptight about everything if she had stayed with Billy more often. It's kind of ridiculous that they didn't spend more time with the opposite parent anyway, considering they were only miles a part. This is especially puzzling after we find out that Eleanor & Billy were getting it on anyway! I didn't really like Tabitha at all for most of the book. Instead of making changes to be happier, she just blamed other people for her unhappiness. Fortunately, Ainsley got a much needed break from her at a critical moment in her life.

I wasn't really sure who would end up with whom. Usually the woman doesn't end up with the married man, so that was a surprise. Maybe I wouldn't have been as surprised if I had known earlier that Sadie was such a witch - and in love with someone else anyway! It was a happy ending, with a few sad things along the way. I was sad about Billy dying in the first place. I was sad about Brendan. I was happy that Harper and Tabitha each had a chance to put a positive spin on the other's life: Harper taking over the store and making the necessary changes to turn a profit; Tabitha remodeling Billy's home. Both of these projects were too overwhelming for the sister that was mired in them.

All's well that ends well!

Wendy's Rating: ****

Telegraph Avenue by Michael Chabon

Every book I read by Michael Chabon I like less than the previous one. I really loved The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. It's one of my favorite books. Then I read The Yiddish Policemen's Union, and it was okay. I had to force myself to get through this book. First of all, I am not that into vinyl records - and I know little about jazz. I understand the significance of the "megastore" wiping out the small, vintage store - and I hate that our nation has come to that in nearly every city. And now even the bigger stores are closing because of online shopping! But, I didn't like Archy for the majority of the book - and I didn't like how Titus was using Julie. I didn't really care about the life and times of Luther Stallings and Valletta. I REALLY didn't like the 11-page sentence which makes up Part III (A Bird of Wide Experience). On and on and on.... Seriously.

Then there were the odd little things that had no conclusion. What happened to the bird? What happened to Luther? Did Archy and Luther reconcile in the end? Why was Titus wearing the purple glove - and why were there no ramifications about the purple glove since it was evidence in a murder that was brushed under the rug? Because they were all thugs?
Archy was becoming a real estate agent? How odd. Why didn't Nat just stay where he was instead of moving to another site?

What did I like? Well, I liked Aviva and Gwen. I was happy that Gwen stood up for herself with that jerk of a doctor - but I also liked how she apologized (finally) to Garth. It's awesome that she is going back to medical school to become a doctor. I liked Julian, but he is way too young to be having sex. Honestly. All of the parents in this book need to learn better parenting skills.

Yeah, I really didn't care for the subject matter of this book. I can't imagine who I would ever recommend it to either. The last couple hundred pages were okay, but since the book was 465 pages, that's not saying much.

Wendy's Rating: ***

Once We Were Brothers by Ronald H. Balson

As horrific as the Holocaust was, this subject is one of my favorite things to read about. I love to read about all the incredibly brave people who jeopardized their own safety or lives as well as their family's safety or lives. They did "the right thing" despite how dangerous it was. I hope to never be put in that situation because I don't know if I would be brave enough - or strong enough - to do the right thing in the face of death.

I really loved Ben Solomon. I thought he was right about Elliot Rosenzweig being Otto, but I had some minor doubts initially. As Ben told his story, it just seemed so impossible that the Otto he had grown up with would betray Ben and his family. As the story progressed, you could see the change in Otto, little by little. I was relieved that Ben got to spend his life with Hannah, especially since he lost everyone else to the horror of Nazi Germany. Ben stayed true to his character throughout his life - fighting for what was right, no matter how difficult it was.

Catherine annoyed me greatly at first! She kept acting like hearing Ben's story was such an inconvenience and a waste of her precious time. I loved how her character developed during the book. A person only has one life to live, so to spend it doing something meaningful is so important to being happy. She was miserable trying to prove herself to her firm, racking up enough billable hours to appease her bosses. How awesome that she sacrificed it all to bring about justice for Ben. I am glad that she allowed herself to start caring for Liam as more than a friend. I thought Liam was really good for her.

I was a little slow realizing who Elliot was married to, even after we find out she rarely appeared at public events. I didn't even catch on knowing her name was "Elisabeth"! It didn't surprise me that she came forward in the end to testify against her husband. She always helped Ben when he needed help - despite suffering the repercussions from her abusive Nazi boyfriend back in Poland. Yes, she kept Otto's secret - and her own - for many, many years, but in the end she did the right thing.

This book was a page-turner for me. I can't wait to read his other novels!

Wendy's Rating: *****

The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon

I own the first seven books of the Outlander series, but haven't had a chance to read it yet. This was actually the first book I have read by Diana Gabaldon. It felt like I was jumping into the middle of a story - which, in essence, I was! This book involved both Lord John Gray and Jamie Fraser. Not knowing the characters, if was confusing to me at first. I had no idea who either character (named above) was - or why they found themselves in the predicament they were each in at the start of the book. Fortunately, the author does a nice job of explaining the past as the story moves forward.

I really liked both Lord John and Jamie. I still don't know the story of how little William (the imp!) came to be, but regardless, I love how attached Jamie is to him. Now that John is William's named guardian, I guess John & Jamie will always be attached too. I am glad that John figured out that is was William that Jamie wanted to see at Helwater, and not Betty! John & Jamie could easily be best friends, they get along so well together, but it is odd that John is in love with Jamie. Kind of puts some awkwardness into their time together. ;) I am glad they worked through it.

You would think that I would know more about the Jacobites by this point in my life, especially since Susanna Kearsley writes about them often and I have read a lot of her books, but I still don't know that much. Or maybe I just don't care enough to know more! I gathered that Jamie was considered a traitor by the English, since he was part of the Irish uprising to put Charles Stuart on the throne rather than George II, (right?) But I really didn't get what the deal was about the Cupan Druid riogh. And I didn't understand the scene towards the end when Jamie is burying Quinn in the peat bog. I definitely didn't understand who Esus, Taranis and Teutates were - and what their significance was in relation to Quinn, the Cupan or the Irish! In the end I guess it doesn't matter. I followed the rest of the story, which I really liked.

It's odd that Jamie's wife, Claire, is living in a different time with their child. The last sentence of the book: "Then turned his check to her reaching hand and touched her through the veils of time." Not sure what to make of that either. Is he touching her figuratively? In his dream? What aren't they living together in the same time? I am sure some of the other books explains that fully! 

The other people in my book club, who have read the Outlander series, didn't care for this one. Since I really liked this book, I have a feeling I will love Outlander!

Wendy's Rating: ****

Missing Persons by Stephen White

This was my first novel by Stephen White. I love when lawyers, psychologists and other professionals write about their own fields because it brings more legitimacy to the story. Being a psychologist, Stephen White understand the constraints of patient confidentiality.

I think it was interesting that the death of Hannah Grant was not directly connected to the disappearance of Mallory. Hannah's death triggered the investigation of Mallory's disappearance, simply because Hannah had seen Mallory as a patient, but Hannah wasn't really connected to the events. This is an interesting twist, since the story begins with her mysterious death.

I couldn't believe that Mallory's dad, Bill, would be involved in anything illegal since he was such a compassionate man who was so committed to his mentally ill wife Rachel - a true "until death do us part" kind of husband. It goes to show you how things can go SO wrong after making one impulsive decision. 

I can say the same thing about Bob. Based on Alan's sessions with Bob, I couldn't believe that he would have harmed - or taken - a young girl out of her home to do her harm. It absolutely made sense that he would take her to save her. Mallory was so frightened about the same thing happening to her that happened to JonBenet Ramsey. I remember being frightened about a similar thing when I was young. A family who went to our church moved to a different state due to a job. Within the year, the wife had killed her two daughters and herself due to depression. My parents did not share this with me (to protect me), but a friend of mine did. I was so horrified that I spent years laying in bed wondering if my mother would ever do the same to my brother and I. Young impressionable minds should not be exposed to horrible things like that. Since JonBenet was Mallory's classmate and friend, I can so relate to this fear of hers.

I was definitely thrown off by Bill's neighbor. Digging the tunnel, discovering Bill's secret, stealing identities. Didn't see that coming!  His dead body found in a ditch - and then he is alive at Bill's house. That's called covering your tracks! Then there is Canada, who I couldn't decide if he was "good" or "bad". I guess a little bit of both - as many people are. I love that Canada protected Rachel - but it was a weird arrangement with Bill, for sure.

I love books with twists and turns, and this book certainly had them.

Wendy's Rating: ****

The Night the Lights Went Out by Karen White

This is the Karen White that I know and love! I loved the characters, the mysterious histories of Merilee and Sugar, the connection between two women that suffered tremendous sadness in their lives. Sugar was the "grumpy old lady" that either people loved or hated. She had great instincts regarding people. Merilee would have been better served trusting Sugar's opinion of Heather, that's for sure!

There were a ton of clues that Heather was setting Merilee up - although I wasn't really sure what her exact plan was initially. Heather and Dan's phones were always mixed up, Heather borrowing Merilee's lipstick and not giving it back, Heather buying Merilee's dress, Heather finding Dan's wallet "accidentally" in her purse, her daughter getting "sick" and her bailing on Merilee at the last minute for the weekend at their house in Tybee. The clues go on and on - and Merilee was clueless! Part of the suspense was waiting for the moment that Merilee would finally realize that Heather was Daisy. That moment was a long time coming!

I like how Merilee's and Sugar's stories unfold a little at a time. They each had some incredibly tragic things happen to them. Both of them lost their siblings, their mothers (in different ways than death, but they were still losses), their husbands. Merilee being arrested for murder. Sugar being raped. Once they connected and shared their secrets, they both came to realize how strong they were. Rather than being defeated, they regained their sense of self.

It was incredibly sad that Dan was murdered. I really didn't want that to happen! I was also sad that Merilee's parents abandoned her, that Rufus died because of Curtis, Jimmy was paralyzed because of Curtis, the dog died, Sugar and her mother were raped, etc, etc. Honestly, Curtis was evil. Merilee's father should have protected his own and got rid of him early on. Not sure if he was that naive or what! I was surprised by who killed Curtis in the end. Oh, and I loved the friendship between Sugar and Willa Faye! Love this line, "...when I told her I needed help burying a body, the first thing she said was, "Let me go get my shovel."" That's what you call friendship!!

I don't remember Sugar explaining what happened to her daughter Mary, other than she died when she was one day old. Oh, and how wonderful was Tom, who wanted to raise Sugar's child as his own, even though the baby was a product of rape. Really sad that Tom died too. There was a lot of sadness in this book. :(

Despite that, I continue to be a huge fan of this author!

Wendy's Rating: ****

Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf

I really loved this book, minus one character that I really disliked. This is the type of character book that I really enjoy. These characters mean something to me. I actually felt outrage toward Addie's son, Gene. How dare he dictate what his mother should and should not do - and hold his own son as "hostage" from Addie until she did what he said. Gene nearly ruined my enjoyment of this charming little novel. I am glad that Addie decided to "defy" Gene at the end - but HONESTLY - why does she have to? He should mind his own miserable life - and wife. The only people hurting Jamie are his parents. Just ticks me off.

I liked how Addie and Louis' histories unfolded as they got to know each other. They both had sad and/or tragic experiences in their lives that affected them deeply and changed them permanently. Neither Addie nor Louis seemed happy in their marriages, but they both felt the loss of their spouse when they died. They both were so lonely until they found each other. How wonderful to find a companion to talk to late in life. Someone to lay in bed with, hold hands, eat lunch & dinner with, attend the theater. Everyone needs a best friend like that, no matter what age.

I felt sorry for Jamie. That's the only reason why I could accept Addie's decision to move to Denver to be with Jamie & Gene. Jamie needs Addie (and Louise, in my opinion!) in his life. She brings stability and "safety" to his life. I totally understand why Gene struggles. He feels guilty for the death of his sister, and his dad never really connected with him (forgave him?) after Connie's death, since his dad "preferred" Connie. I have never understood favoring one child over another. Never. BUT, that doesn't give Gene the right to play dictator over his mother's life! She so deserves some happiness!

I could tell that the author of this novel was older by the way it written. I guess someone in his late 60s/early 70s would be the perfect person to tell a story about two people finding companionship in their early 70s though, right? ;) I just thought it was a wonderful story (minus Gene). After I finished the book, I read the book jacket and I was sad to read that Kent Haruf died in November 2014. This book was published in 2015. I have read a couple of his other books and I really enjoyed them as well.

Wendy's Rating: *****

Last Bus to Widsom by Ivan Doig

I usually love character novels. I love getting wrapped up in each character's personality and understanding why they do what they do. I don't necessarily need a plot driving me forward all of the time. With that being said, this was a little too meandering for me. I did like the characters, especially Donal and Herman the German, a lot. I loved how Donal used his autograph book to connect with people on his journey. For some reason though, I had to force myself to pick up the book to keep reading. It felt like a college English assignment that I had to do, even though I didn't feel like it. I do feel like that analogy is doing this novel a disservice. It was quite charming, set in 1951. A young boy and his "Grandpa" setting off on a grand summer adventure. What's not to love? 

I was never in fear that Herman was going to be arrested - or Donal sent to an orphanage - because it seemed like a coming-of-age story for Donal more than anything. I thought he would spend more time in Manitowoc with Aunt Kate. I actually thought we would get to know her better, and know more about her relationship with Herman. That ended up being a brief "blip" of the entire summer.

I liked the ending. I liked that it ended, and I liked how it ended. ;) Seriously though, I am happy that Donal got to stay (presumably) with both Herman and his Grandma. It would have been so hard for Donal to say goodbye to Herman after everything they had gone through together.

I read this for one of my book clubs - and everyone else really liked it. I was the odd-person out, which is unusual - so maybe it was just my mood. This was the author's last novel, since he died the year it was published (2015). I actually felt more emotion about that fact (which I found out after I finished the book) than I did about the book. RIP Ivan Doig.

Wendy's Rating: ***

The Girl in the Green Raincoat by Laura Lippman

Although I have read other Laura Lippman novels, this was my first Tess Monaghan story. It was first serialized in the New York Times, so it's pretty short for a novel, which makes it a quick read.

Since Tess is a private investigator, it was odd that the first book I read about her she is seven months pregnant and on bed rest. It felt like I jumped in the middle of a story, which I guess I sort of did. I would like to go back and read the Tess Monaghan stories now from the beginning - to get to know the characters better. Especially Crow!

I was confused about all of Don Epstein's wives/girlfriend and how they were connected at first. I am glad that the connections were clearly explained eventually. I never really got a feel for Carole until the very end, but one thing I am curious about: did she really love Dempsey before she abandoned him? Or was she the reason he was so neurotic? I know Dempsey attacks Carole at the end, but by that time, he was protective of Tess. Don didn't seem like he would mistreat a dog, so that whole thing was weird.

I found a typo on page 49. At first I thought it was meaningful because it's a misspelled name: Danielle Messenger, Don's girlfriend. Lenhardt and Tess were swapping information and they figure out that Carole's maiden name was Massinger.  Lenhardt makes a comment that Massinger is Danielle's last name, and then in the next sentence, she is referred to as Danielle Messinger. I thought it HAD to be significant, but nope. Just a typo.

I actually enjoyed the book and I was surprised by the ending.  The only question I have about the deaths is, who killed Danielle? I thought I knew, but I was thrown off by the accusations between Don and Carole in court. I thought it was weird that Whitney was enchanted by Don. When Whitney says to Tess, "Just think, it could have been a double ceremony", I was really thrown off. So, is Don a "good guy" (other than committing fraud!) or a "bad guy"? Whitney comments that he was terrified of Carole. Mixed signals. 

I always like when the main character has a sense of humor, which Tess does. All in all, a good, quick summer read.

Wendy's Rating: ****

The Last Letter from your Lover by Jojo Moyes

I continue to love the way Jojo Moyes tells a story. In this novel she spends a long time developing the original story of Jennifer and Anthony, which was a nice change of pace. It seems like so many authors jump back and forth between two stories, which is fine, but I liked how we know one story (mostly) before we jump into the other one in this book.

I thought that Jennifer was incredibly brave for several reasons. First of all, she leaves her husband - and loses all of her friends - even though she doesn't end up with the love of her life. Wives just didn't do things like that back then. Fortunately, she had some juicy information in which to blackmail Larry! It was interesting that he made a fortune by selling asbestos. Secondly, she, a wealthy "trophy wife", actually flies to the Congo to find Anthony, at a time when the Congo was incredibly dangerous!  Third, she raises her daughter on her own and never even tries to find another partner in life, even though she believes that Anthony is dead.

Then there is Ellie, who drove me nuts. Honestly, I could not believe that she put her life on hold - and almost trashed her career - for John. He was never going to leave his wife, and she intentionally turned a blind eye (and deaf ear) on the what was really going on. I was so happy that she started developing a friendship/relationship with Rory, and then couldn't believe that she let John get in the way of that. Thank goodness for John's wife, who finally made an impact on Ellie.

I was nervous that this book was not going to end the way I wanted it to! It made me read much faster as the story moved along because I was so worried that Anthony was actually dead and Rory would leave without knowing how Ellie really felt about him. (Since I read Me Before You, I know that Jojo Moyes doesn't necessarily tie up loose ends with neat little bows!) I was most definitely shocked by what Anthony ended up doing after Jennifer left him that last day in the hotel! Small world kind of thing. ;)

I was still sad that they lost 40 years, but I was relieved that they found each other again. Whew!

Wendy's Rating: ****

Dead Wake by Erik Larson

This is the third book I have read by Erik Larson. I love nonfiction books that read like fiction books. This one really doesn't fit that category, in my opinion, but I still liked it a lot. The first half of the book we learn a lot about U-boats and ships and a bit about World War I - the Germans, the English, the Russians, and of course America under President Wilson - who very obviously does not want to join the war. I actually love reading books about war - and the people involved in the war; what they are fighting for or against; the human element. I found myself impatient for the Lusitania to sink! Since I did not have any prior knowledge of how fast the ship sunk or how many people died, I just wanted to know the details. Once they came, I couldn't put the book down. It was devastating. As Erik Larson was describing the 18 minutes that it took the ship to sink, the people jumping into the ocean without their life jackets on - or on incorrectly, the lifeboats that were unusable, the half-filled lifeboats, the dead people floating amongst the ship debris in cold water.....I could picture it all because it was exactly way the sinking of the Titanic was depicted in the movie. The water wasn't quite as cold - but obviously too cold for survival for many people.

At the end, when the author commented on the MANY things that could have occurred to prevent or avert this disaster, it was heartbreaking. Talk about a bad luck chain of events. Just one difference in timing, in the weather, in the communication, in the calculations, and the Lusitania may have never sunk at all! And I was stunned that the Admiralty knew so much more than they told Captain Turner, and yet they tried to blame him for the entire thing. Disgusting. I understand why they had to be careful not to expose Room 40, but honestly, it did seem like a conspiracy to get American to join the war against the Germans. Why didn't they send ONE destroyer to accompany the Lusitania?? Every other ship was escorted. Why not the Lusitania? It just doesn't make sense. I was happy that Schwieger only lived a little more than two years after he sank the Lusitania. Karma is a bitch.

"Getting to know" some of the passengers made the deaths much more personable. I felt incredibly sad finding out who died. I was pleasantly surprised by some of the people the author talked about, like Charles Lauriat who carried such valuable and meaningful things (the Thackeray drawings and the Dickens Christmas Carol), but after he lost everything, he sent his wife a telegram saying that he had saved the baby's pictures and that they were his mascot. How awesome was that?!

One thing that I found incredibly interesting that I didn't know previously: Captain von Trapp, of The Sound of Music fame, was an Austrian U-boat commander! Who knew? Obviously I knew he was in the Austrian military in World War II, but they really don't go into his military history in the movie.

Now I would like to read Thunderstruck and Isaac's Storm - and any other future book by this author.

Wendy's Rating: ****

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman

This was certainly an interesting way to tell a story. It was an interesting way for Elsa's grandmother to share her story - and bring people together. Elsa had been living in the same house with all of these other people, whom she knew only peripherally. I have to admit that I was not a huge fan of the Land-of-Almost-Awake stories initially. I had no idea what she was talking about and I had a hard time caring. That type of "fantasy" is outside my area of interest! Although I very much love Harry Potter, which is also fantasy.... I had a difficult time understanding the stories and how they related to Elsa. Once Elsa starts figuring out that the characters in the Land-of-Almost-Awake are actually people she knows, the story got more interesting for me. I loved how Elsa found out how each person in the building came to live at the building - and how they were all connected with her grandmother and/or each other.

The realistic part of my brain had to be switched off while reading because certain things kept bothering me, like Elsa feeding chocolate to the wurse (which we all know is deadly to dogs!); Elsa's dad dropping her at the house when mom was working at the hospital (she is only 7 years old!); sleeping in the wardrobe with the boy with the syndrome and the wurse (what a large wardrobe!); taking off across town on her own after her grandmother's funeral (again, only 7!) I can read an entire fantasy series and not be bothered about things like I was when reading this! Oh, and I hate the word "wurse"! All of the other titles of the characters and names of the kingdoms had meaning - and related to grandmother's life story. So what's up with "wurse"? What does that even mean??

There were definitely some sad life stories that brought this group of people together, and none of them had even started the process of healing. Wolfheart & Sam; Britt-Marie/Ken/Alf; Maud & Lennart/boy with the syndrome & mother; the woman in the black skirt, aka the drunk. Elsa didn't exactly get her "happy ending" at the end, but it was nice to see these broken people start the healing process.

I didn't initially think that Elsa had a disability. I thought she was simply precocious. Then when her principal made a comment about her special needs (I can't remember the exact phrase he used), I realized she had a disability. Then I thought she was probably on the autism spectrum, on the Aspergers side of the spectrum. What threw me off was Sam mistaking Elsa for the boy with the syndrome. I assumed he had Down Syndrome, so when Sam mistook Elsa for his son, I thought maybe they both had Down Syndrome.... Anyway, I guess it doesn't matter, but I loved how Elsa's grandmother celebrated Elsa's "differentness". 

I liked the message this book conveys. I even got teary-eyed a couple of times at the end. I didn't like the book as much as A Man Called Ove though. I thought that one was more charming and more humorous, despite the sadness in Ove's life.

Wendy's Rating: ***1/2

There Is A Land by Ted Oswald

This is Ted Oswald's second novel about Libete Limye. Libete is now three years older and an outspoken activist at the age of 13. Even though this novel is considered a mystery, like the first book Because We Are, this novel really concentrates on the political upheaval in Haiti. Unless you already know something about the different Haitian presidents and warring factions with their dynamic leaders, it's difficult to keep everyone straight. It's also difficult to categorize people as being "good" and "bad". Like Libete, I never knew who to trust! Libete had a challenging time figuring out who actually supported her and who was trying to kill her. Sometimes the people who initially supported her, turned around and betrayed her; other times she was saved by people who she was taught, through experience, not to trust.

Libete was on the run for most of this book. She took on another name and another identity. Time-wise, the story of why she ran intermingled with the stories of how she ran and where she ended up. It weaves in and out so the reader slowly pieces the whole story together throughout the duration of the novel. Since she is in hiding, she is separated from the people she loves the most. She bonds with other people in her new life, but in the end, two of the people who loved her most, die. I hate that. In Libete's (Sophia's) new life she also runs into trouble. She uncovers the fact that the "University people" who supplied the tools needed to plant and manage a common garden for food in the town she flees to, are actually miners mining for gold.

On top of all that, we find out that Libete is ill with tuberculosis. The author doesn't explain how or when she found out she was ill, or how she received some medication, which she takes until she runs out. I don't even know if Stephanie and/or Jak know that she is ill. We also don't know what happened to Stephanie and Jak. So, lots of unanswered questions at the end of this book!

Too many good people died in this book. Every time Libete starts to feel like she has a "family", people are taken from her. It's very sad. The message of the book is worth fighting for though. Libete represents "Hope". Dimanche and Magdala, and their father before them, believed "the end of hope is the end of us all." They see Libete as Haiti's hope, and they are willing to die for that.

So, anxiously waiting for the next book....

Wendy's Rating: ****

The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

I think this book has a very important message. Simply put, don't count your chickens before they hatch. The Plumb "children" spent so much time and energy making poor decisions while waiting for their deceased dad's money to bail them out, that they weren't even enjoying their lives. All four of the adult Plumb children drove me crazy. They were so wrapped up in "the nest" that they didn't see what they had right in front of them: people who loved them; people who wanted to make a life with them aside from "the nest". It was interesting that Melody and Jack's husbands told them not to live their lives waiting for the nest "windfall", because it might never happen.

I guess Bea irritated me the least, so I will start with her. Her whole life revolved around Leo. She couldn't even write about anything unless it was about Leo. I could not figure out why she was so "frozen" in life. I didn't bother me that she walked around in vintage clothes and stayed at an unrewarding job just because.... It's just that she wanted to make writing her career and all she could think to write about was Leo's selfish life. I didn't really know what to make of Paul. He actually wasn't portrayed as something "worthy" of Bea until the end of the novel. I guess it depended on who was talking about him. Nathan respected him, but that was difficult to determine initially. Leo obviously did not. It took Bea a really long time to come around to Paul, but she seemed happy at the end.

Melody was so wrapped up in appearances - and stalking her daughters - that she didn't seem to enjoy life either. Since her father's death, she seemed to be biding her time until she turned 40! Honestly, she could have died by then - and then where would she be! Her life choices were made with "the nest" in her head at all times. That's no life, in my opinion. She had a very patient husband! I loved that she realized (finally!) that there is more to life than a house in the "right" neighborhood and ivy league colleges for her daughters. It's called being happy with what you have and loving the people that love you back.

Jack. I was not a fan of Jack. He had this wonderful man that loved him despite his many faults - that accepted him for who he was. (Walker was my favorite character in the book, actually. I am glad that Walker found happiness with someone else at the end. I hope he got the children he had always wanted too.) Jack was selfish and greedy - and desperate. He didn't deserve Walker. Walker was strong in his commitment to Jack, and strong in his dismissal of Jack. Again, I really liked Walker!

There is nothing that I liked about Leo. In the end though, he is the one that missed out big time. He got his money, but he lost his family; he lost the woman who loved him; he lost the daughter he never knew he had. I guess he got what he deserved, but what a waste. 

While reading this, I didn't quite get why so many people I know loved this book - until the end. I can't say I loved the book, but I did love the ending. I like when I see seriously flawed characters go through some sort of redeeming transformation. Bea, Melody and Jack's lives were better for having lost "the nest". They learned what was important in life and that people should be treasured, not money. I love how they took in Stephanie, since she didn't have any family of her own. I think Stephanie was an excellent replacement in the Plumb family for Leo.

Wendy's Rating: ****

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

This is a book that you can read in one sitting - if you have the time, of course. It is definitely fast-paced. The author gives you information along the way, so you are not kept completely in the dark, which is nice. I like how the reader knows what everyone is thinking, including Detective Rasbach, but no one person is able to put it all together. It's like a small group of people assembling a jigsaw puzzle. Each person believes they can contribute a piece of the puzzle (what happened to baby Cora?), but no one can actually "see the picture" until all the pieces come together at the end.

In the beginning I thought that Detective Rasbach was being a bit too tough and suspicious of Marco and Anne, although the reader knows why he is suspicious since the details of the crime scene are explained as they are discovered. I like how we know all the characters that are involved. It's not like some minor or briefly mentioned character is the kidnapper. I thought the story was very well laid out. It kept me guessing to the end.

Honestly, I thought the "the couple next door" would have a bigger part of the story. They came in and out, but they were almost peripheral characters in some regard. Although the book did start with them and end with them, so that's very cyclical. I thought the tidbits of Graham & Cynthia as a couple were odd. We didn't get to know them very well at all, but what we do find out is weird. Did Graham know - or even care - what Cynthia was up to? Was Cynthia planning to leave Graham? Did they even love each other? Using "The Couple Next Door" as the title of the book is a little misleading even, because the whole time you think they must have something to do with Cora's kidnapping. And quite frankly, Graham was only in about two chapters.

I actually liked Marco, despite his poor judgment. I felt sorry for Anne. I kept thinking that her dissociative disorder stemmed from something else from her childhood other than her father dying. I kept thinking that she had been sexually abused as a young child or something. That too was a surprise to me, that everyone seemed to accept that her disorder was due to her father's death and it wasn't explored further. (Not that witnessing your father's death when you are 4 years old - or any age - isn't traumatic!)

So, the ending.... I feared something like that would happen, but had hoped it wouldn't. The author blazed the trail and set the scene, so I guess it was bound to happen. It made me sad though. We finally get all the answers of who did what and why - and then we are left with a number of other questions!

I love a good mystery, especially one that moves along like this one. This is an excellent debut novel for Shari Lapena.

Wendy's Rating: ****

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

It's admirable that a mystery novel written in the 1800s, the first of its kind, can hold a reader's interest and curiosity in the 21st century. I say this simply because our lives (in books, television, movies and real life events) are inundated with mysteries, crime, deceit, dishonesty, traitors and treachery. Between watching the news and my favorite crime TV shows and suspenseful movies, I can't believe that I would be surprised by anything written so long ago! I was surprised by Percival's SECRET though, and the importance of his secret definitely made sense in the 1800's and much later in history. These days people would kill to keep a secret that mattered that much, but in this book is was more about deceit.

I really loved how this story was told by different narrators. It moved the story along and it introduced us to several different characters that we normally wouldn't know that well in a story like this. Some of the "minor" characters, like Pesca, ended up advancing the story significantly, but I had forgotten about him until he was re-introduced to the story at the end of the book. Having the background of his relationship with Walter made his contribution to the endgame authentic.

My favorite character was Marian Halcombe of course. I loved everything about her: her intelligence, her bravery, her loyalty, her persistence. In some respects, it's too bad that Walter was taken by Laura's beauty (and her gentleness and kindness) because I think that Marian would have made a good match with an intelligent, brave, loyal and persistent gentleman such as Walter. ;) Walter was good for Laura though, and she certainly needed him. I am happy that Marian seemed happy from beginning to end just being with Laura, and eventually Walter.

The most difficult thing about reading a book like this is how women were treated back then. Women as property is a hard thing to accept. I love how there were men like Mr. Gilmore who protested Laura not being treated fairly when the marriage agreement was drawn up. He tried to look after Laura's best interests. Unfortunately he failed in his attempts, but at least he tried! I was happy that he returned to their lives a year later. I think it's incredibly interesting how different we treat illnesses now from back then. People would "take leave" from their lives, their jobs, their families for weeks, months or years when they were ill. I know they had some serious illnesses back then (for which we are immunized against), but we have some pretty serious illnesses now too. I can't imagine going away for a year to rest and recuperate from an illness!

It's difficult for me to determine who I disliked the most in this novel. I thought Mr. Fairlie was over-the-top ridiculous, selfish and annoying; Sir Percival was hot-tempered, weak and desperate; Mrs. Catherick was hardened, non-sympathetic and cynical; Count Fosco was a genius at manipulation. Fortunately, they nearly all received their just rewards in the end. That is certainly good enough for me! All's well that ends well.

Wendy's Rating: ****

Flight Patterns by Karen White

This must be the third or fourth book I have read to date that involves bees!  Certainly, their life cycle, their survival instinct, their relationships within the hive make for good themes when telling a complicated family history. The queen bee will usually only sting a rival queen bee, much like Anna Bloodworth, who "stung" when her position as Birdie's mother felt threatened. The hive survives on the strength of the females. There were many strong females in this book: Anna, Birdie, Maisy, Caroline, Becky, Marlene and Georgia. I think most of these women were living in pure "survival mode" however, which takes strength, but is not an emotionally easy way to live! I was so happy that Maisy and Georgia were able to separate themselves from their mother, Birdie, in a healthier way - much like how older queen bees leave the hive with their followers to establish their own hives. I really love the symbolism in this book! 

I did not agree at all with Anna's decision regarding Giles Mouton! Why?? Giles had already proven how much he loved his daughter by giving her to another family to save her. He had survived a prison camp - survived the war. He traveled all that way to find his daughter like he promised her he would. He was dying already. Again, WHY? Why couldn't Anna have taken him in, re-introduced him to his daughter and let him see that she was okay. I know she didn't want Birdie taken from them, but considering all the facts, they could have all been a "family". It is just so incredibly sad that she felt like she had to resort to such desperate measures. Her actions had a profound affect on her husband and Birdie for the rest of their lives. If Anna had welcomed Giles, believing that he would be a positive influence in Birdie's life, then the domino effect of emotionally-stunted women in the family would probably have never happened. Birdie would have been a better mother, which would have produced a feeling of security in her daughter's lives. It is just so tragic how one fatal decision can affect so many.

I wish we knew what Becky was thinking when she found out that Georgia was her mother. That's a pretty significant thing to find out! She seemed to take it all in stride, which is hard for me to believe. I know she loved Maisy & Georgia a lot, but still. Even if she suspected she was Georgia's daughter (based on looks, habits, etc) before seeing the proof, wouldn't she want to know WHY? (There's that question again!)

Even though I didn't agree with some of the decisions made in this book, I still really liked the book! Family dynamics and family history and family secrets are always so interesting - and Karen White has an engaging writing style that I really enjoy.

Wendy's Rating: ****

The Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian

Reading this novel was like watching a plane plunging to earth from 30,000 feet. There is a little time to process that the end won't be good, but there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. I really liked Richard - and I really disliked Philip - and I completely despised Spencer. Don't get me wrong, Richard made some mistakes - and demonstrated some incredibly hurtful behavior - but he was honest about it afterward. He could have lied to Kristin, but he chose not to without even thinking about it. I was so happy that he refused to be blackmailed by Spencer! And what was up with his lawyer, telling him to just pay Spencer the money?? Do lawyers actually recommend things like that to their clients? Spencer was a scumbag and he would have always come back for more. I was hoping that the Russians would take him down so that everyone around him would be done with his unlawful and immoral behavior. Philip was so immature and selfish and untrustworthy. I was thrilled that Nicole came to her senses. Ick! Richard's first mistake was offering to host Philip's bachelor party. I understood the logic of him having it at home, thinking it would be "tamer" than at a strip club or something, but Richard definitely underestimated Philip's friends.

The story of Alexandra/Anahit was incredibly sad. The use of children in the sex trade is evil. Do these people who exploit children like this not have their own children? Do they treat their own children as property too? Would they sell their own children? My heart breaks when I think of the young girls and boys who are used by men for sex. Anahit was a beautiful girl who wanted to dance. She had a grandmother who loved her and friends who shared her love of dance. All of her hopes and dreams were smashed up against a brick wall. What a tragedy. I was wondering at one point if Richard & Kristin would end up adopting Anahit at the end of the novel. Kristin did not disappoint by forgiving Richard and moving on with their marriage. She also did not disappoint as she rushed over to save Anahit's life. I knew she had that forgiveness and kindness in her, so I was just hoping that together, they would "save" Anahit.

This was not an easy read, due to the subject matter and my fear that the ending would not be happy. I was indeed not happy with the ending, so I was right about that. But maybe a happy ending would have taken away from the grim facts of the sex slave trade. In addition to that, sometimes other people's actions have dire consequences and you still have to be the best person you can be despite the potential of it all ending badly.

Wendy's Rating: ****

Eeny Meeny by MJ Arlidge

This is the first book in a mystery series, introducing us to Helen Grace, a detective inspector in England. I love mysteries, and detective stories and thrillers. I don't know why I don't read them more often. Helen is a strong, independent, authoritative female detective. She also has baggage, which no one in her current life knows about - or would even suspect. The book is a page-turner and a quick read. Helen can be quick to judge, and some of her past actions have a significant impact on the people in her life at the time. But she is a strong character, especially for someone who had a troubling personal life.

The serial killer most definitely had a well-thought-out and executed plan. Excruciatingly so. It was painful to read about her victims dying of hunger and thirst, and in Mark's case, a raging infection. Each abducted "couple" reacted differently to the proposition put in front of them: kill the other person and you go free. Both lives are ruined regardless. I DO wonder how she knew when one person died though. It's not like she had cameras stationed inside all of the various abandoned sites. It's not like she could open a door and check on them. 

In my mind, I thought that Helen and Mark would be a couple - or at least a "non-couple" or a secret couple - in the books to follow. I thought they could help each other fight their individual demons. I have to say that I was not happy with how their relationship ended! I am happy that Helen found her serial killer, but I was sad about Mark. Even though the killer did despicable things to people, I was also sad about her life as well. She spent a long time in prison for trying to protect her sister - and then was pretty much shut out of her sister's life. Why was a child sentenced to 25 years in prison anyway? Maybe things are different in England than America when it comes to charging children with murder...? Maybe it was because she murdered two people instead of just the one harming her. I don't know, but she certainly had some awful things happen to her.

I want to read the next book in the series now. I am curious about which characters from this book will be carried over to the next.

Wendy's Rating: ****

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

I absolutely loved this book! It was very well written. Despite the changing narrators and the jumps back and forth in time, this 700+ page novel flowed. Great character development. Since the characters were so well developed, I was emotionally invested in them, especially Jude, William and Harold. Sometimes I smiled while reading, occasionally laughed out loud, but more often than not, the emotion I felt was sadness. My sadness ran the gamut between being teary-eyed (merely blotting with a tissue) to openly and audibly weeping (tissue after tissue). This book was an emotional journey for me.

Since I work with people who have mental health issues - and try to support them as they attempt to manage their various mental health symptoms - I found Jude's trials in life intriguing, eye-opening and heartbreaking. I feel frustrated at times at my job because I just want to shake people and say, "You just need to ________!" I could insert a lot of words/phrases into that blank, like "take your meds"; "stop relying on your meds and actually WORK on managing your mental health"; "tell your doctor/therapist the truth"; "exercise"; "eat healthier"; "go to your job before you lose it". I could go on and on and on. This book allowed me to see inside Jude's head - and you could almost feel his pain. It was heart wrenching.

There is no one I loved more than William, although Andy and Harold were close seconds. Can you imagine supporting and loving someone like Jude all those years? They just absolutely never gave up on him. What really gave me food for thought though is Jude doing things for other people, even when he didn't want to, even when he hated it. Usually in life we know we have to compromise with people we love - meet them half way - or "gift them" with things/actions that make them happy just because it makes them happy, even though we don't feel like it or it doesn't interest us. When Jude did this however, it just made me sad. Jude felt such self-hatred, and he was so conditioned in childhood to "obey", that he did things because he felt he had to, not because he wanted to "give" something to someone else. I detested Brother Luke. Brother Luke was the only person who showed Jude any sort of love, yet it was such a twisted love. Brother Luke ignited Jude's intelligence and told him he was beautiful, yet he made him do such horrible things. I think Jude would have been better off with someone who just treated him as a prostitute working for his pimp, rather than a "lover". That's what messed Jude up so much.

Usually I talk about everything I want to in my blogs, not worrying about spoiling anything for other readers since I mention that there are spoilers in my reviews anyway. But I love this book so much that I am not going to talk about the part(s) that left me weeping. It's better that people just read it and "live it" like I did. This book will be joining my favorite books of all time list.

Wendy's Rating: *****

Because We Are by Ted Oswald

I really loved this novel. I am sure it had a greater impact on me since it correlated so well with what I have experienced in my own visits to Haiti - and also with what I have read in historical accounts of Haiti, as well as other novels set in Haiti. (A favorite was Island Beneath the Sea by Isabel Allende). The political unrest, the use of Creole vs. French languages, the treatment of women and children, the importance of having the appropriate shoes to be able to attend school, the importance of having "church clothes", even if you have no food to eat, the complexities of the "goodness vs. evil" in each Haitian leader - or want-to-be leader, the impact of the earthquake, hurricanes and sickness (HIV, cholera, etc) on the Haitians. I could go on and on. In the midst of this accurate portrayal of life in Cite Soleil, we have Libete and Jak, two children who are forced to live beyond their years.

Libete is obviously a "spirited child". She pursued "justice" at any cost. She made errors in judgment, but they were usually made because she judged things based only on what she knew at the time. Life is not as black & white as Libete chose to believe at times. People are complex and events are complex. Despite all of that, Libete was relentless in her search for who was responsible for the deaths of Claire and Gaspar. She also had every intention of returning to her hometown of La Gonave. While she was successful on both "missions", she discovers that things are not what she thought they were. I am happy that despite her stubbornness, she did take the time to listen to what people explained to her when push came to shove. I am glad that she actually listened to Limye, Jak and Elize when it was time for them to share their stories. Since these three people were very influential to Libete and some of her life choices, it was nice that she started seeing them as three-dimensional human beings, rather than a two-dimensional judgment of who she thought they were.

I loved the interweaving of the events, jumping back and forth in time. The reader doesn't necessarily know the chronological order of events, so it's hard to know if some events happen before or after other events. You would think that this might be confusing. In this story, it really doesn't matter. I am happy that Libete came to terms with the different people in her life, with their goodness and their faults/mistakes. I am very excited to read Ted Oswald's next novel, which I was able to buy when I was in Haiti last month.

Wendy's Rating: *****

The Fever Code by James Dashner

I think this was my favorite book of the five! I loved getting to know the characters and their relationships with each other before the maze. I have a lot deeper understanding of Thomas & Teresa. Now I know why Teresa & Aris were the final candidates - instead of Thomas. Teresa's life experiences as a young child (as Deedee) were certainly terrifying and obviously affected her deeply. She saw more of the horror of the Flare than the others, which is why she could be so focused on the end justifying the means. I have to assume that Teresa did NOT write the last memo attributed to her. I am sure it was Dr. Paige's spin on things, again. I honestly don't remember Teresa retaining her memory once she entered the maze. It's been too long now since I read The Maze Runner. I thought she was pretty much non-communicado in the maze - until they escape it. Did she actually have her memory, or was that another lie spewed forth by Dr. Paige? Teresa knew enough inside information though that at the end of the trilogy she told Thomas to only trust Dr. Paige - and Dr. Paige did arrange the "Plan B" escape. But I can't believe Dr. Paige intentionally gave the virus to her team because they didn't want to continue "using" children in their abusive ways to try to find a cure for the Flare. For such an apparently kind, loving woman, she was really evil!

Getting to know the characters better also makes me sadder whenever I think about what happened to them once they left the maze. I knew Thomas was close with Chuck in the maze, but now I know that he loved him like a brother. Now I know how much Thomas cared about Newt, which makes his story all the more tragic. Teresa came across more as a "best friend" in this novel, rather than a love interest of Thomas' - which explains why he falls for Brenda. Minho's "hot headedness" really bothered me in Book 3, but I see now that he was always that way.

I love that we meet Brenda and Jorge in this book! A small, but significant part of the story. I was shocked that Thomas had already been in the Scorch! Thomas comes across a lot more sensitive and caring in this book. I always liked him of course, but I didn't realize how much he struggled with what WICKED was doing. Teresa was a lot more focused on the "mission" than he ever was. He became a more sympathetic character for me. Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place! Now I am even happier that Thomas made it to the "new world"!

If I had the time, I could have read this book in one sitting. I really loved it. Now I have to wonder if it would have been my favorite if I had read it before The Maze Runner - or would my opinions on each book have changed depending on the order I read them?? It's the Star Wars conundrum all over again. Do you read/view them in the order the author wrote them, or chronologically? For me, I will probably always read/view stories the way they were intended - in the order they are written.

Wendy's Rating: *****

The Kill Order by James Dashner

This prequel of The Maze Runner was a page-turner! It answered some of my questions and I liked it more than The Death Cure. (I think the constant violence in The Death Cure between Thomas and gang vs. the "crazies" - I can't remember the other term they used right now! - wore on me after awhile.) Anyway, since this story involves different characters, only one of which makes it to the future, I kept trying to connect them to the future story and when I finally realized I couldn't, I just enjoyed reading about how this whole thing started. This story really filled in some holes that I had from reading the original trilogy.

One thing I had a hard time believing (which is interesting, considering what this story is about!) is how young Deedee was. She seemed so mature for her age. I kept thinking that she was too young to understand her importance in what was happening around her. Those same thoughts apply to Thomas as well. I know they were both born into this world - and they had watched their parents and friends succumb to the Flare and all that entails, but they both acted so mature beyond their ages. (I might be getting ahead of myself talking about Thomas too, since we learn everything about him in the next book - but I am not giving anything away!)

I can't believe the government came up with the idea of shooting virus-filled darts at people for population control! Really, they couldn't come up with something better than that?? Talk about an idea backfiring! What an awful thing to do to people. Terrorism against your own people. The story of Mark and Trina and how they survived as long as they did was what made this book a page-turner for me. I love how Mark's main concern at the end was to get Deedee through the Flat Trans.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. That phrase pretty much sums up this entire story! Now, to finish the next (and last?) book of this series....

Wendy's Rating: ****

The Death Cure by James Dashner

I definitely like this series, but there was one thing that bothered me this entire book: Why didn't Thomas want to remember the past?? At first I understood why he tried to prevent it from happening because I didn't trust Janson (The Rat Man) any more than Thomas did. I figured that they were really trying to do something else to their brains. BUT, after we realize that WICKED did indeed want to return memories to their "test subjects", why did Thomas keep rejecting the idea? He was the mastermind (or one of them) behind The Maze after all. It seemed to me that having his memories returned would have been helpful at that point! By rejecting his memories, he was flying blind. I did not understand his reasoning. He was dependent on Brenda giving him the answers regarding the layout of WICKED, for one example, when he could have simply remembered himself. Seems to me it would have been more efficient and wasted less time. He seemed to be "running from the truth", which goes against his otherwise brave, intelligent, fearless (or at least not fearful) persona.

I liked Thomas and Brenda. I guess I didn't necessarily think that Thomas and Theresa would end up together. I thought it was sad that their prior relationship couldn't survive the deceit and brainwashing of WICKED, but Theresa didn't really have a very big part in this book so I wasn't very attached to her. I was bummed that she died though. It's not like Thomas and Theresa had a choice about their involvement in WICKED. They were children when they were chosen.

I was shocked that WICKED purposely released the virus. (I have to be careful about what I say here because I am almost finished with the next book, which is a prequel that explains a lot!) I personally think it was a terrible idea! You know what they say about "best laid plans"! Didn't the last Dan Brown novel address the same solution for population control? Yeah, bad idea.

It bothered me that Minho was such a hothead. Cooler heads prevail. He was continually losing his temper, which made most situations worse. I just wanted him to chill and use his head.

I am happy that Chancellor Paige had a Plan B! The best and the brightest and the immune can re-populate the earth - starting with Thomas and Brenda, presumably. ;) Reading this series (I really like the prequel too!), I am intrigued by the other James Dashner series: The Mortality Doctrine. I am thinking I will need to read that series too!

Wendy's Rating: ****

The Girls by Emma Cline

Whenever I read a book and I cannot relate to even one character in it, I find myself reading it in a detached manner.  I did feel sad for Evie, beginning, middle and end however. I can't imagine ever thinking like Evie, or making the decisions she did, much less any of the other girls. They just seemed so lost. I know the 60's were a unique time in our history, but I guess I have lived a sheltered life. I am okay with that!

This is a well-written book. The author explains Evie's life, feelings and thoughts in such a way that each decision she makes along the way makes sense. Evie stays true to herself. Her parent's divorce, her dad's affair, her mom's questionable taste in men, the loss of her best friend (although her own actions didn't help that situation), being sent off to boarding school - those were the things that made up her life at the time. She was an isolated, lonely girl of 14. I can see how someone like Suzanne (at the ripe old age of 19!) would seem compelling to Evie. After meeting Suzanne however, Evie definitely turned her blinders on! Yikes. The author does an amazing job of describing the filth and smell of the ranch. You can feel the love that everyone had for Russell. I am sure the constant intake of drugs didn't hurt their ability to look past the daily details of their lives either.

I really don't know the reason that Suzanne kicked Evie out of the car that night on the way to Mitch's house. She didn't strike me as someone who thought of anyone but herself (and Russell). Was she trying to save Evie - or was Evie just annoying her? At the time it just seemed like Evie was annoying her, being too clingy and "in love" with her. Despite being "saved" from that horrendous night, Evie never seemed to save herself. That's why the entire book comes across as a sad tale to me. Evie could have made something of herself, of her life. Her parents had money; she made friends at her boarding school. She could have counted her blessings - despite her misgivings about what she would have done that night - and moved on be become a productive member of society. She ends up like she started however, being isolated and lonely with no meaningful relationship in her life.

Wendy's Rating: ****

Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander, MD

As others have noted - including he himself - this "proof of heaven" is even more impressive considering EB is a man of science. I think his journey has been incredible, especially considering how ill he was.

Since EB is a neurosurgeon, he speaks/writes like one. Sometimes his descriptions were a little too medically or scientifically detailed for me to completely understand. One thing that really scared me though was his explanation of the KPC enzyme, which "could potentially render a bacteria that absorbed it resistant not just to some current antibiotics, but to all of them." This bacterial strain could wipe out the human race if it got into the general population. Very frightening to think about!

EB's near death experience was also very detailed. Some of it was hard to follow, which makes sense because, again, he is a neurosurgeon who pays attention to the nitty gritty details in life - and death. I guess for me that is beside the point. I can certainly find value in things I don't completely understand. What I love about this book is that this man, who was struggling in his personal life, had this amazing, miraculous experience which changed his life. Then, he is compelled to share his story to give others hope.

I love how he shared his adoption story, his feelings of being given away and how that affected his life. I am happy that he was able to re-connect with his birth family, even though it made things even worse for him for awhile. His experience enabled him to figure out who he is - and realize that he is loved. Most importantly, without the unconditional love of God, we will always feel lost on earth.

Wendy's Rating: ****