Mark of the Plague by Kevin Sands

from goodreads

4 stars

Christmas time is coming. And that means that the library is closed on more often. That means I had to do a stock up to make sure I had enough to get me through. For me nothing is worse than when you finish a book and don't have the next one waiting there to get started. I like to have at least two by my nightstand so I know I will not have in reading gap. When there are so many books you want to read you cannot have reading lulls. It is finish one, get on to the next. (Yes, I know I have a bit of a reading problem. My husband can tell you all about it.)

Last Christmas I went on a bit of a nordic crime spree reading all of Asa Larsson's Rebecka Martinsson series. This year it is a bit of a mix, yet I just noticed that three off them are either set in Scandinavia or talk about Scandinavian culture. Weird, as that was totally not planned.

What do you like to read during the holidays? Do you go for a mix or is there a particular theme?

Synopsis

This is the second installment in the Blackthorn Series. Christopher is waiting for a new master, but that is going to take awhile as the Apothecary guild as left London because of the plague outbreak. With the plague has come a prophet stating who will be the next afflicted. Then a man shows up with a supposed cure for the plague. Is this too good to be true?

My Thoughts

This was an excellent sequel. It has definitely insured success for the rest of the series.

Once again we had a fast paced story filled with riddles and codes. There was danger, friendship and sacrifice. You will laugh, gasp and cry. Your emotions will be in constant flux.

What I really like about Sands is his ability to expose kids some dark aspects of the world in which we live, without making them feel scared or making things seem hopeless. Through his characters we see people who are out for themselves, who are willing to kill in order to get what they want, we see people abuse others, we see people who are hungry an scared. Yet through his characters we see tenacity, we see people still willing to make a change and have things be better, we see people who stand by one another, we see people picking themselves up and dusting themselves off and persevering. What great lessons. Yes, life isn't perfect and there are people who do some pretty bad things but we can stay true to ourselves and do what we can do for a better world.

All in all this was a fantastic thrill ride. A strong addition to a very promising series. I would recommend this for a mature 10 year old and up.

The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe

from goodreads

4 stars

It can be hard seeing your parents age. You still remember them vividly as strong people capable of anything and then one day they are more frail, slow and dependant on others. They look similar to who they once were but they aren't the same and won't be.

That is what happened to me this year. At Christmas I was almost sure that my mom was not long for this earth. Thankfully I was proven wrong but she will never be back to what she was health-wise. My dad, his mind has been going for awhile but his body still seems to be in tip top shape. Being the youngest and since my parents had me so late in life I knew growing up that this would be my reality. It is still crazy to see my once strong willed mother feeling anxious and scared, but I know we are doing the best for them and she knows that too. Seeing them age just means we need to make and share memories while we still can, something I am excited to do.

Synopsis

The author's mother is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. They decide to spend the chemo time talking about life and books.

My Thoughts

This was a thoughtful and beautiful homage to Schwalbe's mother and the power of reading. What an interesting lady. The books that they read sound interesting too. Some I had read myself others I had never heard of but they sound really cool. I liked how the books they read seemed to really add texture to their life and to the situations they found themselves in. Isn't that the same for us?

At times when I was reading this I asked myself, would it have been as interesting if she hadn't been so dynamic in her own life? She had been a world traveller working tirelessly to help refugees around the world. She new lots of people and was constantly trying to make a difference. This added another dimension to this book. I don't think this book could be written about any other familial book club and have the same result. It was definitely person specific to make it work.

I liked how this book made you think about what you were doing in life to make the world better. You don't have to do a lot to make the world even a little teeny bit better, but that is what we should be striving for. You don't know where these acts of making the world better will lead.

I liked how this book basically said that we are all in an end of your life book club. We know our time on earth is finite and that we will go the way of the dodo at some point. We just need to read, glean what we can from it and become the best us we can.

This is a great book, it has given me a ton more books I want to read. It is sad to know I will never read all the books I want to in this life, but I am excited for the challenge.

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

from goodreads

3 stars

This weekend is the long weekend, which means we are half way through our summer. It is kind of hard to believe. I had such plans and I don't think I have done any of them. But, since I have a newborn I guess I can give myself a bit of slack. It is hard to create a magical summer for your kids when you are sleep deprived and barely able to get out of bed in the morning. Next summer can be the magical one.

Synopsis

The protagonist is just going through the motions of life. When he meets Tyler everything changes as they create the Fight Club.

My Thoughts

I knew a bit about the story going into this read. I have not watched the movie but I knew about the ending. Because of this knowledge I read looking for clues and hints that showed the ending.

This is not a typical book I would pick up. I don't really like senseless violence or living in the confusing crazy world of others. I found this book very hard to rate as somethings were fantastic but in the end I just didn't like it.

The author did a superb job showing the confusion and agitation of someone going through an identity crises as well as showing the brutality people can inflict on others. He was able to craft a unique story in a unique way and it worked. I liked how he left the ending open. Things weren't wrapped up neatly. There were still some questions, but, again, this worked.

I also liked how they made soap. I found that intriguing and a bit out there but a neat side story. How else were they to fund everything?

I just really don't like senseless violence. The idea of violence for fun is repugnant to me. The whole vigilante thing was really disgusting. All the things that they did and the manipulation they used bothered me and I did not enjoy reading it. All these things combined made the story feel hopeless as there seemed to be no way out. No way to change.

I also found the story to confusing at times and repetitive. This was most likely to show the mind space of the character, which is fine, but as the reader it grates on you.

All in all this is not a book I would read again and I am not going to look for any that are similar or in that genre. One was enough for me. The chaos in the book just didn't do it for me in as a reader. I did appreciate how the author showed his characters state of mind. I did appreciate the writing, just the subject matter was not something I would gravitate to.

After the War is Over by Jennifer Robson

from goodreads

3 stars

Sorry this is late, I was a bit busy yesterday. So what was I doing? Not reading. Instead I caught up on some family friendly movies. Why? Head lice has come into our home!

Now I know that head lice happens, it has nothing to do with the cleanliness of ones hair or scalp and anyone can get it. I do not have a head lice stigma. But it is still annoying. Going through each strand of hair and making sure all the nits are picked off, washing pillows and stuffies and hats and coats and anything else where lice might be lurking. And since Miss G and Miss V are like two peas in a pod, I will have to be vigilant on two heads, though currently I only see it on one.

At least I have already been through this once before. I have the system down. And I know... if for some reason I am not at thorough and the lice persist, I'll just call in the lice lady. She may be expensive but she is probably worth it. But hopefully that won't happen. So thank goodness for T.V.'s and electricity. I don't know how people dealt with lice without it. Your head itching yet?

Synopsis

This a companion book to Somewhere in France. The war is now over and Charlotte, friend of Lilly, is working to help those around her and she writes a column that sheds light on the hardships and injustices of returning servicemen and their families.

She also can't keep her mind of her friend Edward Neville-Ashford who is now the Earl of Cumberland, after his father unexpectedly dies.

My Thoughts

This was a fluff book and kind of a let down after Somewhere in France which I absolutely loved and adored. While it is a continuation of the Somewhere in France story, it is a stand alone book, with a different protagonist, and you wouldn't need to read Somewhere in France first. Though I would because it is soooo good.

So, what did this book have going for it. It was interesting to learn the history of voting at Oxford. Since Charlotte had graduated from Oxford, or rather one of the colleges, she was eligible to vote in that riding, before women got the vote nationwide. The look at "shellshock" and the social hardships servicemen endured was insightful. Also, the answers to the questions I was left with at the end of Somewhere in France were answered so that was satisfying.

What was not going for it? The main character, Charlotte, was rather flat and I didn't find her all that interesting or complex. I'm not saying all characters need to be complex, but it is hard to carry a book when the character is flat. Because of this, the book and its outcome was kind of predictable.

While the social causes and the history found in this book is just as important and interesting as that discussed in Somewhere in France, the story itself was just not as interesting or gripping.

All in all it was a nice book to pass the time but it will not be a favourite. Robson does have a new book, Moonlight Over Paris, coming out this month which I am excited to read. Hopefully it is not as fluffy.

The Alphabet House by Jussi Adler-Olsen

from goodreads

2 stars

There are a few authors I know if a new book of theirs comes out I will be reading it. Most of them are Nordic crime writers. I love their series, but there are a few others.

Sometimes these authors branch out and do a stand alone book or a book in a different series or even a completely different genre. I am always excited to read those because really its a crap shoot. You never know what you are going to get.

Sometimes it is interesting to see a different thought or side of that author. You are so used to them writing one way that you marvel at their brilliance when they write a different way. Or the flipside happens and you think to yourself, stick to what your good at, which is not this.

I must be difficult for writers, especially those with a huge following to branch out and take a chance. I think they have the furthest to fall and the harshest critics. No wonder J.K. Rowling used a nom de plume for some of her books. Or perhaps, once someone is so well established, they don't worry about it and write for the writing's sake. All I know is, I will keep reading.

Synopsis

Two british pilots are shot down over Germany while on a reconnaissance mission. To evade capture they jump a train. This train happens to be full of wounded SS officiers, some wounds more in the head then anything.

They have to pretend to be sick and a bit crazy at the hospital, but are they the only ones?

My Thoughts

I do love Jussi Adler-Olsen's Department Q series. I did not like this book as much. The idea was quite interesting. What toll would happen to you if you weren't crazy but were living in an insane assylum. Would you eventually go crazy? Also, you would have to try to figure out if others crazy or are they acting too.

The execution of this story was good, but the pace was slow. Nothing much happened except lying in bed, or trying to figure out how to escape, or steeling yourself up to pretend.

When the story went thirty years in the future it was interesting but weird, and by that point I didn't care what happened. I kept reading anyway. It was sort of weird that James' character didn't do more to try to get out, he seemed more the leader in the beginning and then that died.

Anyway this book was okay, but I probably shouldn't have spent as much time reading it as I did. I will continue to read Adler-Olsen's books, but this one was definitely not my favourite.

Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel

from goodreads

4 stars

Every year at the end of April I wait with bated breath to find out what will be the One Book One Community read for Waterloo Region. Sometimes the books are excellent. Sometimes they make me wonder what the selection committee was thinking. All in all I know it will be a book that I will read and that will give me something to think about.

I wonder what it is about reading a book that lots of other people are reading. There is a kind of excitement about it. Will they like it the same way you do? Even if you never discuss it with the community at large it still feels unifying knowing that you are participating in something that is larger than just you.

Well this year Station Eleven was the pick, which was great since it was already on my book club list. (That's right my book club is cutting edge ;)

Synopsis

This is a hard book to sum up in my own words so I am taking the first paragraph from the synopsis on goodreads.

"An audacious, darkly glittering novel set in the eerie days of civilization's collapse, Station Eleven tells the spellbinding story of a Hollywood star, his would-be saviour, and a nomadic group of actors roaming the scattered outposts of the Great lakes region, risking everything for art and humanity."

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this. It turned out not to be anything like I thought it was going to be. All I knew was that it was sort of a kind of post-apocalyptical tale and so I guess I was expecting more violence and I guess it being sort of zombiesque without the zombies. 

What I got instead was a really interesting tale with interwoven story lines and timelines all with a central character who is really only part of the main tale for the first few pages. 

It was interesting to see how different groups dealt with the decline in population and society. Some people built their own communities and were quite happy with their life. Others took on a more vigil-anti approach and caused terror and fear. The same circumstances but vastly different results. 

I loved the story line of the comic book. I almost hope the author finishes its story and does a graphic novel because it has piqued my interest and I would love to find out what happened.

There was only one thing that bugged me about the book and this is what made me not give it 5 stars. So the population is decimated and there are not enough people to keep different services going like the electrical systems etc. But, you would think that with books still around they would have been able to figure out how to get these things working a little faster. It's like 15 years or so later and they still don't have electricity and they have to scavenge for any goods they get? Wouldn't there be some sort of industry. It just seemed a bit slow for me and just bugged me that no one who was still living had the curiosity and the tenacity to get the lights on again. I know it is a silly thing to get hung up on but it bugged me all the way through. Perhaps she is talking to our dependence on technology and google and that when it goes we may not know what to do. But still, it was irksome.

So if you like multiple story lines and differing timelines this is definitely the book for you. If it's not your cup of tea, you may want to pass but then again, it may be worth the effort.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

from goodreads

3.5 stars

This past week the kids have been kind to me. They have let me relax in my bed and read for about 20 minutes before getting up and starting my day and the tasks of feeding them and coaxing them out of their pyjamas. If that isn't
luxury I'm not sure what is.

I'm not sure what it is about summer reading that always fills me with nostalgia, but I always seem to be more excited and really want to craft a great summer read list in my head. I don't feel this kind of pressure/excitement any other time of the year. Though, my Christmas holiday reading takes some thought. I guess summer is always the time for adventure, when anything can happen. It is the time when you don't always have set schedules and can let any day be an adventure.

Now being a busy mom means that I can't spend all day reading, though wouldn't that be heaven? But, I can fill the bulk of my day with the sweet sweet words of an engaging story, and that is awesome. Next year, I really need to get a hammock. Now that would be summer reading bliss.

What's on your summer reading list?

Synopsis

Vida Winter, a recluse author, hires Margaret Lea, a shy biographer and helper in her father's rare book shop, to write her life's story. More is revealed and healed for both of them than thought possible.

My Thoughts

Well, what to say about the Thirteenth tale? The first half drove me crazy. I almost stopped reading. Well, I did stop reading because I had to return my copy to the library. Then my book club friend loaned me her copy. So after a three week respite I picked up where I left off and thoroughly enjoyed the last half. I don't know if the story just picked up there and I was able to like the characters a bit more or if I was just in a different head space. But there was a vast difference for me. The first half I would have been rating it a 2.5 but the second half was a clear 5.

So what did I love about this book? I loved the love of literature that oozes throughout the pages. This is definitely a great book to read for the literary lover. She has some amazing quotes about how books just hook you and can become part of you and your identity. (I really must start writing them down so I have them while I'm writing the review.)

I loved, but was also somewhat puzzled by, the ageless quality of this book. I have no idea when this book was set. It could have been set in anytime, and I think that is what makes it such a great read that will stick with you. It is timeless.

I loved some of the twists and turns that were found in the second half. The story really had you going all the way until the end.

I couldn't stand the whole situation of Vida's story in the first section. The whole situation and characters were so abhorent that it made it hard to want to keep reading. None of the characters really had any kind of redeeming quality and I just didn't know why I should care about knowing about them and their life.

So while it was a bit of a mashup in feelings about this book, I did enjoy it. The second half more than made up for the dismal first half. So if you are able to slog through the first 180 pages the ending will be worth your time and effort. If you can't slog through it, no worries, I almost gave up too.

On Immunity: An Inoculation by Eula Biss

from goodreads

4 stars

There are few topics that can be so divisive and argumentative than vaccination. When I told one of the moms on the playground about the book I just finished she said, "it seems now a days, religion and politics are safer topics than vaccination". That statement is so true.

A few years ago at a play group we got on the subject of vaccinations. A mom there was just wondering what our views were of them and if there were any that we wouldn't have done. This is around the time of year where we in Canada start thinking about getting the flu shot.

At first no one said much, just general statements. It wasn't until a brave mom said that she vaccinates her kids, that we all said that yes, we vaccinate too. (Though we rarely do the flu shot, no good reason, we just don't. Perhaps it is laziness.) I think we just didn't want to offend or step on someone's ideas of what was right with them. And quite frankly, I just didn't want to open a whole can of worms. I am not an expert immunologist, I have done a bit of research but not much, I just didn't feel like arguing about a topic that is full of myths, half-truths, and sometimes deception. So lucky for us we were able to have a pleasant conversation and there were no sippy cups being thrown.

It is interesting how our thoughts go crazy as soon as we think about vaccination. How black and white we all seem to make a very gray subject.

Synopsis

Eula Biss takes a look at the history of vaccinations and looks at the societal metaphors that surrounds our thoughts on them.

My Thoughts

I am really glad that I read this book. When I first put a hold on it I didn't look at the book length and thought I was going to be getting a 500 page thesis. I was happily surprised when it was only 163 pages of text before the notes. Nice!

This book was a really interesting look at our decision process surrounding vaccination. What makes us want to, what makes us not want to. And while she never comes out and says whether you should or not, she helps navigate the world of vaccinations and gives some suggestions to consider and gives some creditable sources to look at when making your decision.

I found the historical aspects of the book really fascinating. Being leery or questionable about vaccines is not a new thing. Throughout the 19th century many people were as leery about them as many people are now. (For good reason as in the 19th century they still didn't believe in small germs.) Stigmas seems to surround all vaccines and those stigmas whether untrue or not were and are hard to shake.

The whole Dracula aspect was an interesting slant. It tied things together and made things interesting.

I loved the quotes from the author's dad. He seems like a sensible man and I would love to have a book with his ideas and thoughts. He seems so wise.

I felt she did a good job at being fairly unbiased, though, other's may not think so. She does vaccinate, so, those who don't vaccinate might think she has too much of a pro-vaccinate slant. To me it seemed like she presented some facts and in the end leaves you to decide what to do with it.

I found this to be a very pleasant read on such a polarizing topic. It might be short but it is worthwhile to look into. Perhaps the length is its greatest strength.

Flee, Fly, Flown by Janet Hepburn

from goodreads

4 stars

After a beautiful long weekend it is now a very gray and wet week. I was awoken today by crazy hard rain and wind blowing. My only thoughts were, of course it is raining and probably will stay raining when I take the kids to school. It always rains at either drop of time of pick up time. What's up with that.

By the time it was time to go to school the rain had lightened to a light drizzle and no wind. Much more preferable.

Now, I love rain. I know it is important and I love that it gives us puddles to splash in. I just don't love it when I have to be standing outside waiting for kids. I want to enjoy it on my own terms. Usually that means curled up with a caf-lib and and blanket on my couch with my latest read. That's the kind of rain I am talking about.

Synopsis

Lillian and Audrey live at Tranquil Meadows. While other residence seem to enjoy their time there Lillian and Audrey are plotting their escape. When they finally make it out their trip is almost doomed, until they meet a young man named Raine who agrees to drive for them.

My Thoughts

This was  a beautiful story. It is told from the vantage point of an octogenarian who has dementia, the beginnings of Alzheimer's. This sometimes makes the story seem a bit confusing as it shows that she herself is confused. But, it was also great to have her view point and understand how people suffering with that condition feel and think and how frightening and frustrating it must be for them.

As I have travelled the same route as the characters it was kind of fun to picture it as I went along. I could actually visualize where they were and how desolate Northern Ontario can be. It has lots of rocks, trees, and lakes, and to me the trees are all scraggily. Not the nice, thick lush trees of the south. But, some people may prefer the scraggily trees, and that's fine too.

I love the character of Raine and wished that he could have been fleshed out a bit more. He seemed like a decent guy, yet, you are still not quite sure, so I wished that could have been explained a bit more.

While I was reading this, the story really hit home. My parents are quite a bit older. My dad is 80 and my mom will be turning 74 in November. My father is suffering from dementia and I know what a toll it takes on not only him, but my mother, and then slowly trickles down to us, but not as much as what my mom gets. And things are starting to slip for her too. This book helped put a voice to what my parents are going through, that I don't always get to see, or what they are not telling me. (I live quite a distance away and don't get up to see them as often as might be helpful.)

I love how the book shows these elderly people as people who still have hopes and dreams. They have the desire to be loved, appreciated and respected. I think to often we see people's limitations and think that is all there is. Usually there is a lot more going on under the surface than we realize. We don't need to patronize them as if they are completely helpless. It can be a hard line to walk.

The ending was sort of open ended. I hope that the old girls made it to the coast. That would make me super happy.

Despite some feelings of repetition, some awkward plot moments and the need for some meatier character construction this was a great read. I highly recommend it.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

from goodreads

4 stars

I have come to the conclusion, which most readers eventually come to I'm sure, that I will never get around to reading every book I want to. There are just so many books that are published everyday. Even when I think I am doing well at whittling down my to read list more just keep on getting added. And forget about trying to stay current with the literary world. Quite often by the time I get around to a book it almost seems passe.

But coming to that conclusion has lead me to other insights. Such as knowing when a book is just not worth my time to continue with it. Because I have so many other books on my list, why would I bother keeping on reading something that is just not doing it for me. I still will keep those on "the list", because maybe they would be better if I read them later, or didn't feel the pressure of my holds list at the library. But I have definitely become more picky about which books I will slog through and which ones are not worth the effort. It has become freeing in a way. Giving myself permission to say "I fought the good fight to try to be interested, but it's just not to be". And you know what, that's okay.

Synopsis
Hazel knows that she is going to die, sooner rather than later. She has cancer, but thanks to a miracle drug she has lasted longer than what her parents and doctors thought possible. At a support group she meets Augustus another cancer kid. This is a book about their love story, their adventure, and what it means to be human.

My Thoughts

What a great book. What a wonderful and heart-wrenching story. It is funny, poetic, lovely, sad and hopeful. It gives an insight into the cancer teen world that you don't think about. While the story focused mostly on Hazel and Augustus, you catch glimpses of how it effects friends, parents, and the relationships with the cancer patient and those people.

I love how Green talks about the complexities of what it means to "fight cancer". Of course the patients would love to keep on living and experiencing life, but there is also feelings of guilt, frustration, humiliation, concerns  and fears.

The one thing that I didn't like about the book, or at least I didn't find it as believable, was the intensity of the love connection between Hazel and Augustus. Supposedly they had this crazy super in love connection, a love that changed them, redefined them, and would go down in history as the best love ever. I just didn't get that. I felt I was only getting mere glimpses into their lives. Supposedly they spent a lot of time together, but to me it was like they knew each other for a day and then bam, they were in love and inseparable. I guess it was just the time line that seemed funny and was hard for me to really picture their crazy in love status.

There is a bit of a plot twist which kept up some of the suspense and drama. It was cool and heartbreaking all at once.

I think this is a great book for all ages, well teen and up. This is a book that I think adults will like and learn from just as much as their teen counterparts. John Green, you did good with this!