The Lost Manuscript - by Cathy Bonidan: Book Review

Title: The Lost Manuscript. A novel
Author: Cathy Bonidan
Pages: 288
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publishing Date: 12.01.2021
Genre: Epistolary Novel
Format: ebook
Rating: 3*

The power of books is captured in this epistolary novel. The same book, in different readers' hands, has a different impact on their lives.

Anne-Lise finds a lost manuscript in a hotel and she decides to find the author of this manuscript. Along the way we, the readers, along with Anne-Lise, get to know all the people who have read the manuscript, besides Anne-Lise. The novel is written solely in letters which tell the story of how Anne-Lise "met" all these strangers and the author of the manuscript. I liked how all these seemingly unconnected readers became friends thanks to a book that hadn't been published.

I didn't like Anne-Lise as a character, nor her personality. She's too pushy and determined to do things her way, ignoring other characters' opinions. There are a lot of other characters, all connected to the manuscript. I liked how we got to learn more about them through the letters. A character's background story is always the best part for me.

There are lucky/ happy coincidences that made the whole events of this novel possible, but not very likely to take place in real life. I liked the idea of the novel and I have a soft spot for epistolary novels. However, this is not a particularly memorable novel. I read a few months ago as an advanced copy, and I've already forgotten the ending! It was an enjoyable read at the time, but it didn't make a lasting impression, unfortunately.

I  received a free e-book copy of this novel from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

The Night She Went Missing - by Kristen Bird: Book Review

Title: The Night She Went Missing
Author: Kristen Bird
Pages: 352
Publisher: Mira Books
Publishing Date: February 8th 2022
Genre: Suspence
Themes: missing teenager, small town Texas
Format: Kindle
Rating: 3*

I chose to read this novel because I needed something dark-ish and a mystery. The build-up was at a steady pace, as one would expect from a mystery novel. Just when it seemed it'd start to drag, the story picked up and things intensified. The ending is not the shocking and jaw-dropping twist we're always promised with this kind of books. I don't think The Night She Went Missing is a memorable novel, one I'll never forget, but it is a good choice for when you want to break your usual choice of books, and enjoy a soft domestic drama novel.

The idea I can take away is that sometimes accidents happen, and one such accident can alter the course of a person's whole life. I liked the small town set-up on an island. The novel is told in third person, except for Emily's perspective, which she tells herself. Her disappearance ignites a series of events that lead to second-guessing and doubts among the residents of Galveston Island, Texas. Emily's character is not that well developed, despite she being the person who ignites the whole action of the novel. Better developed are the three adult women we get to know more about. Catherine, Morgan, Leslie are all part of the Galveston Islnd community and of the Preparatory school their children attend. They have secrets of their own they need to protect in order to keep the facade of a normal, successful life. I liked all three women, and their stories and their struggles didn't make them any less likable. However, the one person who made the whole novel seem like a weird TV series led by a matriarch with a patriarch's tendencies is Rosalyn, Catherine's mother-in-law.

There are a few elements which seem unbelievable throughout the novel, but not in a plausible, sure-this-could-happen way. The events of the second half are quite unlikely to happen, and it also picked up the pace, throwing a lot of details and revelations the reader's way; it felt a bit too much all of a sudden, and in a short time span. At the same time, they weren't shocking, just far-fetched. The ending offers closure, but I can see why some readers would be left unpleased with the author's choice. I personally don't like when a whole novel is based on a secondary character's mistake. 

 All in all, the build-up and the getting-to-know the characters was more enjoyable than the last quarter of the novel, which offered the resolution.

I received a free copy of the e-book of this novel from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

All the Light Above Us - M. B. Henry: Book Review

 Title: All the Lights Above Us
Author: M. B. Henry
Pages: 352
Publisher: Penguin Random House/ Alcove Press
Publishing Date: May 10th 2022
Genre: Historical Fiction, World War Two
Format: Kindle
Rating: 4.5*

 

I loved this novel. I read it a few months ago, but even today, thinking about it, I remember reading it with held breath. It's not just another World War Two novel; it's the story of five women who might as well have lived during World War Two.

It follows five different women, different backgrounds, different places in the world. They're all involved in some way in the War and its consequences on people's lives. They fight for their survival, but at the same time, they fight for what they know and discover is right.

There was one woman who started as a Nazi propagandist at the beginning of the novel, but her idea shifted. Of course, each woman is made to become a person who is on the "right" side, the winners' side. Maybe I would have liked to see a woman who was on the Nazi's side, see how she thought, how she saw what we now call D-Day.

I liked the different viewpoints the novel has. I had my favourite storylines, of course, but changing the perspective in every chapter was a sure way to keep me interested and curious to see what happened next to the women. It reads fast because of its structure, and I liked the mix of history with enjoyment while reading it. 

I received a free e-book copy of the novel from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

Lockdown on London Lane - by Beth Reekles: Book Review

Title: Lockdown on London Lane
Author: Beth Reekles
Pages: 64
Publisher: Wattpad Books
Publishing Date: February 1st 2022
Genre: Contemporary romance
Format: ebook
Rating: 3*

 

Reading this novel on the brink of the two year anniversary of the worldwide lockdown brought to the surface some feelings and memories, let me tell you!

The novel follows the lives of a handful of residents of a block of flats that goes in quarantine for a week because a resident tested positive. It's a fast read, and it obviously gave me March 2020 flashbacks when the whole world went into lockdown. It was also interesting to read it with the lenses of knowing what was coming and how the world would be affected. ⁠

The stories are different, but they are all connected by the same theme: romantic love. It's fun to see people fall in love; what should have been a one time thing become something promising for the future; married people dealing with their issues; friendships being tested. It's an enjoyable read, it does read fast, but it's also got substance; it's not just another romance novel. I think it dealing with the early days of the pandemic gave it more weight. 

 

I received a free e-book copy of the novel from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rebel Girls Climate Warriors: Book Review

Title: Rebel Girls Climate Warriors: 25 Tales of Women Who Protect the Earth
Author: Rebel Girls
Pages: 64
Publisher: Rebel Girls
Publishing Date: March 29th 2022
Genre: Nonfiction, Middle Grade
Format: ebook
Rating: 4*

Not to add to the list of concerns we're facing on a daily basis, but paying attention to how we relate to and treat our world must be at the forefront of out thoughts. This is where this collection comes it to help a starting point in conversations with young people, and not only.

The women whose story we learn about in Rebel Girls Climate Warriors are listed alphabetically, which was a nice touch. There's isn't one field more important then the other, right? These women are inventors, climate activists, zoologists, biologists, entrepreneurs, journalists and filmmakers, and they all find a way to draw attention to how important caring for our world is. There are a lot of names I didn't know. To my shame, I only knew of Margaret Atwood and GretaThunberg, so it was a wonderful opportunity to learn of more climate warriors.
Each warrior gets a full page of information about their work told in easy to read and follow tone. Right under the text, their born date is written and the country they are from. On the right, there's an accompanying full page of their illustrated portrait and a quote by them. The name of the illiustrator is clearly visible on each page. Of course, the illustrator is a woman, which is just perfect. I like this format a lot, which is the same with other Rebel Girls books.
What makes this book even more special is that the women showcased in it are not just activists from long ago, but some are still active, and are of all ages. Some are teenagers, some are in their 40s, some in their 60s, but they all have something to say on the subject of climate change and activism. It's a book I am sure I can use in my class to spark conversations with the students.

I was preapproved by Net Galley and offered an e-book copy of this book for review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Food Saved Me - by Danielle Walker: Book Review

 

Title: Food Saved Me. My Journey of Finding Health and Hope through the Power of Food
Author: Danielle Walker
Pages: 336
Publisher: Tyndale Momentum
Publishing Date: 14.09.2021
Genre: Nonfiction, Christian
Format: ebook
Rating: 3.5*

I didn't know much about Danielle Walker besides the fact that she can't eat certain foods, and that she's good friends with Angie Smith, whom I've been following on social media for years. 

It was interesting to learn Daniell's story. This is the first book of hers I've ever read, since I don't read cookbooks. The first few chapters of the book focus a lot on all the delicious foods she misses, it downright made me hungry for dishes I've never tasted. 

The story starts from the early days when she became sick, her early years of marriage, her doctor's visits, her pregnancies, her early blog days and tours. You learn of how she come to create so many dishes based only on ingredients she could eat and her body would accept without making her sick. It's a serious, raw story and reality, but filled with hope and joy in her being able to rely on food to be a nourishment for her, and her family.

As I was reading, and me being a reader outside US, I could not help but think that this lifestyle would not be something feasible for people who don't have acces to the resources to provide the ingredients she bases her nutrition on. It's objectively an expensive, above the average income, lifestyle. I am sure I'd personally feel much better had I had the chance to eat like this, but not in this economy. 

It was a good book, beyond the cooking and food aspect. Danielle sounds like and seems a grounded person, empathic, and a good person over-all. I enjoyed reading her memoir. It's a useful book for many who struggle and deal with what she's been dealing with for years, I am sure.

I received a free e-book of this book from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

The Secret of Snow - by Viola Shipman: Book Review

Title: The Secret of Snow
Author: Viola Shipman
Pages: 320
Publisher: Harlequin Trade Publishing
Publishing Date: 26.10.2021
Genre: Women's Fiction, Christmas
Format: ebook
Rating: 2*

 

The Secret of Snow by Viola Shipman gave me the impression I was reading a Hallmark movie. It wasn't bad, but it's not memorable either.

Some parts of this novel were plain cheesy. Throughout the novel I was under the impression that the main character was a 30-something person. She was in her 50s! Not to mention, the cover is plain deceiving, what with those twinkle lights and that young person on the pontoon. It added to the feeling of reading an easy holidays romance.

It was interesting to see the transition of this person to life in a winter wonderland after she's spent decades of her life in the sunny California. Because she could easily be mistaken for a younger person, I had trouble remembering we're reading about someone who's had a long career up to that point. 

The unexpected romance between Sonny and Mason seems to me to by the typical romance between people in their 50s: you quickly move past the friendly banter and get to the "my wife committed suicide" part. In all honesty, it was hard to believe they just fell in love and in a rhythm that allowed them to become so close. But then again, a Hallmark story in novel form. 

It was an easy read, just what I needed on a fall week. Not a story I'll remember forever, but a cute one.

Thanks to the publisher for granting me a free e-book copy of the book via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.