Gladly Beyond, book review

Gladly Beyond by Nichole Van
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 - I had no idea how much I enjoyed paranormal themes in a book that tickled the romantic emotions. For those who try to stay away from sexualized and sweaty bedroom scenes in your literature, this book is clean. I wouldn't give it to a teen because she might start thinking all interactions with men will be destiny like the characters in this book. However, I thought the writing was gripping, the story-line was entertaining, and the supernatural elements were intriguing.

The characters are pretty well fleshed out, but I would like to know how Dante turned out to be so perfect. I guess that's what we think we're looking for, or that he's perfect for Claire and so his flaws fall away?

Ho adorato the art, Florence, and Italian elements. They were so rich and so obviously from first hand knowledge. Art lovers and lovers of that warm Italian glow will swoon over these pages.

I only suspected the ending a few pages before it happened and I love it when an author manages that. I've already started reading number two because I kind of fell in love with Branwell a little....

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Memory-Making Mom, book review

Memory-Making Mom: Building Traditions That Breathe Life Into Your Home by Jessica Smartt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Basically, this is a Protestant's introduction into living liturgically. Yay for respect for tradition! It is imperative. Those Golden Nugget memories lock in the love and learning in one's childhood.

Sprinkled with personal anecdotes between the activity suggestions, the book makes it fathomable to integrate tradition in frequent succession. The author states that she wants this to be a real mom book, that the activities are suggestions, not a list of must-do items. It is a Christian book with multiple scriptural references. though the Kindle versions needs improvement, I'm sure the culture will fix the little bugs. I am giving it four stars because I am hoping that a book like this will inspire moms to use the liturgical calendar to teach kids about their faith in a fun way. Hopefully it will be deeper than simply a series of crafts.

There are many other resources you can use to go even deeper, including remembering wonderful people who have gone before us, the saints, and celebrating their feast days, as well.

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By the Book, book review

By the Book by Julia Sonneborn
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Too many people are under the impression that the lack of sex in Austen novels needs to be amended. "Strong women need more sex than the weaklings of the early 19th century." Do we not wonder if part of what makes our culture so much more abhorrent and less authentic might have something to do with strength of character rather than thinking that sex is simply a more complicated version of a handshake?

(view spoiler)[I'm annoyed that a contemporary novel needs to update a strong woman character like Anne to be so weak as to give into someone like Rick in a much more meaningful way than Anne did for Mr. Elliot in the original text. It matters when people jump in bed together. It's a whole new action and that's not to be discounted as the musings of a prude. Anne had stronger character than that and, as read in the Persuasion original, she noted his opacity.

Oy.

Overall, this book eventually made it all about the guy she was going end up with, sans the strong female character and inherent growth. Boo. (hide spoiler)]

I realize that I'm comparing a contemporary book to one of high literary note, but this is really more a commentary on how this book does nothing for our culture, yet it presumes to emulate one that did.

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The Secret Wife

The Secret Wife by Gill Paul
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Plot and interest: excellent. It got me. Historically believable: yes, I love imagining this! Narration switching: well-executed and well-weaved. Historical love story narration: eh.

(view spoiler)[I know that was part of the whole point, but Dmitri fell in love with Tatiana way too quickly and without much cause. His words about describing his falling in love with her departed from his melancholy and sense of duty. Rather than his love being so sugary sweet, I would think it should be described as more like a devotion out of need or calling. There was so much language explaining his love that it just didn't jive with the manliness of action that we saw in other aspects of his character.

However, as I mentioned, his actions spoke loudly throughout the rest of the book. It was a complicated set of emotions and growth for these characters and I really liked the speculation that someone other than Anastasia could have survived. I wanted that to be the case throughout the book, but I wasn't sure that's where the plot was leading. (hide spoiler)]

Overall, I read it quickly because everything followed so well. I enjoyed the writing (minus Dmitri's love soliloquies) and I look forward to reading another.

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Paper Wife: A Novel

Paper Wife: A Novel by Laila Ibrahim
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Immigration is certainly a timely topic in the United States at the moment. This book was a peek into immigration from the perspective of a Chinese woman in the 1920s, during another time of immigration law changes. It's less about the political influences and more about the story of a woman learning how to live in her given situation and with her inner dragon.

Things I appreciated about this book are the author's prose, the respect for marriage (even in a situation that today's modern woman wouldn't idealize), the love for children, and the perspective of an immigrant who pushes through hardship. I was so delighted by the character of the husband; what a good man. And the main character (who has to juggle several identities, part of the intrigue) was easy to like and follow.

The beginning of the story grabbed me immediately. That was a great pleasure! At times, there was a lot of repetition in the story line and conversation. Parts could have moved faster, or focused more on character development during those slower times. Overall, I feel as if I learned from a solid slice of life of an immigrant Chinese woman from this era. It's clear a lot of research went into this without overwhelming the story too much. I will definitely read another from this author!

NetGalley and the publisher granted me this as a free eBook before publication in exchange for a fair review.

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Mr. Dickens and His Carol, book review

Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This would be a good book club book around Christmas time. It's a cute fictional exploration of the process of writing for and the backstory of one of the English canon's most loved authors. I liked getting to know Charles Dickens as a person, rather than a writing robot, like I might accidentally see him.

I didn't like one of his emotional choices... but that's part of the character, not a criticism of the story or writing of the novel.

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The Very Principled Maggie Mayfield, book review

The Very Principled Maggie Mayfield by Kathy Cooperman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Intelligent chick-lit: something I haven't seen in a while! *Note: sexual scenes, be warned*

I haven't typically picked chick-lit books lately because they seem pretty shallow and easy to predict. This novel has thicker, deeper characters and a more intelligent voice than any of this genre that I've read in a long while. It was a funny read without being that exhausting sort that tries to make an obscure reference every ten words. This is just how the character thinks and it happens to be funny.

If you're a teacher, former teacher, or in education, this is a funny read for you. The author clearly consulted with many in the education world and hit the tone of the teacher/admin's rosy perspective almost perfectly. I am an ELL teacher, so I'm all around the school all day. Many of the details were spot on.... but she idealized it a little bit. Not enough complaining and venting from the teaching staff and admins ;-)

(view spoiler)[The love story was fine, but I was never convinced it would work out. What could she possibly love about Danny? She didn't show actual love in her language, either, just lust and infatuation. Obviously, he never truly loved her, either. Worldly selfishness prevents love as service and this is a clear (albeit constructed) example.

Interesting ending. It's the only way it could have happened for the mood of the book. I winced out loud when they decided on their course of action. The seeker of justice in me wishes they had faced the court for their crime. The reader who likes a red bow on well-fleshed characters gives it a thumbs up.(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

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