Back in
April I didn’t do a March book review recap, because I did two separate book reviews
for The Secret to Southern Charm, by Kristy Woodson Harvey and All Out Wild Wonder, by Sarah Kay. For those are you that are new to the blog one of my New
Year’s Goals for 2018 is to read more. Last year I did not read as much as I
usually do {I blame
Netflix…} so I am really working towards setting aside time at the very end of
the day to just read and relax!
So far
this year I have read eleven books; I wish I have read a few more at this
point, but hey, progress is progress, and that’s all that matters. For those of
you who are trying to read a few more books this year too, one trick that has
worked for me is just to keep a variety of books by your bed, that way you will
always have a book close at hand that you are in the mood to read. Now, on to
the April book reviews!
Since
reading Everything I Never Told You back in February I have become such a fan
of Celeste Ng’s writing style and books. Fair warning, her books are not the
most uplifting, but the writing is just so good. She always manages to explore
the views of one topic from many different angles and the views of characters
in her story and what influences and events have taken place in their lives to
lead each character to their current point of view; needless to say, her books
are very thought provoking.
Little
Fires Everywhere is set in Shaker Heights – an elite suburb located in
Cleveland that promotes success, equality, and holds it’s residents to high
moral standards. Little Fires everywhere centers around one of Shaker Heights
family, the Richardsons and their four child, then there is the protagonist of
the story, Mia Warren, a nomadic photographer and her teenage daughter,
Pearl.
The lives
of Ellen Richardsons and Mia Warren collide when Mia rents a house that belongs
to the Richardson family. The lifes of the Richarsons and Warrens quickly
become intertwined when Pearl becomes friend with the Richardson family,
spending time at their house everyday after school, and in order to keep an eye
on Pearl Mia takes a cleaning job at the Richardsons.
As the
story progresses the lives of the Richardsons and the Warrens become more and
more intertwined and their differences more noticeable. The differences become
especially evident when a custody battle takes place between one of Ellen’s
oldest friends and one of Mia’s work friends. This subject brings out the true
opinion on the matter not only in the two women but also the entire town.
Obviously, things start to get a little dicey…
Confession:
One of my guilty pleasures is young adult books…some make for just a really
good light read and others explore very deep and important topics; so don’t be
too quick to dismiss a book just because it is located in the young adult
section of a book store. That said Between Shades of Gray is a book that
everyone should 100% read. I actually found that this book really educated me;
World War II and Germany is just such a big part of history during the late
1930s and early 1940s that I guess I forgot about the Lithuania. I honestly had
no clue that educated Lithuanians and their families that were perceived as a
threat by the Soviets were rounded off and sent to work camps in Siberia and
different isolated places. This book is just, wow…you won’t be able to put it
down.
Fifteen-year-old,
Lina, a daughter, sister, painter, student, and so on, is leading life just
like every other Lithuanian girl back in 1941. One night Soviet officers come
into her home, tell her family that they have 30 minutes to pack the
necessities, right before they tear them away from the comfort of their and way
of life. Lina, her mother, and her brother, are put onto a cattle train that
slowly makes it’s way across the Artic Circle to work caps in Siberia. Under
Stalin’s orders they are to do rigorous manual labor involving farm warm and
expected to live off of very small rations of food, in less than ideal living
situations.
Lina
finds comfort in her art and is able to record the events in her own way,
hoping beyond hope that somehow her pictures and messages will somehow make
their way to her father’s work camp. This book shows just how big a part that
love, strength, and never ending hope, plays in ones survival, and that
sometimes being able to find a happy moment in a very difficult situation can
make all the difference.
I know,
not the most intelligent sounding book, but a good fun read is essential, plus
I just love Audrey Hepburn. You really have to admire a woman who has not only
made timeless movies, but has had such a lasting effect on the fashion
industry.
After a
hard day and work, aka getting fired, and being unlucky in love, actress, Libby
Lomax, retreats into the black and white world of movie classics where things
just seem oh so much more glamorous and the possibilities endless. While
watching Breakfast at Tiffany’s, naturally, Libby is beyond shocked to find a
real life Audrey Hepburn sitting right next to her, on her old Chesterfield
couch that was recovered from the stock room. Audrey becomes Libby’s confidante
and friend, and may just be able to pass along enough of her Audrey like whimsy
and magic over to Libby to make her a success!
Great post I love the tops and the book sounds interesting xoxo Cris
ReplyDeletehttps://photosbycris.blogspot.com.au/2018/05/kookla-jewellery-giveaway.html
You should definitely check them out!
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