The Circus Train

 Theo Papadopoulos is one of the greatest illusionists in the world, and the biggest act in the World of Wonder's circus. His daughter however, has never quite found her place on the circus train as they travel through Europe. Lena had polio when she was a child, and because of it, she has lost all movement from the waist down. In a world full of theatrical artists, Lena feels like an inconvenience. When Lena finds a thief in the kitchens, she not only discovers a new friend, but a strength within herself that she never knew she had. However, the new boy is Jewish, and if the Nazi's discover that fact, all of their lives could be in danger. 

    'The Circus Train', by Amita Parikh, is the story of war, hope, family, friendship, and the survival instinct that every human being carries within themselves. Set during WWII, it shows a different perspective of the war that you may have never seen before. The character development is fantastic. The writing is eloquent. The plot is addictive. 

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

 Henry is living in China town in Seattle during the second world war. His parents are so proud of him because he was accepted into the white school, but his classmates bully him mercilessly. When a Japanese girl name Keiko starts attending the school, they quickly become friends. Henry knows that his parents would never approve of this friendship, his father is highly prejudice against the Japanese, but Henry can't help falling in love with this smart, quirky, and kind girl. She is the sun within his dark world. That all changes after the attack on Pearl Harbor however. It seems like the entire country fears anyone with ties to Japan, and eventually Keiko and her family are rounded up and sent to a Japanese internment camp. Henry is devastated to lose his friend and is terrified of what will happen to her. He has no idea if he will ever see her again, but he hopes that they will be able to keep their promise to find each other after the war. 

'Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet', by Jamie Ford, is a heart warming story of two young people fighting against prejudice to keep their young budding romance alive. It explores the injustice of the WWII Japanese internment camps and brings to light one of the darker moments in American history. The complexities of this wonderful novel are well thought out and very well written. It immerses you into it's beautiful story that may make you shed a tear or two or a ton. The plot held me captivated and curious until the very end. This is definitely a must read for everyone. 

The Secret Life of Bees

 

After you read the last word of this book, you close it, hold it to your chest, and let the emotions wash over you again and again. Its impossible to jump right back into your reality once this story is a part of you - it's one of those books. A book that makes you a better person and increases your understandings just by living within its pages for a while. I would rank this right up there with 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and 'Small Great Things'. 'The Secret Life of Bees', by Sue Monk Kidd, is a necessary read for all. It is impossible not to fall in love with these women, to cheer them on, laugh with them, cry with them, and wish that their bright pink house was in your neighborhood so that you could be best friends with them. The words are beautifully written, almost poetic. The lush descriptions have you completely immersed, and the character development is phenomenal. So obviously, to say that I recommend this book is a huge understatement -- just make sure to have the box of tissues close. 

Lily Owens is growing up in South Carolina in 1964 with an angry, abusive father, and a black woman servant who was the motherly figure that she didn't have. Lily is haunted by the day her mother was killed when she was just four years old. She struggles to remember the details of that terrible day, and is too nervous to ask her father about it. So when a series of events forces Lily to frantically flee her little town, she heads to the only place that might hold some answers to her mother's past. She doesn't plan on finding herself living in a home with three black sisters, but she thinks they might hold the clues she so desperately seeks. 

The Giver of Stars

 

When Alice married an American man she was sure her life was about to be one big adventure. She was leaving her family, friends, and country behind for a man who was as dreamy as a movie star. However, Alice finds herself in a strange new land where she definitely does not belong. No one seems to like her, she can't seem to do anything right for her new husband, and her father-in-law is downright insufferable. So when news spreads in the small town of Baileyville, Kentucky that a library is opening up and all of the books will be delivered by women on horseback, she quickly volunteers for the job. 

'The Giver of Stars', by Jojo Moyes, is based on the  true stories of the pack-horse libraries that were set up by Eleanor Roosevelt to increase literacy throughout the United States. These women librarians would ride through all kinds of conditions, delivering books to people who lived in the furthest reaches of their communities. They were tough, brave, and strong women who were true literacy warriors. 

Being a huge book nerd, any book about other book nerds is bound to be an immense favorite, and this novel definitely did not disappoint! From the very first page I was hooked into a plot line so intriguing, suspenseful, and heartfelt I never wanted to stop reading and was incredibly sad to reach the end. There are rumors that this one is going to be turned into a movie so fingers crossed for that one! (They better not ruin it!) This story is one that I am sure I will be revisiting again and again. It was an instant favorite for sure!

The Lost Wife

Before WWII breaks out, Lenka is an art student living in Prague. She falls in love with a man named Josef, and they quickly marry. Then, just as the war tears the world apart, it also separates these two lovers. Lenka is lead to believe that Josef has died on a ship. Josef believes that Lenka died in the concentration camp that she was sent to. Each one carries on with life after the war with a broken heart. Then, decades later, they unexpectedly meet one another again. 'The Lost Wife' by Alyson Richman, is a novel about first love, human endurance, and the tragedies that wars leave in their wake. 

This novel is a beautiful, tragic love story. You find yourself mourning the lives that could have been lived if only a few moments in time had happened differently. You can feel the characters heartache, their resilience, and their undying hope for a better future. And once again, like so many novels I have read before, you experience the dreadful events that took place within the awful concentration camps of WWII. This book brought forth so many emotions within me, and any book that can do that, is definitely worth reading again and again. 

The Lady of the Lakes

Walter Scott is a passionate writer who loves his homeland of Scotland almost as much as he loves literature. He is also madly in love with a girl by the name of Mina Stuart, whom he has written love letters to for quite some time. Mina loves literature as well but she is not fully convinced in her love for Walter. While his letters are flattering and exciting, she worries that he is a class below hers and wonders if she can live a life out of the lap of luxury. When the dashing William Forbes moves into town, Mina feels drawn to him but worries that she will make the wrong choice in who to choose.

Meanwhile, Charlotte Carpenter is trying to find joy in her solitary life. As a French Catholic living in London, suiters are hard to come by, especially because her family history is shaded by scandal. Charlotte secretly wishes someone could love her, but at age 26, it is highly unlikely of that ever happening.

Josi Kilpack delivers another riveting proper romance novel in 'The Lady of the Lakes'.  It is a love story with love triangles, scandal, passion, and misplaced hope. It also happens to be a true love story based off of Sir Walter Scott's humble beginnings and his thorny pathway to finding his one true love, other then writing and Scotland that is. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and it will definitely be a story that I can read again and again and never grow tired of it. 

Two Girls of Gettysburg

Lizzie and Rosanna are cousins, and even though they are polar opposite in personality, they are best friends as well. However their friendship is challenged when the Civil War breaks out. Rosanna is from a southern state and thinks she is madly in love with a rebel soldier. Lizzie is much more of a conservative mind and is sometimes shocked by Rosanna's wild spirit. When her own father and brother head off to war, Lizzie becomes very agitated that Rosanna won't choose a side to be on, and secretly fears that Rosanna believes in the south's cause. Not only has the Civil War ripped these cousin's country apart, it is tearing their family apart as well.

'Two Girls of Gettysburg' is the first book I have ever read that takes place during the Civil War. It was fascinating to me to get to peak into the lives of the people of this time period. I can't imagine what it would be like to literally have a war going on in your front yard. This must have been such a terrible time for our country, because every death, every drop of blood shed, was an American. The "enemy" of today may have been the friend of yesterday. You simply can't learn the emotion of history from a history book that's full of dates and facts. That's why I love historical fiction. It's the only way for me to really connect with the people. If you love American history then you will love this book!

The Nightingale

Vianne and Isabelle are two sisters who are complete opposites. Vianne is a wife and mother living in the quiet village of Carriveau. Isabelle is a rebellious 18 year old living in Paris. When WWII begins, Vianne has to send her husband off to war. When the Nazi's occupy France Vianne is forced to share her home with a Nazi commander. Vianne has to make one difficult choice after another to attain her one and only goal; keep herself and her daughter alive, which is extremely difficult when her every move is being watched by the enemy.

While Isabelle is forced is evacuate Paris while the Germans bomb the city, she falls deeply in love with Gaetan, a Frenchman who believes they can win the war by fighting the Germans within their occupied country. When Gatean abandons Isabelle, she rashly throws herself into the French rebellion, where one wrong move could get her killed. 

'The Nightingale', by Kristin Hannah, taught me so much about what life was like living in occupied France. While most of the men who went off to war end up in P.O.W. camps, the women that were left behind had no money, no protection, not enough food, and very little hope. They were also women with true grit and a strong will to survive. Each women was left to quietly fight the Nazis in their own way, truly helping in the war effort. 

A Night Divided

Okay, so I must admit, I hardly knew anything about The Berlin Wall. I remember learning about the fall of it in school, but I honestly had no idea how affected the German people were by the wall. I kind of felt like an idiot reading this book. How did I not know more about this? I studied WWII extensively in school, I've read a ton of WWII historical fiction books, but somehow, in all of that, I never knew the devastating facts about how this wall tore a country apart. This novel was so eye opening for me. This is exactly why I love historical fiction so much. It gives me a chance to really FEEL history, to be a part of it, even for just a moment. This book was not only just educational, it was thrilling! I was on the edge of my seat reading it. I got so nervous for the characters. I cheered them on. I cried with them. I fell in love with them. This was a beautifully written story of endurance, healing, hope, and the powerful bond of family.

.   .   .   .   .   .   .

One morning Greta woke up to find that her world had completely changed overnight. While her father and brother went to the West side of Germany trying to find work, the Berlin Wall was erected, splitting up Gerta's family. Her mother and brother were imprisoned with her in East Berlin, ruled by the Soviets. Her father and brother were helpless on the other side of a wall that Greta got in trouble for by just looking at it for too long. Walking to school one day, Gerta spots her father pantomiming something to her from across the no mans land. After she receives a drawing from her father she puts the clues together and realizes that her father wants her and her brother to dig a tunnel under the wall to freedom. Getting caught would mean her instant death and cause horrible problems for her loved ones left behind, but if she doesn't try then her family might never be together again. She knows she must at least attempt it, but does she have enough courage to constantly lie to those who are close to her? This book will keep you up late into the night to find out.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

"The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shafer and Annie Barrows is the story of a young author, Juliet Ashton, who is searching for a topic for her next book. When a man from Guernsey Island writes to her telling her that he found her name in an old book, they begin writing letters to one another. Eventually she learns that he is a member of a book club that was created as an alibi given to the Germans that were occupying their island. Juliet becomes fascinated by the eccentric members of the book club and begins a correspondence with all of them. She ends up visiting the island and learns about the toll WWII had on their lives.

This book was beautiful. Beautiful words. Beautiful characters. Beautiful story. You can't help but fall in love with the quirky characters and the lives they live on their small island. It's one of the most heartwarming books during the WWII era that I have ever read. It's a tale of friendship, courage, hope, and the power that books bring to our lives. Books matter.

Go Set a Watchman

'How to Kill a Mockingbird', by Harper Lee, is one of my very, very favorite books, so when I heard that Lee's second book, 'Go Set a Watchman' was published, I was completely ecstatic and could not wait to get my hands on it! Well, I just finished it and I absolutely loved it! It definitely was not what I was expecting it to be, the ending completely threw me for a loop, but I devoured this book. Harper Lee is the Jane Austen of her time- she is able to handle social indecencies with humor and class. The book takes place when  Jean Louise (Scout) is 26 years old and returns home for the summer to visit Atticus. She is living in NYC, going to school, and every time she visits home more and more things change from how she remembered them as a child. She also begins to get an outsiders perspective on her little town, and comes to realize that it may not live up to her childlike fantasies. Scout is growing up, becoming an adult, and with that, she is gaining the ability to think and see things for herself.  My favorite parts of the book were the times when Lee flashed back to Scout and Jem's childhood, giving us even more of their shenanigans- it had me laughing out loud. I, of course, would highly recommend this book!

The Memory Keeper's Daughter

The Memory Keeper's Daughter, by Kim Edwards is a heart-breaking story of one man's rash decision that changed multiple lives forever. When Norah goes into labor during a terrible storm, her husband, David is forced to deliver his own child. He is shocked to find that it is actually twins. The first baby is a boy and perfectly healthy, but the second baby is a girl and David knows instantly that she has Down Syndrome. Remembering how hard it was for his mother when his own sister with D.S. died at age 12, he quickly decides to put his baby girl in an institution, hoping to spare his family from suffering. He hands his daughter to the nurse and instructs her where to drop the baby off. When his wife wakes up, he lies and tells her that their second child died during childbirth. This pivotal moment defines and sculpts the rest of their lives.

This book broke my heart a little. It is beautifully written, dragging a little in the middle, but the story is both heart-wrenching and wonderful. I always knew that there were people in this world who thought less of people with Down Syndrome, but I had no idea how badly it really was in the 1960's. I know we still have a long way to go, but honestly, we have come really far. This book opened my eyes to a world I didn't know before. I really enjoyed this read and would highly recommend it.

The Light Between Oceans

Heart-wrenching. It is the only way I can describe the latest book that I read. 'The Light Between Oceans' by M.L. Stedman is a heart wrenching story of Tom, who is a light house keeper on Janus Island. Janus Island is half a days journey off the coast of Australia with supply ships only coming in every few months. It is a very isolated and lonely place for Tom to bring his new bride Isabel. After two miscarriages and a still birth, Isabel believes that the baby who washes up in a boat is a gift from God. However, there is also a dead man in the boat, and it is Tom's duty as a government employee to report everything that goes on on the island. Isabel pleads with Tom to just give her a little time with the baby, to heal her broken heart. Eventually time goes on and then it is too late, they have fallen in love with baby Lucy, and just can't bare to give her up. Not even when they discover that her birth mother is still alive. Still waiting for news. And still in desperate mourning for her lost husband and little girl.  This is a tale of heart ache, choices, binding love, and forgiveness.

I would highly recommend this book. As a mother, it was very hard for me to take sides in this kind of situation. Hindsight is twenty-twenty. Mistakes were made and people are human with human emotions. Half way through the book I just could not figure out how it was all going to end, is a happy ending even possible? You'll just have to find out for yourself. As for me, I can't wait to see the movie. I am bringing a box of tissues.

The Rose of Winslow Street

I love when I pull up to a garage sale and see a mountain of books. My heart starts hammering as I search for a twenty-five cent treasure. I choose to be picky, for the most part. I like books that are in decent condition with an interesting plot line. Well, last week I found one such treasure. It is called 'The Rose of Winslow Street' by Elizabeth Camden. I have recently been on another  Harry Potter respite, they occur about once a year, so it has been a while since I have really read anything new. I saw this book just sitting among the stack of its forgotten fellows, looking almost brand new, mind you, and practically begging to be noticed. Ever since I read 'A Heart Revealed' I have been craving a proper romance type book, and this looked like it fit the bill. I began reading and all of a sudden I was hooked.

'The Rose of Winslow Street' is about a maiden, some might call her a spinster, who was still living with her father at the ripe age of 28. The story takes place around the late 1800's I believe, there was never a specific date mentioned, as far as I remember. It took place after the Civil War in a small town in Massachusettes. Libby and her father return from a summer vacation to find that their home had been taken over by Romanian refugees who claim that their uncle left them the home in his will. A legal battle is about to pursue and enemy lines are drawn. The town people of course side with the Sawyers, who have lived in the house for more than 20 years and have spent countless time and energy renovating it, after it was never claimed from the previous owner's death.  Libby is torn between being loyal to her aging father, and this strange family who has now moved into her childhood home. For Libby loves children and hates the thought of these two young boys kicked out on the street in a foreign land where they barely speak the language, and the people are nothing but hostile towards them. There is plenty of mystery surrounding these new strangers and everyone is wondering if they truly are who they say they are, or just a gang of gypsies.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Sure, it is not the greatest of literature, but it is endearing, captivating, and heartwarming, just like any proper romance novel should be.

Orphan Train

I recently just finished reading 'Orphan Train' by Christina Baker Kline. This is the story of a young Irish immigrant who loses her family in a fire in NYC. After a brief stay at an orphanage she is put on the orphan train- a system set up to place orphans in mid-american farming communities. The first children that are adopted are babies, then the older boys because they can work hard on the farms. If the children do not find families to take them in, they are sent back to the orphanage. Most of the orphans are abused and mistreated in their new homes, and only rarely do they actually find loving families.

This novel jumps between the early 1900's and modern day, connecting two orphans in a beautiful way. More than once, I found myself crying over this book. If a book can bring me to tears- actual big fat messy tears, then it must be a pretty good read. I was way too emotionally involved with these characters haha. I really enjoyed this novel. If you need a good cry, a lesson on gratitude, or just a reminder to hold your loved ones close, then I highly recommend this book!

*Disclaimer* :There is some language- but not enough that I found it bothersome. I just trained my eyes to skip over the words that I didn't want in my head.

Strands of Bronze and Gold

'Strands of Bronze and Gold' by Jane Nickerson is about young, orphaned Sophia, who leaves her home and siblings in Boston to live with her extremely wealthy godfather in Mississippi. At first Sophia is beyond thrilled to live with her godfather in his mansion, accept his lavish gifts, and bask in his wealth. She came from a family of poverty, and her vanity is more than willing to accept this new and exciting lifestyle. Some things seem amiss to Sophia, but she doesn't let herself look too closely into her godfather's past that includes four wives, three of whom are dead. She is uncomfortable with the slaves that work on the plantation, and wishes there was something she could do for them, but keeping her godfather happy and his temper under control is vital for Sophia to get the money from him that her siblings so desperately need. She is walking a tight-wire and is hesitant to ask him too many questions or push him too far. She thinks she is good at handling her godfather and his unusual moods, but when she starts discovering some secrets of the house, she has to choose between playing her godfather's games to help her siblings, or living a happy full life.

This page turning mystery novel was good and I enjoyed it very much. It definitely kept me up late at night and I just had to find out what happened next. I would recommend it if you like mystery and historical fiction.

The Rent Collector

'The Rent Collector', by Cameron Wright is the story of Sang Ly and her husband Ki Lim, who live in the largest dump in Cambodia. They make a living by sorting through the trash in the dump and searching for recyclable material to sell. Not only do they have the constant worry about never having enough to eat, working in harsh environments, paying rent, avoiding the gangs of the dump who rob them of their findings, but there biggest worry of all is the worry they have for their son, Nisay. Nisay is sick and no matter how many doctors they visit or how many medicines they give him, he is not getting better. Day to day life is very stressful for them and they never know if all three of them will make it to the end of the day. When Sang Ly discovers a secret about their ornery rent collector however, she may just have a chance to make a better life for her and her family. 

This is a story of hope found in a place where there is little else to live off. It shows that one person willing to serve another can have a huge impact. It emulates the power of literacy. And it illustrates the daily lives of the people living in Cambodia. 

I loved this book. It touched my heart. It made me think. It taught me some valuable life lessons. It made me grateful for where I live and the blessings that I have. It was humbling. It was entertaining. It made me laugh. It made me cry. It basically contained all of the elements of great literature. 

Climbing the Stairs

'Climbing the Stairs' by Padma Venkarraman is the story of Vidya, a young Indian girl who is a teenager during WWII. When a tragic accident befalls on her father, Vidya's family has no choice but to live with her father's extended family. All of a sudden Vidya's dreams of finishing school and going on to college are hanging in the balance. Her aunts torment her and don't give her enough food, she hardly ever gets to see her brother anymore because the home is split between the males and the females, and she is ripped from the life that she has always known. She desperately fears that her extended family will marry her off the first chance they get and she is losing the ability to control her own life. The only peace she finds is when she sneaks up the stairs to the second floor in the men's quarters every day. She has found the library there and she can escape her life into different worlds through the written word. She fears being caught, but the risk is worth it to her.

This book is beautifully written. I was completely intrigued with the story and I learned a lot about the history of India during the time of this terrible war. I must admit that I do not know a lot of India's history but I found it completely fascinating. It is a complex culture that is very intriguing to me. I also love historical fiction books about WWII and would highly recommend this book to anyone that loves history and Indian culture.

This book contains history, culture, family, portrays the importance of books and gaining knowledge, and even has a little romance thrown into the mix.

Two From Galilee

'Two From Galilee' by Marjorie Holmes is the story of Mary and Joseph. This book shows us what happened to them leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ. I loved reading about their love story and the struggles that they went through to finally be together as husband and wife. I love the story of Mary. I think she is one of the bravest, strongest, most faithful women who ever walked the Earth. She was entrusted by God with both a gift, and a huge responsibility, to be the mother of Jesus Christ, our savior and redeemer. But this is also the story of Joseph. When Mary told him she was pregnant he could have publicly humiliated her and had her stoned to death. It took great faith to believe her story and love this precious child as his own. These are two amazing people who overcome many trials. Their love is inspiring and one of the reasons,  I believe, that they were chosen by our Father in Heaven to be the earthly parents of His only begotten son. Read this book. You'll love it.

Sarah's Key

As a continuation on my break from futuristic books I just recently read the book ‘Sarah’s Key’ by Tatiana de Rosnay. This is another book that takes place during WWII but this one deals more with occupied France and the concentration camps that were there. On July 16, 1942 French policeman held what they called ‘The Great Roundup’ where they captured thousands of Jews and took them to a large stadium where they were kept in inhumane conditions for days, and then were forced to ride cattle cars on the train to various concentration camps. From these camps they were then transferred to Auschwitz and gassed to death. Many of the French people do not know the role that their fellow countrymen played in murdering the Jews, and if they do know, they refuse to talk about it because they would rather forget about it.

This is the story of a modern day reporter trying to find out the gruesome facts about that terrible day in July in 1942, and the little girl named Sarah who she discovers is connected to her family in a tragic way. The beginning of the book jumps between these two character’s stories and so you get to see both sides. Although this is of course a horrible subject to be reading about it also presents a lot of history and makes it absolutely impossible to forget. “Never forget” is an ongoing theme of this book and is definitely honoring those men, women, and children who died in those hellish conditions.

I really did enjoy this book. Not only did I learn a lot, but it was a captivating page turner. I must warn you that it is definitely written for adults and I don't know if I would even recommend it to kids in high school. I would say more like 18 years old or older for this one.  My only complaint was that the ending kind of seemed to drag on and on and I felt like it was superfluous since she had resolved everything a few chapters ago. However the majority of the book was very good and I would highly recommend it!