BOOK REVIEW: NERUDA ON THE PARK by Cleyvis Natera

 

Synopsis

An exhilarating debut novel following members of a Dominican family in New York City who take radically different paths when faced with encroaching gentrification

The Guerreros have lived in Nothar Park, a predominantly Dominican part of New York City, for twenty years. When demolition begins on a neighboring tenement, Eusebia, an elder of the community, takes matters into her own hands by devising an increasingly dangerous series of schemes to stop construction of the luxury condos. Meanwhile, Eusebia's daughter, Luz, a rising associate at a top Manhattan law firm who strives to live the bougie lifestyle her parents worked hard to give her, becomes distracted by a sweltering romance with the handsome white developer at the company her mother so vehemently opposes.

As Luz's father, Vladimir, secretly designs their retirement home in the Dominican Republic, mother and daughter collide, ramping up tensions in Nothar Park, racing toward a near-fatal climax.

A beautifully layered portrait of family, friendship, and ambition, Neruda on the Park weaves a rich and vivid tapestry of community as well as the sacrifices we make to protect what we love most, announcing Cleyvis Natera as an electrifying new voice.

MY THOUGHTS

My book club picked this title to read for the month of January. Neruda on the Park takes us to Nohar Park where Luz and her parents Eusebia and Vladimir have resided since migrating from the Dominican Republic to the US.

While buildings in the beloved neighbourhood are being torn down to make way for a new development. Luz is at a crossroads, she is navigating the loss of her job as well as new love. Luz represent the typical child of migrant parents from the Caribbean, who having worked hard, wants to see their child succeed. So while Luz is ready to navigate her new life she is at a crossroad especially when she meets the charming Hudson.

Meanwhile Eusebia (Luz'd mom) is hell bent on making sure that the neighbourhood stays as is using any means necessary. But very soon her friends and family realize that all may not be well with this matriarch of the family....

The story line gripped me at once. I love reading stories about gentrification and migration especially stories of the Caribbean diaspora. The struggles and experiences are often very similar. The author of this book is no doubt very talented so the story grips you at once.

BOOK REVIEW: HUNGRY GHOSTS BY KEVIN JARED HOSEIN

ABOUT

 

Trinidad in the 1940s, nearing the end of American occupation and British colonialism. On a hill overlooking Bell Village sits the Changoor farm, where Dalton and Marlee Changoor live in luxury unrecognizable to those who reside in the farm's shadow. Down below is the Barrack, a ramshackle building of wood and tin, divided into rooms occupied by whole families. Among these families are the Saroops--Hans, Shweta, and their son, Krishna, all three born of the barracks. Theirs are hard lives of backbreaking work, grinding poverty, devotion to faith, and a battle against nature and a social structure designed to keep them where they are.

But when Dalton goes missing and Marlee's safety is compromised, farmhand Hans is lured by the promise of a handsome stipend to move to the farm as a watchman. As the mystery of Dalton's disappearance unfolds, the lives of the wealthy couple and those who live in the barracks below become insidiously entwined, their community changed forever and in shocking ways.

A searing and singular novel of religion, class, family, and historical violence, and rooted in Trinidad's wild pastoral landscape and inspired by oral storytelling traditions, Hungry Ghosts is deeply resonant of its time and place while evoking the roots and ripple effects of generational trauma and linked histories; the lingering resentments, sacrifices, and longings that alter destinies; and the consequences of powerlessness. Lyrically told and rendered with harrowing beauty, Hungry Ghosts is a stunning piece of storytelling and an affecting mystery, from a blazingly talented writer.

MY THOUGHTS

In recent years I think that Caribbean literature has been evolving. The books coming out of the islands have been so well written that I am amazed that there has not been a greater excitement about Caribbean authors in the public domain. Hungry Ghosts is an excellent example of a perfect novel.

Set in Trinidad in the 1940s, (which was at the end of Indentureship) Hungry Ghosts tell the story of barrack living, which existed at the time. The different characters Hansraj, Shweeta, Krishna, Tarak The Changoors and others make up an exciting and interesting cast of characters.

The characters are what interested me the most about this book. Marlee Changoor especially. When you read this, you will have questions about her I'm sure especially the relationship with her and Hansraj.

Hansraj and Shweeta's marriage and the unfolding story was so well written that you felt as if you were there and witnessing the highs and lows. The son Krishna's deterioration throughout the book really made me feel for him as well.

Hosein depicted the times well. I love the element of danger with the story of Dalton Changoor and of course who can forget the twins Rustam and Rudra. On POINT!!!!

In all, this was a really good story, gripping and well written.

BOOK REVIEW: CARRIE SOTO IS BACK by TAYLOR JENKINS REID

ABOUT:
 

Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular. But by the time she retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Grand Slam titles. And if you ask Carrie, she is entitled to every one. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father, Javier, as her coach. A former champion himself, Javier has trained her since the age of two.

But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning player named Nicki Chan.

At thirty-seven years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her record. Even if the sports media says that they never liked “the Battle-Axe” anyway. Even if her body doesn’t move as fast as it did. And even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley. Like her, he has something to prove before he gives up the game forever.

In spite of it all, Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season. In this riveting and unforgettable novel, Taylor Jenkins Reid tells her most vulnerable, emotional story yet.

MY THOUGHTS

What a great start to 2023. I can say everyone that I am hands down a fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid. This is my third book from her and all I can say is that she has me hooked, I could not put this one down.

After Carrie Soto was mentioned briefly in Malibu Rising, and knowing that a book was coming out on her had me thrilled to say the least. 

The story line drew me in the most. Here we have Carrie. a retired tennis champion, wanting to come back to a game she not only loved, but also a game that for her was like breathing itself. Jenkins Reid really did her research on tennis because the detail with which she described the games, the plays made me as a reader who knew absolutely nothing about tennis feel as if I was a part of the games and the training.

Carrie was an interesting young woman. Her relationship with her father Javier was one of love and respect.  The depiction of their relationship was well done. What was interesting about Carrie though is that while she seemed to have it all, there was still something missing a void somewhere. I thought about people with tough exteriors (Carrie was tough you will see that) are sometimes using that toughness to hide pain.

But in walks Bowe Huntley. Bowe was just the type of guy that Carrie needed and he was well placed in the story. LOVED THAT!!!!

In all 2023, looks like a great reading year for me.

Follow me on the blog, Instagram and Twitter to see what else I will be reading this year.

BOOK REVIEW: FINDING ME by VIOLA DAVIS

 

About:

In my book, you will meet a little girl named Viola who ran from her past until she made a life-changing decision to stop running forever.

This is my story, from a crumbling apartment in Central Falls, Rhode Island, to the stage in New York City, and beyond. This is the path I took to finding my purpose but also my voice in a world that didn’t always see me.

As I wrote Finding Me, my eyes were open to the truth of how our stories are often not given close examination. We are forced to reinvent them to fit into a crazy, competitive, judgmental world. So I wrote this for anyone running through life untethered, desperate and clawing their way through murky memories, trying to get to some form of self-love. For anyone who needs reminding that a life worth living can only be born from radical honesty and the courage to shed facades and be . . . you.

Finding Me is a deep reflection, a promise, and a love letter of sorts to self. My hope is that my story will inspire you to light up your own life with creative expression and rediscover who you were before the world put a label on you.

My Thoughts:

No words....

I rarely read memoirs, but Viola Davis is one of those actresses that I have always admired and boy oh boy did she have a story to tell. I am glad I listened to the audiobook because it was narrated by her. What an experience I had listening. I laughed, I cried, I even reflected on my own experiences.

What is amazing is learning about how many obstacles Viola had to overcome in her life; poverty, abuse, domestic violence, neglect, everything imaginable. Sometimes we feel as if we could never rise above our problems, we whine and complain about everything. Viola is a great example of a woman with immense strength, someone who kept pushing even though many doors were shut in her face.

What I liked too is the fact that she stressed that becoming an actor should not be about the fame, that it should be an outlet to express oneself, it should be about the art. I really admired her advice for young actors. This book really is going down as one of my favourites for 2022.

I recommend this one to everyone. It is a really good memoir.

BOOK REVIEW: HARRY POTTER #1: HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSPHER'S STONE BY JK ROWLING

 

ABOUT:

Harry Potter thinks he is an ordinary boy - until he is rescued by an owl, taken to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, learns to play Quidditch and does battle in a deadly duel. The Reason ... HARRY POTTER IS A WIZARD!

MY THOUGHTS

I finally read the first book in the Harry Potter series and you know what I really enjoyed it. As much as I read, there are many popular books and book series that I am yet to try. I never thought I would like this story as much as I did though. Good book.

Book Review: The Island of Forgetting by Jasmine Sealy

 

ABOUT:

How does memory become myth? How do lies become family lore? How do we escape the trauma of the past when the truth has been forgotten?

Barbados, 1962. Lost soul Iapetus roams the island, scared and alone, driven mad after witnessing his father’s death at the hands of his mother and his older brother, Cronus. Just before Iapetus is lost forever, he has a son, but the baby is not enough to save him from himself—or his family’s secrets.

Seventeen years later, Iapetus’s son, the stoic Atlas, lives in a loveless house, under the care of his uncle, Cronus, and in the shadow of his charismatic cousin Z. Knowing little about the tragic circumstances of his father’s life, Atlas must choose between his desire to flee the island and his loyalty to the uncle who raised him.

Time passes. Atlas’s daughter, Calypso, is a beautiful and willful teenager who is desperate to avoid being trapped in a life of drudgery at her uncle Z’s hotel. When she falls dangerously in love with a visiting real estate developer, she finds herself entangled in her uncle’s shady dealings, a pawn in the games of the powerful men around her.

It is now 2019. Calypso’s son, Nautilus, is on a path of self-destruction as he grapples with his fatherless condition, his mixed-race identity and his complicated feelings of attraction towards his best friend, Daniel. Then one night, after making an impulsive decision, Nautilus finds himself exiled to Canada.

The Island of Forgetting is an intimate saga spanning four generations of one family who run a beachfront hotel. Loosely inspired by Greek mythology, this is a novel about the echo of deep—and sometimes tragic—love and the ways a family’s past can haunt its future.

My thoughts 

I am going to sound a bit cliché' here but this book was very very good. It is definitely one of the best books I have read in 2022. I stumbled upon this book at my library on Libby Overdrive and began without any prior knowledge what it was about, all I know it was set in Barbados. Much to my surprise it was a family saga that spoke to generational secrets and unsolved conflicts. (My kind of story).

Beginning in the 1960s we learn of Lapetus, who was driven mad due to unresolved childhood trauma, caused in part by his parents and his brother Cronus. Cronus, became later on the holder of family secrets and the patriarch. 

We then meet Lapetus and Cronus' sons Z and Atlas. Atlas was a very interesting character indeed, a typical Caribbean man of sorts, desirous to leave for a better life but held back because of a feeling of family responsibility and obligation. His was a story of a spirit broken.

His daughter Calypso , though was the most interesting of the book. I think that she was so misunderstood and looking for love. Her story was heartbreaking because at a very young age especially with her relationship with the very older Odie, spoke to a young lady begging for help and never getting it from her parents, Uncle Z or anyone else. 

Many girls can relate to Cali I think because sometimes families see sexual abuse or grooming happening and do nothing. I was so angry coming to the end with the conversation that she had with her father Atlas about "the delegate" (you will have to read the book to find out) but after reflection I understood why Atlas did not react.

The issue of the acceptance of the LGBTQ community in the Caribbean was well depicted in the book through the experience of Nautilus (Calypso's son). Nautilus was another family member who struggled to find his way and even though he was driven out of the island to Toronto, he was still very very lost even more so. 

Generational curses are real. I have always believed that and this is why I loved this story so much. I highly recommend this book. 

BOOK REVIEW: A LITTLE LIFE BY HANYA YANAGIHARA

 BLURB

A Little Life follows four college classmates—broke, adrift, and buoyed only by their friendship and ambition—as they move to New York in search of fame and fortune. While their relationships, which are tinged by addiction, success, and pride, deepen over the decades, the men are held together by their devotion to the brilliant, enigmatic Jude, a man scarred by an unspeakable childhood trauma. A hymn to brotherly bonds and a masterful depiction of love in the twenty-first century, Hanya Yanagihara’s stunning novel is about the families we are born into, and those that we make for ourselves.

MY THOUGHTS

Was it traumatic / sad? Yes

Did you cry? I did inside...

Did the book have triggers? (Rape, sex, child abuse, violence, every thing else)

Was it beautifully written? Yes

Would you consider rereading? Yes

Is it one of the best books you ever read? Absolutely.

Would you recommend it to others? YESSSSS

If you have been following my blog and IG @trinigirlreads, you would have seen this book in my current reads for a while. I had to take in this massive book in parts. I was determined to finish reading this before the end of 2022 mainly out of curiosity since many persons expressed that this has been one of the saddest book of all time.

First, this story is about friendship (lifelong friendship). Willem, Malcolm, JB and Jude became connected in college and we follow them as they navigate through young adulthood to older age. They all experience doubts, fears and insecurities in every aspect of their lives with respect to relationships and careers but it is Jude's mysterious life that takes the cake.

felt

A Little Life teaches many lessons one of which is that people never truly get over childhood trauma especially without the help of a therapist or counsellor. Jude's story was a lot to read. At one point I swore that he was a real person. Willem was the character though in the book that I connected with the most. In my opinion he was drawn to Jude mainly because of Jude's vulnerability and his need to be helped. While he was no doubt a true friend to Jude, at some points I wondered if his past had more to do with the relationship they had.

I truly loved Harold for what he did for Jude. JB was misunderstood I felt because I think that of the four friends he and Jude were more alike than they realised. Malcolm just disappeared after the first half of the book though. I may have liked to hear more about him, But I get that Jude was a lot to unpack.

In all this was a great story. not for the weak of heart that's for sure but one that needed to be told. Very often we believe that we do not need others. But this book is evidence that no matter who we are we all need friends and love in our lives.

BOOK REVIEW: THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN BY MARIE BENEDICT AND VICTORIA CHRISTOPHER MURRAY

 

About

The remarkable, little-known story of Belle da Costa Greene, J. P. Morgan's personal librarian—who became one of the most powerful women in New York despite the dangerous secret she kept in order to make her dreams come true, from New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict and acclaimed author Victoria Christopher Murray.

In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. P. Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture on the New York society scene and one of the most powerful people in the art and book world, known for her impeccable taste and shrewd negotiating for critical works as she helps build a world-class collection.

But Belle has a secret, one she must protect at all costs. She was born not Belle da Costa Greene but Belle Marion Greener. She is the daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard and a well-known advocate for equality. Belle's complexion isn't dark because of her alleged Portuguese heritage that lets her pass as white—her complexion is dark because she is African American.

The Personal Librarian tells the story of an extraordinary woman, famous for her intellect, style, and wit, and shares the lengths to which she must go—for the protection of her family and her legacy—to preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lives. 

My Thoughts 

I went into this book blindly, with no prior knowledge of what it was going to be about and I was blown away by the story of Belle De Costa Greene, personal librarian of the powerful JP Morgan. Imagine my surprise also to learn that this work was loosely based on a true story. 

The authors of this book did an excellent job with this. Reading Belle's experience as a coloured woman who passed for white was mind blowing to me. She experienced the glitz and glamour of the time period while working for one of the most powerful man in the United States at the time.

I now appreciate after reading many books on the hardships that African Americans had to face to be accepted, that many went to great lengths to just have some form of equality. What was amazing was how she pulled it off for as long as she did going on to be a successful and powerful woman ahead of her time. This was a very daring thing to do.

Belle's life while there were triumphs came with a bit of sadness, in her family, in love, but what I admired most is that in spite of everything she was going through in her personal life her determination to make the Pierpont Morgan Library a success never faltered. 

I really enjoyed this book.

BOOK REVIEW: THE PARIS APARTMENT BY LUCY FOLEY

 

ABOUT

Jess needs a fresh start. She’s broke and alone, and she’s just left her job under less than ideal circumstances. Her half-brother Ben didn’t sound thrilled when she asked if she could crash with him for a bit, but he didn’t say no, and surely everything will look better from Paris. Only when she shows up – to find a very nice apartment, could Ben really have afforded this? – he’s not there.

The longer Ben stays missing, the more Jess starts to dig into her brother’s situation, and the more questions she has. Ben’s neighbors are an eclectic bunch, and not particularly friendly. Jess may have come to Paris to escape her past, but it’s starting to look like it’s Ben’s future that’s in question.

The socialite – The nice guy – The alcoholic – The girl on the verge – The concierge

Everyone’s a neighbor. Everyone’s a suspect. And everyone knows something they’re not telling.

My Thoughts

This book has renewed my love for mystery novels. What a great book club pick this month. After reading "The Guest List" earlier this year and really enjoying it I was really excited for "The Paris Apartment. Talk about mysterious.

Jess, looking to escape her life, in London, makes contact with her brother Ben, who reluctantly offers her a place to stay in his apartment in Paris. Upon arrival to the apartment Ben has disappeared. in her quest to find her brother, Jess seeks answers from the neighbours in this swanky apartment complex, where she wonders if Ben could even afford.

The cast of characters Sophie, The concierge, Mimi, Jacques, Nick and Antoine were amazing to read about and uncover. 

I love books with short chapters and this book was perfect for that because it kept me interested and wanting to read on to the end quickly. Lucy Foley has my attention so far. I hope to read "The Hunting Party" next because I really like this style of writing mystery novels.

This is a really good book.

BOOK REVIEW: YOU BY CAROLINE KEPNES

About

When a beautiful aspiring writer strides into the East Village bookstore where Joe Goldberg works, he does what anyone would do: he Googles the name on her credit card.

There is only one Guinevere Beck in New York City. She has a public Facebook account and Tweets incessantly, telling Joe everything he needs to know: she is simply Beck to her friends, she went to Brown University, she lives on Bank Street, and she’ll be at a bar in Brooklyn tonight—the perfect place for a “chance” meeting.

As Joe invisibly and obsessively takes control of Beck’s life, he orchestrates a series of events to ensure Beck finds herself in his waiting arms. Moving from stalker to boyfriend, Joe transforms himself into Beck’s perfect man, all while quietly removing the obstacles that stand in their way—even if it means murder.

A terrifying exploration of how vulnerable we all are to stalking and manipulation, debut author Caroline Kepnes delivers a razor-sharp novel for our hyper-connected digital age.

My Thoughts

Finally finished this title. Great psychological thriller. This was my October book club pick and while I know most people including myself watched the series on Netflix, I was actually curious about the book. One thing I should have read the book before watching the series because in my opinion the book was very different. I wonder if anyone else thinks so.

Joe, a bookstore clerk, meets aspiring author Guinevere Beck and becomes obsessed. He wants to control her life using any means necessary even if it means eliminating anyone who gets in his way. 

The most interesting character for me was Beck. I think while Joe was clearly disturbed, she had a lot of issues too. In fact, there was a point in the story that I became really confused as to what her deal was. While she was for the most part painted as Joe's victim (which she was), somehow I think that she in a way put herself in a lot of crazy situations. And what's with these men she had affairs with? Dr. Nicky, Benji?? Her friends were not real friends either. 

But Joe was hands down a well written character. I kept hearing the guy from the series talking in my mind while I was reading though Lol. That's what you get for watching the series before reading the book. 

All in all this was a great book and I hope to read Hidden Bodies next.

 

SECRETS WE KEPT: THREE WOMEN OF TRINIDAD BY KRYSTAL A. SITAL

 

SYNOPSIS:

There, in a lush landscape of fire-petaled immortelle trees and vast plantations of coffee and cocoa, where the three hills along the southern coast act as guardians against hurricanes, Krystal A. Sital grew up idolizing her grandfather, a wealthy Hindu landowner. Years later, to escape crime and economic stagnation on the island, the family resettled in New Jersey, where Krystal’s mother works as a nanny, and the warmth of Trinidad seems a pretty yet distant memory. But when her grandfather lapses into a coma after a fall at home, the women he has terrorized for decades begin to speak, and a brutal past comes to light.

In the lyrical patois of her mother and grandmother, Krystal learns the long-held secrets of their family’s past, and what it took for her foremothers to survive and find strength in themselves. The relief of sharing their stories draws the three women closer, the music of their voices and care for one another easing the pain of memory.

Violence, a rigid ethnic and racial caste system, and a tolerance of domestic abuse—the harsh legacies of plantation slavery—permeate the history of Trinidad. On the island’s plantations, in its growing cities, and in the family’s new home in America, Secrets We Kept tells a story of ambition and cruelty, endurance and love, and most of all, the bonds among women and between generations that help them find peace with the past.

MY THOUGHTS

My favourite quote from the novel:

" The mantra of house, lan and motohcah that echoed from one generation to the next was achieved, but at what cost?"

This book was a heavy story, but spoke to a topics that families in Trinidad even now in the 21st century sweep under the carpet in the name of keeping up appearances and holding the family together in spite of the violence, betrayal and confusion.

This story begins with the patriarch of the family Shiva Singh at death's door. As his wife and daughter Arya deal with everything that comes with sickness, they both at different intervals recount their lives to Shiva's granddaughter Krys. As the story of Shiva is revealed to his favourite granddaughter, she is shocked to know that her beloved grandfather meant something different to both her grandmother Rebecca and her mother Arya.

I felt  every emotion while reading about both Rebecca and Arya's struggles. I felt sad, angry and hopeful that things would get better for them and that they would find the peace that they were both seeking to get out of life.

What I liked especially about this story is the representation of the culture of the island of Trinidad. The language, the food, the culture was really depicted in a skillful way so while the topics were serious it also gave the reader a view of the way of life on the island and this I appreciated the most.

I do not want to give the story away but I would highly recommend this book.

**Trigger Warning*** Domestic Abuse

BOOK REVIEW: BLACK GIRLS MUST DIE EXHAUSTED AND BABY MAKES TWO BY JAYNE ALLEN

 

Synopsis

For Tabitha Walker, her grandmother's old adage, "Black girls must die exhausted" is becoming all too true. Discovering she's pregnant--after she was told she may not be able to have biological children--Tabitha throws herself headfirst into the world of "single mothers by choice." Between her job, doctor's appointments, and preparing for the baby, she's worn out. And that's before her boss at the local news station starts getting complaints from viewers about Tabitha's natural hair.

When an unexpected turn of events draws Marc--her on and off-again ex-boyfriend--back into her world with surprising demands, and the situation at work begins to threaten her livelihood and her identity, Tabitha must make some tough decisions about her and her baby's future. It takes a village to raise a child, and Tabitha turns to the women who have always been there for her.

Bolstered by the fierce support of Ms. Gretchen, her grandmother's best friend, the counsel of her closest friends Laila and Alexis, and the calming presence of her doula Andouele, Tabitha must find a way to navigate motherhood on her own terms. Will she harness the bravery, strength, and self-love she'll need to keep "the village" together, find her voice at work, and settle things with Marc before the baby arrives?

My Thoughts

This book was a nice sequel to Black Girls Must Die Exhausted. 

I was actually in a reading slump and this book  got me right back on track. In this installment of the series we meet Tabitha again, navigating pregnancy by choice and the challenges she had to face. I love how the book continues to depict key issues that black women face through Tabitha and her friends.   Women of all races may face struggles, this book reminds us of struggles that are unique to black women, from deciding to have a baby out of wedlock, to decisions about whether our natural hair will make us less professional or accepted. 

I am really excited to read the other book "Black Girls Must be Magic." I recommend this one. 

BOOK REVIEW: THE PACT by JODI PICOULT

 

About

For eighteen years the Hartes and the Golds have lived next door to each other, sharing everything from Chinese food to chicken pox to carpool duty—they've grown so close it seems they have always been a part of each other's lives. Parents and children alike have been best friends, so it's no surprise that in high school Chris and Emily's friendship blossoms into something more. They've been soul mates since they were born.

So when midnight calls from the hospital come in, no one is ready for the appalling truth: Emily is dead at seventeen from a gunshot wound to the head. There's a single unspent bullet in the gun that Chris took from his father's cabinet—a bullet that Chris tells police he intended for himself. But a local detective has doubts about the suicide pact that Chris has described.

My Thoughts

This is the third I've read by Jodi Picoult book. So far I read My Sister's Keeper and Nineteen Minutes and now the Pact. I really like Jodi's writing because of the messages that I somehow manage to take away from her stories. The Pact followed teens Emily and Chris, neighbours, friends and eventually lovers. One midnight their parents were awakened by the news that Emily had been shot and Chris injured. When Emily succumbs to her injuries and dies, Chris reveals that him and Emily had a suicide pact as they both planned on killing themselves. This revelation led to a chain of events that land Chris, a model student in jail and cause their parents The Golds and The Hartes (Once very close drift apart).

What I liked about the story were reading about Emily and her struggles. Most teenagers do struggle in silence and being unable to deal with trauma and everything that goes with it may end it all. IT shows that no matter how perfect someone's life may seem, they can also be dealing with trauma. Like Nineteen Minutes, another point that Jodi Picoult emphasized quite well in this story was how little parents really know their children. Melanie and Gus (the mothers) were both convinced that they knew what their kids were capable of without really knowing them at all.

People like different things about books and writers,  honestly I really liked the court room and jail scenes in this book. I find it added not only a dramatic element but so many lessons came out of it. And let us not forget the closing argument of lawyer Jordan Mc Afee on "truth".  

This is a really good book. I thought initially it would have been more of a romance but it was that and so much more. I'm glad I a finally read this.

This was my book club pick for August 2022.  Join Between the Pages Book club on Goodreads by clicking the sidebar and join the discussion.

BOOK REVIEW: THE GIRL WITH THE LOUDING VOICE BY ABI DARE'

 

About

The unforgettable, inspiring story of a teenage girl growing up in a rural Nigerian village who longs to get an education so that she can find her “louding voice” and speak up for herself, The Girl with the Louding Voice is a simultaneously heartbreaking and triumphant tale about the power of fighting for your dreams.

Despite the seemingly insurmountable obstacles in her path, Adunni never loses sight of her goal of escaping the life of poverty she was born into so that she can build the future she chooses for herself - and help other girls like her do the same.

Her spirited determination to find joy and hope in even the most difficult circumstances imaginable will “break your heart and then put it back together again” (Jenna Bush Hager on The Today Show) even as Adunni shows us how one courageous young girl can inspire us all to reach for our dreams...and maybe even change the world.

My Thoughts

"Your schooling is your voice, child. It will be speaking for you even if you didn't open your mouth to talk. It will be speaking till the day God is calling you come."

This book was very emotional and meaningful to me in so many ways. Adunni represented so many girls, not only in Nigeria but worldwide who because of where they come from even in the 21st century have no access to education. This was a work of fiction, yes, but it taught me so much. People often see you reading a novel and think you just reading for entertainment only, but what books like this do for me is to allow me to understand a world that I cannot even imagine.

The prose was outstanding. I loved that the most. It was very original and as a lover of Nigerian films made it very easy to read. I like how Dare' added elements of humor in the story as well because it helped to have the comic relief interwoven with all the emotional things going on.

The cast of characters all were significant in the book, Adunni, Kofi, Tia, Big Daddy but honestly it was Big Madam that stood out for me. Yes she was abusive and downright evil but there was a sadness within her that was presented beautifully I think and it made me feel for her. I would have loved to discuss this book face to face with someone who has read it because there are so many issues that one can discuss.

In all this was a great book.

BOOK REVIEW: ENVY (Seven Deadly Sins #2) by Victoria Christopher Murray

 

Now a Lifetime movie event!

From the NAACP Image award winner and national bestselling author of The Personal Librarian comes a novel inspired by the seven deadly sins about a woman who wants more than just a relationship from her newly discovered​ half-sister—she wants her life.

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

Gabrielle Wilson has the perfect life: a Beverly Hills mansion, a loving family, and a massively successful PR firm. When her father admits that an affair he had years before resulted in a daughter, Gabrielle is shocked, but is actually happy. Could this be the sister she has been praying for all her life?

Keisha Jones’s life is a struggle. Her late mother worked on the streets, and school was its own nightmare. When Gabrielle offers to fly Keisha out of Arkansas to meet the family, Keisha instantly agrees. But Gabrielle doesn’t realize that Keisha has known about the Wilsons for years. Keisha is determined to have everything she has always envied, and nothing can stand in her way.

Includes a reading group guide with an author Q&A and discussion questions for book clubs.

".....attacks of envy, attacks of jealousy cannot be fought with the flesh. It's spiritual warfare, and you have to know which fight you're having before you get into the battle."

Envy is in my opinion the deadliest of sins. Reading this book reminded me of that. Sometimes people hate you for no other reason but that they envy you. Having been on the receiving end of that I know. Keisha's envy in this book however was due to lack and loss. Having lost her those important to her, having been taken advantage of, she became envious of her new found sister Gabrielle who had it all; the husband, the daughter, the thriving business. 

I think this story was also a reminder of how you have to be careful who you let into your life and home affairs, no matter what. I felt that Gabrielle and Elijah should have been more wary about letting Keisha into their lives. I didn't like that Gabrielle was so trusting even when Regan was trying to warn her about Keisha's motives.

The ending was really difficult for me, very emotional....(I will stop because if I go on I will spoil it) But I will say though that this book really made me believe that there are people who are willing to put animosity aside.

I really liked this book. It was an easy read but with many life lessons. I went out and got the rest of the books in the series to see what I would like best.

BOOK REVIEW: CEREUS BLOOMS AT NIGHT BY SHANI MOOTOO

 

Synopsis

Set on a fictional Caribbean island in the town of Paradise, Cereus Blooms at Night unveils the mystery surrounding Mala Ramchandin and the tempestuous history of her family. At the heart of this bold and seductive novel is an alleged crime committed many years before the story opens. Mala is the reclusive old woman suspected of murder who is delivered to the Paradise Alms House after a judge finds her unfit to stand trial. When she arrives at her new home, frail and mute, she is placed in the tender care of Tyler, a vivacious male nurse, who becomes her unlikely confidante and the storyteller of Mala's extraordinary life. In luminous, sensual prose, internationally acclaimed writer Shani Mootoo combines diverse storytelling traditions to explore identity, gender, and violence in a celebration of our capacity to love.

My Thoughts

Shani Mootoo is most definitely a talented author after finishing the story I needed a few days to digest it before I could write a review. Mala Ramchandin ( the main character) is said to be crazy and responsible for the death of her father. The story starts with Mala being admitted to a home and cared for by Tyler, a misunderstood nurse who cares for Mala in a way that stuns his peers.

As we learn about Mala's life we are taken on an emotional journey, one full of hurt and disappointment. What I found interesting about the story was the setting, i think the author blended very well the flora and fauna of the environment with the situation. This book would really make a rich book club discussion. 

This was quite a heartbreaking and emotional story and while I didn't love it I would recommend it.