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_askthebookbug's reviews
1337 reviews
Finding Chika: A Little Girl, an Earthquake, and the Making of a Family by Mitch Albom
5.0
~ r e v i e w ~
•
"What we carry defines who we are and the effort we make is our legacy." - Mitch Albom.
"You took a huge part of us with you, Chika, the best part, but it was yours to take, and I hope it will always be close to you." - Mitch Albom.
•
My first book by Mitch was Tuesdays With Morrie and I couldn't help but fall in love with it. While I thought his first memoir was heartbreaking, I was clueless about what Finding Chika had in store for me. I finished this in just two sittings and when I wrapped it up, I was surprised to find my face tear stained. I can never fathom how a book can be both devastating yet so rewarding. Finding Chika is about sentiments, all sorts of them. Not only did the story inspire me but I began to see Mitch in newfound admiration. From finding Chika to building a family, Mitch did not leave any stone unturned.
•
Chika Jeun was born with a purpose, perhaps this was why she miraculously survived the earthquake in Haiti in 2010, in spite of being just three days old. After her mother's death, she was admitted to an orphanage at the age of three. Mitch recalls the confidence with which Chika presented herself as the leader of the children even though she the youngest of the lot. Two years later when Chika's face began to droop and her gait changed, Mitch, who had then taken over the responsibility of running the orphanage, decided to bring Chika to America to get her tested. After being diagnosed with a terminal illness, they decide to fight against the tumour. Mitch and Janine, who don't have a child of their own, soon come to consider Chika as their daughter and find their routines changing to accommodate a child.
•
Mitch narrates this memoir to Chika herself, who appears out of thin air and urges him to write about her. He lists down what the child taught him during her brief stay with the couple, narrowing it down to seven teachings. All of Chika's quirks, her eagerness to make friends of all ages, her strong voice and no-nonsense attitude; all of these are written fondly by Mitch. But what set her apart was her determination and strength to fight the tumour for years. Their relentless pursuit of cure and trips to various clinics became part of their daily lives. Mitch often took a breather from his work to spend time with Chika, taking in all that she had to offer during her short stay. But life has never known to be fair and with every chapter closer to the end, I felt my heart sink deeper into the pit of my stomach. This book is melancholic in nature, but in spite of all the sadness and grief it carries, Mitch convinces the readers to look at the brighter side of life. Chika's story is impactful and its wonderful how a child is capable of creating such a meaningful difference in someone's life. The innocence that usually comes with children and their curiousity about everything under the sky is beautifully captured in this memoir. Before I read this, I considered Mitch as just an author but the fact that he runs an orphanage in a povery ridden country came as a pleasant surprise. With this book, Mitch does it again. He breaks hearts into tiny pieces to only fix them, making us see the world differently.
•
Let me end the review with this - "Families are like pieces of art, they can be made from many materials. Sometimes they are from birth, sometimes they are melded, sometimes they are merely time and circumstance mixing together, like eggs being scrambled in a Michigan kitchen. But no matter how a family comes together, and no matter how it comes apart, this is true and will always be true: you cannot lose a child. And we did not lose a child. We were given one. And she was glorious.”
•
Rating : 5/5.
•
"What we carry defines who we are and the effort we make is our legacy." - Mitch Albom.
"You took a huge part of us with you, Chika, the best part, but it was yours to take, and I hope it will always be close to you." - Mitch Albom.
•
My first book by Mitch was Tuesdays With Morrie and I couldn't help but fall in love with it. While I thought his first memoir was heartbreaking, I was clueless about what Finding Chika had in store for me. I finished this in just two sittings and when I wrapped it up, I was surprised to find my face tear stained. I can never fathom how a book can be both devastating yet so rewarding. Finding Chika is about sentiments, all sorts of them. Not only did the story inspire me but I began to see Mitch in newfound admiration. From finding Chika to building a family, Mitch did not leave any stone unturned.
•
Chika Jeun was born with a purpose, perhaps this was why she miraculously survived the earthquake in Haiti in 2010, in spite of being just three days old. After her mother's death, she was admitted to an orphanage at the age of three. Mitch recalls the confidence with which Chika presented herself as the leader of the children even though she the youngest of the lot. Two years later when Chika's face began to droop and her gait changed, Mitch, who had then taken over the responsibility of running the orphanage, decided to bring Chika to America to get her tested. After being diagnosed with a terminal illness, they decide to fight against the tumour. Mitch and Janine, who don't have a child of their own, soon come to consider Chika as their daughter and find their routines changing to accommodate a child.
•
Mitch narrates this memoir to Chika herself, who appears out of thin air and urges him to write about her. He lists down what the child taught him during her brief stay with the couple, narrowing it down to seven teachings. All of Chika's quirks, her eagerness to make friends of all ages, her strong voice and no-nonsense attitude; all of these are written fondly by Mitch. But what set her apart was her determination and strength to fight the tumour for years. Their relentless pursuit of cure and trips to various clinics became part of their daily lives. Mitch often took a breather from his work to spend time with Chika, taking in all that she had to offer during her short stay. But life has never known to be fair and with every chapter closer to the end, I felt my heart sink deeper into the pit of my stomach. This book is melancholic in nature, but in spite of all the sadness and grief it carries, Mitch convinces the readers to look at the brighter side of life. Chika's story is impactful and its wonderful how a child is capable of creating such a meaningful difference in someone's life. The innocence that usually comes with children and their curiousity about everything under the sky is beautifully captured in this memoir. Before I read this, I considered Mitch as just an author but the fact that he runs an orphanage in a povery ridden country came as a pleasant surprise. With this book, Mitch does it again. He breaks hearts into tiny pieces to only fix them, making us see the world differently.
•
Let me end the review with this - "Families are like pieces of art, they can be made from many materials. Sometimes they are from birth, sometimes they are melded, sometimes they are merely time and circumstance mixing together, like eggs being scrambled in a Michigan kitchen. But no matter how a family comes together, and no matter how it comes apart, this is true and will always be true: you cannot lose a child. And we did not lose a child. We were given one. And she was glorious.”
•
Rating : 5/5.
Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution by Ji-li Jiang
4.0
• r e v i e w •
.
"This is the most frightening lesson of the Cultural Revolution: Without a sound legal system, a small group or even a single person can take control of an entire country. This is as true now as it was then." - Ji-li jiang.
.
Although this memoir was written by keeping young adults in mind, there's clearly no age limit to sit back and learn about the Cultural Revolution from the POV of a teenager. What's horrifying was the fact that countless Chinese were brainwashed to believe that Chairman Mao's revolution was for the betterment of their lives. Back in the 1960s when the Cultural Revolution was just in its initial stages, people spent their days in fervour, counting on Mao to bring in positive changes. But a few months into the revolution, they began to realise how they now had to live in fear of being reprimanded for no fault of theirs. Intellectuals were mocked regularly and were even stripped of their titles. Children were turned against their parents, old people were treated brutally and students were encouraged to bully even their elders. Such was the horrors of the Cultural Revolution and Ji-li gives a firsthand account of what it felt like to witness Mao's growth.
.
Like any other teenager, Ji-li was anticipating the onset of the Cultural Revolution which believed in eradicating the four olds - old ideas, culture, customs and habits. Old signboards hanging on the shops were broken, cinema theatres were renamed, family heirlooms were destroyed. Ji-li dreamt of becoming a Red Successor who was entitled to take part in the activities carried out as approved by Mao. But trouble crept in when she realised that her grandfather was a landlord and as announced by Mao, they were then categorised under 'Black Family'. Rumours arose that her father was a rightist and was then imprisoned. Ji-li who was a brilliant student at school and led many events, faced her fellow students'wrath for being a black family. Many families like hers were stripped off their wealth, forcing elders to sweep the streets all the while publicly shaming them. Ji-li quickly realises how wrong the revolution's ideology was.
.
Ji-li recalls how she was pushed to denounce her parents and to show her support to Chairman Mao. While many families worshipped Mao, the Jiang's and others alike were struggling to survive in a cruel world. Many teachers were abused mentally and physically as flyers about them were pasted all over the cities. They were criticized and vile things were spoken about them. Ji-li finds one in her name and is traumatized by the accusations. It was only after Mao's decline that the citizens began to understand how inhumane and unfair the revolution actually was. Now living in The States, Ji-li mentions how she can't leave behind China. The Red Scarf girl turned out to be an eye opener, explaining the negative angle of what was considered as one of the biggest movement. Reading about innocent civilians being castigated was extremely hurtful. If you'd want to learn about the Cultural Revolution in simpler terms, then this book will impress you. I definitely recommend this.
.
Rating : 4.4/5.
.
"This is the most frightening lesson of the Cultural Revolution: Without a sound legal system, a small group or even a single person can take control of an entire country. This is as true now as it was then." - Ji-li jiang.
.
Although this memoir was written by keeping young adults in mind, there's clearly no age limit to sit back and learn about the Cultural Revolution from the POV of a teenager. What's horrifying was the fact that countless Chinese were brainwashed to believe that Chairman Mao's revolution was for the betterment of their lives. Back in the 1960s when the Cultural Revolution was just in its initial stages, people spent their days in fervour, counting on Mao to bring in positive changes. But a few months into the revolution, they began to realise how they now had to live in fear of being reprimanded for no fault of theirs. Intellectuals were mocked regularly and were even stripped of their titles. Children were turned against their parents, old people were treated brutally and students were encouraged to bully even their elders. Such was the horrors of the Cultural Revolution and Ji-li gives a firsthand account of what it felt like to witness Mao's growth.
.
Like any other teenager, Ji-li was anticipating the onset of the Cultural Revolution which believed in eradicating the four olds - old ideas, culture, customs and habits. Old signboards hanging on the shops were broken, cinema theatres were renamed, family heirlooms were destroyed. Ji-li dreamt of becoming a Red Successor who was entitled to take part in the activities carried out as approved by Mao. But trouble crept in when she realised that her grandfather was a landlord and as announced by Mao, they were then categorised under 'Black Family'. Rumours arose that her father was a rightist and was then imprisoned. Ji-li who was a brilliant student at school and led many events, faced her fellow students'wrath for being a black family. Many families like hers were stripped off their wealth, forcing elders to sweep the streets all the while publicly shaming them. Ji-li quickly realises how wrong the revolution's ideology was.
.
Ji-li recalls how she was pushed to denounce her parents and to show her support to Chairman Mao. While many families worshipped Mao, the Jiang's and others alike were struggling to survive in a cruel world. Many teachers were abused mentally and physically as flyers about them were pasted all over the cities. They were criticized and vile things were spoken about them. Ji-li finds one in her name and is traumatized by the accusations. It was only after Mao's decline that the citizens began to understand how inhumane and unfair the revolution actually was. Now living in The States, Ji-li mentions how she can't leave behind China. The Red Scarf girl turned out to be an eye opener, explaining the negative angle of what was considered as one of the biggest movement. Reading about innocent civilians being castigated was extremely hurtful. If you'd want to learn about the Cultural Revolution in simpler terms, then this book will impress you. I definitely recommend this.
.
Rating : 4.4/5.
Yellow Star by Jennifer Roy
5.0
• r e c o m m e n d a t i o n •
.
"In 1939, the Germans invaded the town of Lodz, Poland. They forced all of the Jewish people to live in a small part of the city called a ghetto. They built a barbed-wire fence around it and posted Nazi guards to keep everyone inside it. Two hundred and seventy thousand people lived in the Lodz ghetto. “In 1945, the war ended. The Germans surrendered, and the ghetto was liberated. Out of more than a quarter of a million people, only about 800 walked out of the ghetto. Of those who survived, only twelve were children. “I was one of the twelve.” - Sylvia Perlmutter.
.
During the Second World War, the Nazis set up ghettos for Jews, marking the beginnings of their persecution. The author, Jennifer's aunt was one of the twelve children who survived the ghetto and this is her story. Although this book is written by Jennifer, the book is narrated through the eyes of Syvia who was barely four and a half years old at the time of the War. Written in verse, this book was nothing short of a masterpiece. What makes it gut-wrenching is the confusion and innocence of the children who struggled to comprehend the idea behind the hate that the Nazis spewed. I have read my fair share of books about Holocaust but this one has taken the top spot.
.
In 1940, the Perlmutters' were evicted from their homes like the thousands of other Jews and were forced to move into a ghetto in Lodz. Syvia with her parents and a twelve year old sister, Dora makes way into the ghetto, clueless about their release. Their stay in the ghetto lasted five years, beating death against all odds. Syvia's father was undoubtedly the hero of the story, without whom the family would have perished. The conditions of the ghetto were hideous, with no hot water and no warm clothes. During the winters, many families drew their last breath, unable to tolerate the cold. Food was a luxury, inviting starvation to the ghetto. If people weren't killed because of the cold, lack of food eventually did the job. Syvia managed to make friends with the other kids but most of them were taken away in cattle cars to be gassed.
.
While more Jews entered the ghetto, the Nazis ran out of food and space. Old people and children were rounded up and sent away to be executed. Because of Syvia's father's quick thinking, she survives time and again. His determination and leadership qualities came in handy as he managed to keep his family safe throughout their imprisonment. But many families weren't as lucky as them. Syvia tells us what it felt like to live in the ghetto where people were killed for no reason. A boy she knew yesterday wasn't alive the next day. Her only solace was her doll which was later sold to procure food. The food that they received contained ground glass, dirt and other particles but they couldn't afford to complain. As the War progressed, Syvia remembers how thousands of Jews were taken away, leaving the ghetto almost empty. Few of the lucky ones who were left behind protected the children from the Nazis by creating a secret safe place. It is here that Syvia realises that she's not the only child left behind in the ghetto.
.
When the Russians liberated the ghetto in 1945, the Perlmutters were amongst the 800 Jews that survived. Syvia who was ten at that time had grown beyond her age. This book is painful to read, the War seen from a kid's perspective making it all the more gut-wrenching. Wars have the capability of wiping away all the goodness but Syvia tells us about the sacrifices made by the parents and others to keep their children safe. The kindness of the Russian who found them happened to be a Jew and upon witnessing the plight of his fellow brothers, his heart is wounded too. Yellow Star broke my heart with every atrocity that the Jews had to face but their survival helped apply a balm to ease the pain. I highly recommend this.
.
Rating : 5/5.
.
"In 1939, the Germans invaded the town of Lodz, Poland. They forced all of the Jewish people to live in a small part of the city called a ghetto. They built a barbed-wire fence around it and posted Nazi guards to keep everyone inside it. Two hundred and seventy thousand people lived in the Lodz ghetto. “In 1945, the war ended. The Germans surrendered, and the ghetto was liberated. Out of more than a quarter of a million people, only about 800 walked out of the ghetto. Of those who survived, only twelve were children. “I was one of the twelve.” - Sylvia Perlmutter.
.
During the Second World War, the Nazis set up ghettos for Jews, marking the beginnings of their persecution. The author, Jennifer's aunt was one of the twelve children who survived the ghetto and this is her story. Although this book is written by Jennifer, the book is narrated through the eyes of Syvia who was barely four and a half years old at the time of the War. Written in verse, this book was nothing short of a masterpiece. What makes it gut-wrenching is the confusion and innocence of the children who struggled to comprehend the idea behind the hate that the Nazis spewed. I have read my fair share of books about Holocaust but this one has taken the top spot.
.
In 1940, the Perlmutters' were evicted from their homes like the thousands of other Jews and were forced to move into a ghetto in Lodz. Syvia with her parents and a twelve year old sister, Dora makes way into the ghetto, clueless about their release. Their stay in the ghetto lasted five years, beating death against all odds. Syvia's father was undoubtedly the hero of the story, without whom the family would have perished. The conditions of the ghetto were hideous, with no hot water and no warm clothes. During the winters, many families drew their last breath, unable to tolerate the cold. Food was a luxury, inviting starvation to the ghetto. If people weren't killed because of the cold, lack of food eventually did the job. Syvia managed to make friends with the other kids but most of them were taken away in cattle cars to be gassed.
.
While more Jews entered the ghetto, the Nazis ran out of food and space. Old people and children were rounded up and sent away to be executed. Because of Syvia's father's quick thinking, she survives time and again. His determination and leadership qualities came in handy as he managed to keep his family safe throughout their imprisonment. But many families weren't as lucky as them. Syvia tells us what it felt like to live in the ghetto where people were killed for no reason. A boy she knew yesterday wasn't alive the next day. Her only solace was her doll which was later sold to procure food. The food that they received contained ground glass, dirt and other particles but they couldn't afford to complain. As the War progressed, Syvia remembers how thousands of Jews were taken away, leaving the ghetto almost empty. Few of the lucky ones who were left behind protected the children from the Nazis by creating a secret safe place. It is here that Syvia realises that she's not the only child left behind in the ghetto.
.
When the Russians liberated the ghetto in 1945, the Perlmutters were amongst the 800 Jews that survived. Syvia who was ten at that time had grown beyond her age. This book is painful to read, the War seen from a kid's perspective making it all the more gut-wrenching. Wars have the capability of wiping away all the goodness but Syvia tells us about the sacrifices made by the parents and others to keep their children safe. The kindness of the Russian who found them happened to be a Jew and upon witnessing the plight of his fellow brothers, his heart is wounded too. Yellow Star broke my heart with every atrocity that the Jews had to face but their survival helped apply a balm to ease the pain. I highly recommend this.
.
Rating : 5/5.
Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid
5.0
• r e v i e w •
.
"The difference between life and death could be as simple and as uncomfortably slight as a step you take in either direction. Which means that I am here today, alive today, because I made the right choices, however brief and insignificant they felt at the time. I made the right choices." - Taylor Jenkins Reid.
.
Taylor Jenkins Reid does it every single time. Her books are surely magic portals which eludes the concept of time and place. It often feels like I'm on a mission to read all of her books and right after I finished reading Maybe in Another Life, I procured an ecopy of After I Do. Apart from the fact that her stories carry a unique concept, it's her writing that enthralls the readers. There's also a pattern that she follows in choosing her protagonists; strong and bold women. This book was no different. Maybe in Another Life turned out to be a real treat which I finished reading in two days. It was simply unputdownable, in spite of it being a romance novel. If you know me, you'd know romance is usually not my preferred genre. So that speaks volumes.
.
Hannah is twenty-nine and is having an existential crisis. With no boyfriend, no job and no home, she decides to go back to her hometown LA and live with her best friend Gabby and her husband until she can figure things out. She is fully aware of the fact that she is now living closer to her highschool boyfriend, Ethan, who also happens to be the love of her life. When they have a class reunion post her move, she meets Ethan and realises that she's still in love with him. Their breakup was a result of wrong timing, wrong place and wrong circumstances but now they're expectant of picking up the relationship where they had left off. When Ethan asks her to stay by offering her a ride later , Hannah hesitates. What will unfold if she decides to stay? And what happens if she leaves with Gabby?
.
Starting here, Taylor writes two stories parallely, one with Ethan and one without him. In simultaneous storylines, Hannah lives her life that has now been set into motion as a result of her decision. The narration switches easily between the two scenarios leaving the readers at the edge of their seats. We often wonder what course our lives would have taken if it wasn't for that one decision and Taylor's novel is just that. A single decision that has the power to change the direction of our lives. She plays with fate and destiny, the consequences and rewards. The two lives of Hannah are two sets of realities and I loved reading them. All the while it made me wonder how my life would have panned out if I had made my choices differently. Hannah's life can be anyone's and this is how real Taylor has managed to build the story. I especially loved the friendship that Hannah shared with Gabby; two women who support each other through thick and thin. Such female friendships are so inspiring to read about. This novel was such a refreshing change but then again it doesn't come as a surprise because Taylor always chooses such unmatched stories.
.
If you haven't read her work, now's the time to start. If there's one author who has consistently aced all of her books, I can't think of anyone apart from Taylor. I highly recommend this. Even if you aren't into romance, pick this up for the feeling that comes with living Hannah's fascinating yet utterly ordinary life. Excuse me while I now dive into After I Do.
.
Rating : 5/5.
.
"The difference between life and death could be as simple and as uncomfortably slight as a step you take in either direction. Which means that I am here today, alive today, because I made the right choices, however brief and insignificant they felt at the time. I made the right choices." - Taylor Jenkins Reid.
.
Taylor Jenkins Reid does it every single time. Her books are surely magic portals which eludes the concept of time and place. It often feels like I'm on a mission to read all of her books and right after I finished reading Maybe in Another Life, I procured an ecopy of After I Do. Apart from the fact that her stories carry a unique concept, it's her writing that enthralls the readers. There's also a pattern that she follows in choosing her protagonists; strong and bold women. This book was no different. Maybe in Another Life turned out to be a real treat which I finished reading in two days. It was simply unputdownable, in spite of it being a romance novel. If you know me, you'd know romance is usually not my preferred genre. So that speaks volumes.
.
Hannah is twenty-nine and is having an existential crisis. With no boyfriend, no job and no home, she decides to go back to her hometown LA and live with her best friend Gabby and her husband until she can figure things out. She is fully aware of the fact that she is now living closer to her highschool boyfriend, Ethan, who also happens to be the love of her life. When they have a class reunion post her move, she meets Ethan and realises that she's still in love with him. Their breakup was a result of wrong timing, wrong place and wrong circumstances but now they're expectant of picking up the relationship where they had left off. When Ethan asks her to stay by offering her a ride later , Hannah hesitates. What will unfold if she decides to stay? And what happens if she leaves with Gabby?
.
Starting here, Taylor writes two stories parallely, one with Ethan and one without him. In simultaneous storylines, Hannah lives her life that has now been set into motion as a result of her decision. The narration switches easily between the two scenarios leaving the readers at the edge of their seats. We often wonder what course our lives would have taken if it wasn't for that one decision and Taylor's novel is just that. A single decision that has the power to change the direction of our lives. She plays with fate and destiny, the consequences and rewards. The two lives of Hannah are two sets of realities and I loved reading them. All the while it made me wonder how my life would have panned out if I had made my choices differently. Hannah's life can be anyone's and this is how real Taylor has managed to build the story. I especially loved the friendship that Hannah shared with Gabby; two women who support each other through thick and thin. Such female friendships are so inspiring to read about. This novel was such a refreshing change but then again it doesn't come as a surprise because Taylor always chooses such unmatched stories.
.
If you haven't read her work, now's the time to start. If there's one author who has consistently aced all of her books, I can't think of anyone apart from Taylor. I highly recommend this. Even if you aren't into romance, pick this up for the feeling that comes with living Hannah's fascinating yet utterly ordinary life. Excuse me while I now dive into After I Do.
.
Rating : 5/5.
What Lies Between Us by John Marrs
5.0
• r e v i e w •
.
I always enjoy a good physiological thriller and when I accidentally found What Lies Between Us in KU, I decided to give it a shot. I had no idea what to expect, having read zero books by John Marrs but since the reviews were leaning slightly towards the positive side, I figured I had nothing to lose. And to my pleasant surprise, what a great read it turned out to be. A gripping tale of a mother-daughter duo entangled in a web of lies and secrets. The story was fast-paced and extremely interesting. Although it was a bit shocking to witness an unconventional/disturbing relationship between the two women, it was nonetheless a very intriguing plot. What Lies Between Us gave me the satisfaction that l found missing in my recent thriller novels and for this it gets brownie points.
.
Maggie and Nina share the same house and as normal as this may seem, something sinister lurks within their home. Nina has kept her mother hidden and chained in the attic for two years and she plans to continue to do so for the next two decades. While Maggie is mostly compliant, she does give Nina an occasional fight. Maggie doesn't exist to the outside world and while Nina goes about her days, Maggie lives through her neighbours as she watches them through the window slats. The two share a complicated and a dysfunctional relationship, walking on eggshells all the time. Nina hates her mother but without her she's lonely as ever. Maggie, on the other hand loves her daughter but also detests her for treating her this way. Their baggage of lies hangs around them like a shadow that stays even in the darkest of nights. As much as Nina wants to free her mother, her past stops her from doing so. And as much as Maggie wants to confront her daughter, she must remain silent for the sake of her sanity.
.
The story jumps between past and present; the past going back upto 25 years. From the first crack that appears in their relationship to the web of lies that they get caught up in, John writes about them brilliantly. Nina's obsession of punishing her mother and Maggie's helplessness to set herself free was truly unsettling to read. This warped thriller had my mind reeling. If there's one thing that I am sure of, I'll be seeking out other novels by John. A chilling novel that kept me at the edge of my seat, What Lies Between Us was really a very interesting read. I definitely recommend this to those who draw pleasure out of psychological thrillers.
.
Rating : 4.5/5.
.
I always enjoy a good physiological thriller and when I accidentally found What Lies Between Us in KU, I decided to give it a shot. I had no idea what to expect, having read zero books by John Marrs but since the reviews were leaning slightly towards the positive side, I figured I had nothing to lose. And to my pleasant surprise, what a great read it turned out to be. A gripping tale of a mother-daughter duo entangled in a web of lies and secrets. The story was fast-paced and extremely interesting. Although it was a bit shocking to witness an unconventional/disturbing relationship between the two women, it was nonetheless a very intriguing plot. What Lies Between Us gave me the satisfaction that l found missing in my recent thriller novels and for this it gets brownie points.
.
Maggie and Nina share the same house and as normal as this may seem, something sinister lurks within their home. Nina has kept her mother hidden and chained in the attic for two years and she plans to continue to do so for the next two decades. While Maggie is mostly compliant, she does give Nina an occasional fight. Maggie doesn't exist to the outside world and while Nina goes about her days, Maggie lives through her neighbours as she watches them through the window slats. The two share a complicated and a dysfunctional relationship, walking on eggshells all the time. Nina hates her mother but without her she's lonely as ever. Maggie, on the other hand loves her daughter but also detests her for treating her this way. Their baggage of lies hangs around them like a shadow that stays even in the darkest of nights. As much as Nina wants to free her mother, her past stops her from doing so. And as much as Maggie wants to confront her daughter, she must remain silent for the sake of her sanity.
.
The story jumps between past and present; the past going back upto 25 years. From the first crack that appears in their relationship to the web of lies that they get caught up in, John writes about them brilliantly. Nina's obsession of punishing her mother and Maggie's helplessness to set herself free was truly unsettling to read. This warped thriller had my mind reeling. If there's one thing that I am sure of, I'll be seeking out other novels by John. A chilling novel that kept me at the edge of my seat, What Lies Between Us was really a very interesting read. I definitely recommend this to those who draw pleasure out of psychological thrillers.
.
Rating : 4.5/5.
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
5.0
• r e v i e w •
.
"Wild. That’s how I describe it all. My love. My life. Alaska. Truthfully, it’s all the same to me. Alaska doesn’t attract many; most are too tame to handle life up here. But when she gets her hooks in you, she digs deep and holds on, and you become hers. Wild. A lover of cruel beauty and splendid isolation. And God help you, you can’t live anywhere else." - Kristin Hannah.
.
The Great Alone is considered as Kristin's best work followed by The Nightingale. I read The Nightingale few months ago and savoured the relationship between two sisters that was beautifully written by Kristin. But The Great Alone felt more intimate, perhaps because of how she highlights mother-daughter relationship. Any book that revolves around this aspect instantly attracts my eye and as often observed, becomes my favourite. This novel has no in between; you either love it or you don't and it goes without saying that I fall into the former category.
.
The Allbright family moves to Alaska in 1974 after leading a nomadic life. Ernt insists on building a home in Alaska, on the land which is left behind by his friend and fellow soldier but his wife Cora and daughter, Leni aren't too happy about his decision. Kaneq seems harsh and when they see the dirty cabin they'll be living in, their hearts sink. But Ernt's rare happiness is what matters to them the most and they pack up their belongings and move in just before the onset of winter. Alaskan winters are brutal where people go missing, food is scarce and animals come to hunt. With the help of friendly neighbours, they redo their cabin, build a greenhouse and a protective fence for livestock but Cora and Leni know that it isn't the dangers from the outside that they find terrifying but it's Ernt's moods in the cold that makes their teeth chatter. Ernt who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam is haunted by nightmares and even slightest displeasure leads to him battering his wife and daughter. When winter finally arrives, their worst fears comes true.
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As Leni and Cora bear the brunt of Ernt's anger, the village of Kaneq comes together to support the women. Ernt's volatile moods teamed up with paranoia, sets the entire village on edge. Kristin writes about Ernt so vividly that I flinched more than once when he raised his fists against Cora. Leni who was just thirteen, spent her entire growing up years with the fear of upsetting her father but there's a visible switch in her understanding about his erratic behaviour as she grows up. Trapped in Alaska with a violent man, one woman and one girl are bound by love and duty but all it takes is one instant to snap under abuse. The Great Alone is a detailed novel about how it feels like to live with a husband who's unreliable and with a father who uses his wife as a punching bag. The abuse was hard to read, making me clench my teeth in anger. Leni's disturbing teenage years stole her innocence and replaced it with caution. Cora and Ernt's toxic relationship gave me a sense of helplessness and seeing Leni witnessing this strange relationship was absolutely heartbreaking to see.
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The Great Alone is definitely not an easy read, often greeting the readers with varying emotions, few painful and few heartwarming. There's no doubt that Kristin is a master storyteller and after reading two novels by her, it only reaffirms that fact. If I had to choose between The Nightingale and The Great Alone, I'll instantly reach out for this. I definitely recommend this.
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Rating : 4.8/5.
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"Wild. That’s how I describe it all. My love. My life. Alaska. Truthfully, it’s all the same to me. Alaska doesn’t attract many; most are too tame to handle life up here. But when she gets her hooks in you, she digs deep and holds on, and you become hers. Wild. A lover of cruel beauty and splendid isolation. And God help you, you can’t live anywhere else." - Kristin Hannah.
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The Great Alone is considered as Kristin's best work followed by The Nightingale. I read The Nightingale few months ago and savoured the relationship between two sisters that was beautifully written by Kristin. But The Great Alone felt more intimate, perhaps because of how she highlights mother-daughter relationship. Any book that revolves around this aspect instantly attracts my eye and as often observed, becomes my favourite. This novel has no in between; you either love it or you don't and it goes without saying that I fall into the former category.
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The Allbright family moves to Alaska in 1974 after leading a nomadic life. Ernt insists on building a home in Alaska, on the land which is left behind by his friend and fellow soldier but his wife Cora and daughter, Leni aren't too happy about his decision. Kaneq seems harsh and when they see the dirty cabin they'll be living in, their hearts sink. But Ernt's rare happiness is what matters to them the most and they pack up their belongings and move in just before the onset of winter. Alaskan winters are brutal where people go missing, food is scarce and animals come to hunt. With the help of friendly neighbours, they redo their cabin, build a greenhouse and a protective fence for livestock but Cora and Leni know that it isn't the dangers from the outside that they find terrifying but it's Ernt's moods in the cold that makes their teeth chatter. Ernt who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam is haunted by nightmares and even slightest displeasure leads to him battering his wife and daughter. When winter finally arrives, their worst fears comes true.
.
As Leni and Cora bear the brunt of Ernt's anger, the village of Kaneq comes together to support the women. Ernt's volatile moods teamed up with paranoia, sets the entire village on edge. Kristin writes about Ernt so vividly that I flinched more than once when he raised his fists against Cora. Leni who was just thirteen, spent her entire growing up years with the fear of upsetting her father but there's a visible switch in her understanding about his erratic behaviour as she grows up. Trapped in Alaska with a violent man, one woman and one girl are bound by love and duty but all it takes is one instant to snap under abuse. The Great Alone is a detailed novel about how it feels like to live with a husband who's unreliable and with a father who uses his wife as a punching bag. The abuse was hard to read, making me clench my teeth in anger. Leni's disturbing teenage years stole her innocence and replaced it with caution. Cora and Ernt's toxic relationship gave me a sense of helplessness and seeing Leni witnessing this strange relationship was absolutely heartbreaking to see.
.
The Great Alone is definitely not an easy read, often greeting the readers with varying emotions, few painful and few heartwarming. There's no doubt that Kristin is a master storyteller and after reading two novels by her, it only reaffirms that fact. If I had to choose between The Nightingale and The Great Alone, I'll instantly reach out for this. I definitely recommend this.
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Rating : 4.8/5.
Hum If You Don't Know the Words by Bianca Marais
5.0
• r e c o m m e n d a t i o n •
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"Some good-byes are as gentle and inevitable as sunset, while some blindside you like a collision you didn't see coming. Some good-byes are schoolyard bullies you are powerless to stop, while others punctuate the end of a relationship because you decided: enough. Some are heartbreaking, leaving you a little more damaged than you were before, others set you free." - Biana Marais.
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There are certain books that makes you want to grab hold of someone and to tell them how wonderfully good such books are. Hum If You Don't Know The Words was one such novel which not only moved me deeply but also surprised me by how beautifully Bianca has managed to write her debut novel. There was more than one instance when I couldn't read the words because of my blurred vision, tears on the verge of sliding down my cheeks. Set in 1976, when Apartheid was still very much present, this novel is everything about love, loss and friendship that is shown through a young white girl and a fully grown black woman. If there's anything that I have learnt through this story, it is the ability to give love and friendship a chance in spite of having suffered irreparable losses. I implore you to read this, for a book as fine as this needs to be cherished and talked about more often.
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Robin, a nine year old girl suddenly finds herself to be an orphan when her parents are murdered by black men. It only seems to go downhill when her black maid Mabel decides to leave her too. When she moves in with her aunt, Robin struggles not only with her own grief but also to see her strong aunt succumb to sadness. But if there's one thing that children are good at, it is the ability to give and take love even in the face of loss and Robin does exactly that. Many miles away, Beauty receives a message about her daughter who has gone to the city to study being in danger. Leaving behind her teenage sons, Beauty makes way to Soweto only to find out that Nomsa has run away to join the resistance. Mother's grief is unbearable but so is their determination. Beauty, thus sets on an impossible task to track her daughter and to bring her back home.
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When Robin and Beauty come together which is nothing short of a miracle, they find friendship and love in the most unexpected manner. Robin's perception of blacks were rigid to begin with where she considered all of them to be illiterate, dirty and also evil for having murdered her family. But she is quick to understand that people can be good or bad in spite of the different colours of their skins and how her father wasn't fair in his treatment towards them. Beauty finds a surprisingly comforting presence in Robin and can't help from drawing similarities between her and Nomsa. Amidst hostility, there were a handful of people who worked in secret and danger to help black people from being subjected to brutality and few such Samaritans look after Beauty and indirectly of Robin too. Hum If You Don't Know The Words is a powerful book that speaks of the horrors of Apartheid subtly, about strangers stepping in to help without expecting anything in return and about having faith in love even in most dreariest of places. I most definitely recommend this. It turned me into a melting pot of emotions but eventually left behind an immense feeling of warmth surging through my body.
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Rating : 4.9/5.
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"Some good-byes are as gentle and inevitable as sunset, while some blindside you like a collision you didn't see coming. Some good-byes are schoolyard bullies you are powerless to stop, while others punctuate the end of a relationship because you decided: enough. Some are heartbreaking, leaving you a little more damaged than you were before, others set you free." - Biana Marais.
.
There are certain books that makes you want to grab hold of someone and to tell them how wonderfully good such books are. Hum If You Don't Know The Words was one such novel which not only moved me deeply but also surprised me by how beautifully Bianca has managed to write her debut novel. There was more than one instance when I couldn't read the words because of my blurred vision, tears on the verge of sliding down my cheeks. Set in 1976, when Apartheid was still very much present, this novel is everything about love, loss and friendship that is shown through a young white girl and a fully grown black woman. If there's anything that I have learnt through this story, it is the ability to give love and friendship a chance in spite of having suffered irreparable losses. I implore you to read this, for a book as fine as this needs to be cherished and talked about more often.
.
Robin, a nine year old girl suddenly finds herself to be an orphan when her parents are murdered by black men. It only seems to go downhill when her black maid Mabel decides to leave her too. When she moves in with her aunt, Robin struggles not only with her own grief but also to see her strong aunt succumb to sadness. But if there's one thing that children are good at, it is the ability to give and take love even in the face of loss and Robin does exactly that. Many miles away, Beauty receives a message about her daughter who has gone to the city to study being in danger. Leaving behind her teenage sons, Beauty makes way to Soweto only to find out that Nomsa has run away to join the resistance. Mother's grief is unbearable but so is their determination. Beauty, thus sets on an impossible task to track her daughter and to bring her back home.
.
When Robin and Beauty come together which is nothing short of a miracle, they find friendship and love in the most unexpected manner. Robin's perception of blacks were rigid to begin with where she considered all of them to be illiterate, dirty and also evil for having murdered her family. But she is quick to understand that people can be good or bad in spite of the different colours of their skins and how her father wasn't fair in his treatment towards them. Beauty finds a surprisingly comforting presence in Robin and can't help from drawing similarities between her and Nomsa. Amidst hostility, there were a handful of people who worked in secret and danger to help black people from being subjected to brutality and few such Samaritans look after Beauty and indirectly of Robin too. Hum If You Don't Know The Words is a powerful book that speaks of the horrors of Apartheid subtly, about strangers stepping in to help without expecting anything in return and about having faith in love even in most dreariest of places. I most definitely recommend this. It turned me into a melting pot of emotions but eventually left behind an immense feeling of warmth surging through my body.
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Rating : 4.9/5.