cosmicbookworm's reviews
309 reviews

Deborah King is an excellent storyteller. Throughout the book, I always had a clear mental picture of Mary’s surroundings, her family, and those around her.

This is a story about Mary Johnson’s life. Beginning in 1935, in rural Mississippi, where Mary, at the age of 15, was forced to deal with an arranged marriage. Mary’s father, Reverend Johnson, wants his daughter to avoid shaming her family by marrying an older minister who is approaching retirement age. Mary finds a way to avoid this marriage, setting off a chain of events throughout her life that culminate in the birth of her daughter, Glory in 1966.

Mary’s life takes a long and twisted path, starting in a patriarchal home, part of the Black church culture, where the woman is assumed to be at fault and the man runs the show. This is a complicated story of a woman who makes the life choices she finds necessary and lives with the consequences and resulting trauma. Over time she comes to believe that the trauma she has suffered is God's punishment and she develops a lifestyle that she feels will allow her to avoid God’s further judgment. In the end, Mary Johnson is an overcomer.

The characters in this book are well-developed. Some are not likable … but there wouldn’t be a story if everyone was a saint. The story alternates between medium and fast-paced, and if there is one complaint that I would have it would be that at times the story is a bit rushed.

Thank you to Book Sirens, Red Adept Publishing, and the author, Deborah L. King for the opportunity to review an Advanced Reader copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review. Less than 24 hours after I was given access, I finished. I couldn’t put it down. I thoroughly enjoyed this work and look forward to reading more of Deborah King's work.

In “Women in Politics" Mary Hayashi tells of her personal experience that led her to a career in public service and politics. Hayashi was born in South Korea and moved with her family to America before she entered her teens. She started her American education not speaking English and being a minority in her school. Her childhood was traumatized by the suicide of her older sister. Raised in a shame-based household, her sister had no way of getting help. Hayashi witnessed how her parents worked to erase the fact that her sister had ever existed. Hayashi became motivated to make a change and to find help for those who need it. She has been a champion in the world of mental health advocacy. In a world where women are “seen and not heard” and expected to manage the house and children rather than be educated, Mary decided to bridge the gap, attending college in the 1980’s.

Hayashi shares her story and explores the stories of other women who are engaged in the political world. Her central idea is that although much progress has been made there is still much work left to be done. There is still an American bias against women serving in positions of power. Hayashi appeals to her female readers to take hold of the power they have within themselves to speak and be heard. She points out that it is women who are needed to address the issues that affect the well being of children and families. She advocates for true representation. Women making up 51% of the population should have equal representation in the political world.

Hayashi’s book is both encouraging and motivating. In a world where we are being told what we should NOT read, here is a book that EVERY women SHOULD read. Especially those young enough to take it to heart and use their own careers to better our world. I would recommend this book to all high school and college students…not just the women! If you have a high school or college student I would encourage you to read Hayashi’s book and share it with your student.

Madeline Martin has outdone herself with “The Keeper of Hidden Books.” This is a wonderfully researched work of historical fiction, based on a true story.

When the Germans took over Poland they took over the libraries. Books written by Jewish or Polish authors were banned. Martin tells of the resistance efforts of Warsaw’s librarians and others to preserve Poland’s culture.

The story is both heart wrenching and inspirational. I would call this book a must read.

I have had "The Emergent" on my TBR pile since we met Nick Holmberg and his wife at the Urbandale library earlier this year.

Nick clearly has a heart for writing stories that will make an impact. This one is not a tale for the faint of heart. Nick is a white male writing about the experiences of those that are not white male, but he has spent years of research and has produced a work that is worthy of our time.

I would recommend this book to anyone who reads to increase their awareness of the world around them. "The Emergent” is thought provoking and kept me engaged throughout the entire story.

4.5 rounded to 5 - This novella opened my eyes to some Nazi history that I was unaware of, especially history that occurred in the United States. The value I see in this book is that it is eye opening. It is very short - a quick read....which accounts for the characters not being overly developed. We are told only what we need to know. I would recommend this book. Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the opportunity.

I don’t think I have ever enjoyed a story more than I have enjoyed "The Acorn Legacy.” It is historical fiction embracing the family history of the Alden family dating back 17 centuries as we move between past, present and the mythical. A family Oak tree is a central part of the story.

The Acorn Legacy checks all the boxes for me. I love family history and am the proud owner of a tree that has worked hard to survive in my yard for 40 years after being captured by my father as a sapling from under her parent tree on the farm that my Great Grandfather grew up on. The story embraces issues that I care deeply about, and provides food for thought on many levels. For recommendations I recommend this book to everyone. I don’t know anyone that would not find this story engaging for one reason or another. It would be a great book for book club discussions.

Thank you to Book Sirens and the author, Paul Lima, for the opportunity of having an advance release copy of this book to be able to review. This is definitely a 5 star read.

Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher, and the author, Rochelle Alers, for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review of "Take the Long Way Home.” I was interested in this novel for it’s historical fiction value. “Take the Long Way Home” is a mix between historical fiction and romance. While Rochelle Alers is a prolific and well loved author this is my first exposure to her work. I appreciate the opportunity.

“Take the Long Way Home” is a valuable piece of historical fiction. The story begins with the main protagonist, Claudia Patterson, traveling home to visit after living the largest portion of her life in Italy as an Italian citizen, and takes us through several phases of her life. The sections of the book are titled after the four men who helped define Claudia's life.

Claudia was born in 1940 in the all-Negro town of Freedom, Mississippi, during a time when to be Black was to be unsafe due to racial tension and the violence forced on the Black community by Whites in general and and especially the KKK. Her family was unique in that her parents were the successful owners of a barber shop and beauty salon, and her maternal aunts have chosen unconventional lives, choosing not to marry. We are quickly brought back to the beginning of the story where Claudia and her grandmother save the life of a White teenager who grows up to be a leader in the KKK organization. Denny Clark has been beaten and left for dead by his father and Claudia’s grandmother nurses him back to health. Even though her life has been somewhat sheltered living an an all-negro town Claudia becomes unsafe because of the complexities brought on by her connection to a White boy.

Claudia leaves her rural community and goes to live with one of her aunts who is a teacher who teaches her multiple languages and takes her to visit the other aunt in France. Claudia goes to college, marries, and brings her husband home to Mississippi where he is killed due to his work as a civil rights attorney. Claudia then leaves the south and we follow her through her life as she makes her way to New York and then Italy. Opportunity presents itself due to the multiple languages taught her by her aunt.

At times the story is unrealistic but Claudia is a lovable character and Rochelle Alers does a good job of telling the story of her life while weaving in a variety of racial US history.