Vacation Reading Blitz
While this was a book about embracing life, it was also a sad book. And it just felt too close to home. The writing style of Steven Manchester is one that draws you into the lives of his characters. I felt like I was a part of the family. I laughed, but I also cried buckets throughout this book. While I enjoyed the book, I can only recommend it if you are not dealing with death in your own life right now. I gave it four out of five stars (mostly because of the sensitive nature of the content).
I love Chiaverini’s historical fiction novels around the time of the Civil War. They draw me into a time period that I love reading about. This book didn’t quite have the draw of her other books (Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker, Mrs. Lincoln’s Rival and Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule) that I had grown to expect. However, it was still very well written and had great characterizations. I felt it could have been a tad bit shorter as some places the book seemed to drag a bit.
Delightful historical fiction featuring a young woman determined to make a difference. She defies her family and gives up her comfortable lifestyle in order to do just that – and, of course, be near a man she has fallen in love with. This was an easy read and I cannot wait to read the next book.
Laugh out loud funny! The writing style was easy to read and the adventures and foibles of Daisy Fay as written in her diary were charming. Fannie Flagg never disappoints, and this book was no exception as it followed Daisy Fay from a young girl through adulthood. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a fun, easy read.
Continuing on with my period reads, The Butterfly and the Violin was a darker piece from Nazi camps. I can’t say it was a totally enjoyable read, but it was definitely a toned down read from what it could have been. The Auschwitz camp stories of the women alluded to what was happening around them, but didn’t have to give the details. We already know the horror and can fill in the blanks ourselves. This was a love story – a unique love story. I highly recommend this book to anyone who reads from that time period. The two points of view helped break up the horrors and added a different perspective.
I also read Dark Blessings by Sarah Cradit, which I had read earlier as a part of an anthology (Face the Music). A bit of a departure from the normal paranormal writing that Cradit excels in, this lagniappe delves into a world of vampires – but still within the Sullivan/Deschanel family. It was well written and weaves a story that is so believable as one of the Sullivan triplets pursues a vampire life.
Year 'Round Thanksgiving Project 