Summer Reading Celebration

Isla loves how this book is full of photographs that match up to each different section, so she can learn simple ballet while going through the book.

Heart of Darkness was a fantastic read. It told of a thrilling adventure and depicted the main character, Marlow, as brave, but not faultless. The story had many ups and downs, I never knew what was going to happen next!

This was such a cute and quick read!

These novellas should be made into larger stories. Especially water and earth, they are my favorite.

The pictures of the different places in Jamestown NY were really cool to see. I have lived in Jamestown for about 14 years and I learned quite a bit. I recognized a lot of the buildings on Main Street but Brooklyn Square was totally unrecognizable. The Fenton House is one of the few structures from the early days still standing other than churches. There were lots of fires in those days so lots of buildings from the early days of Jamestown were built and rebuilt several times. The James Prendergast Library looks pretty much the same from Washington Street but with the new entry way and with subsequent additions it looks different from other views. The pictures were interesting and fun to look at.

Pleasant read of historical fiction set in Ireland in the 1920's during the Irish war for independence from England. The story involves the daughter of the English overseer who has been sent to the area to keep things in check. In an unprecedented move, her father allies her to apprentice at an Irish owned jewelry shop. The owners son is dead st against it because of who she is. While the story feels predictable, the history is well researched. The writing lacks the depth of best sellers, but it was a pleasant enough read.

Wonderful journey through difficult relationships featuring love, forgiveness, understanding, betrayal and redemption. Kristin Hannah creates characters that seem to come alive right off the pages. She did a good job with creating Summer Island as well, so good that I have to Google it to see if these islands really exist off the Washington coast. This is a story of an estranged mother and daughter. Nora, the successful mom, hosts a radio call in show giving stellar advice and upheld as a model of morality. Her daughter, Ruby, thinks otherwise, and rightfully so. Ruby carries a huge chip on her shoulders and is unable to connect with others at any level of depth. She ends up having to spend a week caring for her mother at their childhood home on Summer Island. She is offered a huge sum to write a tell all story about her mom just before she makes the decision to go. What follows is the packed week, an old boyfriend and the untangling of many emotions, learned behaviors and walls.

4.5 stars. I loved this book! Emerson and Maverick have my heart! Can’t wait for Hudson’s book.

Once again, boring work is made lighter with the addition of an audiobook, The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris, read by actor Richard Armitage. It is a work of historical fiction but based on a true story. The author captures the dehumanizing experiences, barbarous acts taking place in the prison camp and ambiguity of feelings among the survivors. This story is first and foremost a love story between Lale who is the tattooist and Gita, both prisoners in Auschwitz. That story is very enjoyable. I didn’t care for the reading by Armitage. Though he attempted many voices, they sounded very much alike. His tone and inflection were inconsistent at page turns and this was distracting. Even with that, I recommend the book because it has a good story in it.

As someone who has experience with dealing with people in toxic relationships, this book hit a tad harder than I expected. Freddy's situation is all too familiar. It was refreshing to see her get out of it. Relationships where the people keep breaking up and getting back together are, in my opinion, romanticized far too much, so the author treating it as a bad thing was nice to see.