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352
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| 3.88
| 13,462
| Jan 02, 2024
| Jan 02, 2024
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it was amazing
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4.5 stars
WW2 historical fiction is a popular genre but most writers focus on the US involvement in the war or what was taking place in Europe. The Sto
4.5 stars
WW2 historical fiction is a popular genre but most writers focus on the US involvement in the war or what was taking place in Europe. The Storm We Made gives us readers the opportunity to learn about Malaysia, formerly known as Malaya. The story takes place in the 1930s when Malaya was under British rule and the 1940s when it was occupied by Japan.
In 1935, Cecily Alcantara dreams of a better future for Malaya and believes her work as a spy will help achieve that goal. Ten years later, and to say Cecily and her family are struggling is putting it mildly. The story alternates between Cecily, her teenage son Abel, and her two daughters, Jujube and Jasmin.
It didn’t take long for me to feel emotionally invested in the characters. It’s a heartbreaking read but an important one. As the author mentions at the beginning of the book, the people who lived through this time period carried deep scars and therefore it was too painful for many to share their experiences, even decades later. The Storm We Made ensures this part of history is not forgotten.
Highly recommend checking this one out.
Thank you Book Club Favorites Insiders for providing a free copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
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Aug 01, 2023
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Hardcover
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| B0BS2S73TW
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320
pp
| 3.76
| 718
| Oct 10, 2023
| Oct 10, 2023
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really liked it
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It's not surprising I enjoyed Shoot the Moon as the story incorporated some subjects I'm interested in like space exploration and women making advance
It's not surprising I enjoyed Shoot the Moon as the story incorporated some subjects I'm interested in like space exploration and women making advancements in male-dominated career fields. This book took me on a unique and unexpected journey. As an avid reader it's something I truly appreciate as that's not the case with every book I pick up.
The story alternates between different time periods of Annie Fisk's life. You get to see parts of her childhood growing up in New Mexico, her college years and close relationship with someone who eventually becomes more than just a friend, and her work at NASA during the Apollo space mission era. This non-linear storytelling method worked well. It's like the author was giving you puzzle pieces along the way and the end is when you see the big picture.
At some point things go in a for lack of a better word, sciencey direction. The basic concept is easy to understand but some of the stuff went over my head. Interestingly enough, this is the heart of the story and there are some really beautiful and heartbreaking moments especially towards the end of the book.
Glad I read it and hope other readers put this one on their tbr lists.
Thank you G.P. Putnam's Sons for sending me an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
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1
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Jul 13, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| 9781668007433
| B0BTZBRQL6
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351
pp
| 3.97
| 457
| Oct 03, 2023
| Oct 03, 2023
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really liked it
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The Refugee Ocean is a heartbreaking read but at times it's also quite moving and beautiful. I loved the way music played a role in this story and I w
The Refugee Ocean is a heartbreaking read but at times it's also quite moving and beautiful. I loved the way music played a role in this story and I was drawn to the characters from the get go.
The publisher synopsis covers a big portion of the plot but I don't think it's necessary to know so much before reading this book. The story opens with a teenage boy named Naïm who is living with his family in Syria in the year 2014. In a war-torn country, things like water and food are in short supply. The story also follows Marguerite who lives in Beirut in the 1940s and is engaged to be married. It is an arranged marriage her father set up to ensure the family business would stay afloat and Marguerite has no interest in marrying the man. She was accepted to a music school in Paris and she wants to follow her dream.
With the story alternating between the two characters, you put your faith in the author that there is a reason for letting everything play out in this manner. There are many takeaways from this novel but for me the strongest one was the meaningful connections one can have in life. Whether they are lifelong relationships or brief interactions, they have the potential for a lasting impact.
My only criticism is one small aspect of the ending lessened the overall story. Convenient is a word that comes to mind and as a reader that's not something I need or even want when finishing up a book. It was a big contrast to the rest of the story.
Don't let my tiny issue with the ending dissuade you from reading this book. Overall, it really is a powerful story and a worthwhile read.
Thank you Book Club Favorites for providing an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
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1
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May 21, 2023
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Hardcover
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| 9780385549370
| 0385549377
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352
pp
| 3.23
| 2,608
| Jul 11, 2023
| Jul 11, 2023
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liked it
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Do Tell is one of those books in which I like the idea of it more than the actual execution. It got off to a promising start but the story was stretch
Do Tell is one of those books in which I like the idea of it more than the actual execution. It got off to a promising start but the story was stretched too thin and eventually I lost interest. Disappointing because I do think a book about The Old Hollywood studio system was a great idea with loads of potential.
The entertainment industry has always been a mess. Back in the 1930s and 40s when the story takes place, the movie studios were in complete control. Scandals involving actors and actresses were often covered up by the bigwigs. When a young starlet comes forward with allegations of assault from a leading actor, it causes quite the stir.
The strength of this novel is the accurate portrayal of the movie making business during this time period. Unfortunately the cast of characters didn't work well for me and part of the reason for that is the writing bounced from one thing to another. It was a disjointed reading experience. Oddly enough the writing style might translate better onscreen if this book was developed into a movie or miniseries. As is there just wasn't enough for me to truly feel invested in the characters.
A bit of a miss but I appreciate the author incorporating serious subjects into the storyline.
Thank you Doubleday and Netgalley for providing an advance digital copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
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1
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Mar 25, 2023
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Hardcover
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| 9781538722145
| 1538722143
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432
pp
| 4.17
| 808
| May 16, 2023
| May 16, 2023
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really liked it
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3.5 stars
The Garden of Lost Secrets falls in the WW2 historical fiction genre although it leans heavily on the fiction side as the characters and plot
3.5 stars
The Garden of Lost Secrets falls in the WW2 historical fiction genre although it leans heavily on the fiction side as the characters and plot come from the author's creative mind. While certain facts about the war are incorporated into the story there's not going to be a big opportunity to learn anything new if that's one of your main goals. Early on though the story did hook me and it managed to be an interesting read.
I don't want to give away too much of the plot although feel free to check out the publisher's synopsis as that provides more details. Basically you have a young woman named Stasia who spends her summers at her grandparents' home in the French countryside. When the war breaks out, her life is changed forever.
It's a dual timeline story so the story alternates between the WW2 years and the present day in which Isabelle wants to renovate a chateau in France. She and her sister have drifted apart and she is hoping this project which they both can work on, might bring them closer together. Add an a little bit of a mystery and that's the basics of the plot.
Stasia and Nicholas were the characters I was most heavily invested in and therefore their chapters were the ones I liked reading the most. There wasn't as much development with the present day characters so their scenes didn't leave a lasting impression on me. The best moment of the book for me was the mention of pails. It's a beautiful sentiment and one I won't soon forget.
Thank you to Forever Books for sending me an advance reader's copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
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1
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Mar 02, 2023
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Paperback
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| | | | | 1250854377
| 9781250854377
| 1250854377
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351
pp
| 4.25
| 38,593
| Mar 21, 2023
| Mar 21, 2023
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it was amazing
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4.5 stars
I really fell in love with Beyond That, the Sea. There's an ease to the writing which contributed to this comfortable reading experience. I d
4.5 stars
I really fell in love with Beyond That, the Sea. There's an ease to the writing which contributed to this comfortable reading experience. I don't want to get into too much detail about the plot because it's more of a sit back and see where the story takes you type read. The story starts out with a young English girl who is coming to live with an American family, complete strangers. With World War Two going on, her parents believe she will be safer overseas rather than in London. Obviously a tough decision. The chapters alternate between various members of each family.
The pacing is good because you switch back and forth among the characters. The story isn't flashy, but to me that was part of its charm. Everything unfolded naturally, rather than in contrived manner just for drama's sake. I believed wholeheartedly in these characters so tip of the hat to the author.
Do not shy away from this novel if you are burned out on WW2 era fiction. Yes, the war plays a role in the story but it is so much more about the characters.
Thank you Celadon Books for sending me an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
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1
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Feb 22, 2023
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Hardcover
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| | | | | 1538724219
| 9781538724217
| 1538724219
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468
pp
| 4.25
| 8,118
| Feb 17, 2023
| Feb 21, 2023
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it was amazing
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The Little Wartime Library really shows the immense value books and libraries bring to our lives, especially in the worst of times. It's based on a tr
The Little Wartime Library really shows the immense value books and libraries bring to our lives, especially in the worst of times. It's based on a true story of a library that was created in an underground shelter during World War 2. A true gem of a read and one I highly recommend to any book lover.
In 1944, London's Bethnal Green tube station was an underground community. There were thousands of bunk beds where people slept, a café, a nursery, and a library. Clara Button is the head librarian and along with her assistant, Ruby Munroe, they keep things running as smoothly as possible. Or at least as much as one can with a war ravaging on. Life for these women is chaotic and full of adversity.
The book alternates between the two young women and I love what each character brought to the table. The author has a fine eye for detail which enriched the story and it's apparent the amount of research that went into this book. Even though I've read my fair share of WW2 historical fiction, the underground tunnel life was somewhat new to me and very interesting. Although the job of a librarian can be rewarding, it's also a tough one, and that's something that was illustrated well in this book.
So many things to love about the characters and story. There was an ease to the writing that I enjoyed and it was the perfect book to sit down with on a rainy day.
Thank you to Forever for sending me a copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
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1
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Jan 12, 2023
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Paperback
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| 9780593321706
| 0593321707
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558
pp
| 4.06
| 28,531
| Jun 09, 2022
| Oct 04, 2022
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really liked it
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It didn't take me long to fall in love with the story and the main character. Heartbreaking moments but also ones that warm your heart. At the core I'
It didn't take me long to fall in love with the story and the main character. Heartbreaking moments but also ones that warm your heart. At the core I'd call it a family drama but there are so many elements that make it a unique read. A bit of an enchanting reading experience.
The story kicks starts off with a young girl, Cristabel in 1919 Dorset, England. Her father, Jasper Seagrave, has remarried after the death of Cristabel's mother and his new bride, Rosalind, will now be living with them at Chilcombe, the family's estate. As Cristabel grows up a whalebone theatre is constructed where she puts on productions and later on she helps with the war effort in a daring manner.
For me the heart of the story is when Cristabel is younger however there are some good moments in the last half of the book. Because I read so much WW2 historical fiction and quite frankly am a little bit burned out on that genre and era, my interest level wasn't as high when it came to the war portions of the story. Still though, the writing is good throughout and because the story covers so many years and follows different characters it remarkably does not feel like such a long read even though the book is over 500 pages.
Thank you to Knopf for sending me a copy of this book! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
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1
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Nov 18, 2022
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Hardcover
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| | | | | 1982197366
| 9781982197360
| 1982197366
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384
pp
| 4.26
| 89,645
| Feb 07, 2023
| Feb 07, 2023
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it was amazing
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By the end of the first chapter, I was invested in fifteen year old Ruby. It didn't take me much longer to feel the same way about Eleanor Quarles, a
By the end of the first chapter, I was invested in fifteen year old Ruby. It didn't take me much longer to feel the same way about Eleanor Quarles, a college student at Howard University. This is a book that makes you feel. Some of my more stronger reactions were heartbreak and anger at what these two characters dealt with. It's a book worth reading as it explores some race-related issues that aren't often featured in fiction.
I don't want to reveal too much of the plot because it's a multi-layered story and it's best just to watch everything naturally unfold. It takes place in the 1940s and 50s and both Ruby and Eleanor are Black women intent on pursuing a college degree. However, certain circumstances might put an end to their dreams.
My apologies for this shorter than normal review but I often find the books that touch me the most leave me unable to adequately convey my reading experience. Trust me when I say there's a reason why this book is so highly rated. I fell in love with Sadeqa Johnson's writing style and will definitely be checking out Yellow Wife.
Thank you to Book Club Favorites for sending me a copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
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1
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Oct 14, 2022
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Hardcover
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| 9780063214033
| 0063214032
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240
pp
| 3.86
| 49,743
| Jul 1942
| Mar 08, 2022
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really liked it
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3.75 stars
The Moving Finger is the third book in the Miss Marple series. It can be read as a standalone novel if you are not particular about reading
3.75 stars
The Moving Finger is the third book in the Miss Marple series. It can be read as a standalone novel if you are not particular about reading books in sequential order. Fair warning, Miss Marple is not the star of this mystery as she only has a few brief appearances. But if you are familiar with the character, you know her contribution will have some significance. The story instead follows a man who is renting a country home in Lymstock with his sister while he recuperates from a flying accident.
I don't want to give away too much of the plot but it does involve hate mail. And because it's an Agatha Christie mystery, someone's probably going to wind up dead, right? Once again, I was not able to crack the case on my own and that further cements her status as the Queen of Mystery. A fair amount of humor was incorporated into the story so it was a bit of a light and easy read. Out of the ten or so books I have read by the author, this one isn't my favorite but it's still pretty good.
Thank you to William Morrow for providing me with a copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
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1
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Sep 04, 2022
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Paperback
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| | | | | 0062964585
| 9780062964588
| 0062964585
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374
pp
| 3.69
| 6,788
| Aug 03, 2021
| Aug 03, 2021
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really liked it
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3.5 stars
Women's roles during World War 2 is a subject I have been interested in for quite a few years. This historical fiction read gave me the oppor
3.5 stars
Women's roles during World War 2 is a subject I have been interested in for quite a few years. This historical fiction read gave me the opportunity to learn a little bit about the first and only all-Black battalion of the Women's Army Corps., aka the Six Triple Eight. I enjoyed the book although I did think at times the story lacked a clear focus.
Writers have leeway when it comes to the historical fiction genre. This author drew inspiration from Black women serving in the military and used her creativity to come up with much of the storyline. While some characters were loosely based on real life figures, the two leads, Grace and Eliza are fictional characters.
The story starts in NYC in 1942. Grace Steele, a talented pianist, and Eliza Jones, a journalist, are both recruited to join the Army where they will be among the first class of female officers. I'd estimate about half of the story revolves around their military careers and the issues they face while the rest of the book is more about their dynamics with family members and each other, and their interests and dreams outside of the Army. There is even time for a romance or two. While I do like that the characters were well-rounded, I just don't think having so much going on in the story made it the most satisfying read. It's like it had a little bit of everything but I feel as a whole the book might have suffered because of it.
Perhaps not a perfect book, but I am thankful I read it. If anything it has me motivated to seek out more info about this battalion and the courageous women who served our country. Anytime a historical fiction novel can spark further interest in learning, that's an awesome thing.
Thank you to William Morrow for providing me with a copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
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1
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Feb 15, 2022
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Paperback
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| | | | | 0593198409
| 9780593198407
| 0593198409
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416
pp
| 3.82
| 1,819
| Sep 14, 2021
| Sep 14, 2021
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really liked it
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I love reading historical fiction novels because it provides me the opportunity to learn a thing or two. I had never heard of Elizabeth Bentley prior
I love reading historical fiction novels because it provides me the opportunity to learn a thing or two. I had never heard of Elizabeth Bentley prior to picking up this book. She was a Cold War double agent, a spy for the Russians and the United States. No matter what you might think of her as a person, she sure did lead a fascinating life.
Historical fiction writers have some leeway to use their imaginations with the story. In this case, I think the author did a good job bringing everything together. Yes, there are some key things that are complete fiction, but after reading this book I do feel like I got to know Elizabeth Bentley. The author got it right when it comes to presenting the important facts so it didn't matter to me at all that some things were introduced for storyline purposes.
It's an interesting read as in 1963 Elizabeth finds herself in a dangerous situation and she then recounts how she was recruited by the American Communist Party decades ago and how she got her start as a spy. I'll admit, the 1963 storyline came across as melodramatic at times but it served a purpose to set the stage for Elizabeth explaining her life and the choices she made over the years.
If you are interested in Cold War espionage, I definitely recommend this book. I found it to be a more satisfying read than another recent book in the genre that covered the same topic.
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1
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Oct 18, 2021
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Paperback
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| | | | | 198214386X
| 9781982143862
| 198214386X
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384
pp
| 3.72
| 3,614
| Feb 09, 2021
| Feb 09, 2021
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really liked it
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I love reading about the contributions of women during World War 2. Aline Griffith grew up in New York and when her brothers left home to fight in the
I love reading about the contributions of women during World War 2. Aline Griffith grew up in New York and when her brothers left home to fight in the war, she wanted to do her part as well. She ended up being recruited to work for the Office of Strategic Services which was basically a precursor to the current day CIA. After secretive expert training, she was sent to work in Spain as a coder. With her model looks and charm, she was able to infiltrate the high society set in Madrid and provide useful info to her bosses about the comings and goings of the ultra wealthy and powerful. Lots of people were working for the enemy, and part of Aline's job was identifying those individuals.
Having read a few other nonfiction books about female spies, this one is less action based than others. The book focuses more on the people Aline surrounded herself with rather than going into great detail about her different tasks and missions. Aline wrote about her work during the war but there is some debate about what is truth vs. fiction. I think this author made the right call considering this is a nonfiction book in only writing about what is confirmed to be fact. Unfortunately, with this line of work so many things end up being taken to the grave rather than becoming public knowledge, but the author did a good job in presenting an overall view of Aline's work.
I found Aline's life both during the war and after when she was married to the Count of Romanones to be fascinating. Even though the full extent of her work might never be known there's no doubt she was well-respected and considered a big asset. Not a bad life for a former model from New York.
A well-researched book and worth reading if you enjoy WW2 history.
Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
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1
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Dec 03, 2020
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Hardcover
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| | | | | 0062943472
| 9780062943477
| 0062943472
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624
pp
| 4.45
| 271,496
| Mar 09, 2021
| Mar 09, 2021
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really liked it
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Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 30, 2020
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Paperback
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| | | | | 035813143X
| 9780358131434
| 035813143X
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384
pp
| 4.32
| 10,843
| Sep 01, 2020
| Sep 01, 2020
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really liked it
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I grew up in the 1980s and 1990s and World War 2 was covered extensively in history class every year. And yet, I don't remember any of my teachers tal
I grew up in the 1980s and 1990s and World War 2 was covered extensively in history class every year. And yet, I don't remember any of my teachers talking about the US internment/incarceration camps. Pretty sad that most people of my generation can say it wasn't part of their school's curriculum either. I'm thankful this historical fiction book is available for today's generation of young readers. And it certainly is a worthwhile read for an adult as well.
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, FDR ordered the forced relocation and incarceration of over 100,000 people of Japanese descent. This book follows a group of Japanese American teens along with their families who are forced out of their homes in San Francisco and sent to the incarceration camps. Their new living accommodations were horse stalls. Each chapter features the perspective of a different character.
Despite the fact there are quite a few characters in this book, for the most part you can keep track of everyone. It helps that they are all basically connected in some way or another and each one pops up frequently throughout the story, even when it isn't their featured chapter. You might have to occasionally think for a second or two in order to remember a character but it is manageable especially when compared to other books with a large cast that I have read recently.
This is a well thought out book by the author and she does a good job incorporating the history with characters who feel authentic and real. Your heart will break along with them. And there are many opportunities to feel angry and wonder why all this happened in the first place.
For those readers who know little about this part of American history, I highly encourage you to read this book. And even if you have some prior knowledge, I think the book is well worth your time as well.
I received a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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1
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Aug 11, 2020
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Hardcover
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| | | | | 1542023319
| 9781542023313
| 1542023319
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351
pp
| 3.93
| 11,026
| Oct 01, 2020
| Oct 01, 2020
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really liked it
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3.5 stars
Millicent Glenn is a character worth getting to know. Early on in the story I felt invested in her life. I thought it was a great choice by t
3.5 stars
Millicent Glenn is a character worth getting to know. Early on in the story I felt invested in her life. I thought it was a great choice by the author to introduce the character when she is in her 90s and then go back to the 1940s and 1950s to show her at a younger age and everything that happened back then that had a lasting impact on her life. The transitions were smooth between the past and more present day story line.
At 90 years old, Millicent Glenn manages to get around pretty well and lives by herself in the Cincinnati suburbs. She's always had a bit of a rocky relationship with her daughter, Jane, but now that she has moved back to town, perhaps things will get better between the two of them. When Jane's adult daughter, Kelsey, announces her pregnancy, Millicent is thrilled for her granddaughter. However, it does bring up some painful memories in her past, things she has never revealed to either woman. Millicent will have to decide if it is worth the gamble to open up about her past to her daughter. While it might give Jane the opportunity to understand her mom better, it might also drive her away and further damage their relationship.
I absolutely adored Millicent's close relationship with her granddaughter. I was very fortunate to have that type of special bond with my late grandmother. So it was very easy for me to fall in love with Millicent and almost feel this sense of protectiveness when it came to her. I think there are many things readers can take away from this book regarding the characters and the different relationships they had with one another. The characters feel familiar, like they could be members of your own family. And most of us can probably identify with wanting to get things off our chests but having a hard time finding the courage to do so.
I appreciated the attention to detail with the different references to things that were popular in the 1940s and 1950s. When it came to society's opinions on gender roles during that time period, I thought it was a pretty spot on depiction.
This book is currently one of the First Reads selections for September and I do think it is one of the better picks from that program. Recommend if you enjoy family dramas.
I received a free advance copy and the thoughts expressed in my review are my honest opinion.
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1
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Jul 21, 2020
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Paperback
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| | | | | 006287845X
| 9780062878458
| 006287845X
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464
pp
| 4.14
| 2,370
| Aug 04, 2020
| Jul 27, 2021
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really liked it
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The Manhattan Project was a massive undertaking that produced the world's first nuclear weapons. The atomic bombings in Japan is what led to the end o
The Manhattan Project was a massive undertaking that produced the world's first nuclear weapons. The atomic bombings in Japan is what led to the end of World War Two. This historical fiction novel follows a man working on the project and the moral dilemma he faced knowing the success of the project would also come at a terrible cost. It's a fascinating read and the author also wove a love story into the plot which was interesting as well. While this book might not fit the strictest definition of historical fiction as it's more loosely based on a person and certain creative liberties have been taken, it comes across as realistic which counts for a whole lot in this genre.
The publisher gives more specifics in the synopsis but it makes for a much better read if you don't know many details ahead of time. Basically Charlie Fish is a mathematician and is assigned various tasks to complete. He doesn't know the purpose of solving countless equations all day long other than it's for the war effort. He meets a woman named Brenda who works at her family's music shop and makes attempts to see her during his limited free time. The more he works, the more questions he has and the answers aren't particularly forthcoming on this top-secret project.
I highly recommend Universe of Two as a book club selection because it's such a complex part of US history but yet has been glossed over in my opinion. The nuclear bomb was not created by just a handful of scientists. Thousands of people worked on the project but the vast majority didn't even know the full extent of their work until after the bombs were dropped. The strength of this novel is the characters processing everything in their heads. Out of the three historical fiction books I have read about the Manhattan Project, this one does the best job of exploring the aftermath and the conflicted feelings.
Put this book on your tbr list if you have an interest in World War 2 historical fiction.
Thank you to William Morrow for providing me with a copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
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1
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Jul 06, 2020
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Paperback
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| | | | | 0062874217
| 9780062874214
| 0062874217
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560
pp
| 4.08
| 8,345
| Apr 06, 2021
| Apr 06, 2021
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really liked it
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The Light of Days is a nonfiction book about the Women Resistance Fighters during World War II, specifically Jewish women in Poland. Having read many
The Light of Days is a nonfiction book about the Women Resistance Fighters during World War II, specifically Jewish women in Poland. Having read many books about the war, it never ceases to amaze me the sheer acts of heroism when fighting against evil. For various reasons their contributions have largely been untold or long forgotten, and I'm thankful this book gives them the recognition they deserve.
A tremendous amount of effort was put into the research and writing. It's impressive when you consider so many of their stories were essentially lost due to things like the passage of time and info not available because of the general chaos of war. The author did a great job piecing together what she could with limited resources.
Photos are included of many of the people featured and I completely teared up when I got to the last photo of one of the survivors in her later years pictured with her granddaughter. I couldn't help but realize that it perfectly illustrated what she fought for so many years ago. She was fighting not just for her future, but for the next generation, and the generation after that.
Thank you to William Morrow for providing me with a copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
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Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 07, 2020
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Hardcover
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| B07YSKYDKF
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396
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| 4.15
| 14,486
| Jun 30, 2020
| Jun 30, 2020
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really liked it
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I love reading about the early days of aviation and have enjoyed other novels by this author so it isn't a big surprise I enjoyed this one. Out of the
I love reading about the early days of aviation and have enjoyed other novels by this author so it isn't a big surprise I enjoyed this one. Out of the books I have read by Beatriz Williams this one is actually my favorite. The setting of Hawaii for most of the plot helped contribute to this overall relaxing feel I had while reading.
In 1947, Janey Everett travels to the island of Kauai in search for answers. She wants to find info about Sam Mallory, an aviation pioneer. Janey has tracked down a women named Irene Lindquist. Janey has strong suspicions Irene used to go by the last name of Foster. And well, Irene Foster was Sam Mallory's flying partner back in the day. At first Irene Lindquist denies everything, but slowly divulges details about her flying career and her personal relationships.
This book can be considered historical fiction but the author used her creative side when it comes to the characters and story. Some things were inspired by real life people and events, while others were a result of the writer's imagination. It is obvious Beatriz Williams conducted a bit of research on the early days of aviation and I think she came up with an interesting story.
This was a great book to sit back and unwind with after a hectic day. There really is something to be said about these easy, breezy reads and how they can help recharge your batteries. The story follows Janey and Irene and they were both strong female characters. And yes, you will most likely have a hunch at where the story is going, but it still is neat to watch it unfold.
Definitely recommend to all the historical fiction fans who need a break from World War 2 based stories.
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Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 23, 2020
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Kindle Edition
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| B07V9F9DQD
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384
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| 3.45
| 7,773
| Apr 14, 2020
| May 19, 2020
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liked it
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2.5 stars
The author picked a good person to feature in this historical fiction novel. Unfortunately the execution was off and my interest level would
2.5 stars
The author picked a good person to feature in this historical fiction novel. Unfortunately the execution was off and my interest level would go up and then down, up and then down while reading the book. I think she tried to cram in every fact she knew about the queen into the story and it just didn’t work. It's almost as if the author didn't really have a clear idea of what she wanted to accomplish in the story ahead of time.
This story is about the Queen Elizabeth II's mother, who for the time period when this novel takes place was married to the king and therefore she was a queen. Slightly confusing and since they are both characters in the book, I'm just going to refer to the older Elizabeth as the Queen Mother because that's what people called her for the remainder of her life after her husband died. This story takes place during World War 2 and one of the things the author does well is show how the queen was involved in many of the meetings that took place between her husband, the king, and other government officials. Often, when her husband was unavailable, she took his place at the briefings. The story also provides a nice look at what was going on in England during the war. Unfortunately there isn't a good flow to the story. You get some interesting facts but if I was going to describe the overall story I would use the word dull.
Much of the story is fact based and but there are few things the author touched on that are only rumors. However, the thing I am confused about and hopefully royal history buffs know the answer is how much of what was written about the Queen Mother and the Duke of Windsor, Aka the guy who gave up the throne, was true. A quick search on the internet isn't giving me much of anything. There is a huge bombshell allegation in the last half of the story and if the author inserted it in strictly for dramatic purposes, I think it was in poor taste and unnecessary. This is something that should have been clarified in the Author's Notes at the end of the book as to whether it was true or not.
Sometimes the writing veered into bad soap opera territory. I get that the Queen Mother did not like Wallis Simpson but it was mentioned so many times it was just weird. It was like the Queen Mother was a character on Days of Our Lives talking to herself about another evil character and plotting her revenge.
On the bright side I can say this was a quick read but in my opinion the Queen Mother was deserving of a better historical fiction novel than this one.
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Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 21, 2020
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Kindle Edition
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