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Thursday, June 1, 2017

Happy June 1 and Summer Reading Recommends

Twenty-two years after "Patty Jane's House of Curl," 

Lorna Landvik revisits her plucky crew of talented misfits and smitten lovers in a heartwarming stand-alone sequel. 

The same characters I grew to love in House of Curl show back up in Blue Moon Lodge, except about 20 years have lapsed. I do think reading "Patty Jane's House of Curl" first would benefit readers as the timeline was a little hard to follow with a lot of characters.

With her trademark wit and warmth, Lorna Landvik follows Nora Rolvaag (the do-or-die-trying daughter of Patty Jane) a cast of characters between city and a wooded retreat, Minnesota and Norway, a past that’s secret and a future that’s promising, but uncertain. Readers are in for a lively time following the characters whose strengths, eccentricities and choices will have you laughing along the way. It was a fun lighthearted story perfect for a warm spring day.
Amazing story of strength and courage! Spoiler Alert: The book cover can be  misleading due to the actual story's content.    
"Lilac Girls" is based on real events that took place during WWII. Martha Hall Kelly's fictional story of the real-life women who were subjected to medical experiments at Hitler's Ravensbrüch concentration camp, the only one exclusively for women. The story is told from three narratives: Caroline Ferriday, a New York debutante and socialite who worked tirelessly on behalf of French orphans before and at the war's outbreak; Kasia Kuzmerick, a young Polish woman who was subjected to these experiments at Ravensbruck and Herta Oberheuser, one of the camp doctors (the only female one) conducting the experiments.
The story rotates in chapters between the points of view of each of these three women.
Much of the story takes place in this women-only Concentration Camp Ravensbruck. "Lilac Girls" is one of those novels that brings to light a little known atrocity... the experimentation on women in Ravensbruck Concentration Camp. Descriptions are realistic and often painful. It's a book that will stay with you long after its finished. Despite the horrors and atrocities during these tumultuous times there remains hope and admiration for those who did survive. Highly recommended for those who enjoy historical fiction. 

"America's First Daughter" is a historical fiction novel that is compelling, richly researched that draws from thousands of letters and original sources. Bestselling authors Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie tell the fascinating, untold story of Thomas Jefferson’s eldest daughter, Martha “Patsy” Jefferson Randolph who takes center stage in this moving epic about impossible choices and conflicted devotion to her father, her country and herself. "America’s First Daughter" is told from the point of view of Patsy who was Jefferson's constant companion. Beginning with Patsy's childhood as the Jefferson family prepared to flee their home as the British army closed in, the novel takes the reader through the exciting history surrounding the Revolutionary War, Jefferson's time as ambassador in France; his continued time in politics and his retirement told through the eyes of his devoted and trusted daughter. Since the novel focuses on Patsy it's her personality that shines through so clearly. She is a strong and yet conflicted character who has to deal with many troubling issues throughout her life time.

This is a novel of high quality with the authors’ meticulous research that is evident on every page and skillful storytelling. Don't be daunted by the sheer weight of this book coming in at almost 600 pages- 592 to be exact. It's a novel to savor and you’ll find yourself turning pages as quickly as possible be
cause you have to know what happens next. 
A healthy Friday dish with a dose of two more book recommends

2 comments:

  1. I continue to be impressed by your knowledge of new books. How do you stay on top of these new releases?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is tricky:) i have a lot of book reading friends

      Delete

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