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2018 Fall Flurry of Holidays Challenge -- November Reviews and Discussion
Almost Autumn by Marianne KeurinAlmost Autumn
A quick YA read, historical fiction about a young Jewish girl in Norway in 1942.
Its almost autumn, and the world is opening up for Ilse Stern. She is 15, young, and going on her very first "date" with a boy. Everything begins in Autumn. Yet, skies are darkening, as the threat to Jews is expanding to Norway. Autumn is the beginning all right, but not the one she'd thought.
Read it in a day. Good quick autumn themed, WW2 themed, young adult novel. Maybe 3.5? Had never heard the Norwegian perspective before.
This was the perfect creepy book to read on Halloween, unfortunately, I fell asleep with only 40 pages to go. However, it works just as well for Nov. 1st, The Day of The Dead. Melmoth - Sarah Perry
Audio performance by Jan Cramer
5 stars
“Did your mother never take you on her knee and tell you that Melmoth was watching?”
No, never.
I’d never heard of Melmoth and neither had the contemporary characters in this book. They are unaware of her existence until they inherit the research documents of an eccentric elderly man, recently deceased at a study table in the National Library of the Czech Republic. It is the perfect setting. Karel Prazan, his disabled partner,Thea, and the emotionally wounded, Helen Franklin are 21st century characters inside a 19th century gothic novel.
The research documents begin with the tale of the recently deceased Josef Adelmar Hoffman. It is the story of his introduction to Melmoth, and his confession of complicity in Holocaust atrocities. His accumulated documents go on to provide evidence of other Melmoth encounters; all of them associated with atrocities through the ages. Melmoth is the condemned wanderer, the witness, the seductive accuser.
The book progresses slowly, alternating between the historical documents and their impact on the contemporary characters. The insinuating presence of Melmoth is especially heavy for Helen Franklin who lives with her own burden of guilt. She lives in a state of abnegation while hiding her past. You know that somehow her terrible secret will be exposed. Melmoth will come for her.The tension builds very nearly to the last page. The atmosphere is chilling. The prose is lush.
The story is very entertaining, but it was a bit more than that. Without preaching, it raises so many important issues of human behavior; cruelty, cowardice, complicity, mob violence, responsibility, guilt, and the possibility of redemption. That’s an impressive accomplishment for less than 300 pages.
The City Baker's Guide to Country Living by Louise MillerActually this covers a period from September to the following July, with a signifacant portion set during a fall harvest festival, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, thus fitting October through December!
Thoroughly enjoyed reading about Olivia's journey to self-fulfillment and happiness. Told with wit and gentleness, we first meet gifted pastry chef Olivia just as she sets fire accidentally to her place of employment. She runs away, as is her habit, and hides in Guthrie, VT, home of her best friend. There she gets a job in the kitchen of a local inn, slowly but steadily becoming part of the community. Over the next year, Olivia finds love, experiences loss, and ultimately finds family and a future. Highlights include wonderful descriptions of old style folk and country music jammin', food and baking, fall harvest festival, county fair, Christmas cookie exchange, prize winning apple pies, small town feuds and jealousies, a family Thanksgiving complete with laughter, fights, and love, a funeral, a wedding, babies, and a marvelous giant dog named Salty.
And yes, there is a single recipe included - for an apple pie. Perfect fall recipe!
There was much in this book that was nostalgic for me as I grew up in a small rural town in upstate New York not unlike Guthrie, and as a 4-H member, baked my way to a few prizes at county and state fairs. Plus in my family, pie is the ultimate dessert and apple pie is the best! Time to head to a local green market here in NYC, buy some apples to make a pie (I prefer Northern Spy), and get out my rolling pin.
Start Without Me by Joshua Max Feldman
3 stars - covers Thanksgiving
This story brings two strangers together on Thanksgiving and follows them through the day. They are each dealing with their own personal and family issues and both feel alone. Adam is an ex-musician and recovering alcoholic who feels he is always letting his family down. Marissa had a rough childhood and has now married into an affluent family. Neither are happy and they have issues they have not reconciled. Thanksgiving brings the main characters to interact with their own families, but they provide support for each other and make decisions about their individual lives.
The author takes an idea of a chance meeting and shows how it can affect the people. His characters may not always be likable, but that helped make them realistic in this case. He also adds depth to the book by including topics such as trust, social class, race and substance abuse.
Thanksgiving on Thursday by Mary Pope OsborneThanksgiving on Thursday
Friends, I never count the countless, and I mean countless books I read with my children on my list of books read, nor do I tend to review them. Unless they fit a fall flurry situation. Giving myself the point, if there is a point to be received. Because this one just happened to fit in the month. Sometimes it happens that these kids who travel in time with a magical tree house, happen to land just where I need them to in the right season.
For those of you who are not acquainted with this series, young Jack and Annie travel through time, and meet with many world famous people in many world historical situations. In this particular "episode", Jack and Annie are in Pilgrim times for the first Thanksgiving, and they meet Squanto, who teaches them to be kind to others who feel alone and different in a strange new land. They also learn about a special kind of magic - "the magic of community."
Just in case anybody cares, my 8 year old and I read a lot of series. The Magic Tree House Series, The A to Z Mysteries, we are on R - the Runaway Racehorse. Horrible Harry in room 2B. And if you couldn't have possibly guessed, Horrible Harry isn't horrible at all. He's the narrators best friend, and together they always save the day. And we read Ballpark Mysteries, a series about boy girl cousins who are detectives at every national ballpark, and we learn about each of the cities, teams, and parks. We are also reading the Third Grade Detectives, and Starting on Dan Gutman's Million Dollar Books. Plus, this is the big year for Moongobble and Me - my favorite third grade series. Out of the library, and I will review it this month just for you... Rivka's First Thanksgiving.
And of course, this is the year we will read, The Very Last Chanukah gift - which is a chapter book. Stay tuned for that too...
Amy wrote: "Thanksgiving on Thursday by Mary Pope OsborneThanksgiving on Thursday
Friends, I never count the countless, and I mean countless books I read with my children on my list of books re..."
Loved reading Magic Tree with my daughter! Great Books-I say you get the point!
😊
Rivera's First Thanksgiving - Four stars.A Child's book, but the point remains. Consider it the holiday themed Jewish Sea Prayer.
A short but important book for kids, but also important for adults to remember too. River is a nine year old immigrant Jewish child, escaped from pogrammes in her old country. She wonders, can a Jew celebrate thanksgiving? She clearly lays out the argument to a coven of rabbis, that the Jews are like the Pilgrims. Came here for safety and to start a new life in the new world. We too know the importance of being thankful to God, and what it means to be an immigrant in a new world. She helps her entire community feel welcome and give thanks. And that's what this whole thing is about. Integration and feeling one with our country, rather than just separation and isolation. A great book to remember in these times and in any times.
The Next Sure Thing by Richard Wagamese, Four StarsFirst Nations Author and Main Character
Very fun, fast read by Richard Wagamese. Our hero Cree Thunderboy knows his horses, and loves to play the blues. While hanging out at the track, a man (Win Hardy) approaches him and asks his opinion about the races. Cree helps him pick a winner, a 'sure thing,' and a strange association begins. Win wants more winning in exchange for helping Cree realize his musical dreams. Note to self: Never trust anyone you meet at a racetrack!
I love how the author crafts such expressive, fluid sentences with only a few simple words.
"I could hear a thin seam of voice from the phone."
"He smiled, but it was more like just pulling skin up over his teeth."
While watching a horse run: "Then we watched him run. It was like watching ribbon unfold time after time."
Since the traditional story of Thanksgiving tells use about Native Americans through European eyes I try to read some books that tell about the Native American experience through their own eyes. This November I picked up a horror novella by a Native American author: Stephen Graham Jones.Mapping the Interior - Stephen Graham Jones
4 stars
This novella (112 pages) tells the story of a young Native American boy, Junior, who lives off the reservation with his mother and brother. His younger brother has some mental and physical challenges and is the victim of bullying at their school. One evening, Junior wakes up after sleepwalking and thinks he sees his father, who had passed away years before. He believes that it is his father's spirit and begins to look for it during other times. As he searches for his father he has to determine what the spirit wants and why it has come back into their life.
This was an eerie book that lingered in my mind. I like how the reader is not sure how much of the ghost/spirit encounters are real and how much of it is in Junior's mind. One could interpret it either way I think. Junior's Native American culture is essential to the story without being the only theme. I definitely plan to read more by this author.
Cora wrote: "Since the traditional story of Thanksgiving tells use about Native Americans through European eyes I try to read some books that tell about the Native American experience through their own eyes. Th..."That sounds interesting. I think I'll add it to my wish list.
My Remembrance Day read:A Bridge Too Far / Cornelius Ryan
2 stars
This is about Project Market Garden, a battle during WWII in Holland where the Allies were meant to capture some bridges. It didn’t happen.
I feel terrible rating this so low. The only other book I’ve read by this author, I rated 5 stars and have recommended it multiple times (his book on D-Day). I am blaming this on the audio. I think it’s tough subject matter for audio, anyway, so I probably shouldn’t have tried it in this format, but I did. Unfortunately, I found the narrator very monotone, so to be honest, I just missed the majority of what was going on. It didn’t hold my attention, so I wasn’t paying attention. I do not like rating this so low, but given how much of it I “missed”, I just can’t give it a higher rating.
The Dancing DodoIn the long hot summer of 1976 a downed WWII American bomber is discovered in Romney Marsh, south east England, along with six crew, identified by their dog-tags. Only it turns out that the owners of the dog-tags are still alive. And then people start getting sick from Rift Valley Fever. And there is a suspicious dent in the ground where a round container has been dug up. Could this plane have been a biological warfare delivery system and, if so, what is in the circular container?
This book was written about events unfolding in the 1970s but set in motion during World War II and there's a lot of information about actual wartime events including the concentration camps.
I love this book and give it four stars, maybe partly because my father liked it and let me read it as a teenager, probably a little younger than my mother would have preferred! It drops a star on re-reading because it's now so dated. For British people my age or older - think the language and attitudes of The Sweeney!
Wonder: A Soul Savers Collection of Short Stories: Part 1 - Thanksgiving by Kristie Cook - 2 starsI read this for the Fall Flurry of Holidays challenge, for Thanksgiving. It's three short stories set in the Soul Savers world, all Thanksgiving themed. The first one is about vampires, the second werewolves, and the third a whole bunch of supernatural beings.
I'm just glad the stories were short, and that there were only three. The writing was mediocre, even cringe-worthy in parts. I had to push myself to finish it just for the challenge. At least I know to avoid this author in the future.
The Diva Runs Out of Thyme This is the first in a nice cozy mystery series. Sophie, an events manager/caterer has family visiting for Thanksgiving and is, at the same time, taking part in a cooking contest. Unfortunately she discovers not one but two murder victims and becomes a prime suspect. Along with her slightly annoying family and assorted hangers-on she also has to deal with her ex-husband and his current girlfriend.This is a comfortable easy read and I enjoy the domestic diva type hints and the cooking details.
3 Stars
Zoe agrees to help her friend at a local turkey farm 2 weeks before Thanksgiving and suddenly finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery. Caught up in messy turkey droppings, turkeys that appear drunk, and a bunch of hungry heirs to an estate, Zoe decides to take it on herself who the actual murderer is.
This was a cozy mystery, but I found it quite a bit different than the other cozy mysteries that I've read. I also felt there were way too may suspects and had a hard time keeping them straight. Not sure if it was the editing or the writing, but I found a few errors in the book as well. Overall, I don't think I'll read any more in this series.
Thanksgiving: The Holiday at the Heart of the American Experience - Melanie Kirkpatrick4 stars
This book is a very interesting look at the history of Thanksgiving. We all grew up knowing the story of the first Thanksgiving in Plymouth and a good deal of it is true and some is myth. There were certainly turkeys served at that dinner but also a good deal of venison and seafood. Depictions of that historic meal are also misleading; the Native Americans did not wear feathers and Pilgrims dressed much more colorfully than the drab grays and browns and their hats did not sport buckles. An essay dealing with the partnership of Thanksgiving and football was quite surprising to me. It has been a tradition since the late 1800's! I am not a fan of football but that is fascinating to me. The date for Thanksgiving has been shuffled around throughout the years: Abraham Lincoln chose the last Thursday of November but FDR opted for the 3rd Thursday causing outrage and vehement protests all over the country. Earlier presidents felt it was not proper for the president to proclaim a particular date; they felt it should be left up to the governors of individual states. I really enjoyed this informative book and this was the perfect time of year to read it.
I really hadn't planned this book for the fall flurry. I always spend a credit when the books of this series comes out. However, this was extremely timely. I was listening to it while I was monitoring the election results and recounts. The Colors of All the Cattle - McCall Smith
Audio performance by Lisette Lecat
3 stars
An antidote for United States election agony, to be taken with several cups of Trader Joe’s Rooibos & Honeybush Tea.
It’s election time in Gaborone. Violet Sephotho is the only candidate running for an open city council seat. THIS MUST NOT HAPPEN. Mma Potokwani is on a mission to stop the construction of The Big Fun Hotel right next to the cemetery. (So disrespectful to the late people. So contrary to the old Botswana morality). Mma Ramotswe is not interested in a political career. Mma Potokwani says that it is her duty. We all know how that will end.
There seemed to be more turmoil in this book, a bit more of an edgy message from the author. But, not too much of an edge. This is very much a fictional Botswana. I wonder just what the actual residents of the real Gaborone think of this white man’s rendition of their country and their culture. I find it restful. Even this book which ramped up the real world tension a tiny bit, was still hopeful and peaceful at the end.
Americanos, Apple Pies, and Art ThievesThanksgiving
4 Stars
In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, Fran, the owner of Antonia’s Italian Café in Cape Bay, is busy mixing up pumpkin spice latte’s and her family recipe of Apple Pie. During all the holiday craziness, artist Louis Cliffton is featuring his artwork at the local museum. Fran receives an invite to opening night of the art show and discovers the most memorable piece that leaves her heart aching for her deceased mother. After opening night, this piece of art is stolen and Fran wants to know who did it. As she has done in the past, she begins investigating….until she starts to receive threats, someone follows her home and her beloved café is vandalized. She stops her investigation about still wonders who did all these things. Turns out it was two different people….one Fran solved and one she did not.
Another fun little cozy mystery during the holiday season.
ThanksgivingNothing With Strings - B.White
Audio performance by Lorna Raver
4 stars
Years ago, I enjoyed hearing Bailey White’s read her stories on NPR. I know I still have cassette tapes of some of these stories around somewhere, although I don’t have the means to play them anymore. This is a collection of about a dozen short stories that were broadcasted yearly on Thanksgiving. Some of the stories do have a holiday setting, but mostly they are just good stories of the Deep South with quirky characters in quirky circumstances. I was disappointed that White did not read these stories herself, but Lorna Raver did a good job. I enjoyed them. Short vignettes like these are perfect for passing time while running holiday errands (another trip to the grocery store for the one thing that I forgot again.)
Would Friday Black count for November in Thanksgiving? The title is a play on Black Friday, as you may have guessed and there is a story about Black Friday. This is a short story collection with only one story (that I know of) related to anything Thanksgiving, so I think including it as a November read is a stretch, but thought I would check.
Meli wrote: "Would Friday Black count for November in Thanksgiving? The title is a play on Black Friday, as you may have guessed and there is a story about Black Friday. This is a short story c..."
I would say yes. Black Friday is definitely a november/thanksgiving tradition.
Meli wrote: "Would Friday Black count for November in Thanksgiving? The title is a play on Black Friday, as you may have guessed and there is a story about Black Friday. This is a short story c..."
I agree with Joni-the theme I thought was "Nov. events" and that certainly is an event here in the States.
But, just to be sure.... this book only has 1 story in the collection that covers Black Friday, so in that case, would it still count?
I'm focusing on Native Americans for this November's Fall Flurry reading.
Listening Woman – Tony Hillerman – 3***
Book three in the Joe Leaphorn mystery series begins with Listening Woman trying to perform a cleansing / healing ritual for Hosteen Tso, an old man who refuses to divulge all he knows. I like Leaphorn; he’s smart, determined, physically and mentally strong, quick to respond to a threat but also deliberate and cautious. It took me quite a while to get into this one, but once Leaphorn was caught up in the chase, I was fully engaged.
LINK to my review
There There – Tommy Orange – 4****
In his debut novel, Orange explores the world of today’s Urban Indian through the stories of twelve characters who are planning to attend the Big Oakland Powwow. Their lives are interwoven by coincidence, thin threads of DNA, circumstance, and/or proximity. They are in turn angry, desolate, hopeful, joyous, loving, confused, determined, generous or mean. Orange’s voice is unique and powerful. And I look forward to reading more from him in the future.
LINK to my review
November flurries - a First World War story, for the centenary of Armistice Day The Alice Network - a 5 star story for me - review in the November 'other books' folder or here
November Flurries - 100 years to Armistice day
All Quiet on the Western Front - Erich Maria Remarque - 5 stars book
here's my review, but in a gist - a german soldier in the western front tells of his and his friends experiances and in the simplest and most direct ways stresses how aweful the reality of war really is.
A Catered ThanksgivingThanksgiving
2 stars
Review: Libby and Bernie Simmons, owners of A Little Taste of Heaven bakery and catering, are hired by Monty Field to provide Thanksgiving dinner. They arrive at the mansion in a blizzard and find pretty pathetic cooking facilities. When Monty dies in the kitchen the sisters decide to investigate since they are stuck there with the nine guests, one of whom is the murderer. All of the guests are unlikable. I did not enjoy this book. Usually when picking up a middle volume in a series the back story of the main characters and the setting are covered in enough detail to stand alone. One sister was described by another character as being thinner and having dark hair, but not named and it is almost halfway through the book before Libby mentions her sister's dark hair and you got that much of a description. It was all babbling dialog between the sisters, even half the night. Will not pick up more of these.
Ugh, all of these reviews just make me realize that I haven't managed to finish my thin, 200 page book on the Vietnam War. It is interesting and I AM going to finish it, but my brain has fully switched to Christmas...
Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam by Elizabeth Partridge3 stars
There were aspects of this book I really liked, and other aspects that just didn't work for me.
First and foremost, stories of the Vietnam War absolutely break my heart. I want to read more about the war itself and how it started and why we stayed in it for so long and the protests in the US, but reading the personal stories of men and women who fought just make my heart hurt.
These were kids. Ill-prepared and dropped into the jungle to fight a war they didn't believe in and didn't support. They then made the reverse trek back to the US after their year "in country" and faced a society that despised them and a government that didn't support them. They suffer from PTSD and fall victim to suicide at a stunning rate.
I was obviously not alive during the Vietnam War, but I cannot even imagine.
Partridge told the story of the war in an interesting way. She told it, more or less, chronologically, through the eyes of eight men and women during their year "in country." She peppered in short chapters focused on the Presidents who presided over the war to tell more about the politics and social issues happening at home. And, of course there was a chapter on Woodstock. And the full book wrapped up with the dedication of the Vietnam Memorial.
I thought it packed a punch to hear stories from those eight people. They each served at a different time and their stories captured the status of the war at that time. The problem was that I wanted more. The stories were brief, there was minimal backstory on each person, and most of their stories ended when they left Vietnam except for a paragraph epilogue on each of them. It made the book choppy and uneven.
And yet I think it truly honored each person as well as stood for the three million people who served in Vietnam, including the over 58,000 whose names are etched in the black granite of the memorial. And the final chapter about the memorial, the controversy surrounding it and its dedication, really hit me and I closed the book knowing that I will think back on it often.
Nicole R wrote: "Ugh, all of these reviews just make me realize that I haven't managed to finish my thin, 200 page book on the Vietnam War. It is interesting and I AM going to finish it, but my brain has fully swit..."I always find that if the read is more dense or difficult, it doesn't matter the page count.
Sounds like this was an emotionally intense read, but you finished! Congrats :)
Just for the point, not to count for my actual list of read books, we had the delightful re-read of the Great Thanksgiving Escape - to date my favorite children’s Thanksgiving Book. About a pair of cousins who are looking for some fun together amidst all of the hubbub. It’s actually just really sweet and it has all the elements. It’s just a fun one for kids, and I sent it into my kids third-grade classroom today for the teacher to read to the kids.
Amy wrote: "Just for the point, not to count for my actual list of read books, we had the delightful re-read of the Great Thanksgiving Escape - to date my favorite children’s Thanksgiving Book. About a pair of..."I love that book! It is so cute, and pretty hilarious.
Meli wrote: "Nicole R wrote: "Ugh, all of these reviews just make me realize that I haven't managed to finish my thin, 200 page book on the Vietnam War. It is interesting and I AM going to finish it, but my bra..."It was definitely emotionally intense. And, it had phenomenal pictures that I took the time to really look at.
And, every five pages or so there was something Vietnam related that I wanted to google....so that didn't help.
November flurries - first nationsMedicine Walk - Wagamese
5 stars
By description, this sounds like a depressing story. Sixteen year old Franklin Starlight gets a message from his nearly unknown, alcoholic father. The man is dying. He wants Frank to take him into the wilderness so that he can be buried in the traditional Ojibwe manner. Far from depressing, it was a beautiful story.
Much of the story is dialog between Frank and Eldon, his father. There are also the backstory conversations that Frank has with his guardian, ‘the old man’. These are men who say much with very few words. When Frank begins the arduous trek into the backcountry with his terminally ill father, he knows very little of his personal background. He knows nothing of his mother, and has had only limited and harmful encounters with his father. The Old Man has been his only family. Frank knows farming, and hunting, and the solitude of living off the land.
Eldon’s story is a hard one, filled with loss and violence. His death is ugly and hard. But there is a reason the book is called Medicine Walk. Wagamese brings the beauty and the vast, empty, peacefulness of the wilderness into every page to the journey. The waste and pain of Eldon’s life is mitigated by the calm, self-sufficient competence of Frank’s care for him. There’s strength and grace in teenaged Frank that lends love and redemption to the ending.
Nicole R wrote: "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam by Elizabeth Partridge3 stars
There were aspects of this book I really liked, and other aspects that just didn't work..."
Thanks for the review, Nicole. How did you think it worked as a YA overview of the Vietnam War?
The history of the US involvement in Southeast Asia is a long and complex story, with our own complex internal political battles playing a huge role. It overshadowed my entire generation.
I salute anyone who attempts to write a cogent overview in any kind of lively interesting way.
BTW, if you are interested and have the time, read Personal History- Katherine Grahams autobiography - which is a rattling good page turner of a read [but might have to wait until you have passed the bar, LOL]. It also tells a big part of the story of that era as she experienced it as Publisher of the Washington Post -- the movie 'The Post' did an excellent job bringing to life the decision to publish the Pentagon Papers that exposed the government's hiding the death toll of the Vietnam War back to Kennedy.
I feel like I'm squeaking in under the wire for November... I didn't make it in time for October. I decided on Twain’s Feast which is an Audible Original. I picked it because the cover had Nick Offerman and a turkey on it. I've been listening to a lot of Nick's Audible books and the turkey made me think of Thanksgiving. On a whim I decided to look up Mark Twain's birthday to see if he was born in November to seal it as my November Flurry Choice... He was born Nov 30th... Perfect!
It was delightful to listen to and I learned a TON... my review is here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I barely made it! Cross-posted in Literary Fiction:
Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah / 4 stars
I picked this one for its titular story about Black Friday.
Great debut collection of short stories showing off Adjei-Brenyah's skill with dystopian themes and jarring social commentary. Highly recommend.
Kicked off a star just because I don't like short story collections very much, I find them limiting, and a couple stories were underwhelming.
Review linked below.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Meli wrote: "Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah / 4 stars"Ha! I love the tie in with Black Friday!
Nicole R wrote: "Meli wrote: "Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah / 4 stars"Ha! I love the tie in with Black Friday!"
That particular story in the collection is like Black Friday for merchandise hungry zombies!
Just finished Heart Berries: A Memoir by Terese Marie Mailhot, 5 out of 5 stars, Native American Heritage Month.
Wow, Mailhot is knifey with her words - she hits so hard and it really hurts. Is this memoir honest? Not sure, not sure whether the author is sure, but with what she was processing mentally, I think she has put her feelings onto paper as accurately as she could. She writes with complete abandon.
This written record is unnerving, painful, brilliant, shocking, and a vivid illustration of a person dealing with the crushing combination of 'post traumatic stress disorder and bipolar II disorder.'
How late can we add to this thread? I just got There There (which starts with a discussion of the Thanksgiving myth).
I will probably close it out midday on Sunday, so you have until then to post!
Nicole R wrote: "I will probably close it out midday on Sunday, so you have until then to post!"OK thanks. Will there be a similar challenge every month? I see one set for December.
Focus on First Nation peoples of Canada -and- set in WW2 with an Army Nurse serving during combat
The Search for Joyful – Benedict and Nancy Freedman – 4****
A sequel to the popular Mrs Mike , this work of historical fiction is set primarily during World War II, and follows the career of a young Cree woman – Kathy (a/k/a/ Oh-Be-Joyful’s Daughter) – as she becomes an Army nurse and finds love and her place in the world. The authors are not First Nation people, and there’s little information about how they came to write this story. I’m skeptical about the truth of what they write, and still I’m drawn into the novel. I really liked Kathy Forquet as a heroine. It’s an inspiring and hopeful story.
LINK to my review
The Escape Artists by Neal Bascomb 3.5*s (Veteran's Day)Set in WW1 this novel is about the POWs (of various European countries) held in German POW camps. It is written by a journalist and takes on a presentation style like a reporter would do. It is extremely well researched and presents all of these details in an easily digested way through the many, many escape attempts by several of the POWs collectively and individually.
While the book is well done, I did have a moderate dislike for it. I think it was the subject matter as well as the writing style since I don't generally care for a military-centric story nor a third party view of events and people's actions. The people (real as they are) are not delved into for who they were more than a superficial reporting. None the less I am glad I read it -- stretches my literary intake.
NancyJ wrote: "Nicole R wrote: "I will probably close it out midday on Sunday, so you have until then to post!"OK thanks. Will there be a similar challenge every month? I see one set for December."
Hi Nancy,
This is the second month of a three-month seasonal challenge we do each year called the Fall Flurries Challenge, which is to read books in October, November, and December related to the spate of holiday.
So, November and its holidays (Thanksgiving, Veterans Day, general fall, etc) are wrapped up, I will be opening a thread for December today for books that focus on Christmas, Hanukkah, winter, etc.
For more information, see the original discussion thread at: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I hope that helps!
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Play Book Tag
Books mentioned in this topic
The Search for Joyful (other topics)Heart Berries (other topics)
Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam (other topics)
Personal History: A Memoir (other topics)
The Great Thanksgiving Escape (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Elizabeth Partridge (other topics)Elizabeth Partridge (other topics)
Stephen Graham Jones (other topics)
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