The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The War I Finally Won is a continuation of the story set forth in The War that Saved My Life. Ada, Susan, and Jamie have moved into a cottage. The story picks up in the middle of WWII and they end up having a girl, who is Jewish and from Germany, to live with them. It adds to topics that were established with the first book and touches on a few more such as religion and bigotry. This is a story of loss, connection, love, and reconnection. Ada had to deal with her emotions and she gets help from those that surround her, including from unexpected places. I knew what I was getting into this one, so I was a little more prepared to deal with Ada and her issues bothering me. I forced myself to understand where she was coming from and I tried not to let her irritate me too much. It was tough because she was frustrating and exhausting. I don’t have kids and I am not sure if I ever will and so her inability to understand and her attitude was foreign to me. In theory and logically I get it but, in the moment, I didn’t like her. I loved how on the second page it mentions the two different wars that were being fought in the novel. I liked the play on words. There were also plenty of good lessons and messages throughout that Kimberly Brubaker Bradley did a great job integrating. Some of them involve when you are going through a tough time, the only way to approach it is to keep going, straight through as well as to not judge someone based solely on where they came from. There were also plenty of funny moments including a German invasion reference and sad, teary moments talking about coming undone. I say overall I liked this one better than the first one because I was able to prepare myself for Ada, Jamie wasn’t as grating, and I felt there were more emotional situations. It also felt heartwarming and like a big hug at moments. It is a good duology and I can totally understand the appeal. It talks about adult things and blends it well from a kid’s perspective. I don’t think I am a huge fan of books geared towards a younger audience in general, so I take that into consideration as well.
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Author: kgpeters
Bleeding Greed And Being Blind To Fraud
Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Bad Blood is the mind-boggling story of woman in her journey to defraud people and make tons of money. She claims to have “invented” a new technology that could test a miniscule amount of blood quickly, accurately, and with a device that takes up a small amount of space on a countertop or shelf. Her journey is ridiculous. The company, Theranos, seemed like it had the unhealthiest culture and I do not understand how anyone could remain there for months, even years, especially the people in the know. Does no one have a conscience? There were some good eggs that ended up talking but it seemed like there should have been many more. Her actions potentially had the consequence of killing people as well, but she didn’t care. I don’t want to use her name as she is despicable. She is currently serving jail time thankfully, but it doesn’t seem like it is enough. She dropped out of college as she claimed she wanted to change the world and revolutionize the medical industry. I may be cynical and I definitely do not know her, but she seems full of it. She even changed her voice. She is a compulsive liar and doesn’t show any contrition about what she has done or how it affected people. This book was so enthralling, and I wanted to keep reading to find out how the story unfolds and how it ended. The entire time I was baffled how she got away with everything. How could no one raise any flags or look deeper into the details? Even big names like Walgreens and Henry Kissinger fell for the scheme. This just further shows the problem with greed in this country. Everyone just wants to make a quick buck regardless of the legality, morality, or consequences. John Carreyrou does an astounding job conveying the trajectory of her rise and deserved fall. He chronicles it well but one thing I found hard was keeping track of all the names of people involved. There were so many! John did his homework and deserved all the accolades. When I was reading it felt like there was a flipflop between good and evil. One chapter felt that she was getting away with everything and deceiving everyone whereas the next chapter it felt like someone was standing up and that she might be caught. It was crafted well and I enjoyed it. Throughout my time reading this book there were several instances where I could feel tension in my body regarding my frustration with what was happening and the pull to find out more. It was a physical reaction to this read. I wanted to find out that it ended badly for her and the company. I wanted her to be punished and to see that people cannot get away with hurting others. I was hooked on the story and I couldn’t wait to finish. This story exemplifies things that piss me off the most (lying, hurting others, and getting away with it) which is why I didn’t want to give it five stars but I feel it is such a great book I will. It is a must read.
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My Favorite Novel Ever And Being Overcome With Emotion
The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I absolutely loved this novel. I cannot think of one that I have loved as much as this one ever, so this might be my favorite novel of all time. I felt this immediate draw to pick it back up every time that I set it down. The Heart’s Invisible Furies is undeniably powerful, funny, and devastating. It is poignant, consuming, and clever. I cannot say enough good words about it. There aren’t enough good words to describe it. I would say that I am speechless but all I want to do is sing all the praises from the highest of the mountains so that everyone can hear. Even before the actual story starts it provides a chuckle but the actual story begins in Ireland in the 1940s with a woman who found herself in an unwed, pregnant situation and was forced to leave her hometown. She meets a guy on the way to Dublin and ends up living with him for a short bit until a tragic and joyous event occurs. The book actually follows her son and provides a detailed account of his life over the next 70 or so years. I have such an affinity for Cyril, the son. I saw myself so deeply in him, I felt such a connection, that it could have been me living that life. The characters were so well developed that I had no trouble identifying or remembering them. The picture was painted with such clarity and detail. I was hooked from the first sentence and it just continued from there. What a first chapter! It sunk its hooks into me quickly and deeply. I also loved how this book was structured. It is an epic tale as it traverses multiple countries and decades. You are immersed in the time and characters as if you were there. John Boyne is one of the best writers I have ever read. I don’t think I have read anything by him thus far, but I cannot wait to see what else is out there. He has this way of hinting and nodding to something but not outright saying it, that makes you feel in on a secret that only the two of you know. His use of context is superb. It is subtle but it fills you with quiet glee. He also has this unbelievable artistry to weave connections throughout, from the first chapter to the last. It is done with such grace and elegance that you don’t see it coming. It comes out of left field but it is so realistic. It is like it was inevitable. I would stop in my tracks and then I would just sigh at how right it felt. There are plenty of moments that left me gobsmacked with my mouth held agape in shock. I had to look around, even if I was alone, wondering who else was flabbergasted by what was on the page. I wanted to discuss in whispers what just occurred. Furies was also a riot. I found myself laughing out loud, so hard. I would even get myself to laugh just thinking about it when I set the book down. There is so much witty repartee. The quips, asides, and comebacks are plentiful that sometimes I could not handle it. My stomach hurt and I had tears from how clever the writing was. For example, “turning to her with all the warmth of Lizzie Borden dropping in to say goodnight to her parents.” There were also plenty of gut-wrenching and devastating moments that left me helpless and in tears as well. I had to stop reading at some points because I couldn’t see the words through my tears. They were dripping down my face. At times I couldn’t breathe because I was overcome with deep anguish. The overpouring of emotions that this novel can evoke in a person are mind-blowing. I have never had such a reaction to the written word that I felt throughout my body, ever in my life. It is the most human book. I smile and laugh, become wistful and melancholy just thinking of the novel still. My inability to convey how breathtaking and powerful this novel was, devastates me. This is my favorite novel ever.
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The Fear Of The Secret Hand And How Racism Kills
The Black Hand: The Epic War Between a Brilliant Detective and the Deadliest Secret Society in American History by Stephan Talty
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Black Hand is the true story of a dastardly, crime centered Society of the Black Hand and the detective who lost his life in the battle to bring peace. It centers on NYC in the early 1900s but the strength of this group was far reaching. The Italian immigrants were fighting for their lives daily and trying to survive against extortion, kidnapping, bombings, and murder. The powers that be did nothing to help as the racism of the United States was rearing its ugly head again. This is something that we have seen time and time again throughout this country’s entire history. It is very upsetting and aggravating. The author weaves a very engaging and engrossing tale that I did not want to put down. The level of details and the depth of research is evident. This is a part of history that I had no knowledge of, and it was fascinating. The Black Hand was like a precursor to the mafia here in the states. It was cool to learn about Joseph Petrosino and his attempts to eliminate this shadowy group. He did all this amazing work in the face of such opposition, even within he ranks of his fellow members of the police force. Society at the time was unraveling and the public was petrified across the country. In sad similarities to how some people think today, Italian immigrants (specifically people from the south of Italy) were treated horrifically. The corruption in the powers of the city and the reluctance to view the immigrants as equals led to continuation of this horror long after it could have been stopped. There was a scene where the funeral was being described that had me at the edge of tears. It was beautifully and heroically described. The one thing I didn’t like (at no fault of the author) was how people got away with things, especially people in power. Accountability and consequences were lacking which is fundamentally infuriating to me. People were trying to live their lives but they had to worry about the wicked actions of their fellow countrymen. It is heartbreaking. Joseph, the great detective of his time, deserved better and he should be remembered. This book is a great step and I wish more people would read it.
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A Soggy Bottom Bake And A Spoon Full Of Unremarkable Characters
The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
The Golden Spoon is about a baking show involving 6 contestants held on the grounds of a manor who is owned by the host of the show. This season, a secondary host is brought in to help liven it up. It follows the competition as well as the lives of the people staying at the house during the taping. It technically takes place in Vermont but the entire time I was thinking it was England due to the obvious nod to The Great British Bake Off. There are secrets, murder, and some baking. The book featured chapters from each of the contestants in the first person but then the host was 3rd person. The sheer number of narrators and the change of perspective was grating. One character was young, full of herself, and unlikeable. Another was very two dimensional and fake. It seemed he was written as a caricature instead of a real person. 2 other characters were interchangeable to me. One had no impact on the story whatsoever. I had to constantly refer to the front where backstories and descriptions were written out. They just didn’t pop and were not unique. The writing bothered me as well. There were things that didn’t add up and didn’t make sense like a character described as doing something then completing that same action a few paragraphs later. Once, the phrase “this far into the competition” was used and it was only the second day. I rolled my eyes. The same silent scream metaphor was used too many times and the use of a wardrobe was cliché. It was all too predictable as well. I could see the connection a mile away. This was not a mystery or a thriller or any combination of the two. The inside cover provides false, leading statements about how the book unfolds. I would say one good thing was that it was a quick and easy read. I would say do not bother with this one as there are much better books dealing with baking and/or murder.
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Gay Amnesia And Losing Your Job While Gaining Family
10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
10 Things That Never Happened is such a good book. It is about this guy who works at a bathroom retailer and his boss who owns it. It takes place in England and it follows some hijinks as they navigate an ever-changing relationship. There is amnesia, family drama, Christmas, and one unique looking cat. It is not deep but it is a very fun read. I laughed out loud and found it quick to get through. It was easy, bitchy, gay, and cheeky. I loved the humor and found it real. There were a few things that bothered me though including a couple of the side characters. First off, if someone is that inept, they should have a very stern taking too or be let go. The amount of damage that one person could do and still be employed there was never established. He should have been gone a long time ago. It was infuriating. There was also a young employee that I found annoying as well. All but the first, clown of an employee grew on me throughout the book though. There were also a few editing errors but overall I would recommend this.
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Surviving War, Creating Family, and How to Stop Being Annoying
The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
The War That Saved My Life is about a girl and her younger brother who live with their horrible mother. WW2 starts and they are sent to the countryside to live with a woman, Susan, who didn’t want to take in kids in the first place. She is not in a great emotional state but she takes care of them. It follows their journey together especially how they grow and survive. The war is ever present in their lives. It is a sad and uplifting book. I had a physical reaction to the beginning portion detailing life with the mother and there are many sad, aggravating situations in this book. I can totally see how people would love his book and connect to what was going on. I felt a little cozy and heartwarming while reading. I don’t have kids and I am typically not a huge fan of them, so I found myself lacking that strong connection. I found Jamie annoying sometimes and a little brat. I felt sorry for Ada but it was very surface level as I also found her a little too much. Sidenote, I got this recommendation from the Currently Reading podcast, and the podcast also made similar comments about the Swiss Family Robinson as Jamie does in this book. This is definitely a book for young readers and it is not something that I fell in love with. I enjoyed it but found some elements grating. It would be a great read to share with your kids. Overall, it was decent.
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Relatable Reading Book For Readers and Avoiding Social Situations
So Many Books, So Little Time: A Year of Passionate Reading by Sara Nelson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
“Hell hath no fury like an expectant reader scorned.” So Many Books, So Little Time was about the author and her year of books. She sets off with a list of books she wants to get to and she incorporates her everyday life in this task. She comes from the publishing world and has some great insights as a reader. It delves into her past, her relationship to books/reading, and how books/reading interact with her world. It was so relatable and funny. I found myself taking tons of notes and nodding my head in agreement many times. Her humor is very witty and observational. Sara Nelson relates bookish topics to and extrapolates on them in ways that are fresh and interesting. For example, she introduces me to the term double booking (I am familiar with doing it just not the term) and relates it to the famous Woody Allen quote on bisexuality. I smiled a ton as she accurately touches on the experience of choosing what book to read & the feeling of not having one with you, lending books to friends, resisting reading something that is popular & being touted as a must read, and rereading books. I tied together her thoughts on looking to be surprised when reading and reading a book before watching the movie. It has to do with coming to my own conclusions on the interpretations of the characters and story before being told what it should be by a director or reviews. Sara tells this heartwarming story about reading Charlotte’s Web with her kid and how it was a moment of connection with her past and present. And the very next chapter talks about erotic books and adult topics/actions. I did not expect that and I loved it. One thing I struggle with and currently have a different view on is putting down a book if it is not working for you. I have a hard time abandoning a book. I want to add it to my read list. Hence, “the people I love and the person I am-are not normal: we’re book people.” To finish with something to remember, “not only is reading a distracting during difficult times…but it’s a highly socially respectable means of social avoidance.” Get your read on!
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Expensive Wine Will Kill You and Avoid Cave Exploration to Save Yourself
The Sentence is Death by Anthony Horowitz
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I was hoping that this book would be different than the first one. Sadly, I still do not like the two main characters at all. The Sentence of Death is another book about Hawthorne, the detective, and Anthony, the writer. This time it follows them as they try to solve the death of a divorce lawyer. Another guy, who knew the lawyer, also died the day previous. It is a typical murder investigation with twists and turns. Red herrings and lies abound. The team of two do what they do to find out how everything links and who did what. There is cave exploration, relationship drama, a book club, scripts, and the writing world. There is also mention of wine which is funny and weird as I just got done reading The Billionaire’s Vinegar which involved the rare wine world. I read the jacket of this one and smiled at the mention of a 1982 Châteu Lafite. I also just started listening to the Currently Reading podcast which brought me to this series in the first place (I won’t blame them) but another book they mentioned was also mentioned here. Just two funny little coincidences. I did think the actual plot of the book was ok. I did guess before they officially revealed the solution but just barely. It was interesting how things connected between people and events. After saying that though, the same things that bothered me about the first book pissed me off here. First off, Hawthorne is a self-centered asshole. He is homophobic and doesn’t care how his actions affect others. The only thing he has going for him is his ability to solve crimes but that still doesn’t mask his unpleasantness. It is funny because the actual author of the book writes “you cannot have a central character who is simply, by his very nature, unpleasant, and although I wouldn’t have used that word to describe Hawthorne, there were moments”. Apparently, you can. Secondly, it is interesting that the author writes himself as a bumbling idiot. He has no self-respect, he cannot say no, and he unconsciously tries to foil the investigation. It is beyond annoying. I despise bullies and this book had a couple. I already mentioned one but then the cops. It just frustrates me beyond belief that people get away doing things without consequences. I also did not like the ending. I did have the rest of the books sitting here from the library, but I don’t think I can continue the series right now. It just aggravates me too much.
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The Wine Scam, Provenance, and How To Get Drunk With A 1800s President
The Billionaire’s Vinegar: The Mystery of the World’s Most Expensive Bottle of Wine by Benjamin Wallace
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
This book is about a fraud perpetrated in the wine world that many people knowingly or unknowingly participated in. Benjamin Wallace’s writing follows the apparent “discovery” and sale/auction of a cache of wines purportedly belonging to Thomas Jefferson. He tries to tie this together over multiple decades from the 18th century with Thomas Jefferson and the late 20th century into the 21st with all these rare vintages that were found and sold. It delves into the wine world on both sides of the Atlantic and references many players in this space. It was an aggravating read as people can suck and consequences be damned. I cannot believe the lack of caring by the people in this book regarding provenance, especially the auction houses. Everyone just wants to make a buck and doesn’t care about authenticity. That is what hurt me most about this book. The lack of veracity in historical artifacts. At first The Billionaire’s Vinegar started off boringly. There were tons of people, vintages, and vineyards rattled off that they lost all meaning and contributed very little to the story. This somewhat continued throughout the book, and it was hard to work out the connections or refer back to who exactly a person was. I wish the structure of it was more cohesive. There would be times a person would be mentioned who was conducting a test or some other random person and suddenly, we would be delving into their backstory. We would be given a history that contributed nothing. It was exhausting and dull. It would just around between different timelines and there did not seem to be a connecting thread that was being followed. The ending was also horrible. I was so hopeful for this book as I like historical, intriguing, and sudden find type themes. There were pockets of intrigue but there were too many deviations into uninteresting topics to help hold this one up. Ultimately, I would skip this one but looking into wine and its history especially the rare ones, would be interesting in and of itself.
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