Thank you @harpermusebooks @kimberlydbrock for the eARC of The Fabled Earth in exchange for an honest review. From the opening paragraph, Brock draws Thank you @harpermusebooks @kimberlydbrock for the eARC of The Fabled Earth in exchange for an honest review. From the opening paragraph, Brock draws readers into the mystical Georgia Coast with all the magic and wonder readers expect from this phenomenal author of The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare. Readers relate to the three protagonists: Audrey, Cleo, and Frances who face ghosts of the past as they look to their future. As with any fine Southern novel, secrets abound in The Fabled Earth and Brock weaves the narrative skillfully, pulling us deeper under her spell as she paints the landscape with such lush details and breathtaking imagery you can feel the coastal mist kiss your skin. Highly recommend....more
Enjoyed this novel. The romantic storyline didn't ring true to me, but didn't distract from the plot.Enjoyed this novel. The romantic storyline didn't ring true to me, but didn't distract from the plot....more
No doubt MFS has a unique voice and the ability to capture the harsh-gritty lives of southerners and dispense justice upon the characters to whom justNo doubt MFS has a unique voice and the ability to capture the harsh-gritty lives of southerners and dispense justice upon the characters to whom justice is deserved. He even allows redemption to those who have lost all hope of a future.
My lower rating isn't because he writes in a conversational writing style, which at first I followed easily. Quotations aren't included in the story telling until, well, sometimes they are, which caused me to come to a hard stop and made me look back trying to understand why this process was used? I look forward to reading more from MFS
This is THE novel to read. It's difficult to hold my attention with different POV's, but Penner does a masterful job. And the plot . . . my word . . .This is THE novel to read. It's difficult to hold my attention with different POV's, but Penner does a masterful job. And the plot . . . my word . . . A female apothecary secretly dispenses poisons to liberate women from the men who have wronged them - setting three lives across centuries on a dangerous collision course. I can't wait for Sarah Penner's next novel....more
Began reading because I love historical fiction and because this book was made into a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie which I hoped meant it would hold myBegan reading because I love historical fiction and because this book was made into a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie which I hoped meant it would hold my attention. DNF stopped at page 190 The relationship between the characters never deepened. Olivia spent too much time (pages and pages) being bored and lonely while waiting for her child to be born. The story didn't move forward. I wanted her to "do something" early in the novel and that just didn't happen. ...more
Sadly DNF. Stopped midway. The premise of this book is amazing. Between life and death there is a library, a place where books in the library enable ySadly DNF. Stopped midway. The premise of this book is amazing. Between life and death there is a library, a place where books in the library enable you to live a life as if you have done things differently. We have all wanted to make different choices in our lives and the Midnight Library allows us to do just that. Select a book that will open a door into the moment whereby we can make a different choice and - in theory- change our lives to a happier one.
Something about this book failed to hold my attention. Perhaps it was because Nora Seed is so unhappy, or dissatisfied, or I felt more could have been done to move the story forward at a rapid rate. At any rate, I DNF. ...more
Hannah has weaseled her way into The Innocence Project for personal reasons, to know more about the cause of Michael Dandridge, a man they think was fHannah has weaseled her way into The Innocence Project for personal reasons, to know more about the cause of Michael Dandridge, a man they think was falsely accused of rape and murder. Hannah's mother has her own background with Michael and doesn't want him released from prison.
I picked up this book because of the mention on Friends and Fiction. Like many others who have reviewed this book, I found the book repetitive, it seeI picked up this book because of the mention on Friends and Fiction. Like many others who have reviewed this book, I found the book repetitive, it seemed to drag out too long. While the hint of "hook" was there in the beginning, I found myself wanting the author to get to the point. Afterall, there are other books to read! Honestly, I skimmed through. ...more
It hurts me to give a 2-star review, because I understand how much goes into the writing of any book. I loved the premise, but regardless of the hook,It hurts me to give a 2-star review, because I understand how much goes into the writing of any book. I loved the premise, but regardless of the hook, this particular format of a story within a story didn't work. Leo's letters, which appear in every chapter, bring the reader of this slow story, to a hard stop. Sadly, DNF...more
Perhaps I expected too much from a National Book Award Finalist. Perhaps there was too much pressure on the author, writing to represent the complex iPerhaps I expected too much from a National Book Award Finalist. Perhaps there was too much pressure on the author, writing to represent the complex issues that face the Cherokee Nation. The stories weren’t developed from the start, not enough to hold me, especially since Cherokee Lore was the selling point on the back matter of this book. I wanted to be grabbed by the throat from the beginning. I wanted to see and feel the injustice that I know the Cherokee people endured, and still endure today. I needed that emotion to leap from the pages and steal my breath. But that didn’t happen. Sadly, because I have so many books to read, I DNF, and wasn’t going to post a DNF review, but then I saw other readers also didn’t finish. I thank them for their reviews, which gave me permission to post this one. ...more
**spoiler alert** Sadly, did not finish. As a native of the area in which he writes, I wanted to love this book. I believe in his message. However, be**spoiler alert** Sadly, did not finish. As a native of the area in which he writes, I wanted to love this book. I believe in his message. However, because I fluctuated between loving the story, being preached to, and feeling disconnected and jerked hither and yon as a reader, I set The Overstory aside and quickly found another book that held my interest. ...more
As a reader who reads the back matter first, and who forms an image of the protagonist mentioned on the back matter before beginning the book, I was cAs a reader who reads the back matter first, and who forms an image of the protagonist mentioned on the back matter before beginning the book, I was confused from the start that the author opted to begin this book with a different character. Still on the first page, I came to a hard stop at paragraph number three which reads, "I'd been putting in corn all that morning for my daddy."
As a reader, and a woman of the earth, I know that one either "puts up" corn (meaning harvest and stores it for winter), or, we plant corn. If we are "putting in" corn, the sentence should contain more information for the reader who is uninitiated in the ways of the earth. Otherwise, what is Clayton putting the corn into?
Example, "I'd been putting kernels in the ground all that morning for my daddy. Or, planting seeds. A description that makes the reader want to learn more about the character, while moving the story along.
Still in chapter one, we leave Clayton's POV and Berta Mae appears on page 5. These POV's alternate back to Clayton on page 18, and suddenly I realize just how disconnected I am as a reader.
Sadly, I stopped reading, which I hate to do because there was much ado on social media and other outlets about this book. I had listened to the media hype and wanted to read based on what I saw on social media. When I skipped to the last page I learned Loving the Dead and Gone is actually excerpts which have appeared in six other publications. Perhaps that explains why I felt disconnected. I would have liked to know the book read more like a collection of short stories....more
Fans of Janisse Ray, having read her stellar works of nonfiction, have begged for this transition to fiction. We know she has a magical way of sprinklFans of Janisse Ray, having read her stellar works of nonfiction, have begged for this transition to fiction. We know she has a magical way of sprinkling readers with stardust and luring us into her wooded-world where she then opens our eyes to the truth. In this debut novel, Janisse once again takes us to the woods she loves, painting vivid pictures of remarkable children who survived an unimaginable ordeal. We are with them at every turn of this novel. This novel will grab you by your heart and refuse to let go. In this testament of love beyond compare our eyes are open to childhood trauma and the lengths one travels to survive. Well done!...more
With lush description and dreamy prose, Kimberly Brock pens a masterful and complex story with dual timelines. Eleanor Date was a real person whom KimWith lush description and dreamy prose, Kimberly Brock pens a masterful and complex story with dual timelines. Eleanor Date was a real person whom Kimberly honors along with a lineage of "Dare Women." This book celebrates the mother-daughter relationship with all their complexities. And the house! Evertell is a character also, as is the mysterious commonplace book which is filled with recipes and spells. Simply put, Kimberly Brock did her homework and it has paid dividends. She has firmly established her place in Southern fiction.
Thank you to the publisher for my copy. The review and opinions are my own....more
Rona Simmons, who has previously established her place as a stellar non-fiction author with a fierce passion for WWII history, brings us to Candor, NoRona Simmons, who has previously established her place as a stellar non-fiction author with a fierce passion for WWII history, brings us to Candor, North Carolina where Lake Roth, joins the Army, goes completes his training, and - inevitably- ends up in England. Simmons, writes this novel, which is based on a true story, with masterful strokes and a compassionate heart. Additionally, the publisher did a remarkable job including maps and graphics that keeps readers interested. Highly recommend. ...more
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