Review: The Stranger In Our Home, by Sophie Draper

The Stranger In Our Home, by Sophie Draper

HarperAudio - 2018
Thriller
Audio
Narrated by Emma Pallant

11 Hours, 41 Minutes

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐

Slow start but with a strong finish.

When Caro's step-mother Elizabeth dies, she is surprised to find out that the estate - including the home in the English countryside that she grew up in, has been left to her and her estranged sister Steph. She is somewhat surprised by this since Elizabeth did not seem to like Steph or especially Caro much at all.

As a struggling artist having just escaped from a bad relationship and staying at a friends place as the final weeks of the lease run out, the timing could not be better.  Especially since Steph has settled in the United States and suggests that Caro live at the home. As Caro moves in and begins to sort through Elizabeth's possessions, she is plagued my long buried memories, and bothered by the  reaction of the local townspeople to her presence.  What happened all those years ago to make Elizabeth hate her so much?

This book had a real slow start. I struggled with it at first and almost gave up. It wasn't until I was about half-way through that the story started to pique my interest. Once that happened though, the remainder was a good. 

The narration was provided by Emma Pallant who performed well, with good cadence and tone and a full range emotion. Her range of character was good and they were easily identifiable as she was able to affect different accents as needed, switching seemingly easily from English to American and even Canadian. 

On the whole, a good book, slow to start but with a stronger second half.

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review, My Sister The Serial Killer, by Oyinkan Braithwaite

My Sister The Serial Killer, by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Random House Audio - 2018
General Fiction / Satire
Audiobook
Narrated by Adepero Oduye

4 Hours, 15 Minutes

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐

After hearing so much about this book, I was pretty hyped up about giving it a go, but ended up somewhat underwhelmed by it. 

The title, while intriguing, pretty much sums up the whole story. Korede's younger sister Ayoola is the popular sister - the one everybody loves. She is prettier and more outgoing than Korede, but she has a nasty habit of killing her boyfriends. Korede - the ever faithful older sister, helps Ayoola hide the evidence of her dark side.  One day the man that Korede desires meets Ayoola, and naturally he falls for her. Now Korede must decide whether to protect her sister, or her love interest. 

This book is categorized as satire, but while it does have its moments, I really did not find it particularly funny. The story wasn't horrible (if it had been I would have DNF'd it), it was simply underwhelming for me.  The story chugged along at a 3 star rating, but then the ending fell a bit flat for me as well.

Narration was provided by Adepero Oduye. Her voice and tone were pleasant enough, and her range of emotion was good. I did feel though, that a production choice was made to read the much of the text with "standard North American" pronunciation, while many specific words and names were pronounced with a definite Nigerian accent (which makes sense given that the story is set in Lagos); but the flip-flopping between the extremes in accents left the audio version feeling a little "clunky", leaving me to think this book would be better in print or if all of the book had been narrated with at least some Nigerian accent to make the narration flow better and come across as smoother.

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: Ask Again, Yes, by Mary Beth Keane

Ask Again, Yes, by Mary Beth Keane

Simon & Schuster Canada - Available May 28th, 2019
Literary Fiction
E-book 

400 Pages
* I received this digital ARC courtesy of Simon & Schuster Canada, via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own. 

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A deeply moving story about the legacy of trauma and the healing power of forgiveness as told through two families over several generations.

The story opens in 1973 as Francis Gleeson and Brian Stanhope meet while both are rookies on the police force in New York. They ultimately end up being neighbors in a small suburban community as Francis and his wife Lena move in to the house next door to Brian and his wife Anne. The two  couples never develop any kind of close relationship, but the Stanhope's son Peter and the Gleeson's daughter Kate end up being the very best of friends.

One night something horrible happens which results in both families going in directions they could never have imagined. The Stanhopes must leave suddenly and Peter and Kate are torn apart, forbidden to contact each other.  The absence of each leaves a hole in the other's life, and eventually they find their way back together, their childhood friendship blossoming into something new; but the events of that fateful night years before cannot be forgotten Together, they lead themselves and their families on a journey of enlightenment, acceptance and forgiveness.

There is a saying, "be kind, for every person is fighting a battle you may know nothing about". This book beautifully captures that idea. Each of these characters is fighting battles- their own personal demons. This book also demonstrates the soul freeing power of forgiveness.  Keane's writing was superb and took me through a wide range of emotion, her characters complex but not complicated. The story so expertly woven that you do not immediately realize how delicate some of the threads are until you finish and see the story as a whole.

This stunning  and poignant story of trauma and tragedy, friendship and forgiveness,  is a great read by itself, but would be an excellent choice for a book club read or a buddy read.  

Happy Reading,

Christine

Sunday Summary - May 19th to 25th, 2019

Welcome to my Sunday Summary.  A look back on my bookish adventures for the past week.

May is a busy month here. Soccer two nights a week, swimming lessons once a week, Mother's Day, and no less than four family birthdays, all but one of which are celebrated twice. Whew! Getting my reviews written and posted has been a challenge to say the least. As such this week's summary will be very short and sweet.

Books Reviewed:

I only managed to post one review this week.

Brother, by David Chariandy. This book was short-listed for this year's CBC Canada Reads competition.  You can see my thoughts on this CanLit title in THIS POST

Ramblings and Miscellany:

May 22 was Sherlock Holmes Day. Read more about that HERE

On May 25th we went on social media to give a nod to Douglas Adams on Towel Day. Fans of HHGTTG will understand. 

View this post on Instagram

“There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened.” ― Douglas Adams, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe #TowelDay #DouglasAdams #HHGTTG #Booknerdigans

A post shared by The Last Page Turned Book Blog (@thelastpageturned) on May 25, 2019 at 3:43

Advance Reading Copy (ARC) Books Previously Reviewed and Released this Week:

No books previously reviewed on the blog were released this week. 

Currently Reading and Notable Titles on Deck:

I have a few reviews pending - Ask Again, Yes, by Mary Beth Keane - which I will be dropping today or tomorrow, My Sister The Serial Killer, by Oyinkan Braithwaite and The Suspect, by Fiona Barton.

I am currently reading Sorcery of Thorns, by Margaret Rogerson. I am in-between audiobooks and have not yet chosen my next title. 

Next up will be The Philosophy Of Ruin, by Nicholas Mancusi. 

I don't know if it is as unseasonably cold everywhere else as it is here, but I hope a proper spring will arrive soon!

Happy Reading, 

Christine

Review: Brother, by David Chariandy

Brother, by David Chariandy

Penguin Random House Canada Audio - 2017
General Fiction
Audiobook
Narrated by Joseph Pierre

4 Hours, 9 Minutes

Short-listed for CBC's 2019 Canada Reads, Winner of the 2017 Rogers Writers Trust Fiction Prize, Scotiabank Giller Prize nominee 2017

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐

The story of a first generation Canadian - a young black man, and his family, living in a cycle of racism, poverty and violence. A wake-up call to to Canadians who think that racism is not an issue here.

Michael and his brother Francis were both born in Canada. They were being raised by their mother who immigrated from Trinidad in hopes of a better future for herself and her children. That promise of a better future and all the hopes that went with it remained unfulfilled though. Their father left the family when the boys were very young, and poverty, racism, and violence were everyday experiences for the family - a cycle that some die from, and few escape from unscathed.

Told in shifting time lines, the story follows Michael as he recounts growing up at the side of his big brother Francis, as close and loving as brothers can be, and the days leading up to Francis' death in an act of violence.
 
"He was my brother. The one who told me about lightning and girls. The one who crouched beside me in hideouts when we were little. His shoulder thin and bare against mine, his body always just a skin away."

Beautifully written, this bittersweet story could be the story of any one of thousands of immigrant/first generation Canadian families. It is a story of unfulfilled potential and promise and a story of grief. It is also a story of love and hope and resilience. It is a story that reminds us of how society shapes the future of our youth. While the characters and events in this story were fictional, the social issues addressed in this story are very real.

While the subject is heartrendingly sad, it is told with beautiful prose. Short but emotionally intense, I can see why it was chosen as one of the  short-listed books for this year's Canada Reads on CBC, with this year's theme being "One book to move you". I can certainly say that I was moved.

This book was narrated by Joseph Pierre. Cadence and tone were pleasant and he performed with a good range of character and emotion. 

Happy Reading,

Christine

Ramblings: Sherlock Holmes Day / Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Birthday

Sherlock Holmes Day / Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Birthday

Today - May 22nd, marks the birth date of one of Crime literature's most beloved authors - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and his most famous character, Sherlock Holmes.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born on May 22nd, 1859 in Edinburgh, Scotland. While he was educated as a medical doctor, he became famous for his work as an author. 

His first story featuring the iconic detective was A Study In Scarlet, published in 1887. In total, he wrote 56 short stories and 4 novels featuring Sherlock Holmes. At one point he grew tired of writing Sherlock Holmes stories and he considered writing a death for Holmes. Feeling some pressure from his mother not to kill the character, he instead started charging a much higher amount to the publisher for Sherlock Holmes stories, thinking that would discourage the publisher from wanting more, but the publisher was willing to pay the increased price without issue, making him one of the highest paid authors of his time. Ultimately he did write a scene in where Holmes seems to go over the side of a waterfall with his nemesis Professor Moriarty - but later wrote more stories passing the scene off as a diversion to Holmes other enemies, and saying only Moriarty actually went over the falls.

Doyle also wrote in other genres, including; Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance, Poetry, History, and Non-Fiction, as well as plays.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle died July 7, 1930 of a heart attack. Since then there have been many authors who have written stories featuring the iconic detective, as well as movies and T.V. 

Happy Reading, 

Christine

Sunday Summary - May 12th to 18th, 2019

Welcome to my Sunday Summary.  A look back on my bookish adventures for the past week.

Today we say goodbye to Game Of Thrones on T.V. One of the rare book to T.V adaptations to really capture a huge audience.  As much as I loved watching it on T.V., I am hoping that maybe George R. R. Martin will have some time to consider finishing the books now.  Speaking of having time, maybe I will have my Sunday night reading time back😊

Books Reviewed:

The Night Before, by Wendy Walker.  My review of this thriller can be found HERE.

The Murmur Of Bees, by Sofie Segovia. This book has become an instant favorite of mine. Read my full review in THIS POST.

Westside, by W. M . Akers. An imaginative historical fantasy set in 1920's New York - read my full review HERE.

Ramblings and Miscellany:

Nothing this week.

Advance Reading Copy (ARC) Books Previously Reviewed and Released this Week:

The Night Before, by Wendy Walker. This great thriller is now available. Link to my review is above under books reviewed this week.

Currently Reading and Notable Titles on Deck:

I am currently reading Ask Again Yes, by Mary Beth Keane. 

I am listening to My Sister The Serial Killer, by Oyinkan Braithwaite.

Looking forward  my next read will be A Sorcery Of Thorns,  by Margaret Rogerson.

Well Game Of Thrones starts in 3 minutes, so...

Happy Reading, 

Christine

Review, Westside, by W. M. Akers

Westside, by W.M. Akers

HarperAudio - 2019
Fantasy / Historical Fantasy
Audiobook
Narrated by Bailey Carr

10 Hours, 50 Minutes

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐

I liked this book. I really wanted to Love it, and was quite excited for it as its pub date grew near. In the end I can say that I liked it, but I didn't love it as much as I had hoped to.

Set in an alternate 1920's New York, Manhattan is divided. A 13 mile fence with a controlled crossing point separates the seedy Westside from the more affluent Eastside. Gilda Carr happily calls the Westside home, living in the house she grew up in before the Westside went downhill. She is a detective who specializes in tiny mysteries. You know the kind - lost pets and missing sandwiches, misplaced gloves and the like. Of course there are bigger mysteries -  people are disappearing at an alarming rate and some dark magic seems to be eroding the Westside almost right before her eyes. 

While investigating one of her "tiny mysteries" - a lost glove, Gilda gets sucked into much bigger mysteries - some of which are hitting pretty close to home for her, as well as an impending gang war. Gilda struggles to solve the bigger mysteries in a hope of saving friends, family, and the city she loves from destruction. 

First off, the imagination factor on the storyline is this book's major strength. Multi-faceted and highly original, Akers debut shows him to be a writer of unique and original ideas.

For me though, I just never felt fully connected with the characters. There seemed to be a rather large cast of secondary and minor characters and without much of a connection to any of the characters at all, I found it hard to keep all the connections straight in my mind. 

I also felt that the juxtaposition between the tiny mysteries and the greater goings on was too pronounced to have a really cohesive feel. The idea was definitely good, but the execution of it seemed a little "too much of a good thing" for me.

Narration was provided by Bailey Carr who performed with a good range of character and emotion. Her voice was clear and her tempo and cadence made for a comfortable listen.

A good debut with a strong, original storyline. 

Happy Reading,

Christine

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Review: The Murmur Of Bees, by Sofia Segovia, translated by Simon Bruni

The Murmur Of Bees, by Sofia Segovia, Translated by Simon Bruni

Brilliance Audio - 2019
Literary Fiction
Audiobook
Narrated by Xe Sands and Angelo Di Loreto

14 Hours, 20 Minutes

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book has become an instant favorite of mine!

Intricate and heartwarming, with whispers of magic and destiny, this tale spans several generations, but is set primarily in early 1900's Mexico when a flu pandemic and a revolutionary war both work to change the course of the country.

The story follows the Morales family, but focuses mainly on Simonopio - the mysterious young boy they adopt after he is found abandoned under a bridge as a newborn, covered with the bees that will prove to be life-long companions. Simonopio is not a typical boy. Born with a cleft palate, his survival was in itself a miracle at the time. While some people of the town are superstitious and frightened of him, claiming his disfigurement was the result of being "kissed by the Devil", his adopted family adore him as one of their own. Simonopio has the ability to sense the future, and he and his bees use the gift to help his beloved family navigate the uncertainty of the time and fulfill his destiny. 

I simply cannot describe the beauty of this story with its subtle nuances and intricate design. It is at once about love and hate - but mostly love, selflessness and jealousy, the families we are born into and those we choose. It is the history of a nation that struggled to survive despite itself. It is an ode to resilience and compassion.

Written in Spanish, this is the author's first work translated into English. It was translated by Simon Bruni who has the amazing talent of ensuring that the words find their way to the reader with all the subtleties, power, and mood intact. I have have read two other novels that Bruni translated  - The Light Of The Fireflies, by Paul Pen and more recently Desert Flowers, also written by Paul Pen (read my review of that book HERE) - both were excellent reads as well.

Narration for this book was also superb. Performed, in part, by someone who has become one of my favorite narrators - Xe Sands, who has the most amazing ability to evoke a full and powerful range of emotion from the listener, a perfect choice for this story rife with delicate and subtle shifts of mood and emotion.  The story had a second narrator who was new to me, but was stellar in his performance as well. Angelo Di Loreto has a smooth, deep voice and his performance was able to stand with his fellow narrator in this story. This pair was the perfect combination to deliver this stunning story.

Tender and subtly nuanced, the beauty of this story took my breath away. I highly recommend it.

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review, The Night Before, by Wendy Walker

The Night Before, by Wendy Walker

St. Martin's Press - Available May 14, 2019
Thriller
e-book
316 Pages

*I Received this digital ARC courtesy of St. Martin's Press, via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review - this does not influence the following opinions which are my own.

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ooooh, I love a good story where you cannot tell the cats from the mice! 

Laura Lochner has just fled her big city life after a bad breakup, to live with her sister Rose amid the close friends of her youth.  None of them know exactly who Laura was dating in New York, why they broke up, or what could have been so bad that she fled the city, but they all know that Laura has never had good luck with men. With a tragic past hanging over her, Laura has always been wound a little tight.

When Laura decides to start dating again, Rose is cautiously supportive. Laura subscribes to an online dating site and after brief communications with a man, Laura agrees to meet him for a date. When Laura doesn't return home, and cannot be reached, Rose is clearly terrified that something awful has happened. 

The story is told through multiple timelines and points of view, but never feels disorganized or difficult to follow.  Plenty of twists, turns, and misdirection keep you constantly guessing and trying to piece it all together. The reveals are well timed and help maintain the momentum of the story without giving too much away before the right moment. The ending is tight, and tidy, and satisfying. 

This book is bound to be a popular beach read in the coming summer months!

Happy Reading,

Christine

Sunday Summary: May 5th - 11th, 2019

Welcome to my Sunday Summary.  A look back on my bookish adventures for the past week

Books Reviewed:

Only two reviews posted this week. Between Game Of Thrones on Sundays, and My son's soccer on Mondays and Wednesdays, and his swimming on Thursdays, May is shaping up to be a slow reading and/or reviewing month for me. Oh well, you do what you can, and as much as I love to read, I wouldn't trade him for anything.

The Mother-In-Law, by Sally Hepworth. This thriller has a certain perception and depth that is always welcome in the genre. You can read my review HERE.

Desert Flowers, by Paul Pen, translated by Simon Bruni. I love Pen's writing. I was happy to find that another of his books was translated into English - I was not disappointed by it.  My review is in THIS POST.

Ramblings and Miscellany:

Happy Mother's Day!  Motherhood takes on many forms that transcend mere biology and gender. If you have a mothering spirit, I salute you on this special day.

Advance Reading Copy (ARC) Books Previously Reviewed and Released this Week:

The wonderful YA Historical Fantasy Romanov was released this past week. Based on the ream life historical figure Anastasia Romonov.  You can read my review HERE.

Currently Reading and Notable Titles on Deck:

I have reviews pending for The Night Before, by Wendy Walker and The Murmur OF Bees, by Sofia Segovia, translated by Simon Bruni. 

I am currently reading an ARC of Ask Again, Yes, by Mary Beth Keane, and listening to Westside, by W.M. Akers.

On deck to read is an ARC of Sorcery Of Thorns,  by Margaret Rogerson. 

I hope everyone has a chance to spend some time with the special Moms in their life today. 

Happy Reading, 

Christine