Quick Review:The Henna Artist, by Alka Joshi

The Henna Artist, by Alka Joshi

Harlequin Audio - 2020
General Fiction/Historical Fiction
Audiobook

10 Hours, 56 Minutes
Narrated by Sneha Mathan

*Quick Reviews are slightly less formal reviews using the publishers summary

This book, steeped in the culture of 1950's India, is my choice to fulfill item #20 - One World - Read a book written by, and that has a main character that is someone of a different color, culture, sexual orientation, or religion than you, on my 20 for 2020 Reading Challenge. You can see the full list HERE

Publisher's Summary:

Escaping from an abusive marriage, seventeen-year-old Lakshmi makes her way alone to the vibrant 1950s pink city of Jaipur. There she becomes the most highly requested henna artist—and confidante—to the wealthy women of the upper class. But trusted with the secrets of the wealthy, she can never reveal her own…

Known for her original designs and sage advice, Lakshmi must tread carefully to avoid the jealous gossips who could ruin her reputation and her livelihood. As she pursues her dream of an independent life, she is startled one day when she is confronted by her husband, who has tracked her down these many years later with a high-spirited young girl in tow—a sister Lakshmi never knew she had. Suddenly the caution that she has carefully cultivated as protection is threatened. Still she perseveres, applying her talents and lifting up those that surround her as she does.

My thoughts:

Joshi is as much an artist as her character Lakshmi.  Her writing flows easily and the story was absolutely captivating. She easily sets the readers imagination to creating 1950's India in all its culturally rich and vibrant glory. Her characters are well defined and multi-faceted, with her protagonist Lakshmi being an especially striking character - smart, brave, incredibly compassionate, and a little ahead of her time. The reader easily becomes invested in Lakshmi's story and struggles

Narration for this audiobook was provided by Sneha Mathan, who not only performed well but was also well suited to the story. Listening to this wonderful tale being told by such a talented narrator made it easy to become immersed in Lakshmi's story.

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: To The River: Losing My Brother, by Don Gillmor

To The River: Losing My Brother,  by Don Gillmor

Random House Canada - 2018
Non-Fiction
Audiobook
Narrated by Michael Riley

5 hours, 17 minutes

Winner of the Governor General's Literary Award for Non-Fiction 2019 this book is my choice for #19 - The Winner is...Read a book shortlisted for a major literary award on my 20 For 2020 Reading Challenge. You can see the whole challenge HERE.

A moving tribute to a man lost to suicide and the family he left behind. 

There are three main aspects to this book. The first is a memorial of sorts and a look at what caused David Gillmor to leave behind his family and take his own life. The second part is a heartfelt look at the effects of suicide on the family and loved ones left behind, and the third is a presentation and well researched  examination of why baby boomers - particularly the men, have come to have the fastest rising suicide rates. 

One would think that a book about the writer's loss of a sibling to suicide would have a dark, oppressive feel to it.  That is not the case. While Gillmor's book is heartbreaking, it is not without beauty and hope, and even - at times, humor. Perhaps that is due to this book being published 10 years after David Gillmor's death. Don Gillmor seems to be writing from a place where the wounds while still there, are not quite so raw.  

Don Gillmor's brother David disappeared one day, leaving behind his truck and his hat, and some footprints on the half-frozen Yukon River near the town of Whitehorse. In doing so he left behind more questions than answers, and the family was left in a sort of limbo as nobody could even confirm his death. They were forced to wait as the river's secrets remained locked in ice until the spring thaw six months later. When the waters did thaw, Don embarked on what was to be a canoe trip to look for any trace of his missing brother, but David's body was recovered before Don could dip his paddle into the water, and he received the news shortly after arriving in Whitehorse. The remainder of the trip was Don's exercise in mourning and an attempt to understand. 

With the warmth of nostalgia, Don Gillmor takes us back to the beginning; the early days of their childhood in Winnipeg. What set David apart from Don and the other neighborhood kids?  From there examines their lives through growing up, from moves to Calgary and beyond, and the growing challenges and responsibilities of adulthood. 

Gillmor then calls on his gift of prose to explain what was like for him and his surviving family after David's body was recovered. His ability to express the complicated emotions and impact on the remaining family resonated powerfully with me as a reader. 

Finally, Gillmor expands past his family's own heartbreak and discusses in more general terms the personal, professional and socio-economic pressures and triggers that are contributing to a higher than ever suicide rate among middle aged men. 

Narration was by Michael Riley and was well suited to the subject matter of the book, and was delivered with a clear voice and pleasant tone and cadence.

To The River is a beautiful and meaningful tribute to one man, and a thoughtful look at a growing social issue. It is touching, it is informative, and it is powerful. 

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: The Invited, by Jennifer McMahon

The Invited, by Jennifer McMahon

Random House Audio - 2019
Horror 
Audiobook
Narrated by Amanda Carlin, and Justine Eyre

11 Hours, 50 Minutes

A ghost story, this book fulfills item #14 - Books That Go Bump In The Night - Read a Horror or Ghost story, on my 20 for 2020 Reading Challenge. Click HERE for the full challenge

Can you build a haunted house?

When Helen and Nate decide to give up city life for a simpler country life, they spend some time shopping for their new country home. Not finding the right one, they strap on tool belts, grab their hammers, and build their own. They find a plot of land in rural Vermont with a motivated seller and set to work. Their vision is to blend simple historic design and appearance with modern efficiency.  

Helen, a former history teacher, becomes enamored with the local lore and learns the plot of land they bought once belonged to Hattie Breckenridge, a woman hung for witchcraft a hundred years earlier but long after the end of the famous witch hunts, after being blamed for a fire that killed several local children. Helen becomes obsessed with the story of Hattie and other local tragedies. 

While shopping for recycled building materials to aid in the historic look and feel of the house, Helen finds items attached to these events and buys them to incorporate into their home - the stunning hand-hewn main beam, a mantle, old bricks. There is a common thread running through each of the horrible tragedies - Hattie and her descendants. After a series strange events, it becomes clear to Nate and Helen that they are building a haunted house.

Most ghost stories require the reader to suspend reality to a certain degree, and that is to be expected, but the story should still have a realistic "feel" to it. On the whole, this story's concept was very good and I definitely enjoyed it, but it was in the close quarters of the "here and now-real world" part of the story where I felt that the fine line between suspending reality and keeping a realistic feel was really being tested, and kept it from being the really great story I thought it had the potential to be. For me,  it was easier to suspend reality for the otherworldly aspects of the story and they had a more realistic feel to them than the parts that were actually supposed to be more realistic. I had issues with two school teachers with limited construction experience building a house from the ground up by themselves, and also with with Olive's lack of school attendance and failure by every single adult to address it, but the basic plot was good enough to support the story for me, so overall I still see this as a good book.

Narration was provided by Amanda Carlin, and Justine Eyre who both performed well. Clear, with pleasant tones and cadence, and good character differentiation and range of emotion. 

The Invited by Jennifer McMahon is a ghost story with a unique and well thought out concept, but a story that may have fallen slightly shy of its potential. 

Happy Reading,

Christine

20 for 2020 Reading Challenge

As an Avid reader, I never need an excuse to read.  I like to think that I read a reasonably diverse range of books, but like most readers, I do have my comfort zone, - my "go-to" genres. 

I thought it would be fun to host a reading challenge designed to gently expand one's horizons and encourage the exploration of books we might not otherwise read, 

So behold! My 20 for 2020 reading challenge!

For any single reader, many of the individual challenges will not seem like much of a challenge at all.  I have included challenges based on genre and format, as well as other reading choices, so most readers will be able to do much of the list without even trying. But I think (hope) that readers will find a few on the list to gently nudge them out of their normal comfort zone to try something a little different for them. 

If you decide to take the challenge, please share your choices and progress on social media using the tag #20for2020Reading. 

So if you want to play along, here is how:

• The goal is to complete a list of 20 challenges in the year 2020 
• All books should be started and completed in 2020 - but late starters for the challenge can add their reads any time as long as the book was read 2020
• Books should only be used for one of the challenges on the list - No doubling up!
• Unless the challenge contains specific wording saying otherwise, Print, E-books, or audiobooks are all acceptable for any of the general challenges.
• Use Hashtag #20for2020Reading to post your progress and pairings (if you wish) to social media and please consider including a link to your review if you have posted one somewhere online (your blog, GoodReads, etc.). I would love to hear about your books and thoughts so please tag me on Twitter - @Page_Turned and/or Instagram - @thelastpageturned
• Have fun! That's what this is supposed to be about anyways 😊

1. The Backlist - Read a book that is at least 2 years old.
2. The Frontlist - Read a book that is a new release (less than 6 months old)
3. The Truth - Read a Non-Fiction title that is not a biography/memoir (True Crime, Documentary, etc.)
4. People Person Books - Read a Biography or memoir
5. The Quick and Easy - Read a novella or short book - 250 pages or less (or the audiobook equivalent) OR read a collection of short stories.
6. The Long Haul - Read a long book - 450 pages or more (or the audiobook equivalent)
7. Indie Inclined - Read an Indie or small press published title
8. Listen Up! - Listen to an audiobook
9. Long Ago - Read a book that takes place more than 25 years ago
10. Different Worlds - Read a Science Fiction or Fantasy Book
11. Reading on the Edge of Your Seat - Read a Thriller/Suspense/Mystery book
12. Traveler Through Books - Read a book that has been translated from another language
13. Young at Heart - Read a YA novel
14. Books That Go Bump In The Night - Read a Horror or Ghost story
15. New Beginnings - Start a new (to you) series or trilogy
16. Meet a New Author - Read a debut novel
17. Relationship Goals ...Or Not - Read a book that centers around the beginning or the end of a relationship/marriage. (Romance, Domestic Noir, etc)
18. Read a Movie - Read a book that is also a movie
19. The Winner is... - Read a book Short-listed for a major literary award
20. One World - Read a book written by, and that has a main character that is someone of a different color, culture, sexual orientation, or religion than you.

Happy Reading, 

Christine