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

The Glass Magician by Caroline Stevermer

The Glass Magician, by Caroline Stevermer

MacMillan-Tor/Forge - April 2020
Fantasy
E-book

Hrs:min /  Page count:
Awards and Honors if applic.
Thank source if applicable

* I received this digital ARC courtesy of MacMillan-Tor Forge, via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own.

A fun cross-genre book combining elements of YA, historical fantasy, and murder-mystery. 

Set in the New York of the early 1900's, society is divided into Solitaires - non-magical people, and Sylvestri - magical people. Thalia - a solitaire, is a successful stage magician with a popular show. Her partner is the man who cared for her and raised her after she was orphaned.

One night the act goes wrong, and she nearly dies - a sudden manifestation of magical ability is all that saved her. It turns out that she is not a solitaire after all, but a trader - a sylvestri. The arrival of these new abilities puts her in danger from Manticores - beasts who feast on uncontrolled magic and those who have it.  Around this same time that Thalia discovers her magic, her fiercest rival is killed while performing an act that the two rivals had been competing for.  The man who is her business partner and who raised her, is now accused of murder. Her only hope for survival is to learn how to control her new magical abilities before the manticores catch her; and her partner's only hope lies with Thalia, as only she can clear his name while he is jailed. 

Overall this is a good story. The characters are likable, and the mystery helped propel the reader through the story. But while Stevermer does a fairly good job of blending multiple genres into one tale, in doing so she seems to have missed shining too brightly in any single one of them. 

Happy Reading,

Christine

Quick Review: And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer, by Fredrik Backman

And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer, by  Fredrik Backman

Simon & Schuster Audio - 2019
Literary Fiction
Audiobook

1 Hour, 9 Minutes
Narrated by David Morse

Publisher's Summary:

From the New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, and Britt-Marie Was Here comes an exquisitely moving portrait of an elderly man’s struggle to hold on to his most precious memories, and his family’s efforts to care for him even as they must find a way to let go.

With all the same charm of his bestselling full-length novels, here Fredrik Backman once again reveals his unrivaled understanding of human nature and deep compassion for people in difficult circumstances. This is a tiny gem with a message you’ll treasure for a lifetime.

My thoughts:

The book might be small, but the story is huge. Real, raw, and filled to the brim with heart and emotion. Nobody can get to heart of what it is to love and be human the way that Fredrik Backman can. His stories always run the reader through the gamut of emotions with a balance and complexity few authors can compete with. This short book was no exception.

David Morse did a very good job narrating this audiobook and was well suited to the story. 

And Every Morning The Way Home Gets Longer and Longer is a great, quick read that will hit you right in the feels, and make you thankful to have picked it up.

Happy Reading,

Christine

Ramblings: Adjusting to Current Events

Adjusting to Current Events - What has changed at The Last Page Turned Book Blog 

An unplanned and unofficial hiatus

Today is the first Sunday of the month. Normally I would be posting a Sunday Summary; but i've got nothing.  I haven't written any reviews lately, in fact I have barely done any reading. Like many people I struggled to concentrate as so much information was coming at me. For the first time in a long time, I have struggled to follow audiobooks.  

Like a majority of other people, my world has been turned on its head.  I no longer have my evenings to relax with a good book and/or take the time to write a full review. I haven't  done any posts at all for the past month or so.  It has been an unplanned hiatus of sorts. 

I am still working full-time as a secretary in a major hospital, but my work hours are now coordinated with my husband's shift work to ensure that my 8 year old is always supervised and cared for now that schools and daycare centres are closed. When I am home, I am busy caring for my son and assisting him with school work (as I am the parent with more patience for such things). It seems the only time I have to read now is a few pages between falling into bed, and falling asleep. My weekends are spent catching up on quality time as a family since my only waking contact with my husband is as one come home and the other leaves for work, and shopping for everything we need as well as ensuring my mother who is 84 also has everything she needs as well.  As you all know, shopping is no longer a simple task. I used to order my groceries online, but now I can't even get a pick-up slot. I am forced to do it the hard way. 

I am hoping at some point to be granted the opportunity to do a majority of my work from home, but the nature of the information I deal with means it is easier said than done. I keep hoping though.  Going to work gives my the heebie jeebies these days.

At first it looked like life would be disrupted for a few weeks, but recent information points to this going on for months. I have finally come to accept that this is going to be a long term issue and I can no longer wait for life to return to normal. I do not want to give up books or blogging, so the only thing left to do, is figure out how to adapt and make this work. 

Returning to blogging regularly - Introduction of Quick Reviews

The one thing we have all been forced to do at times when life throws us curve balls, is adapt and try to make things work by doing things differently. Some changes occur on their own - I have less time to read, and I will have less reviews to write. Others require me to find a way to change - I hope to further address my lack of reading time by reducing the amount of time spent on certain reviews, shifting some of that time back to reading. 

For now at the very least, review copies and digital review copies generously provided to me by publishers, authors, or their representatives, will continue to reviewed the same way I have reviewed all books until now. 

For most, (if not all) books I that I have purchased or borrowed I will post reviews in a "Quick Review" format.  A Quick Review will include a star rating, the publisher's synopsis instead of my own, a few sentences speaking to what did or did not work for me, and any other thoughts that I feel compelled to share.  

I hope that these changes will allow me to return to posting more regularly in the coming days. I have no doubt that life will be unsettled for some time, and more changes may come in the weeks and months ahead. 

My hope is that those who read this are healthy and finding ways own ways to adapt to this new, current reality we all find ourselves in. We are in this together...just apart. 

Stay Safe, Stay Home. Read a Book.

Happy Reading, 

Christine.

Review: Darling Rose Gold, by Stephanie Wrobel

Darling Rose Gold, by Stephanie Wrobel

Simon & Schuster - Available March 17,2020
Thriller
E-book
320 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.

Darling Rose Gold is thriller with a strong sinister feel to it.

Rose Gold Watts was always sick. From the time she was baby, she struggled with allergies and digestive issues that left her frail, weak and confined to a wheelchair for the most part, and spending much of her time at hospital and doctor's offices. For eighteen years her single mother Patty counted on the support of the community for financial and moral support as Rose Gold's illness consumed their lives. 

When Rose Gold was eighteen, the cause of her illness was finally determined to be Patty.  Patty was charged, tried, and convicted with Rose Gold taking the witness stand against her. In the five years that Patty spent in prison, Rose Gold got a job, bought a house, and moved on with her life, and is now raising a baby herself. When Patty is released, she has no one else for support, and nowhere else to go. She turns to Rose Gold for a place to stay, and the community is shocked to find out that Rose Gold has actually agreed to take Patty in.

Has Rose Gold really forgiven Patty for all that happened to her?  Has Patty really forgiven Rose Gold for testifying against her in court?  Has Patty changed in the last five years? The mother-daughter duo play out a twisted drama you can't help but wonder who will be the winner and who will be the loser. All Mother-daughter relationships can be a little complicated at times, but this pair raise that bar to new heights.

This sinister feel to this story is almost tangible. Told in alternating points of view between these two women, it soon becomes clear that Rose Gold is not the sweet, demure victim she was as a child, and Patty's years behind bars have not improved her disposition.

The plot was well thought out and had a good twist at the end.  You might think you know what is going to happen, you might even figure out part of it,  but you probably won't understand the whole thing until the final pieces slide into place at the end. 

Happy Reading,

Christine

Sunday Summary: February 1 to 29, 2020

Oh, the days are definitely getting longer! Spring is in the air and I LOVE IT! The world may be a bit of a mess right now, but somehow spring always fills me with hope. What is it about spring? 

Of course, spring is a great time for book lovers. Many publishers start putting out hot books for occasional readers to enjoy along with the die-hard readers on beachy vacations and summer travel.  There are so many great books on the horizon, I am torn between the utter joy of it all, and a little sadness that I don't have enough time to read them all. There is great pleasure in trying though! 

2020 is a leap year, so 1 extra day of reading!

Click on image to be taken to the full posted review. 

I am currently Reading Darling Rose Gold, by Stephanie Wrobel. A Thriller about a deranged mother and her now grown daughter.  There is a definite creep factor at work in this book. 

I have a lot of good looking stories on my "to be read' list, but the next one up will likely be The Glass Magician, by Caroline Stevermer. Although the synopsis does refer to a strong romantic element, you simply cannot compare a story to Helene Wecker's The Golem and the Jinni and not pique my interest! (Still waiting for the sequel to that one - The Iron Season, which was originally anticipated in...2018...hmmm *checks calendar*, oh well, fingers crossed).

I have crossed 4 more of the categories off my list in February, bringing my total to 8.  I have left some categories unchecked that could have been crossed off (how many audiobooks have I read this year?!) but those will be an easy fill at any time. 

It is not too late to join the challenge - you can retro any books read in 2020.  To see the details of the challenge click HERE. 

1. The Backlist - Read a book that is at least 2 years old.- Good Omens, by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
2. The Frontlist - Read a book that is a new release (less than 6 months old) - Dear Edward, by Ann Napolitano
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. - Smile, by Roddy Doyle
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 – West Of Sin, by Wesley S. Lewis
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 Children of Virtue and Vengeance - by Tomi Adeyemi
14. Books That Go Bump In The Night - Read a Horror or Ghost story - The Invited, by Jennifer McMahon
15. New Beginnings - Start a new (to you) series or trilogy - Master of Sorrows, book 1 of The Silent Gods, by Justin Call
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 - To The River: Losing My Brother, by Don Gillmor
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

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