Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
3 star read... interesting story. Something I would not have picked up if it hadn't been on the summer reading list I'm following ( https://modernmrsdarcy.com/categories-summer-reading-guide-2018/). The basis of this story is a 36 year old woman, Keiko, has been working in the convenience store, part-time, for over 18 years. I liked how the author was able to introduce some themes/discussion points by use of Keiko's story. This book really brings to light how we all are judging others and there are certain societal norms that "pigeon hole" us into certain life paths. There can be assumptions made about who a person is, what their life means based on their profession, their marriage status, their educational background, etc. I struggled with feeling connected to the characters in the story and hence couldn't give it more stars. It was a quick read.
I'll Be Your Blue Sky by Marisa De Los Santos
4 stars... I love a story that is a combo of mystery and real life love. Plus, I'm a sucker for stories that take place in multiple time periods/eras. This one takes place in current day and 1950's. Clare's story is one of a present day young woman starting her life out- including marriage. Edith is also present in the present and meets Clare on her wedding day. However, you also go back to the 1950's for the real meat of Edith's story. I really can't share much without giving the story away. I found it an enjoyable read and I'll be searching out more books by Marisa De Los Santos in the future.
This is the World by Miroslav Sasek
4 stars. Great book for kids and adults. Reminds me of a vintage coffee table book. The book highlights various cities throughout the world. It is about 50 pages of beautiful art work and interesting facts about cities that will help open one's eyes to the world we live in. Made me want to pack my suitcase and start traveling. This will definitely be a gift I will be gifting to some of my favorite young readers.
The Dry (Aaron Falk #1) by Jane Harper
3 stars... I listened to this story on audio after I first read the 2nd in the Aaron Falk series . I really like detective Aaron Falk. I didn't get into this story as much as I did with her second book in the series, noted below. I found it somewhat a challenge to listen to the story on audio- if I didn't pay attention and really listen I'd lose some of the depth of the stories and building of the characters. This story is again based in Australia and involves a childhood friend of Aaron's. This friend commits suicide after he kills his wife and elementary aged son. The living survivor, Charlotte, a baby is the only one who was present during the crime. Aaron comes back to his home town to pay respects at the funeral, but soon becomes involved by a request from his friend's father to really look into what occurred. The father is certain it was not suicide, but murder that killed his son. For some reason I just couldn't quite get brought into this story.
The Hazel Wood (#1) by Melissa Albert
4 stars. I'm not a fantasy person and yet I really enjoyed this book. Alice, protagonist, has a famous grandmother who wrote a book of fairy tales (not the Disney kind, more like old school "Grimm's" scary fairy tales). Alice and her mom are estranged from this grandmother for reasons Alice doesn't quite understand. Alice and her mother have been on the run most of their lives. They are constantly moving and again Alice isn't really sure why. The story is really a mystery and Alice's quest to get the answers to the tie between her grandmother's book of fairy tales and how it plays into the meaning of her own life. They way the author introduces the story and then weaves in the fantasy was perfect for a "not" fantasy reader like me. Interesting story line/plot.
The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
4 stars. Sometimes a simple romance is good fro my reading soul. Even better when the simple romance has some twists. Steamy/real life bedroom scenes along with fast paced story line made this book so enjoyable. Alexa and Drew meet accidentally, and as the title of the books alludes to they attend a wedding together. There is more depth to this story line, you'll have to pick up the book to find out what the full story is.
Force of Nature (Aaron Falk #2) by Jane Harper
4 stars. A good mystery adds so much happiness to one's reading life. A well thought out and plotted story. Detective Aaron Falk is involved with a missing person case in the isolated forests of Australia. A team building hiking expedition gone wrong. I liked that this story was almost an all female cast of characters. I also appreciated the light being shed on a woman being at fault and possible of crime. I feel like Aaron Falk might be my next Harry Hole (detective from the Jo Nesbo series).
The Life and Times of Martin Luther by Meike Roth-Beck
3 stars...Read this picture book/biography with my daughter. With the recent celebration of the 500 years of Reformation (birth of Lutheran church/religion) I thought reading about the man who created Lutheran Religion would be good for me and my daughter to read about. We are Lutheran (ELCA) and so knowing about your religion and its history is, I think, a good thing. This book focused on the theses he created and then hammered to the catholic church's door. I felt it was lacking in information on his own personal story. The art work was very interesting and great symbolism of his life and the Lutheran religion.
We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter
5 stars. Epic family story of Jewish family living in Poland during WWII. I liked her writing style and the way she set up her chapter outline/format. She did a great job of interweaving historical fact with the story of this family's survival. I'll never tire of reading historical fiction from WWII. This story was based on the author's own family which I believe made it an even richer and genuine story.
The One (the selection #3) by Keira Cass
4 stars. I listened to this book, last in the series, on audio. It was probably my favorite of the series. Action packed and continuation of the "the selection" with four girls remaining. A easy read/listen series for YA and adults who enjoy YA.
The Seventh Most Important Thing by Shelley Pearsall
4 stars. Historical fiction and YA story good for junior high and older. A 7th grade boy throws a brick at "the junk man" and is arrested for this act of violence. His punishment is serving community service hours. The specifics of his probation involve him helping this same "junk man" do what the "junk man" does... pick up junk. This is a story about forgiveness, working off your debts, friendship, and art.