I read a great article online recently about why adults should read books from the kids’ section. One line that jumped out at me was “… the subtle quiI read a great article online recently about why adults should read books from the kids’ section. One line that jumped out at me was “… the subtle quiet power of children’s books.” It brought to mind one of my favorite children’s novels, Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai.
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Written in verse, this multi-award-winning bestseller chronicles a year in the life of Hà, a young girl displaced from her home in Saigon in 1975. She and her family relocate to Alabama and face a multitude of challenges, including a language barrier, hostile neighbors, and more.
The author’s note at the end of the book explains that much of what happened to Hà also happened to her. This totally made sense to me because the honesty in her writing you feel in your gut -- how powerless a person can feel in a world changing out of their control, how deeply a bully’s words can cut, and ultimately how courage, kindness, and hope can bring healing. It is a gorgeous book. The long-awaited sequel, titled When Clouds Touch Us, comes out in May.
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The Bladed Faith was a book I was looking forward to reading after having previously read other works by the author.
Anticipation for this release wasThe Bladed Faith was a book I was looking forward to reading after having previously read other works by the author.
Anticipation for this release was built up due to how well received the author’s previous trilogy was. This book consistently showed up in the recommendations of other books I enjoyed, so I just knew I had to get my hands on it.
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Our novel starts with a vivid and tense scene that dashes the hopes of our young prince, Cyrus, whose kingdom burns down around him. An invading empire destroyed everything he loves and put to death the gods of the small island nation like they have to numerous nations before. Cyrus must break his own shackles before he can contest the iron grip of the empire.
Cue the arduous training montage.
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Cyrus joins Thorda and his daughters, Stasia and Mari, and the rebellion they are spearheading against the super soldiers of the empire that has crushed many of Thorda’s rebellions before. The empire has never known defeat, and not only do they subjugate conquered nations, but they trample their religion and kill their gods.
Will Cyrus become a symbol of vengeance and hope for his people or will he be used and trampled on in another of Thorda’s failed revolutions? He has to determine if he is truly willing to lose it all to get his revenge.
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The book featured a vast array of characters where the POV chapters conveyed a unique voice for each character. Even though some characters felt like tropes, they were still interesting to read even if a few started to become generic. The diverse cast had diverse pasts as well that were enjoyable to read, with some that would make for interesting spinoffs.
I enjoyed how well combat scenes were written, and I liked how training for our main character wasn’t a simple time skip of a few months. The author took time and made our protagonist human even though he had to contend against god-slaying super humans.
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There was a lot of things to like about this book as I think it is the author’s best work to date. The start of the book was fantastic, but it started to meander in the middle before finally taking off again with a strong ending.
The premise and plot aren’t the most unique, but the afterword of the book gives a better understanding on how the book was written and explains why it wasn’t meant to be unique in the first place.
There were some unnecessary POVs in the novel that didn't really contribute to the story, but it was nice getting into the mindset of some supporting characters. I wasn’t really a fan of the main character’s romance (which came out of left field). I thought Stasia’s romance plot was more interesting.
Certain scenes felt out of place compared to the pacing of the novel such as the parties or even just celebrating with the group.
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The opening scene of the book was poignant and set up the novel well. I was satisfied with the ending and felt like it set up the next book too. The novel did include some surprise twists, though the only one that was surprising was the history of the island nation.
I enjoyed reading the afterword of the book, as it was interesting to read the process in which he developed the book with writing short stories about each character first and having to rewrite the entire setting.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more of this series. I have read quite a bit of the author's other books, and this felt like him maturing and finding his footing as an author with a more complete novel.
I would recommend this book to fans of the author and fans of fantasy books in general, as this was one of the better releases this year.
Being a grandparent has enriched my life in so many ways, including the books I read. Being on the lookout for children’s books to share with my grandBeing a grandparent has enriched my life in so many ways, including the books I read. Being on the lookout for children’s books to share with my grandsons, who have also become quite avid readers, I have discovered that children’s books can be very enjoyable for adults as well.
One of my favorite children’s nonfiction books is The Boys Who Challenged Hitler by Phillip Hoose.
This is a story of a group of boys living in Denmark during World War II, and the havoc they were able to cause for Hilter’s soldiers.
The boys were creative, resourceful, and clever in their efforts to sabotage the Nazis. I rate this book 5 stars!
He is judge, jury, and executioner. He is Sir Konrad Vonvalt, who strikes fear into the hearts of all with mysterious powers4.5 stars (rounded-up)
He is judge, jury, and executioner. He is Sir Konrad Vonvalt, who strikes fear into the hearts of all with mysterious powers.
I won’t lie, the premise had me hooked from the start. I had this on my TBR list from various blogs and even Goodreads lists as an anticipated fantasy debut for 2022.
The synopsis does a good job of painting a glorious picture of Konrad, who will be our main character, right? Well, that isn’t really the case.
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The story instead follows Helena, who is apprenticed to Sir Konrad, and we see the story through her eyes alone.
We follow her, Konrad, and Bressinger (an old friend of Konrad’s who is now employed by him) as they fulfill all of the duties expected of being a Magistrate of the Emperor, including dealing with heathens and religious zealots.
A murder case brings the party to a bustling town where underneath the calm exterior lies something that could cause an upheaval for the Empire and Sir Konrad himself. Our party must navigate the case delicately before political strife rumored to be at the center of the Empire can interfere.
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World settings based on the Roman Empire seem popular for debut fantasy books in the last few years. The empire in this book felt more of a cross between the Ancient Roman Empire and the Holy Roman Empire, since it contained aspects of both.
This is the third book I have read this year that uses the conflict between religious leaders wanting to usurp control over the Empire opposed to mages or other power users. The magic used in the book was only teased, but it felt unique in its own right.
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The religion of the empire reminded me of Judaism and early Christianity in how some books would borrow stories and characters from religions in the surrounding areas (like Samson and other parables, as well as naming demons after Sumerian deities).
I would say that is where the similarities end, as the religion was a unique beast of its own. It consumed religions of conquered kingdoms wholly and had numerous gods and creatures as a part of its mythos. Supernatural creatures existed such as a demon in another plane and a clan of people known as wolf men mentioned in the book.
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The characters in the novel were fleshed out especially considering the novel only followed one point of view. Helena was a complex character fueled by her tragic past and aspirations for a better future for herself.
The reader gets to follow her journey as she develops in the face of harsh realities. My slight gripe with Helena is how at times she seemed naïve and squeamish, considering she was a war orphan.
The relationships between characters really shined through the pages, especially Helena’s relationship with Konrad as she struggled to define it. The act of making Helena the point of view we follow allowed the author to slowly reveal parts of Konrad’s history while still keeping him mysterious and powerful.
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The novel was written well, especially for a debut novel. I could feel the conflict rising that continually built up my anticipation. The book elicited different emotions throughout due to the engaging writing. Different events and plot lines that didn’t seem connected at first were brought together, and a mystery was at the bottom of it all.
The plot was dark without getting too dark like other stories tend to do in the grimdark genre. The ending of the book hinted at exciting things to come in the series.
I liked this book and didn’t really have anything negative to say, except maybe with the synopsis. Konrad would have been great to follow as the main character, since the synopsis made it seem like he was the protagonist. I understand in the end why he wasn’t the main character though.
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I ended up really enjoying this book. I thought the entry was a great debut, and a great start of a series. It was mainly a fantasy book with mixes of a mystery thrown into the plot that set up future books to come.
I would recommend this book to fantasy fans and especially those who are fans of grimdark fantasy.
I am not too sure how this book got on my radar, but I think it had something to do with one of the SPFBO reviewers. The description of the book lookeI am not too sure how this book got on my radar, but I think it had something to do with one of the SPFBO reviewers. The description of the book looked like one of the coming-of-age tropes that is used ad nauseam but still a guilty pleasure of mine. Fantasy is probably my favorite genre, but it gets difficult to start a fantasy novel when I have been reading different genres lately. It took me a while to get into this, but the final third of the book more than made up for the beginning.
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Our book starts off following Emrael who is left to pick up the pieces of his family as his father goes missing during an incursion. His family are a part of a fallen ruling house of a subjugated kingdom; because of that he trains harder than everyone else to become a weapon master to support his family. That is until his entire world collapses when a corrupt noble joins forces with mysterious evil priests from across the ocean.
The coalition subjugates all of the artificers overnight in one swoop including Emrael’s brother, Ban. Emrael barely escapes the entrapment due to the help of his mentor, Jaina, who he finds out is a mage and spy from a neighboring kingdom tasked with protecting Emrael and Ban. The novel follows Emrael and his party while trying to elude their would-be captors and trying to enlist help to free his brother from an evil brotherhood with twisted machinations of their own.
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I don’t want to gush on parts of the book I liked since I tend to do that with fantasy books. Instead, I will focus on some critiques. The dialogue felt simple and awkward, especially in the beginning half of the book between characters. There were also background actions that characters did that were mentioned in passing that didn’t seem to fit with certain personalities portrayed.
One example that pops into my head is Jaina laughing and grinning (I’m probably imagining this, but I swear it says she was giggling) in the background when characters were telling stories. Past deeds of certain characters were told and not shown to exhibit the prowess of some characters, where it comes across as characters bragging and felt amateurish in a way.
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The story felt YA-ish at times as did the romance. The pace of the story also seemed rushed. Random POVs from different characters were randomly interspersed that I felt did not really contribute anything meaningful.
I did like that it was mainly just following Emrael’s POV, but it suffered with character development of other characters because of that. The supporting cast of characters felt like archetypes. There are scenes in the book where the author describes a person mysteriously, and it is obvious who that person is. The fact that the author doesn’t describe random background characters in the same way makes it stand out even more.
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Our main character, to put it so eloquently, is a bit thick in the head. (view spoiler)[ The number of times this fool marches into an enemy military stronghold and announces who he is laughable. He then proceeds to get imprisoned every single time. (hide spoiler)] Emrael spares the lives of certain opponents that the reader can tell will bite back at him, and doesn’t make the greatest decisions while in combat. Emrael runs around repeating that he needs to save his brother every chapter, but consistently journeys in the opposite direction.
Our protagonist is constantly called a peasant, yet contains a more powerful lineage than almost every character in the book. Emrael is supposedly one of the most elite fighters in all of the lands, yet constantly struggles against foes. He should be learning magic, but the ones who can teach him don’t think it’s pertinent to train him even considering the foes lining up in front of him.
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I know I really ripped into the book, but it still was an enjoyable experience for me. I actually think it was a pretty good debut work, and I could see the writing improve as the novel progressed. The quick pacing of the story also was a positive in the end because it held my attention. The world in the novel felt unique enough, with plenty of unexplored places that could be the settings of future books.
The actions scenes were done well, and the whole magic system was a complex construct that was easy to understand. The book ended at a satisfying place with the right amount storylines unresolved to keep me interested in the sequel book. Surprisingly enough, I think I want more point of views in a follow-up book, such as more Jaina or Sarlon chapters, since they feel like more complex characters.
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Overall, I did enjoy the book, especially the last third of it. There were some aspects that I was frustrated with, but considering it was debut novel, they felt like minor road bumps in the grand scheme of things. I would recommend this to fantasy fans or fans of young adult fantasy as it was a pretty solid debut novel. I can only see the series improving even further from here.
Tailspin will be our book club's December selection. We are always on the lookout for local authors! To find a copy of the book, please check out our Tailspin will be our book club's December selection. We are always on the lookout for local authors! To find a copy of the book, please check out our catalog, Hoopla, or Libby. Happy reading!
Tailspin is one of those nonfiction books that grip you like a thriller novel. Let me explain.
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This is a WWII story centering around Wisconsin-born tail gunner Gene Moran. The story told in newspapers was that he survived falling four miles to the ground when his plane, the Rikki Tiki Tavi, was shot down over Germany.
Mind you, he fell without a parachute in the tail section of the plane, which had separated from the rest of the aircraft, and survived! Tailspin catches us up on the events leading to the plane being shot down and Gene’s travails afterwards.
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What the newspapers didn’t cover was the immense trauma Gene experienced throughout his time in military service. (The fall alone is incredibly traumatic.)
He survives when he is patched back together at a German prisoner-of-war (POW) camp, one of three the Germans shuffle him and his fellow prisoners around to as the Allies gradually advance from the west.
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Even though Germany ostensibly signed up to the Geneva Convention and had to treat Allied POWs with care, conditions in these prison camps were awful.
Diseases spread rapidly among prisoners that already were not at their best, having been caught during combat missions in or over German territory. (The Soviet Union had not signed on to the Geneva Convention. The brief descriptions of the Soviet prisoners in these camps, however, were even more chilling, as Germany treated them as subhuman.)
Often, the prisoners were evacuated as bombings were in progress, cruelly snatching away what they thought was their freedom, only to have to march at a merciless pace in awful weather to whatever place was next. For people in already bad shape, this led to further deaths from disease, exposure, and starvation.
There was a considerable amount of gallows humor, but that is understandable.
Camaraderie develops almost immediately between prisoners caught in the same horrible circumstances, leading to Gene developing some friendships that lasted long after the war.
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Gene is much braver than I will ever be. May he rest in peace.
But Gene’s story is only part of Tailspin, believe it or not.
At the time Wisconsin-based historian and author John Armbruster is interviewing Gene for the book, his wife, Carmen, is suffering through metastatic breast cancer that has spread to her brain.
Despite relentless chemotherapy, the brain tumor keeps recurring. Armbruster gracefully interweaves these two narratives, his wife’s declining health and Gene’s WWII survival story.
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Throughout Tailspin, both men work out their trauma with each other during their “Thursdays with Gene” interviews.
This process is incredibly moving, watching both become the best of friends during and after the interview process. (view spoiler)[ The story of Gene and his family trying to hold things together as Gene struggles with his mental health will just break your heart. (hide spoiler)]
Tailspin is a great read. However, make sure to have a box of tissues next to you! If your reading experience is anything like mine, Tailspin will stick with you long after you finish the story.
Eyes of the Void, the second book in Adrian Tchaikovsky's "The Final Architecture" series, manages to avoid many of the typical pitfalls of sequel booEyes of the Void, the second book in Adrian Tchaikovsky's "The Final Architecture" series, manages to avoid many of the typical pitfalls of sequel books.
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Readers are thrust immediately into the action of an ever-shifting galactic political landscape, rival factions at each other's throats when the larger threat of the Architects becomes as salient as it had during the first conflict. A conflict where humanity was almost wiped out, along with its alien allies.
Except this time, the Architects, moon-sized entities that use gravity to annihilate whole planets, have managed to circumvent the protection of Originator artifacts that spooked them in the last war. (view spoiler)[The Originators are an elder race presumed to have left behind their artifacts when they disappeared, along with the Throughways, shortcuts through space that many species use to get to far away destinations quickly. (hide spoiler)]
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You'd think humanity and its alien allies would seek a unified approach to this problem, especially since the scare-factor of the Originator artifacts has worn off.
It appears that even the breakaway human religious colonies that joined the protection of the technologically-advanced Hegemony, who have sole dominion over most of the Originator artifacts and can transport them safely, are no longer safe.
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Well, to make a long story short, there are powers behind the scenes that are seeing opportunity in the impending destruction and chaos. (view spoiler)[The more rich and powerful in the human colonies want to start a war with the Parthenon, another breakaway human faction, when tensions between the two parties are at their highest in quite a while. In the chaos, the chosen few humans would become nomadic and forever live on generational arc ships. (hide spoiler)]
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Yet, those nominally on the side of a unified front, are seeking a new weapon against the Architects. Among them is our beloved and frankly exhausted Int, Idris Telemmier, capable of interfacing with the Architects and seeing into "unspace," (places where, in theory, nothing made of ordinary matter should be able to exist). Along for the ride is his crew of the salvage ship The Vulture God, led by the new captain, my favorite ever-salty Olli.
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When a research expedition on a Hegemony planet known as Arc Pallator goes horribly wrong, Idris is lost to his ship and crew, but lands in the hands of a handful of shady characters on a world named Criccieth's Hell. Let me tell you, this place is aptly named. A planet, formerly more friendly to life, was stripped of its protective atmospheric layers, leaving it vulnerable to their star's harsh radiation.
The only things that survive on the surface are these plants that use a process called "nuclear photosynthesis." I guess when life gives you radioactive lemons, you make radioactive lemonade?
These are scary, scary things, capable of growing faster than plants should, and are literally trying to pry open this facility, waiting for the shields to fail. (I may or may not have nightmares about these murderous plants.)
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(Venus flytraps are play-toys compared to the Criccieth's Hell plants.)
Anyways, these renegade scientists have a mysterious "Machine" of Originator origin that is still up-and-running that can see into unspace, the presumed home of the Architects (it is housed in a facility which is barely holding back the life-killing radiation and aggressive plants outside).
Their crew is led by a Naeromathi alien out for revenge against the Architects. (Get this, the alien's name is Ahab.) (view spoiler)[His species' home world was destroyed long ago by the Architects, leaving the Naeromathi permanently ship-bound and nomadic. (hide spoiler)] They need Idris's Int abilities to interface with unspace and find some critical clue that was missed in the disaster of the Arc Pallator expedition.
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Spoiler alert, they do find the key to the universe they are looking for. Of course, I won't spoil what it is, but let's just say all hell breaks loose, and Idris and company is trapped in Criccieth's Hell with time running out to get away and share the game-changing knowledge Idris has gained.
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Eyes of the Void is an engaging sequel that ups the ante for what appears to be a last stand of humanity and its alien allies in the next (and final) book. It is a trilogy after all, and the way things stand at the end of Eyes of the Void, it's going to be spectacular, I'm sure.
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See is fascinating historical fiction mainly set in 1930s Los Angeles. In 1937, siReview originally published November 2016
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See is fascinating historical fiction mainly set in 1930s Los Angeles. In 1937, sisters Pearl and May are “beautiful girls” in Shanghai, the Paris of Asia, where everyone is separated by race, money, and power. The girls knew very little of life other than their own privileged one. Their family had servants and the girls wore beautiful clothes and jewelry.
Pearl and May went out at night and worked as calendar models. Their lives change suddenly when their father, on the verge of bankruptcy, arranges marriages for both sisters to two Chinese-American brothers in Los Angeles.
The Chinese were fighting the Japanese in the late 1930s, before WWII. Pearl and May, in traveling with their mother to the port that would take them to their new husbands, suffered horrible indignities at the hands of the Japanese. These events would shape the rest of their lives.
It is not easy or simple once they arrive in the US either. They are detained, interrogated, and humiliated at Angel Island, an immigration entrance to the US. They make a life in Los Angeles, and throughout the story so much Chinese culture and tradition is explained. Some of the most interesting beliefs are related to the roles of men and women.
Boy babies were prized, while giving birth to a girl was thought to be unlucky. Boys were supposed to take care of their parents in the afterlife. I found the cultural traditions concerning marriage, weddings, pregnancy, childbirth, and post-partum care fascinating. Chinese-Americans in the 1950s were afraid of being deported, because many living in the US had false identities.
During the war against communism, Chinese in California were perceived as possible communists. Authorities were watching the newspapers they bought and checked on money being sent to China.
The relationship of sisters is a major theme in this novel. Throughout their lives, Pearl and May have their differences but are always devoted to each other and want to stay together. Their bond withstands hardships, sadness, and change.
Lisa See is also the author of bestseller Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, which I have also read. It too is an excellent read, informative about Chinese culture, and has a truly engaging story.
I highly recommend both novels!
These titles can both be found at our La Crosse County Library locations in Bangor, Campbell, Holmen, Onalaska, or West Salem. For more information about any of our services, check out our website at www.lacrossecountylibrary.org.
This is the second book I have read written by Alma Katsu with the first being The Hunger. The story mainly has to do with the Japanese internment caThis is the second book I have read written by Alma Katsu with the first being The Hunger. The story mainly has to do with the Japanese internment camps of WWII with a mixture of horror, which is interesting to read about since you can compare it to multiple adaptions.
Off the top of my head, I remember a season of Teen Wolf and the second season of The Terror tackling the internment camps with some horror/supernatural type of twist. In fact, I liked the first season of The Terror so much that I read the book it was based on...which got me into reading The Hunger in the first place.
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The novel follows four different point of views that become connected one way or the other. Meiko and her daughter, Aiko, must survive in an internment camp after being betrayed by close acquaintances where they face ostracism from other Japanese prisoners due to the fact Meiko is married to a white military pilot serving in the war. Things take a turn for the worse when they realize something is running rampant through the population.
Archie is a minister whose life and faith fell apart after an explosion took everything from him. He must battle his demons or succumb to the sickness and racism that seems to be gripping his whole parish and town. Jane is a journalist who starts to notice strange incidents and illnesses intertwined across the country. It doesn’t take her long to realize that somehow even the Internment Camps might be involved. The main characters race to get to the bottom of this wave of sickness before it is too late.
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The novel was different than what I expected. I kept comparing this novel with the author’s previous work I read. In The Hunger, the tone of the book was really heavy, dark and somber with all the characters in one large caravan. This story wasn’t quite as bleak, and the characters were spread out through the US. I guess the The Terror: Infamy spoiled me since I wanted to experience more of the story in the camp with more interactions on all involved there.
The story felt a little less historical too compared to the author’s other works, but then again that could be because of the modern parallels she drew in the story. It was interesting to see the different takes on supernatural horror done with the internment camps. Teen Wolf had a Nogitsune, The Terror: Infamy had a Bakemono/Yurei, and this book had (view spoiler)[ a Jorōgumo. Well maybe. The book hints at that it could be or that it might not be as well. (hide spoiler)].
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Another thing that I enjoyed in this book over the other book I read by the author is that I like the characters more in this one. I liked Fran as a character especially since she kept following the mystery despite all of the obstacles put in her path. The thing I disliked was how she was phased out of the story after a certain point. Archie was a bit of a coward and hard for me to like until the end.
I enjoyed Meiko as a character with all of the struggles she went through, but at times, she felt cold with little personality. It could be a cultural thing, but even with her daughter the relationship felt different at times. Speaking of Aiko, I wanted more of her as a POV in the story. The differing views between her and her mother could have been great.
(view spoiler)[ I was thrown for a loop when it came down to the explanation of the sickness. Was it more scientific or more supernatural? I understood that it came from the spiders, but was the lady in the kimono a hallucination or was it the actual demon and everything was a curse? At first, I thought the balloons could have been the ones that Meiko’s father originally used to test the winds, but then I surmised that these balloons were probably released intentionally by the Japanese military. Some other things I wondered about were why it seemed “The Fervor” caused white men to get whipped up into a racist mindset instead of death like the camp inhabitants. I also wondered about its effect on women in general since it didn’t really cover many female victims. (hide spoiler)]
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Overall, I enjoyed this story more than previous works I have read by the author. I like historical fiction with a mixture of horror so of course I enjoyed this book. I just wish there was a little more of the horror element. Outside of horror fans, I think someone who wants to know more about the era and Japanese internment camps would enjoy this without having to read through a nonfiction book.
In 2017, a mere two years away, the world will recognize the one hundredth anniversary of the Russian ReReview originally published September 2015
In 2017, a mere two years away, the world will recognize the one hundredth anniversary of the Russian Revolution: a violent, prolonged event that saw the demise of the nation’s once great tsarist empire and the rise of what would eventually become the Soviet Union. The first Soviet forced labor camps were established as early as 1918, and would quietly exist (in one form or another) for the next sixty-eight years, until Mikhail Gorbachev approved a general pardon for all Soviet political prisoners in 1986.
The Gulag, as this stunningly complex web of camps and government bureaucracy would become known, took the lives of millions of Soviet citizens and foreigners alike. It is estimated that between 1929 and 1953 alone, at least 18 million people were sent to the camps, and another six million exiled (actual numbers can never be known due to imprecise Soviet documentation and the destruction of records).
Yet, despite such staggering statistics, most people in the Western world have little, if any, knowledge of the Gulag system. It is a hidden history, but one that receives the delicate, insightful treatment it deserves in the well-researched Gulag: A History by Anne Applebaum.
For a history buff like myself, Applebaum’s book is a diamond in the rough, providing extensive survivor interviews, historical photographs and diagrams, and excerpts from poetry and prose written by both survivors and victims alike. The author reminds readers early on that this is not simply a technical, chronological history of the Gulag, but “[a]t the same time, this is a book about life in the Gulag” that explores every corner of a person’s time served in a camp.
In fact, Applebaum devotes an entire section of Gulag to this human aspect of the Soviet labor camp system, with chapters like “Work in the Camps,” “Women and Children,” and “Strategies of Survival.”
While perhaps not the cheeriest of reads, Gulag: A History provides a much needed introduction for general readers to an important facet of modern history that has remained incredibly enigmatic, even been avoided, for far too long. As Applebaum states, “[t]his book was not written ‘so that it will not happen again,” as the cliché would have it. This book was written because it almost certainly will happen again.” A thorough understanding of the past is therefore the only way to truly comprehend our future.
Find this book and more like it through the La Crosse County Library system, with locations in Holmen, Onalaska, West Salem, Bangor, and Campbell.
If you enjoy historical fiction, The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure is well worth the read time, which Review originally published April 2014
If you enjoy historical fiction, The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure is well worth the read time, which will be brief because it’s a page turner. It’s 1942 in German occupied Paris, and for architect Lucien Bernard, the question of survival takes a turn when he must confront his willingness to risk his life for people he doesn’t even know and for a cause he doesn’t believe in. Lucien very talented but is also greedy and unlikeable with little compassion, which makes him perfect for the job.
When a rich businessman persuades Lucien to adapt an apartment to create a hiding place for a wealthy Jew, he takes it as a challenge. Tensions rise as he gets drawn deeply into the plans of both the occupiers and the Resistance. After one careless mistake results in tragedy, Lucien is fueled to reevaluate his life.
The writer does an excellent job of reminding the readers of the horrors that were very present at that time. The constant fear of the Parisians and the brutality that the Jews faced are palpable. Food is scarce, black market goods are costly, and neighbors don’t hesitate to rat one another out to save their own hides! Given the torture inflicted by the Nazis, you can hardly place blame.
The architectural references are interesting, and they draw from the fact that the author is an architect by profession. This is a debut novel for Belfoure, and I would not be surprised to see more of his writing. I might mention that the cover art is very intriguing as well: a small child peeking out of a small space, and you can clearly see the gold star sewn on her shirt.
It’s hard to describe this book as enjoyable because the subject matter is so disturbing, painful, and unenjoyable. I feel as if I am paying homage to the victims by reading this genre. The events of the Holocaust should never be forgotten or go untaught. When you consider that all the victims and perpetrators surrounding the Holocaust will soon be gone, it is even more imperative that we keep this part of history alive.
See also:
Other books on the subject you may find interesting are:
Anne Frank, Diary of a Young Girl Sophie’s Choice Schindler’s List Unbroken The Boy With the Striped Pajamas The Book Thief The Pianist Night The Reader
Just to name a small few!
All of these books and many more on the subject can be found at your local library.
Copies of The Paris Architect can be found in any of our La Crosse County library locations at Onalaska, Holmen, Bangor, Campbell, and West Salem, which are all a part of the Winding Rivers Library System. The book comes in regular print, audio CD, and e-book. Please check out our website at www.lacrossecountylibrary.org for catalog resources or for upcoming programming schedules. You can find us on Facebook as well!
As I read Laura Hillenbrand's Unbroken, a stirring and triumphant account of the disturbing experiences of AmReview originally published July 2011
As I read Laura Hillenbrand's Unbroken, a stirring and triumphant account of the disturbing experiences of American Olympic runner and World War II POW, Louis Zamperini, I was struck by the amount of research Hillenbrand had to have done to put this book together.
Hillenbrand tells Louie Zamperini’s story as a nearly continuous flow of suspense. She opens with a gripping two-page glimpse of Army Air Forces bombardier, Zamperini, in mortal danger, lying on a raft in the Pacific in June of 1943. He and three other survivors of a plane crash are skeletal after 27 days at sea. Hillenbrand writes:
"Sharks glided in lazy loops around them, dragging their backs along the rafts, waiting."
Spotting a plane, Zamperini fires off two flares only to discover that he has signaled a Japanese bomber.
After that powerful scene, Unbroken goes along at full speed for the first four sections of the book. Hillenbrand shows that Zamperini was untamable from birth; he had an energetic defiance that needed to be harnessed.
At his brother’s suggestion, Zamperini decided to try track, and he became one of the fastest runners on earth. At age 19, he came to national attention when he ran a 56-second last lap in the 5,000-meter race at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. He was busy breaking records during an interesting and tumultuous time as the country was in the throngs of the depression. Then the 1940 Olympics were canceled, and Zamperini went to war.
As the country, and Zamperini, rolled into war, it was his hardy optimism that would define him, and ultimately save his life. He would spend 47 days at sea before being captured by the Japanese. From then until the war's end in 1945, he was engaged in a hair-raising struggle to survive; but it is the tension of Zamperini's fight to live in barbaric conditions that makes Unbroken so disturbing and thrilling.
Toward the end of the story, I found myself thinking about Zamperini’s family, and I was reminded how war reaches out its tentacles to more than just the soldier.
I was grateful that Hillenbrand included in the book the life that Zamperini lived (and is still living at 93) after the war. As one can imagine, you can’t live through a nightmare like that without a constant battle with demons. Hillenbrand describes how a meeting with Billy Graham helped Zamperini claim a lasting victory over his deep wounds.
I consider this a must-read book, even if you don’t have a strong interest in historical nonfiction or running. Hillenbrand does an excellent job of making this book a true page turner. Laura Hillenbrand is also the author of Seabiscuit, another truly read-worthy book.
Unbroken comes in regular or large print, as well as audio format and electronic book. To check this book out or reserve a copy, please call one of the La Crosse County Libraries in Bangor, Campbell, Holmen, Onalaska, and West Salem or visit us at www.lacrossecountylibrary.org.
Although not a regular reader of graphic novels, I made the decision to bring a little attention to this area of the Library’s collection (and there’sAlthough not a regular reader of graphic novels, I made the decision to bring a little attention to this area of the Library’s collection (and there’s a lot more available on Hoopla). That said, I’ve long been a sucker for a well told superhero story, which is a category in which I feel comfortable placing Strange Adventures, even if it does suffer from some of the issues that generally lead me to look for these types of stories in movies/television shows rather than the comic books that are, after all, the original source material.
Strange Adventures is published by DC Comics, and features cameos of many of the better-known characters, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, etc. – characters who have permeated popular culture. However, the story revolves around a character with a somewhat lower profile – Adam Strange. For those who, like myself, had not previously encountered this character, he was an archeologist who ended up being transported to the planet Rann, where he obtained a laser gun and jet pack, became a war hero, and married a princess. I’ll give you a moment to allow your suspension of disbelief to kick in and just go with it.
The character has been retconned several times, but most of the above elements seem to be fairly consistent. In King’s story however, Strange’s designation as a ‘hero’ is called into question over potential involvement in war crimes committed while defending Rann from the invading Pykkt. The story is told through flashbacks to the war intercut with scenes from Strange’s present, in which he is attempting to retire back on Earth and an investigation into his past is launched. Stakes are raised by the fact the Pykkt’s next target is Earth. For the most part the jumps back and forth are clear enough, though there were occasions it got a bit disorienting.
Despite the fact that Strange plays a central role to everything that happens in the book, in my opinion the compelling part, perhaps even the heart of the story, was the evolving relationship between Strange’s wife, Alanna, and the man leading the investigation into him, Michael Holt a.k.a. Mr. Terrific. I had actually set out with the idea of highlighting a graphic novel that was not a superhero story, if only to do something a little different. I picked up this one not realizing it was about a well-established character in the DC Comics universe, but this aspect of the story kept me reading all the way to the end…and, if you’ve read this far, I think it is worthy of your time, too.
Every now and then an author writes a book that I can’t get out of my mind. William R. Forstchen has written sReview originally published May 2009
Every now and then an author writes a book that I can’t get out of my mind. William R. Forstchen has written such a story in One Second After. It is an intriguing account of Earth and the lives of its inhabitants in one small town in the aftermath of an EMP, an electromagnetic pulse.
As Newt Gingrich explains in his introduction, an EMP is like a super lightening bolt striking your neighbor’s house, only infinitely worse. It will smack your town, your state, or even your entire nation, as in Forstchen’s story, with devastating consequences. It could destroy our entire complex electrical grid and everything attached into that grid.
In this story, a nuclear bomb is detonated in the atmosphere above the States, disabling almost all of the computers, phones, appliances and cars, and sending our nation back to the Middle Ages.
A professor named John Matherson, and his family, are forced to deal with the reality of starvation, disease, refugees, and roving gangs of barbarians. One second before, John complacently describes his community as “a damn Norman Rockwell painting.” One second after, the America we know and love is gone.
The first problem that John’s family faces is finding out what happened. The phones go dead and the power goes off, which isn’t unusual in itself. Then nobody shows up for a birthday party. Cars don’t work, but nobody can call, because all phones are out.
Things begin to go really sour when refugees from cars stopped on the highway become belligerent mobs and the nursing home becomes like a scene from The Twilight Zone. John’s diabetic daughter can’t live without her refrigerated insulin. Starvation and disease begin to take a toll.
Still, it is not clear what has happened. Nevertheless, the rising emergency has to be dealt with, and John finds himself in charge of his community’s militia (university students) and public executions (by firing squad).
The scary thing is this could really happen! According to Captain Bill Sanders of our US Navy and an expert on this topic, “a well designed nuclear weapon detonated at a high altitude over Kansas could have damaging effects over virtually all of the continental United States.” This apocalyptic story is told as a warning of what might be our future.
Now I can add EMP to my list of things to worry about: global warming, pandemic, EMP…
One Second After is my favorite book this year. (Last year’s favorite, The Host by Stephanie Meyer, is still near the top of the Best Seller List.)
Although I haven’t started wearing a tin foil hat, I did Google survival food! I decided that The Gardener’s Bedside Reader, with short essays by various authors, would be a relaxing read after this harrowing story. It is a really good book, except I started thinking that I better can the tomatoes this year instead of freezing them because an EMP could take out the freezer!
Whether reading by an electric lamp or by candle light, the La Crosse County Libraries have a book for your mood, whether you visit the library in Bangor, Campbell, Holmen, Onalaska, or West Salem.
While browsing our new nonfiction shelf, an interesting title caught my eye. Abraham Lincoln’s ExtraordinReview originally published February 2009
While browsing our new nonfiction shelf, an interesting title caught my eye. Abraham Lincoln’s Extraordinary Era written by K.M. Kostyal and National Geographic. It seemed so interesting with all the references made this past political season.
Have we not all grown up reading stories about President Lincoln? Remember his stovepipe hat, him reading by candlelight, and splitting logs for a cabin?
As I rapidly read through the "Forward" section and proceeded to take a glance at the contents, I realized how little I knew about our legendary Lincoln. For instance: Lincoln was attracted to Mary Todd because of her sharp mind for politics and his half-hearted proposal was initially turned down due to his lack of manners. Also, Lincoln’s young sons kept pet goats and a pony on the White House grounds and sometimes even in the White House!
Mary Todd Lincoln is very much revealed and a huge part of Lincoln’s history. She is ranked as one of America’s most controversial First Ladies. Mary is described as wily, vain, arrogant, a pathological spendthrift, intelligent, charming, energetic, and well educated.
What historians can not agree upon, however, is if Mary was emotionally imbalanced or simply difficult. Was she Lincoln’s helpmate or hindrance? Did her hardships excuse her behavior or not? First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln is as fascinating as her husband!
Thousands of books have been written on Lincoln. Many people say his most lasting legacy is without a doubt, inspiration. Hundreds of images depict Lincoln’s life from his simple beginnings, to his leadership as the 16th president in this truly great and interesting book.
It is a journey through the life and times of Lincoln’s era. Abraham Lincoln’s Extraordinary Era is the official book of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.
Find this book and other titles within our catalog.
Last month, American voters spoke loud and clear that our nation is in need of a change in the current poReview originally published December 2008
Last month, American voters spoke loud and clear that our nation is in need of a change in the current political atmosphere. After serving as President of the United States for eight years, George W. Bush will leave office with the lowest approval rating of any president in our recent memory.
Believe it or not, President Bush is not the first president to make catastrophic decisions while in office. Failures of the Presidents by Thomas J Craughwell is a fascinating book that details what really happened during many conflicts in American history, such as the Whiskey Rebellion under the presidency of George Washington and The Bay of Pigs under John F. Kennedy.
What do George W. Bush and our fourth president, James Madison, have in common? President Madison was convinced that that the British were responsible for recruiting Shawnee Chief Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa to drive white settlers out of Illinois, Iowa, and Ohio, which would ease the way for the British to carry out a grand scheme to take over all of New England. Both claims were false.
President Madison then convinced Congress that the British were responsible for suffocating American commerce, as well as forcing American citizens to serve on British warships while violating American waters. Congress believed him, and by a narrow margin voted to declare war on the British, which resulted in The War of 1812.
Lasting two years and 8 months, 20,000 Americans lost their lives in addition to 17,000 lives lost due to disease in military camps and Indian raids. National debt doubled and by November of 1814, the federal government was virtually bankrupt.
Read about Richard Nixon’s part in the Watergate Scandal as well as the bombing of Cambodia, Grover Cleveland’s order to involve military forces to settle a strike by Pullman railroad workers, and Jimmy Carter’s mistakes during the Iran Hostage Crisis and many others.
This book and many other historical accounts of America’s past are available at the five County Libraries located in Holmen, Onalaska, West Salem, Bangor and Campbell or visit us online at www.lacrossecountylibrary.org.
This book has been on my to-read list for a long time, and when my cousin lent it to me recently, I finally read it. Pachinko by Lee Min-jin tells theThis book has been on my to-read list for a long time, and when my cousin lent it to me recently, I finally read it. Pachinko by Lee Min-jin tells the story of a fictional Korean family over four generations, from their roots in Korea to their immigration to Japan. I don't feel that my words can do this beautiful, sad story any justice, but I will do my best.
The first generation is Hoonie and Yangjin, their families united in the shadow of Japan's occupation of Korea. Hoonie has a palate cleft, something that leads him to be frequently ostracized, but Yangjin loves him for his hard-working nature and kindness. After multiple miscarriages, Yangjin gives birth to Sunja, their only child and daughter, whom they treasure. Yangjin and Sunja run a boardinghouse for income after Hoonie's death, along with two servant girls who become like the sisters Sunja never had.
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Sunja, smart and sensible, yet curious, succumbs to the charms of an older married man, Koh Hansu, whom she met at the market. (view spoiler)[Turns out that this guy is a yakuza boss, but no one knows until much later in the story. (hide spoiler)] She quickly realizes that she is pregnant, but when she shares this news with her lover, he reveals he has a wife and three daughters in Japan. Sunja spurns him after he offers to make her his wife in Korea, while keeping his other wife in Japan. She doesn't want to be bought.
She sees a second chance when a sickly Presbyterian minister named Isak Baek (Isak after Isaac in the Bible) passes through the boardinghouse on the way to Osaka. After learning of Sunja's situation, he offers to marry her and bring her to Japan, so that her child would grow up with a father. Sunja agrees, and the young couple moves to Osaka, Japan. (view spoiler)[But guess where Hansu and his family live? Osaka, of course. (hide spoiler)]
Sunja and Isak move into a house in a Korean neighborhood (Ikaino) with Isak's brother, Yoseb, and wife, Kyunghee. Amidst all the poverty and frequent discrimination shown to Koreans, they manage to have hope. They worked hard to make a living, and it seemed like they would be able to leave their chidren, Noa and Mozasu, in a much better position to have good lives. Yet, during WWII, Isak and other Christian ministers are arrested for defiance at compulsory ceremonies to pledge allegiance to the Emperor.
"Sunja-ya, a woman’s life is endless work and suffering. There is suffering and then more suffering. It’s better to expect it, you know. You’re becoming a woman now, so you should be told this. For a woman, the man you marry will determine the quality of your life completely. A good man is a decent life, and a bad man is a cursed life—but no matter what, always expect suffering, and just keep working hard. No one will take care of a poor woman—just ourselves."
Two years pass, where in desperation, Sunja, Kyunghee, and Yoseb scramble to provide for the family, minus Isak's meager income, and keep Noa and Mozasu in school. This leads to Sunja and Kyunghee selling kimchi at the market to supplement Yoseb's sparse earnings, where they meet Kim Changho, a restaurant owner with connections to Koh Hansu. There finally is some stability in the family income with the women working at the restaurant--unaware at first of the relationship between Kim and Hansu.
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Then, Isak reenters the story in the most heartbreaking way. On death's door after poor treatment in the Japanese prison, he crawls his way home, scaring everyone because of how unrecognizable he's become after his abominable treatment. Not long after, Isak passes, leaving a shattered family in his wake. Sunja truly loved him and it devastated her to have lost a person who had treated her with such love and respect. Yoseb struggles to find work, and finally finds a promising position in Nagasaki.
I gotta say, the women in this story suffered so much, especially Sunja and Kyunghee. Through their perspectives, I think I understood why Lee Min-jin chose the title for the book. Like the game of chance, their lives were similarly unpredictable, but they had to keep playing, to keep going, while there was a chance to succeed. Some in life win, while so many others don't have the same luck as others. Where and when you are born, and the socioeconomic status of your family, act as nearly insurmountable barriers to keep you from making better lives for your descendants.
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I firmly believe that Isak's, and then Yoseb's, deaths scarred the family so much that Noa and Mozasu were inevitably destined to scatter to the four winds. Noa runs away from Osaka to start an anonymous life in Nagano, ashamed of his biological father's connection to the yakuza. (view spoiler)[When his mother tracks him down with the help of Hansu, he ends up committing suicide. (hide spoiler)]His children, I don't think, ever meet the other members of their extended family, as they stay away at Noa's funeral.
Meanwhile, Mozasu's little family is shattered when his wife, Yumi, passes after being hit by a taxi driven by a drunk driver. She pushed her son, Solomon, out of the way just in time. Solomon grows up in the shadow of his mother, who he didn't know very well. Etsuki, a single mother, enters their lives, and Solomon adopts her as a mother figure. (By the end of the book, it's a will-they-won't-they, with Mozasu and Etsuki teetering on the edge of marriage.)
Solomon doesn't have many friends, and when Etsuki's troubled daughter, Hana, enters his life, he finds in her his first real friend. Which made it even harder when Hana passes away after contracting what I suspect was HIV/AIDS.
This poor family just can't catch a break. And yet, life goes on, must go on. Sunja is determined to make it so.
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"History has failed us, but no matter."
This poignant familial epic is one I would highly recommend for everyone to read. Just make sure you have a box of tissues with you while you do so.
Once you finish the book, there is a limited TV series on Apple TV based on the book. Happy reading/watching!
As Bob Woodruff was on an assignment for ABC News in Iraq, an improvised explosive device went off near the tReview originally published June 2007
As Bob Woodruff was on an assignment for ABC News in Iraq, an improvised explosive device went off near the tank in which he was riding. The book, In An Instant, written by Bob Woodruff and his wife, Lee, presents the story of Bob as a husband, as a journalist, and as a person suffering and recovering from a war injury.
Bob received a traumatic brain injury that nearly killed him. In An Instant is Bob’s remarkable story of love, courage, and healing. This book gives readers insight into the effects of a severe war injury. Even though Bob Woodruff was not a member of the military, he did receive treatment and care as a soldier.
It is also sad, but true, that traumatic brain injuries are becoming the “signature wound” of the Iraq war. The Department of Defense estimates that as many as 10% of the soldiers deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan could have suffered some form of traumatic brain injury.
Today, advances in medicine, technology, and transportation are greatly improving the chances of saving the lives of the severely wounded soldiers. Cargo planes referred to as Critical Care Air Transport Teams, have been outfitted with sophisticated medical equipment, and staffed with expert personnel to quickly move wounded soldiers to US hospitals.
Still, the process of healing can be slow, lengthy, and arduous, as described in the book.
See also:
To read more about other Iraq war narratives written by reporters, check out the following books:
A Hundred and One Days: A Baghdad Journal, written by Asne Seierstad
Sister in the Band of Brothers: Embedded With the 101st Airborne in Iraq written by Katherine Skiba
The subject of war is not a topic I particularly gravitate to when selecting books for leisure reading. HReview originally published February 2004
The subject of war is not a topic I particularly gravitate to when selecting books for leisure reading. However, I recently discovered two fiction books with war-related themes that I consider very good stories. A staff member mentioned one of these books to me; she had read it and really thought it was a worthwhile story. When she told me the title, The True Story of Hansel and Gretel, I was very intrigued. Hansel and Gretel was one of my favorite childhood fairy tales, so thought I would browse through it and see what it was all about.
After the first five pages, I was hooked. The author, Louise Murphy, weaves this story about two Polish-Jewish children during the Nazi occupation of Poland into a mesmerizing tale. The story seems familiar, yet it is full of twists and turns that keep you reading long past your bedtime. It is an adult tale with characters you remember from the old fairy tale. There is the father, stepmother, Hansel, Gretel, and the witch.
But now the author adds the German Nazis as the villains, and villagers and “others” as the heroes that lend their provocative experiences to the story. Of course the main setting is the forest, generally a safe place in this story. From there, you are pulled into other areas that show the horrors and the nightmares of war.
Publishers Weekly says, “No reader who picks up this inspiring novel will put it down until the final pages, in which redemption is not a fairy tale ending but a heartening message of hope.” I thoroughly agree!
I don’t mean the small fibs that children tell. I mean real lies fed by real fears – thing
“The year I turned twelve, I learned how to lie.
I don’t mean the small fibs that children tell. I mean real lies fed by real fears – things I said and did that took me out of the life I’d always know and put me down hard into a new one.”
When I read these opening lines from Wolf Hollow, the award-winning middle grade novel by Lauren Wolk, my reading radar pinged. Sometimes you just know when you start a book that you are in good hands and the author is about to take you somewhere memorable. That’s how I felt about this beautiful, heartbreaking book.
Set in 1943 in rural Pennsylvania, Wolf Hollow tells the story of Annabelle, a 12-year-old girl whose “…steady life began to spin,” the day a new girl moves to town. Sent to Wolf Hollow to live with her grandparents, Betty Glengarry arrives and begins viciously bullying Annabelle and her little brothers. When Betty crosses paths with Toby, a bearded loner traumatized by the war, her malice turns to lies that end in tragedy.
Annabelle is the narrator of this story, and I kept thinking as I was reading, “She reminds me of Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird.” Both books tackle complex topics of morality and justice as seen through the eyes of a young girl. And when you turn the final page, both leave you with characters and a story difficult to forget.
The sequel, titled My Own Lightning, will be published this May. If you enjoy historical fiction or embrace powerful stories without tidy endings, pick up Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk.
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