Wild Women and the Blues by Denny S. Bryce is an outstanding historical fiction novel that captures the Chicago jazz scene of the 1920s perfectly! PerWild Women and the Blues by Denny S. Bryce is an outstanding historical fiction novel that captures the Chicago jazz scene of the 1920s perfectly! Per-fect-ly.
Oh my goodness I love this whole story - Everything about it is totally captivating.
I felt like reading this dual timeline narrative (1920s and 2015) was an immersive experience. The incredible writing invokes all your senses - you hear the jazz, see the flappers dancing, feel the rhythm of the music, taste the bootleg hooch and smell the cigarette smoke wafting through the crowded bars and clubs.
The sights and sounds draw the reader in and the mystery and drama keeps them hooked until the very end.
Seriously, if you’re interested in a phenomenal read set in this period, pick this one up! You won’t regret it....more
The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare is a phenomenal work of literary fiction. It is difficult to pinpoint exactly what makes this book so specThe Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare is a phenomenal work of literary fiction. It is difficult to pinpoint exactly what makes this book so spectacular because I love everything about it.
The writing is particularly extraordinary. It is written in intentionally broken English with a Nigerian accent that actually matures with the main character as her own English improves. The skill to write a book in this manner is very rare. It is beautifully and poetically written - I didn't even notice the language maturing until the last few chapters. It is stunning.
In addition to the writing being spectacular, the story is also gripping and floods your soul with compassion for dear Adunni, a 14 year old Nigeria girl who has experienced more pain, loss and horror in her young life than a hundred people should ever experience in an entire lifetime. Filled with a spirit of hope and perseverance, Adunni never gives up on her dreams and even through her hell of a life, she endures the worst in order to achieve the best. Along the way she is blessed with meaningful relationships that lift her up, add depth to the story and demonstrate a profound hope in humanity. ...more
The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany by Lori Nelson Spielman was a fantastic read! I could not have read this book at a more perfect time, personally; The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany by Lori Nelson Spielman was a fantastic read! I could not have read this book at a more perfect time, personally; I feel like I just went to Italy and witnessed the becoming of three fabulous women. Provided we're almost a year into a global pandemic, a trip to Italy sounds pretty freaking fantastical right about now.
The scenes, landscapes and cultural descriptions are beautifully and intricately described. The characters are complex with all kinds of unique qualities making them feel real and relatable. I instantly became attached to some character and grew full of disdain for others. Spielman skillfully crafted this narrative with nicely tempoed dialogue and some surprising twists. Tension is created and released, and the feelings the characters have are realistic. Some of the plot is a bit too perfect but I honestly didn't mind because it was such a feel good story!
I can honestly say that I went into this book totally blind. I barely knew what it was about - sisters & Tuscany - that's about all I knew. But I came out of this story touched and feeling super happy for the characters. I love this book! ...more
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune is one of the most charming and uplifting books I have read in a very long time - this book completely caughThe House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune is one of the most charming and uplifting books I have read in a very long time - this book completely caught me by surprise! I fell in love with every single character in this story. Even the not-so-good-guys earned my affection for being unique and flawed. This magical world and the island where this endearing story takes place are so beautiful.
Full of charm, wit, affection, humor, some romance, character growth, and a whole lot of feel good moments, The House in the Cerulean Sea is simply perfect. It is perfect escapism to a magical world unlike any other. The magical world that Klune creates is unique and whimsical; some of the features of this story are just so darn sweet. All of the characters will steal a corner of your heart and reside there for a long time.
I added this book to my TBR following the flood of attention it was receiving on bookstagram - shamelessly, "bookstagram made me do it!". Then when I saw it was the #readingthroughbookclub buddy read pick for February, I knew it was time for me to give it a try. Not to mention that I had ALSO just won a giveaway copy! The stars aligned and this book officially earned its place as a 2021 favorite, without question! ...more
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah is an extraordinarily tense read that makes the reader feel desperately helpless and wanting.
I let out a huge sigh wThe Four Winds by Kristin Hannah is an extraordinarily tense read that makes the reader feel desperately helpless and wanting.
I let out a huge sigh when this book ended. From beginning to end, this story is wrought with pain and hardship. There is very little respite for the reader and none for the characters. Hannah transports the reader to the dark eras of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl when telling this story about the farmers broken by drought and forced to move West with nothing but hope for a better life.
The protagonist, Elsa Martinelli, is unique but relatable. She is physically ordinary in every way but she loves fiercely, feels deeply and perseveres without abandon. Hannah has a unique skill for writing about the complex relationships between women and making them feel realistic and relatable. This story is not only about surviving the drought and a depression but about motherhood and the extreme lengths a mother will go to provide for her children.
This novel is beautifully written; gripping the reader and yanking them into the story as a helpless observer. Portraying the darkest moments in a person's life and relaying the fierce tragedies of abandonment, death, starvation, poverty and complete disregard for human life; the reader feels everything. You do not just read Four Winds, you feel it. At times my heart was racing or my gut wrenching as I witnessed the horrors of this time period and what these individuals experienced. By the end of this book, I was wrecked. This story is tragic.
I do not want to deter readers by just expressing how purely tragic this story is. Hope and perseverance lay claim to this narrative as well. As it is with all emotions - you cannot feel one without the opposite - you cannot feel the total despair of Four Winds without also feeling the resilient hope the characters cling to.
Thank you, NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Kristin Hannah, for a copy of this book for review.
Thank you for reading my review on Goodreads! Follow me on Instagram (@journeyofthepages) for further bookish engagement! www.instragram.com/journeyofthepages I hope to meet you there!
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