In a Nutshell: Yes, yet another WWII story with dual timelines involving a past secret. But this one does not serve only the typical WWII survivor/comIn a Nutshell: Yes, yet another WWII story with dual timelines involving a past secret. But this one does not serve only the typical WWII survivor/combat trauma fare. It’s “zara hatke”, as we say in India.
Story:
2019, England. Robyn Harris adores her 98 year old grandmother Ginny and is devastated when she passes away. On her deathbed, Ginny bequeaths to Robyn and her sister Ashleigh a letter containing details of a treasure hunt, just like she used to make for the girls when they were younger. The problem is that the treasure hunt is set in Hawaii, a place where Robyn resides but Ashleigh, being disabled and restricted to a wheelchair, will find a challenge to travel to. The girls have no choice but to follow their grandma’s instructions, and as they work together, they discover hitherto unknown secrets of Ginny’s extraordinary life. Through the treasure hunt and Ginny’s letters, we also see the timeline set in 1941 from Ginny’s perspective, beginning a few days before the Pearl harbour attacks.
If you think this sounds like the plot of most WWII historical fiction novels released in the last few years, you won't be entirely in the wrong. This dual timeline + letter revealing family secrets is one of the most common tropes of WWII historical fiction nowadays. But here is where 'A Letter from Pearl Harbor' differs from the rest of the books:
1. The usual trope is that of a letter from the past leading to the discovery of some family secrets or heirlooms. This time, it's a treasure hunt that is designed to bring Robin and Ashley not just close to each other but closer to their past. Yup, there’s a secret involved, but it is Ginny herself who is unveiling the secret through her letters. There is no independent discovery or blind stabs at the truth.
2. Usually, the female lead in the historical part of the narrative is one who is stuck in war conditions and does her best to cope or survive. Not Ginny. She's outspoken, impulsive, and gutsy, and a trained flight instructor to boot. Her narrative is the highlight of this book as she makes for a very different historical lead female character.
3. As the title suggests, the story isn't set in your usual WWII locations of England or Germany or mainland US but in Hawaii. The location is used very well in this story and isn't restricted only to the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. This adds a wonderful authenticity and freshness to the narrative.
Ginny, Robyn and Ashleigh carry the book on their shoulders wonderfully. But they aren’t the only women in the story and the rest of the female characters are also quite impactful. Ginny and her fellow women pilots are such a treat to read about! The author’s research shows in every detail about these brave women pilots and their challenges they faced in fulfilling their duty. Their struggles were unfair and the discrimination against them in the male-dominated army was shameful. The remarks about equal rights and the barbs at the two-facedness of the government in treating the women service personnel were delightful to read. The only part I found a bit irritating in this timeline was the repeated reference to makeup and looks. (I guess this is more of my problem; I am notoriously anti-makeup even in real life. But even keeping this aside, there are only so many references to “gorgeous eyes” that I can tolerate without rolling my own eyes.)
As almost always, I enjoyed the historical part of the narrative much more than the contemporary one. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor is brilliantly written. Every single scene in this segment felt harrowing to read. What I would have liked to see a little more of is the local anger towards the native Japanese after the attacks. There is just a passing mention of this, but in a book that tries so much to be fair to women and locals, it seemed incomplete to exclude that angle.
The 2019 story works decently well. The best part of this timeline was the focus on Ashleigh’s struggle towards self-acceptance and in the wheelchair sports events. Her character starts off a bit flat and monotonous at first but soon grows into an interesting arc. Robyn’s character pales in comparison as her arc is more straightforward and predictable. The treasure hunt didn’t really grab me. In most cases, the clues were guessed by the characters in the first attempt itself and that took away the fun. One odd thing was how the girls were not grabbing the clues and tearing them apart with curiosity. I mean, if you are fond of treasure hunts and your grandma has left one for you on her deathbed as a final challenge, would you take the envelope on one day, read the clue on the next day, and once you get the letter about the next destination, read half of it and save the rest for later? Who has that much patience?!?! Still, it was a novel way of knowing about the past timeline. And as the clues involved well-known places in Hawaii, the treasure hunt provided a lovely glimpse of Hawaiian landmarks and culture.
I was a bit surprised to see that the parents of the main characters have NO role to play in both of the timelines. The 1941 timeline focusses on Ginny’s relationship with her brother and her colleagues while the 2019 timeline sees Ginny’s relationship with her granddaughters. Ginny’s parents and the girls’ parents have just a blink-and-you-miss appearance. This doesn’t affect the story as such, but leaves you feeling like there’s a gap somehow.
The blurb is a bit misleading in this line: “Robyn’s whole world is turned upside down when she’s faced with a shocking secret which has the power to change the course of her own life.” I am still trying to figure out what this shocking secret was because I didn’t find anything that could UPTURN her life!
Reading through what I have written so far, I feel like whatever I am cribbing about are mostly trivial areas of improvement. I still enjoyed the story to a great extent. It deserves a read mainly for its historical timeline and the revelations contained therein about the brave American girl pilots during the WWII. This is my second book by Anna Stuart. I’ve seen the power of her research and her eye on authenticity in “The Berlin Zookeeper”. I think I liked that book just a teeny bit better than this one, mainly because the contemporary narrative was more captivating. But this book still stands out as it provides a detailed look at WWII from the Hawaiian islands, not a perspective you see usually.
I was hovering consistently between 3.5 to 4, depending on which timeline I was reading. What made me go up to 4.25 stars was the author's note at the end, where she recounts her research, details about which of the characters are real, the actual timeline of the Pearl Harbor, and the role of the women pilots. I had guessed only one of the characters - Jacqueline Cochran - to be real, so I was pleasantly surprised to see just how many of the names mentioned in the book belonged to actual people in history.
Recommended to historical fiction fans who want to know more about the Pearl Harbor attacks and the role of women pilots during the WWII.
I heard the audiobook as narrated by Laurence Bouvard. She is a fabulous narrator and does absolute justice to all the characters, providing them with an individuality that helps you stay on track with the complicated chronology. One point I wish authors would incorporate is a policy of having distinct names for their characters, especially when there are multiple timelines and many characters. This story had a Jack and a Zack (both in main roles) and they ended up confusing me several times, though they were in two separate timelines.
My thanks to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of “A Letter from Pearl Harbour”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
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In a Nutshell: A historical fiction set during the Prohibition era. Great protagonist, great character development, great storyline, great themes, greIn a Nutshell: A historical fiction set during the Prohibition era. Great protagonist, great character development, great storyline, great themes, great writing. Basically, just great!
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1920. When Minnie Soffer arrives with her family to New York, she is surprised to learn that it isn’t as grand as she was told. Her father, who had emigrated to the US some years before, lives in a small house, and the language that everyone at school speaks is unfamiliar. Minnie and her elder brother Max work hard to adjust to their new lives. When her father opens a soda shop, it seems like life is finally going the right way. But the soda shop is just a front for a speakeasy, which soon becomes a bigger part of their life than they had anticipated. The story, spanning the thirteen years of prohibition in the USA, covers Minnie’s struggles through childhood and young adulthood, and is written in her first-person perspective.
In a Nutshell: Officially, a cosy fantasy with shades of queer romance. Practically, a YA fantasy with a whiny, immature main character and minimal apIn a Nutshell: Officially, a cosy fantasy with shades of queer romance. Practically, a YA fantasy with a whiny, immature main character and minimal appearance of the promised lesbian-love track. I would have gone easier on this book were it actually a YA novel to compensate for my lack of affinity for the genre. However, it is promoted as an adult fantasy and hence I cannot suppress my disappointment. The magical creatures and Tanya saved the book from a lower rating. This is an outlier opinion.
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Aila has been fascinated by phoenix birds since her childhood visit to the zoo. At present, she is living her dream job as the head phoenix keeper at a zoo focussed on saving endangered magical creatures and creating awareness. The only problem is that there hasn’t been a successful phoenix breeding programme in her zoo in almost a decade. When there is a heist at a nearby zoo with the phoenix mother and hatchlings stolen, Aila knows that her run-down zoo must step up to the challenge if the beautiful creatures are to be saved. As she hated most people with all her heart, she knows she can count on fellow keeper Tanya for help. But can just the two of them manage such a gargantuan responsibility? She must, especially when her college rival and current colleague Luciana is always ready to laugh at her incompetence. The story comes to us in Aila’s third-person perspective.
Had the story been exactly as I have written above, it would have crossed the four-star mark. However, the main character, the straightforward plot, and the pseudo-YA writing style ensured that my rating didn’t come near 3 stars even once throughout.
In a Nutshell: A sweet historical romance that lives up to the promise. Likeable main characters. Straightforward plot. A dash of mystery and a load oIn a Nutshell: A sweet historical romance that lives up to the promise. Likeable main characters. Straightforward plot. A dash of mystery and a load of banter. Mildly Christian in content. A bit anachronous in its dialogues. Recommended to readers of wholesome historical romances. This is NOT a ‘Beauty and the Beast’ retelling, so don’t go in expecting one.
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1903. Iowa. After Sadie’s father sustains an injury and cannot work on their family farm anymore, twenty-three-year old Sadie finds a job at the Hoag feather duster factory. It’s not what she enjoys, but with little money in hand and her romantic interest away for studies, it’s the best she can do to save her family from ruin. Desperate to save money, she takes refuge in an abandoned building after her work hours, but soon the owner discovers her trespassing. Everyone thought that the rich Otis Taylor had been sent away to hone his musical talent. But in reality, he had been exiled by his father for his appearance. Now that Otis has returned home to settle his family affairs, his only desire is to sell off everything and close the doors to his past. But he soon discovers that he isn’t the last Taylor alive. And of course, he finds a mysterious trespasser in his father’s old factory. Sadie and Otis begin a professional relationship, but soon their bond grows into a caring friendship. Can Sadie and Otis help each other settle the demons of their past, the mysteries of the present, and the worries of the future? (You know they can!
In a Nutshell: A historical fiction about a young girl who surmounts various odds to follow her dream. First of a planned trilogy. The conversations aIn a Nutshell: A historical fiction about a young girl who surmounts various odds to follow her dream. First of a planned trilogy. The conversations and character behaviour aren’t always accurate to the era, but if you can suspend disbelief and enjoy an episodic plot structure, the novel works as an enjoyable read, albeit with some grim moments.
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Early 14th century. St. Michael’s Mead, England. Meg was born with a facial deformity, leading her to being shunned by even her own family and sent to live with the pigs at the age of six. But when she turns ten, Mother Alice, the village healer, takes Meg under her tutelage as a midwife’s apprentice. This changes Meg’s life, and she dreams of learning more and becoming more. A path to her dreams opens when she meets a surgeon, William of Oxford, and his son Gerard. As William reluctantly agrees to train Meg along with Gerard, we see their journey across various medical emergencies, political upheavals, familial tussles and learning opportunities. The story comes to us in Meg’s third-person point of view, though the prologue is in her first-person voice.
Bookish Yays: ✔ Meg is an interesting character who takes time to make peace with her distorted face but doesn’t stop dreaming big. At the same time, Meg's tone towards others is, at times, a bit racist and judgemental. Her character development as a strong but flawed heroine makes her a suitable titular character.
✔ The medical details are quite gruesome and yet fascinating. It is not easy to read the "medical procedures" of that era, but my interest level was sustained throughout.
✔ Some of the secondary characters such as Mother Alice (wish there had been more of her!) and Gerard are interesting. There are also a few minor characters who make a mark even in their limited appearance.
✔ The word ‘chronicles’ in the title should have prepared me for the episodic nature of this novel. It took me some time to adjust to the storytelling style, but soon, it began to work for me. It was interesting to see where life took Meg, and what new challenges it threw her way. Going with the flow helps a lot in this book.
✔ The political upheavals, the beliefs and superstitions of the day, and the herbal remedies are incorporated well into the story.
Bookish Mixed Bags: ⚠ I've hardly read anything set in the 14th century, but based on the novels I've read that were set in later (17th/18th) centuries, the characters’ actions and conversations seem atypical of the era. Of course, as historical fiction, the book is allowed a bit of leeway. But somehow, the fiction part seems to dominate over the historical part. William and Gerard’s behaviour towards Meg doesn’t feel indicative of the men of that period. It is tough to imagine a wealthy man of that century being so sympathetic towards a poor uneducated girl, to the point of championing her medical training and fighting with the other elite for her rights. Meg’s behaviour and speech is also too “woke” for her time. I’m putting this under Mixed Bags as historical fiction authors are allowed some creative license when it comes to character development for stories not based on actual people, and many readers will enjoy the characters. But personally, I would have liked a greater semblance of realism to the characters’ behaviour. I also have my doubts about the abundance of portable books (not manuscripts or scrolls) mentioned in an era when leather books were hardly affordable except by the extremely wealthy. But as I am not too sure of the exact nature of the “books” in the story, I cannot dock off points for this.
⚠ While I loved the grittiness of the story, a few scenes were a bit too crude for my reading preferences.
⚠ The first three-fourths of the story kept my rating firm at 3.75. But the final quarter was a teeny bit disappointing as a couple of the characters seemed to change colours abruptly. The ending is still good, though.
Bookish Nays: ❌ While I did allow for the characters to be more ‘modern’ than possible, it is tougher to do so for the language. Obviously, I don't mean that the book should have been written in Middle English - we wouldn't have understood most of it! But it should also not have had terms from the 20th century or beyond. Words such as ‘tumour’ and ‘skirt chaser’ entered the lexicon much later than the mid-1300s. Even the sentence structure - 'I need the surgeon, and I need him now!' – is too modern at times. This might not bother other readers, but I kept getting distracted by the misdated phraseology.
❌ The blurb contains a summation of the entire story! Why?
Bookish If Onlys: ➕ While we learn late in the book that the title stands for Meg, both the title and the cover are not exactly representative of the content. I would never have guessed this to be a medical historical fiction from that cover art. I think the book might lose out on potential readers because of this. I wish the title and the cover were more indicative of the content. In the current form, it is not eye-catching enough, which is a major hurdle in today’s competitive book market.
In a Nutshell: An interesting continuation and finale to the Sunbearer duology. This works slightly better than the first one in writing, pacing and aIn a Nutshell: An interesting continuation and finale to the Sunbearer duology. This works slightly better than the first one in writing, pacing and action, but doesn't have a strong character development, and is a bit repetitive. YA in approach (which it should be as a YA Fantasy, but I don’t enjoy YA much.) Not a standalone.
This book continues immediately after the finale of the first book. Now that the Obsidian gods are free of their prison and intent on taking back what they think was rightfully theirs, there is chaos all over Reino de Sol. Add in the complication that Sol is still not in power, thanks to Teo’s refusal of sacrificing a fellow semidiose during the Sunbearer Trials. As their world is in darkness, Teo, Aurelio, and Niya band up to retrieve the Sol stone from the Obsidians, get Sol to light up again, and in the interim, save the world from the celestial monsters of the dark. If they don’t succeed in their quest, they face an apocalypse, so they have neither much time nor much choice. The book comes to us in the third-person perspectives of Teo and Xio.
In a Nutshell: A historical fiction based on the actual Rhinelander vs. Rhinelander case of 1925. I loved the historical details, but some writing choIn a Nutshell: A historical fiction based on the actual Rhinelander vs. Rhinelander case of 1925. I loved the historical details, but some writing choices didn’t work for me. Don’t expect a legal drama because of the title and blurb, else you will be disappointed.
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1924. New York. Alice Jones, born to working class English immigrants, believes that she has found true love with the wealthy real-estate scion Leonard ‘Kip’ Rhinelander, four years her junior. Alice considers herself “white”, so when, after their elopement, Kip’s parents threaten to cut him off from his inheritance for marrying a coloured woman, Alice is stunned. As events continue to spiral, Alice finds herself in a court battle against her new husband. 1943. Roberta is an ambitious journalist. When she is given the task of speaking to her estranged aunt Alice and getting the inside scoop about the latest development in the Rhinelander family saga, Roberta is initially hesitant. But for her job, she goes ahead with the interaction, and finds herself learning more about Alice and what happened in the 1920s. The story comes to us in the first-person perspectives of Alice and Roberta from two timelines.
I was not aware of the Rhinelander vs. Rhinelander case, so when I saw the blurb mention that this book is based on a pathbreaking legal case, I had to go for it. However, I have mixed feelings about the execution.
It was enlightening to read about people’s thinking and social attitudes in 1920s New York, especially their attitude towards coloured people. In fact, some of it is so outrageous that it might have felt far-fetched if this were ordinary historical fiction rather than being a story based on facts. The author’s research into the trial and the 1920s setting is visible.
I had assumed this to be a story of a Black/mixed race woman ‘passing’ as white because of her lighter skin tone. So I was surprised to see that Alice, and her entire family (her white mom, her mixed-race dad, and her two sisters), thought of themselves as ‘white’ (after all, the girls had ‘barely a drop of coloured blood’ in them), and they didn’t even consider the idea that they were ‘passing.’ This brought an unexpected dimension to the book. After all, it cannot be called a novel of "passing" as the family isn’t technically “passing”.
Now to the flip side.
Roberta’s timeline begins excellently with a clear intro about her ambition and spunky attitude. However, her role in the story is mainly to ask questions to Alice, who then provides answers and fills in the gaps left by the 1920s timeline. There is barely anything about Roberta’s life, and except for one passing mention of the Pearl Harbor attacks, nothing about the events of 1943 except what concerns Alice. It is a timeline curiously bereft of descriptions and era-setting.
The character development is quite flat. The writing is clearly tilted in favour of Alice, even before we hear Kip’s thoughts or Roberta’s inquiry. Alice isn’t a likeable character, so it is tough to sympathise with her situation. But even this complexity is presented in a fairly shallow approach that tells us the whats but doesn’t dig into the psyche of the whys. Roberta’s opinion of Alice swings randomly from supporter to opponent. Kip never becomes a well-defined character, though his role was vital. The secondary characters are even more vaguely sketched. Some of these issues could have been sorted had the writing been in third person.
As Roberta and Alice both are in their early twenties in their respective timelines, their thoughts and actions have a strong YA feel to them. This might not bother readers who enjoy YA, but I found their repetitive thoughts, lengthy inner monologues, and self-centred approach towards life somewhat annoying.
The details of the physical intimacy were a bit beyond what I prefer in historical fiction. As I read this as a historical legal drama and not a historical romance, this content annoyed me.
The biggest disappointment to me is the complete lack of courtroom scenes. For a book based on a real-life trial and with a title mentioning the word ‘Trial’, I had expected a nail-biting legal drama. However, the trial stays conspicuously off the page. We hear the development of the case and all related proceedings through later conversations between the key characters, and a few times, from small excerpts of newspaper articles that appear before a few chapters.
The title itself is misleading. The trial referred to by the titular "Trial" begins only around the 70% mark. There are actually two trials, one in each timeline, but we don’t see the glimpse of the inside of the court in either, so this doesn’t make any difference to our experience. The blurb is also inaccurate, as it assigns reporter Marvel Cunningham a prominent role, though she is just one of the secondary characters.
As we learn all key plot developments through the dialogues, and both perspectives are written in first person, we effectively get a whole load of first-person rambling. Even introductions of new characters are done through odd dialogues that leave us wondering why they are giving out their bio in between an interaction. Also, because of this writing decision, the passage of time within each narrative isn’t always clear.
In a Nutshell: A literary fiction debut that encompasses several themes and subgenres within its plot. Complex, chaotic, compelling! The first half leIn a Nutshell: A literary fiction debut that encompasses several themes and subgenres within its plot. Complex, chaotic, compelling! The first half left me befuddled, but the second half cleverly brought all the arcs together. Recommended, but it would help if you are a science nerd.
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Twenty-four-year old Abby has only recently found out that she is a “drop-box baby”, a Korean orphan abandoned as an infant. She has no clue about her birth parents. When her adoptive parents – American father and Korean mother – struggle with their marriage, Abby was yet again thrown into the foster care system, only to be adopted again by a Korean-origin couple, whose daughter Iseul ends up as Abby’s best friend. Now, all these years later, Abby works with sea slugs, using them to research the origins of life. She also decides to look for her birth parents. Meanwhile, Iseul is an investigative journalist whose career path and love for her terminally sick brother leads her towards black market medicine. One event changes the trajectory of Abby’s personal and professional life. The story comes to us in Abby’s first-person perspective.
In a Nutshell: A contemporary satire about what happens in a small Southern town after a woman campaigns against controversial books. Excellent if youIn a Nutshell: A contemporary satire about what happens in a small Southern town after a woman campaigns against controversial books. Excellent if you read it as a satire. Might ruffle feathers of a few people. Better for those who enjoy character-oriented storytelling and are liberal in their thinking.
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Forty-something Lula Dean has always lived in the shadow of her arch-rival Beverly Underwood in the small (fictional) town of Troy, Georgia. Lula has finally hit celebrity status, thanks to her latest campaign: ridding the local libraries of inappropriate books. To set the right example and provide the townspeople with quality reading material, Lula sets up a Little Free Library outside her home and fills it with “wholesome” books. Unknown to Lula, Beverly’s daughter Lindsay sneakily changes the composition of the free library, by replacing Lula’s books with the banned books but retaining the original “wholesome” dust jackets. As the neighbours borrow books from Lula’s library, they realise that the content isn’t exactly what the cover promises, and see how the right book can change their lives. A secret revolution is brewing in Troy, and Lula doesn’t even know that she has caused it. The novel comes to us as interconnected stories from various townspeople, with each chapter coming from one specific character.
In a Nutshell: A cosy fantasy with an unlikeable protagonist who redeems herself along the way. A whole load of cosy, a little less of fantasy. IntereIn a Nutshell: A cosy fantasy with an unlikeable protagonist who redeems herself along the way. A whole load of cosy, a little less of fantasy. Interesting (but flat) humans, outstanding non-humans, decent but straightforward storyline. A nice light option for those who prefer cute fantasies and can read without overanalysing.
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Kiela hates dealing with people. Thanks to her job as a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium in the capital of the Crescent Island empire, she avoids people at all costs, with her sentient spider plant Caz being more than enough company. But when the rebellion strikes and the library is up in flames, Keila has no choice but to escape with Caz and whatever books she can carry. The only destination that seems safe is her late parents’ home in the faraway island where she had spent her childhood years. She hasn’t been to this abandoned old cottage in more than a decade, but even then, she can sense that something is not right on the island. Luckily, Kiela worked in the ‘spell books’ section of the library, so the books she carried to safety contain magical spells. Yes, it is illegal for any non-sorcerer to cast spells, but this far away from the capital, no one would know, right? The story comes to us in Kiela’s third-person perspective.
In a Nutshell: An English translation of a Portuguese novel, focussing on a group of lace makers who lives are connected to the Flores curse. InterestIn a Nutshell: An English translation of a Portuguese novel, focussing on a group of lace makers who lives are connected to the Flores curse. Interesting plot, powerful themes, complicated characters. Recommended to literary fiction readers. Check the triggers though.
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2010. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Eighteen-year-old Alice is a rebel, fighting the patriarchal society and the female oppression in Brazil. When a relative passes a family heirloom – a lace veil – over to her, she discovers some secrets sewn into it. The secrets come from seven generations ago, in 1918, when a group of women discovered lace-making, and used it to change their lives. They would gather at the Flores house and work, even though the Flores women were shunned by many townspeople for being cursed to be “always unlucky in love.” As Alice learns more about the past, she discovers the strength and the struggles of the women who came before her. The story comes to us in two timelines, with Alice’s contemporary timeline in her third person perspective, and the historical timeline in the first person pov of Inês, one of the Flores women.
This novel was first published in Portuguese in 2019 as ‘A Maldição das Flores’. This English translation is due to be published on 1st July 2024.
I am not commenting on the translation quality because I have no idea whether the original Portuguese work was converted to English effectively. I didn’t feel like I was reading a translation; that’s a positive, I guess.
In a Nutshell: A fun romcom with an entertaining premise, but mixed feelings about the lead characters as they are so toxic. Liked the secondary charaIn a Nutshell: A fun romcom with an entertaining premise, but mixed feelings about the lead characters as they are so toxic. Liked the secondary characters much better than the main pair. The first half is much stronger than the second half. Slightly outlier review coming up.
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As Emma Wheeler is the sole caretaker for her dad, she has willingly put aside her dreams of becoming a screenwriter for more than a decade. But when her friend and agent calls her with the opportunity of a lifetime, and a chance to work with her idol, acclaimed screenwriter Charlie Yates, Emma cannot resist. With her younger sister Sylvie stepping into the carer’s role, Emma flies to Los Angeles, hoping for the chance of a lifetime to convert into a memorable work experience. What she didn’t expect is that Charlie Yates didn’t even know about her arrival, and is adamant that he doesn’t work with amateurs. Never mind that the romcom script he wrote was garbage. After all, that script is just a filler to get another pet project greenlit, a project far more important than romcoms. Emma, of course, can’t accept this. Die-hard fan or not, she will not allow anyone to tell her that romcoms are useless, or to mess with the only career-transforming opportunity she has received in ages. The story comes to us in Emma’s first-person perspective.
In a Nutshell: A middle-grade historical fiction about a little girl’s experiences during and after the events of Pearl Harbor. Based on a true story.In a Nutshell: A middle-grade historical fiction about a little girl’s experiences during and after the events of Pearl Harbor. Based on a true story. A bit too dark for the age group, but a good read for those who can handle it.
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1940. Jody is excited when her father is transferred to a small naval base in Pearl Harbor. She always creates a “top ten” list for every new home her military family moves to, but this time, the excitement is greater as it is the first time she will have her wonderful pet, an ex-military sentry dog named Happy, by her side. When Jody learns that Happy is slowing down, she resolves to do as many fun things as she can in the time she has left with him. However, this plan is affected when her mother has some ominous feelings about the island. When her worst fears come true, Jody’s father needs to stay behind but the rest of the family (Jody, her mom and her elder sister Peggy) is evacuated to San Francisco, which will bring new challenges in their lives. The story comes to us in Jody’s first person perspective, with some chapters from Happy’s third person pov.
In a Nutshell: A middle-grade mystery with a dual narrative, one of which is from a typewriter’s pov. Had much potential but went awry in execution asIn a Nutshell: A middle-grade mystery with a dual narrative, one of which is from a typewriter’s pov. Had much potential but went awry in execution as it attempts too much and loses its track. It might work better for older readers, but not sure if I want to advocate this to kids.
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Olivetti has stayed with the Brindle family for years. Each of the Brindles – the parents and the four kids – are busy doing their own thing, and the fights are about who gets to use the new laptop while Olivetti lies ignored. He remembers the good old days when Beatrice Brindle, the mother, used to type her feelings out on him regularly. But now she has gone missing. And no one has any idea of where she could have gone, except perhaps Olivetti. As twelve-year-old Ernest, the third of the Brindle children, is the only one who seems accessible despite always having his nose in the dictionary, Olivetti decides to break the typewriter code of conduct and communicate with Ernest, divulging Beatrice’s memories in hopes of finding some clue about her whereabouts. The story comes to us in the alternating first person perspectives of Olivetti and Ernest.
In a Nutshell: A literary fiction about a family that has drifted apart over the years and how one incident sets the wheels in reverse motion. LyricalIn a Nutshell: A literary fiction about a family that has drifted apart over the years and how one incident sets the wheels in reverse motion. Lyrical, character-oriented writing. A few interesting magical realism interludes. A bit repetitive at times. Not for every reader, but a good choice for lit fic lovers.
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After having suddenly lost what he had assumed to be a secure corporate job, Jack is back home, which is a wild place at the edge of the woods. His aged father Gerry is teetering at the brink of sanity because of his memory issues, and Jack’s younger sister Charlotte is frustrated with everyone and everything. His mother Hazel is missing, and no one has any clue about where she has disappeared. Jack and Gerry have always been the opposite of each other, but they now seem to have one thing in common – they both can speak to animals. And to Jack’s disbelief, one fox actually talks back. These five characters (four humans and a fox) guide us through this literary narrative in their third person perspectives.
I am a huge fan of this author’s debut work, ‘Isaac and the Egg’. It was such an innovative piece of writing that it left a huge book hangover back when I had read it. So it goes without saying that my expectations were unrealistically high from his sophomore work. The novel does tick many items on the quality checklist, but it doesn’t end up as impactful as the first book.
In a Nutshell: A slow-burn mystery-thriller that contains plenty of snark and suspense but misses out on character development and logic. Twisty and sIn a Nutshell: A slow-burn mystery-thriller that contains plenty of snark and suspense but misses out on character development and logic. Twisty and silly at the same time. Still, it could work well as long as you know how contemporary thrillers work. Take off the thinking cap to enjoy it better.
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Plot Preview:
Five years ago, Lucy had been suspected of murdering Savannah, but after there was no evidence to confirm the same, Lucy wasn’t arrested. However, as she doesn’t have any memories of that night, even she isn’t sure if she actually killed her best friend. Now, the hit crime podcast “Listen for the Lie” has chosen to investigate Savannah’s murder for its new season, and all the old accusations are back. Lucy is divorced, jobless, and has to return to her hometown for her grandmother’s 80th birthday. Will podcast host Ben Owens be able to clear Lucy’s name, or will he confirm her worst suspicion about that night? Lucy's first person updates us about what's happening in the small town after her return to celebrate her grandmother's eightieth birthday. The podcast interludes update us, through the third person interviews and through the podcaster's speculation, of what might have happened on the night of the murder. We also have another timeline of Lucy’s past with Savannah.
When you read such a storyline, you know that there are only two ways the book can go: Either Lucy is innocent and gets her redemption at the end with the possible discovery of the true murderer, or she did commit the murder and is a pro at lying the heck out of the situation to save her skin. Will you have the patience to “listen for the lie” and take a call on Lucy’s potential guilt?
In a Nutshell: A heartwarming story of the bond between an old man and a little boy. Loveable characters, a straightforward yet unusual plot, and someIn a Nutshell: A heartwarming story of the bond between an old man and a little boy. Loveable characters, a straightforward yet unusual plot, and some touching themes. A compelling debut to be read with the heart!
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Plot Preview:
Frank is a curmudgeon who lives alone in his house, estranged from family and friends after the death of his wife Marcie two years back. He is a recluse and can’t stand anyone or anything tampering with his routine. Little does he know that his peaceful life is soon to be turned upside down by a new neighbour. After his parents’ separation, six-year-old Red, along with his mother, has moved into the house next to Frank’s. He isn’t happy with the house nor with his new school. The only good thing about the house is that his mother has bought a new trampoline for the back garden. Being a curious chatterbox, Red is eager to make friends. And who better than the old man next door who seems sad and lonely? As Red trampolines his way into Frank’s life, the old man tries his best to avoid the nuisance. But can a determined six-year-old be stopped? The story comes to us in the alternate third-person perspectives of Frank and Red.
In a Nutshell: A contemporary Christian drama focussed on an extended family whose life turns upside down after a cancer diagnosis. The Christian elemIn a Nutshell: A contemporary Christian drama focussed on an extended family whose life turns upside down after a cancer diagnosis. The Christian elements are more progressive than conservative, which is fine by me but might not work for conservative believers. One of the main characters is annoying. Overall, a decent read, but not a memorable one for me.
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Story Synopsis:
Kristen is a workaholic oncologist who gives her all to her patients, even if it comes at a cost to her personal life with husband Daniel. But when her elder sister Sherri is diagnosed with stage-IV ovarian cancer, Kristen is ready to put everything on hold to ensure that her sister gets the best chances of recovery. Yet again, Daniel feels ignored. Sherri is a happy kindergarten teacher who has always lived her life making healthy choices. A divorcee, she loves her kids and grandkids. With the cancer diagnosis, she feels the pressure of having a limited time with her loved ones and the pain of giving up the job that means so much to her. Post the cancer verdict, Kristen and Sherri are determined to make the best of the time Sherri has left and to prolong her good health as much as they can. The story comes to us in the first person perspectives of Kristen, Sherri, and Daniel.
In a Nutshell: A heartwarming Southern historical fiction. Loved the characters, the plot, and most of all, the writing. How have I not read anything In a Nutshell: A heartwarming Southern historical fiction. Loved the characters, the plot, and most of all, the writing. How have I not read anything by Sean Dietrich before?!?! Much recommended! Check the triggers though.
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Story Synopsis:
1972. Sixty-two-year-old Nub Taylor is known for all the wrong things in his small rural hometown in southern Alabama. He does menial blue-collar jobs, drinks and smokes too much, doesn’t go to church, and lives his life without any sense of responsibility, and is close only to his cousin Benny. To be fair, he does feel remorse about being estranged from his daughter Emily, but it seems too late to salvage that relationship. When fifteen-year-old Waffle House waitress Minnie enters Nub’s life in an unexpected manner, he finally feels like he has a purpose. But unknown to them both, this new bond will soon be in danger from an unexpected source. The story comes to us from the third person points of view of Nub, Minnie, and Emily.
Sorry, that person's shelf is private.
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