Category: Historical Literature & Fiction

The Fishermen: Book Review by Dinh

Here’s the video book review of The Fishermen that I made. You can read the written review by scrolling down or click play to watch the video. Enjoy!

Summary:

Set in in Akure, West Nigeria, it is a tale of four brothers (Ikenna, Boja, Obembe, and Benjamin) who begin fishing in the Omi Ala river when their strict father gets a job transfer to Yola, and is not around to keep an eye on them.

One day, the brothers meet Abulu the madman at the river Omi-Ala. Abulu prophetize that Ikenna is going to be killed by a fisherman. Continue reading “The Fishermen Book Review” →

The Postmistress: Book Review by Arlene

Review:

The setting for this novel takes place in the Fall of 1940.

In this day and age of modern technology imagine, if you can, the days of “Snail Mail.”

Imagine the only news of the world you receive is on a radio broadcast if you are lucky enough to even have a radio, or from a newspaper. Continue reading “The Postmistress Book Review” →

The Valley of Amazement: Book Review by Arlene

Summary:

In essence, this immense novel examines the complex relationship between mothers and daughters.

It also examines the complex relationship between mixed races and mixed marriages.

It goes beyond relationships to include betrayals, confessions, lies and truths and realities to the strengths and weaknesses of women.

In the end, the struggle to survive wins. Continue reading “The Valley of Amazement Book Review” →

The Little Paris Bookshop: Book Review by Arlene

I could not think of a better opening line for my review of The Little Paris Bookshop than a quote by Cicero: “A room without books is like a body without a soul.”

People who love books and bookstores will appreciate the notion that certain books stay with you and you never forget them. The Little Paris Bookshop is on a floating barge called Lulu on the River Seine and beckons all book lovers to come on board. Continue reading “The Little Paris Bookshop Book Review” →

The Goldfinch: Book Review by Arlene.

If you are an avid reader, The Goldfinch is the kind of book that you only come across a few times that leaves a lasting impression on you.

The characters in this book are so vividly portrayed it is quite possible you will never forget them.

The narration has an urgency that will prevent you from putting the book down between readings. Continue reading “The Goldfinch Book Review” →

The Light Between Oceans: Book Review by Dinh

Please enjoy the video of the Light Between Oceans book review or continue reading!

The Light Between Oceans Review

I’d like to say a big THANK YOU to Andrew from Mahwah Public Library for recommending me this novel. Great choice Andrew!

The story begins with Tom Sherbourne who has come back from the Western Front of World War 1 and he goes into the Commonwealth Lighthouse Service in December 1918.

He does some relief posting on the Lights and in June 1920 he gets news that there is a vacancy on the no so popular post at Janus Rock. Janus Rock is an isolated island and it takes half a day from the coast to reach it and the supply boat comes once a season.

In a coastal town on his way to take his post at Janus Rock, Tom meets Isabel who is young and headstrong girl. Continue reading “The Light Between Oceans Book Review” →

The Night Circus: Book Review by Arlene

The Night Circus Review

“Watch Out!! The Circus Is Coming To Town!”

Curl up with this enchanting page turner.

This wonderful book was recommended to me at the end of last summer by my lovely niece Laura. Thank you Laura!

The artwork alone on the front cover of the paperwork edition is mesmerizing in itself. I will always choose the actual book over digital every time. I picked The Night Circus novel at Barnes and Noble,  and loved the feel and look of the book. I just love the interesting and mesmerizing front cover and this one will remain on my bookcase front and center!!

Okay, enough about me, so let’s get to the review.

There is a buzz going around that the circus might be coming to town! A circus that simply materialize at nightfall like magic, as though it has always been there even though the field it sits on now had been empty the day before.

It disappears the same way – there it is and then it isn’t! So you will wonder how do they do it, how can this happen?  The long lines to get into the circus seem to be forming already even though it is still daylight! Continue reading “The Night Circus Book Review” →

The Secret Life of Violet Grant: Book Review by Arlene

The Secret Life of Violet Grant Review

The Secret Life of Violet Grant is a romp alternating through time, witty and well-written. This novel, steeped in history and familial intrigue will keep you turning the pages and wanting more.

This novel parallels the lives of the two protagonists.

As the story unfolds it is 1964 and we meet Vivian Schuyler, a Bryn Mawr graduate, the daughter of a wealthy Fifth Avenue family who works at the Metropolitan Magazine trying to find her place as a journalist and is willing to put her career on the line to achieve her goals.

The novel then turns back to 1914 where we meet Vivian’s great aunt Violet Schuyler. Violet is a scientist of atomic physics, smart beyond her years, intelligent, brave, although naive in the ways of the heart.

We then go to 1911 and Violet, at age 19, meets Oxford professor Walter Grant, the noted physical chemist who gives her a job at his institute after she has been before rejected. Walter is smitten by her beauty, intelligence and innocence.

Professor Walter Grant and Violet become lovers, involved in a sexual romantic relationship and eventually get married.  Here is where the real Walter comes to the surface…how far he is willing to go to get everything he wants and needs. Violet soon finds herself trapped in an unhappy marriage. Continue reading “The Secret Life of Violet Grant Book Review” →

All The Light We Cannot See: Book Review by Dinh.

All The Light We Cannot See Review

This historical fiction novel is about two main characters; Marie-Laure, a young French girl and Werner an orphan German boy.

Marie-Laure LeBlanc lives with her father Daniel, in Paris, near to his place of work.  Her father works for the Natural History Museum and is a master locksmith.

Marie-Laure goes blind because of congenital cataracts when she is 6 years old. Her father helps her with her blindness by building a miniature replica of their neighborhood in wood so she can learn to navigate around the city. The Jardin des Plantes is where she starts to learn how to navigate home by counting drains, the intersections and the smell of the plants. Continue reading “All The Light We Cannot See Book Review” →