Hillbilly Elegy

"Hillbilly Elegy" by J D Vance

4/5 Stars

Finished 6/16/20 (catching up)

This memoir made my heart ache but more importantly, it made me think. America may be one of the richest countries, but we also have an unfortunate number of poor families trying desperately to make ends meet. We can make donations of money, food, clothing, etc but that doesn’t fix the problem. That doesn’t give children a stable environment at home so that they can do well at school to better themselves. That doesn’t prevent family members from falling into the hell of addiction. It doesn’t give them stable jobs with benefits. I don’t have the answers of how to fix these issues, but I know we need to keep trying. We need to continue to be informed of the issues our poor face and try to help break the cycle. We need to continue to find ways to help children strive to better themselves and provide pathways to allow them to do so. And we need to continue to be compassionate. That is how we can make a difference.

If you haven’t guessed, I enjoyed this book a lot. It’s the story of a boy growing up in KY and OH to then become a marine and later graduate from Yale law school. He had many obstacles to overcome to get where he is today and without his grandmother, I don’t know that he ever could have. I credit her for a lot of what he has been able to accomplish. She gave him both love and stability when he needed it most.

Killers of the Flower Moon

"Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann

4/5 stars

Finished 10/27/19 (catching up)

I highly recommend this book. It’s a non fiction that mostly reads like a novel. Yes, part of the story is the birth of the FBI, but the main focus is the murders of the Osage tribe members for headrights on their land because of all the oil money it brings. The investigations, cover-ups, and deception throughout the years of the Reign of Terror make for a very interesting yet heartbreaking story.

Turtles All the Way Down

"Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green

3/5 Stars

Finished 10/4/19 (catching up)

I definitely don’t think this is one of John Green’s better books. I enjoyed it and found the mental struggles of the main character interesting, but it didn’t draw me completely in. I wasn’t attached to any of the main characters or the story line for that matter. It was just a light read that kept me entertained. I will recommend it to my teenager though because she might enjoy it more.

Once Upon a River

"Once Upon a River" by Bonnie Jo Campbell

5/5 Stars

Read 9/16/19 (catching up)

What a wonderful book! I loved the main character, the setting, the storyline, the writing.....I just plain loved it. I worry for the future of Margo, but I know that whatever challenges she will face, she will find a way to overcome them. And I know she'll be happy.

The Twilight Wife

"The Twilight Wife" by A J Banner

4/5 stars

Read - 9/6/19 (catching up)

I truly enjoy a good book with twists and turns and this one provides that. This is a story of a young woman who survives a diving accident but lost all memories of the last 4 years of her life. As sights and smells start to bring memories back, she learns more and more about her recent past but can’t always match it up to the current life she’s living. Is her mind playing tricks on her or is she being fed lies? Or could it be a little of both?

Two years!!  Two years passed since I read a book!!  That's a sin!  Life just gets in the way sometimes I guess.  That's not excuse though.  Luckily I think the reading bug has bit me again :)  Reviews will be starting back up soon.

"Commonwealth" by Ann Patchett
Published by HarperCollins

Finished 7/11/17  -   3.5 / 5 stars

The story begins and ends with a bottle gin, with lots of family drama in between. A drunken kiss turns into an affair, separating 2 families yet bringing 6 children together. Well, at least for part of the summers and a little of their adult lives. With each chapter you learn a little more about each character through their current living situation, their memories of the past, and how that past shaped the person they are. Although related by either blood or marriage, each character is quite different and bring a different aspect to the story.

Although not my favorite Ann Patchett book, I did truly enjoy it. Initially I had a hard time keeping straight which child belonged to which adult but eventually that became much easier and it never took away from the enjoyment of the story. I definitely recommend it.