True Biz

 

“True Biz” by Sara Novic

Published by Random House

Finished 5/1/22 – 4/5 stars

 This is a lot more than a coming-of-age story.  This book gives you an inside look into various elements of the deaf community.  There are hearing individuals born into deaf families, deaf children born into hearing families, families of acceptance, and families in denial.  It also touches on the impacts of cochlear implants, videophones, schools for the deaf, and, of course, sign language.  And thrown into the book are “assignments” with added information to help educate you on the history of sign language, the deaf community, and some of the struggles they have faced.  Some might see them as a distraction from the story but truly, they are additional helpful insights.

 The issues I have with the book – drinking and drug use by minors (normally it doesn’t bother me in a book, but the way it is portrayed here seems a little far-fetched), the occasional feel of more of a political agenda rather than story (thankfully it doesn’t happen often), and my biggest pet peeve – there are no quotation marks.  Obviously these issues don’t take away too much from the book because I still give it a 4.

 I do recommend reading the physical book to make sure you are getting the proper layout for signed conversations and the drawings of signs at the tops of chapters and within some of the “assignments”.    

 

#TrueBiz

#SaraNovic

#RandomHouse

#2022Reads

Our Little World

“Our Little World” by Karen Winn

Published by Dutton

Finished 4/27/22 – 3/5 stars

 

This is a coming-of-age novel centered around sisters, Bee and Audrina, growing up on a cul-de-sac in New Jersey during the mid-80s, before the internet and cell phones.  A time when kids were free to play outside without a care in the world.  Until one day, Sally, the 4 year-old girl that lives across the street disappears from the lake.  Did she drown?  Was she taken?  They were there with her brother, Max, but no one saw where Sally went.  That afternoon forever changes them and their relationships with friends and each other.  There are other events that change their childhood as well, none seem to be for the better.  I found it to be, overall, just a depressing story.  I do think it’s fairly well written, especially considering this is the author’s debut novel, but I felt it dragged at times.

 

 Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for gifting me with an advanced copy to read and provide an honest review.

 

#OurLIttleWorld

#KarenWinn

#Dutton

#NetGalley

#2022Reads

 

Watch Out for Her

 “Watch Out for Her” by Samantha M Bailey

Published by Simon & Schuster

Finished 4/19/22 – 3/5 stars

This book is told in alternating perspectives during two different timelines – then and now.  It is the story of Holly, a girl in her early 20s who has dropped out of medical school and starts babysitting for a local family.  And Sarah, the mother of the boy she’s babysitting.  Both are trying to essentially restart their lives, but both have issues getting in their way.  Something happens causing Sarah and her family to move across the country. What exactly that is, is the unknown.  You can make some assumptions but won’t know for sure until the end.

I enjoyed this book but feel it would have been better as a novella.  It dragged in a few places and seemed a little repetitive at times.  Although it’s already not a long book, I think if it were shorter, it would have been much better.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for gifting me with an advanced copy to read and provide and honest review (if I choose).

#WatchOutForHer

#SamanthaMBailey

#SimonAndSchuster

#NetGalley

#2022Reads

Pachinko

 

“Pachinko” by Min Jin Lee

Published by Grand Central Publishing

Finished 4/13/22 – 4/5 stars       

 I’ve had this book on my shelf for 4 ½ years.  I don’t know why it took the mini-series to come out for me to finally pull it down to read, but I’m glad it did.  Not only was it an enjoyable read, but I also learned a little Korean and Japanese culture and history.  One of the benefits of reading historical fiction is that you tend to get more of a “personal” insight into historical events that you don’t get from reading a textbook. 

 This novel is a multi-generational story that takes place between 1910 and 1989, beginning in Korea and then moving to Japan.  The majority of the story revolves around one family but there are a few offshoot characters with mini storylines as well.  There is love and loss, struggles and accomplishments, and battles with both inner demons and real-life bullies.  It’s not a page-turner but it keeps your attention.  I definitely recommend it.

 Now I’m off to go watch the show 😊

 

#Pachinko

#MinJinLee

#GrandCentralPublishing

#2022Reads

The Younger Wife

 

“The Younger Wife” by Sally Hepworth

Published by St Martin’s Press

Finished 3/31 – 3/5 stars

This was an entertaining, quick read about a dysfunctional family trying to come to terms with their past and the impact it has had on their lives.  It all starts at the wedding of Stephen and Heather when something unknown happens, causing 911 to be called.  We then go back in time to the year leading up to the wedding.  Each chapter focuses on either Heather or one of Stephen’s adult daughters, Tully and Rachel. The alternating perspectives allows you to learn more about the internal demons they are each living with.  It’s pretty much all included – dementia, alcoholism, eating disorders, rape, kleptomania, and both verbal and physical abuse.  In addition, throughout the book Stephen’s personality and actions are in question leaving the reader to wonder just what kind of man he truly is.  We then come full circle back to the wedding to find out just what happened.  Afterwards, revelations are just kind of thrown at you and that is where the book didn’t work for me.  I think if the ending had been written differently, it probably would have been more of a 4-star book.  I still really enjoyed the majority of the book, but the ending was a disappointment.   

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for gifting me with an advanced copy to read and provide an honest review.

#TheYoungerWife

#SallyHepworth

#StMartinsPress

#NetGalley

#2022Reads

Before She Knew Him

 

“Before She Knew Him” by Peter Swanson

Published by William Morrow

Finished 3/27/22 – 3.5/5 stars

Yep, it’s another murder mystery.  What can I say…I like them.  This one centers around 2 couples -   Matthew and Mira and their new neighbors, Hen and Lloyd.  When over for dinner, Hen sees a trophy in Matthew’s office that she believes belonged to a young man who was murdered in their former neighborhood.  Strange coincidence or did they just move next door to a killer?  Hen tries to talk to the police about it but she has her own history that makes her story not quite believable.  She can’t just let it go though so she starts her own investigation which leads to her witnessing another murder.  I can’t really tell you more so you’ll have to read it to find out what happens next.

 “What Happened to the Bennetts” by Lisa Scottoline

Published by Putnam Books

Finished 3/21/22 – 4/5 stars

 

There is a reason Lisa Scottoline is one of my favorite authors.  Simply put, I always enjoy her books.  Occasionally, I have found that if I read too many books by the same author, they begin to feel repetitive and too predictable.  That’s definitely NOT the case with Ms. Scottoline’s books, and I’ve read quite a number of her stand-alone novels.

 

This is the story of the Bennett family.  They are just your run of the mill family, going about their normal lives when tragedy hits. Initially they thought it was a deadly instance of being at the wrong place at the wrong time, but when the FBI approaches them hours later it’s obvious that something much more sinister is going on.  They are quickly thrown into protective custody while they await transitioning into their new lives in the witness protection program.  There is no time for good-byes or social media updates, so friends and family are left to wonder “What Happened to the Bennetts?”  But they, themselves, are also left to wonder just what happened and what lies ahead?  They want the lives they had, not new ones in a new location without any friends or family around.  Why should they be punished when they didn’t do anything wrong?  They need answers and the FBI isn’t providing them, so they’ll need to do a little digging on their own. 

 

Buckle up and enjoy the ride!  It has its slow moments but the majority of the time the book moves at a good pace to keep you reading longer than you had planned.

 

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for an advanced copy to read and provide an honest review.