The Help

by: Kathryn Stockett

My friend read this book just as the previews for the movie were coming out. I had not heard of the book until she mentioned it and she said I should read it. Well, I went to the library and was #71 on the waiting list. I posted on FB to see if anyone had the book for me to barrow and another friend of mine lent me the book! Within the first few chapters watching the previews was so funny cause I was starting to see who the characters were and made me want to finish the 500 page book in one night! Of course, I couldn't! But I did finish it in 3 days!

This book takes place in the 1960's when white's had help in their homes. In this story there are 4 main "white" ladies and their help that you follow. Skeeter decides to venture out and write a book about "the help". Back then speaking out could get you fired or worse so it is a huge risk that the woman take to tell their stories.

You are drawn in with the characters and stories of how the help love the children and are treated so poorly. To how the white woman treat their children and even Skeeter when they suspect what she is up to.

This book is now in my top favorites list. I was sad when it ended. I think everyone should read it before you see the movie, even after. It was SO good!

Here is the trailer for the movie if you have not seen it.

http://youtu.be/WbuKgzgeUIU

Dreams of Joy

by: Lisa See

I read the first book Shanghai Girls a few months ago. I was shocked when I finished the book because it ends so abruptly, I wanted to know what happened. I looked up Lisa See's webpage to find out that the 2nd book had just come out so I waiting to get it from the library. I am still actually on hold 225 of 264, to be exact! Having gotten into e-books, I found out that you can request e-books from the library. They only have a few books available but Dreams of Joy was one of them. I was only 3 of 3 on the waiting list and finally was able to download it to my itouch to read! The crazy thing is that the book is 1,575 pages! A big book, even bigger on such a small screen!

Dreams of Joy picks up from where Shanghai Girls left of. Joy found out that her father, who had just died was not her birth father. She also discovers that her aunt is really her birth mother who gave her to her aunt, Pearl to be raised as her daughter. (In protection during their arranged marriages). Joy realizes nothing she knew is true and she wants to find out who she is, so she goes to China, after being born and raised in California, to find her birth father, who does not even now she exists!k

When her mother, Pearl, finds Joy gone the next morning she follows her back to her home country, China, to find her. She fears the worse, that her daughter was killed for being a communist trying to enter the country from America. (At this time the boards are closely watched for who goes in and out).

The story follows both of their journeys into China. How Joy is hit with a reality she didn't expect. Her father takes her from Shangai to the country. They are there to teach the country people of art. They have no running water and very different beliefs than she was raised with.

It also follows Pearl returning to the home she thought she would never see again to find a daughter she doesn't know will accept her anymore. When Pearl finds her daughter she struggles to regain her daughters trust.

Joy falls in love and wants to live in the country rather than stay in Shangai. Her mother, Pearl and her new found father try to deter her but she will not listen. But once married and her parents leave she is left to realize things were not like she thought they were.

This story is heart wrenching. From the Chinese culture and the things that those people endured under their leadership as a nation is just amazing. It's also sad to know that the stories she tells are from different people she has spoken to, to put in this story.

You have to read the series to find out what becomes of them all; Joy, her aunt Mae, her mother Pearl and her father, Z.G. It's a story that keeps you reading to find out what happens.

I have really enjoyed reading Lisa See's books. But I'm also interested in China. May not be for others but she is a good writer. Would recommend to give them a try.

Through the Fire

By: Shawn Grady

My 2nd e-book! I do have to say that I'm not sure I'm sold on e-books. There are pros and cons. The convenience of not having to carry a big book around with you is a plus. But I do love watching how far I am getting in a book. With an e-book you see the percentage of the book you have read but I love seeing the pages turn! I also am not one to pay for books, which is why I go to the library but this is one of 12 I found free through my Kobo app. So I will read whatever I can get free. The other nice things about e-books is you can get a book in minutes!

Through the Fire is about a fireman, Aiden. He used to hear the fire, like his father once did. But a killed Aiden's dad and he doesn't believe it was an accident. Now a string of fires are happening that seem to be on purpose and Aiden is caught in the middle. He doesn't know who he can trust.

The book starts out with a fire that goes wrong, so you are hooked from the first couple of chapters. But then I felt like the intensity was so high in the beginning that the middle seemed to progress slowly. I wanted to find out what happened so I kept with the book. It does pick up again and your are caught up again guessing who is starting the fires.

I do think the book it is worth reading. I liked the story line, I just wish it had kept up with the intensity of the drama from the beginning. Especially after the last book I read, In Plain Sight, which had to guessing chapter to chapter. I will definitely look for more books by this author and do recommend reading this book.

Hide in Plain Sight

by: Marta Perry

This is my first e-book that I have read. I have an itouch (my mother's day and birthday present combined) and ran across an app called Kobo. I thought I would try it out and found some Christian fiction novels for free!

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. Hide in Plain Sight takes place in Amish country. When Andrea's sister, Rachel is in a car accident Andrea is forced to leave the city to go back to the family farm to help her grandma with the last minute details needed to open their home into a B&B, called The Three Sister's. Andrea is torn between what she thinks is best for her grandma so she can return to her life or help with her grandmother's dreams and stay.

Things are not all the same as they were when Andrea was a kid. Neighbor kids have all grown up, her grandfather has past away, her grandma has a new tenant on the property, Calvin, and not everyone in town is happy another B&B will be opening. Andrea has to learn who she can trust, especially when someone is entering their property at night to frighten her.

This book was a great mystery. You also get wrapped up in the characters that you want to keep reading to find out what happens. I was guessing until the very end! Another friend of mine read this book and liked it just as much as I did. She even looked up other books by this author to find out that this book is in a series. The first one of 3 based on the Three Sister's; Andrea, Rachel and Lisa. I can't wait to read the other two!

Kiyo's Story

by: Kiyo Sato

I am doing the summer library reading program. They give you a bingo sheet with various things to do through the summer. Each time you get a bingo you turn it in and get put into a drawing. One of the bingo squares is to read a biography.

My family went to the County Fair this year and I ran across a table about writing. Kiyo was there with her book. I barely met her, had not heard of the book before but I took a flier that day.
When I saw my bingo card I figured I would read her book!

This story is about Kiyo's family. How her father came to America from Japan, how he married her mother and settled in Sacramento, of all places! It's so funny to hear her write about driving down Franklin Blvd. when it was nothing but country!

Her father worked on farms when he moved here and then was finally able to owned his own farm growing Strawberry's. She tells stories about their family growing up. Kiyo was the oldest of 9 children! In Dec. 1941 Japan bombed Pearl Harbor and life changed for the Sato family. Kiyo was in College at this time but those who used to call them friends would no longer talk to her family. They were searched by the military and many husbands were taken away because they were suspected of being enemy traitors.

Only months later they had to evacuate their home to a "relocation camp" (not to be called a concentration camp). She tells of her story of packing, taking 9 children on a train and ending up in the heat of the summer in AZ! (I can not imagine!)

A few months later Kiyo is the first in the concentration camp to be released to go to College and is sent to Michigan where for the first time she is away from her family. Years later her family is also allowed to move to Colorado work a sugar beet farm.

This story is Kiyo's first book that she has every written and I believe it is one worth reading. I truly love hearing about people's journeys in life. Kiyo always mentions a saying her mother would always say; "Moh sukoshi gaman o shite" Persevere a bit longer. This story is about true perseverance of the Sato family to survive and prosper in America.

I wish I had read this book so that I could have spoken with Kiyo Sato at the County Fair, I will try again next year! You will have to read it to find out what happen's to the Sato family! Enjoy!

Justifiable Means

by: Terri Blackstock

This is the 2nd book in the Sun Coast Chronicles. The first book was
Evidence of Mercy. Larry Millsaps is in the first book investigation a plane crash. (You can see my post on that book in the archives, under May). I have already read 3 other series by Terri Blackstock, her books are always worth reading.

This book follows Detective Larry Millsaps through an investigation of Melissa Nelson, who was attacked. When they interview her she knows the person who attacked her, Edward Soames and has evidence to convict him. As they investigate Soames, he has a rap sheet that doesn't help his plea of innocence. But as they keep digging they also find that Melissa has a past of her own. Who is telling the truth?

I kept going back and forth with the evidence; thinking I knew what was right, then second guessing. As you read on the mystery gets really good and I was up late finishing the book to find out what happens. Terri Blackstock has enough mystery to keep you guessing and you get hooked on the characters. She even brings back the characters from book one. Which I like, you can follow them through the series. I think this book was better than book one and I can't wait to read book three!

The Memory Keeper's Daughter

by: Kim Edwards

I am not sure where I ran across this book. I had thought it was a Christian novel but as I read discovered that it was not.

This book is based on a couple; David and Norah. The books starts out with the birth of their son Paul and an unexpected twin Pheobe. David delivers his son and then his daughter Pheobe but one look at Pheobe and he realizes that she is born with downs syndrome. In 1964 they actually had the mother sleep during delivery so she is unaware of the second birth. David makes a decision and hands his daughter over to Caroline, the nurse who was assisting. He tells Caroline to take Phoebe to an institution for these type of children expecting that her life will be hard and short.

Growing up David had a sister who was very sick and saw what it did to his family when she died. He wanted to spare his wife and son the heart ache of loosing a daughter and sister, like he had. When Norah wakes, David tells her that their baby daughter died in child birth.

Caroline took Phoebe to the institution and saw that it was a horrible place so she made a decision to take her out of town and raise Phoebe herself. Two decisions that would have drastic consequences.

David and Norah grow apart. Norah from the loss of her daughter, is never able to really recover. David with the wall he built from his secret. He turns to photography to capture moments in life but some how always separate from it. Their son Paul grows up feeling the distance between his parents and doesn't feel accepted by his father.

Paul grows into a young man, in love with music. Phoebe who faces challenges actually grows into a young girl. Caroline sends letters along the way to David and in turn David sends money to help raise Phoebe.

I had no idea when I started the book that it is also a movie. I plan to watch it now that I have read the book. I would recommend the book. Though it is not a Christian book the story is compelling. I have to say that I thought the story was sad, it's amazing what one choice can do. David thought he was making a right choice to protect his family and never predicted what other affects that choice would cause. You have to read the book to find out if the secret was ever revealed and what became of Phoebe and Paul!