Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

Title: Crazy Rich Asians
Author: Kevin Kwan
Genre: Fiction


Synopsis: New Yorker, Rachel Chu, is invited by her boyfriend of two years, Nick Young, to be his date to his best friend's wedding in Singapore. What he doesn't tell her is how wealthy and judgy his family can be. Learning more about Nick's family causes Rachel to question if she really knows the man she has been living with at all.

My Thoughts

I decided to read this one because of its crazy popularity. I figured it was going to be a superficial Cinderella type love story, but set in Asia. I was so excited to be wrong. Not only is this novel funny, but it really dives into complex family dynamics showing that enormous wealth does not make life perfect. The author explores the mother-child relationship, relationships between in-laws, and also marriage in an extremely traditional and wealthy family. The reader gets the "money can't buy happiness" theme, but it is not at all preachy. I felt especially drawn to the storyline following the character Astrid. Everyone who knows her thinks her life is perfect; perfect clothes, son, husband, and she never has to worry about money. Instead, we find an incredibly complex woman dealing with her own issues.
While some of the storyline is predictable, there are plenty of surprises to keep the reader on their toes. I particularly enjoyed the footnotes which defined Mandarin and Cantonese colloquial phrases in literal terms, but also with added humor, related them to similar English colloquialisms. The footnotes also provided context for schools, businesses, and groups of people, again with delightfully funny asides added in. As you know by now, I love when I can enjoy a great story but also learn something about history or culture along the way. 

I highly recommend this novel to anyone who is interested in modern Asian culture, stories about family, or who is looking for a good laugh.
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The Winter Station by Jody Shields

Title: The Winter Station
Author: Jody Shields
Genre: Historical Fiction


Synopsis: It's 1910 in a Russian occupied town in the Manchuria region of China. An aristocratic Russian doctor who, unlike many other Russians in the town, has great respect for the Chinese culture, starts to notice mysterious unreported deaths of Chinese people. It starts with two bodies abandoned at the train station and slowly starts to grow. Government officials want to ignore these deaths, but the Baron will not let this go uninvestigated.

My Thoughts

From the back cover, I thought that this would be presented as a mystery with lots of suspense. Unfortunately, the first few chapters come across more like, "oh dead people, the government won't care because they aren't Russians. Oh, more dead people, let's send in more doctors to investigate. Oh, its a plague." And then the rest of the book documents the horrors of the plague and how the doctors can't agree on treatment or mode of transmission, the incredible number of deaths, and people trying to avoid quarantine. When it finally gets interesting and the reader is invested, it just ends with the Baron trying to help one of his colleagues to leave the town. Talk about anticlimactic. 
It is based on a diary kept by the Baron, who is the main character, so that is interesting. It is also a part of history that was buried because it was embarrassing to the Russian government how poorly it was handled. But, in the end, it seems like the author tried to take a diary and make it fiction, but didn't add enough meat to make it the truly enthralling mystery it could have been.

I have not gotten into the last couple of books that I have read. Let's hope my next read, Crazy Rich Asians, will live up to the hype! As always, I will keep you posted.

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The Year of the Runaways by Sunjeev Sahota

Title: The Year of the Runaways 
Author: Sunjeev Sahota
Genre: Fiction


Synopsis: Three young Indian men leave India each fleeing different circumstances but all in search of the same things; work, honor, and a better life for their families. They all end up immigrating to Sheffield, England where they believe work to be plentiful, but unfortunately, jobs are scarce and their living conditions are abysmal. A young woman leaves home to do what she believes is right even though it brings dishonor to her family. Will these four runaways be able to survive this year? 

My Thoughts

When I saw this on the shelf at the library I picked it up because it seemed like a topic that is so important right now. What is life like for immigrants just trying to get by in a new country? This novel is set in 2003 and I had to actively keep reminding myself as I read about the conditions and horrible treatment of these young people that this is a modern novel. It is easier to justify or rationalize this type of treatment when it is about people immigrating in the 19th and early 20th centuries by thinking “times were different then, they didn’t have sanitary conditions, people were fighting for a place to live and work, of course so many people were treated badly and many of them died.” But it is much harder to swallow when it is set less than 20 years ago and conditions seem to be no better for immigrants than they were 100 years ago. 
The story is anxiety-inducing because I just wanted everything to be okay, for each character to get through the day alive. Sometimes I would just keep reading until I came to a point where one of them was out of immediate danger before I could put it down and go to sleep. 
There are parts of the story where there is some humor and small victories, so it is not completely depressing. What I liked most is that it was just honest. People trying to make the best of their circumstances, trying for a new start.

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Enchantress of Numbers by Jennifer Chiverini

Title: Enchantress of Numbers
Author: Jennifer Chiaverini
Genre: Historical Fiction


Other books that I have read by this author:
Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker: A Novel, The Spymistress: A Novel, Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule, Fates and Traitors, Mrs. Lincoln's Rival

Synopsis: Having a famous father and the scandal of a public separation of her parents have led to an unconventional life for Augusta Ada Byron. Doing what she felt right, Ada's mother fills her time with math and science, telling the governesses to never encourage Ada to use her imagination, lest she becomes like her unstable father. Ada is only allowed to hear or read Lord Byron's poetry when in her mother's company, and even then only rarely. As time goes on Ada learns that she can use math and science in conjunction with her imagination to create things beyond imagination.

My Thoughts


This is the first novel by this author that is not set in the United States during the American Civil War. Each of them had a moment where characters from the other novels crossed paths, which was cool to see different perspectives of the same events. Enchantress of Numbers started off by giving the story of the marriage of Lord Byron and Annabella Milbanke and the birth of their daughter. It was very unsettling and a bit depressing how poorly Annabella was treated. After that, the description of Ada's young life was a bit slow and repetitive. I'm not sure if that was the intention to emphasize the redundant, sheltered life Ada lived. It also progressed very slowly and while the time span was given at the beginning of each chapter, the passing of time was hard to follow, especially when she was very young.
By the time the story picked up I was more than halfway through the book and felt that her adult life and accomplishments were not as fully fleshed out and more of the story should have been devoted to that time in her life. When I realized there were only a few pages left I was disappointed. I really liked that some of the minor characters Ada also became quite famous, like Charles Dickens. I also enjoyed that each chapter title was inspired from a line written by Lord Byron.
Overall, this was not my favorite novel by this author but interesting to learn about this little-known person in history.


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Confessions of Young Nero by Margaret George

Title: Confessions of Young Nero
Author: Margaret George
Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis: Lucius has royal blood but is not first in line to become emperor. After the emperor dies, Lucius's mother, Agrippina, is returned from exile and comes to claim him from his aunt, who was raising him. It is Agrippina's singular goal to put Lucius on the throne. This novel follows Lucius from his young life and early years as Emperor Nero to the burning of Rome. 

My Thoughts

My first thought when reading this book was that the passage of time was not chronicled well. Since it was told from Nero's perspective looking back on his life, the scenes where he was a very small child were told in a voice that made him seem much older. Then it would say something like "so many years have passed," but he was still only like 7. I found it very difficult to follow.
The mother-son relationship in this novel is super complicated and goes to a weird place that may make some readers uncomfortable. George's goal was the show a softer, more human side of Emperor Nero which I think she accomplished. I liked reading this novel, but I never felt super excited to read more and know what was going to happen next. Honestly, I enjoyed reading the acknowledgments at the end more than the story. I felt that more of the history was provided and the author's purpose was expressly stated, helping me to understand why she needed to tell this story. Apparently, there will be a second book to complete this story and I might be interested in reading it, just to see if the story picks up at all.



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My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie

Title: My Dear Hamilton
Author: Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie
Genre: Historical Fiction

Other books by this author that I've read: America's First Daughter


Synopsis: This novel explores the life of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton before, during, and after her marriage to Alexander Hamilton.

My Thoughts

At the end of August, I had the privilege to see Hamilton when it was here in Cleveland with my mom as a gift from my parents upon finishing my MAEd. It was so amazing and afterward, I was super energized and it had left me wondering more about Eliza Hamilton than Alexander. So, as I am wont to do, I looked up books about Eliza Hamilton finding that there was not yet a biography to read about her, but that since Hamilton at least one was in the works. But earlier this year Dray and Kamoie had published this work of historical fiction. Both of the authors were educators before becoming authors and as such the use of primary sources is important to them both. So I knew this would be the closest thing to a true story I could get, short of a biography.
When I saw that these were the authors who had also written America's First Daughter, I was thrilled. I loved that novel and the research they had done as it was written was impeccable. I was also excited to see that they started Eliza's story before she met Alexander because she is an accomplished person in her own right. The story does not end at Alexander's death but continues as Eliza struggles with the aftermath and what he has left behind.
As I got closer and closer to the end of the book I didn't want it to end. It is the kind of novel that left me feeling not quite ready to move on to the next book on my list. It engulfs you and takes you on an emotional journey.
As nerdy as I am, it should surprise no one that I love to read the extras at the end of a historical novel and these notes from the authors were exceptionally exciting for me. They discuss any changes that they made intentionally and justify why they made them. Most of them deal with events out of chronological order or conversations/situations that they entirely created or embellished. They also discuss any plot holes they filled due to gaps in the historical documents.
The authors also included a section comparing the events in their novel to events and the chronology depicted in Hamilton, which I absolutely loved. Being able to see the two works and the choices made by the respective writers of the novel and play made me appreciate the artistic choices each made to best tell their version of a similar story.

If you made it through all of that it may seem unnecessary to say that this novel comes highly recommended by me. Reading about Eliza Hamilton from a first-person perspective written as though she was looking back on her life was super cool. I borrowed this one from the library, I think it is one I need to buy and keep in my personal library because it is totally worth a second read.



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His Majesty's Hope by Susan Elia MacNeal

Title: His Majesty's Hope
Author: Susan Elia MacNeal
Genre: Historical Fiction

Other books by this author that I've read:
 Mr. Churchill's Secretary, Princess Elizabeth's Spy

Synopsis: World War II has finally come home to Britain, but it takes more than nightly air raids to rattle intrepid spy and expert code breaker Maggie Hope. After serving as a secret agent to protect Princess Elizabeth at Windsor Castle, Maggie is now an elite member of the Special Operations Executive—a black ops organization designed to aid the British effort abroad—and her first assignment sends her straight into Nazi-controlled Berlin, the very heart of the German war machine. Relying on her quick wit and keen instincts, Maggie infiltrates the highest level of Berlin society, gathering information to pass on to London headquarters. But the secrets she unveils will expose a darker, more dangerous side of the war—and of her own past. - From the back cover

My Thoughts
As a third installment of the Maggie Hope Mystery series, I was excited to find this novel was just as intriguing, action-packed, and endearing as the first two. At this point in the series, it is important to have read the previous novels because this resolves some plotlines begun in the earlier books. 
This novel is a little less light-hearted than the first two, continuing during WWII, but highlighting "Operation Compassionate Death," where Hitler approved the murder of children with developmental disabilities, chronic diseases, or who had one Jewish parent. In addition to that depressing topic, Maggie has to deal with the ramifications of being undercover and some of her hopeful ignorance/innocence is lost.

If you have read the first two in the series, this one will not disappoint. If this sounds like something you might like to read, check out the first novel Mr. Churchill's Secretary to catch up on how Maggie became an undercover spy!

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Mademoiselle Chanel by C.W. Gortner

Title: Mademoiselle Chanel
Author: C. W. Gortner
Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis: This rags to riches story of Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel begins when she is a young child orphaned and sent to live and study at a convent. Even then the nuns knew she had a special talent for sewing and encouraged her to use that skill to support herself. After further schooling, Gabrielle is sent out into the world unprepared for the difficulties faced by single women her age attempting to make a living. With the support of people she meets along the way, Coco discovers her talent for design. The story follows her through the struggles and successes that made her the famous icon she is today.

My Thoughts

I have recently decided in order to feed my reading habit in a more budget-friendly and environmentally conscious way that it was time to reintroduce myself to the public library. Browsing the shelves at my local library I found this novel and thought it looked interesting. 
I am not a follower of famous designers and therefore knew little about Coco Chanel except that she was a designer. This novel really dives into her life and why she designed and lived the way she did as an adult woman. Reading her story as told from her first-person perspective really show the times in which she was living in a unique light. It even shares the inspiration for her interlocking CC symbol.
I liked that it was broken up into sections based on major events in history and in Chanel's life. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, fashion, or stories about self-made women.

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Fates and Traitors by Jennifer Chiaverini

Title: Fates and Traitors
Author: Jennifer Chiaverini
Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis: The story of the life of John Wilkes Booth told from the perspective of important women in his life; His mother, Mary Ann, his sister, Asia, his secret fiancee, Lucy Hale, and the mother of one of his conspirators, Mary Surratt.

Other books I have read by this author:
Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker: A Novel, The Spymistress: A Novel (this one is my favorite, and seriously amazing... read it!), and Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule

My Thoughts

Initially, I was unsure that I would enjoy a novel about John Wilkes Booth as one of the most notorious men in American history. Few modern Americans like John Wilkes Booth and even after reading this novel he is not a likable character but the reader gains perspective about this notorious man. I felt sympathetic to the women who knew him and were horrified by his actions because they truly loved or admired him.
The book begins from J.W. Booth's perspective as he is trapped and captured after (spoiler alert...not) he assassinates President Abraham Lincoln. Then we learn about his young life from the perspective of his mother, Mary Ann and his younger sister, Asia with whom he had a very close relationship. Lucy Hale, a senators daughter, and Mary Surratt, owner of a boarding house and mother to one of Booth's conspirators, give the reader insight into Booth as an adult man plotting to abduct President Lincoln. I like how the reader gets different perspectives on John Wilkes from the people closest to him and while they cannot see his dangerous tendencies the reader gets a full view of why he may have acted as he did.
It is also interesting and well done one chapter near the end is small snippets of the reaction and issues each woman and her family has to deal with in the aftermath of the assassination carried out by someone close to them.

This was a really interesting read that provides insight into those affected directly by the actions of John Wilkes Booth and I highly recommend it! 

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Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierice

Title: Tempests and Slaughter
Author: Tamora Pierce
Genre: YA Fiction/Fantasy

Synopsis: The first novel in a series chronicling the life of Numair Salmalin, the beloved mage readers first met in Wild Magic, part of the Immortals series. In this novel, Numair is still Arram Draper, a young boy learning to control his immense Gift of magic at the University of Carthak. He meets two other young mages who have talent that has them ahead of many students older than them, Prince Ozorne and Varice. Ozorne, Varice, and Arram become inseparable and they spend meals and their little free time between classes together. Things start to change when Ozorne becomes closer to the throne than ever imagined as the deaths of his cousins continue to mysteriously occur. Arram has to decide if he wants to spend his life working for Ozorne in Carthak or if he has another calling. After seeing the horrors of slaves forced to fight as gladiators and having to heal them behind the scenes, his choice becomes more difficult. 

My Thoughts
I first began reading Tamora Pierce's Tortall Novels in middle school. I loved the unlikely female heroes and the historic setting of knights and magic. I gobbled them up, Alanna (Song of the Lioness Quartet), Daine (The Immortals Quartet), and Kel (Protector Of The Small Quartet). Then I (not so) patiently waited for Aly (Trickster's Duet) by this time, I was in high school. Two more years brought Beka (Beka Copper Trilogy ) a series that released its last book in 2011, my senior year in college. Seventeen books set in Tortall, I read and loved them all. Now in 2018 Pierce writes a book with a boy protagonist for the first time in a Tortall novel, the first one released in seven years. I obviously had to have it. 
It did not disappoint. There was plenty of information about Arram’s childhood and how he became friends with Varice and Ozorne as well as a few other characters we knew from reading about his adulthood. There is some action in a few places, especially toward end. The characters are relatable and well developed and the story flows easily and quickly. I like that each chapter starts with Arram’s new class schedule, it is a cute way to show the passing of time. 
This book could definitely stand on its own, but it helps to have read at least the Immortals Quartet because this book explains a lot about why Numair behaves the way he does and his relationships to several characters from that series as well. It was fun to see the young versions of these characters.
I can’t wait for the next book in the series! 


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The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton

Title: The Andromeda Strain
Author: Michael Crichton
Genre: Science Fiction

Synopsis: A piece of NASA's equipment returning from space brings along with it a deadly organism the likes of which mankind has never seen. A secret team created for the purpose of dealing with just such emergencies is called into action to figure out how to deal with this threat to humanity.

My Thoughts
This is the fourth novel I am reviewing from my mystery 10 pack from Discover Books! 
The premise of this book is super intriguing and I have enjoyed another book by this author (The Great Train Robbery), but unfortunately what should have been successful and thrilling was boring and overexplained. The reader could read the first two chapters, quickly skim chapters 3-13, and come back in at chapter 14 and still not really feel like anything was missed. The amount of scientific exposition was exhausting (and I'm a science teacher). I have to believe the only reason for such overbearing scientific explanation for the author to parade his scientific knowledge and to convince the reader that this could all really happen. 
This is a science fiction novel, readers of science fiction are willing to suspend disbelief to an extent and many of them understand basic scientific principles. If they came across something they didn't understand and wanted to I can almost certainly guarantee they would take the time to look it up. I understand that at the time it was written the internet wasn't a thing, but encyclopedias, science texts, and libraries were.
 This one was hard for me to get through, and I did not look forward to reading it each night. It is super disappointing because the bones of a good story were all there, the execution was just inadequate. 
Maybe pick up another book you may have heard of by this author, Jurassic Park, instead.

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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling

Title: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Author: J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne
Genre: Fiction

Synopsis: 19 years after the Battle of Hogwarts we find Harry and Ginny sending their second son, Albus Severus Potter, off to Hogwarts. He is embarrassed by the attention he gets from his famous father and feels that he is being constantly compared and isn't living up to his name. Harry finds it difficult to relate with Albus and says something he instantly regrets. Albus forms a great friendship with an unlikely friend, Scorpius, and the two decide to take on a great task and end up having to save the world.

My Thoughts
I can't believe I have gone this long before reading this book. It has been a long time since I read a play, but once you get back into the rhythm of it, you hardly notice the difference. Getting back into the world of Harry Potter is like greeting an old friend, no matter how long you have been away it still feels like no time has passed (except the 19 years in the story, haha). The old gang still have their characteristic personalities just grown up a bit and getting to know their children is interesting as well. 
Scorpius is such a great character, not popular or well liked he has immense curiosity and is so light and bubbly. I found myself laughing out loud at a few of Scorpious's lines. He provides the comic relief of Ron in the earlier books, but without the 'Debbie Downer' effect that Ron had.
I had a really hard time putting this one down, even when I was so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open (I read before bed)! 
If you are a Harry Potter fan then I highly recommend reading this play. If you don't know anything at all about Harry Potter it may be hard to follow, since it makes reference to past events. I would love to see it performed and hope that it eventually comes to Cleveland Playhouse Square. 

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Summer Sisters by Judy Blume

Title: Summer Sisters
Author: Judy Blume
Genre: Fiction

Synopsis: Caitlin and Vix meet at school and the boisterous Caitlin invites Vix to stay at her father's home on Martha's Vineyard for the summer. Vix's family is struggling financially and her mother is uncertain if she should let her go until Vix's soft-spoken father convinces her it will be fine. The girls become close friends and they go to the vineyard for the summer year after year, calling themselves summer sisters.
This is the coming of age story of two girls from two different worlds. Though they have contrasting personalities, they stay friends for life through tough times, fights, boyfriends, breakups, distance, and laughter. 

My Thoughts
This is the third novel I am reviewing from my mystery 10 pack from Discover Books! When I hear Judy Blume I think of children's books, so when I saw this novel in the mystery pack I wasn't sure what to expect. It is definitely a book that is good for reading on the beach, or on the porch, or in your yard on a lounge chair in the summer. 
I liked that most of the book was third person omniscient focusing on Vix's perspective, but when the reader needed more information short 1-2 page excerpts would be third person omniscient from another character that had participated in a particularly important scene. The reader gets a fuller picture and the characters are better developed because of this addition.
I also liked that the novel began with an excerpt from "the present" and then went back to the time Caitlin and Vix met and continued through that excerpt. 
The novel really explores the intricacies and difficulties of building maintaining friendships into adulthood. I have to admit, even when it was a bit cheesy at times I enjoyed reading this book and I may have even cried at the end.

If you are looking for a good summer read, then I recommend you pick up a copy of this novel.

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