Category: Book Review

It’s the summer if 1995 and Gray Banick, an American News Photographer disappears somewhere in the Bosnian war zone.   He leaves behind his  love interest, Lian Zha, Emil Todorovic, his interpreter and friend, and Jack MacKenzine, the mentor who taught him how to hold a camera steady between himself and the worst the war presented.

Now move forward to the year 2000, and Lian who’s Chinese American heritage caused her to bow to her parents wishes and marry another Chinese American.  This union results in a loveless marriage and Lian continues to pine for Gray and search for answers to what happened to him.

Lian connects with Jack and together the two of them meet up with Emil who is still in Bosnia, to see if they can not search out answers together of what happened to Gray.  From here the story goes into the three sharing stories of old times, as well as what has happened to each of them since that fateful time years ago.

This book read with such reality that I admit I went back and checked to make sure it was fiction.  Well written, to the point that it felt so real to me, I entered into this emotionally charged book, unprepared for the emotions it would bring out in me.

The Evolution Of Shadows, while surrounding itself with the story of a war, is more about friendships than bombs.  Sure there is the taste of war among the pages and you do feel this, but for me the war was within the three people who longed for answers; Lian, Emil, and Jack.  Not sure if they are looking for the man Gray, or the remains of Gray, you feel that each of these characters has a longing and a fear of both.

Beautifully titled, these words “evolution of shadows” comes out of a sleepless night in the book.  I love how that was weaved into the words.

Breathtaking and hard to put down, I pushed through the pages wanting to know the answers that each was seeking.  What did happen to Gray?  Would they ever know?  What would they find?  What if he is alive, how will they all react?  What if they find what they fear the most?

For these answers – you will find not from me….. but from this book.

Amazon Rating

Book Journey has updated the 2010 Reading map to include The Evolution Of Shadows

Apparently if you are in the Bosnia area you will not want to miss the ambiance of Zlatna Ribica, a place to have a nice meal and a great cup of coffee – it is described as having the menus written in real books and attached by telephone cords that hang from the wall.

253 pages

Cover Story:  I don’t really follow where the cover is trying to go.  I would believe it is dark to reveal the shadows, but this is not a cover that would call me to pick up this book without first having some information about this book.

I received this book for review from Caitlin of Unbridled Book Tours

auf Wiedersehen means:  Good-bye, farewell, until we meet again.  This is something Christa at a very young age learned again and again.  It was during WWII in Germany and Christa’s family was always on the move trying to stay safe.  Christa’s dad served in the German Army, her mother is left to take care of Christa and her sister.  This book, is Christa’s story.

This book was a look into a sad time of war, poverty, and hardships.  Through Christa’s young eyes, we experience what it was like to be a part of this world that should have been a time of innocence for her.  Christa never knew how long they would be staying at a place or where there next move would be.  Sleeping on beds of straw, and eating whatever could be made available (including a beloved pet horse), as a reader we get a real feel of what this life must have been like.

What I found almost refreshing is that book was not a heavy read.  There are lighter moments of Christa and other children putting on a puppet show, there are moments that made me smile.  What this book was is a read about WWII that could easily be a Young Adult read.

My Amazon Rating

Book Journey 2010 reading map has been updated to include auf Wiedersehen

Rumor has it that Germany has fantastic coffee… while mostly imported – they do brew a good cup.  A place to start for your own taste would be Berhard Benecke Coffee

142 pages

Cover Story:  I like the cover, I think it is a good look at what you are going to get within this book, while you see the girl she is not afraid, she is holding the puppet and smiling.

I received my book for review from author Christa Holder Ocker

Years ago my book club dabbled in the words of Henry David Thoreau’s within the pages of Walden.  What a treat it was to have an opportunity to experience him here in this book, Thumbing Through Thoreau.

Sheila

On July 4, 1835, when Henry David Thoreau moved into his cabin on the shores of Walden Pond, he was probably unaware that his abode in the woods, and the impact and influence of that endeavor, would forever echo through time. Thoreau was an uncompromising idealist; “The mass of men,” he famously wrote,”lead lives of quite desperation.” Yet the scope of Thoreau’s message is much wider than social criticism. He speaks of spiritual transcendence in Nature and the unbound potential of the individual. Thoreau is a dreamer and he speaks to dreamers. In a word, shun dogmatism and demagoguery; see beyond the immediate conventional religious explanations to reap a higher understanding. In our commodified contemporary American Society, with the rise of religious intolerance and fundamentalism, materialism and mass consumerism, Thoreau’s message is needed more than ever. Author Kenny Luck has thumbed through Thoreau’s voluminous journals, correspondences and other publications to make this the most comprehensive collection of Thoreau aphorisms available.

If you enjoy quotations , poetic words for thought, this book is worth your time.  Created from Thoreau’s journals and various writings, all placed into one book.  We all know Thoreau’s work even if we did not know it was his.  These quotes have stood the test of time and you will still find throughout modern literature today.

Reading through this book was a refresher course in Thoreau.  I enjoyed reviewing my memories of quotes from Walden and was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this as I am not a big  poetry style reader.

This is a lovely gift book, or a coffee table book.  Its one that you will want to pull from the shelf again and again.

My Amazon Rating

Book Journey has updated the 2010 Reading map to include Thumbing Through Thoreau

I received my review copy from Tribute Books

It is 1967 and Kate and Frankie are sisters from America, growing up in Hong Kong  while their father is a war photographer for Time Magazine.  The girl’s mother, often overwhelmed with the war, and reality itself, seeks comfort in painting.  In her paintings she created an alternative “now” and she fully embraces it and wishes her daughters would too.

The girls are watched mainly by their amah (a woman employed as a servant) and find it quite easy to escape beyond her attention, and do exploring of this world they live in on their own.  While swimming they find a floating body of a Chinese girl and at that point their innocence seems to take a turn.  As the summer progresses, Frankie becomes more reckless and an incident causes someone to die and younger sister Kate becomes the keeper of secrets.

♦     ♦     ♦

Taking a deep breath, I have to honestly say it took me a couple of times to get going into this book.  While written in almost a poetic manner (page one was beautifully written), I found it to almost drone on and I was lost within the words – and not within the story.

The book is told by younger sister Kate. Kate is 12.  The sisters left under so little supervision get into a lot of trouble, especially Frankie who lacks the parental attention she needs, starts to find it in the male friends of her fathers.  I found myself on one hand angry at their mother for being so absent, buried in her paintings while her daughters strayed into dangerous areas, and on the other hand taking pity on the woman who was obviously overwhelmed by all that had become of her dreams.

While I never found the book riveting, in the end I have to say I am glad I read it.  My favorite part of this read was the incredible detailing.  Author Alice Greenway writes of a Hong Kong that I could see with vivid colors and descriptive smells that made me feel as thought I was standing outside the bakery myself peering in at two sisters, Kate and Frankie.

A poetic type read that I am glad I picked up and finished.  In reality, a wonderful first novel.

My Amazon Rating

Book Journey has updated the 2010 reading calendar to include White Ghost Girls

When in Hong Kong, check out some of the trendy coffee shops

168 pages

Cover story:  Very captivating.  This is a book that tells a story from the first look at the cover.

I picked up this book locally at a sale.  This is from my personal library

A wonderful look into a young childs book on being happy where you are at, being present in life – not living in the past or waiting for the next thing…. seizing those little moments!

Sheila

Beautifully illustrated this book was a joy to flip through the pages.  I keep saying I want to review more children’s books, and this is a great example of why.

What Does It Mean To Be Present is a wonderful way to remind the children in our lives that every moment has something to offer, whether it is sunny or rainy, hanging out with your best friends, or your family… there is always – ALWAYS something to take away in that moment.

A positive outlook in a book that I found to be wonderful in a time when it seems people are always looking for the next best thing,  there are lessons in this book that even as adults we can apply.

I am also excited to announce that Little Pickle Press is having a giveaway where kids can win posters and books!  All they need to do is answer the question, “What does it mean to be present?”   Click the picture below to go to the contest site.

If you are looking to purchase books from Little Pickle Press, you can get two books and a poster for $29.95 if you use the coupon link and put in the word:  JOURNEY

I received my copy of this book for review from Little Pickle Press

Noreen has just left her job of 18 years and her boyfriend mysteriously disappeared with it.  With a year and half of severance pay, she is in no real hurry to take another misstep… but has no idea exactly what her next move should be.  Soon Noreen finds herself in the company of two of her neighbors, Tess and Rosie and the three of them start walking every morning for fitness, for bonding, for fixing what they didn’t even really know was broken.

Author Claire Cook recommended this book to me when I interviewed her a couple weeks ago and she did not lead me astray.  While at first glimpse of this fun summary cover and the synopsis above you are probably thinking chick lit…. light and summery, a fun and easy read.  AND – you would not totally be mistaken.  However, as I flipped through the pages of this smooth book, I found a deeper message that as I closed the final page, actually caused me pause.

While Claire has once again brought together a read of wonderful women friendships, she also sneaks in a message about self-worth – and not finding your worth through a job, or through someone else s eyes – but through creating you… to be who you know you can be.

Laugh if you will,” Brick said.  “But your ability to tell the world who you are is the first step in figuring out what you want your life to be.”

page 64 The Wildwater Walking Club

And while the message at the time I read it didn’t stick and hold, it did later as I read on and watched how Noreen, as well as her friends grew through the strength of each other.

Another enjoyable read by Claire Cook.  My second of hers this summer and there is another one sitting in the Library Sale box that I may just have to pull out yet.

And, apparently in my Claire Cook review fashion – I once again have decided to duplicate the cover:

My Amazon Rating

Book Journey had updated the 2010 Reading map to include The Wildwater Walking Club

While in Massachusetts visiting Noreen and her friends, be sure to check out Cool Books and Coffee … a must for any coffee/book lover!

239 pages

Cover story:  Perfectly perfect!  This is a great cover that truly drew me to the book.

I purchased my copy of this book from Amazon