Sisters of the Snake is a creative retelling of the Prince and the Pauper. Rani and Ria live two very different lives. Rani is a princess with everything at her command, except the ability to travel outside her palace. Ria is a thief, who was raised in an orphanage, and now spends her days thieving on the streets with her friend, Amir. When Ria ends … Continue reading Book Review: Sisters of the Snake
Starting with the birth of conjoined twin brothers, Marion and Shiva Stone, (who are separated at birth) it spans their coming of age in Ethiopia leading up to the revolution, their paths toward medicine, and their eventual estrangement over a childhood friend. Marion and Shiva’s mother was an Indian nun who died giving birth to them, and their father was an English surgeon who disappeared … Continue reading Mini Book Review: Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese
Universe of Two is based on the life of the young mathematician, Charles Fisk (called Charlie Fish in this novel), who was unknowingly recruited to work on the creation of the atomic bomb. Charlie is only eighteen, and recently graduated from Harvard, and it’s not until much later into the secret project when he realizes what exactly he’s doing for the ‘war effort’, and thus struggles with his conscience and the moral dilemma of it all.
Beginning in 1943, this book is, for the majority of the time set during the war. It alternates between Charlie’s perspective in third person, and his musician girlfriend, Brenda’s, in first person, and I found this gave an added dimension to the storyline.
Continue reading “Mini Book Review: Universe of Two by Stephen Kiernan”
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WWW Wednesday is a weekly prompt hosted by Taking on A World of Words. If you wish to join, all you have to do is answer the following three questions:
I just started these two books. I’ve heard good things about both, and am looking forward to reading them.
Fifty Words For Rain by Asha Lemmie is set in Japan, just after the end of WW2, and follows a young biracial girl’s coming of age, and the prejudices she faces for the colour of her skin.
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi follows a Ghanian family in present day Alabama. I read Homegoing by the same author last year, and loved it and am interested in reading this book, especially as it deals with mental health issues.
Continue reading “WWW Wednesday: February 3, 2021”
A girl comes of age against the knife. She must learn to bear its blade. To be cut. To bleed. To scar over and still, somehow, be beautiful and with good enough knees to take the sponge to the kitchen floor every Saturday. You’re either lost or you’re found.”
Betty ~Tiffany McDaniel
4.5/5 Stars
Wow. This book is both painfully hard and utterly heartbreaking, as well as a powerfully beautiful work of literature. It goes without saying, that this book broke my heart. I think what made it more hard to digest, was knowing this book was based on the author’s mother, Betty’s life.
Continue reading “Book Review: Betty by Tiffany McDaniel”
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WWW Wednesday is a weekly prompt hosted by Taking on A World of Words. If you wish to join, all you have to do is answer the following three questions:
I’m currently reading three books at once! I couldn’t help myself!
I’m doing a week long buddy read of Universe of Two by Stephen Kiernan, and so far I’m loving it, and trying to limit myself to reading the allotted chapters per day, though it’s so hard, because it’s turning out to be a wonderful novel!
Continue reading “WWW Wednesday: January 6, 2021”
I finished my second book and second 5 star read of 2021! This was my very first Barabara Kingsolver book, and I can now understand the praise her books and writing receive!
I started this book one night and finished it the next. I normally read very few contemporary fiction, but Animal Dreams totally captured my interest.
This is a beautiful and evocative book about a woman finding herself and purpose.
Continue reading “Mini Review: Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver”
Top Ten Tuesday was created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish in 2010, and moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in 2018. I’m excited to participate this week with a list of my top ten favourite books! 2020 has been my best year reading-wise. I’ve read 57 books, and loved many of them!
Continue reading “Top Ten Tuesday: Favourite Books I read in 2020”
I finished The Innocents last night, and I’m still trying to process all that occurred within in the space of the last few chapters.
At first glance, The Innocents is a story of survival–how a brother and sister fend for themselves in a deserted cove off the shores of Newfoundland. Diving further into the book, however, there are nuanced layers and disturbing themes I didn’t foresee. The ending left me disturbed, shocked, and contemplative. I was reminded of the Romantic English poet, William Blake’s Songs of Innocence and of Experience. Especially the contrast between the “The Lamb,” in the first section and “The Tyger’ in the latter. I felt the characters in this book were a merging of the two contrasts: innocent, and yet so far from innocent at the same time.
Continue reading “The Startling Contrast Between Innocence and Experience in The Innocents by Michael Crummey”
It’s been quite some time since I joined Ginny over at Small Things for her monthly Yarn Along. On the first Wednesday of every month, Ginny posts what she’s currently knitting and reading and invites others to do the same. I had fun with this on my old blog, but after going through a knitting slump I fell out of the habit.
I’m excited to say I’ve started knitting again, and looking forward to joining Yarn Along on a monthly basis. I know I’m joining a little late, but the link is open for those who want to join anytime of the month.
Continue reading “December Yarn Along”
Wool & Words 