Tag: #booklove

When Women Were Dragons

~ Lisa Helm ~ 1 Comment

by Kelly Barnhill

On April 25, 1955, thousands of women spontaneously morphed into dragons. Some flew off without incident, but others left a trail of death and destruction behind them. What would cause these women to do such a thing? After all, they should have been perfectly happy and content in their socially suitable lives. But to change into something fierce and beautiful and utterly independent! What a horrible tragedy. And all hoped it would never happen again….but it did.
This novel follows young Alexandra (or Alex as she prefers to be called) from childhood to young adulthood as she navigates a world where female role models struggle to figure out their identities. Alex’s aunt Marla is a dynamic woman who flew aircraft in the war, works in a garage and has never married. Alex’s mother was a gifted mathematician who built a name for herself in banking and investment but chose to become a wife and mother and leave her mathematical aspirations behind. And seeing how the story takes place in the 1950s and 60s, this struggle for identity is divisive both in society and the family dynamic. To make matters worse (or better), it seems that those women breaking from the societal norm of how “womanhood” is defined spontaneously turn into dragons. Alex must first decide how she views herself in a society defined chiefly by men and then decide what path she will take to live as her authentic self. Will that include turning into a dragon? Read the novel to find out.

This Is How You Lose the Time War

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

This novel is worthy of discussion. In fact, I feel like I need to write a paper on its theme and style. It is definitely not a “light” summer read, but worthy of time and attention nonetheless. One must sip it slowly to fully appreciate the beauty of its story.
This is How You Lose the Time War is a novel primarily written in letters. Red and Blue are two women on opposite sides of a “time war”. Red is from a side that supports and serves the advancement of technology, and Blue belongs to the side that supports the environment and a more “natural” side of evolution. Their jobs are to influence the future with actions that best serve their agenda. They meet from afar at certain times in history and eventually fall in love. Unfortunately, their only means of communicating this love is a series of letters they leave to one another. Their love story, of course, is forbidden because they are, after all, sworn enemies.
I really liked this book. The evolution of Red and Blue’s relationship is beautifully written.
Buy this book. Read this book. In fact, find someone to read it with you. Then talk about it.

A Court of Thorns and Roses

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Sarah Maas

Well, this was a perfect summer read for me.

Easy to read ( like gulping a lemonade or a Corona on a hot summer day), escapist (who doesn’t like faerie realms?), romantic (who doesn’t like a bad boy…or two?), and a kick-ass female protagonist who does more saving than being saved herself.
A fast-paced, spicy fantasy. I will undoubtedly be reading the rest of the series.

The Invisible Hour

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Alice Hoffman

I had forgotten I liked Alice Hoffman’s writing. The Invisible Hour was THE perfect re-introduction to her storytelling. This is a novel about the power of books, a belief I hold near and dear to my heart because I have seen it manifested over and over again in my students. When Ivy is little more than 17 years old, she becomes pregnant and disowned by her parents. Being in such a precarious situation, she is easily convinced to join a cult where she is partnered with none other than the cult leader himself, Joel Jacobs. But when her baby Mia is born, she recognizes the prison in which she has placed her daughter and looks for ways to instil a sense of freedom in her daughter. This freedom includes finding sanctuary in the town’s library, where Mia falls in love with the writing of Nathanial Hawthorn; in fact, the first book she picks up is The Scarlet Letter, and in it is an inscription from Hawthorn himself that seems weirdly and intimately linked to Mia herself born over a hundred years after Hawthorn’s death?
When Mia is threatened with torture and imprisonment within the cult, she finds strength in Hawthorn’s words and escapes the only world she’s ever known.
This story has a little bit of everything: time travel, romance, and drama, but mostly it is a novel about how we can find strength and belonging in books, and I love this.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for the free copy.

You can buy The Invisible Hour August 15!

Morgan is My Name

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Sophie Keetch

In High School, I loved Mary Stewart’s Arthurian Legend series. My favourite character was Morgan, sister to Arthur, apprentice to Merlin, sorcerous in her own right, but a minor character with the likes of Arthur and Merlin being the story’s focus. On the other hand, Sophie Keetch has written an entire book telling Morgan’s story. Yay!
The novel starts when Morgan is a young girl and her father, the king, is killed. King Uther comes to court and forces the Queen (her mother) to marry him and then pretty much dictates the lives of everyone in the land as most kings were wont to do in the middle ages. Ever the rebel, Morgan is sent to a convent where she is delighted to have the opportunity to study (her passion, anatomy and healing). But her stepfather king eventually interrupts her happiness and orders her back to court, where she has to stifle the powerful woman she is if she is to survive the politics of the land. But just how long will she be able to live a life dictated?
I loved and loved LOVED this book. I loved the characterization of Morgan. I loved the strong female characters presented. I loved the love story, the political intricacies and the elements of “Arthurian legend” woven throughout. What a great addition to my summer reading.
Keetch writes in prose that is accessible to every reader.
Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for the free copy.

Yellowface

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by R.F. Kuang

Once you start reading this novel, you won’t be able to stop. It’s like being unable to tear yourself away from a car accident. Just when you think it can’t get any worse for the main character…it does, but only because of her incredibly stupid choices. There is not one character I liked in this novel, no one person I could attach myself to personally. Our main character June is horrid! There is only one moment (in a flashback) where I felt empathy for her but other than that, she is a self-serving, lying, incredibly cold-hearted individual. Now, this is probably because the entire novel is written from her point of view, so we get ALL of her thoughts and opinions, insecurities and self-talk uncensored. I got to thinking that if someone had access to the running commentary that takes place in my head on a daily basis, I’m not sure I’d be seen as all that sympathetic, either. This being said this is a novel about the publishing world. June watches her famous writer “friend” die and then steals her manuscript and claims it as her own. The entire novel is then the fallout of what happens when she does so. The book shows how social media can be used to create myths, glorify personas, manufacture stories, and destroy everything in its wake.
This was a fantastic book and worth not only a read but a good discussion over cocktails as well.

Citadel

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by C. M. Alongi

First of all, the cover of this novel is gorgeous. I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but in this case, it’s perfectly safe to do so. There is so much to say about this book. Our main character is Olivia, a beautiful silver-haired young woman called a “freak” by her peers. In fact, when she was young, some adults suggested she be thrown in the rising water because she would be a “burden” for her family and for the Citadel in general.
The Citadel is a city encircled by a wall to protect it from the demons that lurk in the woods beyond.
It is a fascinating place, primarily medieval in its beliefs, be it religion, politics, or societal norms, especially when viewing someone who doesn’t fit in with what is deemed “normal”, which Oliva is not. Olivia is non-verbal autistic but also brilliant, artistic and intuitive. When she comes face to face with a demon on an expedition outside the walls of the Citadel (while she is foraging for medicinal plants), she realizes that demons are just as misunderstood as she is.
The world-building in this novel is impressive. Immersive and intriguing. I also loved the secondary story that weaves along with Olivia, the story of Riley, Olivia’s best friend, trying to forge his own path in a society that is suffocating his individuality.
Citadel is a story about identity, acceptance, friendship, family, and, most of all, having the strength to pursue the truth.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for the free copy.

One Giant Leap

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Ben Gartner

Well, I enjoyed this book immensely. The tone (and obviously the subject matter) reminded me of the conversational, funny tone of “The Martian” but this time our protagonist is only 12. Finn Scott has been chosen to be one of the first kids to travel to the International Space Station by The StellerKids Project. Needless to say, he is very excited for a number of reasons: not only because he loves space and science, but also because he could use a break from his parents. Fin’s mother was tragically injured in a plane crash, and although she survived she has been undergoing immense rehabilitation in the hospital Naturally Fin’s dad has been consumed with caring for his wife leaving Fin to navigate some of life on his own. Although Fin does have his uncle D to accompany him on his space training, Fin feels as if he is facing not only “normal” twelve-year-old issues on his own, but now he may have to face the more adult “interstellar” issues that may come his way. 

During training, Fin and the rest of the crew begin to suspect someone does not want kids in space. Why else would the safety mechanism on the subterfuge be disabled? Who messed with the flight simulator to ensure participant failure? All of these “mishaps” may not seem important during training, but when the crew embarks upon their real journey into space, there can be no room for error, let alone premeditated, purposeful sabotage. But tragedy does happen, and  Fin and the rest of the “Stellerkids” find themselves on a mission to save the adults after a catastrophic event. 

A perfect book for middle-grade students who are interested in STEM however the engaging tone of our narrator will make it an engaging read for all students. This novel will also make THE perfect read aloud for grades 5-8. 

Thank you to Crescent Vista Press and Netgalley for the free copy.

Death at the Party

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Amy Stuart

The story starts with our protagonist watching a man die. She pulls her phone out a couple of times, tempted to call 911 but pauses.

No, it would be better if he were dead.

We then flashback to that morning. Nadine Walsh, daughter, wife, mother, is making the final preparations for her mother’s birthday party that evening. Throughout the day we meet various people who will be attending the party. We are introduced to these potential partygoers (one of which is our victim)  through the critical lens of Nadine herself, so some of them we like, and the others,

well, we don’t like quite as much.

Is this because we are influenced by Nadine herself?

And just to make our reading a bit more uncomfortable, Nadine isn’t exactly the most sympathetic of characters until… well, I won’t spoil it for you.

I loved this book. It was perfect for a weekend read on my balcony sipping a cosmopolitan. A perfect addition to your summer reading list.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for the copy.

No Two Persons

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Erica Bauemeister

No Two Persons is an amazing story about the power of books. In this novel we trace the impact one story can have on numerous people.
The story starts with the author Alice who has always known she would be a “magician”and create new worlds using words. At first Alice doubts her ability to write. She is consumed by heartbreak after the loss of the one person who believed in her gift and who loved her unconditionally. However it is because of this heartbreak that she manifests her novel Theo. Bauermeister writes of Alice’s inspiration in such a beautiful way it has become one of my favourite parts of the book.Theo eventually becomes published and then the rest of the book is filled with individual chapters that tell the stories of varied individuals and their spiritual encounter with Alice’s novel. Each character’s story shows us that one book can weave its magic in everyone whether it be a famous movie star, a homeless teenager, or a middle aged caretaker. The power of story knows no bounds. I was also so grateful that such a beautiful story possessed a satisfying conclusion.
I would definitely reccomend this book to my High School Students. It would also be suitable for critical analysis, and for studying symbol, theme, character, and style. A highly reccomended mentor text.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the free copy.

The Sound of Gravel

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Ruth Wariner

I just finished watching “Shiny Happy People’ on Prime and found it fascinating! So I was looking for an audiobook similar in its subject matter. I did a bit of digging and found the memoir “The Sound of Gravel”, downloaded it and started listening to it on one of my runs. I got lost in the story and ran 3km longer than I intended. I returned home and continued to listen to the book until it was finished. It was SO good. I listened to it all day.
Ruth Wariner writes of her childhood growing up in a polygamist family where the ONLY way for a woman to enter heaven was to have as many children as possible, even if there was no nourishing food, running water, and heat to raise them. I was so angry at Ruth’s mother when I was listening to this story for a number of reasons that I won’t list here for fear of spoiling the narrative. Although I was angry and frustrated for most of it, Ruth’s intellect, resilience, and courage made it indeed a story of heroism, the heroism of a child.

Ever Since

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Alena Bruzas

The novel is a real and raw story centered around the dynamics between a group of friends the summer of their freshman year. It is about their friendships, their fallout, loyalty, betrayal, and forgiveness.
The novel deals with really weighty subjects: sex, sexual abuse, date rape, alcohol abuse, and emotional abuse.
The characters are diverse in ethnicity and gender identity.
Again, it is REAL.
If you’ve got a teenager in your life, this novel would offer AMAZING points of discussion around sexuality, friendship, victimization, healing, and empowerment.

Thank you to Penguin Teen and Netgalley for the free copy.

The Radcliffe Ladies Reading Club

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Julia Bryan Thomas

This is an easy quick read perfect for summer.
It’s 1954 and Alice Campbell has decided to make a big change in her life, giving up everything for independence. So she buys a small bookshop in Boston and makes it her own. One day, Alice decides to create a book club where individuals will meet once a month to discuss books of her choosing…and they just so happen to be books about and/or written by women who are, themselves searching for a life to call their own. Alice’s little book club is made of four young women (Tess, Caroline, Evie, and Merritt) who just happen to be attending nearby Radcliffe College, all are young and edited with their own newfound independence.
I liked this book well enough. It was a very quick read that was suitable after a workday where I had to tax my brain. I found the description of Alice’s bookshop and the details of the simple life she has created for herself is simply charming. I also enjoyed the simplicity of characterization, it was easy to understand the choices and motivations of each. My favourite part of the novel was how the author attempted to weave the various themes of the books studied in the book club with the lives of the characters who read them. (Jane Eyre, Age of Innocence, Essays of Virginia Wolfe).

Trigger warning for sexual assault and miscarriage.

You will be able to purchase this book June 18th!

Thank you to Source Books and Netgalley for the free copy.