A Magical World Lost

The Snow Child

By: Eowyn Ivey

Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystical Realism

Pages: 386

Published: 2012

Read:  January

3 out of 5

As plenty others have mentioned, the descriptions of the scenery and the "quietness" of this novel is definitely the magical power behind it. Ivey knows the way to describe a "perfect" scene while making the visual so uniquely yours. Not only that, but I truly felt the pain of Mabel and Jack's desire to have a child of their own. It was a great story with lots of character.

Now what I didn't like...The magic of Faina just vanished with no explanation. All of a sudden she no longer had to disappear during the summer (love alone wasn't enough to convince me) and the fact that her birth child had no affliction to season change or other worldly characteristics....What happened to the magic of the story?

I understand eventually she went away because she couldn't handle it, but the magic for me was already spoiled.

My 2018 Year of Books

I don't like to brag, but here is my YEAR OF BOOKS for 2018. I do have to say it's an accomplishment.

2018 Year of Books

A Classic - First Book of 2019

The Jungle

By: Upton Sinclair

Genre: Classic, Historical Fiction

Pages: 335

Published: 1906

Read:  January

3 out of 5

Why I read this...It's simple. My brother made me do it. He said something along the lines of "You are 43, live it Chicago (area), read 191 books last year AND haven't read The Jungle?" So I accepted the challenge. I thought I would hate it. I usually don't like classics and my brother and I have very different tastes when it comes to books.

Well, I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't hate it and never felt the urge to give up on it. My main reason for hating classics is the writing style of the 1800's and early 1900's. This book, published in 1906, was not like that - It was written in plain language and I didn't need Cliff Notes to interpret every sentence. 

I was expecting more about the meat industry. I always thought that was main premise (especially because of FDA's outcome from book), but after reading I found the meat industry story line to be a subplot. The book followed a family through suffering and surviving the early 1900's during the Industrial Revolution. I found it to be a very depressing story, which was expected. 

My rating of 3 stars was mostly because I was bored through the political aspects of the book.

Unbelievable and predictible

Hole in the Middle

By: Kendra Fortmeyer

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Pages: 352

Published: 2018

Read:  September

2.5 out of 5

Morgan Stone is born with a hole in the middle of her body – the size of a fist. Even more far-fetched for me, she is a senior in high school who shares her own apartment with her best friend – also a senior. This is for no apparent reason except her mom is rich and the author needed less parental supervision of Morgan. Of course, they have fake ID’s and it’s at the local night club where Morgan decides to show off her hole for the first time. This starts an internet sensation and news reporter frenzy. She eventually meets Howie, who has a lump the exact size and location as Morgan’s hole. Will they be able to cure each other? Even though this book was well-written and had a unique story line, it was too unbelievable and predictable for me.

An Entertaining LGBTQ novel

Tales of the City

By: Armistead Maupin

Genre: Adult Realistic Fiction/LGBTQ

Pages: 272

Published: 1989

Read:  August

3 out of 5

I chose to read this book because it is one of the 100 Great American Reads. It reminded me of the TV series Sex and the City (1998-2004) and the movie Singles (1992). It takes place in San Francisco and follows several people that live in the same apartment complex. All the chapters were about 3 pages long (love, love, love) with lots of humor. Being primarily about a gay community, I am sure there was more humor than I picked up on. Nonetheless, it was funny and an entertaining read. I loved the format of the book, which flipped back and forth between the characters and how the characters intercept each other. However, I thought some characters and their story line were boring, hence the 3 star rating.

A book about Cerebal Palsy

Petey

By: Ben Mikaelsen

Genre: Juvenile Historical Fiction

Pages: 256

Published: 2000

Read:  July

4 out of 5

1920 – A boy, Petey, was born with Cerebal Palsy and raised in a mental institution because they thought he was an idiot. . He did learn to communicate by nodding his head and making certain sounds. The story is about how he befriended several staff members, a special fellow resident, and a little boy.

            My daughter recommended it to me when she read it in junior high school.  I thought it was good, but sadder than I expected. I liked that it followed the boy’s entire life and not just a portion. It is definitely a circle of life story.

A coincidence or more?!?

The Cheerleaders

By: Kara Thomas

Genre: YA Thriller

Pages: 384

Published: 2018

Read:  July

4 out of 5

CONNECT THE DOTS.  A car accident, a murder, and a suicide. 5 cheerleaders – all dead within a month. Told in the voice of one of the cheerleader’s sister, is the dark twisted story of this small town’s tragedy. Thomas keeps the reader guessing throughout the book, once you think you got it - wait - another twist is upon you. Never having read Thomas before, she is definitely on my radar now. I’m going to have to consider going back and reading Little Monsters (2017) and The Darkest Corners (2016).