Kim Edwards, who also penned The Memory Keeper's Daughter, has created a compelling family story about a hidden family history. The protagonist, Lucy Jarrett, has come to a crossroads in her life and returns to her family home. Lucy does not intend to stay for very long as being in her family home brings up unresolved feelings of her father's death when she was a teenager. However, Lucy discovers seemingly benign objects locked up in a window seat and she throws herself into unearthing a history for someone in the family known as "R."
The Lake of Dreams is written with powerful female characters and provides a unique look into the suffragette movement. The art world plays a heavy hand in the novel's tale. A few members of the Jarrett family possess a gift for being able to hear the inner gears of a locking mechanism and are able to unlock it. I felt that this relates to our ability to hear our own inner workings and ask ourselves, "Can I unlock my heart?" How can we transcend our deepest pain? I cried when I finished this book and as wrapped up into a novel as I can get, I don't often cry. Edwards has tied the past with the future and illustrates the emotional journey of two strong women. You wont want to put this novel down!
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Books to tide you over...
If you are anxiously awaiting the release of Harper Lee's novel Go Set a Watchman (like me!), Barnes and Noble has a list of books for you:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/9-books-to-read-while-you-wait-for-go-set-a-watchman-to-come-out/
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/9-books-to-read-while-you-wait-for-go-set-a-watchman-to-come-out/
The Last Word, A Spellman Novel by Lisa Lutz
The Last Word is "Document #6" in The Spellman Files series by Lisa Lutz. I couldn't remember if I can read this one or not, so I checked it out from the library and it renewed my love of the Spellman Family. The Spellman's are a family of personal investigators and they are truly crude, rude, generally messed up, sarcastic, witty, and I love them!
The Spellman Files series is written from the perspective of Isabel Spellman (Izzy) who is the second of three children in the family. Reading about Izzy's journey into adulthood and finding her place within her family will resonate with any reader who has ever thought to them self, "Really? This is my life?" Perhaps you will discover for yourself that Izzy has a huge heart under all her sarcastic armor, terrible fashion taste, and lack of social etiquette.
The Last Word is the final (!) novel in the series so I wont post too much about it. I recommend this series to everyone who loves to read. Lutz writes with hilarity and sarcasm. There is an appendix with character dossiers and other ridiculous information. Lutz also supplies footnotes through out the text that further my love of her writing style. You truly need to start from the beginning and become obsessed with the Spellman family like I did. If you choose to go through life without reading The Spellman Files series, you will have regrets. I promise.
The Spellman Files series is written from the perspective of Isabel Spellman (Izzy) who is the second of three children in the family. Reading about Izzy's journey into adulthood and finding her place within her family will resonate with any reader who has ever thought to them self, "Really? This is my life?" Perhaps you will discover for yourself that Izzy has a huge heart under all her sarcastic armor, terrible fashion taste, and lack of social etiquette.
The Last Word is the final (!) novel in the series so I wont post too much about it. I recommend this series to everyone who loves to read. Lutz writes with hilarity and sarcasm. There is an appendix with character dossiers and other ridiculous information. Lutz also supplies footnotes through out the text that further my love of her writing style. You truly need to start from the beginning and become obsessed with the Spellman family like I did. If you choose to go through life without reading The Spellman Files series, you will have regrets. I promise.
Althea & Oliver, by Christina Moracho
Althea & Oliver is a Young Adult novel about two teens who have been best friends since they were six years old. "...she's the fist-fighting instigator to his peacemaker, the artist whose vision balances his scientific bent." When Oliver comes down with a life-altering illness their relationship is thrown off-balance and they are both sent on a path to discover themselves.
Even though the book was published in 2014, it takes place in the mid 90's. I love this, since I am a child of the 90's. Moracho has created these two vibrant and unique personalities. She so accurately illustrates how there are some catalysts in life that can shake up the lives of people who truly love and care for one another. I couldn't stop reading this book, because I wanted to know what happened to Althea and Oliver. I can't say that I loved the resolution, but I don't know how I would have written the ending. I will say that because the characters and plot were so rich and quirky, I will be looking for more novels written by Christina Moracho.
Even though the book was published in 2014, it takes place in the mid 90's. I love this, since I am a child of the 90's. Moracho has created these two vibrant and unique personalities. She so accurately illustrates how there are some catalysts in life that can shake up the lives of people who truly love and care for one another. I couldn't stop reading this book, because I wanted to know what happened to Althea and Oliver. I can't say that I loved the resolution, but I don't know how I would have written the ending. I will say that because the characters and plot were so rich and quirky, I will be looking for more novels written by Christina Moracho.
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