Tricia Nelson
This is a very thought-provoking book. The phrase “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely” came to mind, particularly toward the end of the book. The author's addition of letters at the end of the story adds another layer to the book - who tells the story? who is writing history? when you turn our ‘norms' on their head, don't they sound ridiculous? This would be a good book club book.
This book does an excellent job of painting a picture of not only what it might have been like in France during WWII, but also offers a glimpse into the world of wine today. The author does a wonderful job of pulling the reader into the story and I felt a connection to the characters of both time frames. It made me want to learn more about that aspect of WWII and also about the wines from that part of France. There is much to think about after finishing the book.
I received a copy of this book as part of the Harper Collins Book Club Girl book club. I am not required to review the book, nor am I receiving compensation for doing so. This opinion is my own.
I LOVED this book! The story is woven between the 1920's and the 1970's, both eras with a female protagonist who is trying to find her way through hardships and trying to discover who she is. The storyline connecting them is brilliantly done, and made for a wonderful surprise at the end. Loved it.
I received a free preview copy of this e-book through Penguin's First To Read program.
This book was so so good! It's a great story, easy to get drawn into, and easy to read. Particularly good for anyone who is at a crossroads or time of change in their life. Lots of thought-provoking issues that the characters are dealing with, without being too heavy. Great summer read. Great read in general!
I received this book for free as a member of the Harper Collins Book Club Girl Book Club.
I LOVED this book! What a great read, particularly as summer begins! The author does a wonderful job of weaving the story between two time periods without making it hard to keep track of what is going on, and I found myself rooting for the main characters. Great read!
I received this book as an Advance Reader's Edition as a member of the Harper Collins Book Club Girl Book Club.
This book was well written, and as a member of my book group pointed out, the imagery was AMAZING. It was uncomfortable to read, though. It takes place over the course of 24 hours, and gives a gritty look into what it must be like to be a refugee in the middle of a war zone. The author's skill at putting us inside the main character's head is evident. This wasn't my favorite book, but I'm glad I read it. It is literature, well written, and about a topic - refugees - that more of us in the United States need to understand better.
We will discuss at book club next week, and I'm so excited to do so. The richness of things to discuss makes this a perfect book club pick. While I loved this book, it broke my heart many times, for many reasons. The author sums up so much in this quote from her end note. “I wish for my child, for all our children, a world where they can be who they are and become their most loved, blessed, appreciated selves”. “I know this book will be controversial, but honestly? I keep forgetting why”. Definitely worth a read.
This was such a good book! The story grabbed my attention and kept it for the whole ride. The main character faces such unbelievably bad circumstances that there is a tension while reading the story that keeps you reading to find out how it is resolved. I changed my mind about who was the culprit more than a few times before figuring it out near the end of the book. Excellent book if you like fast-paced, suspenseful stories about relatable people.
I liked this book a lot! I enjoyed learning about another lesser-known aspect of our history, and the role of women in that history. I've wondered before about the people that developed the bomb, and if they had any misgivings about the weapon, and in that respect I appreciated Sam's character in the book, even though he was a flawed individual. I appreciated the last chapter where the author wraps up all the stories with what became of these characters. Good read! Can't wait to discuss with book club next week!
I received this book for free as a member of the Book Club Girl Book Club from Harper Collins, and it was a great read.
I loved this book! There is so much to discuss in book club next week! From themes around tradition and expectations versus freedom and new ideas, to women owning their lives and having a say in the direction it takes, to forgiveness, and more. If you are looking for a great read about a culture you may or may not know a lot about, this is a great choice!
I received this book for free as a member of the Book Club Girl Book Club from Harper Collins, and it was a great read.
This book was a great read - the story grabbed me from the start and I didn't want to put it down. I love reading books that make me want to ignore my responsibilities and read. Having started my career at a defense contractor in the 80s, this story felt plausible with familiar cold war era themes. There is an added level of depth given the current news with Russia's cyber attacks and interference in the US elections and government. Great read - can't wait to start the second book in the series and see the movie!
I received this book for free as a member of the Book Club Girl Book Club from Harper Collins, and it was a great read. The writing was wonderful, and the story so complete that I felt like I understood the characters, the time, and the setting. I really enjoyed this read, and it made for great discussion during our book club meeting.
