Lauren Henderson

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

All the Light We Cannot See focuses on the events of World War II in Europe, specifically France. The main character is really “the war”... and there are beautifully written, snapshots that capture the true nature of the war and the emotion of those effected by the war. There are 3 storylines going on: (1) A blind girl, Marie Laure, is forced to leave her hometown with her father, the security warden for a museum, who may or may not hold the “Sea of Flames” - the most precious, most cursed, but most powerful stone ever made because the holder is said to be unable to die. (INTRIGUE!!) (2) An orphan Werner, who has a fascination with learning and engineering, specifically re-making radios so that he and his sister can listen to an old man who broadcasts “illegal” educational shows. (2) Sgt von Rumpel who is dying and is searching for the Sea of Flames.

The way that all of these stories tie together in the end is really great! It felt like a true story - the ending actually felt like I was sitting next to a World War II survivor letting them tell their story. So it was very well researched and well written. However, the beginning took me a very long time to get into. I kept reading though because I could tell that this writer is truly talented. Eventually, you start seeing how everything connects and the book is much more readable.

The only thing I disliked was the setup... the book jumps back and forth in time and also jumps from character to character, so it gets confusing. I found myself having to check the dates often. The jumping through time just feels unnecessary and does not add any suspense or glamour to the story. I think it would have been much easier to follow and get into if everything had been in chronological order. But that's just me.

Overall, this is a beautifully written story. I would recommend it... when it starts lagging, just know that it does pick up and the ending is worth it.

This book sucked me in.. and what a relief. I have started (and not finished) so many books in the past few months, so much so I was beginning to wonder if I would ever figure out what I like to read now.

This story was a light whodunit with great pacing. It kept me engaged from page one to the very end. Of course, it was mostly surface level as far as character development but on par with the genre from that perspective.

One thing that really stood out was the author's creative way of incorporating descriptions via showing. I really enjoyed the writing style and look forward to seeing how this series develops!

At the end of this book, it really felt like a true story. I mean I had to convince myself over and over that it was fiction. It was a story/vision that I believe many could relate to. I do love Christian fiction that is not over the top and in your face that everyone can enjoy without feeling like they are being preached at.

Goodreads Giveaway!!! And it's a finished copy... AND hard cover! Woot. Can't wait to read it.

Review to come.

Landline was nothing way out of the ordinary but was still a quick, sweet read about a wife fighting for her marriage and remembering the good times along the way. I've seen a lot of reviews complaining that the magical phone wasn't realistic, but hello it's a magical phone and just there to add a little fun. This is a perfect book for laying by the pool or other idle reading. It definitely leaves a heartwarming feeling and would also be good as a refresher after a longer book.

Review to come.

I received a pre-release copy of this book for free through a GoodReads FirstReads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

When I first picked up Golden State I was immediately intrigued, a lot confused, and a little scared because the plot has so much work to do. The story is set in one day in a near future San Francisco, and it is definitely not your ordinary day. You are immediately thrown into the fire, and by the end of the first chapter you know the following:

1) Julie is a doctor. Julie's sister is in labor, and she has to get to the other side of the city to deliver the baby.
2) Julie's ex-friend/boyfriend/thing is angry and hostile and is holding people in her hospital hostage while demanding to speak with Julie.
3) Julie's divorce may or may not be finalized today.
4) Today is the day of the vote for California to secede or not secede from the United States. Therefore, vandalism, robbery, rioting, police blockades, etc. abound.
5) Julie and her husband used to have a son, and Julie's sister is the reason that they don't anymore.

Ok. Breathe.

The story is told in 3 parts: Now, earlier that morning, and the back story. Each chapter switches to a different time all told from Julie's point of view. Sounds confusing but really it's not since the chapters are short and begin with which time frame you are in. I've never read any other books written this way, and in my opinion it was great organization (go editor!). It created a lot of suspense and really kept the story moving.

Throughout the story you learn how Julie met and fell in love with her husband, how they had a son, and how they lost him. You learn about her childhood in Mississippi and how she fulfilled her dreams of “escaping” the South to become a doctor. And you learn about her strained past relationship with her sister and the new relationship that develops.

To me, there are a lot of parallels between the author's life (Richmond grew up in Laurel, MS and now lives in California) and Julie's life, so I feel like she uses her character as a soap box in some parts - she paints a picture of the South being a place that everyone wants to escape (I love the South even though I no longer live there), and she uses the secession issue to portray her own political views. So the book seemed preachy in some parts, but not to an overwhelming extent.

Overall, this is a very entertaining read with a good but not too neatly wrapped up ending. However, the story was lacking in the emotion department until the very end. I just wasn't quite as invested in the characters and their outcome as I wanted to be. I would say the book was mostly a sequence of events, although a very entertaining sequence of events.

So there you have it.. Golden State is released on Feb. 4 (MY BIRTHDAY!!) if you want to give it a shot.

This review is also posted on Great Minds Read Alike.

The Soil Will Save Us is a very good introduction to the issues of soil carbon depletion. Being a new wannabe farmer, I have been doing my best to become educated about current issues and form my opinions about GMO crops, the local movement, “organic” farming, and now soil health. This book brings to light many issues that farmers face with crop health and how improving soil health may be the answer.

Also, Ohlson tells of many of the front runners in the polictical aspects of soil carbon and how funding to researchers could help prove that farming practices could help reverse the Greenhouse Effect in the climate.

I highlighted many names of farmers and researchers that are beginning to revolutionize the industry with soil-friendly farming that follows the pattern that nature has already provided but farmers interrupted many years.

However, the writing was a bit monotonous, not as entertaining as I would have liked for a book that markets itself as a documentary and not an educational book. I would still recommend this book to others who would like a basic understanding of environmental health issues associated with farming practices.

Bottom line: This book had a whole lotta hype for not a whole lotta reason.

The Winter People actually had a great creepy start that really captured my attention. So from the beginning, you are given the impression that there will be chilling ghostly happenings wrapped up in a suspenseful package. But then there isn't.

So let the book bashing commence...

What happens is this (no spoilers, I promise): in the present day Ruthie's mom goes missing... in 1908 Sara's daughter dies and becomes one of the “winter people”... and a random guy named Gary stumbles upon the missing link to the story. The story is about figuring out what happened to Ruthie's mom, what happened to Sara/Gertie, and what happened to Gary in conjuntion. The entire book is a wild goose chase of putting clues together. I really didn't get any of the suspense that I wanted, and it mostly felt like Scooby Doo. Really.. Scooby Doo.

The chapters switched back and forth between the present and 1908, which is fine - I've read many books written this way and they were great! But McMahon repeats exact elements of the story when going back and forth and creates a very strong sense of deja vu. And you end up being confused if you read it already or if you just think that you read it already. Not okay.

Also, the sideplot with Gary and his wife Katherine was completely unnecessary and distracting. I believe the story would have been much better with further development of the main characters and elimination of Gary and Katherine. Plus, their story was left hanging at the end for no good reason.

This was the first time I have read a book by Jennifer McMahon, and I honestly disliked this book so much that I probably won't read McMahon again. The story was too cookie cutter for me.. with no intrigue, no exceptional plot, and no major character development.

Your father may be the glitter, but I'm the glue.

Whoa... heartstrings.. hold on. This book is a great read for anyone who has a mom... so EVERYONE. I found myself tearing up often with memories of my own mom. Glitter and Glue is a beautiful tribute to the mother-daughter relationship.

Kelly Corrigan is a really great writer. I've never read anything by her, and I picked this one up solely because I love memoirs about mother-daughter relationships. She writes the story in first person, so it reads like fiction and is very entertaining. Also, Kelly Corrigan must have (1) been keeping insanely detailed journals her entire life, or (2) exaggerated some details in this story, or (3) have superhuman abilities for remembering details. I'm going to guess it's number one. So notes to self: KEEP JOURNALS, WRITE IN FIRST PERSON - if I ever decide to write a book. Although I think I'll just stick with blogging.

The first 85% of the book is about her experience with nannying in Austrailia and how it made her appreciate her mother. It's vividly written with details and emotional responses. I LOVED this part. She struggles with winning the love of Milly who just lost her mother to cancer, and she realizes that she hears her mother's voice with everything that happens and finds herself becoming her mother - like a lot of us do.

I thought she was going to have some splendid reunion with her mom... but she didn't. The end goes into hyper speed mode and does not give much detail about how Austrailia actually changes her relationship with her mother. It was kind of a let down, but did not ruin the beginning of the story that was so beautifully told - It reminded me somewhat of the writing style of Cheryl Strayed in Wild.

Overall, a great read that I would recommend to someone who wants to reminisce about their childhood and have lots of memories pulled out that they forgot existed.

I've never read Joshilyn Jackson, but I've had her on my list for ages. I checked out Someone Else's Love Story from the library, and this is free on Kindle... so why not?

My Own Miraculous was a great introduction to Shandi's relationship with her son (Natty), with her best friend (Walcott), and with her mother. Natty is a very gifted 3-year-old that has taught himself to read and can solve a rubik's cube in a couple of minutes. In this story, Shandi learns the importance of letting him be whoever he is, even if that means extremely different, and helping him along the way.

Even after such a short story, I can already tell that I absolutely love Joshilyn Jackson's writing style. It's full of emotion and description. I caught myself laughing and smiling along with the characters, as well as getting mad and teary eyed at times. Jackson really knows how to make you feel.

Now, on to the Someone Else's Love Story!

It's taken me a while to sort out all my feelings about this book.. but I think I'm finally ready to write about it.

The Girl You Left Behind is esentially the story of a painting that is more than a painting to two women.. one past, one present. There's so much going on in this story but to be short:

Sophie is a woman whose husband (Edouard Lefevre) has been forced to fight and been imprisoned by the Germans in WWI. When he and Sophie first met, he painted a picture of her and captured the self that she doesn't seem to know anymore. She holds on to the painting as a reminder of the girl that she once was and the love that she longs to find again. Liv is a woman whose husband bought her the painting on their honeymoon and died a few years later. He said that the girl in the painting reminded him of her, and she holds on to the painting as the last piece of her husband that she has.

Enter the Lefevre family... they want the painting back because they believe it was unrightfully taken from Sophie by the Germans. Liv decides to fight the case, and there is a nasty battle revealing the truth about what actually happened so long ago.

So many historical fiction novels have been written about WWI, but this one is so refreshing and different because it explores the issue of Germans stealing art and the laws that are now in place for the recovery of that art.

Almost the whole first third of the book is dedicated to Sophie's story in Nazi Germany narrated in first person by Sophie.. the Kommandant takes over her hotel and forces her and her sister to cook for them every night. He meanwhile becomes obsessed with her, and she eventually finds a way to use his obsession to get his help in finding and reuniting with her husband. Throughout you learn Sophie's determined, head strong, and protective nature.

Then the book switches to Liv's point of view told in third person... you learn her struggle with loneliness and her longing to overcome the walls that she has built since her husband's death. She and Paul McCafferty begin to build a relationship that the case threatens to destroy.

Liv and Sophie are both extremely well developed characters that you can't help but feel for and hope for. The story seamlessly moves between them and never becomes confusing. There is so much wrapped up in 380-ish pages that the story is never slow but also never rushed. The writing truly is impressive. And the story idea is enlightening. Thank you Jojo Moyes for a fresh perspective on WWI!

There's so much more to say about this book that I just really can't find the words for... you should definitely go read it and you'll see what I'm talking about.

I received a pre-release copy of this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley.

This is the first I have read of Lisa Unger, but do not worry I will be reading more.

In the Blood is about Lana Granger, a deep deep character who reveals herself, the good and the bad, gradually throughout the book and keeps you wanting more. The book begins with her as a child hiding under her bed after coming home to find her mom dead and her dad making her help him bury her. From there, the story skips to the present. Lana is in college and very close to her mentor/adviser who encourages her to find a job, specifically one working with Luke Kahn, a very messed up somewhat psycopathic little boy. Then her roommate goes missing and Luke asks her to play a scavenger hunt with him... hmm. The roller coaster of who exactly is involved and who is playing who in the psychopathic cat and mouse game never slows down from there.

I really really liked this book. I knew there was a twist so I was making up all sorts of stories in my head the entire time and couldn't put it down. I still ended up not guessing the actual twist. Lisa Unger so gradually unveils the whole truth in such a perfect way. There were moments where my heart was pounding... this was actually the feeling I was hoping to get when I reading Red Dragon that I knew existed somewhere out there.

I admit I don't read many thrillers, but this was a very well written majorly suspenseful psychological thriller. I especially loved Lana's character development and questioning of her own behavior and the weaving together of everyone else in her life in a very unique way.

This review is also posted on Great Minds Read Alike.

I received an advance copy this book in a GoodReads FirstReads giveaway.

Dora glitters, serenely exultant. It is what a rooking escapade does to a human. She looks as if she has gathered all the glory of the world into herself. To see it once is never to be without the feeling for the rest of your life.

I honestly did not have high hopes for Bellman & Black. Like The Thirteenth Tale, there were things that I liked and did not like about the story. But overall, I enjoyed it more than The Thirteenth Tale, perhaps because it is not all extremely sad.

The story starts with Will Bellman killing a rook with a slingshot, an act that he did not realize would have profound impact on his life. Then it skips to when he is grown and starts working at his uncle's mill. He is a carefree and genuinely happy guy, the kind that everyone likes. He meets a woman that he falls in love with, has beautiful children that he loves, and it seems like everything in his life is perfect. Then, things start going wrong... and the mysterious Black starts randomly appearing.

Bellman can't shake Black and begins to live his life as a busy workaholic so that he does not have to remember and grieve his misfortune. He becomes a boring and sad character. In the end, it seems that he had no redemption, except possibly through his daughter, Dora.

Dora in herself is a very interesting character. I enjoyed reading her parts and would have really enjoyed the story if there had been more development for her. The part of the book where Bellman is developing and building Bellman & Black is rather boring and almost made me give up reading. I continued on solely because the chapters are short and the read is actually rather quick. I'm glad that I didn't give up.

This story is rich in symbolism and irony, and there are cut-in chapters from the view of the rook. They connected nicely and didn't seem forced. The ending, especially, had a magical quality that left you wondering what really happened to Bellman, who Black really was, and what would happen to Dora. But it was filled with hope for Dora and for the rooks. I'm a sucker for endings that seep with symbolism.

Maybe that makes me a nerd, but I really enjoyed this book, mostly for its extremely gothic undertones and symbolism. I would recommend it to people who are also suckers for books soaked in literary irony.

Read more reviews at Great Minds Read Alike

I like the writing style. Started off really cute but turned way too love-triangly by the end for me. Otherwise, it does bring back memories of high school and how all girls think when it comes to relationships during those years. I laughed when thinking of myself doing some of the same things as Anna way back when.

This is a sweet love story, but I wish the extras with the triangle had been left out.

Confession: I have a problem when it comes to the fantasy genre of sticking with my tried and true authors - mainly Tolkien, R.A. Salvatore, and Terry Goodkind (although after reading what he really thinks about himself, I'm pretty sure I'm off that train - see this interview).

So after doing a little bit of research on The Sundering Series, I figured it would be the perfect way to discover new fantasy authors because (1) The series is headed off by R.A. Salvatore who I know I love. (2) The books are considered stand alone as each of them are about about a different world within the Forgotten Realms. (3) Wizards of the Coast chose the authors they consider to be their best to participate in this series. Sounds perfect to me!

The Godborn was, therefore, the first book I read by a fantasy author that I am unfamiliar with.

The story starts with Varra (great name, right?) She's running from something, and she's pregnant. She ends up in a wildflower field where a shadowwalker touches her stomach and “changes” the baby. Then, she suddenly is able to magically wish herself to safety. The place that she unknowingly wishes herself to is 70 years in the future at the Abbey of the Rose. She dies in childbirth, and baby Vasen is left for the people of the light to raise. Skip ahead 30 years - Vasen is one of the First Blade, the protectors of the Oracle and very powerful with his gift of the light. He was born of shadow but studies the light - it is this that makes him the key to saving the world and also sought by powerful evil for an end to their means. So the journey begins with our hero Vasen Cale..

This book is extremely well written - I was literally getting a vocabulary lesson the entire time; however, it did not distract from the story. This story was darker than the typical fantasy that I go for - there was a lot of brutal and vivid killing, and the fighting scenes were explained in gory detail - but I found it essential to the story. The characters, even the small ones, were developed in such a way that you get to really know the plight of the people living in darkness and you truly understand the extent of the evil that is threatening to end the world.

I'm sure that a fantasy author trying to write a standalone novel is not an easy task, because most authors develop their world throughout several series and have so much rich, imagined history woven in. I had to read this book slowly at the beginning to make sure I wasn't missing any details, but for the amount of backstory that had to be told, Kemp did an amazing job. I never felt lost or confused.

Vasen Cale is the type of character that draws you in and keeps you rooting for his outcome. I loved the combination of light and darkness. Vasen himself is a contradiction and proves that “bad” is not always bad. Perceptions are not always correct. There is true evil in the world and then there are just prejudices.

He didn't know how much more apetite he had for any of it. The things he'd seen...

The Godborn is rich in detail, action, character development, and vivid themes. It will make your soul hurt for the people suffering but smile with the victory throughout. Overall, I'm intrigued and will continue on in The Sundering series.

This review is also posted on Great Minds Read Alike.

I received an advance copy this book for free in a GoodReads FirstReads giveaway.

I'm slightly torn about this book. The story line idea behind this book is a great idea. Also, I love how the author switched chapters with telling the story from the view of the “True Living” and the “Returned”. I also loved the ending with respect to the emotional issues of Jacob's parents. Those are the good things I can say about this book.

That being said... I never really completely got into the story. The writing style just doesn't flow well, and I felt there could have been better description of events and personalities. But that could be because I really enjoy classical style writers who tend to sometimes be overly descriptive. Another problem I had was that there was no true resolution of the government's involvement in controlling the Returned, and there was no resolution of the purpose of the Returned.

This may be the first time I have ever felt this way but... I believe this book would translate very well into a movie. Mostly because a movie would add to what is already there.

I hope that the sequel will complete the story. If that ends up being the case, I would be completely satisfied with this story.

Read more reviews at Great Minds Read Alike.

I had a lot of hope for Someone Else's Love Story because (1) I've heard great things about Joshilyn Jackson, and (2) I really liked the short story intro in My Own Miraculous. So HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT is an understatement.

According to the synopsis, Someone Else's Love Story is about Shandi Pierce being held up in a gas station and falling in insta-love with William, who puts himself between the gunner and her 3-year-old genius son, Natty. William is a genetics genius and he agrees to help Shandi discover who Natty's father is. This is all true, but the entire first 25% of the book goes back and forth between Shandi's and William's thoughts about the hold-up situtaion, the exact actions of the gunner, etc. Although this is a life-changing moment for both of them, it's extremely irritating because there is absolutely no story development. We get it, both of them have lost things and had a hard time in the past couple of years... I just wanted the story to move on to what actually happens after.

Then it finally did... and blah, ick, gag... The events that unfold are extremely chick-flicky cliche. Shandi is caught in a love triangle between her long-time best friend, Walcott, and her life-saver (but she doesn't know if she's unknowingly been in love with Walcott for her entire life.. oh really?). William is caught in his anger at his wife's accident in which their daughter was killed and his inablity to have faith unlike his wife. And it becomes apparent pretty early that Shandi was raped but has not acknowledged that she was.

This story is all about banging around inside of two indecisive people's heads who have been lying to themselves (Shandi about her “rape” and William about his wife's “existence”). And then everything is wrapped up in a cushy ending. Once again... GAG.

There are details about the other characters who were held up in the gas station, about Shandi's parents, about Walcott's parents, etc. that are just completely unnecessary and ultimately annoying because their storylines are left incomplete.

I picked up this book because I have a weakness for science geek socially awkward love interests... in the end that's all this book had going for it. The story was really not a bad idea, but the execution was just not good.

However, I still like Joshilyn Jackson's writing.. she uses unique phrasing that adds a lot of emotion. So I think I'll try another of her earlier books and just hope that this one was a fluke.

I used to read a lot of Mary Higgins Clark in high school. I guess because of the little girl in me that really loved Nancy Drew and murder mystery. However, when I moved to college and slept in an apartment by myself I started figuring out that I would get creeped out at night because of her books. That's how good and real they are. Loves Music, Loves to Dance was my first and favorite book by Mary Higgins Clark. Maybe now that I'm married and don't sleep in a bed by myself I will read one again. You have been warned... it's good, but it will make your mind crazy when you're alone at night.

Agatha Christie is truly the Queen of Mystery like the cover claims. This was my first read by her. I can definitely say there will be many more.

When I finished And Then There Were None, I had such a satisfied, childish grin on my face. I'm still baffled. Throughout the book, I thought I had it figured out about 5 different times. This story literally keeps you guessing until the very end. It was amazing.

Agatha Christie's writing is so clever and criptic. I was so entertained for the entire book. I love her style. I feel like a kid reading Nancy Drew. Why have I never read Agatha Christie before?

I thought I knew how this was going to end the whole time... and then I was wrong. Never saw that coming... still not sure how I feel.

4.5 stars

Immediate thoughts: Well that was just extremely beautifully written.. going on my favorites list.. Right. Now.

Actual review: I'm extraordinarily in love with The Perfume Collector. It is so romantically whimsical. I felt transported to another place and time - and it was about time - I read so many mediocre books in January that I was beginning to forget that feeling of getting lost in books. The world of Paris and perfume is romanticized so perfectly.. I mean... just look:

Perfume should tell a story - of who you are, who you might be, perhaps even of who you fear becoming.Perhaps, it's an invitation. Maybe we need to literally come to our senses, to return to our sense of taste, touch, sight, smell, hearing and find sustenance in them, inspiration. Life is, after all, a sexual experience. Our senses have the power to truly transport us but also to ground us. Make us human.You could be laughing in public yet wear, right on the surface of your skin, a perfume ripe with longing, dripping with regret, shining with hope, all at the same time.He dreamt in smells, he heard music in colours.

The story of Grace receiving a surprise inheritance from Eva d'Orsey is perfectly woven with the chapters of Eva's past as Grace is trying to figure out who Eva is and why she left her everything. The entire book is a scavenger hunt with the perfect amount of detail. Eva was a brazen, independent woman as you find out through her chapters, and Grace is trying to learn how to be the woman that she feels instead on the social elite that everyone, including her husband, wants her to be. There are underlying themes of finding your place in life and following your heart that I really connected with.

There were also a couple of small twists/surprises in the story that made me grin because of how perfect they were, how Eva fit into Grace's life in ways you wouldn't expect. The plot was just so well thought out and developed. I loved every minute of reading this story. It's full of so much passion, from all the characters involved.

I can honestly say that I have never been interested in going to Paris, but this book actually makes me want to go. This book is magic. I will be reading it again soon, and I can't wait for Tessaro's next book.

For all of these reasons, I highly recommend that you go read this. NOW.

Sidenote: There were an unusual amount of technical errors which is why I can't justify a full 5-star rating... leaving out a/the.. slight mispellings, etc. I don't usually find these type of errors to be too distracting, especially when I'm already enjoying the book so much, but if you are that kind of person... you have been warned.

This review is also posted on Great Minds Read Alike.

Naturally, the books and research papers described the symptoms of Asperger's syndrome, and I formed a provisional conclusion that most of these were simply variations in human brain function that had been inappropriately medicalized because they did not fit social norms - constructed social norms - that reflected the most common human configurations rather than the full range.

I was hooked after I read this... Don is researching Asperger's and comes to the above conclusion. YES!! I am a wholehearted believer that Asperger's and autism are extremely over-diagnosed simply because a child is different and not considered the social norm... I believe their difference should be celebrated.

Ok.. back to the book.

The Rosie Project is about Don Tillman, professor of genetics at a prestigious university, who is very socially awkward but still actually very charismatic. He starts the Wife Project, and in the middle happens to meet Rosie who breaks every rule he has for his “suitable mate”. Rosie teaches him to give up some of his OCD-ness and learn how to have fun. This story about their adventures is pretty stinking hilarious and just cute.

I read some reviews that said the main character reminded them of Sheldon from Big Bang Theory. It's true... in the greatest way possible. I also read some reviews that harped on the fact that the book is full of stereotypes, but I felt that it really aimed at breaking the stereotypes that people believe about Asperger's. They're just people too.

If you like quirky books and have a slightly nerdy side, or if you just like sweet love stories, then this book is for you. The only negative thing I have to say about the book is that the ending was a little emotionally lacking. I wish it had been expanded on and a tad more emotional - but then again, he does have “Asperger's” and it still wrapped everything up nicely, so I can't complain.

Plus, there's going to be a SEQUEL!!!! I'm sure it will complete the story and hopefully add some emotion to the current ending. I'm going to be waiting on the edge of my seat.

1/21/2014: In hindsight, I realize I really loved this book because I think about it all the time, and I freak out and start raving when someone tells me they're thinking about reading it... Therefore, I bumped my rating up to 5 stars!!

Sidenote: I just found out that Graeme Simsion is also a playwright, which makes complete sense. The Rosie Project would make a great play, if you ask me.

Never shall I forget that night... which has turned my life into one long night... Never shall I forget that smoke. Never shall I forget the little faces of the children whose bodies I saw turned into wreaths of smoke beneath a silent blue sky. Never shall I forget those flames which consumed my faith forever. Never shall I forget that nocturnal silence which deprived me, for all eternity, of the desire to live. Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to dust. Never shall I forget these things, even if I am condemned to live as long as God Himself. Never.”

I recently visited the Holocaust Museum in DC. This quote was written on the wall above a mound of actual shoes that were taken from Jews immediately before they were burned alive at Auschwitz. Talk about heavy. I've grown up learning about the Holocaust in history classes, but this was my first real look at the true horror of the Holocaust. I picked this book up because after seeing that quote, I felt the need to learn more about the tragedy that the Jews went through. This is Elie Wiesel's memoir of his time spent in concentration camps. It has extremely horrific actions explained in detail and is hard to get through, but I still believe is a very important book. I am distraught upon finishing this book - just learning about the timeline in history classes gives you the ability to glaze over and not actually think about what the Jews might have suffered, but this book brings everything right to the front, where you cannot help but form the picture and weep along with them.

I actually did not know until now that this is part of a trilogy. I will definitely be reading the other 2.