Christmas with Tucker by Greg Kincaid

Christmas with Tucker by Greg Kincaid
Publisher/Year: Doubleday, 2010
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 180
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
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Synopsis

The sleeper hit of 2008, A Dog Named Christmas became a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie a year later, seen by more than twelve million people in the United States alone. Now, in Christmas with Tucker, Greg Kincaid brings back one of that book’s most endearing characters, sharing the moving story of George, a young boy dealing with the loss of his father, and the dog that comes into his life to offer him hope and a touch of courage.

It is the winter of 1962, and Kansas is hit with one of the worst blizzards in its history. It is during this cruel season that twelve-year-old George is called upon to endure more than even most grown men could withstand–the death of his father and the upkeep of the family farm that is his legacy.

When his mother and sisters leave for Minnesota, George has only his grandparents and the companionship of Tucker, an Irish setter, to help him persevere through these most difficult challenges. Can he find the strength to walk the road that leads to healing, find his true self, and ultimately become a man? A coming-of-age story for readers of all ages, Christmas with Tucker is a classic Christmas tale about a young man’s love for his dog, his family, and his farm.

What I thought

I’m a sucker for heartwarming, Hallmark-esque stories and especially those that take place during Christmastime. Christmas with Tucker fit that bill. Not only that, but I also love coming-of-age stories set during the ’60s/’70s, so this book was right up my alley. All in all, I really enjoyed this. Kincaid’s writing wasn’t anything fantastic, but I thought the story is what shone here. I actually teared up at the end. One of the things I particularly enjoyed was that this story wasn’t fluff entirely, it did have substance to it. I can definitely see myself revisiting this around Christmas, and I want to continue with the series. Sometimes predictable, sometimes sappy, and sometimes simply nostalgic, Christmas with Tucker is everything a good comfort read should be.

Luv, Amelia Luv, Nadia by Marissa Moss

 

LUV, AMELIA LUV, NADIA by Marissa Moss
Publisher/Year: Pleasant Company Publications, 1999
Format: Paperback
Pages: 32
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Goodreads

Synopsis

Amelia’s notebooks entertain readers with great stories about the ups and downs of growing up, told from the perspective of an inquisitive, insightful 10-year-old girl. What’s more, her witty words and whimsical doodles encourage girls to express their creativity by drawing and writing about their own lives.

Amelia can’t wait for Nadia’s next letter. When it finally comes, Nadia needs help! Can Amelia find the answer to Nadia’s problem — and to her own family secret?

What I thought

I ADORED Amelia’s notebooks when I was growing up & I remember this one as a particular favorite. For one, I have always loved the epistolary format of storytelling. And I have always thought that these notebooks were so creative, especially the doodles. Plus, with this particular book, there are “real letters” that you can pull out of envelopes to read, which was always fun. I think one of my favorite things about this series was always how insightful Amelia is. Her & Nadia talk about some pretty heavy things that happen to them, but they talk about them & process them as kids would. Their voices ring true is what I guess I’m trying to say.

I truly think these are GREAT books for young girls that encourage them to use their brains, their imaginations & their own brands of creativity.

Gettysburg Battlefield Hauntings by Lawrence J. Gavlak

GETTYSBURG BATTLEFIELD HAUNTINGS by Lawrence J. Gavlak
Publisher/Year: LJ Gavlak Publishing, 2008
Format: Paperback
Pages: 112
Rating: 🌟🌟
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Synopsis

Contains spine-tingling stories of ghostly encounters from the Battlefield at Gettysburg. Several photos take the reader visually to where each encounter occurred! The ‘Bonus Section’ contains tales from selected other sites.

What I thought

I’m gonna keep this review short & simple, as this book is short & simple. I enjoyed this book for what it was, but I will say I think there are “better” Gettysburg ghost books out there. The stories here are simply entertaining & interesting, so I won’t say I disliked the book. I wish some of them had included more details. I will say, I really did like the author’s attitude about respecting the battlefield & remembering to honor those that fought there. Overall, I’m glad I have this book to include with my Gettysburg collection although it isn’t necessarily one of my favorites. I met the author & he seemed like a pretty nice guy. This would be a good book to read around a campfire at night!

The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry

THE KITCHEN DAUGHTER by Jael McHenry
Publisher/Year: Gallery Books, 2011
Source: Library
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 272
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Goodreads

 

Synopsis

A mouth-watering debut novel about self-discovery and shortbread…and a magical talent, both bitter and sweet.

After the unexpected death of her parents, shy and sheltered Ginny Selvaggio, a young woman with Asperger’s syndrome, seeks comfort in the kitchen, away from her well-meaning but interfering relatives and her domineering sister, Amanda. The methodical chopping, slicing, and stirring soothe her anxiety, and the rich aroma of ribollita, painstakingly recreated from her Italian grandmother’s handwritten recipe, calms her senses. But it also draws an unexpected visitor: the ghost of Nonna herself, bearing a cryptic warning in rough English, “Do no let her,” before vanishing like steam from a cooling dish.

Faced with grief and uncertainty, Ginny turns to her recipe collection, and in doing so, discovers that she has the power to call forth the ghost of any dead person whose dish she prepares. It’s a gift she is certain she cannot share with her pragmatic sister but that ultimately leads her to an unexpected friendship and the possibility of a new life.

The mystery deepens when Ginny finds a letter hidden behind a loose fireplace brick and a series of strange black and white photographs–evidence of a family secret she can’t untangle alone. As Amanda pushes her to sell the only home she’s ever known, Ginny decides that the key to her future lies within this provocative riddle from her parents’ past. But can she cook up a dish that will bring them back long enough to help her solve it?

For readers of Sarah Addison Allen’s Garden Spells and Jodi Picoult’s House Rules, Jael McHenry’s thoughtful debut is a delicious, insightful story that considers the question: What does it really mean to be normal?

What I thought

I thought this book was a wonderful surprise–what an excellent, underrated debut novel!

The Kitchen Daughter was one of those books that I couldn’t stop thinking about every time I put it down. For one, I really enjoyed McHenry’s writing style. It was engaging & easy to read, so this turned out to be a quick read. Not only that, but her descriptions of food were so evocative that, as cliche as it sounds, I got hungry every time I was reading. I admit I wasn’t always familiar with all of the ingredients & dishes mentioned, but as someone who loves food, I really loved all of the recipes & foodie talk.

For me, I think my favorite part of this story was Ginny, hands down, and in particular, how uncomfortable her narrative made me feel. I should clarify. I mean that in the best way possible. As a reader, I think it’s very important to read perspectives that aren’t necessarily our own & I felt so uncomfortable because I realized how there are so many things I take for granted on a daily basis. It was so eye-opening for me to read a story from the perspective of someone with Asperger’s.

I’m also a huge fan of good character development, and I loved Ginny’s journey throughout this story. I loved the dichotomy of the opening & closing scenes and found that to be a very powerful representation of her growth.

Besides Ginny, I enjoyed reading about the family dynamics between her, Amanda, and their parents. Between revelations about their parents & learning to understand Amanda’s perspective, this book was a well-rounded look at families too.

Overall, this was a heartwarming yet poignant read perfect for a cozy night. With Just a dash of magical realism, a complex cast of characters, a protagonist you just can’t help but root for, and mouth-watering descriptions of food, this is one book you won’t want to miss! I’m bummed to see that Jael McHenry hasn’t written any books since this one, but she is an author I will definitely be following.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

 

BRAVE NEW WORLD by Aldous Huxley
Publisher/Year: The Modern Library, 1932
Source: Library
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 311
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Goodreads

 

 

Synopsis

Brave New World is a brilliantly satiric novel about life six centuries from now (in “632 After Ford”), the Utopian era in which science has, with juggernaut indifference, triumphed. It is an era of perfect stability, control, conformity. There are, for example, no mothers or fathers because babies are mass-produced from chemical solutions in laboratory bottles; children are completely conditioned for their designated roles as adults in a precisely ordered society. Into this incredible world comes Bernard Marx, hatched in an excessively alcoholic prenatal solution, with ideas worthy of the primitive twentieth century.

This is a shocking, fantastic novel, rich in witty entertainment and biting comment. Its status as a classic increases steadily as what seemed imaginary fiction becomes each day more of a reality.

What I thought

I have no idea where to start with my thoughts on this one.

I stand by what I said early on in my reading: “sometimes unsettling, sometimes utterly captivating, sometimes really odd, and sometimes downright creepy.”

I can absolutely see what makes this a classic. There was just so much to contemplate, and I know that this book will stand up to multiple readings. I would like to own a copy just so I can go back & see what else I can get out of this read.

Between the ideas of eugenics, clones, social conditioning from conception, and that creepy hypnopedia, this book from the outset really disturbed me. Add to that the artificial “happiness” created by recreational drugs, recreational sex, and recreational sports, and you have a “brave new world” that I truly hope never becomes reality. It was rather interesting & thought provoking, but I definitely echo the sentiments of John when he says, “I’m claiming the right to be unhappy.”

Again, I feel like I’m having a hard time articulating my thoughts on this book. It was so fascinating, and so different from books that I normally read & enjoy. Even though I just finished it, I definitely plan to re-read it at some point because I know I’ll get more out of it each time.

A modern classic, dystopian/science fiction, utopian satire…this is a must read for fans of those genres.

The Hollow Ground by Natalie S. Harnett

THE HOLLOW GROUND by Natalie S. Harnett
Publisher/Year: Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Griffin, 2014
Source: Own
Format: Paperback
Pages: 320 pages
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Goodreads

 

 

 

Synopsis

The underground mine fires ravaging Pennsylvania coal country have forced eleven-year-old Brigid Howley and her family to seek refuge with her estranged grandparents. Tragedy is no stranger to the Howleys, a proud Irish-American clan that takes strange pleasure in the “curse” laid upon them generations earlier. The weight of this legacy rests heavily on a new generation, when Brigid, already struggling to keep her family together, makes a grisly discovery. In the aftermath, decades-old secrets threaten to prove just as dangerous to the Howleys as the burning, hollow ground beneath their feet.

Inspired by the real-life events in Pennsylvania, where devastating coal mine fires irrevocably changed the lives of residents in Centralia and Carbondale, The Hollow Ground is a compelling, powerful debut with an atmospheric, voice-driven narrative as heartbreakingly captivating as Scout Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird.

What I thought

This was my second time reading this book & I loved it so much that I’m bumping up my previous 4-star rating to 5 stars.

This book really hit home for me, so let me talk about that first. Natalie Harnett absolutely nailed the setting. For those of you who don’t know, I am central Pennsylvanian, born & raised. The coal mine fires that inspired this novel are actually a couple hours northeast from here, but the area I reside in is absolutely steeped in railroading & coal mining history. So, although I can’t speak for how well this translates for people outside of coal country PA, I can say that the pride surrounding this area & this culture absolutely rings true. She even got the dialect right–our almost Southern accent that hangs around the northern end of the Appalachian mountains. As someone who comes from a railroading & coal mining family, it made me all kinds of happy!

I will say, this was not an easy book to read. It is not a heartwarming coming-of-age tale. It is not about the coal fires–the setting acts as a backdrop to the tale while also sort of paralleling this dysfunctional family story. I thought the whole idea of “hollow ground” as applied to not only the literal physical environment, but also to the foundation of this family, SO interesting. And I really hesitate to call this a murder mystery. That aspect moves the story forward, but it isn’t the point.

I think the point here was Brigid’s coming of age & the exploration of family dynamics. Like I said, this wasn’t an easy read. I think what took me so long to read it was because I kept having to put it down because it got so depressing at times. I mean that in the best way though. My husband kept asking me why I was reading it if it upset me so much, and I kept trying to explain that’s what made it SO GOOD. The best authors make you feel something, good or bad; they make you care about the characters. This was like getting punched in the gut–it was so gritty & heartwrenching.

Which brings me to the characters. I adore Brigid, that poor girl. She was such an insightful little girl. The way she told her story was so poignant & my heart just ached for her. I never felt like she was too precocious. The “little girl” in her definitely showed through at times in her thoughts & dialog, but mostly she reads just as what she is–a girl that’s had to grow up too fast. Each generation of this family has its demons & we can clearly see how that affects each subsequent generation. Brigid has to grow up with one parent trying to outrun his past and ultimately failing and another parent who just can’t even accept her past & chooses to ignore it almost. Brigid grows up & you can see her realize, especially with her dad, that the parents she idolized are merely human. On a side note, I absolutely COULD NOT STAND Ma. I hated her. Every time I started to feel empathy towards her, she made me hate her more.

Overall, an outstanding debut–this is one of my favorite books. I can’t wait to read whatever Natalie Harnett writes next!