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ClareR (5561 KP) rated New Boy in Books

Jul 16, 2018

New Boy

Tracy Chevalier | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

An intriguing retelling.

A modern reimagining of Shakespeare's Othello, this sees a Ghanaian diplomats son, Osei, on his first day at a new school in an American suburb of Washington DC in the 1970's. Dee quickly befriends him, and Ian decides that he doesn't like this. He decides to undermine this friendship and dispose of O. Yes, racism comes in to play here. Both the learnt racism of the children (from their parents), and that of the teachers.
This is all squeezed in to a very Shakespearian time frame of a day: we all know that in a Shakespearian play, people fall in and out of love, get marries and murder one another within 24 hours. For this reason, I can forgive the more mature behaviour and plotting of the 11 year old children. It seems unlikely to me as a mother of an 11 year old, that real 11 year olds would necessarily behave in this way; but this is literature and an author can bend their story and their characters to however they want them to behave. The changeability of the children's affections ARE more realistic, however.
I think this would probably be a great book for students to read at school before they access the original Othello. It would have made a great 'compare and contrast' exercise for me when I studied Othello (many years ago!).
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and the ending is a real 'heart in mouth' moment!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hogarth for my copy of this book.

Kudos

BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated Long Trail Home (Texas Trails, #3) in Books

Jan 2, 2019

Long Trail Home is a compelling story about forgiveness and ultimately coming back home. Not only in the natural but in the spiritual.

We follow the story of Laura, Annie and Riley. Laura is the instructor of a school for blind children. She has sacrificed her own long term dreams for the children that she loves and adores. But when the school has been threatened to be shut down, will those dreams resurface? Annie, once was a homeless orphan. Now she has a family at the school, but will her deception be her undoing? She has found God's forgiveness but will her fellow man be as forgiving? Riley, a soldier come home to devastation after the war has found peace and refuge working at the school. But will he ever find "home" again?

I enjoyed Long Trail Home. Although the story line was a bit slow at times, there is enough action to keep it going and Vickie McDonough relays a great message. Forgiveness is the main basis of the story. God's forgiveness of the sins we have committed. Forgiveness of our selves. And the forgiveness of others. Coming clean and telling the truth can be the hardest thing to do at times. Especially when we are afraid of what others think. But the best thing we can do for our selves is to walk in the truth and trust that our Heavenly Father will care for us and protect us and lead us home.

I received a free copy of Long Trail Home from Moody Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

Kudos

Merissa (11646 KP) rated Zinnia (Angelbound Offspring #3) in Books

Aug 5, 2019

Zinnia (Angelbound Offspring #3)

Christina Bauer | 2019 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Zinnia (Angelbound Offspring #3) by Christina Bauer

Zinnia is the third book in the Angelbound Offspring series, and this time it features the children of Portia and Tempest. I say children because Kaps plays just a big a role in this as Zinnia does. I know they are twins, but I really would have preferred for Zinnia's story to be less involved with Kaps.

At a young age, Zinnia knows that Rhodes is her Rhana, and is happy with all the innocence that brings. However, enemies of the family do 'bad magic' and Zinnia is taken away, and her memories bound. Fast forward, and Zinnia is preparing herself for the ritual that will bring back Chimera when her only friend is taken from her. In a rebellious moment, she decides to take the last few days of her life for herself, and accidentally finds Rhodes.

This was a smooth read, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading. I loved how Zinnia was different, more formal and old school, to the others. Kaps I just found annoying. The connection between Rhodes and Zinnia was just as strong as before, and I loved how he was trying to help her without fully knowing the story.

A great addition to the series, and definitely recommended by me.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!