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Chris Hooker (419 KP) rated Conversations with Amelia in Books
Jan 12, 2018
[Conversations with Amelia] by [Kathleen Schmitt] cover both the history of one of the greatest women, Amelia Earhart, but also the growing pains of a family after WWII. All seen through the eyes of Hannah, who is very naive in the beginning. Her confidant is an imaginary Amelia who gives her good advice and keeps her "flying right".
I have been looking forward to reading this book because Amelia Earhart is one of my favorite figures in history. I was not disappointed. It is well written and interweaves the history with the events happening in the story so that it has a really nice flow. I highly recommend reading this book.
I have been looking forward to reading this book because Amelia Earhart is one of my favorite figures in history. I was not disappointed. It is well written and interweaves the history with the events happening in the story so that it has a really nice flow. I highly recommend reading this book.
The Chocolate Lady (94 KP) rated At the Stroke of Nine O'Clock in Books
Oct 5, 2020
On the 12th of August 1949, Big Ben was prevented from chiming at 9pm by four and a half minutes because a flock of starlings perched on the minute hand. This event initially panicked the British public, who didn’t know that it was only birds that stopped the clock. In Davis’ new novel, this is not only a starting point for her story, but also a metaphor for the lives of three fictional women living in post-WWII era London, whose lives are about to intersect. My #bookreview of this newly released novel is on my blog here. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2020/07/14/four-and-a-half-minutes/
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated The Nightingale in Books
Jan 15, 2018
Wow! Just wow! This book was beautifully written. It is so full of heartbreak & evil but in the end the fact that love is what remained makes it beautiful. It felt so real, I don't doubt that there are women out there that did what Vianne & Isabelle did. They are 2 brave sisters who risk everything to help make the world a better place despite being surrounded by all the horrors of WWII. It has been a long time since I cried like I did at the end of a book. I'd have to stop reading several times in the last few chapters because I was so moved. What a beautiful story!
Zuky the BookBum (15 KP) rated The Lottery and Other Stories in Books
Mar 15, 2018
Jackson is the queen of turning normal people's lives into a horror show. This short story is dark, disturbing and chilling.
Written and published just after WWII, this clearly sends out as message to all those involved in the Holocaust. Just because something is being done by the masses, and has become a sort of tradition, doesn't mean its moral and right. This message translates to today's times too. As another reviewer perfectly put it, "there is value in tradition but beware blind faith".
This in no way surprised me, it's not that I've seen spoilers for it, I just happened to get it very early on, but that doesn't take away the effect of the horrific ending.
Written and published just after WWII, this clearly sends out as message to all those involved in the Holocaust. Just because something is being done by the masses, and has become a sort of tradition, doesn't mean its moral and right. This message translates to today's times too. As another reviewer perfectly put it, "there is value in tradition but beware blind faith".
This in no way surprised me, it's not that I've seen spoilers for it, I just happened to get it very early on, but that doesn't take away the effect of the horrific ending.
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Sarah's Key in Books
Jan 15, 2018
The first wors that pops into my head as I sit here trying to think of what to write is moving. I don't know what else to say about this book. I love reading anything about the Holocaust (The Book Theif being another favorite.) I wasn't sure about this one just from reading the back cover. I'm thrilled however that I didn't let that deter me from reading this book.
There are so many twists and turns. The past is firmly and solidly entwined with the present. I love that this book was able to teach me more about occupied France during WWII. Most books focus on Poland or Germany. I like that this book captivated without being too familiar.
There are so many twists and turns. The past is firmly and solidly entwined with the present. I love that this book was able to teach me more about occupied France during WWII. Most books focus on Poland or Germany. I like that this book captivated without being too familiar.
The Chocolate Lady (94 KP) rated Five Quarters Of The Orange in Books
Oct 5, 2020
This is the story of Framboise – no, not a bottle of raspberry liqueur (thank heavens), but rather the woman by that name from a farm on the river Loire in the French village of Les Laveuses. This is partially the story of Framboise’s troubled childhood with her brother (named Casis), sister (Reine-Claude) and especially her unwell and widowed mother (who was, of course, an amazing cook) during the years of WWII and Nazi occupied France. It is also the story of her no less troubling old age – accounted from the time she returns to the village in her ‘retirement’, in order to open a creperie. You can read the rest of my review here. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2015/02/22/the-last-squeeze-is-the-sweetest/
Molly J (Cover To Cover Cafe) (106 KP) rated A Distant Melody (Wings of Glory, #1) in Books
Feb 25, 2019
Sarah Sundin has a new fan---me!!! I absolutely adored this book. It was humorous, romantic, sad, and filled with God through out the whole story. It even has a bit of a suspenseful twist to it, making this a book that immediately pulled me in.
I did not want to put this book done for anything! I wanted to turn page after page until I got the very last one to find out what happened to Allie, Baxter and the lovable Walt Novak! Although, I must say, I was not fond of Baxter. He wasn't charming at all! But Allie and Walt and their friends, they all captured my heart, and helped to over look the not so charming Baxter! I really loved the WWII era that Sundin used to create this story. I love WWII movies, so I knew this book wouldn't disappoint. I loved how Sundin was very detailed with the descriptions in this book.
Along with the wonderful characters that I mentioned above, Sarah Sundin also adds a wonderful, strong message of being honest. She shows that honesty is the most important factor in a friendship, or a romance for that matter! Between that message and God, this was a beautifully written, 5 star historical novel that will be permenantly on my shelf as the start of a great series collection! It has something for everyone, so grab a copy today, sit back and get ready for an adverturous flight back in time--you'll be glad you did! I can't wait for Wings of Glory #2--A Memory Between Us, due out September 2010!
I did not want to put this book done for anything! I wanted to turn page after page until I got the very last one to find out what happened to Allie, Baxter and the lovable Walt Novak! Although, I must say, I was not fond of Baxter. He wasn't charming at all! But Allie and Walt and their friends, they all captured my heart, and helped to over look the not so charming Baxter! I really loved the WWII era that Sundin used to create this story. I love WWII movies, so I knew this book wouldn't disappoint. I loved how Sundin was very detailed with the descriptions in this book.
Along with the wonderful characters that I mentioned above, Sarah Sundin also adds a wonderful, strong message of being honest. She shows that honesty is the most important factor in a friendship, or a romance for that matter! Between that message and God, this was a beautifully written, 5 star historical novel that will be permenantly on my shelf as the start of a great series collection! It has something for everyone, so grab a copy today, sit back and get ready for an adverturous flight back in time--you'll be glad you did! I can't wait for Wings of Glory #2--A Memory Between Us, due out September 2010!
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Five Quarters Of The Orange in Books
Jan 15, 2018
I am always fascinated with any novel, fiction or otherwise, that is set in the time of World War II. This book took me a bit longer to get in to than is typical of a book set in this time period. But the end made it well worth the wait.
At times it is hard to follow because it bounces back & forth between Boise's life currently & her childhood spent in a small village in France during WWII. The story itself didn't form fully for me until it ended...all the loose ends were tied up & the events up to that point finally made sense. The 1 thing that frustrated me was Mirabelle, the mother. I was left not being quite sure whether or not she was really crazy.
At times it is hard to follow because it bounces back & forth between Boise's life currently & her childhood spent in a small village in France during WWII. The story itself didn't form fully for me until it ended...all the loose ends were tied up & the events up to that point finally made sense. The 1 thing that frustrated me was Mirabelle, the mother. I was left not being quite sure whether or not she was really crazy.
Lindsay (1700 KP) rated Born to Fly in Books
Feb 15, 2018
This is my Condense Review:
I enjoyed seeing that a girl wanted to fly a plane. That her dad was teaching her. Her dad let her have her chance of landing a plane on her birthday. This book does have some action and Adventure. Those their a mystery unfolds once her father was drafted to sent off to fight in the war.
There information about WWII in this book and about the attack on Pearl Harbor. It does give some information on our history. It goes into issues about bullying, prejudiced, Learning to make friends, I see what kids and others did to other kids back then.
To see my Full Review go here to read it: <a href="http://nrcbooks.blogspot.com/2012/05/review-born-to-fly.html">My Full Review</a>
I enjoyed seeing that a girl wanted to fly a plane. That her dad was teaching her. Her dad let her have her chance of landing a plane on her birthday. This book does have some action and Adventure. Those their a mystery unfolds once her father was drafted to sent off to fight in the war.
There information about WWII in this book and about the attack on Pearl Harbor. It does give some information on our history. It goes into issues about bullying, prejudiced, Learning to make friends, I see what kids and others did to other kids back then.
To see my Full Review go here to read it: <a href="http://nrcbooks.blogspot.com/2012/05/review-born-to-fly.html">My Full Review</a>
Allison Knapp (118 KP) rated Mrs. Henderson Presents (2006) in Movies
Jan 20, 2019
Brilliant and witty performances by Judy Dench and Bob Hoskins (4 more)
Full of charm and great character dynamics
Entertaining musical numbers
Plenty of humor balanced perfectly with the seriousness of the time period
Beautiful costumes and cinematography
Historical film about a vaudeville show with live nude girls during the WWII era in London
New widow Laura Henderson decides to use her wealth to purchase an abandoned theater out of boredom. Her sense of entitlement and class related arrogance can prove at times to be annoying and at times rudely persistent, especially when it comes to her relationship with the man who she chose to manage her theater, Vivian Van Dame, but with all her schemes and meddling, it shows that deep down, she always has the best of intentions.
