Belinda’s Book Nook Review: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

June 23, 2015 by Leave a Comment

thegirlonthetrain

Title: The Girl on The Train
Author: Paula Hawkins
Copyright: January 13, 2015
Genre: fiction, psychological thriller
Format: book (borrowed from my friend Maria) Pages: 336

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

A debut psychological thriller that will forever change the way you look at other people’s lives.

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. “Jess and Jason,” she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel offers what she knows to the police, and becomes inextricably entwined in what happens next, as well as in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

A compulsively readable, emotionally immersive, Hitchcockian thriller that draws comparisons to Gone Girl, The Silent Wife, or Before I Go to Sleep, this is an electrifying debut embraced by readers across markets and categories.

My Thoughts:

I started reading this book because it is my June book club selection. If you ask me before I read it would I have picked it up – I would say no. Has my opinion changed after reading it? No.

From the very beginning the characters in this book were a hot mess. I don’t have any family members with alcohol problems but for some reason I kept finding myself putting the book down after I had my fill of the troubled alcoholic in this book. And because she was the main character, I had to ride the ride with her throughout the book.

All of the characters were all deeply flawed and the author moved between characters in chapters to build the story and keep the suspense. In the beginning it wasn’t so bad but after a while I just wasn’t into it. I know this is one of those books that many seem to be praising but I have to say I am not. I was drawn in towards the end to find out what happened but figured it out before it was revealed.

The author did a pretty decent job creating motives for any of the characters to keep the reader guessing. This is what I think most that enjoyed this book liked about this book. But I felt like after awhile I wanted to know who did it and why rather than drag on the story.

I don’t like to bash books and I won’t start now.  I always think that reviews are hard because there are so many factors (audio, book, my mood, what I just read before). So perhaps if one of those things changed I would have had a different experience with it. But this is how I feel right now.

I think some may enjoy this book if they like psychological thrillers and can see passed the alcoholic. Remember the movie Leaving Las Vegas with Nicholas Cage. What a great performance? But I found it hard to watch his character get pulled down deeper and deeper into depression and alcoholism.

I put this book down so many times, that I have to say I will give this book 3 butterflies.

3rating

Happy reading my friends!

Belinda

Filed Under: Belinda's Book Nook Tagged With: , ,

Belinda’s Book Nook Review: Bingo’s Run by James A. Levine

June 17, 2015 by Leave a Comment

bingosrun

Title: Bingo’s Run
Author: James A. Levine
Copyright: January 7, 2014
Genre: non-fiction,
Format: audio book  Voice talent: Peter Macoo Pages: 304

Synopsis (from Amazon):

For fans of Dave Eggers, Teju Cole, and James McBride, comes this extraordinary novel of morality and the redemptive powers of art that offers a glimpse into an African underworld rarely described in fiction.

Meet Bingo, the greatest drug runner in the slums of Kibera, Nairobi, and maybe the world. A teenage grifter, often mistaken for a younger boy, he faithfully serves Wolf, the drug lord of Kibera. Bingo spends his days throwing rocks at Krazi Hari, the prophet of Kibera’s garbage mound, “lipping” safari tourists of their cash, and hanging out with his best friend, Slo-George, a taciturn fellow whose girth is a mystery to Bingo in a place where there is never enough food. Bingo earns his keep by running “white” to a host of clients, including Thomas Hunsa, a reclusive artist whose paintings, rooted in African tradition, move him. But when Bingo witnesses a drug-related murder and Wolf sends him to an orphanage for “protection,” Bingo’s life changes and he learns that life itself is the “run.”

A modern trickster tale that draws on African folklore, Bingo’s Run is a wildly original, often very funny, and always moving story of a boy alone in a corrupt and dangerous world who must depend on his wits and inner resources to survive.

My thoughts:

I came across this audio book while browsing on Overdrive on my Kindle. I loved the cover and listened to a sample and was hooked. The voice talent for this book was so pleasant to the ear and I have never read much on the drug world in Nairobi or any African countries for that matter. So although this is a work of fiction, I knew it could still shed some insight. I also knew that this book would fit into my reading resolutions for 2015.

I immediately fell into the story while listening to the voice talent. He did a great job of doing the voices for all the characters. I listened to this while working at my craft table and while working in my vegetable garden. It made the time fly even faster.

I like books that help to bring to light how complicated life can be. Especially for this young boy who lost both of his parents in turmoil at a young age and the extreme poverty. It helps to understand why he might have made the choices he did about dealing drugs.  There were a few sections of violence but overall it was about Bingo and him trying to survive and grow in such a stressful life.

Even though he was a drug dealer, I found myself wishing for him to be well, find true happiness and love. He had no one to guide him and the circumstances created so many choices for him that he would have better thought through had he had guidance.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I think the audio version really boosted it more for me. So I give it 4 butterflies.

4rating

Happy reading!

Belinda

Filed Under: Belinda's Book Nook Tagged With: , , , , ,

Belinda’s Book Nook Review: And We Stay by Jenny Hubbard

April 23, 2015 by Leave a Comment

AndWeStay

Title: And We Stay
Author: Jenny Hubbard
Copyright: January 28, 2014
Genre: fiction
Format: audiobook

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Senior Paul Wagoner walks into his school with a stolen gun, he threatens his girlfriend, Emily Beam, and then takes his own life. Soon after, angry and guilt-ridden Emily is sent to a boarding school in Amherst, Massachusetts, where two quirky fellow students and the spirit of Emily Dickinson offer helping hands. But it is up to Emily Beam to heal her own damaged self, to find the good behind the bad, hope inside the despair, and springtime under the snow.

My thoughts:

No matter what book I am reading in print, I always have an audio book to play on my iPhone while I work or cook dinner. So I just looked through quickly and found this book. I never heard of it before by I think it is a young adult book.  I can’t lie, I was drawn to the fact that the main character was going to be going to a school in Amherst, Massachusetts and being a University of Massachusetts alumni, I love hearing about the area. So that helped when it came time to select this book. I also thought it would be a good book for me to check out since young suicides are prominent in the news over the years.

Bullying, rejection of young love, sexuality preferences, depression all these things seem to be top reasons that the youth of today are taking their precious lives. So I wanted to see where this book went with such a heavy topic.  The book slowly releases the reasons why and what led up to the suicide of the young boy, Paul while viewing the story through Emily’s perspective. It shared the aftermath and what happens to Emily. I could see the wholes in the “support” Emily received from her parents although I believe their intentions were well meaning.

I am saddened every time I hear a person particularly a young person taking their life. I wonder what brought them to the decision and always pray that we will find better ways to support each other so that no longer becomes an option. The story was interesting and I liked how, Emily, who was a young aspiring poet loved Emily Dickenson.  The author did a great job of weaving Emily Dickenson’s poetry into the story. I have to admit that I am not well versed on poetry but this book has peaked my interest.  I think this book did a good job exploring the aftermath of suicide and the struggles of the one’s left behind in a light enough manner that it wouldn’t overwhelm a young reader.

Overall, I felt although the topic is very complicated, I thought this was a good book and not the end all but one that might give insight to the guilt of the one’s left behind and how they grieve and process the loss.  I think the inclusion of Ms. Dickenson’s poetry improved my experience with the book. If not for it, I might have a lower rating but again I liked how the author utilized the poetry to help convey more meaning throughout the book.

That said, I would give this book four butterflies.

Happy reading!

Belinda

4rating

Filed Under: Belinda's Book Nook Tagged With: , , ,

Belinda’s Book Nook Review: The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

April 21, 2015 by 1 Comment

theinventionsofwings

Title: The Invention of Wings
Author: Sue Monk Kidd
Copyright: January 7, 2014
Genre: historical fiction
Format: paperback

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

From the celebrated author of the international bestseller The Secret Life of Bees comes an extraordinary novel about two exceptional women.

Sarah Grimké is the middle daughter. The one her mother calls difficult and her father calls remarkable. On Sarah’s eleventh birthday, Hetty ‘Handful’ Grimké is taken from the slave quarters she shares with her mother, wrapped in lavender ribbons, and presented to Sarah as a gift. Sarah knows what she does next will unleash a world of trouble. She also knows that she cannot accept. And so, indeed, the trouble begins …

A powerful, sweeping novel, inspired by real events, and set in the American Deep South in the nineteenth century, THE INVENTION OF WINGS evokes a world of shocking contrasts, of beauty and ugliness, of righteous people living daily with cruelty they fail to recognise; and celebrates the power of friendship and sisterhood against all the odds.

My thoughts:

I have had this book on my TBR for quite some time and jumped at the chance to recommend it for the book club I am in because I felt like I would keep putting it off for something else. So I was very happy when it was chosen as our April read. I went into it not sure what to expect. I had searched far and wide to find this UK edition because I loved the cover. I don’t know why some publishers make such ugly covers for the American version and stunning one’s abroad.

The Characters: I thought the author did an amazing job of character development. The main characters were Sarah, the wealthy white girl who’s family owned slaves in the deep south (Charleston to be exact) and Hetty the daughter of a slave that Sarah’s family owned. I really felt myself drawn to the two of them very quickly and the book was written so well that you were plagued with emotions throughout the book. There was enough depth to allow me to understand and empathize with both characters. They later introduced us to Angelina, Sarah’s younger sister and she developed into quite a good character as well. The supporting characters, Sarah’s family members were rich as well even if not always taking center stage.  I could almost visualize a movie made of this book. Not sure who I would cast for the characters but definitely see that it would make for a great movie.

I usually have a hard time with slavery stories and this one had it’s moments that I had to take a long pause to gather myself but then I would be drawn back to the story to find out what would happen next. The book explored the complexity of slavery in the south as well as the plight of women and women’s rights during this time. It included information about the Quakers and the abolitionists during this time.

I was also fascinated with the talk of Story Quilts in this book. I have heard of them and found it great how the author weaved them into the story. This book had so many topics that I find interesting and would love to read further on. The author even included a great list of references to further explore many of the topics in the book. What a treat!

I love historical fictions because they can bring you there just as well as a non-fiction if written well and this one was written well. I never heard of Sarah and Angelina Grimke.  They were real people that rejected their wealthy lifestyles and moved to the north to fight for the end of slavery and for women’s equality. They eventually retired in Hyde Park, Massachusetts.

What is a shame is that history books have neglected to include them and their contributions. Please take time to explore more about these women. I have included a link here to read a bit more about these women here.

Favorite quote:

“I have one mind for the master to see. I have another for what I know is me.” (Mr. Vessey p. 172)

and

“History is not just facts and events. History is also a pain in the heart and we repeat history until we are able to make another’s pain in the heart our own.” (Julius Lester) (p. 370)

My rating:

I went in not knowing but hoping for a great book and I found it. I gave this five butterflies and highly recommend it.

Happy reading!!!

Belinda

5rating

Filed Under: Belinda's Book Nook Tagged With: , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox

Join other followers: