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

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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

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Belinda’s Book Nook Review: The Madman’s Daughter (#1) by Megan Shepherd

April 16, 2015 by Leave a Comment

madmansdaughter#1

Title: The Madman’s Daughter (book #1)
Author: Megan Shepherd
Copyright: January 29, 2013
Genre: fiction
Format: audiobook

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father’s gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Inspired by H. G. Wells’s classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman’s Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we’ll do anything to know and the truths we’ll go to any lengths to protect.

My Thoughts:

I found this book on Overdrive and really was excited when I heard the sample. First off they had great intro music which not all audiobooks have. The voice talent was performed by Lucy Rayner. I will have to add her to my list of voice talent I enjoy listening to. Second, the story takes a twist on the old Dr. Moreau tale (which I have to confess I have never read) by coming from the perspective of his daughter.  As of late, I am really enjoying re-tellings of old tales. So I snatched this one up immediately.

I like that the character Juliet was a strong female throughout the book and especially in the time period she was living in.  She was very analytical and compassionate at the same time. Two things that don’t always go hand in hand in character traits.

The story moved at a great pace and I continue to listen to see how the story would end.  What I didn’t realize is that it is part of a series. My first reaction when completing the book was that it was good but that I would not continue on to the next book. But, with more time and space between completing it, I feel like many author’s books improve through series so I just might pick up the audio for the second book.

Having said this, I would give this 3 1/2 butterflies. Please note that I don’t condone the harming of butterflies and this is the first time I am using a half butterfly. But I didn’t like to be constrained when I think it is more that 3 but not quite 4.

I will let you know after I listen to the second book if I feel the series is growing or just alright.

Happy Reading!

Belinda

4.5rating

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Book Nook Book Review: Gemini by Carol Casella

March 19, 2015 by Leave a Comment

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Title: Gemini
Author: Carol Cassella
Copyright:  March 4, 2014
Genre: fiction
Format: book Pages: 352

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

A stranger’s life hangs in the balance. What if you had the power to decide if she lives or dies?

Dr. Charlotte Reese works in the intensive care unit of Seattle’s Beacon Hospital, tending to patients with the most life-threatening illnesses and injuries. Her job is to battle death — to monitor erratic heartbeats, worry over low oxygen levels, defend against infection and demise.

One night a Jane Doe is transferred to her care from a rural hospital on the Olympic Peninsula. This unidentified patient remains unconscious, the victim of a hit and run. As Charlotte and her team struggle to stabilize her, the police search for the driver who fled the scene.

….Filled with intricate medical detail and set in the breathtaking Pacific Northwest, Gemini is a riveting and heartbreaking novel of moral complexity and emotional depth.

My Thoughts:

I saw this author interviewed on Well Read, a television program I highly recommend that comes on public broadcasting. Do click on the link to check them out and look at the incredible list of book recommendations they have on their site. The author of this book is an actual anesthesiologist and knows her facts so the medical detail is spot on.

This was an easy book to get into. I was very interested in Charlotte’s character as the doctor in this book. She brought out many things to think about when someone is unconsious in the hospital. I remember an interview Oprah had with Jile Bolte Taylor, a Harvard brain scientist that exprienced a stroke. She eventually wrote a book about her experience called, My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey. 

Many things stuck with me from that interview many years ago, one being that after she had the stroke and was in the hospital, she couldn’t communicate but she talked a lot about the energy the different nurses and doctor’s brought into the room when they entered. This is something I am continually revisiting for myself in my general day to day with my family and friends! Do I come to them as a Debbie Downer, or do I bring joy to the room. I want to bring joy. So it’s good to be mindful of our energy because as Ms. Taylor stated, it affects others. Sometimes we get in the habit of only complaining when we talk with friends and family and the word and energy definitely bring others down. So I try to catch myself when I do that and pull back.

Now to my point….In this book the patient is in a coma and I couldn’t help but think about the energy different characters brought to her room. I also had to put the book down a couple of times, because even though it is now 7 years since my mother passed on, my heart continues to ache and I remember her in the hospital. It plays in my head like it happened yesterday and I think this book brought it to the surface for me in a different way. So I had to put it down from time to time to work through my own thoughts and then back to the story.

It was one of those books that jumps back and forth to the past and present in each chapter. I felt it was a clever way to keep the suspense while building the back story.

I enjoyed this book and don’t want to spoil it for you with details. I would definitely read another of her this authors’ books in the future.

I gave this book 4 butterflies.

Happy reading!

Belinda

4rating

 

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