Review Time!

If you've paid attention at all on this journey, you'd know that I am a pretty big book worm. I love reading - always have. It relaxes me, allows me to escape reality for a little while, and broadens my imagination. 

In the last 2 and a half years, I have struggled to pick up a book and read it cover to cover. For something I love so much to be hard - something was wrong. I couldn't shut my brain off enough to enjoy what I was reading. I was not about to waste time reading and not enjoying it - no thank you.

In the last month and a half, I have finished 3 books. THREE! From time to time, I will leave reviews and book recommendations on here to break up some of the heavier posts. Life is too short to be focused only on how to make changes. Focus on how to live a life you love, and watch your world change! 

Beneath A Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan

       

As any normal adult with a bank account and internet access, I find myself browsing Amazon more often than not. I saw this book in the "recommendations" section of my account one day and decided to see what it was about. Once I read the summary, I knew I had to read it. As a history loving bookworm, this book was right up my alley. And the fact that it was all true - heart wrenching yet incredibly addicting to read. World War II is one of my favorite periods of time to study - because as a whole, it was a serious time of change. As with any world war, obviously. But for some reason World War II pulls in my interest more than any other war. I saw, on the cover, that James Patterson (one of my favorite authors) sang this book's praises, so how bad could it be? 

Friends - this book kept me so engulfed, I took every opportunity I could to read. I started it on the flight to visit my parents at the beginning of last month, and within 2 days of camping, this book was finished and handed off to my mom. (Who also enjoyed it!)

This book gives a different perspective of World War II. You are seeing it from Italy, who was very involved in the war, but not at the forefront of our minds when we think of WWII. We hear WWII, we think Germany. This book gives you the view of the war from the eyes of a little Italian boy (okay, little might be a stretch.. he's probably 14 or 15), and what his family endured. How Mussolini really was behind closed doors. How he went from rescuing families and leading them to Switzerland for freedom to spying on the German army FOR the Italian Resistance as a part of the German Army. WHAT?! Read it! Highly recommend this one.

Rating: 📕📕📕📕📕

The Last Castle by Denise Kiernan

       

If you haven't gathered from any of my other posts - I love books that circle around historical events. This book just happened to fall into my lap when I was preparing for my trip to North Carolina in July. I was browsing Target's book section (lethal for my bank account) and stumbled upon this beautiful cover. I know, don't judge a book by it's cover. If that cover is as interesting as this one, then I'm picking it up to see what it's about! Part of the trip was visiting the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. The Biltmore is the largest private owned residence in America. 

I read this book after I toured the estate. A lot of what had been discussed on the tour was in this book, but it gave me a different perspective of Asheville, and the area surrounding the Biltmore. It made me want to hop on a plane and go back to that beautiful area - so I could better appreciate my surroundings. 

While some people find biography/autobiography boring, this book opened my eyes to life in the late 18th century, early 19th century. It discussed how life was affected by the first World War, how prohibition impacted the country, and how truly incredible this home is. It tells the story of the Vanderbilt family and what they had to endure. After being through it once, I definitely need to go back and see what I missed. 

Rating:  📕📕📕📕 

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

You guys.. I know this whole post has been about historical books. This one is historical FICTION. Yes, it discusses World War II (surprise!). The characters are not real, but the events are (for the most part). The inspiration for this book, according to Picoult, was another book that had similar elements. This book had been sitting in my ever growing pile of books just begging to be read (another Target purchase.. oy). I am so glad I picked this one up and read it. It only took me less than a week, and yes I forced myself to stay up late to read it, it's THAT good. 

Sage, the main character, is a bit of a loner. She is a baker who works nights, to avoid having too much contact with people because of a scar that runs down her face. She befriends an elderly man and his dog, who come into the bakery just as she's leaving for the day but also attends her grief support group. Without giving away too much of this story, she finds out that this man has a connection to her family in a big way - and by the time you reach the last page, you're not sure how to feel about these characters and their history. 

I am telling you, this book did not disappoint. It was very difficult to read at times, given the brutal nature of the concentration camps, and the retelling from the characters. But if there is one thing I learned from this book - forgiveness is an inside job. You do not forgive someone for their sake, you do it for your own piece of mind. Think about that - how powerful is that?! 

Rating: 📕📕📕📕📕