Still reading my way to my goal of 52 books in 2020. Unfortunately I have a lot more fun reading than reviewing, but here is the next batch. Some of these are a little different, I’ve shared my feelings about what’s going on instead of actually telling you the story line. Based on that, you decide if you want to read it and if you have the same feelings during your journey through the pages. Side note: some of these have been sitting in my Kindle for quite a while, that’s why I seem surprised about what some of them are about…I don’t remember selecting them, and haven’t got a clue 😉
5. Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vander
UGH! This girls an alien? A sci-fi book? Did I really pick a sci-fi book? I already started it, gotta read 52 this year, might as well keep going. This girl isn’t an alien. Not a sci-fi book…yippee. Wow, Jo’s been through a lot. What a lonely life just her and the birds. Is this girl an alien? He has a WHOLE lotta family baggage, you might want to stay away from him. Girl can’t be an alien. You’re right, someone should have reported this girl missing…unless she’s an alien. I like Tabby. Definitely hiding from something, she’s afraid. oh no! Shhhh! Run! Run! Jo’s very determined, would I be that determined? Why do social workers think they know what’s best for kids without actually listening to the kids. Even alien kids. Oh, poor girl, no one should have to see that. Blood doesn’t make you a family, love does. Ended up being a good book after all.
6. Spilled Milk by K. L. Randis
Strength comes in many forms. Physical strength, moral strength, emotional strength and the strength to stand up and do what is right, which sometimes requires them all. Based on a true story, this is a narrative of an abused child, her reasoning about not telling others for such a long time, then learning to trust other adults and finally, to confront her abuser in a court of law. Poignant and sad, but also showcasing the strength of the human spirit to survive and excel. Why is the title Spilled Milk ? Because that action at friends house,showed her that her family was not normal, that children do not get beaten and demoralized just because they spilled a glass of milk.
7. The Watchman of Ephraim by Gerard De Marigny
September 11, 2001, not gonna be a good day for these people. Descriptions really bring NYC alive for me. Oh good, his wife doesn’t work there anymore. Oh shit, she’s visiting someone there! So sad. Geez Mugsy, leave him alone, find a girl for yourself already. 250,000 acres, not a bad spread. Main character in an action book is a proclaimed Christian, that doesn’t happen often. 10 years later, the fireman still has alot of animosity, which I understand, seems Cris has forgiven, which I respect. Wow Les, you’re an ass. Men’s egos….they twist the mind and fuel hatred. The Ground Zero mosque….evil lurking around that. Was it ever built? Two blocks away? The way people were talking it was right across the street..interesting. Don’t go for it Les, once you’re on the hook, they’ll never let you off. They have alot hiding on the 250,000 acres! Poor Mariah, I thought she could help Cris find love again, she’s definitely willing. Hard to compete with a ghost though. Not gonna like where they find that agent. Told ya so Les. RUN! Who says evil isn’t smart, good diversion.oh no, they found them! Ride kids, Ride! No, you shot him in the back. Disappointed because you say you’re a Christian, he did have a moral pause before he did it so that’s something. oh, the Russians are involved too… Good Steal! Oh, I liked Charlie 🙁 And the media spin begins. Ha! you really didn’t think you were getting away did you? Well, that was a tad coldblooded.
8. Once Night Falls by Roland Merullo
Oh, back in WWII Italy, okay, kinda out of my WWII phase right now. 3 chapters and I have a girl in the woods, Mussolini and a spy talking to an archbishop..a lot going on in this book. Damn Nazi’s! okay, getting hard to follow, six chapters, six different settings/characters. I haven’t picked this book up in 4 weeks, not a clue what’s going on, but it’s okay, it’ll come to me as I continue…I hope. Ooooo, they kidnapped Mussolini. It’s always the priest isn’t it? Damn, didn’t take long for Luca to get blood lust. Back to Mussolini story line…boring. Was the church really so involved in the spy network? Oh Maria, but I get why you did it. Go with her Luca! Sarah, take your mom, baby and run girl, he’ll never be the same.
9. Zoo Nebraska: The Dismantling of an American Dream by Carson Vaugn
Overall feelings during this book were mainly depressing so I’ll just give you a general run down. When the action starts in this book, there are men with guns in golf carts chasing chimps. The action ends when you find out how it all plays out for the chimps towards the end of the book. This was an overall depressing biography of Dick Haskin. Not quite sure how he thought he could be successful in the middle of Nebraska in a town with a population of 81. His love for chimps and his ego clashed, causing him to basically do everything because he didn’t trust anyone else, resulting in a rundown man and zoo. He turned down the dream job of a lifetime and I think that left him feeling very embittered and trampled upon. The town board took over the running of the zoo and eventually Dick was fired/quit because he fought them at every turn and the animals suffered. It was a sad but interesting book about a man who went from great joy to great bitterness on the great plains.