100 Years of Lenni and by Margot Review

 100 Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin

This book was absolutely beautiful and poignant and heartbreaking and lovely.

Lenni is a young woman with a fatal diagnosis. Margot is an old woman with a fatal diagnosis. Together their ages equal 100 years. Living in the hospital, Lenni and Margot meet and form a sweet friendship.

Lenni can’t really relate to any kids her age anymore. However, she feels a connection with someone who understands what it means to know the end is just around the next bend. Margot has lived a long life and has so many stories to tell. Lenni will not live a long life and happily  listens to all that Margot is willing to share.

Together Lenni and Margot create something impactful during their time together in art class. They create something that will live beyond their lives — a legacy.

I really, really recommend this wonderful book. 

Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind Review

 Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind

By Molly McGee

There is something special about this book — the language and feeling… it’s charming even as the story itself is frightening and depressing. I don’t mean that negatively.

This book focuses on Jonathan Abernathy, a young man who is facing the endless battle of capitalism. Student debt, inherited debt, lame job options… it’s all so believable and suffocating.

Have you ever played “Scum”? If you’re on the bottom, you have to give up your best cards and it feels impossible to move up. If you’re on the top, then you have many advantages to keep you on top. That is the world of capitalism and this book so perfectly depicts the hopeless struggle that so many people face in capitalist societies.

I really hope that Molly McGee writes more — I am anxious to read whatever she does next.

I got a free copy of this book through NetGalley that I might write an honest review.

Book Review: See How They Run

See How They Run by Ally Carter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars (more like 3 and a half)

I really liked this and am really excited for the next to come out. There were a few phrases that became very cliche throughout this book and the first, however they didn't detract from the story or the characters. This book (and the preceding one) probably contain my least favorite protagonist, however I didn't dislike her. I just didn't like her as much as the protagonists in Heist Society and Gallagher Girls.

A clean read with lots of action and intrigue and a little romance. When will they kiss already?!? ;)

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Book Review: The Stepsister's Tale

The Stepsister's Tale by Tracy Barrett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this as an early-read on Netgalley.

I was impressed by this book.  It was a lovely, light, clean fairytale that reimagined "Cinderella".  Even though there were a lot of changes to the story it was more believable, more real, more heartwarming than the original fairytale/ Disney movie, etc.

I want a copy of this book for my own.  I love a good fairytale and am always looking for well-written ones.  It can be harder to find them than one would think.  This was well-written, not cheesy, sweet, sentimental, and believable.

Definitely worth a read.

Book Review: What Alice Forgot

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow. I mean.... wow. This book is a book that maybe every married lady (and man!) should read. Especially in a marriage that is struggling. Just.... wow. Deep and moving and tragic and full of hope...

A story of a marriage that is basically over when the wife has an accident that causes severe memory loss (i.e. the last ten years of her life) which puts her in a position to see her marriage and (soon to be ex) husband in the light of a newly-married and very much in love wife instead of the hard, jaded, angry, hurt, and bitter wife, sister, and mother she has become.

Alice finds a way to find the middle ground where forgiveness, love, understanding, and lightness exist and it is magnificent in its way.

What if in our lives we were granted to opportunity to see ourselves now through younger, more optimistic eyes... what if we were able to forget the hurts and frustrations towards others that we let get in the way of a fulfilling relationship? What if we could see our spouses as they are without the years of little nit-picky things that irritate us and be reminded about why we fell in love in the first place? BUT THEN!!! To be able to remember and come to a place where we could forgive because we have been reminded of how important our love is?
Liane Moriarty presents these ideas and a lovely story that includes the best-possible outcome forging the blindness of early love with the depth of shared-experience and forgiveness.

Worth a read. But... watch out for some swears.

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Book Review: The Wednesday Wars

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Some books catch you within the first few lines and hold onto you until the book is finished. This is one of those. I have struggled lately to be interested in a book and keep reading after the first few pages... I've just lost interest. Then I picked up this book and immediately felt invested and happy to be reading it. I fell in love.

The voice of this book is so strong and well done. The characters are real and believable and complex. The plot is a mish-mash (but with constant and continuing elements that keep it cohesive), but in a way that fits. After all, it is the story of a teenage boy's life in seventh grade.

I just... I'm so impressed. The main character, Holling Hoodhood (silly name, yes?)is such a well-rounded character who is silly and serious and juvenile and mature and just everything you think a teenage boy really is. He grows and learns to stand up for himself, he learns to forgive, he learns empathy and adventure and compassion.... just. Tsk. SOOOO GOOD.

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