The Only Girl in the World is Maude Julien's story of her upbringing in a large estate where her parents raised her to be "Super Human," forcing her into hard, physical labor and studies beyond her comprehension. Her mother and father used force and manipulation to mold Maude into a hardened and stoic person. Keeping her isolated from the rest of the world, they found her weaknesses and brought her pain to make her stronger. But by reading books about how children are treated in the real world, and because she is paired up with an intelligent music teacher, she is able to escape this world where she is the only girl.
I listened to this audiobook, read by the author, and it was dark and emotional, sometimes hard to listen to. Hearing Ms. Julien's story of how she herself became a strong and diligent young woman who eventually grew confident enough to rebel and stand against her father's wishes made this story heroic. Thankfully her music teacher persistently worked for years to convince her father to send her to his music school in the city, where Maude was eventually able to break away from his grasp and lead the normal, fulfilled life she had longed for since her youth. This memoir was gripping and emotional, a recommended read (or listen) to those who appreciate memoirs about unconventional upbringings (like Educated or The Glass Castle).
Set in the 11th century, The Physician follows the life of Rob J. Cole from his impoverished childhood as an English orphan to becoming the titular physician. After his parents' death, Rob joins a performing troupe and becomes quite an accomplished juggler. This dexterity will serve him well in his future occupation. He later apprentices with a traveling barber/surgeon and realizes that medicine is his true calling. Thus begins his quest to gain true medical knowledge, something beyond leeches and tooth-pulling. To do so he travels to Persia and then must disguise himself as a Jew in order to attend the Muslim medical school. The tale of his journey there, his studies, and his return home is full of adventure and interesting characters.
The Physician is lengthy, but the story is a good one. Fans of epic historical fiction like Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth should enjoy it. It is the first in a multi-generational trilogy following certain Cole family descendants. The next title, Shaman, takes place during the American Civil War, while Matters of the Heart, the final book, is set in the present day. Themes of medicine and the Jewish faith run throughout the series.
The year is 1602 in the court of Queen Elizabeth I, and turbulent and violent weather all across Europe is convincing many of an oncoming apocalypse. Queen Elizabeth, hoping to ensure England’s survival, turns to the help of court magician Dr. Stephen Strange, and intelligence officer Sir Nicholas Fury, both of whom are to help England secure a treasure of the Knights Templar long thought lost. To do so, however, they will have to contend with assassins, foreign powers, and the Inquisition.
Neil Gaiman’s reputation as a master writer shines in this work. Each and every Marvel character, slotted brilliantly into their role in this pre-colonial version of the Marvel universe, feels similar enough to recognize but unique enough to stand out as their own interpretations. The same goes for the character designs; similar, but different enough to delight fans. The art style, while nothing terribly unique, does include fantastic covers for each issue, rendered like 17th century paintings. The story itself is riveting, and though it starts slow with its world-building, is deeply engrossing with plenty of twists and turns. Some twists are easier to guess with knowledge of the characters, but others will keep even the most well-versed readers wondering until the very end.
In Ann Patchett’s most recent novel, Maeve and Danny's father decides to surprise his then wife with a mansion, known as The Dutch House. Overwhelmed, she flees the house, leaving Cyril to
raise his children alone – until he marries Andrea. Thus begins the saga of the Conroy family, taking dips and turns into the distant and near pasts, circling back to the present. Answers are unveiled in time in this fictional drive through a family's darkest and deepest memories. Patchett has created a completely delightful story with this cast of ordinary characters, making them that much more interesting.
I loved listening to this novel. As narrator, Tom Hanks told this story of the captivating and enthralling Conroy family through Danny's recollections and experiences so perfectly that I really believed he was Danny. Patchett created a flawless relationship with Maeve and Danny and satisfyingly brought the novel full circle with Andrea and Danny. For fans of Literary Fiction and Family Sagas, this is a great book to listen to or read to fulfill your family drama desires.
In the aftermath of a devastating battle, a cybernetic time-soldier finds a letter left by her opponent, addressing her as "Red" and signed with the moniker "Blue." It's a gloating message of victory, but one that sets off a correspondence through time and space. Red and Blue hide words for each other in bones, in seeds, in water, in trees. Chasing each other through alternate histories, they encode these messages in secret, lest their overlord commanders find out and call it treason. Although the messages start out as taunts and boasts, they soon become curious, and then friendly. The stakes rise as their feelings deepen. And over time (pun intended), friendship blossoms into love.
This is How You Lose the Time War is a short sci-fi novel (or novella), mostly consisting of letters between the nemeses and star-crossed lovers Red and Blue as they battle and trick each other through time and space. The letters are entertaining and poetic, although the plot and worldbuilding are twisty and sometimes cryptic. The audiobook is performed by two narrators who both put a lot of emotion into their delivery. It's a quick read if you are looking for a creative and highly unconventional romance.
Famed assassin Celaena Sardothien has spent a year as a slave in the Endovier salt mines as retribution for her crimes. When Prince Dorian offers her eventual freedom, she jumps at the chance. He has one condition: she must act as the prince’s champion to win the position of royal assassin in a competition created by the sadistic King of Adarlan. She must fight against other assassins and thieves in a series of trials that require physical skill, wits, and bravery. If she wins, she’ll serve the kingdom for four years to earn her freedom. That is, if she survives.
When competitors start mysteriously dying one after the other, Celaena must figure out who the killer is before she’s next. What she finds not only changes the competition, but the fate of the kingdom, and her own destiny.
Throne of Glass is an entertaining story on its own, but it’s where the rest of the series goes that really makes the read worthwhile. This is a high fantasy YA series that is quite mature in content and features older characters. They are also turning this series into a television show called “Queen of Shadows” at some point in the future.
This is the story of a marriage. A marriage in which the husband is afraid that his wife may leave him if he ever screws up. A marriage in which the wife is in complete control of everything. Including their murders. In this story, a seemingly perfect family slowly starts to unravel as the police come
closer and closer to solving the murders of several missing women. Then, because of all the lies and secrets, it all falls apart in a matter of hours.
The book was an easy read, with short chapters and an original storyline. Although it was slow to pick up speed, there was a shocking twist, reminiscent of Gone Girl, that shocked me, but only for a moment before realizing I should have seen it coming all along.
