A contemporary university story with heart and depth . . .
346229
In It's Over, Laura L. Smith (author of Hot, Skinny, and Angry) continues the contemporary university stories of the four girls from It's Complicated. The girls, who have solidified their solid relationships on campus, must travel between home and school dealing with the worst parts of life--the death of a sibling, the aging of a grandparent, disloyal boyfriends, and the loss of a home. Through their trials, they continue to lean on one another and God, and find ways to be thankful even in the lean times. Smith crafts a story that will appeal to all girls.

Smith tackles incredibly difficult issues in this book--death, aging, depression, drug use, and jealousy and confusion. She folds story lines together so elegantly that readers will relate. It's a great reminder to all of us that all people have difficulties, no one is immune, and it is our job as caring individuals to sympathize and reach out.

My favorite part of this book, and this series, is that Smith writes about a time of life during which we have a tendency to be self-absorbed and turns that on its head. She shows the strain that comes from self-absorption and the beauty that comes from reaching out to others and to God. As in It's Complicated, Smith again teaches her characters to look away from mirrors and toward the people God has placed in their paths.

This is a fantastic read, one that will resonate with teens and college-aged girls and their mothers!  I also recommend it for youth group use and situational studies. Fans of authors like Nicole O'Dell, Stephanie Morrill, Nancy Rue, and Melody Carlson will love Smith's style, voice, and subject matter.
4785435
Very seldom have I read a book about college romance, love, relationships, and life and felt so nostalgic and engaged. To K(no)w Avail is a genuine and passionate story about relationships, temptation, faith, and finding ones self and love. The book talks about faith and temptation in a way that will not alienate teenagers nor devalue the significant role that faith and spirituality can play in ones life. However, this book is not preachy. It's a very good interpretation of becoming a man and a woman both intellectually, spiritually, physically, and emotionally. E. Marie Sanders' attention to detail and authenticity in writing about some of the most intimate thoughts that take place within a relationship is impressive. Her ability to honestly and unapologetically portray both perspectives is witty and creative. Both men and women will feel like they have a voice. However, at the same time, Sanders leaves enough room for book clubs to discuss the sometimes widely variant and sometimes interestingly similar perspectives of Kyle and Avail. At times, Kyle and Avail underscore the notion that men are from Mars and women are from Venus without Kyle or Avail appearing to be the victor. The other characters in the book add depth, additional personality, and overall sense of a college community to the story. Moreover, the sometimes steamy and bashfully descriptive prose about Kyle and Avail's "romantic moments" is passionate and sexy without compromising tact. I can only imagine that the author intended for the book to be read by adolescents, college students, college grads or romantics. To K(no)w Avail effectively engages all audiences. I'm so connected with some of the characters that I can't help but think about what happens next. I highly recommend this book.
4183851
Fates and Furies is not a book that I really planned to read - then I listened to Lauren Groff discuss it at the 2015 Texas Book Festival and found myself buying a copy even before leaving the festival.  I could see that the author was doing her best not to "spoil" the book for prospective readers by revealing too many details, but at the same time she was hinting that there was much more to the book than its basic storyline.  That is an understatement.

Fates and Furies is about marriage, marriage in all its glory and in all its despair, marriage as a lifetime commitment and marriage as a sexual fling.  Marriage is, of course, all of those things, but not at the same time.  And it is exactly that complicated, ever evolving nature of society's most sacred institution that Groff explores here with such powerful impact.

As its title implies, the novel is divided into two distinct sections, "Fates" and "Furies," but the intent of this split only becomes obvious when the reader begins the second section of the book.  But identifying this reason in a review, unfortunately, even though it is hinted at in the book's own dust jacket, is where it is too easy to drift into "spoiler" territory.  I will only add that it would be a big mistake for anyone to give up on Fates and Furies before beginning the "Fates" section because, prospective reader, this is not the book you think it is up to that point.

The book's two main characters, Lotto and Mathilde, meet as university seniors on the verge of graduation.  From the start, it seems that their fates have always been to find each other despite how different they are.  Lotto is a campus star, a tall young man as well known for his appearances in university plays as for his stellar four-year track record of bedding the school's female students.  Mathilde is almost his campus opposite.  Even though her height and striking beauty make her hard to forget, she seldom speaks and does not appear to have a friend in the world, much less one on campus.  But when they finally find each other, sparks fly and they want desperately to spend the rest of their lives together.  Groff has so well developed the characters of Lotto and Mathilde that they become very real to the reader, but instead of revealing everything about them at once, the author allows her readers to get to know the two characters (and several of the book's supporting characters) layer by revealed layer, much as we get to know people in the everyday world. That is why the book's second section becomes such a jarring, powerful thing to read.

Lauren Groff's books are not easy reads.  Her prose can be densely packed at times, and keeping up with her sometimes requires a bit of extra concentration.  But it is all worth the effort because Groff never fails to deliver - and that includes the fictional play excerpts that become a big part of the novel in its second section.  Fates and Furies is destined for good things.  Don't miss it - or give up on it too soon.
1685341
I quite enjoyed this book, so much so that I have read it multiple times.  First, when it was being written as a serial, and then when it was in the editing stage, as one of the readers selected to help with the continuity and copyreading.  (Which, obviously, I would not have volunteered for if I hadn't liked it enough the first time to offer to read through it several more times, in detail.  ;) )  Hopefully without giving too much away, the story centers around a group of young university history and philosophy students in general, and one Morgan Locke in particular.  Despite facing severe personal challenges, he sets off on a literal journey of discovery that challenges quite a few of his previously strong held convictions, including his notions on the nature of leadership and governance.
264536
This novel may be set in the 1990s, but it feels like a story that could still be playing out anywhere across rural America. Triinu's journey of self  acceptance is striking and pertinent, told through concise, measured prose. Karelia Stetz-Waters masterfully weaves politics, emotion, and hormones into a neatly packaged narrative. While this novel is full of delightful, heartwarming moments, it also unflinchingly faces the emotional weight of growing up different in an oppressive and dangerous environment. As a queer person who grew up in rural Appalachia, I found myself connecting deeply with Triinu's struggle, but I believe that this novel is accessible and relevant to everyone. It's important to understand the obstacles that others face, and Forgive Me If I've Told You This Before is a beautifully inspiring look into conquering adversity.

Also, it has a beautiful cover. Just look at it.
1745345
The Story of Arthur Truluv is a touching novel that reminds us that life should be lived to the fullest and that family can be any unit created by love and not limited to those related by blood.

The story is told from three different points of view; Arthur,a kind-hearted widow whose loneliness is palpable and who spends the better part of his days at the graveside of his late wife; Maddie, a troubled teenager, struggling with bullies at school and an apathetic father at home; and Lucille, a retired school teacher who has spent most of her life pining for a lost love.

The prose is eloquent and reflective. The characters, including all the supporting characters, are strong, multi-layered, and endearing. And the plotis a compelling tale of friendship, happiness, kindness, generosity, forgiveness, honesty, humour, unconditional love, growing old, and the true meaning of family.

The Story of Arthur Truluv is a moving, delightful story that will make you laugh, make you cry and is hands down one of my favourite reads of the year.
2272261
Set in Carswell North Carolina the dye is cast to Addie Lockwood's life during the 1970s. Byrd is a story about connections. Reading this novel focused my attention on upbringing, relationships, and how early personal connections can set the course of a life.

The novel begins with the lines of destiny being drawn. A letter to a character named "Byrd" wistfully outlines the circumstance of Byrd's paternitythe tenuous relationship of parents Addie and Roland. The first chapter describes the childhood friendship between these two, beginning in the fourth grade, which becomes a constant thread in Addie's life. The novel is about this life; Addie growing up among friends and family who later she feels little in common with; the disappointment of love, high school reunions (remarkable for the ordinariness of the lives of her classmates) and the changing relationships around her. Throughout the story there is a sense that Addie is finding herself; who she really is, who she wants around her and what kind of life she desires. Her notes to Byrd, sometimes addressed to Baby, continue through the novel as she considers the baby's life and adjusts to how her own is turning out.

I grew up believing that nobody can take care of anybody. I was wrong. People take care of each other all the time. Just maybe not the people you expect.
Byrd is beautifully written. The prose is bare bones stuff, cutting through, communicating, without need for clever literary technique. The sense that 'you don't choose the life you have, rather it chooses you' is a theme which resonates in Addie's thoughts. The commonality of this theme among the characters, each on their own diverging paths, is conveyed simply. And then there are the sections in the novel that just 'paint a picture'.

Rows of wooden houses squinting like drunks in the late sun. Women in dresses propped in open doorways. Men inside laughing, glass jars clanking. Every now and then a whiff of reefer. Children and dogs running circles in dirt yards. Tonight the children will stay up late while the grown-ups get high, because it's the weekend, no school tomorrow.
Simply told, in an engaging present-tense narrative, Kim Church's debut novel is an absorbing read. The characters in Addie's upbringing have little ambition, are ordinary, flawed, yet seen through her eyes remain imbued with love and understanding. This could be regarded as a sad story but such is the insight learned along the way it remains optimistic to the end. The endingand what an ending it isbrought this reviewer a lot of satisfaction.

Byrd is as outstanding as it is understated. It's a novel of exceptional clarity that reaches into hidden corners. It left me feeling I understood my own life better. I'd recommend it to any reader from young adults to those who've had a full life of their own.
1981729
A tale of two classes is how Id best describe this well-written book.  The writer draws on her rich knowledge of working class life in the Dover area to demonstrate the warmth, security and affection, as well as the prejudices experienced by Hal, Abigail and their friends as they grew up in that environment.  When Hal accepts the opportunity to study in Cambridge, where he will inevitably mix with students from very different backgrounds, that puts the cat amongst the pigeons.  The story reveals how the main characters deal with the new challenges they meet and how the changes wrought impact on the lives of a surprising number of people.
The book has a good storyline, with a well-researched background and very credible characters.  I enjoyed the read immensely and look forward to the possibility of a further publication from Liza Dyer in the not too distant future.
4627696
Set in 1885 and told in a first person point-of-view, "This Quiet Sky" is the story of 16 year-old Sarah Miller, who - on her first day of school, after recently moving from South Carolina to Rocky Knob, Va., finds herself sharing a desk and books with 17 year-old Tucker O'Shay. Tucker is shunned by some of the children due to rumors of his terminal illness. When he is asked to tutor Sarah in math, by their teacher, they start off "on the wrong foot" - however, rapidly form a close friendship that deepens into love.

Tucker is a courageous young man, refusing to relinquish his life's dreams to his illness and continues to prepare for college admission, taking the required testing. Wanting to improve Sarah's life, he requests that she promise she will do the same - even though Sarah feels she doesn't have the knowledge or money required for college. Tucker tries to shield Sarah from the burden of his illness by pulling away, but Sarah feels a deepening desire and need to be ever present as an encourager and help-mate for Tucker.

I read "This Quiet Sky" in one sitting, unable to put it down. Such a tender, emotional, beautiful story that grabs the reader's heart and refuses to turn it loose. A story of hope and a lesson learned in enjoying what life has to offer - no matter how brief - and never taking it for granted.

I read the paperback of "This Quiet Sky" and also listened to the audio version. Gail Shalan does an excellent job of narrating the audio version - portraying the emotion, depth, voice and personality of each character expertly.
4368931
This novel quickly became one of my favorite coming-of-age stories. The change that occurs between adolescence and adulthood is trying for every 18- to 20-something year old, and Rainbow Rowell has perfected the art of capturing the nuances of Freshman year of college. Through the eyes of Cath, an 18-year-old introvert who prefers the company of the imaginary students of Watford school of Magicks rather than the real students of her university, Rowell paints a beautifully painful picture of what it is like to buck against the inevitable change of becoming an adult. While Cath desperately tries to hang on to her adolescence, her twin sister, Wren, makes every effort to break away. Cath obsesses over maintaining her fanfiction blog and pours all her time outside of class into the imaginary world of Simon Snow, avoiding the student body, and worrying about her emotionally fragile father, while Wren does her best to shun everything that defined her as a teen, including Cath, wanting to be an individual, go to frat parties, and make new friendsall of which forces Cath to face her first year of college alone, including having a surly roommate, Reagan, who is attached at the hip to the over-zealous Levi (who just happens to be a handsome, older guy), a Junior-level writing class with an inspiring and intimidating professor, and a dining commons which hosts the dreaded entirety Caths social anxieties. The narrative flows seamlessly through scenes of family struggle, new love, betrayal, the consequences of stepping outside of your comfort zonein short, everything that defines those awkward years of post-teen and pre-adulthood. Rowells command over flowing, witty dialogue, as well as her ability to capture a moment and use it to keep the movement of the story steady and engaging makes Fangirl a smart, tender, and achingly beautiful read.
4484826
I had to look up where Charles Finch was as a student because this book has one of the warmest, most realistic accounts of what it feels like to study at Oxford that I've ever read. Sure enough, the author read English at Oxford (I'm guessing Balliol or Merton) and he currently resides in the city. I'll briefly mention that reading about a place you've lived and studied in is like coming home and nothing beats this feeling of comfort and move on to the plot and characters. I was first of all surprised that Charles decided very early on in the novel to propose to Lady Jane. While the first book made it clear those two loved each other, I wouldn't have said they were in love, and it's a little surprising to have their relationship change so quickly - after all, we are told repeatedly in the first book that their devoted friendship, however peculiar, is accepted as such by themselves and society at large. I liked that unconventional bond and didn't warm up to the idea of marriage straight away. Luckily, there are many books left ahead to convince me that it was a necessary turn of events. The end of the book is very lovely for Charles seeing as he has new career prospects, which I'm very curious to see enfold (how will that affect his detective work?). The characters are very well-drawn and frankly charming (I want to see more of Graham) and Charles' musings are smart and heartfelt, which makes him one of the most endearing characters I've met. The plot is uneven, I find - I guessed the motive straight away and it's frustrating to have to wait for the resolution to be told that one was right all along. On the other hand, I would never have guessed the various twists and turns the story took and the myriad vivid characters and clever clues that were scattered were deeply engaging and kept me riveted. This is a really good installment in the series and I felt a little sad to find out that the main detective has resolved many a murder since the first book which the author simply alludes to but doesn't develop. It felt very Sherlockian in this way and I can only hope that a book of stories is in the works for at least some of those cases. This is a really good series I plan to see through until the end (not too soon, pretty please, I'm enjoying it too much!)
4576899
Feel good stories about teachers who make a difference are not hard to come by in fiction or on screen. Daniel Siegel's nonfiction collection  offers readers something equally uplifting, but entirely different: The Wise Legacy depicts one professor's extraordinary impact in the words of his former students, colleagues, and friends. A professor of government at Franklin and Marshall, a small liberal arts college in Pennsylvania, for almost forty years, Sid Wise left a legacy that runs the gamut from teaching students to see the opportunity in failure to fostering a culture of compromise and collaboration among F&M alums in Washington. The subtitle is not an exaggeration: the myriad profiles here remind readers just how much one great educator can do. Moreover, they remind a reader feeling disillusioned with contemporary politics that there have been people who taught and modeled something different, who believed that government could be a noble profession with the capacity to change the world. As former student John Buchanan recalled, "He had this gift of being able to discuss highly emotional, controversial issues, but with such lucidity and intelligence and sensitivity that he just encouraged thoughtfulness. And thoughtfulness is akin to civility when you are talking about the public conversation."

The book covers the beginning of Sid Wise's career, in the 1950's, to his retirement, at the end of the 1980's. When taken together, these interviews tell the story of the country during its tumultuous middle decades. In the pages of this book, readers see Sid Wise advise Elanor Roosevelt to reconsider her planned appearance location, because it forbids African-Americans; lobby for the inclusion of women at F&M and mentor women trying to make it as faculty members; and teach Kenneth Duberstein, who became Ronald Reagan's chief of staff, that governing requires reaching across the aisle. The book offers a window into the evolution of the country, its politics, and its system of higher education; it will be an invaluable primary source to anyone conducting research in related fields.

This book will certainly appeal to Franklin and Marshall alums, whether or not they recall Sid Wise. It is a loving portrait of what F&M was, and what it is. Moreover, though, this book reminds all readers of what higher education can and should be. In a country in which tuition increases threaten to  limit the number of students who enroll in and complete college degrees, a country in which tenured, full-time faculty increasingly give way to poorly paid, part-time adjuncts, this book serves as a reminder of the power of faculty-student relationships. The full-time professors who remain today are often judged by the research funds they bring in, or the papers that they publish, but this book offers a different vision of the power a faculty member can have. I wish it could be required reading for all who enter higher education, so that they might be reminded that a lasting legacy might, instead, consist of forging relationships, mentoring students, and modeling thoughtful, open-minded engagement with opinions of all kinds.
1970301
An enjoyable read that touches upon the issue of racial divide in this country that has yet to be healed.  The story flows quickly from the beginning chapter to the last with characters you grow to like and dislike.  There is a strong underlying message of tolerance, acceptance and love that should make this book mandatory reading for all students.  Better yet, this should be made into a movie.
1659782
Mike's just finished college and has managed to stick to his moral values. As a result, he believes that is the reason he has been given a great job at Sandia Labs in New Mexico.

When he gets there, he meets Danielle and starts falling head-over-heels for her. His past, however, still haunts him, and he worries that a mistake he made in high school that led to his ex-girlfriend getting an abortion will affect his new relationship. He also worries that his feelings for his former roommate's wife might affect his ability to form a lasting relationship.

Will Mike find the power within to forgive himself for his past mistakes? Will Danielle be understanding when she finds out the truth?

A moving, heartwarming story about forgiveness, friendship, and love. Although the plot has a fairly slow pace, the author does a great job of keeping the reader's attention. Her portrayal of the characters and their inner struggles is also well done.

Readers who need an uplifting story or who like Christian fiction, clean romances, and books about people finding their inner strengths will all enjoy reading this book.

Reviewed by:  Kira M
961947
This complex narrative is told in five voices: a wheelchair-bound teacher named Mrs. Olinski and the four brilliant sixth grade members of her academic team.  Konigsburg alternates brief glimpses of their final quiz bowl championship match with short stories about the different life journeys each kid has had to make, each told in the first-person.  The longer personal narratives temper suspense about the outcome of the competition, and the resolution of all the stories is satisfying.

I didn't want this book to end.  I was so captivated by the characters that I wanted them to stay with me as long as possible.  The book seems much longer than its 163 pages-not because the plot is slow or boring, but because it is so rich and complex.  Konigsburg weaves five narrative voices into a coherent whole: Mrs. Olinski, who teaches from a wheelchair and manages one of her school's sixth grade academic teams; Noah: funny, clever, methodical, and accidental best man at a senior citizen's wedding; Nadia: introspective, reserved, wondering how to cope with her parents' divorce; Ethan, who dreams of working on Broadway; and Julian: Indian boy magician and target of the school bullies.

At first, I was very skeptical about this book.  As I listened to the characters, I often thought, "No, I'm not buying this.  Real kids don't talk, think, or write this way-especially sixth-graders."  I noticed that Nadia rarely uses contractions, often making her speech stiff and mechanical.  Noah begins numerous statements with the word "Fact."  Ethan makes sophisticated observations such as the differences between farmers and suburbanites ("A farmer likes dirt.  Suburbanites like to get rid if it") and describes people with a maturity beyond his years: "His skin was the color of strong coffee with skim milk-not cream-added."  Julian is a skilled magician who sends his new-found friends on puzzling journeys through Lewis Carroll.  I have taught middle-schoolers for many years, and have met only one who could even come close to writing this way-but never four at once.  Yet after a bit, that didn't matter.  I was so caught up in the masterful way that Konigsburg shifts the point of view and the setting that I really believed in these kids.  Just as Mrs. Olinski came to believe in each one that she chose for the academic team, I too came to believe in them as I journeyed with them through their memories and stories.
1755737
I would like to say that this novel is breathtaking in its simplicity, however, it is the complexity and depth of the characters that draws you in.  The relationship between the two main characters (and their families and culture) is arresting and beautifully drawn.  I especially appreciated how the story provided a glimpse into the world of women whose lives are often bound by traditions that our modern culture often dismisses.  With its solid writing and emotional depth, this book makes you feel what these women experience.  I left this book feeling as though I had known these women and through them, learned something about a culture that I previously knew little about.
4660785
Thanks so much to the author, R.T. Lowe, for providing a copy of this book to me for review. This in no way affected the content of my review.

Imagine if Harry Potter had never gone to Hogwarts, and instead is attending college in rainy Portland, playing football and attending frat parties, still unaware of his powers and his destiny. This will give you a glimpse of Felix, the main character in Felix Chronicles: Freshmen. But even though Freshmen is chock-full of pop culture references, including a nod to HP, Felix isn't Harry. And this book doesnt feel like a tired retelling. I was surprisingly entranced by Freshmen, finding myself thinking about the book whenever I wasn't reading it.

Before I go further, I do want to disclose that this is a self-published book, and at times it reads like one. I found a few typos and errors along the way, as well as some portions I felt could have been more polished or even removed. At some points it was too wordy for my taste, and some of the dialogue felt a little unrealistic. But unlike most self-pub review requests I receive, these downsides were few and the story was so interesting that it kept pulling me back in despite my reservations.

Felix is just a small town kid. Hes an eighteen-year-old football player, trying to escape the weight of a recent tragedy by going away to college. He wants to ignore everything, drink some booze, fantasize about some girls. But things are happening he cant ignore. He is the victim of attacks no one else can remember. There is something or someone in the tunnels under campus, and Felix is inexplicably lured there. And a strange school employee has a journal with contents that are sure to change Felixs life.

One of my favorite things about Freshmen is that its mystery unravels from many different viewpoints throughout the book. Our narrator, Felix, has the majority of chapters, of course. But interspersed throughout are accounts of events happening elsewhere, to others. These events (often befuddling or even terrifying) might seem unrelated at first, but as the book progresses, its so satisfying to see how everything begins to converge and come together.

The elements of secret rooms and tunnels in the school, along with ancient secret societies still active today, was another reason I was hooked on this book. The contemporary mood of modern college life is blended really well with the fantasy feeling that more is going on just under the surface, and when it finally bubbles to the top, you won't be able to put it down.

This isn't a light read, and some parts are genuinely creepy. There is a lot of violence, including detailed scenes from victims of a serial killer and some people being eaten alive, so if you're easily freaked out this might not be the best book for you. I had a little trouble sleeping after certain scenes.

Overall, I would recommend The Felix Chronicles: Freshmen to lovers of contemporary fantasy and creepy mystery. Despite the few errors, the story is so great that its worth looking past the surface.

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