Review: Goodnight June by Sarah Jio

Title: Goodnight June Author: Sarah Jio Narrator: Katherine Kellgren   Publisher/Date: Blackstone Audio, 05/27/14 Format: Audio, MP3

About the Book: (from publisher)

The New York Times best-selling author of Blackberry Winter imagines the inspiration for Goodnight Moon.

Goodnight Moon is an adored childhood classic, but its real origins are lost to history. In Goodnight June, Sarah Jio offers a suspenseful and heartfelt take on how the "great green room" might have come to be.

June Andersen is professionally successful, but her personal life is marred by unhappiness. Unexpectedly, she is called to settle her great-aunt Ruby's estate and determine the fate of Bluebird Books, the children's bookstore Ruby founded in the 1940s. Amid the store's papers, June stumbles upon letters between her great-aunt and the late Margaret Wise Brown - and steps into the pages of American literature.

About the Author:

Sarah Jio is the international, USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of THE VIOLETS OF MARCH (a Library Journal Best Book of 2011 and a USA Today bestseller), THE BUNGALOW, BLACKBERRY WINTER (an instant New York Times and USA Today bestseller, as well as an international bestseller), THE LAST CAMELLIA (a Kirkus Books Most Anticipated Book of 2012), MORNING GLORY, and GOODNIGHT JUNE (to be published in June 2014)--all from Penguin (Plume). To date, Sarah's novels are published in 24 countries, including Italy, France, Brazil, Turkey (where two of Sarah's books have become nationwide bestsellers), Slovenia, Russia, China, Norway, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Spain, and many others. A magazine writer and the former founding health and fitness blogger for Glamour magazine, Sarah has written thousands of articles and blog posts for national magazines including Redbook, O, The Oprah Magazine, Cooking Light, Glamour, SELF, Real Simple, Fitness, Marie Claire, Hallmark magazine, Seventeen, BRIDES, Health, Bon Appetit, Gourmet, The Seattle Times, Parents, Woman's Day, American Baby, Parenting, and many others. She has also appeared as a commentator on NPR's Morning Edition. Sarah recently finished her seventh novel and is at work on her next. She lives in Seattle and is the mother of three young sons.

About the Narrator: 

Katherine Kellgren has recorded over seventy-five audiobooks, including winners of the Audie Award, the American Library Association's Odyssey Honor, the Earphones Award, the Publishers Weekly Listen Up Award, and ForeWord Magazine's Audiobook of the Year. She was named one of AudioFile Magazine's Best Voices of the Year for 2008, and in 2009 received the Audie Award for Best Solo Narration - Female. Katherine has appeared onstage in London and New York, and her recent work includes the role of Laura in a regional production of The Glass Menagerie. She has recorded numerous plays and dramatizations of novels for the radio, including winners of the Peabody Award.

My Review:  I loved the idea that the letters between two friends influenced the development of Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown.  What book lover can’t recite the entire book, Goodnight Moon!  I also found the journey the letters took June on very interesting and the ending, simply perfect and surprising.  The characters in Goodnight June by Sarah Jio were are well developed.  I felt like I could really understand their thoughts.   I felt that the book store itself was a character and I simply fell in love with this bookstore and what it meant to some many.   A real feeling of older, simpler times.  The story line and June’s relationship developed a little faster than seemed realistic, it was all tied up in a neat little bow very quickly.  This did not distract from my enjoyment of Goodnight June by Sarah Jio, but did stand out to me.   I love bookstores and the Seattle area, both of which were very well described.  The story is told between dual time periods.  The transition between time periods was very well written and smooth.

I received this review book as an audio, narrated by Katherine Kellgren.   I found the narration easy to listen to and enjoyable.   I would have preferred a little more distinction between the male and female voices. 

My Rating: 3.5 (liked it) - I would recommend Goodnight June to anyone looking for a light, enjoyable read.

My Rating Scale: 1 – didn’t like it; 2 – it was ok; 3 – liked it; 4 – really liked it; 5 – it was amazing

Happy Reading!

**Disclosure – Audio Copy of Goodnight June by Sarah Jio was received from Blackstone Audio in exchange for a fair review.

Library Loot: February 15th, 2014

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Linda from Silly Little Mischief that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries.

I was home sick a few days this week, so was able to finish one book!   I read Tapestry of Fortunes by Elizabeth Berg.  A very quick read, but enjoyable.   I am looking forward to starting The Whole Golden World by Kristina Riggle next.

New Loot this week from the White Bear Lake Public Library:

1.  Stella Bain by Anita Shreve (Audio Book)

2.  The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure (Audio Book)

3.  The Whole Golden World by Kristina Riggle

4.  Red Hill by James McGuire

5. The Last Winter of Dani Lancing by P. D. Viner

6.  The Tilted World by Tom Franklin & Beth Ann Fennelly

7.  Wild by Cheryl Strayed

 

Leftover Loot:

1.  Mom & Me & Mom by Maya Angelou (Audio Book)

2.  Call The Midwife by Jennifer Worth (Audio Book)

This week Claire from The Captive Reader is hosting Library Loot. Stop by to check out what treasures others have found at their local libraries!

Happy Reading!!

Books & Babble–2014 Reading Schedule

 

Do you belong to a book club???  Book Clubs are the best.  They give you an opportunity to discover new authors and books you would not have otherwise read.  Add in the opportunity to talk about books and life with people you enjoy, what could be better???   I have been working to simplify my life in 2014 by reducing the number of things I am involved in, the Books and Babble book club will always remain! 

In simplifying my life, I am also looking at reducing expenses.  Book club is very inexpensive entertainment.  Once a year, I host the club so I do incur expenses that month to cook for the group.    Otherwise, the rest of the year is nearly free!   Once the reading schedule it out, I reserve as many books as I can at the library.  It is rare that I  actually purchase a book.   As for entertainment, I could pay to go to a movie or curl up and read a book for free!   The obvious answer for me is to read with a nice cup of tea.  Enjoying the simple things in life.

I am sharing with you our reading schedule for 2014 in hopes that you too will discover a book you would not have picked up otherwise!! 

January	The Forgotten Garden – Kate Morton
February	Tapestry of Fortunes by Elizabeth Berg – 240 pages
March	Mom & Me & Mom by Maya Angelou, Autobiography – 224 pages
April	Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed – 315 pages
May	Ordinary Grace: A Novel – William Kent Krueger – 320 pages
June	The Husbands Secret Liane Moriarty 394 pages
July	**Book Share/Summer Get Together – Review of Top Books **
August	Orphan Train Christina Baker Kline 304 pgs
September	Someday, Someday, Maybe – Lauren Graham – 344 pages
October	Call the Midwife Volume 1 by Jennifer Worth
November	Me Before You – Jojo Moyes – 400 pages
December	No Book Group – HAPPY HOLIDAYS
January, 2015	The Art Forger B.A. Shapiro 368 pages

Happy Reading!!!

Book Review: Prime of Life by P. D. Bekendam

Title: Prime of Life Author:  P. D. Bekendam(Author Website) Publisher: Worthy Publishing (February 4, 2014) Pages: 272 pages Format: Advance Copy provided as part of First Look Program from Worthy Publishing

About the Book: (from publisher)

Ben used to be a cardiothoracic surgeon before he suddenly abandoned his career and became a janitor at a retirement facility. Now, other than dealing with minor problems such as an unhealthy obsession with prime numbers, an inept boss, and a feud between two cantankerous retirees, he lives a relatively stress-free life. There is even hope for romance when an attractive podiatrist shows an interest in him.

But it is not long before his past catches up with him and his carefully protected world begins to unravel. He is forced to face deep issues about life, love, and God head-on, rather than hide behind his cleaning cart.

About the Author:

Author and practicing eye surgeon, Dr. Bekendam is happily married and the proud father of two boys. Proceeds from his writing go to help fund his activities in developing countries as he works to bring cataract surgery to the needlessly blind. Prime of Life is his debut novel.

My Review:  I received Prime of Life to review as part of the First Look Program at Worthy Publishing.  Prime of Life is a enjoyable read with very memorable characters.   The setting of this story is in California at the Heritage Garden retirement home.   Being that my elderly father in law lives with us in our home, the characters and their quirks really hit home for me.    I could related to many of the characters and found them very endearing.   Knowing many people on the autism spectrum, I found the main character, Ben very interesting with his various quirks related to OCD type behaviors and thoughts. 

The story moves along at a nice pace and has a few turns through out the story.   Once you connect with the characters, it is hard to put the book down.  You want to know what they will do next and what their fate will be.  Prime of Life is a story of second chances.  It reminds the reader how sometimes even when we are trying to avoid our past, there is a power higher than us that has a plan for us.   It is up to us to embrace that the plan and follow the path to our future or life purpose.

My Rating: 4 – I would recommend Prime of Life by P. D. Bekendam.  The characters are humorous, endearing and stay with you after reading the book.  Prime of Life is a humorous, enjoyable read.   A nice way to spend a Minnesota winter evening, a very heartwarming story.

My Rating Scale: 1 – didn’t like it; 2 – it was ok; 3 – liked it; 4 – really liked it; 5 – it was amazing

Happy Reading!

**Disclosure – Copy of PR1ME of Life by P. D. Bekendam was received from Worthy Publishing in exchange for a fair review as part of their First Look program.

Library Loot: January 25th, 2014

     Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Linda from Silly Little Mischief that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries.

   It has been ages since I have been to the library.  Today, hubby and I got back to our normal routine of stopping by the library each Saturday.   I love the library and have so missed our weekly visits.   Hopefully getting back into routine will have me reading more again.  

New Loot this week from the White Bear Lake Public Library:

1.  The 39 Clues #4 – Beyond the Grave by Jude Watson.  (Tommy’s Book)

2.  Thumbsucker by Walter Kirn  (Amazon Rating = 4)

3.  What Color is Monday?  How Autism Changed one Family for the Better by Carrie Cariello  (Amazon Rating = 5)

4.  Minimalist Parenting: Enjoy Modern Family Life More by Doing Less by Christine Koh and Asha Dornfest   (Amazon Rating = 4.5  )

5.  Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed -  (Amazon Rating = 4)

6.  The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris (Amazon Rating = 3.5)

7.  Utne Reader – Nov-Dec 2013 (love to have a mag to flip through in the evening)

8.  O Magazine – January 2014 (in the magazine mood lately)

Leftover Loot:

1.  Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman (Amazon Rating = 3.5)

2.  The Secrets of Happy Families – Improve Your Mornings, Rethink Family Dinner, Fight Smarter, Go Out and Play and Much More by Bruce Feiler

3.  Enough Already! by Peter Walsh

4.  The Simple Living Handbook by Lorilee Lippincott

This week Linda from Silly Little Mischief is hosting Library Loot. Stop by to check out what treasures others have found at their local libraries!

Happy Reading!!

Book Review: Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

Title:  Life After Life Author:  Kate Atkinson (Author Website) Publisher: Reagan Arthur Books; First Edition edition (April 2, 2013) Pages: 544 Format: Advance Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.com

About the Book: (from publisher)

What if you could live again and again, until you got it right?

On a cold and snowy night in 1910, Ursula Todd is born to an English banker and his wife. She dies before she can draw her first breath. On that same cold and snowy night, Ursula Todd is born, lets out a lusty wail, and embarks upon a life that will be, to say the least, unusual. For as she grows, she also dies, repeatedly, in a variety of ways, while the young century marches on towards its second cataclysmic world war.

Does Ursula's apparently infinite number of lives give her the power to save the world from its inevitable destiny? And if she can -- will she?

Wildly inventive, darkly comic, startlingly poignant -- this is Kate Atkinson at her absolute best.

About the Author:

Kate Atkinson was born in York and now lives in Edinburgh. Her first novel, Behind the Scenes at the Museum, won the Whitbread Book of the Year Award and has been a critically acclaimed international bestselling author ever since. She is the author of a collection of short stories, Not the End of the World, and of the critically acclaimed novels Human Croquet, Emotionally Weird, Case Histories, and One Good Turn. Case Histories introduced her readers to Jackson Brodie, former police inspector turned private investigator, and won the Saltire Book of the Year Award and the Prix Westminster. When Will There Be Good News? was voted Richard & Judy Book Best Read of the Year. After Case Histories and One Good Turn, it was her third novel to feature the former private detective Jackson Brodie, who also made a welcome return in Started Early, Took My Dog. Kate was awarded an MBE in the Queen's 2011 Birthday Honours, for services to literature.

Related Media:  Book Trailer

 

My Review:  I believe this is the first book by Kate Atkinson that I have read.  I must say her writing was outstanding.  I love the concept/ story line of Life After Life.  The whole idea of being able to relive your life with a bit of hind sight is intriguing.  What might you do differently if you would have known what you now know??

Life After Life takes place between 1910 and 1960.  Atkinson superbly portrays this era in history  both in London and Germany.   The main character Ursula was very well developed as were the lesser characters in Life After Life by Kate Atkinson.   I had a bit of difficulty connecting to Ursula as each “new” Ursula was a a little different than the previous one due that Ursula’s past experiences.  This left me with a bit of confusion and a disjointed feeling initially.  But once I got a feel for this I saw how each life added another layer to the story. 

As a social worker I was fascinated by Ursula’s story and the impact a small change or decision would make of the final outcome of her life.  It is amazing how a even a small change can rewrite history.  We have so many choices in life and you never really know how a different choice may impact your life. While in life we may experience hind sight, we don’t get the chance to use that gained knowledge to change our future.   Would be interesting if we could. 

Kate Atkinson crafts her story in such a manner that the reader truly does experience that feeling of déjà vu when reading Life After Life.   This ability to provide the reader with that experience shows the true writing talent of Kate Atkinson.  But this is where I might delineate from my fellow book bloggers…I found the end of one of Ursula’s life to the next very disheartening.  Once I would start reading again and would be at a similar place and the story took a different path I found this very disjointed.   I am a casual reader at heart and like a nice flow to the story.   While Life After Life is amazingly written, I really missed the continuous flow of the story.  In my opinion, Life After Life had many starts and ends within the telling of the story that decreased my enjoyment of getting lost in the story.  This in part could have been due to the fact that I read bits of the story at a time due to my busy schedule and that might have taken away from my overall experience of the book. I think Life After Life by Kate Atkinson is best read in large chucks of time.

My Rating: 4 – I would recommend Life After Life by Kate Atkinson as the characters and writing are amazing and the concept of the story fresh and unique.  I really enjoyed the attention made to the details of the historical significance of the setting.   Life After Life would make for a great book group discussion. 

My Rating Scale: 1 – didn’t like it; 2 – it was ok; 3 – liked it; 4 – really liked it; 5 – it was amazing

Other Bloggers Reviews :

Bookfan

The Bookstop

Book Magnet

Kevin From Canada 

 

Happy Reading!

**Disclosure – Advance copy of Life After Life by Kate Atkinson received from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Book Review: The Aviator’s Wife by Melanie Benjamin

Title: The Aviator’s Wife (author Website) Author: Melanie Benjamin Publisher: Delacorte Press (January 15, 2013) Pages: 416 Format: Advance Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.com

About the Book: (from publisher)

For much of her life, Anne Morrow, the shy daughter of the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, has stood in the shadows of those around her, including her millionaire father and vibrant older sister, who often steals the spotlight. Then Anne, a college senior with hidden literary aspirations, travels to Mexico City to spend Christmas with her family. There she meets Colonel Charles Lindbergh, fresh off his celebrated 1927 solo flight across the Atlantic. Enthralled by Charles's assurance and fame, Anne is certain the celebrated aviator has scarcely noticed her. But she is wrong.

Charles sees in Anne a kindred spirit, a fellow adventurer, and her world will be changed forever. The two marry in a headline-making wedding. Hounded by adoring crowds and hunted by an insatiable press, Charles shields himself and his new bride from prying eyes, leaving Anne to feel her life falling back into the shadows. In the years that follow, despite her own major achievements-she becomes the first licensed female glider pilot in the United States-Anne is viewed merely as the aviator's wife. The fairy-tale life she once longed for will bring heartbreak and hardships, ultimately pushing her to reconcile her need for love and her desire for independence, and to embrace, at last, life's infinite possibilities for change and happiness.

Drawing on the rich history of the twentieth century-from the late twenties to the mid-sixties-and featuring cameos from such notable characters as Joseph Kennedy and Amelia Earhart, The Aviator's Wife is a vividly imagined novel of a complicated marriage-revealing both its dizzying highs and its devastating lows. With stunning power and grace, Melanie Benjamin provides new insight into what made this remarkable relationship endure.

About the Author: Melanie Benjamin was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. While attending Indiana University—Purdue University at Indianapolis, Melanie performed in many community theater productions before meeting her husband, moving to the Chicago area and raising two sons. Writing was always beckoning, however, and soon she began writing for local magazines and newspapers before venturing into her first love, fiction. As Melanie Hauser, she published two contemporary novels. By incorporating her passion for history and biography, Melanie, now writing as Melanie Benjamin, has finally found her niche writing historical fiction, concentrating on the "stories behind the stories." ALICE I HAVE BEEN is her first historical novel; THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MRS. TOM THUMB her second. She and her family still live in the Chicago area; when she's not writing, she's gardening, taking long walks, rooting for the Cubs— And reading, of course. You can also follow Melanie Benjamin on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

Setting:  The Aviator’s Wife portrays the life of Anne Morrow Lindbergh from December 1927 when she met Charles Lindbergh in Mexico City until Charles Lindbergh’s death in August, 1974.   The 1920’s and 30’s were an interesting time in history, to give this story a bit of perspective, women received the right to vote on August 18, 1920 and World War II occurred from 1939 to 1945.

Anne Morrow – Lindbergh

Anne Spencer Morrow  - June 22, 1906 – February 7, 2001	In 1930, Anne was the first woman to earn a first-class Glider pilot’s license.	Anne Spencer Morrow and Charles Lindbergh were married on May 27, 1929
Anne Morrow Lindbergh with firstborn son, Charles Lindbergh, Jr. This baby was kidnapped on March 1, 1932.	.Anne Morrow Lindbergh with three of her children Reeve, Ansy and Scott in 1950.	Anne and Charles Lindbergh in 1968

My Review:  I am quickly becoming a huge fan of historical fiction.  My youngest son, recently did a report in school on Charles Lindbergh, so I was excited to have the opportunity to read The Aviator’s Wife by Melanie Benjamin.  In The Aviator’s Wife, the author tells the story of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, wife of the ever famous Charles Lindbergh.   Anne and Charles met after Charles’ successful solo non-stop flight from New York to Paris in his monoplane, The Spirit of St Louis.   The two met at the home of Anne’s father, while he was the Ambassador to Mexico, in December 1927.  

The 1930’s was a time in history in which women were not as independent as today.  Women had just received the right to vote in August, 1920.   Anne was first known as the Ambassador’s daughter to later become the Aviator’s Wife, which was very appropriate for the time.  Anne was a college graduate with her own opinions and much more independent than she realized.   In her own rights, Anne  was the first woman to earn a first-class pilot’s license.   I loved the sense of adventure and bravery she showed.   Anne learned to fly, navigate, communicate and be a great partner to her husband in the air.  As many women do, Anne went through events and stages of life that changed her and drove her in her pursuit of happiness. 

In many ways her marriage to Charles was very one sided.   Charles was a very guarded man when it came to his childhood and emotions.  He is not portrayed in The Aviator’s Wife as a loving husband and father.   Melanie Benjamin, portrays Anne’s devastating heartbreak of losing her first born son, Charles Lindbergh, Jr. with such raw emotion.   The Lindbergh baby was kidnapped and murdered in 1932.   The author makes the reader truly feel the heartbreak of this young mother and her struggle to be able to grieve her baby.   Anne goes on to have 5 more children and essentially raises them herself.   Her husband, Charles is gone most of the time and she takes care of the children and household alone.   I loved Anne Morrow Lindbergh, her strength, dedication, and perseverance. 

The Aviator’s Wife is very interesting and kept me reading.   I love how  Anne Morrow Lindbergh eventually finds her own voice and life.  The marriage of Charles and Anne was not without it’s problems,  devastating tragedy and hurtful betrayals but through it all Anne decides in the end she does not regret her marriage to her hero.   I feel The Aviator’s Wife is a honest portrayal of a very public marriage and the woman behind the famous man.  

My Rating: 4    The Aviator’s Wife by Melanie Benjamin will be greatly appreciated by fans of historical fiction and readers who enjoys stories of strong, enduring women.  If you enjoyed The Paris Wife by Paula McLain you will also enjoy The Aviator’s Wife by Melanie Benjamin.  While I didn’t lose many hours of sleep to complete this book, I did neglect a fair amount of household chores to read! 

My Rating Scale: 1 – didn’t like it; 2 – it was ok; 3 – liked it; 4 – really liked it; 5 – it was amazing

Other Bloggers Reviews :

As the Crowe Flies (And Reads!)

The Book Club Cheerleader

BookNAround

Reviews from the Heart

A Bookish Affair

A Casual Reader’s Blog 

 

 

Happy Reading!

**Disclosure – Advance copy of The Aviator’s Wife by Melanie Benjamin received from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.