The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


My first read of Sherman Alexie's novels - and a pick for One Maryland, One Book for 2011 is a 100% uplifting read about 14 year old Junior, who lives on the bleak Spokane rez with his alcoholic parents and an older sister who never leaves the basement. Junior, because of his size and health problems, against all odds, somehow still maintains hope and this hope spurns him on to leave his own school to attend an all white high school inconveniently located 22 miles away in a farming community. Junior's "friends" on the rez, shun and bully him even further for leaving, and even his best main man, Rowdy, is out to maim him on the basketball court.

". . . I realized that, sure, Indians were drunk and sad and displaced and crazy and mean, but dang, we knew how to laugh. When it comes to death, we know that laughter and tears are pretty much the same thing."

Although terrible, tragic situations arise, Alexie gets his point across with a sense of humor and hilarious cartoons. Reading it after me is my 15 year old son, who was surprised by how much he enjoyed it. Don't let the blunt language and the real thoughts of a teen boy put you off - this book is a definite winner.

To deepen your reading and knowledge of Sherman Alexie, look more into his background and see the correlation between his life and his novels.



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The Emperor of Nihon-Ja

The Emperor of Nihon-Ja by John Flanagan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


One of my all time favs - The Ranger's Apprentice series crosses almost all ages - juvenile, teen, and adult readers. Again, my 15 year old and I fought over who was going to read it first. Hehehhh, I won! A nice, hefty size, the 10th and last book in the series finishes the story off nicely with several of our favorite characters getting together. Horace is visiting the land of Nihon-Ja, where he and the Emperor develop a close friendship. When the Emperor becomes threatened, Horace extends his stay and promises to protect his mentor - even at the risk of losing his life. Old and fast friends, Rangers Will & Halt, Diplomat Alyss, and Princess Evelyn and a boatload of Scandians travel across the many miles to assist their friend. Lots of exciting military battles and humor liven things up.



Can't wait until movies are made from the Ranger's Apprentice series.



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Finally a Bride

Finally a Bride by Vickie McDonough

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


"Jack" Davis, reporter for the Lookout Ledger, is willing to go to any length to get her story. Didn't she climb up on the mayor's roof in hopes of nabbing the mayor's news? When Noah Jeffers rolls into town, Jack feels as though the new pastor is trying to hide something and for the life of her, she can't put her finger on why he looks so familiar. Unknown to Jack, Noah is biding his time, making restitution for the trouble he caused years ago, but slowly falling in love with the ornery Jack.

Humorous at times, this piece if fiction tells the story of two people trying to put their shame filled past lives back in order by answering to a higher calling.



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Fallen Angels

Gritty. Real. Explicit. Heartrendingly Sad. Terrifying. War.

Richie Perry, a 17 year old Harlem graduate, can't afford college nor has any good job prospects - so he enlists in the Army hearing that the war in Vietnam is ending soon. Although his relationship with his Mom is not good, Perry hates to leave his kid brother. When he arrives in Nam he soon joins a ragtag group of young men, most under the age of 20. At first the heat, bugs, and the monotony set in, then as the skirmishes and deployment begin, things get hot and heavy. Casualties mount, including those in his squad - good men who were in the wrong place, wrong time. Troops hurt and maim, by accident, other squads. Fear is a constant, heavy companion and Perry questions the war and himself. Overriding it all is the question - will he and his buddies make it back to the "world?"


Myers lays Perry thoughts and fears down so easily that it's hard to read without wincing. You can't put down the book, but the pain, confusion, and terror is right there in your face. I had to come up for air every once in awhile and think on the words I just read.....

It is said that in war, no one wins...

On the list of banned books due to "vulgar language, sexual explicitness, or violent imagery that is gratuitously employed."

On Hummingbird Wings

On Hummingbird Wings: A Novel by Lauraine Snelling

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


What else is there to do when your only sister calls saying your mother is dying and you discover your high paying, prestigious job in New York City is lost? Just what Gillian does, rethinks her life and heads home, in this case to California to try and pry her once vibrant, healthy mother out of bed. As Gillian tries to adapt herself to living back in her childhood home, she meets an interesting, handsome man several doors down who has also moved back home to care for his ailing father. Coincidence or fate? Gillian is not so sure she wants to return to NYC and her once hectic, lonely lifestyle.

This novel fits today's lifestyle and economy, where many people are losing their jobs, rethinking their lives and job paths, making difficult decisions, and moving in and caring for aging parents.



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Angel Sister

Angel Sister: A Novel by Ann H. Gabhart

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Merritts live in Rosey Corner, a little town in Kentucky during the Great Depression - a time of great loss. Kate Merritt, the middle daughter of Victor and Nadine, is 14, wise and sensible, but is sensitive to the fact that her father has nightmares from World War I and drinks too much. A huge chasm has developed between him and her steady, hardworking mother. Kate also sees the rift between both of her grandfathers - they are stern town leaders who hold grudges, insist on being heard, and can not be pleased. When Kate finds an orphaned little girl, named Lorena Birdsong, abandoned on the church steps, she wants to save and adopt her as her own sister - but the grandfathers have other plans.

A wonderful, heartwarming and inspirational book with great depth that will uplift you. By the end of the book, you'll wish you didn't have to say goodbye to Kate and her family.



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Folly Beach

Folly Beach by Dorothea Benton Frank

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I admit that I'm a big fan of Dorothea Benton Frank and her lowcountry novels. I love the way her characters talk off the cuff and are a bit zany and this book, even though it begins with a tragic suicide, didn't take long to get me giggling because of the main character's thoughts and antics. This novel is a bit different than her others - interwoven throughout the book is a one woman play featuring DuBose and Dorothy Heyward of Porgy & Bess fame.

Cate Cooper, in the days following her husband, Addison's suicide, is more relieved than saddened. Throw in anger because he left her almost penniless - within hours of the funeral, repo men appear to claim most of her furniture and home. To worsen matters, Cate finds that Addison had been having more than one affair. The only answer is to pack what little she has left and head south to her beloved Aunt Daisy and Folly Beach. When Cate settles into the small, comfy Porgy House her aunt owns, will the spirits of DuBose and Dorothy also console her?





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A Turn in the Road

A Turn in the Road by Debbie Macomber

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Debbie Macomber always writes a satisfying novel - interesting characters abound in her books. In this one, 3 generations of women hit the roads from Washington state to Florida for a 50th high school reunion, but make many a side-trip along the way and meet several, very interesting men. Along the 3,000 mile journey, antagonism turns into understanding and life altering decisions are made.

I enjoyed the middle aged character of Bethanne and the very difficult decision she had to make - whether to return to her repentant ex-husband, Grant, or to the uncertainty of the new love of her life that has caught her by surprise on a Harley.



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The Help

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I'm afraid my review is not going to do justice to this wonderful novel. I had heard a lot of good things written about The Help by Kathryn Stockett and couldn't wait to read it for myself.

The novel focuses on three women, Aibilene, Minnie, and Skeeter trying to live their very different lives in the turbulent 1960s in Jackson, Mississippi. Skeeter who wants to be more than an adornment for a husband, has just graduated from college and wishes to be a writer. Minnie and Aibilene, both maids, work for Skeeter's best friends. The three women form a unlikely alliance, in the the midst of fear and oppression, in hopes of changing Jackson.

I can't wait to see the movie and I hope it does the book justice.



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