Sorry I've been a little lazy about posting reviews lately ... I needed a break from constant laptop work during the quarantine. I read this book right at the start of summer, and what a way to kick off my favorite reading season. This one is incredible.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars Perfect for summer, this delicate story weaves little savory bits of nature and beauty in with a slow, sad, coming-of-age element, intricately ushering readers through the investigation of the death of the handsome local bachelor, Chase Andrews. I've added this to my "New Loves" collection because the character development is so sweet and intelligent, but the possible murder mystery kept me glued to the book. Kya Clark, known as the Marsh Girl in Barkley Cove, North Carolina, is brought up in the marshlands of the coast in a poverty-stricken home filled with abuse and loneliness. Kya eventually outlasts everyone in her family, and her resilience keeps her company along with the seagulls and other parts of the marsh that wrap her in comfort. Two different men take an interest in her wild, untamed beauty, and she navigates her blossoming changes into adulthood with naivete and tenderness, opening up her heart to love and belonging only to have it drowned in the sea again and again. The locals treat Kya like an outcast and a creature to fear in the night. Their fears turn into accusations when Chase Andrews turns up dead. I love how Delia Owens wrote about the marsh and how Kya's story shapes her into a woman who becomes strong, intelligent, and an expert in her own surroundings. She takes her pain and suffering and makes something new and beautiful. The ENDING!! It made my head shriek but my heart sigh. It's just the absolute best book. View all my reviews
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Crushing the Red Flowers by Jennifer Voigt Kaplan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars This is a solid middle grade historical fiction, but I do feel like there are better options. This book has unique perspective from the lives of two German boys living among the growing anti-Semitism that led to Kristallnacht and eventually the Holocaust. Emil is a funny, tubby kid that just likes to explore and get dirty in mud puddles, trying hard to ignore the growing stress among his Jewish family. The other, Friedrich, is a member of the Hitler Youth. Friedrich questions his cruel leader and the group's drastic changes from what started as fun scouting experiences to hate-filled speeches and brutal attacks against Jews. The boys eventually cross paths and have to determine what truths they really believe in. "The Night of Broken Glass" is a peak moment in the book, and it was chilling to read how the characters experienced this awful event. The main issue I have with this book is that the boys' voices read much younger and felt more childish than what a middle grade book deserves. View all my reviews
Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All by Laura Ruby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars Ruby's young adult historical fiction novel takes readers on a swirling, sweeping flight in and out of various decades, both for the living and the dead. I was a little reluctant to read this because I didn't care for Bone Gap at all with it's heavy-handed magical realism, but this one was more supernatural and bizarre in a way that has some boundaries and eventually an explanation. Frankie, her audacious little sister, Toni, and their big brother Vito have spent much of their childhood living in an orphanage getting Sunday visits from their Father who "temporarily" put them there until he could get back on his feet after riding the wave of the Great Depression. On the eve of WWII, Vito ships off to serve his country along with other boys from the orphanage including Frankie's first love, Sam. As some of the nuns enact brutal punishments on the orphans, Frankie just wants to be free even though she's not sure exactly what that means for her. The entire story is told through the "not-eyes" of ghost, Pearl, who floats aimlessly in and out of people's lives, yearning to find her purpose and what really caused her death in 1918. There are so many sad and eerie secrets revealed in all of the characters' lives that it's clear the author has done a lot of research. The murky line between fact and fiction in this book is blurred in a beautiful, scary, and haunting way. Some of Pearls' chapters in the beginning felt muddled and clunky, but it all came together in the end. This doesn't mean there's necessarily a happy or tidy ending, but there is resolution. I like how one of Ruby's many themes is about women's voracity for creativity, independence, and freedom. No matter what that freedom looks like to each woman, it is her own choice, right, and journey to take. View all my reviews
I can't think of a more fitting title for 9 days of COVID-19 quarantine. I'm fortunate enough to have my husband, two kids, and Hoagie home with me, but if anyone's feeling lonely, I'm always up for chatting about books. Message me on the Gram or Facebook.
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
My rating: 3 of 5 stars It's me not you. I feel bad that I'm not crazy about this book. It's just a book with no feelings, yet I want to prop it up and just can't. The writing is beautiful and sets the scene of Alaska's untamed, dangerous, and addicting landscape. There's really nothing wrong with the book. I think part of my issue was that I just didn't have a lot of time and was reading it in such small doses, that I lost my connection with it. I couldn't absorb the setting and characters in the way they deserved. Leni's father, Ernt, comes home from his time as a POW in the Vietnam War, and fights demons that manifest in violence with his family. He's irrational and impulsive and packs the family up to head to Alaska to fend for themselves while retreating from the world. Isolated and unprepared, Ernt forges ahead, quickly making enemies. Leni finds comfort in her newly learned independence and the strength of the local people who show her kindness and compassion. Her coming-of-age arc also includes her mother, Cora, who is the main target of Ernt's rage. Leni finds her first love and a tragic end amidst the formidable allure of the Alaskan backdrop. Kristin Hannah's book paints a raw and emotional picture of domestic violence and the way in which it festers and infects all those involved. View all my reviews Prologue
I promised the girls we would go do something special together this weekend, and we settled on glow bowling. I ended up getting a mild stomach virus on Friday and spent the evening curled up in the fetal position on the couch with cramps. I had booked a lane for Saturday evening and knew they would be really disappointed if we didn't go. So I felt mostly better Saturday afternoon and decided to chance it. I packed a trusty box of Immodium and got through the evening feeling relieved that if I crapped my pants, at least the place was dark, and I could slink out of there without anyone knowing. I'm happy to report that I walked out with clean clothes and a memory of a fun night unmarred by the stomach bug's vengeance.
Turning Pages
Rocky Springs is located in Lancaster on Millport Road. In addition to bowling lanes, they have laser tag and an arcade. They also have a restaurant and bar called Red Pin Bar & Grill. I had drinks there before with friends but didn't try the food. It's a nice, small restaurant and much nicer than what you would normally expect for a bowling alley.
They have glow bowling every weekend evening from 4pm to close. The girls loved the atmosphere. They have giant TV screens with music videos playing and loud music thumping through the building. My youngest was baffled by the big hair in the 80s music videos. You can have food delivered directly to your lane, but we didn't get anything this time. This place is clean and had a steady stream of people coming in to enjoy a fun night out. This is a perfect family fun night or a different kind of place to hang with friends for some drinks and laughs.
I can't think of anything glowing without immediately thinking of both the historical fiction YA book, Glow, and the nonfiction Radium Girls that follows below. I enjoyed both of these books so much and couldn't stop thinking about the brave women who worked for these companies who cared nothing for their well-being. Company owners were presented with evidence time and time again of the harm that radium was causing their employees, and they choose to do nothing except cover it up and continue to deceive their workers and the public. It's a shameful time in history but one full of lessons and the courageous bravery of so many women who stood up to save those that followed in their footsteps.
Glow by Megan E. Bryant
My rating: 5 of 5 stars Glow made me so interested to learn more about the Radium Girls who were exposed to toxic amounts of radium while painting watch dials in a factory. The horrific ways these women died and the disgusting, shameful way the radium companies tried to hide the dangers by blaming the women’s health problems on syphillis is incredibly sad. This historical fiction book did exactly what it set it to do by sucking me in and making me want to learn more. I appreciated the author’s note at the end as well. View all my reviews
The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars The horrifying story of the women who worked in the radium dial factories captivated me from page one. These women were told that everything was safe. They continued painting watch dials with radium paint, twirling the bristles in their mouths, and went home each night with the luminous material shining in their hair and on their clothing and bodies. They were repeatedly lied to and the dangers of radium were concealed as more and more women complained of aches and pains, loose teeth, and rotting jawbones. Even as doctors, dentists, and lawyers began to fight for these women, the radium companies still did not admit their wrongs or ever offer help as a sense of humane obligation. The radium girls lived in constant agony - miscarriages, tumors, amputations, etc. - but still they fought the companies and the radium eating holes in their bones. Many women died with no knowledge of what caused their gruesome suffering, and families were told it was caused by STDs or women's hysteria. Just as a reader, I was endlessly frustrated with the years of litigation and legal technicalities so I can't even begin to imagine what these families suffered as they watched their mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters wither away with no one taking responsibility for their poisoning. Highly recommend. View all my reviews Prologue
Ahhh New Orleans, how I love you. This was my second time visiting this city, and it's just as glorious as I remember. Is the partying and rows of churning, syrupy drink mixers all that NOLA has to offer? Hell to the N.O. Stumbling down Bourbon is hilarious and a rite of passage for first-timers but there is so much more to this intoxicating, culture and history-rich place. Absolutely do Bourbon but venture beyond if you have the time. Both of my trips here were short, and I couldn't see nearly as much as I wanted. I admit I spent more time on the party street than I probably needed to, but with that said, I still got a little beyond the Bourbon black hole.
Menu Pages: Eats and Drinks
If I were stranded on a desert island and could only bring one thing to drink, it would be this frozen cup of heaven and not water. Erin Rose always has friendly bartenders, terrible bathrooms where your knees scrape the door as you squat over the filthy toilet, and a collection of bizarre bar decorations that will keep you laughing and entertained for hours.
Molly's at the Market [French Quarter]
Molly's also has the frozen Irish coffee nectar of the gods and is basically a larger version of Erin Rose. We loved Molly's because they had tables and a little more room to sit with a group. They also have a few stools under an open window that looks out on Decatur and is a perfect spot to people watch, make friends, and take in the NOLA vibe.
Central Grocery [French Quarter]
The muffuletta is a thing to behold. We've eaten this at other places but no one does it like Central Grocery. This sandwich is a big, round beast filled with sliced meats and an olive spread. I don't even like olives. Why would I try this? The feel of this tiny grocery store packed with people waiting in line made me forget my hatred of those little green ovals. I love the crowded lunch counter set-up in the back of the store and eating the muffuletta in-house is part of the appeal.
Cafe du Monde [French Quarter]
Everyone goes nuts for this place because of the beignets, but they're really just ok. It's a fried, puffy donut with powdered sugar on it. We tried them, and they were fine but nothing I'd rave about. The nice thing about Cafe du Monde is that it's open 24 hours and has a really big outdoor eating area.
Napoleon House [French Quarter]
Our first trip to New Orleans was in July, and we were not prepared for the heat. It's the kind of thick heat that makes you sweat through your clothes as soon as you step outside. We stopped at the Napoleon House to find some air conditioning and ended up loving their delicious Pimm's Cup. It's a gin-based liqueur drink with a cucumber garnish, and it's very refreshing. The historical elements of this place are worth taking in.
Turning Pages: Places to Check Out
Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
Located in the Garden District, this cemetery is one of the few that allows visitors in without a tour guide. As of September 2019, the cemetery has been closed, and the sign on the gate says it's a temporary closure for maintenance, but I wouldn't be surprised if they start requiring tour guides for this location as well. I was lucky to see this on my first trip and found it incredibly fascinating. The dead are revered in above ground tombs. Many are decorated with beads and other Big Easy style decorations. I found myself wandering around in here for so long, taking pictures, and taking it all in that I ended up having a little bit of heat stroke. We took the trolley here on a $3 day pass and just walked right in and strolled around. It's a beautiful representation of the culture, history, vibrant style, and haunting richness of New Orleans as a whole. New Orleans is a feeling, and while it may sound strange, I felt it the most in this place.
New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum [French Quarter]
We went here mainly because it was pouring, and we needed a place to get out of the rain. This could be fun with kids but if you're going as a couple, I'd probably advise you to skip it and spend your money elsewhere. We paid around $14 for entry and spent maybe ten minutes walking through the rooms. It was interesting to learn about the history of voodoo, but this is clearly a tourist trap. Everything was dank, dark, and dusty. With that said, I would feel like I missed something without some kind of intro to the history of voodoo. I always find something to enjoy about each place we visit so my takeaway here is that they surprisingly allow you to take pictures, and they are pretty cool to look back at. It was like a musty, old art installation from another era.
Bourbon Street [French Quarter]
Bourbon is a blur of weirdness, nutty people-watching, endless bars, and general mayhem. It's fun to walk through at all times day and night with varying, bizarre results. We saw a naked guy getting arrested one night (he somehow managed to keep his black dress socks on) and then one block later saw a dude dressed as Homer Simpson plopped on top of a trash can. Further toward Frenchmen, we saw an impromptu dance party with one lone participant who stopped four-way traffic to bust it out for a good 8 minutes. Everyone just patiently let him do his thing and then carried on after he tired out. It's hilarious and fascinating but gets old after a few passes through. Appendix: A Hodge Podge
French Quarter
Old Absinthe House - This place is historic, dark, and atmospheric. There are business cards plastered all over the walls which makes for a cool, haphazard vibe. We tried the New Orleans signature drink, the Sazerac, here. It was awful and tasted like I imagine gasoline would taste. This is no knock on the Absinthe House - just not a fan of rye whiskey and bitters anywhere. Pat O'Brien's - Get an iconic Hurricane here, and check out the dueling piano bar. Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar - Although this was our least favorite place in the Quarter, it is notable as one of the oldest operating bars in Louisiana. Bartenders were not the slightest bit friendly here, and the frozen drink machines snuggled against the aging wood beams of the bar kind of ruin the feel of the whole place. French Market - open-air market with tons of shopping for souvenirs. I also had a really good fresh fruit smoothie at one of the food stalls. Frenchmen Street - We spent a lot of our time here listening to live music. There are so many incredibly chill places that have music just rolling out the door and calling you inside. Check out The Maison, The Spotted Cat Music Club, Cafe Negril, and Blue Nile. Garden District Bakery Bar - This place is genius. They have brunch and savory food choices as well, but the draw for me is the dessert selection paired with a full bar. We stumbled upon this place by accident while we were just wandering around, and it was one of our favs. Magazine Street - This street runs through more than just the Garden District, but there are so many great places to shop and stop for drinks, it makes your head spin. Postscript: What I Missed
There are oodles of places that I didn't get to and wish I had. These are just a few on my list for next time.
Willie Mae's Scotch House - Every single Lyft driver we had recommended Willie Mae's for the fried chicken. One driver even admitted using Willie Mae's chicken for family meals and passing it off as her own because she hates to cook. Bacchanal Wine - This place looks to have a very fun backyard party feel. Snake and Jake's Christmas Club Lounge - dive bar Audubon Park and the Tree of Life Commander's Palace St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 - I think this is where Nicholas Cage has a pyramid tomb waiting for him to occupy. Creeptastic! Swamp tours
The connection here can't be any simpler. This a young adult historical fiction set in New Orleans, specifically in the French Quarter.
Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
My rating: 5 of 5 stars This might be my favorite Sepetys book yet. I adore New Orleans - the culture, the style, the music and laid-back atmosphere. It's all intoxicating. This book examines the dark underbelly of a young girl's life in the French Quarter during the 1950s as the daughter of a prostitute. Josie Moraine was named after a brothel madam, and all she wants to do is escape the sweltering oppression of her Big Easy life and go to college. Jo has grit and manages to avoid her destiny as a working girl by steering clear of trouble and spending her time running a bookstore with her best friend Patrick. She also flits in and out of the brothel as a housekeeper. Jo's selfish mother, Louise, gets mixed up with men in the mafia and puts Jo's safety and future in danger. Jo is guided by some unlikely characters including her stand-in mother, Willie, brothel madam and gruff matriarch. Willie is abrasive but clearly loves Jo and teaches her that sometimes the family you choose can be just what you need to help you find yourself. I absolutely savored the characterization in this book. Cokie is the kind-hearted cab driver and father figure in Jo's life. Sadie is the mute cook and laundress who clearly looks after Jo as well. All of the girls at the brothel are interesting characters that you can only grow to love. I often find myself drawn to historical fiction, and this young adult book is one of the best in the genre that I've read in a while. View all my reviews |
AuthorTravel All the Pages is inspired by my two loves - travel and reading, a combo I can't resist. Enjoy these little pairings. Archives
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