The Rathbones

The Rathbones by Janice Clark
Doubleday 2013

Wow. I really liked this book. Interesting, engaging, good characters, dirty family secrets, twists I didn't see coming, adventure, love, lust, sheer weirdness, whales, ships... It took me a few chapters, I admit. It is very strange. The pace is different. Once I got into the flow however, I couldn't put it down. One of those books I couldn't wait to read every night. And a highly satisfying ending.

Hunger Games

The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games series is a favorite of mine.  They have the perfect amount of romance, action and thrills.  I loved all the different characters and what roles they played.  “The Hunger Games” is the perfect start to the series.  I loved the setting of Panem and the games and I couldn’t put it down.  I thought “The Hunger Games” would end after the first book; there was already so much suspense and thrills.  But somehow Suzanne Collins did it and wrote “Catching Fire” which was great as well.  Then “Mockingjay” came and it was even more adventurous!

Here are some of the things I loved most about this series:

-          People in the Capital had all that crazy hair and tattoos and stuff

-          The different Districts which each had their own industries, structures, climates and ways of life

-          Every story had a bit of tragedy which made them more exciting

-          Katniss did stuff that wasn’t allowed; like going through the fence into the woods to hunt

-          That Katniss knew Gale and Peeta from the very beginning (even though she didn’t remember Peeta the way he remembered her)

-          Katniss started by faking her relationship with Peeta but then it turned real

-          The love triangle between Katniss, Peeta and Gale

I would recommend this series to anyone who likes adventure and romance.

Maeve – grade 4

The Saffron Kitchen

The Saffron Kitchen by Yasmin Crowther
Viking 2006

From the very first paragraph describing the horrible moment when a pregnant Sara loses her unborn child after being kicked in the stomach by her young cousin who is trying to commit suicide, The Saffron Kitchen grabs the reader’s attention and takes you on a journey from London to Iran, the birthplace of Sara’s mother Maryam.   What is doubly heartbreaking for Sara was that it was Maryam’s inexplicably cruel actions that caused the tragedy.  Before she can forgive her mother, Sara must pick up the pieces of her life, and take stock of what is important to her.

In light of her daughter’s rejection, Maryam feels compelled to leave London and travel back to Iran, her homeland and the place where the experiences of a head-strong young woman in a world where men ruled over women, formed the manner in which she would live the rest of in her life.  The unspeakable circumstances surrounding her “move” to London shaped the manner in which she would handle all future relationships.  Her entire adult life Maryam has kept everyone at arm’s length, and neither Sara, nor Edward, her husband of 30 years, could break through the armor that seemed to surround her at times.  It is only when she returns home that she can find her real self and make peace with her past.

This book is an interesting probe into the tragedies of denying your past, keeping dark secrets from those who most love you, and the pain of rejection and exile.  Crowther’s method of alternating between the voice of mother and daughter keeps the story moving along.  It is a wonderful debut novel. 

- E.S.

Wonder

Wonder by R. J. Palacio
Knoph 2012

This is a heart warming tale about a boy trying to fit in. I would recommend it to every middle school kid, and their parents. It is well written and describes how just a little bit of empathy and kindness can transform each and every one of us.

For more comments and reviews, follow the link to "Wonder" on Goodreads.com.

The Sense of an Ending

The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
Knopf 2012

When reviewing The Sense of an Ending, one wonders if they should focus on the writing, or the content.  Many reviewers have praised Barnes for his literary skill.  Other reviewers have berated him for his inconsistent plot.  All may be right.  Perhaps more important it that this novella causes such long winded debates, such disparaging opinions, harsh critiques, and high praise.

Certainly Julian Barnes must be praised for his writing.  In fewer than 200 pages he brings characters to life and creates a meditative, mysterious plot.  Not a word is wasted.  Not a thought left languishing.

Whether Barnes succeeds in creating a satisfying mystery is another question.  The plot does have holes.  There are inconsistencies that cause readers to question whether they just “didn’t get it” or if the philosophy behind the novel simply went over their heads.  Barnes’ meditation on memory and its place in reconstructing our lives offers some answers; though not enough for some readers.

If you are wondering whether you should read this novella or not, if you are wondering if you will “get it”, then yes, yes you should read it.  At worst you will find yourself angered by the protagonist and maybe annoyed with the presumptions of the author.  But there is no doubt you will appreciate Julian Barnes skill as a writer and you may find you agree with the Booker Prize distinction.