blessingo's reviews
25 reviews
A Memory of Violets: A Novel of London's Flower Sellers by Hazel Gaynor
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A winding, emotional, moving tale on family, loss, and longing sent in the cobbled paveways and streets of London's disabled and poor.
In Hazel Gaynor's novel, protagonist Matilda "Tilly" Harper ventures off torwards a smoggy early-1900s London from her hometown of Grasmere, determined to carve a new destiny for herself from her troubled past. She's picked up a job working for Mr. Shaw's Training Homes for Watercress and Flower Girls as new housemother.
But on her first day there, Tilly finds a "slim, wooden box" nestled in the corner of the room she's to sleep in. Inside the box contains a book–among other things, like a wooden peg, rag doll, and a single button—but when Tilly opens the book, she discovers a new tale marked with separation and depravity that she won't soon forget.
I loved how I walked alongside Tilly and the rest of the characters and literally watched them mature and develop before my eyes. You can see their lives flourish and change among the pages.
I loved the slight romance interwoven as well, although I personally don't like romance novels.
I'll re-read this Lord willing, to get even more of this tale.
P.S., it made me tear up a couple of times torwards the end. If you're also craving for a heartbreaker, this will probably be for you.
In Hazel Gaynor's novel, protagonist Matilda "Tilly" Harper ventures off torwards a smoggy early-1900s London from her hometown of Grasmere, determined to carve a new destiny for herself from her troubled past. She's picked up a job working for Mr. Shaw's Training Homes for Watercress and Flower Girls as new housemother.
But on her first day there, Tilly finds a "slim, wooden box" nestled in the corner of the room she's to sleep in. Inside the box contains a book–among other things, like a wooden peg, rag doll, and a single button—but when Tilly opens the book, she discovers a new tale marked with separation and depravity that she won't soon forget.
I loved how I walked alongside Tilly and the rest of the characters and literally watched them mature and develop before my eyes. You can see their lives flourish and change among the pages.
I loved the slight romance interwoven as well, although I personally don't like romance novels.
I'll re-read this Lord willing, to get even more of this tale.
P.S., it made me tear up a couple of times torwards the end. If you're also craving for a heartbreaker, this will probably be for you.
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
An all-encompassing scope of a Ghanaian lineage from the 1700s to–what I assume is 2016—Gyasi's novel reckons with slavery and colonialsm and the implications of these all in modern times. I loved stories like Esi's for how brutal and direct they were.
To see Gyasi's timeline of fire, arrest, and the black ember of hardships that tied them all together was simply beautiful. Gyasi's at times poetic and sweeping style of writing makes this book an even more worthwhile read.
I loved this book as a fellow Ghanaian! I gave this book a lesser rating because some of the content here was very graphic. This is just my preference, however. But if you can deal with things such as sexual abuse and the abominations of slavery (which I suggest that you should be somewhat aware of and knowledgeable about before reading this book), I believe that this is a strong, informative tale on our lineage and how it affects all of us.
To see Gyasi's timeline of fire, arrest, and the black ember of hardships that tied them all together was simply beautiful. Gyasi's at times poetic and sweeping style of writing makes this book an even more worthwhile read.
I loved this book as a fellow Ghanaian! I gave this book a lesser rating because some of the content here was very graphic. This is just my preference, however. But if you can deal with things such as sexual abuse and the abominations of slavery (which I suggest that you should be somewhat aware of and knowledgeable about before reading this book), I believe that this is a strong, informative tale on our lineage and how it affects all of us.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Slavery, War, Racism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Addiction, Violence, and Cursing
Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte
Did not finish book. Stopped at 41%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 41%.
I unfortunately stopped reading this because I had to turn it in back to the library before I got to finish.
It was a beautiful book, however. You can clearly picture the Wampanoag village Mary lives on and the intricate lives of everyone in the book.
It was a beautiful book, however. You can clearly picture the Wampanoag village Mary lives on and the intricate lives of everyone in the book.
The Freedom Maze by Delia Sherman
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
No matter what Mama said or did, she wouldn't back down and she wouldn't change her mind... Maybe she'd be happy and learn to do for herself. She'd never know unless she tried.
So ends Delia Sherman's The Freedom Maze. This book was the same type of rollicking adventure that pro agonist Sophie Fairchild craves so much in the books she loves to read.
This book was a tale of Sophie's self-discoveru after she gets transported to her family's Oak Cottage a hundred years in the past—1860. Here, she can be whupped, her great-great-grandmother is her slave master, sugar is selling, and Sophie is mistaken for a slave because of the deep tan she's accrued after vacationing (or being held hostage) in her Aunt Enid's home that her mother's dropped her off at for the summer.
On her family's few-hundred acres, she meets people like Africa, Oak Cottage's chief chef, Canada, Africa's daughter (or "Canny" as she's affectionately called by the other slaves), and Antigua, Africa's other prickly, sarcastic daughter who Sophie doesn't like the first day she meets her.
How will Sophie fare as a slave? Will she seek freedom? Or die in the process?
I liked this book for the self-development of Sophie. She turned from a precocious, privileged white girl who was afraid of her mother to someone who candidly understood the struggles of being black and how to stand up for herself and underprivileged people that she saw.
This book ha some slight magical realism in it which prevented me from liking it as much. But seeing how the story is set near New Orleans, a place famous for its voodoo and juju, it makes sense. I also don't personally like fantasy as much, but I'm happy to finish this story.
A good read if you're looking for a middle-grade story dealing with some tough subjects. Also, there are "n-word" bombs in reference to slaves in this story; among other derogatory terms. I would say this book would be best for ages 12 and up.
This book was a tale of Sophie's self-discoveru after she gets transported to her family's Oak Cottage a hundred years in the past—1860. Here, she can be whupped, her great-great-grandmother is her slave master, sugar is selling, and Sophie is mistaken for a slave because of the deep tan she's accrued after vacationing (or being held hostage) in her Aunt Enid's home that her mother's dropped her off at for the summer.
On her family's few-hundred acres, she meets people like Africa, Oak Cottage's chief chef, Canada, Africa's daughter (or "Canny" as she's affectionately called by the other slaves), and Antigua, Africa's other prickly, sarcastic daughter who Sophie doesn't like the first day she meets her.
How will Sophie fare as a slave? Will she seek freedom? Or die in the process?
I liked this book for the self-development of Sophie. She turned from a precocious, privileged white girl who was afraid of her mother to someone who candidly understood the struggles of being black and how to stand up for herself and underprivileged people that she saw.
This book ha some slight magical realism in it which prevented me from liking it as much. But seeing how the story is set near New Orleans, a place famous for its voodoo and juju, it makes sense. I also don't personally like fantasy as much, but I'm happy to finish this story.
A good read if you're looking for a middle-grade story dealing with some tough subjects. Also, there are "n-word" bombs in reference to slaves in this story; among other derogatory terms. I would say this book would be best for ages 12 and up.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing
Agents of Babylon: What the Prophecies of Daniel Tell Us about the End of Days by David Jeremiah
informative
medium-paced
Very encompassing and detailed analysis of the book of Daniel.
The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson, Elizabeth Sherrill, John Sherrill
Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.
I paused this to finish David Jeremiah's "Agents of Babylon" for, like, the third time.
The Story Jar by Robin Lee Hatcher, Deborah Bedford
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
I just wasn't totally into it -- was distracted. Seems like an interesting book, however, but maybe for another time.
The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
Wasn't invested... Made me feel very convicted of sin, however. I'll definitely be reading it online, though, to finish it.
Second Chance: The Search For Truth by Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins
Did not finish book. Stopped at 54%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 54%.
i had to return it back to the library because it was overdue. it was great so far.
The Vanishings by Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A page-turning thriller about kids caught in the harrowing throes of Christ's rapture. It was interesting, and whenever I found myself drifting away from it when I thought of the book's premise I grabbed it and started flipping through. We meet Vicki, the rebel in a trailer park who smokes and drinks to escape her family's sudden Christianity, Lionel, the skeptic with a quite un-Christian uncle in a house full of them, and Judd, the disobedient kid who flees from his parents in pursuit of wide-eyed freedom, and Ryan, the little kid with a Christian friend who has no clue what's going on. I'm excited to read the next books from here on out! So glad to find a book that can point me to Christ whilst reading it.