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liddyleftonread's reviews
157 reviews
We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter
I had taken a few years off from WWII historical fiction after reading The Nightingale and All The Light We Cannot See, but this book re-opened my eyes to a topic I thought I had exhausted. We Were The Lucky Ones helped me comprehend the scale and escalation of WWII in a way I don't think I was previously able to. I kept turning to my boyfriend and saying "Did you know this happened?" Now I'm telling everyone I know that this book should be taught in schools.
It was especially interesting to read this after the year we've had. To see the (at first gradual) escalation of the war and Hitler's reign made me flash back to the widespread intolerance we've seen in our country, and its power to take over if we don't actively fight against it. Not to mention the manipulation of information sharing and propaganda tactics.
This book is beautiful, heartbreaking, and made all the more special by the fact that it's inspired by the experiences of the author's family. You won't want to skip the author's note in this one.
The fact that the characters we follow are considered the lucky ones is the point of this book. The fact that they were lucky, and the reader can also consider them lucky, is heinous.
What I loved:
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Although this book takes place during WWII and focuses on the lives of a Jewish family in Poland struggling to survive the atrocities of the Holocaust, their family values and love for one another is at the core. As the oldest of 4 sisters, this really struck me.
I had taken a few years off from WWII historical fiction after reading The Nightingale and All The Light We Cannot See, but this book re-opened my eyes to a topic I thought I had exhausted. We Were The Lucky Ones helped me comprehend the scale and escalation of WWII in a way I don't think I was previously able to. I kept turning to my boyfriend and saying "Did you know this happened?" Now I'm telling everyone I know that this book should be taught in schools.
It was especially interesting to read this after the year we've had. To see the (at first gradual) escalation of the war and Hitler's reign made me flash back to the widespread intolerance we've seen in our country, and its power to take over if we don't actively fight against it. Not to mention the manipulation of information sharing and propaganda tactics.
This book is beautiful, heartbreaking, and made all the more special by the fact that it's inspired by the experiences of the author's family. You won't want to skip the author's note in this one.
What I loved:
- Halina's character development
- The strength of the family's love for one another
- The timeline of WWII events serving as a silent narrator throughout the book
The way the author changed the headings from singular characters to "The Kurc Family" when they came together
Virgin River by Robyn Carr
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug use and Gun violence
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
*adds Jane Eyre to TBR*
Going into this book, there’s already a pretty crazy situation laid out for you. There’s a wife. She’s... upstairs. There will be two Mrs. Rochesters at some point. It’s all on the cover. The fact that this book still managed to make me gasp is pretty impressive. It’s fast-paced and draws you in early and slowly builds in each section of the book (as does any good thriller). Overall a good, fairly light, option for this genre.
this book has:
🤔 twists on twists (instead of spooks)
🥃 southern charm
💍 perfectly cringey housewives drama
What I liked: the different narration styles and their roles in revealing the true story, how the author kind of maxed out on the unreliable narration but in a way that wasn’t frustrating or too gimmicky
3.75/5⭐️
Going into this book, there’s already a pretty crazy situation laid out for you. There’s a wife. She’s... upstairs. There will be two Mrs. Rochesters at some point. It’s all on the cover. The fact that this book still managed to make me gasp is pretty impressive. It’s fast-paced and draws you in early and slowly builds in each section of the book (as does any good thriller). Overall a good, fairly light, option for this genre.
this book has:
🤔 twists on twists (instead of spooks)
🥃 southern charm
💍 perfectly cringey housewives drama
What I liked: the different narration styles and their roles in revealing the true story, how the author kind of maxed out on the unreliable narration but in a way that wasn’t frustrating or too gimmicky
3.75/5⭐️
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement and Toxic relationship
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It's not always easy to write, or talk, about topics like addiction with grace and dignity. I feel lucky to have found Gyasi's story, which allowed me to come away with a little more understanding and empathy.
If I had known that this book covered addiction, depression, religion, and science, my preconceived notions would have come along for the ride. I don't know if I would have been so eager to pick it up in the face of so many heavy topics. Going in blind allowed the journey to unfold piece by piece in a way that was riveting, but not overwhelming. Bottom line: it sounds heavy, but it's worth the journey. Pick it up!
It's human, heartbreaking, and so real. The writing is *chef kiss*. There is beautiful and thoughtful sentence structure with subtle world play that will have you reaching for your pen and journal every few pages.
I loved following Gifty's growth as she reconciled her childhood piety with her neuroscience career, and slowly poked holes in the dichotomy of religion and science.
If I had known that this book covered addiction, depression, religion, and science, my preconceived notions would have come along for the ride. I don't know if I would have been so eager to pick it up in the face of so many heavy topics. Going in blind allowed the journey to unfold piece by piece in a way that was riveting, but not overwhelming. Bottom line: it sounds heavy, but it's worth the journey. Pick it up!
It's human, heartbreaking, and so real. The writing is *chef kiss*. There is beautiful and thoughtful sentence structure with subtle world play that will have you reaching for your pen and journal every few pages.
I loved following Gifty's growth as she reconciled her childhood piety with her neuroscience career, and slowly poked holes in the dichotomy of religion and science.
Tender at the Bone: Growing Up at the Table by Ruth Reichl
adventurous
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
Reichl's life was filled with hardships, but the way she writes about it makes it all seem kind of charmed. What a life she's lived, and what a gift she has to be able to share it with the world so eloquently. This book takes a look at her relationship with food from childhood to the very beginnings of her career as a food critic.
I had a feeling after I finished Save Me the Plums, but now I can officially say that Ruth Reichl is one of my favorite authors. I fly through her food memoirs (nonfiction with an admitted amount of embroidery), since they read like travelogues masterfully spanning decades and continents. This one had me aching to travel to Europe and connect with people through food. The stories are great, but the writing is better. There's something indulgent about reading her words.
If you can, I'd check out this version which includes the author's note & some bonus photos at the end. It was fun to put faces to the colorful cast of characters. I'm glad that I own this book so I can look back at the recipes she included in each chapter.
I had a feeling after I finished Save Me the Plums, but now I can officially say that Ruth Reichl is one of my favorite authors. I fly through her food memoirs (nonfiction with an admitted amount of embroidery), since they read like travelogues masterfully spanning decades and continents. This one had me aching to travel to Europe and connect with people through food. The stories are great, but the writing is better. There's something indulgent about reading her words.
If you can, I'd check out this version which includes the author's note & some bonus photos at the end. It was fun to put faces to the colorful cast of characters. I'm glad that I own this book so I can look back at the recipes she included in each chapter.