Turn The Page ... Tuesday

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

From Amazon: "A. J. Fikry, the irascible owner of Island Books, has recently endured some tough years: his wife has died, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history, and his prized possession--a rare edition of Poe poems--has been stolen. Over time, he has given up on people, and even the books in his store, instead of offering solace, are yet another reminder of a world that is changing too rapidly. Until a most unexpected occurrence gives him the chance to make his life over and see things anew.  

Gabrielle Zevin’s enchanting novel is a love letter to the world of books--an irresistible affirmation of why we read, and why we love."

Yo! Adrienne says: This book had me heading constantly looking up books that were referenced within the book itself; some were fictious but many were not and subsequently added to my "list". Definitely a quirky and interesting read. I say go for it.

One Plus One

From Amazon: "Suppose your life sucks. A lot. Your husband has done a vanishing act, your teenage stepson is being bullied, and your math whiz daughter has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that you can’t afford to pay for. That’s Jess’s life in a nutshell—until an unexpected knight in shining armor offers to rescue them. Only Jess’s knight turns out to be Geeky Ed, the obnoxious tech millionaire whose vacation home she happens to clean. But Ed has big problems of his own, and driving the dysfunctional family to the Math Olympiad feels like his first unselfish act in ages . . . maybe ever. One Plus One is Jojo Moyes at her astounding best. You’ll laugh, you’ll weep, and when you flip the last page, you’ll want to start all over again."

Yo! Adrienne says: Hands down one of my favorite authors. So did I like the book? Um. Yeah. Couldn't help but love Jess and slowly but surely come to fall for Ed too. I really enjoy how Moyes wraps up a book - it's never as I suspect. Another home run. Excellent summer (or anytime read).

Whisper My Secret & Mother of Ten

From Amazon: "What happens to children who are robbed of family? Myrtle Rowley's first three children grew up without any knowledge of their mother after Myrtle was forced to give them up when they were still toddlers. Not only were the children deprived of contact with their mother, they also grew up devoid of any knowledge of each other after being placed in separate facilities. In this sequel to Whisper My Secret, award winning writer JB Rowley explores what happened to the three half-siblings she never knew. As one of the children of Myrtle’s second family, JB also offers a personal view of a mother making a new life without her first family. Although the devastating loss of her first three children remained with her, Myrtle became a caring and committed mother of seven more children living in near isolation in the Australian bush. This mother’s strength of character is matched in her first three children who survived and thrived despite being cheated of the nurturing that should have been their birthright. Their stories are sad, sometimes heartbreaking but ultimately courageous and inspiring."

Yo! Adrienne says: If you enjoy reading about real life struggles that women faced shortly after the turn of the 20th century then you will certainly find this a page turner. Whisper My Secret is the loose history of Myrtle Rowley's early life that her daughter, JB Rowley, pieced together after her mother's death. After publishing her mothers story, many inquired about Mytrtle's "second family", thus Mother of Ten. I was shocked for many reasons - the lack of support, the calculated loss of her children, and what life was like in the outback (I would never have survived!). I would not call this a light summer read but a good look at another's life struggles and triumph over adversity. The review from Amazon is from Mother of Ten.

Hinds Feet on High Places

From Amazon: "Much-Afraid had been in the service of the Chief Shepherd, whose great flocks were pastured down in the Valley of Humiliation. She lived with her friends and fellow workers Mercy and Peace in a tranquil little white cottage in the village of Much-Trembling. She loved her work and desired intensely to please the Chief Shepherd, but happy as she was in most ways, she was conscious of several things which hindered her in her work and caused her much secret distress and shame. Here is the allegorical tale of Much-Afraid, an every-woman searching for guidance from God to lead her to a higher place."

Yo Adrienne says: This was another of one of my book club reads. I was hesitant at first because of the allegory (I'm not very deep) but quickly found myself immersed. I did read this in small chunks (remember, I'm not very deep). This book is a beautiful reminder that our Father meets us wherever we are (rock bottom) and will guide us to high places.