Four Perfect Pebbles

Wow, powerful story. I could not put this book down. I am truly amazed what this family overcomes. I even learned a couple things I did not know, which is good.

The father, Walter, was smart in such ways to trying to keep his family safe and together. The Nazi’s however, seem to be just one step behind every move that is made. The one chance they have to finally make it to America, gets blown up. The hardest part for me to read the death and funeral of Walter, who never makes it to America but kept a German to American English Dictionary as the most important item in his life, a life in which he never gave up hope. Hope of going to America. Hope of survival.

One of the best parts of this book, the author goes further then the liberation of the of the camps and Death Train. It was good to know what happened to the family in the following years. How they survived and stayed positive. There is an afterword, which is good, then since this is the 20th since publishing a second afterword.

The book was written, so many could read it. Adults, young adults, maybe elementary. She tells the story without overwhelming you with violence and many horrific details. Instead it’s a story of hope, and survival, and strength.

5/5

T4

I honestly do not know how to rate this book. When I heard about it my thought process was “hey, I’m deaf and I think, it’s good to see more about deaf in the Holocaust  Especially since the author herself is deaf.”  I read reviews about how bad it was but again thought since the author was deaf she maybe using ASL speak and that’s why people are complaining about the poetry form.

When I finally got this book in I was shocked at how thin and small it was. Still thinking it will redeem itself. I read in 15 minutes. I’m not sure about the poetry stanzas but it looked like she just hit enter in most of it and couple times hit the enter button during the middle of a thought.

The story itself was not bad but was lacking. This girl hides for years and it the details are missing.  She finally learns to sign from one of the people who hides her, with Signing she uses pen and paper to help communicate. I was expecting more since the author was deaf. The book is as if the girl dance around the whole subject. Not many details. It was as if the girl dances around the edges of the whole war and Holocaust. A simple basic, I left my parents, Nazis are killing people because or T4,  priest took me somewhere, then priest took me somewhere else, made a friend, went back home and brought my friend, the war ended. This review is probably longer then the book. Not saying a small book is bad, or a short story can’t be great.

I read in a review it was a children’s book. If this is so then that would make sense on lacking many details. I have not found for sure it it is truly a children’s book. I can see a third grader reading and understanding this book.

The best part to me was the author’s note, where the names came from and where to find out more about deaf and the Holocaust. I don’t want to just throw hate on the book. I don’t  hate it, just could  be better. Maybe I’m missing something.

3/5

The 71/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

I gave it 3 1/2 stars. 

I was excited to finally get this book. It was somewhat a let down. It could have been I had a lot of things going on and have been extremely busy.

It took me awhile to get into the book. Then things started happening and I was into it. Then it drags. Then it picks up again and I wanted to see what happens. I didn’t like they killed the characters I liked but I knew it was coming. One of which was a favorite. The biggest let down ?!? The ending. I realize what the author was trying to say about redemption and forgiveness, but the ending is just a let down. 

The book was not all bad. I loved the twists and turns. Just when you think you have it all figured out plot twist. That I liked. I did have some already figured out but not others. The characters were different and well done. I liked how each character has positive and negative attributes. One old and wise while another is young and crime savey .  It did have an Agatha Christie feel to it. 

All in all it was not a bad book, and maybe if I hadn’t been so busy or a lot thoughts about different things it might have been better. 

One For The Money

Time for an easy read. Thought I would try a Stephanie Plum book.

Review
I really liked this book nice easy read with enough baiting, snarkiness between two people who seem to actually like each other. Nice mystery with a dash of humor. Caught myself laughing several times. No hot steamy ‘romantic’ scenes which was good for me. Don’t mind them if I’m in the mood for romance but you don’t always want that, and this made this book better for me. Hopefully the rest of her books will be just as fun as this one.

The Book Thief

Saw and loved the movie, when I heard the was different(as usual) it became a must read.


Review
I saw the movie and liked it, matter of fact it's one of my favorites. So I decided to read the book. WOW the movie had parts of the book in it but not near the book. I liked the characters, which I admit I saw them as the movie actors/actresses. This book spans over about five years, and Max staying in hiding with the Hubbermans for over two years. The scene between Hans and the Jewish man was completely different then the movie and brought tears to my eyes. The author did a great job with his descriptions and characters. Just when you thought you had a favorite character, you find out you have more then one. The book held my attention, and even though it's a long book it's worth the read. Several times he pulled at the heart stings and the tears welled up. I am no crier, usually most people find it odd I don't cry. You see so much more in the book especially with Rudy and Liesel. There is so much more to these characters. The same can be said for Max, we finally know what happens to him, and why he left. Even tho I knew what happens in the end, I kept wanting it to change, and wanted all the characters to stay alive, especially Rudy. You also actually get to see and understand the books that was stolen and how they relate to the story. I did look them up to see if they were real stories or just made up for the book. It also might surprise you that Liesel only steals three books and all of them are symbolism to the story. This is another story that will stay with you long after you read it.


8/10

Deafening

Throughout my disease, I learned I would become deaf. I am indeed deaf. I found it hard to find any books with deaf characters. I asked people and looked on the internet and seems there really is not any to be found. When I found this book at my local library at their fill a bag for five dollars I was excited. When I read the story's inspiration was the authors deaf grandmother, I was even more excited. 

The hero, became deaf after a bout with scarlet fever. Her family tries to help but as so often does not, she feels isolated and alone.Her saving grace is her grandmother, Mamo. When it finally becomes clear she can not thrive in the world of the hearing, her parents finally send her to a deaf school and things change. The school teaches her to read and write, and how to communicate. I am hoping thru sign language. 

After graduation, she stays on and works at the school. She meets a man and they begin a friendship that becomes more. As it takes place during WWI. He is sent to war. They write letters back and forth to keep their love going. 

Hoping I will like it, and not disappointed like I did with "All the Light We Cannot See"

review

The story takes place in Ontario, Canada, in the time before and during the WWI. The O'Neil family owns and runs a hotel in the town of Deseronto. The book follow Grania O'Neil who became deaf at a very young age because of scarlet fever.

When I found this book, I wondered if it would be true to the deaf and deaf culture. I am pleased to say it did. She did an excellent job with describing signs that I knew the signs. Quiet, sit, potato, etc. What most hearing people don't know is sign language is NOT universal. Also very few hearing people, do not know that our sign language (ASL) is derived from the French, so that could explain why I knew the signs. One of which is definitely a deaf bing. I was also impressed she touched on A.G. Bell and his need to change deaf people, believing deaf is better off using only oral method, and his eugenics, believing deaf should not marry deaf, deaf should not marry hearing. Nor should they have children. Deaf almost lost a a beautiful language because of him. He was no friend to the deaf, even though he was married to a deaf woman and his mother was deaf. 

I also loved how she drew the family together. especially the two sisters, and Mamo. With Mamo's help she learns oral method and does well. Mamo buys a book, Sunday book and helps Grania learn words and sounds. Grania begs her sister often to yell in her ear what she thinks she should know. The family is a tight knit family and I loved reading about her adventures, going to Bompa's house, school, and going into town. The way the author describes how Grania felt, and how people treated her seems pretty spot on. 

When the parents finally send her to a deaf school, it takes some time but she finally learns sign language and oral method. She excels in both. She also realizes that the world is different in the land called school then the hearing world. Gania stay after graduation to work and help the school. 

Then she meets Jim, get's married, and he is sent to war. It is WWI. I was not to fond of the war scenes, but it was what was happening in that time frame. We see how Grania and her family and well as Jim handles the war.

Over all I liked the book. It kept me interested. Frances Itani did a great job with the who aspect of war, family and deaf. I enjoyed the characters. There was no big love scenes with Jim and Grania as the were courting, as in that time people usually didn't, especially during the war time. I think it's worth the read.

8/10

Beauty and the Beast Lost in a Book

I loved Stepsister by Jenifer Donnelly, so I thought I would give this one a try as well. This book takes place at the Beast's castle, in his library. Belle is captive, but has become familiar with the castle and all of its enchanted items, including a book in the Beast's library. The book is call Nevermore and the more she reads it the more she is pulled into its magical world. The world is full of glamour and intrigue, adventures Belle has always wanted and imagined. The dreams she was forced to give up when she became a prisoner. Now they seem reachable. As most bookworms she is charmed by the characters that she meets with in the book, and they offer her all the things she can dream of, one of which is a reunion she never thought possible. Belle need to uncover the truth about Nevermore before she herself is lost there forever.

Review

I liked the book. Stepsister, I think is a bit better. This was an easy read, read it in a couple of days, being busy I have to read as I had the time. When I did have the time, it did not take me long to finish it. It was a little predictable but still had some good characters that were not in the movie. I did not like how the portrayed Belle in a couple of scenes but I think it had to be that way to make the story move along. I think, it could serve as a cautionary tale for those of us who love books and "escape"

thru them.

7/10