Left Drowning by Jessica Park

From Goodreads.com:
What does it take to rise from life's depths, swim against the current, and breathe?
Weighted down by the loss of her parents, Blythe McGuire struggles to keep her head above the water as she trudges through her last year at Matthews College. Then a chance meeting sends Blythe crashing into something she doesn't expect - an undeniable attraction to a dark-haired senior names Chris Shepherd, whose past may be even more complicated than her own. As their relationship deepens, Chris pulls Blythe out of the stupor she's been in since the night a fire took half her family. She begins to heal, and even, haltingly, to love this guy who helps her find new paths to pleasure and self-discovery. But as Blythe moves into calmer waters, she realizes Chris is the one still strangled by his family's traumatic history. As dark currents threaten to pull him under, Blythe may be the only person who can keep him from drowning.

   Blythe starts out in her own world of grief still dealing with the death of her parents. She has alienated herself from her brother and is drowning herself in alcohol. When Sabin sits down with her in the student union one morning acting like he's known her forever, he's the first person who makes her feel something since. That same morning she walks down to the lake and runs into Chris. She inexplicably feels drawn to these two boys, comfortable with them, like she hasn't felt in years. I liked Blythe, I liked Chris, but I loved the Shepherd siblings, Sabin, Estelle, and Eric. They accept Blythe without question and treat her like she's been a sibling their whole lives. 

   Left Drowning is a little saucier than my normal read. It is ONLY recommended for readers over the age of 17. That being said, read this book. I couldn't care less about the sex in this book. I liked that it has a solid plot. There's actual meat to this story, unlike a few of the other books I've attempted. Overall this is a book about grief, strength, healing, and the people who are family even if they aren't blood. If you are one of the many who enjoyed the Fifty Shades trilogy, I recommend giving this book a try. 

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

From the Hardcover:
   The year is 1969. In the state of Kerala, on the southernmost tip of India, fraternal twins Esthappen and Rahel fashion a childhood for themselves in the shade of the wreck that is their family. Their lonely, lovely mother, Ammu, (who loves by night the man her children love by day), fled an abusive marriage to live with their blind grandmother, Mammachi (who plays Handel on her violin), their beloved uncle Chacko (Rhodes scholar, pickle baron, radical Marxist, bottom-pincher), and their enemy, Baby Kochamma (ex-nun and incumbent grandaunt).
  When Chacko's English ex-wife brings their daughter for a Christmas visit, the twins learn that Things Can Change in a Day. That lives can twist into new, ugly shapes, even cease forever, beside their river...

"The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to hear again. The ones you can enter anywhere and inhabit comfortably. They don't deceive you with thrills and trick endings. They don't surprise you with the unforseen. They are as familiar as the house you live in. Or the smell of your lover's skin. You know how they end, yet you listen as though you don't. In the way that although you know that one day you will die, you live as though you won't. In the Great Stories you know who lives, who dies, who finds love, who doesn't. And yet you want to know again."

   The God of Small Things made its way around numerous book lists a few years ago and it sounded interesting. I got more than I thought I would from it. It is beautifully written, I fell in love with the sentences. The story took a little getting into, it jumps seamlessly in time. After I became used to the style I was able to concentrate on Rahel and the memories she was sharing. This book has politics, forbidden love, and family drama.
   I also learned a little about the caste system in India that I was somehow ignorant of before reading this book. I love a book that introduces me to new things.
   I'd recommend this book to someone who loves the feel of words, much like Winter's Tale, but this book is less of a time commitment at 321 pages compared to Winter's Tale's 768.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

From the paperback:
   A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse where she once lived, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.
   A groundbreaking work as delicate as a butterfly's wing and as menacing as a knife in the dark, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is told with a rare understanding of all that makes us human, and shows the power of stories to reveal and shelter us from the darkness inside and out.

   Neil Gaiman has done it again! Captured my attention with a book I didn't want to put down. He writes so beautifully. He weaves a world where names hold power (we never learn the narrator's name) and some things just can't be explained or understood.
   The narrator is a child who has no friends. He escapes in books and stories as much has he can. He meets the Hempstock women after a startling discovery and his world continues to be rocked for the next few days. The Hempstocks aren't witches per-say, they're something else, something more. Something (Old Mrs. Hempstock calls it a "flea") hitches a ride back inside our hero and after he tries to remove it without knowing the full extent of what he does, a new nanny comes to care for him and his sister. Ursula Monkton, who everyone, but our hero, loves. He knows that the Hempstock women can help him get rid of her, if only he can get away.
   If it sounds like a lot of "somethings" are in my description of this book, it's because most of it can only be understood by reading the book. The beings described in The Ocean at the End of the Lane could be monsters but it depends on your definition of the word.
    This is a fantastic book for readers of all ages. I'd recommend it to anyone who has a love of fantasy. Or anyone who just loves to read. The narrator is easy to care for and identify with for lovers of the written word,

A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall

From the paperback:
   Lea and Gabe are in the same creative writing class. They get the same pop culture references, order the same Chinese food, and hang out in the  same places. Unfortunately, Lea is a little aloof, Gabe is shy, and it looks like they are never going to work things out.
   But something is happening between them, and everyone can see it. Their creative writing teacher pushes them together. The baristas at the local Starbucks watch their relationship like a TV series. The bus driver tells his wife about them. The waitress at the diner automatically seats them together. Even the squirrel who lives on the college green believes Lea and Gabe were meant to be together.
   Fall in love with falling in love in this irresistibly romantic, completely original novel!

   The synopsis, once again, says everything needed to be said about A Little Something Different. It's a love story told from the outside, by people observing the interactions of two college students. I was pleasantly surprised to find a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reference on page seven. I felt like I'd won the geek lottery.
   This book is undeniably cute. Told from 14 different viewpoints, this book truly is "something different." I wondered how I would like so many different narrators and was worried it wouldn't work well, but I loved it. I liked getting to know the main characters through the eyes of different personalities and relationships. I laughed out loud every time the squirrel was narrating and even the cynical Victor was fun to read.
   I simply enjoyed reading this sweet book. I'd recommend it to anyone just looking for a light read.

Flat-Out Celeste by Jessica Park

From Amazon.com:
   For high-school senior Celeste Watkins, every day is a brutal test of bravery. And Celeste is scared. Alienated because she's too smart, her speech affected, her social skills too far outside the norm, she seems to have no choice but to retreat into isolation.
   But college could set her free, right? If she can make it through this grueling senior year, then maybe. If she can just find that one person to throw her a lifeline, then maybe, just maybe.
   Justin Milano, a college sophomore with his own set of quirks, could be that person to pull her from a world of solitude. To rescue her - that is, if she'll let him.
   Together, they may work. Together, they may save each other. And together they may also save another couple - two people Celeste knows are absolutely, positively flat-out in love.
 
   Whether you were charmed by Celeste in Flat-Out Love or are meeting her for the first time, this book is a joyous celebration of differences, about battling private wars that rage in our heads and in our hearts, and - very much so - this is a story about first love.

   I read Flat-Out Love a couple months ago and liked it. It was a little different than I was expecting and I love surprises. I read Flat-Out Matt almost immediately after and was somewhat disappointed (it was a good book, I'm just not a huge fan of "the other side of the story" books,) this is why I put off Flat-Out Celeste. Don't make the same mistake I did. I freaking loved this book and marathon read it, staying up too late trying to finish it, without moving from my spot. It was so hard to pick a quote to use for this recommendation, one that didn't give away too much. There are so many better than the one I chose, if you could only see all my highlights.
   I like the way that Celeste's speech is "affected," the most obvious thing being, she does not use many contractions. I can't explain why I am so attracted to this, but I am. I adored the honest conversations between Celeste and Justin about every concern Celeste had. I need books that make me snicker out loud while reading, mission accomplished Jessica Park.
   But mostly I was crazy for their acceptance. Everybody feels (to some extent) the insecurities faced in this story. I think it's important for authors to write about topics similar to this, many kids feel alone in these feelings and they are not. And they should be told as often and in as many ways as possible. I wish that teens will find this book, and others like it, while still growing into who they are.
   Flat-Out Celeste along with Flat-Out Love are books that I would recommend to the multitude of young adults looking for the next book to read, and for the adult who enjoys the YA romance genre. Fans of The Perks of Being a Wallflower might also enjoy this astounding book.

Anatomy of a Misfit by Andrea Portes

From Amazon.com:
   In this Mean Girls meets The Perks of Being a Wallflower tale, narrator Anika Dragomir is the third most popular girl at Pound High School. But inside, she knows she's a freak; she can't stop thinking of former loner Logan McDonough, who showed up on the first day of tenth grade hotter, bolder, and more mysterious than ever. Logan is fascinating, troubled, and off-limits. The Pound High queen bee will make Anika's life hell if she's seen with him. So Anika must choose - ignore her feelings and keep her social status? Or follow her heart and risk becoming a pariah. Which will she pick? And what will she think of her choice when an unimaginable tragedy strikes, changing her forever? An absolutely original new voice in YA in a story that will start important conversations - and tear at your heart.

"...most of those people were just idiots. Sheep, following along. Remember that. Whenever you see everybody clamoring in one direction, do yourself a favor, go the other."

   I immediately thought of Mean Girls when I started this book. I enjoyed Anatomy of a Misfit. It is a quick read that still has important subject matter. I did have trouble getting used to the dialogue and was worried that it would bug me the entire book. I did get used to it after a few chapters. I love the dedication of this book, I believe it's one of the best dedications I've read.
   I like Anika, and kept hoping that she would realize it doesn't matter what other people think. Anika fights who she is inside and who she thinks she has to be. She feels like she's spider soup on the inside, when what she really is, is a caring individual who's afraid to show it. She is always worried that her choices will make her an outcast at school. And I really like Logan, who I felt bad for. He kept their relationship a secret with Anika, for Anika. I even like THE Jared Kline, the most popular bad boy that every girl wants. This book was full of likable characters (even if they all weren't well developed.)
   I recommend this book to people who like Mean Girls and The Perks of Being a Wallflower like the synopsis suggests, but also to other YA readers. If you don't normally read YA but you're looking for an easy to read, take me back to high school book, this is for you.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

From Goodreads.com:
   At the age of eighteen, Mary Shelley, while staying in the Swiss Alps with her lover Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, and others, conceived the tale of Dr. Victor Frankenstein and the monster he brings to life. The resulting book Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, is a dark parable warning against the risks of scientific and creative endeavor, the corrupting influence of technology and progress, and the dangers of knowledge without understanding. Frankenstein was an instant bestseller on publication in 1818 and has long been regarded as a masterpiece of suspense, a classic of nineteenth-century Romanticism and Gothic horror, and the prototype of the science fiction novel. Though it has spawned countless imitations and adaptations, it remains the most powerful story of its kind.

   This year for Halloween I decided to read a classic horror novel that I've never read before. I was surprised by Frankenstein. I liked it but found myself sympathizing more with the "monster" than the human, that was unexpected. He doesn't want to be cruel, but feels he has no choice because he will never be accepted into society. He just pulled my heartstrings.
   The synopsis tells us this is a cautionary tale against technology and knowledge without knowing the effects. I think it also has a little nature vs nurture. The monster claims he only killed because without love, he could only cause fear.
   This book does not have a lot of dialogue. Dr. Frankenstein is telling a story, the story of his life. I would recommend this book as an audio book. I read it but the whole time I was thinking, this would be better to listen to. I rarely listen to books, I have only done it once or twice, but I'd audio this one if  I wanted to read it again.

The Stand by Stephen King

From Goodreads.com:
   This is the way to world ends: with a nanosecond of computer error in a Defense Department laboratory and a million casual contacts that form the links in a chain letter of death.
   And here is the bleak new world of the day after: a world stripped of its institutions and emptied of 99 percent of its people. A world in which a handful of panicky survivors choose sides or are chosen. A world in which good rides on the frail shoulders of the 108-year-old Mother Abigail and the worst nightmares of evil are embodied in a man with a lethal smile and unspeakable powers: Randall Flagg, the dark man.

   I'll try to keep this short, once I start talking about The Stand it's a very short leap to The Dark Tower and it's down the rabbit hole from there.
   I've read this book multiple times; the first was when Avian Influenza was in the news a few years back, this time around it's Ebola. This is not a good book to read when outbreaks are happening. Or if you have a cold. Talk about paranoia, but I keep going back to read it again. It is one of my favorites.
   This book is not for the faint of heart. It is over 1,000 pages and takes some getting into. The first time I tried I gave up. The second time I took notes (yes, notes, for something I'm choosing to read.) I had trouble keeping all the characters straight for the first few chapters. Once people started to meet each other it became much easier to remember who they were. So make sure you give it some time before quitting.
   It has one of the worst (or best, depending on the point of view) villains. I have a trouble classifying Randall Flagg as a 'villain,' he is so much worse than your standard run-of-the-mill bad guy. Even those who choose to follow him can't look at his face. The way King describes him is perfectly horrifying. He is not a man I'd like to meet. (Is he a man? Is he even human?)
   At it's core The Stand is an epic battle of good vs evil. There are so many societal observations and the quote above is probably my favorite. Oh, and I don't want to forget to mention the dreams! Characters all have similar dreams after Captain Tripps (the nickname for the virus) destroys the population. The theory pops up that maybe all the technology used today is dulling the natural psychic abilities most humans have.
   I could go on and on, there's all sorts of goodness in this book. I can't go into each brilliant thing and keep this an acceptable length. And it's impossibly hard to pick and choose so I leave you here; If you like a challenge that will stay with you long after you finish the last page, this is the book for you.

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

From the hardcover:
   Jude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them.
   But three years later, at sixteen, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and dramatic ways . . . until Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy, as well as someone else - an even more unpredictable new force in her life.
   The early years are Noah's story to tell. The later years are Jude's. What the twins don't realize is that they each have only half the story, and if they could just find their way back to each other, they'd have a chance to remake their world.

   This book is stunning. I read the majority of it on a partially devoted Sunday just finishing it up after work today. I could not put this book down. I knew I'd have to finish it immediately after struggling through my work day. I could only think of how this book could possibly end. A lot of the YA I've read lately have not-so-happy endings *coughthefaultinourstarscough* so I was mildly concerned about half way through, when I realized I loved both Noah and Jude. "Mildly concerned," ha! I was a worried mess.
   One of my favorite things about I'll Give You the Sun is the way Noah sees people. Bursting at the seams with light, floating, the animals inside. Sounds a little strange, but he's an artist, and it's truly amazing. I could picture each description as it would appear on canvas, a work of art. I wish I saw the world through his eyes all the time.
      I laughed, I swelled with emotion, I even had trouble breathing for a short time. I hope I'm not spoiling anything because this book needs to be read. It is such a gorgeous tale of loss, family, and being true to you.

How to Tell Toledo from the Night Sky by Lydia Netzer

From the hardcover:
   Like a jewel shimmering in a Midwest skyline, the Toledo Institute of Astronomy is the nation's premier center of astronomical discovery and a beacon of scientific learning for astronomers far and wide. Here, dreamy cosmologist George Dermont mines the stars to prove the existence of God. Here, Irene Sparks, an unsentimental scientist, creates black holes in captivity.
   George and Irene are on a collision course with love, destiny, and fate. They have everything in common: both are ambitious, and yearning for connection. The air seems to hum when they're together. But George and Irene's attraction was not written in the stars. In fact, their mothers, friends since childhood, raised them separately to become each other's soul mates.
   When that long-secret plan triggers unintended consequences, the two astronomers must discover the truth about their destinies and unravel the mystery of what Toledo holds for them-together or, perhaps, apart.
   Lydia Netzer combines a gift for character and bighearted storytelling with a sure hand for science and a vision of a city transformed by its unique celestial position, exploring the conflicts of fate and determinism and asking how much of life is under out control and what is preordained in the heavens.

   This is my second book by Lydia Netzer. I fell in love with Shine Shine Shine a couple years ago so, when I noticed How to Tell Toledo from the Night Sky I had to pick it up. This took a little more effort to get into than Shine Shine Shine but was still brilliant. I told a co-worker, "it's strange but has so much potential, I can't give up," that was about three chapters in and I am glad I didn't quit.
   I find the idea that their mothers had to create twin souls fascinating. To make a soul mate by design, to create love using science. I think that's the main reason I liked this book so much. I mean, that isn't all this book has to offer, but that is what I was most taken with.
   It's told going back and forth between two times, visiting George and Irene's mothers as they grew up together and 'now' with George and Irene meeting. I admit I was a little lost on some of the science talk, but I got the gist of it. This book may not be as universally loved as many are, but if you like an intelligently written love story give this a chance.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

From the Hardcover:
Sometimes it's the little lies that turn out to be the most lethal...

A murder...a tragic accident...or just parents behaving badly?
What's indisputable is that someone is dead.
But who did what?

Big Little Lies follows three women, each at a crossroads:
   Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She's funny, biting, and passionate; she remembers everything and forgives no one. Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beach-side community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline's youngest. (How is this possible?) And to top it all off, Madeline's teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline's ex-husband over her. (How. Is. This. Possible?)
   Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare. While she may seem a bit flustered at times, who wouldn't be, with those rambunctious twins? Now that the boys are starting school, Celeste and her husband look set to become king and queen of the school parent body. But royalty often comes at a price, and Celeste is grappling with how much more she is willing to pay.
   New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for the nanny. Jane is sad beyond her years and harbors secret doubts about her son. But why? While Madeline and Celeste soon take Jane under their wing, none of them realizes how the arrival of Jane and her inscrutable little boy will affect them all.
   Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive.

   This book is fantastic! It was a little slow to begin for me, but once I sat down with it and was able to become immersed, I didn't want to put it down. You know someone is dead, but WHO? That was the question that teased me the entire time I was reading this. Speckled with answers, from other parents, to unasked questions piqued my curiosity even more. 

  I liked that this book addressed many current hot topics, bullying, "helicopter-moms," domestic abuse, and new family structure, just to name a few. I was amused by the "kindy moms" and their drama. 

   As with any book worth recommending, I felt for these characters. Madeline is tough and doesn't take any crap, she may be stubborn to a fault, but she is also loyal. Celeste is lost in daydreams and has a private social anxiety, she questions almost everything she says along with her actions. When most parents snub Jane and her sweet son these two women stand firm next to her, Madeline going into battle and Celeste's more quiet support. 

   This is a good mystery, what adds to that is the fact that you don't even know who's dead! And I believe this would be a good book club choice. There are so many issues brought up that are worth discussing.

A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro

From the Paperback:
   The highly acclaimed first novel by the author of The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go, A Pale View of Hills is the story of Etsuko, a Japanese woman now living along in England, dwelling on the recent suicide of her eldest daughter. In a story where the past and present confuse in a haunting and sometimes macabre way, she relives the scenes of Japan's devastation in the wake of World War II, even as she recounts the weirdness and calamities of her own life.

"Memory, I realize, can be an unreliable thing; often it is heavily coloured by the circumstances in which one remembers, and no doubt this applies to certain of the     recollections I have gathered here."

   Past and present twist together seamlessly in this book. Etsuko's youngest daughter is visiting after the suicide of her older daughter. The suicide brings back memories of an earlier time in Etsuko's life. She reminisces about her friend Sachiko and her daughter Mariko. The tale has an eerie feel to it, like something is just out of reach. I felt this the whole time I was reading about the past.
   This book was written with precision, the tone is almost formal. It was a little strange. I wouldn't recommend this book to the casual reader. If you like a book that piques your curiosity that isn't necessarily a simple read, this book could be for you.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

From the Paperback:
   Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no way or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community.
   When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now it's time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.

"...Jonas had experienced real sadness. He had felt grief. He knew there was no quick comfort for emotions like those." 

    The Giver is a dystopian novel focusing on a world made perfect. Every child belongs to a age group, every December each group gains a year. Each year a child gains a milestone, a bike at age nine, free time (to volunteer) at age eight, and their place in society, their jobs, at age 12.
   Life is very organized, peaceful, each family unit talks about their dreams every morning, they speak of feelings at dinner, they talk about everything, no secrets. Life is a closely followed routine. Jonas is happy in this life, then in his twelfth December he is chosen to be The Receiver. There is only one Receiver and it is very seldom is a receiver chosen. Jonas is the the Receiver of memories. Memories of a time before sameness.
  This is a book that made me ponder the things that are taken for granted. To have almost every minute of your life planned out takes away most decisions. What kind of life would it be to not feel pain? What kind of life would it be to not feel anything? No decisions, no pain, no love, no choice. When Jonas learns the truth of the past he finally has a choice to make.

6 Pages for Free and Bargain Kindle Books

   In my unending quest to find free or inexpensive Kindle books I've discovered a few websites that make my goal that much simpler. I receive multiple daily emails, two weekly emails and the occasional surprise! I prefer the sites that send me an email, that way I don't have to visit each site daily to find deals.

     1. Amazon

         Of course everything Kindle starts with Amazon. They offer a multitude of free and inexpensive Kindle books.
         By adjusting your email subscriptions (here) you can receive daily emails (Kindle Daily Deals) of books that generally range from $.99 to $2.99. You can also decide to get a monthly email (Amazon Kindle Delivers) that keeps you posted on monthly Kindle deals, which are normally $3.99 and lower.
         Another monthly email you may want to subscribe to is Kindle First. Prime members can choose one of four pre-release books for free (I just recently discovered this and feel ill about all the missed months behind me.) If you are not a Prime member you can still subscribe to this email and purchase one of these books at a reduced price.
         Last but not least, Prime members can borrow one book a month from the Kindle Owner's Lending Library with no due date, but you can only borrow one book at a time. Amazon will prompt you to return your current book before allowing you to borrow the next. Your borrowed book can only be read on an Amazon device, not with a Kindle reading app.

     2. eReaderIQ

         Though it is one of the first sites I discovered to help me find Kindle books, eReaderIQ has remained one of my favorites. This site will track the pricing of Kindle books on your Amazon wishlist and email you when a book hits the price you've selected. I've gotten so many great deals from this feature. It's fantastic if you don't mind waiting for the price to drop. I tend to borrow books from my library before making the decision to purchase them, so waiting for the right price doesn't bother me at all. This is the only website I've found that will actively check the books on your wishlist.

         There are numerous other ways to find deals on this super website. You can subscribe to a daily email, browse recent price drops, books under $1, and freebies. Each of these categories can be filtered by genre and length so you only see what you're interested in. You can also filter it to only see what's been added since your last visit to the site, so you don't have to sort through books you've already viewed. 

     3. OverDrive

         This is an app used with your local library (if your library has a membership.) As with traditional library books the lending is for a limited time, usually a couple weeks. I have practically forced all my Kindle loving friends to download this app! 

         Other than getting to read books for free without having to leave the comfort of my home, my favorite feature is the highlighting. Since you typically download the book directly from Amazon, you get the book in full Kindle format. Any highlights or notes you make are saved so that if you decide to purchase the book in the future you don't lose your marks from your first read. 

         This differs from the Kindle Owner's Lending Library. The book selection is more broad, you can get more than one book at a time, and most importantly, you can sync your progress to any device you read on with a Kindle app.

     4. BookBub

         BookBub is another that I receive daily emails from. I simply selected my favorite genres and my e-reader preference and each day they send me a list of books $2.99 and under. While the previous two sites focus on Kindle books, BookBub offers books in other formats including Google, Apple, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble. This site often has the date the deal will expire.

      5. Reading Deals

         Reading Deals doesn't have the ability to browse books but they will email you daily. Like BookBub they offer books from multiple retailers, you simply select the genres and retailers you're interested in.

     6. The eReader Cafe

         This is a site I recently discovered that emails me daily. On their site you can browse books by category. I'm still pretty new to this one but so far have found a couple books through their emails. 

   You would think getting so many daily emails would result in seeing a lot of the same book, but that doesn't happen too often. Of course it does happen on occasion but there are so many free books and I select a wide range of genres to be emailed about. 

   I also found this article that lists 25 Places to Get Free Kindle Books, some of the sites are new to me and I'm looking forward to checking out more great free books.

Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park

From Goodreads.com:
   He was tall, at least six feet, with dirty blond hair that hung over his eyes. His T-shirt read Nietzsche Is My Homeboy.
   So, that was Matt. Who Julie Seagle likes. A lot. But there is also Finn. Who she flat out loves.
   Complicated? Awkward? Completely.
   But really, how was this freshly-minted Boston transplant and newbie college freshman supposed to know that she would end up living with the family of an old friend of her mother's? This was all supposed to be temporary. Julie wasn't supposed to be important to the Watkins family, or to fall in love with one of the brothers. Especially the one she's never quite met. But what does that really matter? Finn gets her, like no one ever has before.
They have connection.
   But here's the thing about love, in all its twisty, bumpy permutations - it always throws you a few curves. And no one ever escapes unscathed.

Please notice, while I found this quote in Flat-out Love it is credited to Victor Hugo in the next paragraph.

     When I first started this book I wasn't very impressed, kind of your typical young adult book. I've been on a YA binge lately, but this book stood out from the rest.
   The book description barely mentions the beefiest part of the book. There's something seriously wrong in the Watkins' house. Thirteen-year-old Celeste carries around a life-size cardboard cut out of her brother Finn, who is travelling the world, and has no friends. Julie thinks something is up, but Matt won't tell her about it and advises against asking his parents. Both parents work a lot, leaving Matt to take care of Celeste. After they see how she cares about Celeste they ask Julie to stay for the school year. In exchange, she's to pick up Celeste from school and hang out with her, allowing Matt to concentrate more on his year at MIT. When no one will tell her what is going on she seeks Finn on Facebook hoping he will shed some light on the strange happenings. So starts their relationship.
   Was the book magnificently written with beautiful language? No. Could I put it down? No way. The love story got a little sappy I will admit (I rolled my eyes a couple times) but the mystery of what the heck was going on kept me hooked. I looked forward to the progress Julie was making with Celeste, and I liked the dialogue between Julie and Matt. I plan to read the next book, Flat-Out Matt, just as soon as I can.
 

Man's Seach for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

From the paperback:
   Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl's memoir has riveted generations of readers with its descriptions of life in Nazi death camps and its lessons for spiritual survival. Based on his own experience and the stories of his patients, Frankl argues that we cannot avoid suffering but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward. At the heart of his theory, known as logotherapy, is a conviction that the primary human drive is not pleasure but the pursuit of what we find meaningful. Man's Search for Meaning has become one of the most influential books in America; it continues to inspire us all to find significance in the very act of living.

"Forces beyond your control can take away everything you possess except one thing, your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation. You cannot control what happens to you in life, but you can always control what you will feel and do about what happens to you."

    I found this book on Instagram while browsing through quotes and I was grabbed by the quote along with the title. I've read The Diary of Anne Frank in school, and on my own I've read a bit of Holocaust fiction. Since I also have an interest in books of spiritual nature, I knew I had to read this book.
      In the first part Frankl tells us about his experiences in Nazi camps. He does so in a detached sort of way. While the experiences are heart wrenching the manner in which he tells them is simply matter of fact. It's difficult to explain, but I was not terribly emotionally stressed reading them (which surprised me.)
   The second half was a basic description of Frankl's theory called logotherapy. It was a little technical at first but after the first few sections it started making more sense.  This is a branch of phychology that I haven't heard much about, but since reading this I want to find out more.
   I know it seems obvious, but I recommend this to people who may be looking for meaning in their life. The title sells itself. It's more than meaning in life though. There are valuable lessons about controlling what you can and trying to accept those things you cannot.

The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon

From Goodreads.com:
   It is 1968. Lynnie, a young white woman with a developmental disability, and Homan, an African American deaf man, are locked away in an institution, the School for the Incurable and Feebleminded, and have been left to languish, forgotten. Deeply in love, they escape, and find refuge in the farmhouse of Martha, a retired schoolteacher and widow. But the couple is not alone-Lynnie has just given birth to a baby girl. When the authorities catch up to them that same night, Homan escapes into the darkness, and Lynnie is caught. But before she is forced back into the institution, she whispers two words to Martha: "Hide her." And so begins the 40-year epic journey of Lynnie, Homan, Martha, and baby Julia-lives divided by seemingly insurmountable obstacles, yet drawn together by a secret pact and extraordinary love.

  It took a few chapters for me to become immersed but The Story of Beautiful Girl is marvelous. This is a pleasantly written novel exploring love and faith. The summary from Goodreads sums it up very well but there are a few things it doesn't tell you. Lynnie is not stupid just a little slow. She decided to quit talking when she realized that talking could get you into trouble at the School. Homan is only deaf, he has no way to communicate with others. He uses hand signs but no one cares enough to try to learn what he has to say, until Lynnie. They make a plan to run away and are successful for three days during which Lynnie gives birth.
   The story is told from a few different perspectives which is necessary given the many different paths characters follow over this 43-year journey. One of my favorite characters in this book is Kate, an attendant at the School who takes a special interest in Lynnie. She has private meetings with Lynnie encouraging her to draw pictures after noticing her mopping in swirls. She even has Homan join them sometimes after noticing their fondness for each other.
   I liked the uncommon characters created in this novel. I haven't discovered many books with main characters that are developmentally flawed. I thought that the perspectives presented were true enough to people who have similar disabilities. If you like to read something a little different I'd recommend this.

Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

From Goodreads.com
1987. There's only one person who has ever truly understood fourteen-year-old June Elbus, and that's her uncle, the renowned painter Finn Weiss. Shy at school and distant from her older sister, June can only be herself in Finn's company; he is her godfather, confidant, and best friend. So when he dies, far too young, of a mysterious illness her mother can barely speak about, June's world is turned upside down. But Finn's death brings a surprise acquaintance into June's life - someone who will help her to heal, and to question what she thinks she knows about Finn, her family, and
even her own heart.
   At Finn's funeral, June notices a strange man lingering just beyond the crowd. A few days later, she receives a package in the mail. Inside is a beautiful teapot she recognizes from Finn's apartment, and a note from Toby, the stranger, asking for an opportunity to meet. As the two begin to spend time together, June realizes she's not the only one who misses Finn, and if she can bring herself to trust this unexpected friend, he just might be the one she needs the most.

   Tell the Wolves I'm Home is one of the most beautifully sad books I've read. When it starts, you know June's heart is going to be broken by her uncle's death. Oh, how I felt for June. It's hard when someone you love passes and everyone else sort of makes it seem like it's just another day, when you feel like you're the only one who misses your loved one and no one else seems to want to talk about it. June feels so alone when she gets the teapot and letter from Toby, who her family hates, and so begins their tenuous "clandestine" friendship. It's a tale of healing and those that help you along the way.
  This novel is about June's personal journey, but her older sister, Greta, is having her own crisis as well. The sisters' relationship is a big point in this book. They used to be best friends, now Greta is mean to June, she's the 'perfect' one; popular, talented, smart. June is...I don't want to say weird, but really she's in her own renaissance world, she spends her days dreaming of another time and has no friends. Their parents are accountants and this takes place during tax season, while they are present, their absence is what matters.
   This book is a tearjerker, I wanted to cry within the first few chapters, June's sense of loss is just so immense. I recommend Tell the Wolves I'm Home to fans of The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

From the paperback:
   Between 1854 and 1929, so-called orphan trains ran regularly from the cities of the East Coast to the farmlands of the Midwest, carrying thousands of abandoned children whose fates would be determined by pure luck. Would they be adopted by a kind and loving family, or would they face a childhood and adolescence of hard labor and servitude?
   As a young Irish immigrant, Vivian Daly was one such child, sent by rail from New York City to an uncertain future a world away. Returning east later in life, Vivian leads a quiet, peaceful existence on the coast of Maine, the memories of her upbringing rendered a hazy blur. But in her attic, hidden in trunks, are vestiges of a turbulent past.
   Seventeen-year-old Molly Ayer knows that a community-service position helping an elderly widow clean out her attic is the only thing keeping her out of juvenile hall. But as Molly helps Vivian sort through her keepsakes and possessions, she discovers that she and Vivian aren't as different as they appear. A Penobscot Indian who has spent her youth in and out of foster homes, Molly is also an outsider being raised by strangers, and she, too, has unanswered questions about the past.
   Moving between contemporary Maine and Depression-era Minnesota, Orphan Train is a powerful tale of upheaval and resilience, second chances, and unexpected friendship.

   First, how did I have no idea orphan trains ever existed?! I wonder how this is a part of American history that seems to be completely forgotten or at least overlooked. At the back of the book there is a small section titled A Short History of the Real Orphan Trains. It contains a very brief history and a few pictures with descriptions. I recommend taking a look at this section before reading the book. It contains no spoilers but for someone  completely unfamiliar with this I think it would be helpful before delving into the book.
  There isn't a whole lot to say about Orphan Train that isn't said in the description on the paperback. If you're a reader who is discouraged by jumps in time (I know you're out there,) have no fear! This book clearly states at the beginning of each chapter which time you're reading about and also what city/town you're in.
   I did love this book. It is just under 300 pages but reads much quicker than that. The story flows very nicely and the language is beautiful yet simple. The main characters are easy to sympathize with and there are a few characters you will hate. It's got a little bit of everything really, plus a look into a time that is nearly forgotten.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

From Goodreads.com:
"Days before his release from prison, Shadow's wife, Laura, dies in a mysterious car crash. Numbly, he makes his way back home. On the plane, he encounters the enigmatic Mr Wednesday, who claims to be a refugee from a distant war, a former god and the king of America.
  Together they embark on a profoundly strange journey across the heart of the USA, whilst all around them a storm of preternatural and epic proportions threatens to break.
  Scary, gripping and deeply unsettling, American Gods takes a long, hard look into the soul of America. You'll be surprised by what and who it finds there..."

"Gods die. And when they truly die they are unmourned and unremembered. Ideas are more difficult to kill than people, but they can be killed, in the end."

This is the first book by Neil Gaiman I ever read. I must admit I became an instant fan. American Gods is said to be a road trip for Shadow after three years in prison. It is that, however it is so much more. It's a tale of gods; old gods, new gods, and many forgotten gods, totems, legends and idols. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but it had my full attention immediately. The synopsis did not prepare me for the book that followed. I was thrown into a world that I had no idea existed, where places of power are tourist attractions. I got brief glimpses of gods and idols I have never heard of.
  I'd give this book a chance if you like Stephen King and have yet to discover Neil Gaiman.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

From the hardcover:
Cath is a Simon Snow fan.
Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan.... But for Cath, being a fan is her life - and she's really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it's what got them through their mother leaving.
   Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fanfiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.
   Cath's sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can't let go. She doesn't want to.
   Now that they're going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn't want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She's got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend; a fiction-writing professor who thinks fanfiction is the end of the civilized world; a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words...and she can't stop worrying about her dad, who's loving and fragile and has never really been alone.
   For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

Fangirl is one of the cutest books I've read in a while. Even though I'm not really into fanfiction I still loved this book. It's hard when you're an introvert and entirely out of your comfort zone. We've all been there, absolutely no fun. Almost this whole book is a testament to that. I felt for Cath like I have for so many other introverted characters. The paragraph I chose for a quote sums it up pretty well I think. 

   Fanfiction was a huge part of this book with excerpts from Cath's writings. There were also small snaps from the Simon Snow books. I was slightly annoyed by these. The shorter entries weren't a problem, but at times Cath was reading large portions, and I almost skipped them. I was so anxious to find out more of the book's story, but I just couldn't skip them. I was too worried there would be relevant information in the fanfic. Annoying they may have been, but it in no way effected my overall adoration of this book. 

   This book made me laugh out loud multiple times. Busting out a laugh while reading earned me quite a few confusing looks from my lovely dog. Having a goofy grin on my face like a smitten kid was less noticeable, but I am glad I was not reading this in public. That's the kind of book this is. Whether you're an introvert or not this book will make you laugh and "awe!" And if you're not an introvert it may just offer a little look into the anxieties your introverted friend probably has.

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

From the hardcover:
The year is 2059. Paige Mahoney is working in the criminal underworld of Scion London. Her job: to scout for information by breaking into people's minds. For Paige is a dreamwalker, a rare kind of clairvoyant - and under Scion law, she commits treason simply by breathing.
   It is raining the day her life changes forever. Attacked, kidnapped, and drugged, Paige is transported to Oxford - a city kept secret for two hundred years, governed by an otherworldly race called the Rephaim who seek to control clairvoyants for their own purposes. Paige is assigned to the care of Warden, a powerful Rephaite. He is her captor. But if she wants to regain her freedom, she will have to get close to him, to learn something of his mind and his own mysterious motives.
   The Bone Season introduces a compelling heroine, a young woman discovering her powers in a world where everything has been taken from her. It also introduces an extraordinary young writer with huge ambition and a teeming imagination. Samantha Shannon has created a bold new reality in this riveting debut.

"There was no normal. There never had been. 'Normal' and 'natural' were the biggest lies we'd ever created."

The first chapter read like a different language. I thought there was no way I would make it through but I'm not one to give up that easily. You have to make it at least three chapters in before it starts to make sense. Now I can't believe I have to wait for the second book, why do I do this to myself?
   Paige is a likable heroine, she has all the qualities you should look for in any hero; special, persistent, strong moral code. I think I was more captivated by the world created than the character. She lives in a world where clairvoyance is not uncommon, though it is illegal. There are seven different types of clairvoyant, some more common than others, of course she is one of the most uncommon.
   The Rephaim use human clairvoyants as slaves. Those who pass their tests become a type of protector charged with keeping the mysterious creatures that feast on flesh out of Seoul I (Oxford.) Those who do not pass are left to live in squalor only called on to be entertainment for the Rephaim. No one can leave once they are there.
  I'm left with a lot of questions after finishing this book. There could be so much more to this world and I look forward to seeing it develop. If you like to read fantasy or books dealing with the supernatural I recommend this book.

The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka

From the paperback:
 A gorgeous novel by the celebrated author of When the Emperor Was Divine that tells the story of a group of young women brought from Japan to San Francisco as "picture brides" nearly a century ago.
   In eight unforgettable sections, The Buddha in the Attic traces the extraordinary lives of these women, from their arduous journey by boat, to their arrival in San Francisco and their tremulous first nights as new wives: from their experience raising children who would later reject their culture and language, to the deracinating arrival of war. Once again, Julie Otsuka has written a spellbinding novel about identity and loyalty, and what it means to be an American in uncertain times.

"We forgot about Buddha. We forgot about God. We developed a coldness inside us that still has not thawed. I fear my soul has died. We stopped writing home to our mothers. We lost weight and grew thin. We stopped bleeding. We stopped dreaming. We stopped wanting."

The Buddha in the Attic is different from nearly everything I've read. Almost the entire book is told in first person plural (my first experience with this) really making it feel like an entire people were dealing with the same but different situation (which they were.) Sentences scattered throughout were italicized and in the first person, which felt to me that it was taken directly from a journal entry from one of the many women depicted. Since it was told from this viewpoint I didn't get the strong connection to a character I usually develop, instead I felt for a whole group of women, making it both easier and harder at the same time.
   This book is written so elegantly it almost felt like poetry. Beautiful yet concise, not mincing or wasting words, it tells of a time in America that shouldn't be forgotten.
   You do not have to love beautiful writing to enjoy this book, but if you do, read on. This is a shorter book so I also recommend it if you don't have much time to devote to reading.

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier

From the Kindle edition:
Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes is the utterly beguiling tale of a ten-year-old orphan who has been forced into a life of crime. One fateful afternoon, Peter steals a mysterious box that contains three magical pairs of eyes. When he tries the first pair, he is instantly transported to a hidden island where he is presented with a special quest: to travel beyond the known world and rescue a lost kingdom from its treacherous ruler. With the help of the Fantastic Eyes and some unlikely friends, Peter embarks on an unforgettable, swashbuckling adventure to save a people in need - and to discover his destiny.

"You may have observed in your own lives that there is a great power in storytelling. A well-spun tale can transport listeners away from their humdrum lives and return them with an enlarged sense of the world."

 Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes is just such a tale. I can easily see it becoming a modern day classic for young readers. The writing is clearly geared towards a younger audience but I enjoyed it immensely. I found myself snickering out loud at some of the distinctions Jonathan Auxier makes between children and adults. I have no doubt kids see things through the eyes (so to say) of Peter Nimble.
   Peter was cautioned at the beginning of his adventure to trust his instincts and Sir Tode was told he'd need to be Peter's eyes. Peter and Sir Tode find themselves in some pretty difficult situations, but what is a quest without hard choices and a few mistakes?
  This is a good tale of friendship, loyalty, and trusting yourself. This would be a great book for a young reader, I'm not sure what age exactly, but I think ten (the same age as Peter Nimble) might be appropriate. I also think this is a great book for adults to read because it's fun to follow the steps and thoughts of a blind ten-year-old orphan, who also happens to be the greatest thief ever.

Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern

From the Hardcover:
Amy and Matthew didn't know each other, really. They weren't friends. Matthew remembered her, sure, but he remembered a lot of people from elementary school that he wasn't friends with now.
   Matthew never planned to tell Amy what he thought of her cheerful facade, but after he does, Amy realizes she needs someone like him in her life.
   As they begin to spend more time with each other, Amy learns that Matthew has his own secrets and she decides to try to help him in the same way he's helped her. And when what started out as a friendship turns into something neither of them expected, they realize that they tell each other everything-except the one thing that matters most.

"Let's don't wait forever for our lives to start. Let's begin them ourselves. Let's be fearless for once and say, we can do this."

I was browsing at the library when the font on this book spine caught my eye, then the title, not that I was looking for another book to add to my already borrowed collection. What the synopsis on the book doesn't tell you is that Amy has cerebral palsy and Matthew suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder. Cue one great love story.
   In their junior year of high school Matthew tells Amy something he doesn't mean to, that she doesn't have any friends because she's constantly in the company of aides. Amy then has this idea to hire students to be her aides during her senior year. She specifically emails Matthew that summer to ask him to apply for one of the positions.
   I was perplexed that Amy only had four aides. She was supposed have one for each day, but there are only four. I kept wondering what happened to the fifth day of the week. Sarah is Monday, Sanjay is Tuesday, Chloe is either Wednesday or Thursday, and Matthew is Friday, after a while I gave up trying to find the lost day. I decided maybe there was something I missed about Amy only going to school four days a week (I really don't think I would have missed that though.)
   Aside from that slightly distracting issue, the book was good, an unconventional love story.  Goodreads.com described it as "The Fault in Our Stars meets...Eleanor & Park." I can see Eleanor & Park with a hint of Wonder by R.J. Palacio and The Fault in Our Stars. That being said, the story is it's own. Say What You Will is definitely worth the read, I worried the whole time that it would break my heart and kept going at a quick pace to find out how it ended.

The Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Francisco X. Stork

From the Hardcover:
DEATH
It surrounds Pancho. His father, in an accident. His sister, murdered. His own plans to trace her killer. And D.Q. - a guy Pancho's age who's dying of cancer.
  That is, if he'll ever shut up.
LOVE
D.Q. is writing the Death Warrior Manifesto, a guide to living out his last days fully. He needs just one more thing: the love of the beautiful Marisol. But as Pancho tracks down his sister's murderer, he finds himself falling for Marisol as well...
FAITH
And choices that seemed right and straightforward become tender, tentative, real. While D.Q. faces his own crisis of doubt, Pancho is inexorably drawn to a decision: to revenge his sister and her death, or to embrace the way of the Death Warrior and choose life.

"What if everyone is given a task we're to work on and if possible complete while we're living on this earth? What if before we are born and assigned bodies, all our souls stand in a line in heaven, and as we get ready to come down, an angel gives us a little slip of paper that says what we have to do? Only the message is written in a language that we forget how to speak as soon as we get down here. But the message on that little piece of paper is still deep inside us, and our job is to remember, to recollect it, and then go about doing what it says."

This was a little slow to start, but once you get going it's magnificent. I didn't feel the characters in my soul, but I did feel the entire story. Who hasn't wondered at their purpose in life?
   Pancho is determined not to let D.Q. get to him, he doesn't want to care and he doesn't want anyone to think that he might. As he tracks his sister's killer he knows that he will end up in prison for it. He feels like he just needs to do this one thing before his life is forfeit.
   D.Q. is determined to live the rest of his life on his terms in spite of his mother's forceful will to cure his cancer. D.Q. has chosen Pancho to be with him while he goes through the treatments his mother has insisted he try. All the time D.Q. tries to show Pancho the ways of a Death Warrior, to make Pancho appreciate the life he has left.
   This book should be read by everyone. It's a story about learning how to really live and enjoy life regardless of your circumstances. I would particularly recommend it if you loved The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. I know that book is widely loved, but this book has some similar themes and it doesn't crush your soul. This is not a love story, it is a tale of a friendship.

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

From the Paperback:
At the turn of the nineteenth century on a tobacco plantation in Virginia, young, white Lavinia, who was orphaned  on her passage from Ireland, arrives on the steps of the kitchen house and is placed under the care of Belle, the master's illegitimate, black daughter. Lavinia learns to cook, clean, serve food, and cherish the quiet strength and love of her new family.
   In time, Lavinia is accepted into the world of the big house, caring for the master's opium-addicted wife and befriending his dangerous yet protective son. She attempts to straddle the worlds of the kitchen and big house, but her skin color will forever set her apart from Belle and the other slaves.
   Through the unique eyes of Lavinia and Belle, Kathleen Grissom's debut novel unfolds in a heartbreaking and ultimately hopeful story of class, race, dignity, deep-buried secrets, and familial bonds.

"What the color is, who the daddy be, who the mama is don't mean nothin'. We a family, carin' for each other. Family make us strong in times of trouble. We all stick together, help each other out. That the real meanin' of family."

A friend at work has been telling me about this book for years. When she finally brought her copy I wasn't convinced that it would be as great as she claimed, I was wrong. Once again, I have felt more for a fictional character than is reasonable. I read this book in a day. Lavinia just crawls right into your heart with her naive mind, open heart, and unfailing loyalty. How could you not love this freckled girl with fire-red hair?
  This book is exactly what the back claims, "heartbreaking and ultimately hopeful." I've been reading an abundance of sad books recently, and while this had some sadness in it, the story was ultimately about family and loyalty. The author skirts around most of the more violent scenes (thank goodness) but you still know exactly what happened.
   If you like The Help by Kathryn Stockett you need to read this book. It grabbed my attention faster than The Queen of Palmyra by Minrose Gwin, I had no trouble getting into this book.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

From Goodreads.com:
   Marie-Laure lives with her father in Paris within walking distance of the Museum of Natural History where he works as the master of the locks (there are thousands of locks in the museum). When she is six, she goes blind, and her father builds her a model of their neighborhood, every house, every manhole, so she can memorize it with her fingers and navigate the real streets with her feet and cane. When the Germans occupy Paris, father and daughter flee to Saint-Malo on the Brittany coast, where Marie-Laure's agoraphobic great uncle lives in a tall, narrow house by the sea wall.
   In another world in Germany, an orphan boy, Werner, grows up with his younger sister, Jutta, both enchanted by a crude radio Werner finds. He becomes a master at building and fixing radios, a talent that wins him a place at an elite and brutal military academy and, ultimately, makes him a highly specialized tracker of the Resistance. Werner travels through the heart of Hitler Youth to the far-flung outskirts of Russia, and finally into Saint-Malo, where his path converges with Marie-Laure.
   Doerr's gorgeous combination of soaring imagination with observation is electric. Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, Doerr illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another. Ten years in the writing, All the Light We Cannot See is his most ambitious and dazzling work.

"You know the greatest lesson of history? It's that history is whatever the victors say it is. That's the lesson. Whoever wins, that's who decides the history. We act in our own self-interest. of course we do. Name me a person or a nation who does not. The trick is figuring out where your interests are."

  Werner was small for his age and always had a hard time not doing what was expected of him. I can't imagine living during this period in time, being swept up into the atmosphere and feeling, the whole time, that something wasn't right and at the same time, being so afraid of those in charge that you feel as if you have no choice. Werner was such an innocent, he just wanted an education, to be able to make something of himself instead of going to the mines that boys from his home were funneled into to work. I'm not even sure what to say about Marie-Laure, she was so cherished by those who knew her and brave. She was so brave, even if she didn't see it that way.
   I loved Marie-Laure, but I felt more for Werner. The supporting characters are just as beautiful as the main. Marie-Laure's great uncle Etienne, Jutta, the giant Volkheimer, Marie-Laure's papa, I liked them all.
  This book is magnetic. It jumps back and forth in time but always tells you the month and year for each Part. I feel like I've made new friends that I will need to visit from time to time. I went on their journeys and lived their lives and cannot leave them for long.