Review: I Liked My Life

I Liked My Life by Abby Fabiaschi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very enjoyable debut novel. I liked my life opens with the aftermath of a wife and mother, Maddy, committing suicide. She is still in the atmosphere and is somehow able to transmit thoughts and feelings to her family who are completely devasted by her death.

Her family consisted on Brady, her husband, Eve, her daughter and Meg, her sister. Everyone loved Maddy and she was very wise. Each of the members of the family have to learn to continue living without Maddy to help and encourage them and each one has guilt feelings that they didn't do enough for Maddy and took her for granted.

The story is told in alternating voices in the first person and this was the best way to get close to each character and understand each of them.

A very unique story and good read.

Review: The Lightkeeper's Daughters

The Lightkeeper's Daughters by Jean E. Pendziwol
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Terrific book. The setting is perfect Lake Superior and its easy to see that the author comes from that area in Canada. Her descriptions and the way she can make you "feel" the lake is fantastic.

My only complaint is that I feel I have read this story previously, or something quite similar. The Light Between The Oceans comes to mind. Although the stories are different, there did seem to be a "theme".

But anyway, back to this book. It is a terrific story and I could never have anticipated the ending. The main characters are twins Elizabeth and Emily. Elizabeth is now in a nursing facility and has been given a set of journals that her father wrote during his life when working as a keeper at Lake Superior near Thunder Bay. Since Elizabeth is almost blind, a young girl who is doing community service duties, has been reading from the journals aloud for her.

An excellent read.

Review: Don't Let Go

Don't Let Go by Harlan Coben
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have read many Harlan Coban novels and loved most of them.

Fifteen years ago Nap's twin brother was killed, or, he could have committed suicide. Nap has been searching for the reasons for many years.

Unfortunately I found the story was drawn out and very far fetched.

Review: A History of Loneliness

A History of Loneliness by John Boyne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

John Boyne is one of my all time favourite authors. He has really hit the target with this book.

When Odran Yates was a boy in Ireland, his father committed suicide taking his youngest son with him. This was a huge blow to the family. His mother turned to religion and eventually influenced Odran in joining the church and to become a priest.

Over the years Odran has had hints of the behaviour of some of his colleagues but always turned the other way. Eventually though, he does have to admit that he was aware of certain abuses that the priests were guilty of. How awful to have to realize that you were in a position to stop the abuse of small children and were able to change their lives, but that you did nothing.

An excellent read.