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.

Review: Water from My Heart

Water from My Heart by Charles Martin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have loved every book that I have read by this author. It is a story with many sides. Charlie is a drug dealer and has done a lot of bad things. Not the least of which was bankrupting a coffee plantation in Nicuragua and robbing many people of their livlihood. Eventually he is made to see clearly exactly how it affected people and it was an awakening for him.

The story at the back of the book tells the true events that happened in 1998 in Nicuragua from a hurricane and mud slides that killed thousands of people.

An excellent, eye opener and an excellent read.

Review: The Abduction

The Abduction by John Grisham
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Interesting YA story. Theo's friend April seems to have been abducted and the whole town is looking for her. They are afraid that she had been taken by an excaped prisoner who was a distant cousin of her family. April doesn't have good parental guidance and is left on her own most of the time.

There were some very funny aspects to the story that made me laugh right out loud.

Review: A Spark of Light

A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was excited to get this book from the library after being on hold for ages. I really wanted to like it as I have liked so many books from this author. Unfortunately I just didn't click with the book. I wondered if my book had been published incorrectly because it seemed to be very repetitive saying the same things over and over in much the same ways. It was very preachy as well. It seemed to use a reverse chronology (or something). The abortion scenes were a bit much IMO as well.

I know that most people will love this book so I am in the minority with this one.

Review: The Next Person You Meet in Heaven

The Next Person You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another feel good, thought provoking story by Mitch Albom.

Annie, the girl who had the accident in the amusement park years before, finally finds her true love. But on the first morning of their marriage a terrible accident occurs. Annie is transported to the next step of her journey in heaven. This is a continuation of his book, The Five People You Meet In Heaven.

Mitch Albom books often (to me) feel like warm water being spread over a cold body and giving such a feeling of comfort and peace.

An excellent read.