Elizabeth E

I was provided this book under the agreement that I would give it an honest and impartial review.
As a whole, I like the idea. I could see this as a storyline tweens and younger might really get into. Countryside is about a young boy discovering a secret alternate realm and he has magical powers. Very Harry Potter-esque in broad outline. There are clear and important differences, though. As said, I liked the storyline. But I found the execution a little slow and disjointed. Sometimes the plot is obvious, with teasers hinting the way, and other times events happy that are never actually explained. This is a series, and all great series leave just enough out to keep your interest. Perhaps this series just needed a longer introduction.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book pulled me in from the beginning, and I couldn't stop reading. The brutal reality of Daniel's childhood is heartbreaking. The innocence and simplicity of an idyllic childhood was ripped from his reach. Possibly the worst and best realization is how a lack of memories from before the orphanage is likely the root of Daniel's hope and naivety for a better future, as he fought to survive in a world that was doing everything to crush the light in his soul and beat him down.

The tentative bonds of friendship and family formed among the children who escaped from the orphanage. Their limited options for survival. The cruel reality that prevented them from ever finding surety, safety, the love of the families they didn't know if had lost them or abandoned them.

This is an important read. A view at the harshness of life. War. Death. Rape. The forgotten people outside society, the forgotten people within society. I completely recommend this book.

I love a good conspiracy tale. Overall, this was a pleasant book that kept me engaged. I like the weaving together of historical events and information on the narrative of fiction. I love the premise of Sergio, as a global mastermind behind some notorious unsolved crimes of the past century. Unsolved crimes are the perfect basis for a thriller, and Lurye picked ones rife with controversy. I also love the meta nature of a novel about writing a novel, as if Lurye's novel might be real and is being spun as fiction for culpability reasons, just as was initially suggested to Max when he first acquired the Marshall archive. Definitely worth the read, and will pass this book along to other readers.

Some critiques are that the alternation of chapters between Max and Sergio was somewhat repetitive down to the same details instead of sharing new information. Also, some details labored on were never explained: such as Sergio's mysterious youthfulness; the uniqueness of his eyes only used to reveal familial ties to Alex at the island; the backstory of Richard written off as “there was plenty they had not yet told each other” when it seems completely unlike Sergio to leave such a loose end; and then the revelation by Sergio at the end that Max's unlikely exposure to Sergio's face in photos from separate events, Max's running into Jia to gain access to the Chinese mafia, and Richard's knowledge of a Bosch collector are true coincidences. There was almost a parallel that Max was “lucky” like Sergio in the way that the universe seemed to tip in their favor at every turn, but that was not developed further. I think there was an early theme of the parallels between Max and Sergio, until we learn Sergio has a son, especially in their proclivities for love interest in women too young. There were also misused words, abrupt transitions between time gaps, etc. scattered throughout that didn't distract too much, but we're notable.

Again, I liked this book overall. Would recommend.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a touching story of forbidden love between US citizen, Theo, and North Korean citizen, Min. While the budding romance was very predictable, I really liked that Min's life was the focus. The narrative unfolds in time with Min's backstory, starting with her grandmother, who lived before the Korean War and experienced a deep and passionate love with her husband who died in the war. Cuckoo, the grandmother, then raised her son as a single mother and never remarried, always holding a torch for her lost Kwang Sik. Their son, Chul Woo, grew up fully under North Korean communist regime, resenting life without a father, putting that need for acceptance into his participation in being a proper citizen. This is reflected in his wife, Han Na, being the building inminbanjang in charge of random searches of all apartments on their block and knowing everything about everyone. Chul Woo's and Han Na's only child is Min, our lead protagonist. She is in her early 20's, oblivious to her own beauty, perfectly conformed to the strict observance and teachings from her parents, and an accomplished tour guide. The gist is that the tour guides focus on tourist propaganda, taking tourists to the highlights of North Korean accomplishment for the amazing life in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) under the leadership of the Great Leader, Kim Il-sung, and Dear Leader, Kim Jong-il. The underlining message throughout being that Min has accomplished the optimal outward expression of neutrality so her emotions never give away what she's supposed to do or say. Min is on the path for optimal accomplishment within this life until her father is assigned to design a grand theme park. To enhance this theme park, they want the tallest roller coaster in the world to be built. This is where Theo comes in. He just happens to be the best roller coaster engineer in the world. And more importantly, he grew up in a cold and loveless family who beat him down to have no emotional connections to other humans. He is not a smooth talking, highly accomplished engineer with love interests across his life. The perfect candidate to survive working in North Korea without stirring the pit through some other character flaw. He instead is the most straightforward and honest person who the DPRK leaders want specifically to aid their propaganda of North Korea being the best place in the world. Min and her guide partner, Yun Seok, are assigned to accompany and translate everything for Theo during his nine month stay in North Korea.

The rest is pretty predictable. They dislike each other at first, but slowly by physically being in each other's presence all day every day for nine months, fall in love. The allure for Min being that Theo's transparency and focus on his task makes him the sole person in her life who has ever been open and honest with her. As well as displaying kindness, genuine interest, and no ulterior motives to use her in some way. In reciprocation, Theo seems oblivious to Min the woman until he realizes her chameleon-like behavior, which we are led to believe all N Korean citizens would portray, is disarming enough that he feels safe revealing dark and personal details about himself because of his dismissal of her power and temporary nature of her presence in his life. This trope is not my favorite. I dislike the idea that they develop a bond so strong, worth holding onto the rest of their lives, like Min's grandmother, when the message is that Theo never really appreciated Min until after she literally put her and her family's lives in jeopardy to make a move on Theo. Min responding to sentiments and behaviors from Theo that mark the most basic of standards for interacting with humans. While that “connection” gets played out in other books ad nauseam, it works here due to the portrayal of life under the DPRK regime. What I appreciate is that the story is still following Min's growth as a person. Her fondness for Theo revealing the flaws of her life and the hypocrisy of the propaganda she's built her life around.

Ultimately I really liked this book because so much focuses on Min and her inner thoughts, needs, desires. Her spark of rebellion and understanding and ability to gain new perspectives. In essence, her humanity. Theo's character was less well developed and lacking as much conviction for me. I also really loved Cuckoo's character, though I'd have liked more backstory from her perspective as well as the father's, Chul Woo. But that's simply because I wanted to know more about how those characters worked, all to better understand Min more.

Overall I recommend this book. A bit of history, a bit of romance, and a compelling main character. Worth the read!

I think every person should read this book. A simple, if a little repetitive, set of arguments explaining why men need to take responsibility for their contribution to pregnancy. And for the anti-choicers, you especially should read this and redirect your efforts toward enforcing men to ejaculate responsibly.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
And truly what a delight! Parks will keep you on your toes as you uncover the narrative from the perspectives of Jenny and Nate, a married couple. Each chapter weaves in a new twist. It's honestly rare to find crime and mystery novels that aren't predictable from the very first chapter. He dangles just enough breadcrumbs each chapter to keep you enthralled, without being repetitive, predictable, or shallow. Even where the narrative is obvious, and you start questioning why a logical man like Nate wouldn't just communicate with his wife, Parks brilliantly layers in complexity to lead your mind in one direction to shock you from another.

There are some cringeworthy moments like Nate's occasional narcissistic self-promotion or the slight misogynist stereotypes against Jenny's superwoman nature, but those moments often tie into plot points. Overall I highly recommend this book. If you want excellent execution, no distracting grammar or typos, an overall cohesive and engaging plot, and characters that will keep you guessing, then this is the book for you. If I could, I would give this an extra star. Will definitely be seeking out more by this author.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fantastic mystery fiction weaved into the historical details around Agatha Christie's country home the Greenway House during WWII evacuation of children from the bombings in London.

I love that this was spun as an adjacent story happening at the home of the notorious murder author. The evolution of the nurses' motivations. And the very real background of wartime (that no one knew when would end), loss and death, life through the eyes of children, and the human capacity to persevere and adapt.

My only critique is that I would have loved an expanded Author's Note to better detail the historical from fiction. I'm a lover of history, so it would have been fascinating to have a clearer understanding of the nuances between the details.

This is a fast read, will keep you interested, and you won't regret picking up a copy.

A really good book. I think the first time I've seen a book focused on wetlands in an approachable way that connects all the stories of people affected by sea level rise, up and down the East and West coasts. Presenting the stories, strategies, and options facing the communities, flora, and fauna at risk.