The Lion's Den is an expression of irony and intentions, and an austere reflection of familial forgiveness that tests the boundaries of protection andThe Lion's Den is an expression of irony and intentions, and an austere reflection of familial forgiveness that tests the boundaries of protection and love. A fragrant display of a complicated father-son relationship is epitomized in this 28 page short story. Do two wrongs make a right?
Michael returns home to live with his parents after losing his job and becoming evicted, though to those around it seems an act of familial love since his dad is in his last stage of cancer. Michael is asked to speak at his former school, and after he accepts he reflects on his school days and the stages of his development into an adult. He recalls his fathers arrest during this time and the strain it had on their family for many years after. As a desperate and angry twenty-two year old, Michael had written and published a memoir about his father that exposed his fathers poor choices. Now, in the last stage of his life, Michael's dad has one last unexpected arrangement waiting for Michael.
Has time and experience healed their relationship? Will Michael always see his dad as a felon? Is Michael any different than his father, Michael having exposed his dad through a memoir while his dad illegally exposed private NSA documents? How do we measure immorality and crime?
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own.
Merged review:
The Lion's Den is an expression of irony and intentions, and an austere reflection of familial forgiveness that tests the boundaries of protection and love. A fragrant display of a complicated father-son relationship is epitomized in this 28 page short story. Do two wrongs make a right?
Michael returns home to live with his parents after losing his job and becoming evicted, though to those around it seems an act of familial love since his dad is in his last stage of cancer. Michael is asked to speak at his former school, and after he accepts he reflects on his school days and the stages of his development into an adult. He recalls his fathers arrest during this time and the strain it had on their family for many years after. As a desperate and angry twenty-two year old, Michael had written and published a memoir about his father that exposed his fathers poor choices. Now, in the last stage of his life, Michael's dad has one last unexpected arrangement waiting for Michael.
Has time and experience healed their relationship? Will Michael always see his dad as a felon? Is Michael any different than his father, Michael having exposed his dad through a memoir while his dad illegally exposed private NSA documents? How do we measure immorality and crime?
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own....more
Yunus is a fourty-four year old bus driver in Tehran. Gathered at a bus drivers strike, things quickly intensify and chaos ensues. Violence breaks outYunus is a fourty-four year old bus driver in Tehran. Gathered at a bus drivers strike, things quickly intensify and chaos ensues. Violence breaks out and one thing leads to another. Yunus is arrested and sent to Evin Prison where he fights to hold onto the truth. The corruption of the justice system is exposed during his time in prison and later when he goes to trial.
After he is arrested, stories alternate between interrogations and flashbacks. The flashbacks occur during the 1970’s-2005 for Yunus. Most flashbacks focus on his relationships. Though there are flashbacks, the majority of the book takes place in Evin prison.
His time in prison when he was alone without his interrogator made me slightly bored. For example, there were pages about his turd, masturbation, and another about a string. (Though very well-written pages about his turd.) At these moments, it felt like it was taking a long time to reach the resolution. The character Yunus is not a very interesting character. It’s hard to really make a strong connection with him because he is such an unremarkable guy. The political situation surrounding him keeps it interesting.
The prose is beyond beautiful. It is the star of the book and caused me to look forward to reading more. I loved A. Arian's use of language and will be looking for his next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy. Opinions are my own....more
Chapters alternate without pattern between characters and animals. The prose is rich in figurative language and the premise is original.
Overall, this Chapters alternate without pattern between characters and animals. The prose is rich in figurative language and the premise is original.
Overall, this was just an okay read for me. It has a strong premise. The foundation of the novel lays concretely in animal rights and measures the value of animals. But, to me there was nothing beyond that. Although I thought Anse was interesting, I didn't feel connected to him or the rest of the characters. The storyline skipped around and I was confused about several scenes; I found myself re-reading quite often in order to grasp some sort of understanding of what exactly was happening. After a while, I found myself bored. Had the storyline been stronger, I would have enjoyed it more because I did like the dialogue concerning the unfortunate realities that animals face. The ending left me feeling underwhelmed. I didn't know where the story was going most of the time, and the resolution didn't provide me with answers.
Triggers include animal abuse.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy. Opinions are my own....more
This is first and foremost a work of literary fiction. I inhaled the pages because of the enhanced prose; every word and sentence was bewitching. TheThis is first and foremost a work of literary fiction. I inhaled the pages because of the enhanced prose; every word and sentence was bewitching. The author took one day in the life of four characters and turned it into a beautiful story. Set in post-WWI Paris, four ordinary people begin an ordinary day until their paths cross.
Mostly, the first few chapters start out with the characters everyday routines. Some ordinary stuff. But the polished language made these everyday things seem fascinating. As the story progresses, their past is revealed in flashbacks. Secrets, regret, loss, and betrayal loom in the shadows as each character continues throughout their day.
Chapters are short and the pacing is good. The cast of characters is colorful and engaging. It took me a few chapters in the beginning to remember which character was which. Chapters are narrated by each of the four different characters.
If you do not like prolific writing or if you want mega fast-paced, then this probably isn't for you.
Thank you to Flatiron books for sending me an advance copy. Opinions are my own....more
All of the stories revolve around or are somehow related to Tracy and Jacob, two brothers growing up in the Stateway Gardens. Tracey and his older broAll of the stories revolve around or are somehow related to Tracy and Jacob, two brothers growing up in the Stateway Gardens. Tracey and his older brother, Jacob, know nothing other than growing up in Chicago’s building project the Stateway Gardens. Surrounded by crime and poverty, Tracy holds on tight to his dreams of a bright future. While some see the building as a symbol of failure, Tracy remembers it as his only home.
Initially, the stories were hard to get into it. I had a hard time reading the first part of this book; it felt choppy and I felt removed from the characters because of the narration style. The only story in the beginning that I liked was "Solane". I didn't like any stories again until after halfway. Admittedly, the last few stories were hard to put down. At that point, both Tracy and Jacob were older and no longer children. Things then began to come to life. In the end, I was all in my emotions and completely invested the characters. I wish the entire book had been that way so I could have gotten to know them better during their childhood.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions are my own.
More about the Stateway Gardens: short accounts as told by the residents who lived there.
[image] A view of April's kitchen in her Stateway Gardens apartment,
Yes, it start's out the day after a young teen's rape, but it doesn't stay there. It's a character driven novel that orbits around race, gender, and iYes, it start's out the day after a young teen's rape, but it doesn't stay there. It's a character driven novel that orbits around race, gender, and integrity in Odessa, Texas in 1976 as seen through the female perspective only.
"Gloria could be any of our girls,...."
"Why don't we give a shit about what happens to a girl like Glory Ramirez?"
Rape details are not disclosed. The emotional and physical aftermath on Gloria (also known as Glory) are affirmed, but Gloria is given only 3 chapters in the book. It tends to focus on the emotional effects. There were not a lot of gruesome details.
This is primarily a literary novel that basks in a bounty literary elements. If you are looking for a quick read, this is not it. Each sentence was constructed to drive home a deeper meaning, intensify the essence of a character, or to advance the atmosphere. There were moments during the first half, that moved at a slower pace because of the excessive use of language. In the end, those longer descriptions and narrations really made me feel like I knew these women though. Some of them I won't forget.
Chapters alternate point of view without pattern and are told from women living in Odessa during this time. The main characters are typically effected by that night Gloria was raped, either as distant witness or a community member. But, other women chime in with chapters (unrelated to Gloria's case) to solidify a setting that reflects gender inequity.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions are my own....more
"They seemed the most unlikely of friends, even beyond the obvious, one being Israeli, the other Palestinian."
Rami and Bassam's story is humbling."They seemed the most unlikely of friends, even beyond the obvious, one being Israeli, the other Palestinian."
Rami and Bassam's story is humbling. Centered around the Israeli-Palestine conflict, Rami and Bassam relive the day that each of their daughters died at the hands of a oppressive barrier that has effected more than just a perimeter. After each lose a daughter to violence, they learn to find solace in their grief and overcome the boundaries defined by their government.
"...everyone knew at least one child who was killed, and most of us knew several. You get used to it, sometimes you think it's normal."
It is a somber read with graphic gory scenes from beginning to end. Rami and Bassam's recollections and revelations were heartbreaking. Just when I thought my heart couldn't break anymore, it did. But the power and value behind the words is undeniable. (The speeches they gave on pages 217-240 were unequivocal and would provide great dialogue for panel discussions and Socratic Seminars.)
There are only sections; most sections are about a paragraph in length, some sections are one sentence, some might be a small photo, though other sections are the length of a regular chapter. With a total of 1,001 sections, there are no chapters or parts.
It is a blend of fiction and nonfiction. For example: the story will be describing the anniversary of the time of deaths for the girls, so the very next section then discusses how the Greeks measured time in antiquity. Or, another example: there is a flashback when Salwa and her daughter are watching Arabian horses, so the next section goes into facts about Arabian horses. The fiction and nonfiction weave back and forth relying on each other. It jigsaws, using the previous section to build on the next section. The sequence is ornamental but blends cohesively.
I loved the book. It changed the way I think. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. It had a profound impact on me. I enjoyed learning through their story.
“Truth is, you can’t have a humane occupation. It just doesn’t exist. It can’t. It’s about control.�
I won an advance reader's edition in a Goodread's Giveaway. Thank you Random House!
"If a baby is dead, is it said to have been born?"
The main character suffers from placenta previa during her pregnancy. Both her and her husband, "If a baby is dead, is it said to have been born?"
The main character suffers from placenta previa during her pregnancy. Both her and her husband, Ky, are worried about the survival of the baby. While prepping for her C-section to avoid complications, she remembers her painful childhood and the complications with her own mother. How will she mother her child when she wasn't mothered herself? Is she prepared? She worries about the challenges she will face after the baby is born and is concerned about mental illness. Will she be like her mother? The secrets she has kept about her own mother and the death of her mother haunt her during and after birth.
"And now the baby lives out in the world, his cord cut: a newborn with a mother whose mother came undone."
Part of the Inheritance series from Amazon Original Stories, this short story projects an eerie image of a past mother-daughter relationship. Will the cycle between mother and child now be broken?
(Note--This story is told in second person POV. The narrator addresses the reader as "you".) Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own....more
More than a tale about mother and daughter, this short story dives into questions of nature vs. nurture. Having grown up with shameless and unethical More than a tale about mother and daughter, this short story dives into questions of nature vs. nurture. Having grown up with shameless and unethical mother, the main character, 12 year old Adeline, comes to face the reality of her inheritance: an inheritance of genetics. Revenge falls into her hands, and Adeline must then confront her own principles.
The story begins shortly after Adeline's caring father passes away. She is left under the care of her nefarious mother, who continues a pattern of dishonorable behavior. In 1908 her mother then moves her to a lighthouse, where her mother begins working as a housekeeper for the lighthouse keepers. Adeline is treated poorly and wickedly by her mother during this time. Not long after beginning work, her mom begins an affair with one of the lighthouse keepers. Then, Adeline decides to take things into her own hands. But, will extracting revenge make her any better than her mom?
This short story is 28 pages. It is appropriate for the secondary classroom and post-secondary classroom, and would serve a meaningful purpose since it has many literary elements and tools. There is no foul language and there are no vulgar details about the mother's affair. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and setting created by the author.
I think this creates great discussion and would make a good buddy/group read. GR friend Elyse saw a different perspective on this than I. To read our discussion, see the comments in her review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own....more
3.5 stars "By late morning, a mother and fathers faith that their child will turn up any moment has given way to terror." While on vacation on Sa3.5 stars "By late morning, a mother and fathers faith that their child will turn up any moment has given way to terror." While on vacation on Saint X, the body of young Alison is found dead. Several years later, her younger sister Claire is determined to find out what really happened to her sister Alison.
The first 36 pages are truly hard to get through because of the descriptions. These pages focus on what the island was like during the family's vacation on Saint X, and it was a tedious 36 pages that felt like 360 pages. But, if you can get through that...it gets better and the story takes off, though it does still contain countless descriptions and stories within stories throughout the novel. I started to get into the night Alison was killed, and continued reading. I was invested regardless of the wordy paragraphs and side-stories. I had to know what happened to Alison, how all the stories being revealed were connected, and find out the truth.
"She was what all the dead are: whatever the living make them."
The characters are what boosted this rating above a 3 star for me. If you decide to read this, I encourage you not to skim...though you might be tempted because of the extraneous elements. The insights and voices of the characters are worthwhile and perceptive. Most of the characters were not likable, yet their observations were penetrating, intuitive, and emotionally charged.
"Are the things out the van window poverty, or just people living their lives?"
Thank you to Celadon books for an advanced read copy. Opinions are my own....more
With an excellent premise and various great messages, I enjoyed the novel. The characters are an expression of redemption, new starts, friendship, andWith an excellent premise and various great messages, I enjoyed the novel. The characters are an expression of redemption, new starts, friendship, and self-acceptance.
The main characters, Tom and Nick, battle their past missteps and the consequences they have rendered. Together, the men excavate the memories of their major fault in order to find the road to atonement. They explore how their past will fit into their future while trying to reclaim their present. "The ultimate competition in life is with yourself..."
Nick and Tom's story that caused their major downfall is tragic and completely conceivable. I liked both of the characters, but felt little depth related to my connection with them because of the narration style. The story is told in first person, but reads like it is told in third person. The main characters are telling the story, but I felt like I was watching the story rather than being there in the story with them in their heads. Because of this, I felt like I could relate to the characters but I didn't feel a personal connection with the characters that deeply resonated with me.
There were several stories within the stories. The subplots caused the novel to jump around a lot. I felt like I was a school bus on my way home from school--excited to get home, but there are a lot of stops you have to make before you get there. Sometimes I felt like there were extraneous details which weren't relevant to the overall purpose of the plot's progression.
For an independent book, it was quite good. I really enjoyed the message about the consequences of our actions on social media. I would describe the main message as thought-provoking and relevant to our current society. With editing, it could have easily been a book that I really enjoyed and loved.
I read this with Mitchell who really enjoyed it! I will say, it did make an excellent buddy read and naturally prompted great discussion. This book provides a lot of topics for a group or book club read.
Thank you Michael Bowe for the copy! I have a lot of notes and highlights throughout this one. Opinions are my own and unbiased....more
The main character, Olive, picks up shortly after where she left off in the previous novel, Olive Kitteridge. While this is the second novel in the seThe main character, Olive, picks up shortly after where she left off in the previous novel, Olive Kitteridge. While this is the second novel in the series, it can easily be read as a standalone because she recaps the main events that happened in the first novel. However, I recommend reading the first novel in order to appreciate some of the returning characters.
Life’s transitions, juxtapositions, and troubles are celebrated through Olive and the other characters. I found the last half of the novel to be extremely emotional. Olive is reaching a fragile point in her life and begins to calculate its significance and purpose. What makes a full life? As Olive ages, she continues to engage in the boulevard of life while trying to amount her existence.
In Olive, Again there are thirteen short stories. Out of the 13 short stories, 5 of those are Olive’s direct story. In the remaining 8 stories, Olive makes an appearance in some shape or form. Each short story relates to the central theme of the novel to some degree and occur near or in the setting of Maine. Topics include suicide, sexual freedom, family, adultery, and aging.
I love Olive, Again and recommend to lovers of literary sagas and contemporary fiction . Thank you to Elizabeth Strout, Random House, and NetGalley for a copy. Opinions are my own.
“People mostly did not know enough when they were living life that they were living it.�
I absolutely loved this novel compromised of short stories“People mostly did not know enough when they were living life that they were living it.�
I absolutely loved this novel compromised of short stories. Taken from your normal everyday situations, the lush phrases and varied character dimensions created an emotional and heartfelt journey of small-town people experiencing small changes in life that often have the biggest impact. At times, I wanted to eat the words off the page.
An appearance from Olive Kitteridge in each short story is what makes for such an enjoyable read. Her character orbits around her strong personality and unparalleled voice. Each story begs the spirit to rekindle emotions that make us appreciate life, although most stories are sad, melancholy, or starkly realistic.
“…that one of those things getting older was knowing that so many moments weren’t just moments, they were gifts.�
It is deeply expressive to the value of life and how the beauty of the world changes as we do. Respectfully, I do feel like you must be a certain age or experienced certain things in order to truly appreciate this piece of literature to its full capacity.
I recommend this piece of literature for those who enjoy contemporary American fiction, short stories, and psychological literary fiction.
-Here is the wonderful Will Byrnes review, he has the link to the HBO production site for the miniseries and other goodies on Olive: Will's review -And, the amazing Peter's review who describes Olive so perfectly: Peter's review...more
As a huge fan of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, I was very excited to read this and learn more about Jacob Marley. A Christmas Carol left me wiAs a huge fan of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, I was very excited to read this and learn more about Jacob Marley. A Christmas Carol left me with many questions about Jacob Marley; and, while this story does answer most of these questions, they aren’t answered until the end of this novel.
The book spans from 1787, during Marley and Scrooge’s time as teens at a boarding school, through 1836, until Marley’s death. For the better part of the first half, the reader gets to know more about Ebenezer Scrooge, Mother Scrooge, Fan, and Belle. I marked on my Kindle that it primarily centered around Scrooge’s family and their relationships until 40%. After that point, the reader does hear more from Marley but it’s more about Marley’s relationship with Scrooge’s family and his illicit business affairs. I wanted more from Marley and his personal internal depths. Perhaps even his childhood? We know nothing of Marley’s family even after reading this novel about Marley.
Most of my questions concerning Marley were not answered until 80% or after. The plot up until that point moved slowly regarding Marley. Some characters from A Christmas Carol do make an entrance in this tale. For example, we see Bob Cratchit make an appearance after halfway through.
The setting was spot on, and I really liked the ending. I also enjoyed the language use that the author chose to follow. Although it did contain some, I was hoping for more idioms and neologisms that Dickens was so fond of in his literary accounts. Many thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for this advanced copy. Opinions are my own....more
The connection of ancestors and how the dead still effect the living is explored in the tangled web of Irene Paisley and Stanford Solomon's family. GeThe connection of ancestors and how the dead still effect the living is explored in the tangled web of Irene Paisley and Stanford Solomon's family. Generations of family members are navigating their life decades and centuries later based on their past ancestors. A domino effect is seen when their Jamaican family members continue to comb through secrets, history, and lineage.
Each chapter goes through a story about a different family member. The multi-generational saga is weaves through different time periods and different family connections. Jamaican history, plantation life for slaves, and the exploitation of women in 19th century Jamaica is explored throughout the novel as the characters try to atone with the ghosts of their past.
The first chapter starts off a bit confusing. It front-loads all of the characters and many events making it hard to separate who from who and what from what. But after that short introduction, everything fell into place. The Jamaican dialogue was hard to understand sometimes, but I could figure out what was happening overall.
I received an advance readers copy through Netgalley and Edelweiss. Opinions are my own....more
The format and style for this book was overly confusing. The style reads like a play, but the format is just spacing without any indicators. For exampThe format and style for this book was overly confusing. The style reads like a play, but the format is just spacing without any indicators. For example, you frequently must figure out when a character is speaking. It was a lot of work.
The language also created a challenge. While many words were not found on my Kindle, some sentences didn’t even make sense to me. I am not sure if this is due to a cultural difference, but as a Westerner I was lost and confused about the context often. The story was also hard to follow because there were pieces left out; it would skip from one topic in a paragraph to something completely different in the next without ever filling in those missing pieces.
The blurb explains the synopsis quite well. The two men, Charlie and Maurice are old drug dealers waiting at the port looking for Maurice’s daughter. While waiting, they reminisce about their dark past. In my opinion, however, I feel like the blurb should be written in the style and format of the book so that the reader gets a taste of what they are getting into. I felt like Charlie and Maurice were both interesting characters with interesting backgrounds, but I didn’t feel emotionally attached to them.
Also, a few pages into chapter one I started counting the number of f**k bombs. A few pages into the chapter I counted 13, so that means there are 13+ in chapter one alone. This type of language continues this way for the remainder of the book, if not picking up its pace. There is also a lot of sex and drug usage.
Thanks to Doubleday Books and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. ...more
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