BOOK REVIEW : THE SECRET DIARIES OF JUAN LUIS VIVES BY TIM DARCY ELLIS
The Secret Diaries Of Juan Luis Vives is a historical fiction centered around the Renaissance humanist Juan Luis Vives. The fascinating part of this novel is how deeply rooted it is in historical events. Also, the meticulous research the author has done comes through the book. I was excited to read this book about a historical figure who is a lesser-known personality to me. The story, as I mentioned earlier, is based on the life of Juan Luis Vives, who is a notable scholar set in Belgium and England for the most part. The novel is in the form of diary entries giving the readers a glimpse into the significant…
BOOK REVIEW : THE COMPANY DAUGHTERS BY SAMANTHA RAJARAM
The Company Daughters is a sweeping tale of what it means to be a woman in a world where the odds are always stacked against them. Samantha Rajaram is, without a doubt, talented in spinning stories by drawing inspiration from real-life events. The accounts were, in my opinion, well-researched to provide an authentic portrayal of the conditions of a colonized nation. It also depicts the circumstances of the women who were taken from their home countries to serve the settler men. I have been reading so many character-driven historical fiction stories based on true-events talking about the effects of colonization on communities and the women as well. This novel had…
BOOK REVIEW : THE FIRST WOMAN BY JENNIFER NANSUBUGA MAKUMBI
The First Woman is my first book from the Ugandan novelist Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi. Her first novel is very well received. When I read the synopsis of the book, I was intrigued. The novel tells the story of a young girl Kirabo raised by her grandparents in a rural village in Uganda. Her father is only an occasional visitor, while there is no news about her mother. As she starts to grow up, she feels the absence of her mother and is on a quest to find out more about her. She searches out Nsuuta, the village witch, to learn more about herself and her mom. Nsuuta tells her the…
- ADULT, ARCS, BOOK REVIEWS, CULTURAL, FICTION, HISTORICAL FICTION, LITERARY FICTION, NETGALLEY, WOMEN'S FICTION
BOOK REVIEW : THE EXILES BY CHRISTINA BAKER KLINE
The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline is a well-researched historical fiction set in 19th century Australia. The book tells us the story of three women, Evangeline, Hazel, and Mathinna. Evangeline and Hazel are the two English convicts who get sentenced to Van Diemen’s Land. The Prisoners from Newgate Prison got often transported to the Island, where they had to complete the rest of their sentences. Mathinna is the Aboriginal orphan who gets uprooted from her life to live with the governor and his wife. The book is vividly descriptive and meticulously researched, giving the readers a distinct impression of the hardships and oppression faced each of these women during their…
- ADULT, ARCS, BOOK REVIEWS, FICTION, HISTORICAL FICTION, LITERARY FICTION, NETGALLEY, WOMEN'S FICTION
BOOK REVIEW : THE PARIS LIBRARY BY JANET SKESLIEN CHARLES
Paris Library is a historical fiction based on the true story of brave librarians during WW2. The book follows two main POVs, one of Odile, who used to be a librarian at the American Library in Paris, and Lily, who is a teenager in Froid, Montana. Odile was happy getting her dream job and spending her time in the library helping people with book recommendations. Her life was almost perfect with a handsome police officer beau, a best friend who shared her love for reading. Then war comes calling, and everything perfect falls into despair. Her stable life gets swiped from under her leaving her disconcerted. With Jews getting discriminated…
BOOK REVIEW : A SINGLE SWALLOW BY LING ZHANG, TRANSLATED BY SHELLY BRYANT
A Single Swallow is the story of a young woman Ah Yan. Ah Yan's life story, her journey from a naive young girl to a courageous young woman, is told from the perspectives of the three men in her life. After Japan's surrender, bringing an end to World War 2. The three men, after a day of joyous celebrations, take a vow to meet every year at the village. It was where they have lived, fought a war, and survived challenging times. Now seventy years later, they get to fulfill their promise. The American missionary Pastor Billy, the gunner’s mate Ian Ferguson, and a local soldier Liu Zhaohu come together…
BOOK REVIEW : THE STRANGE ADVENTURES OF H BY SARAH BURTON
The Strange Adventures Of H is a fascinating memoir-style coming-of-age story of a young girl by the name H. This story is set during the Great Plague of London. It also covers The Great Fire of London and The Shrove Tuesday Riots that happened in London. H tells the readers her life story by taking us through a series of unfortunate events that drive her to make difficult decisions and having to fend for herself in the 17th century London that wasn't kind to young women who didn't have a man's protection. This is such an honest and raw account of her life experiences that make her the person she…
FFBC BOOK TOUR – BOOK PROMO, AUTHOR INTERVIEW & GIVEAWAY : THE INVINCIBLE SUMMER OF JUNIPER JONES BY DAVEN MCQUEEN
It’s the summer of 1955. For Ethan Harper, a biracial kid raised mostly by his white father, race has always been a distant conversation. When he’s sent to spend the summer with his aunt and uncle in small-town Alabama, his Blackness is suddenly front and center, and no one is shy about making it known he’s not welcome there. Except for Juniper Jones. The town’s resident oddball and free spirit, she’s everything the townspeople aren’t―open, kind, and full of acceptance.
- ARCS, AUTHOR / PUBLISHER, BOOK PROMOTIONS, BOOK REVIEWS, BOOK TOUR, FANTASY, FICTION, HISTORICAL FICTION, NETGALLEY, YA
FFBC BOOK TOUR – BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY : THE COURT OF MIRACLES (COURT OF MIRACLES #1) BY KESTER GRANT
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the The Court of Miracles By Kester Grant by Blog Tour hosted by FFBC Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway! TITLE : The Court Of Miracles (The Court Of Miracles #1) AUTHOR : Kester Grant GENRE : YA Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Retellings FR RATING : ⭐⭐⭐ 3.75 Stars FR REVIEW DISCLAIMER : Thank you, Netgalley and Knopf Children’s Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily. The Court Of Miracles is the first book in The Court Of Miracles series. It is a Les Misérables retelling set…
MAY WRAP-UP
Ramadan and being Quarantined was a new experience for me, as I am sure it was for everyone else. It was interesting, to say the least. I wasn't sure how much reading I will be able to get done. But I just moved forward with the mindset that I will be doing my best to read as much as I can. Things did work out for me and for that I am extremely grateful. I was able to finish the entire Quran and also twelve books in addition to that. There were some really fun reads and some emotional reads in May. Overall May was a good reading month for…
