- ADULT, ARCS, BOOK REVIEWS, CONTEMPORARY, CULTURAL, FICTION, HISTORICAL FICTION, LITERARY FICTION, NETGALLEY
WILD WOMEN AND THE BLUES BY DENNY S. BRYCE | BOOK REVIEW
Wild Women And The Blues is a fantastic portrayal of African Americans during 1920s Chicago, at the height of the Jazz age in all of its vibrancy and splendor. The story is told in dual timelines spanning almost a hundred years. Denny S. Bryce has done a fantastic job of bringing both the contemporary and the historical setting together in the novel with brilliance. The book is a mix of historical fiction and contemporary fiction with the dual timelines splitting the two with alternating chapters taking us through the lives of Honoree and Sawyer. Bryce has captured the atmosphere of the 1920's time and paints vivid imagery of glamor, splendor,…
THE FOUR WINDS BY KRISTIN HANNAH | BOOK REVIEW
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah is a historical, women's fiction that tells the story of a family's fight for survival during the Great Depression era and the Dust Bowl era. This story is set in Texas and we get to see how the drought and lack of rain damages and destroys the crops. On top of that dust storms ravaged the lands leaving more destruction behind. People in these states had to fight for their day-to-day survival against the war mother nature has waged. It's a family story, a woman's story that's going to burrow into your hearts and make you feel their fear, powerlessness, determination, and tenacity as…
- ADULT, ARCS, BOOK REVIEWS, CULTURAL, FICTION, HISTORICAL FICTION, LITERARY FICTION, NETGALLEY, WEST AFRICAN
KOLOLO HILL BY NEEMA SHAH | BOOK REVIEW
Kololo Hill by Neema Shah is the debut Asian Ugandan literature set in 1970's Uganda that will captivate you with its human story of love, loss, and desperation of families who were thrown out of their homes and country. This was such a familiar story, yet so different and important to be read in these times of division, hatred, and otherisms. It is very relevant to the times we live as conversations of race, inequality, oppression, power, and devastation are at the forefront of our lives. Overall, this is a story that sheds light on the expulsion of Asian Ugandans during Idi Amin's oppressive regime. This is a lesser-known history…
- ADULT, ARCS, BOOK REVIEWS, CHICK-LIT, CONTEMPORARY, FANTASY, FICTION, LITERARY FICTION, MAGICAL REALISM, NETGALLEY, SCIENCE FICTION, WOMEN'S FICTION
SPACE HOPPER / FAYE , FARAWAY BY HELEN FISHER | BOOK REVIEW
Space Hopper by Helen Fisher is her debut book and let me just say, she knocked it out of the park with this one. I love when books can make us think, feel, and at the same get invested in the character's life, so much so that we are cheering them on from the sidelines. This book is no different in that regard. A wonderful and emotional read that will grip you from the very first line and will not leave you adrift. If you love stories of time travel and magical realism, this one is for you. The story is about Faye a 36-year-old woman who has been living…
- ADULT, ARCS, BOOK REVIEWS, CONTEMPORARY, DYSTOPIAN, FICTION, GENERAL, LITERARY FICTION, NETGALLEY, SCIENCE FICTION, WOMEN'S FICTION
THE LAST MIGRATION BY CHARLOTTE MCCONAGHY | BOOK REVIEW
Charlotte McConaghy brings us a beautifully poignant and heart-wrenching story that will grip you and move you beyond your imagination through The Last Migration. I didn't know what to expect when I picked it up. So, imagine my surprise when it managed to exceed my expectations and broke my heart in the process. I am an emotional mess after reading this and still feel the sadness carving deeper into my heart. You need to keep a box of tissues at hand if you are planning to read this one. Now that I have somewhat articulated my feelings toward this book; I feel like I can discuss the book more calmly.…
- ADULT, ARCS, BOOK REVIEWS, CULTURAL, EAST AFRICAN, FICTION, HISTORICAL FICTION, LITERARY FICTION, NETGALLEY, REALISTIC FICTION
WE ARE ALL BIRDS OF UGANDA BY HAFSA ZAYYAN | BOOK REVIEW
We Are All Birds Of Uganda by Hafsa Zayyan is an emotionally resonant story of two different men and how their lives intersect in unexpected ways, changing lives forever. We follow Hasan during 1960's Uganda through his love letters that are to his wife. Hasan talks about his experiences living in Uganda as a successful businessman in Kampala. As a son of Indian immigrants, he talks about the Asian community, their lives, the new anti-immigrant sentiment on the rise, and the growing racial division that endangers their livelihood. In the present day, we follow Sameer, a highly successful lawyer in London. Despite his success, he feels burned out and not…
- ADULT, ARCS, BOOK REVIEWS, CONTEMPORARY, CULTURAL, FICTION, HISTORICAL FICTION, LITERARY FICTION, NETGALLEY, SPECULATIVE FICTION, WOMEN'S FICTION
FRAGILE MONSTERS BY CATHERINE MENON | BOOK REVIEW
Fragile Monsters from Catherine Menon is a family saga spanning from the 1920s to the present, with rural Malaysia serving as a backdrop to the mysteries and secrets that are unraveled. We get the story from two perspectives, one from Durga, a maths Professor at Kuala Lumpur University, and one from Mary, Durga's fierce and sharp-tongued grandmother. Durga is visiting her grandmother and wants nothing more than to spend the days peacefully and leave the house that's filled with painful memories. Her plans go awry when during Diwali celebrations, Mary is met with a firecracker burn incident. This leads to Durga spending more time with her grandmother and the two…
15 FAVORITE HISTORICAL FICTION OF 2020
2020 was a good year for me when it comes to reading. I read so many books and had a great time finding new historical books that were amazing and captivating. I want to share them with you guys. Some of these got into my top 5 and some of these are older releases and others are new books released in 2020. This is going to be a long post and I want you guys to be prepared for it. Get ready to dive into it. Let's get into the list of my favorite historical fiction I read this year, shall we?
THE BLIND LIGHT BY STUART EVERS | BOOK REVIEW
The Blind Light by Stuart Evers is a historical/literary fiction that tells us the story of Drum, Gwen, and their family. We go from 50s to the present following our characters through life-changing events that shape their lives. The story revolves mainly around Drum and Gwen and their kids Nathan and Anneka. Their story is intertwined with Carter, Drum's friend from the service. The book is about their lives, how global events, atomic attacks, family, and relationships bring people together and how they break them apart. Carter and Drum meet during his time at the National Service as they prepare for the aftermath of the Atomic Strike. The two become…
MY TOP 5 BOOKS OF 2020
Here are my top 5 books from the year 2020. I am so happy to share them with you. Each of these holds a special place in my heart and have gotten promoted to my all time favorites as well. I found myself struggling to choose one book, and so I decided to pick 5 that will be forever etched in my heart and mind. Addie and Shams has left a big hole in my heart and I don't know if anything can fill it... 😭😭😭
