50: The Prayer of Jabez

49: The Magnificent Obsession

By Ann Graham Lotz, this...

48: Calico Joe

The setting...Arkansas!  Reading novels set in your home state just holds...

47: With Rigor for All

Carol Jago...a mentor to English teachers.

46: Matched

Ally Condle’s Matched intrigued me with her thoughts of another utopian society that begins to turn dystopic.

One possible theme for this novel remains that humanity at best simply is imperfect.  Cassia, the main character in the novel, has been matched with her ideal mate, her friend from her own living area.  Then, when she inserts her microcard, she sees a face, a face that is not Xander’s but Ky’s; thus, the breakdown in this perfect society begins as Cassia realizes that not all is perfect within her world.

Condle’s writing style draws the reader into this world that she has created by creating much dialogue, vivid descriptions, and her diction (word choice) assists in moving the plot along quickly.  For instance, one can hardly turn a page without a conversation occurring, which keeps the characters’ voices very alive.  The author also chooses to relate this story in first person point of view, thus allowing the readers into the head, the very active house of Cassia’s many thoughts and turmoil.

The setting for the novel, as stated above, is a utopic society some time in the future, a time in which the older members can still recall memories from the reader’s culture.  For instance, Ky has access to the language in the form of poetry, words that appeal very much to Cassia, words that also cause her to further question her society.   Another way, the setting affects Cassia is that it allows Ky and her to meet as they perform their outside activities, walking and climbing up and down a hill, an exercise at which both Ky an Cassia both excel.  Thus, this setting, this supposedly perfect world, does directly affect the characters.

This novel reminds me of The Hunger Games, a novel that is also initially bases on a perfect world that quickly is portrayed as a dystopia.  Katness, the main character in The Hunger Games, and Cassia both display similar characteristics, determination and a devotion to family.  Both novels are set in worlds that exist in the future, and, of course, in both novels, the girls have to choose between two boys.  Oh, the love triangle!

I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys dystopic novels.  Yes, if you enjoyed The Hunger Games, you will enjoy this novel also.  By the way, this is the first novel in a series, so the adventure continues in Crossed and soon-to-be released Reached, both of which continue the story of Cassia and her choice of men.

#45: The Roots of the Olive Tree

I received an advanced copy of author Courtney Miller Santo's first novel The Roots of the Olive Tree...read it...and enjoyed it...very much!

Go ahead...pre-order!  It's available August 21.

This novel relates the history of the five Keller women, the oldest of whom is 112, all are the firstborn, a line of daughters,  most of whom still live in the family home in California on an olive grove.

Told from various points of view, this novel introduces the reader to these ladies...Anna, Bets, Callie, Deb, and Erin... in bits and pieces, in such an interesting manner.  Their stories, of course, intertwine, always with just a hint of the unknown, the secrets that each have, that are revealed, page by page.

I learned much about olives and their history in our nation.  More importantly, though, Santo allows the olive trees to become a character within the novel.  The olive tree symbolizes the family,  the branches the ladies. The roots...yes, they represent the depth of this family...or, at least, that is my interpretation of that symbolism!

When asked to compare this author and novel to other works, I chose Kathryn Stockett, author of The Help; Kate Morton, author of The Forgotten Garden; and Katherine Howe, author The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane. This is a novel that remains with you.  It has depth.  Its characters remain stay alive after the last page is read.

Please consider reading this novel.  Enjoy!

#41-43: Nerves of Steel + 2

This read (and two more in the series), I downloaded to the Kindle.  Yes, I am enjoying reading via an e-reader more and more, especially what I call quick reads.

This series is about a doctor...and written by a doctor.  Must make for great active research!

CJ Lyons creates the world of Dr. Cassie Hart, an ER doctor, who becomes involved in the defense...and sometimes offense...of her patients.  Along the way, she allows her relationship with Detective Drake to develop.

The action is fast-paced, but not unbelievably so.  The characters seem/feel real.  The plot is interesting; I remained hooked through all three novels, reading them consecutively, quickly.

Lyons has authored several other series.  Yes, I would, as time allows, look forward to reading them also.

Enjoy!