Testimony of an Irish Slave Girl

Testimony of an Irish Slave Girl by Kate McCafferty
Historical Fiction

This book is about indentured slaves in Barbados. Cot tells her life story to her prisoner, Coote. I am amazed by the story of Cot. I knew about indentured servants but never knew how shamefully they were treated. I was surprised at the lengths Cot and Coote went to further their own ends. Both of them were caught up 'in the system'. Man's cruelty to man is quite overwhelming
It disgusted me how Cot was bred to increase the plantation's wealth. Her allegiance to the African slaves was certainly slow to happen. She kept on believing that somehow her capturer's would treat her right. Are we all that guillable?
Both Cot and Coote are not likeable characters. Coote is trying his best to further himself up the social ladder. He is as caught as Cot, doing the elite's work. An enlightening but disturbing book. Obviously the author really had a play on names in this book

Rating:

(4.0/5)

Revisit of Pig Island by Mo Hayder

We monitor the statistics of this site and who is coming in and out. Our stats also tells us what kind of search results are landing people on this page. I can't ignore it any longer! I must re-hash my review and my mom's review of Pig Island by Mo Hayder. Specifically, people are searching for the ending of Pig Island. Want to know what happens at the end of Pig Island? Keep reading. Otherwise, go away!



****SPOILERS*****




So the crazy twist at the end is that Pastor Malachi Dove was not after Oaksey after all. Infact, he was dead for a good majority of the story. After the massacre on Pig Island, Angeline came back to the house, murdered her father, stuffed him in the drain pipe putting a pig's head (or full body? I can't remember) in the pipe after him, then went back to the community. She was one smart chick because she had this whole thing engineered to a T!
When Oaksey went back to the house with her, she pretended to be scared of the eyes in the pig and asked Oaksey to cover up the pipe. Oaksey took a drum that was near by and shoved it into the pipe. Now his fingerprints are at the scene.
Did Angeline kill Lexi? You bet she did! Oaksey wasn't in the house and Lexi had recently pissed off Angeline. What better time to murder her and make Oaksey think that Dove was out there and had gotten close enough to murder his wife? How did Angeline know that Oaksey was going to return by the route in which would make him look guilty of the murder? I'm not 100% sure on that one. If someone else knows the reason I'd love to hear back.
All Angeline had to do was sit back and bide her time before the police had searched the entire island and found the body of her dead father. Pulling prints off the drum obviously (if you watch a lot of CSI) is something that the police would do. Connect those two facts together and police will probably start remembering other holes in the story.

I read this book about 3 months ago so some of the details are a bit sketchy for me. I would love to hear from others that have read the book with anything else they have to add!

The Ruling Class - Francine Pascal

The Ruling Class by Francine Pascal
Teen

I picked this book up as a quick aversion from the heavy stuff I've recently been reading. I felt as though I had lost all my brain cells afer finishing!
The Ruling Class (or RCs) is a clique of snobby rich girls from a snobby rich town. They torment anyone who is even the slightest bit different from them, outcasting them from the school. When Twyla Gay (what a name!) starts school after having moved from Dallas, she finds herself the next victim. But she won't let herself be run out of the school that easily!
A couple of pages into this book and you start to wonder if you're reading the book Mean Girls the movie was based on. I did some research, and oh no, it's not the same book! They both came out in the same year. Here's betting that this book came out after Mean Girls was such a success. Except Mean Girls was funnier and whittier. Some of the things that these girls say are racist, which I don't think Mean Girls ever stooped to.
Yes, it's nice to see the bitches get their come-uppance at the end, but it's not worth reading just for that. Go rent Mean Girls instead, you'll find it more enjoyable.

Rating:

(2/5)

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Historical Fiction

My mom has been reading this series since it came out. I didn't really know much about what it was about. Just that the books were huge, and there were a lot of them. During one of our Oakville meetups, Breeze was talking about the series and I thought it sounded interesting. The next meetup she brought her entire collection of the series for me lol So I started with the first one in the series, not quite sure what to expect. Except expect to be reading the book for a very long time since it's over 800 pages!
I was not disappointed at all. History, action, romance all rolled into a nice, tidy novel. There was a point where I was getting tired of having to read about the characters getting caught by the English and then trying to figure their way out of their mess. Obviously my favourite characters were Claire and Jamie. Those two have so much chemistry! I also really enjoyed Jenny and Ian so I hope that eventually Claire and Jamie can make their way back to those two and we can learn a bit more about them.
I know nothing about the history of that period so I had to refer myself to the internet to look up some terms and such. But at the end of the book I was thinking in my head in scottish accents because I was so used to reading in them lol
I'm looking forward to reading the next book, but need to give myself a little bit of time to recover from the 800 pages!

Rating:

(4.5/5)

Breathing Room

Breathing Room by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Romance

I enjoyed this romance. Lorenzo Gage is oh so delicious. I would love to escape to Italy to laze under the Tuscan sun. Isabel is a self-help guru whose acountant abscounds wih her fortune and her world falls apart. Enter Gage a movie star villian who pretends to be a villian in real life. Sparks fly and the super organized Isabel is flown into chaos and of course romance
My Favourite Character: Lorenzo Gage YUM YUM
Least Favourite Character: Tracy, Lorenzo's ex with marital problems of her own. I found her a bit whiny
My Favourite Part of the Book: The steamy love scenes
Least Favourite Part of the Book: I did not like when Isabel lost control when she thought she had lost Gage. It just didn't read right
What was Missing: I felt that the scene above was totally unrealistic. I do not believe someone that in control would basically go psycho

Rating:

(4.0/5)

Flesh and Bone

Flesh and Bone by Jefferson Bass
Mystery

This book has a bit of everything: mystery, forensic science, and even romance. Dr.Brockton is attempting to solve a mystery involving a young man tied to a tree when the medical examiner is killed and he is the main suspect. What ensues is a number of twists, a sleazy lawyer and friends who help Brockton solve the crime
Favourite Character: Dr Brockton. He seems like a well balanced guy who has a very interesting job, studying decomposition of bodies.
Least Favourite Character: All the people around Brockton who don't believe in him and suspend him from his jobs
Best Part of the Story: The finale when the mystery is solved. I never suspected who the murderer was.
Least Favourite Part of the Story: I liked the whole story
What was Missing: Nothing

Rating:

(4.0/5)

Glory in Death by J.D. Robb

Glory in Death by J.D. Robb
Mystery

This is the second "In Death" book by J.D. Robb. Looking at the publication date, I can't believe that this was published only 11 years ago and Robb has churned out over 20 other In Death books.
The book is set in the future and I enjoy reading about the things Robb envisions for the future. Last book I noticed that Quebec was listed as its own country. This time, Eve Dallas, the main character, calls God a "she" plenty of times. It makes you wonder if maybe the society finds proof in the future that God is a female?
This story finds Dallas hunting for a murderer of powerful women. She tries to paint herself as a target, and fails. I suspected the who the murderer was right from the beginning and I didn't understand why she didn't ask him any questions? Infact, I second guessed myself because I thought maybe I had missed something in the book to explain why he couldn't be the murderer and that's why they weren't questioning him. I didn't think that part was too well written. Any good cop that isn't trying to build suspense for a novel would have asked him questions the first time he was at the scene.
The relationship between Eve and Roarke was enjoyable. Their chemistry is great and they are a fun couple to read about. What is Roarke's first name though? Or is Roarke his last name and he has no first? It would be nice to see Summerset fired. Or at least explain what his problem is. There was also the introduction of a new cop, Peabody, who I would like to see work side by side with Dallas eventually (and I'm sure she will). So long as she doesn't take the place of Feeney though, that guy is great!
This was a fun book.

Rating:

(4/5)

The Red Tent - Anita Diamant

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Historical Fiction

When I first picked up this book, I thought it was going to be a heavy read. The Red Tent is basically the continuation of an underlying story in The Bible. I knew about Joseph before reading this book (specifically about Joseph's multi coloured coat), but didn't know anything else about them. I was amazed at how easy this book was to read! I couldn't put it down!
I like Dinah as a character very much. She was strong and brave and I felt she made good choices in her lengthy life. I very much enjoyed her mothers too. Each one was so unique and they each obviously gave Dinah their most valuable trait. Honestly, I didn't feel like the mothers needed to be forgived because I didn't feel that they did any wrong-doing. Infact, it was sad that they each met such horrible ends because they didn't have much of a choice in what happened, and they each treated Dinah so well during her time with them.
In the beginning, I quite liked Jacob and Joseph. Jacob seemed like a loving husband and father, and a gentle spirit. I don't really understand what made him turn around. The meeting with his brother turned out better than expected, so that couldn't have been it, and I don't think his sons could have turned him to be such a horrible person. How anyone could do that to their own child is unfathomable.
I felt sorry for Dinah with her lacking relationship with her son. But it seemed that Dinah met some very special people during her life and they treated her very well. There was one quote in the book which I loved from Meryt, Dinah's adopted mother/sister: "Now that I know who you are and what life has cost you, I am in awe that I number you among my beloved."
Overall, a fantastic book. My best read of the year so far!

Rating:

(4.5/5)

A Light in the Window

A Light in the Window by Jan Karon
Fiction

This series is heart-warming and full of good values and good advice. Cynthia,Father Tim's love interest is very patient with him as he finds his way to her. This book is a nice comfortable cozy read
My Favourite Character: Father Tim. He is such a vulnerable man who is searching for the right way.
Least favourite Character: Edith. A widow in need of a man, any man LOL
Favourite Part of the Story: The end
Least Favourite Part of the Story: Why did Father Tim let Cousin Meg get away with so much?
What was Missing: I would have liked a bit more about Dooley

Rating:

(4.0/5)

The Alchemist

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Fiction

This book is very philosophical. It is about finding one's personal legend. Along the way the people the shepard meets are interesting and do help him. I find the book a little simplistic and the ending is downright biblical. An okay book but nothing earth shattering
My Favourite Character: The alchemist. He really does have the answers to the world
Least Favourite Character: The Englishman. He didn't have a clue and was sent,I believe, in a completely wrong direction
Best Part of the Book: The ending with the inherent moral
Worst Part of the Book: Talking to the sun and wind. That was a little far-fetched
What was Missing: I would have thought that his parents would be a little bit more involved in all this searching

Rating:

(3.5/5)

A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews

A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews
Canadian Fiction

Touted by the CBC last year as being a book all Canadians should read, I was expecting something, ANYTHING from this book! Nomi, a teenager growing up in a Mennonite town in Winnipeg, is dealing with not only Menno life, but also with the fact that her sister and her mother no longer live with her. Her sister rode off with her biker boyfriend and her mother left for unknown reasons, both never to be seen again. So it's just Nomi and her father, and all the quirky residents of the town, including "The Mouth" who is Nomi's uncle, but also the minister at the church. Nomi describes life as a Mennonite and how there are so many rules which makes the kindness of the city complicated.
I thought that Toews did a fantastic job of capturing the essence of Nomi and making the reader believe that we really were listening to Nomi's thoughts. But one part of the book really ticked me off. I don't care what happened to the mother and the sister, they are family and I would expect them to try and keep in touch with their daughter/sister in at least some form. Even if it's through unmarked postcards, I'm sure Nomi could figure out who they were from. That part bothered me throughout the entire book, and was even confirmed at the end. It seems that this family is the type that is perfectly ok with abandoning each other and then making up excuses as to why that abandonment is ok. Maybe I'm missing the point of the book (knowing me, I probably am). But reading to me is about how I perceive it.
I also felt like the story went further backwards than it did forwards. There wasn't that much movement in the book. Just random thoughts from Nomi. And the ending wasn't enough of a revelation to justify the pace at the beginning of the book.

Rating:

(3/5)