Review: Trail of Lightning (Sixth World #1) by Rebecca Roanhorse

2 stars for Trail of Lightning (Sixth World book 1) by Rebecca Roanhorse.

All thanks to this book "Stranger with My Face" which I read in my early teens, I have always had an interest in stories related to the Diné or Navajo people and their culture. So when I chance upon this book, I know I just have to give it a go.

Set in the rich world of Dinétah, the traditional homeland of the Navajo tribe of Native Americans, the Dinés are isolated from the rest of the world by a 50 foot wall which is constructed to protect the population after the Energy Wars and the Big Water. Though the story is set in a relatively small geographical area, it feels vast and unexplored, with a network of towns and villages populated by a wide variety of inhabitants.

There are witches, monsters, magic, medicine, big medicine, guns and clan powers. I think that about sum up everything. I am intrigued by the first three chapters but thereafter, it seems like a Young Adult paranormal romance novel where the moves can easily be expected.

Perhaps I have read a lot of urban fantasy novels, or that my expectation has changed over the years, I find it hard to be impressed these days. So while I am fine enough to finish reading this book, I am not sure if I am invested enough to pick up the next one. I seriously hope this is not a sign that I have outgrown the world of the urban fantasy.

Review: The Rules of Magic (Practical Magic #0.5) by Alice Hoffman

Did Not Finish The Rules of Magic (Practical Magic book 0.5) by Alice Hoffman.

Once again, I did not finish reading the Practical Magic series, but it is not for lack of trying.

The story starts out well, in fact, more than just well. There is an air of mystics that coats the characters and I like to read on to unravel the mystery surrounding the three siblings, two sisters and a brother, who keep trying and failing to break away from their magical lineage. Alas, what is meant to be is bound to happen, whether they approve or not. What’s done cannot be undone. What’s set into motion takes on a life of its own... Does it not sound interesting? It certainly does.

Unfortunately, at more than halfway mark of the book, there is a twist to the story, a twist which I find unnecessary and thus, hard to accept. And with that, the whole story tumbles downhill. Fast. I struggle on some and then decide that enough is enough. 60%.

Review: The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

3 stars for The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.

I like this story; like it well enough to read it from the beginning to the end, but not enough to give it a high enough 5-star rating. Don't get me wrong. This is a good story, but just one which lacks the propensity to resonate with me.

To begin with, this novel is set in the South America, South Carolina, in 1964, the year of Civil Rights Act and intensifying racial unrest. It is set in a time and place which can not have been more different from the one I am from. As if this is not enough, there is the Virgin Mary or rather the Black Mary story, a story within the story which I did not enjoy reading on.

Regardless of setting and religious connotation, the Secret Life of Bees is a touching story that explores life's wounds, uncovers the deeper meaning of home and shows us the way to come to terms with the past. To live and let live.

Review: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

5 stars for Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens.

I am never one who is into mystery novel with third person narratives. It is neither my preferred nor usual choice of read. But still, I choose to read this book; this one book which everyone's been raving about. As a booklover, my worst fear is missing out on a good story. And so I reckon I should give it a go.

It is only an ok for me at first. The initial 30% of the story is somewhat slow moving, uneventful, at least that is how it is to me. Then it gets better and better until I simply have to keep the pages turning. I finish the entire book in record two days' time. Unbelievable!

Where the Crawdads Sing is a painfully beautiful story on many levels. It is a thought-provoking story that revolves around the theme of survival, loneliness, isolation and acceptance. A deeply moving story that leaves behind its ghostly imprint even long after the book's been read. It is no wonder that this book clinches the top spot in Amazon best selling list for 2019 (42 weeks on the list so far).

I am glad to have read this book. Even more glad to have read it all, right down to the last page, last word, to the very end. An end that I expect all along and yet am still surprised when I see the words in print. In my opinion, that is the most beautiful part of this storytelling.

And now, without coercion of any kind, I have joined the ranks of booklovers out there in recommending this book.

A must read.

Review: Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

5 stars for Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt.

Tell the Wolves I'm Home is not a thriller. Nor is it a mystery novel. And definitely not a romance either. Then why am I so sucked into the story and keep pondering over it?

Because there are so many things to like about this book. The title. The book cover. The short chapters. The writing. The storyline. The setting. The characters. Basically, everything.

Because it is a story, one of its kind. A powerful story that explores the dynamics of relationship within the family. And mind you, it is not skin deep but deep. Heartfelt.

Because it is a sad kind of story. About opportunities. Chances. Second chance. Changes. Dreams. Friendship. Bonding. Jealousy. Sadness. Hopes.

Because it is a tender story. Of love. Love that is lost and found. Of wrong love. Meanness that can come out of loving someone too much.

Because it is a book that reads very much like a non-fiction even though it is not. With facts of the world that fit the story just right, the topic of death lurks in the background and creeps up on you. How do you keep the memories of someone you love alive? How do you seal a promise with a dead person?

Because I see the 14-year old me peeking out from behind the eyes of the protagonist. The good. The bad. The walls building up and up around her and then slowly collapsing and crumbling into nothingness.

Because it just is.

Review: Grave Destiny (Alex Craft #6) by Kalayna Price

Did Not Finish Grave Destiny (Alex Craft book 6) by Kalayna Price.

I find it hard to believe that I have actually spent the better half of the year reading non-fiction on the account that I am not a great fan of this genre.

After six months of non-stop non-fiction, this is supposed to be a fun return to the urban fantasy world of Alex Craft which I so love. Sadly and unfortunately, the overuse of flowery language suppresses the story and action so much that it makes for an extremely slow and tiring read. I get the unpleasant feeling that it is a test of my patience; a test which I am doomed to fail at less than halfway mark of the book.

I have never thought I will see the day when the Alex Craft series no longer manage to sustain my interest. But alas, the day has come. I feel sad, for myself and for Alex Craft.

Review: Yakuza Moon: Memoirs of a Gangster's Daughter by Shoko Tendo

4 stars for Yakuza Moon: Memoirs of a Gangster's Daughter by Shoko Tendo.

I am blessed to be gifted a copy of this book in July 2017. I have finally read it. Two years late. But better late than never.

Seriously, this book is not what I will have expected, even though I did not really hold any expectations prior to reading it. Still, I do not expect it to be such a heart-rending story, a true life story that is filled with bullying, delinquency, drugs, imprisonment, love, violence, marriage, divorce, debt, eating disorders, attempted suicide, sickness, and death.

Though this is a memoir by a Yakuza's daughter, bulk of the story centers on herself and her downward spiral to drug abuse rather than that of her family and especially her father, the Yakuza. Yes, this book is a very brave end product of the baring of truths, of a life lived in the pit of despair and misery, but I will gladly welcome more shedding of light about the life and inner workings of a Yakuza.

Wisdom comes with knowledge.
Knowledge comes with experience.
Experience comes with age.
Age comes with time.

With knowledge, experience and time, I hope that Shoko Tendo is finally living her life the way she wants it and is now at peace with herself and her family.

Review: My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward: A Memoir by Mark Lukach

4 stars for My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward: A Memoir by Mark Lukach.

This is a difficult book to read; not because it is boring or badly written, but because it is a blatantly honest outpour of a husband's innermost thoughts and beliefs and actions that do not sit well with me.

The husband thinks that there is a pill that can and will fix all mental problems. I know it must have been terrible to feel helpless and clueless but it is frustrating and traumatizing to see the husband sending his wife to the hospital and Psych Ward time and again, to be pinned down by orderlies to have medication injected into her body.

It is also equally disturbing to read about the mental health system as described in the book as it goes about its way of admitting and treating patients. It seems like a whole load of self-serving, profit driven structure where doctors dish out drugs too readily and think that they are above all, that their decisions are the best, when in fact, I don't see them putting the patients' interests at heart at all.

Overall, what I see mostly is a controlling husband who does not know how to give space, who suffocates the wife with well-intentioned but ill-managed care, who does not trust the wife to make her own choices and decisions, who tries to control and run the wife's life, and on top of it all, who believes medication and pills are the solution to anxiety, stress and depression.

The above said, at the end of the day, who am I to criticize the husband's beliefs and actions? It is after all his life to live and none of my business. Still, I am glad to have read this book, expressed my view and said my piece.