HAG -SEED by Margaret Atwood

A

Crown Publishing
Hogarth
Publishing date October 11, 2016
                             January  2017

Mini review
In remembrance of Shakespeare's four hundred birthday celebration, our most talented authors are honouring the Bards works.
Margaret Atwood chose " The Tempest ".
I love her rendition. Keeping the essence Shakespeare gave the play, the author manages to bring us a twenty first century rendition. Choosing a prison setting which makes for quite a humorous tale, I had a lot of fun reading this version of The Tempest. Margaret Atwood's humour is a gem, I think the Bard who himself improvised while his plays took place, involving his audience, would approve.

A highly recommended read.  A+

THE WONDER by Emma Donoghue

A+

Little Brown and Company

Pub date 20 Sep. 2016

Review
If you read Emma Donohue's novel " ROOM " and enjoyed the mounting tension, you will love her latest novel " THE WONDER ".
Ireland 1850, the island is recovering after years of famine. Parents provide for their children and families once more.
Anna, a young girl, does not concern herself with earthly nourishment. The town's people look upon this child as a miracle send by God. Anna's nourishment consists of Manna from Heaven.
THE WONDER is a cautionary tale of good and evil in a country where poverty reigns and religion is the only solace.
I couldn't put the book down, the tension mounted the further I read and held this momentum to the last page.
I recommend this novel highly.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this advance copy.

5/5

MISCHELING by Affinity Konar

A+


Little Brown and Company
Pub date Sept. 6 2016

Review

Auschwitz, a name of unspeakable evil. Josef Mengele, obsessed with "medical science" finds twins particularly interesting to his "projects". 

I avoid reading WWII novels. Mengele's attrocities on twins, triplets, children with deformities is widely known. This novel differs, by giving victims a voice.

Affinity Konar's prose is beautiful, befitting the novel's difficult subject.

I hesitated before picking up this novel. My hesitation weight the aspect of voyeuristic titillation versus reading out of sheer respect for children who suffered inhuman experiments at the hands of a sadistic butcher. It is not an easy read, sadness was overwhelming, respect towards each individual child kept me reading.

Also the novel is a historical novel, the characters are fictional. Most of Mengele's victims did not survive their injuries, time has passed, survivors are very few.
Below twins which survived Mengele, they are Eva and Miriam Kor. They inspired the writing of this book. Eva is still living, Miriam passed away after years of suffering due to the insanity of Mengele. Neither Eva or Miriam were able to conceive, also the result of Mengele's butchery.

Highly recommended historical novel.

5/5

WHAT LIES BETWEEN US by Naomi Munaweera

A+

St. Martin
Pub date Feb. 16 2016

Review
Sri Lanka, an island in the South Pacific were traditions are held sacred throughout generations. 

What happens when a mother and daughter leave their home for America? Can we leave our pains behind? Do they come searching for us in our new home?

Nayomi Munaweera's beautiful novel is a must read, filled with beautiful prose she takes us from tragedy to hope.

Thank you NetGalley for this advance copy.

ALL THIS LIFE by Joshua Mohr

❤❤❤❤❤

Personal copy

This is a wonderful novel. What makes it great is the insight Joshua Mohr has into the characters, their Interaction in our world of Tweets, Face Book...the people we meet online our emotional investment.
I highly recommend this book.