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Showing posts with label Kristina McMorris. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kristina McMorris. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 11, 2022
Top Ten Tuesday: Oh, the Places We'll Go!
3:09 PM
Today's TTT topic is a nostalgic, walk-down-memory-lane type deal, but my memory is just not up to the task! If yours is good enough, then you might enjoy listing the Top Ten Books I Read On Vacation (bonus points if you can tell us where you were). Me? I'm going to twist the topic around a bit. I toyed with some vacation-y spins and finally decided to steal an idea from Wendy over at The Bashful Bookworm. A couple weeks ago, she made a TTT list of book covers with vehicles on them. I thought that was a fun topic and since vehicles mean travel, it works well for today.
Before we get to my list, though, be sure to click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl and give Jana, our hostess with the mostest, some love!
Top Ten Books From My TBR With Vehicles on the Cover
- in no particular order -
1. New From Here by Kelly Yang—It's hard to see, but the cover of my current read features an airplane flying through the title. The book is about a Chinese-American family living in Hong Kong who decides to flee to their summer home in California to escape the coronavirus. It's told from the point of view of 10-year-old Knox, whose struggles with ADHD are exacerbated by missing his father (who stayed behind to work), going to a new school, sharing a bedroom with his annoying older brother, and dealing with prejudice against Asian people (who are being blamed for bringing the virus to the U.S.). I'm only a few chapters in, but this middle grade novel is already proving to be a powerful, impacting read.
2. All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes (available December 13, 2022)—I love this gorgeous cover with its Venetian gondola! The story is about a baby who's discovered floating in a basket along the canals of Venice. Taken in by a guild of artisans, he's raised as their own, although he still wonders about his mysterious origins. One hundred years later, a translator comes to the city to procure a rare book. Within its pages, he'll discover an intriguing story about a floating infant...
3. Miss Aldridge Regrets by Louise Hare—Lena Aldridge lives a gritty, unfulfilling life as a lounge singer in London, where she must hide her mixed-race heritage and pass as white. When she's offered the opportunity to sing on Broadway, she eagerly boards the RMS Queen Mary, excited to begin a new life in America. Her hopes sink when she finds herself embroiled in a murder onboard that puts all her dreams—not to mention her life—at risk.
4. Olive Bright, Pigeoneer by Stephanie Graves—This World War II mystery sounds interesting. The titular character is the owner of a flock of racing pigeons which she hopes will be requested by the National Pigeon Service to help with the war effort. A duo do come calling, but they're intelligence officers asking Olive to aid in a covert operation against the Germans. Soon after they arrive, a local woman is found murdered outside Olive's pigeon loft. Just what has Olive gotten herself into?
5. The Ways We Hide by Kristina McMorris—Similar to the above, this WWII novel features an illusionist's assistant who specializes in creating spectacular escapes to thrill audiences. When British military intelligence asks her to use her expertise to help them win the war, she's eager to help. It soon becomes clear, however, that her mission is much more dangerous than she ever imagined it could be.
6. Iceberg by Jennifer A. Nielsen (available March 17, 2023)—I enjoy Nielsen's historical fiction for middle graders as well as books about the Titanic, so I'm very excited for this one. It's about a young stowaway with big plans for her new life in America who gets caught up in an intriguing mystery and a desperate struggle for survival.
7. Simmer Down by Sarah Smith—This rom-com featuring dueling food trucks on a Maui beach sounds fun. I was an exchange student in the Philippines during high school, so I can't wait for all the Filipino food talk. Yum!
8. Peanut Butter Panic by Amanda Flower—I love this charming cozy mystery series. This installment, book seven, has Bailey King providing sweets for a big Thanksgiving event in town. When a man dies from an allergic reaction after eating her desserts, she's shocked. Once again, she finds herself investigating a puzzling murder.
9. The Call of the Wrens by Jenni L. Walsh—Speaking of carrier pigeons, this novel revolves around a woman who joins the Women's Royal Naval Service (aka, the "wrens") and becomes a motorcycle dispatch rider tasked with delivering the birds to the front during World War I. Two decades later, she's called back into service at the beginning of another world war.
10. Better Off Read by Nora Page—Desperate to save her town's storm-damaged library, Cleo Watkins hits the road in her bookmobile to drum up support in her small Georgia town. When a potential benefactor ends up dead and her best friend stands accused of his murder, Cleo must play Nancy Drew to figure out whodunit.
There you have it, ten books from my TBR list that have vehicles on the cover. What do you think? Have you read any of them? Which books have you read on vacation? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy TTT!
Monday, April 11, 2022
Effective, But Misleading Marketing + Long, Plotless Story = Dull, Disappointing Read
9:49 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Generally, I write my own plot summaries for the books I review. I'm going to make an exception in this case, though, in order to make a point. Here's the back cover blurb for The Edge of Lost by Kristina McMorris:
On a cold night in October 1937, searchlights cut through the darkness around Alcatraz. A prison guard’s only daughter—one of the youngest civilians who lives on the island—has gone missing. Tending the warden’s greenhouse, convicted bank robber Tommy Capello waits anxiously. Only he knows the truth about the little girl’s whereabouts, and that both of their lives depend on the search’s outcome.
Almost two decades earlier and thousands of miles away, a young boy named Shanley Keagan ekes out a living as an aspiring vaudevillian in Dublin pubs. Talented and shrewd, Shan dreams of shedding his dingy existence and finding his real father in America. The chance finally comes to cross the Atlantic, but when tragedy strikes, Shan must summon all his ingenuity to forge a new life in a volatile and foreign world.
Skilfully weaving these two stories, Kristina McMorris delivers a compelling novel that moves from Ireland to New York to San Francisco Bay. As her finely crafted characters discover the true nature of loyalty, sacrifice, and betrayal, they are forced to confront the lies we tell—and believe—in order to survive.
That first paragraph really pops, doesn't it? It's exciting, it's intriguing, it's compelling. It's pretty much irresistible if you're a historical fiction lover who's fascinated by Alcatraz. Between that opener and the novel's glossy prison-themed cover, I didn't stand a chance. I eagerly snatched up a copy of The Edge of Lost, threw my money at the cashier, and rushed home to read. Imagine my surprise when the story turned out to have very little to do with the prison. It's only in the last 100 pages or so that Alcatraz even comes into play! Needless to say, I felt ripped off by the publisher's clever but misleading marketing tactics. Yes, the most interesting part of this novel does take place at Alcatraz, but that's only at the end and the rest of the book drags and drags without much action or plot until it finally gets there. Had I known this, I would not have bothered with this novel at all.
That being said, the book does feature a cast of warm, likable characters. None of them are super fresh or original, but they are the kind of story people to whom you want good things to happen. I became invested in Shan Keagan/Tommy Capello's plight, although my interest definitely waned the more his story went on (and on and on). After a very far-fetched finale, he does get a somewhat happy ending, although it didn't feel completely satisfying to me.
Overall, then, this book was a pretty meh read for me. Not only was I disappointed by the misleading marketing, but I also found the story overly long and mostly plotless. I did continue to read until the last page (even though I couldn't stop counting the remaining pages because the novel seemed endless), so I guess that means something. I just wish McMorris had focused on the most interesting part of the story (Alcatraz) and built a tighter, more exciting/suspenseful plot around that.
(Readalikes: If you're interested in reading more about civilian life on Alcatraz, definitely check out Gennifer Choldenko's middle-grade Al Capone series. It's excellent.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of The Edge of Lost with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
Top Ten Tuesday: New Authors, Old Year
6:58 AM
It's Tuesday and you know what that means! Time for my favorite weekly meme, Top Ten Tuesday. Today's prompt is all about new authors you discovered in 2018, which will be a fun one. Before we get to that, though, here are the deets on how to join in the TTT fun. It's simple: click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl, read a few guidelines, make and share your own list, then hop around the book blogosphere visiting other people's posts. It's a great way to spread the bookish love by revisiting favorite blogs, discovering new ones, and, of course, adding great-sounding books to your toppling TBR pile. What's not to love?
Okay, here we go with Top Ten New (to Me) Authors I Discovered in 2018:
1. Emily Carpenter—You know I love me a good Gothic yarn, especially when it involves family secrets, creepy old houses, and some nail-biting suspense. Emily Carpenter's books deliver on all accounts. She only has three out so far (with another one coming in March) and I read all of them in 2018. My favorite: The Weight of Lies.
2. Lori Rader-Day—I'm a big psychological thriller fan, so Rader-Day's books definitely caught my attention. I read three out of her four this year and enjoyed two of them. My favorite: Under a Dark Sky.
3. Dervla McTiernan—I loved this Irish author's debut, The Ruin. It's a dark, but very compelling mystery. A sequel, The Scholar, will be out on May 14. I can't wait!
4. Kristina McMorris—I'm a sucker for historical fiction and I find books about orphans and children in crisis especially moving. Naturally, then, I wanted to read Sold On a Monday as soon as I heard about it. I enjoyed it and plan to read more of McMorris' work.
5. Hester Fox—Fox's ghostly, atmospheric debut, The Witch of Willow Hall, earned lots of buzz last year. And deservedly so. I can't wait to see what Fox does next!
6. Elizabeth Byler Younts—The Solace of Water, Younts' most recent novel, was one of my favorite 2018 reads. It convinced me to start Younts' Promise of Sunrise trilogy, which is about how World War II affects an Amish community in Delaware. Having been raised Amish, Younts has a unique perspective on the culture/religion, which gives her books a refreshing authenticity. My favorite: The Solace of Water.
7. Alison Gaylin—Domestic thrillers are my jam, so I had to give Gaylin's books a go in 2018. I read and enjoyed two of hers. My favorite: And She Was.
8. Emma Berquist—I loved Devils Unto Dust, Berquist's debut novel. It's a Western/horror mash-up that satisfies on every level. I can't wait for her newest, Missing, Presumed Dead, which comes out in May.
9. Joanna Barker—Regency romance is far from my favorite genre, but I do count on them for light, amusing entertainment that I can sandwich between heavier reads. It's rare for me to really love a book in this genre, but Barker's debut, The Truth About Miss Ashbourne, really charmed me with its tight prose, engaging plot line, and well-developed characters. I'm definitely keeping an eye out to see what this talented newcomer does next.
10. Sarah Maine—The first book I read in 2018 was The House Between Tides, Maine's atmospheric debut. I enjoyed it and have been meaning to try the author's other two novels ever since.
So, there you go—ten authors I discovered last year. Hm, I just realized that they're all white women and most of them are debut authors. Interesting. Perhaps I need to work on diversifying my reading this year? Anyway, have you read any of these authors? What do you think of their work? Which new-to-you authors did you discover in 2018? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will happily return the favor.
Happy TTT!
Saturday, December 29, 2018
Empathetic, Hopeful Historical A Memorable Read
2:10 PM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Struggling journalist Ellis Reed is in desperate need of a juicy story to propel him out of the society pages into the more prestigious world of investigative reporting. When he happens upon an arresting sight—two kids sitting on a sagging porch in rural Pennsylvania beside a sign reading "Two Children for Sale"—he snaps a photograph. It's a heart-wrenching scene that says volumes about the struggles people all over the country are facing in the midst of the Great Depression. Ellis never intends to publish the picture, but when it is inadvertently shown to his editor, the man in charge sees a golden opportunity. After the original image is accidentally destroyed, Ellis is sent to get another, which leads to a staged photograph and the subsequent destruction of an innocent family. As the situation grows increasingly out of control, Ellis is haunted by what he's done. He can't tell the truth without ruining his now successful career, but he can't live with himself if he doesn't.
Equally horrified by her role in the situation, Lillian Palmer vows to help Ellis reunite a family torn apart by lies and besieged by unwanted public attention. Risking her own position at the newspaper, she has to decide how far she's willing to go for redemption and for her developing relationship with Ellis. Can Lillian and Ellis put to rights a situation that gets more complicated every day? Or have they doomed themselves and a guiltless family to a lifetime of sorrow and remorse?
With a haunting premise and a compelling plot, Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris is an evocative novel about the sometimes long-reaching consequences of one split-second decision. Peopled with flawed, but authentic characters, it tells an empathetic story that highlights the abject desperation that characterized a devastating period in American history. Although this is a sad story, it's also a hopeful one. Sold on a Monday kept me reading, hoping, and yearning for a happy ending. I enjoyed it immensely.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
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