Review: The Parking Lot Attendant by Nafkote Tamirat

The Parking Lot Attendant by Nafkote Tamirat was captivating from page one. We're introduced to our narrator whose story begins on an undisclosed island where it's clear she and her father might be outcasts of sorts. This unnamed island has become home to the narrator and her father along with other Ethiopians that believed in Ayale.

Review: Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

Sing, Unburied Sing… What a beautifully written story of a family that I wanted to last much longer than the pages allowed. I was almost sad this one had to come to an end. I read much of this novel with anticipating the worse to come as Jojo travels with his mother, Leonie, to pick up his father, Michael, from Parchman Prison. Not only was I nervous for Jojo, but also the family left behind in wait, his grandparents.

Review: The Prodigal Son by Kimberla Lawson Roby

The Prodigal Son is drama from the beginning. DRAMA!!!!! For those aware of Kimberla Lawson Roby's Reverend Curtis Black series, it comes as no surprise that this latest addition continues with the trend.

The Prodigal Son follows the lives of Matthew and Dillion. Both are connected only by the blood they share courtesy of their promiscuous father Rev. Black... and that's about all they share. Matthew seems like a genuinely nice guy who's between a rock and a hard place. He's torn between loyalty to his wife after his mother attempts to break up their "happy" home, and the people who raised him. Matthew hasn't spoken to his parents since Charlotte told DCFS that his wife, Racquel, was abusive towards their infant son causing a brief period where they were not even able to see their child outside of protective custody. Like I said... DRAMA!!!

Dillon on the other hand is Rev. Black's first born. He's also the only one of the Black's who was raised outside of the luxury afforded a mega-pastor. Dillon is bitter, vindictive, conniving, and explosive. I haven't come across a character I've detested more in a long time. The only problem I have with him (besides all the above mentioned flaws) is that I feel bad for him. He just wants his father's love and attention. After being ignored your whole life from someone who makes up 50% of your DNA, being a little crazy is the least of your worries.

On to the writing. This novel, The Prodigal Son is written simply. It's not the highest form of literature but honestly, I could care less how philosophical a book is so long as it grabs my attention. Roby grabbed my attention and never let go. It's a great beach read when you need your fill of craziness.

The Prodigal Son reminds me of the days of my youth. I was raised in my family's church, although small, it had it's drama. I am often reminded of how contradicting church folk can be. Roby cautions that no matter what church, the size of its congregation, or the "righteousness" of the saints, there is no human walking on Earth that is perfect. Certainly not any of the characters in this book. Characters who all seem to have an ulterior motive. 

In conclusion, although I haven't read any of the preceding novels in this series, I don't feel like I've missed much. She sets the stage well and recaps the previous novels in a way that makes me only want to move forward. Fans of the Rev. Curtis Black series will love this latest installment.   ****

Copy provided by Grand Central Publishing via Netgalley

Review: Debbie Doesn't Do It Anymore by Walter Mosley

Debbie Doesn't Do It Anymore, is the first novel I've read by Walter Mosley. I know, I know. What rock have I been living under? And to begin with this? What about the Easy Rawlins novels that are more my speed?

Debbie Dare thrills the world with exhilarating pornographic scenes as a living. After filming a scene with a costar, she goes home to find that her husband has died in a "freak" accident involving an underage female, and a camera. You put two and two together. Almost immediately after news of Theon Pinkney's death, Debbie finds that the life of luxury they lived is a lie. With the weight of her husbands death and financial ruin, Debbie decides she won't do it anymore. You all know what it is. Don't act shy now.

Generally, I'm not one who reads erotic novels or smut. I don't want to be the one caught reading an erotic novel at work... or anywhere else for that matter. Thinking that this novel may fall into that category made me a little skeptical initially. After reading the first ten pages, I knew Debbie Doesn't Do It Anymore was written to tell a porn star's journey in finding her self and not simply racking up scenes in which the character could do it. Thank you Walter Mosley.

Sandra Pinkney, best know as Debbie Dare, goes through a profound transformation in the days after her husbands tragic demise. What is hard to understand about her is that she seems so emotionless. I don't remember her once playing the victim or sad widow and it is because of this I loved her. The victim card is too overused in most novels. 

This novel is told as a narrative. Readers are inside Debbie's head at all times. She doesn't apologize for her lifestyle, nor does she find it shameful. Debbie only understands that her last link to the world of pornography is gone. In the midst of the chaos that has ensued after Theon's death, constantly flirting with the idea of suicide, and living with the guilt of abandoning her son, Debbie prevails. 

Ultimately I really enjoyed reading Debbie Doesn't Do It Anymore. Walter Mosley introduces us to a woman who sees a world she no longer belongs in and refuses to go back to a place that could bring her to her knees. 

Copy provided by Doubleday via Netgalley

Review: Kinder Than Solitude by Yiyun Li

Kinder Than Solitude by Yiyun Li is the enthralling story of three friends who's lives are forever bound by the history they have tried to run from since youth. The news of the death of Shaoai, which is possibly caused by one of the three, jump starts the novel. After more than 20 years in a coma, the one tie holding these three together, is finally severed. 

The premise of a mystery is what attracted my attention to this novel initially, by Li's writing kept me engrossed and in need of savoring every word written. Each character in their own way, has chosen a life of solitude as opposed to a true existence filled with love, laughter, and humanity. Boyang, has risen from meager beginnings to become a man who is more wealthy than ever imagined. Moran, once a courteous teen, morphs into a chemist who finds solace in her small apartment and the occasional visits with her dying ex-husband. Finally, the most interesting yet mysterious of the three, Ruyu, lives as the odd-job queen. 

Kinder Than Solitude is more than just a mystery of whodunnit but rather a delving into what it means to be human; to seek lasting connections and have a meaningful life full of people who matter. Instead, these characters have chosen a life of being untangled. After failed marriages,passing flings, or basic emotionless disregard, the one thing that they do remain tethered to is the death of Shaoai.

Yiyun Li provides a vivid character study of three people that are unlike any character I've come across to date in the multitude of texts I've read. Who stand out the most for me is Ruyu. She's sent to live with Shaoai's family at the age of 15. Shaoai constantly berates her for her lack of emotion or caring. Ruyu is an enigma the entire novel and never once deviates from that trait. She's logical to a fault and this makes her prime suspect number one. She seems not to care about anyone but not in the cunning way. It's more so that she's even tempered and this baffles all who come across her.

Essentially, Kinder Than Solitude is a well-written expose of human nature and the beauty of solitude. I enjoyed this novel tremendously and look forward to what's next from this author. ****

Copy provided by Random House via Netgalley

Review: Under the Jeweled Sky by Alison McQueen

What could be better than an historical fiction novel set in India during a time when the country was fighting for its independence? I had high hopes for Under the Jeweled Sky. I thought it was the perfect way to learn about the culture and history of India while reading an enchanting love story that features star-crossed lovers. Doesn't that seem like the ideal combination?

Sophie Schofield returns to England to visit her mother. It's obvious from the moment Victoria opens the door that there is something from Sophie's past that has caused a rift that can't be repaired. It doesn't take long for readers to see that 10 years could never be enough time away from Victoria. 

Under the Jeweled Sky shifts focus between the present and the past when Sophie, as a teenager, lived in India. Her father was employed as a doctor for the maharaj. It is during these reflections that we learn a little more about India and the culture. This is also where the romance is brought to the surface. Sophie falls in love for the first time with an Indian boy, Jag. Because of his station in life (and very strong prejudices), she is told to stay away.

The novel seems to come full circle when Sophie and her present-day husband move back to Delhi. What better way to end a story than where it begins? Actually it may not be better at all. 

What I enjoyed most about this novel was Sophie. It wasn't that she was a well developed character so much as when someone is in love, it's natural to want things to go well for them. She faces many obstacles but she never caved. Even when her less than ideal situations would have caused a weaker person to break down. She never played the victim nor did she give up hope.

What was most challenging about this novel is that the story doesn't unfold. It's never a moment I felt immersed into the world Alison McQueen created. It was almost like we were being told a story instead of living in the story with the characters.

My other gripe with this novel is that it's historical fiction yet I never got the facts or information usually coupled with period fiction. Yes there are social inferences that can be learned from this text but the single most important fact was left out. The novel takes place in war-torn India yet much of the war was off screen. There were no characters presented who had a stake in India's future besides only in passing. 

Overall, Under the Jeweled Sky could have been so much more than it was. Although it wasn't a hit with me, I do recommend this novel to lovers of historical fiction women's literature. There is a little bit of romance and a little history, but mainly a story that suggests to never give up hope. **

Copy provided by Sourcebooks via Netgalley

Review: The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

Sue Monk Kidd is the bestselling author of The Secret Life of Bees so it's no surprise that she's back on the scene with an Oprah approved sophomore title. The Invention of Wings, similar to it's predecessor, takes place in the south and follows the lives of two women. Where the two novels differ is that The Invention of Wings takes place during a time in American history when the south wanted nothing more than to preserve its lot in the slave trade.

Sarah Grimke and Hetty(Handful) alternate the narration of this inspiring story. Each woman is anxious to find freedom. For one, that freedom is physical, and the other freedom from backwards thinking.

Sarah is from an aristocratic southern family where her father is a judge on South Carolina's highest court. She expects that some day she will be able to walk in his footsteps. For her 11th birthday she is given a slave named Hetty. The idea of owning someone is preposterous to Sarah, even then at a young age after seeing slaves savagely whipped and beaten.

Although this novel is based off of a true person, Handful is a fictional character. Sue Monk Kidd uses Handful's story as a slave to juxtapose with Sarah's own feelings of being trapped. Handful's story is also more emotional than Sarah's. This allows readers to get the sentimental intended value without noticing that it lacks somewhat in Sarah Grimke's storyline. Although each character experiences loss, Handful's story is more appalling.

Sue Monk Kidd gives readers a fictionalized account of a woman who is considered a pretty big deal in the Feminist Movement as well as abolitionism. Sarah wanted equality for all humans. Even during moments when the abolition movement needed more traction, she would not conform to elders who asked her to only support abolition. She felt it was her duty give both equal attention since both topics were of the highest importance to her and she very much believed this was her life's calling.

I very much enjoyed my first read, The Invention of Wings, by Sue Monk Kidd. I even appreciate her providing where she differed from Sarah's true life and where she opted for what would make a better story. Kidd's fans will want to read this, and the Oprah 2.0 stamp on the jacket cover won't hurt. I recommend this novel to anyone who wants to read an inspiring, enthralling narrative covering the life of two very different woman who have one common goal: Freedom. ***

Copy provided by Viking via Netgalley

Review: Japantown by Barry Lancet

Won Through a Goodreads Giveaway I should have opened this book upon receiving it in the mail but in the interest of me being a slacker I decided to put it on the back-burner. Big Mistake! Huge!(In my Pretty Woman voice to those snobby Rodeo Drive women.) Japantown by Barry Lancet is what I look for in all thrillers. A great plot that has all the bells and whistles such as dead bodies, major butt-kicking, and impossibly awesome villains is nonnegotiable. Thank you Barry Lancet for fulfilling this criteria. An antique dealer, Jim Brodie, is asked to consult with the San Francisco PD on a recent murder of a Japanese family. Because of his expertise in all things Japan, he's the go to guy. He's also part-owner of his deceased father's PI firm in Japan. Immediately Brodie notices there is something very calculated and expert about this killing. Similar to his wife's death, there is a kanji note found at the murder. Ultimately, his investigation places him in a dangerous position that threatens the life of his friends and his only living relative. Barry Lancet uses his knowledge of Japanese culture and the language to writeJapantown. This debut novel is descriptive, absorbing, and thrilling. Suffice it to say it does not read like a debut novel. Lancet scraps unnecessary dialogue for a more intelligent thriller. Instead of littering the pages with failed one-liners, Lancet goes for a more believable approach with a strong pivotal character. Japantown shifts focus between Jim Brodie's narratives and a third party view of the bad guys movements. It is not clear how the two are related but we are privy to the understanding that Jim has definitely pissed the wrong guy off. As more layers of mystery are unraveled, the tension is palpable. The world of high-stakes business is a lot more deadly than one would have thought. Barry Lancet is a great new voice in the thriller genre. I hope his next novel is just as good as Japantown. It's an in-depth look at Japanese culture, business, and values. Sign me up for his next book. PLEASE!?!   ****

Review: A True Novel by Minae Mizumura

A Japanese retelling of my favorite classic Wuthering Heights? Where do I sign up? Minae Mizumura writes beautifully about the life of Taro Azuma. Taro’s a man who intrigues her family with his enigmatic and sometimes dark personality. Mizumura meets this man as a private chauffer for her father’s boss. As time goes on, the only chattering heard about Taro is that he’s slowly making a name for his self and acquiring massive amounts of wealth. The information of Taro’s history is unknown until Mizumura runs into a past student who tells her the story he’s heard of the cryptic Taro Azuma. This handsome man who hails from Japan and is talked about as if a legend, is Mizumura’s starring character in an attempt to write a “true novel”. Mizumura explains in the prologue (perhaps the longest one I’ve ever read) that “Inovels” are very popular in Japanese literature and are primarily stories that are true to life and neither have a beginning or end since that is of course how true to life they are. Mizumura found that the classic novel Wuthering Heights was a story that is so true to life and told thousands of times. This is where she got the idea of how to structure Taro’s life into a “true novel”. “True” in the sense that it is based off of an actual true story or a man’s wonderful rise in a new world that would not let him remain unconscious to that fact that he was an outsider. Yusuke happens upon a cottage in a remote part of Karuizawa. His bike is in disrepair after a torrential rain leaves him stranded, keyless, and at the mercy of two strangers. These strangers turn out to be Fumiko, a woman assumed to be the maid, and the legendary Taro Azuma. Yusuke is offered lodging at this home and is baffled by the presence of a woman and man. He was certain there was no one else at this small home. He inquires to Fumiko about the presence of these other people. She explains they are the ghosts of Taro’s one true love and her husband. It’s here she takes over the novel and narrates the past life of the infamous, mysterious Taro Azuma and how these ghosts came to be. From page one A True Novel is enthralling and hard to step away from. Although I’ve read Wuthering Heights many times, I was more interested in the lives of these characters than comparing what Mizumura kept from the original Bronte novel or decided to abandon. Similar to the original 19th century novel, there is so much more to this novel than the surface of a love story. Essentially, there are many true loves in this novel. Mizumura mentions the talk of a Japan that she longed for dearly as a child growing up in New York. She tried to hold on to the memories of that Japan for as long as possible only to find the Japan she once knew was no more. This place of her childhood was now a westernized-concrete jungle. She’d lost her true love to time and change. Similarly to Taro Azuma who lost his one love to the same circumstances. Taro’s enduring love for Yoko pushed him to the limit and embodies the true agony of not being loved wholly in return. He was raised in a home where he suffered abuse, was undereducated, poor, and essentially cast off as a non-person because of his questionable heritage. His only salvation from this hell was in the old woman Mrs. Utagawa, the wealthy grandmother of Yoko. A he matures into an adult, it is in this world Taro realizes he doesn't belong. After an abhorrent fight with Yoko, Taro journey's to the land of opportunity in the hopes of someday returning a man worthy of her stature. Upon his arrival, he finds that she is married with no plans of ever leaving her husband. I could go on and on about the characters, the plot, the themes, and how much I love A True Novel by Minae Mizumura but… that would be a disservice to future readers. Ultimately, this novel explores the circle of love and how time is unwilling to allow anything to remain the way we hope they would. ***** FYI: This novel also has photos of the different scenery!

Review: Secrets of the Southern Belle by Phaedra Parks, Esq

Everybody knows that each franchise of the Bravo's hit series Real Housewives, there is one housewife that becomes a fan favorite. For me, that person is Phaedra Parks, Esq. of the Real Housewives of Atlanta. She's not the typical housewife who married into money and sits on her behind. She's an accomplished lawyer with a business savvy that rivels the best. I placed the bias for her aside in hopes of writing an impartial and honest review for the Netgalley provided copy of Secrets of the Southern Belle.

Phaedra Parks has written an advice book on how to be a Southern Belle which is her reality personality on the series so it's hard not to associate her with the advice given in the book and compare it to the show. There's no getting around it especially if the reader is familiar with the reality show. This isn't a bad thing because I think much of Parks actions and personality coincide with the advice given in Secrets of the Southern Belle. This provides a little more insight to fans of her actions. Now on to the book!

Secrets of the Southern Belle: How to Be Nice, Work Hard, Look Pretty, Have Fun, and Never Have an Off Moment let's us into the inside world of a true Southern Belle and exposes the secrets to her pulling it off without a hitch. Parks encourages women to take care of themselves and the rest of the world will too. She's not suggesting that Belle's behave like the feminist revolution never happened or to cater to any man's needs, but to simply put more effort into the person they present to the world. I love this idea. Most people are judged by there outside appearance so why not put your best foot forward?

One of the ways a Southern Belle can get what she wants is by being respectful, mannerful and establishing connections. Parks notes that manners mean a lot and many have forgotten this. My experience in customer service has made me more than happy to help Parks get this message out. There are rude people who need not be rude especially when that energy can be used at making a lasting connection with someone. Ultimately the goal of a Southern Belle is to make a connection with people by using "please" or "thank you". Even sending flowers, gifts, or thank you cards can be terms of endearment and a meaningful way to nurture that relationship.

What's a book about being a Southern Belle without giving advice about how to maintain your outward appearance? Parks gives sound advice that everybody should know such as under garments should remain just that. No one wants to see that you've been wearing the same underwear three days in a row. And much of the advice is not limited to just women. There's insight on how to raise young gentlemen worthy of a true Southern Belle. I admit I don't need 2-hours in the morning... but then again... maybe I do.

Now on to my gripes. I'm a northerner and was a little put off by the constant references to us as if we are from some other planet. I discussed this with my mother who's a southerner through and through (although she's been raised in the north) and she agrees with Phaedra Parks. There is a distinctly different culture I'm sure. My gripe is that the references almost take away from the charm of the book especially if a northerner takes it personally.

Everybody knows that this book oozes Phaedra Parks inside and out. During my read I could not keep her voice out of head. I liken it to having tea on the front porch with a good friend shooting the breeze.

Secrets of the Southern Belle is a fun, engrossing, and inspiring advice book that can have any girl on their way to becoming true Southern Belles. If that is not the goal of the reader, Parks provides sound advice in most areas in life, that the Southern Belle rules apply in hopes of becoming better people overall. I imagine fans of the Real Housewives are the intended audience, although I'd recommend this book to all my girlfriends.
****

Review: The Storycatcher by Ann Hite

If it has anything to do with haints, I'm there! Ann Hite's The Storycatcher is the story two young women Shelly Parker(16) and Faith Dobbins(19). Although neither woman much cares for the other, they're common goal is to get rid of the spirit that is following them in hopes that they will reveal her story, her truth. Their ghost wants to help them ward off the evil that is sure to be on it's way to them.

The novel takes place is the Depression-era when beliefs in haints, hoodoo, the gift of sight, and the "touch" are relied upon to communicate with the dead. In this gothic world Hite has created there are spirits every place you turn. These souls stand between two worlds unable to move on until those stories being revealed set them free. The storycatcher is someone who's job is to set life stories straight. 

The Storycatcher immediately draws the readers in. Initially I planned to only read the first chapter, until the next day, but Ada Lee Tine and the richly drawn descriptions of the Georgia coast begged me to turn the page. Plus, anyone who can see and speak with the dead is worth giving a chance. Shelly is similar to Ada Lee in being "touched" and able to speak to the dead. Her parts in this novel describe vividly the beauty that is Black Mountain, North Carolina. Although it's not apparent from the beginning how these stories connect, Hite begins to lay down the strings to tie in their converging histories. 

Each chapter is narrated by a different voice. And amongst those voices a few are dead. I hope that's not a spoiler alert but c'mon! It's bound to happen. If our heroines can talk to them, why can't we? I am forever grateful to Hite for making the characters speak English well enough to understand. There is nothing more annoying than trudging through a book only half understanding what a person from the 30's is saying. I mention this only because the voices seem distinct enough to me that I could decipher who was speaking although some are less educated than others. 

The one thing that really confused me until I started paying closer attention are the timelines. At one point I thought that we were in the present (circa 1939) only to realize mid-chapter that I was reading something from 1859... argh!!! The transistions could have been smoother. That is my only gripe.

The Storycatcher by Ann Hite is definitely a must-read for those who enjoy gothic novels with a lot of paranormal elements and mystery. This is the first novel I've read by Hite and I'm looking forward to reading more. I genuinely loved living in this world of ghosts, storycatchers, body-snatchers, mediums, and hoodoo. Recommended!  ****

Review: Children Of the Jacaranda Tree by Sahar Delijani

The debut novel Children Of the Jacaranda Tree by Sahar Delijani immediately captures the audience with the birth of Neda in an Iran prison.  The preface suggests that much of the story is taken from experiences in the authors life. I can only wonder what parts are true to her life and what isn't. The novel follows the lives of people who's lives are changed by the social unrest in post-revoluntionary Iran, from 1983 to 2011. Delijani explores how history has changed characters such as Neda, Maryam, and Sheida and its effects.

Children of the Jacaranda Tree is very interesting and is initially engaging. The characters are well developed and the horrors they encounter are a real tragedy. The story of a daughter never knowing their father because he's been executed or the mother forced to give up their child after only a few months of nursing them. Toddlers earliest memories are of their parents being taken away by force.  All occurances that leave readers breathless and wanting to take a stand as some in this novel have done.

I recommend Children of the Jacaranda Tree to fans of Khaled Hosseini and have an interest in the affairs of the Middle East. Sahar Delijani's debut suggests that she is an acceptable new talent in the literary fiction world. ***

Review of Transit by Anna Seghers

Transit is the first-person narrative of a difficult time when transit papers meant everything. The acquiring of  a visa, an exit visa, danger visa, or transit visa are what keeps the characters in this novel away from a new life. After escaping from a Nazi concentration camp, our protagonist is asked to deliver papers in Paris to an author named Weidel. Once he's there, our narrator discovers that Weidel has committed suicide as well as a manuscript for a novel. It is in a large waiting room where our narrator tells his story of how he manages to find Weidel's widow and embark on the journey of getting transit papers.

What makes Transit remarkable is that it's a journey that Anna Seghers once had. She was a refugee attempting to escape before Hitler's army advanced any further into unoccupied territory. Seghers was similar to the characters in this novel who are looking for some place to go but don't always have the necessary documents to get them where they need to go. Almost as if their hopes of leaving Marseille should be null and void because the government made it impossible to leave. Much of the time I wondered who is real in this novel and who is a figment of Seghers imagination.

The characters in Transit are uniquely and vividly described. At times the narrator projects his feelings and attitudes towards that person when describing them to the refugees listening in on the story. I enjoyed this because we get to see the world through the eyes of a man who doesn't seem to really want to go anywhere until it is absolutely a matter of life and death that he goes. A person who describes himself initally as dead for a year. That is until love and hope enter his life.

Ultimately, this is a story that needs to be told and heard. Unfortunately, Seghers account in Transit was not unique during this time in history. There were millions who were subjected to the nightmare of having to return to war torn coutries, that often didn't exist anymore, because someone else told them their documents weren't good. I can't imagine what it feels like to want to leave so badly and my greatest fear is to be left behind. I recommend this novel to those who especially have an interest in World War II era fiction. ***