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Recommend this book:
Brandenburg II
The Ninth Circle of Hell
James Cloud
2022 Finalist
526 Pages
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Fiction - Cultural
Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite
Brandenburg II: The Ninth Circle of Hell by James Cloud is a penetrating and well-researched story about Nazi Germany as told from the German perspective. While Hitler is the focal point, the struggles of those under the Third Reich keep the wheels of the storyline turning. As chaos reigns and the worldwide Depression has greatly impacted Germany, Adolf Hitler rises to power. With his impassioned speeches that draw many to support his cause, Germans are optimistic that this new Chancellor will get the country back on its feet. Hitler is more than willing to use misinformation to achieve his goals, a propagandistic reason for starting a war, regardless of whether it is believable or not. Over the course of Hitler’s reign, the German people will undergo the difficulties and travails that go with the Nazi propaganda.
Brandenburg II is an interesting piece of historical fiction, an epic story that stays true to its historical material. Most of us are already familiar with Hitler’s rise to power, but James Cloud gives this story a strong element of humanity by depicting the political, economic, and social conditions of those living under the Nazi ideology, and illustrates that not all Germans were sympathetic to Hitler. It is an exhaustively well-researched story that promotes a timely awareness, considering that we are continuously witnessing international tensions and crises. There is probably plenty of historical fiction that you would like to read, but James Cloud’s Brandenburg II is one that you must read, as it ticks all the boxes when it comes to what history-based fiction should be.
Brandenburg II: The Ninth Circle of Hell by James Cloud is a penetrating and well-researched story about Nazi Germany as told from the German perspective. While Hitler is the focal point, the struggles of those under the Third Reich keep the wheels of the storyline turning. As chaos reigns and the worldwide Depression has greatly impacted Germany, Adolf Hitler rises to power. With his impassioned speeches that draw many to support his cause, Germans are optimistic that this new Chancellor will get the country back on its feet. Hitler is more than willing to use misinformation to achieve his goals, a propagandistic reason for starting a war, regardless of whether it is believable or not. Over the course of Hitler’s reign, the German people will undergo the difficulties and travails that go with the Nazi propaganda.
Brandenburg II is an interesting piece of historical fiction, an epic story that stays true to its historical material. Most of us are already familiar with Hitler’s rise to power, but James Cloud gives this story a strong element of humanity by depicting the political, economic, and social conditions of those living under the Nazi ideology, and illustrates that not all Germans were sympathetic to Hitler. It is an exhaustively well-researched story that promotes a timely awareness, considering that we are continuously witnessing international tensions and crises. There is probably plenty of historical fiction that you would like to read, but James Cloud’s Brandenburg II is one that you must read, as it ticks all the boxes when it comes to what history-based fiction should be.
Recommend this book:
Second Survivor
Leah Moyes
2022 Honorable Mention
418 Pages
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Fiction - Cultural
Reviewed by Ammaarah Seboa for Readers' Favorite
Leah Moyes’ Second Survivor is a touching story about love, loss, and survival. Isabel Marie Fontaine becomes the second survivor after washing up on the coast of Menorca, Spain, as a result of the Général Chanzy shipwreck. Saved by a local farmer, Miguel, Isabel assumes the name Maria to protect herself, and for the first time in her life, she’s able to make her own decisions. Miguel and his wife Anita, take Isabel in and treat her as the daughter they never had. While living with them, Isabel meets their neighbor, Francisco Carrasco. The attraction between the two is instant, but Isabel lives in fear of her true identity being discovered and handed over to the villain of her future, Thomas Chastain.
This was truly a wonderful story that captivated me with every turn of the page. I loved that the Général Chanzy shipwreck of 1910 inspired Leah Moyes to write Second Survivor. In the author’s note, she says that after participating in an archeological dig in 2018, her head spun with ideas of a second person surviving the shipwreck as opposed to just Marcel Badez. Moyes has spun a beautifully crafted story that speaks of sorrow, family obligations, and new beginnings. I also loved that each key character had their own POV so that we, as the readers, can grasp the bigger picture without too much being given away. One of my favorite quotes from the novel is: “The sea is ambiguous, its secrets lie beneath the surface,” It’s something that resonates with Isabel as well as the villain Thomas Chastain. It reminds us that just by looking a little deeper, we are able to see a clearer picture.
Leah Moyes’ Second Survivor is a touching story about love, loss, and survival. Isabel Marie Fontaine becomes the second survivor after washing up on the coast of Menorca, Spain, as a result of the Général Chanzy shipwreck. Saved by a local farmer, Miguel, Isabel assumes the name Maria to protect herself, and for the first time in her life, she’s able to make her own decisions. Miguel and his wife Anita, take Isabel in and treat her as the daughter they never had. While living with them, Isabel meets their neighbor, Francisco Carrasco. The attraction between the two is instant, but Isabel lives in fear of her true identity being discovered and handed over to the villain of her future, Thomas Chastain.
This was truly a wonderful story that captivated me with every turn of the page. I loved that the Général Chanzy shipwreck of 1910 inspired Leah Moyes to write Second Survivor. In the author’s note, she says that after participating in an archeological dig in 2018, her head spun with ideas of a second person surviving the shipwreck as opposed to just Marcel Badez. Moyes has spun a beautifully crafted story that speaks of sorrow, family obligations, and new beginnings. I also loved that each key character had their own POV so that we, as the readers, can grasp the bigger picture without too much being given away. One of my favorite quotes from the novel is: “The sea is ambiguous, its secrets lie beneath the surface,” It’s something that resonates with Isabel as well as the villain Thomas Chastain. It reminds us that just by looking a little deeper, we are able to see a clearer picture.
Recommend this book:
Decanted
Linda Sheehan
2022 Bronze Medal
267 Pages
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Fiction - Cultural
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Decanted by Linda Sheehan is a novel in the women’s fiction, slice of life, and interpersonal drama subgenres. It is intended for the adult reading audience owing to sexual references and occasional explicit language. Spanning two different generations of women seeking life, love, and liberation, this utterly charming novel sees protagonist Samantha follow in the footsteps of her great-aunt, Vivian, who escaped the drudgery of life’s expectations for greener pastures in France. As Samantha works through the grape harvest, she learns a great deal about the pleasures of life, and a link from Vivian’s past leads her to even more shocking revelations that will truly help her reinvent herself for the future.
It's clear from the offset that author Linda Sheehan has a passion for wine and the beautiful process of its creation, and this rich backdrop sets the scene and the mood perfectly for a gorgeously lush tale of self-expression, freedom, and what it means to be a forward-thinking woman. I adored Samantha as a central protagonist for her combination of spirit and naivety and her capacity to grow and learn when faced with different challenges. The plot moves at a fast pace throughout the novel and twists in just the right places to keep readers on their toes so that it’s never predictable. I would certainly recommend Decanted for women’s fiction enthusiasts everywhere, and Sheehan as an author to watch for her wit, craftsmanship, and emotional resonance on each page.
Decanted by Linda Sheehan is a novel in the women’s fiction, slice of life, and interpersonal drama subgenres. It is intended for the adult reading audience owing to sexual references and occasional explicit language. Spanning two different generations of women seeking life, love, and liberation, this utterly charming novel sees protagonist Samantha follow in the footsteps of her great-aunt, Vivian, who escaped the drudgery of life’s expectations for greener pastures in France. As Samantha works through the grape harvest, she learns a great deal about the pleasures of life, and a link from Vivian’s past leads her to even more shocking revelations that will truly help her reinvent herself for the future.
It's clear from the offset that author Linda Sheehan has a passion for wine and the beautiful process of its creation, and this rich backdrop sets the scene and the mood perfectly for a gorgeously lush tale of self-expression, freedom, and what it means to be a forward-thinking woman. I adored Samantha as a central protagonist for her combination of spirit and naivety and her capacity to grow and learn when faced with different challenges. The plot moves at a fast pace throughout the novel and twists in just the right places to keep readers on their toes so that it’s never predictable. I would certainly recommend Decanted for women’s fiction enthusiasts everywhere, and Sheehan as an author to watch for her wit, craftsmanship, and emotional resonance on each page.
Recommend this book:
Light Chaser
Zahra Omar Shansab
2022 Silver Medal
160 Pages
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Fiction - Cultural
Reviewed by Jennifer Ibiam for Readers' Favorite
Light Chaser by Zahra Omar Shansab is the story of Pari, a vibrant thirteen-year-old in Afghanistan who loved education. Pari loved to read and lived in her fantasy world most of the time. She lost her father to landmines during the war, and her school burned down. Pari consoled herself by reading the books she had received from her father. Life was hard, and her family could barely feed themselves. The day Pari went on an errand, pandemonium broke out, a foreign entity made it into their home, and all hell was let loose. Her family incurred the wrath of the insurgents, so they must flee to save their lives. But where to? Pari and her family embarked on a journey into the unknown. What does fate have in store for her?
Light Chaser by Zahra Omar Shansab is a short but riveting novel. The plot and development of the story were excellent. With chaos and disruption everywhere, this story was sobering. Pari lived each day in war-torn Afghanistan, fearful of every second. Dreams quashed, zero safety, and horrible living conditions were their lot. My heart went out to people experiencing unrest worldwide. The story also looked at cultural and religious bias, especially against women. They live in a world where man-made laws sealed the fate of women when they were babes. However, Pari was brave, never losing her empathy and optimism, even in the face of danger. Aalia was also a heroine who fought against limitations, regardless of the consequences. Light Chaser is a fictional story that mirrors reality. It touched my heart, and I hope Pari never loses her light.
Light Chaser by Zahra Omar Shansab is the story of Pari, a vibrant thirteen-year-old in Afghanistan who loved education. Pari loved to read and lived in her fantasy world most of the time. She lost her father to landmines during the war, and her school burned down. Pari consoled herself by reading the books she had received from her father. Life was hard, and her family could barely feed themselves. The day Pari went on an errand, pandemonium broke out, a foreign entity made it into their home, and all hell was let loose. Her family incurred the wrath of the insurgents, so they must flee to save their lives. But where to? Pari and her family embarked on a journey into the unknown. What does fate have in store for her?
Light Chaser by Zahra Omar Shansab is a short but riveting novel. The plot and development of the story were excellent. With chaos and disruption everywhere, this story was sobering. Pari lived each day in war-torn Afghanistan, fearful of every second. Dreams quashed, zero safety, and horrible living conditions were their lot. My heart went out to people experiencing unrest worldwide. The story also looked at cultural and religious bias, especially against women. They live in a world where man-made laws sealed the fate of women when they were babes. However, Pari was brave, never losing her empathy and optimism, even in the face of danger. Aalia was also a heroine who fought against limitations, regardless of the consequences. Light Chaser is a fictional story that mirrors reality. It touched my heart, and I hope Pari never loses her light.
Recommend this book:
Bloodletting and Germs
A Doctor in Nineteenth Century Rural New York
Thomas Rosenthal
2022 Gold Medal
348 Pages
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Fiction - Cultural
Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite
Bloodletting and Germs: A Doctor in Nineteenth-Century Rural New York by Thomas Rosenthal is a historical novel that explores strong medical themes and the work of Dr. Jabez Allen, a setting that is at the turning point in medical history. Dr. Allen is not particularly loved by his peers who reject his application for a license. But to practice, he will have to be intelligent and to outwit his enemies, using a drugstore in rural New York as a front. This novel showcases the work of a brave man who gave everything to his country, a doctor whose doors were wide open to anyone in need, and who remained faithful to his motto: “No Cure, No Pay.”
Thomas Rosenthal writes in a style that is evocative and provides powerful historical hints. The setting is brilliantly captured, with shades of the Civil War, anthrax, and cholera pandemic. The personality of Dr. Allen is ingeniously developed and readers encounter a man passionate about his service to society, backed by an indefatigable wife who doubles as an Underground Railroad activist. While this is a novel that transports readers back to a historical moment and allows them to relive some of the events of the time, it is an inspiration to readers who want to make a difference and anyone with a dream that can impact lives. The writing is beautiful and the reader is left in no doubt that this is a rich novel, well-researched, and beautifully written. Bloodletting and Germs: A Doctor in Nineteenth-Century Rural New York is both captivating and inspiring, a compelling historical novel.
Bloodletting and Germs: A Doctor in Nineteenth-Century Rural New York by Thomas Rosenthal is a historical novel that explores strong medical themes and the work of Dr. Jabez Allen, a setting that is at the turning point in medical history. Dr. Allen is not particularly loved by his peers who reject his application for a license. But to practice, he will have to be intelligent and to outwit his enemies, using a drugstore in rural New York as a front. This novel showcases the work of a brave man who gave everything to his country, a doctor whose doors were wide open to anyone in need, and who remained faithful to his motto: “No Cure, No Pay.”
Thomas Rosenthal writes in a style that is evocative and provides powerful historical hints. The setting is brilliantly captured, with shades of the Civil War, anthrax, and cholera pandemic. The personality of Dr. Allen is ingeniously developed and readers encounter a man passionate about his service to society, backed by an indefatigable wife who doubles as an Underground Railroad activist. While this is a novel that transports readers back to a historical moment and allows them to relive some of the events of the time, it is an inspiration to readers who want to make a difference and anyone with a dream that can impact lives. The writing is beautiful and the reader is left in no doubt that this is a rich novel, well-researched, and beautifully written. Bloodletting and Germs: A Doctor in Nineteenth-Century Rural New York is both captivating and inspiring, a compelling historical novel.
Recommend this book:
Love and Other Moods
Crystal Z. Lee
2021 Finalist
326 Pages
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Fiction - Cultural
Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite
Love and Other Moods is a contemporary romance novel by author Crystal Z. Lee. It follows a young woman named Naomi and her circle of friends as they navigate through life in the city of Shanghai. Told through multiple POVs complemented by a non-linear narrative, the novel opens with Naomi reeling from the after-effects of her break up with her fiance. After a string of bad relationships, Naomi finds a kindred soul in Dante Quyang -- a Chinese architect who grew up in England. However, Dante's parents distrust the Japanese due to her family's history of suffering during the events of Nanjing. Hence, Naomi's Japanese heritage complicates matters. Additionally, Dante and her long-distance communication further add strain to the relationship.
Just like movies such as New York, I Love You or Paris, Je T'aime, Love and Other Moods feels like an ode to the city of Shanghai. Author Crystal Z. Lee perfectly encapsulates the essence of Shanghai and, to a lesser extent, China itself as the narrative showcases both of its feet planted firmly in the future while simultaneously reminiscing its past. There is almost a bittersweet element to the story as Crystal Z. Lee masterfully captures the hyperactive and extreme nature of a cosmopolitan city like Shanghai, along with its capacity to generate melancholy and loneliness. As someone who lives in a busy city, I found Naomi and her friends extremely relatable. I would highly recommend Love and Other Moods to readers who enjoy contemporary novels as I thoroughly enjoyed it myself.
Love and Other Moods is a contemporary romance novel by author Crystal Z. Lee. It follows a young woman named Naomi and her circle of friends as they navigate through life in the city of Shanghai. Told through multiple POVs complemented by a non-linear narrative, the novel opens with Naomi reeling from the after-effects of her break up with her fiance. After a string of bad relationships, Naomi finds a kindred soul in Dante Quyang -- a Chinese architect who grew up in England. However, Dante's parents distrust the Japanese due to her family's history of suffering during the events of Nanjing. Hence, Naomi's Japanese heritage complicates matters. Additionally, Dante and her long-distance communication further add strain to the relationship.
Just like movies such as New York, I Love You or Paris, Je T'aime, Love and Other Moods feels like an ode to the city of Shanghai. Author Crystal Z. Lee perfectly encapsulates the essence of Shanghai and, to a lesser extent, China itself as the narrative showcases both of its feet planted firmly in the future while simultaneously reminiscing its past. There is almost a bittersweet element to the story as Crystal Z. Lee masterfully captures the hyperactive and extreme nature of a cosmopolitan city like Shanghai, along with its capacity to generate melancholy and loneliness. As someone who lives in a busy city, I found Naomi and her friends extremely relatable. I would highly recommend Love and Other Moods to readers who enjoy contemporary novels as I thoroughly enjoyed it myself.
Recommend this book:
The People of Ostrich Mountain
Ndirangu Githaiga
2021 Honorable Mention
366 Pages
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Fiction - Cultural
Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite
An intense historical novel that spans decades, The People of Ostrich Mountain by Ndirangu Githaiga chronicles the life of a Kenyan family that begins in 1952. A 14-year-old girl named Wambui Karanja, who lives in the small village of Kiandutu, is witness to the oppressive British colonial rule as they try to suppress the Mau Mau uprising. Wambui is a math prodigy and has been accepted at a prestigious boarding school where her math teacher, Eileen Atwood, becomes her mentor and friend. After graduation, Wambui returns to her village to help with her family’s finances by running a hardware store. After forty years, Eileen goes back to England after being forced into retirement, but she feels alienated in her own country after decades of absence. Wambui has a son who becomes a doctor in Chicago, where he similarly experiences the pain of alienation through discrimination.
Written with keen realism, Ndirangu Githaiga’s debut novel is rich in lyrical prose brimming with dramatic moments. He paints with words and ensures that he provides the right colors to represent all aspects of identity in his characters. He writes with a confident knowledge about his subject—that sensitive part in Kenyan history that needs to be told. He captures the conflict between the Mau Mau and the British with ease as if he has been a first-account witness. Similarly, as the plot progresses forty years after, Githaiga is in touch with the persistent contemporary social issues that people of color find themselves battling. The People of Ostrich Mountain is a great historical literary piece. For an author who comes from an ethnically and culturally diverse continent like Africa, it isn’t surprising that Githaiga writes about war, culture, and identity, much like writers such as Chinua Achebe, Ayi Kwei Armah, and Alain Mabanckou. Powerful and absorbing, this novel is a must-read for its vivid depictions and literary relevance.
An intense historical novel that spans decades, The People of Ostrich Mountain by Ndirangu Githaiga chronicles the life of a Kenyan family that begins in 1952. A 14-year-old girl named Wambui Karanja, who lives in the small village of Kiandutu, is witness to the oppressive British colonial rule as they try to suppress the Mau Mau uprising. Wambui is a math prodigy and has been accepted at a prestigious boarding school where her math teacher, Eileen Atwood, becomes her mentor and friend. After graduation, Wambui returns to her village to help with her family’s finances by running a hardware store. After forty years, Eileen goes back to England after being forced into retirement, but she feels alienated in her own country after decades of absence. Wambui has a son who becomes a doctor in Chicago, where he similarly experiences the pain of alienation through discrimination.
Written with keen realism, Ndirangu Githaiga’s debut novel is rich in lyrical prose brimming with dramatic moments. He paints with words and ensures that he provides the right colors to represent all aspects of identity in his characters. He writes with a confident knowledge about his subject—that sensitive part in Kenyan history that needs to be told. He captures the conflict between the Mau Mau and the British with ease as if he has been a first-account witness. Similarly, as the plot progresses forty years after, Githaiga is in touch with the persistent contemporary social issues that people of color find themselves battling. The People of Ostrich Mountain is a great historical literary piece. For an author who comes from an ethnically and culturally diverse continent like Africa, it isn’t surprising that Githaiga writes about war, culture, and identity, much like writers such as Chinua Achebe, Ayi Kwei Armah, and Alain Mabanckou. Powerful and absorbing, this novel is a must-read for its vivid depictions and literary relevance.
Recommend this book:
Spa Girl
Virginia Gray
2021 Silver Medal
425 Pages
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Fiction - Cultural
Reviewed by Heather Osborne for Readers' Favorite
Spa Girl by Virginia Gray is a women’s fiction novel based on the true story of a young Chinese woman, Mei Zi. Growing up, Mei’s family constantly struggled, even though they worked very hard to survive. As she grows older and with not many educational qualifications, Mei ends up as a trainee hairdresser, leading to an eventual advancement as a facialist and esthetician. However, when a mysterious businessman lures her to Shanghai, the world as Mei knew it opens up into something much more dazzling and dangerous. Still, she never gives up on her dreams, despite everything thrown in front of her, and clings to her dreams of one day finding love, happiness, and prosperity, wherever the wind takes her.
Spa Girl by Virginia Gray was a very fascinating novel. I was expecting something entirely different when I picked it up; however, I was soon enraptured by Mei’s story. She strived to better herself at every turn, even when she was kicked down or mistreated. It was also a very interesting look at China in the late 1990s, early 2000s, including the advent of the internet and how it impacted Mei’s life. I admired her bravery and perseverance. Ms. Gray wove an excellent story, and I wasn’t particularly surprised to find it was based on an actual person, as the emotions evoked were very real. There were times when I did wonder if Mei would actually accomplish her dreams, even with all the roadblocks. This is certainly well worth the read for anyone interested in women’s fiction or literary fiction.
Spa Girl by Virginia Gray is a women’s fiction novel based on the true story of a young Chinese woman, Mei Zi. Growing up, Mei’s family constantly struggled, even though they worked very hard to survive. As she grows older and with not many educational qualifications, Mei ends up as a trainee hairdresser, leading to an eventual advancement as a facialist and esthetician. However, when a mysterious businessman lures her to Shanghai, the world as Mei knew it opens up into something much more dazzling and dangerous. Still, she never gives up on her dreams, despite everything thrown in front of her, and clings to her dreams of one day finding love, happiness, and prosperity, wherever the wind takes her.
Spa Girl by Virginia Gray was a very fascinating novel. I was expecting something entirely different when I picked it up; however, I was soon enraptured by Mei’s story. She strived to better herself at every turn, even when she was kicked down or mistreated. It was also a very interesting look at China in the late 1990s, early 2000s, including the advent of the internet and how it impacted Mei’s life. I admired her bravery and perseverance. Ms. Gray wove an excellent story, and I wasn’t particularly surprised to find it was based on an actual person, as the emotions evoked were very real. There were times when I did wonder if Mei would actually accomplish her dreams, even with all the roadblocks. This is certainly well worth the read for anyone interested in women’s fiction or literary fiction.
Recommend this book:
Remembering Hope
Parastoo Rezai
2021 Gold Medal
298 Pages
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Fiction - Cultural
Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite
Remembering Hope by Parastoo Rezai is the story of a woman trying to keep her family intact while facing overwhelming odds. Bahar is an Iranian woman brought up in a conservative culture. After her childhood friend Shirin introduces Bahar to her cousin, Omid, Bahar finds herself falling deeply in love with him. Soon, the two of them end up getting married, and Bahar relocates to San Diego. She slowly acclimatizes herself to American culture and, over the years, finds herself blessed with two healthy boys. But when Omid is diagnosed with a brain tumor, her entire life falls apart. As she deals with her husband's treatment, Bahar comes to learn about their dwindling finances. With the help of her friends and family, Bahar slowly puts things in order, but her own diagnosis complicates her life further.
Author Parastoo Rezai tells a heartbreaking tale of a woman going through a grueling life crisis with her husband's failing health and her determination to keep her family afloat through financial troubles. The narrative is well-paced, taking the reader through every aspect of Bahar's life as she navigates trying circumstances and becomes an independent woman of her own. There is a sense of authenticity to the characters that makes you root for them and turn the pages in eager anticipation of what's to come. Despite the harrowing circumstances that Bahar goes through, Remembering Hope encapsulates the power of perseverance against all odds and how caring friends and family make bleak situations easier to navigate. If you enjoy reading inspirational stories featuring strong women, I highly recommend this book.
Remembering Hope by Parastoo Rezai is the story of a woman trying to keep her family intact while facing overwhelming odds. Bahar is an Iranian woman brought up in a conservative culture. After her childhood friend Shirin introduces Bahar to her cousin, Omid, Bahar finds herself falling deeply in love with him. Soon, the two of them end up getting married, and Bahar relocates to San Diego. She slowly acclimatizes herself to American culture and, over the years, finds herself blessed with two healthy boys. But when Omid is diagnosed with a brain tumor, her entire life falls apart. As she deals with her husband's treatment, Bahar comes to learn about their dwindling finances. With the help of her friends and family, Bahar slowly puts things in order, but her own diagnosis complicates her life further.
Author Parastoo Rezai tells a heartbreaking tale of a woman going through a grueling life crisis with her husband's failing health and her determination to keep her family afloat through financial troubles. The narrative is well-paced, taking the reader through every aspect of Bahar's life as she navigates trying circumstances and becomes an independent woman of her own. There is a sense of authenticity to the characters that makes you root for them and turn the pages in eager anticipation of what's to come. Despite the harrowing circumstances that Bahar goes through, Remembering Hope encapsulates the power of perseverance against all odds and how caring friends and family make bleak situations easier to navigate. If you enjoy reading inspirational stories featuring strong women, I highly recommend this book.
Recommend this book:
A Wife in Bangkok
A Novel
Iris Mitlin Lav
2020 Finalist
280 Pages
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Fiction - Cultural
Reviewed by Heather Osborne for Readers' Favorite
A Wife in Bangkok by Iris Mitlin Lav is a women’s fiction novel taking place in 1970s Thailand. When Crystal’s husband, Brian, decides to take up a position in Thailand with his company, Firstgas, Crystal feels she has little choice but to leave their comfortable life in Pico City, Oklahoma, and go along with him. She says goodbye to her friends, job, and sister, and bundles their two children, Lisa and Tim, off to a foreign country where she doesn’t know anyone or the language. Thrown into a culture she knows little about, Crystal does her best to fit in with a different lifestyle—servants, customs, and social mores. However, after a series of events leave her feeling hopeless, will Crystal be able to salvage her marriage as well as her own sense of self?
A Wife in Bangkok by Iris Mitlin Lav was a very interesting read, and certainly well-researched as evident by the author’s own time in Thailand. I enjoyed learning about the cultural variations as well as the feelings towards Americans during this tumultuous time after the Vietnam War. I felt palpable grief at Crystal’s loneliness and there were times I wanted to slap Brian for his insensitivity. I doubt I would have been so forgiving of his seemingly controlling behavior in basically commanding that she move with him without so much as a discussion. However, it was nice to see Brian’s growth throughout the novel as well. As someone who has moved to another country to live, albeit in much more modern times, I can empathize with Crystal’s feelings of isolation and attempts to fit in, so that hit home for me on a personal level. Overall, the novel itself was well-written and delivered at a steady pace that made me feel an attachment to the characters. I would definitely read another book by this author in the future.
A Wife in Bangkok by Iris Mitlin Lav is a women’s fiction novel taking place in 1970s Thailand. When Crystal’s husband, Brian, decides to take up a position in Thailand with his company, Firstgas, Crystal feels she has little choice but to leave their comfortable life in Pico City, Oklahoma, and go along with him. She says goodbye to her friends, job, and sister, and bundles their two children, Lisa and Tim, off to a foreign country where she doesn’t know anyone or the language. Thrown into a culture she knows little about, Crystal does her best to fit in with a different lifestyle—servants, customs, and social mores. However, after a series of events leave her feeling hopeless, will Crystal be able to salvage her marriage as well as her own sense of self?
A Wife in Bangkok by Iris Mitlin Lav was a very interesting read, and certainly well-researched as evident by the author’s own time in Thailand. I enjoyed learning about the cultural variations as well as the feelings towards Americans during this tumultuous time after the Vietnam War. I felt palpable grief at Crystal’s loneliness and there were times I wanted to slap Brian for his insensitivity. I doubt I would have been so forgiving of his seemingly controlling behavior in basically commanding that she move with him without so much as a discussion. However, it was nice to see Brian’s growth throughout the novel as well. As someone who has moved to another country to live, albeit in much more modern times, I can empathize with Crystal’s feelings of isolation and attempts to fit in, so that hit home for me on a personal level. Overall, the novel itself was well-written and delivered at a steady pace that made me feel an attachment to the characters. I would definitely read another book by this author in the future.
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