Turbulence by David Szalay

Turbulence is a mix of 12 short stories. Each story has a new character, a new story line and then they end up connecting to form a full circle.

This book is only 160 pages and felt incomplete. I was left wanting to know more and to connect to characters and while this may have been the purpose of the writer it just left me frustrated. This doesn't mean that it isn't a good read because it is - it just means that the reader is left  feeling uncertain about the story and characters.

* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Nearly Normal Family: A Novel A Nearly Normal Family: A Novel by M.T. Edvardsson and Rachel Willson-Broyles

Stella Sandell is 18 years old and stands accused of murder. The brutal murder of a successful business man. Her parents are successful and prominent figures in the community. Adam is a pastor and the arrest of his daughter has shaken his belief system.  Ulrika is a criminal defense attorney and the law is incredibly important to her. They are both faced with some major obstacles to overcome in their personal and professional lives.

The story is told by 3 different narrators, Stella, Adam and Ulrika. The story starts off strong and then slowly unfolds. It winds back and forth unraveling in a courtroom trial and flash back memories.I liked the book but didn't love it. It doesn't move as  fast as I would like and none of the character's are likable however I do see how the read could be interesting to some because it comes down to moral character and how choices we make change our lives and that of others.






 

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett

Publication Date 10/08/2019 

 

In their sixteenth year the girls are banished and released into the wild for one full year, their grace year. In that year they are supposed to "lose" their magic. The very magic that they have been taught seduces men and drives women crazy. 

Tierney James is 16 and about to be forced into her grace year but she dreams literally and figuratively of a better world, a world in which there is no grace year and women aren't pitted against one another.  The Grace year is shrouded in secrets and the women who return don't speak of it nor do they speak of the ones who don't return. 

The Grace Year is well written and addicting. It is Lord of Flies meets The Handmaiden's Tale with a bit of The Hunger Games tossed in for good measure. It's an excellent addition to the dystopian genre and you will be left wanting to know more.

* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Flight or Fright by Stephen King , Bev Vincent, et al.

 

Flight or Fright is a collection of 17 stories from various authors regarding ... flying.

It's a mixed bag of nuts. Some you like, some you don't. A few of the stories put you in the seat, make your heart beat fast and put you on edge while others aren't so great and you have to push through them to finish it.

My favorite were the ones that dealt with horror and my least favorite was the poem. I wouldn't read any of these on the plane or before boarding a plane that's for sure.



* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly

Isabelle is the ugly step-sister. She didn't get the price (her step-sister did) despite cutting off off her toes in an attempt to get the glass slipper to fit. The entire town hates her and her sister for the way they treated the now prince's wife. She's is ugly in personality and looks. She's an outcast. Her attempts at being perfect, sweet, kind and meet her mother's expectations have failed leaving her jealous, angry and hollow.

Isabelle is given an opportunity to redeem herself. A chance to change her fate. This is her story and it's a great one.

The story is told in third person. It's darker and the focus isn't on the girl who get the prince but the one who didn't. I genuinely enjoyed this version, a version that shows you that a villain is a mix of good and bad. A villain could be me, you, or anyone. We are all imperfect and can change our character.

The read can at times be a bit sluggish but overall it's enjoyable and worth the effort.