Svetlana's Reads and Views

 For this week, i got one book: Spring by Leila Rafei. Next few weeks, highly doubt I will get anymore new books...

 I am often of opinion that "coming of age" is a term that is thrown a lot when it comes to books. I often identify coming of age as change and maturity, of someone growing up and experiencing a life changing event.  As sad as it sounds, I can't recall any coming of age stories that had a profound change on me. I am still in the same place as I was when I was a teenager, and if anything, I have been taught by society and family that unless you work or make money I am not supposed to have a voice. Therefore it's hard for me to gauge how much books have changed me. Few decades back, I want to say, Marguerite Duras North China Lover and Susan Chois novels have had an effect on my writing, but then I gave up writing fiction over seven years ago.  I think good ingredients for coming of age tales are characters and their personalities as well as their resistance to it. It's A compelling read when a character has to change or is forced to change, but they resist that cha...

 This week's neglected book:  The Winthrop Woman by Anya Setton  Publication date: 1958 Publisher: Pyramid Fiction Summary:  Why did I add The Winthrop Woman by Anya Setton to my bookshelf?  I love historical fiction, ( the more ancient the better!) I got it at a thrift store with a former friend, and there is somehing exciting and appealing about the early colonial days. I will still read it though. 

 Title One night with a prince Author: Sabrina Jeffries  Published: 2006 Length: 384 pages  Summary: How and when I got it: I used to be friends with niece of the author and she mentioned that her aunt writes romance novels. I wanted it to connect to Only a Duke will do, and therefore I got the trilogy.  Why I want to read it:  Mainly for escape from 2020. Or maybe I will read it in the future. 

 So it's Halloween, almost and I really wracked my brain about this topic: I used to read horror but not anymore. Maybe supernatural? But what? Can I make it to ten? Then I think, 10 supernatural books I own. Enjoy and happy Halloween!  1. The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu: ghosts, body possessions and anthromorphic emotions as well as fate and hints of Death. Minus horror, sounds like a supernatural novel to me.  2. The Golem and the Djinni by Helene Wecker: so it's a fantasy, but still, mysterious creatures coming to life and the meaning of reincarnation, faith and karma as well as a wonderful possible relationship.  3. Whisper of Death by Christopher Pike: tied somewhere between suspense and horror, I loved this story of Death, life and isolation.  4. The silver kiss by Anna Curtis Klause: okay, so vampires and a sweet yet tender love story. ( was written in 1990, way before Twilight...) obviously the vampire elements.  5. Blood and chocolate by Anna...

 The game of hope by Sandra Gulland 194/345 Spring Forward 319/427 A SNAKE LIES WAITING by Jin Yong 271/424

I am exhausted, seriously exhausted from politics, fighting, 2020 and hell. I am tired of opening up my mailbox and seeing political advertisements ( I live with my son and my parents.) I am tired of thinking of WWIII that should erupt sometime next year, and I am tired of being conflicted. Why can't things sometime be black and white without the grey? I don't know who is right or wrong; I don't know who will bring hell. All I can see is that USA has become a cult for democrats and republicans, and if you don't believe to the letter you become a pariah. Whatever happened to agree to disagree? Whatever happened to moderation? It no longer exists, and while I am not an Oracle, it's not good when extremism begins to rule the land...

 Much to mine surprise, my mom picked up two free books at her job; they are Nobody's Angel by Karen Robards and Amanda Rose by Karen Robards. 

For obvious reasons, discussion of diverse literature is something dear to my heart. Diverse equals different, it equals something that doesn't follow the norm. What is the norm? Norm is Western European powers ( England in particular) and USA. Norm is not diverse.  As an ethnic minority of Eastern European population ( maybe I should say Soviet Union,) stories that are written by authors and people from Eastern Europe are diverse because our experiences and history are different; the way our lives are lived is a lot different than the norm, and that pertains to food as well.  If an author writes about a Spanish character set in Spain, will that be diverse? My question might be, where will the book be bought and background of an author? If a book is bought in Spain, I don't see it as diverse because it's speaking to people who have similar experiences. Background? What is authors background? If it's a marginalized background like maybe a Roma gypsy or a Jew, I would see...

This week's neglected book:  After the scandal by Elizabeth Essex  Published Date: March 2014 Publisher: St Martins Griffin Paperbacks   Why did I add After the Scandal to my bookshelf?  In February of 2014, ( highly likely Valentine's Day,) my favorite author of the time, Jade Lee, was coming to my state for a visit. After meeting her, I recall walking around and meeting Elizabeth Essex, who gave me the ARC of this book when she learned I was a blogger. I am embarrassed to say that I hadn't read it still...

 Title: The MacGregors Lady Author: Grace Burrowed  Published: 2014 Length: 406 pages Summary: How and when I got it: Wow, six years have passed already? I was contacted by a publicist asking if I wanted to do review for its sequel/standalone, WHAT A LADY NEEDS FOR CHRISTMAS. I agreed, wrote review and enjoyed the story a whole lot. Being a completionist, I needed to get prequels, and this is one of them.  Why I want to read it:  With all the hell that 2020 has spawned, I need something light and fluffy for my brain to take. I love serious works, but sometimes my mind needs to rest and enjoy the lighter side of life. 

 Unfortunately I don't have reader friends that I can talk to now. In the past though, I did get some recommendations, many unread than read. But here are some books that were recommended.  1. The silver kiss by Anna Curtis Klause- in middle school I was going through a vampire phase and I ended up talking to a girl who told me about this wonderful hidden gem, which I ended up enjoying.  2. Whisper of Death by Christopher Pike- one of my sister's ex friends sister was reading Christopher Pike, and when she learned I liked R.L Stine she recommended the author to me. It took me until I was in high school to fully fall in love with Christopher Pikes early works.  3. White Oleander by Janet Fitch-  I was talking to someone on the bus who was in complete awe of the book, and I ended up being intrigued and deciding to read it. So I am in minority when I say I read it and couldn't stand it.  4. The fault in our stars by John Green-  So i read it because at th...

Name of Book: Truths I never told you  Author: Kelly Rimmer  ISBN: 978-1-525-80460-1 Publisher: Graydon Type of book: Washington, 1950s-1960s, 1996, motherhood, dreams, post partum depression, journal, artist, secrets, siblings, relationships,  Year it was published: 2020 Summary: From the bestselling author of The Things We Cannot Say comes a poignant novel about the fault in memories and the lies that can bond a family together—or tear it apart. With her father recently moved to a care facility for his worsening dementia, Beth Walsh volunteers to clear out the family home and is surprised to discover the door to her childhood playroom padlocked. She’s even more shocked at what’s behind it—a hoarder’s mess of her father’s paintings, mounds of discarded papers and miscellaneous junk in the otherwise fastidiously tidy house. As she picks through the clutter, she finds a loose journal entry in what appears to be her late mother’s handwriting. Beth and her siblings grew up b...

Don't you know there's a war on? By Janet Todd 38/275 Spring forward by Catherine Anderson 199/427 A SNAKE LIES WAITING by Jin Yong 151/424

 So, did anyone miss me? Last Gd knows how many months have been, well, hell filled. Thankfully physically we are well and healthy. My son has grown by leaps and bounds, enjoying dinosaurs, and currently using his imagination a whole lot. He also began Pre-K and seems to enjoy and thrive there. It's safe to say that 2020 didn't go as I had hoped. Before COVID, I had a lot of plans, but yeah, those plans have died. For the time being, I'm not writing reviews, although I plan to start back again soon, in November. The last half of 2020, I am barely getting any books. ( when was the last time? Oh October 2nd I believe.) 

 Honestly, I hadn't gotten any books since my birthday few weeks back, but here is hoping that I might get some soon. For my birthday, from my beloved and beautiful sister, I received A Good Family by A.H. Kim and THE COLOR OF AIR by Gail Tsukiyama.  I hope to get On Fragile Waves by E. Lily Yu, which I won as well as Spring by Leila Rafei.  

I am ashamed today that my TBR list is pretty long...years long...countless years ago. I always come up with a theme and then try to find books that fit into the theme. Some examples? Books that take place in 50 states, but I want them to reflect racial and religious and LGB diversity. Also, let's remember that men and women experience the world differently. Another theme? Four elements titles ( air, earth, water fire) 4 seasons titles (spring, summer, autumn and winter) mysteries written by East Asian men and women. Mostly I go for women's fiction, romance, historical fiction, thrillers and suspense as well as literary. Also one more TBR, historical fiction from prehistoric times to modern times around the world.  To an extent I do keep it organized, that is a lot of books I got in the past are my priorities for reading. Overall, don't keep it organized, sorry to say. It used to be that book tour books were first, but now I guess what will be my priority are books I got fr...

 This week's neglected book MIDDLEMARCH by George Eliot  Publication: 1871-1872 Publisher: Oxford?  Why did I add it? Few years back, I read FREE FOOD FOR MILLIONAIRES by Min Jin Lee, ( yes, the same author who wrote PACHINKO) and for some odd reason, despite my low rating for the book, I became curious about MIDDLEMARCH and when I saw it was for sale in the library, I decided to buy it. 

 So I realize I'm posting this late...way way late. but there's no harm in some publicity right?  Book: The Rose Code Author: Kate Quinn Pages: 656 Publisher: William Morrow  Date Published: March 2021 Summary: The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Huntress and The Alice Network returns with another heart-stopping World War II story of three female code breakers at Bletchley Park and the spy they must root out after the war is over. 1940. As England prepares to fight the Nazis, three very different women answer the call to mysterious country estate Bletchley Park, where the best minds in Britain train to break German military codes. Vivacious debutante Osla is the girl who has everything—beauty, wealth, and the dashing Prince Philip of Greece sending her roses—but she burns to prove herself as more than a society girl, and puts her fluent German to use as a translator of decoded enemy secrets. Imperious self-made Mab, product of east-end London povert...

  Book: Ties that Tether Author: Jane Igharo Pages: 336 Publisher: Berkley Date Published: September 2020 Summary: When a Nigerian woman falls for a man she knows will break her mother's heart, she must choose between love and her family.  At twelve years old, Azere promised her dying father she would marry a Nigerian man and preserve her culture, even after immigrating to Canada. Her mother has been vigilant about helping--well forcing--her to stay within the Nigerian dating pool ever since. But when another match-made-by-mom goes wrong, Azere ends up at a bar, enjoying the company and later sharing the bed of Rafael Castellano, a man who is tall, handsome, and...white.      When their one-night stand unexpectedly evolves into something serious, Azere is caught between her feelings for Rafael and the compulsive need to please her mother. Soon, Azere can't help wondering if loving Rafael makes her any less of a Nigerian. Can she be with him without compromising ...

 Due to technological malfunctions ( and me not being aware that uninstalling a program equals my hard work is kaput...) I started to write list of books I have and which boxes they are in, by hand. At the moment I don't have the book next to me.  Title: The Lost Wife Author: Alyson Richman Published: 2011  Pages: 368 Summary:  How and when I got it:  Honestly I can't remember if it was in a local library or if it was a gift from a dear friend who passed away in 2016... Why I want to read it:  At the time, it was a popular and intriguing WWII novel and I am curious to see how it will be. 

 Who hasn't come across long book titles? And what makes a long book title? Mine would be 7 words or more that I possibly read and have in my library. I think I will do 10. I know I have more, but these are long titles, aren't they?  1. I want you to know we're still here  2. The plot against the pom pom queen  3. Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban  4. Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets  5. Starring Sally J Freedman as herself  6. It's not the end of the world  7. Pilgrim footprints on the sands of time  8. A history of the Jews in Modern Times  9. 50 secrets how to meet people and make friends  10. Tammy the little cat with a big attitude 

 Spring Forward by Catherine Anderson 99/427 A SNAKE LIES WAITING by Jin Yong 62/424 The human past by Chris Scarre 613/720  

 Technically I am writing in almost the middle of October. My birthday was ok, literally only got birthday wishes from people. (Got gifts early actually...) and yes I have gotten two books I wanted: A GOOD FAMILY by A.H Kim and THE COLOR OF AIR by Gail Tsukiyama. I also got A SNAKE LIES WAITING by Jin Yong and have begun reading it, which is pretty good in my opinion. I might start writing reviews next month, or maybe this month for A SNAKE LIES WAITING.     Book tours/Spotlights:  Late cover reveal for THE ROSE CODE Spotlight for TIES THAT TETHER by Jane Igharo  Possible reviews:  A SNAKE LIES WAITING BY JIN YONG ( If I will be finished with it)  Possible Reads:  The lover by Marguerite Duras  God has no grandchildren by Kim Gyung UK  Don't you know there's a war on by Janet Todd  The game of hope by Nicole Galland  The color of air by Gail Tsukiyama  A good family by A.H Kim  Pumpkin flowers by Matti Friedman...

The Kennedy moment- Peter Adamson SR: October 29th, 2020 FR:   Spring Forward-Catherine Anderson SR: October 4th, 2020 FR: October 28th, 2020 The education of Delhomme- Nancy Burkhalter SR: August 24th, 2020 FR:  October 1st, 2020 The game of hope- Sandra Gulland  SR: October 22nd, 2020 FR: October 29th, 2020 Don't you know there's a war on?- Janet Todd SR: October 20th, 2020 FR: October 22nd, 2020 Alina a song for the telling-  malve von hassell  SR: September 27th, 2020 FR: October 4th, 2020 A Snake Lies Waiting- Jin Yong SR: October 1st, 2020 FR: October 31st, 2020 Nonfiction: Tree of Souls-Howard Schwartz SR: February 10th, 2014 FR: N/A The human past; world prehistory and the development of human societies- Christopher Scarre (editor) SR; August 26th, 2020 FR: October 19th, 2020 Places I've taken my body; essays- Molly McCully Brown SR: October 28th, 2020 FR:  Hello darkness, my old friend; how daring dreams and unyielding friendship turned one ma...