November- a Bounty of Books!
I am truly thankful for books! What a joy to look at the cover of a book that is calling to you and know that soon you will be turning the pages to a new world. I’m delighted to share my reviews of books I have read and remembered with pleasure. I want to help you find a good book to read, a book that calls to you!!
Here are my favorite books I read that have been released in November and/or seem like “November” books. They are available now for you to enjoy on all major retail sites and places.
Thanks to the following for providing me with advance digital review copies. I am so thankful for this privilege! Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, authors and other publishers for an advance review copy.
JENA’S REVIEW
The Boy Between: A Mother and Son’s Journey From a World Gone Grey by Josiah Hartley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Little did I know when I was reading and getting lost in the story-telling of Amanda Prowse’s earlier books, that “the Queen of emotional drama” was facing a health challenge with her son Josh. She has written over 25 contemporary fiction books, many of which I have enjoyed, but I was surprised to learn that in real life her son was struggling with severe depression.
Ms. Prowse and her son teamed up to write this book, and Josh’s story and the family viewpoint are told in alternating chapters. Fortunately, I don’t know anyone with depression; it seems terrifying. And medical help seems to be hit and miss. I could relate to Ms. Prowse’s feelings as a mother- as she alternated between worry, crying and being a cheerleader. Her middle of the night thoughts and regrets resonated all too well with me.
Thanks to this family writing duo for sharing their personal story. I am sure it will help and encourage many people. I wish the Prowse/Hartley family all the best.
The Sentinel by Jacqueline Hodder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Sentinel melds historical fiction and literary fiction to give readers an emotional and atmospheric visit to the past. I was beguiled by the story of Miss Kathleen Devine as she dramatically changes her privileged life in Melbourne, for the isolated world of a lighthouse outpost in Victoria, Australia.
Set in the 1800’s, we accompany Miss Devine to the stark yet beautiful lighthouse post, named the Sentinel. She is to be the new Head Teacher for the children of the lighthouse workers. Three families live on the lighthouse grounds. Their world is the sea, the sky, the weather and the all-consuming task of manning the lighthouse. Miss Devine, as well as each family, bring their own hopes, and plans, and each has left troubles and worries in their previous world. Can they forge a community?
The author, Jacqueline Hodder, gifts us with the beauty, the isolation, and the sense of duty that pervades the world of the Sentinel. The lighthouse is vital to the safety of the passing ships. But what of the safety and well-being of the people at the rugged outpost? Written like a poem or a prayer, we see the inner world of Miss Devine as she tries to overcome her past and find her purpose.
The changeable and dramatic weather and the soaring purpose of the lighthouse are well-drawn symbols in this interesting look at a different time and world. The story seems to accurately capture the history and times of the past. While the seafaring world may have changed, the pain and dreams of people have not. I found this to be a readable and enjoyable story and I recommend it to you. Thanks to the author for a review copy. This is my honest review.
Tsarina by Ellen Alpsten
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a great story, although it is not about Catherine the Great. This is the story of Catherine I, Empress of Russia from 1724 to 1727. Catherine herself tells us her life story and the story of her Russia in the first person.
The book begins with the death of Tsar Peter the Great. Who will be his successor? History tells us that it will be his wife, Catherine I. But how she gets to this exalted level is more amazing than any Netflix series.
A long book, but readable, exciting and engaging, you will be immersed in the daily life of Russia. Some of the story is fantastic and epic- Peter’s creation of St. Petersburg, the long Great Northern War, the banquets, feasts and celebrations. You will have a ringside seat by Catherine. You will also see and experience many horrors and atrocities- illness and intrigue, murder, revenge and rape were all a regular part of life in the Imperial Court of Peter. The author makes full use of the sights, sounds, even smells of the times.
But best of all, you will get to know Catherine and her magical story of beating impossible odds. She began as a serf, sold to a passing merchant for one silver coin. Her life was horrible, until she was raped by soldiers and rescued by a general in Peter’s army. While in the army camp, she was befriended by a woman close to Peter, named Daria. They remained friends for life.
Catherine’s beauty, wits, and courage paired with a keen understanding of human nature bonded her to Peter the Great, first as a lover, then wife, and finally, co-regent. She experienced the sorrow of losing many of her children, failing to give birth to a male heir who survived past infancy. Somehow, she managed to claw her way into Peter’s heart and remain connected with him until his death.
An amazing time in history is brought to life in this consuming book. Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance review copy. This is my honest review.
Breath of Life: Living God’s Promise of Peace in the 7 Dimensions of Wellness by Karen Ferguson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is short in length but large in content and enormous in the effect it will have on you. The author has given us 21 lessons. The number 21 was chosen because it generally takes 21 days to create a habit.
The title, Breath of Life, is well chosen. We get the word Inspire from Latin, meaning “breathe in or draw in”. We use the word to talk about our physical act of taking air in to our lungs, and we often say we want to inspire others or be inspired ourselves, meaning we want to influence, animate, cheer on arouse a positive or feeling.
From the Bible, we get a powerful example of the phrase. “Breath of life” is from a verse in Genesis describing the creation of man. “The Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature” (Genesis 2:7). The breath of life was what turned man from a lifeless collection of matter into a living creature.
In her book, the author use clear, relatable language to show us how following God and Christ can change a person’s basically lifeless existence of worry and poor health into a dynamic life. Readers will learn how to enjoy a healthy, balanced life in the seven dimensions of wellness. The seven areas are Spiritual, Physical, Mental, Emotional, Social, and Vocational. Talk about inspiration!
The book is a series of 21 lessons or devotionals, followed by a
•A song recommendation for inspiration
•A verse for meditation
•A question for reflection
•A tool for practical application
The author is humble and engaging. She is a business woman with a husband and family. She shares moments from her life, the problems and the praises.
I highlighted so many parts of this book and I plan to reread it many times. Readers will see how to develop a relationship with God; how to be inspired by God’s love; how to find victory over food; how to be positive.
I plan to give this as a Christmas or even better, a New Year’s present, to my family. I want them to learn how to have everything they need to live a life of peace. Highly recommend this book.
Nazi Wives: The Women at the Top of Hitler’s Germany by James Wyllie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
World War II and the men who are a part of its history have been examined in countless fiction and non-fiction on books. But what about the wives of the Nazi elite? Subtitled “The Women at the Top of Hitler’s Germany”, Nazi Wives is a well-researched and well-told reveal of the wives of these Nazi monsters. What would it have been like to be married or involved with Hitler, Goering, Himmler, Goebbels and others?
These women are horrifying, and their lives, beliefs and actions are hideous. The book is well-written, but the topic is so sickening I could barely finish it. No innocents here. Many of these women were so enthralled with Hitler, that they encouraged their husbands to get involved. Well before the rise of Nazism they hated the Jewish people and were open about their hatred.
The book methodically describes their lives- the Parisian high fashions they wore during the war, their wild parties, infidelities, their many homes filled with stolen art and servants who were slaves, their joy at seeing Hitler’s power. Of many sad moments, two especially stuck with me. One woman’s young son died in an accident. He was buried in his Hitler Youth uniform. Then there was Magda Goebbels, the so-called “First Lady of the Reich”. At the end of the war in Hitler’s bunker, she poisoned her SIX children before she and her husband committed suicide.
Many of the wives survived the war. None of the wives were innocent. None of them were duped. They were all passionate about Hitler and the Nazis.
Well-written. But a deeply troubling book. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advance review copy. This is my honest review.
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