The Thirteenth Tale ~ Reviewed by Elizabeth Barnes

"Once upon a time there was a fairy godmother, but the rest of the time there was none. This story is about one of those other times."





"Sometimes when you open the door to the past, what you confront is your destiny.

Reclusive author Vida Winter, famous for her collection of twelve enchanting stories, has spent the past six decades penning a series of alternate lives for herself. Now old and ailing, she is ready to reveal the truth about her extraordinary existence and the violent and tragic past she has kept secret for so long. Calling on Margaret Lea, a young biographer troubled by her own painful history, Vida disinters her life she meant to bury for good. Margaret is mesmerized by the author's tale of gothic strangeness - featuring the beautiful and willful Isabelle, the feral twins Adeline and Emmeline, a ghost, a governess, a topiary garden and a devastating fire. Together, Margaret and Vida confront the ghosts that have haunted them while becoming, finally, transformed by the truth themselves."

Every once in a while, I have the luck to stumble upon a truly gifted author. An author who can almost do it all: like craft a spellbinding story that ultimately refuses to loosen its grip on the reader, conjure up a space and time and send the reader into another world, give birth to vivid characters that can almost leap off of the pages, or wield the written words with as much artistry as a master painter with his colors. I stumbled on such and author that is Diane Setterfield.

Let me begin by saying that I do not know what I loved most about this novel. First of all, the story was molded very well. With the use of flashbacks, Ms. Winter spun her story to young biographer Margaret Lea, but the present time also had its twists and turns as Margaret conducted her own research into Ms. Winter's life. The slipping between past and present was exciting.

Just when Ms. Winter's flashback story of her strange and disturbing childhood pulled me in, I couldn't wait to see what happened next. The author would switch to present time, building my curiosity. I did not mind the change in time because the present time was just as compelling. I had very little clue to where I was being led to next at any given point, but wherever and whatever it was, I wanted to follow. I never guessed the truth of Ms. Winter's life until the author laid it out. I felt like it was a joy to be totally surprised. Even though I hate surprises most of the time.

This was a fantastic book to read for book club especially being written with an atmosphere of a different age. If you are a fan of Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, etc. you must simply read this engaging novel. It pulled me in and I felt like I was apart of the story.

I give this novel a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

1984 ~ Reviewed by Elizabeth Barnes

"We shall meet in the place where there is no darkness."





"The year 1984 has come and gone, but George Orwell's prophetic, nightmarish vision in 1949 of the world we were becoming is timelier than ever. 1984 is still the great modern classic of "negative utopia" - a startlingly original and haunting novel that creates an imaginary world that is completely convincing, from the first sentence to the last four words. No one can deny the novel's hold on the imaginations of whole generations, or the power of its admonitions - a power that seems to grow, not lessen, with the passage of time."

1984 by George Orwell is about totalitarianism. The author, George Orwell, wrote this fiction book in 1949 and based it off of the totalitarian governments ran by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. The main character and protagonist in the novel is 39 year old man named Winston Smith. Although Winston is a working member of the governmental party, he hates Big Brother and the whole party. Big Brother is the dictator of the totalitarian society. Big Brother and the party brainwash the "proles" who make up 85% of the population. He makes the people believe in whatever he says and he makes sure that they do not rebel. Early on in the story, Winston becomes involved with a woman named Julia who is also against the party. They both become intrigued by the brotherhood, which is a rebellious group that understands how unfair everyone is treated. George Orwell shifts the direction of the story when a man named O'Brien becomes an important character. Overall, Orwell sends a powerful message about totalitarianism and the impact it can have on a society. Although I thought this novel was a little slow throughout most of the chapters, the change of pace O'Brien adds contributes to another layer of the novel. I believe it is important that 1984 is read to show humanity what life would be like if our society was ran by a totalitarian dictator.

I give this novel a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Dead Letters ~ Reviewed by Elizabeth Barnes

"Ahoy, Ava! Welcome home, my sweet jet-setting twin! So glad you were able to wrest yourself away from your dazzling life in the City of Light; I hope my 'death' hasn't interrupted anything too crucial."







"A missing woman leads her twin sister on a twisted scavenger hunt in this clever debut novel of suspense for readers of Luckiest Girl Alive and Reconstructing Amelia. Ava Antipova has her reasons for running away: a failing family vineyard, a romantic betrayal, a mercurial sister, an absent father, and a mother slipping into dementia. In Paris, Ava renounces her terribly practical undergraduate degree, acquires a French boyfriend and a taste for much better wine, and erases her past. Two years later, she she must return to New York. Her twin sister, Zelda, is dead. Even in a family of alcoholics, Zelda Antipova was the wild one, notorious for her mind games and destructive behavior. Stuck tending the vineyard and the girls' increasingly unstable mother, Zelda was allegedly burned alive when she passed out in the barn with a lit cigarette. But Ava finds the official explanation a little too neat. A little too Zelda. Then she receives a cryptic message - from her sister.

Just as Ava suspected, Zelda's playing one of her games. In fact, she's outdone herself, leaving a series of clues about her disappearance. With the police stuck on a red herring, Ava follows the trail laid just for her, thinking like her sister, keeping her secrets, immersing herself in Zelda's drama and her outlandish circle of friends and lovers. Along the way, Zelda forces her twin to confront their twisted history and the boy who broke Ava's heart. But why? Is Zelda trying to punish Ava for leaving? To teach her a lesson? Or is she simply trying to write her own ending?"

I will have to say that this was the first novel that I have read where the characters are outrageous, frustrating, compelling, and fascinating all in one. This novel kept me guessing, twisting, and turning right until the very end. I discovered and uncovered secrets about every single one of the characters, big and small. I really felt myself connecting with Ava, a very interesting main character. I love how Caite Dolan - Leach narrated her character so well. In the breath taking beautiful "wine country" it is crystal clear that dark secrets can lurk and destroy a so called "perfect" family. I enjoyed how Ava jumped from clue to clue discovering secrets about Zelda. I believe that when Ava was searching for Zelda, Ava actually found herself. This is a suspense novel between two twin sisters whose lives are finally brought back to each other through tragedy. You will end up getting pulled into their tragedies and their secrets. Caite Dolan - Leach's writing style was vivid, mesmerizing, and filled with detail. Her words came to life throughout the pages. I honestly cannot believe this was the very first time I had ever heard or read anything by this author. This novel will forever keep you on your toes.

I give this novel a 4 out of 5 stars.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy!

All the Forever Things ~ Reviewed by Elizabeth Barnes

"Everything about this moment is familiar. The silent communication between Mom and Dad as they shift the casket into the best position for viewing. The bereaved's sighs, me sliding the soft soles of my shoes over the carpet, and the overpowering smell of condolences that have arrived from companies with names like flowers r us."






"From growing up in the funeral home her family runs, Gabriella knows that death is a part of life and nothing is forever. Yet Bree, her best friend, has been a constant; it's always been the two of them together against the world. But when Bree starts dating a guy the worst guy from from the ultra-popular world, suddenly she doesn't have time for Gabe anymore. Now the only one at school who wants to spend time with "Graveyard Gabe" is Hartman, the new guy, but Gabe, not wanting to lose her mind over a boyfriend the way Bree has has, holds back. It takes a very strange prom night (with the family hearse instead of a limo) for Gabe to truly fall for Hartman. But when she leaves the after-prom party with him, she's not there for Bree or for the deadly accident that happens that night. Bree survives, but will she and Gabe ever be able to rebuild their friendship?"

Let me start out by saying that I have mixed feelings about this novel. I enjoyed how Gabe had a complex relationship with death - she dresses in all black and lives and works in a funeral home! This novel is good, and is unique and very engaging. But, it has many flaws for me as a reader.

Gabe's perspective had all the typical girl vibes, but without chunks of heartbreaking drama. The main character herself, was half the character I thought she would end up being. Her dialogue seems immature to me, and the author robs the character and readers on what makes her interesting.

But, I did enjoy most of the book. I really enjoyed how the author wrote about the popular kids that Bree, and throughout the book Gabe, ends up hanging out with. So many YA books rely on these popular kids and the author definitely let the reader glide into the expectation.

Even though my opinion about this novel goes back and fourth, All the Forever Things is a change of pace and is worth a read.

I give this novel a 2.5 out of 5 starts.

Special thanks to NetGalley/Albert Whitman & Company/AW Teens for the copy!

Small Great Things ~ Reviewed by Elizabeth Barnes

"Freedom is the fragile neck of a daffodil, after the longest of winters. It's the sound of your voice, without anyone drowning you out. It's having the grace to say yes, and more important, the right to say no. At the heart of freedom, hope beats: a pulse of possibility."





"Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse at a Connecticut hospital with more than twenty years experience. During her shift, Ruth begins a routine checkup on a newborn, only to be told a few minutes later that she's been reassigned to another patient. The parents are white supremacists and don't want Ruth, who is African American to touch their child. The hospital complies with their request, but the next day, the baby goes into cardiac distress while Ruth is alone in the nursery. Does she obey orders or does she intervene?"

I have only read one book by Jodi Picoult, which was "My Sisters Keeper" and I fell in love with the story. I also really enjoyed the movie. I apologize to Jodi Picoult because "My Sisters Keeper" is the only book that I have truly enjoyed. This book changed all of my thoughts about her writing ability. For me, dodging a good book is hard to do, especially when the reviews are great. Each time I would come across "Small Great Things" on either NetGalley or Goodreads the book pulled me in. My mind kept on telling me: "YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO READ THIS BOOK!" I am going to be honest, I was not sure at first if I wanted to read it or even review it. But, I am so glad that I am doing so.

Jodi Picoult was given a real life game changer in this book. My review will not be too long and too specific about the story line because I do not want to spoil anything. Jodi Picoult approaches this difficult topic in such a way that the reader ends up learning something. The reader might learn about who he/she really is and how we really feel about social issues and racism. She opened my eyes to the realization that news stories could be about our families, our mother, our grandmother, and any number of our relatives/friends.

As I finished this book, I knew this story would stay with me for a long time to come. It really grasped my heart and made me learn a lot. I am very troubled about some of the things that go on in our world, and this book really made me think about what we can do to make the world a better place.

This book, I believe, will give Jodi Picoult a new level of respect between authors and readers.

I give this book a 5 OUT OF 5 stars!

The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett ~ Reviewed by Elizabeth Barnes

"Happiness is living in the moment and not thinking of a future at all. It's learning new things and having adventures and solving mysteries."





"Hawthorn wasn't trying to insert herself into a missing person's investigation. Or maybe she was. But that's only because Lizzie Lovett's disappearance is the one fascinating mystery their sleepy town has ever had. Bad things don't happen to popular girls like Lizzie Lovett, and Hawthorn is convinced she'll turn up at any moment - which means the time for speculation is now.

So Hawthorn comes up with her own theory for Lizzie's disappearance. A theory way too absurd to take seriously... at first. The more Hawthorn talks, the more she believes. And what better way to collect evidence than to immerse herself in Lizzie's life? Like getting a job at the diner where Lizzie worked and hanging out with Lizzie's boyfriend. After all, it's not as if he killed her - or did he?"

From the very beginning, I fell in love with this book and it's story line. You will immediately find yourself falling in love with the main character Hawthorn. She is so beautifully realistic in how flawed she really is. She has such an enthusiasm for her beliefs and how she truly searches just to sit in. This book flowed very smoothly and kept me reading up late at night just to see what was going to happen next. The plot to this book was genius and is not something that has been too overdone, which is refreshing for many readers including myself. This book really shows what it is like to try and discover your true self. I also enjoyed Hawthorn's vivid and creative imagination. The characters all fit together perfectly and their development was incredible to read. The author, Chelsea Sedoti, threw so many brilliant concept together and made this a magnificent story filled with twists and turns. The ending, was not what I originally thought was going to happen, but it ended up fitting nicely.

4 out of 5 stars!

Special thank to NetGalley for the copy!

Teen Hyde: (High School Horror Story, #2) ~ Reviewed by Elizabeth Barnes

"There is something at work in my soul, which I do not understand."






"Cassidy Hyde is NOT having a good year. Her boyfriend cheated on her, killed her best friend's date during homecoming, and was then murdered in turn by a serial killer, and that's without counting the thing that no one knows about. (But Cassidy doesn't like to think about that.) The point is, anyone would be a little depressed and no one can blame for looking for a little bit of help. That's where Sunshine comes in. This new experimental drug makes Cassidy feel like everything is good and she's the golden girl once again. A little memory loss feels like a small price to pay to get her life back. And the fact that boys are once again going missing (boys who Cassidy does NOT want to remember) has NOTHING to do with anything, right?"

This book was set in a contemporary twist style of writing mixed in with Robert Louis Stevenson's Jekyll and Hyde, set in the small town of Hollow Pines, Texas, where high school is horrifying.

I am a fan of horror, but this book was beyond the state of confusing. This book was beyond the state of confusing because NetGalley did not mention that this was the second book in the series. "Teen Frankenstein" was the first book in the series. Hopefully my review for "Teen Frankenstein" will earn a better review.

I give this book a 1.5 out of 5 stars.

Special thanks to NetGalley for the copy of the book.

November Book Club

Meeting Date: Wednesday, December 14th 
Time and Where: 7:45 am in the LIBRARY! 
Please answer the discussion questions posted! 
Published By: Elizabeth Barnes 
From Goodreads: 


 

"Biographer Margaret Lea returns one night to her apartment above her father's antiquarian bookshop. On her steps she finds a letter. It is a hand-written request from one of Britain's most prolific and well-loved novelists. Vida Winter, gravely ill, wants to recount her life story before it is too late, and she wants Margaret to be the one to capture her history. The request takes Margaret by surprise - she doesn't know the author, nor had she read any of Miss. Winter's dozens of novels.

Late one night while pondering whether to accept the task of recording Miss. Winter's personal story, Margaret begins to read her father's rare copy of Miss. Winter's Thirteen Tales of Change and Desperation. She is spellbound by the stories and confused when she realizes the book only contains twelve stories. Where is the thirteenth tale? Intrigued, Margaret agrees to meet Miss. Winter's account and act as her biographer.

As Vida Winter unfolds her story, she shares with Margaret the dark family secrets that she has long kept hidden as she remembers her days at Angelfield, the now burnt-out estate that was her childhood home. Margaret carefully records Miss. Winter's account and finds herself more and more deeply immersed in the strange and troubling story.

Both women will have to confront their pasts and the weight of family secrets... and the ghosts that haunt them still."