Finished Day After Night by Anita Diamant

I finished this book last night, and I would definitely suggest it to anyone who enjoys novels based on WWII or those that are rich in history.  The story was told from the perspective of survivors who are now in a detention center for illegal immigrants, which I found to be a unique way to look at the time period.  It was a gripping character story, as well as a good history lesson.  The only thing that bothered me was the way that one of the women did not seem to behave consistently with her original characterization. 
My Rating: 4.5/5 

September books...what a slow month!

I will have to blame the beginning of the school year for the amount of reading that I've done in September.  However, they have all been good ones.
 
First Darling of the Morning by Thrity Umrigar (memoir)
The Story Sisters by Alice Hoffman
The Hindi-Bindi Club by Monica Prahdan
102 Minutes by Jim Dwyer
The Pearl by John Steinbeck
The Promised World by Lisa Tucker
Day After Night by Anita Diamant (almost done with this one)

Hunting for Used Book Stores

Anyone who knows me also knows that I am crazed when the public libraries have their book sales.  However, those seem so few and far between.  This past weekend we had a chance to wander through several used bookstores in Wisconsin.  I love the idea, but there wasn't much for someone in search of a book other than a thriller or a classic.  I was hoping when I got home that I would be able to do a quick search and find some local used bookstores.  No such luck, at least not close to me.  So I guess until I hit the big time and have the money to open my own shop, online used bookstores are the way to go.  Which ones are the best?  If anyone knows, please drop me a comment.

Starting The Story Sisters

I have already heard some mixed reviews on this one, so I stopped reading reviews until I try it for myself.  The book description grabbed me.  I'll let you know.


Back of the book description:
The Story Sisters, charts the lives of three sisters–Elv, Claire, and Meg. Each has a fate she must meet alone: one on a country road, one in the streets of Paris, and one in the corridors of her own imagination. Inhabiting their world are a charismatic man who cannot tell the truth, a neighbor who is not who he appears to be, a clumsy boy in Paris who falls in love and stays there, a detective who finds his heart’s desire, and a demon who will not let go. What does a mother do when one of her children goes astray? How does she save one daughter without sacrificing the others? How deep can love go, and how far can it take you? These are the questions this luminous novel asks.

Finished 102 Minutes

Thanks to my husband for understanding that I haven't been great about my pledge to stop downloading books (sorry!), I am covering my head with a paper bag now.  I'll try harder from now until Christimas.  However, the book that I am starting is on paper, and I have had it forever.  It seems like the right time to finally read it,102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers by Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn

Finished on September 12
My Rating: 5/5
Yes, it was emotionally disturbing to read the accounts of the survivors, but I felt like it was important to finally read this.  The ways that some of these people escaped is unbelievable.  The stories of what people did for strangers were amazing.  So last night as I finished the last few chapters, a special came on television about the 9/11 survivors.  Several of the people that were highlighted in the book were also on this special.  I am so glad that I caught that and took the time to watch it.  When you are in the right frame of mind to read this, please do.

The Promised World

Tonight I am starting this Lisa Tucker book based on what I read from a friend's blog.  I have spent way too much time in India lately so this seems like a nice change of pace for me.
With that said, Thrity Umrigar's memoir was really very good!  All lovers of India based stories should grab her stuff up.
My Rating for The Promised World: 4/5
This was a very gripping story with lots of suspense.  I did have difficulty liking the individual characters, especially Billy.  It was an emotional read for me, but I would suggest it to others...it was worth it.