Lovely War by Julie Berry

 Hazel plays piano at a parish dance at the beginning of WWI when Aphrodite steps in and makes sure that James notices her behind the piano.  Later Collette is intrigued by the handsome Amercian soldier, Aubrey, who plays jazz in an all black army band.  The black soldiers are forbidden to associate with the white YMCA workers, but that can't keep Collette and Aubrey from sneaking out and meeting at the piano after lights out. As two romances blossom, Ares steps in and calls the men into battle, leaving the women to wonder and wait and worry if they will ever see their beautiful boys again.  

In some ways this is an odd WWI romance, but I really liked it.  Berry frames the books with the story from Greek mythology when Haephestus captures his wife, Aphrodite and his brother Eres "in the act" so to speak.  Haephestus holds a trial to convict his wife of infidelity and she uses the story of the war love affairs to defend herself and justify the importance of what she does--bringing hope and joy to young lives during the time of war. The story has a second message about racial prejudice, and many of the characters and events related to Aubrey's black regement are based on history. Berry does a great job of showing the horrors of war and how they change both the men and the women in the story.  But at the same time, the characters stay true to each other and help each other cope and heal. It is super sweet, and, remarkably clean.  Reader beware that there are some graphic depictions of battle and racial violence, but I think Berry does a good job of giving enough detail to make the reader appreciate what is going on, without being overwhelming. I am certainly going to be recommending this one to my friends and patrons. (2019, 480 p.)

P.S. this book is marketed as a YA historical novel, but I think it is better suited for middle age women. :)

Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell

Gladwell, the author of The Tipping Point, and Outliers, in this book asserts that people are pretty bad at telling when strangers are lying. He talks about how people think they can tell if someone is lying by looking at their body language, but that studies show that this is not true.  He talks about why intoxication is such a complicating factor when trying to assess guilt in a date rape situation, and how Fidel Castro was able to plant multiple people as spy double agents in the CIA.  He talks about how people just don't want to believe that someone is lying and how that allows people like Bernie Madof and Adolf Hilter to deceive people quite easily. He finishes the book with a look at what happens when we don't "default to true", and how that brings its own consequenses.  

This had interesting ideas, but, like some of the other nonfiction I have read lately, it was gritty.  Gladwell describes date rape, murder, suicide and Guantamo Bay style torture. I feel like I have some new insite to human behavior, but I kind of feel like I need to go and wash out my brain with soap to clean out the nasty images. So, read at your own risk.  (2019, 400 p)

Duplex by Orson Scott Card

Ryan's dad has moved out and is converting their large house into a duplex so that the tenant income can help pay the rent.  The family that moves into the other side of the house includes Bizzy, a beautiful Romanian American girl Ryan's age.  Ryan is astonished when she befriends him, and he soon feels very attached to her.  While walking home together, a bee flies into her hair.  With preternatural speed, he gets the bee out of her hair, pops it into his mouth, and then releases it with a breath.  His swift response does not go unnoticed, and he is recruited by a club at school of kids with micropowers. He discovers that Bizzy also has a micro power, one that has made her a target of an evil group from her mother's country of origin.  Ryan's growing love for Bizzy pushes him to develop his skill so he can protect her and the others he loves. 

I started to listen to the story, and then about halfway through, when Ryan meets the kids in the micropotents club, I thought, "wait, haven't I read this before?"  Actually, I hadn't, but I realized it is the second in a series that started with Lost and Found.  It is, actually, remarkably similar to the first book.  In my review of that book I complained that Card really didn't capture authentic teen conversation.  That is true of this book as well.  It really sounds like an old guy trying to sound like a teenager.  It is also a bit preachy.  Ryan's dad gives him some meaningful "life lessons" talks that reminded me of the "To thine own self be true" talk in Hamlet.  Despite all that, I enjoyed the book. The premise is interesting and Card doesn't shy away from some hard issues.  The romance between Ryan and Bizzy is sweet and pretty age appropriate. It was a nice break after reading Talking to Strangers (review to follow).  (304 p. 2021)

A Search for Refuge by Kristi Ann Hunter

 Margaretta is newly widowed and on the run.  Although she has always lived in wealth and comfort, she now finds herself with very little money and nowhere to stay.  Margaretta is taken in by a kindly shopkeeper who is a widow herself.  The shopkeeper's solicitor, a young handsome loner, is worried that the newcomer will take advanagage of the older woman so he decides to keep an eye on Margaretta. In doing so, he gradually finds himself breaking his promise to himself never to become attached to a woman again.

I have been reading Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell and it just got too heavy.  So I took a little break and listened this short prequel to the Haven Manor series which I started a couple of years ago.  This is a light historical romance, with a little bit of depth and a happy ending. Listening time is only 4 hours. It was just what I needed to salve the wounds to my soul caused by reading about the real life cruelties depicted in Talking to Strangers, and The Body Keeps Score. (2018)

The Outward Mindset by The Arbinger Institute

 The city administration where I work is sending all the managers to an Arbinger Institute training next week. In preparation we were asked to read Leadership and Self Deception, which I read several months ago, and The Outward Mindset.  The Leadership and Self Deception book is written around a fictional narrative about a middle manager executive who is called into his manager's office and trained to be more open and compassionate to his co-workers and family.  This book is more like a workbook written to go along with the training.  It contains several real-life stories about different companies and their success or failure at maintaining an outward mindset.  It also includes a lot a commentary that reinformces the main ideas meantioned in the Leadership book. I found the book fairly dry, and that it really didn't have any new ideas that hadn't been discussed in the Leadership book.  Still, I tried to satisfy due dilligence by considering my own actions by asking myself if there is someone with whom I need to be more open. It sounds like it will be an OK training and I am looking forward to attending. (2019, 208 p)

Astronuts : The Plant Planet by Jon Scieszka

Four super-powered animals were created in the 1980's to go into space and look like for a "goldilocks" planet were humans could go when global warming had destroyed earth.  Thirty years later they are called into action when Earth hits the "big red line" that represents the point of no return from global warming. The first planet they investigate is called the Plant Planet.  It seems to be a paradise for plants, but the astronuts are surprised that there are no animals on insects on the planet.  Little do they know that all the leafy greeness is not as innocent as it appears.

After reading "The Body Keeps Score" I decided to read something really short and silly before I jumped back into the next nonfiction on my list. The Plant Planet book is a graphic novel, but I listened to an audiobook version that was performed with a full cast.  The whole books was only 2 hours long, and it was very silly.  I was surpised to find that it also contained a few solid science facts, and an almost propoganda strength message about global warming. Mr. Scieszka is obviously very put off by people who are still denying the exisitence or importance of global warming.  I am not sure how I feel about it.  It seems kind of sneeky to put such a politically controversial message into a kid's comic book.  I actully believe in the threat of global warming, but I would rather see a book confront the issue head one, instead of hiding behind silly humor. (220 p. 2019)

The Body Keeps Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk

Dr. Van Der Kolk is a research psychiatrist who has spent his long career studying trauma.  He started working with Vietnam veterans with PTSD, and then expanded his focus to include children who grew up in abusive homes and other sources of trauma. He spends the first half of the book talking about different kinds of trauma and how they impact both behavior and physiology. In the second half of the book he discusses some non-mainstream treatments and gives case studies to show in what kind of cases they can be helpful.  

I read this book because of friend of mine who has trained as a trauma councilor recommended it to me.  It was a little bit difficult to read because the case studies he recounts are so horrendous.  But I am super glad I read the book. It is very accessible and I stayed engaged even though the audiobook takes 16 hours to get through (on regular speed.  I admit that about half way through I increased the playback spead to 1.25). I felt like the first half made me much more aware of the impact of trauma on people.  I had never understood before how people could commit violent crime of submit to repeated abuse but he explains how trauma relates to those behaviors. The second half that talked about different treatments was also interesting.  I am not as convinced about the efficacy of all the things he talked about as he is, but it did open my eyes to how some of these less mainstream methods of treatment might be useful.  

With a book like this, you need to be careful to check the author to see what their credentials are.  Dr. Van Der Kolk's career has not been without controversy, but he does seem to be what he claims to be. I kind of think that everyone who has someone in their life (including themself) who has suffered from trauma should consider reading this book.  (2014, 464 p)

Stay With Me by Becky Wade

Genevieve Woodward is a hugely successful Christian bogger and speaker. What her fans don't see is that she is also addicted to persciption opioids.  One day, after a drug induced stupor, she wakes up in a strange house near her parent's home.  It happens to be the guest house of a single, handsome, and successful local restaurant owner.  As unthrilled as Sam is to have Gen and her problems thrust into his very controlled life, he can't bring himself to turn his back on her.  He has had experience with dealing with opioid addition before, and that didn't go too well.  Part of him want's to run for the hills, but part of him senses that he needs Gen as much as she needs him.

I have read several Becky Wade books before, but this is probably my favorite so far.  In some of the other ones, the male love interest is just too over the top; a football super star, a ex-navy seal, a famous pro hockey player.  In this one it is Genevieve who is famous and Sam is more like just a regular guy.  I liked that fact that Wade delt with the pressure Genevieve felt as a prominent Christian to put on a "perfect" face.  That is a real temptation when you are part of a close-knit Christian community.  I also thought she did a good job with Sam's inner struggle about whether to get involved or not.
Another feel good clean romance for those that like the genre. (2020, 392 p.)

Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan

 In a remote Norwegian village there is a store of gold bullion.  When the Nazi troops arrive, Peter's uncle Victor comes up with a plan that the children will help smuggle the gold from a hidden ice cave to a ship waiting to take it safely beyond the Nazi's reach.  The children load the gold bars on their sleds, pull them out beyond the city limits, and then build snow men which mark the spots where they have burried the gold in the snow.  The children face many harrowing adventures, but succeed in saving the gold.

This is an older historical fiction written on about a 3-4 grade level.  I read it because it it the parent/child book club title for this month.  I had read it before so I was surprised that I hadn't blogged about it before.  It is simplistic and lacks any kind of nuance.  The children are heroic, the Nazi's are easily dupped. There are near misses, but the reader is never in any real doubt that our heros will be successful. I just looked it up and it was orginally published in 1942, so I guess it could arguably be called propaganda. but is has never gone out of print. (196 p.)

The Princess Search by Malanie Callier

Evie is a dress maker who is a favorite of the spirited Princess Celeste.  The princess invites Evie to go with the royal family on a tour of the kingdom as mistress of the wardrobe.  Evie is nervous to go because of her stormy past in some of the provinces they will be visiting, but Celeste is hard to turn down.  She is amazed when she finds she has been accepted in the royals' inner circle and is the particular favorite of Crown Prince Frederick. She resists his attentions, sure that when Frederick discovers her real past, it will end their budding relationship forever.

This is the 5th and final book in the Four Kingdoms series. I have enjoyed this series.  They are a formulaic, but I there are enough little variations to keep them interesting and entertaining.  This one is less thrilling than The Princess Game because, instead of fighting the bad guys, Evie is mostly fighting her own insecurities, but sometimes the battles with ourselves are the hardest ones. I think this whole series is a good choice for either teens or adults who want clean romance books with a little added adventure and magic. (2018, 308 p.)