book reviews
Reviews of books that explore the complexities of family throughout history and across cultures.
The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri – Book Review: The Intimacy of Political and Personal
The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri is an ambitious book. It is a story of brotherly bonds intermingling with a vicious political environment. The two brothers – Subhash and Udayan are just 15 months apart. Subhash is the elder one but he hardly remembers a time that Udayan wasn’t in his life. The two brothers, although similar in age, are poles apart in their personalities.
By Rochi Zalani5 years ago in Families
Book Review: "The Dilemma" by B.A Paris
When I first read the summary of this book (without spoilers obviously!) I thought to myself 'this is going to be really predictable but I'm going to read it anyway.' Honestly, my predictions could not have been more wrong and the book, from start to finish, was a heart-pounding psychodrama told through the eyes of husband and wife - Adam and Olivia. As the story flips back and forth between them and we get to see more and more of their lives unfold, we take a moment to also realise that there is a certain element of trust missing from the relationship and wonder to ourselves if these issues from the past are going to survive these next blows.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Families
Stick
I want to start by saying that this is the best thing that I have read so far this year. Granted, we are only in the second week of February, but I would be remiss if I did not give this book the accolades that it deserves. It is no secret that I love reading Andrew Smith’s work, but there was something in this book that truly grabbed me and left me with an emotional connection the likes of which I haven’t experienced in quite a while.
By Kurt Mason5 years ago in Families
The Bluest Eye Review: The Paws Of Conventional Beauty And Internalized Racism
This article was originally published at rochizalani.com The Bluest Eye is Toni Morrison’s first novel. It is set in 1940s America. The novel is largely based on a personal experience when one of Morrison’s childhood friends confessed her desire to have blue eyes. The author realized that how “implicit in her desire was racial self-loathing”.
By Rochi Zalani5 years ago in Families
The BirchBark House
How many readers out there like Native American stories. Quite awhile ago I did find out that I am a little bit Native American from way back. One of my ancestors must have fell in love with a member of the Iroquis nation of Western Pennsylvania. I know that I am one who likes to read Native American stories for I just finished reading one children's/young adult novel entitled 'The Birchbark House' a story about the Ojibwa Indians. This is a story for all seasons and will teach us about how diverse Native Americans were during the historical periods of the Americas.
By Mark Graham5 years ago in Families
The Yellow House
Snow covered the rolling hills surrounding a lone farmhouse. The faded and chipped yellow paint standing out like a beacon. The only other color in the area was the faded red barn behind the house. Smoke rose from the chimney of the house into the air. The sounds of the various animals in the barn were the only thing breaking the peaceful quiet. Marie sat in her favorite rocking chair near the window that looked out into the empty hills.
By Becca Johnson5 years ago in Families
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng; a book review
I'll admit I started the first episode of the Hulu series " Little Fires Everywhere" before I started the book. To be honest, the series didn't draw me in and the characters seemed standoff-ish. None the less I started the boo. Maybe if I had continued the series Hulu series I would have saw the depth of the characters that I saw in the books, but I doubt it. These characters didn't fall flat nor were they perfect. Every what seemed to be one unjustifiable act after another,there was also the subtle explanation of their fears and their fragile humanity.
By Belle Denka5 years ago in Families
'Royals at War: The Untold Story of Harry and Meghan's Shocking Split' Book Review
A new book about the royal family will be released on June 30, 2020. The book is not just a book about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their split from the royal family. It is a tell-all book written by Dylan Howard and Andy Tillett.
By Margaret Minnicks6 years ago in Families
Dorie, The Girl Nobody Loved.
This is not a philosophy, idea, or concept. This is a true story about a little girl that, literally, nobody loved. The story of a girl who desperately wanted to be loved by her mother and father. Who wanted to be loved by anyone, just one person to look past her outward appearance and love the girl inside. This book is called, Dorie, the Girl Nobody Loved, by Doris Van Stone. The first setting starts out in a dark, dumpy, apartment. Seven year-old, Dorie and her younger sister, Marie, are there while her mom is out. Dorie’s mom loves Marie, but not Dorie and she told her many times why. You are ugly Dorie but your sister is pretty, and when her mother would go out for the day she would threaten Dorie. “If any harm comes to your sister, you will regret it!” That was Dorie’s life, but not for much longer. Evidently, Dorie’s mom wanted to be rid of her for good. Talking kindly to them, she led them to an orphanage. She hugged and said “I love you” to her youngest daughter then walked away leaving the two there. After this orphanage, there is another, and foster home after foster home for Dorie. Her sister was cute enough to be adopted, but not Dorie. Nobody wanted her. This young girl cried herself to sleep at night and felt rejected from every angle. At some point, she is put in a foster house where she is treated like a dog. She is fed scraps and bones leftover from the meal and beaten fiercely any time the foster parents are angry. She slept on the floor hugging herself, crying from rejection and the painful bruises and welts all over her body from the belt. She is passed on yet again because the authorities soon discovered the abuse of Dorie from her school teacher, who found the marks on her back, neck, and legs. So the story goes on is a similar manner of misery. After a while, Dorie even finds her mother she loved so much that dumped her at an orphanage, working at a restaurant. She goes in to tell her “I’m sorry, Mom. I love you!” and there in front of everyone she disowns Dorie saying “You are not my child!” Heartbroken yet again, Dorie gets shuffled away. When I read this book I can’t help but cry for this little girl, who all her life has known pain, misery, rejection, uncertainty, and flat out hatred. My heart aches for her every time she is cast aside and let down, beaten and yelled at, and denied the love she very much needed. But reading this has also brought a new light to my life. It brings out for myself to see, how loved I am by my family and by my friends. Dorie was not loved or cherished by anyone until towards the end of the book when she is taken in by a pastor and his wife who loved her dearly. They bought her nice clothes, gave her a bedroom of her own, fed her as if she were really one of their own children. As wonderful as that is, her story doesn’t end there. More pain is yet to come when she finds her father, who loves her for a time, then despises her and then too, disowns her. At this point I look at my own parents. They love me. They never treated me with ill will or hatred. This book, Dorie, the Girl Nobody Loved, really makes me feel grateful and accepted. I never had to deal with all the things she did. If there is ever a time that I feel like nobody cares about me, reading this book educates me in a whole new way, every time. I highly recommend this story to you! You may feel as though nobody loves or cares for you or maybe you just need something to lift your spirit up a bit when you are feeling down. Either way this book has been eye-opening. It has taught me love comes in many forms and we all need it. If you aren’t one of the many who have read this book, I do suggest that you should definitely consider giving Dorie’s story a try at warming your heart and bringing out all the love in your life! It has answered my question on the days I am down. “Does anybody love me?” The answer is yes! Sometimes we just over look it. I hope that this helps you in the same way is has helped me! You can find this book on Amazon as a book or ebook. Here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/Dorie-Nobody-Erwin-W-Lutzer/dp/0802422756
By Autumn Brown6 years ago in Families
