"Burial Rites" by Hannah Kent is an Outstanding Read!

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent is an outstanding read based on a true story. Agnus was the last woman to be publicly beheaded in Iceland for murder.  While waiting her execution, she is at an isolated farm where the family avoids her.  Only a priest seeks to understand her. 

Even though I knew how it would end, it does not take away from the story.  Believe me, it doesn't!  This book pulled me in the first few pages and the characters in it are all really good.  I hear there is talk of a movie deal--if that is true, it would be a good one.
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

Our Favorite September Reads

Gerard's Favorite:  Alex

(Click link to see my review)

Karen's favorite:  Necessary Lies (click link to see my review)

 Please tell us what your favorite read for September was in a comment.

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesdays: 4 Today

Gerard's:

He lets go, and Alex holds her breast, eyes bulging, gasping for breath, hopping from one foot to the other, blind with pain.  The tears come in spite of herself as she says:  "Wh-- wh-- what are you going to do?"

From page 33 of Alex by Pierre Lemaitre.  (My review of this will be up tomorrow (my favorite read for September).

Margret drew the covers up to her chin as the officer's snores continued their unceasing rumble.  One would think an avalanche was approaching, she thought, annoyed.

From page 71 of Burial Rites by Hannah Kent.

Karen's:

"It was my mother, but she pretended she didn't know me.  She said she couldn't be old enough to have had a daughter my age and she laughed at me."

From page 84 of Unfinished Symphony by V. C. Andrews.

Someone can treat our child unfairly and we're ready to pounce.  We almost can't help living by the philosophy:  If you want to make an enemy out of me, just mess with my kid.

From page 92 of David--Seeking a Heart Like His by Beth Moore.


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should  Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just do the following

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page (well, we cheat and choose specific ones)
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on  that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away!   You don’t  want  to  ruin the  book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can  add the book to their TBR  Lists  if they  like your teaser.   

Happy Reading!

"Claire of the Sea Light" by Edwide Danticat-Awesome Fiction Set in Haiti

A Runaway Child in Haiti

Claire of the Sea Light by Edwidge Danticat is an awesome read about a young girl named Claire who lives in Haiti.  She runs away on her seventh birthday.  As the search goes on for her, you meet other people who have connections to her and her family and learn about life in Haiti.  This was an eye opener for me that I won't soon forget!  
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Necessary Lies" by Diane Chamberlain--Good Book Club Read!

This is my favorite of hers yet!

Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain is an interesting read about Jane, a good person, but not so good a social worker. Recently married to a pediatrician, Jane insists on becoming a social worker against her husband’s wishes and soon discovers they should not have gotten married. She constantly is at odds with her supervisor over the rules and procedures that conflict with what she believes is the right thing to do. Jane is so dedicated to helping her clients that she puts her marriage and her job at risk. This book addresses several issues: marriage, teenage pregnancy, poverty, sterilization, and can social work.

I loved this book! I felt bad for Robert, Jane’s husband. I enjoyed getting to know Jane’s clients and trying to figure out who the fathers were, and where and when “Ivy and Mary was here” was carved into a closet. This book tugged at my heart but I was relieved when it had a happy ending.  I thought it was really cool how the author included the epilogue as part of the story! This book is both thought provoking and gripping. I highly recommend this one and think it would be a great read for a book club.

Other books I liked by this author:
The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes
The Midwife's Confession

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!