Sarai Henderson's Blog, page 69
June 23, 2023
Book Review: My Survival by Rena Finder
Title: My Survival: A Girl On Schindler's List
By: Rena Finder
Genre: Historical Nonfiction
Pages: 144
Release Date: December 26th, 2019
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Rating: ★★★★☆
Summary from Goodreads:The astonishing true story of a girl who survived the Holocaust thanks to Oskar Schindler, of Schindler's List fame. Rena Finder was only eleven when the Nazis forced her and her family -- along with all the other Jewish families -- into the ghetto in Krakow, Poland. Rena worked as a slave laborer with scarcely any food and watched as friends and family were sent away. Then Rena and her mother ended up working for Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who employed Jewish prisoners in his factory and kept them fed and healthy. But Rena's nightmares were not over. She and her mother were deported to the concentration camp Auschwitz. With great cunning, it was Schindler who set out to help them escape. Here in her own words is Rena's gripping story of survival, perseverance, tragedy, and hope. Including pictures from Rena's personal collection and from the time period, this unforgettable memoir introduces young readers to an astounding and necessary piece of history.
Rena Finder was only 11 years old when the pain of this book begins. Her entire family was relocated to the ghetto in Krakow, Poland. I think anyone who reads these kind of books, are far to familiar with what happens next. The unthinkable trauma and murder of so many Jewish people, but somehow through all of it Finder and her mother were saved from the gas chamber, and taken care of by the infamous Oskar Schindler. A man who used his privilege to do whatever he could so save a precious few.
Favorite Quote:
"And perhaps you, too, dear reader, will be one of those with the courage to stand up for the innocent. Be an upstander, not a bystander."
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. It was a truly incredible tale of survival. I hope that we all take Rena's final words to heart and stand up for injustice, no matter how small or large the situation may look. A great read for a quit Sunday afternoon.
June 22, 2023
6 Stand Alone Fantasy Novels Worth Reading
With Summer right around the corner and so many books that need to be read, sometimes committing to a full series is out of the question. You still want those riveting fantasy stories, but a stand alone novel would be the best way to get your fantasy fix without the promise of a continuing story.
Here are 6 of the best stand alone fantasy novels I've read.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRueV.E. SchwabFrance, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.
Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.
But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name.
GallantV.E. SchwabEverything casts a shadow. Even the world we live in. And as with every shadow, there is a place where it must touch. A seam, where the shadow meets its source.Olivia Prior has grown up in Merilance School for girls, and all she has of her past is her mother’s journal—which seems to unravel into madness. Then, a letter invites Olivia to come home—to Gallant. Yet when Olivia arrives, no one is expecting her. But Olivia is not about to leave the first place that feels like home, it doesn’t matter if her cousin Matthew is hostile or if she sees half-formed ghouls haunting the hallways.
Olivia knows that Gallant is hiding secrets, and she is determined to uncover them. When she crosses a ruined wall at just the right moment, Olivia finds herself in a place that is Gallant—but not. The manor is crumbling, the ghouls are solid, and a mysterious figure rules over all. Now Olivia sees what has unraveled generations of her family, and where her father may have come from.
Olivia has always wanted to belong somewhere, but will she take her place as a Prior, protecting our world against the Master of the House? Or will she take her place beside him?
HeartlessMarissa MeyerLong before she was the terror of Wonderland—the infamous Queen of Hearts—she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next queen.
Then Cath meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the king and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship. Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.
The Night CircusErin MorgensternThe circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.
True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.
Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.
The Starless SeaErin MorgensternZachary Ezra Rawlins is a graduate student in Vermont when he discovers a mysterious book hidden in the stacks. As he turns the pages, entranced by tales of lovelorn prisoners, key collectors, and nameless acolytes, he reads something strange: a story from his own childhood. Bewildered by this inexplicable book and desperate to make sense of how his own life came to be recorded, Zachary uncovers a series of clues—a bee, a key, and a sword—that lead him to a masquerade party in New York, to a secret club, and through a doorway to an ancient library hidden far below the surface of the earth. What Zachary finds in this curious place is more than just a buried home for books and their guardians—it is a place of lost cities and seas, lovers who pass notes under doors and across time, and of stories whispered by the dead. Zachary learns of those who have sacrificed much to protect this realm, relinquishing their sight and their tongues to preserve this archive, and also of those who are intent on its destruction. Together with Mirabel, a fierce, pink-haired protector of the place, and Dorian, a handsome, barefoot man with shifting alliances, Zachary travels the twisting tunnels, darkened stairwells, crowded ballrooms, and sweetly soaked shores of this magical world, discovering his purpose—in both the mysterious book and in his own life.
Wild Is the WitchRachel GriffinWhen eighteen-year-old witch Iris Gray accidentally enacts a curse that could have dire consequences, she must team up with a boy who hates witches to make sure her magic isn't unleashed on the world.Iris Gray knows witches aren't welcome in most towns. When she was forced to leave her last home, she left behind a father who was no longer willing to start over. And while the Witches' Council was lenient in their punishment, Iris knows they're keeping tabs on her. Now settled in Washington, Iris never lets anyone see who she really is; instead, she vents her frustrations by writing curses she never intends to cast. Otherwise, she spends her days at the wildlife refuge which would be the perfect job if not for Pike Alder, the witch-hating aspiring ornithologist who interns with them.
Iris concocts the perfect curse for Pike: one that will turn him into a witch. But just as she's about to dispel it, a bird swoops down and steals the curse before flying away. If the bird dies, the curse will be unleashed―and the bird is a powerful amplifier, and unleashing the curse would turn not just Pike, but everyone in the region, into a witch.
New witches have no idea how to control their magic and the consequences would be dire. And the Witches' Council does not look kindly on multiple offenses; if they found out, Iris could be stripped of her magic for good. Iris begs Pike to help her track the bird, and they set out on a trek through the Pacific Northwest looking for a single bird that could destroy everything.
June 21, 2023
Book Review: Bartleby, The Scavenger by Herman Melville
Title: Bartleby, The Scavenger
By: Herman Melville
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 64
Release Date: December 1st, 1853
Publisher: Melville House
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Summary from Goodreads:Academics hail it as the beginning of modernism, but to readers around the world—even those daunted by Moby-Dick—Bartleby the Scrivener is simply one of the most absorbing and moving novellas ever. Set in the mid-19th century on New York City's Wall Street, it was also, perhaps, Herman Melville's most prescient story: what if a young man caught up in the rat race of commerce finally just said, "I would prefer not to"?
The tale is one of the final works of fiction published by Melville before, slipping into despair over the continuing critical dismissal of his work after Moby-Dick, he abandoned publishing fiction. The work is presented here exactly as it was originally published in Putnam's magazine—to, sadly, critical disdain.
Bartleby is a crazy kook who does what all of us dream about doing and on a daily bases and just says no to his employer. Shock and awe. Now, to you and me we would probably be given a strong talking to and if we continued to say no, then we would probably be fired, but Bartleby's employer is so flabbergasted he just turns around and leaves.
If you could imagine this going on for days, the scene unfolding becoming even more insane, but still Bartleby says no.
Favorite Quote:
Bartleby in a singularly mild, firm voice, replied, "I would prefer not to."I rated this book 3 out of 5 stars for its dryer writing style. I wasn't that big a fan how the whole thing played out, but the whole story was so short it was easy enough to finish.
This short story is definitely recommended as a quick hoot on a rainy spring evening.
June 19, 2023
Weekly Menu #511 And The Book Of The Week
Wow, what a weekend. There was so much going on that I didn't have much time to think, but I wanted to congratulate my younger sister on graduating from nursing school. I'm proud of you for following your dreams and becoming a master at your skills. We had a lot of fun celebrating with you.
On top of the festivities, our back deck broke. Turns out it wasn't really held up by much and I'm surprised it lasted this long. My husband worked on leveling it again and it turns out, the sagging back deck was also making the back room sag. Its weird how they were both connected.
This weeks read is The Secrets of Solace by Jaleigh Johnson. I loved the first book in the series and the authors writing style. She is quickly becoming a favorite author.
Lets get to this weeks menu. I know that's what you came here for. Enjoy!
WEEKLY MENU
Monday
Mexican Street Corn Salad with Grilled Chicken
Kids - Chicken and Fruit Salad
Tuesday
Kids - Cheese Quesadilla
Wednesday
Kids - Chicken Ramen
Thursday
Kids - Chips and Cheese
Friday
Gruyere and White Cheddar Grilled Cheese
Kids - Grilled Cheese
Saturday
Kids - Mac and Cheese
Sunday
Leftovers Night
June 18, 2023
Sunday Confessions #204
Hello Sunday!
We have kittens! Six of them in fact. They are only a few days old, but they are doing well. It was hit or miss for one tiny one for a while, but after a period of bottle feeding, the mama cat has taken the kitten back and she is feeding and growing. Still very small, but I think she will be ok.
Lets recap the week then.
Sunday Confessions #203~Weekly Menu #510 And The Book Of The Week~Book Review: The Last Lifeboat by Hazel Gaynor~Book Review: Honor Among Thieves: The Road to Neverwinter by Jaleigh Johnson
Weekly Menu #511 And The Book Of The Week~Book Review: Bartleby the Scavenger by Herman Melville~Book Review: My Survival by Rena Finder~Sunday Confessions #205
Finishing up season 2 of Oh Cook! before all my favorite shows start this week.
55/100 2023 Reading Challenge~53/196 in my Star Wars Legends challenge~58/341 Gilmore Girls challenge~59/100 in my 100 books before you die challenge
Well, its been a week. Hopefully this coming one will be more relaxing.
Happy reading!
June 16, 2023
Book Review: Honor Among Thieves: The Road to Neverwinter by Jaleigh Johnson
Title: Honor Among Thieves: The Road to Neverwinter
By: Jaleigh Johnson
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 288
Release Date: February 28th, 2023
Publisher: Random House Worlds
Rating: ★★★★★
Summary from Goodreads:Discover the thrilling origin stories of the bard Edgin, the barbarian Holga, and their whole adventuring party in this official prequel to Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Edgin Darvis’ life is a mess. All that he has left are his lute, his dashing good looks, and...not much else. After a chance encounter with badass bruiser Holga, Edgin is forced to take a hard look at his bad choices. But the road to redemption is long, and paved with unforeseen expenses. Fortunately, the world is full of rich fools begging to be parted from their money. And so Edgin and Holga do what any sensible entrepreneurs would do—they form a crew. Joined by a charming rogue, Forge Fitzwilliam, and Simon, a sorcerer with an intense inferiority complex, the team sets out to line their pockets with both well-earned and ill-gotten gold. Together, Edgin’s crew battles monsters across the realms: gnoll raiders, fey witches, and more fall beneath their sharp weapons and sharper wit. But when they encounter a new, more sophisticated villain, keen blades and piercing blue eyes may not be enough. Their target? Torlinn Shrake, a wealthy eccentric known for abusing his servants and hosting lavish parties. The plan? Play dress-up, sneak into the Shrake estate, and fill their pockets with as much loot as they can carry. The catch? Shrake is hiding a terrible secret: one that could endanger the lives of everyone Edgin has come to care for—even if the loot is too good to pass up.
I am familiar with Dungeons and Dragons and the new movie Honor Among Thieves, but this book brings the reader back to the beginning of the companions journeys, filling in the blanks the movie skims over. It was fun to use the characters I've already gotten to know from the movie and really figure out who they were.
Of course, Holga is my favorite character. She is so strong, but has a soft spot for Kira. And her love of potatoes is very relatable and so funny. The other players in the game mesh well, and what they lack, they make up in witty retorts.
Toward the middle of the story, I found myself drawn into Simon's story and how they companions found him on a dark island being attacked by a strange plant. This was my favorite part and what I remember the most.
Favorite Quote:“I suppose she’s right,” Edgin said, speaking half to himself. “No one gets the perfect night or the perfect life, do they?”
I was completely enveloped in this world, loving every aspect of it. For that in itself, I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Jaleigh Johnson has a wonderful way of writing. I've picked up another of her books and am exited to read it. Johnson could be another favorite author.
June 14, 2023
Book Review: The Last Lifeboat by Hazel Gaynor
Title: The Last Lifeboat
By: Hazel Gaynor
Genre: Historical
Pages: 384
Release Date: June 13th, 2023
Publisher: Berkley
Rating: ★★★★☆
Summary from Goodreads:Inspired by a remarkable true story, a young teacher evacuates children to safety across perilous waters, in a moving and triumphant new novel from New York Times bestselling author Hazel Gaynor. 1940, Kent : Alice King is not brave or daring—she’s happiest finding adventure through the safe pages of books. But times of war demand courage, and as the threat of German invasion looms, a plane crash near her home awakens a strength in Alice she’d long forgotten. Determined to do her part, she finds a role perfectly suited to her experience as a schoolteacher—to help evacuate Britain’s children overseas. 1940, London : Lily Nichols once dreamed of using her mathematical talents for more than tabulating the cost of groceries, but life, and love, charted her a different course. With two lively children and a loving husband, Lily’s humble home is her world, until war tears everything asunder. With her husband gone and bombs raining down, Lily is faced with an impossible keep her son and daughter close, knowing she may not be able to protect them, or enroll them in a risky evacuation scheme, where safety awaits so very far away. When a Nazi U-boat torpedoes the S. S. Carlisle carrying a ship of children to Canada, a single lifeboat is left adrift in the storm-tossed Atlantic. Alice and Lily, strangers to each other—one on land, the other at sea—will quickly become one another’s very best hope as their lives are fatefully entwined.
I'm drawn into this heartbreaking story that is set in true events. Although my eyes are weeping my mind is full of heroism and strength within that loss.
Alice Kings is sweet and kind, but little does she know what strength she must pull from within. A lone woman in a lifeboat full of strange men and a handful of children. How she managed to keep her wits about her is beyond me.
Favorite Quote:"She has been given a second chance, a second life. She must keep moving forward now, one step at a time, a small glass marble held tight in her hand, ready for the off."
I rated this book 4 stars out of 5 as it was marvelous and moving. Hazel Gaynor is a wonderful writer with a great eye for detail and facts.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
June 12, 2023
Weekly Menu #510 And The Book Of The Week
Hello Monday!What a weekend. The kitten my husband rescued from an abandoned apartment at work, has had 6 kittens herself. They are all seeming to be doing ok, but one is very small and I'm worried for it. We did manage to get it latched on for a feeding and it has a supper loud set of lungs, but in my experience, those little ones don't always make it.
This weeks read is The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson. I've been wanting to read this one after I read Johnson's prequel to the new dungeons and dragons movie. She has a wonderful writer's voice and I want to know if that translates into other books as well.
Lets get to this weeks menu. Enjoy!WEEKLY MENU
Monday
Steak Quesadillas
Kids - Cheese Quesadillas
Tuesday
Mexican Street Corn Salad with Grilled Chicken
Kids - Chicken and Fruit Salad
Wednesday
Crockpot Cream of Mushroom Pork Chops
Kids - Chicken Nuggets and Mashed Potatoes
Thursday
Sriracha Bacon Breakfast Toast
Kids - French Toast
Friday
Mediterranean Flatbread Pizza
Kids - English Muffin Pizzas
Saturday
Tequila Lime Chicken Club
Kids - Chicken Tender Burgers
Sunday
Family DinnerSpaghetti Night
June 11, 2023
Sunday Confessions #203
Hello Sunday!
My husband and I got another task done in the front yard over the weekend. Now the rain water will drain away from the house instead of into our front yard. It wasn't what we wanted to do, but it needed to be done before any rain soaked the ground again.
Lets recap the week!
Sunday Confessions #202~Weekly Menu #509 And The Book Of The Week~May 2023 Wrap up~Book Review: The Percaline Maker by Sarah Freethy~Book Review: These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan
Weekly Menu #510 And The Book Of The Week~Book Review: The Last Lifeboat by Hazel Gaynor~Book Review: Honor Among Thieves: The Road to Neverwinter by Jaleigh Johnson~Sunday Confessions #204
I have a bit of an eclectic taste this week.
My youngest son and I have been binge watching all three seasons of Lower Decks, a family favorite.
Ghost Adventures came out with a super creepy special about Lake Mead that I watched before bed and then couldn't sleep. Wouldn't recommend doing that.
Also binge watched Searching for Soul Food as they search other countries for their version of soul food and dives into their cultures. Very interesting.
48/100 2023 Reading Challenge~51/196 in my Star Wars Legends challenge~58/341 Gilmore Girls challenge~59/100 in my 100 books before you die challenge
Another great week reading, writing and watching some incredible stories. I can't wait for next week.
June 9, 2023
Book Review: These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan
Title: These Hollow Vows
By: Lexi Ryan
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 448
Release Date: July 20th, 2021
Publisher: HMH
Rating: ★★★★☆
Summary from Goodreads:From New York Times best-selling author Lexi Ryan, Cruel Prince meets A Court of Thorns and Roses in this sexy, action-packed fantasy about a girl who is caught between two treacherous faerie courts and their dangerously seductive princes.
Brie hates the Fae and refuses to have anything to do with them, even if that means starving on the street. But when her sister is sold to the sadistic king of the Unseelie court to pay a debt, she'll do whatever it takes to get her back—including making a deal with the king himself to steal three magical relics from the Seelie court.
Gaining unfettered access to the Seelie court is easier said than done. Brie's only choice is to pose as a potential bride for Prince Ronan, and she soon finds herself falling for him. Unwilling to let her heart distract her, she accepts help from a band of Unseelie misfits with their own secret agenda. As Brie spends time with their mysterious leader, Finn, she struggles to resist his seductive charm.
Caught between two dangerous courts, Brie must decide who to trust with her loyalty. And with her heart.
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Review:I'm not one to stray from my favorite series and author's on a whim, but after reading this book I'm hooked. Did I just cheat on Sarah J. Maas?Knowing full well this book was a love triangle hell, I still loved each character equally. Although, Bri, the main female lead at times seemed to be a pushover, but she got there in the end and I applauded her tenacity.
Favorite Quote:"But he can’t make me stop. And he can’t keep me from walking away from the Golden Palace with nothing but my darkness and the betrayal that has wrapped itself around my immortal heart."
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. It was entertaining, the romance was spicy and the backstabbing was evil smile worthy. The only thing that detracted from the story for me was the obvious parallels to ACOTAR. I mean, if that's the worst you've got, you can't be doing to bad.
All in all, this was a great read. I'm going to track down book 2 and get to reading.
