2022 Fall Flurry of Holidays Challenge -- October Reviews and Discussion

[Book Concierge]

For Oct 11 - Indigenous People's Day
Ernie Morriseau is a member of the Ojibwe tribe in northern Wisconsin


The Turtle Warrior – Mary Relindes Ellis – 5*****
When James enlists at age seventeen and goes to Vietnam, his nine-year-old brother, Billy, has only the protection of a turtle-shell shield and a wooden sword to keep him from harm. It will be a long and fraught journey to manhood for the sensitive Billy. He comes to rely on his Ojibwe neighber, Ernie, for guidance and support. This is a marvelous debut. There are some horrific scenes in this book, and it is an emotionally difficult read. But the reader who can get through the horror will be rewarded with a hopeful ending.
LINK to my full review

[Booknblues]

Briefly, A Delicious Life- 5 stars and a heart!

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Heather Reads Books]

Madam by Phoebe Wynne - 4.5 stars - Review is here!

Submitting for October flurries because it's genuinely the scariest book I've read this year. Slow burn reveal of human rights abuses will get me every time.

[Cora]

(Halloween Read)

My Heart is a Chainsaw - Stephen Graham Jones

4 stars

Jade knows everything about slasher movies. When she starts to recognize all of the signs that a slasher story is unfolding in her town, she know there is no way to stop it. All she can do is try to find the final girl and make sure she has all the knowledge she needs to defeat the slasher at the end. This was the perfect Halloween read. I wish that I was more familiar with all of the various slasher movies that Jade refers to in the book. Since I haven't seen most of them, I am sure a lot of the references went over my head. The story was very violent and gory, so if you don't want to read about blood and guts, this is not for you. I still found myself a little confused at the ending, but overall it was an enjoyable horror book that fit my mood. I am curious how Jones will continue the story in the expected sequel.

[Joy D]

Calling for a Blanket Dance by Oscar Hokeah - 10/31/22 - 4* - My Review

Protagonist Ever Geimausaddle’s mother is Cherokee and Kiowa and his father is Mexican. He and his relatives experience many obstacles and issues common to Native American communities, such as depression, unemployment, and addiction. Ever’s story is told from multiple generational perspectives, starting with his grandparents. Each chapter is narrated by a different character. Ever eventually gets to speak on his own behalf in the ending chapter.

This novel portrays how community and culture can be helpful in overcoming individual problems. The author highlights many distinctions between Cherokee and Kiowa traditions. It includes stomp dances, the titular blanket dance, and powwows. I particularly enjoyed the way the novel is structured, gradually providing more information as the story progresses. It is an impressive debut.

This book qualifies for Fall Flurries (indigenous people).

[Book Concierge]

For Hispanic Heritage Month


Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna – Alda P Dobbs – 4****
Set during the Mexican Revolution of 1913, this novel is based on the author’s family history. Thirteen-year-old Petra is the de facto head of her household once her father is conscripted into the Mexican Army. Force to flee when their village is burned, Petra leads her grandmother, younger sister and baby brother across the desert towards freedom. A marvelous story of courage in the face of adversity.
LINK to my full review

[Book Concierge]

For Hispanic Heritage month


Inheritance: A Visual Poem – Elizabeth Acevedo – 4****
“Some people tell me to ‘fix’ my hair And by fix, they mean straighten”
A wonderful essay told in verse of the Afro-Latinidad experience, when even other Dominicans have “swallowed amnesia” because “it is easier” than living ”in this reality.” In this short work she addresses skin tone, slavery, relationships, immigration, prejudice, power and self-worth.
“all I can reply is you can’t fix what was never broken.”
LINK to my full review

[Hannah]

When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain – 4 Stars

I have read and enjoyed historical fiction works by this author, with fictionalised versions of real people, so I was intrigued to try this more contemporary setting. Part mystery, part thriller, and part suspense novel, this book really had me on edge, and I became very invested in the story. Following a personal tragedy Anna, a missing persons detective, moves to a small town in northern California on the same day a teenage girl goes missing, and she soon, together with the sheriff, realises that this case is linked to other cases of missing teenage girls. The town is full of memories, clues and ghosts, which Anna has to listen to carefully to help her solve the case. It was not until I read the author’s note that I realised how real cases had been woven in to the story. Whilst it was a challenging book to read because of some of the themes covered (view spoiler)[death, kidnapping, rape, child abuse, the loss of a child (hide spoiler)], I thought it was a dark, intense, powerful book that was very well written, and dealt with the material sensitively.

[Hannah]

The Asylum by John Harwood – 4 Stars

On waking up in a lunatic asylum with no memory of how she got there, Georgina Ferrars can only remember her name, although everyone else around her claims her name is Lucy Ashton and that she admitted herself as a voluntary patient. In this Victorian Gothic suspense novel, not all is what it seems, and the mystery kept my interest so that I didn’t want to put this book down. I liked Georgina as a character, especially her fight and determination to prove who she said she was. As I was reading this, I actually had to check to see whether I had read it before as the plot seemed very familiar – I hadn’t, but there are many similarities with Fingersmith by Sarah Waters that it felt like I had. I really liked how the author portrayed the atmosphere and mood in the asylum, and the suspense was maintained throughout.

[LibraryCin]

Not sure if there will be more posted or not, but shelving done to here, Nov 5/22