“Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.”
―
NOVEL BLONDES MARCH BOOK REVIEWS
Professor Chandra Follow His Bliss
by Rajeev Balasubramanyam, ebook, NetGally ARC, March 26, 2019
P.R. Chandrasekhar, a professor of Economics at Cambridge, is on the cusp of winning the Nobel Prize. Instead, he loses. The ignominy of mediocrity is unacceptable, and he evidences his frustration in his disdain for his students and coworkers alike. After once again insulting the intelligence of one of these students, he is asked to take a sabbatical. This is a foreign concept to one who has devoted his entire life to reaching the pinnacle of his carefully curated career, but an accident, and being alone on his birthday, lead him to plan a trip to California to visit his daughter.
At the ripe old age of 70, Professor Chandra is encouraged to find his bliss. This occurs after he punches his ex-wife’s new husband ( a singularly encouraging act of violence for him). This journey leads him to a spiritual retreat, where the constant state of sadness or befuddlement begins to lift. This workshop leads him to explore his definition of success and the lost time and relationships with his children. Is it too late to reset his focus and embrace his humanity? While not a particularly likable main character, especially in the beginning of the story, by the end you’ll be cheering for his awkward attempts to bond, seek forgiveness, and move forward on the path to finding his bliss.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing the ARC for my review. I’ve shared my unbiased thoughts in return.
Beneath a Scarlet Sky
by Mark Sullivan, ebook, May 1, 2017
Pino Lella is your average, wholesome youth, in pre-World War II Italy. His parents are well to do, and he has a bright future ahead. The war looms large, and the Nazi invasion is imminent. Pino’s parents send him into exile in the Alps, to stay with . While there he becomes involved with the effort to smuggle Jews across the mountains and into neutral territory of Switzerland.
Eventually Pino returns to Milan, where his parents next encourage him to join the Nazis, with the idea that he would be safer to join them than to fight them. Pino opts for this rather than do as his friends and cousins do, resisting and fighting. He’s thought to be a traitor by many, but uses his role as a driver to a Nazi commander to gain information to pass along to the Resistance. The war eventually concludes, and Pino reconciles with friends and family.
This book has a lot going it for it on the surface. First, it’s historical fiction, a plus. Set in WWII, another plus. Set in Italy, plus. But throughout the story, based on the actual events of Pino Lella’s life, just doesn’t ring true. Yes, historical fiction has elements of make believe, but it’s also grounded in fact. In this case, so much of the details of Pino’s escapades are just too good to be true. He’s too good to be true. I was let down by this book, carried mostly through to the end with the desire to like it, more than actually liking it.
Spirit of Lost Angels
by Liza Perrat, ebook, May 11, 2012
Victoire’s mother was burned as a witch, her father trampled by the carriage of a wealthy nobleman. Her only hope to support herself was to leave her village for Paris, and work in the household of a cruel aristocrat. There she is brutally treated, impregnated, and ultimately accused of a crime and sentenced to a horrific asylum. Fortune would put in her in the path of a sophisticated femme fatal who befriends her and empowers her to grasp for freedom. This friend is none other than Jeanne de Valois, responsible in part for the fall of Marie Antoinette. As the French Revolution looms, Victoire makes her way back to the village of her childhood, to discover love and security at last.
While the French Revolution is not he typical era of my historical fiction preferences, this entertaining, well written book held my interest. This is Book One of Three in the Angels series by author Liza Perrat. Not usually one to chase down a series, I would definitely follow up with another by Perrat.
On the Come Up
by Angie Thomas, Libby audiobook, February 5, 2019
So much good buzz about Angie Thomas meant as soon as I saw this title available on the Libby app I grabbed it. Maybe I should have started with her first novel, The Hate U Give, but I didn’t have time to wait for that one to become available. I dove in and instantly took a liking to Bri, the sixteen year old smart mouthed, rising star rapper. Her struggles are at once universal and unique, the pull of fame, the desire to take care of her family, and the need to forge her own path all creating inner turmoil.
She has talent, partly inherited from her father, a legendary rapper in his day. Bri fights to get her chance, at once wanting to be recognized as second gen dynasty material, but as a one of a kind performer as well. Her big shot at fame backfires painfully. The music she crafts, shaped by hurt, frustration and teenage angst, is misquoted and misunderstood. What she thought would give her street cred has suddenly given her a bad rap.
Bri learns to stand up for herself, speak her truth eloquently and bravely, and win respect for her talent and her effort in the end. She’s not finished, so bring her back for an encore, Angie Thomas!
That wraps up a much overdue summary of one month of reading! Stayed tuned for another round of Book Reviews in the near or not so near future!
