I want to begin by saying how much I enjoyed this novel! It surprised me just how much I liked it, because I don't typically read supernatural books. But this was so well-written, with such engaging characters and interesting twists, that I couldn't help but enjoy it.

It was interesting to learn about the five Chinese characteristics that make up a good, complete person- and how the characters in the novel embodied each of these virtues. I liked the idea of how certain numbers were considered either good or bad, based on how they sounded- whether one resembled the word for goodness, the number was lucky; resembling something bad, it was unlucky. So many interesting aspects in this novel!

I also just really found myself loving the main characters, Ji Lin and Ren, and liked how the author would alternate their chapters. I'm assuming Ji Lin was the main focus, since her chapters were written in first-person, and I wanted to see more of her story.

I'm so happy to have received this book, and look forward to more from this author- her style of writing was so enjoyable :)

I don't know where to begin with this novel- on one hand, I loved it. Claire Adam's writing is beautiful and engaging, I fell in love immediately with her style of writing. I also loved her location - rural Trinidad, a place I know very little about. While I enjoyed so much about this book, I'm almost evenly torn by what I didn't like- that is, the actual story, the hideously depressing ending, and the callous characters. Why write this book, or such a story? I finished the book and could not stop it from replaying in my mind, especially that question of...why? Perhaps the ending comes to show what little choice the very poor in impoverished environments really have? And that, when in those places, you grab on with all you have to a chance to escape

However, it was a beautiful and haunting book- I could see it being discussed by a book club. I'd be curious to hear others experiences with this story, how they found the characters, and particularly the ending. I feel that I won't soon leave this book behind, that I'll keep that lost boy in my mind, and wonder about his family.

Dawn Davies' memoir is one I feel I'll remember for awhile. There were so many beautiful things to like about this book, her writing style, some evocative and poetic language- the opening scene, for instance, where she describes her daughters swimming. Gorgeous. But then there are so many other harsh and biting scenes, so much of life's ugliness seemingly fixed into one life- it's heartbreaking and painful, and sad because it's true. Her passages comparing the lives and choices of spartan mothers with her own and the issues with her son were truly horrific. Davies is so real and honest, painfully so, in her admission and style that you as the reader feel physically there, in her head, as millions of thoughts, good and bad, are considered. She doesn't shield you, and doesn't shy away from verbalizing her fears and thoughts.
I'm torn, though, as to whether I enjoyed this book- as I said, parts were wonderful, parts were painful, but overall it felt so chaotic as a book, chapters ranging from early pregnancy stories, to who she'd sleep with, to soccer games, to dealing with a child predator, and each change was a jarring shift. Perhaps that's exactly how you're expected to feel, I don't know. It's interesting that the title includes "a memoir in pieces," because that's just what it is- pieces of life that make up her life. I'm still dealing with this book, thinking it over, and might be for awhile, bu a overall, it was a very interesting read.

To start, I loved finding out that this story was based on true events- it made the characters so much more engaging for me, and their ends were then more painful bc this actually happened. Still, I had a difficult time reading this novel due to the political nature and opinions; having just come out of a pretty vicious election cycle, it would have been nice to maybe save this read for a later date! I did find the writing to be very engaging, very entertaining- the characters were well written, if a bit too polarizing. (I mean, one example- Cal is literally described as a wise founding father, facing off with a pudgy, somewhat evil bumpkin. The characters can come off as too posed and static in their depiction, but not always.). I overall enjoyed this novel, the description of the town, the ranch life, and even the politics of the time. I still find it hard to believe anyone would leave a city for such an unknown and rural life :)

...but I just couldn't connect with the author or her story. I felt confused from the start, with her storytelling itself- the reader is dropped straight into a very messy and chaotic story of a damaged family, and propelled along without much to guide you along the way. Gradually, Brookins does begin to shed light on the past, revealing more about her terrifying struggles with her husbands, but I felt that these details came too late- she and her family were already well into the building of the new house that I just couldn't connect to their struggle as I wanted to.

Overall, this is an amazing story of survival and resilience, and of thriving after devastation- I just wish it had been more organized from the start, as a story, because I found it hard to get in to.

I enjoyed Beatriz Williams' "A Certain Age"- the story was interesting, the characters were well rounded. I particularly enjoyed the way the story was presented, w/snippets from newspaper columns, rather than from the characters. This wasn't a great read for me, however- while I say the story was interesting, I feel like it was almost one stock story, full of familiar themes and tropes. For instance, of course there would be a rebellious young woman (Sophie) who as a stock character would do all you'd associate w/a this type; the empty world of the rich, seen in Theresa's life; the star crossed lovers (Sophie and Octavian); old name pursuing new money . . . It was a very well-written book, but predictable and familiar too.