Darlene

I read this book because I needed a book set in Louisiana to fulfill a challenge prompt. I had also watched a couple seasons of True Blood on HBO, so I was curious to see what the books are like. I found it to be good, but not great. It's what I expect from this kind of vampire story. It's easy to read and the plot line is easy to follow. Some of the characters are fun and entertaining, while some are just annoying. It's not a book that's going to stand out to me or that I will want to reread, but I do not regret reading it. I enjoyed it just fine.

This delightful, charming, and uplifting story about a group of individuals learning how to be their true selves is a real gem. Julian Jessop, a lonely, elderly artist, writes in a notebook, “Everyone lies about their lives. What would happen if you shared the truth instead?” He then leaves this notebook in a cafe, where it begins its journey through the lives of four people who all struggle to find balance between their public selves and their authentic selves.

The characters are what make this book stand out. They are complex and believable. The reader can see a bit of themselves in them. Monica's insecurities and Alice's struggles with parenthood are similar to what many women battle. Both women try so hard to appear to be in control and have it all sorted out, but the reader can appreciate the reality of their imperfections. One of my favorite lines from the book, “It took a lot of planning and hard work for Monica to be this relaxed,” rings so true to me. Pooley seems to “get it.” The male characters are just as flawed and intriguing. Hazard's struggle with addiction is portrayed as ongoing, not something that is easily fixed. It isn't sugar-coated.

The plot has just enough bumps and turns to keep the reader interested. Just when you think you have a character figured out, something surprises you. The end is mostly satisfying. I would change a couple things in the romance aspects of the book, but overall, I think the book finished as it should.

In the end, I finished this book with a smile on my face. I would definitely recommend it to any reader that enjoys a character-driven book in which people deal with real life struggles and learn to be their best selves.

“There is nothing perfect... There is only life.”

The Secret Life of Bees is an emotional coming of age story about Lily, a 14 year old girl in the South in 1964, who runs away from home to protect herself and Rosaleen, the black woman who takes care of her, from the abuses of the white men in her hometown. They find refuge in the home of three black beekeeping sisters who Lily believes may have known her deceased mother. While staying with these women, Lily learns many valuable life lessons and comes to better understand herself and the world in which she lives.

Lily's life is far from perfect. Her mother died in a tragic accident when she was only four years old, and her father is not a capable or loving parent. Lily's story is an emotional one, and it seems at times that she is destined to end up bitter and angry. However, the women of this story nurture her and teach her acceptance and forgiveness so that she can embrace her own power and love herself and others.

This is a beautiful, compelling story that uses metaphors about bees and spirituality to develop many important themes around the topics of identity, acceptance, family, abuse, racism, and mental health. It made me feel powerful emotions, which is always the sign of a great book for me. The understanding Lily gains about her mother and the relationship she develops with August are particularly impactful. I believe I will be thinking about this book for a while.

I would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy character-driven stories in historical settings that focus on female characters and relationships. This is definitely a new favorite for me.

I am not sure why it took me so long to read this book, but I am glad I finally prioritized it. This is a beautiful, informative story about a summer in Madrid in 1957 during which a young man from Texas falls in love with a young Spanish woman and learns the realities of life in Spain under the dictatorship of Franco.

Daniel Matheson, a budding photographer, spends the summer of his 18th year in Madrid with his mother and father. While there, he meets and forms a bond with Ana, a young maid at the hotel where his family is staying. Through his interactions with Ana and the photographs he takes around the city, Daniel learns some uncomfortable truths about life in Spain.

There is a lot to praise in this book. The pacing is perfect; the story never lags. The short chapters make it easy to continue in the story. It creates that “just one more chapter” feeling. The historical context is interesting and engaging. The story explores a topic that is not overdone in other books. The characters are well-developed and likable. Daniel and Ana are easy to embrace as protagonists. Secondary characters add richness to the narrative and help to reveal the historical context.

My only complaint is that the story does not feel resolved in the end. I do not believe that every story needs to have every aspect completed wrapped up, but in this case I was left feeling a bit cheated out a resolution.

Overall, I would recommend this book to readers of all ages, not just young adults. It is educational and entertaining and just so readable. 4.5 stars!