images from goodreads.com
[20] The Vanishing Stair (Truly Devious #2) by Maureen Johnson
YA Mystery, recommendation from Mica (review of of Truly Devious #1 is here)
Synopsis: After a classmate dies and it’s leaked Stevie helped solve the murder, her parents pull her from Ellingham Academy. Stevie feels lost back at home, and when the opportunity arises to go back to campus, she takes it, even though she has to make a deal with someone she despises. She immediately gets back to solving the 1936 kidnapping/murder mystery, and looks for her friend that disappeared, while halfheartedly focusing on her relationship with David – which was part of the deal she didn’t want to make.
Review: Although this book had the same pacing, writing, and style as the first book, I didn’t enjoy it as much. I was happy with the development of the story and that we learn more about the 1936 incident, but some of the characters (David!) were getting on my nerves. And as I’ve mentioned before, I don’t care for plot lines that are dependent on a lie (or withholding of information) being revealed. I’ll definitely read the final book, at some point, though. I think I was just in the wrong mood for this.
[21] The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
Historical Fiction, loan from Kathie
Synopsis: Lale Sokolov is a Slovakian Jew transported to the Auschwitz concentration camp in April of 1942. He is assigned the role of Tattooist – inking his fellow prisoners with a five digit number that becomes their only identity. In July of 1942, he tattoos 34902, a young woman named Gita, and becomes determined to get to know her. As they spend limited time together, he vows he will survive and marry her. Lale witnesses horrific and barbaric actions during his time there, but risks his life to help fellow prisoners by using his connections to buy food and medicine. This is based on the true story of Lale Sokolov, as told to Heather Morris in 2003.
Review: I was burned out on WWII historical fiction so I waited to read this, but that was unnecessary – this story is amazing, inspiring, and well told. It was unputdownable. There are many negative reviews on Goodreads that the prose is simple and uses sparse dialogue, and that the story is short and underdeveloped. The story was intended to be a screenplay, then turned in to a book, so that all makes sense. And honestly, the simplicity of the writing, and focus on Lale’s story (rather than the much bigger picture), is what makes this readable (instead of turning you in to a sobbing mess), and leaves you with feelings of hope from his resiliency, rather than absolute despair from the atrocities Lale’s people and many others suffered.
[22] Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
Fantasy, continuing the series!
Synopsis: During the summer before his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry Potter is visited by a house-elf who insists it’s too dangerous for Harry to go back to school, and pleads for him not to return. Harry doesn’t listen, returns to school, and at first encounters minor annoyances – a new fame-seeking professor who sees Harry as competition, overzealous first year fans, a ghost that haunts the womens’ restroom, and rude encounters with his nemesis, Draco Malfoy. Eventually the house-elf’s message comes true though, and muggle-born students (those born to two non-magical parents) become petrified in stone. Harry works to solve why this is happening, and deals with some students thinking he might be behind it.
Review: I enjoyed the book and will continue the series! And I have a few random thoughts swirling around (that I don’t need answers to, I’m just thinking about them!):
- I think of these books as fantasy genre, but they seem like fantasy and mystery, and I wonder if Harry and friends will be solving something in each book.
- Will Harry always be so pure and good?
- Will the antagonist always be some form of Voldemort?
- Will Draco always be such a little sh*t?
Other book news:
- We selected our book for Monday Night Book Club – The Last House Guest. Everyone in the group already started it, yay! It will be my next read.
- I’m planning to watch the Harry Potter movies as I read the books, so Steven and I watched Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone last weekend. Ha, you can tell it’s the first acting experience for many of them, and whoa, the graphics! I’ve heard they get better over time…
- I’m so grateful for the escape reading gives me!
I’ve put off reading the Tattooist of Auschwitz because of the negative reviews about the writing. But your stellar review makes me reconsider! I might try it on audio, though – sparse writing usually comes off better in that format for me.
Ooh, love your questions about HP! One of my friends is reading the series for the first time, too, and it’s so fun to watch her reactions to the books!
The kids are so teeny tiny in that first movie! It’s hard to believe how young they were!
I recommend reconsidering! It’s such a good story, and I learned so much from it. Audio would probably work well!
Ha, the other night in class I said “I bet Harry and this Draco guy will be besties at the end” and everyone looked at me like :-o. Ha ha ha. So, I guess not. I keep seeing spoilers on the internets that he dies. How far along is your friend?
The kids are so young! I was trying to find a pic/collage showing them growing up throughout the movies but didn’t find any!
The HP movies definitely do get better, cinematically, but I will never forget how amazed I was seeing the great hall with all of the floating candles – it was exactly as I pictured it while reading the book. Tiny spoiler for that movie: Hermoine was wearing a wig as she was originally supposed to be a little unattractive. Glad they changed their minds and let her be more normal for the remainder of the movies. So glad you are enjoying the books and movies!
Ha, I kept telling Steven her hair looked horrible!!!! Good to know. I am excited to see it in future films. And to see the great hall when it’s stormy and doing other things. It’s so neat to see all that on screen! <3
Glad you’re continuing to enjoy Harry Potter, the movies definitely get better as they go on!
Yay, glad to hear that!
Despite you specifically saying that you don’t need an answer to it, I think you’re totally spot on about Harry Potter being both mystery and fantasy, and the reason I comment about that is because I never really considered that until you mentioned it. You’re totally right, though. Honestly, I sometimes think “fantasy” is a bit of an overstatement for Harry Potter, at least compared to what I normally think of as being fantasy. Obviously there are fantastical elements to Harry Potter (see: wizards. Ha), but so much of the book takes place in what is essentially the real world that it doesn’t feel as fantasy-y to me as what I normally associate with the genre, where everything is in a totally different world with totally different creatures, rules, etc. I think that’s part of why I like Harry Potter. It’s a lot more accessible to me than “normal” fantasy (which I don’t particularly like).
I am glad you commented! You are welcome to comment, I just didn’t need answers on the other things that would include spoilers. Ha! Like when I told my Monday night class I thought Draco and Harry would end up being friends they were like, um………….
I am glad you agree re: my genres assessment! It feels more like magical realism to me (copied from google: a literary or artistic genre in which realistic narrative and naturalistic technique are combined with surreal elements of dream or fantasy), than fantasy. What makes it so fun is that there is a bit of magic in the real world! It’s exciting to imagine we live in a world where there could be these secret wizards and witches.
I thought I would like full blown fantasy, but I sometimes struggle with keeping it all straight since so much of it is, well, fantasy! Books like Harry Potter feel more accessible to me too.