Resistance Women

Jennifer Chiaverini, author of Resistance Women, certainly did her research covering the resistance in Germany, during World War II.

The characters came alive, as I read the pages, even though the historical novel is slow-moving. This reader felt enveloped in the events and the resulting efforts to quell Hitler and his power in Nazi Germany. The word visuals were so strong and illuminating, I felt a part of the whole, within the women’s staunchness, in their physical, mental and emotional attempts to resist the Nazi forces.

The group of women friends stood together to try to gain access to, and send classified information to England and America, and even Russia. Their ‘cell’ was built on women of courage, collectively trying to help in the downfall of the Nazis. They had one goal, and that was to destroy the Nazi power.

Their safety was always at risk, but that did not prevent them from trying to succeed in their efforts. They not only witnessed horrific events, but were involved within those appalling moments, themselves. Nothing deterred them in their commitment to curtail Hitler’s dominance.

Resistance Women, by Jennifer Chiaverini, is, in my opinion, a necessary book, one that belongs in high school, college/university libraries, and personal libraries. It is of historical importance, in depicting how some of the horrific events of Hitler’s rule, did not deter the ‘Resistance Women’ from trying to compromise the Nazis.

This novel is based on historical fact, and based on some actual individuals within the resistance.

Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers, for my advanced review copy.

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Foods for Thought

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Eat to Beat Disease: The New Science of How Your Body Can Heal Itself, looks to be an excellent book regarding the ability to accomplish healing through diet.

The book describes various foods and how one can incorporate them in their diet, in order to help themselves fight disease. Unprocessed foods are a huge part of the equation.

Vegetables, fruits, nuts, fish, and other foods are discussed, and how they help with a person’s immune system, DNA, and regeneration. It isn’t a weight-loss book, but rather a book that defines how certain foods can help you maintain your body’s defenses against disease.
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I love desserts, and while watching TV, I saw Amirah Kassel, author of The Power of Sprinkles: 35 Cakes and a Gazillion Ideas from the Flour Shop!

The book looks to be amazing on many levels, including the recipes, the photographs, and the stories within its pages.

I have ordered a copy, not only for myself, but also for my granddaughter, for her 12th birthday, next month. She loves baking desserts, and I know she will enjoy this book!
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From Here to Eternity

I so enjoyed From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death, by Caitlin Doughty. I found Caitlin Doughty’s travels to be fascinating on many levels. I enjoyed reading about the varied forms of ‘good death’ that she was witness to.

Rituals and traditions regarding death and taking care of the deceased is often a cultural event. The various countries, cities/towns that Doughty visited to observe these rituals and traditions, and then penned her thoughts, feelings, and experiences during the ‘funerals’, is definitely an important gift to the reader.

The western world is on the genesis of creating new forms of funeral, and burial arrangements, due to the deceased’s wishes. The environment, and the natural world, is being explored more, as a mode for burial, and taking care of our deceased, loved ones, due to their wishes.

Her experiences have given me a more perceptual feeling on death, and how I wish to be taken care of once I have expired. I am a person of sensory substance, in that my senses often guide me to make certain decisions. In my opinion, death should be no exception, as far as sensory awareness is involved.

Two Very Short Reviews

Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love by Dani Shapiro is an intense look at what defines us as a person, as our place in the familial history, as our DNA structures us. In reality, who are we?

Are we a complete package of our DNA, or are we structured through the forces of our environment and out upbringing? Shapiro gives us an in-depth look at her own questions, and some of the answers she has discovered through science and technological means.

Science and technology come together within the strings of her DNA, strings she never knew existed until she took a DNA test to find out more about her familial tapestry. And, what a tapestry she discovered!

The man she thought was her father was not biologically factual. In this day and age, more and more individuals are discovering that who they thought their biological father was, is not necessarily the case. Shapiro is one of those individuals.

Once I began reading Dani Shapiro’s memoir, I could not put it down. I recommend it to everyone.
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Ashes in the Snow by Ruta Sepetys was a compelling read regarding Lithuanians who were deported to a Siberian labor camp during the reign of Stalin.

Lina, her mother, and brother were one family who was deported. Their experiences during their time in labor camps is depicted with vivid images, leaving nothing to the imagination. The harshness of temperatures, the lack of enough food/nourishment, and water, is extreme enough. Couple that with the exhausting hours of labor, and the treatment of the deportees, and you have a scene of unimaginable horror.

Ashes in the Snow is a deeply illuminating look at the appalling and horrific conditions, and situations individuals were thrust into in Siberian labor camps. It was not an enjoyable book, for me, but one of extreme historical importance.

Graffitied Heart

I took the above photograph while walking along a river. It caught my eye. How could it not!

The Faith of Graffiti by Normal Mailer, and by Jon Naar, is an excellent book regarding graffiti used as art, as street life, as neighborhood identity, and so much more. I highly recommend it for its informative history, and for the wonderful photography, within its pages.

Another wonderful book regarding graffiti, is Wall and Piece by Bansky! His graffiti art speaks volumes, where words fail.

Graffiti Alphabets: Street Fonts from Around the World by Claudia Walde, looks fascinating to me. I love the use of alphabet letters as an art form.

Thank you for visiting! Enjoy your day/evening, wherever you are!

Some Books Read Since Beginning of 2019

The photo above is of the Los Angeles Central Library – Exterior – Pools, taken from Press Images.

I have read several books since the beginning of 2019. Below is a list of some of the books that I have read, in no particular order.

The Library Book by Susan Orlean

The Taster by V.S. Alexander

Founding Gardeners by Andrea Wulf

44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith

The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian

Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

Carnegie’s Maid by Marie Benedict

The Pianist From Syria by Aeham Ahmad

The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn

A Naturalist at Large by Bernd Heinrich

Espresso Tales by Alexander McCall Smith

Love Over Scotland by Alexander McCall Smith

Recent Reads

I have been extremely busy, and am finally returning back to my blog.

I have had quite a few recent reads, from August to September:

Paper is White, by Hillary Zaid. My rating is a 3 out of 5 stars.

Returning, by Yael Shahar. My rating is 5 out of 5.

Paris Echo, by Sebastian Faulks. My rating is 4 out of 5.

The Last Watchman of Old Cairo, by Michael David Lucas. My rating is 4 out of 5.

The World Without You, by Joshua Henkin. My rating is 2 out of 5.

The Painted Kiss, by Elizabeth Hickey. My rating is 4 out of 5.

The Children’s War, by Monique Charlesworth. My rating is 3 out of 5.

Promises Kept: One Man’s Journey Against Incredible Odds, by Ernest W. Michel.
-My rating is 5 out of 5.

Shroud, by John Banville. My rating is 3 out of 5.

Fear: Trump in the White House, by Bob Woodward. My rating is 3 out of 5.

A Wild Sheep Chase, by Haruki Murakami. My rating is 4 out of 5.

Love and Ruin, by Paula McClain. My rating is 3 out of 5.

The majority of the books have been satisfying reads, with good character profiles, and good word visuals.

I will review one or two of them in the next couple of days.

Thank you for visiting.