Etched In Shadow Hill Cemetery

Thinking of this story and what made me pick it to read. At first I thought it was a teen book also as some reviewers mentioned. But soon realized no. I like the idea that it was a debut book. Which makes it easier to review. Many folks don't have an option until they read the story.

What brought my eye to it also a mystery of some sorts.

It is very much a coming of age book. But in an old fashioned way.

Here is a girl Justine that spends her summers with her Aunt Peggy and Uncle John. Helps them around the house. As all kids do they put feelers out to see if there is someone and somewhere to have fun, to connect with.

Justine befriends a girl name Eva. All summer long they pal around together Eva introduces Justine around. They have a connection. So sad end of summer comes that Justine goes back home. But something you never hear about much anymore that Justine and Eva write letters to each other. Until they reunite at the beginning of the next summer. 

Sadly something horrible happens to Eva. Eva is too scared to say anything. When Justine finds out she helps Eva. Which later on in Justine's life she gets inspired by the events with Eva and finds a career. Eva helps Justine get her life on track. Find the goodness in things.

Hanging out @ the cemetery, Farrah Fawcett haircuts,  love, break-up, hurt, and learning to make their lives count @ the end. Both girls find how important it is eventually having a husband and children of their own.

The book was a bit lengthy in the writing. Especially of the epilogue. It was nice to see Eva and Justine find happiness but somethings could have been explained earlier. I liked how authors named the chapters after songs. I knew how the characters would respond. A retro feel also.

I'm glad I got to read this book. And I believe like authors have said it is hard to write a great story.

I give Etched In Shadow Hill Cemetery 5 

 

A Thousand Splendid Suns

 

I've never read anything that was written of this author before. I've seen the movie of The Kite Runner. And like a lot of movies it's not the exact activity of the book. But the movie I liked. I decided I was going to read one of his books.

I actually enjoyed this story. Although very sad I seen some parallels of the middle east countries to ours, the United States. And found a lot of differences to make me think it's great to be an American (despite what the country's experiencing now).

How terrible it is to be sent away because of something that wasn't your fault. To grow up as Mariam did to hear not so nice things about her father. To find it's true. Even though Mariam's mother Nana, did call her names the whole situation just isn't right. It hurts! It's like her father Jalil's dirty little secret.

What a shame for Mariam to not be wanted after her mother dies to be married to someone that she doesn't even know.To move from across one part to another part of country. Let alone someone much older than she. Whatever became of Mariam's husband wife and child?

One most think after Rasheed's treatment of Mariam. Trying to please Racheed only not to be good enough.

The book is laid out in parts. I found myself by the third part I skimmed to the end and went back to fill in the gaps. I found it paid a lot of attention to Laila's life and family.

A family that taught Laila that it was important to have education as a woman to be a success. But as the story goes on finding she is normal in a sense with a boyfriend and still maintains her family life. There is tragedy. Where does she go? What happens to her boyfriend, mother, father?

There it begins coming in this household of Mariam and Racheed. She is told everyone is gone. She is nursed back to health only to be the next in line for a younger wife for Racheed. 

Laila lives this life. Does what she has to for Racheed. Unlike Mariam Laila will fight back to protect her children. And for that she finds her boyfriend Tariq.

They do have a life but not without consequences. Nothing goes smoothly without death and hardship. Shame that Mariam finds out this way that she was thought of kindly and loved.

And at the end a nice touch for Laila, Tariq, and family. To give back to the community from hardships.

I give A Thousand Splendid Suns 5 

I look forward to reading another Khaled Hosseni's books.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

In the end I was glad to read this story. But my thoughts were  the same as Daisy and The Six. I like how the author writes a story around a fictional character so well that you have to sit back and ask if she is real.

Was interesting how Evelyn picked her husbands. And what their stories were to fit in Evelyn's life. Some were bad, some were good- a real friend, some were just used for purposes- business like.

Even though Evelyn in her mind were helping others out.  Still it came full circle back to what Evelyn wanted.

Wasted so much time trying to talk her way to believing that she was right. But ended missing the important times of who she really was in love with. Unheard of being who she was.

Again author makes an interview out of story with a twist at end. Why she picked this certain reporter to write her autobiography I noticed has something to do with main character's life. In this case, Evelyn.

It is easy to relate to the subject when Monique spends so much time with Evelyn. Monique eventually sees her own life and makes choices for her own life.

At the end you can see that love to hate relationship Monique started to build around her with Evelyn. Now she knows the truth. Time to move on. That's what Evelyn would want. For she did same thing.

There are some good highlights I will mention on Goodreads. 

I give The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo 4 ---------->

Just the same as authors other books. Thanks for the ride but I think I"ll wait for something different.