The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

Publish Date: 02/05/19 
Author: Alex Michaelides
Started: 3/14/19
Finished: 3/15/19
Pages: 323
Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads Review:

Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter married to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house with big windows overlooking a park in one of London’s most desirable areas. One evening her husband Gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot, and Alicia shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks another word.

Alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into something far grander, a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts Alicia into notoriety. The price of her art skyrockets, and she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids and spotlight at the Grove, a secure forensic unit in North London.

My Review:

I had heard so many good things about this book but was a little reluctant to pick it up. Sometimes the hype of a book ruins it for me because I expect so much and am delivered something that didn’t live up to my excitement. Anything that deals with psychology though I really do end up loving. Psychology was a minor for me in college concentrating on abnormal psycholgy and my favorite book is One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey. The setting of this book was a plus for me. It was an interesting premise to add a psycholanalysis aspect on the book.

Alicia was such a puzzle for me as intended but so was Theo. I had a hard time understanding him as a person even with the data given to us about what he had endured. Both characters were intriguing and a mystery that kept me interested throughout the book. I did not want to put the book down. I dread every moment that I had to be responsible and put the book down.

My only fault to the story was that I figured out the ending which I hate doing. I love twists and surprises and I did put everything together. I won’t go more into that because I don’t want to give anything away for anyone else. I  still absolutely enjoyed it and really loved the twist even though it was something I put together. I think that it was well written and I’m glad that I got around to this one sooner rather than later.

Moloka’i by Alan Brennert

Publish Date: 01/29/19 
Author: Alan Brennert
Started: 3/7/19
Finished: 3/13/19
Pages: 405
Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads Summary:

My Review: 

This richly imagined novel, set in Hawai’i more than a century ago, is an extraordinary epic of a little-known time and place—and a deeply moving testament to the resiliency of the human spirit.

Rachel Kalama, a spirited seven-year-old Hawaiian girl, dreams of visiting far-off lands like her father, a merchant seaman. Then one day a rose-colored mark appears on her skin, and those dreams are stolen from her. Taken from her home and family, Rachel is sent to Kalaupapa, the quarantined leprosy settlement on the island of Moloka’i. Here her life is supposed to end—but instead she discovers it is only just beginning.

My Review:

I wanted to pick this up off my shelf for some time but never did. After being sent the sequel to review, Daughter of Moloka’i , I knew I had to get around to reading this ASAP. This book took me longer than I anticipated. It had a little bit of a slow start for me but I did enjoy it. I think the seriousness and sadness left me reading slowly and only small portions at a time. With that being said, I really did like it. It is more character driven which isn’t always my favorite but the Leprosy storyline showcases throughout all of Rachel’s life obviously.

I enjoyed how the book brought up some pretty controversial topics not only for the time period but even for today’s standards. Although I liked this, I sometimes felt like they were being thrown in randomly without much substance or reasoning for it. Each character had such a tragic story and it was heartbreaking. The taboo of Leprosy is so sad and I felt so sympathetic for each character that Rachel conversated with in her life. I also felt such a strong passion for Sister Catherine and Rachel’s father. These characters led such tragic lives even without Leprosy. I cannot imagine how hard it would be to be exiled and stigmatized for all what our characters have zero control over.

The religious aspect was thought-provoking and I loved Sister Catherine and her struggles/transformation throughout the novel. It was inspiring to see a nun portrayed in such a “normal” light who struggled with her own faith. It gives a more realistic light to humanity and religion and less of a stigma for the more conservative beliefs we sometimes hold against religion and Catholicism. I myself am not Catholic but my father is. I often struggled with my own faith and always had some questions to grapple with regarding religion and the Catholic faith and Sister Catherine was a joy to read for these reasons for me.

I think the most interesting point for me is that at first I liked it but was a bit bored. The character driven aspect wasn’t floating my boat. I was ready to give the book a four star review and then BAM. The last 30% or so became entirely plot driven and I found myself flipping through the pages so quickly. It’s what turned what was going to be a four star review for acknowledging of how unique and well-written it was (despite my love of character-driven stories) into a five star review. It even evoked some tears from me. I ended up really loving it and I can’t wait to dive into Daughter of Moloka’i now.

Come Find Me by Megan Miranda

Publish Date: 01/29/19 
Author: Megan Miranda
Started: 3/4/19
Finished: 3/6/19
Pages: 336
Rating:⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads Summary:

After surviving an infamous family tragedy, sixteen-year-old Kennedy Jones has made it her mission to keep her brother’s search through the cosmos alive. But then something disturbs the frequency on his radio telescope–a pattern registering where no signal should transmit.

In a neighboring county, seventeen-year-old Nolan Chandler is determined to find out what really happened to his brother, who disappeared the day after Nolan had an eerie premonition. There hasn’t been a single lead for two years, until Nolan picks up an odd signal–a pattern coming from his brother’s bedroom.

Drawn together by these strange signals–and their family tragedies–Kennedy and Nolan search for the origin of the mysterious frequency. But the more they uncover, the more they believe that everything’s connected–even their pasts–as it appears the signal is meant for them alone, sharing a message that only they can understand. Is something coming for them? Or is the frequency warning them about something that’s already here?

My Review:

Even as a YA, this novel sucked me in immediately. I don’t know exactly what was so intriguing for me right away but I was zoned in right away. Had I had more time the first day I was reading it, I can guaruntee I would have finished it in a sitting but life of course is always an obstacle. This was my second Miranda book and I don’t know what took me so long. I really enjoyed All the Missing Girls which I read before blogging and I had no reason not to pick up another one of her titles for so long.

As much as I loved the beginning of the book, it ended up falling so short for me. Everything unique about it that first had me zoned in died out. There was little explanation and a very underwhelming “solution” to what our characters were researching. The buildup came to a halt and the extraterrestrial possibilities that had made this book intriguing and unique didn’t pan out. It felt like the ending was rushed and if Miranda had a hard time coming up with a satisfying solution to what was brought on at first. The romance involved felt unnecessary and an afterthought as well.

I still think the book could be enjoyed and is suitable for a young adult audiance. I’m not ready to shrug Miranda’s writings off just yet but I desired so much more in what felt like a very promising start to a novel.

The Time It Snowed in Puerto Rico by Sarah McCoy

Publish Date: 08/11/2009
Author: Sarah McCoy
Started: 2/21/19
Finished: 2/27/19
Pages: 224
Rating:⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads Summary:

It is 1961 and Puerto Rico is trapped in a tug-of-war between those who want to stay connected to the United States and those who are fighting for independence. For eleven-year-old Verdita Ortiz-Santiago, the struggle for independence is a battle fought much closer to home.

Verdita has always been safe and secure in her sleepy mountain town, far from the excitement of the capital city of San Juan or the glittering shores of the United States, where her older cousin lives. She will be a señorita soon, which, as her mother reminds her, means that she will be expected to cook and clean, go to Mass every day, choose arroz con pollo over hamburguesas, and give up her love for Elvis. And yet, as much as Verdita longs to escape this seemingly inevitable future and become a blond American bombshell, she is still a young girl who is scared by late-night stories of the chupacabra, who wishes her mother would still rub her back and sing her a lullaby, and who is both ashamed and exhilarated by her changing body.

Told in luminous prose spanning two years in Verdita’s life, The Time It Snowed in Puerto Rico is much more than a story about getting older. In the tradition of The House on Mango Street and Annie John, it is about the struggle to break free from the people who have raised us, and about the difficulties of leaving behind one’s homeland for places unknown. At times joyous and at times heartbreaking, Verdita’s story is of a young girl discovering her power and finding the strength to decide what sort of woman she’ll become.

My Review:

This sounded so promising and I won’t say that I hated it but I expected something different and much much more based on the synopsis. This is a classic coming of age story. It deals with all the topics that those stories always deal with such as puberty, learning about sex, trying to be accepted, dealing with parental issues, etc. In that way, the story was good. It really did focus on Verditta getting older. But what the book also promised such as leaving behind a homeland and the mention of Puerto Rico’s struggle to join the United States, it did not deliver. This book had the potential to focus so much more on those aspects which were the aspects that really drew me in. Sure Verditta was intrigued with the United States and what the States could offer her but we didn’t see any of her experiencing what that was when she did finally get what she wanted. It also didn’t go into detail at all about the Puerto Rican struggle to join the States. It mentioned that there was tension between different groups but never explained any process or any reasoinging behind the tensions other than mentioning JFK’s arrival once. This was disappointing to me. Maybe I wanted to learn more about this time period or just get more of a historical fiction aspect but I did not. Also, as Verditta longed to visit the United States and experience the American culture, I think it would have been beneficial for her to add some chapters about this experience and her reflections on it after experiencing it. This would have not only felt more whole but also would have added a dimension to her maturation.

I will tell you what I did like though. I loved the expereicnes that Verditta went through and I loved reading all about the Puerto Rican culture. As a Puerto Rican myself, I loved it because I could connect with it even though I’ve lived in the United States my entire life. McCoy’s use of Spanish and Puerto Rican culture was well delivered. I caught myself smiling quite a few times thinking about the pasteles and coquito.  

I really felt like this book could have been much more than it was. I enjoyed it on the surface for what it was, Verditta growing up, but didn’t enjoy it for the reasons that it lacked dimension and missed a the mark of what it promised.

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

Publish Date: 04/02/13 
Author: Christina Baker Kline
Started: 2/11/19
Finished: 2/20/19
Pages: 278
Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads Summary:

The author of Bird in Hand and The Way Life Should Be delivers her most ambitious and powerful novel to date: a captivating story of two very different women who build an unexpected friendship: a 91-year-old woman with a hidden past as an orphan-train rider and the teenage girl whose own troubled adolescence leads her to seek answers to questions no one has ever thought to ask.

Nearly eighteen, Molly Ayer knows she has one last chance. Just months from “aging out” of the child welfare system, and close to being kicked out of her foster home, a community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping her out of juvie and worse.

Vivian Daly has lived a quiet life on the coast of Maine. But in her attic, hidden in trunks, are vestiges of a turbulent past. As she helps Vivian sort through her possessions and memories, Molly discovers that she and Vivian aren’t as different as they seem to be. A young Irish immigrant orphaned in New York City, Vivian was put on a train to the Midwest with hundreds of other children whose destinies would be determined by luck and chance.

The closer Molly grows to Vivian, the more she discovers parallels to her own life. A Penobscot Indian, she, too, is an outsider being raised by strangers, and she, too, has unanswered questions about the past. As her emotional barriers begin to crumble, Molly discovers that she has the power to help Vivian find answers to mysteries that have haunted her for her entire life – answers that will ultimately free them both.

Rich in detail and epic in scope, Orphan Train is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of second chances, of unexpected friendship, and of the secrets we carry that keep us from finding out who we are.

My Review:

Orphan Train  was a great historical fiction novel based on a time period that is extremely overlooked in United States history. It really pulled at my heart strings and I felt awful for the orphans who experienced this horrific trauma. I am aware of the hardships of adopting out orphans even in today’s time but I never thought of it in the ways that were delivered in this book. I was flabbergasted that an orphan train was even something that was legal. It really shows how far society has come in all actuallity, a relitively short time.

Tying in a modern foster experience made me feel even more bad. Molly’s experiences in the foster system are upsetting even in today’s system. I know it is impossible to match foster children 100% with families willing to foster but I felt so awful for what Molly was experiencing. Her family match saddened me and it saddened me further to imagine the perspective or reasonings behind some people fostering a child. Monetary value should not be a deciding factor especially when you are not interested in bettering a child’s life.

Molly’s connection to Vivian was inspiring and shows that age can be just a number. Sharing experiences really brings people of all walks of life together. Molly’s empathy towards Vivan really drew her in because even though her experience was vastly different, it was similar in ways that allowed Molly to feel safe and part of a community and that aspect of the story was beautiful.

Not only is this a historical fiction novel about the horrors of orphanges in during the early 20th centrury but also a story of friendship and trust. It was beautifully written and I’m glad that I finally got around to it.

Never Tell by Lisa Gardner

Publish Date: 02/19/19 
Author: Lisa Gardner
Started: 2/19/19
Finished: 2/27/19
Pages: 416
Rating:⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads Summary:

A man is dead, shot three times in his home office. But his computer has been shot twelve times, and when the cops arrive, his pregnant wife is holding the gun.

D.D. Warren arrives on the scene and recognizes the woman–Evie Carter–from a case many years back. Evie’s father was killed in a shooting that was ruled an accident. But for D.D., two coincidental murders is too many.

Flora Dane sees the murder of Conrad Carter on the TV news and immediately knows his face. She remembers a night when she was still a victim–a hostage–and her captor knew this man. Overcome with guilt that she never tracked him down, Flora is now determined to learn the truth of Conrad’s murder.

But D.D. and Flora are about to discover that in this case the truth is a devilishly elusive thing. As layer by layer they peel away the half-truths and outright lies, they wonder: How many secrets can one family have?

My Review:

I would have finished this super fast but I got deathly ill the last week and a half of February to the point where I couldn’t even pick up my book. I couldn’t see out of my right eye first, after getting a little better from that, I had a migraine for two days, and then I caught a massive cold. I was not winning! It was so tough because calling out of work is always so tempting for me. I always want to call out and curl up with a good book but I never do. The days I actually did have to call out I wasn’t even able to read! Good grief!

Anyway, I vaguely remember reading a Lisa Gardner novel back when I was in high school. I can’t remember what it was, what it was about, or anything of the sort. I do remember my mom getting the book from a friend. It’s probably still sitting in my computer room. I can’t even tell you if I finished it. But for some reason, I remember the author’s name so clearly. I’ve never read Gardner again even though recently after joining the book community, I noticed how popular of an author she is and started to think that I probably should have finished the book or I should at least go and retrieve it from my parents’.

I jumped on the opportunity to read Never Tell and I’m glad that I did. Coincidentally, I picked up the book that had been sitting in my que on the exact day that it was published! I’ll be honest, as an ARC, it would have been better for me to finish it before but I took it as a sign to continue to read it as I had picked it up accidently instead of my actual planned read on the day that it was published. It was actually a super quick read (had I not been sick) and although I haven’t read any of the others in a series, I was not lost at all. The story gripped me immediately and I didn’t want to put it down which wasn’t possible since I was at work teaching! Any free second I got (when I wasn’t sick), I tried to pick it back up.

After pondering about this read, I did really enjoy it obviously but I’m a little disappointed with the length. I felt like Gardner could have omitted so much unnecessary information and fill in more intriguing information. There was a bit too much “fluff” in this in my opinion and I wasn’t necessarily satisfied with the ending. A forced friendship and a kind of blurry explanation of the conclusion just wasn’t my thing.

The Song of Achillies by Madeline Miller

Publish Date: 03/06/12 
Author: Madeline Miller
Started: 1/14/19
Finished: 1/19/19
Pages: 378
Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads Summary:

Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. By all rights their paths should never cross, but Achilles takes the shamed prince as his friend, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine their bond blossoms into something deeper – despite the displeasure of Achilles’ mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. But then word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus journeys with Achilles to Troy, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear.

Profoundly moving and breathtakingly original, this rendering of the epic Trojan War is a dazzling feat of the imagination, a devastating love story, and an almighty battle between gods and kings, peace and glory, immortal fame and the human heart.

My Review:

This was another buddy read for me which is why this is published so long after I finished. We were due to read the first 11 chapters by 1/22/19. I finished the entire book beforehand! I.COULD.NOT.PUT.IT.DOWN. I recently read Circe and I enjoyed it so much so knew that I had to read The Song of Achillies. I didn’t know or even think it was possible that I would like it even better! I’ve taught the Odyssey before as a high school English teacher and was super knowledable about a lot of what was in Circe. I don’t know so much about the Iliad or the Trojan War in general for that much and I think that helped me fall in love with The Song of Achillies  even more. I felt like I was experiencing so much for the first time even though Miller did 10 years of extensive research to write the book.

The Song of Achillies focuses less on the war and more on Patroclus and Achillies’ relatioship. Their budding and ever-changing relationship is so beautiful. Their undying love for one another is understandning and unconditional and I loved watching them grow as characters. Thetis is hard to understand and I felt all the feels agaisnt her during the entire read. I felt so emotionally attached to Patroclus and Achillies during the entire read. From the little that I did know about Achillies and his downfall (heel), I feel like Achilles’ heel was not his actual downfall but his ego that was boosted unmistakingly from his mother.

My biggest issue with this book is that it is over. I wish I was still experiencing all the feels that I did while reading this book. Miller has quickly become one of my favorite authors and I highly anticipate any of her future novels.

Life Is About Exploring Pasta-bilities!- Bronze Table Review

I have not done any food recommendations on the blog in quite some time. It’s definitely time for me to shoot you over some good food.

I had the pleasure of joining a few foodie friends (PhillyFoodGal, PhillyDineOut, and ToiTimeBlog) at the Bourse. The Bourse building, built in 1891, has been newly rennovated. It is a modern food hall with a little over 25 dining options. There is something there for everyone! I spotted Italian, pizza, poke, Indian, Egyptian, ice cream parlours, tea places, and even a cocktail lounge. It is a great place to go with a large party or even when you and your dining partner cannot agree on what to eat!

We went to Bronze Table which is an Italian fast casual restaurantt that prides themselves on their fresh pasta and sauces made daily. The meal you choose is made to order. You first pick your sauce (or grravy, hehe), and then your pasta shape. We got to sample some of their perfect pairings such as their vodka sauce paired with Nonna’s Ricotta Gnnochi and their Sunday Gravy (a traditional pasta sauce that is simmered for hours) and served with a secret family recipe meatball! There were so many different options and everything that we tried we really loved.

My friends really enjoyed a special on the menu that Bronze Table came up with accidently! After frying up some onions and mushrooms mixed with some gruyere cheese, Bronze Table owner, Joe and his chefs noticed that it tasted wildly similar to Philadelphia’s own Philly Cheesesteak. This pairing was so delicious. It was a wonderful mistake for sure!

My favorite for sure had to be the Wild Mushroom & Sage Ravioli which was paired with a butter parmagianna sauce. The sage and mushroom paired perfectly. I couldn’t get enough of these perfectly filled clouds of pasta.

The best part about Bronze Table besides the use of the fresh Vera Pasta, also owned by Joe, is that you can stop by and pick up some fresh pasta or sauce to cook up and eat at home. I was able to bring a little of the Sunday Gravy home for my boyfriend which he ate up instantly. I also brought home one ravioli but I ate that before he noticed it was in the takeout container lol. I will definitely go back not only to The Bourse to discover some of the other options but to Bronze Table because I really loved absolutely everything that we ate!

Visit Bronze Table at The Bourse at:
111 S Independence Mall E,
Philadelphia, PA 19106

Pictured Top Left to Right is Nonna’s Ricotta Gnocci n Vodka Sauce, Sunday Gravy with Spaghetti and Meatballs, Wild Mushroom & Sage in Butter Parmigianna Sauce, and the Gemelli with Pesto Sauce and Burrata.
Pictured Bottom Left to Right are Meatballs, their Cheesy Garlic Bread (YUM), and their Cheesteak Riggatoni Special.

A perfect pull of Spaghetti in Sunday Gravy.

Nonna’s Ricotta Gnocci in Vodka Sauce

Meatballs that were perfectly moist and extremely flavorful!

Bronze Table’s Special Cheesesteak Riggatoni

Gemelli Pasta in Pesto Sauce topped with fresh Burrtata

My favorite Wild Mushroom & Sage Ravioli in the Butter Parm sauce

February Wrap-Up and March TBR

In February, I set myself up for more reads than I knew was physically possible for me. Overall, I am still satisfied with what I finished. I have to talk about my disappointment, I was super excited to read The Silence of the Girls and was then unpleasently surprised noticing that I don’t have the book like I thought I did! This will be one that I hope to get my hands on soon. With all of the Greek Mythology I’ve been loving, I was very excited to read it. Bummer! I also meant to pick up Under My Skin but accidently picked up Lisa Gardner’s Never Tell instead. No big deal but not what I was planning! I’m happy I did get through nine though especially with being so deadly sick during the last week. Here’s what I did finish!:

Fever 1793 – Review found here.

Station Eleven – Review found here.

No Exit – Review found here.

All Your Perfects – Review found here.

The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel – Review found here.

The Havana Game – Review found here.

Never Tell – Review will be posted soon.

Orphan Train – Review will be posted soon.

The Time It Snowed in Puerto Rico – Review will be posted soon.

In March, I plan to try and read some of my Netgalley reads that have been sitting around for a while as well as some books on my shelf that I really need to get through.

I’ll be honest and tell you again that this may be too much for me to actually get to. My life has been hit or miss with books and although I am finishing a bunch, I sometimes just find myself wanting to watch some junk t.v when I am at home relaxing! I plan to read:

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine – I am hosting my very first  buddy read for this book! You can find my original post here on my Instagram which was a giveaway. If you’re interested in reading with us, let me know and I can add you to the group!

The Silent Patient  – This was a Book of the Month book that I’ve been hearing such amazing things about. I can’t wait to get to it.

Moloka’i – This has been sitting on my shelf for some time and I also have The Daughter of Moloka’i sitting in my Netgalley que so I must read this one first.

Come Find Me – I’ve enjoyed other Miranda books so I’m looking forward to getting through this. It’s been on my Netgalley shelf for a bit and it was published already.

The Last House Guest – Ditto from above! Lol

The Unhoneymooners – I am going to read this and push it way up my TBR list because I keep hearing such amazing things about it!

You’d be Mine – I don’t usually go for books like this but the reviews are fairly high and it’s been sitting in my que for a while too. I’d like to get this finished before it’s published.

If I succeed and finish these, I may read Jane Harper’s The Dry. I first need to locate it in my unorganized TBR piles at home! I’m almost 99% positive that I have it but we see what happened when I thought I had The Silence of the Girls lol. I also may try to read Under My Skin again since that didn’t work out as planned in February!

What are you reading this month?