Read: Story Of Beautiful Girl

"The Story of Beautiful Girl," by Rachel Simon is a heart warming love story inspired by another time; another world. The book begins, with a simple dedication: For those who were put away.

"The Story of Beautiful Girl," is an invisible love story that serves as a social commentary. The story takes place at a "school" for the mentally challenged. Up until the 1970s, many children with disabilities were often placed in institution away from their family and hidden from society. The Story of Beautiful Girl, centers on the love of two students; a mute beautiful girl, and a deaf black man.

Institution life, was anything but glamorous. The students were treated like convict; abused and misunderstood. Lynnie, the beautiful girl, and Buddy (the deaf man) make a decision one autumn night to escape the school. Lynnie is pregnant; and wishes to giver her child a better life, outside of the school. Lynnie and Buddy roam the street looking for a friendly house, in the midst of a raging storm, when a man in a lighthouse appears on a mail box. Lynnie heads to the house and rings the doorbell. The young couple is greeted by an elderly woman named Martha. Lynnie's freedom does not last long. Officials from the school are hot on her trail, in a manic chaos Buddy escapes and Martha is left with a newborn baby girl. The Story of Beautiful Girl, is a tale of love and of a lifes journey to reunite a family against all odds. The book inspires hope.

Rachel Simon, writes from her heart. Simon grew up with a mentally challenged sister. Simon writes with empathy and respect. The Story of Beautiful Girl, highlights the lessons that fully able people learn through their interactions with those perceived to be challenged. The story is honest, emotional, and raw. The Story of Beautiful Girl challenges the reader to examine his or her faults before casting judgment. While reading the book I cried, laughed, raged, and gave thanks.

The Story of Beautiful Girl, follows the characters on a 40 year journey through heart ache and disillusionment only to prove the strength of human compassion and determination. Thank you Rachel Simon, for sharing your compassion. The Story of Beautiful girl, is a beautiful read-That will leave you feeling whole; with the knowledge that there is always a place you can go back to.

Read: The Winter Palace

I have an infatuated with Russian History, I blame it on my Slavic ancestry. Soviet History, is somewhat of mystery. The Russia empire may be European; but the vast and cruel topography of the country isolates the state from the rest of the western world. The Russian Empire has always had strength that has been misunderstood and frightening to other powers.

In "The Winter Palace," award winning author Eva Stachniak, brings to life the animation of the most illusive empire through the awkward adolescence of Sophie and Peter III.  Sophie, is the insecure girl who would grow into her title as Catherine The Great.  The story is told through the narration of Varvara (Barbara), a beautiful orphan turned palace servant. Varvara a book binders daughter is employed to serve as: the prince's reader, the empress's tongue, and Catherine's greatest confident.

The Winter Palace, is an inviting and intoxicating read that transcends time. As I read, I could hear the empress and her shrill voice;  I could touch the elaborate fabrics of the tapestry; and I could stand in awe at admiration of the architecture of the worlds greatest palace. In greater detail, I could hear the banter of carpenters as the renovated and revamped the grounds.  Eva Stanchniak has a true gift for words. Her talent goes beyond her excelled ability to poetically place sounds in order. Eva writes as if she remembers the story first hand. I am convinced "The Winter Palace," is Eva Stanchniak sharing her memory of life on the grounds and being the grandeur of the 18th century empire.

The winter palace is a visually stunning read, that lures you in with vivid scenery; and catches you with vicious scandals. Like the winter palace it self, the characters are big, loud, intimidatingly beautiful, and surreal. The quality or research that Eva Stanchniak compiled to write this novel is beyond impressive. The book reads in accordance to historical events. The story is narrated in a friendly voice, distant, familiar, cold, and solitaire. The Winter Palace, is a beautiful and timely read. The relevance, and parallels  of the story to modern time is present in the details of the relationships and the heart ache of growing away from yourself. 

I read "The Winter Palace," in a single weekend. I Loved the book, I love the story, and I respect the raw emotion and truth of the cast of characters who populated the pages. The winter palace is a pleasure to read. 

A bewitching Read

I'm kind of a nerd who loves to read. Escaping to a fictional universe is a such a joy, I love the poetism in sentences and I'm a sucker for stories of magic, love, the impossible...whatever. A strong writer  can solicit the imagination far more powerfully than any TV producer. The Twilight series was a fun easy read; the marriage of plausible and fantasy tickled my interest. Twilight was good, but the series has nothing on what is to be "The All Souls Trilogy," by Deborah Harkness.

The first book in the series: "A Discovery of Witches, (Harkness 2011) appeared on my desk randomly. I didn't open the book right away, in truth I doubted the books potential, a historical fiction, really? 

I had finished my summer reads early, I had  packed two books for a three week vacation at the lake cabin not realizing the total isolation I would endure. I was in desperate need of new novel. The cabin had no phone, Internet, and horrible cell service.  When I rediscover, A Discover of Witches, lounging about I was mystified.  Within minutes of reading I had become completely and irrevocably bewitched by the story line. I could not put the book down.

Deborah Harkness has created a world so believable that the fidelity of the circumstances could and would be plausible in our physical world. The world of the novel is populated by witches, demons, vampires and humans. The story is centered around an idea of origins: who are we, and where do we come from? When a young witch discovers an ancient manuscript that is believed to explain all that has ever been asked- chaos and confusion run amok.

The discovery is scandalized by creatures, and accompanied by forbidden love. The book is addictive. You have to read it! Its captivating; in short it is twilight for adults-. I am in  and eager state of  anticipation  awaiting the release of the second book in the soon to materialize All Souls Trilogy.