Poetry of Reading

The title, Night Road, has so many layers of meaning. The road that Lexie took growing up with a drug-addicted mother, the road Jude takes as a mother, the literal road taken by the three friends… Hannah infuses her characters with so much real-life that I feel as though they’re real people whom I just haven’t met yet.

A mother who loves her children. She has twins, a boy, and a girl. The girl is shy, and the boy is popular, but they’re connected and extremely close. The mother is a little over-protective, but you understand why later and it’s never over-the-top. A new girl moves to town with her troubled past, be-friends the girl as her sister and falls in love with the boy. Their mom treats her like another daughter. Like all Kristin Hannah novels, the story spans over years and there are more than a few life issues which spring up for the characters to deal with.

Night Roads is the layered novel whose characters stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page. The book that engages your emotions and intellect with characters that arouses your empathy if you’re a mother, leaving you breathless about the circumstances that the Faraday family must go through.

Hannah writes unique stories about strong women in unique environments, times, and situations. But in all of them, you can identify and understand them. This book will break your heart and then heal it again.

There were some pleasant surprises when the 3 stories connected, but, mostly, the book went on and on, was boring and I couldn’t wait until it was over. The ending was also a disappointment.

The Man with No Borders by Richard C. Morais (✬✬✬)

This book was filled with life lessons, but the delivery was fragmented and often slow. It left me hoping for more throughout the novel.

The Queen’s Man is an intriguing mystery with interesting plot lines and characters. It is an enjoyable read.

The Last Secret of the Temple by Paul Sussman (✬✬✬)

The book was hard to follow sometimes because several main characters were looking for answers to the same puzzle. I enjoyed the story itself but got lost in the interactions of the characters.

Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa (✬✬✬✬)

Very interesting fiction, yet allowed an understanding of historical events in the middle east since the end of WWII. Initially, a little hard to get started, but once into it, I  wanted to see what happens next!

The medieval history lessons were very illuminating as well as entertaining, in a time when honor was all. I look forward to the last installment.

Secrets of a Lady by Tracy Grant (✬✬✬✬)

One of the best series I have read. As usual, there are many plot twists and turns. Thoroughly enjoyable.