My real Children - Jo Walton

It's 2015, and Patricia Cowan is very old. "Confused today," read the notes clipped to the end of her bed. She forgets things she should know-what year it is, major events in the lives of her children. But she remembers things that don't seem possible. She remembers marrying Mark and having four children. And she remembers not marrying Mark and raising three children with Bee instead. She remembers the bomb that killed President Kennedy in 1963, and she remembers Kennedy in 1964, declining to run again after the nuclear exchange that took out Miami and Kiev.

Her childhood, her years at Oxford during the Second World War-those were solid things. But after that, did she marry Mark or not? Did her friends all call her Trish, or Pat? Had she been a housewife who escaped a terrible marriage after her children were grown, or a successful travel writer with homes in Britain and Italy? And the moon outside her window: does it host a benign research station, or a command post bristling with nuclear missiles?

Two lives, two worlds, two versions of modern history; each with their loves and losses, their sorrows and triumphs. Jo Walton's My Real Children is the tale of both of Patricia Cowan's lives...and of how every life means the entire world. 

My thoughts:

So intriguing. What is real, what is not? Maybe both are real and she can see them when her life is ending?

This is the life of Patricia. She goes to uni, she becomes a teacher. She marries Mark. She has 4 children. Her homelife is not happy, but the world is a nice place.

It is also the story of Patricia. She goes to uni, she becomes a teacher, she leaves Mark. She meets Bee. She has a wonderful life where she travels to Italy each summer. She has 3 children. But the world is a horrible place where countries nuke each other, and being gay you have no rights like you have in her other world.

In her old age Patricia remembers both these lives, but does not know which one is real. We get to read about them side by side. 40s Pat, 40s Tricia and so it goes on. It moves splendidly, I never got confused. Her two lives are so different. In one world she is not always happy, but the world is good. In the other life she is truly happy, but the world truly sucks. Which world do I want to be real?

Conclusion:

A great premise to a story, that turned out well. I am glad I finally had the chance to read Walton, she truly is a good writer.

Cover 

nice

Paperback, 336 pages
Published May 19th 2015 by Tor Books (first published May 20th 2014)
Fiction
Own

The summer girls - Mary Alice Monroe

Three granddaughters. Three months. One summer house. 

In this enchanting trilogy set on Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, New York Times bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe captures the complex relationships between Dora, Carson, and Harper, three half-sisters scattered across the country—and a grandmother determined to help them rediscover their family bonds. 

For years, Carson Muir has drifted, never really settling, certain only that a life without the ocean is a life half lived. Adrift and penniless in California, Carson is the first to return to Sea Breeze, wondering where things went wrong…until the sea she loves brings her a minor miracle. Her astonishing bond with a dolphin helps Carson renew her relationships with her sisters and face the haunting memories of her ill-fated father. As the rhythms of the island open her heart, Carson begins to imagine the next steps toward her future. 

In this heartwarming novel, three sisters discover the true treasures Sea Breeze offers as surprising truths are revealed, mistakes forgiven, and precious connections made that will endure long beyond one summer. 

My thoughts:

Just what I needed, a good fiction book :) I have been on a bit of DNF spree lately and deliberately picking those books to make my pile smaller. But now I am back and this book did the trick.

Grandma Muir is turning 80 and invites her 3 grandchildren to spend the summer. 3 halfsisters who have lost contact with each other. Carson, the one who freelances and never settles down. Dora, the stay at home mum with a child who needs special care, and a husband who left her. And Harper, the youngest who is ruled by her mother.

But this was more Carson's book. I did not think about that until I finished the book and saw that it is in fact a trilogy. It could have ended like this, but I am glad there is more. Hopefully everyone will find what they are looking for. Now it was more, oh they will be ok I know it.

I liked the story. It had that southern charm. I would have loved to visit that beach house. It also had a environmental message, one that at one time made me sad when something happened...leave it like that.

I enjoyed the characters. They all had their faults and good sides and had some stuff to work through.

Conclusion:

So yes, I'd read more. 

Cover

Nice

Paperback, 400 pages
Published June 25th 2013 by Gallery Books
Lowcountry Summer #1
Fiction
Own

Carole Reviews: The Lady Bornekova - Sara R Turnquist

Author: Sara R. Turnquist

Title: The Lady Bornekova

Genre: Historical Fiction & Romance

Pages: ebook

First Published: July 15th, 2015

Where I Got It: My shelf (give to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

The red-headed Karin is strong-willed and determined, something she inherited from her father. She tries to keep her true nature a secret to avoid being deemed a traitor by those loyal to the king. Karin and her father butt heads over her duty to her family and the Czech Crown. She is then sequestered to the Royal Viscount’s hunting lodge.

Not aware of everything that is happening, she becomes the target of an individual with murderous intent. Her heart soon becomes entangled though her father intends to wed her to another. The turmoil inside Karin deepens and reflects the turmoil of her homeland, on the brink of the Hussite Wars

I'll be honest I do not know much about the history of Kingdom of Czech, especially during the Hussite Wars. I have heard of it, but my knowledge was limited. That is one of the main reasons I wanted to read this! A new location and an interesting part of history. This takes place shortly before the Hussite Wars. Many people are tearing themselves away from the Roman Catholic influence over the government and following the teaching of Jan Hus. Karin is one of these followers. However, it is quite dangerous to be noble and believe these thoughts. To protect her, her parents have taken her to exile to the Royal Viscount's hunting lodge and away from society. Honestly....I would not complain about that exile. Could be a lot worse....like a nunnery. ;) Maybe they should have done that instead.

Poor Karin. She had a lot of issues throughout the book with getting hurt and almost dying. Unlucky, I say. Also, she falls in love with someone, but she is meat to marry another. Truly unlucky and I felt bad. Plus, she is pretty much in "prison" at the lodge and is being watched and tattled on by her poor maid. I felt bad for the maid in a way too.

I wanted to kick Stepan, but he did make the story more interesting.

I'll be honest...the few chapters bored me. It was so slow and nothing was really happening or being revealed. BUT after a certain event transpired things turned around quickly and I could hardly put the book down! I had to find out how everything was going to end. This is not a historical romance, so the love between Karin and Pavel was a hard one to obtain. Again, tis not a HR, so I will not spoil if they end up together or not. However, I was worried and scared for them!

Also...I'll be honest...I did not like Pavel to begin with. Same with Karin's parents. They upset me, but they proved themselves and I liked all three near the end. 

UGH the ending. It was a cliffhanger, but not really. It was an odd ending. I liked it, but it bummed me out that it left so cliffhanger-ish. I hope there is a sequel or a short story, because I NEED TO KNOW. But yes....mixed feelings, but it was good and made me happy, but there were so many questions and not a solid conclusion to Karin's tale. It needs a short story or something. 

In the end, I liked it. I needed a nice historical fiction set in a location I've never read before. Also, it was interesting to learning more about a war and a situation I have limited knowledge on. Of course I googled the war and learned more. Can't help myself. ;) The beginning was a little slow and the ending I had a love-hate relationship with. However, the story was good and I was entertained! I need to know more! I highly recommend this for those that love historical fiction with a touch of romance involved. Out of 5 stars, I stamp this with 3. 

#FitReaders: Weekly Check-in July 10 2015 and DNF time

#FitReaders is hosted by Geeky Bloggers Book Blog  and That’s What I’m Talking About.

Join in :D

Sat fever

Sun fever

Mon, 1.20 h bike, 1.15 h yoga

Tue, 30 min walk

Wed, 1 h bike

Thu, 1 h bike, 30 min walk

Fri, 1 h bike, 1 h walk

Omg, my fever cleared my airways, wohoo! I do think it's cos of mold at work. Cos now I am better than ever.

...................

Did you all miss it? Yes DNF time again

1. The he is an alien vamp seemed nice. But then oh they have seen each other 3 times and now they are doing it, and this is a historical r, was not.

2. Gods, these vamps so do not run a tight ship. The whole world would know by now

3. I read the first story, felt like I was drunk, it was confusing.

The second I read half, and then it was ewww.

Dnf

Dnf

4. It does feel like a series where you should have read book 1 cos nothing makes sense

5. I got to a part where it just felt creepy, rapey. ugh, these guys suck. DNF

6. It started so good! And then 100 pages of boring, or whatever, I dunno when I gave up. It was boring highschool drama that taught me that White protestants are all rich, Cajun Catholics are all poor, stupid and ghetto.

Maybe it got better when the Flash happened, I tried to skim but suddenly it HAD happened and was 200 days later. Hey, I wanna see the initial struggle, how shit happens.

7. I was all meh meh meh meh. DNF

8. The first thing he thinks when he sees her is that she is ugly, tall like a man, and whatever. That is supposed to make me like you? Asshole. He also thinks that if he must then he can do her, but does not want to. Asshole.  tried to go on but Dnf

9. I am just gonna DNF. Why force it? It's about two 15 year olds who are the smartest in the country. One does petty crime and is the most wanted criminal cos of that (whatever.) The other one is sent to find him. Sure, there are no adults to find him, whatever. Supersmart teens, who are really super dumb.

It just felt too YA. Too simple. Give me more world. No plotholes. I'll watch the movie instead.

10. I just do not have the patience for PNR.

And really, she was ordered to have sex with him, I do not care if she wants it cos it is her duty to have sex with anyone (wtf). It felt wrong

Run Luci, Run!, Run away from the DNFs