Review: Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones

Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this novel. This was definitely a compelling read. It grabbed me from page one and didn't let go for the entire book. The themes of deception and identity were explored well, from several different perspectives which I thought was very effective! The changing points of view was an outstanding way to allow the reader to get 'both sides of the story.' This story is another reminder of how dishonesty can fracture people and relationships so easily! Tayari Jones is quite a good writer but I loved this one more for the story itself and how it made me think about the world. Definitely a book that I recommend!

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** NOTE: Sorry for the small review this time, I've been really sick for the last month so I'm just not up to a long review this time! I'll aim to do better next time! 

Review: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wish I'd read this one earlier! I've had it sitting on my Nook but just didn't feel like it looked particularly interesting! Boy, was I wrong! This is a gem of a book that you don't want to miss out on!

It tells an amazing story about an event in history that I didn't know anything about - Stalin's reign of terror in Lithuania during WW2! this book is so many things - fascinating, sad, wonderful and smart! The main character, Lina, is such a wonderful and complex character. She comes alive in the novel in all of the best ways. In fact, all of the characters are well drawn and multifaceted. They broke my heart in so many ways! The story created by Ruta Sepetys is so compelling and interesting!

The author is able to make the experiences of these people become real for the reader yet its not at all a depressing book. In fact, it's life affirming and tells a wonderful story of resilience and conquering horrible life events!

The story immediately grabbed me and I didn't want to put the book down! I read it in under 48 hours despite a full weekend of family/holiday stuff! I was grabbing it every free moment!

I highly recommend this one! It is a fantastic read and I think everyone will enjoy it! I've read quite a bit of fiction set in WW2 but I had no idea about the events in this novel. I definitely think this book will open readers minds about events that most people don't know even took place. Great book!

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