Review: The Hour I First Believed

The Hour I First Believed is the first fiction novel that I have read by Wally Lamb. The tragedy at Columbine is at the center of this spiralling novel. Caelum Quirk and his wife Maureen both work at Columbine High School. While Caelum is at home in Connecticut dealing with a family emergency, Maureen is trapped, hidden in a cupboard in the library during the Columbine shooting. What I found intriguing about Wally Lamb’s approach to the tragedy is that he showed the reader the raw emotions of a survivor of the Columbine tragedy and those very close to the survivors. It was a unique perspective for me.  

However, The Hour I First Believed was so much more than just a survivor’s tale; it took the reader on a journey in Caelum’s family history when the Quirk’s move back to his family farm in Connecticut. I will confess that this part of the story was not my favourite as it went back through journals and diaries to delve into the secrets in Caelum’s family history.

The Hour I First Believed was a book I enjoyed for it gave me a perspective that I had not considered before. Unfortunately, I found that there were many storylines to follow and a few that I could have done without. 

Review: Mackenzie Blue ARC

Tina Wells has created a spunky and lovable character in Mackenzie Blue, aka Zee. In the first book of the Mackenzie Blue series, Zee is going in to seventh grade and things are not looking good. Her best friend has moved away, she is supposed to be helping Jasper who just moved from England, she desperately wants to win the Teen Sing competition, a new Music teacher and somehow her diary has gone missing. However, while these events were definitely speed bumps, Zee, with a true sense of self, finds her way.

What I really liked about this book is that Zee made mistakes and owned them. She is not perfect, but she is real. I loved the images, drawings, lists and texts. The book was fun with true messages through out. I even found myself laughing out loud at times. I immediately passed it along to some tween readers who also enjoyed the book immensely!

Disclosure: This book was sent to me as part of the First Look program with HarperCollins Canada

Review: The Shack

The Shack is the story of one man's struggle to come to terms with the loss of his daughter, his past and the anger he feels towards his Maker. One morning, Mack (Mackenzie) Philips receives a cryptic note from God inviting him to return to the crumbling shack where four years ago his youngest daughter was brutally murdered. What happens next is a journey of forgiveness and understanding for Mack as he meets and confronts the Holy Trinity.

The Shack was The Book Caucus' first book and while it began many great discussions, I have mixed feelings about this book. It was an easy and intriguing read, however I often became frustrated by the oversimplification of the Bible's teachings. Young's interpretations seemed a little "too good to be true". What I did like about the book is that it challenged me to consider my own beliefs about God and forgiveness. Having said the above I have passed on my copy to friends to ignite more discussions. If anything it is an interesting book to check out and not a bad read at all.

Review: The Boy Who Loved Anne Frank

Ellen Feldman penned an interesting take on history in The Boy Who Loved Anne Frank. What if Peter Van Pels had not only survived hiding in the Annex with the Frank family, but had survived life in the concentration camp too? What would he have done? Feldman creates a life for Peter in America, where he sheds his Jewish identity, begins a family and does not talk about his experiences during the war in an effort to lead a normal life. Peter becomes a successful business man, a loving husband and father.

One night Peter's wife is customarily reading before bed, but Peter's past confronts him as he catches a glimpse of the cover page to have young Anne Frank looking back at him. So shocked that his past has found him, Peter loses his voice. He is haunted by the rising popularity of Anne Frank's Diary, the discussions, the movie, the Broadway play. What ensues is a fascinating account of how one man accepts who himself and his past.

I loved this book, I loved the premise of "what if". Feldman created a believable character in Peter. One of the things I found really interesting was the way The Diary of Anne Frank rose in popularity and consumed American culture.

Review: J is for Judgment

Kinsey Milhone is hired back by California Fidelity to investigate the alleged suicide of Wendell Jaffe after the $500 000 life insurance policy is paid out to his widow, and his insurance agent spots him at a tropical resort. Off Kinsey jets to track down the elusive Jaffe which leads her right back to Santa Theresa and Jaffe's widow, sons, and lover. Kinsey systematically hunts down Jaffe while facing her own past. J is for Judgment is a good mystery, but more importantly I think it is a book in the series to build up Kinsey's character.

What drew me into J is for Judgment was how Kinsey was dealing with her own past and family. I really liked that Grafton was showing us a vulnerable side of Kinsey while she sorted out just what happened in the past, who to be angry with and whether she would give her family a chance. As usual I am drawn to Kinsey's exceptionally dry sense of humour.

Review: Barnacle Love

Barnacle Love is a tale of family, dreams and ultimately life. Seeking a life outside his small village in Portugal, Manual Rebelo follows his father's footsteps as a fisherman. Out at sea he is lost and washes up on the shores of Newfoundland. Turning from the past to build a new life, Manuel begins a family in Toronto, Ontario. A large portion of the story is told by Antonio, Manuel's Toronto-born son. Although the book is a collection of well-linked short stories by De Sa it reads as a novel full of rich descriptions and detail.

Espresso Tales

Alexander McCall Smith returns to 44 Scotland Street in the second installment of the series. Many of the story lines and characters return to entertain the reader. Most prevalent is little Bertie whose mom is dictating every aspect of his six-year-old life. Bertie finds adventure through a few plots to undermine his mom and he finds a supporter in his father. Bruce gets his comeuppance when he tries to become a wine broker. Pat decides to return to school while continuing to work with Matthew.


Overall I enjoyed the second book in the 44 Scotland series better than the first. The key for me was more Bertie. His adventures in this book had me giggling. I hope his father continues to support Bertie’s opinions and wishes. I also enjoyed that good-looking, obnoxious Bruce was not as easily successful as he thought he would be in the wine trade. I look forward to reading the next installment, Love Over Scotland.

Skinny Dip

Chaz Perrone throws his wife, Joey over the side of a cruise ship because he assumed that she had figured out his multi-million dollar scam of fixing phosphorous readings in the Florida Everglades. Joey survives the fall into the ocean and is rescued by a retired cop who helps her seek revenge on her conniving husband. In a thriller that explores the slow killing of Everglades Hiaasen introduces a cast of unforgettable characters.

Skinny Dip was my first time reading a novel by Carl Hiaasen, and I must say that it definitely won't be my last. I loved Hiaasen's humour and use of irony through out the book. His characters are so vivid and honest it is hard not to enjoy even the most moral-lacking villain.