Deaflower's Challenge 2021

For 2021, I am going to read more of my own shelves of books, so that I can finish sets, and cull books, that I do not want to keep.

Starting With:
1. Son Of A Witch by Gregory Maguire (Wicked #2) 3⭐

Ten years after the publication of Gregory Maguire’s first adult novel, Wicked--a wildly successful account of the Wicked Witch of the West that served as the basis for a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical--the long-awaited sequel is finally here.

Son of a Witch stars Liir, the mysterious adolescent boy who saw Dorothy kill the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba Thropp. As the novel begins, Liir (who may or may not be Elphaba’s son) is found near death. Taken in by attendants at the Cloister of Saint Glinda, Liir is nursed back to consciousness by an enigmatic foundling girl named Candle, who soothes him with music. When Liir awakens, he is coerced to help the residents of Oz save themselves from an egomaniacal emperor. Although the storyline seems whimsical, the novel’s dominant themes are anything but. Just like the Cowardly Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow, Liir is desperately searching for clues to tell him who he is. But are physical characteristics really important when compared to what’s in one’s heart?



2. Glitter by Aprilynne Pike (Glitter #1) 4⭐

The setting and backstory for Glitter fascinates me. Sonoma – an international conglomerate — made its fortune in 2036 by ending a worldwide famine caused by a disease that infected all grains on Earth. France, on the brink of financial disaster, agreed to sell the Palace of Versailles to a puppet company that turned out to be Sonoma. Sonoma managed to turn Versailles into its own country – Sonoman-Versailles – with the CEO of the company becoming king. While the residents of the Palace dress and act as if they’re in the 18th Century, they rely on bots and complicated tracking devices to manage their lives.

On paper, seventeen year old Danica Grayson has a life that most in her 22nd century world aspire to. When her father inherited a huge block of voting shares in Sonoma, the family moved to the Palace of Versailles. With no status, Danica was scorned by many in the Palace and was able to make just a few close friends. Her life changed forever when she saw the nineteen-year old king (a truly despicable character) strangle a woman while having sex. Danica’s mother, a horrific, scheming woman with no concern for her daughter, blackmails the king into marrying Danica. Danica is appalled at the idea of marrying a murderer. The two won’t marry until Danica is eighteen, giving her six months to figure out a way to escape the union.

1. The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer 3⭐

Alex and Conner Bailey’s world is about to change, in this fast-paced adventure that uniquely combines our modern day world with the enchanting realm of classic fairy tales.

The Land of Stories tells the tale of twins Alex and Conner. Through the mysterious powers of a cherished book of stories, they leave their world behind and find themselves in a foreign land full of wonder and magic where they come face-to-face with fairy tale characters they grew up reading about.

But after a series of encounters with witches, wolves, goblins, and trolls alike, getting back home is going to be harder than they thought.



2. The Tattooist Of Auschwitz by Heather Morris 3⭐

In The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Heather Morris recounts the true story of Lale Sokolov, an Auschwitz prisoner who is given the role of tattooist - meaning that he is to brand each prisoner with their own number. In his time at Auschwitz, he meets a young woman named Gita whom he immediately falls in love with. Together, the pair experience the horrors of Auschwitz.

For some, it may be hard to justify reading several WWII novels. You might think, what will this novel tell me that the other dozen haven’t? The one thing that this novel shed light upon, that others rarely do, are the difficult positions some had to take in the prison camps. For instance, Lale takes up a job as the Tätowierer, someone who is forced to mark and defile his fellow prisoners - a job unimaginable to most. Others are forced to take up other repulsive jobs that put them closer to the S.S. than they do to the other prisoners. This book shows the internal struggle these individuals face because of their jobs within the camps. But also how they go out of their way and risk their lives to provide assistance to those with less authority. It’s remarkable and something I never considered while reading other WWII/Holocaust novels.

1. Shatter by Aprilynne Pike 3⭐


Danica planned to use beauty, blackmail, and a glittering drug to control her own fate. Her escape from the twisted world of the Palace of Versailles was perfectly orchestrated and paid for. Or so she thought.

Betrayed by the man who had promised her freedom, Dani is now married to the murderous King. It's a terrifying position to be in...and yet it's oddly intoxicating. Power may be an even stronger drug than Glitter--a drug Dani can't resist, in the form of secrets, manipulation, and sabotage.

In her new position at the head of the court, Dani must ask herself who she really is. Can she use her newfound power to secure her real love, Saber's freedom and a chance at a life together outside the palace? Or is being Queen too addictive to give up?

Having enjoyed the originality of Glitter, this book's predecessor and glorying in the almost-unredeemable evilness of some of the characters, I was anxious to see if Danica Grayson could redeem herself and somehow get out of the king's clutches. Honestly, in many ways she proved to be her own worst enemy as time and time again, she made mistakes, underestimated others, and compromised some of her own beliefs and values. Just as Glitter, the drug-laced makeup that she continues to sell to the courtiers at Versailles is addictive, so is power, and now that Danica is queen, there's no stopping her. As readers race through this book, finding surprises laced throughout its plot amid all the descriptions of finery and extreme wealth, they will be just as worried for Danica's soul as I was at times. It often seemed that she had her heart set firmly on the end game and didn't care what or whom she had to destroy to win this royal game of chess. Some of the discoveries about her husband's ancestors and what Justin himself plans to do with the bots he's in charge of are downright frightening and will make readers wonder seriously about what might happen to those whose jobs end up being taken by machines or bots, in this case. In the end i felt somewhat sorry for King Justin since he underestimated Danica and what motivated her. But is was certainly a close call, and things could have turned out very differently. Most teen readers will enjoy this intimate depiction of a future society that thrives on intrigue and power and where almost everyone has a price.

2. Thomas Wildus and the Book of Sorrows by J.M. Bergen 4⭐


This coming of age story begins with a modern boy’s quest to find out, once and for all, if magic truly exists. Problem is, everyone just laughs him to scorn. Until one day, in a mysterious bookstore, someone doesn’t. Instead, the proprietor entrusts Thomas with an ancient book, saddled with a pack of promises.

The more Thomas reads, the more the book changes. Strange things start happening and peculiar people pop up in his life. Soon Thomas finds himself in the middle of an epic battle, with a destiny he didn’t ask for, but is desperate to fulfill.

Throughout this story, we see Thomas’s interactions with his closest friends, a racially and socially diverse cast of characters who add richness to the story. The author’s tone captures the attitude of upper middle graders – a compelling mixture of playfulness amid life-or-death stakes, whether in a doodle war between friends, a volleyball match, or when facing down a mortal enemy.

The importance of practice and training in personal and magical development is highlighted, along with the motto: Progress, not perfection, which is a key concept for readers of any age. The author also explores philosophical questions like, What happens if I gain power, but lose control? Bergen guides readers in discovering their own views of power and what matters most in life.

Thomas Wildus and the Book of Sorrows is an enchanting foray into a fantasy world where stories can become realities, science and magic intersect, and crystals hold the power to destroy. If you're looking for an enthralling and thought-provoking read, this is the book for you!

1. The Doll's House by Rumer Godden 4⭐


Tottie is a loving little wooden doll who lives with her family in a shoebox. The doll family are owned by two sisters, Emily and Charlotte, and are very happy, except for one thing: they long for a proper home.

This was a childhood book for me, and the story of the family of dolls who wanted a home of their own, delighted me. Even as I read this again recently, it still delighted me once more.

2. Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly 4⭐



Inspired by the life of a real World War II heroine, this debut novel reveals a story of love, redemption, and secrets that were hidden for decades.

New York socialite Caroline Ferriday has her hands full with her post at the French consulate and a new love on the horizon. But Caroline’s world is forever changed when Hitler’s army invades Poland in September 1939—and then sets its sights on France.

An ocean away from Caroline, Kasia Kuzmerick, a Polish teenager, senses her carefree youth disappearing as she is drawn deeper into her role as courier for the underground resistance movement. In a tense atmosphere of watchful eyes and suspecting neighbors, one false move can have dire consequences.

For the ambitious young German doctor, Herta Oberheuser, an ad for a government medical position seems her ticket out of a desolate life. Once hired, though, she finds herself trapped in a male-dominated realm of Nazi secrets and power.

The lives of these three women are set on a collision course when the unthinkable happens and Kasia is sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious Nazi concentration camp for women. Their stories cross continents—from New York to Paris, Germany, and Poland—as Caroline and Kasia strive to bring justice to those whom history has forgotten.

The pages breeze by and it isn't clear just how carefully crafted it is until the author's note at the end, where she explains all the real world significance. I'm always amazed by authors who can effortlessly weave in history without being mundane. Historical fiction writers take note! This is a text to study.

If I were to critique anything, I'd say it did feel overlong in places and the romantic interests never quite felt authentic. Very minor complaints, though. Recommended!

1. The Contraband Shore by David Donachie 3⭐



1787. Captain Edward Brazier is on a mission: recently paid off from his frigate and comfortably off with prize money, he is headed to Deal to propose marriage to the young and lovely widow Betsey Langridge. He must navigate the bustle of the town’s narrow streets that are busy with legal, illicit and
depraved business flowing from and around the ships at dock. But all does not go well; between Betsy’s brother and guardian Henry Tulkington prohibiting the match, and Brazier marked out for trouble by a local smuggling gang, his plans
are in disarray. And when it slowly emerges that there may have been a decades old injustice closer to home, Brazier is caught up in more than he’d bargained for.

It is a pleasure to read a novel so convincing in its detail, and the description of a complete smuggling operation (although aborted) shows expert planning and sharp-witted improvisation.

2. The Haunting Of Ashburn House by Darcy Coates 5⭐


There's something wrong with Ashburn House...
The ancient building has been the subject of rumours for close to a century. Its owner, Edith, refused to let guests inside and rarely visited the nearby town.

Following Edith's death, her sole surviving relative, Adrienne, inherits the property. Adrienne's only possessions are a suitcase of luggage, twenty dollars, and her pet cat. Ashburn House is a lifeline she can't afford to refuse.

Adrienne doesn't believe in ghosts, but it's hard to ignore the unease that grows as she explores her new home. Strange messages have been etched into the wallpaper, an old grave is hidden in the forest behind the house, and eerie portraits in the upstairs hall seem to watch her every movement.

As she uncovers more of the house's secrets, Adrienne begins to believe the whispered rumours about Ashburn may hold more truth than she ever suspected. The building has a bleak and grisly past, and as she chases the threads of a decades-old mystery, Adrienne realises she's become the prey to something deeply unnatural and intensely resentful.

Only one thing is certain: Ashburn's dead are not at rest.

I enjoyed this spooky haunted house tale by author, Darcy Coates. It was creepy and mysterious, but not to the point of being spooked out of my skin. Still it kept moving right along and I am giving it 5* for keeping me entertained.

1. The Englisch Daughter by Cindy Woodsmall 3⭐


Old Order Amish wife and mother Jemima has put her marriage and family ahead of herself for years. She's set herself aside. Raising four children, she's followed all the rules and has been patient in looking forward to her time to chase a dream of her own.

But when she finds out that her life savings for pursuing that dream is gone--and her husband, Roy, has been hiding a child with another woman--her entire world is shattered. Will she be able to listen to God and love Roy's child? With so much at stake, how can she and Roy fix their relationship before their lives come crashing down?

The Englisch Daughter is a novel set in an Old Order Amish community. This was intriguing to me as I don’t know much about this people group. The story held my interest and the authors brought the characters to life!

2. The Summer Kitchen by Lisa Wingate 4⭐


With her adopted son missing and the rest of her family increasingly estranged, Sandra Kaye Darden is drawn to the little pink house where her Uncle Poppy once provided security. What begins for Sandra as a simple painting project, meant to prepare the house for sale, becomes a secret venture that eventually changes everything.

Cass Blue is having trouble keeping food on the table since she ditched foster care. When Sandra Kaye shows up with lunch one day, Cass has no way of knowing that the meeting will lead to the creation of a place of refuge that could reunite a divided community.

In this moving story of second chances, two unlikely allies realize their ability to make a difference...and the power of what becomes known as the Summer Kitchen to nourish the soul.

So many different plots in this surprisingly well-written, easy-to-read story: domestic violence, child neglect, empty nest, disintegrating marriage, adoption. Despite all the different storylines, the plot was believable, and I kept wanting to read until I reached the finale.

1. Where Trust Lies by Janette Oke 3⭐


My first Janette Oke novel, and it was the second in a series, so our local librarian didn't do such a stellar job, with the research. Anyway...

This second book in the Return to the Canadian West series has absolutely nothing to do with the Canadian West! Instead it's a travelogue story about Beth Thatcher's summer vacation with her family while waiting to learn if her teaching contract in the small western mining town of Coal Valley will be renewed. I enjoyed the glimpse of blossoming romance between Beth and Jarrick as they exchanged letters, telegrams and telephone calls, but I felt it took too big a leap forward at the end, was rushed a little too much. I also found the middle of the story a bit tedious and slow, and wished there had been more of a central conflict for Beth to overcome; instead, the actual story tension all came from Julie, while Beth was relegated to a bystander learning to trust God as her sister's fate hangs in the balance.

2. Innocence by Dean Koontz

*Unfortunately, I did not get to read this book, due to illness.

1. Nigel: My Family And Other Dogs by Monty Don 5⭐

When Monty Don's golden retriever Nigel became the surprise star of BBC Gardeners' World inspiring huge interest, fan mail and his own social media accounts, Monty Don wanted to explore what makes us connect with animals quite so deeply. In many respects Nigel is a very ordinary dog; charming, handsome and obedient, as so many are. He is also a much loved family pet. He is also a star. By telling Nigel's story, Monty relates his relationships with the other special dogs in his life in a memoir of his dogs past and very much present.
I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. Monty Don has written such an extraordinary book of his early life, and his wonderful relationship with his prized dogs, including his love for his golden retriever Nigel. Even though Nigel died last year, it was so awesome to read all about him, and the kind of dog that he was. Being the host of Gardener's World, and showing viewers each week his beautiful garden at Longmeadow, Monty is truly also an incredible writer. I must definitely read more of his work.

2. Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson 5⭐


Born on a plantation in Charles City, Virginia, Pheby Brown was promised her freedom on her eighteenth birthday. But when her birthday finally comes around, instead of the idyllic life she was hoping for with her true love, she finds herself thrust into the bowels of slavery at the infamous Devil’s Half-Acre, a jail where slaves are broken, tortured, and sold every day. Forced to become the mistress of the brutal man who owns the jail, Pheby faces the ultimate sacrifice to protect her heart in this powerful, thrilling story of one slave’s fight for freedom.
This was a most entertaining and well researched story as the character of Pheby is based on a woman named Mary Lumpkin. The setting is reflective of the Lumpkin Jail in Richmond. This most riveting story exposed once again the hideous way in which slaves were treated. The scenes that were seen and heard at the jail were awful and exposed such cruelty that it broke my heart. It was gruesome and yet this story needs to be told and remembered, for once in the United States, people were sold, people were chained, and people were treated like dogs at the hands of cruel and inhuman masters.

1. Autumn Story by Jill Barklem 4⭐


Step into the exquisite miniature world of the mice of Brambly Hedge in this beautiful new edition of the classic picture book.

Bad weather is on the way and the autumn stores are still not gathered in!

Quickly, all the mice of Brambly Hedge set to work to finish the harvesting before the rain begins. Primrose, Lord Woodmouse's daughter, meant to help, but somehow she daydreamed her way over the cornfield and into the Chestnut Woods, and before she knew it, she was lost. The sun went down, the wind rose and it began to rain. Primrose was all alone in the dark and she was frightened.

Poor Primrose, would she find her way home again?
Such a beautifully written children's story of a group of creatures, who live quiet lives among the setting of a small wood. The illustrations are amazing!

2. A Tale Dark And Grimm by Adam Gidwitz 3⭐


In this mischievous and utterly original debut, Hansel and Gretel walk out of their own story and into eight other classic Grimm-inspired tales. As readers follow the siblings through a forest brimming with menacing foes, they learn the true story behind (and beyond) the bread crumbs, edible houses, and outwitted witches.
Fairy tales have never been more irreverent or subversive as Hansel and Gretel learn to take charge of their destinies and become the clever architects of their own happily ever after.
If you like a tale dark, and grimm, as the title indicates, then this is the one for you. Not for the faint hearted, this chilling story weaves you through a tale of two young children, who encounter mysterious forces, and sometimes cruel adults. Beware!

1. The Way Through The Woods by Long Litt Woon 3⭐

A grieving widow feeling disconnected from life discovers a most unexpected obsession--hunting for mushrooms--in a story of healing and purpose.
Long Litt Woon moved to Norway from Malaysia as a nineteen-year-old exchange student. Soon after her arrival, she met Eiolf. He became the love of her life. After thirty-two years together, Eiolf's sudden death left Woon struggling to imagine a life without the man who had been soulmate and best friend. Adrift in her grief, Woon signs up for a beginner's course on mushrooming. She finds, to her surprise, that the hunt for mushrooms and mushroom knowledge rekindles her appetite for life, awakens her dulled senses, and provides a source of joy and meaning.
Litt Woon's husband passes away suddenly, and as she begins to navigate life without her best friend and partner in life, she joins the Greater Oslo Fungi and Useful Plants Society and finds a community of mushroom enthusiasts and foragers. This book is surprising and weird in many ways — its style is not unique, in switching back and forth between Litt Woon's mushroom-related anecdotes and reflections on her relationship with her husband and her current grief and loneliness. But I found it refreshing how she found connections and community, and I was constantly googling photos of mushroom species.

2. The Imperilled Ocean by Laura Trethewey 3⭐

Imperiled Ocean by ocean journalist Laura Trethewey is a deeply reported work of narrative journalism that follows people as they head out to sea. What they discover holds inspiring and dire implications for the life of the ocean — and for all of us back on land.
The Imperiled Ocean is a non fiction book which reads like a short story collection. Trethewey brings compassion, and an eye for scientific fact to her journalism. Through her years of research she brings tales as diverse as an young couple crossing the Pacific on a sailboat, Syrian refugees crossing the Mediterranean, non-profits cleaning plastic from beaches, and a clandestine houseboat community. In all she achieves her goal of humanizing the ocean and calling for action to save it.

1. The Walnut Tree by Charles Dodd 4⭐

In 1914, while visiting her friend Madeleine, Lady Elspeth Douglas's life is thrown into chaos when war breaks out and the Germans quickly overrun Belgium, threatening France. Having just agreed to marry Alain, Madeleine's dashing brother, Lady Elspeth watches him leave to join his unit, and then she sets out for England, only to find herself trapped on the French coast.

Caught amid a sea of stranded travelers, terrified refugees, and wounded men overflowing the port of Calais, the restless Elspeth—daughter of a Highland laird whose distinguished family can trace its roots back to the court of Mary, Queen of Scots—decides to make herself useful, carrying water to weary soldiers near the Front. It is an act of charity that almost gets her killed when enemy shells begin to explode around her.

To her rescue comes Captain Peter Gilchrist, who pulls her away from the battle and leads her to safety. But before they can properly say good-bye, Elspeth and Peter are separated.

Back in London, Elspeth is haunted by the horrors she witnessed in France. She also cannot forget the gallant Peter Gilchrist, even though she has promised herself to Alain.

Transformed by her experience, Elspeth enrolls in a nursing course where she meets a fellow nurse in training, Bess Crawford. It is a daring move, made without the consent of Elspeth's guardian, her cousin Kenneth, a man with rigid notions of class and femininity.

Yet Elspeth Douglas is a young woman with a mind of her own, which—as she herself says—is a blessing and a curse. She is determined to return to the battlefields of France to do her part . . . and to find the man she has no right to love. But before she can set things right with Alain, he goes missing, then Peter is gravely wounded. In a world full of terror and uncertainty, can the sweetness of love survive or will Elspeth's troubled heart become another casualty of this terrible war?
This was a nice short novella, about Lady Elspeth Douglas, and her life, and relationships during the Great War. I really enjoyed it, and thought that she had great courage, especially when she went behind her guardian's back, and became a nurse.
I discovered more war time novels, by this author, while I was reading about this book. They sounded quite good, so I might go back and read some of them one day.

2. Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton 5⭐

Jo, Bessie and Fanny take their cousin Dick on an adventure he'll never forget to the magic Faraway Tree, where he meets Moon-Face, Silky the fairy and Saucepan Man, and visits all the different lands at the top of the Faraway Tree. Like the Land of Spells, the crazy Land of Topsy-Turvy, and the land of Do-As-You-Please, where the children ride a runaway train!
A wonderful children's book that I remember as a child, written by one of my favorite authors, about a magical tree, growing in an enchanted wood. And the folk who live there, and the amazing things that happen. Three children are lucky enough to experience everything that goes on, and make a lot of friends. I really enjoyed reading it, just as much as I did many years ago.