Book: Cilka's Journey

 Book: Cilka's Journey

Author: Heather Morris

Pages: 384

This is my 29th read for the year

This is the story of Cilka who in 1942 is sent to Auschwitz.  She is separated from the rest of the women in the camp and is forced to do unimaginable things just to stay alive.  When the war ends, and the Jews are released, Cilka is told that she will be going to Siberia to serve a 15 year sentence for collaborating with the enemy.  Even thought Cilka knows this wasn't the case, she cannot do anything about it.

While serving her sentence Cilka has the chance to train as a nurse and help in the local hospital.  As she becomes a favorite among the doctors and nurses, the years are ticking by.  She sees other prisoners come and go.  She even gives up a chance to be released early to help a young woman stay with her child.  And when it is finally Cilka's turn to go, she is able to start the life she deserves.

This was a pretty good book.  I read the Tottooist of Auschwitz, and when I saw this follow up, I knew I wanted to read it.  Cilka is a real person - just like the Tattooist was.  However, this author chooses to tell her stories as Historical Fiction - filling in the gaps of truth with fiction where she didn't have enough information.  She ends this book with information on Cilka and her family and the facts that she does know about her and her life which was a great way to end the book.  The writing is just so-so, but the story was one I am glad I read.

Stars. 4

Book: One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

 Book: One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

Author: Ken Kesey

Pages: 272

This is my 28th read for the year

This is the story of Randle McMurphy who is sent to a state mental institution from the jail to be evaluated.  He takes over his area of the hospital and encouraged the other patients to challenge the head nurse - Nurse Ratched.  Openly defying the rules and even leaving the hospital with a group of patients on a day outing fishing trip, he battles Nurse Ratched and the doctors on a daily basis for control.  

This was a weird book.  And it was okay.  I ended up watching the movie after I finished it just to kind of piece it all together, and that helped.  At first I thought the Native American patient was the main character because he has so many lines in the book.  But in the movie - that isn't true.  Probably because McMurphy is played by Jack Nicholson.  It is a bit of a disjointed book and the first half was slow.  It does pick up in the second half as the "battle" between Nurse Ratched and McMurphy comes to a head.  The rambling and dark undertones are what decreased the rating for me.

Stars: 3

Book: The Lottery

 Book: The Lottery

Author: Shirley Jackson

Pages: 160

This is my 27th read of the year

This graphic novel is the telling of Shirley Jackson's short story - "The Lottery".  This is a story of a town who on the outside seems like a quiet peaceful place until it is time for the Lottery.  All the towns people's names are put into a box and one is drawn.  Then the children's names are entered and another drawn.  And what happens to those who are drawn is something the whole town must live with after.

This was an interesting book.  There were not enough words or information for me to really piece it together in this fashion.  I have decided to check out the actual short story just to get the feeling that I understood exactly what drives the people for the Lottery.  Although, what I might find is that it is never spelled out - like it was here.  It was clear what happened, but not why.  We shall see.

Stars: 3

Book: Consider The Lobster and Other Essays

 Book: Consider The Lobster and Other Essays

Author: David Foster Wallace

Pages: 343

This is my 26th read for the year

In this collection of essays, Wallacs asks several questions:  Do Lobsters feel pain, Is Kafka actually funny?  What happens when adult film stars meet fans in person?  What was John McCain really like?  These are just some of the topics that are covered between pages of footnotes, side annotations, and provoking thoughts.

This was a pretty good book.  There is no doubt that Wallace is a talented writer.  I enjoyed the majority of the essays in this book - only a few I felt were just so so.  The essay about McCain is the longest in this book because Wallace was asked to follow him during his campaign.

I read this one for the Rory Gilmore challenge, and glad I did.  I might check out a few more of his works.

Stars: 4

Book: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

 Book: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

Author: Mark Twain

Pages: 584

This is my 25th read for this year

This is the story of Hank Morgan.  He receives a blow to the head and wakes up in Medival England at the time of King Arthur.  He is an engineer and his uses that, and all of his knowledge of the upcoming centuries, to convince the people he is a wizard.  He uses his powers to modernize those around him - "inventing" things very far ahead of the time.  This attracts attention and problems start for Arthur and Hank.

This was an interesting book.  A little dry at times, but overall pretty good.  I found it entertaining that Merlin is outshined by Hank and his technology (that he passes off as magic) and that Hank becomes Arthur's personal sorcerer.  It was an interesting look at what would happen if an engineer improved the lives of people in the 6th century with said technology and how the future would look if that happened.

Stars: 3

Book: A Girl From Yamhill

 Book: A Girl From Yamhill

Author: Beverly Cleary

Pages: 352

This is my 24th read for the year

This is Beverly's own chilhood story.  She was born in a small town in Oregon, called Yamhill, but at the age of 6, her family had enough for hard farm life and moved to Portland where she spent most of her young life.  Through this book she talks about what it is like to grow up an only child in the early 1900s, through the depression and with a mother she felt never really understood her.  This book follows her through her graduation of high school and acceptance to junior college.

This was an interesting book.  I didn't know anything about Beverly Cleary's upbringing, and the anecdotes she shares throughout this book gave a good picture of what it was like for her growing up.  She didn't seem to have a lot of fond memories of her mother - but she did seem to adre her father.  I am glad I found this one through a book challenge.

Stars: 4

Book: Code of the Woosters

 Book: Code of the Woosters

Author: P Wodehouse

Pages: 263

This is my 23rd read for the year

This is the story of Bertie Wooster.  Bertie's man, Jeeves, is trying to get him to go on vacation.  But instead, Bertie's aunt talks him into going to a local antique shop to try and drive down a price of a cow coffee creamer that her husband really wants.  However - another person - Sir Watkyn Bassett got the creamer first.  Bertie's aunt sends him to steal it back.  This sets in motion an encouter with several other people, a missing notebook, an engagement, and getting that coffee creamer after all.  All while trying to uphold the "Code of the Woosters" to never let a pal down.

This was a silly book.  I decided to listen to it when I found a recording of it as a stage play.  It made this a fun story to get through.  It is a comedy of errors in this short novella.

Stars: 4