ReadingGrrls Paper Safari

Title:   Arcadia by Lauren Groff Publisher: Voice 320 pages Genre: Fiction Synopsis: In the fields of western New York State in the 1970s, a few dozen idealists set out to live off the land, founding a commune centered on the grounds of a decaying mansion called Arcadia House.  Arcadia  follows this romantic utopian dream from its hopeful start through its heyday. Arcadia’s inhabitants include Handy, the charismatic leader; his wife, Astrid, a midwife; Abe, a master carpenter; Hannah, a baker and historian; and Abe and Hannah’s only child, Bit. While Arcadia rises and falls, Bit, too, ages and changes. He falls in love with Helle, Handy’s lovely, troubled daughter. And eventually he must face the world beyond Arcadia. Review: Did you ever wonder what it was like to live on a commune? Lauren Groff gives a good description of what it is like to grow up on a commune never knowing life outside of its boundaries.  The cooperation, the love, the jealousy, the fre...

Title:   Shadow of Night: A Novel (All Souls Trilogy) by Deborah Harkness Publisher: Viking Adult 592 pages Genre: fiction Synopsis:  The second book in the All Souls Trilogy -  Shadow of Night  plunges Diana and Matthew into Elizabethan London, a world of spies, subterfuge, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the mysterious School of Night that includes Christopher Marlowe and Walter Raleigh. Here, Diana must locate a witch to tutor her in magic, Matthew is forced to confront a past he thought he had put to rest, and the mystery of Ashmole 782 deepens. Review:  A trip through the past.  When Diana and Matthew go back in time to try to locate Ashmole 782 they get more than they bargained for.  Its hard not to change the future when you spend too much time in the past, but they are doing their best to not cause too many disturbances and ripples.  Luckily you don't have to wait until book 3 to find out what some of those ripples are. ...

Title:   Out of the Shadows: Stories of Adoption and Reunion by Linda Back McKay Publisher: North Star Press 175 Pages Genre: Adoption, non-fiction Synopsis:  Linda Back McKay's Out of the Shadows: Stories of Adoption and Reunion (North Star Press, 2012) is both a sequel and companion book to the original Shadow Mothers. It shows the real experiences of birthmothers who felt compelled to give up their babies for adoption during the 1960s and 1970s. Following these stories through time, the book also brings to light the profound and challenging aspects of reuniting with a long-lost child. Out of the Shadows includes new and updated stories, viewpoints from all sides of the adoption triad, advice for reuniting families and discussion points for book clubs. Review:  Ms McKay has put together 11 stories of women who placed their children for adoption and have since been reunited with them.  These stories, told in their own voices, are powerful, sad, joyful and ...

Title:   A Perfect Blood by Kim Harrison Publisher: Harper Voyager 560 Pages Genre: Fantasy Synopsis:  Ritually murdered corpses are appearing across Cincinnati, terrifying amalgams of human and other. Pulled in by the FIB to help investigate, former witch-turned-day-walking demon Rachel Morgan soon realizes a horrifying truth: others want to create their own demons, and to do so they need her blood. She’s faced vampires, witches, werewolves, demons, and more—but this time Rachel’s toughest challenge might be humanity itself. Review: I love Rachel Morgan, whether she is a which, a demon familiar or a demon, it doesn't matter to me.  Her and her eclectic group of friends, Jenks the pixy with an attitude, Ivy the Vampire, Trent the Elf and Al the demon all love her in their own way too.  These books are pure mind candy. Rachels life is never dull and she always seems to get herself into a whole mess of trouble.  Maybe this time instead of being th...

Title:   Gotcha Day: A Carried In My Heart Adoption Story for Children by Rebecca Tabasso Publisher: Carried in My Heart Books 34 pages Genre: Adoption, Children Synopsis:  A very special day is coming up—only Suzie isn’t sure which one… When Suzie’s mom tells her a special day is coming, Suzie is very excited and begins guessing.Suzie’s mom can’t resist letting Suzie make guess after guess as Suzie’s imagination journeys through many possibilities trying to figure out which special day her mother is so excited about. Review:  Suzie tries to figure out what the big day they will be celebrating soon is and she runs through all the holidays including the historic holidays on the US calendar.  This book has bright, exciting illustrations and is a great way to express how much your adoption and your child mean to your family.A very sweet little book.

Title:  The Passage: A Novel by Justin Cronin Publisher: Ballantine Books 912 pages Genre: Dystopian - fantasy, sci-fi Synopsis:  Cronin imagines the catastrophic possibilities of a vampiric bat virus unleashed upon the world. Discovered by the U.S. Military in South America, the virus is transported to a laboratory in the Colorado mountains where it is engineered to create a more invincible soldier. The virus’ potential benefits are profound: it has the power to make human beings immortal and indestructible. Yet, like Prometheus’ theft of fire from the Gods, knowledge and technological advancement are gained at great price: After the introduction of the virus into the human blood pool, it becomes clear that there will be hell to pay. The guinea pigs of the NOAH experiment, twelve men condemned to die on death row, become a superhuman race of vampire-like creatures called Virals. Soon, the population of the earth is either dead or infected, their minds controlled tele...