The Angel's Game- Zafon (Book #68)

I devoured Zafon's earlier book Shadow of the Wind so eagerly awaited my copy of The Angel's Game. I must confess I'm disappointed. Shadow was a seamless novel, the story was complex with lots of drama and intrigue but everything tied together in the end. With The Angel's Game, this was not the case. We are left with threads unconnected, with questions left unanswered, and an ending that seems like an easy supernatural way out. He writes beautifully so I kept reading, hoping things would wrap up, but they did not.

Lime Tree Can't Bear Orange- Smyth (Book #67)

This is a beautiful character driven novel set in Trinidad and Tabago about Celia, a young girl, raped by her uncle and forced to flee. On her way she meets a doctor who takes her in as a maid for his family and the novel follows her life at a steady pace. The author writes beautifully and I felt like each character was well drawn out and I could picture the scenes and settings in my mind. The story also has an interesting twist towards the end which helped this character novel end with a zing.

A Change In Altitude- Shreve (Book #66)

I enjoyed Shreve's book "The Pilot's Wife" and looked forward to reading this latest book by her. This is a story of a 20 something couple living in Kenya. They start the story going on a hike up Mount Kenya that proves disastrous and has long reaching consequences upon their marriage. The book explores the rift between the couple and the landscape of Kenya a place I can tell through reading that Shreve loves. I wish I was able to connect more with the characters. Except for Rafik a Pakistani journalist, I could not get invest in any particular character. Still, if you like Shreve's books, you will like this one too.

The Thirteenth Tale- Setterfield (Book #65)

I have mixed emotions about this book. It was well written, the story is interesting, but somehow I was put off by its attempt to be uber goth. Jane Eyre comes up a lot and I feel the author tried hard to emulate it. Still, its an interesting story about an author Vida Winters who spins marvelous tales but who never reveals her life. She finally chooses the narrator to tell her final tale, the tale of her own life. The story is disturbing, at times it made me queasy, but the ultimate outcome is unexpected and enjoyable.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn- Smith (Book #64)

This is a classic tale of young Francie growing up in Brooklyn at the turn of the century. This book follows her life as she grows up in poverty. Her mother is a janitor, her father Johnny works sporadically as a singing waiter, and her Aunt Sissy has ten dead babies and goes through husbands like spring coats. This is a book focused on character development. It is a coming of age tale as we see Francie first feel amazed and enchanted by her life, and then as she grows older, we see her disillusionment and her doubts for her future. I enjoyed this book very much, the writing is gentle and beautiful and I fell in love with Francie. The author did a great job making each character feel real and true to life.