Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Synopsis from Goodreads:   
BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.

Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present. 

My thoughts:  I took a little bit of a different approach on this book.  Several bloggers who enjoy the same books as I do have read and enjoyed it so I didn't pay much attention to the synopsis. I dove into it with a general idea what it was about not seeking out additional information.   This was a great way to approach a book and I'm going to have to do it more often. 

There is a certain amount of intrigue to the story.  You know that something has happened to Andi, but you don't learn the extent of the tragedy until later in the story.   Andi is a character that is endearing and frustrating at the same time.  She is suffering but refuses to let anyone in.


Alex's plight is revealed through a series of entries in a diary that Andi discovers.  Alex is fiercely independent and stubborn, two of the traits that she shares with Andi.  Two very similar girls in two very different times makes for a very interesting story.


Revolution is targeted to the teens but could easily appeal to a wider audience.  I will definitely be recommending this one as one of my favorites from 2010.


About the Author: Jennifer Donnelly is a new to me author.  After reading Revolution and while writing this review I set out to learn more about her.  I discovered that she actually has several titles to her credit.  The next one that I will be seeking out is The Tea Rose.  


You can find Jennifer Donnelly on the web:


http://www.jenniferdonnelly.com
She is also on both twitter and facebook.

I received my copy of Revolution from the Publisher via the First Reads program on Goodreads.

Get Lucky by Katherine Center

Summary From Goodreads

How do you change your luck? Katherine Center’s marvelously entertaining and poignant new novel is about choosing to look for happiness—and maybe getting lucky enough to find it.

Sarah Harper isn’t sure if the stupid decisions she sometimes makes are good choices in disguise—or if they’re really just stupid. But either way, after forwarding an inappropriate email to her entire company, she suddenly finds herself out of a job.

So she goes home to Houston—and her sister, Mackie—for Thanksgiving. But before Sarah can share her troubles with her sister, she learns that Mackie has some woes of her own: After years of trying, Mackie’s given up on having a baby—and plans to sell on eBay the entire nursery she’s set up. Which gives Sarah a brilliant idea—an idea that could fix everyone’s problems. An idea that gives Sarah the chance to take care of her big sister for once—instead of the other way around.

But nothing worthwhile is ever easy. After a decade away, Sarah is forced to confront one ghost from her past after another: the father she’s lost touch with, the memories of her mother, the sweet guy she dumped horribly in high school. Soon everything that matters is on the line—and Sarah can only hope that by changing her life she has changed her luck, too.


My thoughts:


Is luck something we have or something we create? I've been pondering this since I first read Get Lucky. I think in many cases, including Sarah's it is made. She realizes, albeit unconsciously that her life isn't working for her and something has to change. From the point in which she forwards the email, Sarah has taken control of her life. The story explores Sarah's path as she leaves behind the life that she once thought she wanted and moves toward the life that he didn't know she did. Following this path of self discovery she learns things about her relationships with her father, her stepmother, her sister and even her deceased mother. As well as friends old and new.

This is a fantastic story about growing up and finding the life that you truly want.

I had gotten away from reading books that were classified as "chick lit" because I would get so frustrated by the characters and the total lack of reality. I never felt this with Get Lucky, I was hooked from the very first page.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story that explores the relationships between sisters and likes to read about strong women. It is a great light read that will keep you engaged.

Upon finishing I knew I would be picking up more of Katherine Center's work.

I won this Advanced Readers Copy from the GoodReads first reads program.

kevin my military man by shane kaelle

Summary from Goodreads:

The 1970's. The 21st Century. Military Romance. But much more. Intriguing. Complicated. They say that for each one of us on this planet that there are potentially 30,000 people with whom we might find a partner in life. But what about the concept of the SOULMATE ? Does it exist only in one's dreams or imagination ? They share but 5 words between them in high school but somehow, their eyes connect their souls. Five year later, they meet again, have a summer but Kevin enlists. Letters sustain their relationship but not indefinitely. The circumstances of life.... The distance.... Then - different directions.... Time goes by.... 17 years later, it is Gina's young adult sons who find the letters, the photos. Gina decides to search for Kevin online using 'buddyfinder' on military com website. - Chris watched as Will pulled out the photos without acknowledged permission that this was fine to do. .... Chris picked them right up. "Is this Kevin ? Kevin from beach ? Dana and Zeik's dad ?" Chris asked ...."It looks like it doesn't it ?" Will said. "He and mom were friends ?" Chris asked trying to elicit more feedback. "I think that they were more than friends." - Donna defended herself. "I learn from fiction. Some of it's historical and other plots expose me to things that I would never experience." - It involved explaining to them the mindset of Marines. 'Marines are Marines'. There is mutual respect between 'Enlisted' and 'Officers'. - "Why is that ?" "If your boyfriend is a looker, than you'll always feel insecure - there will always be girls chasing him." "You're rationalizing," Jeannie quickly replied then added, "It is sort of true with Tim." - .... and just sat on her bed. He noticed the paper under the pillow and didn't think before pulling it out to read it. "Hear my soul speak; the very instant that I saw you, did my heart ...." .... but Kevin - he was something. Tim had no idea how to compete with a guy like this.

My Review:

I was compelled by the summary on Goodreads to read this book. I don't recall seeing another work in which the military plays such a role. The first 16 years of my life were spent moving around North America with my military family. From talking with friends, I know how different military life can be from that of a civilian. I was interested to see how this story would play out.

The story follows a group of young people over a span of 20 years or so. We are introduced to the main character, Gina as she is entering high school. Gina actually meets Kevin for the first time in high school, but thinks nothing of it. Gina and Kevin met once again the summer after Gina's sophomore year in high school. This is where their romance begins. At the end of the summer Kevin tells Gina that he has enlisted and is not quite sure what the future holds for him.

Gina returns to her college lift and Kevin goes off to basic training. Much of their relationship is exposed via the letters that they exchange. During the course of the story they actually spend very little time together. They often discuss the idea of being "soulmates". They eventually break up due to some miscommunication and go their separate ways for awhile. Life of course carries on and both Gina and Kevin move forward. Some time later they rediscover one another through the Internet and begin chatting online.

I think the story itself was pretty good. There were a lot of footnotes and extra information included in the story which I believe was present to educate the reader. Occasionally I did get lost in some of the extra material. For example there are several instances when the are playing chess and the author spells out the particular moves they were using. I don't play chess, so I'm not sure how this added to the story.

The story makes the transition from a teenagers life in the 1970's to an adults life in the 2000's in a believable manner.

I received this book from the Goodreads First Reads Program
This is the first time I've received a book directly from an author. When the book arrived it had a note from the author and several pages marked. I can't imagine the work that must be involved in writing a novel and publishing it yourself. I commend her on her effort.

I would recommend this book to a reader who doesn't mind sorting through the extra material to find the heart of the story.


Edited to Add: I know the author is trying to get the word out about her book. Stop by the website. www.shanekaelle.com