Dark Matter by Blake Crouch 5 Stars and a strong Highly Recommended

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One of the greatest joys in reading comes when you read a book that is truly original and you know when you read it is a special book. This is the one. The book you will read and tell all your friends they have to read. This is the one they will be making into a movie in the next few months and everyone will be be clamoring to see. Luckily, this author is also the one writing the screenplay, so let's hope they can do some justice to the book with the movie. But, as a librarian, I can only say, the book is almost always better than the movie.

This is the kind of science fiction tale that can be read by anyone. It is action, adventure, romance, family, science, futuristic, improbable, everything wrapped up together. Maybe scifi readers have read a book like this, but I have not and I can just say - Wow!

Our lives are a series of choices we make - hundreds per day, thousands that truly make a difference in the direction our lives take. But, what if we had taken the path not chosen? A theory of multi-universes believes these alternate lives are being lived in another dimension. What if someone found a way to move within these multi-verses?

Jason Dessen physics professor and a man who could have been a great scientist is kidnapped. He wonders if he will ever see his wife and son again. He has good reason to question this - the life he was living has been taken by a Jason Dessen 2 who chose the path to become a great scientist and has found a way to move within these dimensions. He has dumped Jason 1 in his own world.

This story is too complex and too unusual to explain much more - it will only spoil it for you. But, the story is so fast-paced and full of surprises, you will find yourself questioning everything. When I read a book that causes me to think about identity, life choices, family, love, etc. it is a book I want to share with others. I loved Dark Matters and I can't recommend it highly enough. Very unusual and quite a ride.

I obtained a free advance readers copy with the understanding I would write an honest review.

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Valley of the Moon by Melanie Gideon 5 Stars Unique and Compelling

Valley of the Moon by Melanie Gideon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Valley of the Moon by Melanie Gideon grabbed me from the outset and I found myself unable to stop as it took me on a ride through the past, the present and the future. I had no expectations of this story, which was probably a good thing, as it was so unusual I don't know if any expectations would have been valid.

During the great California earthquake of 1906 a very strange phenomenon occurs which prevents the residents of Greengage farming community from leaving the area. A deadly fog surrounds them making it impossible for them to leave. They wait, patiently or impatiently, for someone to arrive to rescue them. Four months later a young woman named Lux appears through the fog with an almost unbelievable tale. Although only four months have passed at Greengage, Lux has arrived from the year 1975. And, despite Lux's ability to move through the fog unharmed, this is not true for the Greengage residents. They are still trapped and it is still 1906 for them.

Lux is an unwed mother of a five year old named Bennett or Benno as he is commonly known. Lux had a painful break with her father in her early teens and it has continued to get worse, particularly with her unplanned and unwed pregnancy. Benno is invited to visit her parents, however, and while he is gone, she decides to go camping. It is the night of the full moon when she is surrounded by a fog that leads her to Greengage.

At Greengage, Lux meets Joseph, the visionary who created the community, his wife, Martha, and many others. Joseph's ideas for the community stem from the teachings of his mother - he sees Greengage as an opportunity to give everyone equal opportunities, regardless of their sex, race, etc. Joseph is also a man who experienced problems with his father, but finds the work he is doing to be the antidote. He is fascinated with the future Lux describes, as well as disappointed that society has not moved forward with the issues dear to his hear - equality, the environment, etc. Lux finds much of what she has always been seeking at Greengage - being treated as an equal, being respected for what she contributes, the chance to engage in fulfilling work, etc.

Lux cannot stay, as she needs to get back to her son. However, Greengage compels her to seek it out every full moon. But, the fog is not there every full moon, and is present erratically. It turns out that every time the fog is present and Lux returns to Greengage, only one month has passed in their time, regardless of the number of months that have passed in her time. Thus months or even years may have gone by in Lux's San Francisco time, while only one month has passed in Greengage. This becomes a serious factor in the rest of the story. Lux must leave before another full moon passes at Greengage, or she has no idea how much time has gone by in San Francisco time.

Valley of the Moon is a compelling read with the time changes and the variations from one time to another. However, the true story is about the separation of family, the inability in our world for people to be treated as equals, the search for a better world and place where we can all belong. Lux is a woman beaten down by shame and inequality who finds a place where what she brings to the table is more important than the labels placed on her and her son. Greengage is a Shangri-La where the utopia is tinged with the inability to leave without dire consequences, and the people there feel this entrapment.

I fell in love with Lux, Joseph and Greengage and believe this is a story worth reading. Highly recommended.

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Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani - Coming of Age for a 30 something - not my cup of tea 3 stars

Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I try very hard not to make these kinds of judgements, but sometimes I honestly believe I am not the right audience for a book. I found this to be true of Very Valentine. I enjoyed it, but believe someone in a different situation might find themselves enjoying it more.

Valentine is a 33 year-old, Italian American shoe maker. The story centers around a few key aspects: Valentine's new relationship with chef and restaurant owner Roman, Angelini Shoes which is owned by Valentine's grandmother Teodora with Valentine as the key designer, and the very Italian American family surrounding them. Angelini Shoes, it turns out, is very deep in debt and is not really making enough money to call itself a profitable business. And, to top it off, Valentine's father is diagnosed with what he calls "prostrate" cancer.

Valentine is, therefore, struggling in several ways. She wants a romantic and loving relationship with Roman, but his business is taking up the majority of his time. In addition, Valentine's brother, Alfred is on her Gram to sell the building that houses Angelini Shoes in order to get herself out of debt and allow for a retirement, given she is 80 years old. Valentine is coming into her own as an artist and creator of shoes and is heartsick to think of the business going down without a fight. An opportunity arises for her to enter a competition to win the chance to display her shoes in the windows of Bergdorfs. This could be the making of both her and the shoe company, although it is a long shot.

Basically, this is a coming of age story for a late bloomer. Valentine has never had to take anything in her life too seriously, but now everything is hitting the fan at once. How important is the shoe business to her, and is she capable of putting her all into it? She loves Roman, but is she willing to give him her all, as well as demand from him what she needs? Can she get the support she needs from her family to finally break out of her role as "the funny one" and be considered a serious business woman? What about the health of her parents and grandmother - will she be capable of stepping into their shoes?

Although an enjoyable story with a lot of fun and funny sequences, I just found Valentine too immature for my tastes. She seemed to fly and back and forth between her concerns about developing as an artist and business woman and her sensitivity about being taken seriously. She continues to rely on her Gram while wanting to be independent. She wants to be special to Roman without having to allow him to be special to her. This story may appeal more to women in a similar age group to Valentine. For me, it was a case of it having just been too many years since I have needed to focus on these issues.

The story was fairly predictable as well. We could pretty much see each situation coming. But, the family was enjoyable, although somewhat stereotypical. All in all, not a bad read, but not one I would go out of my way to recommend.  I personally found it boring.



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