bonniereads777's reviews
1617 reviews

Aaron is paralyzed and assumed to be in a vegetative state. He is living in a nursing home, unable to move or talk. He is thought to be basically brain dead. Unbeknownst to others, however, Aaron can see and hear everything going on around him. His roommate Sol is elderly and has Alzheimer’s, drifting in and out of reality. Sol and Aaron find each other somewhere in that space between consciousness and unconsciousness. Sol is able to hear Aaron’s thoughts and they begin to communicate mentally, Then Aaron finds himself pulled into Sol’s memories, and in those memories Aaron can walk, talk, eat, and interact in daily life. Aaron is taken on adventures in Sol’s life, from the 1920s to the 1980s, and in the process begins to truly live again.

This is a historical drama, taking us to important points in history, but it also reminds us of the richness of the experiences our elderly have lived through and the need to keep those memories alive. I find the author’s idea to have a coma patient connect with an Alzheimer’s patient in that world between worlds absolutely genius. The author is also able to perfectly communicate Aaron’s thoughts as he lies there, unable to move or speak. The moment Sol connects with Aaron is touching and hopeful.

If you love historical fiction, time travel, or stories about medical miracles, you will love this book.

I received a free copy of this book from Book Sirens. My review is voluntary.

This is an excellent YA time travel book about meeting Marilyn Monroe. Darla is a teenager in 1998 when she goes for a walk in the woods and is suddenly transported back to 1954. She meets Marilyn Monroe, who is staying nearby, and they embark on an adventure.

This book taught me a lot of things I never knew about Marilyn Monroe. I never knew she was in foster care as a child or that her father never acknowledged her. I never knew much about her as a person, or about her effect on others. Her vivacious but troubled personality is well conveyed by the author, and I am more interested to learn more about her since I've read this book.

There is an extra surprise which I won't spoil, except to say we meet another star during Darla and Marilyn's adventure. I have always been a huge fan of this star, and his appearance in the book is quite unexpected, as he was never part of Marilyn's life.

Although this book is about time travel and the life of Marilyn Monroe, it is ultimately about the relationships between daughters and their fathers. If you love time travel, Marilyn Monroe, YA novels, or stories of strong daughters and their fathers, you will love this book.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Book Sirens. My review is voluntary.

Very nice kids biography of Alexander Hamilton. The details of his life, accomplishments, and death are well laid out for children.

If you want to read some short, educational books to your kids, this would be a good one.

I received a free copy of this book from Callisto Media. My review is voluntary.

This novella is part of the Walnut Creek series. It can be read as a stand-alone story, but will provide spoilers for the earlier books in the series.

This is a nice Christmas story about coping with death, loss, and grief. The main characters are engaging and likeable, and there is a simple but effective Christian message. Having lost my mother this year, this really resonated with me. I have never read the Walnut Creek series before, but I will definitely do so now.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley. My review is voluntary.

This is a really strong memoir of the first year of the author's life after his wife unexpectedly passed away.

The description of the grief and pain after hearing of his wife's death in a pedestrian accident is so raw that the reader will feel it too. The pain is so real it becomes almost physical pain for the reader as well. The author describes having to tell his small children and having to rebuild his life, and does not hold back or try to sugarcoat anything.

If you would like to read a real and raw story of the aftermath of a tragedy in one small family, you should read this book. I received an advance copy of this book from BookSirens. My review is voluntary.

This is the audiobook version of the Silver Arrow, a middle grade children's book by Lev Grossman, narrated by Simon Vance.

This is a wonderful children's story about two kids who have an adventure on a magic train, and the passengers are talking animals! I think young kids will really enjoy this story, which also provides education about animals and the environment.

For myself, I would have liked the author to take the story further. When you have a magic train with a library car and a candy car, there are so many possibilities! The author stayed in the "environmental education" lane, where I would have liked him to make it more of a fantasy adventure. There appears to be many possibilities for a sequel, however, and I would definitely want that audiobook as well.

The narrator, Simon Vance, is amazing. He gets 5 stars. He creates a magical world you want to live in, just like Jim Dale did with Harry Potter. I will definitely be seeking out Vance's other work.