THE HISTORY OF LOVE

By: Nicole Krauss

Plot: Told through three different perspectives, this is the story about a novel named, The History of Love and how these three different people are affected by the book. This is a book about a book, which are often my favorite type of books.

My Thoughts: After reading a couple books that I just didn't love, (The Goldfinch) I was just craving something that was well written and that I knew I would enjoy. I decided to reread The History of Love. I first read this in 2012 when my goal was to read a hundred books that year and I made it to 91. So I did a lot of reading that year and while I definitely remembered parts of the plot, I didn't remember everything. 

I just love the writing in this book! I love the way that the different chapters are written too. I liked that the characters actually had distinctive voices, which doesn't always happen with books that have multiple points of view. It felt like they could actually be real people. And I liked two out of the three at least.

 Poor Leo just can't catch a break! His whole life story is just heartbreaking. He has no one and is so sad and alone. He writes two books and neither one does he get credit for. He finds the love of his life and she's married, he goes to finally contact his son and he's died. And (*SPOILER*) I had completely forgotten that Bruno was not really there and it was as just as shocking for my second time reading the book.

I think the only thing I don't like about this book is the ending. I like the way it is written and I love that the two finally meet at the end, but then the book just ends and I wanted more! It felt like the book ended too soon and I wanted to know what happens next. There were things that were left unresolved and I didn't like that. Someone just please tell me that Leo is finally not alone anymore and that he gets the credit for his writing that he deserves!

Favorite Quotes: "They collected the world in small handfuls."

"So many words get lost. They leave the mouth and lose their courage, wandering aimlessly until they are swept into the gutter like dead leaves."

"And with each pot and pan and spoon I put away, I also put away a thought I couldn't bear, until my kitchen and my mind returned to a state of mutual organization."

"Aside from myself, there was no sign of me."

Rating: 4/5 I really like this book and love how it is written. It was just as good the second time around. 

THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY

By: Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

Plot: The book consists of letters written between the main character Juliet and members of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. (There's some other people thrown in there too.)

Thoughts: I read this a few years ago and had to read it again so I could watch the Netflix movie. I'm glad to report that it was just as good as I remember it being. Sometimes when I go back and read a book I really liked, it just isn't as good as I thought it was. Maybe that's why I haven't been re-reading as many books lately.

All I could really remember about the book was that it was told through letters and I liked it. I also didn't think she actually went to Guernsey until the end, so I was glad it didn't take that long to get her there. It's different reading a book that is only told through letters, because you're getting everything after the fact. It was done really well though and didn't detract from the story at all. Reading about the town and the people in it, is like watching an episode of the Gilmore Girls. Just swap the book club with the town hall meetings and it's basically the same! Which is great.

The main character Juliet is just so likable. She is witty and smart and actually reads like a real person which isn't always the case. I liked mostly all the characters in the book, but Juliet is definitely my favorite. The book does take place right after WWII so it's not all lighthearted. The whole story line with Elizabeth was pretty depressing. It also made me think I need to really work on my food storage.

Favorite Quotes: "Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad books."

"My worries travel around in my head on their well worn path."

Rating: 5/5 I love this book. I did NOT, however, enjoy the Netflix movie. They completely dulled the Juliet character, and made the whole story boring. 

BENEATH A SCARLET SKY

By: Mark Sullivan

Plot: True (mostly?) story of a young man, Pino, in Italy during World War II. He was able to help some Jewish people escape out of Italy and then became a spy by driving car for a high ranking Nazi general.

Thoughts: The story was so interesting but the writing made it so hard to read! I struggled getting through this book at first which was kind of a bummer because I found the story really good. It definitely picked up about the time Pino became a driver for general Leyers, but that was almost 200 pages into the book. The beginning seemed very drawn out. I mean him helping the Jews escape was interesting but I think that whole (almost) 200 pages could have been condensed. Oh, and I hated the Preface for some reason, maybe because the author made it all about himself? I wished I hadn't read it after I did.

I don't know what liberties the author took with the story but he made it sound like it was all a true story. And if that's the case it is one crazy story. Reading about WWII you know it's going to be depressing but there were a lot of light moments in the story too so it didn't feel so heavy all the time. It was a crazy contrast him finding love in such a dark time, but that is probably what got him through it. Even though the writing wasn't great, the plot is what made the book.

*SPOILERS*

Oh man one of the hardest parts to read was Anna dying. I kept thinking why didn't he go to the apartment and check that they made it out safe? I thought she was going to call? Did he not notice she hadn't called? But he really beat himself up over it and I don't blame him at all for not going in front of a firing squad. The vigilantly style justice after the war, where they were just shooting people and leaving them dead in the street, sounds like madness. Just like Pino's cousin, Mario, who was basically murdered for nothing! That was upsetting.

I was glad to read the 'Aftermath' and find out how the rest of Pino's life went. I found random things interesting, like the fact that he got a third of his parent's business even though he had done nothing for it really. I felt bad for his sister, and then I thought "wait, he has a sister?" I don't remember her being mentioned anywhere in the book. I also liked that there was closure for other people in the story. I do wish we had found out exactly was Leyers had done to save his own skin and why he was considered a hero. Talk about a complex individual. Also, did he know Pino was a spy the whole time??

Rating: 3.5/5  Pino's story was so good. I just wish someone else had written it.