Hosted by Long and Short Reviews.
Click here to read everyone else’s replies to this week’s question and here to see the full list of topics for the year.
My answers are going to be for older books this week, and I’m trying to pick titles that I have not discussed in previous WWBC or Top Ten Tuesday posts as well. (Or at least haven’t discussed very much).
These days, I will write a review for just about any 5 star book I read, so it would be pretty rare for a brand new title to appear one of these lists for me.
“Miss Peregrin’s Home for Peculiar Children” by Ransom Riggs
What I Liked About It: Strong and exciting world building .
“Snow Flower and the Secret Fan” by Lisa See
What I Liked About It: Reading about the lifelong friendship between the protagonist and her best friend.
“The Color Purple” by Alice Walker
What I Liked About It: What a joyful ending it had! The protagonist endured so much pain in her life, so to see her end on such a happy note was both a thrill and a relief.
“The Child Catchers: Rescue, Trafficking, and the New Gospel of Adoption” by Katherine Joyce
What I Liked About It: This book honestly explored the dark underbelly of the adoption industry where corruption and coercion is used to procure children for adoption who could have otherwise remained with their birth families with a little support. I think adoption can be an excellent option for some children, but it should always be done ethically and only after exhausting all other possibilities for families who are experiencing hard times.
“The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women” by Kate Moore
What I Liked About It: Learning about a chapter of history that was never mentioned in school. Worker protection rules were created for a reason and should be respected. So many people died horribly from exposures to all sorts of unsafe substances and environments before we had such laws. This was not an easy read, but it was an important one.
The Colour Purple is such a great book!
For sure!
I liked “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan” too. She was such a stickler for tradition, even when it was dysfunctional, and Lisa See said that was because she was sort of based on a real old lady See interviewed in a nursing home. One of those characters who are more fun to read about than they would be to hang out with…
And dittos George Thomas about “The Color Purple.”
Oh, I didn’t know that. How cool.
I absolutely loved Miss Peregrime… and I’m going to have to check out the other two fiction books. I’ve managed to not read either of them somehow.
My post is here if you want to stop by.
I hope you like them. I’ll come over and say hi.
Such an amazing list! Now, I want to read these. Have Miss Peregrin here, but haven’t indulged yet. Thinking the dark underbelly of adoption must be an emotional read. Thanks for sharing, Lydia.
You’re welcome. Hope you like them!
I still need to read Radium Girls!
I think you’d really like it.
I have The Radium Girls on hold at the library. Hoping the loan comes in soon!
Here is my post.
I hope you like it.
I haven’t read anything by Lisa See yet, but I keep meaning to! I’m glad to hear you liked Snow Flower.
Thank you!
Oh, I like this topic! I’ve realized that I sometimes go through phases where I just devour books and can’t keep up with the reviews, even if I love them. I still need to read Miss Peregrin’s Home for Peculiar Children! I also absolutely loved The Radium Girls, even if it was an emotionally tough read.
Thank you. I’m glad you liked The Radium Girls. Those poor young women.