Audiobook Review: Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston

I wanted to read Their Eyes Were Watching God because it is somewhat of a classic now, and it was part of the English curriculum when I was a librarian.

And for those reasons, I'm glad I read it. I was impressed with the writing. The descriptions are vivid and detailed, if a bit drawn out. But that is the poetic aspect of the book.

I was glad I chose the audio version because I think the dialect would have been tedious to read. The narrator, Ruby Dee, does an excellent job with the dialect as well as the voices. I'm hoping the teachers used the audio version to help the students with it.

Their Eyes Were Watching God is the story of Janie, a black woman in the 1930s. We learn a lot about black traditions, especially when it came to how women were treated. I would recommend -- the audio version -- if you are interested in the subject.

Published by J. B. Lippincott, 1937
Audiobook obtained from libro.fm
297 pages

Rating: 3.5/5

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Audiobook Review: The Four WInds, by Kristin Hannah

The Four Winds was a mesmerizing book about the Dust Bowl, once it got going.

The characters were amazing, the setting -- well -- unbelievable. The Four Winds puts you in the middle of the dust bowl, but also in California, where thousands of people went to find work during The Depression. As you can imagine, it didn't work out well for them.

It's one of those "I can't believe this happened in the USA" stories. And they keep bringing up that point as they are living through the horrors. You get an interesting take on Communism and the Red Scare, as these "Communists" tried to unionize the workers to help them get a living wage. I mean, they literally could not survive on what they were paid, even when the men, women, and children were all picking. The huge growers would cut wages on a whim. They had their own company stores where people could get credit, and of course, they could never get out from under the debt.

Elsa was an amazingly strong woman and no one could not become attached to her and her family. My only complaint is that the beginning was slow. There was too much time spent on Elsa's childhood and life with her parents. I get that her background makes her who she is, but I still thought it went on too long. So the message is:  don't give up. This is a minor complaint, and it is well worth the effort to get through that part. I also would have rather had a different outcome for Elsa. That's all I'll say.

I would recommend The Fours Winds to anyone. The audio version is excellent, although my listening kept getting interrupted by audiobooks that I had on hold at the library. (You only get them for three weeks.) So when another one became available, I borrowed The Four Winds book from my sister and read the last 60 pages.

Published by St. Martin's, 2021. Audio by Macmillan
Audiobook purchased from libro.fm
464 pages

Rating: 4.5/5

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Book Review: The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, by Kim Michele Richardson

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek depicts a time and a place that I knew little about. I found it touching and compelling. And I'm a sucker for books about librarians...

In the 1930s, in the deep hills of Appalachia, Roosevelt's Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project hired women to deliver library materials to the most remote and isolated people in the state. Cussy is one of these librarians.

Her father is determined that Cussy get married since he is her only family. Cussy knows that she will lose the job she loves since married women can't be packhorse librarians. She also knows that no one will want to marry her since her skin is a shade of blue unlike most anyone else. She is the last of her kind, one of the blue-skinned people of Kentucky.

Cussy survives many hardships, many having to do with the discrimination against the blues, but also just because she is poor. Her father's life is a horrific one, working in the coal mines every day.

The depiction of Cussy and the people she meets is eye-opening and fascinating. Minor characters are a bit muddled-I had a bit of trouble keeping track of who was who-but I needed to find out what happened to all of them. And some of it is very sad.

I'm still thinking about Cussy and her life (and feeling thankful). I think that says a lot about a book. If you are interested in history, and in particular the hardships endured by these people, you should check out The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek.

Published by Sourcebooks Landmard, 2019
eBook purchased
320 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Book Review: Shout, by Laurie Halse Anderson

Anderson, who wrote Speak, has written Shout, a book in poetic form, that is more autobiographical than Speak.

Anderson's life was hard. Her father was apparently suffering from PTSD and her mother was not very motherly. Like most memoirs of hard lives lived, it is a downer of a book. I believe it was very cathartic for Anderson to write Shout (I feel like that's the most important reason for this book), and I'm sure it is empowering to many, but I really didn't enjoy it very much. I guess you aren't really supposed to "enjoy" it.

But...I didn't find the poetic form to be as easy as Ellen Hopkins' (and others who have used this form effectively) books. There are a few sections that are just numbered lists written in prose and I thought those were the best parts. Shout doesn't really tell a story. There are vignettes of her life, but no beginning, middle, end. And honestly, because of the format, I'm having a hard time remembering any details of her life. The last section, especially, is just a bunch of rants. And I understand that women have a lot to rant about these days (as we always have), but Shout just wasn't my book.

I'm probably in the minority, but it is just (as always) my opinion. I feel like because I'm a woman I'm supposed to love this book, but I'm not going to say I love something that just didn't work for me. I'll probably get slammed for it, but...

Shout is a quick read, it is supposed to be empowering, and if you are an Anderson fan, probably worth your time no matter what.

Published by Viking BFYR, March 4, 2019
eBook obtained from the library
304 pages

Rating: 3/5

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Book Review: Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

I would never make it through Charles Dickens without my Serial Reader app. I have tried to read Great Expectations previously but just couldn't do it. Taking it in 10-15 minute chunks daily is the only way for me.

I can't say I enjoyed Great Expectations, but I did get through it without any discomfort.

It really takes a long time for the story to get going.  It never moves at a fast pace, but it does pick up a bit at a point past the halfway mark.  I just didn't find the story all that compelling.  I was entertained by poor Pip's experiences but really could have read the CliffsNotes and been just as happy. The characterizations are great, and I enjoy visualizing them. There were some surprises that I didn't see coming and some that I did.

I readily admit I don't have the appreciation for the old terminology, slow pace, and very descriptive language used in many classical works. But now I can say I've read it. It will be a while before I tackle another Dickens.

Published by ??
EBook obtained from Serial Reader
544 pages

Rating: 3/5

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Book Review: Factory Girl by Josanne La Valley

Factory Girl is a story of a group of young Uyghur girls, one of many ethnic minorities living in China, that will pull at your heartstrings.

Roshen is sixteen and looking forward to becoming a teacher and marrying her sweetheart. All that changes when she is forced by the Chinese government to become a factory girl to serve her country for one year. Her family risks losing their farm if she doesn’t go. The location of the factory is very far from her home in a totally different part of the country.

Factory Girl is a familiar story. The girls are isolated, abused, underfed and overworked. The setting is different, but this is a sweatshop story. It's unfair, and makes the reader feel indignant. Their treatment is cruel, they are offered no protection, and have no contact with the outside world. The threat of sexual advances is always real.

Roshen exhibits growth and matures throughout the story, but the other girls’ characterizations are indistinct. A note at the end clarifying what is fiction and nonfiction would be helpful. I'd like to know the "real story." I wondered whether Factory Girl was set in the present time or if it's historical. It is hard to tell because of the cultural differences. The ending is a bit abrupt and convenient, however, this story of survival and resilience will appeal to younger readers who are interested.

Published by Clarion, January 10, 2017
ARC obtained from School Library Connection Magazine
265 pages

Rating: 3/5

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Book Review: Audacity, by Melanie Crowder @MelanieACrowder

I've been on an immigration kick lately. Not that I meant to, but I just happened to grab three books about immigrants and they have all been excellent. Audacity is about Jewish immigrants from Russia at the turn of the century and it is based on a true story. (Girl in Translation and Orphan Train are the other two books in case you're interested.)

Clara comes from a very traditional Jewish family, so when they arrive in New York she and her mother must find work. Her father and brothers are to spend their time studying God's word.  I had a hard time not throwing the book across the room. Her mother is taking in piecework and Clara is working in a sweatshop barely making anything. And the males in the family go to the temple and study all day.  I'm all for faith, but how can one justify this in the name of any religion?

Anyway, Clara can't deal with the working conditions and starts looking into unionizing. The men are beginning to become organized, but they see no need to include women. So not only does Clara have to fight the women to get them to join, but she has to fight the men to include them.  She spends many days picketing, loses her job, and is beaten more than once. Ultimately her efforts lead to a massive 20,000 worker uprising.

She's an inspiration. One that most people have probably never heard of. This is a story worth hearing, and it's quick. Audacity is written in verse and is easy to follow. I wasn't blown away by the format, but it also didn't hinder me. The Historical Note at the end and the interviews with Clara's family add much to the story.

Audacity would be a great classroom read that would provide a lot of food for discussion.  The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire occurs shortly after this and might be an option for further study. Yet another historical fiction that I need to push to my teens. I think they will like Audacity, if I can convince them to try it.

Published by Philomel, January 8, 2015
Copy obtained from the library
388 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Book Review: Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

Girl in Translation is a heartbreaking story that gives the reader a lot to think about.

Kim and her mother emigrate from Hong Kong to the United States believing that they will have a better life. They are sponsored by her mother's sister, Paula, and her husband. The life she describes is not just hard but unjust and cruel.

Because of the cultural and language barriers, Kim and her mother don't know how to fight for themselves. They let Paula dictate their lives, thinking she is doing the best she can. They live in an apartment in Chinatown infested with mice and roaches and have no heat during the cold winters. Kim's mom works at the garment factory being paid by the piece (which is illegal) and in order to meet her quota, Kim must come every day after school and help. They even take work home in the evenings and on weekends.

Kim is very intelligent, but it's hard for her teachers to tell because of the language. She's working very hard to improve that. She's resourceful and hardworking, thank goodness. Her aunt not only withholds money for their rent, but also they must pay her back for getting them to the US and for medication she paid for to cure Kim's mother's tuberculosis. They barely have enough to subsist.

It is very important to Kim to keep her situation a secret from the one friend she has and from the school authorities. It is such a horrible, no-win situation. I can't believe Kim ended up persevering in the end, because that's what made this worth reading. And the fact that she's so gifted is what made it possible. I'm heartbroken for those that have been in this situation or are still in this situation and never get out. It's hard to think about. I feel very lucky and also inadequate.

Kwok emigrated from Hong Kong when she was young and worked in a sweat shop with her family, so she writes from experience and it shows. Girl in Translation is very readable and engaging and should be widely read. I'll do my best to get it into as many hands as I can.

Published by Riverhead Books, 2011
Copy obtained from the library
307 pages

Rating: 4.5/5

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Audio Book Review: The Good Earth, by Pearl S. Buck

If you are interested in early 1900s Chinese culture, The Good Earth is the book for you.

In fact, the culture and discussions of weather, farming, food, and general life was my favorite part. It's hard to get past the cultural position of women and daughters. This is definitely a man's world and at times I found that frustrating.

Wang Lung is our main character and we follow his life as he is a newlywed poor farmer through famine and fortune and all that comes with it.  He's whiny. As he gets older, he just wishes for "peace." Over and over. He has a large family and a large fortune and lots of complications he's brought on himself. What does he expect? I didn't like some of the decisions he made, but once again, it's cultural, and just difficult to feel good about.

I did appreciate Wang Lung's love of the land-- the Good Earth.The Earth is definitely the theme of this epic tale, which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1932. Buck also won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1938.  So, you know, this book has caused a stir.

The narrator, Anthony Heald did an excellent job. He was so good, it was like I didn't even think about the narration. He was perfect for this story.

The Good Earth is a classic. I personally enjoy historical novels, especially those of other cultures, so The Good Earth was right up my alley. Even if I was frustrated with the characters at times, it's a realistic portrayal of pre-revolution China. Fairly easy reading and highly recommended.

Originally Published by John Day in 1931. The audio was published by Blackstone in 2007

Copy obtained from the library
356 pages

Rating: 4/5

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