Book Review: Girls Burn Brighter, by Shobha Rao

Girls Burn Brighter is a very well-written, compelling book.  But it is heartbreaking.

Poornima and Savitha become best friends during their poverty-stricken childhood in India.  Because of circumstances beyond their control (like being forced to marry, which actually is the least barbaric act in this book) they are torn from each other.

Their lives are so miserable, and through it all, what keeps them going is the possibility of escaping and finding each other again.

Rao's writing is beautiful. I was truly sucked in and couldn't put this down. (I may have snuck some reading of this one during work...)  I felt so deeply for each of these women and couldn't believe the lengths they went to in order to find each other. There was some luck involved, but a lot of this luck stemmed from the fact that they were so close, that they knew what paths each of them would take in certain situations.  It was fascinating.

This isn't a light book. And it's made worse by the fact that it ends so abruptly.  After such a distressing narrative, I wanted a complete ending.  I wanted just a little denouement or some kind of epilogue.  At the end of the book, I still felt all of the grief that I suffered throughout, even though the ending is "happy."  It was jarringly abrupt. You are waiting and hoping for them to finally find each other and you don't get to see any of that play out. Ugggh.  This was so frustrating to me!

I would still recommend Girls Burn Brighter to adults and older teens who enjoy dramatic stories that emphasize friendship, oppression of women, powerful females, and survival at all costs. Just be aware that you have to finish the story for yourself if you want a "feel good" ending.

Published by Flatiron, March 6, 2018
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
320 pages

Rating: 4/5

---

Back to Annette's Book Spot Homepage Copyright © 2018 Annette's Book Spot. All Rights Reserved

Book Review: The Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian

I totally forgot to write this review! And this book has been released a week ago!  Sorry....

I must admit being a bit disappointed in The Guest Room, but it's not really because of the book, it's because of my expectations. I don't really read blurbs very carefully and I had read The Night Stranger by Bohjalian that was a really creepy, macabre book, so I thought this would be more of the same. It wasn't.

Richard is hosting a bachelor party at his home for his younger, very immature brother. One of the friends hires some strippers which was to be expected. But these two women do a lot more than strip, and then all hell breaks loose and they murder their two body guards. Turns out they were kidnapped Russian girls being forced into prostitution against their will. The girls escape, leaving Richard's house in shambles. His wife and young daughter are traumatized as well as the other guys that were at the party. Richard's brother's wedding gets cancelled.

We also get the perspective of one of the sex slaves -- her background and how she ended up in this mess, as well as their attempt to flee.

It's a messed up situation. And the ending is just as messed up. No HEA here, just so you know...

The writing is great and the pace is pretty frantic. It's hard to put The Guest Room down at times as I anticipated how it was all going to turn out. I must admit I was a bit disappointed, but that's just my opinion.

The Guest Room is an adult book that I would only recommend to mature teens.

Published by Doubleday, January 5, 2016
eARC obtained from NetGalley
336 pages

Rating: 3.5/5

---

Back to Annette's Book Spot Homepage Copyright © 2016 Annette's Book Spot. All Rights Reserved

Book Review: The Walled City, by Ryan Graudin

The Walled City is one of those books that is thrilling and exciting, but also heartbreaking at the same time.

There are three narrators. Jin, a girl pretending to be a boy, is just trying to stay alive and stay away from the horrible street gangs. She sleeps on the street and is starving most of the time. She only wants to find her sister, Mei Yee, who was sold into prostitution by their father.

Mei Yee is another narrator. She is confined to her house, which is owned by a ruthless drug lord. There is no escape from her predicament. She is "reserved" for one very powerful man, who has paid to have her exclusive services.

Dai has secrets. It isn't clear through most of the book why he's in the walled city. He seems to have plenty of money and communicates with someone outside the wall. He recruits Jin, because she is such a fast runner, to work with him to do drug runs for the owner of the brothel where Mei Yee is. He also befriends Mei Yee and asks her to spy for him.

The walled city is an awful place. There is no hope, no authority figures, and it's filthy and dark. It isn't clear why this city exists. Graudin doesn't explain why all these people are here. It seems there is no gate keeping them in. They are free to go to the beautiful, prosperous big city right outside. But they don't. It is clear why our three main characters are here, but in general, I didn't get a clear picture of what exactly this place is.

There is adventure and political intrigue. There are awful stories of drug addiction and beatings. The Walled City, fortunately, has a pretty upbeat ending that also seems realistic.

There is also information about the real walled cities that existed not that long ago in Hong Kong. I still wished for more information about how these cities came to be and what they were for. It seems they were just slums? I still don't understand.

The Walled City is fast paced and easy to read. Anyone who likes a suspenseful survival story would enjoy it.

Published by Little, Brown BFYR, November 4, 2014
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
448 pages

Rating: 4/5

---

Back to Annette's Book Spot Homepage Copyright © 2014 Annette's Book Spot. All Rights Reserved

Book Review: Out of the Easy, by Ruta Sepetys

Out of the Easy is such a delight. It's a book that just immersed me in its world, and I didn't want it to end.

The plot isn't that unique or stunning. Josie's mom is a prostitute in New Orleans. Josie has been on her own since she was eleven years old. She lives above a book store where she works, and she also cleans the house where her mother lives and works. It's 1950, so there's corruption and the world isn't easy for a poor young woman.

Willie, who runs the house, is like a mother to Josie. Many assume Josie will have to turn to the life her mother lives, but Josie will do anything to avoid it -- and she really wants to go to college. But, not just the local college. Josie wants to go where no one knows about her past. She wants to go to Smith College in the East. She comes up with a clever plan to make it happen.

See? It just doesn't sound like much is going on when  you describe it, but there are so many colorful characters in Out of the Easy. Some want to help Josie, some want to be romantically involved, and some just want her to be a prostitute. Josie is shrewd, thank goodness, because life throws her several curves. Josie's mother is unbelievably heartless. Thank goodness she has other people in her life that she can rely on. I felt myself rooting for Josie, and wanting to jump right in the story to help her right along with all the other characters.

I'm not giving specifics about the plot, but just let me say this is a book you need to experience. I appreciate that the ending isn't all unrealistically perfect, but it is hopeful. Whether teen or adult, and even if you aren't a big historical fiction fan, Out of the Easy has something for everyone. Sepetys is a wonderful writer, and I'll read anything she comes up with.

Published by Philomel, February 12, 2013
Copy obtained from LibraryThing Early Reviewers
348  pages

Rating: 5/5

---

Back to Annette's Book Spot Homepage Copyright © 2013 Annette's Book Spot. All Rights Reserved