Book Review - Stubborn Life - By Franceska Michalska - Publication Date: 5 November 2024

 What an incredible journey of travesty yet overlaid with the stubborness to survive!  Definitely this has been a memoir of one who was in survival of the fittest mode.

Author Franceska Michalska tells it like it was, no holds barred.  Her story of displacement after displacement with harrowing journeys from Volhynia (Poland Belarus Ukraine), Kazakstan and her native Poland during WWII.  The abuse and cruelty of captors, mainly Russian was exponential.  Enduring starvation, fear, sub-zero temps, hard labor, and more, she lived by her wits and managed an education and a medical degree by snips and snaps.  

This book has been translated from Polish into English by Sean Gasper Bye.  In my opinion it is has been good for me to learn of these things.  It feels like the people in these Eastern Europian regions have had it even worse than those in western zones.  One would definitely not wish to have this happen all over again.  However, this region seems to be so repeatedly hard hit, even now.  This book will certainly give clarity on the situation to those readers who care and wish to understand more.

                                           ~ Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger ~

                                                                June 2024

Disclaimer:  This is my own and honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.

Read review on Goodreads.

Book Review - Another Breath, Another Sunrise - Book 4 Michal's Destiny Series - By Roberta Kagan - Publication Date: 9 November 2024

 The tying up  of the aftermath of WWII horrors for Michal's scattered family and friends created a satisfactory read for me.  However, I felt somewhat disappointed with this fourth book in the Michal's Destiny series.  I believe it's because there was a fair amount of rehashing of the terrors, trauma and situations that occured in the first three books in order to make this a stand alone novel, in and of itself.  Somehow I expected more after the suspense of the ending of the third book.  Therefore, I rate this book with only 4 Stars.

                                                ~ Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger ~

                                                            November 2024

Disclaimer:  This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by Net Galley and the publisher.

Read review on Goodreads.

                                       

Book Review - I Am Wind - By Rachel Poliquin - Publication Date: 5 November 2024

 A big thumb's up for this extra-ordinary, educational children's book!  It is so fascinating and it feels like the author is so in-tune with young readers, knowing just the correct tweak to grab and hold their attention.  The personification of the wind, interspersed with easy-to-read and understand, more formal blurbs, coupled with fantastic illustrations makes this work a definite masterpiece!

I had no idea how many breezes and blasts of winds, and winds of varying names there are.  It is so interesting to learn of the different people groups from earlier times and their names for wind; their stories, legends and beliefs about wind and so on.  The book tells of the different measures of intensity of wind; of harnessing the wind for windmills and other work; of playing with wind, such as making it fly kites and much more.

The most interesting part for me was learning about the "Singing Sands," when wind and sand play together and sing,  for good or not so good results.  The list of key terms related to wind at book's end will help round out the scholastic input.   In my opinion, there's not a single dull page in the book!

A certain 5-STAR rating from me!

                                            ~ Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger ~

                                                               May 2024

Disclaimer:  This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.

Read review on Goodreads.