Review: Children of the Jacaranda Tree by Sahar Delijani

Publisher: Atria
Pages: 288

Received: Received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley

Release Date: June 18, 2013
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Goodreads Synopsis:

A COUNTRY DIVIDED BY REVOLUTION A PEOPLE UNITED BY LOVE

Neda is born in Tehran’s Evin Prison, where her mother is allowed to nurse her for a few months before the arms of a guard appear at the cell door one day and, simply, take her away. In another part of the city, three-year-old Omid witnesses the arrests of his political activist parents from his perch at their kitchen table, yogurt dripping from his fingertips. More than twenty years after the violent, bloody purge that took place inside Tehran’s prisons, Sheida learns that her father was one of those executed, that the silent void firmly planted between her and her mother all these years was not just the sad loss that comes with death, but the anguish and the horror of murder.

These are the Children of the Jacaranda Tree. Set in post-revolutionary Iran from 1983 to 2011, this stunning debut novel follows a group of mothers, fathers, children, and lovers, some related by blood, others brought together by the tide of history that washes over their lives. Finally, years later, it is the next generation that is left with the burden of the past and their country’s tenuous future as a new wave of protest and political strife begins.

Children of the Jacaranda Tree is an evocative portrait of three generations of men and women inspired by love and poetry, burning with idealism, chasing dreams of justice and freedom. Written in Sahar Delijani’s spellbinding prose, capturing the intimate side of revolution in a country where the weight of history is all around, it is a moving tribute to anyone who has ever answered its call.

My Review:

In such a small amount of pages this book really brings up some heavy issues. I did take awhile to read this story because of everything that is going on and the large cast of characters. The book jumps around between the different people, from those that were inside the prison, to their children and how their lives have been affected by the past. Sahar Delijani has a beautiful writing style but at times I felt like it was a little disjointed because of how confused I could get of who I was following.

Sahar Delijani writes with conviction and this book really shows how easily one generation impacts the following generations, as we see those who have survived the prisons now come back to teach their children about the past and these are the people left to clean up the mess. The one thing that was difficult was how the story was not told in a linear way, it jumps around from the parent to the child and how they have moved on from the war but never forgotten what happened.

When a new generation begins protesting and having political strife, the new generation looks back at history and how that impacted what is happening now. All these characters have so much to deal with, it is hard to imagine being in any of their places. Honestly, as much as I had difficulties with some things, I did love how emotional and beautiful Delijani has made this story. I really enjoyed what came out of this story, especially bringing out a real look into what happened years ago in Tehran and how those people dealt with the aftermath. 

Review: The Girl Who Was Saturday Night by Heather O'Neill

Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 416

Received: Received a copy from Harper Collins Canada in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: April 25, 2014
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Goodreads Synopsis:

From the author of the international bestseller Lullabies for Little Criminals, a coming-of-age novel set on the seedy side of Montreal’s St. Laurent Boulevard.

Gorgeous twins Noushcka and Nicolas Tremblay live with their grandfather Loulou in a tiny, sordid apartment on St. Laurent Boulevard. They are hopelessly promiscuous, wildly funny and infectiously charming. They are also the only children of the legendary Québécois folksinger Étienne Tremblay, who was as famous for his brilliant lyrics about working-class life as he was for his philandering bon vivant lifestyle and his fall from grace. Known by the public since they were children as Little Noushcka and Little Nicolas, the two inseparable siblings have never been allowed to be ordinary. On the eve of their twentieth birthday, the twins’ self-destructive shenanigans catch up with them when Noushcka agrees to be beauty queen in the local St. Jean Baptiste Day parade. The media spotlight returns, and the attention of a relentless journalist exposes the cracks in the family’s relationships. Though Noushcka tries to leave her family behind, for better or worse, Noushcka is a Tremblay, and when tragedy strikes, home is the only place she wants to be.

With all the wit and poignancy that made Baby such a beloved character in Lullabies for Little Criminals, O’Neill writes of an unusual family and what binds them together and tears them apart. The Girl Who Was Saturday Night is classic, unforgettable Heather O’Neill.

My Review:

Okay, after hearing so much about this book I knew I needed to check it out, especially being a Canadian author. I have had Lullabies for Little Criminals on my TBR list for a while and after reading this one I will be picking it up ASAP. There is just so much to love about this book that is hard to choose a place to start.

This is a beautiful book about relationships and how the way that we are raised can really affect the future. The story mainly follows Noushcka Tremblay for about a year or so as she tries to find her place in the world. Noushcka has grown up in the spotlight because her father is a famous musician in Quebec, but it is a place that she has tried very hard to get out of, she is someone that you want to dislike because of the way she acts a lot of the time, but as you understand her more you come to sympathize with her. Her relationship with her brother is disturbing at times, and you see that what she looks for in a mate is what her father and brother are like. Each of these two have very destructive tendencies, especially when together, it is like a dark hole for Noushcka when Nicolas comes around.

I really loved how Heather O'Neill has taken a character from such a tough upbringing and elevated her in the reader's eyes (at least mine). The way Noushcka views the world is skewed and yet she slowly grows and realizes where she belongs and where her mistakes have been over time. Noushcka learns that she needs to do things for herself and she needs to learn about herself by getting away from what she has known for so long.

This story is definitely unusual and yet so beautiful, and unforgettable, everything that O'Neill writes really sticks with you, showing a family that in the worst of times can still stick together through things. I had so much fun and this book was such a great story that I will remember the characters for years to come. Heather O'Neill is definitely a strong writer, and I believe her characters will grow more, I kind of wish to see more of Noushcka's adventures, like a sequel to see more of what she has learned over time. I definitely suggest picking this one up ASAP.

Review: Countdown by Michelle Rowen

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 336

Received: Received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley

Release Date: October 1, 2013
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Goodreads Synopsis:

3 seconds left to live. Once the countdown starts, it cannot be stopped.

2 pawns thrown into a brutal underground reality game.

Kira Jordan survived her family's murder and months on plague-devastated city streets with hard-won savvy and a low-level psi ability. She figures she can handle anything. Until she wakes up in a barren room, chained next to the notorious Rogan Ellis.

1 reason Kira will never, ever trust Rogan. Even though both their lives depend on it.

Their every move is controlled and televised for a vicious exclusive audience. And as Kira's psi skill unexpectedly grows and Rogan's secrets prove evermore deadly, Kira's only chance of survival is to risk trusting him as much as her instincts. Even if that means running head-on into the one trap she can't escape.

GAME OVER

My Review:

This story starts right away in a very intense moment between Kira and Rogan. Readers are instantly thrown into the game of Countdown and as the story moves along we learn more about the history and what happens in the game. At one point in the beginning I had flashbacks from the SAW movie franchise (though not as sickening as those challenges, this is still a very dangerous game where you are really playing for your lives).

Each level of this game becomes more dangerous for the players and they need to decide if they will do everything to win not only their dreams but their lives as well. Kira and Rogan were both interesting characters with very opposite personalities and I think it made the story work so well. They both are very sarcastic people and the way they act help them through the game itself. The one thing I really enjoyed about Kira was that she is someone who has been relying on herself for so long, she is a bit self-centered (though it's an understandable flaw), but she is tough from being on the streets. The only thing was it seemed that she didn't grow much over the course of the story, I wanted her to learn a little more from the game.

I really think this was an interesting story with some interesting twists that really kept me guessing about what was real and who could be trusted throughout the game.This was an intense book, but it followed a lot of similar storylines, you could see the romance coming and I kind of felt like it was a bit forced and over the top. But other than that I did really enjoy this book, and loved how intense Michelle Rowen made some of the scenes, surprising readers with the things that these characters were forced to go through.