Ragtime

Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The novel takes place in the early 1900 and follows the lifelines social lights of Evelyn Nesbit, Harry Thaw, Stanford White, and many others. Although the three are not the main leads of the novel, they do take a large part in confectioning our main characters together.

While it took a while for the novel to make sense, I did enjoy the plot. The storyline moved fast, and each character’s life stories were different, fascinating, and took drastic changes throughout the novel.

I did admire Mother’s Younger Brother for taking the stand for justice and joining Coalhouse Walker in his revenge. And poor Jewish immigrant Tateh, who made a big name in the cinema industry in order to take his little family from poverty and give his little girl the life she deserved. And finally the Mother’s strength, protection, and love for a little orphan.

Good overall read. There were a few entertaining chapters. Not my favorite historical fiction, as it was hard to follow the plot at time. It did come together by the end of the book.



View all my reviews

The Wife Upstairs

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great book to start a new year with! Dear reader, prepare yourself for a phenomenal roller coaster of events.

Jane’s life turns upside down when she meets a handsome, rich, and newly widowed bachelor on a street in the most upscale and gated neighborhood of Thornfield Estates. Mother Fortune has given Jane this lucky chance, and she is not stupid to pass it by. Shortly after Jane’s address changes, as well as her wardrobe, daily routine, manners, tastes, and new shiny bling on THE finger. Besides the wealth, Jane inherits Eddie’s dead wife’s shadow that begins to follow her since the first time she stepped foot into Eddie’s residence. Blinded by such a turn of events, Jane doesn’t right away notice her future husband’s strange behavior. And what follows next will open her eyes to the truth behind the unfortunate accident that took place before Jane’s fabulous entrance into the Thornfield Estates and it’s residents’ lives.

Ah, what a marvelous, intriguing, and captivating read this was. Way better than I expected. Fabulous characters followed by a twisted plot at the end of which the hunter becomes hunted, victims become victimizers.



View all my reviews