Book Review - Mala's Cat; A Memoir of Survival in World War II; Mala Kacenberg

 

Mala's Cat; A Memoir of Survival in World War II; Mala Kacenberg

Dreamscape Audio and Pegasus Books - 2022

(audio download provided at no cost by publisher and NetGalley)

Mala Szorer, a Jewish girl, grew up in quaint forested village in Poland.  Her family had a good life until WWII began and the German invasion changed everything.  She wasn't even 14 when she witnessed the killing of her older brother and her family by SS men.  

 Knowing she had to flee the area if she had any chance of surviving, Mala and her cat, Malach, who she truly believed was her guardian angel, fled to find safety. Mala was a strong, smart, blond blue-eyed girl and, the fact that she did not look Jewish worked to her advantage.  With the help of some kind-hearted people along the way she was provided with occasional food and clothing and, eventually she able to pose as a Christian, fake her identity and even find work and shelter. 

I loved listening to Mala's story and her nearly (6) year fight to survive.  This book, originally published in 1995 as, Alone in the Forest, was a wonderful and important story.  Unlike many other WWII, Holocaust stories, I did not find this one too dark and depressing despite the subject manner. Mala was a wonderful character, she was so determined with a nothing to lose kind of attitude that worked to her advantage. A beautiful story of survival despite the odds. The audio, narrated by Kristin Atherton, is highly recommended.

Rating - 5/5 stars

Herstory: 50 Woman & Girls Who Shook Up the World; Katherine Halligan

TITLE: Herstory: 50 Women & Girls Who Shook Up the World
AUTHOR:  Katherine Halligan (Illust. Sarah Walsh)

PUBLISHER:  Simon & Schuster Young Readers - Dreamscape Audio

PUB. YEAR: 2018

SETTING:  n/a
FORMAT:  - audio and print

RATING - 4.5/5

With (3) young granddaughters (ages 5-7), I'm always searching for books that emphasize the fact that girls can be anything they want to be. Dream, work hard and achieve.  When I saw a review of this book somewhere I wanted to try it and, overall, I'd say this book was a hit. This book is targeted at the 8+ age group (grades 3 & 4).

Herstory is an inspiring book which looks at 50 girls and women from around the world who left a mark on history.   From artists, social leaders, activists, writers, scientists and visionaries, some of the featured included: Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Joan of Arc, Frida Khalo, Helen Keller, Beatrix Potter, Emily Bronte, Rachel Carson, Mother Teresa, Billie Holiday, Maya Angelo, Coco Channel, Malala Yousatazai, Florence Nightengale, Georgia O'Keefe, Marie Curie,  Anne Frank, Eva Peron and many more.

Nicely done book empowering young girls to dream big.

I listened to the audio of this one which was very good but, after looking at the nicely illustrated print version, I'll be getting copies for the young granddaughters now.

2 Quick RIP XI Reviews - Pretty Girls; K. Slaughter and the Girls She Left Behind; Sarah Graves

 Pretty Girls; Karin Slaughter

Blackstone Audio - 2015

Kathleen Early - Narrator

Pretty Girls is a gritty, disturbing, psychological thriller. The Carroll family has never been the same since the disappearance of daughter and sister Julia from her college dorm some 24 years earlier.

After Julia's disappearance the two remaining sisters, Claire and Lydia haven't spoken in years and their lives couldn't be more different. Lydia is a single mom and recovering substance abuser with an ex-con boyfriend. Claire married a wealthy architect but, the effects of Julia's disappearance has affected her as well. She's spent time on house arrest and just when her monitoring device is removed, her husband is killed right before her very eyes.

As police begin to ask questions it appears that Claire did not know her husband all that well. And, what exactly happened to Julia when she went missing?  Lydia and Claire reconnect to do a bit of their own investigation.

I haven't read this author in several years and always enjoyed her psych thrillers previously but, wow, has her writing become disturbing. It's overridden with violence and brutality against women and, was very tough to listen to.  I had to fast forward over some of that violence.  Definitely not recommended for the faint of heart.

2.5/5 stars
(library audio)

The Girls She Left Behind; Sarah Graves

Dreamscape Media - 2016

Kirsten Potter - Narrator

A few months ago I listened to the first book of a new series by Sarah Graves. The book was Winter at the Door, with protagonist, Lizzie Snow. In that story Lizzie had just relocated to rural Bearkill, Maine to accept a job as Sheriff's Deputy. Previously, Lizzie had been a homicide detective in Boston but, relocated hoping to follow a lead concerning her missing niece Nicki.

Now in this second mystery, while fierce wildfires threaten homes nearby and a young girl named Tara goes missing, Lizzie has her work cut out for her, meanwhile her missing niece Nicki is always on her mind. The latest missing girl, Tara, has run away before but her mother is sure this time is different.  Meanwhile, a psychopath named Henry Gemmeil has escaped and in the past he has kidnapped women and kept them hidden.

Although this story is the second book of a series, there is plenty of background information provided so that you need not feel compelled to read book one before trying this one.  Overall, I enjoyed listening to this mystery. It's a bit darker than book one but, not overly so.  Lizzy is a decent protagonist but she can be a bit of a flake when it comes to romantic interests.  I loved the cold, dark, rural Maine setting of both of these books which makes the mystery aspects more atmospheric.  Kirsten Potter is a great audio book narrator as well.

3.5/5 stars

(library audio)

Winter at the Door; Sarah Graves

Winter at the Door; Sarah Graves

Dreamscape Media/Bantam 2015

The first book of a new series, Winter at the Door,  is a mystery set in rural Maine.  

Lizzie Snow just may have made the biggest mistake of her life.  Then a former romantic interest recommends her for a new job, she decides to leave Boston for a job with the Bearkill Maine police force.

Lizzie had her other reasons for wanting to  relocate to Maine.  She has reason to believe her young niece Nicki who was kidnapped 9 years earlier just might be in this area of Maine.  Lizzie's introduction to Maine and the police force gets off to a rocky start. She is never given a clear description of her duties are except that there is a possible cop killer in the area but, the victims deaths are made to look like possible suicides.

I loved the setting of this book, it felt very atmospheric, deep woods Maine in winter. In general, the story held my interest, but, I think the story and the characters could have been further developed. There seemed like an awful lot going on and, not everything seemed to relate to the central mystery.

3.5/5 stars

(library audio book)

A Cold and Lonely Place; Sara J. Henry

A Cold and Lonely Place; Sara J Henry

Dreamscape - 2013

When I started this audiobook, I hadn't realized it was actually the second book of a (3) book series featuring Troy Chance. I hate when that happens, but despite that it was still a pretty good listening experience.

Troy Chance is a freelance write for a local newspaper in the Lake Placid, New York area.  As the story opens the village of Saran Lake is preparing for the annual winter festival.  Troy is out on the lake taking pictures of workers cutting away ice blocks as the prepare to build the ice palace.  While this is happening suddenly workers stop and a body is being pulled from the lake which Troy captures on camera.

The body is that of Tobin Winslow, the boyfriend of Troy's roommate Jessamyn.  Tobin lives in a cabin just outside the village, and although he came from money, he was somewhat of a drifter, spending lots of time in bars and drinking too much. So what happened to Tobin and why would a guy with everything going for him drop out of Princeton and try to escape his past?

This mystery had lots of possible suspects and honestly, far too many characters to keep straight especially in audio format.  Many of the characters are never fully developed of just mentioned once or twice, a few were even character Troy emailed.    I did love the protagonist, Troy. She comes across as a lonely but bright woman and a keen observer of people.  I also enjoyed reading about and learning more about Tobin, the victim as I was curious what happened to cause him to give up a life that many would envy to drift from place to place.

This mystery was far from perfect, but I still enjoyed listening to it.  I'm on the fence as to whether I'll go back and read the first book in the series, Learning to Swim.

3.5/5 stars

(library)