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Marisa

Twelve Years a Slave

Summary: This unforgettable memoir was the basis for the Academy Award-winning film 12 Years a Slave. This is the true story of Solomon Northup, who was born and raised as a freeman in New York. He lived the American dream, with a house and a loving family - a wife and two kids. Then one day he was drugged, kidnapped, and sold into slavery in the deep south. These are the true accounts of his twelve hard years as a slave - many believe this memoir is even more graphic and disturbing than the film. His extraordinary journey proves the resiliency of hope and the human spirit despite the most grueling and formidable of circumstances. (summary and book cover courtesy of goodreads.com) 

Review: “12 Years a Slave” was an interesting book I would recommend everyone to read.  There was a very conscious effort to avoid exaggeration, hyperbole or judgment and document the facts.  This has the effect of the writer appearing very honest and resonating with the reader, but is also what also had me demote the book a star because it can also be a bit dull.

That being admitted, read in the modern context, we have to understand that the factual writing style protected Northup.  In 1853 when the book was published, slavery/racism was very much present in the US and his approach protected against accusations of slander.  

When being written, the goal wasn't to create propaganda.  The purpose was to provide an accurate description to one individual’s experiences and leave the judgment to the reader.

Historically, this is an important book as the matter of fact presentation encouraged many people to take abolitionist action preceding the Civil War.  I would highly recommend taking the time to read the book.

Rating: 3 stars! 
Who Should Read It? Everyone interested in a unique historically accurate perspective of slavery preceding the Civil War.

Children of the Mind (Ender Quartet, #4)

Summary: 

With this conclusion to his famous "Ender's Saga, " Card returns to the story of Ender Wiggin, hero of the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Ender's Game, Speaker for the Dead, and Xenocide. Now his adopted world, Lusitania, is threatened by the same planet-destroying weapon that he himself used so many years before. Only Jane, the computer intelligence that has evolved with him over 3,000 years can save the three sentient races of Lusitania. (summary and book cover courtesy of goodreads.com) 

Review:

In the fast-paced finale of the Ender’s saga, Scott Orson Card forces the reader to reconsider preconceived notions of what makes up an individual.  As Jane has the chance to grow into herself, so also do the other characters that have been limited by the impending crisis on Lusitania.  This book also gives us a better glimpse of what makes up Peter and Valentine as they are also challenged to work more as part of the teams to ensure the success of their mission. 

As I alluded in previous reviews, “Speaker of the Dead” and “Xenocide” would be difficult to read stand-alone - they are only completely wrapped up to satisfaction in “Children of the Mind”.  This is the book in the series that requires greater leaps of faith conceptually, but did provide a satisfying conclusion to me.  While “Speaker of the Dead” and “Xenocide” were also more reflective, “Children of the Mind” speeds up to an engaging climax.  I highly recommended it to finish your “Ender’s Game” quartet.

Rating: 4 stars!
Who Should Read It? Anyone who has read the second or third books in the Ender Quartet - I'm not sure you could bear not reading the finale!

Considering the whole series? See my reviews of other books in the series by following the links below:

• Ender's Game (Ender Quartet #1) - Orson Scott Card
• Speaker for the Dead (Ender Quartet #2) - Orson Scott Card
• Xenocide (Ender Quartet #3) - Orson Scott Card

Xenocide (Ender Quartet, #3)

Summary: 

The war for survival of the planet Lusitania will be fought in the hearts of a child named Gloriously Bright.

On Lusitania, Ender found a world where humans and pequininos and the Hive Queen could all live together; where three very different intelligent species could find common ground at last. Or so he thought.

Lusitania also harbors the descolada, a virus that kills all humans it infects, but which the pequininos require in order to become adults. The Starways Congress so fears the effects of the descolada, should it escape from Lusitania, that they have ordered the destruction of the entire planet, and all who live there. The Fleet is on its way, and a second xenocide seems inevitable. (summary and book cover courtesy of goodreads.com) 

Review:

“Xenocide” begs the very relevant question of ‘Is humanity doomed to repeat itself?’  Is it possible for cultures that appear completely at odds to find a way to peacefully coexist?  And in order to find a way to coexist, do the participants have to give up everything that makes them who they are?  Of the books, this is the one I found the most captivating as the reader fully discerns all the contributing factors in Lusitania’s fate.

It is up to a small group of dedicated individuals to attempt to save everything they hold dear: Valentine, Ender, Jane and the Ribeira family.  In this book more than ever, Ender and his adopted family are shown as individuals as well as the political symbol they became.  Additionally, this book begins to explore the place of Lusitania within the Starways Congress setting up the finale of the series.

Rating: 4 stars!
Who Should Read It? Anyone looking to continue the "Ender's Game" series.  As mentioned before, the later books are less focused on war and would have an appeal to a greater audience.

Considering the whole series? See my reviews of other books in the series by following the links below:

• Ender's Game (Ender Quartet #1) - Orson Scott Card
• Speaker for the Dead (Ender Quartet #2) - Orson Scott Card
• Children of the Mind (Ender Quartet #4) - Orson Scott Card

Speaker for the Dead (Ender Quartet, #2)

Summary: 

In the aftermath of his terrible war, Ender Wiggin disappeared, and a powerful voice arose: the Speaker for the Dead, who told of the true story of the Bugger War.

Now long years later, a second alien race has been discovered, but again the aliens’ ways are strange and frightening…again, humans die. And it is only the Speaker for the Dead, who is also Ender Wiggin the Xenocide, who has the courage to confront the mystery…and the truth. (summary and book cover courtesy of goodreads.com) 

Review:

When I read Ender’s game the first time (at the age of 12) I did not read the full series and I am glad that I didn’t.  I believe the remaining books ("Speaker for the Dead", "Xenocide", and "Children of the Mind") are slightly less friendly to young adults.  As we get further in the series, the greater the psychological and moral overtones.  Additionally, please note I don't believe you can read any of the last three books stand-alone, they only function well if read as a continuous story.  If you sign up for one, sign up for all of them!

"Speaker for the Dead" is fascinating because we get to see how Ender was (and wasn’t) able to move past the events in "Ender’s Game".  The first book presents the Bugger war as an apparently black and white picture.  "Speaker for the Dead" proves there are always many sides to a story.  I found this book engrossing because it challenged a belief (even as simple as a book opinion) and persuaded me to question everything about the situation.  Despite being an intriguing book, “Speaker for the Dead” sets the stage for the subsequent books and would not be a satisfying read  independent of the others.

Rating: 4 stars!
Who Should Read It? People who loved "Ender’s Game" and would like to find out what comes next!  The remainder of the series is less focused on war and so may appeal to a larger audience.

Considering the whole series? See my reviews of other books in the series by following the links below:

• Ender's Game (Ender Quartet #1) - Orson Scott Card
• Xenocide (Ender Quartet #3) - Orson Scott Card
• Children of the Mind (Ender Quartet #4) - Orson Scott Card

Ender's Game (Ender Quartet #1)

Summary:
In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race's next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers. A brilliant young boy, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin lives with his kind but distant parents, his sadistic brother Peter, and the person he loves more than anyone else, his sister Valentine. Peter and Valentine were candidates for the soldier-training program but didn't make the cut—young Ender is the Wiggin drafted to the orbiting Battle School for rigorous military training.

Ender's skills make him a leader in school and respected in the Battle Room, where children play at mock battles in zero gravity. Yet growing up in an artificial community of young soldiers Ender suffers greatly from isolation, rivalry from his peers, pressure from the adult teachers, and an unsettling fear of the alien invaders. His psychological battles include loneliness, fear that he is becoming like the cruel brother he remembers, and fanning the flames of devotion to his beloved sister.

Is Ender the general Earth needs? But Ender is not the only result of the genetic experiments. The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway for almost as long. Ender's two older siblings are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. Between the three of them lie the abilities to remake a world. If, that is, the world survives.

Ender's Game is the winner of the 1985 Nebula Award for Best Novel and the 1986 Hugo Award for Best Novel. (summary and book cover courtesy of goodreads.com) 

Review:

Ender’s game is written from the perspective of a young boy, but the book is certainly not just for kids.  Particularly if taken within the context of the full series, Ender’s Game questions many human nature and societal rules in war.  Don't let this keep you from sharing with young adults though; despite heavy topics when I read the book at 12 I still loved it!

Ender is just a kid who wants to be average and have normal relationships.  Unfortunately for him, he an is one of the best candidates Earth has in a war with the Buggers.  He is extremely smart and easy to empathize with.  As the reader journeys with Ender, they are forced to question what their own choices would be in the war.

Warning: Violence

Rating: 4 stars!
Who Should Read It? If you enjoy science fiction, you should have already read this book.  If you haven’t generally read science fiction I would still recommend giving it a try; this may be the book that wins you over. 

Want to read the whole series? See my reviews of other books in the series by following the links below:

• Speaker for the Dead (Ender Quartet #2) - Orson Scott Card
• Xenocide (Ender Quartet #3) - Orson Scott Card
• Children of the Mind (Ender Quartet #4) - Orson Scott Card

Pride & Prejudice

Summary: 
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."

So begins Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen's witty comedy of manners--one of the most popular novels of all time--that features splendidly civilized sparring between the proud Mr. Darcy and the prejudiced Elizabeth Bennet as they play out their spirited courtship in a series of eighteenth-century drawing-room intrigues. (summary and book cover courtesy of goodreads.com)

Review:

I will admit: I put off reading Pride & Prejudice for a long time.  Being the pseudo-hipster I can be, my assumption was that with so many people liking Austen’s books I probably would not.  Fortunately my desire to avoid ignorance was greater than (ironically) my pride and I decided to tackle all of the Jane Austen books in a series.  Thank. God.

I read this book the first time three years ago and to date I have read it 4 times since.  (Yes, really.)  Every time I go through it I find myself laughing out loud, squirming in the awkward moments and rooting for the spunky Jane.  The humor certainly can be subtle, but I find this a perk as re-reading simply reveals additional layers to laugh at.  (Though I am not implying that you have to read the book more than once to enjoy it.)  To me, Austen’s work is like eavesdropping on a group of close friends who happen to be chatting in the Victorian era.  I don't know about your college friends, but mine certainly do not hold back!  If you are going to read only one of the Jane Austen books: This is it.

Side-note: This was a rare occasion where seeing the movie actually made me enjoy re-reading the book even more.  I am partial to the iteration with Keira Knightley (though less historically accurate compared to other versions) because she infused the character with the humor and joy I envisioned Elizabeth having while reading.  Also, for Austen fans, I would highly recommend seeing “Austenland” as well!  

Rating: 5 stars!
Who Should Read It? Being biased, I think everyone should read it once. More realistically, people who adore dry wit, unconventional humor and a trip back in time to the Victorian era.

Humans of New York

Summary:
In the summer of 2010, photographer Brandon Stanton set out on an ambitious project: to single-handedly create a photographic census of New York City. Armed with his camera, he began crisscrossing the city, covering thousands of miles on foot, all in an attempt to capture New Yorkers and their stories. The result of these efforts was a vibrant blog he called "Humans of New York," in which his photos were featured alongside quotes and anecdotes.

Humans of New York is the book inspired by the Internet sensation. With four hundred color photos, including exclusive portraits and all-new stories, Humans of New York is a stunning collection of images that showcases the outsized personalities of New York.

Surprising and moving, Humans of New York is a celebration of individuality and a tribute to the spirit of the city. (summary and book cover courtesy of goodreads.com)

Review:

"Humans of New York" is a fascinating insight to the 'average' human's extraordinary life and story to tell.  The blog and book are successful because Brandon is able to encourage individuals to respond to questions that give the reader a peek to important moments in their lives.  Without his commentary, the photos would be interesting, but less moving.

I received this book after a work trip.  Despite the late hour, I sat down and read the book cover to cover in one sitting - still in my work heels.  I highly recommend the book, checking out the blog or following the Facebook page.  This definitely gets 5 stars from me.

To see the blog, go to: http://www.humansofnewyork.com/

                                                                                    

Rating: 5 stars!
Who Should Read It?  Everyone should at least take a look at the blog, it is fascinating!

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

Summary:

A powerful, blazingly honest memoir: the story of an eleven-hundred-mile solo hike that broke down a young woman reeling from catastrophe—and built her back up again.

At twenty-two, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. In the wake of her mother's death, her family scattered and her own marriage was soon destroyed. Four years later, with nothing more to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life: to hike the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State—and to do it alone. She had no experience as a long-distance hiker, and the trail was little more than “an idea, vague and outlandish and full of promise.” But it was a promise of piecing back together a life that had come undone.

Strayed faces down rattlesnakes and black bears, intense heat and record snowfalls, and both the beauty and loneliness of the trail. Told with great suspense and style, sparkling with warmth and humor, Wild vividly captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddened, strengthened, and ultimately healed her. (summary and book cover courtesy of goodreads.com)

Review:

Wild was a book that I am split on.  The beginning of the book was painful for me to get through as it provided the background to what initiated the interest in the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).  Essentially the first few chapters trace Cheryl’s life imploding after her mother’s death.  Whining, tears, sex, drugs – she went through them all in an almost stream of consciousness description.  In fairness, I have not experienced the death of a loved one so close, but there were a lot of times I just wanted to give her a HUGE kick in the ass.  Others who have experienced a similar loss may disagree with my tough love and not find it quite so annoying.

That being said, once Cheryl did make it to the PCT, I enjoyed the book thoroughly.  She is a talented writer and did a fantastic job describing what could have been a boring description of a long-distance hike.  Her impulsive decision to hike, and therefore lack of preparation, in many ways provides both humor and mild suspense.  I enjoyed the “take it as it comes” attitude and was engrossed to see if she would make it to the end.

Warnings: Drug Use, Sexual Content

Rating: 3 stars!
Who Should Read It? Travel/hiking/adventure story enthusiasts who can put up with some whining and explicit moments.

S.

Summary:
One book. Two readers. A world of mystery, menace, and desire.

A young woman picks up a book left behind by a stranger. Inside it are his margin notes, which reveal a reader entranced by the story and by its mysterious author. She responds with notes of her own, leaving the book for the stranger, and so begins an unlikely conversation that plunges them both into the unknown.

THE BOOK: Ship of Theseus, the final novel by a prolific but enigmatic writer named V. M. Straka, in which a man with no past is shanghaied onto a strange ship with a monstrous crew and launched onto a disorienting and perilous journey.

THE WRITER: Straka, the incendiary and secretive subject of one of the world’s greatest mysteries, a revolutionary about whom the world knows nothing apart from the words he wrote and the rumours that swirl around him.

THE READERS: Jennifer and Eric, a college senior and a disgraced grad student, both facing crucial decisions about who they are, who they might become, and how much they’re willing to trust another person with their passions, hurts, and fears.

S. , conceived by filmmaker J. J. Abrams and written by award-winning novelist Doug Dorst, is the chronicle of two readers finding each other in the margins of a book and enmeshing themselves in a deadly struggle between forces they don’t understand. It is also Abrams and Dorst’s love letter to the written word. (summary and book cover courtesy of goodreads.com)

Review:

S. is unabashedly the most interesting book that I've read recently.  The whole execution is a love-affair with the written word.  The entire package is a fascinating work of art even without reading the story itself.  The book is made to look like a library book and filled with notes as well as odds and ends that the readers (Jennifer and Eric) pass back and forth.  While reading the story, Jennifer and Eric provide their commentary through 'written' notes in the margins and you get to see their relationship change over the course of the book.  Independently, the printed story is intriguing though I had a few lingering questions after the final chapter.  Of course, that should have been expected with the creator of Lost involved!  The combination of the two intertwined stories will have you compulsively trying to finish the book so you can start over again.  

Some people may recommend reading the book in a particular order (nested book first, then comments etc.), but I recommend reading in one pass.  The combinations increased the suspense for me as you will have a peek of what is to come. 

While it is tempting to write more about this book, I will refrain because I believe the discovery and exploration are what make it so enjoyable.  Just go check it out!

Rating: 5 stars!
Who Should Read It? People with a love of the written word, interested in a unique story-telling format or looking for a book that will keep you guessing even after the conclusion.

Chosen

Summary:

It is said that when war threatens the world, one individual will be selected by prophecy to lead the Shadow Warriors out of the Land of Mist and reclaim the freedom which has been stolen.
~~
Shanti has grown up under the constant threat of war. Since she helped her people defeat a raiding party by using a special power, she’s been a hunted woman. Carrying rare abilities and an uncanny fighting aptitude, Shanti is the only hope of salvation for her people. The problem is, she doesn’t believe in her own divinity, and when she flounders, she nearly fails in the duty hanging so heavy on her shoulders.

It seems like any other day when Sanders and his band of misfit boys find a foreign woman clinging to life in the wastelands. Oblivious to the weapon they now have in their possession, they are content to harbor the mysterious woman until she is well enough to continue her journey.

But when the war spreads its arms and lands on her borrowed doorstep, Shanti has no choice but to reveal her secrets, plunging her saviors into danger. If they band with her, they will face certain death. But to trade her to Xandre, the warlord desperate to add her to his war machine, would be to give up their entire way of life.

War is coming. The only choice becomes: Which side do you choose? (summary and book cover courtesy of goodreads.com)

Review:
Chosen is the first book in K.F. Breene's new Warrior Chronicles series and I have to say I am extremely excited to see where it goes. I've recently been plowing through mindless chick lit and this was an extremely welcome switch up. Of course, I am frustrated to now be hooked into a new series that (warning) is NOT COMPLETED. Even worse, not only is the series incomplete, but there isn't a release date for the sequel yet.

Shanti is a refreshingly original, spunky, self-aware heroine that doesn't fall into standard stereotypes. Though she is strong and has great power, she has had to earn both - no spontaneous perfection in this book. The Captain is a larger than life dominating man who is a little over the top in protectiveness, but intriguing in his own right. While originally I wasn't sure about the character dynamics, the absence of love-at-first-sight was appreciated. Additionally, Breene does a fantastic job weaving humor into the story through Shanti's determined ignorance of social norms and her interactions with the Honor Guard.

All in all this book had me captivated while reading and wanting more when it was over.  I'll be looking forward to future books in the series!

Rating: 4 stars!
Who Should Read It?  I definitely recommend this for fans of fantasy or anyone looking for an escape from day to day routine. That being said if you are not typically fantasy genre reader, this probably won't be the book to win you over. 

The Children's Book

Summary:

A spellbinding novel, at once sweeping and intimate, from the Booker Prize–winning author of Possession, that spans the Victorian era through the World War I years, and centers around a famous children’s book author and the passions, betrayals, and secrets that tear apart the people she loves.

When Olive Wellwood’s oldest son discovers a runaway named Philip sketching in the basement of the new Victoria and Albert Museum—a talented working-class boy who could be a character out of one of Olive’s magical tales—she takes him into the storybook world of her family and friends.

But the joyful bacchanals Olive hosts at her rambling country house—and the separate, private books she writes for each of her seven children—conceal more treachery and darkness than Philip has ever imagined. As these lives—of adults and children alike—unfold, lies are revealed, hearts are broken, and the damaging truth about the Wellwoods slowly emerges. But their personal struggles, their hidden desires, will soon be eclipsed by far greater forces, as the tides turn across Europe and a golden era comes to an end.

Taking us from the cliff-lined shores of England to Paris, Munich, and the trenches of the Somme, The Children’s Book is a deeply affecting story of a singular family, played out against the great, rippling tides of the day. It is a masterly literary achievement by one of our most essential writers. (summary and book cover courtesy of goodreads.com)

Review:

This was a book I was thoroughly disappointed in.  I was not previously familiar with A.S. Byatt’s work, but saw great reviews for other books and thought I'd give this one a chance.

While the historical details are interesting, there were too many characters to keep track of.  I was constantly pausing to ask “Which guy was that again?  The gay one or the brother?”.  This also resulted in many events described like one-line Twitter updates to keep the story moving: He is still gay. She is still angry.  He still loves her.  At other times it felt like slogging through heavy details about flat characters that did not add to the story.  After finishing the book, I felt like I had been told 2/3 of a story in extreme detail and was left hanging with no consequence.  There was no final event, no moral of the story, no life-lesson to be learned.  All my frustrations aside, the book did have some interesting nested stories and historical events which redeemed this book from a 1 star rating.  

Rating: 2 stars!
Who Should Read It? History buffs interested in an insight to day-to-day life with a bit of story weaved throughout.  I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else.

Eat, Pray, Love

Summary: 

In her early thirties, Elizabeth Gilbert had everything a modern American woman was supposed to want--husband, country home, successful career--but instead of feeling happy and fulfilled, she felt consumed by panic and confusion. This wise and rapturous book is the story of how she left behind all these outward marks of success, and of what she found in their place. Following a divorce and a crushing depression, Gilbert set out to examine three different aspects of her nature, set against the backdrop of three different cultures: pleasure in Italy, devotion in India, and on the Indonesian island of Bali, a balance between worldly enjoyment and divine transcendence. (summary and book cover courtesy of goodreads.com) 

Review:

Now I will start out with this review acknowledging that Elizabeth Gilbert has received a lot of criticism about what it must have cost for her to indulge in the year of self-exploration in this book.  I want to point out that 1) I believe she still had a flexible job while traveling (travel writer - and writing the book), 2) there are many ways to travel cheaply (particularly if you are renting and not staying at a hotel as she did) and 3) she was divorced, unattached, and had sold a bunch of her stuff.  Who cares how she chose to spend the money she did had?

Fiscal responsibility aside (and I would argue this book talked a lot about shucking guilt-induced, self-imposed responsibilities), this book was a fantastic journey around the world and into the mind of Gilbert.  In the fast-paced world of today, it is easy to see how quickly one can get caught up in being who you’re “supposed to” be and doing the things you are “supposed to” do.  While recognizing her family/friends thought she was crazy, Gilbert’s hilarious commentary around the world was refreshing and insightful.  I may not be ready to take the leap as Gilbert did, but I certainly loved following along with her journey from the comfort of my armchair.

Rating: 4 stars!
Who Should Read It? Folks looking for a book that will challenge the cookie cutter definition of normal and encourage a second-look at what creates happiness in their life.  Or someone just looking for a travel experience lived vicariously through a book.

Come Away With Me (With Me in Seattle #1)

Summary:
Being confronted on the beach by a sexy stranger wasn't part of Natalie Conner's plans for a peaceful morning taking photos. And why on earth would he think she's taking pictures of him, anyway? Who is he? One thing’s for sure, he’s hot, and incredibly romantic, feeding Natalie’s wounded soul.

Luke Williams just wants the world to give him a break, so seeing yet another camera aimed at his face has him ready to pounce on the beauty behind the lens. When he finds out she has no idea who he is, he's intrigued and more than a little tempted by her. Natalie has a body made for sex, a sassy mouth and Luke can’t get enough of her, but he’s not ready to tell her who he really his.

Natalie is a no nonsense girl who doesn’t do well with lies and secrets. What will happen to this new relationship when she discovers what Luke’s hiding? (summary and book cover courtesy of goodreads.com)

Review:

This was a book that I had low expectations for, but was pleasantly surprised.  Romance novels tend to follow a similar formula: magnetic attraction, easy part of the relationship, insecurity spawned CRISIS, overcome crisis, happy ending.  This was not an exception.  That being said, Proby did a good job setting up an unique interaction between the characters in a refreshing manner.  Natalie has some spunk and definitely is not willing to be jerked around.  Luke may be unrealistically good looking, but is still down to earth (with some funny jabs at Twilight included).

I will grant, there were some moments that I had to step back and tone down my skepticism: the characters are a little TOO perfect or too focused on insecurities at times.  I won’t claim the writing is anything to blow you away, but is well-done for what it is: a romance book with excessive numbers of steamy sex scenes.

After finishing the book, I was happy to see it was the first of a series (and even more that it is covered by kindle unlimited!).  Each book in the series follows a couple from a group of friends and Come Away With Me provides a good foundation to build on.

Warning: Repeated Sexual Content

Rating: 3 stars!
Who Should Read It? Someone looking for a quick romance read or a new romance series.

The Art Forger

Summary:
On March 18, 1990, thirteen works of art today worth over $500 million were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. It remains the largest unsolved art heist in history, and Claire Roth, a struggling young artist, is about to discover that there’s more to this crime than meets the eye.

Making a living reproducing famous artworks for a popular online retailer and desperate to improve her situation, Claire is lured into a Faustian bargain with Aiden Markel, a powerful gallery owner. She agrees to forge a painting—a Degas masterpiece stolen from the Gardner Museum—in exchange for a one-woman show in his renowned gallery. But when that very same long-missing Degas painting is delivered to Claire’s studio, she begins to suspect that it may itself be a forgery. Her desperate search for the truth leads Claire into a labyrinth of deceit where secrets hidden since the late nineteenth century may be the only evidence that can now save her life. (summary and book cover courtesy of goodreads.com)

Review:
As an art fan, I found this book fascinating. Shapiro cleverly weaves real historical events with the scenes in the book in a very believable way. The flashbacks were well done and provide background, but from a lesser writer could have made the book a drag. Additionally, the painting description and forgery techniques are accurate which added an another layer of interest to me.

Claire herself is relatable and endearing, but caught in the question of “What are you willing to do to follow your dreams?”. In the end, I was rooting for Claire and could not keep away as she became more and more immersed in the web of curators, critics, forgers, galleries and gallery owners. The twists and turns of the plot kept me guessing and the ending still had a big reveal.

Rating: 4 stars!
Who Should Read It? Art fans or anyone interested in reading a light mystery book without violence.