If you’ve read any of these I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Also tell me about what you are reading now. Anything good?
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
Travel journalist Lo Blacklock is assigned the piece of a lifetime when she is chosen to take a maiden voyage on small, luxury cruise ship in the North Sea. The trip is going well until Lo witnesses a woman in the cabin next to hers being thrown overboard. Lo immediately reports the incident, but all crew members and passengers are accounted for. Her mental stability and substance use start being questioned. We are left to wonder if there was a woman in cabin 10, and if so what happened?
I think maybe I don’t like thrillers as much as I used to or maybe my expectations are too high. I’ve read several recently that I enjoyed but considered average to just above average. I haven’t had one blow me away in awhile, and that includes The Woman in Cabin 10.
Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
The Lilac Girls is told from the perspective of 3 different woman at the cusp of and through World War II. Caroline Ferriday is a single socialite working at the French embassy in New York City. Kasia is a Polish teenager who is sent to a concentration camp after attempting to be part of the underground resistance in her hometown. Herta Oberheuser is a German doctor working at the concentration camp Kasia is sent to.
The author weaves historical details in with fictional embellishments to create characters and a story to be cared about. Don’t skip over the author’s notes at the end. You’ll get an explanation of her inspiration and research for the book along with information on which parts were based on true life and which she took creative amendments.
The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman
The Zookeeper’s Wife is based on a true story set in Poland at the beginning of World War II. Antonina and Jan Zabinski ran the Warsaw Zoo at the time of the German invasion. They remained living there and became apart of the underground movement using the zoo to relocate Jews out of the ghetto to safe houses.
I’m not going to lie. It took me a bit to get into this. I read the first third of the book and then put it down for 2 months. The content was not uninteresting. There was a lot of alternating historical information between what was happening in with the zookeepers’ story, instead of integrating the two. It made the pacing of the book slow at first. I could put it down after a chapter and not feel compelled to continue onto the next. Once I did pick it back up again though, I read the entire 2nd half in one sitting. If you give this book a try and struggle with it, I promise it’s worth your time to keep going.
As a side note, I watched the movie after reading the book. We know that books are usually better than the movies, but in the case that rings truer than usual. The movie took unnecessary liberties without a lack of actual events that could have been portrayed. It’s a story that deserves to be read and respected.
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I read the Zookeepers Wife for a book club that I was in. I thought it was very sobering but also painted a great historical landscape for understanding that time period. Great discussion opportunities. (I didn’t see the movie, because I heard a lot of people sharing your opinion) 😊
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Oh yes I bet it would make for a decent discussion in a book club.
Yes I wish I hadn’t watched the movie at all
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I read “In a dark, dark wood” by Ruth Ware, which is highly acclaimed, and thought it good but not great. It was mostly the setting that made it interesting. Did not pickup “Cabin 10” as a result….
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I haven’t read “In a Dark, Dark Wood” but was debating on it because of all the buzz. Maybe that will move further down on my to read list.
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I agree with Kris’s take on In a Dark, Dark Wood. I’d suggest moving it down your list.
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Done and done. Thanks for saving me some time.
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Thanks Lacey for sharing your reviews. I must say it really helps in deciding what books to try and not. 🙂 Have a great week ahead.
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Thanks Lynne, have you read anything good lately? Hope you have a great week too.
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Sadly not Lacey. I really desperately need to get involved in a good book.
Have a wonderful weekend.
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Hi Lacey– Love the summaries and evaulations– sometimes I read reviews that dont’ give enough info to help me decide what to read!! We did read The Zookeeper’s Wife in our Lit Group (which makes me keep reading when a book starts slow because I want to finish and discuss it with the friends!). But didn’t see the movie. Fun to see what you’ve been reading!! hugs hugs.
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Thanks Rhonda, you know I always enjoy to read about your books too. Save your time and skip the movie!
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Heyyy. I read the woman in cabin 10 and was left with similar thoughts. Please read my thoughts on: https://aymenashraf.wordpress.com/
And oh I am currently reading Neverwhere 🙂
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