kelsterjean

• Why I read this: A trip to my local library after dropping off some books. I was looking for something new and this was literally the first book I picked up after I went up the stairs to the 2nd floor where the adult section is. (I believe it was the "Top Picks" section).
• Summary: The story of three separate women during World War II who all have a tie with Ravensbruck, an all-women's concentration camp in Poland. Each woman's story is split up by chapter and it goes back and forth between the three women.
• Relating to the story: One of the big reasons I HAD to read this book as soon as I saw it was because it was about Ravensbruck.  Another book I read recently for my book club had a character that was at Ravenbruck, so it struck my interest right away. I loved how strong + amazing {some} of the women were in this story.  (A reminder of the bravery I would like to achieve one day).
• Likes: I love stories that go back + forth between characters (ha, I said that in my last book review too).  And I'm becoming so fascinated with the subject of WWII.  I also really loved reading a book with strong female characters (which I believe is a first for me!)
• Dislikes: Obviously, the subject is hard. It's WWII and also about a concentration camp. At times, it was hard to read because of the torture and lifestyle of the inmates as well as the physicians at the camp.  Even though I loved this from beginning to end, I had to take a break a few times because it was just too much for me.
• Rating: 5 out of 5.  This is one of the best books I have ever read, and is definitely on my Top Books list.  The author did a great job of mixing fiction with real events and I loved the tale soooo much.

• Why I read this: I found this book in a box while I was unpacking. It's not very long and it's moved from place to place with me for a while, so I decided to give it a shot.

• Summary: Eddie, a veteran and employee at an amusement park, dies from a tragic accident on his 83rd birthday. He awakens not in heaven, but in a place where he is re-connected with five people from his former life, one at a time.

SPOILER ALERT: The 5 people Eddie meets along the way are: 1) the blue man from the carnival he worked at as a kid, 2) his army captain from when he was deployed, 3) the woman who (with her husband) were the founders of the amusement park Eddie worked at, 4) his wife, and 5) the little girl he always though he saw in a fire during the war.

• Relating to the story: The idea of heaven and the afterlife fascinates me, maybe because I am always on a search to define my own beliefs. This story made me think about 5 people I might meet in heaven, (which I share below). I also loved the idea of being pain and worry-free after I leave this earth, which is something expressed throughout the book by Eddie's character.

• Likes: I really liked the author's writing style and how he flipped between the past and present without much confusion. I also loved how he began each chapter telling the story of one of Eddie's birthdays.

• Dislikes: (I didn't document any dislikes, so I guess I didn't have any!)

• Rating: 5 out of 5. I loved this book soooo much.

• #1: My friend Rebecca from my early 20s, who was the coolest person I had ever met, and who introduced me to punk rock music, being adventurous, and living free.

• #2: Colonel Wargo, my JROTC Commander from high school, who was tough but loving.

• #3: Mimi, the mom of one of my high school boyfriends, who was like a Mom to me, and loved with her whole heart.

• #4: Ms. DeChatle, my second grade teacher. I remember her being fun and nice, and loving her students and teaching.

• #5 - I couldn't come up with one person for #5, so I chose a few: the singer from my FAV band, Bayside. Ali Edwards, Mike, a cop that used to say "Good Morning" to me every day when I arrived at the train station, or some of our past furries and friends who are gone now. Maybe #5 could be a big group of people I knew + loved, which would be super amazing + fun!