Open Book ~ June'20

Cotillion by Georgette Heyer is another fun Regency comedy of manners.  Kitty is being pressured into marriage by her guardian and appeals to a long-time friend to become betrothed to buy some time.  Freddy agrees reluctantly but then takes her to London and in every way behave in such a way to become one of my favorite Heyer Heroes  As I've come to expect from this author the supporting cast is wonderful and adds to the general confusion and very much to my enjoyment.






Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell is the story of young love between two hurting teens.  They meet on the school bus when Eleanor moves to town and slowly come to care for each other.  Told in alternating perspectives the story is angsty and sweet in that way that good YA can without ever minimizing the serious problems they were facing.  Given the serious issues discussed and blatant examples of bullying would not recommend for young teens.












Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery is the last of the Anne of Green Gables series (book 8).  Told from the perspective of Anne's youngest daughter Rilla who at 15 is ready for her first dance and other delights. The story beginning in 1914 tells the story of WW1 as experienced in a little town on the coast of P.E.I. Wonderful characters 'do their bit' and serve from the Homefront, but the next four years are the carefree growing into womanhood she had imagined.  Written for young girls the description of the battles are not at all gory but Montgomery does convey the emotions of waiting for the latest papers.  While those who have read the series better appreciate the cameo's by the minor characters the book can be read as a stand-alone.

News of the World by Paulette Jiles is the story of Captain Jefferson Kidd who has lived through 3 wars and fought in 2. It is now 1870 and he makes his living traveling around north Texas reading the news from various newspapers aloud in towns along the way.  He is now as a favor to another former officer returning young girl, stolen by the Choctaw Indians four years earlier,  to her aunt and uncle near San Antonio.  I liked this quiet, sometimes slow moving story of breaking down communication barriers and forming relationships in this time place. Jiles descriptions of the Texas landscape are wonderful.











Number the Stars by Lois Lowry is the story of two girls in Nazi Occupied Denmark that I borrowed from my 12 year old after she read it with her class.  Annemarie is 10 years old and so is her best friend Ellen; and the book tells the story of how Annemarie's family comes to help and hide Ellen.  While clearly written for middle schoolers I really enjoyed the narrative and it peaked my curiosity enough to spend a couple of days researching the Danish Resistance.

My thanks to Carolyn for hosting this link-up!

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