WHEN SHE WOKE by Hilary Jordan

When She Woke  by Hillary Jordan

5 stars

I really liked this book. There was so much to think about. First, it was not just the "red" but also the loss of privacy, the constant monitoring, then being ejected back in to the world as a changed person with the mark of evil on you.
I must admit I wanted to know what crimes resulted in other colors. Even though you could figure a few out I really wanted more information.

The phrase "it's personal" evolved throughout the book just as Hannah evolved into a different person. At first it was simply a password but became a definition of Hannah as a person who was able to think for herself and structure her own life. When it is used at the end to allow her to enter Canada it symbolizes her journey as well as her identity as separate from her parents, her religion, and most definitely from Aiden.

The author appears to advocate for abortion rights, but also presents the heartbreak and ambivalance  abortion can cause. She seems to denigrate organized religion, but then shows a sympathy for and an understanding of faith as a good thing. She presents the "trinity party" and its authoritarian stance as bad, but then presents a very strict authoritarian figure (Simone) as good and just. The book presents a very conflicted view of many aspects of society, so perhaps Jordan is just presenting the "American acceptance of tolerance without condemnation" to the extreme.

I did think melachroming was a good solution until I saw the devastation it caused. Hannah, of course, was presented as "innocent" by our present standards which made her a sympathetic character. The way that those who were melachromed were made part of a caste of new untouchables made me rethink my position. I was especially struck by the melachromed "criminals" who acted in ways more "Christian" than those who were supposedly more enlightened. I started thinking in more racist terms as the book progressed. I expected to make the comparison to The Scarlet Letter, but I was not prepared for the rather shocking racist feelings that were aroused in the characters by the color punishments. I have often thought that a loss of shame was a bad thing: however, the unending, unyielding shame that relentlessly pervaded Hannah's life made me wonder anew. I was struck by the chromes who aided and helped Hannah.  The various colors had an affinity for others no matter what their color was. It was surprising to see this "color prejudice" through Hannah's eyes when she was more fearful of some colors

I wondered how those who had been melachromed reacted when their coloring was reversed and they were able to return to "normal" society. I wondered if they could return to "normal" if they would form a new political party to overthrow the oppressive regime Hannah lived under. Hmmm, maybe an idea for a sequel????

The only truly unsympathetic character was Stanton. He was despicable.  Aiden was Somewhat sympathetic when telling of his thwarted desire for children, but then was he telling the truth? He reminded me of Jimmy Swaggert and other televangelists who strayed and begged forgiveness but were actually self serving.  He was happy to have money and power and a "girl on the side", but when the girl threatened his comfort he was eager to consign her to shame, poverty, danger and demented ministrations of the Henley's to save his own skin (a deliberate use of that word!).

I would like to see a sequel to find out how Kayla made her escape. I felt this was a really weak story line - she was in dire danger and then she gets to Canada before Hannah apparently unscathed and with a hale and hearty Paul.  Huhhh    How did that happen???

THE WORLD WITHOUT YOU by Joshua Henkin

The World Without You  by Joshua Henkin

3 stars

Henkin, as in Matrimony his first book, is a wonderful writer. Unfortunately, I don’t know ANY of his characters. But more importantly, I don’t WANT to know them. The father is distant, the mother is self-absorbed. Clarissa, who has turned her back on a career as a cellist, is unhappy with her current life and sure a child – HER child, and only HER child - will complete her world. Lily is angry at everyone for unknown and unknowable reasons. Noelle, a wild child to the extreme, has become an orthodox Jew, sure that only blindly following every jot and title of every law will fulfill her.  Thisbe, the widow of the only son of the family, valiantly tries to remain normal. Who are these unhappy people? Surely there must be someone Henkin can write about that is at least marginally happy.  If there was a happy ending to this book, I could not find it.  I was not looking for a saccharine sweet book, I was just hoping for something other than unrelieved unhappiness.  I’ll look for another author for my next book.

THE MIDWIFE OF HOPE RIVER by Patricia Harman

The Midwife of Hope River

               By Patricia Harman

5 stars

I usually don’t like books that jump from the present to the past and back again, however, Patricia Harman does it so well in The Midwife of Hope River that I must change my mind.  Incorporating births from her own experience as a midwife and seamlessly blending in a framework of history from upper class Chicago at the turn of the century, through union organizing in the coal fields and factories of the northeast and the Great Depression in Appalachia just before WWII, Harmon tells a moving and riveting tale of birth and death.  Her well-developed characters and realistic situations carry the reader into harrowing tales of medical practice in an isolated community with sporadic running water or electricity and less money.  Yet hope and faith permeate the lives of black, white and ethnic personalities who meet life’s challenges with grace. You will cheer as Patience Murphy grows from a naïve girl to confident midwife.

This book would work well for book groups made of women only, mothers and daughters, medical professionals and even men - who might learn a few things about the women who birthed them, love them and bear their children.

THE LIGHT BETWEEN THE OCEANS by M L Stedman

The Light Between Oceans by M L Stedman

5 stars

Starting with the seminal moment, this book travels back in time to introduce us to the family isolated on a small island off the coast of Australia where the husband is the light keeper.  Part of the story takes place on Janus Rock, home of the Janus Light, and part takes place in the small town of Partageuse on the mainland, hometown of Isabel, wife of the Light keeper.  Tom, a survivor of the horrors of WWI, meets Isabel and falls in love with her on his infrequent respites on the mainland.  He and Isabel spend idyllic, isolated years on Janus, marred only by the inability to carry a pregnancy to term.  When a boat washes up with a dead man and a live baby, the decision to keep the child as their own affects their lives and marriage and the life of the wife of the dead man and mother of the child.  As the child grows and the three alone on Janus meld into a family, the bereaved wife in Partageuse descends into depression and madness until a battered silver rattle disrupts the tranquility of the island and the fabric of the town of Partageuse.

A beautifully written tale that uses description to draw the feel of island and mainland, love and depression, fear and deceit.  The dread, confusion and fear of a mother torn from her child and a child torn from her mother will stay with you long after you finish the final page as will the love of a man for his wife and child, the devotion of a mother to her child and the web of entangling emotion that seals a family for ever and ever and ever.

THE LIFEBOAT by Charlotte Rogan

The Lifeboat – Charlotte Rogan

3 stars

This book held my attention simply because I needed to know who survived and who didn't as well as the back story of Grace Winter. The book is well written with believable characters and a growing sense of the horror of the situation on the lifeboat. Unfortunately many answers are simply missing and the reader is left with as many questions (if not more) at the end as when the book began. As  a character study, it is excellent, as a mystery, there is a definite lack.  A book group would find much to discuss as well as to complain about.  If your group needs resolution - avoid this book. If your group thrives on speculation - this is the book for you.
(This book was provided free by the publisher.)