Vietnamerica: A Family’s Journey by G.B. Tran My rating: 3 of 5 stars “Vietnameria” is G.B. Tran’s, the author, the true story of how his family fled Vietnam for the U.S. right before Saigon fell. Anytime a family immigrates, whether by choice or as refugees, there causes a break between the parents and their children. Most of the time the children identify with the new country while the parents maintain ties with the country of origin. This is the case with Tran’s family. His parents […]
A Slow-building Gut Punching Novel
Brewster by Mark Slouka My rating: 4 of 5 stars “Brewster” is a coming-of-age story with a lot of grit. It’s a book about teens, but written for adults. It took me awhile to adjust to this; so much YA lit is geared for teens. It’s the story of a town, Brewster, outside NYC and people who live. The story is told by Jon Mosher, but it’s also a lot about Ray Cappicciano, Jon’s best friend. What makes the story so gritty is that from […]
How To Start Unpacking The Baggage We Carry In Life
Traveling Light: Releasing the Burdens You Were Never Intended to Bear by Max Lucado My rating: 4 of 5 stars If you’re familiar with Psalms 23 and are looking for an encouraging devotional book, “Traveling Light” is the book for you. Taking Psalm 23 almost line by line, Max Lucado unpacks the promises found in Psalms 23. I’ve heard few sermons on this famous psalm, but the depth to which Lucado goes to reveal some of the tiniest lines of hope was inspiring; it gave […]
A Moving Look at Grief, Love, and Friendship
We Are Okay by Nina LaCour My rating: 5 of 5 stars “We Are Okay” explores grief, discovering a dark secret about someone, and transitions in life. Heavy stuff. In fact, I was worried I would hate this book because I tend to read for entertainment not to be confronted with topics such as these. However, Nina LaCour weaves characters, emotions, and a mysterious plot into a very good read. The book is organized in which we start in the present and then flashback to […]