Stories of the Black Hand

Title: The Circus Fire: A True Story of an American Tragedy
Author: Laurie Fabiano
Genre: Historical fiction
Sub-genre: Semi-autobiographical
Pages:  410
Published: 2009
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN:  1442152613
Reader's Annotation: The story of a family through the 1900s into the 1980s and the role they played in Lower East Side in NYC's history
Summary: Fabiano brings to light stories form her family in Giovanna, who's family was a target of the early ancestors of the Mafia (known as The Black Hand), and how she survived to pass down her stories to the author.
My Evaluation: What an interesting book... I was not a fan of the switching time periods but it made sense. I also didn't like how many characters I had to remember and how they were related to each other. I also absolutely hated the ending. She just ended it so abruptly! The story was fascinating but some of it needed a but more flushing out...
Rating:  3.4 out of 5

I Hunt Killers

Title: I hunt Killers
Series and number: Jasper Dent #1
Author: Barry Lygra
Genre: Suspense
Sub-genre: Crime, Thriller, mystery
Pages:  361
Published: 2012
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN:  0316125849
Reader's Annotation: What if your dad was a notorious serial killers?
Summary: Jasper (Jazz) Dent is a teenager who lives with his grandmother after his father is arrested as a notorious serial killer. But his world is about to change when a body that is an exact copy of his father's kills shows up in his town again. What will Jasper and his friend and girlfriend do to help the cops catch the killer?
My Evaluation: woah... I wasn't quite sure about this book but the last 1/3 were AMAZING. It was a little slow to get into and was questioning why Lygra did some of things he did but at the end it totally made sense. Now I can't wait to read more!
Rating:  4.2 out of 5
NOTE: This is classified as a Young Adult novel, however I wouldn't have someone younger than 15 at the very least read this book. It has many graphic details that aren't appropriate for many readers.

Rockettes, Rockstars, and rockbottom

Title: Rockettes, Rockstars, and Rockbottom
Author: Keltie Colleen
Genre: Non-Fiction
Sub-genre: Autobiography, romance, dance
Pages:  168
Published: 2010
Publisher: Deadxstop Publishing Company
ISBN:  9780977766598
Reader's Annotation: How will Keltie's life change when she meets a rocker?
Summary: Colleen is a dancer in NYC who has danced with such companies as the NYC Rockettes. This book deals with her life as a struggling dancer, meeting rockers, and how her life has changed because of it.
My Evaluation: I enjoyed this book... to some extent. Her stories about auditioning were great but I expected more stories about what life was like as a Rockette. I didn't enjoy the tons of self-loathing that is a good chunk of the book. I would have much preferred to hear about life as one of an iconic dance troupes. I was also annoyed at the fact that when she talked about the guys she dated, she never mentioned their names. Yes, I understand the need for privacy but it was really annoying.
Rating:  2 out of 5

Circus fire

Title: The Circus Fire: A True Story of an American Tragedy
Author: Stewart O'Nan and Alice van Straalen
Genre: Non-Fiction
Sub-genre: history
Pages:  384
Published: 2008
Publisher: Anchor
ISBN:  0385496850
Reader's Annotation: One of the worst entertainment fires in the 20th century, O'Nan tells the tale of all those invovled
Summary: Ringling Brothers and Co circus was/is one of the biggest names in circus names. The story of the Hartford Circus fire in 1944 harkens back on memories of other disasters and is heart wrenching. The account of how the fire started, the heroism, and the finality of the fire is one that is worth reading about.
My Evaluation: Wow... What a great book. I had never heard about this story before and I was really happy I picked it up. Now I want to read about other circus stories!. O'Nan does an excellent job of setting the story, telling what happened, and then mopping it up afterwards. The only reason is it didn't get five stars is that there were too many people to keep track of. I wish O'Nan had put a little more effort in to telling the reader who so and so is again instead of the reader having to remember as there are a lot of details in this book.
Rating:  4.5 out of 5

Changing your life

Title: Time of my life
Author: Allison Winn Scotch
Genre: Women's Fiction
Sub-genre: psychology, fantasy, time travel
Pages:  304
Published: 2008
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
ISBN:  0307408574
Reader's Annotation: What happens when Jillian becomes unsure of her of her current situation and while thinking about it falls into the possibility to change things?
Summary: Jillian has it all. Perfect little girl, dutiful, faithful husband, gorgeous home. But something feels off. One day at her massage, it all changes and she suddenly wakes up 7 years in the past. She's back with her previous boyfriend, back with her friends, and in her old job. What happens when she changes everything to get back what she thinks is the perfect world?
My Evaluation: I'm still not sure what to make of this book. It was a little hard to get into but once I did it was a good book. However the ending was extremely unsatisfying and felt extremely rushed. All of a suddenly after seeing her "masseuse" she's back in the present but has suddenly okay with her mother? It just seemed out of the blue.
Rating:  2.9 out of 5

New book!

Title: The Dressmaker
Author: Kate Alcott
Genre: Historical Fiction
Sub-genre: romance, history
Pages:  306
Published: 2012
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
ISBN: 0385535589
Reader's Annotation: Tess's life could be so much more. Meeting one of the world's most famous designers will change it forever. But will that change be for good or for bad?
Summary: Tess is a girl from the country. In order to escape a perverted son of an employer, she travels to the dock where the Titanic is about to set sail. There she meets Lucile Duff-Gordon, a world famous dressmaker. She convinces "Madame" to take her on as a maid in order to showcase her skills in dressmaking. As history shows, the Titanic would hit an iceberg and sink. Amidst the turmoil that was going on that night, Tess, Lucile, and her husband, all escape, long with many other first class passengers. Alcott weaves a tale of what happened that night and the aftermath to come as well as weaving a tale of romance between Tess and fellow first class passenger and Tess and a sailor.
My Evaluation: I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads and I'm now getting around to reading it! It was a good book. Alcott's writing is extremely easy to follow and she makes you want to know what happens to her characters.  It was a fairly quick read once I got into read it and into it. However, there were a couple things I wasn't so fond of. The first was taking so long to bring Jack Bremeton back. It just took too long in my opinion to reveal to the reader that he was alive and by that point I was ready for Tess and rooting for Tess to be with Jim. So I think it would have made a much more compelling story at least in terms of romance if Alcott had brought Jack back earlier and made Tess's decision even harder.
Rating:  4.7 out of 5

Fall of Giants

Title: Fall of Giants
Author: Ken Follett
Genre: Historical Fiction
Sub-genre: romance, history
Pages:  1000
Published: 2011
Publisher: NAL Trade
ISBN: 0451232577
Series: Century Trilogy, #1
Reader's Annotation: Several different stories intertwine with the 20th century's first major war
Summary: Follett weaves a long tale of several stories of different families from different cultures and classes through the tale of World War I. From a lower class coal mine workers to a Lord from Wales, to Russian workers, Follett allows the reader to gain a new prospective on a war that was suppose to end all wars.
My Evaluation: Such a long book! I'm really glad I finished it. Follett, while over writes some details like the exact brand of gun or grenade, weaves a good tale. You grow to love the characters and wonder what happens to them. This and the fact that within each chapter, the story jumps from family to family so sometimes you have rack your brain as to what happened to that character because sometimes Follett takes a long break from them. I did get use to it after a while but it was kind of annoying
Rating:  4.7 out of 5