Book of the Week ‘The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store’ by James McBride

Brilliantly reviewed by our very own Catalina

‘“The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store” is a mesmerizing journey that transports readers to the vibrant neighborhood of Chicken Hill in 1920s and ‘30s Pottstown. At its heart are Moshe Ludlow and his wife Chona, whose grocery store serves as the epicenter of the community. When Nate Timblin, a respected yet enigmatic figure, entrusts them with the safety of Dodo, a deaf Black orphan, the town’s intricate web of relationships is set ablaze.

James McBride intricately weaves together the lives of diverse characters, shedding light on the shared experiences of outsiders navigating the complexities of American society. He masterfully examines the intersecting forces of race, ethnicity, class, and community, challenging readers to confront the barriers that divide us.

What sets this novel apart is McBride’s skillful weaving of profound empathy and compassion, highlighting the transformative power of love in adversity, and painting a vivid portrait of resilience and solidarity.’

Sounds like it isn’t just Barack Obama who loved the book 😉

Happy Reading - and message us if you would like to reserve a copy of the book.

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Book of the Week

‘Happy Head’ by Josh Silver

Reviewed by our young reader, Natalia 📖

‘I have read and heard many positive opinions about this book, most of them claiming it to be one of the most anticipated and bestselling YA books in 2023. Besides that, the mysterious summary of the plot on the back immediately got me invested, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it as soon as possible.

The book is about a young man, Sebastian, who is offered a place in the ‘Happy Head’ program whose goal is to solve the “epidemic of unhappiness” that is affecting today’s teens. He joins the program to prove to his parents that he’s more than just a sensitive boy. And so, out of the many that have been accepted to Happy Head, he is grouped with three other teens with their own motivations that are yet to be discovered.

Though at first the challenges they go through seem to make sense, each day they get more rigorous, mentally and physically, which pushes Seb to question the program’s real goal. I admit that originally, I expected a thriller with a strong, mysterious lead, hiding as many dark

secrets as the program itself. Sebastian, however, is just a misunderstood teen, with anxiety and self-esteem issues. While the theme of insecurity sometimes was obvious, what I enjoyed the most were the details, such as Seb noticing the most trivial things about his appearance when everyone else’s focus was on trying to survive.

Silver beautifully portrays the teenage mind, where sometimes logic is insignificant when you’re desperate to feel accepted. I also adored the romantic subplot. Why can’t we have a story about two boys falling in love while taking part in the Hunger Games-style challenges invented by a mad scientist that will dispose of anyone who does not obey their mad rules?

Overall, Happy Head was definitely worth reading. I would not necessarily recommend it as a thriller, but as a YA action novel- for sure! The ending is a cliffhanger, so hopefully there will be a second book coming.’

Happy Monday and Happy reading 📚

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Book of the Week

‘White Torture’ by Narges Mohammadi

Reviewed by Anna Maryam Smith

“They will put me behind bars again. But I will not stop campaigning until human rights and justice prevail in my country” - Narges Mohammadi

Narges Mohammadi’s White Torture is a collection of interviews that capture the brutal, inhumane, and unfathomable conditions that women in the Iranian penal system are forced to endure. White Torture, the title of the book, is a noun used to describe forms of torture in which individuals are subjected to sensory deprivation and isolation from others - also known as solitary confinement. Mohammadi has sacrificed her freedom to fight for the abolishment of white torture and continues to do so to this day.

Each of the chapters in this book captures the lived reality of a different woman’s experience in an Iranian prison - many in ward 209 of Evin Prison (the primary housing site for political prisoners in Iran). The stories Mohammadi transcribes are powerful and critical. They are stories of women who have fought tirelessly for Iran to be a place where women can exist freely and be whoever they wish.

I’ll admit that it took a while for the gravity of Mohammadi’s words to properly sink in. I have had the privilege of experiencing an existence and an upbringing that hasn’t been fraught by the harsh and brutal realities of women in Iran. For my entire childhood I have heard stories of Iran, most through a loving and nostalgic lens. A lens that is tinted by detachment and a longing for an Iran that once was. Mohammadi brings to light a reality that is often entirely censored and hidden: a reality in which women are brutally punished for being themselves, for speaking their minds, for fighting for liberty.

I have a huge amount of respect for Mohammadi, Afsharzadeh, Daemi, Zahtabchi, Zaghari-Ratcliffe, Shahriari, Shahidi, Tabatabai, Kiani, Mohammadi, Moradi, Nouri, Yadollahi, and Amiri, for so selflessly offering their stories to us and for continuously fighting for freedom and human rights for women everywhere.

Zan, Zendegi, Azadi.

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‘Violeta’ by Isabel Allende

Our dear friend Catalina sends her regards from an amazing trip to Patagonia with this review of ‘Violeta’ by Isabel Allende, so naturally, that is our book of the week!

Happy reading and happy Friday!

‘Isabel Allende’s “Violeta” is an epic family saga that takes us on a journey through the tumultuous 20th century in South America. This beautifully written memoir-like novel delves deep into the life of Violeta, a woman born into aristocracy, as she navigates the shifting sands of history.

Set against a backdrop of changing regimes and global upheaval, Violeta’s story spans continents and decades. From the fall of nobility to the Spanish flu, the Great Depression to the shockwaves of WWII, her life is a mirror to the world’s transformations.

While seeking refuge in the steppes of Patagonia during the Great Depression, Violeta enters a loveless marriage with a German immigrant. However, a significant portion of her life becomes intricately entwined with that of Julian Bravo, an enigmatic private pilot involved in drug smuggling, connected to the mafia, the CIA, and the oppressive Pinochet regime. This connection ensnares her in a toxic and abusive relationship that spans decades.

The themes of queerness and feminism run deep, woven into the fabric of her life story, alongside the harsh realities of abusive relationships and political activism during a dark dictatorship era in Chile. Allende masterfully touches on the hermetic Germany settler colony in Chile, which served as a torture center for dissidents during the dictatorship, adding a chilling layer to the narrative.

“Violeta” is not just a tale of personal struggles; it’s a testament to a woman navigating the ever-changing world around her. Motherhood, trauma, and abuse are hurdles she faces head-on, while also surviving the tumultuous political changes in her homeland.

Isabel Allende’s signature style of epic storytelling blends romance and resistance seamlessly, making “Violeta” the perfect escapist novel. It’s a mesmerizing journey through one woman’s life that mirrors the profound changes in Chilean and Argentianian history.’

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