Tunnel 29 by Helena Merriman

This book is the true story  of the most remarkable escape tunnel under the Berlin Wall.  Named Tunnel 29 because 29 people successfully escaped, this book draws upon not only the interviews of those students who devoted 5 months to digging it but also interviews with the survivors, thousands of pages of Stasi documents and the American News crew who documented the whole thing.

I've fallen into an obsession with the Berlin Wall.  It happened in my time and I remember the wall coming down but have never delved into it before now. Out of all of the books, documentary's, movies, interviews etc that I have gone through I would say if you read nothing else, read this one.  Helena captures the very essence of what those at the time period experienced - not just those involved in this tunnel escape, but how live was like on each side of the wall, how people had to make everyday decisions to survive in a paranoid society and if they made it over the wall, how the structure and everyday things in life they took for granted were challenging things in the free East.  Its a fascinating look into Communism - what works, what doesn't, what it does to people and how for 30 years people existed in it.  It makes you wonder about areas now that are experiencing it and how they are coping.  It makes you grateful for the things we take for granted.  

Not only would I recommend this novel but I would also follow it up by watching the documentary the book talks about.  You can find it easily for free online.  But read the book first.

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

Dawn of the 50th Hunger Games and in District 12 Haymitch Abernathy's whole life is about to change.  The Quarter Quell has different rules and after 50 years the games have changed considerably.  Haymitch just wanted to make it through reaping and be with the girl he loves.  But reaping day had other plans in store for him.  Voluntold he's one of the 4 from District 12, he unwittingly becomes the leader of the Newcomer alliance and the head of the rebellion.  How will Haymitch navigate all this when he his only goal is to get back to District 12 to be with his girl.

Out of all of her books I was most looking forward to this one.  Haymitch's story fascinated me and I so wanted to read what her brain told.  I was not disappointed.  She weaves the dark, broken and heart breaking story she is very good at.  In the Hunger Games novel Haymitch says that no one wins the hunger games, there are only survivors and this pretty much sums up Haymitch in a nutshell.  His story is worth reading and then going back and reading (or watching if that's your thing) Katniss and Peeta's story again cause it adds such a different dimension when you know Haymitch's past.

Read it.

The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa

Natsuki Books was a tiny second-hand bookshop on the edge of town. Inside, towering shelves reached the ceiling, every one crammed full of wonderful books. Rintaro Natsuki loved this space that his grandfather had created. He spent many happy hours there, reading whatever he liked. It was the perfect refuge for a boy who tended to be something of a recluse. After the death of his grandfather, Rintaro is devastated and alone. It seems he will have to close the shop. Then, a talking tabby cat called Tiger appears and asks Rintaro for help. The cat needs a book lover to join him on a mission. This odd couple will go on three magical adventures to save books from people who have imprisoned, mistreated and betrayed them. Finally, there is one last rescue that Rintaro must attempt alone . . .

This one seemed so adorable but it surprised me a bit.  For being such a narrow book (only 500 ish pages!) it was incredible deep and an interesting perspective of our modern day projection on printed books.  I've always enjoy Japanese literature and the way they view the world - you can see so much of their honor as a people and view on how they see things as valuable and always lessons.  This book was no exception to that and the translators captured that essence which I appreciated very much. This book is also a journey on grief and sorting out feelings of losing a loved one.  I would 1000% recommend this short read because of it's depth, journey and lessons.

Belgarath the Sorcerer - David Eddings

When the world was young and Gods still walked among their mortal children, a headstrong orphan boy set out to explore the world. Thus began the extraordinary adventures that would mold that youthful vagabond into a man, and the man into the finely honed instrument of Prophecy known to all the world as Belgarath the Sorcerer.

A continuing/history of Belgarath from David Eddings series The Belgariad & The Mallorean.  The story spans Belgarath's whole life until after the events of the Mallorean series told from his point of view, his thoughts, interactions and conversations.  

I've said it before, David Eddings creates a extremely rich and thoroughly developed world and people and this book encompasses all that he endevoured to created.  Love the book and would absolutely recommend.

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

A vampyre bride and a alpha wolf - can an alliance this far off base work in a world so torn between 3 factions?  Misery Lark is the only daughter of the most powerful vampyre councilman of the southwest.  She has spent her life as a sacrifice for her people - first as a trade to the human contingent during her child hood and now as an adult she is once again to be one for the weres.  But will it be enough?  And what of the human childhood "sister" who has gone missing and the only clues Misery can find point to the weres?

This is a far cry from her STEM novels and her first foray into fantasy.  You can feel Ali Hazelwoods touch here but it is such a delicious detachment from STEM.  Misery is a very dry character but it works as a soul sucking vampyre.  I'm used to her male characters being more...visceral and I don't get that here despite him being the alpha were.  But it also works with his upbringing and how he rules his pack.

All in all I did enjoy reading this one but was it because of my current obsession with Ali Hazelwood?  Would I have enjoyed it if it was by another author?  I honestly can't say.

The Secret Keeper of Jaipur - Alka Joshi

Second book from Alka Joshi.

Lakshmi is now married to Dr Jay Kumar and directs the Healing Garden in Shimla.  It's the spring of 1969 and Malik is a 20 year old young man, finished his schooling and sent to apprentice in the Pink City of his childhood as an apprentice to learn architecture with some old faces from the first book.  But he leaves behind a widow whom he has been stepping out with.  Political intrigue, money and old battles still roam the streets and Malik will have to navigate them all to sharpen his old skills.

I enjoyed this one, maybe not as much as the first one but enough that I could finish this one fairly quickly.  You do still read quite a bit of Lakshmi but the bulk of the story is from Malik and his love interests point of view. I will say I was very pleased that the author noted but did not go into great detail important points from the first book that related to this story.  They were short reminders to the reader on those points and if you haven't read the first book, then good little short points to bring you up to speed.

Recommend.  Can almost read as a stand alone.

Polgara the Sorceress - David Eddings

Daughter of Belgarath and Poledra, Polgara in her own right has lived for 3,000 years and has experience and gone through all that life has to offer. Here is the legendary life story of a woman of wit, passion, and complex emotions, a woman born of two majestic parents who could not have been more unlike one another. Ordained to make peace and make war, to gain love and lose love, Polgara lives out her family's rich prophecy in the ceaseless struggle between the Light and the Dark.

This book has been my penultimate pedestal I've held every fantasy book series too ever since I read it. I've revisited it repeatedly throughout different phases in my life and still find something enjoyable about it.  This book is in my top 3 if not the top spot and I will forever be in love with this character so a whole book from start to finish from her perspective...hell ya.

Recommend, recommend, recommend.  But I also would say to read the Belgariad & Mallorean series first.