Book Review - Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

 

Before astronauts went into space or before Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, there were a group of dedicated women mathematicians who made it possible. The women were known as "computers" who manually calculated the numbers that would launch planes, rockets and astronauts.

I saw the movie before reading the book. I thought the book was going to read like a fiction novel but, it read more like a textbook. I had a hard time keeping track of the different women. However, I thought it was an interesting read and well researched book.

Book Review - The Prisoner's Wife by Maggie Brookes

 

Izabella, a Czech farm girl,  and Bill, a British prisoner of war,  fell in love during the war and decide to get married and go on the run. In the middle of the night, they travel through the countryside to avoid being captured. Izzy is dressed as a man to avoid detection and the punishment for her act of treason. The duo were able to evade capture until they were cornered by Nazi soldiers and tracking dogs.

Izzy's disguise works and the Nazi assumes that the pair are escaped British soldiers. They are transported to a POW work camp. Together as newly weds, they face deplorable living conditions along with the constant fear that Izzy will be exposed. In the middle of darkness, comes a small beacon of hope as the couple befriends a small group of prisoners. The group of men become their new family as they are willing to sacrifice everything to save Izzy from being discovered.

The novel is inspired by a true story and I thought it would be an endearing read about hope during one of history's darkest moments. However, I was sadly disappointed how boring this novel was. I have read many historical fiction books before but, this book barely had any story to it. It was mostly describing the living conditions of the camps and the people Izzy and Bill have met. I felt like it quickly got repetitive to the point of boredom. I had a hard time connecting with Izzy as a person. As readers, we rarely got to see and feel her plight and the danger of her exposure or learn anything about her and Bill. I was more than 80% done before, I called it quits on this book.

Book Review - A History of Violence: Living and Dying in Central America by Óscar Martínez

Photo Credit - Amazon

Central America is one of the deadliest places on Earth. Both El Salvador and Honduras have the highest homicide rate for the past decade with Guatemala following. Everyday more than 1,000 people are displaced from their home as they try to flee for their safety. Oscar Martinez goes to Central America and interviews people to get their first hand account of the brutality and crime in Central America. 

Oscar treks to small towns, jungle villages even Mexican brothels to get talk to the people and report about their living conditions. He also talks with those who work in drug trader, policemen, government officials,  hit men and gang informants.  The novel reads like one big article and at times confusing to keep traffic of all the people and names. Each chapter, Oscar focus on another topic or person but there are sometimes overlapping key elements. A good book to enlighten readers of the trouble brewing among our borders but it wasn't for me.

**Disclosure - I received an uncorrected eBook PDF file in exchange for my honest opinion**