The Kingdom of Ohio - Matthew Flaming

Genre: Historical Fiction

Format: Hardcover / Library

ISBN: 9780399155604

Pages: 336

Rating 3/5 Stars

I have many mixed feelings about this book. I loved the historical aspects of old New York especially about the building of the Subway because I used to work in the NYTM Archives and I currently work for the MTA so it's kinda cool to associate them. I worked on collection of images that were just of the construction of the subway so I really could picture that in my head. I loved the whole thing about Edison, Tesla and Morgan. I have been to the Morgan Library and it is really something else!!!

The love story was nice but nothing too stand-outish. I really can't explain it. Their relationship started off very strangely and I just never really felt connected to either of them. The whole book sorta dragged a lot for me. At some points I just wanted to get to the point already and get to the ending but it seems like it never really came. I took me quite some time to get through the book. As I said I did enjoy it it just wasn't really engulfing.

Room - Emma Donoghue

Genre: Fiction

Format: Hardcover / Library

ISBN: 9780316098335

Rating 3/5 Stars

*Potential Spoilers*

I am not too sure on how to rate this book. I like the lot but I just could grasp...something. I guess I was waiting for this wonderful great story because of all the reviews and ratings but I guess I was just not one of those people. I did enjoy it and it was a quick read but there was something I just didn't like. Of course there were things that didn't sit well with me but that's because I am a human but those are the parts I liked most about the book. I did love Jack and his innocence and I don't blame Ma for anything. I loved the grandparents and everything did seem believable but yet I guess I just didn't think it was as good as everyone else but that is what makes a great book I guess.

I would have loved to have read about the court dates and of Ma's reaction to Old Nick when they were face to face in court. I kinda wanted to hear his side of the story. I kept playing it in my head. How he had his own family and how they didn't know and all that. I guess that would have made it more intense and shady. Oh well. I still liked the book and just wished there were more but Emma did a great job at adding in the small things like masks at the hospital and of how people looked at her funny because Ma still breast fed. I think her line went something like" that is what you think about?" It's kinda funny because it is true. We are all concerned about her breastfeeding a 5-year-old meanwhile she just spent 7 years in hell! Well, that's the human race I guess!

The Forgotten Garden - Kate Morton

Genre: Historical Fiction

Format: Paperback

ISBN:9780330449601

Pages: 645

Rating 4.5 Stars

I loved this book so much but the only reading why I give it 4.5 stars and not a total 5 is because it was very coincidental and very predictable but it was such a great and wonderful story. It was such a touching story and I thought at first I would not like it but I found myself pushing everything aside just to keep reading. I knew what the ending was as soon as all the characters starting appearing. As I said, it was very predictable, but I still wanted to hear it for myself. I absolutely love Eliza's stories and want to have my own copy of them, complete with Nathaniel's sketches! I also love how they are like her real life stories.

I love all the characters but I didn't like how everything was way too coincidental. Everyone knew one another, even if it was 80- years ago. Somehow they have all met. I know some of it can be possible but it was just too many people knowing too many people. For example: Christan and Nell. Really? That was a stretch. I hated the story of Nick and Leo. Not because it didn't belong, it may well have, I just hated to read such a horror.

I really could go on forever but who wants to read what I write??? Go out and read what Kate wrote! She also wrote a book before this entitled The House at Riverton also known as The Shifting Fog. Her new novel The Distant Hours will be released in November 2010. But as I am a crazed book-er, I would have to wait until that one is on Paperback just to buy it to make my collection purdy! I will get to The House at Riverton soon after my thesis is through (if that ever happens).