Halton's Reading Families - The Smith Family

Here are the latest reviews from our Reading Families

Tracy’s Book Reviews

Tracey

Band of Brothers by Stephen E. Ambrose

The author put a lot of sensitivity and thought into the narration of a complex living story of a company of men that truly became a ‘band of brothers’; that had so much to tell and gave so much.

The emotion, passion and camaraderie that brought these men together is told with such sensitivity and understanding that you truly feel a part of them.  You feel for them; the horror of war, the loss, resentment and fear.  It showed them to be very brave men indeed.

A piece in the book, left out of the film, tells the story of a Fritz Niland.  His story looked to be the basis of the film Saving Private Ryan.  How Fritz lost 3 brothers in the war and was sent home by the army to his mother.

This book is interesting, insightful and emotional living every minute of the battles and trials the men went through and how the lucky few survived.

Genesis by Karin Slaughter

From the start of this book the author draws you into the story and grips you with the horror of the opening scene; you are then hooked.

You are made to feel every emotion and fear of the characters as they discover the ‘house of torture’, and the journey of discovery and shock to catch the person practiced in the art of pain.

The scenes are set dramatically and you are then hit hard by a roller coaster ride of gripping narration that leaves you breathless and begging for more.  It is a read you’ll find hard to put down, like all of Karin’s books.

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

I was recommended this book by a friend. I thought it wouldn't be my type of book.  How wrong I was.

This novel is a wonderful read about the life of a geisha from 1929 to the post-war years of Japan’s history.  It is sensitive, emotional and an engaging read that is both spellbinding and surprising.
It is a book you’ll want to read again and again as you are educated in the half-hidden world of formality, intimacy, exploitation and degradation in the geisha’s world.  How they achieve their beauty, etiquette and standing in society; and where it leads them. A truly fascinating read.