The Broken Birds by Jeannette Katzir

Synopsis

World War II has long since ended, and yet Jaclyn and her four brothers and sisters grow up learning to survive it. Having lived through the Holocaust on the principles of constant distrust, their mother, Channa, dutifully teaches her children to cling to one another while casting a suspicious eye to the outside world. When Channa dies, the unexpected contents of her will force her adult children to face years of suppressed indignation. For Jacyln and her siblings, the greatest war will not be against strangers, but against one another. Broken Birds: The Story of My Momila is Jeannette Katzir's achingly honest memoir of the enduring effects of war. From her parents' harrowing experiences during the Holocaust to her own personal battles, Katzir exposes the maladies of heart and mind that those broken by war, inevitably and unintentionally pass down to the generations that follow.

Jeannette Katzir tells her parents' story of living through the holocaust and then later how they both came to America, met and started their family.  Through Jeannette's eyes the reader learns how our past effects greatly our future.  Channa comes from a different area in the Holocaust than that of Ann Frank or Corrie ten Boon.  Each has their own survival story and they all will put chills down your back when your eyes are open to what the survivors had to endure for great periods of time in their lives.  This book will certainly have you wanting to learn more about what comes next in their life. I was so glad that the author contacted me to review her memoir I totally enjoyed reading this book; however, I must stay true to my three strikes and I must post:  there are some curse words mingled in the pages of this book.  (see my curse words post for more information)

you may visit the author's blog here.
you may visit Broken Birds web site here.

Want a chance to win a copy of this book?  
Check out Bless their Hearts Mom here.  
She is giving away a copy of the book. 
Deadline Nov. 19th

About the author

As a child of Holocaust survivors, Jeannette Katzir’s life has been a study of the lasting effects of war. Inspired by her own family experiences, Katzir has dedicated years to in-depth research of the impact of World War II on survivors and their children. She currently resides in the Los Angeles area , not far from her two children and grandson, with her husband.

for more information about this book check out

Amazon
Barnes and Noble

A Word Doc. copy of this book was provided for this review by the author.

FIR Question #5

This year Katrina who hosts the Fall into Reading challenge is posting a weekly question for us to meme on. I'm a little late again posting the question and my response, but non-the-less here is this week's question:

When you read a book, do you read EVERYTHING? In other words, do you read the dedication, the acknowledgements, the foreword, the afterword, the prologue, the epilogue, the appendices, etc.? Or do you just read the “meat” of the book? Or is your approach somewhere in between?

I don't read everything generally.  However, if something jumps off the page I'll read it when it comes to the dedication and acknowledgments.  The introduction,  prologue and epilogue I will read.  appendices and index, table of contents I will glance at and see if they are intriguing I will read them.  So I'm a mediocre reader I guess.  Not just the meat. 


What about you? Do you start with Chapter 1? Or do read all the extras, too?

A Season of Miracles by Rusty Whitener

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing A Season of Miracles Kregel Publications; Reprint edition (August 3, 2010) by Rusty Whitener

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rusty Whitener is a novelist, screenwriter, and actor. His first screenplay, Touched, won second place at the 2009 Kairos Prize at the Los Angeles Movieguide Awards and first place at the Gideon film festival. That screenplay soon became A Season of Miracles. The movie version of this book is now in production with Elevating Entertainment. Find out more at www.rustywhitener.com and www.aseasonofmiraclesmovie.com. Videos and book club discussion questions are also available at www.aseasonofmiraclesbook.com.

Endorsements:

“A Season of Miracles is a must read for anyone who has ever played youth baseball. I read the book, and was reacquainted with my childhood. In the midst of an enjoyable read that took me down memory lane was a touching, challenging and beautiful story about how God can use the unlikeliest among us to draw us to Him.”—Matt Diaz, outfielder, Atlanta Braves

“Baseball, inspiration and childhood memories—a great combination. I couldn’t put it down!”—Richard Sterban, bass singer for The Oak Ridge Boys

“Rusty Whitener weaves a deft tale of young friendship and the curve balls of faith, the whole story seasoned with sunshine and the leathery scent of baseball gloves!”—Ray Blackston, author of Flabbergasted

“A Season of Miracles is a heartwarming all American story of small town boys and Little League baseball. You’ll be cheering this captivating bunch of characters all the way home both in their game of baseball and the bigger game of life.”—Ann Gabhart, award-winning author of The Outsider

ABOUT THE BOOK

Looking back on the 1971 Little League season, Zack Ross relives the summer that changed his life…

Gunning for the championship is all that matters until twelve-year-old Zack meets Rafer, a boy whose differences make him an outcast but whose abilities on the baseball field make him the key to victory.

Admired for his contribution to the team, Rafer turns everyone’s expectations upside down, bestowing a gift to Zack and his teammates that forces them to think—is there more to life than winning or losing? And what is this thing called grace?

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Season of Miracles, go HERE.

Whatcha Reading ~ Broken Birds

This is how "Whatcha Reading Wednesdays" works this week...

Go to page 1 type in the first sentence. If it is a spoiler at all be sure to put **Spoiler Alert** at the top of your comment (like if the selection announces the death of an integral character or something).

Link up over at Busy Moms Who Love to Read

I HURRIED DOWN THE hallway but stopped when I saw her.

Vampire Boy's Good Night by Lisa Brown

I won this book in a book prize pack, there were about 4 picture books,  and it came last week so I thought I'd post my review today since Halloween is this weekend.  Though I don't celebrate Halloween this was a very cute picture book.  Vampire Boy, Bela, and Witch, Morgan, are active at night.  They are told there are real children, but have never seen any because real children sleep at night.  Morgan doesn't believe in such thing as real children.  However, on Halloween night they find out that real children really do exist.  The pictures are well done and the story line is very cute. 

You may find out more about Lisa's book here.
Visit Vampire Boy's web site here.

As I mentioned before this is one I won and this review is my own.  I was in no may compensated for this review.

Teaser Tuesday ~ Broken Birds

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, f hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought I would play for un! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Nathan once again boarded the train heading for destinations unknown, hopeful that the next place would be better. He and his unfortunate fellow travelers remained crowded in the cattle car for days. The air was stifling, and the ammonia from the straw toilet area burned their eyes and sickened their empty stomachs. 

Taken from p. 59 (note this was taken from a Word Doc book so pages may vary from hard copy) Broken Birds, by Jeannette Katzir

Lydia’s Charm by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Head to Scraps of Life for this book tour.

Click here 

Mailbox Monday ~ Oct. 25, 2010

Join Mailbox Monday meme
@ The Printed Page

adult fiction

children's

two with no print on spine so had to take cover view

 

second hand finds

winner

 

goes to

winner of  

Do you know who I am?

Book Blog Hop ~ Oct. 22, 2010

Happy Friday Friends! I'm very glad that the weekend is finally here. Maybe I can get caught up on my posts. If you are new to Teresa's Reading Corner please take a moment to look around. I review a variety of genres including both historical and contemporary fiction. I occasionally review children's books with my little monkey. Take a moment to introduce yourself so that I may stop by and say hello as well.

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy for Books. Its a simple but fantastic concept. As a blogger we write a post for visitors to say hello on. Once we've done that we head over to Crazy for Books and add the link to our post to the Mr. Linky. Final Step, visit some of the other hoppers and say hello.

Each week Jennifer poses a new question so we can get to know one another a little better. This weeks question is:

"Where is your favorite place to read? Curled up on the sofa, in bed, in the garden?"

My favorite reading spot is my recliner with a blanket throw or in the winter snuggled in my snuggy wrap.  

How about you???

Don't forget last day to enter my book drawing that I have going on.  Click here for details.  

FIR Question #4

This year Katrina who hosts the Fall into Reading challenge is posting a weekly question for us to meme on. I'm a little late again posting the question and my response, but non-the-less here is this week's question:

Do you ever dog-ear the corners of book pages to mark your spot? Or are you a faithful bookmark user, refusing to damage the pages of your books? OR do you have another way to keep track of where you are in a book? 

No, I've never dog-ear the corners of the book.  I'm a faithful bookmark fan.  I love bookmarks so generally don't have problems finding one.  Some of my nonfiction I may highlight things, but that is rare too.  I did that more in college when studying.  

Now it's your turn.  What about you? Do your books have dog-eared pages or are they pristine due to your commitment to using bookmarks?
 

A Very Private Grave by Donna Fletcher Crow

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing A Very Private Grave Monarch Books (August 1, 2010) by Donna Fletcher Crow


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Donna Fletcher Crow is author of more than thirty-five novels. She has twice won first place in the Historical Fiction category from the National Association of Press Women, and has also been a finalist for "Best Inspirational Novel" from the Romance Writers of America. She is a member of The Arts Centre Group and Sisters in Crime. Find out more at www.donnafletchercrow.com.

Endorsements:

"History and mystery and murders most foul keep the pages turning ... A fascinating read." –Liz Curtis Higgs, bestelling author of Thorn in My Heart

“A Knickerbocker Glory of a thriller, a sweeping, page-turning quest served up with dollops of Church history and lashings of romance. Donna Fletcher Crow has created her own niche within the genre of clerical mysteries.” – Kate Charles, author of Deep Waters

“As in Glastonbury, Donna Fletcher Crow’s descriptions of the English and Scottish settings in her new mystery are drawn with real artistry. Lovers of British history and church history will be impressed by her grasp of both.”—Sally Wright, Edgar Award finalist and author of the Ben Reese Mysteries

ABOUT THE BOOK

Felicity Howard, a young American studying for the Anglican priesthood at the College of the Transfiguration in Yorkshire, is devastated when she finds her beloved Fr. Dominic bludgeoned to death and Fr. Antony, her church history lecturer, soaked in his blood.

Following the cryptic clues contained in a poem the dead man had pressed upon her minutes before his death, she and Fr. Antony—who is wanted for questioning by the police—flee the monastery to seek more information about Fr. Dominic and end up in the holy island of Lindisfarne, former home of Saint Cuthbert.

Their quest leads them into a dark puzzle...and considerable danger.

If you would like to read the Prologue and first Chapter of A Very Private Grave, go HERE.

Watch the book video:

Call Me Kate by Molly Roe

Fourteen-year-old Katie McCafferty risks job, family, and eventually her very life to rescue a lifelong friend. Disguised as a draft resister, Katie infiltrates a secret Irish organization to prevent bloodshed. Tragedies challenge her strength and ingenuity, and she faces a crisis of conscience. Can Katie balance her sense of justice with the law?

Call Me Kate is suitable for readers from eleven to adult. The story is dramatic and adventuresome, yet expressive of daily life in the patches of the hard coal region during the Civil War era. This novel will appeal to readers of the Dear America series, as well as more mature readers who will enjoy the story’s rich context and drama.

"Call Me Kate is a fascinating look at the time period of the early drafts for the Civil War. It focuses on a specific area of the country and the conflict that arose among the different classes and ethnicities. I got a brief history lesson on a time period that I wasn’t very familiar with. For anyone interested in getting some history with their fiction, Call Me Kate is a good book to add to your choices." - TeensReadToo.com

" The politics of the time, the history of how hard the struggle was for many poor families, is absolutely inspirational. The writer did a wonderful job bringing us back to the past, and making us understand that bigotry – in any form – can only harm. I am always so thankful when a writer comes out with a story that teaches something more than “unrequited love with a supernatural being.” Don’t get me wrong, those are fun, too. But this is a great story that will teach something and be fun at the same time." - BookPleasures.com

Read a pdf copy of first chapter here.

I was contacted by Tribute tours to review this book.  It is historical fiction.  The time period is early 1860's.  It was a very interesting read.  Learning about the coal mining conflicts.  How Irish immigrants were treated during this time period.  It's not really a romance because Molly is too busy helping her family and those around her.  The history period covered was very interesting and informative.  At the end of the book there are Literature questions and extension activities, as well as a glossary of terms.  This would be a good book if any classroom was studying this time period of history.  

While reading I felt that at times though, older people were not given the respect that should have been given, referring to them as biddies and the likes.  Also there are curse words in the book.  

All in all I did enjoy the book and learning about this time period and culture.    

Molly Roe is the pen name of Mary Garrity Slaby, a veteran language arts & reading teacher at Lake-Lehman Junior Senior High School. Mary holds a Ph.D. in education from Temple University, and Pennsylvania teaching certification in six areas. She has pursued the hobby of genealogy for the past decade. Mary was born in Philadelphia, raised in Schuylkill County, and currently lives in Dallas, Pennsylvania with her husband, John. They are parents of two grown children, Melissa and John Garrett, cover illustrator of Call Me Kate. Digging into the past has given Mary newfound respect for her ancestors and a better understanding of history. Call Me Kate is the first in the author’s trilogy of historical novels loosely based on the lives of the strong women who preceded her.

Molly's Blog here.
Find Molly on Facebook here.

Buy at Amazon.com

Tribute Books on Twetter here
Tribute Books Facebook here
a arc of this book was provided by Tribute book for this review.

Whatcha Reading ~ Toto's Tale

This is how "Whatcha Reading Wednesdays" works this week...

Go to page 1 type in the first sentence. If it is a spoiler at all be sure to put **Spoiler Alert** at the top of your comment (like if the selection announces the death of an integral character or something).

Link up over at Busy Moms Who Love to Read

I'd smelled fear on the humans all morning, and the stink was really getting on my nerves.  I mean, we all knew a windstorm was coming, and it was going to be rough but the humans didn't have anything to worry about.  They'd just go down into The Hole and wait till it was all over.