Review #379: Ways to Disappear by Idra Novey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


“Reality doesn't impress me. I only believe in intoxication, in ecstasy, and when ordinary life shackles me, I escape, one way or another. No more walls.”

----Anaïs Nin

Idra Novey, an American author, pens her debut entertaining literary fiction, Ways to Disappear which is part mystery and part family drama where the main story is centered upon a famous Brazilian author who goes missing under strange circumstances, and due to her disappearance, her American translator travels to Rio to find her author and in that process she gets to meet the family and gets to know the author who was hiding a lot about herself.

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Review #146: The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



“Remember, even if we can’t see them, those we love are always with us”

----Lucinda Riley

Lucinda Riley, an Irish international best-selling author, have spun a terrific and absolutely stunning saga of six sisters in an all new series of The Seven Sisters. The Seven Sisters is the first book and the story of first/eldest sister, Maia. This is her journey to search for her roots after her adoptive father's death.




Synopsis:
Maia D'Apliése and her five sisters gather together at their childhood home, 'Atlantis' - a fabulous, secluded castle situated on the shores of Lake Geneva - having been told that their beloved father, the elusive billionaire they call Pa Salt, has died. Maia and her sisters were all adopted by him as babies and, discovering he has already been buried at sea, each of them is handed a tantalising clue to their true heritage - a clue which takes Maia across the world to a crumbling mansion in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Once there, she begins to put together the pieces of where her story began . . .

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Review #32: Carnival of Hope by George Hamilton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Author Walter Mosley has said in his book Devil in a Blue Dress,
"The law is made by the rich people so that the poor people can't get ahead.."

Similarly, a modern day author, George Hamilton has vividly captured this saying in his book Carnival of Hope, with Brazil as the back-drop. He has managed to open our eyes to the dreadful ugly conditions faced by the people of the northern-east part of Brazil. These people are termed as Nordestinos. The authorities do not allow the people to read and excel, because they fear that the people might revolt against them. And these people live under the most pathetic conditions that we can ever imagine. These people have no means of entertainment or education, but still they lived united and never lost any hope. These people used to look forward to a carnival in Rio, which held once in a year. Many thought that this carnival can be their getaway from their pain and sorrow- A Carnival of Hope.


Synopsis:
The story revolves around a teenage boy named, Tomas who is in love a girl named, Thereza. They both used to live in the shanties and to support his family, Tomas used to teach the people of this village in secret, since reading and writing was banned from his village. But Thereza's mother never approved of their relationship especially, Tomas. She used to think that Thereza's beauty can attract a rich suitor, thereby alleviating them from their poverty. Eventually Thereza was sold off to a rich man, who then sold her off in Rio. Thereza believes that the carnival in Rio is her only get away from the painful and torturous conditions of her life. But she had no idea the fate of the winners of this carnival is very dark and are controlled by some vicious people. And in return, we experience a very beautiful love-story, amidst of all corruption, politics and pain.

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