The Wish

Author: Nicholas Sparks

Genre: Romance, Fiction

Rating: 3 out of 5

Pages: 387

Date Started: 8 December 2022

Date Finished: 16 December 2022

I selected this book based on my positive experiences with Nicholas Sparks' previous works. The book had a promising storyline and a good rating, which piqued my interest. The narrative takes us back to 1996, a pivotal year for Maggie Dawes, who is sent to live with an aunt in Ocracoke, a remote village on North Carolina's Outer Banks. Initially, she yearns for the friends and family she left behind, but her life takes an unexpected turn when she meets Bryce Trickett, a fellow teenager with dreams of attending West Point. Bryce introduces her to the beauty of the island and ignites her passion for photography, shaping her future. Fast forward to 2019, and Maggie has become a renowned travel photographer, managing a gallery in New York and capturing remote locations worldwide. However, an unexpected medical diagnosis grounds her over Christmas, and she forms a close bond with her young assistant. As they spend time together, Maggie recounts a Christmas from her past, revealing a love story that changed the course of her life. This book offered a good, light read, even though it initially had the elements of a tear-jerker. Fortunately, it didn't delve into intense emotional trauma, leaving the reader unscarred. I particularly appreciated the storytelling style, as it addresses various themes, including teenage pregnancy, adoption, loss, the suffering caused by cancer, and the process of making peace with challenging life situations. The story alternates between the past and present, which sometimes led to a disjointed experience, making it challenging to follow the narrative's flow. While the tale revolves around Maggie, not much significant action unfolds, and I could easily guess the story's direction early on, leading to a lack of a major surprise or twist. In conclusion, this book is a satisfying and emotionally resonant read, maintaining Nicholas Sparks' signature storytelling style. While it may not offer groundbreaking surprises, it effectively explores themes of love, loss, and personal growth.

Favorite lines from the book:

• It’s important to remember that none of us is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. All we can do is try to be the best version of ourselves as we move forward.

• And in the end, isn’t that the most important thing in life? To be truly known and loved by someone you’ve chosen?

• But never forget that love is always stronger than fear. Love saved me, and I know it will save you, too.

• Love was the most powerful emotion of all because it made you vulnerable to the possibility of losing everything that really mattered.

• Not wanting to lose someone has its roots in fear.

• That was the thing about battling cancer. The waiting. So much of the last few years had been about waiting. Waiting for the appointment with the doctor, waiting for treatment, waiting to feel better after the treatment, waiting to see whether the treatment had worked, waiting until she was well enough to try something new. Until her diagnosis, she’d viewed waiting for anything as an irritation, but waiting had slowly but surely become the defining reality of her life. Even now, she suddenly thought. Here I am, waiting to die.

Chinese Cinderella

Author: Adeline Yen Mah

Genre: Memoir

Rating: 4 out of 5

Pages: 242

Date Started: 8 December 2022

Date Finished: 14 December 2022

I stumbled upon this book while browsing the library, and as a fan of memoirs and autobiographies, I decided to give it a chance. "Chinese Cinderella" is a heart-wrenching memoir that chronicles the painful coming-of-age journey of Adeline Yen Mah within a wealthy Chinese family during the 1940s. Born into a family that considers her bad luck following her mother's death during childbirth, Adeline's life takes a further distressing turn when her father remarries. Her stepmother's disdain and mistreatment of Adeline and her siblings contrast starkly with the indulgence shown to her stepbrother and stepsister. Despite her academic achievements, Adeline yearns for the love and acceptance of her family, a longing that forms the emotional core of this memoir. Her story evokes a deep sense of empathy as she endures not only her family's cruelty but also the gender biases of the time, where boys were preferred over girls. The narrative also touches upon universal themes of resilience, determination, and the enduring human spirit. Adeline's story includes heartbreaking scenes that had me in tears, such as the cruel incident involving the duck. Yet, amidst the pain, it is heartening to witness her unwavering determination and her eventual triumph through her excellence in writing. Her ability to use her passion for writing as an escape from her harrowing circumstances offers inspiration and hope. While she was initially pushed into studying medicine, it's uplifting to see how she found her calling in the field and excelled. In sum, "Chinese Cinderella" is a profoundly moving memoir that shines a light on the strength of the human spirit and the enduring power of one's passions. It's a powerful narrative that resonates deeply, despite the time and culture it depicts.
Favorite lines from the book:

• Though many Chinese parents still prefer sons, daughters are not so much despised.

• Although Chinese Cinderella was written when I was in my late fifties, inside I am still the same little five-year-old yearning for the love of my parents.

• Mother Teresa once said, “Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted are the greatest poverty.” To this I will add: Please believe that one single positive dream is more important than a thousand negative realities.

• If you had not been born, Mama would still be alive. She died because of you. You are bad luck.

• My classmates made me feel as if I “belonged.” Unlike my siblings, nobody looked down on me.

• On my way back to my seat, I couldn’t help noticing that of all the prizewinners, I was the only one unaccompanied by anyone from my family. Nobody was there to pat my head or congratulate me, not even my Aunt Baba. As for Big Sister, she had refused to go to school that day. She’d said she had a stomachache.

• Now they knew the pathetic truth! Unwanted and unloved by my own parents! How long did it take for a person to die of shame?

• Though life has to be lived forward, it can only be understood backward.

• you can vanquish the demons only when you yourself are convinced of your own worth.

Harvest of Rubies

Author: Tessa Afshar

Genre: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction

Rating: 3 out of 5

Pages: 342

Date Started: 22 November 2022

Date Finished: 25 November 2022

I initially stumbled upon the second part of this book at the library, and realizing that I needed to read the first part before starting it, I picked up this volume to begin the series. The narrative revolves around the cousin of the prophet Nehemiah, who finds herself thrust into the heart of the Persian court. Sarah's life takes an unexpected turn as she works tirelessly, interacts with royalty, and even becomes the queen's favorite scribe. It's an impressive feat for a woman living in a male-dominated world. However, a haunting past has left Sarah grappling with feelings of unworthiness, believing that her accomplishments are the sole measure of her value. Darius Pasargadae, on the other hand, is accustomed to having things his way. As a wealthy and admired aristocrat, he certainly doesn't expect an arranged marriage to a woman who scorns him—the queen's scribe. This book delivers a light and engaging romance, with elements that resonate with young adult cheesy romance. Despite its simplicity, the story is thoroughly enjoyable, with no dull moments to be found. The plot maintains a steady hold on the reader's attention, ensuring that there are no dull scenes to contend with. The characters are endearing and uncomplicated, with Sarah's character standing out as she grapples with self-doubt and a constant need to prove herself. Her journey of learning to trust herself and her faith in a higher power is depicted with finesse. In summary, this book offers an enjoyable and well-written romance that keeps you hooked from start to finish. It captures the essence of faith, self-discovery, and personal growth through the lens of a charming love story.

Favorite lines from the book:

• You may fail; I cannot deny it. But if you go through life making every decision based on what is safest, you will look back one day and discover that you have missed out on the best.

• I never thought a day would come when almost being devoured by a lion would be the least of my problems.

• Persian women attacked facial and body hair like it was an enemy of the empire.

• To be at its best, it needs to suffer, yes. And fight.

• Pain is part of this life. No one can escape suffering. Not the vine, nor we humans, as you well know, my lady. But what if we are like the vine and that affliction only makes us better?

• It was a custom among Persian nobility not to present their sons to their fathers until the age of five. The idea was that should the child sicken or die, the father would be too heartbroken.

• This was the nature of life. Loss, grief, sorrow, regret were woven through the fabric of human destiny as uncompromisingly as joy, hope, and fulfillment. If one’s happiness rested only in the capture of one’s dreams, then happiness would prove fickle indeed.