Noah Gets Naked by Xanna Eve Chown

Noah Gets Naked by Xanna Eve Chown is a very short collection calling attention to some of the more unusual myths of the Old Testament not usually talked about. Most of these stories were familiar to me. Still funny, though. Most amusing was the notion that the only part of God that Moses could safely see was his bum. If you enjoy biblical humour, check this book out! There’re a second book planned, that looks at the New Testament.

***Many thanks to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for providing an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

 

Queen Solomon by Tamara Faith Berger

Queen Solomon by Tamara Faith Berger is the story of Barbra, a Jewish Ethiopian brought to Israel at age five, part of Operation Solomon. When she is a teen, our narrator’s father brings her to their home for the summer. However, Barbra is a rebellious teenager, a train off its tracks. She constantly lied to the family, and would binge drink, among other things. Like sadistic mental games with our narrator. Her actions lead to some terrible circumstances that take years for him to bounce back from. But, like a bad penny, Barbra shows back up in his life. Can he survive her return with his sanity intact or will Barbra destroy his life again?

With its themes of sex and power and its crude language, I really wasn’t a fan of this book. The dialogue felt stilted, and the writing rather clunky. A good deal seemed to ramble on page after page, with little cohesion and plot. I despised Barbra, and felt nothing for the narrator. I like to feel invested in the characters lives and wellbeing and just didn’t feel it here. Like cult classic film, this book is likely to attract a solid, but definitely niched, fan base and I’m clearly not a fan.

***Many thanks to the Netgalley and Coach House Books for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

 

Glass Voices by Carol Bruneau

Bruneau’s Glass Voices covers around five decades in the lives of Lucy, Harry, and their family. Harry, Lucy, and their young daughter survive the terrible Halifax Explosion. Harry is injured during the explosion. In the midst of this difficult time and its immediate aftermath, their son is born. What should be a joyous occasion is instead made stressful thanks to circumstances, especially since their daughter disappeared and was presumed dead. These events will follow the family for the rest of their lives, shaping them all in different ways.

I found this story confusing at times. It shifted past to present and back again often. The writing style did not mesh with me, making my reading fits of start and stop. It’s not bad, just not my cuppa. I liked the colloquial language though. Phrases and slang of bygone eras fascinates me. I was unaware of the Halifax Explosion, and this prompted me to research it.

***Many thanks to the Netgalley and Nimbus Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.