August Wrap-Up

A lot of different genres made up the August reading list. I loved every minute of it. :) The Clock of Life had to be my favorite! It made it on the 5/5 Cups list after all. 

The Clock of Life

In the small town of Hadlee, Mississippi, during the 1980's, Jason Lee Rainey struggles to find his way amongst the old, steadfast Southern attitudes about race, while his friendship with a black boy, Samson Johnson, deepens.


By way of stories from others, Jason Lee learns about his larger-than-life father, who was killed in Vietnam.

He longs to become that sort of man, but doesn't believe he has it in him.
In The Clock Of Life he learns lessons from the past, and the realities of inequality. He flourishes with the bond of friendship; endures the pain of senseless death; finds the courage to stand up for what he believes is right; and comes to realize he is his father's son.

This story explores how two unsettling chapters in American history, the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War, affect the fate of a family, a town, and two boyhood friends.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Undoubtedly the best historical fiction novel I have ever read, The Clock of Life by Nancy Klann-Moren surprised and astounded me. I've never been one for history, but this book completely captured my heart as well as my attention.

Jason Lee, with a heart that holds so much love and strength, is the main character in this Southern novel . His moral compass is something to be jealous of and his urge to make the world a better place is remarkable. Readers watch him grow into a man as the pages turn, while the connection with Jason Lee flourishes in the sadness of his waning innocence. His bravery, hope, and faith are overflowing, even in the darkest times, making him a character to be remembered.

The plot follows Jason Lee and his loss of innocence when he learns that his friendship with an African American isn't "normal." This doesn't stop him from becoming blood brothers with Samson, sharing his hopes and dreams for the future. The story of their friendship is heartwarming, yet also heartbreaking. Nancy Klann-Moren has created a must-read novel that will touch the hearts of readers with The Clock of Life.

Rating: 5/5 Cups

WWW Wednesday (64)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

      

01. Currently Reading:
Dancing with the Duke by Suzanna Medeiros. Romance novella about two childhood friends falling in love when they see each other for the first time in seven years.

02. Recently Finished:
The Clock of Life by Nancy Klann-Moren. Historical novel about an unexpected friendship that takes place in the South during the time of segregation.

03. Reading Next:
Morning Light by Holland Kane. When a married woman has an affair with a friend's 17-year-old son, there are drastic consequences.

WWW Wednesday (63)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

01. Currently Reading:
The Clock of Life by Nancy Klann-Moren. A boy growing up in the south during the tough times of segregation follows in his father's footsteps of seeing everyone as equal.

02. Recently Finished:
Get Me Out of Here by Rachel Reiland. A woman's journey through therapy and the darkest days of living with her Borderline Personality Disorder.

03. Reading Next:
Dancing With the Duke by Suzanna Medeiros. A prequel novella to Medeiros' series Landing A Lord, a duke and his best friend's younger sister meet on the dance floor and she's nothing like he remembered.

Teaser Tuesday (74)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! 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!

The Clock of Life (Kindle Loc. 135-36)

   - Nancy Klann-Moren

I couldn't let Mama in on any of this after it dawned on me that she needed me to be brave like my daddy had been and I wasn't. 

WWW Wednesday (62)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

 

01. Currently Reading:
Get Me Out of Here by Rachel Reiland. A mental illness memoir about the highly misunderstood Borderline Personality disorder. Very intense book that is gripping and emotionally moving.

02. Recently Finished:
Pieces of Lies by Angela Richardson. When a woman becomes entangled in a secret society her life is suddenly flipped upside down and she is dragged back into the frightening world she once lived in.

03. Reading Next:
The Clock of Life by Nancy Klann. A novel focusing on how the Civil Rights Movement in the US and the Vietnam war affected a young man's life in Mississippi.