10 Apr 2018

Review + Giveaway - The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

Title: The Red Tent

Author: Anita Diamant

Synopsis:

Her name is Dinah. In the Bible, her life is only hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the more familiar chapters of the Book of Genesis that are about her father, Jacob, and his dozen sons. Told in Dinah's voice, this novel reveals the traditions and turmoils of ancient womanhood--the world of the red tent. It begins with the story of her mothers--Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah--the four wives of Jacob. They love Dinah and give her gifts that sustain her through a hard-working youth, a calling to midwifery, and a new home in a foreign land. Dinah's story reaches out from a remarkable period of early history and creates an intimate connection with the past.


My Thoughts: 

I have no idea why I put off writing this review for so long. I mean... The Red Tent was one of the best books I've read this year so far. I guess I was reluctant to start writing about it because it's so unique, I'm afraid I won't be able to capture its essence for you well enough and I won't do the book justice. Anyway, it's time to try at least.

When I learned about the Bible in elementary school, of course we touched upon the story of Jacob and his sons. I don't think Dinah, Jacob's only daughter the protagonist of this book was ever mentioned. I confess I hadn't known Dinah's story before hearing about Ms Diamant's novel.

According to the Bible Dinah was raped by the Prince of Shechem and, to avenge this heinous crime, her brothers butchered everyone in town when the inhabitants were at their weakest. The Red Tent tells the same story, only with a twist.

To be honest you can see the twist coming miles ahead but that's not the point. The bloody retribution that sits at the center of Dinah's tale wasn't the most important component of this literary piece at all. What mattered in this book was the feminine eye. This novel is a celebration of life and of those who give it. The Red Tent, my friends, is an ode to womankind. 

"If you want to understand any woman you must first ask about her mother and then listen carefully."

Dinah had four mothers: Leah, the one who gave birth to her, and three more, who she called aunts but were just as dear to her as Leah: Rachel, Zilpah and Bilhah. They were all Laban's daughters and all wives of Jacob. In the first half of the book Dinah recalls her childhood and what it was like to be the only girl in a family full of boys. She introduces her mothers to us; we hear about their values and their flaws, but most importantly she describes each and every way they embraced their femininity. 

"Their coupling was the coupling of the sea and the sky, of the rain and the parched earth. Of night and day, wind and water."

From virginity to love-making, from discovering the influence they have over the male members of the family to motherhood, quite a few aspects of being a woman is discovered first by Dinah's mothers, then by Dinah herself. The female community in The Red Tent is a group that stands alone, a group with authority that picks at patriarchy from time to time. These women in a Biblical story! were stretching their boundaries, which was very impressive... 

The women defy the men and pray to what Jacob considers 'pagan' symbols of 'pagan' Gods. In truth the small statues they hide and honour are all figures that personify different aspects of femininty. Thus womanhood is elated to the level of religion and fights for its rights in a world where men sell their daughters for animals and land.

The Red Tent starts and ends with a message for us from Dinah herself. She addresses the reader directly and claims she tells her story to us. All of a sudden the distance between her and the reader is eradicated. This made the whole experience very personal for me and I shed a few tears at the end, saying goodbye to her. 

Another thing I loved about the book was that Jacob and his family were on the move a lot and thanks to that a lot of Biblical landscape came alive in my imagination while reading this lovely novel. Laban lived somewhere between the Tigris and Euphrates. At some point Jacob decided to go back to the land of his ancestors (to Canaan) and of course his whole family followed him. On the way there the Shechem indicent happened and Dinah got seperated from her family. 

"Ashnan also taught me boredom, which is a dreadful calamity visited upon women in palaces."

Dinah's story continues in Egypt where after the tragedy of Shechem she tries to find herself again and build a new life from the rubbles she was left with. Joseph's tale is retold as well but we see everything from Dinah's point of view. 

The ending was very satisfactory. It's not bitter at all, though it could be with everything Dinah went through. It is actually very peaceful and radiates a reassuring promise that I can't talk about now, you might just have to read the book to find out what it is.

Conclusion: If you are a lady, read The Red Tent to celebrate who you are. If you are a gent, read this book to understand women better. Whoever you are, READ THIS BOOK!

Goodreads | Amazon

Since I have a duplicate copy of The Red Tent, I'll host my first giveaway of my own on this blog. Please participate if you'd like to win a copy of this magnificent novel. 

You have to be over 18 to enter and have to be willing to give me your address if you get selected. The winner will be chosen at random and will be contacted via email (if their email address is given on their blog) or through a social media site.

The giveaway is international and it ends on April 30th at 12.00 am, EST. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

9 Apr 2018

Book Blitz - Death Island by Kelsey Ketch


Title: Death Island

Author: Kelsey Ketch

Genre: NA Historical Fantasy

Release Date: December 31st, 2017

Synopsis:

Her family name tainted by her great-grandfather’s crimes of piracy, Meriden Cummings is far from the typical 18th century woman. A social outcast, she works in a carpentry shop in a small village, where the people barely tolerate unconventional behavior.

However, her life takes a turn after a gang of pirates attack her village and her blood reveals an ancient map adorned with Mayan glyphs leading to Death Island. An island legends say is ruled by the Mayan god of the underworld, Ah Puch. Her great-grandfather had sought after the island before he vanished without a trace. Now, Meriden is about to journey across the sea to understand her family history.

There are only a few problems: her growing feelings toward a mysterious stranger linked to her great-grandfather’s past; a greedy band of pirates after her great-grandfather’s legendary treasure; and a contract she has unwittingly signed in blood with Ah Puch himself.

***Excerpt***
I paced the deck with the few men that stayed behind on watch. It was growing late, and Captain Connell’s curfew was quickly approaching. Soon all the crew would return to the ship, stumbling drunk and fucked out of their minds, but calmer than they had been for a while. Some reason, my body twitched in excitement. I’d been anxious since Meriden left with the last group. There was a knot in my gut the moment she stepped off the dock, and the feeling hadn’t gone away since. 

I causally walked to the starboard bulwark, catching sight of the harbormaster’s window. The candle still burned as it had been long before night fall. Odd, I thought. The knot in my stomach twisted even tighter. I haven’t seen the harbormaster work his books this late into the night. I leaned against the gunwale and squinted a little, trying to focus my vision. The candle was nearly spent, and underneath the dripping wax laid what possibly could be a hand, but it was too far to tell. As I eased back, my gut squirmed like a bunch of worm snakes. I needed to be sure all was well, for Meriden’s safety and the rest of the crew. 

Neglecting to ask Swan’s permission, I slipped down the main deck, across the gangway, and headed straight for the harbormaster’s office. The street was as quiet as the grave when I reached the door. I raised my hand to knock, only for the door to push open on the first tap to the solid oak. I swallowed the lump that crammed its way into my throat. This wasn’t good. I drew my working knife and stepped inside. 

“Hello,” I called. “Anyone still here?” 

It felt stupid walking into the dark hallway without knowing if I might end up dead or accused of theft, but my gut told me to keep pushing forward. I turned right into the room with the burning candle still flickering inside. The office was clean and uncluttered except for the few stacks of paper on the desk. On top of which laid the harbormaster, as if he merely fallen asleep in his desk chair. My eyes refocused again at his outstretched arm. A trail of hot, liquid wax ran across the flesh of the harbormaster’s hand, which didn’t even stir the man awake. My heart pounded with adrenaline, and I pushed the man up by the shoulder. 

A maroon-colored pool poured onto his books from what looked like a dagger wound to the harbormaster’s shoulder. A serious wound, but not one that should have killed. It was the discoloration of the man’s skin and the vomit around the mouth that gave me a better idea what had brought on the man’s demise. I’d seen the signs many times before from men who died in blackish waters as well as a few victims that died at Baker’s hand. 

Snake venom.
 
About the author:


Kelsey Ketch is a young-adult/new-adult author, who works as a Wildlife Biologist in the state of North Carolina. During her free time, she can often be found working on her latest work in progress or organizing the New Adult Scavenger Hunt, a biannual blog hop. She also enjoys history, mythology, traveling, and reading.

For more information, please visit her site at kelseyketch.com.
Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram


Book Blitz Organized by:  YA Bound Book Tours


You guys already know about my sailing/pirate book obsession that I've developed lately. Death Island is on my radar at the moment it looks super interesting.

7 Apr 2018

Weekend Wrap-up #4

The Sunday post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It's a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things you have received.


This week I tried to pick up the rhythm of everyday life after an eventful week/weekend. 

I got book mail in which The Line of Beauty arrived (read about it below). It made me super happy because I rarely order books these days (I'm broke, ugh) and it's a good feeling to receive the package when I order one now and then.

This week I watched two films on Netflix. That's progress for me because lately I've mostly watched tv shows (the reason for that is that I'm somehow unable to concentrate on one thing for a long time, I find it easier to watch one episode at a time from a series rather than watching a long movie).

The movies I saw were totally out of my comfort zone, too. They were Maid in Manhattan and Crazy, Stupid Love. Romantic comedies are not my type of films so my sudden, fleeting crave for them surprised me. Anyway, both movies were entertaining and in that way they served their purpose.

By the way, am I the only one who now cannot unsee Voldemort when looking at Ralph Fiennes? It's a tragedy because for the longest time I had a crush on that man. And now... Voldy!!??


On the TV show front I'm very close to finish Black Sails. The situation in Nassau is very dire at the moment. I'm sad I have to let go of this show after the end of this season but at the same time I'm hoping for a satisfying ending. 'Cause even surly pirates deserve a happy ending sometimes.

Posts on the blog this week:




Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that makes it possible to share with other bookworms what books you added to your shelves physical or virtual during the week. 

Purchased:

Title: The Line of Beauty

Author: Alan Hollinghurst

Synopsis:

It is the summer of 1983, and young Nick Guest, an innocent in matters of politics and money, has moved into an attic room in the Notting Hill home of the Feddens: Gerald, an ambitious new Tory MP, his wealthy wife Rachel, and their children Toby and Catherine. As the boom years of the mid-80s unfold, Nick becomes caught up in the Feddens’ world, while pursuing his own private obsession, with beauty – a prize as compelling to him as power and riches are to his friends. An early affair with a young black council worker gives him his first experience of romance; but it is a later affair, with a beautiful millionaire, that brings into question the larger fantasies of a ruthless decade.


This is a critically acclaimed LGBTQ fiction novel from the year 2004. I have only read one LGBTQ book that was set in the 80s so far, Tell the Wolves I'm Home. I have the feeling the AIDS epidemic that touched the lives of the characters in that book will influence the happenings in The Line of Beauty as well. I'm a bit afraid this book will be a bit heavy on politics, given that the MC goes to live with an MP and his family but at least I'll have the chance to learn more about the Thatcher era. Political history is part of history after all.

How was your week? Please leave a link to your STS and Sunday posts below so I can go and comment on them! Happy reading!

6 Apr 2018

Book Beginnings on Friday and the Friday 56 #11


Book Beginnings on Friday and The Friday 56 are weekly memes hosted by Rose City Reader and Freda's Voice.

Rules: 

Book Beginnings: Share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. 

The Friday 56: Grab a book, turn to page 56 or 56% in you eReader. Find any sentence (not spoilery) and reflect on it if you want.


I'm participating in Hope, Faith & Books's Red Queen read-along which started on Monday, that's the reason why I've decided to feature this series-starter today:

(Red Queen #1)
by Victoria Aveyard


Synopsis:

This is a world divided by blood – red or silver.

The poverty-stricken Reds are commoners, living in the shadow of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from the Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Then Mare finds herself working at the Silver palace, in the midst of those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.



Book Beginning:

I hate First Friday.

You're dying to know what happens on First Fridays, aren't you? :)


The Friday 56:

Walsh stays by me, whispering advice. "Say nothing. Hear nothing. Speak to no one, for they will not speak to you."

In other words: be invisible. Mare lives in a harsh world, that much is clear. 

If you'd like to join us in the Red Queen read-along, you still have the chance to do it by clicking on the picture below.

 

What is your current read? How is your week looking so far? 

5 Apr 2018

My trip to Oradea in pictures

Some of you requested to see the pictures I took during my stay in Oradea, Romania. This is me giving in, but let me forewarn you; I'm really bad at editing pictures so you'll see them in their original state here. Enjoy the realism and please don't be alarmed by my no-filter face :)

I went to Oradea with my family (parents and my younger brothers) on Friday, March 30th and we stayed until Monday, April 2nd. We rarely go on family trips together anymore, since 3 out of the 4 'children' in the family (including myself) are adults and we usually plan separate holidays for ourselves. Neither me nor my brothers have kids on our own yet but we have a kid brother who we love to spend time with. All of us really enjoyed this journey, since the city was beautiful and for two days we had nice weather too.

And now, the pictures:

A walk in the city centre:

(from left to right): the City Hall Tower, the State Theatre and the Church of St. Spirit:


The Black Eagle Palace:


I became part of the 20th century literary society of Oradea for a short moment:

(From left to right: Endre Ady, Gyula Juhász, Ákos Dutka and Tamás Emőd)

Endre Ady, the guy with the bow tie, is one of my favourite Hungarian poets.

My brothers on the Main Square, the Neolog Synagogue Zion and the Black Eagle Palace at night:



A story in pictures involving me and my little ray of sunshine:

The Good, the Bad and the Horror Bunny:

 So that's it, phew. A bunch of bad photos (I've just realised I photographed the majority of the buildings from a distance, jeez) that, despite their awkwardness, make me recall a ton of nice memores. 

I hope you enjoyed this short pic-sharing post.

4 Apr 2018

Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway - Hiding by Jenny Morton Potts


Title: Hiding

Author: Jenny Morton Potts

Synopsis:

A gripping psychological thriller with chilling twists, from a unique new voice.
 

Keller Baye and Rebecca Brown live on different sides of the Atlantic. Until she falls in love with him, Rebecca knows nothing of Keller. But he’s known about her for a very long time, and now he wants to destroy her.

This is the story of two families. One living under the threat of execution in North Carolina. The other caught up in a dark mystery in the Scottish Highlands. The families’ paths are destined to cross. But why? And can anything save them when that happens?

My Thoughts:

This was my first psychological thriller in a while and I enjoyed it immensely.

Keller and Rebecca should be total strangers to each other, since he lives in America and she in a remote mansion in Scotland. They have never visited the other's country and neither of them has ever laid eyes on the other. Yet there is a deadly connection between them that only one of them knows about. Keller is out for revenge and it seems no one is capable to keep him from doing his 'duty'.

I can't really give much away to keep this one interesting for future readers. Obviously, the invisible thread that stretches between Keller and Rebecca has a root in the past. Something had happened long ago that jumbled up the life of two families; an event that left children without their parents and created secrets that are whispered in passageways of a crumbling house. However, as always, the truth will out and both sides need to face the consequences in the end.

There are two POVs throughout the book: Keller's and Rebecca's. We get glimpses of them from their childhood onwards, and this helps to get to know both characters; their motivations and their feelings. I enjoyed Rebecca's side of the story more, but perhaps this had to do with the Scottish setting which I was in love with. Keller's chapters are interesting because we get more information about the event that messed up everything and his disturbed thoughts build tension in the reader, they make you anticipate what will happen next.

Eventually the two characters meet and that's when the situation becomes really worrying. By that time the reader knows Rebecca's whole family and I personally feared for them, because I grew to like them a lot. Eccentric Primmy, the grandmother, caring Tilly, the sister, Juliet and Neil, the ones I'm not supposed to write about unless I want to spoil everything for you... By the end of the story everyone is in grave danger and the only questions are: who will live and who will die?

The writing was very enjoyable, the characters were well-developed. Sometimes I didn't agree with Rebecca's actions (dating a stalker fan??), but she wasn't an annoying heroine altogether. Her childhood memories fascinated me and I also liked to read about her bonding with her grandfather.

I was on the edge of my seat while reading the last third of the novel and I rooted for Rebecca and her folks like crazy.

Keller was a complex male protagonist. The ending added yet another layer to his character and I feel I should have hated the last page but I didn't.

I recommend this book to lovers of the thriller genre, though be warned that there are some 18+ scenes in it that are not for the faint-hearted. If you're not bothered by that, pick it up by all means!


About the Author:

Jenny Morton Potts was born in a smart, dull suburb of Glasgow where the only regular excitement was burglary. Attended a smart, dull school where the only regular excitement was the strap. Worked in smart, dull sales and marketing jobs until realising she was living someone else’s life.

Escaped to Gascony to make gîtes. Knee deep in cement and pregnant, Jenny was happy. Then autism and a distracted spine surgeon who wanted to talk about The Da Vinci Code, wiped out the order. Returned to wonderful England – and unlikely ever to leave again – Jenny, with assistance from loyal hound, walked and swam her way back to manageable health.

Jenny would like to see the Northern Lights but worries that’s the best bit and should be saved till last. Very happily, and gratefully, partnered for 28 years, she ought to mention, and living with inspirational child in Thaxted, Essex.

Website I Twitter I Goodreads

Giveaway:

Two digital copies of Hiding by Jenny Morton Potts. Open internationally.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2 Apr 2018

March Wrap-Up, April TBR

Happy Easter, Folks!!!

https://media.giphy.com/media/vbT1NvTo5DF8k/giphy.gif 

One more month is gone and hopefully Easter will bring us the spring we deserve. 

I know I'm a bit late with this wrap-up post... my only excuse is that I've just got home from my trip to Romania and I didn't have much time to blog there.

I don't have any reason to complain, March was generally a good blogging month for me. I'm a bit behind with my reviews but I'll work on them in April and try to catch up with myself.

Here is a summary of March on Paradise Found:

I've finished six books:

Sawbones by Melissa Lenhardt Review

Song of Blood & Stone by L. Penelope – Book Tour and Review is coming at the end of April.

Ain't He Precious by Juliette Poe Review

Oops, Caught by Alli Reshi Review

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant – Review is coming soon

Hiding by Jenny Morton Potts  – Book Tour and Review is coming on April 4th.


Other posts on the blog in the month of March:

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Review
 
For The Love of Fish! – Oscars 2018 + Book Adaptation Tag
 
Some quotes to brighten your day
 
Creating the atmosphere
 
Words, words, words – Review: Hamlet (National Theatre Live) with Benedict Cumberbatch
 
Book Blitz + Giveaway – The Dragon Raider by Ava Richardson


Weekly memes:  

Goodreads Monday (Mar 5, Mar 19, Mar 26

Tell Me Something Tuesday (Mar 20)

WWW Wednesday (Mar 7, Mar 14, Mar 28)

Book Beginnings and the Friday 56 (Mar 2, Mar 9, Mar 16, Mar 23, Mar 30)   

Stacking the Shelves (Mar 10)

Weekend Wrap-up (Mar 17, Mar 24, Mar 31)  


Plans for April:

I'd like to read the following books in April (in no particular order):
How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather

The Last Sun by K. D. Edwards 

Nothing But Sky by Amy Trueblood

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard  

How was your March? Did you have a satisfying reading month?