Book Review: The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes
reviewed by: Lily Marshall, Library Bookkeeper and Cataloger

Description: 
The newest novel by Jojo Moyes shares its title with a fictional painting that serves as a catalyst in linking two loves stories, one set in occupied France during World War I, the other in 21st-century London.

Lily's Review:
The first book I read by Jojo Moyes was Me Before You. Although it was an interesting story on a sensitive subject, I wasn't too fond of the ending and swore I would never read another book by her. When I saw the book The Girl You Left Behind, I thought it was a sequel to Me Before You, but I was wrong. As I was cataloging the book, I was thinking to myself that I needed to give this book a try.

The story is split into two parts that will intercept through time. In France, 1916, Artist Edouard Lefevre leaves his young wife, Sophie, to fight at the front. Their small town falls to the Germans in the middle of World War I . Edouard painted a portrait of Sophie that attracts the new Kommandant.

In an act of desperation Sophie sacrifices her family, her reputation, and her life to see her husband again. I was so caught up in Sophie, that I have to admit I was a little disappointed that the story shifted away from her character. The second part of the story takes place 100 years later. Sophie’s portrait is given to Liv Halston by her husband before he died suddenly. Liv draws strength from the painting day by day and becomes emotionally attached to the girl in the painting. Some of Edouard's family is looking for the same painting.

There is a long-drawn out battle in court, as the two parties fight over who should be the owner of the painting called The Girl You Left Behind.  This book absolutely captivated me. I couldn't put it down. I read it during breaks and lunchtime. I just had to find out what happened next. I recommend this book to everyone who likes historical fiction and Jojo Moyes has become my new  favorite author.


For renewals, reserves, or to submit memorials, please contact the Public Library at 613 Quitman Street, Pittsburg, Texas 75686, 903-856-3302 or email us. 'Follow' our twitter feed, 'Like' us on Facebook or 'Circle' us on Google+.  

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Book Review: Stitches by Anne Lamott

Stitches: A Handbook on Meaning, Hope and Repair
By Lamott, Anne
2013-10 - Hardcover, Riverhead Books, ISBN: 9781594632587
Reviewed by: Nancy Murillo, Library Director

A wise and compassionate exploration of how we can make sense of life's chaos. What do we do when life lurches out of balance? How can we reconnect to one other and to what's sustaining, when evil and catastrophe seem inescapable? These questions lie at the heart of Stitches.

Publisher Comments:
In this book, Lamott explores how we find meaning and peace in these loud and frantic times; where we start again after personal and public devastation; how we recapture wholeness after loss; and how we locate our true identities in this frazzled age. We begin, Lamott says, by collecting the ripped shreds of our emotional and spiritual fabric and sewing them back together, one stitch at a time.
It's in these stitches that the quilt of life begins, and embedded in them are strength, warmth, humor, and humanity.

Nancy’s review:
This book appealed to me for several reasons. First, it was about faith. Second, it had a title and cover that related to quilting, which holds many positive memories for me. Last, it was only 112 pages, as I was spread thin on several projects and needed some short quiet moments. Even at 112 pages, it took me a week because I wanted to soak it all in, read, then reread, then tag it with a sticky note for later. By the time I finished, I had nearly as many sticky notes as there were pages.
Ms. Lamott pulls you in with everyday things, life, the killings at Newtown, illness, divorce, Sunday School. I laughed, I cried, and at times stared at the page wide-eyed because of her irreverence. It was wonderful. Hope, faith, grace, and spirituality are needed as you stitch your life back together after tragedy, divorce, death, loss, addiction, illness, aging, etc. Life is messy and we live stitch by stitch.
You start where you can, where you are. Ms. Lamott helps soothe the sore places in your heart and soul, so you can take the next stitch, and then the next, repairing what have become ‘the rags of your life'. We all struggle to keep the fabric of our lives together. If you have ever had to piece your life back together and just keep going, you will relate. As you already know, ‘the rags of life’ can be stitched into a beautiful new quilt.

For renewals, reserves, or to submit memorials, please contact the Public Library at 613 Quitman Street, Pittsburg, Texas 75686, 903-856-3302 or email us. 'Follow' our twitter feed, 'Like' us on Facebook or 'Circle' us on Google+.  

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Summer programs are a success

Learn with us. During the month of September, we are offering a free Basic Computer Class on Thursday evenings. If you can’t take advantage of a day class, we will offer this night class. Limited seating is available so you must pre-register. Please call 903.856.3302 to sign up now.

Thanks to our sponsors, friends, and you (yes, you!), our summer programs were awesome this year. Thirteen programs were provided to the public, 300 pounds of food were collected for local food pantries through our program attendance and "Food for Fines" initiative, and 65 sets of school supplies were given away. We offer a very special thank you to the Friends of the Library and Jeannie Campbell, our Story Lady for their support this summer. Pittsburg continues to be the most kindhearted and giving community. We do not do this alone, but with an abundance of help and helpers.

The 4th annual Friends of the Library 5K Fun Run Walk or Crawl will be September 17, 2011 at City Park on Texas Street. Call 903.856.3302 for details or swing by the website at http://www.pittsburglibrary.org for more information.

The library has added Helpful Homework Links to our Facebook page. Check them out, (the link is on the left), and please let us know if a link is broken. The direct link is http://on.fb.me/o0TWCg .

Check out the list of “STORES WITH SENIOR DISCOUNTS” on our blog. Here is the link:  http://bit.ly/nkwuji .

New large print mysteries include: “Dead By Morning” by Beverly Barton; “Smash Cut” by Sandra Brown; “Angels & Demons” by Dan Brown; “Mobbed” by Carol Higgins Clark; “Spider Web” by Earlene Fowler; “Fallen” by Karin Slaughter; “One Was A Soldier” by Julia Spencer-Fleming; “Monument To Murder” by Margaret Truman; “Over Her Dead Body” by Kate White. 

New large print westerns include: “Peyton” by Max Brand; “The Devil’s Winchester” by Peter Brandvold; “Death Rides The Rio” by Jackson Cole; “Rider On The Buckskin” by Peter Dawson; “Outlaw's Promise” by Ray Hogan; “Matt Jensen, The Last Mountain Man: Dakota Ambush” by William Johnstone; “Big Gundown: The Loner” by J. A. Johnstone; “Glory Riders” by Louis L'Amour; “Sonora Noose” by Jackson Lowry.  

For renewals, reserves, or to submit memorials, please contact the Public Library at 613 Quitman Street, Pittsburg, Texas 75686, 903-856-3302 or email us. Subscribe to our twitter feed, or 'Like' us on Facebook.

Parent's Book Review Site for Children's Books

Common Sense Media's Parents Book Review Site for Children's Books

For renewals, reserves, or to submit memorials, please contact the Public Library at 613 Quitman Street, Pittsburg, Texas 75686, 903-856-3302 or email us. Subscribe to our twitter feed, or become a library fan on Facebook.