MINI-REVIEW: 40 NIGHTS by STEPHANIE PARENT

Series: Neima's Ark #2
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Self-Pub
Publication Date: 10/9/13
Format: ebook
Pages: 94
Source: Author
Rating: 4.5 stars

Neima, her family, and her grandfather Noah have found themselves trapped aboard an ark as a great flood destroys all life in the world. As their time aboard the ark lengthens, food begins to run out, wild animals grow restless, and family tensions become as much of a threat as the flood outside. In the second and final installment of Neima’s Ark, the stakes are higher, the conflicts are greater, and Neima finds herself facing a choice as impossible as the destruction all around her.

Forty Nights is a continuation of the story begun in Forty Days, and it’s recommended that you read Forty Days first for the best experience. Forty Nights does, however, contain a character guide to refresh readers’ memories. The Neima’s Ark series is a historical, feminist reimagining of the story of Noah’s Ark rather than a religiously oriented one, and the novels are best suited for readers who are comfortable with new interpretations of biblical stories.

Religion is a subject that both fascinates and terrifies me, like a lot of people. I can only think of one book that I can compare to the Neima's Ark series, a series that reimagines biblical times through a woman's point-of-view, The Red Tent by Anita Diamant (I'm sure there are many more.) And while the series is set during one of the most iconic events of the Bible, the Great Flood, it is not really a religious story at all. From the standpoint of someone of who does have a religious background, it's thought-provoking. Even if you don't know the story or the details, it is a dangerous and exciting story.

I want to dedicate what's left of my review to praise author Stephanie Parent. Young Adult Historical, let alone a story set during biblical times, is not exactly the "It" trend now. It can't be easy to reimagine a story that is virtually timeless, but Parent did it, and she did a terrific job. Besides how well I think the story is done, I have to say that every single story of hers I've read has been pretty excellent. Her writing is nearly flawless, and always thoughtful.

If you are looking for something new, out of your comfort zone, and exciting, I do recommend the Neima's Ark series.


Favorite Quotes:

  Jorin sighs and wraps his arms tighter around me. "I don't know if this God truly exists. But I've had a lot of time to think, these past few days. And I think--I think that if he does exist, he must speak some distant, long-forgotten language that one man could never understand completely. Interpreting God's words must be like...like trying to make sense of the howl of a wolf, or the trumpeting of an elephant. The song of a bird."

The Neima's Ark Series

 

 

(covers lead to GoodReads)

 

 

My Review of 40 Days

 

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About the author
Stephanie Parent is a graduate of the Master of Professional Writing program at USC and attended the Baltimore School for the Arts as a piano major. She moved to Los Angeles because of Francesca Lia Block's WEETZIE BAT books, which might give you some idea of how much books mean to her. She also loves dogs, books about dogs, and sugary coffee drinks both hot and cold.

Connect with Stephanie at:
Blog  |  Twitter  |  GoodReads  |  Amazon

BLOG TOUR: FORTY DAYS (NEIMA'S ARK #1) by STEPHANIE PARENT

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the Forty Days Blog Tour.

The tour is being hosted by YA Bound. You can find the complete tour schedule here.
 

 

Series: Neima's Ark #1

Category/Genre: Young Adult Historical Romance

Publisher: Self-Published

Publication Date: 2/10/13

Format: ebook

Pages: 123

Source: Received from author for review

The entire village knows Neima’s grandfather is a madman. For years the old man has prophesied that a great flood is coming, a flood disastrous enough to blot out the entire earth. He’s even built an enormous ark that he claims will allow his family to survive the deluge. But no one believes the ravings of a lunatic…

…until the rain starts. And doesn’t stop. Soon sixteen-year-old Neima finds her entire world transformed, her life and those of the people she loves in peril. Trapped on the ark with her grandfather Noah, the rest of her family, and a noisy, filthy, and hungry assortment of wild animals, will Neima find a way to survive?

With lions, tigers, and bears oh my, elephants and flamingos too, along with rivalries and betrayals, a mysterious stowaway, and perhaps even an unexpected romance, FORTY DAYS is not your grandfather’s Noah’s Ark story.

FORTY DAYS is approximately 45000 words, the length of a shorter novel, and is the first installment in a two-part epic story. It does contain a cliffhanger ending.

Readers looking for a traditional, religiously oriented version of the Noah’s Ark story should be warned that FORTY DAYS may not appeal to them. The novel will, however, appeal to lovers of apocalyptic fiction, historical fiction, and romance, as well as anyone who’s ever dreamed of having a baby elephant as a pet.

I feel as if Noah's Ark is one of the first stories I ever learned. It is ingrained in many of us from early childhood; a theme in baby nurseries, taught in the earliest of Bible classes. It's simply a story that always was. So, many months ago, when the author informed me about her upcoming story, about Noah's granddaughter, I was immediately intrigued. I know the subject should have seemed a bit out there, but having read Parent's gorgeous told story, Defy the Stars, I had complete faith in her.

Neima's Ark was pretty fantastic. I was absolutely fascinated by her reimagining of the tale of Noah's Ark, from his granddaughter Neima's point-of-view. For those who know the Bible story, we only know it through Noah, the man who heard God's voice, and did his bidding despite the ridicule he received. We didn't get the story of his family, who endured the scorn of their neighbors, who put their lives on hold to do a crazy man's bidding.

I love that Parent immerses the reader so deeply into the time and place of the story. The descriptive passages painted such a clear picture of what life must have been like at this time, and really one can only imagine. Her take on what Noah's family endured was beyond fascinating and completely imaginative. I am so, so proud that she wrote Neima's Ark, and cannot wait to read the conclusion of the story, Forty Nights.



Favorite Quote:

  He laughs again. "All right, I won't. But perhaps you can tell me--what does your grandfather plan to do with all these animals? Why has he built this great, smelly wooden thing that seems almost an animal itself?
  I think of all I could say: Noah is mad; or A voice in his head commanded him; or, A great flood is coming. Finally I settle on the truth:
  "I have absolutely no idea."  ~34%


  I'd swear the rain grows stronger as our mouths open, tongues meet, hands roam and clutch at each other's arms and shoulders and necks. Water swirls around us, slams into us from all sides, forcing us closer and closer together until our edges dissolve and we become one thing, one seeking, reaching, desiring being. The rain can go on forever, can pelt us like stones, break us to pieces. I don't care, so long as I can stay like this. ~ 96%

 Forty Days is on sale this week for $0.99. Get your copy at:

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About the author
Stephanie Parent is a graduate of the Master of Professional Writing program at USC and attended the Baltimore School for the Arts as a piano major. She moved to Los Angeles because of Francesca Lia Block's WEETZIE BAT books, which might give you some idea of how much books mean to her. She also loves dogs, books about dogs, and sugary coffee drinks both hot and cold.

Connect with Stephanie at:
Blog  |  Twitter  |  GoodReads  |  Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

THE AMBASSADOR'S DAUGHTER BLOG TOUR ~ REVIEW AND EXCERPT

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on The Ambassador's Daughter Blog Tour! My stop includes a review and excerpt from the book. Thanks to MLM Media Relations, Book Trib, Harlequin Mira for inviting me to take part in the tour.

 

 

 

Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Harlequin Mira
Publication Date: 1/29/13
Format: ARC
Pages: 336
Source: Received from publisher for review.

 

Paris, 1919.The world's leaders have gathered to rebuild from the ashes of the Great War. But for one woman, the City of Light harbors dark secrets and dangerous liaisons, for which many could pay dearly.

Brought to the peace conference by her father, a German diplomat, Margot Rosenthal initially resents being trapped in the congested French capital, where she is still looked upon as the enemy. But as she contemplates returning to Berlin and a life with Stefan, the wounded fiancé she hardly knows anymore, she decides that being in Paris is not so bad after all.

Bored and torn between duty and the desire to be free, Margot strikes up unlikely alliances: with Krysia, an accomplished musician with radical acquaintances and a secret to protect; and with Georg, the handsome, damaged naval officer who gives Margot a job—and also a reason to question everything she thought she knew about where her true loyalties should lie.

Against the backdrop of one of the most significant events of the century, a delicate web of lies obscures the line between the casualties of war and of the heart, making trust a luxury that no one can afford.

Tense, romantic, and bittersweet, The Ambassador's Daughter is a perfect example of why I love historical fiction, particularly those set during the time of the World Wars.

I want to start by saying that I am so happy I accepted the tour invite for this book. The Ambassador's Daughter is a book that might never have crossed my path, and to think that I would have missed out on reading this gorgeous story is a shame. The story begins in Paris, December 1918. World War I has recently ended, and those in charge of the new world peace are meeting to discuss a treaty, what will become of Germany. The story is told through the eyes of Margot, a German who spent the war at Oxford with her Professor father. I found it interesting to read the story through the eyes of the (my country's) enemy in the war. Margot is in Paris to be with her father, and also to avoid her wounded fiance, Stefan. Though she is engaged to Stefan, she does not truly love him, and is quickly drawn to German Officer, Georg, with whom she is working during the peace negotiations. Georg is everything Margot never realized she wanted in a companion. His passion for peace and his intense nature pulls Margot in, and the two cannot help but fall in love. But Margot has secrets, beginning with her friendship with Krysia, a mysterious musician whose circle of friends may lead Margot down a dangerous road. Margot is also herself keeping secrets from Georg about Stefan. With so many tangled threads, Margot soon finds herself in over her head.

I honestly read this story with the anticipation that everything would soon fall down around Margot's lies. Though a woman who seems to continuously lie to everyone around her might seem to be a difficult heroine to love, she was not. I wanted her to be able to trust Georg with the truth, but understood why she felt she couldn't. The author did a beautiful job of building the tension that surrounds Margot and her secrets. I didn't dare let myself hope for a happy ending for Margot and Georg, but I will say it was a hopeful ending.

And really, this story, more than the romantic entanglements and the impending treaty, is about a young woman who learns to find her own way. Margot has lived her life to please others: her father, Stefan, then Georg. Ultimately, she must find herself before she can ever be free, to be happy with the man she loves.

The Ambassador's Daughter was simply beautiful. If you are a fan of historical fiction, or are simply looking for a remarkable story, I highly recommend it.


Favorite Quote:

  He continues, as if he has not heard me, "I'm so broken, Margot. And if I can make this work..." His eyes are desperate, wild. He clings to his work for the conference like a raft. When I'm with you, it all seems possible somehow."  ~ARC, pg 148

 

EXCERPT

 

“I hold up a volume of Goethe. It has to be at least a hundred years old, but other than its yellowed pages it is in good condition, its spine still largely intact. Before the war, it would have been worth money, but here it sits discarded and unrecognized, a gem among the rubble. ‘Pardon,’ Monsieur Batteau says a short while later ‘but if you’d like to buy anything…’ I glance up from the travelogue of Africa I’d been browsing. I’ve been in the shop scarcely thirty minutes and the light outside has not yet begun to fade. ‘I’m closing early today, on account of the parade.’”

 

 

About the author:

Pam Jenoff is the author of several novels, including The Kommandant's Girl, which received widespread acclaim, earned her a nomination for a Quill Award and became an international bestseller. She previously served as a Foreign Service officer for the U.S. State Department in Europe, as the Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Army at the Pentagon and as a practicing attorney. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania, her master’s degree in history from Cambridge University and her bachelor’s degree in international affairs from The George Washington University. Pam Jenoff lives with her husband and three children near Philadelphia where, in addition to writing, she teaches law school.


Purchase The Ambassador's Daughter at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository