Deja Who

Deja Who by MaryJanice Davidson, 285 pages

“’You couldn't arrest for murder someone who had killed in his last life. You couldn't bring a civil suit against such people, either. They could only be legally penalized for what they did this time around—and what a dark circus the legal system had been before that legislation passed! (It was still a dark circus, but perhaps not as dark.) But you could spot them, and watch them. You could set traps for them.’ Leah Nazir is an Insighter. Reincarnation is her business. But while her clients' pasts are a mess, Leah's is nothing short of tragedy. She's been murdered. A lot. If left to that bitch, destiny, it'll happen again. Leah wants to know who's been following her through time, and who's been stalking her in the present... P.I. Archer Drake has been hired by Leah's mother to keep an eye on her. But the more time he spends watching, the more he finds himself infatuated. Before long, he even finds himself agreeing to help find the person who wants her dead. Over and over again. Now going full-on "rewind," Leah hopes it can stave off the inevitable. After all, she's grown fond of this life—and even fonder of nerdy Archer. But changing her pattern means finding out who her killer is today. And as Leah fears, that could be anyone she has come to know and trust. Anyone.” I’m not sure how I feel about this series.  It’s an interesting concept and I liked the characters pretty well, but the story just wasn’t as good as some of Davidson’s other books.  I definitely wouldn’t give it to anyone who hadn’t read Davidson before, but people who have read her other books will probably want to read it.

Life After Life

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson    560 pages

Kate Atkinson’s novel is tricky. In this novel, with death not an ending but a beginning, it’s hard to know what is reality. The story opens in November 1930. The main protagonist, Ursula, kills Adolph Hitler for an unknown reason. Then the novel reverts to a cold, snowy, January night in 1910. Sylvie Todd is giving birth; the doctor does not arrive before the baby makes its appearance. However, the baby girl dies, strangled by the umbilical cord. In the next chapter, taking place on the same night and almost under the same circumstances, the results are very different. The doctor is able to make it through the snow and the baby, named Ursula, does not die.

Reincarnations, like Ursula’s birth, that are the crux of Atkinson’s novel and these types of episodes appear over and over although not in a linear structure. The novel moves over the course of the early 20^th century. Most of the story takes places between 1910 and 1947, with one chapter stretching to 1967.

At times the plot was difficult to understand. Just about the time I got into a linear stretch, the time moved again. I felt as if I was reading basically a linear plot that continually moved forward, yet had room for the “what if’s?” of  life.

There was one chapter where Ursula is best friends with Eva Braun, is married and has a child. That seemed to come from nowhere and was, for me, quite confusing.

By the time I was turned the last page, I had gotten to know these characters very, very well, perhaps more so than if Life After Life was a traditional love. It was starting to get a little old about two-thirds through the 560 pages, which I why I’m giving Life After Life 4 out of 5 stars. However, I do think this is a book that can be read over and over and over. As a person moves through his or her life, like Ursula, a new reading, I think, will create even newer worlds.

The Cat At The Wall, Deborah Ellis

The Cat At the Wall, Deborah Ellis, 2014 152 pages

        I heard about this title at a recent Youth Services Meeting, and when it came into Central, I thought I would see if it was any good.  This is a short chapter book that packs a punch for readers of all ages.  I could not put this book down. Ellis deftly crafts a narrative that deals with the complexities of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict in a way that is visceral, moving, and inventive.

        This is the story of a little girl who dies and is reincarnated as a stray cat in the city of Bethlehem.  It is told from her perspective, and flashes back periodically to her life back in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. What I really like about the whole story is that Ellis does not tell us what to think about this conflict or give us a convoluted history of the conflict.  She creates a narrative around the experiences of a few people, and a stray cat who may be able to make a difference. Worth the time to read.  

Collector of Dying Breaths by M. J. Rose
368 Pages

When Jac L'Etoile's brother dies of a mysterious poison, she attempts to finish off a project that he had started.  A group of glass vials that purport to hold the dying breaths of several 16th Century figures was found and if the formula of the perfume maker Rene Le Florentin can be recreated would mean that those individuals could live again with all their memories.  

Part historical novel, part romance novel, this book is a mess.  While there are interesting premises that could be investigated and great subject matter, Rose fails to make any of her characters connectable and there are several times where the plot drops a thread and never has any resolution for that plot line.  Supposedly the second book of the series I could not in good conscience recommend either book to anyone.

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North, 405 pages


Harry has the ability to relive his life, the same life, over and over.  What's more is that in each life he remembers his previous lives.  As the book progresses we discover that Harry is not alone, there are many people like him who have the same ability and they have formed a society which passes on their riches and knowledge so each generation of these special humans can somewhat communicate. Harry is special among this group as well, since he remembers everything.  It is not until his 11th life that Harry gets a message from the future,  someone is changing the course of history and the end of the world is coming. Now Harry must investigate and find out who is behind this scheme.

While this is an interesting premise, the book is a slow read since the author insists on many digressions and jumping around among Harry's lives.