Book Nook Club: Reviewed by Sara

Showing posts with label Reviewed by Sara. Show all posts

Showing posts with label Reviewed by Sara. Show all posts

October 6, 2009

Year of the Flood Margaret Atwood Review

I was surprised by Margaret Atwood’s Year of the Flood. I hesitated to read it as I had already read one cautionary apocalyptic tale this year, Liz Jensen’s The Rapture. But there is no comparison, though I enjoyed moments in The Rapture, I was absolutely fascinated by Atwood’s work. And although both delve into the treacherous side of religion and politics, Flood isn’t even about a flood. Couple that idea with it isn’t even about any one year more than the other in the quarter century span of its futuristic narrative. Which is where it became surprising. This novel is hard core science fiction despite its inexplicable title and floral cover. It is almost as if it is science fiction cloaked in literary fiction’s clothing. And after the initial shocker, that is exactly its feel. A detailed and creative world magnified by a compelling story, deft characterization, and remarkable rendition.

Basically the story is about two women living after a flood has wiped out most of the population. Over the course of the novel their story is back filled to ascertain how they were able to survive, and we are treated to a new vision of humanity, one who has little to lose. This new world is complete with massive corporation posing as government, some bizarre genetic cross breeds, and apocalyptic drama. I can see why some call Atwood Canada’s best living writer. Anyone who expects literature to open up new worlds will find a favorite in this novel.

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

October 4, 2009

The Coral Thief by Rebecca Stott

If Rebecca Stott’s goal was to create a vivid feel of Paris after the Napoleonic wars, this novel is a complete success. As for the plot and characters she builds this vibrant setting around, they definitely take a backseat in her vivid re-creation. Her story starts as an intriguing mystery novel, young scientist Daniel Connor heads to Paris to study with the greats in a nexus of brilliant and important thought of the day, Paris. On the train into town, he is near hypnotized by a beautiful stranger, and ends up having some priceless fossils stolen from him. When he tries to recover his items, he meets the Police Chief, a corrupt and former master thief who has his own agenda concerning this robbery. The novel quickly morphs into a caper story with who is using whom elements. This narrative is interspersed with an imagined tale of Napoleon’s journey to exile which Stott doesn’t even bother to connect to the story in any real way beyond a few casual comments.

Its almost as if you are watching a an Oceans Elevens/Departed type movie and your spouse keeps changing the channel to an documentary on Napoleon’s exile and Post Revolutionary Paris. You don’t get bored with one program or the other, but the mixture feels somewhat bumpy at best. Daniel Connor also makes one inexpiable decision after another which doesn’t help. The writing however is great, and Stott consistently uses several phrases that light up. The Police Chief (who is based on fact in a stranger then fiction turn), and some of the scenes that describe Revolutionary violence are the story’s fabulous and moving highlights.

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

September 22, 2009

Anita Shreve's latest--A Change in Altitude Review

If you (like me) are a fan of Anita Shreve, then you are probably salivating over her new release, A Change in Altitude. And after Testimony, who wouldn’t be a fan? Shreve seems to be getting better and better. This novel centers on a late twenties newlywed, Margaret, who jumped at the chance to follow her husband to Kenya where he is doing medical research. One day Patrick announces that they are going to climb Mt. Kenya with their land lords and another couple. The climb is an arduous several day affair, so Margaret does have misgivings, but in the end is easily persuaded. Once on the expedition, small indiscretions on Margaret’s part have dire consequences and put a seemingly insurmountable strain on her marriage. As the cracks in her marriage widen, Margaret considers whether she can save her marriage, and as she explores her own passions, a part of her wonders if she wants to.

The muscle that Shreve typically flexes is her ability to instantly grab and hold the reader, but for me that didn’t happen here. Instead I found myself sort of plugging away at the first few chapters. However, Shreve is an excellent story teller, and so I soon found myself engrossed in Margaret’s emotional drama which was beautifully set by the harsh African landscapes and Keynes details. The fish out of water feel of an American in Africa is explored, and is thematically similar to The Poisonwood Bible by Kingsolver or Louise Dean’s The Idea of Love. The culture shock is just an element to Margaret’s characterization, and not the focus of her story, and thus Shreve forges something new. I was shocked to enjoy the action sequences as much as I did, and found Margaret’s insecurities scarily relatable and fascinating. Overall, I was surprised with the restraint and subtlety which Shreve used in composing this novel. Though A Change in Altitude wasn’t my favorite book by Shreve (that is a tie between Testimony and Fortune Rocks), it is still one of her best.

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

September 4, 2009

Moonlight in Odessa by Janet Skeslien Charles Review

Typically when I finish a book, I can’t help but feel somewhat proud as if I have accomplished something. It is more rare for me to come to the end of the book longing for more—just a few chapters, pages, anything! I definitely felt that I became so invested in the characters and story of Moonlight in Odessa by Janet Skeslien Charles that I was bummed to finish it.

The book begins with Daria (who has a degree in Engineering) landing a dream job (secretary at a shipping company): amazing pay, she can speak English all day, and she will get exposure to the luxuries of the world which are very scarce (expensive) in Odessa. The only catch is that her boss makes it clear that sleeping with him is a job requirement. The aftereffects of Communism hit the Odessan economy hard, and bribery, extortion and poverty are part of everyday life. Daria navigates these challenges of commerce expertly, and finds that she loves the security her job offers. Determined to stall her boss until she can come up with a way to dissuade him, Daria makes some questionable moral moves which end up changing her life.

For plot reasons I won’t disclose, Daria ends up in America. At this point the story kind of hit a stalemate, losing a lot of its grip, and when Charles finally tied the plot up, some of the major storylines seemed unresolved. It was an abrupt ending as if the author had simply ran out of steam, and yet kudos to Charles for making me care so much about a group of fictional people. They are endearing to say the least. Charles has done an amazing job at making them feel authentic. As in I may not like something that Daria did, but I understood why she did it. The book is also a smart yet entertaining look at the sad ramifications of an economic collapse and the lengths which some will go to secure their own American dream. I am definitely recommending this one.

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

September 3, 2009

The Hidden Man by David Ellis Review

This book is billed as “Another exhilarating thriller from Edgar Award winner David Ellis, introducing the new series protagonist Jason Kolarich.” After reading it, I concluded: One, this book is a textbook definitive exhilarating thriller. Two, if this is just another of such that Ellis’ has written, it absolutely raises my interest in getting my hands on more of Ellis’ work starting with whatever won him the Edgar Award. And finally, that Jason Kolarich is the perfect character to anchor a series.

This thriller begins with a creep eyeing a little girl in a park. The little girl then goes missing, and the police settle on a pedophile that has an obsessive collage of babies including the victim in his home. The little girl is never found. About twenty five years later, Jason Kolarich is representing the brother of the missing girl who is accused of murdering the pedophile. Suffice to say Jason must solve one case to solve the other and without a moment to spare. Any mistake could cost Jason more than his life.

The book hops around in time upping the emotional and then the physical stakes. The reader is almost as in the dark as Jason, and it isn’t until the last possible moments that Ellis finally gives it up in the masterfully climatic final pages. I am not sure that I’ve ever read a book faster. Ellis also takes the time to thoroughly set a compelling back story for Jason and the other characters. Jason for example is embroiled in both mysteries, and is recovering from the devastating loss of his wife and young daughter. He’s barely making it through the day, not only broken but bleeding heartache all over his life. A former athlete he is a force to be reckoned with and the reckless decisions stemming from his tangible pain are a stunning success of characterization. Adding to the complexity, Jason is a lawyer, so we not only get the cop and detective drama, but Jason’s thought processes add another layer of legal suspense--a winning combination reminiscent of everything that is great about Law and Order or classic John Grisham. Jason has been so marvelous crafted that I desperately want to read more about him. THE HIDDEN MAN has the potential to launch a block buster series.

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

September 2, 2009

I Love a Man in Uniform by Lily Burna Review

Although I claim to be a big fan of the memoir genre, I will admit that eventually in every memoir, I find myself irritated. I start reframing the story the author was trying to tell in coulda, woulda, shoulda. Memoirist authors re-construct their feelings and reactions into a narrative arc, and we get so deep into their thought processes that I face the threat of the too familiar, and that kind of knowing kind of becomes annoying. This was particularly the case with I Love a Man in Uniform (cute title). Why was I so bothered by a former stripper/Playboy model who married an Army Officer and their bouts with PTSD and depression? Then it hit me. I didn’t want to know. I don’t want to think about the men and women who actively serve and fight in our country’s name (and indirectly for me and my children). It is hard to confront the idea that while these men are risking their lives that the marriages they’ve built and the women that they love are falling apart.

These women are expected to endure long lapses away from their husbands, are forced to constantly fear for their loved ones safety, and are routinely subjected to the deaths of friends and colleagues. Military women must hold strong when there husbands come home changed. They alone answer their children’s difficult questions. They do all of this while single handedly maintaining a household which they are expected to do perfectly and with a smile. What is the likely outcome of that sort of pressure? Of course it is depression.

The book’s first half starts with a lot of details of military life and the expected protocol for a wife, and there is also the obligatory ‘perspective thoughts on stripping’ chapter. While these stories are entertaining, it takes some time for Bettina to come to the meat of her story. So all the cute kitschy titles and anecdotes aside, this book is an honest look at the long term costs of war and service. Honestly told as only someone who was accustomed to putting herself out there could tell. So as well-written, and smart as this book is, it is still tough to read. Eye-opening, though-provoking, and gratitude inducing--this story works its heart breaking affects long after you’ve finished reading.

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

August 21, 2009

Hugh and Bess by Susan Higginbotham

After reading and loving The Traitor’s Wife, I eagerly anticipated Higginbotham’s sequel of sorts, Hugh and Bess. When it finally did arrive, I became so wrapped up in the soapy romantic drama that I dropped everything and finished it in a day. The story centers on a young Elizabeth de Montacute or Bess, the daughter of favored Earl and the much older, Hugh le Despenser, a wealthy (yet disgraced) Lord. Hugh’s grandfather and father were executed as traitors, and Hugh’s father was accused of adultery and sodomy with the former King. Hugh himself was imprisoned missing a near execution himself, but is now working hard to restore his family’s honor. Bess is understandably horrified at marriage into a family with such a reputation, and Hugh is honored by the match in theory, but he is in love with another woman. Can they find happiness in a marriage that neither sought and both are entering with reluctance?

At the heart of Hugh and Bess is a love story. Higginbotham manages to give Hugh and Bess an electric chemistry that compels throughout the historical drama. What makes the plot successful is Higginbotham’s tendency to ground the story in known facts then realistically elaborate the humanistic elements. For example, Bess begins the story at 13, and she reads and feels—13. This is a refreshing change from the tiny calculating power hungry seven-year-old cliché that dominates the historical fiction genre. Those who have read The Traitor’s Wife will be pleased as we get a few more glimpses of favorite characters. And this story takes care to fill in gaps in time, and show that story from different perspectives. You’ll want to read the Traitor’s Wife if you haven’t not because it is necessary for Hugh and Bess, but because it’s a great novel.

That said; the last few chapters seem to drag. We’ve moved on from a lot of the action, and not to spoil and plot lines, but the climatic challenges that face the couple, and the ensuing chapters read like and after thought. It was almost as if Higginbotham had fallen in love with her characters and was unwilling to let go. Also, having read The Traitor’s Wife, and other historical works of the time, I still found it hard to place some of the minor characters. It doesn’t help that the English nobility of the time only used a couple of family names repeatedly, ie, Elizabeth, Hugh, Edward, Isabella, Joan, William, etc… A little more guidance and more thorough introductions would have been helpful.

However by focusing on the romance, Higginbotham delivers a relatable historical fiction piece that transcends generations. If you (like me) just can’t get enough of these English court novels, I’m certain you’ll love Hugh and Bess.

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

August 20, 2009

I'll Never be French (no matter what I do) by Mark Greenside

I must confess that I do not read a lot of travel books, but I was impressed with I’ll Never be French (no matter what I do): Living in a Small Village in Brittany. Despite the lengthy title, the book is actually a rather brief literary romance between a man and his coastal French town. Against Greenside’s best efforts, he and a girlfriend plan a vacation to France. The relationship doesn’t last, but Greenside’s growing affection for Brittany and the populace does. In the rashest move of his forty some years, Greenside is coerced into the purchase of a house. Comical miscommunications, anxiety, and miraculous good fortune ensue.

One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was the total debunking of the myth that the French hate Americans. Total. Debunking. Instead the charming and ridiculously polite strangers, neighbors and friends that Greenside meets, go above and beyond to help him out. They come across as near saints because it turns out that Greenside needs a lot of help. Self styled throughout the book as an incompetent, he spends a few chapters of the book in dirty ripped pants, repeatedly falling out of his window and buying things he has no way of paying for. Greenside effectively bumbles his way through life in France reconciling his bi-continental lifestyles. He compares himself to a three year old an apt description that endears himself to the reader and French alike.

It’s worth noting that Greenside speaks and understands very little French. And his way of communicating such frustration with the reader, is to include a lot of French dialogue that he doesn’t translate. So unless you have a working knowledge of French, Greenside leaves you as lost in the conversation as he was. While it is an effective technique and does incorporate the reader, it can also be irritating to traverse.

Injected with humor, I’ll Never be French, transports with its descriptions. For those of us who will never make it Brittany, or who have been and are interested in Greenside’s take, it is a delightful arm chair travel experience. Diane Johnson of L’Affaire, Le Mariage and Le Divorce fame calls it, “one of the nicest of the trillions of books about France.” And I’d agree with that.

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

August 16, 2009

South of Broad by Pat Conroy

Left of handsome Leopold, “Leo” is the sweetest South Carolina boy that you ever could meet, and he narrates Pat Conroy’s South of Broad. Broad is set in South Carolina and tells the story of his lifelong friendships forged during a fateful summer before his senior year of high school. Raised by a former nun and an all around great guy, Leo and his family is left reeling by the surprise suicide of his older golden brother Stephen. Coming out of his tailspin, shy but clever Leo endears glamorous twins, high society brats, down and out orphans, and newly integrated blacks. These friendships span the course of his life and test everything he knows.

Conroy uses the group to explore almost every possible theme: discrimination, abuse, religion, family, home, love, sex, drugs, fame, disease and commitment. At times it is beautifully worded depiction of how compelling the bonds of friendship can be. Other times it is an ugly and edgy look at growing up during the latter half of the twentieth century. This is the first novel I’ve ever read by Conroy. So for me personally, it was an eye opening introduction to Conroy’s startling and graceful use of language. Its 500+ pages aren’t daunting or laborious in Conroy’s deft hands; instead they are simply a pleasure to read. Conroy delivers a hugely ambitious book with hundreds of little plot nuances and dozens of characters that Conroy manages to tie up.

That said, of course some of the characters are underdeveloped. Conroy attempts seven characters with huge and distinct personalities. He’d need thousands of pages to solidify motivations and layered complex characterization for these characters and his storyline. If you approach it clearly from the perspective of Leo some of his actions are still not thoroughly explained or justified. Not helping matters is that fact that Conroy inexplicably structures his story to begin in the sixties, jumps to the eighties, then back to the sixties, and finishes in the early nineties. The story gains nothing by this organization, so instead it just sort of complicates the plot’s arc. The second return the sixties is almost entirely unnecessary except to add a hundred or so extra pages to the books heft.

These complaints don’t detract much from the story. If you are a Conroy fan, or have an itch that only a thick, well-written, near-epic novel can satisfy, I highly recommend South of Broad.

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

August 15, 2009

The Devil's Queen by Jeanne Kalogridis

It is hard to make a Queen who shoulders the blame for a religious massacre sympathetic, so Jeanne Kalogridis doesn’t try. Instead she goes the complete opposite direction. Giving us an unsentimental Queen who would commit any atrocity to save herself or someone she loves. Even as a girl she is already murdering and dabbling in black magic. For those of you unfamiliar with Catherine de Medici, the Italian born duchess was reduced to living in a convent after her family was deposed in Florence. In a true Cinderella story she marries the second son, Henry, of King Francoise of France. She ends up the Queen of France, and though a mere figurehead during her husbands rule, she has a great influence over the reigns of her sons. Because Catherine ruled France during such a tumultuous time, (religious upheaval, civil wars, weak kings), her reign was marked with political gaffes and intrigues, the most notably, The ST. Bartholomew’s Massacre leading to the deaths of tens of thousands of Huguenots (French Protestants). Never faltering and with clear determination, Catherine meets rivals for her husbands heart and traitors seeking to claim the throne.

Kalogridis’ Catherine is decidedly evil which makes for entertaining story telling and is historically probable. The author doesn’t try to excuse any of Catherine’s behavior, but she does give us fictionalized back story to try and establish her motivations. Since Kalogridis is prone to dramatics and excessive detail, (she’s also known for a lively look into the family of Dracula) let me say that if you’re looking for historical accuracy, this probably isn’t your novel. But if you’re looking for a spirited read that enlivens history into Catherine’s time, The Devil’s Queen is an excellent choice. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I’d like to add that I was fortunate enough to pick up the audio version read by Kate Reading. Reading delivers a commanding Queen, and is pure magic to listen to. The French words are pronounced perfectly (to my English ears) and her pacing is spot on.

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

August 14, 2009

The Impostor's Daughter by Laurie Sandell

The Impostor’s Daughter by Laurie Sandell was the first graphic book I’ve ever read. I’m not sure if I would have ever picked up a graphic anything, if this book hadn’t been a memoir. The idea of mixing the two seemed like an easy way to broach the genre. And two hours later, I had read the book cover to cover.

The author decides to write an article on her remarkable pop. While fact checking, she uncovers that his stories are fiction. More research uncovers lawsuits stemming from bad business dealings, and identity theft. Laurie is devastated after years of idolizing her dad. Feeling betrayed and disillusioned Sandell finds it cathartic to write her article anyway. The story covers the resulting fall out.

After reading the book, I still don’t have a clear picture of why she chose to expose her dad so publicly and alienate the rest of her family, but more memorable then her story is the clever and original way Sandell had chosen to tell it. Whether it is your first or just your latest graphic book, this honest portrayal of family dysfunction which in the end inspired remarkable creativity is an amazing way to kill a few hours.

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

August 13, 2009

The Rapture by Liz Jensen

I had a hard time piecing together a review for Liz Jensen’s The Rapture, an apocalyptic eco-thriller. Though I found the book hard to put down, I also found aspects of it irritating. The story centers around a therapist, Gabrielle, assigned to treat a young murderess, Bethany, and things begin to get interesting after the patient begins to have alarmingly detailed visions of natural disasters--all of which come true.

The story begins as a creepy religious thriller set in a psychiatric facility, so much so that the back of the book bills it as The Left Behind series meets Girl, Interrupted, but to represent this book as anything other then an eco-thriller or even a political suspense novel would be misleading. There are (improbable) scientific explanations for nearly everything. It also took longer then usual for this book to hook me. Jensen does give us detailed accounts of almost everything—down to the smallest details of a throw away scene or action. The result is a lot of stalled action. My other bone of contention lies with the portrayal of Christians themselves. Jensen colors them as irrational fanatics to the point where they become as threatening as a looming tsunami. The inclusion of one sane Christian in the face of so many religious radicals would have been appreciated.

The only reason I was pulled into this book at all was the inspired narrative voice of Gabrielle Fox. Gabrielle is a scientist recovering from a personal tragedy that unsurprisingly gave her a huge crisis of faith. Recently paralyzed her new view of the world forces her to question and mistrust everything around her. Her compelling and skewed view of events saves the novel and perhaps the world.

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

August 4, 2009

Sweeping Up Glass by Carolyn Wall

The blurbs used to describe Carolyn Wall’s debut, Sweeping Up Glass, compare Wall to Harper Lee, William Faulkner, Eudora Welty and Flannery O’Connor. I mean WOW, how does a novel live up to those kinds of expectations? And yet, even from the beginning, it just does. The striking similarities to To Kill a Mockingbird, one of the most beloved books ever written, are unavoidable. The innocent narrator, and explored themes particularly evoke Mockingbird, and that is a statement I’d never make lightly. Wall’s narrative voice with its colloquial speech is so entrenched in classic southern tradition that it becomes hard to believe that I wasn’t reading a much older novel.

This tale offers more than nostalgia. It is basically the life story of hard working and very poor general store owner, Olivia Harker. Olivia lives life in no uncertain terms. She idolizes her father, adores her grandson, loves her lifetime friends, is wary of her daughter, protective of the wolves that roam her property, and hates her mom. Her story is set in a very small town in Kentucky. And her town has some dark secrets yet to be unveiled. Unknown truths waiting in Olivia’s past threaten her life and everything she knows. It is hard to go into much more detail as the book is masterfully structured--even Olivia doesn’t know the tale she is telling. Just know that the plot offers mysterious surprises.

I have almost no criticisms of this book, but if I really reach, I could say that this book doesn’t feel modern. It tells of a bygone time period and past issues. Which some readers might find to be to the books credit especially after reading it. I will say this book is an old fashioned good read, and its historical feel was most likely calculated move on Wall’s part.

The strengths of the novel abound. Foremost, Olivia’s voice is forcibly engaging, and stayed with me long after the book conclusion. Every character is fully drawn and compelling. The plot is constructed with doses of mystery, literary tension, and layers of characterization. It is easily the best book I’ve read all month, and sure to be one of my favorites this year. Wall’s tale is sure to be cherished by anyone who reads it. It is deserving of all the gushing praise it has and will receive.

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

August 2, 2009

Sweet Mary by Liz Balmsaeda

After Liz Balmseada won two Pulitzer Prizes, she gives us a female centered detective novel in Sweet Mary. A single mother, the titled Dulce Maria, Mary for short, is arrested. The victim of an improbable case of mistaken identity, Mary is fingered as a drug queen. The false charges ruin her life, so Mary decides to do what the DEA couldn’t—take down the criminal herself. With a little help from her friends, one of which is a sexy past love interest, Mary embarks on a series of schemes to reclaim her good reputation.

It’s kind of a given that Balmseada is a good writer, so it isn’t a surprise that the writing is good. The characters are also surprising layered for the genre. Even the bad guys are complex, and are given sufficient back story. Balmseada also used restraint with the action sequences which keeps this story from entirely going over the top.

That said, the plot itself consists of coincidences and implausible leaps. Balmseada also can’t resist the bumbling law enforcement clichés which adds the story’s stale feel. Each chapter opening up with a description of the scene is also irritating as if Balmseada was already thinking movie. The pacing seems to fall flat in the second half of the novel where Mary bumps into leads cushioned by saccharine sweet interludes. I expected more.

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

July 28, 2009

The Girl who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson Review and Giveaway (Ends 8-15)

Around the same time Mikael Blomkvist is preparing to run a shattering expose on the Sweden sex trade, Lisbeth Salander becomes the prime suspect in a slew of murders. Cryptic as always Lisbeth doesn’t much aide her defense, and for some reason is dodging Mikael who is convinced that she is (probably?) innocent. To the delight of salivating fans across the world Mikael and Lisbeth along with appearances of some favorites introduced in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo must solve the mysterious murders, and the clues may be buried in Lisbeth’s past.

The tremendous reception of these books must have something to do with Stieg Larsson’s ability to make them feel so modern. The story is Lisbeth’s as Larsson adds layers to his fascinatingly complex character. She may be the hands down best version of a dodgy bisexual computer genius that I’ve ever read. OK, she is the only one I can think of, but that is her charm. It is so rare to come across an original character in contemporary fiction, much less a suspense/crime/mystery novel where formulas and clichés abound.

So what if some of the plot revolves around improbable coincidences? The plot moves. I read these books back to back, more than 950 pages combined, and to my surprise the story never stalled and my interest never lagged. Instead I was disappointed when the second book concluded, and I’m dying to read the third. If you liked The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, you’ll be glad to know that The Girl Who Played with Fire exceeds even high expectations. Fire stands well on its own, but it is more of an extension of everything I loved about the Tattoo. I find that I can’t talk about one novel without recalling the other. Larsson’s characters and dramatic twists continuously shock. These novels set the benchmark of what a crime novel can be. They are an unparalleled achievement in fiction and worthy of all the buzz and fanfare readers can laud.

Thanks to the help of Random House I am giving away both of the first two books in the trilogy. One reader will receive a hard cover of both The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played with Fire and another will receive a Hardcover of The Girl who Played with Fire. Please leave a comment with a distinguishable email to enter. Contest open to US and Canada only and entries must be received by August 15th. Thanks for entering!

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

July 14, 2009

Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant

I expected a book about sixteenth century convent life and its nuns to be boring. What I did not expect was Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant (978-1400063826), her third (and probably her best) novel set in the Italian Renaissance (following In the Company of a Courtesan and The Birth of Venus). I was instantly captivated by the sisters of Santa Caterina, a fictional convent comprised of a group of highly sophisticated women as embroiled in politics, scandal, and deception as their courtly counterparts. Dunant achieves for nuns what Ken Follett did for monks in his epic Pillars of the Earth.

This novel opens with the newest novice sixteen-year-old former noble, Serafina. More rebellious teen then a dutiful daughter, Serafina is too expensive and too much of a liability to marry off, so she is passed over in favor of her younger sister, and forced to take the veil. (This practice Dunant notes is very common though cruel). Serafina is highly valued to the convent both for her beautiful singing voice, and the generous dowry her family has promised. However the only vow Serfina makes is to herself--promising to escape at her earliest opportunity.

Serafina is contrasted with Zuana, a once defiant and now compliant nun. Zuana takes Serafina under her wing to try and ease Serafina’s transition from court to convent. Both women soon become embroiled in the shifting alliances of the convent and rapidly changing religious atmosphere which could forever alter Santa Caterina as they know it.

Dunant’s sumptuous rendition bestows life into the convent and the time. The setting becomes an examination for the roles of women. The convent offered a surprising amount of freedom and protection for those within its walls—a truth which Dunant does not fail to capture. The plot is secondary to the historical context of the book, but still remains engaging. The only disappointment is the story’s ending which not only borders on blaspheme but also seems out of the character for the women as the reader knows them. And so, I’ll be recommending it to everyone except my intensely Catholic grandmother. Still, Sacred Hearts is an obviously well researched and breath-taking work of Historical Fiction.

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

July 7, 2009

Gifts of War by Mackenzie Ford

“Waiting is not living,” says, Sam, girlfriend of our narrator Hal in Mackenzie Ford’s debut novel Gifts of War. Sam is referring to waiting for the return of her missing paramour, Wilhem—a German soldier during WWI at a time of obvious anti-German sentiment. Her statement affects Hal differently, for he’s been waiting for Sam to discover the truth about how he manipulated his way into Sam and her young son Will’s life. During the Christmas Truce, an actual event in history where the enlisted refused to fight and even fraternized with the enemy to honor the Christmas sprit, Hal met Wilhelm. Wilhelm asked Hal to deliver a message to Sam that he had never stopped thinking about her, but instead Hal meets Sam and falls instantly in love. Hal goes to great lengths to care for and protect Sam and Will. Sam’s statement also has an impact on the reader because we know this story can not end well for Hal, or the makeshift family he has built.

I’ll admit that the plot begins a little soapy. However the historical details transport the reader into the time period which is engaging enough until the story takes off. A combination spy novel, war story, and romance plot is mostly utilized to explore the ideas of family and love. The Christmas Truce is an interesting crux on which to build the novel allowing Ford to tell a unique and vividly researched story. The ending is surprisingly touching (I cried), and I couldn’t help but be pleased with the thorough way in which all elements of the story are tied together. A rare novel with heart that I can strongly recommend to anyone, and I for one will keep an eye out for Ford’s next work.

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

June 18, 2009

The Blue Notebook, James Levine

“You can never fully straighten bent metal; you can only make it less bent.”

Sometimes when I read a book that is particularly affecting, I refer to it as “life altering.” But when I refer to The Blue Notebook as life altering, it isn’t to remark of its genius rendition, sumptuous prose, or eerily strong characterization. Simply put; The Blue Notebook by James Levine so thoroughly disturbed me, it left me haunted. I think we all know that the sickening practice of child sex slavery occurs, and we are justifiably disgusted. But only when confronted with the voice of a fifteen year old prostitute as she describes her tragic and hopeless world does one realize this is a global problem that we shouldn’t ignore.

Levine’s purpose is to raise awareness and funds to stop child exploitation. And his method is the tortuous bombardment of atrocities that are committed against his narrator and other children. Batuk was sold into slavery by her impoverished family at nine. She is quickly “taken” after which she ends up in a cage no larger than a toilet servicing around ten men a day. Her life is colored by sadism, rape, violence, starvation, and disease. She is betrayed in some form by everyone who can use her to some purpose to further their greed or perversion. Abused in everyway imaginable, Batuk considers herself blessed because she can read and write. And so Batuk journals, and uses every opportunity to scratch out her story and observations. “I am not sure why I write but in my mind I shudder that it may be so that one day I can look back and read how I have melted into my ink and become nothing.” These are her hopes to die, disappear, service only one man, or become deranged. It will suffice to say this is not an uplifting tale.

Levine is relentless with horrific details, and increasingly terrible situations in which he places Batuk. His only gift to the reader is that his story is relatively brief. The ending is ambiguous, after reading it several times; I’m still not sure what happened. Such a bizarre ending and menacing tone recalls Burnside’s The Glister. The Blue Notebook is an ugly story, but even if the writing was poor (instead it is excellent), I’d recommend this book. If you can manage to read it, do so, and if you can’t, buy it regardless. Levine’s passion is exceedingly obvious, so much so that he’s donating his proceeds to the International and National Centers for Missing and Exploited Children—the only bright spot his novel offers.

For More Information (about how you can help):
https://www.icmec.org

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

June 16, 2009

For Glory by Elisabeth Lee

One of my favorite things about book reviewing is discovering books I definitely would have missed. Writing a review encourages me branch out in my literary appetite, and discover new authors, series or genres. Still I was apprehensive when asked to review For Glory by Elisabeth Lee which centers around a fifty something protagonist. I’m on the wrong side of twenty five myself, but wasn’t sure that I wanted to read about a female detective you may remind me more of my mother than someone I could identify with. But if Carlyle Hudson is any indication of a middle aged detective, bring it on. Carlyle “Lyle” Hudson, is confident, desirable, and smart.

The book centers on Lyle who projects a tough exterior. She thwarts and threatens a mugger early on the story for instance. But those who know her, like her gaggle of L named aunts, Lenore, Loretta, and Luce, or at times her inherited dog “Glory” are treated to her softer more vulnerable side. The story opens in Kansas where Lyle is on a losing streak alluding to the fact she’s a professional gambler and has just lost her mom who died unexpectedly. The very metropolitan, Lyle, who hails from San Francisco, is tying up loose ends when she finds a few of her mother’s items that intrigue her—mainly a gun and some bizarre correspondence. Things begin to heat up once a wedding dress is taken for ransom, and Lyle meets a guy or two.

Lyle’s first person narrative asks a lot of open ended rhetorical questions, at times I wanted to roll my eyes, we get it Lyle, you’re thoughtful. I was also a couple of chapters in before I realized I had picked up a mystery novel. Though Lyle is nothing if not witty, a suspenseful nail biter this isn’t. Think a natural progression of Nevada Barr’s Anna Pigeon (same self-assured personality)with a much lighter tone. In fact For Glory is unlike books typical of the detective novel or mystery genre. It is a smart break from all those young, spoiled and dramatic characters hogging the literary limelight. Take this book to the beach, and look for the next in the series, Flashes of Glory this summer.

For more information: www.elisabethlee.com

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

June 10, 2009

Receive Me Falling by Erika Robuck

Erika Robuck’s debut novel, Receive Me Falling, is an interesting mix of historical fiction, literary mystery, and a tad of mysticism. Robuck introduces us to two women living in two time periods. Present day, is narrated by Meg, who has just lost her parents suddenly. She finds a plantation, Eden, amongst her estate on the Island of Nevis, and eager to put some distance between herself and her life, she rashly decides to visit. When Meg arrives in Nevis, she finds Eden to be haunted and the backdrop for more then one tragic occurrence. As Meg explores Eden looking for clues to its past, we are also treated to the perspective of nineteen century plantation owner, Catherine. Catherine runs the plantation for her father, an alcoholic, and they own hundreds of slaves at a time when abolitionists were calling for an end to the slave system. Catherine struggles with the practice of slavery, fears Eden’s overseer, and is captivated by a newcomer to the Island, and yet she too has some family secrets to unbury.

Both women are searching for absolution from the sins of their fathers, and their stories play out with calculated symmetry. The narration is reminiscent of Geraldine Brook’s The People of the Book, or the recently released The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, by Katherine Howe. However, this book is victorious on its own accord mostly thanks to the strong and complex central characters that not only progress with in the story, but also develop through the generations. The plot is also terribly engaging. The note to detail of the setting of Nevis during both time periods credits the unfolding events.

This is the type of book that you could read many times and catch new and clever elements over each subsequent reading. Robuck pens a graceful story in a shameful past. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, and can recommend it as an important addition to any library.

For more information: http://www.erikarobuck.com/

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)