The Lost Hours by Karen White

This was my book club’s choice for October and while it was entertaining, it definitely wasn’t a great book club choice, in my opinion. In The Lost Hours we meet Piper Mills, an ex-equestrian champion who is nursing her near fatal injuries at her grandparent’s house. Her grandfather has recently died and her grandmother is living in a home and suffering from Alzheimer’s. As she pokes around the home she’s inherited, she discovers a key to a room that doesn’t exist. That leads her to discover a hidden room in the attic and she remembers watching her grandfather bury a box in the backyard when she was 12. When she digs up the box, she finds pages from a scrapbook, a charm necklace and a newspaper article from 1939. The scrapbook tells the story of three friends growing up in the 1930’s and each charm on the necklace has its own story. After Piper’s grandmother dies, she struggles to understand her story and she reaches out to the only one of the three friends who is still living. But Piper is afraid to ask questions as herself and instead goes to Asphodel Meadows under her “real” name, which is unknown and gets to know the family. There she finds more answers than she knew she was looking for and finally begins to heal, both in body and in spirit. This is a decent book and worth a few hours of your time.

Vision in White and Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts

These are the first two novels in Roberts’ new Bride Quartet and are her traditional fare – boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, boy screws up, boy apologizes and boy and girl live happily ever after. This is the pattern Nora Roberts books usually follow and these are no exception. These are the story of four friends who grew up together and as adults started Vows, a full service wedding service. Mackenzie, the focus of Vision in White, is the company photographer; Emmaline, the star of Bed of Roses, manages the floral arrangements. Laurel, the celebrity pastry chef, will be the subject of the next book and Parker, the coordinator extraordinaire, will finish the quartet. These aren’t meant to be heavy reading but if you like a little fluff in your day, check these out.

The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf

This book certainly packs a punch and if you read it, you’ll be quickly drawn into the story and will have a hard time putting it down. The Weight of Silence takes place in Willow Creek, Iowa, where one morning, 7-year-old Calli and her best friend Petra both go missing on the same morning. The challenge is that Calli hasn’t spoken a word in over three years, ever since the day her mother miscarried. A manhunt is quickly launched and Calli’s brother, Ben is pulled into the search, which focuses on the woods behind Calli’s house. The stories of the missing girls is interwoven with the story of the search, which is being led by the local sherrif, Loras Louis, who is still in love with Calli’s mother. This isn’t a happy novel and covers some serious topics but would be a great book club pick, as it offers you a lot to discuss. And even though the subject matter is heavy, the author does a good job of keeping things from becoming overly emotional.

True Blue by David Baldacci

True Blue is Baldacci’s latest and this time he introduces us to some new characters, instead of those we’ve come to know in love in previous novels. Mason, or Mace, Perry has just gotten out of a two-year stint in jail, where she served time for a series of armed robberies around Washington. Her sister, Beth, is DC’s chief of police and is willing to risk everything to help Mace clear her name and be reinstated to the police force. When a series of murders throughout DC, including a US attorney and a powerful lawyer occur, Mace views it as her big case to break her way back onto the force. Baldacci’s novels are always entertaining but often stretch the boundaries of the imagination. But that’s why I read them, they’re entertaining and intricate enough that you don’t know the outcome the minute you start the novel.

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

OK Nicholas Sparks, you finally did it, you drove me away. Things started out so promisingly, first there was The Notebook and Message in a Bottle. They were slightly sappy but still had a good story and made me believe in the characters. But slowly, your books have just gotten more and more blech. I don’t even have a better word for it – they’re treacley, overtly religious and don’t even have a good plot, which can overcome a lot. So to all of you out there reading, please save yourself the trouble of reading The Last Song.

I Apologize!

Sorry for the loooong delay between postings. I have no excuse, I was on vacation for a bit but then just got lazy. I am back at it though!

The White Queen by Philippa Gregory

Now this is what one would call fiction-lite; nothing too strenuous, extremely entertaining and you manage to learn a little bit about history without having to think too hard. The White Queen of the title is Elizabeth Woodville, wife to Edward IV; the story covers the infamous war of the roses between the red roses of Lancaster and the white roses of York. The sudden marriage between Edward and Elizabeth leads to rumors and gossip at court and causes trouble down the road. George, Edward’s brother, tries to take his power from him and leads to a war pitting brother against brother. Unfortunately, not a lot is known about the specifics of this time period, but Gregory does an excellent job of filling in the blanks with plausible scenarios and she writes a hell of a story to keep you entertained along the way. Plus, as a bit of an Elizabeth I buff, it is always interesting for me to learn more about the history leading up to her reign.

A Change in Altitude by Anita Shreve

In A Change In Altitude, we meet Margaret and Patrick, a married couple who are off on a year-long adventure living in Kenya. Shortly after their arrival, they meet a British couple who invites them to move into the guest cottage on their property. A quasi-friendship develops and the two couples make the decision to climb Mount Kenya. But during their ascent, a terrible accident occurs and Margaret and Patrick marriage struggle to overcome the tragedy and keep their marriage intact. One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was the picture it gave me of life in Kenya, both for the expatriates and the local people. The differences are just striking and really make you think about the injustices that so many people must endure.

No Time to Wave Goodbye by Jacquelyn Mitchard

No Time to Wave Goodbye is the sequel to Jacquelyn Mitchard’s 1999 hit, The Deep End of the Ocean and picks up with the Cappadora family 22 years after son Ben was abducted. Miraculously, Ben was found nine years later and while the family struggled to adjust to a new normal, Ben, now known as Sam, has never felt truly at ease with his family. Now that the family is grown, Vincent, the struggling oldest son, has become a filmmaker. His second film is a documentary called “No Time to Wave Goodbye” and focuses on five families whose children have been abducted; but whose outcomes are not as happy as the Cappadora family. For these families don’t have closure – their children were never found, dead or alive. So the exist in a sort of limbo. The film is a success but just as they begin to celebrate, a tragedy strikes their family. A tragedy that they lived through once and barely survived. This is a very moving story and I highly recommend it, although man oh man does Mitchard like torturing this poor family. It will pull on your heartstrings and may even make you cry. It’s a relatively short book and if you’re like me, you’ll have a hard time putting it down.

The Street by Ann Petry

The Street was my book club’s pick for September; the host had decided on a New York theme and had given us several options to choose from and this one won. After finishing this book, I can’t decide if I liked it or not. I definitely liked it up until the end, but found the end vastly unsatisfying. But that may have been Petry’s point; and it’s definitely a good choice for a book club pick since there is a lot to discuss here. Since this book was published in 1946, and is set in 1944, I assume that it speaks the truth about the conditions in Harlem and life for African Americans during that time period. And while I shouldn’t be surprised by some of it, I still kind of was. This is the story of Lutie, a single African American woman struggling to raise her son in Harlem. She is separated from her husband because he cheated on her and the only jobs she can get are menial and pay just enough for her to support her son but with no padding; they can barely save enough to go to the movies occasionally. And Lutie wants more for herself and more importantly, for her son and she’s fighting against a system that is bound and determined to not let her succeed. As I said before, the ending left me cold, it didn’t feel true to the rest of the story, although I won’t spoil it here. That said, it’s a powerful novel and will definitely make you think about injustices that still exist in America today.

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

Oh Robert Langdon, how I’ve missed you over these years since Da Vinci Code came out! And now you’re back and once again at the center of a controversy. At least this time you didn’t have to trek all the way to Europe for it, you only had to head down to Washington D.C. So, first and foremost, is The Lost Symbol good as The Da Vinci Code? Yes, I think so. Not quite as good, in my opinion, as Angels & Demons, but still quite respectable. It’s a genuine Dan Brown thriller; full of symbolism, mysterious meanings, crazy theories and of course, a mysterious bad guy running the show behind the scenes. If you like Dan Brown in general, you’ll enjoy The Lost Symbol and you’ll tear through it very quickly. The entire book takes place over 12 hours, which has to be one of the longest, strangest days Robert Langdon has ever experienced. But for the reader, it’ll only take you a few hours and is simply an excellent way to kill some time.

An offer you can’t refuse…

I finally got around to reading The Godfather by Mario Puzo and was amazed by how similar it is to the movie. It’s not often that a movie is so dedicated to remaining true to the book but this is definitely the exception. I won’t bore you all with too many details, since there probably aren’t very many people who haven’t seen The Godfather, but this is the story of Vito Corleone, his family, and his rise from Olive Oil salesman to Mafia Don. It’s a quick read, primarily because the story is so familiar, but even knowing what was going to happen didn’t lessen the enjoyment I got out of this book. Plus, it introduced me to Puzo, and I’m going to try to check out some of his other works. I suggest you start with The Godfather and then do the same.

The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

I just finished reading The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, the first two books in this series by Suzanne Collins and I am completely and utterly wowed. The story itself is extremely disturbing and kind of makes me question the “Young Adult” label but this woman certainly has an imagination! These novels take place in a future version of the United States, now called Panem, a country divided into 12 districts and the Capitol. Apparently sometime in the past, these districts rose up against the Capitol and were summarily squashed back into submission. Now, in order to never forget their treasonous ways, each district is required to provide 2 tributes a year (one female, one male) to the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games are a no-holds barred all out brawl where only one child, only those ages 12-18 are eligible to be drawn, can win and by win, I mean outlive the other tributes. And to make it worse, in the Capitol, the Games are the ultimate in entertainment with Sponsors vying to send “gifts” to the tributes and everyone glued to their TVs to see who will be the ultimate winner. Although there are 24 tributes, the two we really follow are Katniss and Peeta, from District 12. Katniss is a volunteer tribute; after her sister Prim’s name was drawn, she volunteered to take her place. Katniss is a definite contender; she has the skills, and mentality to potentially survive. I won’t get into too many details here about the two books since I don’t want to spoil the element of surprise. But I will say this, once I started reading these books, I was fascinated and horrified at the same time. And I could not put the books down and I am eagerly awaiting the third book in this series.

City of Thieves by David Benioff

I’ve mentioned before how much I like reading about WWII history and this is no exception. In fact, it’s a really quick read and covers the story from the Russian point of view, which is a nice twist. City of Thieves is the author’s grandfather’s story of his time in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) during the siege. When he is caught looting a German paratrooper’s body, Lev is certain he is going to be summarily executed, but instead wins a reprieve when a Colonel offers him his freedom in exchange for a dozen eggs. Now coming up with a dozen eggs in wartime is harder than it sounds; eggs hadn’t been seen in months and the majority of the country was slowly starving to death during the long Soviet winter. But Lev, and his new comrade in arms, Kolya, an accused deserter, take on the challenge and the next week, which the novel covers, is one adventure after another. For not only do Lev and Kolya decide to find the eggs, but they also decide to kill the leader of the local occupying German forces. This book is not very long and is an extremely engaging and quick read. The pages just fly by as you wonder what will happen next.

The Devil’s Punchbowl by Greg Iles

So in general, I enjoy reading Greg Iles, which I think I’ve stated on this blog before. His stories are usually engaging and while not the highest caliber fiction, they’re not the trash that other writers put out either. However, since Iles has chosen to base most of his stories around Penn Cage, the lawyer-turned-author and his hometown of Natchez, Mississippi, I can’t help but think that Natchez has got to be one of the worst places to live, ever. I mean, with everything bad that happens there, it’s a wonder the entire town doesn’t move out! Quick synopsis: The Devil's Punchbowl is the story of the corrupt managing partner of a floating casino and the lengths he’ll go to provide bigger and better action to his constituents. A huge portion of the novel focuses on dog fighting, which I found especially topical in the light of Michael Vick’s recent release from prison. This was another of Iles’ traditional murder mystery with a hint of social justice thrown in. Not his best work, but I did enjoy having some other familiar characters show up.

The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk

I had put off reading The Caine Mutiny because as much as I enjoy WW2 history, I was afraid it would be heavy handed, but I was so pleasantly surprised when I started reading this past weekend! This book is so well written and really flows well. This is the story of Willie Keith, a rich Long Islander who is assigned to the USS Caine, and how he matures and grows over the course of the book. But what this story is most known for is the notorious Captain Francis Queeg, who becomes so obsessed with minor infractions and petty issues that the safety of his crew and ship are put in danger. Some of the other characters, which help make this such an interesting story, include Lieutenant Tom Keefer, a cynic in the midst of writing his great American novel, and Lietuenant Steve Maryk, who in the midst of a typhoon, relieves Capt. Queeg of his command, citing Navy regulations. The subsequent Caine Mutiny trial and its aftermath are almost an afterthought after the build up of the story but I really enjoyed every minute. It isn’t a short book but I flew through it in less than a weekend. This is definitely one to check out, and soon!

A Song of Ice and Fire - Review of First Four Books

As I’ve mentioned many times, I’ve spent the last several weeks ensconced in the “A Song of Ice and Fire” series by George R. R. Martin. This series currently consists of four books, A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords and A Feast for Crows. These books are very reminiscent of other significant fantasy series including the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and the Harry Potter series. I highly recommend them and will try to give a quick synopsis of the series overall, without delving too deeply in to each book.

These stories primarily take place throughout the Seven Kingdoms on a continent known as Westeros. The story is told through alternating third person narratives. The majority of the characters are human although as the series progresses, we are introduced to non-humans as well, including dragons and the Others, a mysterious and menacing people from the North.

These narratives follow three distinct stories that, as time progresses, becoming increasingly intertwined. The first story line chronicles the struggle for the Iron Throne, and for control of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, after the death of King Robert. While the throne is claimed by Joffrey, Robert’s son, Eddard Stark, the King’s Hand, claims that Joffrey is illegitimate and that the throne should pass to Robert’s brother Stannis. Robert’s younger brother, Renly, also lays claim to the throne, and Eddard’s son, Rob, is proclaimed King of the North. The second story line takes place in the far north of Westeros, along the Wall, which was built over 8,000 years ago to defend Westeros from The Others, a race of icy creatures who are difficult to kill. The Wall is 300 miles long and 700 feet tall and is defended by the Night’s Watch. Jon Snow, Eddard Stark’s bastard, joins the Watch and this narrative follows him on his trip north and his subsequent years with the Watch. The final storyline is set in Essos, another continent, and follows Daenerys Targaryen, the daughter of the old King, who was killed by King Robert’s followers. Dany has her own claim to the Iron Throne and that claim grows stronger as she ages and becomes an extremely powerful ruler; in part, due to the fact that she owns the only known living dragons. Her goal in life is to return to Westeros and take back the throne.

That is the series in a nutshell but I would highly recommend you go out and get them yourself. The story is so engrossing, that I had a hard time putting the books down! I even dreamed about the storylines, I was so enthralled. I can only hope that the author is still working hard on the rest of the series, and that the last three books, A Dance with Dragons, The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring will be out soon.

A Song of Ice and Fire

I'm currently reading the second book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin. The books currently published are A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords and A Feast for Crows. The ones still to be published are A Dance with Dragons, The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring. They're definitely in the fantasy genre but more Lord of the Rings than Harry Potter. But Martin isn't quite as cerebral as Tolkein so they're a little easier to read. They're really keeping my attention so far and I'm really enjoying reading them. They're definitely hefty tomes but if you liked LOTR or Harry Potter, definitely look these up.

American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld

American Wife is based, very loosely, on the life of former first lady, Laura Bush, although the protagonist in this story is named Alice Lindgren. The beginning of the book is probably the best, where we first meet Alice and see her growing up in Riley, Wisconsin with her parents and grandmother. Alice is very likable and the book flows nicely through her childhood and teenage years, when she is in a car accident that results in the death of her first crush. After meeting Charlie Blackwell at a party, the two quickly hit it off and become a couple. Charlie bears more than a little resemblance to our previous president; he drinks, he parties, he flaunts his Ivy League education and flubs even the most basic off the cuff comments. The Blackwell’s are essentially Wisconsin royalty; his mother is nicknamed Maj (short for Majesty), his father is the former governor, and one of his brothers is a Congressman. We follow the couple as Charlie gets sober, gets religion and gets himself elected to the White House. The end of the book feels forced, although it’s based on true events, I feel like she was trying to show what a bad president George W. Bush was, through Charlie Blackwell. And we lost some of Alice at the end, and she was the best part of the book. Once you finish, you’ll be left with the question of how much is real and how much is artistic license?

Immortal by Traci L. Slatton

Immortal is the story of Luca Bastardo, a boy who is abandoned to the streets of Florence at a young age and is forced to steal in order to survive. What makes it worse is that one day he is betrayed by his friend and sold to an extremely cruel brothel owner. There Luca’s mind escapes to the frescoes at Santa Croce, while his body is forced to endure horrible things. It is also here that Luca first discovers his secret – he doesn’t age like normal people. It is only when the Black Death comes to Florence that Luca is able to engineer his escape. Once out of the brothel, Luca befriends artists and politicians alike, from Giotto and Leonardo da Vinci to the Medici’s. He also is always striving for information, both about alchemy and his parentage. However, Luca is always in danger from the family of the brothel owner and from his own ageless beauty, which draws attention to him at the height of the Inquisition. This historical fiction novel is fairly entertaining and it’s kind of neat to see all of these main historical figures in one place. That said, it’s not the best book I’ve ever read and is a bit obvious from time to time, but still was a decent way to pass an afternoon.

Replay by Ken Grimwood

Doc Jensen, over at EW.com, suggested this book in one of his last Lost columns of the year, to help those of us who are obsessed with Lost pass the time until the new season starts in January. And since I’ve almost never met a book I didn’t like, I figured I’d check it out. Replay is the story of Jeff Winston, a radio journalist who dies of a heart attack at 43. that is, until he wakes up in his 18-year-old body and remembers everything that happened to him, up to, and including, his death. I know what you’re thinking – isn’t this Groundhog Day in book form? Well, yes and no. Yes, that’s the premise of the novel, but this allows Jeff to rediscover his life, to take advantage of his knowledge and try to change the future. I thought it was pretty enjoyable and I was able to read it pretty quickly. It’s not too sci-fi, there is a decent amount of character development and it’s a great way to spend a weekend.

Broken For You by Stephanie Kallos

When I first saw the write up for this book, I wasn’t sure I would like it; it seemed like it would be too weird. But once I actually started reading Broken For You, I really enjoyed it. Margaret Hughes is diagnosed with a brain tumor and promptly sets out to change her life. She begins by taking in a boarder into her mansion, a young woman named Wanda Schultz, a stage manager who has secretly followed her ex-boyfriend to Seattle, after he left her. Wanda, ignorant of the tumor, finds Margaret odd, yet interesting, and even happily participates in a champagne-drinking, antique-breaking party. But there is a sinister history to the houseful of antiques; Margaret’s father was dealer who, through arrangements with the Nazis, was able to cheaply acquire the antiques previously owned by European Jews. There’s a sub story that deals with Wanda’s father, who deserted her as a child, and how he comes to terms with this actions. And throughout it all, the ghost of Margaret’s mother lounges around the house and offers commentary and criticism that, of course, only Margaret can hear. The beginning of this book was truly extraordinary but as it progressed, it kind of started to annoy me because of all the “coincidences.” I understand that this is a novel and some of that is to be expected, but it just seemed to wrap itself up in a bow just a little too neatly. That said, I still enjoyed the story overall and would still recommend it, though maybe not highly.

The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton

I literally flew through this book – I picked it up last night and finished it early this morning, and yes, I did take a break to go to bed. It’s a very easy, quick read with vibrant, easy to like characters. The Wednesday Sisters is about a group of young moms who meet, every Wednesday, at a park near their homes. Over time, they grow to become friends more than sisters, sharing everything about their lives. These women are so different, with such diverse backgrounds, and yet in the late 1960’s, they were essentially all housewives. Linda is bossy and speaks her mind and is extremely passionate about her causes, especially women’s progress. Kath is a former Southern belle who doesn’t quite know who she is outside of her marriage. Brett is extremely intelligent and dreamt of being an astronaut in the days before women regularly finished college. Ally is struggling to have a child in a society that views her interracial marriage as a curiosity at best, and an abomination at worst. And finally, Frankie, our narrator, is a Chicago transplant who has always wanted to be a writer. They begin writing at their Wednesday get togethers and we see their growth in both their writings and themselves over time. It is also interesting to see how these women view themselves and how that changes over time as the way society views them also changes.  It’s a great book and kind of in the chick lit genre, but definitely something worth picking up at the library.

May Bookclub Pick: Leeway Cottage by Beth Gutcheon

Our book club pick for May was Leeway Cottage, a story of a family before, during and after World War 2. Annabelle Sydney Brant grew up summering in Dundee, Maine and was a privileged child. When her father dies, she is left with only her mother, a woman who is overbearing and impossible to please. When she turns 18, Sydney runs away to Manhattan to pursue a singing career and it is there that she meets the famous Danish pianist, Laurus Moss. The two fall in love and are married but before they can settle too completely into married life, the world is upended by WW2. Feeling impotent and fearing for his family, Laurus leaves the US to help lead the Danish resistance from London. During the separation, Sydney gives birth to their first child, Eleanor, and continues to live her life, partying with friends, summering in Dundee and increasingly indifferent to the war, while in Europe, Laurus’ family escapes Denmark for Sweden. Despite their differences, the time apart doesn’t seem to estrange Laurus and Sydney; their relationship survives and even flourishes. Post war, their lives pick back up where they left off – wintering in Manhattan and summering in Dundee. I enjoyed seeing the progression of Sydney’s character throughout the book; she matures from the young, pampered Annabee, to the hippie Sydney, to the young mother; and all the while, clashing with her mother, Candice. Yet, perhaps not surprisingly, as Sydney ages, she becomes more and more like her mother and seems unable to stop herself. This novel also explores deeply the Danish resitstance to the Nazi occupation and I, for one, was amazed at what they were able to accomplish; due to their actions, the Danish people were able to save all but 500 of the Jews living in Denmark during the war.

Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

Sarah's Key is the story of the Vel d’Hiv roundup in Paris, in which thousands of Jewish families were arrested and held at the Velodrome d’Hiver before being transported to Auschwitz by, and this is the most important piece of the puzzle, the French police. This was not done by the Germans or the SS or anything like that, this was perpetrated by the French, on the French. The saddest thing  about the Vel d’Hiv roundup is that the majority of those taken were children; and of all of those sent to Auschwitz, none survived. This story is historical fiction – the Vel d’Hiv roundup did occur, however, the characters in this novel are the creation of the author. The main characters in this story are two women in two different time periods. Sarah Starzynski is a 10-year old at the time of the roundup and is taken with her mother and father to Vel d’Hiv, and then to a holding camp outside Paris. Shortly thereafter, the children are separated from their parents and left at the camp, while the adults are sent to Auschwitz. Julia Jarmond is an American writer who lives in Paris and is assigned to write an article commemorating the 60^th anniversary of Vel d’Hiv and becomes consumed by it as she delves deeper into the event. She also uncovers the shocking history of the apartment owned by her husband’s family. As her own life becomes more complicated she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to Sarah. This is a decent WWII novel; nothing amazing, but nothing bad. I did enjoy reading about Vel d’Hiv, which I had never heard of before, but I also felt some of it was a bit much. And I enjoyed Sarah’s story more than Julia’s, but perhaps that’s because I just love historical fiction so much. 

Come Back: A Mother and Daughter’s Journey Through Hell and Back by Claire and Mia Fontaine

Claire Fontaine has great life; a successful career as a screenwriter, a wonderfully supportive husband, Paul, and a bright happy 15 year old, Mia. Until the day Mia ran away with a Wiccan friend, leaving a note telling her parents not to worry, “I have a Swiss army knife and mace.” Mia is quickly found but has spiraled quickly downward, becoming addicted to drugs and self mutilation. Sent to live with Claire’s sister in Indiana, her spiral continues and her drug use intensifies. Finally, her parents make the decision to send her to Morava Academy in the Czech Republic, a quasi-military institution where the teens aren’t allowed to speak and are strictly monitored. There, Mia finally begins to come to terms with the abuse she suffered as a child at the hands of her biological father. Back home, Claire and Paul undergo their own transformation, participating in their own form of group therapy to learn how to deal with Mia when she gets out. This story is told in alternating narratives from both Claire and Mia’s perspectives and is both uplifting and depressing. You feel for both Mia and Claire and understand how a parent can be driven to do this to their own child; yet when you see the outcome, you can’t help but realize it was for the best. I believe I read somewhere that the two were forced to write under a pseudonym for privacy reasons – the biological father is a New England blueblood – but you can feel how real this story is. I literally couldn’t put it down. For more info, click here. 

The Associate by John Grisham

I wasn’t eagerly looking forward to John Grisham’s newest novel but I also usually enjoy him so when The Associate came into the library, I grabbed it for a weekend read. It is typical Grisham and semi-formulaic, but still enjoyable. This is the story of Yale Law student named Kyle McAvoy who dreams of going into public service until he is blackmailed over a 5-year old rape charge. The blackmailers pressure Kyle into giving up his public service job and into joining a prestigious law firm. This is all so he can steal secrets related to a large lawsuit, and turn them over to the rival firm, or so he’s told. Most of the law stuff rings true, although since I’m not a lawyer, I can’t vouch for it completely, although there are a few exceptions; most notably, that the file room for the case would be locked from 10:00 pm – 6:00 am. But while this isn’t Grisham’s finest, it will keep you entertained for a few hours; and you’ll be glad you didn’t suffer through being an associate yourself.

Looking forward to September

Big news on the new release front - two good authors have books coming out in September. I realize it's still four months away but that's OK, it's still nice to have something to look forward to!

An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon: This will be book 7 in her Outlander series and should be setting up the next, and final, book. This book takes place in 1777 and while Jamie and Claire know that the Americans will win the Revolutionary War, they don't know what the cost to their family will be. And knowing the outcome doesn't guarantee survival.

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown: This is the eagerly anticipated follow up novel to The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons. Robert Langdon is back again and apparently the entire course of this novel takes place in 12 hours. No other details are available yet but I am sure that will change as we get close to September. 

The Baroness is Away

I'm on vacation for the next two weeks so there will be no reviews. Look for more the last week in April. Until then - happy reading!

The Given Day by Dennis Lehane

The Given Day was my first Dennis Lehane book – I saw Mystic River when they  made it into a movie, but hadn’t read any of his books, despite the great word of mouth. But I happened to pick this one up from the library the other day and I have to say I really enjoyed it. It’s historical fiction, which probably added to my enjoyment, and takes place during the end of WWI. Most of the book is set in Boston and Lehane successfully interweaves the stories of Babe Ruth, before he was traded to the Yankees; Luther Lawrence, a black man who finds himself in trouble wherever he is, yet still manages to beat Babe at baseball and befriend a white cop; and Danny Coughlin, a beat cop and son of a Captain in the Boston PD, who gets involved with unionizing the BPD. The narrative is told in distinct parts that slowly interweave and become increasingly important to each other. One of the things that amazed me the most was the deplorable working conditions that the BPD were forced to endure – they were paid below the poverty level for years and when they tried to unionize to get a fair wage, they were systematically suspended or fired for being “Bolsheviks.” It’s both interesting to see how far we’ve come as a country, and depressing to see how some things will never change. This is a big book, clocking in at 720 pages, but definitely worth the time.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Thirteen Reasons Why is VERY good but kind of disturbing since it’s mostly narrated by Hannah Baker, a girl who recently committed suicide. We listen along with Clay Jensen, one of thirteen people who will receive Hannah’s story, told in 13 cassette tapes, detailing what drove her to kill herself. Along with Clay, we follow the map to the places Hannah highlights and listen as she tells of the betrayals, the lies, the secrets that show just how big of an impact a small action can have. It’s a short novel, and should be required reading for all middle and high schoolers, as well as the parents of anyone that age. It really demonstrates how important it is to treat each person with respect and how the littlest things can snowball out of control. Pick it up when you have time to read because you’ll have a hard time putting it down.

 

The Red Scarf by Kate Furnivall

I really wanted to like this book, and I did, right up until the end, when it took a turn and couldn’t recover, at least in my mind. The Red Scarf is the story of Anna and Sophia and their friendship and struggles in a 1930’s Soviet prison camp. The two women have a very close bond and literally are keeping each other alive; Sophia physically helps Anna and Anna emotionally supports Sophia. This is especially true of the stories Anna tells of her childhood, and her friend, Vasily. When Sophia escapes, she promises Anna that she will come back for her after finding Vasily. Sophia walks for months to get to Tivil, the last place Vasily was known to live and is taken in and cared for by a gypsy, Rafik, and his daughter. There she slowly earns the trust of the town and becomes a force to be reckoned with. with the help of Mikhail Pashin, the handsome factory director, she helps the town fight the corruption that is Soviet Russia, most often embodied by Alexsei Fomenko. Sophia struggles to uncover Vasily’s identity and get help for Anna, before it’s too late. I enjoyed the historical aspect of the story, especially the brainwashing and community policing of life in Stalinist Russia. I didn’t enjoy the mystical tendencies that stemmed from the gypsy family – I felt like it went a little too far and while I don’t expect a novel to be 100% historically accurate, I felt like this was just too ridiculous to overlook. But I will leave it up to you to decide whether or not to read it.

The Welsh Girl by Peter Ho Davies

As a WWII buff, I am always intrigued by new books on the subject, which is what prompted me to pick up The Welsh Girl in the first place. This is the story of a POW camp in Wales and how the life of one of the German prisoners, Karsten, interweaves with one of the local girls, Esther. The POW camp is built by the British near D-Day and the camp is an affront to the Welsh community, after all, it is the British who have denied the Welsh people their language and culture. And the entire town struggles with this conundrum; who is their enemy, the British or the Germans? And is the enemy of my enemy my friend? Esther yearns for more in life than her small town in Wales and rejects the young men of her community. She takes up with a member of the British army only to have things end badly. When the POW’s arrive, Esther strikes up an unusual relationship with Karsten, one of the only prisoners who can speak English. There’s also a subplot to this novel, the story of Rotheram, an interrogator in the British armed forces who grew up in Germany but was forced to emigrate during the Nazi party’s rise to power, since his father was Jewish. I wasn’t really thrilled with this sub story – I felt it was just filler to make the book a little longer. The main story, though, was kind of charming. It is a short novel so it was a quick read, and I enjoyed the characters. It’s not a must read, by any means, but not a bad way to spend an afternoon. 

Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult

I really, really like Jodi Picoult as an author; it probably stems from the frist book of hers I ever read, My Sister’s Keeper, but every novel of hers is so well researched and well written that I can’t help but be drawn in. Handle with Care is no different – it is the story of Willow O’Keefe, a girl born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, also known as Brittle Bone Disease. When Willow is born she has 7 healing fractures, and breaks 4 more bones just during the process of the C-Section. She can break a bone by turning over in bed wrong, being hugged too hard by her sister, Amelia, or any manner of similar, simple things. And over the course of her life, she will break hundreds of bones. Because her disease keeps her from doing anything remotely physical (despite her desire to ice skate like her sister), she throws herself into books and becomes a walking encyclopedia; her sister even nicknames her Wiki. But the heart of this novel is when Charlotte, Willow’s mother, decides to file a Wrongful Birth suit against her OBGYN, Piper, who incidentally, is also her best friend. A Wrongful Birth suit is exactly what it sounds like – Charlotte is saying that if she had known about Willow’s illness earlier, she would have terminated the pregnancy and Willow would have never been born. How can a mother say that, in court, in front of an extremely bright child, who can understand exactly what you are saying? And is this the truth? That’s one of the things Charlotte wrestles with throughout this novel and I have to give credit to the author here – you really feel for Charlotte. Even as someone who isn’t a parent, I felt her struggles to do what was best for Willow. Because if she won, she would have enough money to care for Willow for the rest of her life, whether Charlotte and Sean are there to take care of her or not. And while money can't buy happiness, it could solve a lot of the problems in this family - it's expensive having a child with Brittle Bone Disease and insurance only covers so much. Sean O’Keefe, Willow’s father, rejects his wife’s lawsuit and the ensuing familial struggle made my heart ache for this family. Willow, who perhaps can understand, but maybe not comprehend why her mother is doing this. Amelia, who has always felt second rate to Willow and finds her own ways to self soothe. And Sean and Charlotte, who love Willow, more than anything, and can’t imagine life without their funny, engaging, bright, wonderful daughter. Definitely a must read – for me, this ranks high on my Jodi list, up there with My Sister’s Keeper and Nineteen Minutes.

Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum

I started, and finished, Those Who Save Us in one day because I couldn’t put it down. The subject matter was so compelling and also touching. I am a huge fan of WW2 historical novels to begin with, which was the primary reason for requesting it from the library to begin with. This book alternates with between Trudy, in present day Minnesota, and Anna in 1940’s Weimar, Germany. Trudy, a history professor, is working to collect the oral histories of WW2 survivors, but with a twist. While her partner Ruth, is focused on Jewish survivors, Trudy wants to talk to the Germans who survived and find out how and why they did what they did. Surprisingly, many of these immigrants display blatant anti-Semitism, which shakes Trudy’s belief in what she’s doing; yet she is driven by her own history as a child born in Germany during the war. Her mother, Anna, is strangely drawn to Trudy’s project, but refuses to divulge her own history to her daughter. Anna is a young woman during the start of the war who must hide her love affair with an older Jewish doctor, Max Stern. When Max is arrested and interned in Buchenwald, a pregnant Anna flees her father and moves in what a baker who is aiding the resistance. Anna helps smuggle food to the prisoners until Mathilde, the baker, is found and executed. Anna manages to escape punishment for herself and Trudy by catching the eye of the Obersturmführer, a high ranking officer at Buchenwald. He coerces her into an affair that is often abusive, yet she maintains the relationship to ensure her survival. The past and present flash back and forth and the story is so compelling; you feel rage, sadness, compassion, the whole gamut of emotions as you live through this horrible point in history. Definitely a must read if you like historical fiction. Also, on a side note, I discovered after the fact that Blum actually worked for Shoah Foundation, which probably inspired Trudy’s project in the novel. 

Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Burrows

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a fabulous novel and a quick read. It’s completely told in letters between several of the main characters and delves into the history of the Guernsey Islands during WW2 while they were occupied by the Germans. The primary letter writer is Juliet Ashton (pen name Izzy Bickerstaff), a writer who quickly tires of covering the war, even in her uniquely upbeat manner. She tells Sidney, her editor, that she wants to write something of importance. When Dawsey Adams of Guernsey finds Juliet’s name in a used book and begins a correspondence about a mutual favorite author, he intrigues her with the name of his literary society and their correspondence flourishes from there. Juliet is drawn into the stories from Guernsey and encourages the entire society to write to her with their observations on literature and life. The sudden jumps in narration can be a little confusing at times, but overall the story holds up well and is very touching. Despite it’s somber subject matter, this is an uplifting story and should not be missed.

Book Club Pick - The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

The Elegance of the Hedgehog was our book club pick for this month and it was a nice change from our previous book club pick, which was a bad chick-lit novel. This one was definitely more serious and book-clubby but still wasn’t one of my favorites. This story is told by two narrators, Madame Michel, a 50-something concierge of an upscale apartment building in Paris, and Paloma, a 12 year old genius who lives in one of the apartments in the building. Madame Michel is a contradiction – outwardly to the residents of the building, she is slovenly and dull. But the “real” her reads Marx and Kant, loves Mozart and Opera and can perform a Japanese Tea Ceremony. Paloma, intelligent beyond her years, is disgusted with her coddled existence, her spoiled sister and family and thus decides to kill herself on her 13^th birthday. The book alternates between the two narrators and I have to say, I enjoyed the pieces narrated by Paloma more. She was fresh, authentic, witty, etc. all the things you want to read in a novel. Madame Michel, on the other hand, really started to annoy me with her attitude. She assumed that no one in her building could comprehend that a woman who is “only a concierge” could appreciate art, literature or philosophy and because of it, spends her entire life hiding who she truly is for fear of being discovered. And she is so condescending about it – she is more of a reverse snob than anyone in her building could ever seem to be. Overall, I enjoyed the novel and the peripheral characters were quite entertaining. I would recommend it, especially as a book club pick, since there are so many things to discuss. 

The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb

I really enjoy reading Wally Lamb, from his first, She's Come Undone, to his most recent, The Hour I First Believed. They're always so well written and despite the length, I always finish them quickly, probably because they're hard to put down. The Hour I First Believed is the story of Caelum and Maureen Quirk, who have recently relocated from Connecticut to Colorado to start over after Maureen's infidelity. Although they both get jobs at the same school, their struggles have only just begun; in April of 1999, Caelum returns to Connecticut after his aunt has a stroke only to just miss the Columbine shootings. While Maureen somehow survives the massacre, she is unable to recover from the traumatic experience and suffers from PTSD. This time they flee Colorado for the safety of the Quirk family farm in Connecticut. A change of scenery, however, can't undo the damage that has been done and more is on the way. While Maureen struggles to come to grips with the event, Caelum discovers boxes full of old diaries, letters and newspaper clippings throughout the house. Not only do these reveal the Quirk family history, but they also unearth some secrets, long buried. And Caelum struggles to come to terms with this past while struggling with his future. This book is extraordinary - the way he interweaves actual fact with fiction makes you feel that every word could be true. I highly recommend that everyone read this book. If you like this, please try some of his other books, especially I Know This Much Is True. 

Jennifer Weiner

I was first introduced to Jennifer Weiner a few years ago when my mom got me In Her Shoes for some random holiday. Anyway, this was years before the movie came out, and so I had no idea what to expect. But man was I pleasantly surprised! Sure, she writes what most would categorize as "chick lit" but it's more than that; her stories have a brain and cover more than just shoes, shopping and sex – they delve into race, class, gender, workplace dynamics, etc. And has Jennifer's life has changed, so have the novels. Her first two, Good in Bed and In Her Shoes deal with dating, breakups, family and all the frustrations that go along with them. By Little Earthquakes and Goodnight Nobody, she's dealing with young parenthood and miscarriages and the emotional turmoil associated with those. Certain Girls brings back the heroine from Good in Bed but this time, she has a teenage daughter to contend with. It's kind of a nice progression and while I can't confess to have gone through the issues in some of the later books, I also don't feel like I can't relate to the characters.

The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent

The Salem witch trials are a subject we've all heard about, read about, learned about but this story gives us a new twist. The Heretic's Daughter is the story of Sarah Carrier, a 10-year old growing up in Andover, Massachusetts before, and during the hysteria that became the Salem witch trials. After her brother comes down with smallpox, Sarah and her younger sister, Hannah, are shuttled off to her mother's sister in the hopes that they will avoid the disease. While there, Sarah and her cousin Margaret become best friends and Sarah hopes that she can stay with her aunt and uncle forever. But of course the day comes when she must be reunited with her family and once back, becomes aware of the dispute between her mother and her uncle about their land. The fight blossoms into something much more terrifying when the hysteria around the "supernatural" activity in Salem turns into mass chaos and her uncle claims her mother, Martha, is a witch. When Martha refuses to confess, her children, including young Sarah, are imprisoned with the hopes of breaking her. Sarah's narrative provides some much needed insight into these sham trials, forced confessions and ridiculous sentencing rules and restrictions. Overall, I enjoyed this book, although I will say that although I felt the sub-story about Sarah's father's history before coming to Massachusetts was a bit ridiculous, I still think it's worth a read. On a side note, the author's grand mother nine generations back, was hanged as a witch in 1692 which really emphasizes the point that history is something that happens to all of us.

Belong to Me by Marissa De Los Santos

This book is told from three points of view; the first is Cornelia Brown, an urbanite who surprises everyone when she and her husband, Teo, up and move to the suburbs. The second is Dev, an extremely bright teenager whose missing father occupies most of his thoughts, and whose mother, Lake, has befriended Cornelia. And the third is Piper, Cornelia's neighbor and reigning queen bee of the neighborhood. Cornelia, struggling with her own fertility issues, finds it difficult to acclimate to the domestic dramas of suburban life and struggles to find her place in a community that emphasizes children. Teo seems blissfully unaware, happily bumbling through his life. The burgeoning
friendships between Cornelia and Lake, Cornelia and Piper, The Browns and Dev, etc. make for an intriguing read. The three story lines work well individually but don't always overlap as neatly as they should. Also, the plot was predictable, especially toward the end, however, Belong to Me is well written and worth a few hours of your time.

Getting Warmer by Carol Snow

OK so normally I like a good chick lit book as much as the next girl, in the same way I like a good chick flick; it's good to kind of zone out and enjoy without having to think too much. Unfortunately, this is not a good chick lit book - it's dull and predictable and completely unoriginal. Sadly, my book club picked Getting Warmer as our pick for December, with the best of intentions. We wanted something lighter than our usual fare and thought this would fit the bill. This is no Bridget Jones' Diary or even anything by Jennifer Weiner. This is the story of Natalie Quackenbush, an almost 30-year-old teacher living with her parents in Scottsdale, AZ. Natalie is a liar - she lies to men at bars and invents insane information about herself. Until the day she lies to a guy she actually likes, which cues the predictable chain reaction of events. There are no surprises here and if you are in the mood for something light, try something else on for size.

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

I am not a religious person and when someone first recommended this book, I'll admit I was skeptical. But despite the fact that this is based on characters from the bible, the story itself is only loosely related to the ones in the Old Testament. This is the story of Jacob and Leah's daughter, Dinah, who is only briefly mentioned in Genesis. Dinah tells us her story, in her own words, and begins with her childhood in Mesopotamia, where she was raised by her four mothers - Leah, her birth mother, and Rachel, Zilpah and Bilhah, the additional wives of Jacob. The title of this book, The Red Tent, is based on the place where women gathered during menstruation, birth and illness and where young Dinah is first initiated into the religious and sexual practices of the tribe. Her story continues through her doomed relationship with Shalem and her later life in Egypt and Canaan, where she becomes a well known and often requested midwife. As I said before, this is loosely based on the stories of Jacob in the Bible, but you do not need to be religious in order to enjoy this story, the characters are that memorable.

Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell

I just finished Patricia Cornwell's latest novel, Scarpetta, which of course follows Dr. Kay Scarpetta and Dr. Benton Wesley on yet another case. I must say, after The Book of the Dead, I was about ready to give up on this series. The novels had steadily deteriorated in my opinion, with Cornwell's narrative style getting terser and I think she even changed the point of view in the books. Anyway, I was not even planning on reading this one but a friend in England read it and said it was good, so I figured I'd give it a chance. While not up to the standards of some of the earlier books in the series, like The Body Farm or From Potter's Field, I still enjoyed this story. And I felt it was more realistic, in that there was definitely death, after all she is an ME, but with a slightly more believable story line than in the past. Plus it was nice to see that she and Benton had finally gotten married, after all the crap their relationship has been through. While not a home run, it was worth the time to read it. If you haven't read any of these books before, I would definitely suggest you start at the beginning of the series.

Thrillers

If you’re looking for something entertaining but not too brain-heavy, try one of these novels on for size. They’ll keep you entertained, will kill a few hours, and won’t overtax you. And most of these authors have recurring characters so you get to know them which makes it that much more interesting.

What Jason Bourne was to the Cold War, Scot Harvath is to the War on Terror. Brad Thor has created "the perfect all-American hero for the post September 11 world" (Nelson DeMille). Scot’s also a counterterrorism expert and one thing I like about Brad Thor’s books is that I feel like I learn a lot, especially about Islam, while reading them. Scot is featured in the following books: The Lions of Lucerne, Path of the Assassin, State of the Union, Blowback, Takedown, The First Commandment and The Last Patriot

Vince Flynn writes about Mitch Rapp, a covert CIA operative and member of the Orion Team. Mitch is basically a badass who can “shoot, stab, blow things up, and even kill with his bare hands.” Mitch is featured in ten books: Term Limits, Transfer of Power, The Third Option, Separation of Power, Executive Power, Memorial Day, Consent to Kill, Act of Treason, Protect and Defend and Extreme Measures.

David Baldacci’s latest novels follow the Camel Club, a curious band of friends who gather weekly to discuss and uncover political conspiracies. Their leader, who has taken the name Oliver Stone, has a bone to pick with the government and is not shy about expressing that. With the help of Secret Service Agent Alex Ford, the friends are thrust headfirst into one conspiracy after another. Camel Club Series: The Camel Club, The Collectors, Stone Cold, Divine Justice

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo will suck you in from the first page - which of course starts with a decades old murder mystery. Mikael Blomkvist is hired to investigate the murder of Harriet Vanger, after his career takes a downward spiral after being convicted of libel. He is hired for one year to investigate exactly what happened the day Harriet disappeared and determine which member of the Vanger family killed her. In the course of his investigation, he hires the girl with the dragon tattoo, Lisbeth Salander, a world class hacker, as a research assistant. Lisbeth is a 24 year old who is still a guardian of the state and is perceived to have mental issues, despite the fact that she's a near genius when it comes to technology. But years of mistreatment by the state have made Lisbeth someone you do NOT mess with. I really enjoyed this story and couldn't put it down - I read it in one day. I wasn't too thrilled with the very end, but I just discovered that this is the first book in a trilogy, so hopefully the second one, The Girl Who Played with Fire, will pick up where this left off.

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

Someone at the library recommended this book to me and at first, I was skeptical, I had never heard of it and it seemed to be a bit odd. I could not have been more wrong - well it is a bit odd, but in a good way. The Gargoyle is narrated by a former porn actor who is in a horrible car crash that results in severe burns over the majority of his body. When he wakes up in the burn ward, his first thoughts are of the ways he will kill himself when he gets out. But then one day he is visited by Marianne Engel, a beautiful, if slightly disturbed woman who sculpts gargoyles and grotesques. Marianne insists that they were lovers long ago in medieval Germany, where she nursed him back to health at the monastery in Engelthal. She is a master storyteller, and helps pass the rehabilitation time with the story of their past, as well as stories of love from Japan to Iceland to Italy and England. As his body heals, so does his mind and soul, under the careful care of Marianne. This is a great, great, book, although if you have a weak stomach at all, just be prepared for a rough couple chapters detailing with the burns and care of the burns. It's very graphic but please don't let that deter you from reading this book.

Before You Know Kindness by Chris Bojalian

I have enjoyed everything I've ever read by Chris Bojalian, so when I saw this one, I had to grab it from the library; and I have to say, I think this was one of my favorites. Before You Know Kindness is the story of a family in extraordinary circumstances. It starts with Spencer McCullough, an extreme animal rights activist, who has just been shot by a bullet from a hunting rifle owned by his brother in law and fired by his 12 year old daughter, Charlotte. The ensuing lawsuit and media circus that is spearheaded by FERAL (Federation for Animal Liberation), his employer, tears the family apart in many ways. Willow, Charlotte's 10 year old cousin, fights to tell the truth about the events of that night, despite Charlotte's pleas to the contrary. Willow, despite her young age, is the moral compass of this story, always trying to do the right thing, despite the consequences. Although Bojalian takes his mocking of the animal rights movement to an extreme, the story is still extremely engaging and he has a unique insight into how to describe the disappointments, tragedies, hopes, and triumphs of a family.