The Paris Winter
by Imogen Robertson
The Paris Winter (6/30/2014)
The Paris Winter is a quick and fun read. It gives an interesting look at the seamy side of the early 1900's in Paris. Two art students at the Lafond Academie (one poor and one rich and a model at the Academie make up the three main characters, and they lead us through the glamorous, and into the dark and decadent side of Paris. Robbery, drugs and murder all play a part in this story, and the colorful side characters enrich the tale.
The story starts slowly, but after a complete about face halfway through, the action picks up and the pace quickens so that the reader can't wait to see what happens next. Historical fiction enthusiasts will love this book!
The Devil in the Marshalsea
by Antonia Hodgson
The Devil in the Marshalsea (3/10/2014)
The era and the location are the true stars of this novel. The history of the Marshalsea Goal is fascinating and the author does a good job of bringing 1727 London to life.
Although the characters are a bit flat and underdeveloped, the mystery moves along at a brisk pace. The story has something for everyone; a mysterious rogue, a charming preacher's son, the evil bad guys, and the sweet servant girl to add some love interest. There was some raw language, and some graphic descriptions, but these really just add to the atmosphere.
Walk Me Home
by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Walk Me Home (3/27/2013)
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is well written, the characters are believable, and I felt connected to them right from the very beginning.
Two sisters, sixteen and eleven, are left on their own after the death of their mother. They begin trying to get back to their mother's last boyfriend, the only family they have known, and make their way to a Native American reservation before they are forced to stop. There the 16 year old is forced to make some painful decisions.
It is a heartbreaking and touching story, and the pace of the writing makes it an easy read. It is a feel good story.
Peking to Paris: Life and Love on a Short Drive Around Half the World
by Dina Bennett
Adventurous Trip (3/11/2013)
This was an interesting look at an adventurous road trip. The author conveyed the sense of adventure inherent in driving a vintage car through faraway places. Not an everyday experience by any means! She told her story with humor and wonderful description. I felt like I was along for the ride. This book was part travelog, part exploration of human relationships, and part history lesson. A very well written book.
Illuminations: A Novel of Hildegard von Bingen
by Mary Sharratt
Illuminations (9/5/2012)
Hildegard was a fascinating character in the history of the church, and the writing was good but I just couldn't get into this book. Little is known of the events in the period of her 30 year confinement, and the treatment of this section seemed too fictionalized, with sexual innuendos added just to make the book more readable. The second part of the story seemed to have a rushed feeling with only a fleeting look given to events.
I just was couldn't form an attachment to either the characters or the story.
Have Mother, Will Travel: A Mother and Daughter Discover Themselves, Each Other, and the World
by Claire & Mia Fontaine
Have Mother, Will Travel (6/4/2012)
This book was outstanding. It was at times funny, at times insightful, at times a travel guide, and above all it was always a worthwhile reading experience. The mother/daughter team gave corresponding personal reflections not only on their relationship, but on life in general. Many of their observations really hit a true not with me, or else opened my eyes to something I have not thought about in regard to relationships, or life experiences. I recommend it to all women, even if (like me) you are not the mother of a daughter!
King Peggy: An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny, and the Inspiring Story of How She Changed an African Village
by Peggielene Bartels, Eleanor Herman
King Peggy (12/8/2011)
Peggy Bartels, born in Africa but living in America for 30 years, was awoken one morning with the news that she is to be the next king of Otuam, where her family had originated hundreds of years earlier. What follows is a delightful true story rich with the customs, beliefs, superstitions, and way of life of the people living in this area.
The story of what Peggy accomplishes is nothing short of amazing. The book is full of many interesting characters, and the often dire situations are described with a good deal of humor. This is a wonderful, uplifting story.
Salvage the Bones: A Novel
by Jesmyn Ward
Salvage the Bones (6/28/2011)
Jesmyn Ward uses extensive detail in the writing of her book, and this leaves the reader with a good feeling for the poorness of the people, the texture of the area around Bois Sauvage, Mississippi, and the pain inherent in some personal relationships. However, this extensive detail also interfered with the story for me. I felt the writing was at times disjointed, and I had a hard time getting into the book, and a hard time forming an attachment with the characters.
Also, the grittiness of some of the interactions, and the grimness of some of the scenes involving the dogs bothered me.
The Ghost of Milagro Creek
by Melanie Sumner
The Ghost of Milagro Creek (7/7/2010)
Melanie Sumner had a good idea for a story, and I really wanted to like this book. The story is set in the Taos, New Mexico area, and sometimes her descriptions were so good that I really felt I got a good sense of not only the area, but also the culture. However, her chapters kept jumping around, not only in time but also in the character speaking. It sometimes took a paragraph or two to figure out who was speaking. This jumping around also interfered with my forming an attachment to the characters.
A sense of mysticism is developed throughout the book, but this only serves as a detraction from the story itself. The author's love of the area is evident, and she does a good job painting a beautiful picture of the Mexican/Indian cultures.
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