North of Crazy: A Memoir
by Neltje
North of Crazy (6/21/2016)
What is the difference between a memoir and an autobiography that reads like a novel? Whichever this is, memoir or autobiography, North is a fascinating book and reads like fiction...surely it must be fiction. No, truth once again trumps fiction.
Neltje, daughter of the owner of Doubleday experiences abuse and criminal, shocking acts at a very young age. She lives in an environment similar to Gatsby. It is all hard to comprehend for a reader and astonishing that this person could turn out to be such a loving and productive figure in her later life. She abandons all of the East coast lifestyle and moves out west where her heart is captured by openness and freedom.
A great book...don't miss it.
Under the Wide and Starry Sky
by Nancy Horan
Under the Wide and Starry Sky (11/26/2013)
This book is long and fascinating. R.L.Stevenson's wife is not at all what one would expect. She is ten plus years older than he. Who would guess? She is a pistol and he is at once kind, generous, sickly and willing to live on the edge...with her of course. He desperately needed her as a wife and lover, although I was suspicious that he needed a mother.
The development of both characters is fascinating as is his creative technique. Perhaps some of it came from her input, but I found that hard to believe.
The author of "Loving Frank" has once again spun a wonderful tale of love...this time a love shared by both parties. Perhaps I felt a little sorry for Fanny. As a woman it had to be difficult to be so much older and so much heavier than her husband. Sigh.
The Drowning Guard: A Novel of the Ottoman Empire
by Linda Lafferty
The Drowining Guard (10/10/2013)
Well, this was not a favorite of mine. I love reading about the Ottoman Empire, the Janniseries (sp), Turkey, but somehow it didn't pull together. I found the writing weak. Even though the main character is not fictional, the plot seemed highly unlikely
Into the Beautiful North: A Novel
by Luis Alberto Urrea
Into The Beautiful North (4/24/2013)
Reading this book was a bit like going home for me. I was born and raised on the Mexican border, so know the towns and cities. Urrea truly captures the minds and spirits of the Mexicans from towns like Tres Camerones. I was willing to slog through too much description, merely to follow the simplistic and predictable storyline. That was okay with me. I read Hummingbird's Daughter and found it to have more substance...still and all I enjoyed my journey through this story. There was a sweetness and graciousness that is so common in Mexico.
The Bloodletter's Daughter: A Novel of Old Bohemia
by Linda Lafferty
The Bloodletter's Daughter (9/22/2012)
Ottoman Empire, Bohemia, Hapsburg, Prague, Vienna, are all names and places that I have heard of, but really had no knowledge nor understanding of what and where they are. This book is a great, simplistic introduction to all of the above and is a fast read. At times, I found it a bit childish, but became so engrossed in the characters that I plunged ahead always very eager to get on with the plot. That the main characters are all real made this book fascinating even though a lot of creative license was used to cobble the story. So what?
Will, I recommend it to my book club? No. I think they are probably not as thirsty as I was for the history of the Hapsburgs and their inbreeding. I would love to see another historical fiction with this same setting.
That Deadman Dance: A Novel
by Kim Scott
That Deadman Dance (12/14/2011)
I was quite disappointed in the rhythm of this book. I have read many novels from and about Australia and always have been fascinated. Perhaps there is an affectation that I don't relate to...I am not sure, but I found myself sighing as the book went on and was never very interested in the plot. Finishing it became a struggle as the characters never seemed to take on a persona that called to me.
The Clouds Beneath the Sun
by Mackenzie Ford
Clouds Beneath the Sun (8/9/2010)
I chose this book because I have Masaai friends and have lived in a Masaai Village.
I found the descriptions of Kenya close to those in my memories. However the Masaai were not described as I think of them...of course, the story was set at pre-independence and I was there two years ago.
The story was relatively interesting, however the writer's methods were annoying to me. It seemed that he was writing a soap opera...as he periodically would inject a series of questions all lined up in a row such as: will she tell him the entire truth, when will the Land Rover arrive, who will come to the trial? What? This over and over as though we might put the book down at that point and return tomorrow , same time, same station and resume reading the story. This was definitely an odd writing technique.
I also tired of reading about the perspiration between Natalie's breasts. I wanted to float her a handkerchief to deal with the problem as it seemed to plague her no matter what the incident...that along with her hands going to her throat, or her recurring bouts with inner rage. Oh please...
The plot? well...pretty predictable except at the end.
Did I enjoy it...? Sort of...I didn't push aside other things in my life to get back to the book and read.
Heresy
by S.J. Parris
Heresy (12/19/2009)
Prepare to step into England 1583 as you read this novel. The food, the clothing, the living conditions all become integral to the plot. So enjoy as a mystery evolves and is patiently and painfully investigated by Father Bruno who is himself on the run. Murders are committed that you could never imagine. the central location Oxford becomes a dark and dangerous venue...the beautiful daughter of Oxford's rector will shock and amaze you. There are so many complex plot ideas that are truly original and tied to the Inquisition. Warning! This may be too intense for dark night reading. Fasten you seat belt and enjoy.
Cleopatra's Daughter
by Michelle Moran
Cleopatra's Daughter (10/2/2009)
Michele Moran brings us a wonderfully colorful picture of Rome through Cleopatra's daughter's eyes. Serena and her twin brother were taken by Octavian from Egypt to the Roman Empire shortly after their mother Cleopatra's suicide. His motives were clearly not in the children's best interest. The children now have no living parents and are confronted with adapting to a strange country that they perceive as far less genteel than their own. One of their biggest dilemmas was determining whom they could trust.
While all the descriptions from the mouth of Serena were fascinating, I found it difficult to imagine that a twelve year old girl could be so articulate. I tossed that reading difficulty aside and let myself enjoy her story. It was clear that no one could really know the facts of her life, however Michelle brought enough substance to the pages I am convinced that the young girl was very bright and clever.
The cast of characters was a bit overwhelming and I found myself referring often to the list of names and their relationships to one another. Believe me this is complicated.
This book was not quite up to Nefertiti, but with Nefertiti there was more documented fact for Moran to work with.
The best part of the book may be the Afterward where we are given an update on the rest of Selene's life....this bit of information was no doubt well documented and included a happy ending to her troubled younger years.
Alice
Life Class: A Novel
by Pat Barker
Life Class (12/17/2007)
I enjoyed every inch, every word of this book. The characters were young, eager to experience life but they were unpredictable. Just when I was sure that they had established a relationship, the relationship would take an unexpected twist to the extent that their unpredictability became predictable.
The book contains interesting words that were probably used during World War, "sixpennies", I had never heard of that.
I would recommend this book only to readers who can be entertained by the author's character development of young artists as well as descriptions of their various environments. If you are looking for a sensational plot...this isn't the book.
Mozart's Sister
by Rita Charbonnier
Mozart's Sister ( Lost In Translation) (10/12/2007)
I have enjoyed this book enormously, but not because of outstanding or even good writing. The characters and the story are fascinating, so those two things kept me going. I had difficulty relating to the dialogue of the young people. It seemed way too formal, too adult...but maybe they were so outstanding that they really spoke that way...or maybe the author's true version was "lost in translation".
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