The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz
by Erik Larson
Churchill's Challenging First Year as Prime Minister (1/21/2020)
In this latest book, Larson brings to the fore the skills seen in his previous works; extensive research, a compelling story, and an intimate look at history. He describes the challenges that faced Winston Churchill upon assuming the office of Prime Minister of the U.K. following Neville Chamberlain 's failed appeasement policy and the retreat to Dunkirk. This is early 1940, as France is about to fall to the Nazis – and the foe is turning its awesome military towards the U.K. It is a story told before, but one worth revisiting, about how close Germany came to invading and conquering the U.K. Using extensively researched sources, Larson alternates between the view in London, Berlin and Washington. He adds perspective with details about Churchill's personal life, the lives of his adult children and the people who surrounded him.
While exhaustively researched I found the length and number of details to be challenging. If this had been an academic publication much of the information would probably have been footnoted.
At 500 pages, this is not a quick read but the careful reader will be rewarded. I would recommend this book for any anglophile, devotee of Churchill, WWII history fan, and those who appreciate Larson's ability to make history come alive.
The Lost Man
by Jane Harper
Atmospheric Australian Mystery (11/11/2018)
Jane Harper sets her third novel deep in the Australian outback where people are separated by hundreds of kilometers. When the brother of a family is found dead, we gradually learn more about inter-family and inter-personal challenges. In a technique similar to her previous mysteries, she slowly reveals the significant backstory that each character brings to the situation. Her excellent writing gives a vivid portrayal of the country and its people.
Force of Nature: Aaron Falk Mystery #2
by Jane Harper
Australian Mystery with Tangled Secrets (10/16/2017)
In her new book, Jane Harper places protagonist Australian Federal Agent Aaron Falk in a very different setting than she did in "The Dry", her first novel – this time it is wet – the rainy Giralang Ranges. A woman in whom Falk and his partner have an (undisclosed) interest has gone missing during a wilderness corporate team building experience. The author gives the story line from the perspective of several different narrators in a mystery as compelling as "The Dry". The book passes my test –the reader COULD have solved the mystery with the information provided – although perhaps unlikely. There are a few references to Falk's experience in "The Dry". They are cleverly written so that reading the previous book is not a prerequisite to reading the present one, but enough to make a reader of "The Dry" feel closer to our protagonist. I enjoyed this book very much; it's another page turner that transports the reader to Australia and keeps us guessing until the end.
The Romanov Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra
by Helen Rappaport
Intimate and Haunting: The Romanov Mystique (6/7/2014)
Having been fascinated by the Romanov family for a very long time I have read many books about them and this period of Russian history. I was very interested to read "The Romanov Sisters" and gain further insight into Olga, Tatiana, Marie, and Anastasia. Helen Rappaport's book is supported by meticulous research and numerous source documents; she recreates the historical period beautifully. While I very much enjoyed the reading experience and being back in this period of history, I am not sure that I learned anything new or revealing about the sisters. Alexandra's family background and role as a mother was particularly interesting and almost overshadowed the sisters' story at times. As well, Alexei and his illness often took center stage and was distracting. While presenting an historical context is necessary to understanding the Romanov family, I would have liked to have seen more personal information and less focus on the country's difficulties. While the diaries and journals were interesting, the excepts from them were redundant and not very diverse. Sadly, I've come to the conclusion that we may never really know much more about this enigmatic family. As the author reports, almost all the personal writings of the family were destroyed as the revolutionaries swept in and took control. The Romanovs perished over 100 years ago in a country that has since been tumultuous and unbalanced and I wonder if our ability to garner any greater insight into the Romanovs is limited. In short, I liked the book very much as another look at the Romanov family. Whether it provided greater insight into the personal lives of the daughters is dubious.
Charles Jessold, Considered as a Murderer
by Wesley Stace
Murder, Music and Mystery (12/8/2010)
This is a rare combination which makes for an intelligent work of historical fiction. Well developed characters, sharp dialog, and an exciting plot result in a well-paced story. An intriguing and unique mystery in a musical setting.
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