The Lost Apothecary: A Novel
by Sarah Penner
The Lost Apothecary (8/28/2020)
This is a fast-paced historical novel with several unusual twists. The accidental discovery of a small blue vial leads a 21st century woman to delve into the history of a late 18th century apothecary and a possible serial killer. Each chapter goes back and forth between the current day and 1791. Oftentimes, I find it difficult to follow the 'time jumps' but the author (Sarah Penney) clearly distinguishes Between the two time periods, not only by keeping each chapter in a time period but also by designating who is telling the story of each chapter, the apothecary, her accidental assistant, or our modern day scholar. The characters are quite well drawn, as are the physical descriptions. One can easily envisage the secret room of the apothecary, the fog of the river, the library. This book is very well-paced, claiming one's interest from the very first page and keeping the interest going, making it very difficult to put down. If I didn't have other necessary responsibilities, I would have undoubtedly read this book in one sitting; as it was, I stayed up much too late finishing it. I recommend this book for its enjoyment and particularly for its glimpse into the world of women and women apothecaries in the late 18th century.
The Paris Hours: A Novel
by Alex George
The Paris Hours (2/27/2020)
The Paris Hours by Alex George is written from the interesting perspective of everyday Parisians in 1927, whose lives occasionally intersect with more famous people of that period: Maurice Ravel whose haunting music comforts Souren Balakian, Josephine Baker, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein who rescues Guillaume Blanc, an artist who owes much money, and Marcel Proust who has a great impact on Camille, his housekeeper/caregiver. The author draws a wonderful picture of the city of Paris that the residents see; Paris, avenues, shops. There are absolutely no tourist sites on the itinerary. Even though the events of the book take place during a one-day period, there is enough back story included to get a personal history of each of the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, their complexity and the way they deal with their misfortunes, including a climatic conflagration. The description of Paris and the surrounding countryside are so well drawn, I almost felt that I was wandering myself. I would recommend this book highly to anyone interested in Paris of the late 1920s, the citizens and the artists of the area and time.
Remembrance
by Rita Woods
Remembrance by Rita Woods (10/16/2019)
For a debut novel, this is outstanding! While I was initially expecting a more historical story about the Underground Railroad, this novel was more about the spiritualism and mysticism of three women, tied together by their 'powers' and history. The novel grabbed me before the end of the Prologue and didn't let go!
The writing is exquisite, the characters drawn expertly, flaws and good points equally prominent. One character in particular, Josiah, was so well detailed that I couldn't make up my mind as to whether he was a good person or a bad person, each set of qualities balancing the other. The sections involving the pursuits by slavers were fearful, well-detailed. I could feel the absolute fear people felt when hiding and when held by the slavers.
Even though I don't classify this as 'historical fiction' (too much mysticism and spiritual power play), it was an exciting, thoroughly engrossing read that I highly recommend to everyone. And I am really looking forward to any upcoming works by Rita Woods!
Ellie and the Harpmaker
by Hazel Prior
Ellie and the Harpmaker (4/23/2019)
I will admit that I requested this book because I am a harpist. There are so many times that we musicians truly cringe when reading something about our instruments, or watching TV commercials 'portraying performers' where the actors clearly know nothing about what they are supposed to be doing! So it was with a bit of trepidation that I started this book. Happily, I am so pleased to say that obviously this author does indeed play harp! The technical side of building the harps was spot on, as were the descriptions of Ellie's lessons. The story itself was quite charming; yes, a love story, but one that starts with a need for self-fulfillment and a very surprising way to fill that need, a need to make music, even on a very small scale. And the sadness and small tragedies that come when that need is neither understood nor accepted by one's partner. This book was an easy read, the characters flawed as we all are with inabilities to accept things we cannot understand, to accept things that are important to our loved ones even though they mean little or nothing to us.
The Last Year of the War
by Susan Meissner
The Last Year of the Wat (11/27/2018)
I absolutely loved this book! It is the story of two young girls, from completely different backgrounds (one Japanese and one German) thrust into a situation far beyond their control at a very impressionable stage of their lives. I think most of us are aware of the internment of Japanese citizens and families from the West Coast during World War II, but I was not aware of a couple of facts: the internment camps were spread throughout the United States (Texas in this case), Germans were also targeted, and that there was a repatriation program that sent people back to their ‘home’ countries. This is a marvelous tale of how a woman, on the brink of losing all memories to Alzheimer’s Disease, embarks alone on a search for her friend Mariko, who shared her life at the camp. It is a sad story, yet comforting and amazing, full of details about being thrust into new, very unfamiliar lives, dealing with language issues, and trying to get through adolescence. The scenes involving the bombing attacks and devastation are particularly heart-breaking. Even with the inclusion of much historical information, it was very easy to read, very engaging and definitely hard to put down! I can easily recommend this book on so many levels: historical, a young adult tale of growing up in troubling times, how an adult deals with the knowledge of a terrible disease.
So Much Life Left Over
by Louis de Bernieres
So Much Life Left Over (7/23/2018)
The title of this book comes from the 'Survivor's Guilt' felt by so many soldiers who survived the Great War (World War I); so very many men had been lost, so many friends, the survivors were not quite sure what to do with 'so much life left over.' For Daniel, a former pilot, it was a life in Ceylon, a place he loved, with a wife Rosie who married Daniel because her intended had died in the war. Their life seems peacable enough until the death of a newborn and then it starts to come unraveled. Around these central characters are assorted brothers and sisters, parents and, on the part of Daniel, other women with whom he seeks comfort when Rosie turns away and subsequently drags him back to England.
Each chapter of the book is told from the perspective of a different character, yet the chapters all follow sequentially. Sometimes, when an author uses this method of writing, the sequence or train of thought may be muddled or confused; not so in this case. Louis de Bernieres is a master at this form. His characters are exceedingly well drawn, people we would be interested in knowing, although we may not like some of them. Daniel finds his own way of out a level of despair, while his brother Archie does not. Rosie does, but she clings to her children and religion and shuts out her husband. The book ends at the eve of World War II and once again, these characters must find a new way to continue, to cope and to grow.
I found this book to be all the things a good book should be: happy and exhilarating, sad and frustrating, with a bit of anger for good measure. It was an 'easy' read but by no means simple. The characters were very engaging and I had a tough time putting it down to do daily tasks; I wanted to find out 'what happens next.' I highly recommend it for anyone who wants a more personal take on what the ravages of war can do to a ground of people in an emotional way, and a view taste of British life between the two world wars.
Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions
by Mario Giordano
Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions (1/20/2018)
This charming, enjoyable book introduces us to Auntie Poldi, whose real name is Isolde, a cross between Auntie Mame and a slightly less cultured Jessica Fletcher. The story is told by the nephew, an aspiring writer who has joined his aunt on her move to Sicily from Munich; he is recounting the story as she tells it to him. There is a disappearance of a young man who did odd jobs for Auntie Poldi, the disappearance of the statue of a lion, and the human Sicilian lion that Poldi has set her cap for, the police inspector. Towards the very end, a murder mystery also appears. The author of the book, Mario Giordano, draws his characters well; they are believable people and he does enlighten us about the history of Sicilians moving to Germany, and often back again to Sicily. He also writes a brief summary of each chapter as a prologue to the chapter, something I am rather ambivalent about because this book was not 'deep' enough to need these clues. This book is enjoyable, fun and quite personable, told in the manner of passing on a family story rather than a serious, hardcore mystery.
Next Year in Havana
by Chanel Cleeton
Next Year in Havana (10/29/2017)
What first drew me to this book was the title, which is reminiscent of the comment "Next year in Jerusalem" which we Jews say at the end of the High Holy Days. Both phrases echo a desire to return to the homeland, the origin. I am glad that I was caught by the title.
Marisol Ferrera, a journalist, goes to Havana for two reasons: her cover as researching for a travel article, and to bring the ashes of her grandmother, Elisa, to be buried near what was the estate of her family, during the pre-Castro days. What follows is a time-journey between the two time periods, 60 years apart, showing the similarities between grandmother and granddaughter. What I really appreciated about this book was the historical research, the distinctions between pre- and post-revolution Cuba, the passionate love of country the Cuban people had and still have for their country.
This book is very well written, the characters are very well drawn, complex and sympathetic, full of life. The author's description of the country, the music, the food are very compelling. I am looking forward to the next book by this author, where she explores the same time period through the eyes of Marisol's great-aunt Beatriz, who is very different than her sister, Elisa.
The Typewriter's Tale
by Michiel Heyns
The Typewriter's Tale (1/29/2017)
I must admit that I misunderstood the title of this book, thinking of the actual machine, the typewriter. I quickly realized that it refers to the young lady taking dictation from Henry James as he was writing his books. I had no idea that people employed this way were called "typewriters." Written in a style very close to that of Henry James himself, there were several times I had to pull up the dictionary and look up words, something that doesn't happen very often. It isn't a very lengthy book, under 300 pages, and it isn't what one would call an easy read, but the story was very interesting, looking at the world of Henry James and his relationships with Edith Wharton and his family, through the eyes of his 'secretary'. Telepathic communication is also a major part of the story, between the 'secretary' and one of Henry James' friends, with whom she is smitten, using the typewriter (machine) as the instrument of communication; interest in paranormal activities was high during this time period. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys James' writing, is interested in brief vignettes of the almost overwhelming life style of Edith Wharton and/or wants to add a few new words to their vocabulary.
Victoria
by Daisy Goodwin
VICTORIA by Daisy Goodwin (10/22/2016)
I love history, and I appreciate good historical fiction. However, I must admit that I was disappointed by Daisy Goodwin's VICTORIA. It is very well written, very easy to read and arranged in such a way that you could read it in short chunks. I was hoping for more history, more perspective about the times, about Victoria ascending the throne as a very young woman. To me, this book almost bordered on an exceptional 'young adult' romance novel, with little bits of historical references thrown in. Perhaps the author was assuming that there has been plenty written about the workings and protocols of the English court, but I personally would have enjoyed more of this, while still incorporating the deep personal relationships between Victoria, her family, her Prime Minister and ladies-in-waiting. For me, more depth and history (perhaps using quotes from letters, notes, etc.) would have been appreciated and enjoyed.
The Tea Planter's Wife
by Dinah Jefferies
The Tea Planter's Wife (7/25/2016)
No spoiler alerts here, but I had figured out the general premise of the story within the first few chapters. Similar to reading the last few pages of a mystery first, the joy in this book was in following all the twists, turns, personality developments and events, before finally getting to the revelation of truth. The story is set in Ceylon, in the mid-1920s to the mid-1930s, mostly on the plantation of a British tea planter/merchant. Good attention is paid to historical accuracy, including the sad idea of British supremacy and the incredibly cruel treatment of the Ceylonese people. This book is easy to read, but it does provoke many thoughts on inequality, injustice, and the often terrible consequences of keeping secrets. I would recommend it easily to anyone interested in thought-provoking historical fiction.
The Midnight Watch: A Novel of the Titanic and the Californian
by David Dyer
The Midnight Watch by David Dyer (3/7/2016)
What is it about the Titanic that has managed to hold our interest and curiosity for over one hundred years? Books, movies, museum-quality displays...we never seem to lose interest. Perhaps it is the sheer arrogance of the builders and shipping company, the exquisite grandeur of the vessel, the shattering number of lives lost, the prominent names on board...who knows? The Midnight Watch is indeed another book about the sinking of this magnificent ship, but from a very different point of view, that of a reporter, who specializes in writing stories that put life back into those who died in tragedies. His quest for bodies recovered from the ship are thwarted: Carpathia only picked up survivors, and The Californian, who was supposedly picking up bodies, was empty upon arrival. Sensing something amiss among the captain and officers of The Californian, he sets out on another story: why didn't The Californian respond to the eight distress flares sent up by the Titanic, especially when she was the closest ship?
No spoilers here...the book read very easily, was thoroughly engaging, providing deep insights into the captain, his officers, the wireless operators, etc. His final article is included at the end of the book, along with an epilogue where he once again talks with the captain, who still believes that nothing was amiss.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in Titanic lore, especially from a very different point of view.
Fallen Land
by Taylor Brown
Fallen Land by Taylor Brown (12/20/2015)
If you are looking for a "boy meets girl and they run away, happy ending" sort of book, this is not it! Yes, boy does meet girl, they do run away, fleeing the terrors of the Civil War, trying to get to Atlanta, but my! What a journey! Taylor Brown does an amazing job of portraying the actuality of war: the brutality, the complete loss of moral conviction, the terrible price paid by civilians and by the actual land, ravaged by destruction. This is not a feel-good sort of book, but an excellent example of historical fiction with its grittiness and grim descriptions! Taylor Brown's character development is outstanding; Callum and Ava have more strength than either of them thought possible. But they are clearly human, with failings and flaws. There are great moments of beauty and tenderness, even in the midst of the horrible destruction.
Not for the faint-hearted romantic readers, but I would recommend it highly for anyone wanting a personal glimpse into real life towards the end of the Civil War.
The Shore: A Novel
by Sara Taylor
The Shore by Sara Taylor (6/8/2015)
First, I must say that since this was an advanced copy, not everything is as it will be in the 'official' printing. The family tree was not included in this copy, and having that handy would have eliminated much of my confusion. The chapters jump from the 20th century to the 19th to the 21st, ending in a kind of post-apocalyptic 2143. The action all takes place on the islands of the Chesapeake Bay, off the coast of Virginia. A character is met in one chapter, family history appears in the next, seemingly random threads that come together in the final chapter. While Ms. Taylor's writing style is outstanding, her characters well-drawn and defined, personally I found nothing redeeming in any of them. The entire book was very dark, including some sexually violent scenes, child abuse and genetic mutation. This is a good psychological study of what could happen when people are confined to a relatively small geographical space that is dying, but becomes the "last place on earth" in the end. This is not what I would describe as a pleasure read. Ms. Taylor is an excellent writer and I will be interested to look into her future endeavors.
The Book of Speculation
by Erika Swyler
The Book of Speculation (4/26/2015)
When I received this book, included in the package was a bookket by the author, Erika Swyler, titled "Adventures in Making a Fake Old Book," which chronicled her ventures while actually making and aging blank books, from the paper itself to the bindings; she eventually gave these books to friends as gifts. I knew from reading this little booklet that I was going to enjoy her writing style. It was engaging, personable, detailed without being overly so, and a delight! Then I dove into The Book of Speculation, pun intended as this deals with a family line of 'swimmers,' those who were mermaids in the old traveling circus shows, who could hold their breath for 10 minutes underwater, those who felt as one with the water. This particular family history was discovered when a antiquarian bookseller sends an old book to Simon, which contains his family history. While I continued to enjoy Ms. Swyler's writing style, and her characters were well-drawn and complete, there is a lot of disfunction in this family, going back several generations and it is quite dark. A family home literally falling into ruin, family secrets involving neighbors, family members running away to join the circus, all make for an interesting, well-written yet somewhat disturbing read.
The Art of Baking Blind
by Sarah Vaughan
The Art of Baking Blind (3/16/2015)
Once I started this book, I had a difficult time putting it down to carry-on with my normal daily routine! It is the story of four completely different people from different walks of life: an empty-nester coming to terms with a husband who is now a stranger and a crumbling marriage, a single mother who gave up her dreams to provide for her child, a widower, and an up-scale woman who must be perfect of considers herself to be a failure. They are also chosen to be the new Mrs. Eaden, who had issues of her own, and are entered into a baking contest to that end. The characters are all quite believable, well-drawn and it is interesting to learn about all the diverse reasons they like/love to bake. Tensions grow, relationships develop or die, some make it through the contest, some don't. The characters are developed in depth but the writing style is not clinical, but very personal; I found myself wanting to keep reading just to find out what happens next! My only "complaint" is that none of the recipes were included, although I did go on-line and look up several of them. This is a very entertaining book, easily read, that looks into the psyches of five different people and why they bake. I highly recommend it, for several hours of reading pleasure.
Shocking Paris: Soutine, Chagall and the Outsiders of Montparnasse
by Stanley Meisler
Shocking Paris by Stanley Meisler (1/25/2015)
For a " history" book, this was surprisingly easy to read, entertaining and contained a vast amount of biographical information! As a professional musician and a Jew, I am well aware of the stories of musicians, conductors and composers who fled from the Nazi occupations, but the only artist of whom I was aware is Marc Chagall. The whole period prior to WWII in Paris was extraordinary! I enjoyed learning about Soutine, although he certainly has his flaws. Admittedly, while interesting, he was not someone that I would have enjoyed knowing. Chapters on Chagall, Pascin, Faure and others were very interesting, as was the insight into the attitude of the French people regarding foreigners and artists in general, and Jews in particular. This book is a fascinating look at a part of WWII rarely discussed. And the fact that it is written in an easy-to-read, interest-keeping style makes it even better! I recommend this book highly to anyone interested in the lesser known aspects of this time period.
Juliet's Nurse
by Lois Leveen
Juliet's Nurse (7/30/2014)
And now for a completely different take on the Romeo and Juliet story! Author Lois Leveen tells this famous tale from the perspective of Juliet's nurse, who first came to Juliet as a wet-nurse when her own baby died at birth. While I did not especially like some of the characters as people, the historical background, word-painting, descriptions of the life and times is rich and excellent.
I had a vivid image of the times, especially the differences between the rich and the poor, attitudes of ownership and entitlement, lines that could and could not be crossed. There are plenty of turns and twists in this story and I did find myself saying "Just one more chapter" at odd hours of the night. My only 'complaint' is that while Ms. Leveen went with the Italian names of characters, (Cappeletti, Montecchi, etc.) she stayed with 'Juliet' rather than using the Italian "Guiletta." Small complaint, truly!
The Devil in the Marshalsea
by Antonia Hodgson
The Devil in the Marshalsea (4/13/2014)
Based on her debut novel, I would say that Antonia Hodgson has many terrific books in her future. Although the subject matter (life in debtors' jail in 1727) is a bit dark, it was also extremely interesting! The differing sides of the jail, those who could afford to pay for creature comforts vs. those who could not, in addition to those who for a variety of reasons decide to stay in the prison of their own volition, portray a view of life at its bleakest but with a few rays of hope. This book takes place over a period of 4-5 days, which are possibly the longest days in the protagonist's life. The added mystery of a murder is almost secondary to the exquisitely-drawn characters, the dramatic details of life in the jail (one can almost smell the decay and illness). I found this book to be well-written, full of complex people who are not what they seem in many ways and I look forward to future books by Ms. Hodgson. If you are a fan of mysteries in "exotic" places with lots of small but important twists and turns of fate, this is the book for you!
The Cairo Affair
by Olen Steinhauer
The Cairo Affair by Olen Steinhauer (1/15/2014)
I had some trouble reading this book, hence my delay in reviewing it. I wanted to give some time to my thoughts. It is well-written, characters are clearly drawn and, while not as clear and enticing as in some books, the tedious nature of most espionage is well-described, almost too well. I had trouble with the style of the book: there were a lot of flashbacks and flashforths, present to past and back again and I tended to lose the thread of the story. However, my biggest problem with the story is that there is not one redeeming feature in any of the characters. They all use each other and are essentially "in it for the money" rather than any even-remotely noble cause. The only character who seems to have had any "virtue" at all is dead before the book starts!
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