Happy Land
by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Moving Past Slavery (12/6/2024)
I don't know that I have ever read a novel about the lives of former slaves in postwar Civil War life. The original or at least rarely used theme makes the book interestingI. It is a glimpse of some of the difficulties encountered by the newly freed slaves, but an almost gentle one. It is juxtaposed with the current problems of the descendants of the same family. The story line illustrates how different the lives of the twenty-first century members of the family is from that of the nineteenth century family members. A fresh look at newly freed black family's perspective is worth reading and provides several avenues of discussion or discovery, especially for readers with little knowledge of the one hundred years after the American Civil War. The backdrop of discord within the modern family seems to add little to the story other than a mechanism by which to explain how they got where they are. Overall the book is an easy read and worth the time spent reading it.
In the Garden of Monsters: A Novel
by Crystal King
Enchanting Adult Fairy Tale (8/17/2024)
Elements of a mundane trip to the country mixed with creepy haunted places pulls you quickly into this revisitation to a Greek myth. The actual site of the Garden of Monsters is also enticing to travel planners. The detailed description of the country estate enhances the eerie feelings of reality even when supernatural events seem to happen. It makes you want to pack your bags and head to Italy. Reread the love story of Hades and Persephone, an ancient tale of enticement and romance, to fully comprehend the nuances of the tale. This book is an enjoyable revisitation to a story that has been rewritten over the centuries.
The Funeral Cryer: A Novel
by Wenyan Lu
A Brief Glimpse of Life in Rural China (2/11/2024)
Funeral customs and beliefs vary significantly between cultures. A small glimpse of modern funeral customs in rural China is the redeeming part of this novel. The novel, at best, represents this one situation, but within the story, customs and beliefs are rather thoroughly discussed. The overall impression of this middle aged woman's life is that it is joyless, loveless and hopeless. Nothing suggests a better life before or to come. I cannot decide if the blandness of the story, the almost nonexistent plot or a cultural disconnect is responsible for the disheartening overall feeling left by the story. References to weak family connections, little hope for future life comforts, superstition rather than a belief system and no reliance on community or government, makes this reading experience feel more like a manifestation of Orwell's masterpiece novel 1984, than a novel about village life in China. Despite the dismal lives that inhabit this novel, the small glimpses inside rural China may rescue the book for some readers.
The House on Biscayne Bay
by Chanel Cleeton
Not my Cup of Tea (1/15/2024)
The book is easily readable, but not really my genre. I classify this as a cozy mystery, meaning there is no real danger, but some unexplained suspicious deaths. Yes, it is a murder mystery, but with little suspense. The setting is high end real estate in southern Florida. The story spans over two decades and the involves fortunes of two separate families. The detail about the physical estate is tantalizing, but not thoroughly developed. The female characters are the focus of the story, actually both stories, but they evoke little empathy. The stories converge around events at the estate, and developments in the plot reflect problems with money and romance. The book does not rely on analytical investigation really, but a few innocent questions that solve the murders.
Daughters of Shandong
by Eve J. Chung
Resilience Defines Survivors (11/11/2023)
This is a fictional autobiography of a woman born into a wealthy Confucian family, pre-World War II. The focus is the religious, cultural and economic structure of China in 1948 that was completely and often cruelly changed as Communism overwhelmed mainland Imperial China. The story spans the most cataclysmic change China has seen, at least in modern times. The story is well told and an important rendition of Confucian cultural enslavement and denigration of women and the poor. It does much to explain why the promise of Communism was welcomed by the starving masses. It doesn't address whether or how well that promise was fulfilled. Other novels about this time period reflect the same horrendous conditions imposed on the landless and the debilitating cultural attitude toward women, however this book goes far to explain the religious basis for and enforcement of the rules of behavior and how they were finally destroyed. The primary female characters were resilient and brave. Their story is well told and shared by perhaps millions. This story provides valuable insight to Westerners unfamiliar with Chinese Confucian culture and therefore is a good bookclub choice.
The Last Russian Doll
by Kristen Loesch
Great historical mystery about human connections (10/18/2022)
I really enjoyed the mystery of family intrigue and the historical setting of this book. This is an interesting book that includes mystery, human tragedy and intrigue. The characters are well represented by people that remind us of ourselves. The setting of the early 20th century Russian revolution and how it reaches all the way into the early 21st century makes this a fascinating and informative story. Many people whose family migrated to America or England can identify with the lost history created by war and revolution. The context of the Russian Revolution and the chaotic world of those times is of interest today. This story shows the real life consequences and costs people paid to survive. There is nothing heavy about this really fun book, set primarily in a time of great conflict.
Fencing with the King: A Novel
by Diana Abu-Jaber
The Past Makes the Future (12/10/2021)
This is such an entertaining book! I enjoyed it from the first page. It has a great mix of historical fiction with details from the distant past combined with current events and political intrigue. Our lives do not start with us, the past, sometimes the ancient past, influence and even control our fortunes. The international events connect the Kingdom of Jordan with the United States and lightly explores living as a bridge between two very different cultures. The book focuses on changing female roles in Jordan, and the difference for Americans, but does not preach or argue one position. The setting in Jordan enhances the ability to learn a bit about Jordanian society and levels of society. I have always been intrigued by ancient cultures and their current influences. This is a totally enjoyable novel.
The Latinist: A Novel
by Mark Prins
A modern Greek myth (10/28/2021)
The Latinist is a refreshing twist on a novel of intrigue. The intersection of the unfamiliar world of academia and the application of academic learning to archaeology. In college I read some Ovid and learned Greek mythology like that of Daphne and Apollo. In this original approach to storytelling, I revisited these interesting and still current stories. Books that send me searching or reviewing other areas are fun to read- in part why I read. The world of Oxford academia provides the fascinating background to a multi-faceted story of discovery and love, of a sort. Daphne's need to escape is not unknown in today's world. Read and enjoy.
The Smallest Lights in the Universe: A Memoir
by Sara Seager
Balancing family with a dedication to science (7/21/2020)
This is the memoir of an extraordinary woman. The description bills it as a story about recovering from tragic early widowhood. It is so much more. It is a story of an astro-physicist in a quickly developing scientific area about which I knew almost nothing. Now I know a little more through the life experiences of a person who has largely been defined by this fascinating area of science. Her personal connections and life story are well worth reading. Dedication to her chosen field of study and the family she adores makes for a good story. Astrophysics is a complicated field, but the telling of this story allows the reader a taste of development in the area without overwhelming the story with mathematics and scientific detail.
With or Without You: A Novel
by Caroline Leavitt
Grown Up at Last (5/11/2020)
Oddly this book is about growing up, finally. All of the primary characters are in their 40s, so it clearly time, but not so clear to them. Each character illustrates some of the weaknesses of an affluent society where many individuals pursue life at their own pace without need to contribute or if contributing, need to do so in a manner that supports society. The characters are all good people who have not yet found their way in life. The book is interesting and draws you into three rather dysfunctional lives, all linked to each other. It is not a 'happily ever after' story in a conventional sense, but everyone is more mature and in a better place when the book ends. It also views fame from several angles, never recommending it as a lifestyle.
Father of Lions: One Man's Remarkable Quest to Save the Mosul Zoo
by Louise Callaghan
Desperate Desire (10/27/2019)
This story of human resilience, in the face of religious fanaticism, shows that survival in the worst circumstances is possible, if neither predictable nor perfect. The author impresses the grinding reality of war upon the reader, with a few positive results,but there is no fairy tale ending. The futility of much that the characters work to achieve makes this a disheartening tale. Humanity is happiest and most confident when we believe we control at least part of our life. War proves to these characters that they have no control and that whatever success they achieve is merely the result of random events. A savior of sorts appears to help the father of lions, but he too is subject to the illogical, whimsy of petty officials and the military. Although the book may masquerade as a feel good book, it is not. It is an expose' of the helter skelter nature of life, exacerbated by war.
Beirut Hellfire Society
by Rawi Hage
War is hell and a rough read (5/30/2019)
Life in the midst of war is harsh and everything but war becomes irrelevant to daily life. This is the topic of Beirut Hellfire Society. The utter profanity of war, the desperation of the occupants of a city at war and the irrelevance of even the traditions of death are reflected in the activities of the characters in this book. War allows no joy, no warmth and eventually no humanity. Absence of all but war creates a stark commentary on the realities of war, unadorned by heroism, compassion or triumph in any aspect of life. Our society glorifies war, especially as part of the past, this book does not. Human desperation and efforts to confront daily violence and an unknown future are bravely attacked by the main character. The darkness in this book means it will appeal to a select group of sophisticated readers, not every reader. The book reminds me of a line from a Ferlinghetti poem - "and then came the smiling mortician."
The Kinship of Secrets
by Eugenia Kim
Refreshing story of family and culture (10/20/2018)
This is an enjoyable read that added to my growing knowledge of how cultures are influenced by the country in which they exist. As an American living in the Southwest, I have had little connection to Confucian based cultures. Reading about the contrast that develops in a Confucian culture with a Christian overlay was enjoyable. The storyline relies on distinctions that arise within the same family, one part in Korea, the other in America. Economic status is definitely a major factor in the differences, but Confucian ideas, that stay strong in Korea, but much less so in America, illustrate changing attitudes toward women, specifically and family, in general. Mostly secrets were intended to be a kindness to those left in the dark. As the author says the secrets were "a charity of secrets". Ultimately personality, shaped and influenced by culture, is the critical factor in who these characters were and the secrets they kept or discovered.
The Family Tabor
by Cherise Wolas
A Rare Criminal Mystery Not Involving Murder (6/16/2018)
I enjoyed this book, a rare criminal mystery not involving murder, but something far more common. The family members each have interesting issues, which lead you through the story. However, the premise of a serious financial crime unremembered and the primary perpetrator not prosecuted, not even interviewed, provides the backdrop to the story. Like a Greek tragedy the main character suffers from a fatal character flaw and the plot has seriously unbelievable facts relating to the criminal prosecution, but even so, the theme of creating a satisfying life is interesting and addresses several disparate problems modern Americans face. The book will provide a lively discussion for bookclubs about spiritual needs, marital bliss, life goals and victims. I have so much more to say, but more appropriately discussed with people who have read the book so as not to reveal plot spoilers.
The Girl Who Smiled Beads: A Story of War and What Comes After
by Elizabeth Weil, Clemantine Wamariya
Experience the life of a child refugee (2/26/2018)
I enjoyed this very timely book. The fresh look at the devastation of war and the angst of survival from the perspective of a child brings us face to face with the reality of many children in our war torn world. This personal story makes real what we only glimpse on nightly news. Perhaps the most eye opening are the experiences of 6 year old Clemantine and her 15 year old sister as they learn to navigate American society and its excesses. This book expands your knowledge of the world, but is neither stuffy nor preachy, after all it is ultimately from the voice of a child. This story of child refugees tutors us in why we must save them and the strength they bring us.
The Necklace
by Claire McMillan
The Necklace (6/22/2017)
This is a great beach read. It captures a snapshot of the lives of the wealthy around WW I, a time period that is fascinating. The ambiance of the story is so well created that I felt I was surrounded by the events and attitudes of 1917. The extreme wealth of one family and how the players lived in this luxurious time starts the events that play out a hundred years later. The story then moves the family to the present to play out the jealousies and family fortune through an estate. The story invokes a charming mystery about a family heirloom, the necklace. It is a rare story that has an interesting mystery that does not involve murder. The adventure captured from the early 20th century gives the reader a well developed glimpse of a world from a hundred years ago. This is an enjoyable book, worth a read.
The Weight of Ink
by Rachel Kadish
Good story with mystery, and ancient transcripts to entertain. (2/13/2017)
The author succeeds in putting a human face on the fascinating cultural events of 17th century England and Europe. This entertaining story piqued my already active interest in ancient manuscripts, philosophy and the changing thought of this period of history. The story develops much like a British murder mystery with well developed surprises along the way. The answers to the mysteries are satisfyingly developed in a 21st century academic setting. Research in ancient manuscripts is closely related to genealogical research which has been a very interesting pastime for me.The juxtaposition of the two time periods emphasize the immense cultural shift in our world, something we can only try to imagine.
The book is ultimately about love, all kinds of love; romantic, fraternal, intellectual, paternal, carnal, but this is not a romance in any sense of the word. Many of the love connections are not fully developed, but they do add texture to the story.
This book was a fun read and a good story, maybe two stories. I recommend it to readers who are interested in the changes in culture and can be tantalized by discoveries by artifacts from the past.
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