Alfie and Me: What Owls Know, What Humans Believe
by Carl Safina
This Book is a Gem (9/12/2023)
I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful story about nature in general and specifically the rescue of an eastern screech owl named Alfie.
To follow Alfie's journey is to be privy to a part of nature few see up close. She blossoms from a near death bunch of ragged feathers to a magnificent representation of her species. Most incredible, without parents to teach her, we watch her instincts take over and she learns how to hunt, fend off predators, find a mate, select appropriate living quarters and raise beautiful babies.
Interspersed with Alfie's story, the author shares what he has learned over the years from interviewing members of indigenous tribes throughout the globe. Although these tribes have no contact, they all expressed the same beliefs. At their core they believe nature is to be respected and nurtured since every living thing is part of the great web of life. If you harm any part of nature, the damage will be felt around the globe. We would be well advised to listen to their message as the damage we have done to the planet becomes more apparent each day.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves beautiful nature stories. Alfie's journey is well worth a read.
Exiles: Aaron Falk Mystery #3
by Jane Harper
Slow Beginning but Good Plot (8/12/2022)
Exiles is the latest book by Australian author Jane Harper and the third in the Aaron Falk series. Once again, this author has created a solid mystery with an intriguing plot and a variety of twists and turns.
From the prologue we learn that a young mother has gone missing from the annual local festival and left behind her six-week old baby parked in her carriage. The infant is not noticed until the festival is closing at the end of the evening at which time the mom's disappearance is also discovered.
The book begins one year later where, in spite of the best efforts from local police and concerned friends, no trace of the mom has been found. This is followed by a very long, slow moving first half of the book. There are many conversations and a lot of over descriptions of scenery but very little action.
Just past the midpoint, the pace picks up--some viable suspects emerge and a second unsolved crime involving a fatal hit and run is given more attention. This section provides a much better sense of the characters' personalities and possible motives for the disappearance. The last fifty pages are a head spinning ride where both crimes are resolved.
I have long been a fan of Jane Harper and have read everything she has written. However, this one surprised me by the uncharacteristic uneven pacing of the story. That being said, I would still recommend the book because of the second half and stunning conclusions.
On a Night of a Thousand Stars
by Andrea Yaryura Clark
Vivid, Heartbreaking Fiction (2/10/2022)
Argentina in the 70's and 90's--these dual timeframes set the stage for this captivating historical novel. In the 70's portion the focus is on the "Dirty War," a brutal attempt by the government to suppress any criticism of its actions. During this period, citizens were "disappeared"--snatched from their homes, businesses or right off the streets in broad daylight. Although the exact number will never be known, it is estimated that between 9,000 and 30,000 were taken. The main character in this period is Santiago Larrea, a law student from a wealthy family. Although initially Santiago walks the middle road of Argentinian politics, as the Dirty War progresses, he uses his influence and resources to help his friends and the woman he loves.
In the 90's Argentina is more peaceful but it is still dangerous to ask too many questions about the past and the Abuelas de Plaza Mayo still march in the square asking the government for information about their missing children. At a cocktail party, Santiago's daughter Paloma overhears a conversation with someone from her father's past about his activities in the 70's. Since he's not forthcoming when she questions him, she decides t investigate on her own. The secrets she uncovers will change her life.
This novel has everything I love in a story--history, romance, friendships, bravery in fighting the forces of evil, and beautiful prose that brings the setting and characters to life,
Migrations: A Novel
by Charlotte McConaghy
Incredible! (4/15/2020)
In the not too distant future, all the wild animals are extinct, the oceans are overfished to depletion and only a few Arctic terns remain of the thousands of avian species that once flew in the skies over Planet Earth. This is the setting for Charlotte McConaghy's superb new novel Migrations.
We follow the main character, Franny Lynch, on her journey to track the last Arctic terns on their final migration. Franny is a memorable character--self-destructive and passionate with a genetic predisposition to wander. From the time she convinces a sea captain to use his fishing vessel to track the terns, Migrations quickly becomes a wild adventure story. Under that excitement, however, we hear the drumbeat of extinction--not only for the birds but for the entire planet and all its inhabitants.
This is a beautifully written novel. The author presents a clear vision of what we can expect when unlimited greed and total disregard for our universal interconnectedness are allowed free rein. Highly recommended.
The Sun Down Motel
by Simone St. James
Ready to be Scared? (11/10/2019)
I thoroughly enjoyed this atmospheric novel that is part ghost story and part murder mystery, Told in alternating chapters about two women, one in 1982 and the other in 2017, it is set in the fictional upstate New York town of Fell. At first glance, Fell appears to be a quiet place where very little happens. That is indeed the case except for the serial killer who claims a victim every two years or so and the ghosts who reside at the Sun Down Motel.
While the story revolves around the two main female characters, the motel becomes a character in its own right, adding tension and spookiness to the atmosphere. The author skillfully weaves the women's stories ever closer until they converge in a dramatic climax.
Good ghost stories are hard to find and this is the best one I have read in a long time. Highly recommended.
My Lovely Wife
by Samantha Downing
Wild Ride (10/12/2018)
This is a compelling psychological thriller about an upscale suburban couple who present an outward picture of family stability and normalcy. They are involved with their children's activities, spend family time together and socialize with their neighbors and friends. But all is not as it seems and this story shows that darkness can lurk in even the best neighborhoods and nicest families.
I don't think it's possible to give an overview of the novel without giving too much away but suffice it to say it is an engrossing read and a fresh take on the psychological thriller genre. There are twists and turns coming from all directions throughout the story but when I got to the last third of the book, I literally could not put it down. While I think the novel is well crafted, some parts are very disturbing. Not a read for the faint of heart.
Our House
by Louise Candlish
Loved It! (6/5/2018)
This excellent psychological thriller takes us into the lives of Fiona (Fi) and Abraham (Bram) Lawson and their two children. They seem to have an ideal life until their marriage is shattered due to Bram's latest infidelity. Although separated, they work out an arrangement for child custody with as little disruption as possible in their boys' lives. This works well for several months until Fi returns one day to find Bram has sold their home, removed all their belongings, canceled his cell phone and disappeared. How it got to this point is then revealed through Fi's story via a podcast called "The Victim" and Bram's through a Word document.
The alternating stories show us how little Fi knows about Bram's issues with anger management, his conviction for assault and his numerous speeding violations--resulting in losing his driver's license. While Bram is caught in a web of lies,Fi is also flawed in that she is too trusting and questions very little, even when Bram's excuses don't add up. Bram's deceptions have tragic consequences for himself and his entire family. In telling their story, Louise Candlish takes the reader on a wild ride of unexpected twists and turns, culminating in a stunning ending. She has woven a superb cautionary tale that brings to mind Sir Walter Scott's famous quote, "Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive."
The House of Broken Angels
by Luis Alberto Urrea
A Beautiful Immigrant Story (2/8/2018)
This well-crafted story of a Mexican American family centers around an eventful weekend. The de la Cruz family members travel from far and wide to attend 100-year-old America's funeral and the final birthday party for Big Angel, the dying patriarch of the clan.
Funerals and final birthdays inspire reflection, storytelling and connecting with others in special ways. Big Angel and other family members relate tales of how they came to America and developed into the clan they are today. Through the voices of several generations, we see how mores, character and ambitions have changed and evolved through the years. The weekend causes Big Angel to reflect on how he has lived his life. Some of this he does privately and some he shares with a select few. As family and friends speak at his birthday celebration, we see him from many different perspectives. Ultimately, we come to know and appreciate Big Angel as a complex, loving leader of a beautiful family.
Through this novel the author has brought us into the world of Mexican family life. The de la Cruzes are loud, passionate, bossy and loving. Above all, they know that family is everything.
Immigrant stories are particularly timely today. They remind us that no matter where we are from, we are all an important part of the mosaic that defines who we are as a nation.
The Days When Birds Come Back
by Deborah Reed
A Jewel of a Novel (11/6/2017)
This is a beautifully written book--exquisite in its sense of place and understanding of the flaws in human nature. Both the title and initial poetry reference refer to Emily Dickinson's poem "Indian Summer" which speaks of the birds coming back to "take a backward look." Indeed, this is exactly what the two main characters do to try to understand how they came to places of such sorrow and dysfunction in their present lives.
The author unfolds the novel by moving back and forth in time. As we get to know June and Jameson in the present, their backstories are released bit by bit until the reader is shown the entire picture. This is a tale about how people become broken and how they get through the arduous process of healing. It is one of the most beautifully crafted novels I have read in a long time.
Wonder Valley
by Ivy Pochoda
Superb! (7/11/2017)
From the first page of this wonderful new novel, Ivy Pochoda draws the reader into her world of contemporary Los Angeles and the area in the Mojave Desert known as Wonder Valley. While the characters are first introduced in a series of seemingly unrelated vignettes, as the book progresses, the author skillfully merges their stories to intersect and intertwine. This group is from the seamier side of life--living each day under the radar and just trying to survive. I came away with a sense of wonder at the skill it takes to exist on the streets or entirely off the grid and how people with no real home or emotional support find the strength to connect with others where they can and keep going. The author has created such vivid characters that I became immersed in their lives and hoped for better days to come for each of them. Some of their stories are poignant, some heartbreaking, and others uplifting. Each is memorable.
I think the best novelists bring us into the world of their story and keep up there so that we don't want the book to end but, when it does, the characters stay with us long after the last page is read. Wonder Valley had that effect on me.
The Stars Are Fire
by Anita Shreve
Bravo! (3/2/2017)
In October 1947 fires in Maine destroyed thousands of acres of forested lands, decimated a number of coastal towns, and left more than 2,500 people homeless. In her latest novel, Anita Shreve uses these real events to weave a powerful story of loss and self-discovery.
Grace Holland is a timid young wife and mother, existing in a marriage lacking in love and without any true communication or intimacy. Her joy comes from her two children and her neighbor Rosie.
As the fires bear down on their small town, Grace waits with the children while her husband goes off to fight the fires. Grace and her children survive the fire but their home is lost and her husband missing. In the ensuing months, Grace faces many adversities but emerges a strong, self-sufficient being, able to meet challenges head on.
I believe the author uses the fires as a metaphor for Grace's transformation. During the course of the story, we see her come through the fire, literally and figuratively. Just as the devastated land heals and starts to re-emerge the following spring, Grace does the same. In the hands of a gifted storyteller, Grace's journey to get to that place of healing makes for a superb novel.
The Half Wives
by Stacia Pelletier
A Treatise on Grief (1/9/2017)
This is a poignant, sometimes heartbreaking story which shows how loss and grief can create a rippling effect of destruction in the lives of those left behind.
The pervasive theme here is death in many forms--death of a child, a marriage, a long-term affair and of hopes and dreams. The backdrop for the story is a cemetery in San Francisco. It's a heavy theme but much of the writing is absolutely beautiful. The author shows us that grief can sometimes keep us stuck in the past--unable to move forward or even function effectively in the present.
My only criticisms are with some uneven pacing in relating the story and not enough character development with Henry and Lucy. I found Lucy, in particular, to be an enigma.
Those criticisms aside, I really enjoyed this book. It is heavy on sorrow but, for the most part, effective in execution of a very interesting story.
I See You
by Clare Mackintosh
Makes Me Glad I'm Not a Commuter on the London Underground (11/1/2016)
I thoroughly enjoyed this well-crafted psychological thriller that starts slowly and gains momentum as several women are murdered and/or raped in London. These cases seem unrelated until police discover they are linked via a website--FindtheOne.com. Ostensibly a "dating" website, when interested persons join, they are given not only a profile and photo of each woman but also the specific trains they take on their daily commute to and from work
The story is told in alternating chapters following each of the two main female characters--one is an intended victim and the other a detective working frantically to discover the mastermind behind the website.
The author creates well-developed characters and the plot is a different take on the usual stalker story. In particular, I like the way she creates diversions with several characters, making each one the possible mastermind. Many of the scenes, especially those in the London Underground, create an eerie and ominous atmosphere. An unexpected twist gives the ending a "wow!" factor. This one has stayed with me for days after I finished it. Great read.
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