The Women with Silver Wings: The Inspiring True Story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II
by Katherine Sharp Landdeck
The Women with Silver Wings (1/1/2020)
"The Women with Silver Wings" is another story in the growing genre of books describing the often little known or little recognized contributions women have made in times of war or as a part of major initiatives, like the space program. Debut author, Katherine Sharp Landdeck, has spent over 20 years, involved with and researching the important role played by over 1100 women who were part of the WASPs (Women Airforce Service Pilots) during WWII. The book is really two stories woven into one. The first is the stories of the women themselves, their backgrounds, love for flying and the variety of the work they did with 77 different types of aircraft flying over 60 million miles. But, it was not without danger, as 38 of the female pilots did not survive the war. The second part describes the issues they had to overcome, the prejudices against them for being women in what was considered a "male-only" profession and the politics, both internal and by the Army and the US government. I found that the book grew more interesting to me as it progressed. While I had heard of the WASP program, the women fliers that were included in the book put real people to the WASP acronym and the over 30-year effort they endured after the war to finally gain the recognition and military status that was deserved. While there have been other books written about the WASPs, what sets this one apart has been the exhaustive effort by the author to meet and interview these women and become a trusted part of their WASP community. Highly recommended. Would also suggest readers visit the online WASP archives on the Texas Woman's University website. It is a treasure trove of information.
The Sun Down Motel
by Simone St. James
The Sun Down Motel (11/2/2019)
An interesting mystery with a supernatural element included. With chapters alternating between 1982 and 2017, the story revolves around The Sun Down Motel (definitely not a AAA rated facility!) as Carly seeks to find out what happened to her aunt, who disappeared from the motel in 1982. The two sets of stories converge at the end for a satisfactory resolution. The story is well-written, the pace is quick, characters are developed sufficiently and has a decent level of suspense. I will admit that I did stay up past 1 AM one evening to finish the book. Even if you are not into stories with paranormal effects, there is enough of a mystery to keep the interest of all readers. Overall, I would recommend the book.
D-Day Girls: The Spies Who Armed the Resistance, Sabotaged the Nazis, and Helped Win World War II
by Sarah Rose
A well-researched story (3/6/2019)
A very well-researched book by Sarah Rose about the women agents the British government sent to France (and to other European countries) during World War II to help setup, work with and support local Resistance groups and send vital information on the enemy back to Britain. While the story of the SOE (Secret Operations Executive) Office is likely well-known to those interested in WWII, it is probably less so in the US, especially the key roles the SOE agents played in the D-Day invasion. Sarah Rose takes the reader on the dangerous journey five of the female agents faced in enemy territory (about one-third of roughly 50 women agents did not return) and the hardships they endured both during the war and, for some survivors, adjusting back into society. The story is fast-paced, simply told and for a history enthusiast like myself, it added a new perspective about D-Day and events in France. I would recommend the book. A couple of comments outside of the book's story. I personally did not care for title "D-Day Girls", which to me, did not lend itself to the very serious story it is trying tell. For a fictional version of SOE activities (with some of the real personages from "D-Day Girls"), see Wilbur Smith's "Courtney's War" which was published last fall.
The Chalk Man
by C. J. Tudor
The Chalk Man (12/3/2017)
Alternating between 1986 and 2016, secrets and unintended consequences abound in this very well written first novel by CJ Tudor. Particularly notable is her ability to get into the minds of what twelve year olds are thinking (circa 1986) and her poignant descriptions of the ravages of dementia on individuals and families. Plot advances well in both time periods with a number of surprises along the way. Well developed characters and a satisfying read. Would recommend.
Home Sweet Home
by April Smith
Home Sweet Home (12/14/2016)
"Home Sweet Home" begins as if it is going to be a murder mystery as the story moves back and forth from the 1950s to a hospital in 1985. In the end, the mystery as to who brutally attacked Jo's brother and his family. is just a resulting outcome of the entire saga of the Kusek's family move from New York City to the open plains of South Dakota. The effect on people and industries (e.g., Hollywood) of the communism "Red Scare" in the early 1950's, led by Sen Joseph McCarthy, is generally well known. What the book dramatically brings to life is the impact of the "Red Scare" in a place like rural South Dakota, where liberal democrats and others were viewed suspiciously by their neighbors and it took years for trust in newcomers to be built up (and then broken in a moment's notice). April Smith's book describes the Kusek's family move and how they tried to fit in and grow over a 35 year period. The book is filled with vivid descriptions (e.g., sudden storms and wind that come out of nowhere) and good character development. It made for an interesting read, although sometimes the story moved a bit slow in spots for me.
Caught in the Revolution: Petrograd, Russia, 1917 - A World on the Edge
by Helen Rappaport
Caught in The Revolution -- You Are There (10/21/2016)
Author Helen Rappaport has done a prodigious amount of research on the start of the Russian Revolution in Petrograd (later called Leningrad) in 1917. She has culled through letters, diaries and other documents of more than 80 foreign eyewitnesses and has over 60 pages of notes and bibliography. While gathering the material is one thing, she succeeds in creating a cohesive story that keeps the reader's interest. Most people know the basic story of the Russian Revolution and the end of the Romanov family and are likely familiar with the American socialist, John Reed and his wife, Louise Bryant (see Warren Beatty's "Reds"), but there were many other foreigners who were in Russia at the time and the book covers their observations and perspective. Many were aristocrats representing their respective governments and tended to have a life style in Petrograd similar to that of the Czar, while others were reporters, writers, nurses and teachers who saw the rebellion grow among the citizens where lack of food and other necessities were common. Their stories are all woven together in a detailed, but very readable narrative. Sometimes you will have to refer back to the glossary of the eyewitnesses or the detailed city maps, but if you are interested in the start of the Russian Revolution from the foreigner perspective, this is the book for you.
Since She Went Away
by David Bell
Since She Went Away (6/12/2016)
While the plot for "Since She Went Away" held promise, I had to struggle to finish the novel. I found the first half of the book to be very slow moving and repetitious. There was much too much wordy introspective – I got the point (over and over) that Jenna felt responsible for the disappearance of Celia, when she was late in arriving to meet her. But, I had a hard time sympathizing with Jenna, in fact after a while, Jenna's tendency to seemingly attack people with pointed questions and her general attitude was too much. I also found it a bit of a stretch that this one disappearance would lead to perceived continuing national coverage by networks like CNN (but you never know). Second half of the book did pick up the pace and enough hints were dropped as to where the outcome was headed. I think, though, that with some judicious editing, 50 or more pages could have been deleted which would have made it a better read from my perspective.
The Midnight Watch: A Novel of the Titanic and the Californian
by David Dyer
The Midnight Watch (2/15/2016)
The fascination with the sinking of the Titanic has continued for over 100 years, including the mystery of the steamer, the SS Californian and what it observed and what it did or did not do on the night of the sinking. That debate has raged on even into the 1990s where another reappraisal of evidence was conducted by the British government.
Author David Dyer has done exhaustive research on this subject. Centering around a fictional news reporter and the real people involved in the tragedy, along with using the actual transcripts from the US and British inquiries, Dyer develops a very plausible narrative describing the events and possible reasons for the actions that took place. Particularly riveting is the account of the nine members of the Sage family who were third-class passengers onboard the Titanic. While some early parts of the book were a little slow for me, the story really takes off once the inquiry begins. I would recommend the book to a broader audience, more than just those interested in the Titanic.
Far From True: A Promise Falls Novel
by Linwood Barclay
Far From True (11/28/2015)
For a small (fictious) town in upstate New York, Promise Falls has quite a number of bad things going on. This is the second novel in a planned trilogy (started with "Broken Promise") by Barclay. While I had read a number of his stand-alone thrillers in the past, not having read "Broken Promise" did not detract from this novel - you can easily catch up on the previous story threads. Barclay knows how to build the suspense and action and I found the book difficult to put down. While there are major storylines that will continue in the third book, the primary story in "Far From True" does, for the most part, reach resolution. While character development is not the strongest point, the action more than compensates and keeps the pages moving. I enjoyed the book and would recommend.
The War Reporter
by Martin Fletcher
The War Reporter (8/10/2015)
Martin Fletcher, as a long-time correspondent for NBC News, understands what it is like to be a war reporter. He delves deeply into the mind of the major character, Tom Layne, as Tom tries to obtain THE story. Fletcher's descriptions of war-torn Sarajevo and the aftermath, twelve years later are especially riveting and in some cases, heartbreaking. So is the search for war criminal, Ratko Mladic (who, outside of the story thread, was ultimately captured). As the story progresses, the reader sometimes doesn't know what side some of the characters are really on which adds to the suspense. These action scenes and political intrigue reminded me favorably of recent novels by Owen Steinhauer. After a slow beginning, I did find the novel to be one where it was hard to put down. However, at the end, the rather long resolution of the love affair between Tom and Nina tended to leave me a bit flat.
All the Old Knives
by Olen Steinhauer
All the Old Knives (12/1/2014)
"All the Old Knives" by Olen Steinhauer is a very quick read. Steinhauer is a master of character development and the spy/agent genre. I enjoyed this novel much more than his last book, "The Cairo Affair". In "All the Old Knives" there are fewer characters and the storyline flows more evenly. He again separates sections of the book by main character name, but this time, there is a cleaner and less convoluted backstory than with "The Cairo Affair". While the outcome of the story may not be a surprise to some readers, the explanation of how the events came to pass are well constructed. Would recommend.
The Cairo Affair
by Olen Steinhauer
The Cairo Affair (12/17/2013)
I had read Olen Steinhauer's "The Tourist" which I enjoyed and so was interested in his latest novel. Overall, I thought the story was good. With most of the action taking place in Cairo right after the Arab Spring, it made the backdrop very current in scope. With the story being told by the different characters in their own "sections" of the book, there was some occasional repetition and the plot sometimes seemed to move forward a bit too slowly. But, the novel certainly did keep my interest all the way to the end. For me, it was not a quick read, rather it is a story that will make you think throughout.
Once We Were Brothers
by Ronald H. Balson
Once We Were Brothers (8/8/2013)
A very powerful story and one of the best books that I've read recently. It depicts the lives of people in Poland before WWII in such a tender and sincere way. You feel as though you are part of their experiences and the morbidity of the situation isn't spelled out in a gruesome manner. The characters are all very strong. Ben remains steadfast in what he believes he knows. Catherine is willing to sacrifice her career for what she believes is the ethical thing to do. Elliot feels that money can buy him everything and everyone. Supporting characters added emotional substance to the story. The book has already been picked as a selection for a number of reading groups and you can envision the story being made into a compelling movie. Strongly recommended.
How the Light Gets In: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel, #9
by Louise Penny
How the Light Gets In (7/12/2013)
Unlike most of the other reviewers, this is the first Louise Penny novel that I have read. Not that I haven't known about her Inspector Gamache series, but her books just had not made my reading list. So, I took the opportunity with "How The Light Gets In". I will say that I enjoyed it very much. The various mystery threads move at their own pace and are pleasantly not rushed or hurried. The writing is terrific. There is real character development and you can readily feel their emotions. And you can just picture and imagine the cold winter scenes outdoors (kids playing ice hockey, etc.) coupled with the holiday warmth of the people living in Three Pines. Would recommend this even as a stand-alone novel.
The Imposter Bride
by Nancy Richler
The Imposter Bride (12/6/2012)
A mother's instinct is to protect their child, not abandon them abruptly without a reason. The mystery behind this disappearance is the heart of the story and the driver in reading the book. You feel compelled to learn as much as possible about this mother from other characters in the storyline. The daughter, mother-in-law and adult friend provide tidbits of information throughout the story until near the end when a hidden identity situation is revealed and explained. Didn't know whether I would particularly enjoy this book at the outset, but it held my attention and I would recommend it, especially to book clubs.
Live by Night
by Dennis Lehane
Live By Night - An Absolutely Geat Read! (7/23/2012)
Let me say right at the outset, that Dennis Lehane's "Live by Nght" is one of the best books that I've read recently (and I read a good deal). The story will grab you right from the opening paragraph and will not let go until you finish. Lehane's writing transports you back to the sights, sounds and corruption of Boston during Prohibition in the 1920s and you can feel the humidity in the air when the story shifts to Florida. Lehane has done his research, fitting actual historical events and people into a well-crafted and written story that moves his principal character, Joe Coughlin, from small-time hood to big-time gangster. There is an impressive array of supporting cast, both male and female, and the novel does not lack for action. It's not too often that I read an ARC that I think is so good that it has sent me back to start reading the earlier story of the Coughlin family in "The Given Day" (2009).
15 Seconds
by Andrew Gross
An Exciting Thriller (5/20/2012)
Andrew Gross keeps getting better. After co-authoring 5 novels with James Patterson, this is his fifth novel as a solo writer and it’s a real page turner. Two fathers (one very successful, one deeply troubled) will do anything for their respective daughters and their lives become intertwined in a very frightening way. While the story lines intersect about mid-way through the book, the novel continues to be exciting right to the very end. As with some thrillers, there are a few occasions where you may have to suspend belief a bit, especially with some of the escapes, but overall, the book is a very satisfying read for thriller fans.
A Land More Kind Than Home: A Novel
by Wiley Cash
Excellent First Novel (3/13/2012)
For Wiley Cash's first novel to be compared to author John Hart is quite a compliment. Cash's descriptions of western North Carolina and his character development compare very favorably to Hart. On the surface, you would think that the story, being narrated by the three different characters, may cause it to be a bit uneven, but it does flow nicely. This should become a very popular book club selection in the coming months.
Arcadia: A Novel
by Lauren Groff
Arcadia (12/8/2011)
This book has received very positive pre-publication reviews (e.g., Publishers Weekly) and the subject (60s, etc.) was appealing to me. However, despite really trying, I personally couldn't get into the story nor did the characters particularly interest me. It was a tough read and not a book I would be inclined to recommend.
Defending Jacob: A Novel
by William Landay
Defending Jacob (10/18/2011)
A good legal thriller and very hard to put down, once you get involved in the story. Situation is a family and parent nightmare. There are parts of the story line that readers will see coming and not necessarily surprise them, but I found the last 20 pages to be an unexpected knockout. Recommended. Should do very well when released in January.
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