Paris in Love: A Memoir
by Eloisa James
Paris in Love (3/11/2012)
The best part of this book for me was that it made me nostalgic for Paris, where I lived for a year following college. I loved reading about the places and customs and traditions and idiosyncrasies that we're such a joy to experience, when I was there. But beyond the personal memories, I enjoyed the book. The intimate nature of the writing makes the reader feel like they are part of the family - and in some ways the story could be a year in the life of the family in any city in the world. I liked the book, but I wished that it had been deliberately written as a memoir of her life in Paris, rather than a collection of extremely short missives. I would have preferred the story with slightly more real narrative. I don't think I will read it again, and I am not sure that it was memorable enough for me to recommend to anyone else.
Pearl of China: A Novel
by Anchee Min
Pearl of China (1/30/2010)
It is very difficult to write books putting actions and words into the mouths of actual historical figures. Few authors do it well. Pearl of China is an exception. Not only do the characters feel complete and real, but the author managed to transmit a feeling that it was a real memoir from a real woman who had actually known Pearl Buck. While Buck is certainly a pivotal character in the book, the real strength of the story is an exploration of the descent of China into Maoism and the persecution of dissenters. I did wonder, throughout, whether the narrator had been a real person, and how many of the actions and people she described were real - and whether this was more of a history couched in fiction than pure fiction. This uncertainty is the book's strength - although I wish that there were some note at the beginning or end to explain where fiction and history live in the story. Was there really a Willow? Not knowing much about Buck or China, I don't know. On the other hand, I am now inspired to find out - which may be the highest recommendation I can give.
Serena: A Novel
by Ron Rash
Into the woods (9/17/2009)
I had high expectations for the book based on the preliminary reviews I'd read, so perhaps it isn't surprising that I was disappointed, although I was glad to have read it in the end.
The story was weirdly Shakespearean, and there were enough references to old English that it was clear that this was intentional. Think one of the bloodier stories - Hamlet or Macbeth, maybe, without any of the wry humour that underlies those tragedies. It also had a touch of the Ancient Greek plays (especially with the use of the chorus) - Medea, maybe - without the character development.
The characters were unconvincing and un-nuanced, and many of the plot points felt forced or contrived. What made the story worthwhile, however, was the sub-story of the development of the National Park System, which is timely with the upcoming Ken Burns film on the subject, as well as the approaching NPS centennial in 2016. The presentation of the logging communities and the rape of the forests is in sharp contrast with the maneuvering land-grab that protected the lands into one of the most cherished parks in the system.
Flawed, but worthwhile.
The Secret Keeper
by Paul Harris
Much to think about (3/5/2009)
It has taken me a while to process this book enough to write my review - which is actually a really good sign for this book. It provides a lot to think about and a compelling view of a part of the world and a story which receives very little attention in American media. The book was a vehicle for an important story, and that message outweighs prose that is occasionally awkward with overplayed similes. The characters are richer and complex, and the morality of the situation and its resolution is left to the reader. I highly recommend this book.
Palace Circle
by Rebecca Dean
Palace Circle (1/14/2009)
In the note on the back of the review copy, the publisher promised fast-paced, expected plots, great characters and fabulous settings. The settings were good, but the rest was not as advertised. Within the first few pages, I knew enough to be able to predict the general scope of the story, and nothing ever came as a surprise. The characters seemed generic, and the plot never went into enough depth of any one experience to draw me in. It was difficult for me to hold attention through to the end. If you want to understand Egypt or England in this period, read Elizabeth Peters. This book left me wanting, not wanting more. I will studiously avoid the other books in the series by this author.
The White Mary: A Novel
by Kira Salak
White Mary (7/31/2008)
It is hardly worth mentioning that Kira Salek is a tremendous writer, and her knowledge of the worlds she speaks of is thorough and evocative. As an exploration of the trials of war-journalism, and a part of the world rarely visited by outsiders, this is well worth reading. As a novel, I found the characters self-indulgent in some cases, shallowly developed in others, and the conceit of the book - the main characters quest into the jungles of Papua New Guinea - never quite felt sufficient to the exercise: it was not a story needed to be told as much as the author had experiences she needed to share. Still, it was a fascinating ethnographic look at cultures I had never spent any time with (both the journalism and the PNG cultures), and I found the time spent in Salek's world well worth while.
Green Monster: A Sam Skarda Mystery
by Rick Shefchik
An entertaining yarn (7/4/2008)
One does not expect great literature in picking up a mystery novel. Rather, it is the expectation of interesting characters, suspense, grit, crime, and unexpected turns of events peppered with surprising glimpses of humor. Green Monster is not great literature, but as a mystery/intrigue novel, it is most satisfying. The characters were interesting and well drawn, the events seemed both possible and mostly unpredictable. And for those who, like me, have powerful feelings associated with baseball, the Red Sox, and specifically the 2004 team, it is a way to enter for a moment into a world we could only dream of. Good fun. A good read. I would enjoy reading others by the same author.
The House at Riverton: A Novel
by Kate Morton
Flawed, but evocative, beautiful and worth reading (5/7/2008)
The House at Riverton was evocatively written, and successfully captures the spirit of an age through the eyes of a woman in who, in her final days, relives them. The author creates vivid characters and tells a compelling story. Several compelling stories, actually: there is the story of Grace and her relationship with the daughters of the house; the story of Grace and her family; the story of the daughters of the house; all threaded around the larger theme of the changing British society in the aftermath of World War I. The author indulges in a frustrating habit of inserting unnecessary teasers of what the reader knows from the beginning is a tragic end, but this is a minor irritant in what is otherwise beautifully written. If there is a fundamental flaw to the story, it is that the author tries to accomplish too much, and makes a simple story more complicated than it needs to be through the addition of an unnecessary plot device. It may not have the timelessness of similar stories, such as Remains of the Day or Gosford Park, but it is a uniformly lovely read with occasional flashes of breathless beauty, and is more than definitely worth the time.
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