The Mystery Writer: A Novel
by Sulari Gentill
The Pen Is Mightier Than the Sword (1/14/2024)
Who doesn't secretly imagine what it would be like to become a famous writer? For Theodosia Benton, known as Theo, it's a dream come true when she leaves behind law school and a career as a lawyer. Traveling from Australia all the way to Lawrence, Kansas, to stay with her older brother Gus, Theo's desire to write takes her on an unexpected journey. Add Gus's good friend Mac Etheridge, who happens to be a private investigator whose family is preparing for Armageddon, and you have an entertaining cast of characters. When Theo befriends writer Dan Murdoch, she has no idea their relationship will entangle her in a wide web of intrigue, especially when she discovers his dead body and her brother becomes the prime suspect.
The fast-paced thriller keeps the reader engaged in the story, and the multiple characters create a fun mix of mystery and comedy. Gentill creates a world that is all too real and keeps us guessing who is responsible for Dan's murder and the subsequent trail of dead bodies. The Mystery Writer plays out so well in my mind that I could envision the plot unfolding on the movie screen, complete with eccentric characters and even more wild chase scenes. The novel cleverly explores how the author's pen can be mightier than any weapon. Reader beware!
Wild and Distant Seas: A Novel
by Tara Karr Roberts
Special Senses (11/2/2023)
Wild and Distant Seas reads like a fairy tale told through four generations of gifted women who can manipulate minds, envision the experiences of the people they touch, and retrace paths long gone. These "special senses" lead main characters Evangeline, Rachel, Mara, and Antonia to make decisions that take them onto unexpected journeys. The theme of motherhood is central to the story, as each young woman finds herself alone with a child to care for in extreme situations. The story's flow was slow in the beginning and gradually found its rhythm as we traveled from Nantucket, to Boston, Brazil, and Italy, before returning to the United States - Idaho and Nantucket. We come full circle as the quest to find a sailor named Ishmael becomes an obsession for each of these women. Tragic ends could have been avoided, but such is the nature of life.
Some characters are quite likable, such as Nat Sweet, whose surname is very appropriate, one of the few kind-hearted men in the book. Two of my favorite passages were the ones which extolled the virtues of libraries. For instance, "a person could get into all sorts of trouble in a library" (223) and "A library was a type of place where I would walk in with a wild story and walk out with something that would help me tell it better" (247).
The message of the novel is to learn how to live beyond a mother's knowing for it is inevitable that one's child will grow and drift beyond their reach. If we are lucky, they eventually will find their way back home.
The Wren, the Wren: A Novel
by Anne Enright
Love is a tide (8/27/2023)
The wren, the wren by Anne Enright slowly introduces the reader to middle-aged Carmel and her 22-year-old daughter Nell, both of whom are dealing with bouts of depression and loneliness that stem from the abandonment suffered by Carmel when her famous poet father, Phil McDaragh, left behind his family to focus on new adventures. Set in the city of Cork in Ireland, the novel features the points of view of mother and daughter with a brief chapter from Phil's perspective. Each alternate view is prefaced by a poem expressive of the tone of the novel, which is quite somber. The sense of loss is palpable and none of the characters experience healthy relationships, including Nell and her on-and-off again boyfriend Felim, and Phil's two daughters, Carmel and Imelda, who are at odds throughout the book. The third woman who rounds out the three generations is Terry, Carmel's mother. She is mentioned several times as having been recovering from breast cancer when her husband left her for another woman, although Terrys voice is seldom heard in the first person. She is often described as the love of Phil's life and the inspiration for one of his most famous poems. There are moments that are painful to read because they are intimate and upsetting. The need for genuine affection is a constant quest, and it is never clear if this goal is achieved. Just like life, there is no guarantee of a happy ending.
Banyan Moon: A Novel
by Thao Thai
Myth Meets Reality (6/2/2023)
Banyan Moon blends Magic Realism and folk tales with a contemporary setting linking three generations of Tran women to Banyan House, located by the Gulf of Mexico in Florida. Among the main characters are Ann, the youngest Tran member, Huong, Ann's mother, and Minh, the matriarch of the family. Each woman has fallen for the wrong person and found comfort in a dilapidated Southern Gothic mansion that becomes a character in its own right. The themes of motherhood, love, loss, and gratitude are featured throughout the novel as we watch the three women deal with heartache and adversity. All have in common the love of the Banyan moon, a symbol of beauty and purity which lightens their load. Although the novel proceeds slowly, it keeps the reader engaged as it switches among the three storylines. The descriptions of Vietnamese food and Hindu customs were among my favorite parts and allowed me to appreciate the richness of time-honored traditions.
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