Niceville: A Novel
by Carsten Stroud
Niceville (6/10/2012)
A seemingly pleasant southern town is rocked by the mysterious disappearance of a child, his recovery and then a bank robbery and the murder of four policemen who are chasing the robbers. What starts out as a "cop" drama turns into a Southern Gothic tale, with mysterious disappearances and unearthly occurrences. I found much of it extremely confusing, as if the author wasn't sure which way he wanted his narrative to go. Only my obligation to review this book kept me going to the end. I felt something that I couldn't quite put my finger on missing in the narrative. I might recommend the book to a Stephen King fan, but found it less than I had expected.
The Darkening Field: A Novel
by William Ryan
The Darkening Field (11/14/2011)
A police detective from Moscow is sent to the Odessa area to investigate a suspicious death, and we are plunged into 1937 Communist U.S.S.R. I started reading with low expectations, and then the plot, the time in history and the frightening world the characters lived in grabbed me. The book was totally engrossing, and left me wanting to know more about the protagonist, Alexei Korolev. He is interested in doing the right thing, but also fears for his safety and that of his son in a world where intrigue is the norm. I will now go on to read the author's first book featuring this character. I recommend this book to all lovers of suspense.
The Things We Cherished: A Novel
by Pam Jenoff
The Things We Cherished (5/12/2011)
The story takes off from a pre-trial meeting of the protagonist and an elderly man who is accused of betraying his brother during the Holocaust. The brother had led a secret life rescuing Jews and sending them out of harm's way. Is he guilty or just the victim of his own innocence.
This is a good enough read, but doesn't offer us too much that's new in the way of a "Holocaust" story.
The most interesting part of this read is the conflict between brothers, different pairs at different times during from the early 20th century to the present. All in all, a good read, but not exceptional.
Outside Wonderland: A Novel
by Lorna Jane Cook
Outside Wonderland (2/6/2011)
Although the story kept me interested enough through to the end, and there were some very good lines here and there, I found "Outside Wonderland" rather predictable. The device of giving "the departed" a window into the living world is a delicate one, and this time the author lost me. The story of the three sibs who made their ways through life after the devastating deaths of their parents would have been interesting enough. At another time of year, I would call this a good "beach read".
The Discovery of Jeanne Baret: A Story of Science, the High Seas, and the First Woman to Circumnavigate the Globe
by Glynis Ridley
The discovery of Jeanne Baret (12/27/2010)
We are treated to the story of Jeanne Baret, a truly gifted herb woman, who assists a noted French botanist while gathering and naming plants during a round-the world trip during the mid 1700's. We are aware of the competition between nations and the deprivations suffered on the tiny ships that take these people on their voyage. I read the story eagerly and was saddened at the lack of knowledge of Jeanne's efforts. So much is supposed. My one complaint is some of the author's repetition. Other than that, I truly enjoyed reading about this remarkable woman.
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter: A Novel
by Tom Franklin
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter (9/28/2010)
The title puts us in the place. Who doesn't remember the way we were taught to spell Mississippi? The jacket then gives the reader an idea of what to expect, a mysterious disappearance and hidden secrets revealed. Immediately the reader is pulled into the story and learns about most of the events that transpired in 1970. When we are brought back to the town 20 years later, we do indeed start learning the secrets as they are revealed by the author bit by bit. After a young girl goes missing, everything changes for two young men. Their lives go in different directions until they meet again 20 years later.
That's all I will say about the plot. I know it's very little, but I would like other readers to discover the events the way I did, knowing very little. I love mysteries, and this is one of the best that I've read in a long time. Not only does the author peel away the layers of the story slowly, his characters develop very well. We learn in a very graphic way how events in our youth not only shape us but define the rest of our lives. The author, Tom Franklin, mentions Dennis Lehane in his acknowledgments. I can only say that whatever he learned from Lehane, he learned well. Franklin doesn't take a backseat to any mystery author. I'm on my way to the bookstore to choose one of his previous books....I loved it.
Pearl of China: A Novel
by Anchee Min
Pearl of China (2/7/2010)
The author imagines a friendship between a young, impoverished Chinese girl and the very young Pearl Buck. Their lives take them from the early 20th century through the Boxer Rebellion, the many changes in China and the Cultural Revolution. The real Pearl Buck grows up to be a distinguished author and Nobel Prize winner in Literature. The story is beautifully written, and the author gives us a marvelous picture of the times. I, for one, am planning to re-read "The Good Earth", Buck's masterpiece. I suggest that the reader do the same and, also, the author's memoir "Red Azalea", which tells the story of her youth in China during the Cultural Revolution.
Alice I Have Been
by Melanie Benjamin
Alice I Have Been (10/22/2009)
At the age of 80, the "real Alice" of Alice in Wonderland looks back on her life and the unusual friendship she shared with the author, Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll). She recounts their visits, his photographing her and his telling of stories to amuse her and her two sisters. Those stories become the world famous Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-glass.
Although this is a work of fiction, Melanie Benjamin has researched the times and the events extremely well. For those who love to "Google", it is a pleasure to find the story so close to the facts. What our author has done is flesh out the characters and give a fine insight into Victorian times and the manners of the upper middle-class.
On finishing the book, I immediately went to my book cases to find my old copy of Alice in Wonderland, hoping to find hidden messages about the very unusual friendship.
The Secret Keeper
by Paul Harris
The Secret Keeper (3/26/2009)
When a journalist returns to Sierra Leone to uncover the cause and reason for the mysterious death of his former lover, he runs into danger wherever he turns. The story leads us to all the answers, but not before taking us and our protagonist through many harrowing experiences. While this is a good, fast read and at times suspenseful, the flashbacks and twists get very confusing. I had to turn back a few times to determine what year the story was in. The author is also a journalist making me hope that his next attempt at fiction will be a little better.
The Air Between Us
by Deborah Johnson
the air between us (2/7/2009)
The era of integration and impending desegregation is the backdrop for an engrossing character driven story of the people of a small town in Mississippi. A mystery unfolds as the protaganists, a white doctor and a black doctor, face the problems and the questions that arise. The story grabbed me immediately and held my interest to the end. Most of the main characters are very fully drawn and the author truly gets the feel of a small southern town of the times. Besides being an excellent read, we are reminded that even though we've come a long way in race relations, we have not come far enough ... Read it!
Blacklight Blue: The Third Enzo Files
by Peter May
Blacklight Blue (9/6/2008)
Enzo MacLeod is a professor of forensics, helping a journalist to solve "cold cases". When he comes too close to a solution of a 20 year-old murder, he becomes the target and the chase is on. In the style of one of my favorite mystery writers, Harlan Coben, he keeps us guessing all the way through with twists and turns to keep us interested. Some of the characters were not fleshed out enough, but all in all, a good, not great read. I'm interested enough in this author to try some of his previous efforts.
Holding My Breath: A Novel
by Sidura Ludwig
Holding My Breath (5/26/2008)
By the time I reached the second chapter (yes, the first was a little slow, almost turned me off), I was caught up in the dynamics of this very engrossing family. The pull of tradition against the modern was by turns familiar and new to me. The setting, Winnipeg starting mid-1940's was a perfect setting to tell the story of a Jewish-Canadian family in transition. The narrator, who is the only daughter of the couple being married at the start of the book, looks at her family and the world around her as I might have, had I been as observant. Although it relates the happenings in a Jewish family, the story could have been about any ethnicity of the time....I highly recommend this book to all those who love family tales.
Heavenly Pleasures: A Corinna Chapman Mystery
by Kerry Greenwood
Heavenly Pleasures (3/31/2008)
Anytime a love of food and cooking is combined with a bit of mystery & danger, a good read is in store. I enjoyed Kerry Greenwood's very quirky characters although I did get a little confused occasionally by her slightly frenetic narrative. In the main, it was good and fast paced. I had no knowledge of this author, but will seek out more of her books.
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