The Book That Matters Most: A Novel
by Ann Hood
A Little Disappointing (6/1/2016)
I was intrigued by the premise of this book and loved all the selections of the books that mattered most to each book club member. It was a great way to explore the story of Ava, struggling to come to terms with a divorce after 25 years of marriage and, as we discover, a tragedy from her place as well as trouble with her adult daughter. Though the story line was good, I was a bit disappointed. There were too many narrators and points of view. It made all the characters somewhat superficial. I wanted more depth about Ava and the other members of the book club. They were potentially so interesting, so it was a disappointment that were not well-developed enough. It was still a good read, but could have been better.
The Devil in Jerusalem
by Naomi Ragen
Devil in Jeusalem (7/5/2015)
I am a fan of Naomi Ragen and have read many of her books. Her themes are always thought-provoking. This book is no exception. However, it is disturbing to read and almost beyond understanding. The thought that a mother who clearly loves her children could fall so deeply under someone's influence, enough to let them be harmed, is very difficult to comprehend. Ragen does a good job of developing the characters, especially the mother, and it is a fascinating, albeit shocking, story.
The Art of Baking Blind
by Sarah Vaughan
All the right ingredients! (3/6/2015)
This is a thoroughly enjoyable read. It has all the right ingredients - a baking competition, enticing descriptions of delicious treats and an interesting group of characters, competing to be the next Mrs. Eaden, the author of the baker's bible, "The Art of Baking." I enjoyed the alternating sections from each character's point of view, especially those that go back in time to the original Mrs. Eaden. The heart of the book is the contrast between the perfect life Mrs. Eaden described through her recipes and the real struggles of the characters and how they are transformed by their love of baking. I would have liked to see the characters developed a little more. Although interesting, they sometimes read like a list of problems. Otherwise, a very good read.
The Same Sky
by Amanda Eyre Ward
Deeply Moving Story of Parallel Lives (10/22/2014)
I am a big fan of Amanda Eyre Ward's novels and looked forward to this latest book. I was not disappointed. As in her earlier novels, her characters are so well-developed and the story so compelling, it was impossible to put down once I started reading it.
This is the story of two parallel lives - Alice, a young woman struggling with infertility and her dream of being a mother, and Carla, an 11-year-old girl desperate to cross the border from Mexico to join her mother in America. Told in alternating narratives, their stories initially do not seem connected, although you suspect that their paths will cross at some point. As the book unfolds, the parallels become more evident, not in the events they experience, but in their journey of self-discovery. Both experience terrible loss. How they overcome and triumph over this is the heart of the novel. It is a hopeful and uplifting journey.
I also found the story of the young immigrant especially compelling. It put a human face on the recent stories of children crossing the border illegally - the desperation and brutality they experience. It reminds us that they are children who need our compassion and understanding.
Before the Poison
by Peter Robinson
Good, but not great (12/4/2011)
I am a big fan of Peter Robinson and his detective, Alan Banks, and look forward to his mysteries. I found this novel a little disappointing. It is a stand-alone novel about a man who moves to England and is pulled into a mystery involving a former resident of the house he purchases, who was hanged for murder. Unlike his other books, this had a very slow pace. It was also difficult to understand why finding out what happened was so compelling to the main character. While there were a few surprises in the end, they weren't enough to explain his obsessive interest. I did enjoy the character's interest and knowledge of music and movies. That is an enjoyable theme in his other mysteries, which was more developed here. All in all, good but not great.
A Trick of the Light: Armand Gamache Series #7
by Louise Penny
Returning to Three Pines (7/3/2011)
I was excited to read the latest installment in this mystery series featuring Chief Inspector Gamache - it felt like going back to a special place and catching up on the lives of the unique people who live there. The fact that it was a mystery was almost secondary to finding out what has happened in Three Pines since the last book in the series. In that regard, the book does not disappoint, although in the end it does raise more questions than answers, with uncertainty for several of the characters. The mystery itself was not as interesting as some of the earlier books, but still entertaining, although you begin to wonder how many people can be murdered in one small village!
The Kitchen Daughter: A Novel
by Jael McHenry
Interesting story, but too many unnecessary distractions. (4/10/2011)
This is an unusual novel with a unique narrator, a young woman with Asperger's syndrome, who is coming to terms with her parents' sudden deaths and her now uncertain future. She turns to cooking, which has been her way of connecting and, in her words, finding "normal." How she copes with the changes in her life would have been enough to make this a compelling, well-written novel. Unfortunately, the story takes on other directions - ghosts conjured by her cooking, family secrets and other tragedies - all of which diminish the story with unnecessary distractions. Too bad - it is well-written and would have been much better without these distractions.
The Tenth Song
by Naomi Ragen
Ends a little too neatly (10/13/2010)
Good book, interesting plot, well-written, but with an ending that is a little too pat. The book is about the impact that a very public scandal has on the members of a successful family. This is a great premise. It sets the stage for the characters to reflect on what brought them to this point in their lives and re-examine what is most important to them. The questions about religion and faith are especially compelling.
In the end, however, things are wrapped up a little too neatly, making the strong parts of the book - the characters' self-reflection - unconvincing. But it is a good read, well-written, with an interesting plot. It was also thought-provoking, especially the parts that deal with the community's response to the scandal.
The Widower's Tale: A Novel
by Julia Glass
A Wonderful Read (9/27/2010)
Julia Glass is back with a book as good as her first book, Three Junes. Her characters, the story line and her writing are thoughtful and engaging - you feel like you've become part of the story and are getting to know the characters as you would a new friend. More than anything, this book is about the potential for change, for discovering the capacity for growth and hope. Her last book was a disappointment. This is a return to what made her first two books so good - very human characters with the potential for grace. I recommend it highly.
The Nobodies Album
by Carolyn Parkhurst
So Much More Than a Good Mystery (5/31/2010)
I am a fan of Carolyn Parkhurst and enjoyed her two previous novels, but found The Nobodies Album exceptional. It really shows her growth as a writer. This novel has so many levels. It deals with relationships, especially between a parent and child. It examines how an individual can survive the most profound tragedy. It addresses the art of writing itself, exploring how much of the author's life becomes the narrative as well as questioning whether the narrative can rewrite life. Most of all, it is about forgiveness and redemption. The story within a story is unusual, but works well, especially in light of the theme of rewritten endings. I found this to be a meaningful and memorable book.
Holding My Breath: A Novel
by Sidura Ludwig
Holding My Breath (6/8/2008)
This is a remarkable coming-of-age story about a young girl growing up in a Jewish family in Canada during the 1950's and 1960's. It is very well-written, with interesting and believable characters. What resonated with me is how well it dealt with the conflicts in growing up during this time, especially the difference in expectations of the generation coming out of World War II and the next, growing up in the 60's. The development over the years in the relationship between the girl and her mother was very moving and very realistic. I look forward to reading future novels by this author.
The Palace of Illusions
by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Entertaining and Engaging (2/24/2008)
I am a fan of Divakaruni and have enjoyed her previous novels. This is a departure from her earlier writing. It is a retelling of the Mahabharat epic from the point of view of the women, primarily Princess Panchaali, born of fire and married to the five kings of India. While the characters do not have the same depth of development as those in her other novels, this is still an engrossing and engaging story. The writing is beautiful, especially the almost lyrical descriptions of the palace and gardens. I found the Indian mythology fascinating, with some parallels to Greek and Roman mythology but also very unique.The women's perspective makes the story even more engaging.
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