Home by Nightfall: A Charles Lenox Mystery
by Charles Finch
Victorian Gentleman Sleuth (10/1/2015)
This is my first Charles Lenox mystery and I plan to read the series. In a way, it puts me in mind of Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series in that the setting, the characters, the writing bring a warmth and charm to the story without being cloying. Two mysteries running simultaneously works well and the plot moves along nicely. Twists and turns enhance the plot. I like the idea of a gentleman sleuth in the Victorian era. A good read.
The Secrets of Midwives
by Sally Hepworth
Light Read (1/3/2015)
This book, while entertaining, reads like a YA chick lit. The main characters were not always believable and needed more depth. The premise of the story was a good one and the information on midwifery was enlightening. This would probably be a good beach read.
The Paris Winter
by Imogen Robertson
The Paris Winter (7/6/2014)
As a reader of historical fiction I enjoyed the depiction of the great flood of Paris and the insight given into the underground society of that great city during the early 1900s. The first half of the book seemed to be written more for the young adult reader, and I did not find the characters particularly believable. I would consider it mediocre reading.
City of the Sun
by Juliana Maio
City of the Sun (1/28/2014)
The author introduces the reader to a segment of WWII that was unfamiliar to me. She is obviously extremely knowledgeable and passionate about Egypt and its peoples and the conflicting ideologies of the various factions, and the Jews of Egypt. While her basic premise and plot were intriguing, I found the development of her main characters a little weak--as if written for a younger audience. I was not as invested in the main couple as I would liked to have to been. Their relationship was a little forced unbelievable. The last quarter of the book was much more exciting, even though a little confusing with all the various characters. The book does, however, inspire an interest to learn more about the North African Theater of WWII.
Jacob's Oath
by Martin Fletcher
Jacob's Oath (9/18/2013)
Having read more than one book about the Holocaust, there are always similarities. What sets this book apart is the love story amid the ruins and destruction and more importantly the effort it took the main characters to maintain and/or regain their humanity amid all the inhumanity. I thought the characters were well developed and mostly--but not completely believable. Overall it was a good read.
This book would probably generate an interesting discussion in a book club, and I would recommend it for a book club selection.
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry: A Novel
by Rachel Joyce
Beautiful (7/17/2012)
This is a beautifully written book. Rachel Joyce expresses eloquently the hope and faith in life we all hold close inside. Harold and Maureen show us that who we are today is a result of the suppressed memories and grief and sorrow of our past as well as the small memories we've forgotten. This is a sweet, sweet story and I would highly recommend it to book clubs. I loved it.
Cloudland: A Crime Novel
by Joseph Olshan
Cloudland (4/2/2012)
The characters in this book come to life and become the reader's friends and neighbors. All of them, from Nan, the clairvoyant, to Hiram, the knacker, to Henrietta, Catherine's pet pig, are intriguing. The book rides on Olshan's descriptions of winter in Cloudland and the murders that occur and the personalities involved--a real page turner. I'll definitely read more of his books.
A Trick of the Light: Armand Gamache Series #7
by Louise Penny
A Trick of the Light (7/10/2011)
Louise Penny never fails to delight. Her charming characters become friends you would like to take home. She create pictures with words like an artist with brush and palette. I would highly recommend this book, as well as the rest of the Inspector Gamache series, to anyone who wants to lose herself in mystery, appealing characters and a clever but subtle plot.
The Map of True Places
by Brunonia Barry
The Map of True Places (4/28/2010)
Brunonia Barry's character development draws one immediately into the lives of the characters themselves. Her ability to navigate from present to past and back again seemss to flow neatly; fiction and fact and fantasy blend sometimes without the reader even realizing it. I loved all the allusions to Hawthorne and Melville and Old Salem. For all these reasons, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and am recommending it to my book club for this coming year.
The Things That Keep Us Here: A Novel
by Carla Buckley
The Things that Keep Us Here (12/5/2009)
The author presents a thought provoking picture of a real potential threat to families in today's world. While I found the character development a little weak (one dimensional) the intensity picked up about two-thirds through the novel. All the situations presented happening to one family may or may not be realistic but offer a synopsis of scary possibilities to think about. Definitely a good recommendation for book clubs as it will certainly generate lively discussion.
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