The Woman Before Wallis: A Novel of Windsors, Vanderbilts, and Royal Scandal
by Bryn Turnbull
Life Among the Rich and Famous (7/28/2020)
"The Woman Before Wallis" is Thelma Morgan, Lady Furness who was the mistress to Edward Prince of Wales for four years. In the recount of her life, I was entertained by the lush descriptions of clothes, furniture, travels and houses of the British Royalty, aristocrats, and Vanderbilts. However, the huge cast of characters was daunting and the reader would need some prior knowledge to keep them straight. In addition, the frequent change of scene and time frame was often confusing. In spite of these drawbacks, I found it enjoyable since I had the seen BBC specials and the "Crown."
The Book of Summer
by Michelle Gable
Family Secrets (3/6/2017)
The Book of Summer was inspired by a newspaper article in which a venerable Nantucket summer mansion was reported to be in danger of falling into the Alantic due to erosion. It is an enjoyable read and those curious about Nantucket society, family secrets, and the homefront in WWII will be especially interested. There is a rather predictable romance but the characters are strongly drawn and in a novel that moves forward and back in time, this is a real strength. Unfortunately, I found the slang used by the characters to evoke pre-war conversation annoying and stilted. It's a page turner with surprises and plot twists right to the end.
Home Sweet Home
by April Smith
McCarthyism on the Prairie (1/23/2017)
The novel begins with a description of Rapid City, SD that did not match my memories and experiences of that city but moves on to describe the prairie perfectly. A complex plot that moves back and forth in time with several well drawn characters could be confusing but Smith navigates these changes adroitly. Her vibrant descriptions of emotions, landscapes, and events capture the lives and conflicts of a rural community engulfed in change ring true. Homesteading, politics, family life, and violent murders make for a heady mix that kept me interested to the last word.
The Secret Ingredient of Wishes
by Susan Bishop Crispell
Be Careful What You Wish For (7/30/2016)
This quick read is an entertaining love story that plays with the idea that a person can have the ability to grant wishes and this ability can have dark, unintended consequences. As improbable as this idea is in our modern world, Crispell manages to paint convincing characters and evoke a southern setting that feels real. A little escape from reality is healthy sometimes and this book is good medicine.
Fear of Dying
by Erica Jong
Sex at 60 (5/4/2015)
Fear fuels Erica Jong's latest book and sends Vanessa, her main character, spinning into several unpredictable situations. Jong ably expresses Vanessa's concerns and love for her dying parents and an aging husband. She is so convincing I sometimes thought I was reading a memoir, not fiction. However, Vanessa's fear drives her to seek sex outside her marriage as a way to dissolve her fear and this response seemed immature and unbelieveable.
I did appreciate reading an author whose character is closer to my age in a market where authors are often much younger and usually don't "get" older women. As expected, Jong includes a fair amount of sex but there is a balance of humor, insight, and good dialogue. This is a quick read and I would recommend it to people who have read "Fear of Flying."
Eighty Days: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland's History-Making Race Around the World
by Matthew Goodman
Bly and Bisland See the World (2/13/2013)
Goodman's "Eighty Days" is a thoroughly researched and well written account of two 19th century woman journalists who attempt to beat the fictional character created by Jules Verne who traveled around the world in 80 days. I enjoyed learning about these two plucky women who went against the conventions of the time. Goodman skillfully reveals the personalities of these two women who have very different approaches and reactions to the challenge. In addition, I enjoyed reading the detailed accounts of America at the end of the 19th century and traveling conditions around the world. Having said that, I think that Goodman got lost in too much detail at times like a student who has done an enormous amount of research and wants to include everything. History buffs, women, and arm chair travelers will enjoy this book. "Nothing Daunted" by Dorothy Wickenden is a similar and interesting read.
The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great
by Eva Stachniak
A matter of trust (1/19/2012)
The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak is an engrossing, well-written historical fiction about the Russian court of Empress Elizabeth during the 1700’s told from an interesting point of view. The narrator is the daughter of a bookbinder who is thrust into the court upon the death of her father when she is only a child. Bright, inquisitive, lonely and starved for attention Varvara is trained by Elizabeth’s Chancellor to become his spy. Her loyalties shift when Catherine, the German girl sent to Russia at 14 to marry the Empress’s nephew, forms a friendship with her. Intrigue, sex, gossip and luxuriant descriptions of the opulent court make this novel a delightful, realistic step back in time. I look forward to the next novel about Catherine the Great, The Empire of the Night. Those who have enjoyed Carr’s novels about the English Court will enjoy reading this as well.
The Sisters: A Novel
by Nancy Jensen
Sisters (9/6/2011)
Sisters graphically explores the disastrous effects of sexual abuse on the victim, Mabel, her sister, Bertie, and future generations of daughters. Half-truths, lies and thwarted dreams cripple these bitter, unhappy women. The chapters that alternate between characters and time periods are melodramatic, confusing, and superficial. Real insight into human nature sometimes shines through but not often enough to have this novel be a satisfying read.
The Language of Flowers: A Novel
by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
The Language of Flowers (6/22/2011)
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh is similar to Ellen Foster, Tending to Grace and White Oleander because the main character, Victoria, is an abandoned child with amazing resilience. A foster child from birth, she “doesn’t like to be touched” or to listen to people breathe. She runs into problems again and again with the foster care system and at 18 is released and branded a failure with “ no high school diploma, no motivation, no support network, and a complete lack of social skills.” The plot is anchored in gardening and the old Victorian meaning of various flowers. Ultimately, Victoria’s uncanny ability with plants is her salvation. The element of mystery and the possibility of Victoria finding a home and love make this well written novel a satisfying page-turner.
Outside Wonderland: A Novel
by Lorna Jane Cook
Outside Wonderland (2/23/2011)
"Outside Wonderland" is an enjoyable read. The three siblings left behind by their parents' untimely and sudden deaths are engaging characters who immediately caught my interest. I found myself engaged in their individual struggles to form meaningful relationships and find some happiness in a world they could not trust. The commentary of the mother who fleetingly observes her three children's progress from some other timeless place reminded me of the narrator of "Lovely Bones" who has also died and looks back on the living.
The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul: A Novel
by Deborah Rodriguez
Love in Kabul (10/25/2010)
Rodriguez’s first novel, A Cup O Friendship is a page-turner about love of family, country, tradition and romantic love. Author of the memoir The Kabul Beauty School, she lived in Afghanistan and her convincing descriptions of the colors, sounds, and smells of the streets of Kabul after Hamid Karzai is “elected” president show it. The wonderfully drawn women characters are struggling to find meaning in their lives or to survive in a society where rights for women are nearly non-existent and the punishment for challenging tradition is incredibly harsh. You will appreciate this novel if you found The Book Seller of Kabul or A Thousand Splendid Suns interesting or enjoy love stories. Although the dialog and circumstances seemed contrived sometimes, I would definitely recommend this book.
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