As Bright as Heaven
by Susan Meissner
"Full Circle" (10/8/2017)
"As Bright as Heaven" was interesting on many levels. The story takes place in Philadelphia prior to, during and after WWI. Many challenges confront the Bright family-including their move to a new city, life in a funeral home, the death of family members and friends, the effect of WWI and the dramatic impact of the Spanish flu epidemic. Secrets play an important role in the story-everyone seems to have one. There are a couple of plot twists which were not especially surprising but welcome. The characters are well developed-especially the female ones. I liked the way the author alternated the narrative from one family member to another-each with their own perception of the same events occurring around them. The reader will get a sense of some of the societal changes that confront the daughters in this family. This was my first time reading something by this author and I definitely would read more of Susan Meissner's work.
Love and Other Consolation Prizes: A Novel
by Jamie Ford
"Bitter-Sweet" (7/12/2017)
Set against the backdrop of the 1909 Seattle World's Fair, Jamie Ford has given us a story beginning with the ocean transport of young children from China. The author alternates between the coming of age of three of those children and their present day lives fifty years later. The book provides a colorful look at the "Old Seattle" ranging from the raffling off of children at the Fair to fancy bordellos to the local Suffragist movement. The main characters are well developed as are many of the secondary characters. The Fairs - both 1909 and 1962 - figure prominently in the story. I would recommend this book as a book group selection as the discussion.
The Tea Planter's Wife
by Dinah Jefferies
Good summer read! (7/4/2016)
Set in the early 1900s, this book provides a bit of everything needed for a "summer read." There are complex relationships between men and women, lush settings, mysteries and an interesting historical backdrop. The main character - Gwen - is brought to a tea plantation in colonial Ceylon by her older husband. Young and newly married, this English woman must learn how to manage her husband and her native house staff as well as how to navigate the "local society." Compassionate and naïve, she makes mistakes that result in unforeseen consequences. Everyone seems to be keeping secrets that are revealed as the story evolves. The writing keeps the story moving and provides vivid descriptions of the country and the people. The mysteries and "twists" keep it interesting. Would be interesting book group selection.
Miss Jane
by Brad Watson
"I am strange." (4/5/2016)
What a touching way to handle what could have been a "freak show!" The novel follows Jane and her family who live in rural Mississippi during the Depression. Jane is born with a rare genital anomaly which affects her and her family in different ways. After delivering Jane, the local country doctor befriends her and her family. While he recognizes that she is a medical rarity, he doesn't lose sight of her humanity. Over time, he tries to give her the information she seeks and needs in order to manage both her emotional and physical challenges. The author has created interesting and multi-dimensional characters in Jane's parents, sister and the doctor. Even the minor characters are interesting and add to the texture of the story.
I would recommend this book and think it would be a great book group selection!
The Alaskan Laundry
by Brendan Jones
"Cold Hands-Warm Hearts" (2/2/2016)
The Alaskan Laundry is a wonderful read. Read it while sipping a hot drink! The story takes place in Alaska and the author makes you feel as if you are there sharing the cold, fatigue, and fear with the lead character Tara. Tara is a young woman who has run away to Alaska after the death of her mother. She leaves behind a troubled father and a doting but immature boyfriend. In Alaska, Tara meets the many challenges of surviving in a strange and roughneck world. She falls in love with an old boat and works at several risky jobs to make money to buy it. Along the way, she meets many types of characters - both male and female - each of whom has their own reason for being in Alaska. Like Tara, these characters are interestingly complicated. While you suspect how things are going to eventually turn out, there are a few twists and turns that keep this book from being too predictable. Would be a good book group selection. I highly recommend it!
Shelter
by Jung Yun
Compelling Read! (12/3/2015)
This first book makes for a compelling and memorable read. The author humanizes the members of this multi-generational Korean family as they experience a horrific event. The characters are well developed - complicated, sympathetic and hateful - all at once. I found myself thinking about the book long after I put it down. The subject matter - a home invasion and assault - is difficult to read about but rings true. It makes you think about how challenging it would be for anyone (and their families) to get past such an experience and continue on to live a positive and productive life. This would make a good book group selection.
The Devil in Jerusalem
by Naomi Ragen
"Evil comes in all forms!" (7/16/2015)
I took this book on a two week trip-expecting it to last the entire time. Once I started, I couldn't put it down and finished it long before my trip ended. The combination of the city of Jerusalem and a religious cult wasn't unfamiliar but this book caught me by surprise with its twists and turns. The characters are complex-becoming more so by the end of the story. I found myself changing opinions about each of them several times during the course of the book. The ending will take your breath away! Great read that will stick in your mind long after you have finished the book
A Passion for Paris: Romanticism and Romance in the City of Light
by David Downie
"A look back at Romantic Paris" (4/22/2015)
This book was a graduate course in the Romantic fine arts! I thought that I was fairly well read and familiar with the well known authors and artists discussed in this book -but I soon discovered the many gaps in my own education. I especially enjoyed reading about how the paths of many of these people crossed and about their relationships with each other. The writer makes everyone "come to life" with poetic physical descriptions and the inclusion of some of the details of their everyday routines. The reader can visualize the individuals in their particular surroundings. The details of the streets, parks and buildings made me want to book a plane ticket to Paris. My favorite section describes the author's observing Foucault's pendulum and viewing it as the "world spinning around Paris for eternity." The pictures were interesting and a nice touch. The only suggestion I have is that some type of a city map or grid would have been helpful. Great read!
Whispering Shadows
by Jan-Philipp Sendker
Exotic and captivating! (1/6/2015)
The time reading the "Whispering Shadows" was time well spent! The story is based in Hong Kong and China and is relevant, timely and believable. The writing is beautiful with the author describing both the significant and the mundane equally well. I appreciated that the characters are complex and engaging. I would highly recommend this book for the thoughtful reader. Would make a good book group selection.
Backyard
by Norman Draper
For the armchair gardner (11/3/2014)
While not my usual reading fare, Backyard did provide many lighthearted and some real "laugh out loud" moments. Characters were familiar and interesting-especially if you have acquaintances who are crazy about gardening. I particularly enjoyed reading about the MANY cocktail hours spent in the Backyard. Descriptions of the various gardens and backyards were pleasant and made visualizing the settings easier. As a casual armchair gardener I was very glad not to be participating in this dirty competition!
Juliet's Nurse
by Lois Leveen
Interesting back story of a classic tale. (7/22/2014)
As a lover of Shakespeare, and as a medical person, I found this book very interesting. The author includes a lot of details about "the plague" and some of the medical treatments of the day. I particularly liked the way that various motifs were woven throughout the story - for example the beekeeping. Characters were well developed and believable. No one is as they initially seem. The various "secrets" and plot twists were welcome. As a member of a bookgroup - I would suggest this book - the discussion would be fun.
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