The Blind Contessa's New Machine: A Novel
by Carey Wallace
A tale of loss, both physical and emotional (6/1/2010)
The real premise of this romantic story is the fact that Carolina realizes she is going blind right before her wedding day and while most do not believe her, Turri does and creates a writing machine (typewriter) which leads to a hidden romance and a love triangle that lasts a lifetime.
I should begin by saying that I generally stay away from romances, unless there is some paranormal aspect present, but I really enjoyed this story. The romance, while ever-present, does not overpower the trials that Carolina faces at dealing with blindness. I think that losing my sight is my (and probably most readers') greatest fear and Ms. Wallace has Carolina face it with dignity and grace. I also love the idea that someone would create a way for his beloved to communicate when she no longer could write. Wallace also adds a depth to the characters which is not often seen in romance fair—there are undertones of deeper psychological torment throughout that made this a book I did not want to put down.
Dog Boy: A Novel
by Eva Hornung
A Boy Among Dogs (5/26/2010)
This tale of a boy raised by dogs follows the life of Romochka who at about six years of age leaves his home and follows a nursing mother dog back to her home. He is slowly accepted into the pack and lives a happy life for some time. However, after a few years he notices the mother dog "Mamochka" acting strangely towards him. She leaves the den only to return with a new human baby "puppy"!
The story is both charming and horrifying. Hornung delves into what make us "human" and winds up questioning, are we still not animals. I found the story riveting and although the ending was a bit abrupt, it is well worth the read.
