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Reviews by Mary S. (Pinson, AL)

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The Paris Wife: A Novel
by Paula McLain
The Paris Wife (12/2/2010)
I loved reading this novel about the courtship and marriage of Hemmingway to his first wife, Hadley, as told through Hadley’s eyes. Paris in the twenties was an exciting time and Ernest and Hadley’s literary friendships with Ezra Pound, Gertrude Stein and F. Scott Fitzgerald make this a very interesting story. My only knowledge of Hemmingway until now has been required reading; For Whom the Bell Tolls, The Sun Also Rises, and A Farewell to Arms, but after Paula McLain’s novel I want to read A Moveable Feast, Hemmingway's memoirs of this time.
The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives: A Novel
by Lola Shoneyin
Fascinating Story!! (6/12/2010)
I loved this novel and it was a fascinating look into the household hierarchy and the problems that come from a polygamous marriage arrangement. Each chapter is written from the point of view of each of the four wives of Baba Segi, a successful business man who is very proud of his large family. The story is set in Nigeria and as the author reveals the background of each wife, you come to realize how personal fears and a need for security led them to their current situation. Lola Shoneyin is an excellent storyteller and manages to hold the big secret of the wives until the end of the book. I highly recommend this novel.
The Scent of Rain and Lightning: A Novel
by Nancy Pickard
The Scent of Rain and Lightning (2/17/2010)
This was another great book by Nancy Pickard. I loved the character development and the way everyone seemed to be a suspect. I was truly surprised by the ending. I think this story would make an excellent book club selection.
Alice I Have Been
by Melanie Benjamin
Alice I Have Been (10/18/2009)
I absolutely loved Melanie Benjamin's book Alice I Have Been. I was hooked from the very first chapter and could not put it down. I did not know anything about Lewis Carroll (Rev. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) who wrote Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. This was truly an interesting story. Historical fiction based on true facts is one of my favorite genres. I will definitely be suggesting it to my book club.
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