Sold on a Monday
by Kristina McMorris
Thought Provoking on Multiple Layers (8/14/2018)
Desperate times spawn desperate acts in a variety of ways. "Sold on a Monday" by Kristina McMorris explores a single act and how it impacts various individuals and their related lives and secrets. A young reporter "creates" a photograph to replace one that was destroyed using different kids, a different location and includes a fleeting glimpse of their mother along with a "children for sale" sign taken in the early 1930s. When the image gets major exposure in multiple papers, the reporter's career takes off, however, there are negative consequences for the kids and their mom, as well as for the reporter. Ms. McMorris spins a story that is a quick read with several storylines wound together. Themes of secrets and truths abound in this quick moving novel and provide a satisfying read.
As Bright as Heaven
by Susan Meissner
An Engaging Read (10/13/2017)
Covering roughly 8 years, this engaging novel dips into World War I and the Spanish Flu of 1918 and the impact these major events have on one family. Written from the point of view of Paulina, the mother, and her three daughters, Evelyn, Maggie and Willa, the reader is given a diverse view. Each character has a distinct voice and provides a slightly different view of shared events. As in real life, there are ups and downs, and sorrows that tug at your heart. Truly a compelling read. A wonderful blend of historical fact and creative fiction, I recommend this book.
Mothers of Sparta: A Memoir in Pieces
by Dawn Davies
Memoir of Note (9/13/2017)
Great read! Writing style was captivating and drew me in to each chapter/story. Loved the way they held up as separate pieces, yet tied together to create an epic story. Couldn't put it down once I started. Dawn Davies has a gift for expressing herself. All the moments were drawn together to create something so much more. Would love to read more of this author.
The only downside was the chapter "Men I Would Have Slept With". I found it to be a waste of my time. Felt like it was not really part of the rest of the stories. Inserted for it's shock value? Just didn't work for me.
My Last Lament
by James William Brown
Greek Tragedy in Modern Times (3/20/2017)
I found this book to be well written and an interesting story. It covered a time in Greek history that I knew little about, and provided a personal view of life there during World War 2 and the immediate aftermath of the war. Using an elderly woman and the tale of her younger life as told by her was done well. Not totally a true "lament" as she performed for others that died, but one of her own life and story.
The juxtaposition of real life against the stories of the shadow puppets was interesting. It help support the underlying storyline that our lives are dictated by random things and could be very different if just one thing were to happen or not happen. It also played on the well known Greek theatre elements and literature to make the universality solid. The book is full of heroes, villains, and innocents, just as life is full of them. And true to life, there were many interwoven character stories that impacted each other.
Overall, a worthwhile read on many levels.
The Typewriter's Tale
by Michiel Heyns
A Return to Literary Writing (1/2/2017)
After a slight need to adjust to the flowing language of this novel, I fell into it completely. In fact, it was a joy to re-engage with literary writing. Given the short, abbreviated writing of the current day (texts, emails, etc.) it was a wonderful experience to submerge into unique words, crafted sentences and expressive paragraphs. The premise of looking into the lives of Henry James, Edith Wharton, and Morton Fullerton (to name but a few) through the eyes and mind of Frieda Wroth, James' typist, was an interesting angle. Not only did I experience these notable lives, but was given the chance to experience the life of a working woman of the era. Overall I enjoyed the book. It moved at a good pace and kept me engaged. I would recommend this book.
Edgar and Lucy
by Victor Lodato
Well Worth the Read (11/21/2016)
At first, I wondered how I was going to fit in a book of 500 pages and be able to stay with it to the end. Much to my delight, this book compelled me to keep reading and the pages flew by quickly. I loved the short chapters which allowed me to get quick reads tucked into my day and still maintain my concentration on the book.
The multiple characters, and thus multiple narratives, was a treat. It really allowed me to get to know each of these diverse characters and to see their connections, their differences and their similarities. The book presents multiple views of deep topics such as death, grief, depression, love, loss, family and abduction. I felt I was living the experiences right along with the characters.
I highly recommend this book, even given its length. Well worth the read.
The Next
by Stephanie Gangi
Mixed Feelings About This Book (7/15/2016)
Finished this book about 1 week ago and felt I needed to let it sink in a bit before writing this review. My mixed feelings right at completion did resolve a bit over time.
I was fascinated by the basic storyline - someone coming back as a ghost. The turmoil of the main character's (Joanna) last year of life helped provide the reason for her inability to die peacefully and instead remain here as a ghost was plausible. I really liked the chapters that were dedicated to her "haunting" episodes and the descriptions of herself as a ghost.
I liked the alternating voices in the chapters between Joanna, her daughters, her ex lover, and her ex husband to provide a full view of the events. It really allowed me to get to know them, like or dislike them based on their actions and thoughts, yet it also kept the storyline moving and plausible. I especially loved the role of Tom the dog.
Unfortunately, at times I found it a bit hard to stay focused on this book. Not sure what exactly caused that. But, overall I enjoyed this book and it did make me think. Worth reading, especially if you have any belief of life after death.
The Secret Language of Stones: A Daughters of La Lune Novel
by M. J. Rose
Mystical Meets Historical Fiction (4/4/2016)
An enjoyable mix of historical fiction, mysticism, art, jewelry making and relationships. The main character, Opaline, was believable and tied together these elements as she interacted with family, friends, clients and the men in her life. I was able to imagine her and the rest of the characters quite well. I also was able to feel myself in the locations through the author's descriptions.
The glimpse into life in Paris during the war in the early 1900 hundreds was well done. The author showed that everyday life still continued in spite of the impacts from the war. Although everything was changed, everything remained the same with day to day routines. I felt I was there. I could see and feel the city and the people. Well crafted descriptions.
The added twist of the mystical element was well done and believable. It added another layer to the story, making this more than just historical fiction. And given the Paris location with the added influence from Imperial Russia, it was just right. Stones and crystals do provide unique energies to the world. The use of them as jewels and as mystical talismans was fascinating. Using them as a linking element in the book worked well to support the storyline.
Overall, an enjoyable book. Not literary fiction, but solid fiction with a touch of history and romance.
Shelter
by Jung Yun
Highly Recommend (12/2/2015)
A book I was engrossed in from the start. The shocking tragedy happens within the first pages and the reader is then drawn into the deeper levels of the story. The characters were developed enough to allow me to like some, dislike others, yet see them all as real. The basic theme of parents and children and what each "owes" to the other is examined and then stretched almost to the breaking point. Deeply felt and hidden emotions are ripped from their hiding places and exposed. At times my own deep feelings about relationships were scratched and made to bleed a bit while reading - I could feel the pain of the characters. Reads easily, yet the subject matter keeps the depth of serious fiction. Well worth the time to read. My only criticism would be the final pages - not sure it felt to be enough of an ending for the depth of the story. A "should read" for its writing, storyline and characters.
Maybe in Another Life
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
What If You Made The Other Choice... (5/27/2015)
This was an easy read with an interesting premise - there are options to life based on our decisions. I've often thought I would like to know what might have happened in my own life if I had made "the other choice".
I liked the structure of moving back and forth between the two "options" of Hannah's life. Both paths were realistic. Similarities were maintained with enough differences to keep it interesting. Some threads maintained between each "life" to imply that even with different choices, some elements of our life could stay stable.
The characters were developed enough without overwhelming detail to bog down the story lines. There were characters one can like and those not so much.
A good summer book.
The Silver Witch
by Paula Brackston
Mix of History & Mystical (2/14/2015)
Enjoyed reading this book. I liked the switch between narrators (Seren and Tilda) along with the switch back and forth between the past and present. The author did a good job of linking the two main characters across their different times and telling each story. A piece of Welsh history tied to present day along with some mystical and magical elements. Kept me interested and reading. More of a light read rather than serious fiction, but enjoyable nonetheless.
The Secrets of Midwives
by Sally Hepworth
Multiple Secrets Reveal Multiple Links (12/7/2014)
This was a quick read. Enjoyed the three person narration style which changed from chapter to chapter. Each main character had a different personality and approached similar topics with a different viewpoint. I did think the storyline was a bit predictable, but it flowed. If you are looking for a light, quick read this is a good choice.
A Paris Apartment
by Michelle Gable
Blending Real Life and Fiction (4/17/2014)
i was fascinated by the premise of this book - a Paris apartment found that had been abandoned over 40 years previously. I recalled a recent news story about the same and discovered that this book was, indeed, based on fact.
Michelle Gable does a wonderful job of taking those facts and weaving them into two fictional stories - one focusing on April Vogt and taking place in present day and the other spinning the tale of Marthe, the original owner of the apartment. She creatively moves back and forth between the stories and time periods while linking the two women in many ways.
This is an engaging read and keeps the reading turning the pages. The time spent in the past - the Belle Époque - was some of the most fascinating time spent. One can hear the sounds and smell the smells of the Paris of the time. Recommend this for a brief escape into two other fascinating lives.
The Last Enchantments
by Charles Finch
The Last Enchantments - Generated Mixed Feelings (12/16/2013)
I found The Last Enchantments to be an interesting book, both liking and disliking elements. Overall, I would rate it 4 out of 5. The book did keep me interested enough in the characters to keep reading until the end, even when I found them shallow at times. I believe the shallowness was more the characters' behaviors, not the writing or the character development. Personally, I had a hard time identifying with the lack of responsibility of most of the characters. I found the consistent bending of the truth a bit unsettling.
During the year that the book covers, it focuses on a group of grad students at Oxford. The diversity of the group was well done and gave some perspectives from several backgrounds. The main character was from America and since the narrative was from his perspective it was often colored by that. In addition, the main character had a leaning towards political work, and therefore was colored by his political beliefs. I felt these sometimes got in the way of the story and became more of a political statement than necessary.
Overall, an interesting read and I generally liked the writing.
Palisades Park
by Alan Brennert
Nice History of Palisades Park in a Fictional Mode (3/8/2013)
Overall the book was an easy read. Characters were believable, but not developed very deeply. Historical information delivered throughout the fictional story was interesting and provided a good picture of the park through the years. At times I felt that the author jumped around a bit just to get various topics covered throughout the history of the park. Not sure the book needed to be the length it was - might have been better shorter and more focused. Enjoyed the book, but not one I would necessarily recommend to anyone unless they were looking for a light read and they were interested in historical fiction.
All You Could Ask For
by Mike Greenberg
Conflicted on this Book (12/4/2012)
I finished this book quickly, put off writing the review because I ended up feeling conflicted about it.
The book started off well in Part 1 and I did like the chapter by chapter switch between the main characters that set the stage for each of their lives. Each woman was very different from the others, so I was anxious to learn what would bring them together.
Part 2 was kind of a let down, as once it started, I felt myself saying "so this is where this book is going." Without giving away the story line, I was disappointed by the author's choice of the "shared issue." It seemed too contrived.
I felt there was not enough depth to the 3 main characters from that point onward and their responses to their shared issue were a bit predictable. I also had a hard time believing it all happened in what seems to be about a 6 month time frame. And the "instant friendship" between 2 of the women was just a little hard for me to believe.
The book ties up all the loose ends and although not a happily ever after tale, given the topic, the book wrapped up too smoothly for my tastes.
The Bloodletter's Daughter: A Novel of Old Bohemia
by Linda Lafferty
Bohemian History and Legend All Together (9/28/2012)
I selected this book since my heritage is Bohemian and I was drawn to the potential of learning some history of my ancestors. Although a bit of a slow start, within the first 100 pages I was drawn into the story and the characters and found it hard to put the book down. I really enjoyed the short chapters, as I usually end up reading in bits. It was easy to pick the story back up each time. Loved the way the author took liberty and expanded the interest of the main character, Marketa to include her attraction to medicine and healing, even though that was beyond the reach of women of the time. A good book for those who like historical fiction. Don't be put off by the length - a fast read.
