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CONNIE'S 50 BOOKS READ IN 2018
JANUARY1.
by
Tennessee WilliamsFinish date: January 2018
Genre: Play, drama
Rating: C+
Review: T. Lawrence Shannon arrives at a second-rate hotel on the west coast of Mexico with a tour bus of American schoolteachers. Before he became a tour guide, Shannon was a defrocked minister who got into trouble after sex with a young woman and preaching heresy. He's on the verge of a breakdown, and wants to talk with his friend who runs the hotel. His friend's wife, Maxine, notifies Shannon that her husband recently died and she seems determined to have Shannon take his place. Hannah Jelkes, a serene impoverished artist, arrives with her poet grandfather a few minutes later.
The play centers on Shannon who will soon lose his job as a tour guide. He is tormented by his failures in life and is thinking of "swimming all the way to China", but Hannah is a calming influence. Like the iguana tied up under the verandah by the Mexican workers at the hotel, Shannon is at the end of his rope. Themes of mental illness, loneliness, sexual problems, and despair run through the play. Shannon also questions the nature of God. But there is also a glimmer of hope for the three main characters, each of whom is facing a challenging time.
"The Night of the Iguana" is the sixth play I have read by the talented Tennessee Williams, but this one was my least favorite. It took me a while to get into "The Night of the Iguana", but the last half was wonderful, highlighted by the well-written conversation between Shannon and Hannah.
Mod
2.
by
Dominic SmithFinish date: January 2018
Genre: Historical fiction, Art
Rating: A
Review: The Last Painting of Sara de Vos was such an enjoyable book that I just put it on my favorites shelf. A fictional 17th Century Dutch painting, "At the Edge of a Wood", links together the three parts of the story. Artist Sara de Vos painted it in memory of her daughter who died in the plague.
Marty de Groot, a New York lawyer, had inherited the painting that his ancestors had bought in the Netherlands. In 1957 he notices that the frame of the painting looks different, and realizes that the original painting has been replaced by a forgery. Ellie Shipley, a struggling art student, had made the copy. One of the most fascinating parts of the book was the description of how Ellie, an expert in restoration and conservation, created a forgery so it would appear to be a 17th Century painting. In 2000 in Australia, Ellie, Marty, and the painting come together again when Ellie helps curate an exhibition of female Dutch painters.
There are lots of unexpected twists and turns to this story. Emotional situations are described with sensitivity. The challenges of being a woman in the male-dominated art world is also evident. The book has interesting flawed characters who were caught up in difficult situations. I was impressed with Dominic Smith's writing, and hope to read another of his novels.
3.
by
Matthew DicksFinish date: January 2018
Genre: Contemporary fiction, crime, humor
Rating: B
Review: Martin was put out of his mother's and stepfather's Connecticut home when he turned 18. He tried to support himself with a job at Starbucks while taking courses at a community college, but sometimes there would be no food on his shelves. That's when he started his other "job", entering people's houses when they were gone and taking items that would not be noticed. Martin has OCD tendencies and is very meticulous in his planning, leaving no evidence behind.
After stealing from the same homeowners for years, Martin feels like he knows them since he reads their mail and invitations to find out when they will be leaving the house empty. He starts getting involved in their lives, preventing bad things from happening to his "clients". Martin goes from an existence where everything is orderly and predictable to one with more diverse experiences. There might even be room for love in his life.
The book starts out slowly since Marin is doing everything in such an OCD manner. But the pace quickens and more humorous situations arise as the book continues. Martin is a thief, but he's also a man with a good heart.
Author Matthew Dicks, who is also a personable storyteller and elementary school teacher, writes with humor and understanding of the challenges that many face in life. I used to work in the town where this story is set, so it was fun recognizing the landmarks included in the story.
4.
by
Paulette JilesFinish date: January 2018
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: A
Review: "News of the World" is a heartwarming work of historical fiction full of adventure. During the Reconstruction era after the American Civil War, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd worked by giving readings of news from around the world. He was traveling through northern Texas where newspapers were few, and many people were illiterate. His readings were a fascinating look at the important news of 1870.
The Captain was asked if he would transport a ten-year-old orphan girl to her relatives near San Antonio in southern Texas in exchange for payment of a fifty-dollar gold piece. Johanna had been captured by Kiowas after they murdered her parents and sister. A Kiowa family raised Johanna in the ways of a Native American girl. An Army raid rescued Johanna from captivity, but she no longer remembered the ways of the white settlers or their languages.
It was a dangerous journey through lawless Texas territory. The unhappy Johanna slowly bonds with the Captain as they work together to evade outlaws and other trouble. Her affection and trust are evident when she bestows the name Kontah (meaning grandfather) on the Captain.
My heart went out to Johanna who had been taken from her home twice--first from her natural parents, and then from her Native American family. The kind and honorable Captain was a well-drawn character with an inner strength. I was sorry to leave them both at the end of the book. I enjoyed the beautiful writing of Pauline Jiles who started her writing career as a poet.
5.
by
Eve ChaseFinish date: January 2018
Genre: Fiction, Gothic
Rating: B
Review: I love turning to an atmospheric Gothic tale when I'm looking for a relaxing book. "Black Rabbit Hall" is set in an old Cornish mansion which is holding the dark secrets of a family close. The Alton family was ending a perfect summer vacation at their country home when their lives were ripped apart by a freak accident.
More than thirty years later, Lorna is looking for a venue for her wedding to Jon. When she sees Black Rabbit Hall, memories of her childhood are stirred up. Lorna is drawn to the estate, but Jon thinks the mansion is too run down for a wedding. As Lorna learns more about the Alton family, she finds connections with her own history.
The book alternates between Lorna's contemporary story, and teenager Amber Alton's story set around 1969-70. Suspense and danger build up at Black Rabbit Hall which has a personality of its own. The book has interesting characters, including twins who can almost read each other's minds, who are trying to adjust to emotionally confusing situations.
6.
by
J.D. VanceFinish date: January 2018
Genre: Memoir
Rating: B
Review: J. D. Vance has written a book that is both memoir, and a reflection about the plight of the white Protestant working-class of Scots-Irish in the Greater Appalachian region. "To these folks, poverty is the family tradition--their ancestors were day laborers in the Southern slave economy, sharecroppers after that, coal miners after that, and machinists and millworkers during more recent times. Americans call them hillbillies, rednecks, or white trash. I call them neighbors, friends, and family."
His grandparents came from Jackson, Kentucky soon after the end of World War II to settle in Middletown, Ohio. They were part of a large group from Kentucky that obtained jobs at the Armco steel mill. These were tough, physical jobs where the workers needed little education. The jobs paid well, but Armco closed when Vance was a child.
Vance's mother grew up in a home where her father drank, and there was lots of verbal abuse between her parents. The grandparents eventually straightened out their lives after his grandfather stopped drinking, but Vance's mother was traumatized by her childhood and repeated some of the same behaviors. She was addicted to prescription painkillers and other drugs, physically and emotionally abusive, and ran through a series of husbands and boyfriends.
Vance was saved by his grandparents, called Papaw and Mamaw, and his older sister who made sure he was loved, had food to eat, and encouraged him in school. He had other mentors while he served in the Marines. Scholarships enabled him to attend Ohio State University and Yale Law School. Although Vance had a lot of help, he's likable and intelligent, and worked hard to achieve all he did.
Vance feels that poverty is only one reason for the problems of the hill people. He notes that problems at home and a lack of personal responsibility contribute to the crisis. He's written an engaging book that asks a lot of questions, but also realizes that we really don't have easy answers.
The book has been hyped by the media saying it shows why Donald Trump won the vote of the poor whites in the Presidential election. It seems like Trump's emphasis on jobs would be appealing to this group, but automation and cheap labor overseas replaced many unskilled jobs decades ago. Trump also is trying to reduce their safety net, such as access to health care and other social services that help this impoverished group. The media hype about the book explaining the election was overdone. However, the book kept my interest to the end.
7.
by
A.S. ByattFinish date: January 2018
Genre: Literary fiction, Short stories
Rating: B-
Review: Artist Henri Matisse is known for his use of color in his paintings. Author A.S. Byatt uses his art as an inspiration for the three stories in this collection. Her colorful descriptions are as vibrant as his painting as she combines artistic themes with those about the human condition. "Medusa's Ankles" features a woman growing old, and feeling unattractive and neglected. In "Art Work", two married artists fail to recognize the talent that their housekeeper possesses. "The Chinese Lobster" asks what kind of works can be considered to be art, and also touches on mental illness. This collection will be enjoyed by readers who love literary fiction.
8.
by
Matthew QuickFinish date: January 2018
Genre: Fiction
Rating: B
Review: David Granger is a complex guy--a patriotic Vietnam vet who talks like he's an opinionated xenophobic homophobe, but whose actions often show just the opposite. As he's waking up from surgery to remove a brain tumor, he repeats the name of another veteran over and over--Clayton Fire Bear. Sixty-eight year old Granger feels guilty about the way he had treated Fire Bear in Vietnam, stealing his prized possession.
As part of a project for Vietnam vets, Granger is narrating the story of his life. His tour of duty in Vietnam has colored his life since his return, and he cannot sleep without seeing the people he killed in his dreams. A group of friends help him recover from his brain surgery, with a visit to Clayton Fire Bear providing closure for Granger.
Although there are heartbreaking, dark moments in Granger's life, there is also lots of humor. His language is full of expletives and politically incorrect, upsetting his liberal son. But Granger has a big heart in many ways, and is a loyal friend. The love he feels for his wife and his granddaughter made me melt. His narration is so entertaining that I did not want to put the book down.
Mod
FEBRUARY9.
by Douglas C. Jones (no photo)Finish date: February 2018
Genre: Historical fiction, American Civil War
Rating: A-
Review: In 1862 the fictional Hasfords were a resilient farming family living in northwestern Arkansas, five miles from the important Civil War border state of Missouri. While Martin Hasford was away fighting with the Confederate Army, his wife Ora and their teenage son and daughter were left running the farm. The Battle of Pea Ridge was centered around Elkhorn Tavern, close to the Hasford farm. In addition to the danger from the battle, families had to deal with jayhawkers and bushwhackers stealing food and valuables from their farms and burning their homes.
Ora was an admirable, tough woman with a kind heart. She took in an injured Union soldier who was fighting gangrene, and felt that the enemy soldier was a good man. All three Hasfords found the inner strength to do what was needed. The book was a coming-of-age story in some ways as fifteen-year-old Roman had to fill his father's shoes.
The author wove many historical and military details into the story. The characters, both good and bad, seemed vividly real. I was happy to read that members of the Hasford family are featured in more books written by Douglas C. Jones. The rebuilt and restored Elkhorn Tavern is now a part of the Pea Ridge National Military Park.
Mod
Update: You are very welcome
Thanks for your encouragement, Bentley.
10.
by
Eowyn IveyFinish date: February 2018
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: A
Review: Eowyn Ivey's second novel is centered around an 1885 expedition in the Alaskan wilderness. Lieutenant Colonel Allen Forrester and the other explorers travel up the fictional Wolverine River into central Alaska, then head west to the sea. They find natural beauty and minerals. But they also have to cope with terrible weather, insufficient food, illness, and difficult terrain. The Native Americans are usually friendly, but some do not have food to trade. Some things cannot be explained as myth and reality merge, especially in a Native American shaman and a raven who foretells danger and death. Allen keeps a journal so he can share his experiences with his beloved wife Sophie when he returns.
Sophie is newly pregnant, misses Allen, and writes her thoughts in a diary. She lives in the barracks, has an independent spirit, and has little use for the other gossipy women. Sophie is a nature lover, and finds joy in the new art of photography as she captures images of hummingbirds.
The story is told through the journal, diary, photographs of Alaska, and newspaper articles. A contemporary framing correspondence adds another level as Allen's great nephew donates these family papers and artifacts to the curator of the Wolverine Museum. Through the curator we can see how information gathered by the 1885 expedition led to mining and railroads. The old ways of the Native Americans are disappearing, and some are disturbed because disease, alcoholism, and loss of hunting grounds occurred. Others are happy because it brought them jobs and prosperity.
"To the Bright Edge of the World" is a wonderful adventure story. It is also a story about love in the best sense of the word--Allen and Sophie's steadfast love and strong support for each other as they each face challenges. Highly recommended.
11.
by
Han KangFinish date: February 2018
Genre: Literary fiction
Rating: C+
Review: "Sleeping in five-minute snatches. Slipping out of fuzzy consciousness, it's back--the dream. Can't even call it that now. Animal eyes gleaming wild, presence of blood, unearthed skull, again those eyes."
"The Vegetarian" is a strange, surreal fable about Yeong-hye, a South Korean woman who decides to no longer eat meat after experiencing some terrible dreams. The novel is told in three parts--from the points of view of her husband, her brother-in-law, and her sister--with Yeong-hye given little voice herself. She and her sister grew up in a household ruled by a violent father so this seems to be Yeong-hye's first act of rebellion. As the novel progresses, Yeong-hye becomes anorexic and unstable, no longer wants to be human, and wishes to transform herself to a plantlike being.
The beautiful writing is dark, poetic, and sensual. It raises questions about humanity, personal choice, family, and violence. This haunting novel is not for everyone, and would be enjoyed by those who love unusual literary fiction.
12.
by
David McCulloughFinish date: February 2018
Genre: Nonfiction, History, American Revolutionary War
Rating: B+
Review: "1776" is an interesting narrative covering the Revolutionary War from the Siege of Boston in late 1775, through the British victories in New York, to the successful American battles in windy, snowy weather in New Jersey. The war did not end until 1783, so this book only covers the historic year when the Declaration of Independence was signed.
It's a joy to read David McCullough's writing because he makes the historical figures seem so real with their strengths and flaws. The book is well-researched with many quotations from primary sources. "1776" concentrates on the military situation since McCullough wrote more about the politics of the time in another book.
The American army looked like a ragtag group of volunteers who had insufficient training, clothing, food, and weapons, but possessed ingenuity and spirit. The professional British troops (with the paid Hessians) had better training, good uniforms, and more weapons. The British also had the finest navy in the world which was especially advantageous in New York City which is surrounded on three sides by water.
The book included many illustrations of the main players of 1776, both American and British. Three period maps were also included, but some of the small print was difficult to read. Since I'm from the northeast, I was familiar with Boston, New York, and New Jersey. A reader from another country might want to find maps online to use with McCullough's excellent military descriptions. Overall, this was an engaging, well-written book.
13.
by
Sebastian FaulksFinish date: February2018
Genre: Historical fiction, World War I
Rating: B+
Review: "Birdsong" follows Englishman Stephen Wraysford from a prewar intense relationship with a married French woman to the battlefield of the Somme. The horror of World War I is shown in a realistic manner involving all the senses. In his own way each soldier must deal with the trauma of trench warfare, or digging in the dark, narrow, claustrophobic tunnels under enemy lines.
There is a second thread to this book set in the 1970s involving Stephen's granddaughter, Elizabeth. She is trying to decipher some of Stephen's diaries written in code. There are events in her life that run parallel to her grandparents' prewar life which are more acceptable in 1970s society.
The descriptions of the events in Stephen's life, especially during the war, were excellent. While the plotline set in the 1970s was not as strong, it did offer the reader some relief from the soldiers' constant exposure to filth, fear, sickness, and death.
14.
by
E.L. DoctorowFinish date: February 2018
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: B
Review: Adult Edgar Altschuler is looking back on his 1930s childhood with the wonder and fears of a young boy. The story is full of the sights and sounds during the Great Depression in New York City. In the background in their Jewish household, radio reports tell about Hitler's advances. This is not a book with a lot of action, but it's a good character study of a boy growing up in that era. Although it is fiction, E.L. Doctorow incorporates events from his own childhood into the story.
Two visits to the 1939 World's Fair, with its pavilions full of futuristic ideas, come near the end of the book. A time capsule at the World's Fair inspires Edgar to bury his own time capsule full of items that were important to his life--a Tom Mix Decoder badge, a handwritten biography of President Roosevelt, and other remembrances from the 1930s. Moving into the next decade, there's a feeling that Edgar, near adolescence, and the world will both be undergoing many changes.
15.
by
Lynn ShepherdFinish date: February 2018
Genre: Historical mystery, Austen retelling
Rating: B-
Review: "Murder at Mansfield Park" is the first book in a series involving the investigator Charles Maddox. The language in this retelling captures the tone and spirit of Jane Austen's writing. The crime story has a good plot with lots of twists and turns. There are plenty of "upstairs" and "downstairs" characters to love, hate, or question their motives. There is no need to have read Jane Austen's novel before enjoying this lively homage to her work.
MARCH16.
by
Phaedra PatrickFinish date: March 2018
Genre: Contemporary fiction
Rating: C+
Review: Widower Arthur Pepper is grieving and has resorted to the same daily routine, rarely leaving his Yorkshire home. He finds a beautiful charm bracelet when he's sorting through his deceased wife's possessions. A phone number engraved on one charm starts him on a journey where he learns about the important people and places in his wife's life before they were married. Along the way Arthur reawakens to life and all the possibilities it holds.
The people that Arthur meets seem to open their hearts and their homes to him much more quickly than people in real life. The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper is a warm, charming book that's perfect if you're in the mood to read a "feel good" story.
Mod
17.
by
Chloe BenjaminFinish date: March 2018
Genre: Fiction, fantasy
Rating: B
Review: It's the summer of 1969 in Manhattan when the four young Gold siblings visit a psychic. She brings them individually into her apartment and tells each child the date of their death. When they become adults Simon goes to San Francisco and becomes a dancer, Klara performs as a gifted magician, Daniel chooses a career in medicine, and Varya works as a longevity researcher. While the characters are not always likable, they are interesting and different.
Each sibling keeps the fortune teller's prediction in the back of their minds. Will her predictions come true, or will they live their lives differently to cause an early or late death? Is it a blessing or a curse to know how many years you have to live? The book will probably make readers reflect on whether they would choose to know the length of their life. After reading "The Immortalists" I'm not anxious to visit a psychic.
18.
by
Aaron ElkinsFinish date: March 2018
Genre: Mystery
Rating: B
Review: Forensic anthropologist Gideon Oliver is attending a conference in France with his friend FBI agent John Lau. He's asked to examine some old bones that were unearthed in the stone cellar of the nearby du Rocher chateau. The bones seem to date from around World War II. The village had been occupied by the Nazis, and the villagers still remember who were collaborators and who were involved in the Resistance. The owner of the chateau cannot be questioned since he had drowned a few days ago--on the same day he had scheduled an important family meeting.
I enjoyed Gideon's explanations of the forensic findings, although the author overdid the use of long medical words describing the bones. The banter among Gideon, John, and the French Inspector Joly was entertaining. One would not want to be related to most of the unpleasant du Rocher family.
The setting of Mont St Michel in Normandy was a big draw. The island has an interesting military and religious history. Mont St Michel is famous for its extreme tides of around 15 meters (50 feet) between low and high tides. Quicksand adds to the dangerous conditions as the high tide thunders in. This is not a spoiler since the book opens with a scene of a stranded walker being surprised by the changing tide rushing into shore. The book was an Edgar Award winner.
19.
by
Mohsin HamidFinish date: March 2018
Genre: Contemporary fiction, magical realism
Rating: B
Review: "Exit West" seems very timely since the world has been experiencing a migration of refugees from Syria and other areas of turmoil. Nadia and Saeed, lovers who live in an unnamed Muslim city occupied by militants, must make the difficult decision whether to stay or move to another country. Mohsin Hamid uses magical realism, creating secret dark doors where a person steps through and arrives exhausted in a different part of the world. Immigrants are trying to move from poorer countries to richer ones so surveillance cameras and drones are used to monitor especially desirable locations.
The experiences that Nadia and Saeed go through are similar to the ones that any refugee would face--tent cities, lack of food and sanitation, working at low-level jobs, and navigating the world in unfamiliar languages. They meet violent nationalist groups that resent the influx of so many immigrants fleeing from the terrorists. The couple also benefits from the kindness of people who help them. "Exit West" is the story of their relationship as well as their lives as immigrants.
The book was written in the third person point of view. That distancing and the unnamed homeland gave it a feeling that Saeed and Nadia represented the refugee everyman and everywoman. The Pakistani author spent a good part of his life living in the United States and England so he has personal experience in adjusting to a new language and culture. He is now living in his native Pakistan which has been targeted by terrorist groups.
20.
by
Graham JoyceFinish date: March 2018
Genre: Historical fiction, coming-of-age, paranormal
Rating: C+
Review: University student David Barwise takes a summer job at an aging seaside resort in Lincolnshire. He works as an assistant to the professional entertainers, and runs activities for the families on vacation. He was drawn to the resort town of Skegness because his natural father had spent his last days there.
The summer of 1976 in England was known for its infestation of ladybugs. It's also remembered for its political turmoil with the activities of the fascist National Front which tries to recruit the resort workers. David makes friends easily with the old time performers and a certain young dancer. He gets into a scary situation with a violent man and his seductive wife. The most unusual thing about that summer is the supernatural appearances of a ghost in an electric blue suit.
The author had worked at several holiday resorts in his youth, and transports the reader back to the 1970s. The interesting characters and absorbing plot made the book an entertaining coming-of-age story.
21.
by
Daisy GoodwinFinish date: March 2018
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: B
Review: At age eighteen Victoria went from being a sheltered girl to reigning as Queen of England. She defied her mother, Sir John Conroy, and the Duke of Cumberland who wanted to control her decisions. Queen Victoria found a trusted advisor and close friend in Lord Melbourne, the Prime Minister. Their relationship was the most important in her first years as the Queen. The book ends with the courting of Queen Victoria by Prince Albert, a handsome, serious, intelligent man who seemed to complement her more excitable personality.
Daisy Goodwin wrote the historical novel at the same time that she was developing the screenplay for the PBS series. She was inspired by Queen Victoria's diaries. The book is lively with the emphasis on the personalities of Victoria, Melbourne, Albert, and others. This is not the book to read if you want a "tell me the facts" history book. Instead, it is an entertaining page turner showing the transition of a stubborn teenager into a more thoughtful Queen.
22.
by
Anne TylerFinish date: March 2018
Genre: Fiction, retelling ("The Taming of the Shrew")
Rating: B
Review: Anne Tyler's "Vinegar Girl" is one of the retellings of Shakespeare's plays published by Hogarth Press in memory of the 400th anniversary of his death. Kate Battista organizes the household for her widowed father and her teen sister. Her father is an eccentric scientist whose indispensable Russian lab assistant, Pyotr Cherbakov, will be deported unless he obtains a Green Card. Dr Battista wants to marry off Kate, his outspoken older daughter, to the blunt Pyotr. Both Kate and Pyotr have their quirks, but they start appreciating each other's important real qualities. I enjoyed the witty banter between the softer modern day versions of Katherina and Petruchio.
Pyotr: "In my country they have a proverb: 'Beware against the sweet person for sugar has no nutrition.'"
Kate: "Well, in my country, they say that you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."
Pyotr: "Yes, they would. But why you would want to catch flies, hah? Answer me that, vinegar girl."
23.
by
Yōko OgawaFinish date: March 2018
Genre: Fiction, Japanese, Mathematics
Rating: B
Review: This is a lovely Japanese story where kindness turns unrelated people into a family. The Housekeeper is hired to cook and keep house for a Professor of mathematics who had a traumatic brain injury after a car accident. Although the Professor can remember events that happened before the TBI, this injury resulted in his short-term memory lasting only eighty minutes. It seems like they are meeting for the first time every day.
The Housekeeper and her ten year old son interact quite well with the professor since they all are enthusiastic about baseball which has lots of mathematical statistics. The Professor loves children, and enjoys sharing his knowledge of the beauty of mathematics while bringing the subject down to their level. The Housekeeper and her son were adept at making a personal connection with the Professor, even if he could not remember it the next day. I enjoyed this charming, heartwarming story.
24.
by
Helen MacdonaldFinish date: March 2018
Genre: Memoir, Nature
Rating: B+
Review: Helen Macdonald and her father had shared a love of nature, and were both experienced falconers. They both had keen senses of observation, which her father put to good use in his career as a photographer. When her father died unexpectedly at a young age, Helen was overcome with grief. She decided to train a goshawk, an especially wild bird of prey, as a way to work through her grief.
The book is unusual--partly a memoir, partly an ode to nature, partly a manual for training goshawks, and partly a biography of T.H. White, the troubled author of The Goshawk which was published in 1949. Macdonald's lyrical writing is a pleasure to read, and she brought the four parts together into a book that flowed well. There is a darkness and wildness to both grief and goshawks. This darkness extends to the repressed emotions of the abused and unloved T.H. White.
At her father's memorial service, Macdonald realized that she had immersed herself too much into the life of her goshawk. "I was furious with myself and my own unconscious certainty that this was the cure I needed. Hands are for other human hands to hold. They should not be reserved exclusively as perches for hawks. And the wild is not a panacea for the human soul; too much in the air can corrode it to nothing." (218) She needed to connect to family and friends, and to start medications, to climb out of her depression and grief.
Macdonald was a kind and talented trainer of her goshawk, unlike T.H. White who was a novice. I found it upsetting to read about these majestic birds in captivity. I was remembering times when I watched birds of prey soaring in the wind, catching the thermals, in the wild. But I tried to put these thoughts aside and admire Macdonald's skill and love for her hawk, her strong relationship with her father, and her rich appreciation of the natural world all told in lovely lyrical prose.
25.
by
Sebastian FaulksFinish date: March 2018
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: B-
Review: A beautiful young woman, Anne Louvert, comes to the small town of Janvilliers to take a job working in the hotel "The Lion d'Or". She has had a childhood of hardship and tragedy precipitated by a mutinous event in World War I involving her father. The married Charles Hartmann, an older, wealthy lawyer, becomes involved with Anne. Will this affair lead to Anne being abandoned again by someone she deeply loves?
The historical novel is set against the backdrop of interwar France in the 1930s. Many of the characters are still trying to recover from the horror and loss of World War I, and the threat of another war looms. France's government is shaky and plagued by a number of scandals. As the book closes in Paris, we wonder how both Anne and the country of France will survive the storm.
26.
by
Lisa GenovaFinish date: March 2018
Genre: Contemporary fiction, medicine
Rating: B+
Review: Lisa Genova has written another wonderful novel centering around a character with a neurological disease. Richard Evans is a classical concert pianist whose first symptoms of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) involve losing the use of his right hand. When we think of ALS, Lou Gehrig and Stephen Hawking come to mind. The motor neurons going from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles degenerate. This leaves the person unable to move, speak, eat, and breathe.
Richard and his ex-wife Karina, also a pianist, have been through a painful divorce. When Richard is unable to stay in his walk-up apartment, Karina reluctantly becomes his caretaker and he moves back into the home they once shared. The book is as much about Richard's relationships with Karina and their daughter as it is about the progression of his disease. As time runs out Karina and Richard realize that they share the blame for their failed marriage. Richard also thinks about how he neglected his daughter while completely focusing on his career.
Richard's home health aide Bill brings lots of warmth into the story. Richard thinks of Bill "as equal parts brother, doctor, therapist, and friend". Bill treats Richard with dignity, gives Karina hugs and advice, and sings happy Broadway tunes. Any person dealing with a debilitating disease needs a Bill in their life.
Although the book is quite graphic in parts, it is much more than the story of Richard's physical decline. It's very much a psychological story of love, understanding, forgiveness, and peace.
APRIL27.
by
Amy StewartFinish date: April 2018
Genre: Historical fiction, Mystery
Rating: B
Review: Set around 1916 with World War I looming, this historical novel has a strong theme of righting the injustices done to young women. Constance Kopp, a deputy sheriff, was in charge of the women in the Hackensack, New Jersey jail. Young women were arrested for waywardness when they left home without their parents' permission to seek jobs in the city. The women could not afford defense attorneys and faced a possible sentence to years in a reformatory. Constance stepped up to the plate, investigating the charges and the women's home situations, and fighting for their rights.
Her younger sister, Fleurette, also reached age 18 and left the Kopp's home to work in a vaudeville show. Constance's emotions are torn--she's worried about her safety, but knows it's time to let Fleurette follow her dreams.
Constance has been the subject of newspaper stories since it's unusual for a woman to do police work. Letters with proposals of marriage come from all over the country, adding humor to the book, since the men are looking for a tough workhorse rather than promising love and romance.
The Kopp sisters and many of the other characters were real people who lived in the early 20th Century. The author's note in back gives the reader some interesting background history.
28.
by
John BuchanFinish date: April 2018
Genre: Adventure, thriller
Rating: C
Review: "The Thirty-Nine Steps" is a classic "innocent man on the run" adventure. Richard Hanney is housing his neighbor who is being followed by an anarchist gang called Black Stone. It's 1914 and the German gang is trying to steal British military plans. When Hanney returns to his flat, he finds the neighbor with a knife in his chest.
Hanney feels that he will be arrested for the murder so he takes off to Scotland. He's being hunted down by both the police and the Black Stone gang. Hanney can talk his way out of bad situations, and is a master of disguising himself as part of the working class. The short book is an action-packed adventure that keeps one turning the pages. The story is also full of lucky coincidences and improbable situations. It's a thriller with a patriotic, energetic hero, evil villains, and lots of Scottish local color.
Mod
29.
by
Dan EganFinish date: April 2018
Genre: Non-fiction, Science, Environment, History
Rating: A
Review: Dan Egan, a journalist who covers the Great Lakes for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, has written a fascinating book about the changes in their ecosystems. The Great Lakes (Lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron, Michigan, and Superior) hold about 20% of the world's freshwater, a precious commodity.
For years, the Lakes and their connecting rivers were isolated from invasive species from the Atlantic Ocean by the tremendous force of the Niagara Falls which prevented organisms from moving upstream. The construction of the Erie Canal and the St Lawrence Seaway (bypassing the Falls) permitted shipping barges coming from the Atlantic Ocean to travel through all the Great Lakes. The barges carried ballast water that can be pumped out to adjust for taking on cargo. The ballast water also released invasive species from ports all over the world. The Great Lakes now contain 186 non-native species, including the zebra and quagga mussels from the Black and Caspian Seas. The mussels and other invaders have done severe damage to the ecosystems as well as costing millions of dollars of damage every year.
The lakes were also separated from the Mississippi River basin by the subcontinental divide. But the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal was built in 1900 to allow sewage to go into the Mississippi River system. This is an opening for non-native species from the Mississippi River system to enter the Great Lakes. There is a worry that gigantic Asian carp from Arkansas may enter the Lakes system from this "back door".
One of the biggest threats to the drinking water is a blue-green toxic algae in Lake Erie that feeds off phosphorus draining from fertilized farms in the region. Toledo's water supply was shut down for several days in 2014 when the deadly toxin entered the city's water system.
Egan discusses water shortages and environmental threats to the water supply in other parts of the United States, and the financial implications in some of the ending chapters. He also writes about policy changes that could help the situation. Egan also recognizes the wonderful recreational value of the Lakes. The book combines science and history with many quotes from scientific experts, fishermen, and government officials. I found "The Death and Life of the Great Lakes" to be a well-researched and exceptionally interesting book.
30.
by
Daphne du MaurierFinish date: April 2018
Genre: Fiction, Psychological Suspense
Rating: A-
Review: "Someone jolted my elbow as I drank and said 'Je sous demande pardon," and as I moved to give him space he turned and stared at me and I at him, and I realized with a strange sense of shock and fear and nausea all combined, that his face and voice were known to me too well....I was looking at myself."
John, the narrator, is an Englishman who is an expert in French history and language. He's a lonely man without a family who is thinking of joining a monastery to find meaning in his life. His double, Jean de Gue, is self-centered, extroverted, and the head of a large French family and a failing business. After a night of drinking, John awakes to find Jean has disappeared with John's identification papers, luggage, and car. A driver comes to pick up Monsieur le Comte, and John goes into Jean's life without any background knowledge. Since Jean is known to be charming one minute and hurtful the next, no one but the dog can tell the difference between the two men.
It's a suspenseful psychological study as we learn the secrets of Jean's life through the eyes of John as he works out the relationships and family history. As he deals with Jean's family, John is transformed. Since John has a kinder, more thoughtful nature, the family also undergoes some changes. Will Jean ever return to his family?
The book has a wonderful setting--a chateau in St Gilles in the Pas de la Loire. A dozen years have passed since the Occupation and there is still friction between those who were members of the Resistance and the collaborators. The book reveals the psychological profiles of the two men and the family layer by layer. I'm a fan of Daphne du Maurier's skillful writing, and "The Scapegoat" is one of her best works.
31.
by
Kate MooreFinish date: April 2018
Genre: Nonfiction, history, medicine, occupational safety
Rating: B
Review: Glow in the dark numbers on clocks and watches were very popular, especially for soldiers going off to fight in World War I. The women who painted the watch dials used bristle brushes to paint radium paint on to the numbers. They were instructed to twirl the brushes to a fine point in their mouths as part of a "Lip...Dip...Brush" technique. A few years later, they found that the luminous radioactive paint was a killer. Radium replaces calcium in the bones when ingested, and has a half life of 1600 years. The young women's teeth fell out, their jawbones disintegrated, and their bone marrow's production of blood cells was compromised. Their bones ached and sarcomas grew. Many had miscarriages and problem pregnancies.
Kate Moore researched the stories of the young women who worked in New Jersey and Illinois. She presented them as lively individuals with real hopes and dreams who suffered terribly to satisfy corporate greed. They testified in court and some won small settlements. Their testimony led to workplace safety standards being instituted when the Manhattan Project (which used radioactive plutonium) began. Research on the dial painters helped scientists understand the effects of radiation on the body. Their stories contributed to the establishment of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Kate Moore's narrative non-fiction book is very effective because it presents each one of the "radium girls" and the people who loved them as unique personalities, not just numbers. The reader will care about their outcomes, and admire their courage in confronting corporations whose only concern was the bottom line.
32.
by
Michael Farris SmithFinish date: April 2018
Genre: Literary Fiction, Southern Noir
Rating: B+
Review: Author Michael Farris Smith is a master at writing about desperate people who have been battered by life and scarred by poverty. Set in the Mississippi Delta, Jack is a bare knuckles cage fighter past his prime. The brutal fighting and multiple concussions have left him with a defective memory and constant pain which he alleviates by popping painkillers chased by Wild Turkey.
Jack was abandoned at age two, and was passed around the foster care system. Then he was taken in by his foster mother Maryann, the only person who ever loved him. Now Maryann is dying and Jack is trying to scrape together enough money to save her family home. He also must pay back a large debt to the notorious Big Momma Sweet. When he loses his casino winnings, he's forced to fight one last fight to clear his debt.
Jack's life intersects with Annette, a young carnival worker who is covered with tattoos. Annette is tough but vulnerable, and a possible savior.
I could feel Jack's pain, wondered how much Jack could endure, and felt emotionally exhausted as I turned the last page. Michael Farris Smith's writing is beautiful and lyrical in this dark, intense story which also holds sparks of hope. This is the third book I've read by this author, and his writing never fails to impress me.
33.
by
Ron RashFinish date: April 2018
Genre: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Southern Gothic, WWI Homefront
Rating: B
Review: In the prologue, a TVA official was preparing for the cove to be flooded. A local man in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina told him, "You can't bury that cove deep enough for me....The cove was a place where only bad things happened."
Over thirty years earlier at the end of World War I, Laurel and her brother Hank, a veteran missing a hand, were living at the cove. With the shadow of a cliff looming over the cabin and dark woods, the cove is a dark, sinister place. The townspeople in the insular community are superstitious, and gossip that Laurel is cursed by her port wine birthmark. Many consider her to be a witch and shun the young woman. Laurel discovers a seriously ill, mute young man in the woods and brings Walter home to recover. He's a musician who communicates beauty and his feelings when he plays the flute. He's also a man with a secret.
Chauncey Feith, an army recruiter whose family ties kept him out of the trenches, is trying to make a name for himself. Convincing himself that he is acting with patriotic zeal, he harasses the elderly German language professor at the college, and the librarian who has German poetry books on the shelves. Unquestioned xenophobia is the driving force behind Chauncey's actions.
Ron Rash has written an atmospheric Southern Gothic tale filled with deep shadows and dangerous water. It's balanced with the lilting sounds of the flute and the green feathers of the Carolina parakeets. "The Cove" is a beautifully written book that leaves one thinking that good and evil can be found in unexpected places during a war....and not just on the battlefield.
34.
by James Comey no photoFinish date: April 2018
Genre: Memoir, history, politics, ethics
Rating: B+
Review: "A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership" is a very readable memoir of events that molded James Coney's views on leadership, public service, and ethics. A confrontation with an armed robber as a teenager sparked his interest in justice. Studying the works of the philosopher and theologian Reinhold Niebuhr made him reflect on how he could make a difference, and he applied to law school. He writes about working as an assistant US attorney on cases involving the Mafia, the prosecution of Martha Stewart for insider trading, and other memorable cases. During the George W Bush administration after 9/11 he was one of the attorneys that refused to reauthorize certain surveillance techniques and torture methods since the government was on shaky legal ground.
Comey was the director of the FBI during the Hillary Clinton email investigation, and details his reasoning for making statements about it so close to the 2016 election. The investigation had been reopened when emails were found on a laptop belonging to Clinton's aide, Huma Abedin, and her husband. However Comey did not make any statements about the Russians who were trying to help Donald Trump by influencing the election. Even if one does not agree with his reasoning, it's interesting to read Comey's explanation.
Comey compared President Trump to a Mafia boss who demanded total loyalty and complete control of a situation. Comey told Trump he could only promise honesty. Trump did not seem to grasp the idea that Justice, including the FBI, works independently from the President.
The title of the book refers to a higher loyalty--to do what is best for the country and to rise above partisanship. Comey writes about the leadership styles of people he has worked with over the years, emphasizing the need for strong ethics. Some people are wondering if the new norm is constant lying and partisanship. Comey is optimistic that there will be a swing back from the present situation as people get fired up and demand a higher loyalty and ethical leadership. I wish I could share his optimism, but I enjoyed his thoughts on the subject.
Alisa wrote: "Great review, Connie. It's on my TBR."Thanks, Alisa. I hope you enjoy it too. I think Comey was trying to make good decisions, but sometimes he was between a rock and a hard place.
MAY35.
by
Wiley CashFinish date: May 2018
Genre: Historical fiction, Southern lit
Rating: B
Review: In the summer of 1929, Ella May Wiggins was trying to raise four children in a mill town in North Carolina on $9 weekly. She worked the night shift in the integrated textile mill for 12 hours six days every week. Her husband had run off, so the desperate mother had no help in clothing and feeding her hungry children. Ella got swept up by the union who were organizing a rally at the nearby mill town of Gastonia where she spoke of her troubles and sang pro-labor songs. Although this book is historical fiction, it is based on the life of the real Ella May Wiggins, a white mill worker who helped organize the black workers who lived in her poverty-stricken section of town.
The book is told in multiple voices, showing a cross-section of people involved in the strike--mill workers and their families, strike organizers, police, and a mill owner's family--while the press lurks in the background. The book started out slowly, but picked up the pace when a black organizer from New York, Hampton Haywood, travels down South. A black man in the South faces even greater danger than the women, and Hampton's sections of the book were especially effective. A few of the secondary characters were not as important to the main story, although they added to the mill town ambience.
Brave people like Ella May Wiggins started the labor movement which fought for better pay, shorter hours, and safer conditions in places of employment. Many were injured or killed while striking, but desperate people sometimes take big risks. Overall, I found "The Last Ballad" to be an interesting look at an important part of history.
36.
by
Gordon S. WoodFinish date: May 2018
Genre: Nonfiction, Biography, American History
Rating: B+
Review: Benjamin Franklin has been mythologized as "the hardworking self-made businessman" and "the man who personifies the American dream". Franklin raised himself up from a position as a printer's apprentice to be a successful businessman, journalist, scientist, philosopher, philanthropist, and statesman.
Gordon S. Wood's book highlights important events in Franklin's life that show how the young man dreamed of being a respectable gentleman someday. Franklin was happiest in upper class European society in London and Paris in his later life. His mission as a diplomat in France during the Revolutionary War was perhaps his greatest contribution to the American cause. His considerable charm and intelligence was important in obtaining millions in loans from France to finance the fight of the patriots. At his death Franklin was mourned by the French while Americans, caught up in conflicting ideas about their new country, mostly ignored the event. When Franklin's "Autobiography" was published after his death, he was upheld as a model for young American men to work hard to succeed in the land of opportunity.
"The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin" is not a traditional biography since it focuses on certain events and choices that shaped Franklin's thinking and stature in society. The book is engaging, interesting, and witty like Franklin himself. It gave me greater appreciation for the political leaders in those turbulent times of the 18th Century.
37.
by
Luis Alberto UrreaFinish date: May 2018
Genre: Historical fiction, Magical realism, Mexican
Rating: B
Review: A young Indian girl in Mexico who was known as "The Hummingbird" gave birth to Teresita in 1873. The mixed race baby was the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy rancher. After being abandoned by her mother, Teresita was watched over by the healer Huila who taught the girl about medicinal herbs and midwifery.
Teresita was brutally attacked as a teenager, and was thought to be dead. During her wake she returned from the dead. She possessed miraculous powers of healing, and thousands of pilgrims flocked to her home. Teresita was called the Saint of Cabora and "the Mexican Joan of Arc". This was an unsettled time in Mexican history under the dictator Porfirio Diaz. Teresita attracted unwelcome attention from the Mexican government and the Catholic Church who feared her influence on the poor.
The book was written in lyrical, earthy language and included lots of adventure and humor. It had a large cast of characters from all walks of life, and vivid descriptions of Mexico. Teresita was a real person in the author's ancestral family who stood up for the rights of the Indians in Mexico. She was a strong woman who possessed great compassion. Her calling involved the power of healing and a fervent faith in God, aided by a dose of magical realism. The Hummingbird's Daughter was a winning combination of history, fiction, and Indian legends.
38.
by
Bryce CourtenayFinish date: May 2018
Genre: Historical fiction, South African politics, Coming of age
Rating: A-
Review: "The Power of One" is the story of the childhood and adolescence of a South African boy, Peekay. Set in the 1940s, the earlier Boer War, World War II, and apartheid all effect the relationships between the characters. After English Peekay was taunted cruelly by some Afrikaner (Boer) boys at a boarding school, he made it his goal to become the welterweight champion of the world someday. His first boxing mentor, Hoppie, advised him, "First with the head and then with the heart, that's how a man stays ahead from the start."
Doc, a German music teacher and naturalist, plays a father figure and good friend to the precocious young boy. Doc teaches him about observation and logic. Doc can also see mystical or spiritual expressions in nature and music. After helping some black prisoners with Doc and his colored boxing coach, Geet Piels, Peekay becomes a symbol of hope to the black South Africans. Peekay is generous in spirit, and compassionate toward those who are mistreated by prejudiced people.
"The power of one", the spirit inside Peekay, becomes stronger during adolescence, allowing him to create his own destiny. He takes a lucrative, but dangerous job to earn money to pay for university tuition. The book comes around full circle as Peekay resolves his childhood abuse and forges ahead into the future.
I enjoyed this novel with the likable, humorous Peekay who is loved by his mentors, and who gives back to the less fortunate. The book is full of adventure, and has some exciting boxing matches (and I never watch boxing on TV). The story is a journey as we follow his transformation into being a strong, intelligent man. Some events are based on the author's life. The South African politics--with the clashes between the English, the Afrikaners, the blacks, and the coloreds (mixed race)--are always in the background, giving the reader lots of food for thought.
One of my favorite books of all time. Great review!
Thanks, Alisa. I was amazed to read that Courtney was not allowed to come back to South Africa because he and some friends had taught some black people how to read and write in the evening at boarding school. Both the character, Peekay, and the author were courageous young adults.
Excellent review, Connie. Sounds like a great book.
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The History Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Hum If You Don't Know the Words (other topics)What You Are Getting Wrong about Appalachia (other topics)
The 6:41 to Paris (other topics)
Fear: Trump in the White House (other topics)
Mr. Dickens and His Carol (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Bianca Marais (other topics)Elizabeth Catte (other topics)
Jean-Philippe Blondel (other topics)
Bob Woodward (other topics)
Samantha Silva (other topics)
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