The Heretic's Daughter - Kathleen Kent

Summary:  Martha Carrier was one of the first women to be accused, tried and hanged as a witch in Salem, Massachusetts. Like her mother, young Sarah Carrier is bright and willful, openly challenging the small, brutal world in which they live. Often at odds with one another, mother and daughter are forced to stand together against the escalating hysteria of the trials and the superstitious tyranny that led to the torture and imprisonment of more than 200 people accused of witchcraft. This is the story of Martha's courageous defiance and ultimate death, as told by the daughter who survived. (Summary taken from author's website)
  
My Review:  I'll cut to the chase and say that although I did not like the first half of this book the second half made reading through it worth it.  The first half was too raw, mean and salacious*.  It left me feeling mean, which I don't really need in my life.  I just have a hard time with the portrayal of the 1600s as such a glum, hypocritical and hardscrabble world.  Was it?  I don't know.  Do you know?  No.  So lets not assume that all life in this century was callous and unkind.

With the second half of the book I was drawn in, the characters became more caring and human, rather than the carnal portrayal that the book began with.  And of course, this could have been purposeful, as the daughter began to grow up (because of the dreadful circumstances she was in) she could see a greater dimension to her mother, to life in general and therefore I, as the reader also became aware of it.  This was accomplished so well that when I finished the book I was willing to dismiss the beginning and say that I enjoyed the reading.  

I recently read The Year of Wonder set in 1666 (this was set in 1692) which dealt with many of the same issues in this book.  Greed, superstition, sexism among the similar topics.  And frankly, both had that sort of glum bias against the century, which perhaps it deserves (bubonic plague in one and witch trials in the other). However I thought that The Heretic's Daughter handled the issues more realistically and in a way more applicable to the here and now.  The story explained well how something like the Salem witch trials could come about in that time and place.

The book took a broader view (culturally and geographically) than what I remember The Crucible focusing on, which is really the only other witch trials book I've read.   Despite my living in and loving the town the trials took place (because that should mean I automatically know everything) I ended up spending a lot of time on wikipedia and other reference sites brushing up on my history.  There was definitely some literary license taken and it was done in a way that told the story "better" than it might have been told. 

A final note.  What is with authors' lately taking a pass when it comes to naming their books?  Please, no more wife/daughter titles.  Nothing relegates a book to being viewed as "for women only" than a title like that.  Give your book credit as having a broad appeal by naming it better.  (FYI, Kathleen Kent's next book is titled The Wolves of Andover.  A big improvement.)

My Rating:  4 stars.  

To Sum it Up:  An examination of one family embroiled in a tragedy for human-kind that deserves an audience beyond women's book clubs.

*Salacious is apparently my new favorite word as I used it in this review, and this one.  Authors, let it be known - although not as bad manipulating me, feeding me salacious details is a waste of my time.

Forge - Laurie Halse Anderson

Summary:  Would you risk everything to be free?

The young soldiers at Valley Forge are suffering from hunger, cold, and the threat of the British army.  Their newly forged bonds of friendship might be enough to help them survive.  But the chains of Curzon's past threaten to shackle him again.

Surrounded by the fires of ignorance, mistrust, and greed, Curzon can't risk sharing his deadly secrets with anyone.  Does he have the mettle to hold on to his freedom?  To claim his rightful place as an American?  Is he strong enough to find the answer to the hardest question of all: Is Isabel still alive?

Acclaimed author Laurie Halse Anderson continues the thrilling adventure started in her bestselling, award-winning novel Chains.  Ride along on a gallop that will take you from battling the British at Saratoga to fighting the elements at Valley Forge to rebelling against merciless tyranny.  Discover what the fight for freedom was really all about.  (Summary from jacket cover and image from http://bonniesbooks.blogspot.com)

My Review:  When I first started Forge, I kept thinking that it was a bit slow and that I didn't get introduced to the main character very well.  I realized after reading three-fourths of the book, that it is a sequel.  Chains comes first.  Obviously you're expected to come into the story knowing the protagonist.  I didn't want to stop reading to start the first in the series, so I'm missing some of the back story but once I was a third of the way through I was hooked.  Reading Forge was the best way to make history come alive for me.  I never had a love of social studies growing up; I just couldn't get myself interested in all the dates and places that I was supposed to memorize.  It wasn't until I became an adult that I realized how fascinating it is. 

Forge was very informative and I feel like I understand the Revolutionary War a lot better after reading it.  I didn't know much about it besides the little I can remember from elementary school.  I had no idea that slaves fought in the war and that many of their owners made a deal of freedom at the end of the war if they fought in the army.  I am going to highly recommend this book to all my students and especially to the social studies teachers at my middle school.  I think I would have retained more information if I had learned about the war in this format.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Sum it up:  Gritty on a YA level, it opens eyes to what conditions were like for soldiers fighting for our freedom and then takes it a step further by seeing it all through the eyes of a slave.

The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson - Jerome Charyn

Summary:  The inner life of Emily Dickinson was creatively effulgent, psychologically pained and emotionally ambivalent, as reported by Charyn, who here inhabits the mind of one of America's most famous poets. Charyn parrots the cadent voice of razor-sharp Dickinson, beginning in her years as the tempestuous young lyricist who aims to choose my words like a rapier that can scratch deep into the skin. (Summary from Publisher's Weekly via Amazon.com - Image from books.wwnorton.com - Book provided free for review).

My Review:  It goes with out saying that creating a novel about "the secret life" of a well-studied historical figure carries some heavy risk.  However I am entirely uneducated about Emily Dickinson so I felt free to read the book without worrying to much about authenticity.  I was enthralled with the voice of the narrative with its, not surprisingly, lyrical prose.

Much of the novel had the feel of a introspective auto-biography but, even without my knowledge of Dickinson's life, I could tell the difference between what was fact and what was most likely invented.  This was because the inventions were often times tinged with salaciousness or attempted to provide shock value.  That said, the fictionalized insertions did deal with rumors or suspicions that might hover around Dickinson's life (ie, rebellion, secret romances, lesbian tenancies, mental illness).  These details only added to a picture of the whole person, rather than narrowly defining her as a single stereotype. 

I would have liked to have been exposed to Dickinson's poems in my reading.  They were absent.  But I guess that Dickinson's poems were absent in the public realm throughout her life, so perhaps it is fitting.  This book was about Emily Dickinson's life, from which sprang her poems, not about the poems themselves.    

My Rating:  3.5 (probably a 4 if I had a previous familiarity with Dickinson)

To Sum it Up:  A lyrical look at the (imagined) life of an American icon..

Outlander - Diana Gabaldon

Summary:  The year is 1945.  Claire Randall, a former combat nurse is back from the war and reunited with her hsuband on a second honeymoon -- when she innocently atouches a boulder in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles.  Suddenly she is a Sassenach--an "outlander" -- in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of Our Lord...1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of lairds and spies tha tmay threaten her life...and shatter her heart.  For here James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire...and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives. (Summary from book - Image from randomhouse.com)

My Review:  Outlander is one of those books that has been on my “must read” list for a very long time. Until a week ago I’d never even read the back cover; I’d just heard how amazing it was and thrown it on the list right next to The Poisonwood Bible. When a close friend started singing its praises, I finally opened Outlander expecting to be blown away.

Outlander didn’t quite live up to my expectations. It is billed as a “spellbinding novel of passion and history that combines exhilarating adventure with a love story for the ages”, but I’d say that’s stretching it a bit. Although the binding simply reads “fiction” this book is not much more than a glorified romance novel. Sure, there is extensive historical detail and more plot and character development than in found in the average romance novel, but I didn’t find anything extraordinary, unless you consider the book’s whopping 850-page count (mass market).

The character of Claire was a bit of a conundrum. Most of the time she was a feisty, intelligent, and capable female character, but there were times when she seemed to give up the fight. I was bothered that she could dismiss her husband so easily. While I understand the “technicality” of her not being married, it still felt like a betrayal when she only made a token effort to return to her own time before deciding to get her flirt on.

My biggest problem with Outlander was the incredible amount of sex and sexual dialogue that was needlessly incorporated into the story. To be perfectly honest, it was completely unrealistic and took place with such frequency that any normal woman would start to chafe. I’m a huge fan of the whole Highland romance genre, but I prefer my reads with a little more romantic tension and a lot less, um, release. There were also a few sections that I found highly disturbing in terms of domestic violence, rape, and other sexually explicit and abusive scenes.

In the end, I forced myself to finish this book, simply to say that I had finished it. For most of the book I was interested in how everything would turn out for the characters (the story is left resolved but open to more books), but eventually ended up skimming because I was incredibly tired and just didn’t care anymore. The last few sections of the book became very dark and disturbing before taking on a strangely religious tone that was entirely unexpected. It was all a bit weird.

That having been said, I think that a person who likes romance novels of this variety (time travel) and isn’t bothered by the sexual content, will probably enjoy this book. Gabaldon definitely delivers a historical romance novel with an impressive page count but, ultimately, I expected something epic and got something only slightly more than ordinary. I’m glad I finished, if for no other reason that I can cross it (and the entire series) off my list.

My Rating: 2.75 Stars

For the sensitive reader: There was a LOT of sex and it was not the close-the-door-fade-to-black-wake-up-next-to-each-other-the-following-morning kind. There were also a quite a few f-words, moments of sexual dialogue, a disturbing amount of domestic violence, and a character with some fairly twisted and sadistic sexual proclivities.

Sum it up: A glorified romance novel masquerading as historical fiction.

A Curse Dark as Gold - Elizabeth C. Bunce

Summary:  The gold thread shimmers in the fading light.  It promises Charlotte Miller a way out of debt, a chance to save her family's beloved woolen mill.  It promises a future for her sister, livelihood for her townsfolk, security against her sinuous and grasping uncle.  It might even promise what she didn't know she needed: lasting hope and true love.

But at what cost?  To get the thread, Charlotte must strike a bargain with its maker, the mysterious Jack Spinner.  But the gleam of gold conjures a shadowy past--secrets and bonds ensnaring generations of Millers.  And Charlotte's mill, her family, her friends, her love...What do those matter to a powerful stranger who can spin straw into gold?  (Summary from book cover - Image from www.pnla.org)

My Review:  A Curse Dark as Gold won the William C. Norris debut award for young adult literature in 2009 and is a dark, languid retelling of the classic fairytale Rumpelstiltskin, set in England in the late 18th century. This novel has a Austen-esque atmosphere with a supernatural flair, and is considered historical fiction because of its detailed depiction of the woolen industry in the early stages of the Industrial Revolution, and rendering of women’s rights in regard to property and business.

Elizabeth C. Bunce maintains the same disturbing tone in her retelling as in the original fairytale, as traditional fairytale romance takes a back seat to a story of loyalty, greed, heritage, and revenge. After her father’s unexpected passing, Charlotte Miller takes over the family’s failing textile mill. She hopes to save the business, but the going is rough as the mill is plagued with all manner of mishaps. In a fit of desperation, Charlotte turns to a mysterious stranger to fix her financial woes and ends up in far greater danger. Now up to her eyeballs in an even more sinister debt, Charlotte must come to terms with her family’s shameful history, as she struggles to break an ancient curse that threatens to destroy those she loves.

While the beginning of the book moved rather slowly, it picked up as the story moved along and ended the way I like retellings to end -- with the feeling that perhaps I’ve just received the inside scoop on the story behind the fairytale. A Curse Dark as Gold wasn’t the kind of book I would shout from the rooftops about, but I enjoyed the retelling more than the original and will keep it in my library until my girls are old enough to read it for themselves.

My Rating: 3.75 Stars
For the sensitive reader: I can’t remember anything -- which usually means if there was any swearing or violence, it wasn’t excessive.

Sum it up: An eerie retelling that breathes life into an old classic.

Girl in a Blue Dress - Gaynor Arnold

Summary: At the end of her life, Catherine, the cast-off wife of Charles Dickens, gave the letters she had received from her husband to their daughter Kate, asking her to donate them to the British Museum, “so the world may know that he loved me once.” The incredible vulnerability and heartache evident beneath the surface of this remark inspired Gaynor Arnold to write Girl in a Blue Dress, a dazzling debut novel inspired by the life of this tragic yet devoted woman. Arnold brings the spirit of Catherine Dickens to life in the form of Dorothea “Dodo” Gibson–a woman who is doomed to live in the shadow of her husband, Alfred, the most celebrated author in the Victorian world.

The story opens on the day of Alfred’s funeral. Dorothea is not among the throngs in attendance when The One and Only is laid to rest. Her mourning must take place within the walls of her modest apartment, a parting gift from Alfred as he ushered her out of their shared home and his life more than a decade earlier. Even her own children, save her outspoken daughter Kitty, are not there to offer her comfort–they were poisoned against her when Alfred publicly declared her an unfit wife and mother. Though she refuses to don the proper mourning attire, Dodo cannot bring herself to demonize her late husband, something that comes all too easily to Kitty.

Instead, she reflects on their time together–their clandestine and passionate courtship, when he was a force of nature and she a willing follower; and the salad days of their marriage, before too many children sapped her vitality and his interest. She uncovers the frighteningly hypnotic power of the celebrity author she married. Now liberated from his hold on her, Dodo finds the courage to face her adult children, the sister who betrayed her, and the charming actress who claimed her husband’s love and left her heart aching.

A sweeping tale of love and loss that was long-listed for both the Man Booker Prize and the Orange Prize, Girl in a Blue Dress is both an intimate peek at the woman who was behind one of literature’s most esteemed men and a fascinating rumination on marriage that will resonate across centuries.
Summary from book, cover photo from barnesandnoble.com

My Review: The inspiration for this tale was drawn from Charles Dicken's failed marriage and the rumors surrounding it. The author has taken certain fictitious liberties in creating this story by changing all names and certain circumstances, for example Dodo bears eight children and loses two during their childhood whereas Catherine had ten children and only lost one. Yet many facts, such as the love Alfred has for Catherine's sisters and how he deeply morns the passing of one, remain true to history.

Set in Victorian society, the essence of Dickens is preserved within the life-like characters Arnold creates. Dicken's character is played by Alfred Gibson, an essentric writer with an uncanny ability to dazzle woman. Dorothea (Dodo) is cast in Catherine's role and she narrates this tale as an abandoned hermit woman set in the weeks following her estranged husband's death. The narrative alternates between Dodo's present and her past beginning as a love-struck priviledged teenager.

As the tale winds in and out of the past and present through trials and celebrations it is quite easy to become entirely absorbed. The message of  love's power is encountered in many forms and in the end demonstrates it's ability to make one forgive the unforgivable. This great work of art from a first time novelist entertains all the way through ending in a completely satisfying manner.

My Rating: 4 Stars

To Sum it up:  A tale of undying love and forgiveness spun from the threads of Dicken's failed marriage.

The Calligrapher's Daughter - Eugenia Kim

Summary: In early-twentieth-century Korea, Najin Han, the privileged daughter of a calligrapher, longs to choose her own destiny. Smart and headstrong, she is encouraged by her mother—but her stern father is determined to maintain tradition, especially as the Japanese steadily gain control of his beloved country. When he seeks to marry Najin into an aristocratic family, her mother defies generations of obedient wives and instead sends her to serve in the king’s court as a companion to a young princess. But the king is soon assassinated, and the centuries-old dynastic culture comes to its end.

In the shadow of the dying monarchy, Najin begins a journey through increasing oppression that will forever change her world. As she desperately seeks to continue her education, will the unexpected love she finds along the way be enough to sustain her through the violence and subjugation her country continues to face? Spanning thirty years, The Calligrapher’s Daughter is a richly drawn novel in the tradition of Lisa See and Amy Tan about a country torn between ancient customs and modern possibilities, a family ultimately united by love, and a woman who never gives up her search for freedom.
(summary and cover photo from www.thecalligraphersdaughter.com, book received free for review)

My Review: The Calligrapher's Daughter is set in the early-mid 1900's in Korea at a time when the Japanese were invading Korea. The Korean culture, heritage and individual identities were gravely threatened as the Japanese attempted to control everything from media to education. It is during this struggle that the narrator, at the age of nine, discovers that she does not have a name. She is referred to as the Calligrapher's daughter (her father's profession) or the daughter of the woman from Nim. Thus she grows up without her own identity.

Covering just over two decades, the main thread weaved throughout the story is that of identity. The narrator fights to find a balance between living up to the values of her heritage and surviving and seeking out a life of her own filled with happiness. All the while her basic survival is at stake. Maintaining the image of the family name is the utmost importance regardless of personal sacrifice yet an underlying message of love, though subtle at times, is there throughout the story.

Eugenia Kim does a fantastic job of bringing this era to life. She produces characters to love and some to despise. She brings a large amount of emotion to her tale. It is a historically informative tale, yet enjoyable. It is beautifully written with a poetic feel. This is a moving novel encompassing family bonds and loyalty. Emotions roar loudly throughout yet the novel, against all odds, manages to come to a satisfying close.

My Rating: 4 Stars

To sum it up: A culturally rich work of historical fiction.

The 19th Wife - David Ebershoff

This review comes to us from the lovely Jeannette Katzir, author of Broken Birds, The Story of My Momila, a memoir about the enduring effects of war.  As she writes about  her parent's harrowing experiences during the Holocaust to her own personal battles, she exposes the maladies of heart and mind, that those broken by war inevitably and unintentionally pass down to the generations that follow.  Read our review here.  Thanks, Jeannette, for your review!

You can also read another review from one of our LDS (Mormon) guest reviewers.
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Summary:  Faith, I tell them, is a mystery, elusive to many, and never easy to explain.

Sweeping and lyrical, spellbinding and unforgettable, David Ebershoff’s The 19th Wife combines epic historical fiction with a modern murder mystery to create a brilliant novel of literary suspense.

It is 1875, and Ann Eliza Young has recently separated from her powerful husband, Brigham Young, prophet and leader of the Mormon Church. Expelled and an outcast, Ann Eliza embarks on a crusade to end polygamy in the United States. A rich account of a family’s polygamous history is revealed, including how a young woman became a plural wife.

Soon after Ann Eliza’s story begins, a second exquisite narrative unfolds–a tale of murder involving a polygamist family in present-day Utah. Jordan Scott, a young man who was thrown out of his fundamentalist sect years earlier, must reenter the world that cast him aside in order to discover the truth behind his father’s death.

And as Ann Eliza’s narrative intertwines with that of Jordan’s search, readers are pulled deeper into the mysteries of love and faith.  (Summary and Image from http://www.ebershoff.com/ )

My Review:  The 19th Wife, by David Ebershoff, is a book about multiple marriages, a faction of Mormonism and murder. I have to admit that the idea of one man with many wives has always caused me reason to wonder WHY? Sure, it's great for the man, but what about the women?

The 19th Wife escorts you into this world. The murder is a vehicle that takes you through the book. The murder, which is being pinned on the 19th Wife, and the reintroduction of a THROWN AWAY son is a very quiet, back story. The main plot, the thrust of the story, and the reason I could not put it down, is because of the Mormonism.

The book explains the creation and evolution of Mormonism. It explained the premise behind one man/many women. I understand that mainstream Mormons do not practice this marriage arrangement, but as a fan of the television show; Big Love, I found the book fascinating.

My Rating: 4 stars.

Sum it up: I would say it is an intriguing book, well written and very interesting, and the story behind the murder is great also.

Call Me Kate - Molly Roe

Summary:  Coming of age amidst the seething unrest of the Civil War era, feisty fourteen-year-old Katie McCafferty infiltrates the Molly Maguires, a secret Irish organization, to rescue a lifelong friend.  Under the guise of "Dominick," a draft resister, Katie volunteers for a dangerous mission in hopes of preventing bloodshed.  Katie risks job, family, and ultimately her very life to intervene.  A series of tragedies challenge Katie's strength and ingenuity, and she faces a crisis of conscience.  Can she balance her sense of justice with the law?  (Summary from book cover and image from http://4.bp.blogspot.com/  Book given free for review.)

My Review:  I really enjoyed reading Call Me Kate.  It's definitely written for the younger of the YA audience with a strong emphasis on a historical event.  As a young female reader I think I would have thoroughly enjoyed a strong female protagonist related to what I was learning about in school (Civil War era).  It also teaches about an aspect of the Civil War I wasn't as familiar with.  Typically when I have read about the Civil war you learn about the disease, the huge death toll, the war tactics, the generals and the reasoning behind the war: abolishment of slavery.  This book brought to life what the draftees faced up in the North.  I wasn't surprised to learn that immigrants who were not yet citizens were drafted along with citizens, but again this was not something I knew before.  It also brought to life the prejudice and bigotry of the times.  It's sad and yet so true that even today we haven't gotten past our dislike, even hatred of people who aren't like ourselves. 

WARNING: SPOILER:

There is one aspect I'm struggling with.  I'm having a bit of a hard time believing a girl of those times would be quite that stubborn and force her opinion upon the men around her.  It just seems a bit preposterous. This is fiction and I think there must have been some women who were influential in their husband's or the men in their lives thinking.  But, that said, I can't imagine a girl in the 1860's being able to set up her own working environment that would help immigrant women have better working conditions.  A girl probably could have dreamed that (or maybe not), but actually believing it could happen?  I just can't buy that.  Women couldn't vote at that time, therefore it just doesn't ring true.  Therefore Katie's declining her marriage opportunity at the end of the book fell flat in my eyes.  Not that I want or expect every woman to settle down and marry the man available and offering.  It just doesn't fit with those times and what was expected of women.

END OF SPOILER

Overall, it was a fun read, full of interesting information of those times, and I learned quite a bit about the customs and traditions that shape our nation today.

Rating: 4 stars--couldn't hold a 5 star rating because it didn't hold me to its pages like a hostage, but it was a good read.

Sum it up: A courageous (if somewhat unbelievable) story about a heroine following her conscience to save a childhood friend.

The Silent Governess - Julie Klassen

Summary:  Olivia Keene is fleeing her own secret.  She never intended to overhear his.  But now that she has, what is Lord Bradley to do with her?  He cannot let her go, for were the truth to get out, he would lose everything--his reputation, his inheritance, his very home.

He gives Miss Keene little choice but to accept a post at Brightwell Court, where he can make certain she does not spread what she heard.  Keeping an eye on the young woman as she cares for the children, he finds himself drawn to her, even as he struggles against the growing attraction.  The clever Miss Keene is definitely hiding something.

Moving, mysterious, and romantic, The Silent Governess takes readers inside the intriguing life of a nineteenth-century governess in an English manor house where all is not as it appears.  (Summary from book - Image from http://www.amazon.com.uk/ )

My Review:  I borrowed The Silent Governess in the hopes of getting some light evening reading done while my husband is in Hawaii on business.  After all, if I'm going to be home alone with three kids for the week, I'm going to need to conserve my brain power at night so that I don't go all batty mid-morning. 

In the beginning, this book felt more YA Romance than Historical Fiction.  While I'm sure a great deal of research went into making certain aspects of the story correct, there was very little historical detail beyond manner of dress, custom, language, and the occasional mention of Parliament.  I really had no idea what was going on in the time period of the book. 

The story itself was simple and engaging with a fair amount of mystery and a wholesome romance. The author, Jane Klassen, is a self confessed fan of "all things Jane" -- both Jane Eyre and Jane Austen so it was not surprising that her story contained similarities to both in the writing style, characters, and thematic elements.  Since I love both Jane's as well, this was definitely a plus!

My biggest complaint was that, even though I was interested in the comings and goings of the characters and the final outcome of the story, it seemed to take an inordinate amount of time* to bring everything together and to a close.  Regardless, people who enjoy this kind of clean romance won't love it, but they'll like it well enough.

My Rating: 3.75 Stars. For the sensitive reader: No worries.  Because this book is published by Bethany House, there is a slight Christian tilt to it, but nothing so over done as to put off a less religious reader. 

Sum it up: A slower-paced Ibbotson with hints of Bronte and Austen that fell just short of all of them.

*Of course, that might have a little to do with the fact that I have Mockingjay (Book #3 in The Hunger Games Trilogy) waiting in the wings. 

The Persian Pickle Club - Sandra Dallas

Summary: It is the 1930's and hard times have hit Harveyville, Kansas, where the crops are burning up, and there's not a job to be found. For Queenie Bean, a young farm wife, a highlight of each week is the gathering of the Persian Pickle Club, a group of local ladies dedicated to improving their minds, exchanging gossip, and putting their quilting skills to good use. When a new member of the club stirs up a dark secret, the women must band together to support and protect one another. In her magical, memorable novel, Sandra Dallas explores the ties that unite women through good times and bad. (Image from http://www.borders.com and summary from back of the book.)

My Review: I feel like I've read this before. Maybe I haven't and the premise just feels familiar because of a common theme or message that is also in movies. I'm not sure. Regardless, The Persian Pickle Club is a fast and enjoyable read. It doesn't take long before you're attached to the characters and finding yourself biased by their opinions and riding along in their old automobiles charmed by their manners. It was interesting to see which character I related to most and why. As the story unfolds you learn why the club is called Persian Pickle. (It's another name for paisley...which, honestly, why didn't they just say paisley?) You also learn about the strong bond between women young and old that have come together to support each other outside of their club as well as in their quilting. It makes you want to go back in time and live in simpler times where you had friends to help you out the minute you picked up the party line (a phone line where everyone in town can listen in on your conversation if he so chooses).

The book takes a twist about half way through. You think you're along for a ride in depression era literature and out of the blue you're amidst a scandal, a murder, and abuse. Breaching the subject of abuse can be difficult, making sure to depict the horrible reality but not burdening the story so much that the reader wants to put the book down. Sandra Dallas pulled it off gracefully. My favorite part was the ending that leaves you questioning the answer you're given. I will not divulge what that is here. You must pick up the book to find out for yourself--it's only 196 pages, so there's really no excuse not to.

Rating: 4 stars.

Sum it up: Quick, little read with a fun twist.

Wolf Hall - Hilary Mantel

This review comes to us from Melissa McCurdy over at Gerbera Daisy Diaries. She's unbelievably well-read and occasionally graces our blog with her presence (and her reviews). We love having her!

Summary: England in the 1520s is a heartbeat from disaster. If the king dies without a male heir, the country could be destroyed by civil war. Henry VIII wants to annul his marriage of twenty years, and marry Anne Boleyn. The pope and most of Europe opposes him. The quest for the king’s freedom destroys his adviser, the brilliant Cardinal Wolsey, and leaves a power vacuum.

Into this impasse steps Thomas Cromwell. Cromwell is a wholly original man, a charmer and a bully, both idealist and opportunist, astute in reading people and a demon of energy: he is also a consummate politician, hardened by his personal losses, implacable in his ambition. But Henry is volatile: one day tender, one day murderous. Cromwell helps him break the opposition, but what will be the price of his triumph?

In inimitable style, Hilary Mantel presents a picture of a half-made society on the cusp of change, where individuals fight or embrace their fate with passion and courage. With a vast array of characters, overflowing with incident, the novel re-creates an era when the personal and political are separated by a hairbreadth, where success brings unlimited power but a single failure means death. (Summary from publisher - Image from amazon.com )

My Review: Henry VIII needs an heir – he needs Katherine of Aragon out and wants Anne Boleyn in. It’s up to Thomas Cromwell to figure out how to make it happen.

Thus begins the tumult of the English reformation.

Reams of paper have been devoted to this historical time period (including the recently popular, The Other Boleyn Girl). I have not read much of it other than what was required in high school and college. But Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall, makes this chaotic and violent event, modern and fresh.

She has brought to life characters lost to history books. Thomas Cromwell could walk off the page and become a modern day lobbyist or presidential advisor. Henry and Anne could be the precursor to Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton (or any other dysfunctional reality TV couple). He could also be a distant caricature of Elvis – a man of immense talent and judgment, but loses himself in gluttony and the influence of his advisors and the lust for a woman.

The brilliance of Mantel’s book is her dialogue. Never have I read a book where the dialogue was so rich, authentic, shrewd and, ultimately, witty. She has created living, breathing, individuals who seem as modern as the news in today’s paper. I would reach the end of a sentence or paragraph and often gasp, “Wow.” I’m convinced she created a time machine where she transported herself back to Henry VIII’s court and was a scribe to these individuals private conversations.

The downfall to this book is the immense character list. I guess every mother in the 16th century was fond of the name THOMAS (there were at least 10 in Wolf Hall) . It proved complicated to keep them all straight. The majority of the time, she used the personal pronoun, HE, to refer exclusively to Thomas Cromwell. But even that was hard to follow. Additionally, the Suffolks , Norfolks, Richmonds – any number of suffixes added to a name was difficult to place. This book tops out at 530 pages, so it’s not a weekend/beach read. It took me the entire month of May to finish it. But I should be thankful, I’ve learned the European copy is 650 pages!

My Rating: 4 stars. For the sensitive reader: There is some foul language (including the F bomb), but it is few and far between. Oh, and the occasional heretic burning at the stake!

Sum it up: Ultimately, this was an historically rich, cerebral, and engaging book, for Anglophile and novice alike.

Remarkable Creatures - Tracy Chevalier

Summary: From the moment she's struck by lightning as a baby, it is clear Mary Anning is different. Though poor and uneducated, she discovers on the windswept beaches of the English coast that she has a unique gift: "the eye" to spot fossils no one else can see. When Mary uncovers an unusual fossilized skeleton in the cliffs near her home, she sets the religious fathers on edge, the townspeople to gossip--and the scientific world alight. In an arena dominated by men, however, Mary is barred from the academic community; as a young woman with uncommon interests, she is suspected of sinful behavior. Nature is a threat, throwing bitter cold, storms, and landslips at her. And when she falls in love, it is with an impossible man.

Mary finds an unlikely champion in prickly Elizabeth Philpot, a middle-class spinster recently exiled from London, who shares her passion for scouring the beaches. Their relationship strikes a delicate balance between fierce loyalty, mutual appreciation, and barely suppressed envy. Ultimately, in the struggle to be recognized in the wider world, Mary and Elizabeth discover that friendship is their greatest ally.

Remarkable Creatures is an inspiring novel of how one woman's gift transcends class and social prejudice to lead to some of the most important discoveries of the nineteenth century. Above all, it is a revealing portrait of the intricate and resilient nature of female friendship. (Summary from book - Image from amazon.com )

My Review: I’ve long been an admirer of Tracy Chevalier. Not only because it’s incredibly fun to say her last name, but because I adored Girl with a Pearl Earring and The Virgin Blue and highly recommend them. Her later works – The Lady and the Unicorn and Falling Angels - didn’t sit as well with me and I must confess that because of my mild disappointment with them I didn’t even start Brightly Burning. However, I was instantly caught by the premise of this novel. I’ve always been fascinated by the earth - it’s formation, history, and all that that entails - and decided to give this one a whirl despite my feelings for the last few of her books.

I’m very glad I did. It reminded me of why I loved Chevalier’s writing in the first place. Her stories have an understated and calming elegance that is easy to sink in to and surprisingly captivating. Remarkable Creatures is a beautiful historical fiction, set in a time when the concept of an extended version of history, or even an extinct species, was beginning to shake the foundations of certain longstanding and devoutly held religious beliefs. I LOVED that it made me dissect my own beliefs about evolutionism vs. creationism and how (or if) the two could ever be reconciled. I think they can, but that’s another post for a different blog.

Beyond the opportunities offered for introspection, Remarkable Creatures is moving story about friendships gained, lost, and rediscovered. The characters of Mary Anning and Elizabeth Philpot were stunningly written and based on actual women who made real and significant contributions to the early geological community and never really received their due credit during their lifetimes. Despite their differences in class and education, they were able to form a bond over shared interests and it was fascinating to “watch,” through their alternating narrations, how each of them viewed the world. It was refreshing to read a book that wasn’t inordinately focused on some sappy, unrealistic romance, but instead dwelt in the deeper emotional territory of friendship, respect, and loyalty between women.

Overall, I recommend this book to anyone who has loved Tracy Chevalier before. It’s on a different track than Girl with a Pearl Earring and The Virgin Blue but it still resonated with me in the same quiet way.

My Rating: 4 Stars. As an added bonus, a sensitive reader will find very little if anything to object to (if my memory serves) in terms of language, sex, etc.

Sum it up: Chevalier regains some of her former glory with this story of scientific upheaval, true friendship, and fossils.

The Scarlet Pimpernel - Baroness Emmuska Orczy

Summary: In 1792, during the French Revolution's Reign of Terror, an English aristocrat known to be an ineffectual fop is actually a master of disguises who, with a small band of dedicated friends, undertakes dangerous missions to save members of the French nobility from the guillotine. (Summary courtesy Amazon.com)

My Review: Dashing hero, dangerous setting, beautiful woman, a secret society, crafty viliian. Sigh...all the things needed for an action-adventure.

This book is filled with the delicious suspense of watching the heroine slowly discover who the Pimpernel is and realize how terribly she misjudged her actions. The process is terribly romantic and, if you strip away the "cleverest woman in Europe" and the rich dashing nobleman, the fateful misunderstanding between the two is easy to relate to (effective communication is key in any relationship!).

Wikipedia and I agree that the Scarlet Pimpernel is the Batman of the 1790s with the same gorgeous, arrogant and lazy cover that the newer Batman utilizes. (I'll let you guess who I was imagining as the Pimpernel :)

While not literature, this book is a classic and very worth reading. It is set during the French Revolution and describes the actions of the rebellion in a negative way (its hard to sugar coat the daily murdering of 100+ aristocrat men, women, and children). For that reason it was educational and a reminder that I know very little about non-US history. I am now adding "Tale of Two Cities" to my reading list.

My rating: 4 stars

Sum it up: A quick read if you want to snuggle down with a dashing hero for the evening.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Also reviewed by Mindy and Anne, a guest reviewer.

Summary: January 1946: Writer Juliet Ashton receives a letter from a stranger, a founding member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. And so begins a remarkable tale of the island of Guernsey during the German Occupation, and of a society as extraordinary as its name. (Summary from back of the book and image from Powells.com)

My Review: Absolutely lovely, that's how I'd describe this book. It's hard not to want to climb inside the pages and start a new life with your brand new friends: the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I utterly fell in love with the quirky characters, the witty humor, and the kindness the people portrayed. It made me want to find a small island, move there, and raise my children.

I had a few quotes I thoroughly enjoyed and that I believe will sell you on the novel:

• Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad books--quirky Isola.
• Men are more interesting in books than they are in real life--Isola again.
• I also bought...an eye-lash curler--which makes my eyes cross whenever I use it--Juliet.
• ...and the clever customers ask for a recommendation instead, whereupon we frog-march them over to a particular volume and command them to read it--Juliet. (I can relate to this as a teacher.)
  
• I am mostly above petty vengeance--Juliet.
• I think you learn more if you're laughing at the same time--John Booker.
• Your questions regarding that gentleman are very delicate, very subtle, very much like being smacked in the head with a mallet--Juliet. (*Absolute favorite line in the book.)
  

Humanity and living through tragedy threads its way through this story depicting the German Occupation of the English Channel Islands. I appreciated its showing that there were good and bad people on both sides, German and English. It depicted people with strength of character and devoted to what they knew to be right stuck in difficult, sometimes horrible situations.

It's beautifully written through the format of correspondence, letters and telegrams. I want to start writing letters again (to whom, I'm not sure) just so I can enjoy the intimate confidence of a good friend, both revealing thoughts and learning some. This book is delightful, refreshing, savored in only the way devouring a book can be. I loved it! You should pick up this book...immediately. (See: I'm taking the advice given in the book--commanding you to read it.)

My Rating: 5 Stars

Sum it up: A wonderful escape into a different time where after suffering there is healing.

Rainwater - Sandra Brown (with Author Interview)

Don't forget to check back tomorrow, December 11th, to enter our Rainwater Giveaway!

Summary: The year is 1934. With the country in the stranglehold of drought and economic depression, Ella Barron runs her Texas boarding house with an efficiency that ensures her life will be kept in balance. Between chores of cooking and cleaning for her residents, she cares for her ten-year-old so, Solly, a sweet but challenging child whose misunderstood behavior finds Ella on the receiving end of pity, derision, and suspicion.

When David Rainwater arrives at the house looking for lodging, he comes recommended by a trusted friend as "a man of impeccable character." But Ella senses that admitting Mr. Rainwater will bring about unsettling changes.

However, times are hard, and in order to make ends meet, Ella's house must remain one hundred percent occupied. So Mr. Rainwater moves into her house...and impacts her life in ways Ella could never have foreseen.

The changes are echoed by the turbulence beyond the house walls. Friends and neighbors who've thus far maintained a tenuous grip on their meager livelihoods now face foreclosure and financial ruin. In an effort to save their families from homelessness and hunger, farmers and cattlemen are forced to make choices that come with heartrending consequences.
The climate of desperation creates a fertile atmosphere for racial tensions and social unrest. Conrad Ellis--privileged and spoiled and Ella's nemesis since childhood--steps into this arena of teeming hostility to exact his vengeance and demonstrate the extent of his blind hatred and unlimited cruelty. He and his gang of hoodlums come to embody the rule of law, and no one in Gilead, Texas , is safe. Particularly Ella and Solly.

In this hotbed of uncertainty, Ella finds Mr. Rainwater a calming presence. She is moved by the kindness he shows other boards, Solly...and Ella herself. Slowly, she beings to rely on his soft-spokenness, his restraint, and the steely resolve of his convictions.

And on the hottest most violent night of the summer, those principles will be put to the ultimate test. (Summary from book cover -image from sandrabrown.net)
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Mindy's Review: I went into this book a little bit wary. The only Sandra Brown experience I’ve had is when I checked out one of her audio books at the library and was so utterly turned off by the reader that I didn’t make it more than a few chapters in before I gave up entirely. This time, with gorgeous hardcover in hand, it didn’t take long before I was captivated by Ella, a stubborn, and fiercely independent single mother holding it all together for the sake of her young autistic son and increasingly drawn to the utterly charming Mr. Rainwater – a true southern gentleman dying from a terminal disease. I was immersed in the daily lives and hardships of Brown's characters and I frequently imagined myself as a silent occupant in Ella’s boarding house, watching all the goings on with genuine interest and concern. Alternately, I occasionally felt like I wasn’t as deeply entrenched in the book as I should have been. Like I should have been even more horrified by things that were happening, and I wasn't. I'm going to assume that failing probably has more to do with my attempts to read it over the holidays than with the actual storyline.

Rainwater has quite a bit of historical detail without being crusty and boring (hallelujah!). I was pleasantly surprised to find a leisurely-paced romantic novel that conveyed a depth of emotion and character not ordinarily found in your standard romantic fiction. At turns horrifying and tender, this book ultimately ends when one character makes a final, heart-rending sacrifice for another. Don’t worry, I won’t spoil it for you, but I will say that I held my breath for much of the final pages.

Her rating: 4.25 Stars. For the sensitive reader--There are some scenes of violence in the book, towards both people and animals, that might make you queasy. What sexual situations there were, were more tender than passionate. They didn't bother me, but I'm a desensitized heathen, so you be your own judge....

Sum it up: An emotional and pleasantly surprising historical fiction.
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Kims Review: It is rare that I miss a novel that has Sandra Brown's name on it. I have been a fan for a long time and am constantly going back to re-read the books that I enjoyed most. I own nearly all of them and always fall back on them when nothing else holds my attention.
Rainwater is a significant departure from Brown's previous novels. In fact, correct me if I am wrong, but I think this is her first historical fiction. The time period in which it is set was riddled with emotional travesties and heart wrenching decisions for even the most wealthy of society. The factual references to the depressed economy and the racial tensions dividing the country, make it hard to remember that the book is billed as "fiction" especially while the characters scream for you to make them into a reality.

On the brink of the Great Depression, Ella runs her boarding house with strength and rigorous routine. Her and her young son and carved a life out of that routine, Ella depends on it to keep her son on track. Solly is dubbed a "troubled child". Prone to fits and tantrums, he is always a challenge for the single mother.

When she finds one of her rooms vacant she reluctantly takes on a new boarder, after all he is a family member of the towns doctor. Mr David Rainwater moves in. And thus begins the journey.....

I have so much to say about this novel, but I can't say much without some serious spoilers. But what I can say is this: Sandra Brown yet again strikes gold. It is a book that will make you understand the time, the depressed economy, the emotions of the people and the turmoil of not knowing what it will all come to. Rainwater shows Ella lessons of life that we all would do better learning, but cannot until we open ourselves to the possibility of truly unconditional love.

Her Rating: 5 unbelievable stars

Sum it up: A wonderful twist from a wonderful author.
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Average Rating : 4.63 Stars
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Sandra Brown Interview: Below is Kim's interview with best-selling author Sandra Brown. Beware. This interview DOES CONTAIN SPOILERS.

Rainwater is quite a departure from your thrillers. Where did the inspiration for this story come from?

A vivid memory of my father’s childhood occurred when he was about eight years old. His father, my grandfather, had a showdown with armed federal agents who arrived at his dairy farm demanding that he pour out milk he couldn’t sell because of an over‑supplied market. My grandfather refused to waste good milk when so many families in the area were going hungry. Gun‑toting relatives backed him up, and eventually the agents retreated. No shots were fired, but it was a tense situation that obviously made a lasting memory for my father. My grandfather continued giving away his surplus milk. I also wanted to write about a fiercely independent and unhappy woman who is taught how to live by a man who is dying.

You provide such rich detail regarding life during the Great Depression. How did you conduct your research?

A lot of research was required, particularly into the various government programs – when they went into effect, when they were actively being carried out. The stories that were most wrenching were eyewitness accounts of livestock being shot, not just in Texas but in many plains states. Sometimes it was an entire herd; other times it was the family milk cow. People alive today remember how devastating it was to watch that heart‑wrenching slaughter. I used the Internet for newspaper stories and tapped into various libraries to read journals and printed transcripts of interviews.

One part of the story hinges on a government program to buy cows from farmers. If the cows aren't healthy enough, they’re shot and buried, with no chance for meat or milk to be distributed to the needy. Is this based on an actual depression-era program? How did people react to it at the time?

There were two government programs at the time which were designed to provide economic relief. One was the Federal Surplus Relief Corporation. Its purpose was to remove surplus commodities, among them milk, from the open market in an attempt to create false demands and thereby raise prices. My grandfather ran afoul of that program by refusing to have his surplus “removed.” The other was the Drought Relief Services. This agency purchased dairy and beef cattle for pennies on the dollar. The cows deemed still edible were sent to meat processing plants for canning and distribution to soup kitchens. All others were shot at point of sale. While this provided dairymen and cattlemen immediate relief – with cash – it also eliminated their chance of fiscal recovery because their herds, the source of their livelihoods, were destroyed. I’m sure most grasped the irony of that, and were torn about their decision, as Ollie Thompson was in the book.

The main character, Ella, is in quite a bind in the novel. Despite being better off than some people, she’’s a young woman without much freedom because she’’s tied to the boarding house and her child. Do you see parallels between her situation and difficulties people have in today’’s economy?

Absolutely. Although my timing was coincidental. I began writing RAINWATER before the bottom fell out of our economy in the autumn of 2008. But I think Ella’s struggle, particularly as a single parent, is reflective of what many people are experiencing today. It’s difficult to plan – or even to dream – of a better, happier future when survival is the business of the day. Ella had few choices. Unfortunately a lot of Americans are feeling that same sense of helplessness and entrapment.

What’s most interesting to you about Ella’s relationship with her son Solly?

As a mother, my heart ached for her. I could appreciate how terribly Solly’s rejection of her touch must have hurt. I get my feelings hurt when the kids don’t call! How horrible it must have been for Ella each time her son rebuffed her affections. I also admired her for being so fiercely protective of him. It’s even being debated by book clubs whether or not her protection was detrimental. At that point in time, autism hadn’t been named. Solly was misunderstood and feared. Would he have been safer if confined to an institution? Yet even the thought of that is appalling. One can understand Ella’s dilemma.

What’s your favorite moment in this book?

The scene where Mr. Rainwater gives Ella the copy of A FAREWELL TO ARMS. Each time I worked on it, every time I read that scene now, I get tears in my eyes.

As with most of your work, there’s a twist at the end of the story. Did you think of the twist first, or is this something that you developed along the way?

I had written about four chapters before I went back and wrote the prologue. Not until then did I realize that the story should have a “narrator.” It was while I was writing the prologue that I realized. . .well, you know.

What was the hardest thing about writing a novel in a different (non-thriller) genre?

I wouldn’t say it was harder, just different. Writing Rainwater was a refreshing change of pace . . . a change of everything, in fact. Typically I have a fairly good grip on the plot of a suspense novel before I set about writing it. I must know beforehand how the mystery ultimately will be solved. With Rainwater, I began with Dr. Kincaid bringing David Rainwater to Ella’s door and then let the story unfold on its own. I had to watch myself with Ella’s reactions, not let them be those of a contemporary woman. To any giving situation, I couldn’t allow her to react as, say, I would. I had to keep reminding myself that even though she was an independent, self-supporting woman, she lived in 1934 and that all the mores and mind-sets of that time period applied. She was extremely sensitive to “image,” so I had to take that into account.

Do you plan to write another novel similar in tone to this story or are you going back to writing thrillers after RAINWATER?

I’ve been requested to write another book in the vein of Rainwater. I’m seriously considering it. I’d very much like to if a story compels me the way this one did, and if the timing is right.

When you’re finished writing a book, do you do anything special to celebrate or do you just dive right into the next project?

My husband and I like to travel, by ourselves, with our family, or with friends. I try to plan a trip as a “celebration.” I’ll go to a spa for a day or two as a treat. But after a few weeks of goofing off, I’m eager to get into another project.

Your son Ryan Brown is following in your literary footsteps –– writing a novel to be published in May 2010. Did you give him any special motherly or professional advice?

PLAY DEAD is such a fun read, I have no qualms about his storytelling ability. A zombie football team. Go figure! That must have come from his dad’s side of the family! But, honestly, the best advice I could give Ryan is the same I’d give any starting writer. It’s really a question: “What are you willing to give up in order to do this?” Because writing isn’t just a craft or a profession, it’s a way of life. Be prepared to work your buns off. Be prepared to live with doubt, fear, and exhaustion of every kind. I have no doubt that he’s got the right stuff. He’s got a fantastic imagination, and he’s a hard worker. He applies himself to the WORK. For that I’m very proud.

As stated in my other review, I have read almost all of your books. In Unspeakable I found some content that was a little more graphic than previous books (specifically the scene with the mouse and the scene with the young girl). I also didn't see it as much in novels that came after. Was there something that provoked that in your writing? Or was it as simple as it fitting in the plot as it needed to?

This novel dealt with escaped convicts. Their actions and language were consistent with their characterizations. Some scenes were uncomfortable for me to write, but I felt that in this instance the grittiness was called for.

Thanks for the interview, Sandra!!

This book was given to us for review by Simon & Shuster.

Am I Not a Man? : The Dred Scott Story - Mark L. Shurtleff

Summary: An illiterate slave, Dred Scott trusted in an all-white, slave-owning jury to declare him free. But after briefly experiencing the glory of freedom and manhood, a new state Supreme Court ordered the cold steel of the shackles to be closed again around his wrists and ankles. Falling to his knees, Dred cried, "Ain't I a man?" Dred answered his own question by rising and taking his fight to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Dred ultimately lost his epic battle when the Chief Justice declared that a black man was so inferior that he had "no rights a white man was bound to respect."

Dred died not knowing that his undying courage led directly to the election of President Abraham Lincoln and the emancipation proclamation.

Dred Scott's inspiring and compelling true story of adventure, courage, love, hatred, and friendship parallels the history of this nation from the long night of slavery to the narrow crack in the door that would ultimately lead to freedom and equality for all men. Summary and cover photo from valorpublishinggroup.com

My Review: The elegant writing style of Mark Shurtleff brings the story of Dred Scott, to life. Dred Scott was a hardworking, kind and self-sacrificing slave living in the 1800's. He dreams of freedom and once he learns that it may be obtainable he chooses to go to court for it. His courage to fight for the freedom of his family paved the way for the abolishment of slavery.

This book toes the line between factual history and historical fiction. It grants the reader a look into the past by telling a story without merging (for the most part) into dry textbook style writing. There are times that the writing veers off to include the history of Roosevelt, Lincoln and even early Mormons and I found myself skimming in order to get back to the heart of the story. When the tale focused on the Scott and the Blow families, I became immersed in the book, many times my eyes filling with tears. Overall a well-written book, bringing emotion to history.

My Rating: 4 Stars

Sum it up: A powerful tale of a strong man whose fight for freedom played a vital role in the freeing of all slaves.

Cry, The Beloved Country - Alan Paton

Summary: An immediate worldwide bestseller when it was published in 1948, Alan Paton's impassioned novel about a black man's country under white man's law is a work of searing beauty. Cry, the Beloved Country is the deeply moving story of the Zulu pastor Stephen Kumalo and his son Absalom, set against the background of a land and a people riven by racial injustice. Remarkable for its lyricism, unforgettable for character and incident, Cry, the Beloved Country is a classic work of love and hope, courage and endurance, born of the dignity of man. (Summary from the back of the book and image from Powells.com)

My Review: This book had many great themes about redemption, hate/love, sin, history, race, language, learning, to name a few. It was a nice look into South African history although it stops short because of the date it was finished--the author couldn't know how things would take a turn for the worst. The characters and the outcomes of their decisions were painted perfectly true to life. They have vices, moments of weakness, self indulgence, and internal torment and also heart-warming compassion and charity.

There are two quotes I felt exceptionally compelling and sum up the message of the book nicely:
"In the deserted harbour there is yet water that laps against the quays. In the dark and silent forest there is a leaf that falls. Behind the polished panelling the white ant eats away the wood. Nothing is ever quiet, except for fools." page 224
and
"I have one great fear in my heart, that one day when they turn to loving they will find we are turned to hating. Oh, the grave and sombre words." page 311

What I couldn't get past was the punctuation--or the lack thereof. Dialogue punctuation is too important not to use...at all. For me that really took away from the book. I disliked having to go back and count the number of lines above to figure out who was saying what after a while. Annoying. It was a one time read, one I'm glad I read.

Rating: 3.5 stars The punctuation lowered this rating, otherwise it would probably be 4.5.

In a phrase: A realistic history of the people of South Africa.

The Book Thief - Markus Zusak

Also reviewed by Heather.

Summary: By her brother's graveside, Liesel Meminger's life is changed when she picks up a single object, partially hidden in the snow. It is The Grave Digger's Handbook, left there by accident, and it is her first act of book thievery. So begins a love affair with books and words, as Liesel, with the help of her accordian-playing foster father, learns to read. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever there are books to be found.

But these are dangerous times. When Liesel's foster family hides a Jew in their basement, Liesel's world is both opened up and closed down.

In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time. (Summary from back of the book and image from Powells.com)

My Review: This was a heavy book--both literally, weighing in at 550 pages, and figuratively. Rightfully so as it deals with WWII and the Holocaust. Zusak paints pictures, stark imagery, throughout the entire book. He does a good job of making their world feel surreal to the characters as only someone living through perilous times could feel. In so doing, he depicts a surreal, scary and sometimes horrible, world to the reader.

Then there are the characters. So real. So believable. So endearing and yet, so flawed. There is no 'happy' ending, but again this is true of life that continued after so much death and loss especially in war times.

And wouldn't you like to sit down with Death after having met a character portrayed like he is in this book? I know I would. What a fascinating spin on life, or death: take your pick. What a cool idea for a narrator, specifically one that saw so much death in a short period of time.

My favorite educational aspect to this book was the emphasis on words, literacy, and reading. It accurately explains how it truly was Hitler's words that created all the pain and suffering endured by so many, most specifically the Jews. His book, Mein Kampf, was like a Bible to the German people of the time--whether because they wanted it to be or because it saved their skin by making them seem loyal. I love the stark message that words can be both beautiful and evil. Like so many things in life, if done correctly, it is a beautiful, wonderful thing. If done incorrectly, it can be painfully torturous. Language, words, the intent behind the words can change so much either to hurt or help. What a great lesson for Young Adults.

I have a hard time giving a book 5 stars that doesn't leave me wanting more, so this book would earn 4.5 from me. Having read Night, by Elie Wiesel is what I based this opinion on. Despite how awfully heartbreaking that book is, I left wanting to understand more of his plight. This book, not so much. I was done by the 550th page.

That and it seemed a bit on the excessive side with swearing, even if it was done in German most of the time. I was a bit surprised it was a Young Adult book because of this. I thoroughly enjoyed all the German (non-swearing) phrases, having studied it while in school. I'm glad I read it, but I'm not sure I'll pick it up again.

Rating: 4.5 stars

In a phrase: A different spin on a Holocaust book.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

Also reviewed by Kari and Anne, one of our guest reviewers.

Summary: January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she'd never met, a native of Guernsey, the British island once occupied by the Nazis. He'd come across her name on the flyleaf of a secondhand volume by Charles Lamb. Perhaps she could tell him where he might find more books by this author.

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, she is drawn into the world of this man and his friends, all members of the Guernsey Literary and the Potato Peel Pie Society, a unique book club formed in a unique, spur-of-the-moment way: as an alibi to protect its members from arrests by the Germans.

Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the Society's charming, deeply human members, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all. Through their letters she learns about their island, their taste in books, and the powerful transformative impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds there will change her forever.

My review: I expected a lot of this book. So many people have been going off about it's greatness that I was hoping it would be really good (and fearing it would one of those books that gets so built up in my mind that it turns out to be a big fat flop - like Atonement).

It took me a while to get into the story because I've been busy with other things and wasn't able to sit down for more than two minutes at a time. The good news is, since this book is composed almost entirely in letters, it was easy to read in short bursts. It wasn't, however, very good that way. I couldn't figure out what all the fuss was about or connect with the story, emotions, and characters. I thought it was interesting, but not particularly extraordinary.

However, once I was actually able to sit down and dedicate a good chunk of time to this book, I found myself devouring letter after letter--promising myself that each one would be the last --and then reading just one more. I stayed up well past 2 AM to finish because I couldn't bear not knowing how it was going to end.

And so it turns out that I loved this book! From Juliet's defiant spirit and the unusual beginnings of the literary society, to it's vivid and quirky members -- each letter was an absolute treat. The authors' interjections of humor, horror, history, and romance in to the storyline were aptly placed and, when I closed this book, I was sad to lose the company of such thoroughly engaging characters. I highly recommend it to anyone that is looking for a book that will make them sigh when they finish it and think about it long after.

My rating: 5 Stars

Sum it up: A fascinating piece of historical fiction that needs to be consumed to be truly appreciated.