The Berkshires 1974: A group of interesting, artistic teens meet at summer camp and stay connected through middle age despite diverging life trajector...moreThe Berkshires 1974: A group of interesting, artistic teens meet at summer camp and stay connected through middle age despite diverging life trajectories. Fans of Jonathan Franzen and Jeffrey Eugenides are likely to appreciate Wolitzer's deft perceptions of contemporary human nature.(less)
Predicated on Alabama and Oklahoma's restrictive new immigration laws, Askew creates a whole town of flawed but genuine characters to dramatize the hu...morePredicated on Alabama and Oklahoma's restrictive new immigration laws, Askew creates a whole town of flawed but genuine characters to dramatize the human consequences of this controversial legislation. Equal parts humor, and tension, the plot and characters add up to a really good read. (less)
If you love light British mysteries, you need to try this series! Lady Georgiana Rannoch is 35th in line for the British throne, but she has a one maj...moreIf you love light British mysteries, you need to try this series! Lady Georgiana Rannoch is 35th in line for the British throne, but she has a one major problem... she's broke. It's the 1930's and convention says that British royalty shouldn't work, so Georgie has to find creative ways to support herself. The latest book, The Twelve Clue of Christmas, brings us to the English countryside, where Georgie has been hired to help host a traditional English Christmas for paying guests. It's not the quaint Christmas planned, when dead bodies start showing up at the same time the guests arrive. And did I mention that Georgie's on again/off again boyfriend Darcy also makes an appearance? This could be the series best book yet. Recommended for fans of humorous mysteries and historical fiction. (less)
Only a novelist as skilled as Geraldine Brooks could turn the plague into riveting historical fiction. The reader meets Anna Frith after the plague ha...moreOnly a novelist as skilled as Geraldine Brooks could turn the plague into riveting historical fiction. The reader meets Anna Frith after the plague has wiped out most of the population of an isolated English village in the 1660s. Anna recounts the year of the plague and how she taught herself about what herbs and remedies could help ease the pain and suffering of the people in the village.
The author shows how ordinary people deal with adversity in different ways. While some react to the disease with anger, Ann finds strength she didn't know she possessed. This is a great novel for not only fans of historic fiction, but also those who enjoy strong female characters.
I can honestly see this new author as the new James Patterson -- very cunning and lightening fast action bring together a crime thriller like no other...moreI can honestly see this new author as the new James Patterson -- very cunning and lightening fast action bring together a crime thriller like no other. "Jack" is a career criminal who has been asked to help on a big casino hit that went wrong. While everyone is in pursue, Jack manages to either fly under the radar or right under the noses of cops and the FBI. While eluding everyone's grasp, he also unfolds a caper that went wrong five years ago in Kuala Lumpur that was the reason he now has to pay back a crime boss. Excellent writing from a virtual unknown who won't be unknown for long.(less)
This is the story of two Dutch couples who must make a huge decision regarding the future of their children over the course of one long over-priced me...moreThis is the story of two Dutch couples who must make a huge decision regarding the future of their children over the course of one long over-priced meal. The relationships between the parents and that of their children unfolds over banal talk of the weather and summer plans but what must really be discussed is simmering to the top as each parent struggles with the horrific reality of what their fifteen-year-old sons have done. Quite a compelling story that will keep you guessing until the very end. (less)
Set primarily in England, the story follows Ursula Todd forward and backward through two World Wars as she relives her experiences in different ways....moreSet primarily in England, the story follows Ursula Todd forward and backward through two World Wars as she relives her experiences in different ways. It's a compelling journey through one woman's alternative histories.(less)
A brutal look at the daily life of a prisoner in a Soviet gulag. Ivan Denisovich chronicles the mundane struggle to survive in a sealed off world livi...moreA brutal look at the daily life of a prisoner in a Soviet gulag. Ivan Denisovich chronicles the mundane struggle to survive in a sealed off world living by "survival of the fittest" rules. There are moments of compassion and grace, but it paints a vivid picture of the horrible world so many endured in Soviet labor camps. Not for the faint of heart, but a powerful, essential read.(less)
Splendid coming of age story told via the reminiscences of Toru Watanabe looking back on his college days and being torn between two women. He had a l...moreSplendid coming of age story told via the reminiscences of Toru Watanabe looking back on his college days and being torn between two women. He had a long history with the beautiful, but emotionally troubled Naoko, but was instantly smitten upon meeting the vivacious and outgoing Midori. All of this is set against the backdrop of political unrest during the tumultuous 1960s. The title is taken from The Beatles song, a favorite song of Naoko's that constantly appears during the story.
Secret histories. Spies. Intrigue. These are all the things Eloise believes she'll find while in England researching the elusive Pink Carnation spy fo...moreSecret histories. Spies. Intrigue. These are all the things Eloise believes she'll find while in England researching the elusive Pink Carnation spy for her dissertation. After she is granted access to the Selwick family papers, a family which boasts the ultra-famous Purple Gentian spy who had ties and dealings with the Pink Carnation, Eloise is transported back in time and what she finds there changes everything she thought she knew. Written as a book within a book, the history of the Pink Carnation weaves its way through Eloise's story, making for a thoroughly enjoyable read. (less)
Hilariously funny, this is a novel told through letters between a twelve year old kid named Joey Margolis and New York Giants third baseman, Charlie B...moreHilariously funny, this is a novel told through letters between a twelve year old kid named Joey Margolis and New York Giants third baseman, Charlie Banks. Set in 1940s during WWII.
Laugh out loud funny and in some parts tear jerking. And well worth it.(less)
Matthew King’s daughters—Scottie, a feisty ten-year-old, and Alex, a seventeen-year-old—are out of control, and their charismatic, thrill-seeking moth...moreMatthew King’s daughters—Scottie, a feisty ten-year-old, and Alex, a seventeen-year-old—are out of control, and their charismatic, thrill-seeking mother, Joanie, lies in a coma after a boat-racing accident. She will soon be taken off life support. As Matt gathers his wife’s friends and family to say their final goodbyes, a difficult situation is made worse by the sudden discovery that there’s one person who hasn’t been told: the man with whom Joanie had been having an affair.
The narrator really did a good job with this one. A depressing topic but it didn't really weigh you down like you would expect. (less)
Set in the 19th century colonial mining towns of South Africa, The Fever Tree is a magnificent novel that will transport you and trouble you, but ulti...moreSet in the 19th century colonial mining towns of South Africa, The Fever Tree is a magnificent novel that will transport you and trouble you, but ultimately leave you hopeful. After the death of her father, Frances Irvine is left in financial ruin. Saved by the proposal of a distant relative of her father, the young Dr. Edwin Matthews, Frances finds herself on a ship bound for South Africa, engaged to a man she hardly knows and remembers only with disdain. Enter the suave William Westbrook, a fellow passenger on the long sea voyage who leads Frances to hope for a different future than the one that awaits her on the cape. When she arrives, the naïve Frances is faced with a bitterly hard world filled with disease, suffering, greed, and injustice, for which her genteel upbringing has left her woefully unprepared; worse, Edwin and William have very different ideas about their duty to that world. Unsure of whom to trust and blinded by her own prejudices, Frances’ physical and emotional journey is a harsh one—and, if you’re anything like me, one that will keep you turning the pages well past bed time. (less)
This book is an excellent historical piece on 1878 Paris. Three sisters and a mother who is drunk on absinthe all the time must content with the sudde...moreThis book is an excellent historical piece on 1878 Paris. Three sisters and a mother who is drunk on absinthe all the time must content with the sudden death of the wage-earning father. The oldest sister, Antionette, gets stage work in a play, but the two youngest girls go to the Paris Opera to dance. For a small bit of wages, they are trained for the stage. The middle sister, Marie, sees the ballet stage as an escape and puts her whole heart into it. Soon, she is modeling for Edgar Degas and will be immortalized in his statuette "Little Dancer, Aged Fourteen". After a time, she is chosen by a patron with very peculiar desires. While the eldest sister gets herself into a ton of trouble, Marie must try to pull them all together and keep them out of the poor house.(less)
Drawing comparisons to Downton Abbey and Out of Africa, The Ashford Affair is a magnificent tale of how one dramatic secret shaped a family for genera...moreDrawing comparisons to Downton Abbey and Out of Africa, The Ashford Affair is a magnificent tale of how one dramatic secret shaped a family for generations. It centers on Clementine, the youngest grandchild in a sprawling family, now a grown-up lawyer in a powerful Manhattan firm, and Addie, the ailing matriarch whom Clem adores and equates with a sense of home and belonging. The novel deftly maneuvers between present day New York City, pre- and post- WWI London, and Kenya in the 1920’s, as Clem tries to resolve the grandmother she knows with what she is learning about her past; particularly in regards to Addie's enigmatic cousin, Bea. Fortunately, we as the readers are treated to the full story of Addie’s extraordinary life—from her arrival as the orphaned “poor relation” at grand Ashford House to her marriage in British Kenya and subsequent life in New York—as the parallel narrative structure sweeps the reader backward and forward in time, heightening the drama and making the most of surprising plot twists. In the end, it is one of those thoroughly satisfying novels that, once you reach the final page, you’re tempted to turn back to the beginning, just so you can linger in the Ashford world a while longer. (less)
It took sixty-five years, but the maligned darling of the Jazz Age Zelda Fitzgerald has finally been given her fictional due: Theresa Anne Fowler’s st...moreIt took sixty-five years, but the maligned darling of the Jazz Age Zelda Fitzgerald has finally been given her fictional due: Theresa Anne Fowler’s stirring new novel recounts the tumultuous marriage of Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald from Zelda’s perspective, shedding light and humanity on the woman history has (until now) too often reduced to a caricature. Fowler’s Zelda is certainly as wild and reckless as one would expect, especially in the early days, but she also comes across as naïve, yearning for adventure and excitement—both of which Scott delivers. As the novel progresses, she is shown to have talent and ambition of her own as a writer, an artist, and a ballerina; though in each she is thwarted by both her husband’s jealousy and, perhaps, the same delusions of grandeur that plagued Scott, wherein failure of any kind was insurmountable. The rise and eventual unraveling of their marriage, closely parallel to Scott’s career, provides the arc of the book, with Fowler doing an excellent job of capturing the complex dynamic that existed between two such exuberant people: Though there is no doubt that they loved each other, there is also no question that they destroyed one another. It is a tragic, but well-known story; however, Fowler’s recounting adds a new twist to the narrative, at last allowing Zelda a chance to tell her side of the story. Regardless of blame, it is a story that will continue to fascinate, page after engrossing page.(less)
When I picked this book to read for our Book Discussion Groups, I just assumed that I had read it in High School. I knew the story. But when I opened...moreWhen I picked this book to read for our Book Discussion Groups, I just assumed that I had read it in High School. I knew the story. But when I opened the pages, I discovered that not only had I not read it ever before but I was inextricably drawn into the story of Jay Gatsby and his high-flying but tragic life. I was thrilled to be in the "Roaring Twenties" on the shore in Long Island swept away by the atmosphere and music of the age. The narrator, Nick Carraway, is a most admirable storyteller. Although told from memory two years after the incidents described, the reader is convinced of Nick's honesty and fidelity to the story. Daisy Buchanan is seen as an ethereal beauty for whom material happiness is a given and so is the love bestowed upon her by others. Nick takes the time to analyze the actions of these ultra-rich individuals and the view of them is ultimately not a favorable one. For Jay Gatsby, the wealth is newly attained and for Daisy and her husband Tom, the wealth is of the generations. The conflict arises early on when Jay manipulates Nick into a meeting between Jay and Daisy. I won't give away the ending but I will say that I was tantilized by the scandal that brings down Gatsby and ultimately convinces Nick to return back West to his place of origin.(less)
Lady Emma Ashton didn’t marry for love, but after her new husband dies on an African safari, she learns that he felt differently. In an effort to get...moreLady Emma Ashton didn’t marry for love, but after her new husband dies on an African safari, she learns that he felt differently. In an effort to get to know him better, Emma pours over his journals and papers only to discover a rather different man than the boorish hunter she thought him to be: a patron of the French Impressionists, a classical scholar, a collector of antiquities, and a man who loved her deeply. In her quest to learn about Ashton, she finds she shares his passion for the classics; and as she begins studying Greek and spending more time at the British Museum with his friends and colleagues, she also finds out he was somehow involved in a forgery scheme there. Unsure of whom among Ashton’s friends she should trust, she instead relies on her own band of eccentric friends to solve the mystery and restore the priceless originals her husband has collected to their rightful place in the British Museum. Filled with suspense, intrigue, and a plucky heroine determined to flout social conventions at almost every opportunity (Emma will drink port after dinner and attend college lectures as she pleases, thank you very much), And Only to Deceive is an utterly enjoyable historical mystery that might even leave you reaching for that dusty copy of The Iliad you were supposed to have read back in high school…For the less ambitious (and I count myself among them), there is also a promising series of Lady Emma sequels. (less)
The Last Summer opens during the summer before the outbreak of World War I, when the innocence of both the world, and the young protagonist, Clarissa...moreThe Last Summer opens during the summer before the outbreak of World War I, when the innocence of both the world, and the young protagonist, Clarissa Granville, is lost. That momentous summer, Clarissa falls in love with the son of her family’s housekeeper, who is home from Oxford, visiting with her older brothers. The novel follows their tragic, tortuous romance: one that is continuously beset by their families, their choices, the War, and its aftermath. With echoes of The Great Gatsby and even TV’s Downton Abbey, it tells a heartrending story that will appeal to readers of historical fiction, especially those keen on the social upheaval of the interwar years, when traditional barriers of gender and class were shifting.(less)
To some, Stephen Leeds is considered a genius; to others, he is mentally ill, similar to a schizophrenic. In his own opinion, the one they call “Legio...moreTo some, Stephen Leeds is considered a genius; to others, he is mentally ill, similar to a schizophrenic. In his own opinion, the one they call “Legion” is none of the above; rather, it is his hallucinatory “aspects” that have all the problems (and all the genius). In Brandon Sanderson’s original and enthralling novella, Leeds is enlisted to find an engineer who has disappeared with his alarming invention: a camera that takes pictures of the past. Brief and entertaining but still thought-provoking, the story presents what seems like one of many exiting vignettes that might be told about Leed’s remarkable life, and by the end, you are left wishing there were more to come.(less)
Slavery has been tackled in many books, but I've never read one so moving as Toni Morrison's novel, A Mercy. African slaves and white indentured slaves...moreSlavery has been tackled in many books, but I've never read one so moving as Toni Morrison's novel, A Mercy. African slaves and white indentured slaves were scattered throughout the Northeast between Massachusetts and Virginia. Morrison explores a variety of religions, from Puritans to Native-American worship in her attempt to create this world of the early settlers. At the heart is the story of Florens, a young slave asked to make a perilous trek to find a blacksmith that may or may not be able to cure her white mistress's illness. We see love through Florens eyes. We also come to see hate through Florens experience. Although a short read, there have been few as deeply evocative as this. (less)
After finding an old book of poems in a London bookshop, Austen-scholar-turned-librarian Samantha McDonough makes the discovery of a lifetime: tucked...moreAfter finding an old book of poems in a London bookshop, Austen-scholar-turned-librarian Samantha McDonough makes the discovery of a lifetime: tucked inside is a letter penned by none other than Jane Austen. It alludes to an unknown manuscript, supposedly lost while visiting a country estate with her family, long before she became a literary star. Alternating between the present-day search of Sam and Greenbriar owner Anthony Whitaker and the contents of the manuscript, James’ novel is a delightful homage to Austen and the deep connection her adoring fans have with her works. The well-read Austenite will relish in identifying “early” variations of her most memorable characters and the “real life” inspirations imagined by James.(less)
After a tragic accident left formerly active, adventurous Will Traynor a wheelchair-bound quadriplegic, he wants to end his life. Louisa Clark, a rece...moreAfter a tragic accident left formerly active, adventurous Will Traynor a wheelchair-bound quadriplegic, he wants to end his life. Louisa Clark, a recently unemployed barista, is hired on to ensure he doesn’t take matters into his own hands, again. What begins as a tense relationship of toleration grows into a complex friendship and, later, love, wherein Will encourages Lou to come out of her proverbial shell; and Lou merely wants to give Will a reason to stay alive. Moyes’ novel is a moving story of what it means to live, to love, and to choose for oneself. Far more than a love story, though, it forces the reader to confront the heartbreaking ethical dilemma of assisted suicide, as we try to balance the dignity of personal choice with whatever humanity is gained or lost by wherever society chooses to draw that line. This one isn’t to be missed, but be sure to have a box of Kleenex nearby.(less)
Considered by authors such as Michael Connelly, Denis Lehane, and George Pelecanos as one of the greatest mystery novels written in the past fifty yea...moreConsidered by authors such as Michael Connelly, Denis Lehane, and George Pelecanos as one of the greatest mystery novels written in the past fifty years, The Last Good Kiss, lives up to the hype with an engrossing story and an unforgettable protagonist, the indomitable C. W. Sughrue. Sughrue is a sometime private-eye and sometime bartender, who takes a case to track down a famous author who has left home on an extended drinking binge. But when he catches up with the author in a roadhouse bar, a misunderstanding with the locals leaves the author in a hospital with a bullet in his backside. To kill time while he waits for the author to recover, Sughrue offers to help a bartender find her runaway daughter, Betty Sue Flowers, who vanished right in the middle of the Summer of Love. What follows is a great, rollicking road-trip of a mystery, featuring fantastic dialogue, unexpected twists, and first-rate action sequences. This book still feels as vital and hard-hitting today as it did when it was first published in 1978 and helped to influence a whole new generation of writers. A Must Read for any fan of mystery novels! (less)
I love medical thrillers, but this one is different from the usual ones I read because it is true. Superb writing and research wiith lots of medical t...moreI love medical thrillers, but this one is different from the usual ones I read because it is true. Superb writing and research wiith lots of medical terms about the brain, brain diseases, treatments, etc -. all explained as well as possible. A reader cannot read this book and not come away with a greater appreciation for medical research, the importance of sharing the research and the devotion and talents of the doctors involved.
The other aspect that is clearly conveyed is the devastating impact a medical illness can have on a person's family and friends and how very important family and friends are when a medical tragedy occurs.
You won't be able to put this one down. Fast moving because that's the way it happened. A true life Dr.House suspense involving a young woman starting a new career when her world falls apart because her brain goes haywire for no apparent reason.
Readers looking to enjoy a suspenseful read based on a true life art heist with a little romance, agonizing moral choices and a few twists will enjoy...moreReaders looking to enjoy a suspenseful read based on a true life art heist with a little romance, agonizing moral choices and a few twists will enjoy this book. I listened to the audiobook and realized that with my limited knowledge of the world of art and artists that I enjoyed the book so much more hearing all the artists' names and the foreign cities pronounced correctly. I felt more sophisticated and properly attuned to the settings and the history hearing the book rather than reading it. The reader was excellent!
The author's research into art forgery, the techniques and the process will make me wonder ever time I look at masterpieces of art in the future. The 1990 art heist from the Boston Gardner Museum is one of the major true life events the book is based on, but the book is more than about the complexity of art forgery and the real life art heist. It is about the moral choices made over many years by many different characters.
Other reviews provide you more information about the storyline of the struggling young artist that is supporting herself by painting copies of masterpieces when she is presented with the question of what would she be willing to do for the one thing she wanted most in her career?
Makes you think of how far you would be willing to go for what or who you love.(less)
I started this book on my dinner break. I didn’t go to sleep that night until I finished it. While I might be a little masochistic when it comes to [n...moreI started this book on my dinner break. I didn’t go to sleep that night until I finished it. While I might be a little masochistic when it comes to [not]balancing sleeping, working, and reading, most of the credit goes to this book for being just that fantastic: Saved by a benevolent and wealthy widow from a life of poverty and drudgery, Charlotte Raven is now a debutante with a seemingly unimpeachable reputation; however, her past is still very much a part of her present. Her connections to the London underworld make her invaluable to Lord Edward Durnham as he investigates a plot to smuggle English gold to France, but, of course, it doesn’t take long for him to find the clever, willful Charlotte invaluable for her own sake. Full of mystery, intrigue, and a healthy dose of romantic tension, The Emperor’s Conspiracy is a quick, utterly enjoyable read for any lover of historical fiction.(less)
According to history books (of the fictional variety), British soldier-poet Julian Ashford died on the battlefield during World War I; in reality, he...moreAccording to history books (of the fictional variety), British soldier-poet Julian Ashford died on the battlefield during World War I; in reality, he was transported through time to the present day, where he rose to prominence in the world of Wall Street. There, he seemingly inexplicably falls madly in love with investment banker Kate, who, warily at first, falls head-over-heels right back. What follows is a classic love story with a dash of mystery and time travel. Readers will be riveted as they wonder who or what is threatening Julian and Kate’s romance and what events will send Kate herself back to WWI-era France.(less)
This Iraq war fiction reads like nonfiction in the hands of an author who served in the war. The atrocities of active duty and the demons that follow...moreThis Iraq war fiction reads like nonfiction in the hands of an author who served in the war. The atrocities of active duty and the demons that follow the soldier back to civilian life are difficult to read, as they should be for anyone who truly wants to understand the experience. (less)
A mother and father react differently to growing evidence that their son may have murdered a classmate. This compelling novel raises two questions:
How...moreA mother and father react differently to growing evidence that their son may have murdered a classmate. This compelling novel raises two questions:
How far would you go to defend your child?
Might genetics predispose a person to violence? (less)
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