Erika Robuck's Blog, page 28

Guest Post at Writer Unboxed

Today I'm guest posting at fiction blog, Writer Unboxed, on holding back in your novel opening. Please join the conversation.

http://writerunboxed.com/2011/07/09/holding-back/

Book Review: ANASTASIA'S SECRET

Susanne Dunlap's novel, Anastasia's Secret, was published in 2010 by Bloomsbury Books and is 330 pages. It is written for a young adult audience but can be enjoyed equally by adults. I won the book in a giveaway and read it in three days.

I remember being fascinated by the story of Anastasia Romanova as a young girl when my grandmother told me the story of her family's execution and the claims of a woman, years later, that she was Anastasia. There has been much debate about whether or not the youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II escaped from the Bolsheviks, but it is now believed that she did not. The aura of intrigue around this Russian royal family and their beautiful children, however, continues to fascinate.

Anastasia's Secret begins in 1913 when the Tsar of Russia and his family are in power and enjoying their lives amidst palaces, balls, and parties. The four daughters and one son live a life of comfort and ease surrounded by tutors, servants, family, and friends, with only Alexei's hemophilia to trouble them. The story is told from the perspective of the youngest daughter, Anastasia, and when we meet her she befriends a soldier playing the guitar in her garden. She is not supposed to converse with those not of her class, but the daring young Duchess cannot stop herself. Her conversation with the guard, Sasha, leads to a relationship that continues throughout the rest of her short life.

It is from Sasha that Anastasia first learns that her family is not widely loved and that the people of Russia are turning against the aristocracy. Changing political tides and a World War, along with suspicions about the Empress Alexandra's relationship with Rasputin as a healer of her sick son lead to the imprisonment of the family within their palace and the gradual increase of restrictions on their freedom. As the Tsar's family learns to live as commoners, Anastasia learns about the beauty of love with Sasha. He is her oasis in the midst of her family's crisis, and in spite of appearances, remains loyal to her until the end.

If the marks of a great book are that you devour it, it makes you cry, and you spend an hour on the internet learning more about the characters then Anastasia's Secret gets an A+. Dunlap is a gifted, controlled writer whose voice as a teenager in love and war is realistic, evocative, and engaging. Anastasia's Secret is the perfect blend of history and story and I look forward to reading more of Dunlap's work. I highly recommend this novel.

New York in June

Every now and then the stars align, and I was the happy recipient of that alignment last week. I was in NY City for about 36 hours and was able to have four meetings, take some research photos for my new WIP, and see MIDNIGHT IN PARIS.

Here I am at the Penguin offices.

My agent, Kevan Lyon, is on the west coast while I'm on the east coast, so we had not yet had the opportunity to meet in person. Since Kevan was in NY for the Romance Writers of America Conference we planned a meeting with each other. My editor at NAL, Ellen Edwards, was also able to meet with us, and we enjoyed a lovely dinner and conversation. I was also so pleased to get to meet my publicist at Penguin. We all seem to share a vision for the book and I feel very fortunate to have such a fantastic team.

With Ellen Edwards of NAL/Penguin

It also happened that the Women's Fiction writers of RWA (which includes many members of Writer Unboxed) had a speaker and cocktail reception that night. I was able to meet so many fantastic writers who I've "known" from Twitter and blogs for so long, and I can't thank Therese Walsh enough for including me.

With Marilyn Brant, Therese Walsh, and Kristina McMorris.

The next morning I had some time so I went to Woody Allen's new movie, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS. Many friends have recommended this movie to me because of "cameos" by Ernest Hemingway and Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, and it did not disappoint. It was so charming, in fact, that I'm taking my husband to see it next week. After the movie, I took a picture of one of the fountains in which Zelda Fitzgerald took a dip, and the church where Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald were married.

Plaza Hotel Fountain

St. Patrick's Cathedral

I was able to have lunch with my friend, Lindsay Ribar, who just got a three book deal with Penguin for her young adult fantasy series about genies. (I know—doesn't that sound awesome?) We share a love of writing and an obsession with the band Carbon Leaf, who originally brought us together.

Finally, the NAL/Berkley Cocktail Party at Sardi's finished up my trip. I was able to meet my publisher and just about the entire NAL/Penguin team, in addition to scores of fantastic authors, agents, publicists, and reviewers. It was truly overwhelming in the best possible way.

I was deeply grateful for the opportunity I had to make the trip. To my family for holding down the fort, to my publishing friends for fitting me into their busy schedules, and to the weather for being very cooperative, I am grateful.

Book Review: The Soldier's Wife

"I wonder what it is like for him to be here–with all around him the unfamiliar island night. Landscapes are most themselves, most separate from us, at night. Even to me, who have lived so long in this secluded valley, the Guernsey night can feel a little alien–the cry of the owl so lonely, the dark so dense and deep."     –The Soldier's Wife, Margaret Leroy

The Soldier's Wife  by Margaret Leroy was published on July first and is 416 pages. I was sent a copy for review from Hyperion Voice.

Set on the English Channel Island of Guernsey during the Nazi occupation of WWII, The Soldier's Wife is the story of Vivienne de la Mare, her affair with a German soldier, and her relationship with her family and neighbors. When we meet Vivienne she is caring for her mother-in-law and her two daughters while her husband is away fighting for the allied forces in London. From the onset, Vivienne is faced with agonizing decisions; the first of which is whether or not to get on the last boat to London. Shortly after deciding not to go, German bombers announce a takeover with a terrible airstrike that leaves many peaceful Guernsey civilians dead, and marks a change in island life as they know it.  The Germans quickly march ashore and take over houses, businesses, and property as their need arises, and impose rules and curfews, putting the island under martial law.

When a group of German soldiers move into the house next door to Vivienne and their lives intersect, suddenly alliances become confused. Struggling for an oasis from bad marriages and the horrors of war, Vivienne enters into a love affair with a complex and sensitive German soldier named Gunther. As rumors spread and work camps form on the island, the web in which the characters become entangled takes on life and death consequences, and Vivienne finds herself wondering how well you can ever really know someone.

The Soldier's Wife is a tour de force and one of the best historical novels I've read this year. It is reminiscent of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society and Those Who Save Us, and the courageous and sober Vivienne is a character I won't forget. A perfect blend of plot, tension, and history, The Soldier's Wife is the kind of book you'll pick up and not be able to put down until you've read the last poignant sentence.

Leroy is a gifted writer and I give The Soldier's Wife my highest recommendation.

Read this book. Then tell me what you think.

What Makes a Book Timeless?

 

How do some books stay on the bestseller lists month after month and sometimes, year after year? Until recently, I thought a great deal of luck went into their success. I still believe that some luck goes into it, but in a short examination of titles that linger or resurface on the lists I noticed a trend.

Layers.

This may not come as any big surprise to you, but from a craft perspective it felt like a revelation to me. Allow me to explain.

On the surface, a book needs to have an engaging  plot and interesting premise. These elements alone can satisfy readers, and some readers even seek books that only appeal to this level. I think of this as the sensory or physical level. I've heard some refer to books like this as dessert: quick, tasty, but unable to fulfill long term health requirements.

The next layer is about the emotional journey or arc of the characters. When characters are flawed, complex, and sympathetic the reader enters into a deeper level of intimacy with the text because he cares. Strong characters activate the emotions of the reader, vesting him in the story. Books that delve deeply into this level while satisfying the sensory level tend to inspire a lot of recommendation, buzz, and may even make them worthy of book club discussion.

There is one more layer, however, that I think makes the difference that keeps books on the bestseller lists for the long term: the thematic layer. When an author explores themes that challenge the reader, when she uses allegory or symbol, when she might even change the world view of the reader, the book enters the realm of the timeless. These are the books that are read over and over again, that are given as gifts or sit on end tables in guest rooms, that are recommended widely and read by children and grandchildren with the same energy and enthusiasm as their elders.

I believe that this comprehensive symbiosis of elements that satisfy the reader at the sensory, emotional, and intellectual levels keeps books on the bestseller lists because it keeps books in the hearts and minds of those who read them.  It is a tall order, but one that I suspect almost all writers aim for.

What books have you read that satisfy these layers? What books have not only kept you turning pages, but have also nourished you at a deeper level?

Hemingway's Key West

Three years ago, I went on a tour of Ernest Hemingway's house in Key West, Florida. I'd always loved Hemingway's work so I naturally had to tour his home. It was at some point between standing in the shadow of a chandelier in the master bedroom and staring at the typewriter on Hemingway's work table in his writing cottage that I was overcome with inspiration. I knew that I would set my next book at the house in the thirties when Hemingway lived there.

Eager to put inspiration to application, I promptly began the Hemingway novel when I returned home. I had already started a sequel to my first novel, RECEIVE ME FALLING, and was jumping back and forth between the two manuscripts, unsure which deserved more of my time.

In the meantime, I had my third son. Writing went on hold for a few months, though my mind often wandered into the landscape of both of the books I'd started before the baby arrived.

It was during a late night feeding, in the haze of sleep deprived half-consciousness, that I had a dream. In it, I was sitting in Hemingway's home in Key West in 1935. Hemingway, himself, walked into the room and sat with me on the couch. He said, "You have to write my book because I've become irrelevant."

When I woke up I was certain which book I'd write.

Three years later, with my novel HEMINGWAY'S GIRL set for publication by NAL/Penguin, I returned to Key West to do a final research trip, make connections for the book launch, and spend time with my husband for our anniversary. It was very emotional for me to stand in the house that inspired this incredible journey I've been on and I could feel Hemingway wherever I went in town.

I'm so thankful that I've been able to occupy that space on several occasions, and I think the book is better for it. Below, I've posted some pictures from the trip. If you'd like to see the entire album, it's on my Facebook Author Page: Erika Robuck, Author.

Thank you so much for sharing this journey with me. Enjoy!

Book Review: THE SECOND DUCHESS

THE SECOND DUCHESS, by Elizabeth Loupas, was published in March of 2011 and is 369 pages. I was sent a copy for review, and I'm so glad. Set in the Italian Renaissance court of Ferrara, THE SECOND DUCHESS is an historical mystery with a memorable cast of characters that I absolutely could not put it down.

It opens in December of 1565 on the wedding day of Alfonso d'Este, Duke of Ferrara, and Barbara of Austria. Barbara is full of excitement about life in the beautiful Italian court full of painters, musicians, and religious men and women, and is more intrigued than threatened by rumors that her new husband murdered his first wife.

She tries to ignore the rumblings from those around her but eventually her inquisitive nature gets the best of her, and she becomes determined to solve the mystery of the untimely death of the first Duchess, Lucrezia de Medici. Barbara's queries soon reveal that Lucrezia might not have been the charming, apple-cheeked girl her portraits reveal, and Barbara becomes privy to an intricate web of deceit spun from the nobility to the working class. Barbara also learns that her dark and mysterious husband is not one to be crossed or trifled with. Her persistence in determining how Lucrezia died nearly costs her her marriage, her own life, and the downfall of many important and influential courtiers.

In a plot full of breathtaking twists and revelations, THE SECOND DUCHESS is a fascinating tale of history, passion, and murder. Barbara is charming and engaging and her husband, the Duke, reminded me of a darker, more dangerous Mr. Darcy. Fans of Philippa Gregory and Daphne du Maurier alike will enjoy this novel. I give it my highest recommendation.

Book Review: TO BE QUEEN

TO BE QUEEN by Christy English was published in April of 2011 and is 378 pages. It is a story of the early life of Eleanor of Aquitaine. I was sent a copy for review because of how much I enjoyed Anne O'Brien's novel of Eleanor, QUEEN DEFIANT. This novel was every bit as enjoyable as the other, and I loved reading the similarities and differences in the portrayals of Eleanor from each author.

TO BE QUEEN begins in July of 1132 at the lodge of William X, Duke of Aquitaine, where he instructs his daughter, Eleanor, on how to lead and survive amongst the ruthless political schemers of the region. Her father's love and lessons in maintaining her dignity and emotions in all situations while displaying power are timely and serve Eleanor well, as a suspicious death meets the Duke while he's on travel.

Suddenly an unmarried Duchess in highly coveted lands, and with her sister in her charge, Eleanor is forced to bring the marriage contract to Louis the VII to fulfillment. She is optimistic when she finally meets the handsome, innocent king who has been raised in a monastery, and believes he'll have time to reach full maturity before his father dies and he becomes king.  Another suspicious set of circumstances, however, claim Louis's father's life, and Louis VII and Eleanor become king and queen of France.

Trapped with a weak husband who is manipulated by the church, and left cold in her bed, Eleanor turns to other plots and plans to control her destiny and gain her independence.

I thoroughly enjoyed TO BE QUEEN and Christy English's rendering of Eleanor of Aquitaine. She beautifully captured the feisty and passionate spirit of the young woman, while revealing her vulnerability and motives. I was particularly interested in English's portrayal of Eleanor's upbringing and schooling in the ways of court from her father. The relationship was as touching as it was pragmatic, and added much depth to the novel.

If you enjoy reading about fearless, passionate females in history, I recommend TO BE QUEEN. English is a skilled storyteller and I look forward to reading more from her.

For more on Christy English, please visit her website at www.christyenglish.com.

Book Review: The House at Riverton

"I am interested–intrigued even–by the way time erases real lives, leaving only vague imprints. Blood and spirit fade away so that only the names and dates remain…But of course, those who live in memories are never really dead."

Kate Morton, THE HOUSE AT RIVERTON

 

THE HOUSE AT RIVERTON by Kate Morton is 468 pages and was published in 2006. I bought it because I adored Morton's other books, THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN and THE DISTANT HOURS. This is her first novel, and I loved it every bit as much as the others.

Grace Bradley, a woman in her nineties at a nursing home, is approached by a film director making a movie about Riverton House: the place where Grace was a servant in the early nineteen hundreds for the Hartford family. Visits from actors, old photographs, studio stages, and finally, the house itself reawaken memories Grace has buried for decades. As she nears the end of her life, she forces herself to confront her past and what happened on that fateful night when the Hartford family legacy was forever stained.

Grace begins her service with the Hartford family as a young girl at the urging of her mother. The lives of the servants at Riverton are every bit as dramatic and intriguing as the lives of the wealthy family that owns the home, and their loyalty is largely unparalleled.

Siblings Hannah, Emmeline, and David are the lifeblood of the home, and their relationships, secrets, and games entrance Grace while stirring her envy and admiration. Hannah takes the most notice of the young serving girl, and as time progresses, cultivates a relationship with her of extreme trust and dependence.

As the war comes and takes the men in body and in spirit, the Hartford siblings become scattered and lost. Hannah and Emmeline long for independence and take different steps to obtain it–steps that have terrible and far reaching consequences.

Morton's strengths are in her deft rendering of intimate friendships and complexities of plot. Story lines are woven through time, space, and character with facility. She is a master of suspense, and even when some stories can be guessed, others come as a complete surprise. All three of Morton's novels have kept me entertained throughout and satisfied upon their conclusion.

Morton has established herself as one of the great literary gothic writers of our time. I recommend her books easily to those who enjoy all kinds of novels from historical, to suspense, to romance. She has elements of all genres in her works, and the beautiful prose to make her work timeless.

Have you read any of Morton's novels? Which is your favorite?  I'd be hard pressed to choose, but if I had to, I'd pick THE DISTANT HOURS.

 

Book Review: Shanghai Girls

Lisa See's, Shanghai Girls, was published in 2009 and is 336 pages. I read it in preparation for the sequel, Dreams of Joy, which will be available on May 31st and because I loved See's book, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.

Shanghai Girls is an epic, historical, family drama that spans twenty years (from 1937-1957) and moves from China to California.  It traces the lives of two sisters, Pearl and May, their youth of privilege, and their tragic undoing.

When the novel begins, it is set against the cosmopolitan city of Shanghai, where Pearl and May have freedom, culture, and the world at their feet. Their lives are quickly shattered, however, when their father arranges marriages for the girls to help with his debts and improve his social standing.  They marry Chinese men from America, but when the men return to the US expecting the girls on a future ship, Pearl and May decide not to go so they may continue their lives in Shanghai.

After a brutal attack by the Japanese on the city and the disappearance of their father, Pearl and May are forced to find a way to travel to America and fulfill their marriage promises, but brutalities they face on their harrowing journey nearly kill the women in body and in spirit.

Shanghai Girls is a fascinating look at Chinese culture and politics in the early twentieth century. I was surprised and interested by many things I learned in the book. The escape from China was incredibly graphic and difficult to read, but it was worth enduring to get to the rest of the saga.

Like See's previous novels, Shanghai Girls explores the complexity and depth of female relationships, and that is the strength of her writing. Decisions the characters make are never easy, but always consistent with their personalities. See has a way of making even the most unlikeable characters sympathetic, and the strongest characters vulnerable.

I look forward to reading Dreams of Joy, and recommend this book.