Jeannie Hudson's Blog: Bookmarks, page 3

Review THE YONAHLOSSE RIDING CAMP FOR GIRLS by Anton Disclafani

Being a big fan of books like FLYING CHANGES and GREEN GRASS OF WYOMING, I was
so looking forward to this book about horses and young girls, usually a combination with heart. I thought the first
half was decent entertainment. I was interested in knowing more about Thea's
history and issues. But the further I got
into the story, the more disappointed I
became. Indeed the story just disintegrated. I never really understood
why Thea did the things she did. I didn't
find her a sympathetic character in the
least. I was disturbed by the way she
mistreated the horses she rode which I took
as another manifestation of her less than
stellar character. I think in the hands of
a more capable author, this story could
have been outstanding. As it is, I'm sad to
say I can only give the book a 3.

REVIEW: THE SISTERS by Nancy Jensen

In her engrossing novel THE SISTERS,Nancy
Jensen has masterfully crafted a story where nearly a century of parental dysfunction and secrets is defeated by the courage and wisdom of future daughters and granddaughters. The story begins with tragedy that spawns consequences that warp the minds and lives of four generations of American women. Jensen's insight into subterranean family interactions is nothing short of stunning. Her grasp of the psychology among siblings taps the depth of human nature.Her characterizations are accurate and intriguing. Though I sometimes wanted to shout at these women to stop being so stupid, I empathized with their spiraling habit of repeating mistakes. Jensen intimately understands the internal landscapes within families. She mines the tender, confounded bonds of
siblings, and the childhood pain inflicted by clueless, unfeeling parents
who unwittingly consign their offspring to emotional wastelands that breed ever
greater dysfunction over time. Jensen
weaves all the convergent threads into a
viable and rewarding denouement,leaving the reader deeply satisfied. Kudos to
Nancy Jensen for a lovely, triumphant
novel. I give THE SISTERS five stars.

Excerpt - BEHOLD A LONE HORSEMAN by Jeannie Hudson

"...She looked down at her hands twisted in her lap,determined to dismiss what he said. Still, she was unsure. One part of her wanted to argue that Lareina wouldn't disapprove as he feared. Another remembered how little she still knew about her aunt. In the end, her doubt kept her silent. 'Can we be friends?' she asked after a long time.
'I truly don't know. I long to say yes but I doubt putting that label on what exists between us would change anything.'
'So, are we to wait 'til I reach a suitable age?'she demanded. 'What age will that be? Twenty-one? Thirty? How old will you be then? Sixty?" She stashed the hamper and slid to the far edge of the seat.
Aiden jumped down and strode around the
wagon, then placed his hands at either side of her waist and lifted her down, his eyes warm despite his earlier detachment. 'I don't know the answers, Regan,'he said, his voice weary. 'Perhaps when Lareina returns....'
Regan pulled herself free and walked a
few steps,angry,afraid,feeling the joy sliding out of reach.
Aiden followed and took her shoulders,
turning her to face him again. 'Please,
let's not talk about the future. Let's
enjoy today and let that be enough for now.'
She searched his eyes, acknowledging a
faint hope. He hadn't denied that a future existed for them.
'Are you with me on that?'he prodded.
Knowing she had no choice, she nodded,
wanting what time was left. 'But I won't
give up. Not until you've given me better
reasons that what I've heard so far....'
He pressed one finger to her lips, then outlined mouth. She stood beneath his sad,wanting gaze, his body tense. He appeared about to kiss her and she willed
him to, but slowly he disengaged himself
and stood with his back turned.
Shaken by their intimate exchange, she
moved to her equipment. A damp wind had
come up and she shrugged deeper into her
cloak. Aiden approached, touching her arm. 'While you do your work, I'm going to load the gold, then we'll start back.'"

Review BELLMAN AND BLACK by Diane Setterfield

This is the magical story of tragedy and the consequences of unthinking human cruelty. When the boy William Bellman recklessly kills a rook with his catapult
he barely remembers the incident. But the
rooks never forget. - I loved the allegory
of the rooks in this eerie, timeless tale.
One reckless act, one moment in time if you
will, creates repercussions forever in the
life of William Bellman. The foolish killing of a rook by the boy creates an
unpaid debt among the bird's brethren that is only repaid by the grown man's allegiance to the very essence of death
itself. - BELLMAN & BLACK is a strange,
haunting tale that will leave you wondering.... I give it three stars.

Giveaway BEHOLD A LONE HORSEMAN

Excerpt from BEHOLD A LONE HORSEMAN -
".....Aiden lifted his teacup,noting with a peculiar detachment that his hand
shook. An unsettling suspicion was growing within him. He didn't want to know. Not now. And he needn't. Regan was so engrossed in the photograph that she was paying no attention to his quaking hands and runaway imagination that must be mirrored in his face. He had only to steer the conversation to another subject and they would be safe. Yet, he continued to speak of it. 'Kenton Townsend was a brilliant photographer.'
She looked up, eager to share memories of the man she'd so adored.'Did you know him in Philadelphia?'
'I may have met him, and I did see his work. It's been so long,I can't be sure.' To cover his alarm, he put down his cup with a bang, then took the copper plate from her and returned it to a drawer across the room. He stood with his back to her, staring down at his balled fists. He forced a smile and turned back. "Well, it's been my great pleasure having you as my guest. Now I must get you home as I'm sure you have a
dozen things to do,preparing for your first customers. Let me ask Hendrik to have a carriage brought around.' He left
the room but was back shortly. 'Shall we
wait by the door?' He offered his arm.
Regan felt like she was being dismissed. Longing to know what had changed between them, she stared at the
vein throbbing in his temple. She wanted
to ask but something too remote to analyze kept her silent.
Sensing her bewilderment, he gave her a smile, touching her hand resting in the crook of his arm. The moment passed....'"

Review TWO RIVERS by t.greenwood

Growing up in Two Rivers, Vermont during the era of Vietnam and the civil rights movement, Harper Montgomery loved Betsy
from the time they were children and marries her when they're just out of high
school. During his youth, he and two friends are involved in some dreadful activities, one of which is a horrific
racial crime. -- As the story opens, he is still haunted by his past and grieving for his mother who was murdered because of her civil rights activities, and Betsy whose death is somehow connected to the hate crime that still plagues him. His daughter Shelly was born the night her mother died and he has been a single-dad for twelve years. His life has been reduced by tragedy to a shallow existence divided between his job with the Two Rivers railroad and raising his daughter. -- While Harper
helps rescue passengers after a train
derailment, he is approached by Maggie,
a pregnant black girl who convinces him to let her live with him and Shelly. He
soon suspects that more than chance has
brought her into their lives. When he
begins unraveling the mysteries of the
past, he finds new hope and redemption
for all of them.-- TWO RIVERS is a dark,
lovely story of heartbreak and sorrow, of
making amends and finding forgiveness. I
give it three stars.

Giveaway BEHOLD A LONE HORSEMAN

Don't forget to request my historical suspense novel BEHOLD A LONE HORSEMAN
featured in my new Giveway from Jan. 10 -
Feb. 10. I think you'll love this story of Regan Townsend's dauntless quest to become a successful photographer in 1876 Dakota and Colorado Territories, an era dominated by men of foresight. Fearless and gifted, Regan meets these challenges head-on and with the help and love of the dashing and powerful Englishman Aiden Endicott, she carves out her own success and finds enduring love. Excerpt from BEHOLD A LONE
HORSEMAN:
..."She looked up into merry dark eyes. A slender man in a brown frock coat stood in the aisle,waiting for permission to sit.
'Hello, my name is Aiden Endicott. I'm sorry but the seats are filled otherwise.'
Regan glanced around to see if this was true,then embarrassed by her bad manners quickly placed her bag on the
floor. 'Forgive me,I was feeling a bit out of sorts and planned to sit here in
my doldrums all the way to Denver.' She
offered another smile of apology. I'm
Regan Townsend.'
He considered her with a droll
expression that sent amber lights dancing
in his eyes as he eased his long frame
down beside her. 'I promise I won't intrude on your misery.'
'Oh, I wish you would since I'm
behaving like a child, something I won't
allow.' She laughed at her choice of words.
Amusement still filled his eyes,
such a deep brown they appeared practically black.
Aiden Endicott. The name matched
his British accent that had faded a bit
and perhaps mellowed, suggesting he'd not
lived in England for some time.
'You'll no doubt feel a great deal
happier after some rest. You look very
weary. How long have you been traveling?'
The almost tender concern in his
cultured voice made Regan newly conscious
of her cramped muscles, the exhaustion
produced by boredom with the endless hours as much as lack of sleep. 'Nearly
four days. I came from Philadelphia...'
They'd left the station behind by the time she'd finished explaining.
He stroked his chin with long fingers. 'I lived in Philadelphia for several months some years ago. The final
winter before I came West to stay.' His
demeanor grew pensive and he seemed to look into the past....

Review THE SIGNATURE OF ALL THINGS by Elizabeth Gilbert

I found EAT,PRAY,LOVE so tedious I couldn't finish either the book or movie. Elizabeth Gilbert has more than redeemed herself with her grand, sweeping saga, THE SIGNATURE OF ALL THINGS. I adored this story of charismatic and intrepid Alma Whittaker born during the Age of Enlightenment. Her limitless thirst for knowledge keeps pace or surpasses that of her contemporaries.- Born the daughter of Henry Whittaker whose brilliant mind enables him to become the wealthiest man in Philadelphia by gathering medicinal
flora and the world's most gorgeous blooming plants into his vast gardens and greenhouses to fill the burgeoning
market for such hitherto scarce goods. Alma is an equally gifted botanist and an invaluable asset in her father's business. Yet,she yearns to understand the very essence of life and her search turns to the puzzles of evolution and the universe. Courageous in all ways, she dares go after what she wants in life even when decisions may prove ill advised or tragic - When she falls in love with Ambrose Pike,a brilliant artist and mystic,they discover their mutual desire to comprehend the inner workings of life itself. - Awash with historical detail, the novel follows Alma on her travels to the far, exotic reaches of the world, meeting a myriad of fascinating characters who challenge her perspective while nourishing her wise and questing soul. - I love THE SIGNATURE OF ALL THINGS and give it five stars. Who
would have thought, Alma's study of mosses could be so captivating?

Review THE GOLDFINCH

I recently read THE GOLDFINCH BY Donna Tartt and I must say it is one of the best novels I've read - ever. As we follow Theo,the hapless protagonist, as he copes as best he can with abandonment by his father and the sudden death of his mother when he is thirteen. His loss is so huge, it seems, at times unbearable. His friendships with
those his own age and much older are his
salvation and are presented with remarkable insight by the author.

The intertwined relationships offer him the most enduring loyalty and heartrending betrayal. At certain junctures, my heart wept for him. Yet
he manages to gain a certain wisdom and
acceptance of what cannot be, and learns
that some dreams are doomed at their inception.

Tartt's writing is fast and sure. THE
GOLDFINCH is a long story but it moves
at a quick, compelling pace that intrigues and satisfies from start to
finish. It explores how luck, and the means by which life is filled and affected by unforeseen turns of fate, in the end produces an astonishing resolution.

Bookmarks

I've just finished reading THE GOLDFINCH by
Donna Tartt and will be reviewing it shortly. It is one of the best novels I've
ever read.