Book Concierge’s Comments (group member since Feb 12, 2016)

Book Concierge’s comments from the Who Doesn't Love a Classic? group.

Long Man – Amy Greene – 4****
Greene delivers a riveting story that explores the question: What cost, progress? The Dodson’s loss of their home is representative of the hundreds of families displaced by such projects. The novel is peopled with strong characters, with tangled relationships. Their competing loyalties are what made the decisions so difficult: to stay or to go, to delay or to embrace change
LINK to my review

Cinderella – Marcia Brown
4****

This is a new translation / adaptation of Charles Perrault’s famous story, with wonderful illustrations by Marcia Brown (for which she was awarded the Caldecott Medal).

What I really like about this version of the story is the way that Cinderella is portrayed as a very kind young woman, but clearly not a doormat. She speaks up for herself when it counts. Her stepsisters are never referred to as “ugly” either; rather they are selfish, self-absorbed, and rather hateful towards Cinderella. They are as blind to her virtues as they are to their own faults.

The translation also differs from original versions of the story in the way it ends – for the stepsisters. Cinderella, in her goodness, arranges good marriages for them to two lords in the Prince’s Court.

I was fascinated by the technique of Brown’s illustrations. She uses a few pen strokes to suggest a gown, for example, and then a wash of color to complete the image. This lends a rather ethereal, fairy-tale feeling to the drawings; very effective.

Summer – Edith Wharton
3.5***

When she was a young child, Charity Royall was rescued from “the Mountain” by Lawyer Royall, who is now her guardian. Now she’s eighteen, feeling bored in the small town of North Dormer, and itching to spread her wings. When she meets Lucius Harney, an architect from the city who is visiting his cousin, her eyes are opened to possibilities she hasn’t dared dream about. Their mutual attraction garners some unwanted attention and results in gossip that Charity ignores until it is too late.

Wharton wrote this circa 1917 when she was living in France. When published, it shocked readers; they were not used to reading about a young woman’s awakening sexuality. I wonder if they would have been so shocked if Wharton had set the novel in France, rather than in the Berkshires.

Charity is head-strong and passionate, but also naïve. As frequently happens in Wharton’s novels, the principal characters never come out and say what they mean. They are frequently acting based on assumptions, rather than on a true understanding of the facts. Wharton knew the social makeup of turn-of-the century America, and used her novels to explore the nuances of the “rules” – spoken and unspoken – by which people, especially women, had to live. In this, as in other novels, the social fabric of the community is as much a character as any of the people in it.

It’s a slim novel, and a great introduction to Wharton’s writing. I still prefer House of Mirth , but this was an enjoyable read.

People of the Deer – Farley Mowatt – 4****
Farley Mowatt examines the various factors that led to the demise of The People of the Deer in this fascinating book. He went into the vast Barren Plains of North central Canada to study the caribou, and the Ihalmiut people who depended on “the deer” for their very existence, living among them in the late 1940s, when their tribe had dwindled from several thousand in about 1900 to less than 50 individuals in 1947.
LINK to my review

Dec 04 - Currently Reading

TEXT – Summer by Edith Wharton
AUDIO in the car - Money, Money, Money by Ed McBain
Portable AUDIO - Long Man by Amy Greene

Black Beauty – Anna Sewell
Book on CD narrated by Simon Vance.
4****

First published in 1877, this is the only novel written by Anna Sewel, but it has become a much-loved classic and one of the most widely read animal stories. Black Beauty tells his own story, from his early days as a colt frolicking with his friends and his mother, to learning to accept a bridle, saddle and rider, to being sold as a carriage horse, then to pulling a cab in London, and eventually to a happy country life once again.

I had a copy of this book when I was a child; it was part of a set of classics that included works by Louisa May Alcott and Mark Twain (among others). But for some reason I never read it, even during my “horse crazy” phase. I’m so glad I finally got to it. It’s a timeless tale with a simple message: Be kind to everyone (and everything). Sewell manages to convey this through Beauty’s experiences, both good and bad.

The hardcover text edition I got from the library was also beautifully illustrated by Lucy Kemp-Welch. There are several full-page full-color plates, as well as small ink drawings beginning each chapter.

Simon Vance does a marvelous job voicing the audio version. He gives life to the story, without being overly dramatic. It’s a great book to “read aloud” and I highly recommend listening to it with your children or grandchildren.

LINK to my review

This sounds fascinating. Thanks for the review, Jerry.

For the "young" set (i.e. middle-school age) this probably IS considered a classic! First published 1986.

Redwall – Brian Jacques – 5*****
What a wonderful story; I was engaged from beginning to end. Every mouse of Redwall Abbey has taken a solemn oath to never harm another living creature, unless it is an enemy seeking to harm the Order by violence. I love this message of peaceful coexistence and tolerance. The mice are willing to live-and-let-live, but they will defend to the death against those who seek to overtake their peaceable kingdom. Jacques filled the book with detailed descriptions which serve to really put the reader right into Mossflower County. It’s entertaining, scary, exciting, and inspiring. I think I’ll read more of this middle-grade series for the sheer joy of it.
LINK to my review

Mrs. Mike – Benjamin and Nancy Freedman
Audiobook narrated by Kirsten Potter.
4****

In 1907, Katherine Mary O’Fallon is only sixteen when she moves to her uncle’s ranch outside Calgary, Alberta from her home in Boston. She suffers from pleurisy and it is thought the clean air of Canada will be better for her. It’s a very different world from the big city life she is used to, but she finds friendship and love, and eventually marries the local Sergeant of the Canadian Mounted Police, Mike Flannigan. Together they travel much farther north, where the live among a few settlers, trappers, and miners, and the native tribes of the area.

This is a novel, but it is based on the real life story of Katherine Mary O’Fallon. It’s a great adventure story, love story, and pioneer story. The young couple endure several misadventures and tragedies, including wildfires, floods, and epidemics of diphtheria and influenza. It is their deep love for one another that sees them through, as well as their willingness to understand the cultural mores of the Indians and adapt to, or at least tolerate, their differences.

There are some wonderful scenes describing the joys of family life, and of nature. I also really appreciated the even-handed (if somewhat paternalistic) way their relationships with the native peoples were revealed. I really came to love Kathy from the brash teenager, rushing headlong into adventure, and refusing to let anyone tell her anything to the maturing young woman who gains an understanding of and appreciation for the native culture, becomes a mother and faces loss.

Kirsten Potter does a wonderful job narrating the audiobook. Her pacing is good, conveying a sense of danger or serene solitude as appropriate to the story. She really brings Kathy to life.

LINK to my review

Terri ... we chose this route for Reviews of Classics to foster discussion, since we don't have nested replies like we did on Shelfari. This process applies ONLY for classics, you've read.

We DO also have a thread for non-classics (and, what the heck, you are free to post your reviews of classics there as well), where members can simply list their reviews as new posts in the general thread.

Make Way For Ducklings – Robert McCloskey
5***** and a ❤

Mr and Mrs Mallard search for a good home in which to raise their brood. It must be safe from foxes and turtles, have water to swim in, and a good source of food. They find the perfect place just in time.

This is a perennial favorite for children and their parents. I have many fond memories of sitting before the television, watching in rapt attention as Captain Kangaroo read this book to us. Oh, how I loved the story of how Policeman Michael and the other people ensured the safety of Mrs Mallard and her brood: Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack and Quack, as they crossed busy streets, waddled past coffee shops and book stores, and finally made their way to the Public Gardens, for a reunion with Mr Mallard who waited patiently on the little island in the pond.

It’s an absolute delight to revisit this story and my adult self is much more able to appreciate the wonderfully detailed illustrations.

LINK to my review

The Red Leather Diary – Lili Koppel – 4****
Lily Koppel was a young (age 22) writer working at the New York Times when she discovered an old red leather diary. It had originally been given to Florence Wolfson for her 14th birthday – Aug 11, 1929, and Florence dutifully wrote in it every day for the five years allowed on its pages. The diary did more than offer a fascinating glimpse into the past. As Lily read the young Florence’s record of her hopes, dreams, heartbreaks and triumphs, she discovered something about herself. And then Koppel went searching for Florence…
Full Review HERE

Midaq Alley – Naguib Mahfouz
4****

I love stories that feature an ensemble cast such as this. Midaq Alley is but one of many such small streets in Cairo. The residents form a microcosm of society – you have amoral profiteers and paragons of virtue, young and old, the beautiful and the deformed, hard workers and lazy ne’er-do-wells.

Over the course of the novel residents of the Alley fall in love, endure heartbreak, commit crimes, fall for promises, take chances at new adventures, become ill, and simply move on with their lives. The characters are frequently seduced by their hopes: If only I had … a husband, a title, nicer clothes, a better flat…etc.

The setting is 1940s Cairo, and the characters are definitely aware of Hitler and WW2. Still, the war is “out there” and what is most important to these characters is what is happening in Midaq Alley. Mahfouz’s writing is wonderfully atmospheric – I could smell the bread baking, or the hair oil used by the barber; hear the cacophony of sound in a busy public square; see the colors and movement of people gathering in a café.

LINK to my review here

The Dinner – Herman Koch– 4****
In an oh-so-fashionable restaurant in Amsterdam two couples meet for dinner. I was completely fascinated by the psychological nuances explored in these two couples. Over the course of this meal they dance around the very serious situation their sons have gotten into. Emotions are triggered, and just as quickly suppressed. I can hardly wait for my F2F book group discussion!
Full Review HERE

Anne’s House of Dreams – L M Montgomery
Audiobook performed by Justine Eyre
4****

In book five of this much-beloved series, Anne begins her married life. I don’t want to say any more because I don’t want to include spoilers.

What I love about these books is Anne, herself. She’s so optimistic and friendly, with good common sense, a kind heart, and a generous spirit. She is no stranger to trouble and heartache, and this book definitely includes some heart-wrenching events, but she relies on her strength of character to see her through, and ultimately achieves happiness by recognizing her many blessings and being thankful for them. I love the young woman she has become.

Justine Eyre does a marvelous job voicing the audio book. There are many characters, and she is up to the task of giving each of them a unique voice and demeanor. Of course, Montgomery’s writing gets much of the credit, but Eyre really brings them to life.

Dracula – Bram Stoker
Audiobook narrated by Alexander Spender and Susan Adams
5*****

Does anyone really need a synopsis? If you’ve seen any of the movies, you know the basic plot, but the original novel is so much more!

Stoker wrote the work as a series of journal or diary entries, letters and newspaper clippings. This could easily become disjointed, but in this case, it serves to give a certain immediacy to the writing. It also builds suspense, as we leave one character to jump to another’s perspective, frequently with a disconnect in terms of what each of the characters knows about the full situation. The danger they are in is frequently a result of not having the full picture, of not truly understanding the force against which they are pitted.

But the novel is more than just a horror story. There are several themes which would be great for book group discussion.

To begin there is the typical Victorian theme of strong men coming to the rescue of pure damsel in distress. However, Stoker turns the tables a bit when he gives Mina the intelligence, foresight and courage to fight the evil forces in her own way. Yes, the men do the actual fighting, but it is Mina who first puts together all the individual notes into a coherent chronological story, and ultimately gives the men what they need to go up against Dracula. The woman has steel!

Stoker also includes a fair amount of sexual – or at least sensual – tension. Bosoms heave, blood quickens, breathing is rapid, and people are completely overcome and overwhelmed by desire. They are simply helpless in the face of their base instincts … or are they?

The novel is wonderfully atmospheric; from the delights of a new culture as Harker first experiences the loveliness of Eastern Europe, to the growing sense of doom when surrounded by howling wolves, to the creepy, skin-crawling scene with the hordes of rats (I feel squeamish as I type this), and finally to the “pure-white” snow of the mountain blizzard, time and again Stoker puts the reader smack dab in the middle of the scenes.

There are several different audio versions. The one I had from my library was masterfully performed by Alexander Spander and Susan Adams. Each voiced the journals / diaries based on the gender of the character writing that segment.


My Review HERE

Journey to the River Sea – Eva Ibbotson – 4****
Maia is an orphan in London, in the early 1900s who is sent to live with distant relatives on their rubber plantation in Brazil. What a lovely adventure / coming-of-age story! Maia is a strong female character – intelligent, kind, generous, brave, resourceful and loyal. I did think the Carter family – father, mother, and twins – were rather stereotypical “villains,” but that is a small quibble. This is a children’s book, after all, and I don’t expect the same subtleties that I would in literature written for adults.
Full Review HERE

A contemporary (or futuristic?) children's book....

Pax – Sara Pennypacker – 4****
Peter is forced to turn his pet fox, Pax, loose in the woods, but then reconsiders and sets out to rescue his beloved pet. This is a wonderful tale of loyalty, love, grief and perseverance. The point of view shifts from from Pax’s story to Peter’s experiences by chapters. Both Peter and Pax have been betrayed and are distrustful as a result. They draw on reserves of strength, courage and perseverance they didn’t know they had to help not only themselves but those around them.
Full Review HERE

Lara wrote: "So I'm reading Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo and something happened that I don't think has ever happened to me while reading before....."

It's a powerful book .... I think I read it in about 1973 and I still remember it.

Caddie Woodlawn – Carol Ryrie Brink
4****

This Newbery Award winner tells the story of Caddie Woodlawn, age about 12, in 1864 Wisconsin, growing up on a farm with her six brothers and sisters, and her two parents.

Brink based the novel (and a sequel) on the stories her grandmother told about living in Western Wisconsin during the time of the Civil War. The family is tight-knit and the children have many adventures, including exploring the river and woods near their homestead, and visiting the local tribe of Native Americans (“Indian John” being a particular friend). Caddie is a courageous, intelligent and resourceful girl, but she IS a child and sometimes the pranks and adventures she engages in go awry leading to some real dangers. She is a bit of a tom boy, spending more time with her brothers than with an older sister or her mother, but she is faced with the inevitability of “growing up” and becoming more ladylike.

The story reminds me a bit of Laura Ingalls Wilders’ “Little House” books, and that is definitely a good comparison. The book was originally published in 1935 and the way the Native Americans are portrayed is indicative of the times when it was written. But don’t let that dissuade you; it should open the door for good discussion with your children. Definitely a book worth adding to your children’s library.