A tale of prejudice, hate, and the struggle for human identity in 1960's Mississippi. Although it's similar to "The Secret Life of Bees," this story iA tale of prejudice, hate, and the struggle for human identity in 1960's Mississippi. Although it's similar to "The Secret Life of Bees," this story is told from the perspective of an African-American child, instead of a Caucasian child. I enjoyed this book, especially because of its narrator's viewpoint, but I have to say that "Secret Life of Bees" captured me more due to the superior writing. Still, I would encourage all middle-school kids to read this for a personal immersion into life in civil-rights Southern America. ...more
Full disclosure: as a (former) long-time resident of the city of Chicago (as well as its suburbs) I am partial to almost anything having to do with ChFull disclosure: as a (former) long-time resident of the city of Chicago (as well as its suburbs) I am partial to almost anything having to do with Chicago. With that said, you can probably guess that I liked “The Devil in the White City” very much. In years past, I have visited Graceland Cemetery many, many times and seen Burnham’s tomb, along with the tombs/graves of many other Chicago “founding fathers.” I have visited much of Jackson Park including the Japanese Gardens. Of course, I’ve been to the Museum of Science and Industry countless times. Therefore, it was really interesting to me to read about the history of the 1893 Columbian Exposition. The names and places were familiar to me already; it just added to my knowledge of the city I love.
I was not aware, however, of the serial murders that occurred during that time. That added a creepy diversion to the history of the fair, and I was thoroughly engrossed in the tale. I really marveled at the tenacity and ability of Detective Geyer to finally crack the case of “Dr. H.H. Holmes,” especially in that day and age.
I think anyone interested in Chicago, urban history, or 1800’s American history would enjoy this book. It’s immensely readable, and it is a quick read. 4 stars. ...more
WOW! I loved this book. I have never read any of Kingsolver's books before, but the writing was so beautiful and insightful, it took my breath away. IWOW! I loved this book. I have never read any of Kingsolver's books before, but the writing was so beautiful and insightful, it took my breath away. I am glad of it, because I had been "warned" about this book having some kind of anti-Christian agenda, so I was hesitant to begin it. I am happy I didn't listen to the naysayers and went ahead and devoured this. I did NOT think there was an anti-Christian agenda at all; it was a story of ONE MISSIONARY who was deeply, horribly flawed, and not a condemnation of all missionaries. At first I hated Nathan and his patriarchal, misogynistic, and xenophobic attitudes. But as his wife and each daughter found their voice and made their stand against him, I did finally come to understand that his guilt underpinned all his actions. It's just that he wasn't very smart or insightful; when you aren't mentally or emotionally intelligent, you tend to live a rigid life governed by rules (or a complete lack of them). It's just too bad he had to practically ruin everyone else's life in the process. But that speaks to THIS character, and not ALL Christian missionaries. I give this book 4.5 stars....more
These Is My Words was a selection by my reading group in August 2008. I was on vacation that month and did not read it. I put it on my TBR list, and hThese Is My Words was a selection by my reading group in August 2008. I was on vacation that month and did not read it. I put it on my TBR list, and have just now gotten around to it. I am very glad I did. This was an excellent book. Historical fiction based on the diaries of the author’s great grandmother, it’s the story of a young girl growing up in the Arizona territories in the late 1800s. Blessed with a wonderful family, beautiful children and a great romantic love, Sarah Prine lives life to the fullest. Along the way, she educates herself and her children. It’s no wonder this book appeals to me; I, too, am a firm believer in lifelong learning. The book was formatted as a diary, and it never became dull or boring, so it was a fast, easy read. If you like historical fiction or are interested in life in the old west, you will like this book. 4.5 stars ...more
I have read two other Laura Moriarty books: The Center of Everything and The Rest of Her Life, and I liked both of them relatively well. I cannot say I have read two other Laura Moriarty books: The Center of Everything and The Rest of Her Life, and I liked both of them relatively well. I cannot say that about this book, though. I have picked this book up and put it aside about 5 times over the last year+. It just did not hold my interest. But as part of a 2012 TBR book reading challenge (sponsored by Roof Beam Reader) I decided to knuckle down and just get it done already. Moriarty is a fantastic writer, to be sure. She realistically portrays her characters and the dialog is believable. But the whole time I read this book, I was annoyed with almost every character, especially Veronica (the daughter) and Natalie (the mother). They just seemed whiny and unable to make a decision that was: a)good, or b)in their own best interest. I lost patience with the fact they’d be unable to make a decision at all, then they’d finally make one (of course, a bad one), and then sit bewildered in the mucky aftermath of that bad decision…and again unable to decide how to fix the situation. Neither of these characters I found to be sympathetic. Furthermore, some characters were written in and their storylines went nowhere. I guess my thought is to not give so much background detail for a character if the story isn’t going to take said character anywhere.
Now, after having said all that, I do think that the point of the story (how a divorce can knock a family onto its fanny) is valid. I think Moriarty showed how a marriage can stagnate and quickly crumble, especially when the children are grown and move away. After finishing the book, (for many personal reasons) I did give a lot of thought to the meaning of the story and the motives of the characters, and I understood it and them in the context of the divorce. That didn’t lessen my annoyance with them, but I could see where Moriarty was coming from. However, I’d have liked to see less of a “currently dysfunctional” detail dump with a cautiously hopeful resolution, and a more even examination of the origins and recovery process from the separation and divorce. I would recommend this book for anyone who is/has gone through a divorce, as those folks will understand and forgive the story its flaws. For the rest: you might end up annoyed as I was. 2 stars ...more
Like others on Goodreads, I, too, had never read Sandra Brown before this book. I understand she writes romance and suspense novels. Rather, I chose tLike others on Goodreads, I, too, had never read Sandra Brown before this book. I understand she writes romance and suspense novels. Rather, I chose this book because I like historical fiction, and “Rainwater” is set in the Great Depression: Texas in 1934. I was immediately drawn in, and found both the characters and the plotline believable. The ending seemed a bit rushed, and typically I’m not a fan of epilogues where every loose end is tied together in an explanation (it just has that Scooby Doo end-of-the-episode feel to it, in my opinion). But since I enjoyed the book so much, I give the epilogue a pass. 3.5 stars....more
Dancing at the Rascal Fair is the tale of two Scottish immigrants, Rob and Angus, who come to Montana in the late 1800’s in search of opportunity; oneDancing at the Rascal Fair is the tale of two Scottish immigrants, Rob and Angus, who come to Montana in the late 1800’s in search of opportunity; one that promises independence, prosperity and a chance to make one’s mark in life. It’s the adventure of coming to a new country, settling the wild land, learning a new way of living and making a life through good times and bad. I felt like I became a Montana homesteader while reading this book. I felt the cold and the wind of the harsh Montana winter. I heard the bleating of the sheep on the hillside. I could picture the dark, paneled saloon where whiskey and buttermilk flowed. I smelled the sweat and oily wool of the shearing contest. I heard the sound of the clicking shears. The descriptions were vivid and the writing fluid.
I can’t say that I truly “liked” any of the characters. I found Rob to be emotional, impulsive, meddlesome, and proud. I certainly liked him a whole lot better at the beginning of the story rather than at the end. Angus seemed to grow up during the story; but the pining he had for Anna was really irritating, especially after his wife miscarried. I think the grief for “what might have been” is normal for a while, but a healthy life requires that at some point you reconcile your pain and MOVE ON. Lucas is the real hero of the novel; suffering a physical loss and still managing to make a happy and successful life for himself. He lives according to no ideals except his own, which is the true spirit of the homesteader. As for Adair, I just felt completely depressed for her. She married a man that did not love her and never would love her as a first-choice. She settled for that anyway. Her husband was a safe bet; not wonderful, but merely “good enough.” Adair was never truly happy. Content at times, maybe, but never happy. And that is sad to me, to settle for “good enough” and not be happy.
Regardless of my opinion of the cast here, this book was a great escape into the wild northwestern frontier. I’d recommend this novel to people who enjoy historical novels and those who like to read about the immigrant experience. 4 stars. ...more
If you are an Anglophile and love all things royal and historical, you will really go for this book. It’s the novelized story of Lady Jane Grey, also If you are an Anglophile and love all things royal and historical, you will really go for this book. It’s the novelized story of Lady Jane Grey, also known as The Nine-Day Queen. I myself am not partial to these types of stories in general, but since I thoroughly enjoyed The Pillars of the Earth and The Creation of Eve, I thought I might like this as well. I wasn’t disappointed. It was a bit confusing at first, not only because of the number of characters narrating, but also because some of these royals go by multiple names. For example, the Duke of Northumberland is also known as the Earl of Warwick and as John Dudley. Early on in the book, I found it helpful to use the wiki for Lady Jane Grey and also another website www.ladyjanegrey.org. Once I got to the halfway point, I had the characters down cold. A person who is familiar with English history would have no such problems. The tale is well-told, and the shifting narration keeps the whole story from becoming too one-sided. It gave me an eye-opening perspective on exactly how women were viewed at that point in Western civilization: as property. No matter how powerful and rich you were, if you were a woman you were always subservient and at a man’s command. If that weren’t bad enough, the lifestyle of a royal was stifling as well. Rules, etiquette, customs, and propriety dictated what one could do or should refrain from doing. It made me glad to be living in 21st Century America. I very much enjoyed this book. 4 stars. ...more
I thought I’d like this book more than I did. After all, I have my own daughter named Dinah (although we pronounce it the American way, “Die-Nah”) namI thought I’d like this book more than I did. After all, I have my own daughter named Dinah (although we pronounce it the American way, “Die-Nah”) named after the very same biblical daughter of Leah. But I thought the story very slow and extremely strange (at least at the beginning, when it theoretically would match up with the Bible’s account). It appeared to me that Diamant purposely took the Bible’s account and twisted it in order to make it something completely foreign and unrecognizable as anything that would come from the Bible. It seemed like it was derived from pagan texts, rather than Judaic or Christian texts. Unfortunately for this book, that didn’t sit well with me.
The point I started to enjoy the book was after Dinah “married” Shalem and he was subsequently slaughtered by Jacob’s brothers. Then, the story really seemed to be a novel; really historical fiction. It almost felt like Diamant was unconstrained by the biblical narrative after that point, and could really let her imagination, characters, and story develop. I loved the relationship between Dinah and Benia, it was one of mutual respect and love. I thought it to be the high point of the book.
I’m not sure I’d recommend FOR or AGAINST this book. I think if the story and time period appeal to you, and you aren’t spiritually and intellectually bound by the biblical record, then go for it. Otherwise, I think this book might be a “pass.” 2 stars ...more
After reading this book, "The Thirteenth Tale," and "Night Strangers," I can say with certainty that I am so done with the weird/odd/creepy twins tropAfter reading this book, "The Thirteenth Tale," and "Night Strangers," I can say with certainty that I am so done with the weird/odd/creepy twins trope. I think, though, that this book does it best. I was interested all the way to the end, even though I had guessed the family secret about 2/3 of the way through. Niffenegger's descriptions from the ghost's perspective provided creative imaginings of what it might be like to actually be a ghost trapped in this world (for the record, I don't believe in ghosts; they only happen in my literary world). I think if readers have not read those other books I mentioned, PLEASE skip them and read "Her Fearful Symmetry" before you, too, are twin-fatigued....more
People seem to either love Stephen King or hate him. I don’t understand the haters, but I don’t love every book King writes, either. When I was a teenPeople seem to either love Stephen King or hate him. I don’t understand the haters, but I don’t love every book King writes, either. When I was a teen, I read Salem’s Lot and LOVED it, although it scared the pants off me. I was afraid to look out a darkened window for a very long time. Then, I read Carrie, The Shining, Christine, and Firestarter and thought, “meh.” The Stand was SU-PERB, and recently I finished another one I’d consider an equal: 11-22-63. Under the Dome is somewhere in the middle, I’d say. Many elements of this book are reminiscent of The Stand, from the cut-off-from-civilization setting, to the crazy devotee of the central villain that destroys all that is known in the pursuit of what he sees as moral purity. The villain in this tale is Big Jim Rennie, a used car salesman and uber-corrupt town selectman. He is the political power behind all levels of government in Chester’s Mill. He uses his power to run a large-scale meth operation that brings him oodles of money. He does it, he says, “for the good of the town.” Rennie is a menacing bully, manipulating his minions to do his dirty work while he himself stays clean. Rennie hides behind his overly-Christian mottoes and Bible verses, and his partners in the meth operation are similarly “Christian.” One partner in particular takes his religion to a whole new level of devotion under a drug-induced paranoia. These characters remind me of Randall Flagg and the Trashcan Man, and I thought this was going to be another morality tale using a similar spiritual good vs evil meme. However, the “Christian” angle was not an exploration of how we see good and evil, as it was in The Stand. Instead, it augmented the book’s theme of bullying versus decency, and how they sometimes overlap. This is further exemplified by two of the central “good” characters and their own experiences of bullying others and being bullied themselves; ie, kids that have the bullying streak and then become decent adults, or adults that become bullies under pressure of war or unique circumstances. This was a long book, but I was thoroughly engrossed the whole time. I was disappointed in the ending…the reason for the existence of the dome, if you will. I did not mind the message, but the vehicle was too easy, too pat. Ok, kind of lame. Having said that, the ending didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book at all. I just thought it could have been done better. 3.5 stars. ...more
This is a sweet, sweet tale of love and friendship lost and found. It’s about cultural and societal boundaries and having the fortitude to break throuThis is a sweet, sweet tale of love and friendship lost and found. It’s about cultural and societal boundaries and having the fortitude to break through them…or just deciding it is too hard/too late in one’s life to do so.
Major Pettigrew is a lonely (very British) widower who does not realize he is lonely, until he meets Mrs. Ali; she is the widowed Pakistani shopkeeper in town. They share a love of books, tea, and conversation. But their respective cultures do not permit anything more than a professional relationship. Major Pettigrew’s son, Roger, is a selfish blowhard that believes his father to be too old for such foolishness. Besides, the Major should be focused on helping him become a successful businessman; if that means that the Major is at Roger’s beck and call with money, a ride, or a place to stay…then so be it. On the other side of the cultural street, Mrs. Ali’s widowed and aged status “requires” her to pass her business on to her young nephew. To make matters worse, the undercurrent of white British hostility towards the Pakistanis (and the resulting hostility from the Pakistanis toward the white Brits) constrain any relationship that Mrs. Ali and Major Pettigrew might enjoy to one of only pleasantries between mere acquaintances. The choice is laid bare for both: propriety or possible happiness?
The author weaves a great tale. This is not a fast-paced, action-filled novel, but I didn’t think the story dragged at all. Nor did I find any of the main or secondary characters too shallow. There are enough plot points involving the secondary characters (Roger and his American girlfriend, Mrs. Ali’s nephew Wahid) that are finally woven into the main story, that I found the whole thing engaging and believable. The writing was lovely, and Simonson has a great ear for dialog, both internal and external.
I would totally recommend this book to anyone that likes a “nice” story that also makes one ponder “what would I do in the same situation?” 4.5 stars ...more
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