Author: Sarah Addison Allen
Published: 2012
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 3.5
Summary
It’s the dubious distinction of thirty-year-old Willa Jackson to hail from a fine old Southern family of means that met with financial ruin generations ago. The Blue Ridge Madam—built by Willa’s great-great-grandfather during Walls of Water’s heyday, and once the town’s grandest home—has stood for years as a lonely monument to misfortune and scandal. And Willa herself has long strived to build a life beyond the brooding Jackson family shadow. No easy task in a town shaped by years of tradition and the well-marked boundaries of the haves and have-nots.
But Willa has lately learned that an old classmate—socialite do-gooder Paxton Osgood—of the very prominent Osgood family, has restored the Blue Ridge Madam to her former glory, with plans to open a top-flight inn. Maybe, at last, the troubled past can be laid to rest while something new and wonderful rises from its ashes. But what rises instead is a skeleton, found buried beneath the property’s lone peach tree, and certain to drag up dire consequences along with it.
Review
An easy summer read. The characters were interesting but not terribly memorable. The ending was a bit predictable. The inclusion of the chapter at the end telling "what really happened" was awkward; I with the author had used another device to access that information. Or perhaps even left the reader without all the answers.
Notes
I recommend this book hesitantly. There were a few sensual scenes that were borderline uncomfortable--but then the author pulled back from being too graphic.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
Chesapeake
Author: James A. Michener
Published: 1978
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.5
Summary
A 400-year saga of America's great bay and its Eastern Shore. Cheasapeake sweeps readers from the unspoiled world of the Native Americans to the voyages of Captain John Smith, the Revolutionary War, and right up to modern times. Michener follows multiple family lines as they interact, conflict, and intermarry over the generations.
Review
A great historical fiction work about the area around Chesapeake Bay. As is usually the case with Michener, at 1001 pages it is an investment. But this one is well worth it. I enjoyed the earlier characters more that the modern-day ones. My only complaint is that the language from the characters in the last few decades of the book becomes expletive-filled.
Published: 1978
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.5
Summary
A 400-year saga of America's great bay and its Eastern Shore. Cheasapeake sweeps readers from the unspoiled world of the Native Americans to the voyages of Captain John Smith, the Revolutionary War, and right up to modern times. Michener follows multiple family lines as they interact, conflict, and intermarry over the generations.
Review
A great historical fiction work about the area around Chesapeake Bay. As is usually the case with Michener, at 1001 pages it is an investment. But this one is well worth it. I enjoyed the earlier characters more that the modern-day ones. My only complaint is that the language from the characters in the last few decades of the book becomes expletive-filled.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Year of Wonders
Author: Geraldine Brooks
Published: 2001
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 3.5
Summary
This gripping historical novel is based on the true story of Eyam, the "Plague Village", in the rugged mountain spine of England. In 1666, a tainted bolt of cloth from London carries bubonic infection to this isolated settlement of shepherds and lead miners. A visionary young preacher convinces the villagers to seal themselves off in a deadly quarantine to prevent the spread of disease. The story is told through the eyes of eighteen-year-old Anna Frith, the vicar's maid, as she confronts the loss of her family, the disintegration of her community, and the lure of a dangerous and illicit love. As the death toll rises and people turn from prayers and herbal cures to sorcery and murderous witch-hunting, Anna emerges as an unlikely and courageous heroine in the village's desperate fight to save itself.
Review
A fascinating speculation on a real historical event. The characters are well-developed, the grief is palpable, the challenges are tragic, and the evolution of the heroine is masterful. A well-written work and engaging work.
Notes
Some of the character are crude and there are a number of vulgar situations. I recommend this work with that cautionary note.
Published: 2001
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 3.5
Summary
This gripping historical novel is based on the true story of Eyam, the "Plague Village", in the rugged mountain spine of England. In 1666, a tainted bolt of cloth from London carries bubonic infection to this isolated settlement of shepherds and lead miners. A visionary young preacher convinces the villagers to seal themselves off in a deadly quarantine to prevent the spread of disease. The story is told through the eyes of eighteen-year-old Anna Frith, the vicar's maid, as she confronts the loss of her family, the disintegration of her community, and the lure of a dangerous and illicit love. As the death toll rises and people turn from prayers and herbal cures to sorcery and murderous witch-hunting, Anna emerges as an unlikely and courageous heroine in the village's desperate fight to save itself.
Review
A fascinating speculation on a real historical event. The characters are well-developed, the grief is palpable, the challenges are tragic, and the evolution of the heroine is masterful. A well-written work and engaging work.
Notes
Some of the character are crude and there are a number of vulgar situations. I recommend this work with that cautionary note.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer
Author: John Grisham
Published: 2010
Genre: YA Fiction (Mid to Late Elementary)
Rating: 4
Summary
In the small city of Strattenburg, there are many lawyers, and though he’s only thirteen years old, Theo Boone thinks he’s one of them. Theo knows every judge, policeman, court clerk—and a lot about the law. He dreams of being a great trial lawyer, of a life in the courtroom. But Theo finds himself in court much sooner than expected. Because he knows so much—maybe too much—he is suddenly dragged into the middle of a sensational murder trial. A cold-blooded killer is about to go free, and only Theo knows the truth. The stakes are high, but Theo won’t stop until justice is served.
Review
A great YA fiction--a compelling story, an appropriate level of information for the audience, and a positive roll model of parenting. I would highly recommend this one for kids. (I read it out loud to my seven-year-old, and he loved it.)
Notes
There are currently three books in the Theo Boone series--and all three have been equally enjoyable.
Published: 2010
Genre: YA Fiction (Mid to Late Elementary)
Rating: 4
Summary
In the small city of Strattenburg, there are many lawyers, and though he’s only thirteen years old, Theo Boone thinks he’s one of them. Theo knows every judge, policeman, court clerk—and a lot about the law. He dreams of being a great trial lawyer, of a life in the courtroom. But Theo finds himself in court much sooner than expected. Because he knows so much—maybe too much—he is suddenly dragged into the middle of a sensational murder trial. A cold-blooded killer is about to go free, and only Theo knows the truth. The stakes are high, but Theo won’t stop until justice is served.
Review
A great YA fiction--a compelling story, an appropriate level of information for the audience, and a positive roll model of parenting. I would highly recommend this one for kids. (I read it out loud to my seven-year-old, and he loved it.)
Notes
There are currently three books in the Theo Boone series--and all three have been equally enjoyable.
Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls
Author: Mary Pipher
Published: 1994
Genre: Non-fiction
Rating: 4
Summary
Everybody who has survived adolescence knows what a scary, tumultuous, exciting time it is. But if we use memories of our experiences to guide our understanding of what today's girls are living through, we make a serious mistake. Our daughters are living in a new world. Teenage girls today are having a harder time than ever before because of higher levels of violence and sexism. The current crises of adolescence - frequent suicide attempts, dropping out of school and running away from home, teenage pregnancies in unprecedented numbers, and an epidemic of eating disorders - are caused not so much by "dysfunctional families" or incorrect messages from parents as by our media-saturated, lookist, girl-destroying culture.
Today's teenagers face serious pressures at an earlier age than that at which teenagers in the past did. As they encounter situations that are simply too complex for them to handle, their self-esteem crumbles. The dangers young women face today can jeopardize their futures. It is critical that we understand the circumstances and take measures to correct them. We need to make that precious age of experimentation safe for adolescent girls.
Review
Published: 1994
Genre: Non-fiction
Rating: 4
Summary
Everybody who has survived adolescence knows what a scary, tumultuous, exciting time it is. But if we use memories of our experiences to guide our understanding of what today's girls are living through, we make a serious mistake. Our daughters are living in a new world. Teenage girls today are having a harder time than ever before because of higher levels of violence and sexism. The current crises of adolescence - frequent suicide attempts, dropping out of school and running away from home, teenage pregnancies in unprecedented numbers, and an epidemic of eating disorders - are caused not so much by "dysfunctional families" or incorrect messages from parents as by our media-saturated, lookist, girl-destroying culture.
Today's teenagers face serious pressures at an earlier age than that at which teenagers in the past did. As they encounter situations that are simply too complex for them to handle, their self-esteem crumbles. The dangers young women face today can jeopardize their futures. It is critical that we understand the circumstances and take measures to correct them. We need to make that precious age of experimentation safe for adolescent girls.
Review
Monday, April 23, 2012
When Crickets Cry
Author: Charles Martin
Published: 2006
Genre: Christian Fiction
Rating: 3.5
Summary
It begins on the shaded town square in a sleepy Southern town. A spirited seven-year-old has a brisk business at her lemonade stand. But the little girl's pretty yellow dress can't quite hide the ugly scar on her chest.
Her latest customer, a bearded stranger, drains his cup and heads to his car, his mind on a boat he's restoring at a nearby lake. The stranger understands more about the scar than he wants to admit. And the beat-up bread truck careening around the corner with its radio blaring is about to change the trajectory of both their lives.
Before it's over, they'll both know there are painful reasons why crickets cry . . . and that miracles lurk around unexpected corners.
Review
An emotional ride: grab a stack of kleenexes if you read this one. The story is engaging but overly sentimental. The author purposely leaves out important details at the beginning in order to "surprise" you later on. This is understandable...but a bit annoying. The message is uplifting but overemphasized. The incredibly detailed descriptions of the physical heart and associated surgeries demonstrates the author's thorough research--but become a bit tedious for the reader.
Published: 2006
Genre: Christian Fiction
Rating: 3.5
Summary
It begins on the shaded town square in a sleepy Southern town. A spirited seven-year-old has a brisk business at her lemonade stand. But the little girl's pretty yellow dress can't quite hide the ugly scar on her chest.
Her latest customer, a bearded stranger, drains his cup and heads to his car, his mind on a boat he's restoring at a nearby lake. The stranger understands more about the scar than he wants to admit. And the beat-up bread truck careening around the corner with its radio blaring is about to change the trajectory of both their lives.
Before it's over, they'll both know there are painful reasons why crickets cry . . . and that miracles lurk around unexpected corners.
Review
An emotional ride: grab a stack of kleenexes if you read this one. The story is engaging but overly sentimental. The author purposely leaves out important details at the beginning in order to "surprise" you later on. This is understandable...but a bit annoying. The message is uplifting but overemphasized. The incredibly detailed descriptions of the physical heart and associated surgeries demonstrates the author's thorough research--but become a bit tedious for the reader.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
The Woman in White
Author: Wilkie Collins
Published: 1860
Genres: Fiction, Mystery
Rating: 4.5
Summary
The Woman in White is a Victorian melodrama concerning a mysterious woman in white who bears an uncanny resemblance to the fiancee of Lord Glyde, a sophisticated fortune hunter. First published as a serial between 1859 and 1860, this chronicle of evil, suspense, and villainy is believed to be the first English novel to deal with crime detection.
Review
Great Victorian literature--part mystery, part love story, part adventure. The constant changing of narrative voices helps to move the typically, long-winded Victorian story along at a good pace. The characterizations challenge some of the Victorian hero/heroine stereotypes: a charming, dynamic villian; a heroine with a strong intellect, beautiful figure, and unattractive face.
Notes
This book was a good reminder of why I love Victorian literature so much!
Published: 1860
Genres: Fiction, Mystery
Rating: 4.5
Summary
The Woman in White is a Victorian melodrama concerning a mysterious woman in white who bears an uncanny resemblance to the fiancee of Lord Glyde, a sophisticated fortune hunter. First published as a serial between 1859 and 1860, this chronicle of evil, suspense, and villainy is believed to be the first English novel to deal with crime detection.
Review
Great Victorian literature--part mystery, part love story, part adventure. The constant changing of narrative voices helps to move the typically, long-winded Victorian story along at a good pace. The characterizations challenge some of the Victorian hero/heroine stereotypes: a charming, dynamic villian; a heroine with a strong intellect, beautiful figure, and unattractive face.
Notes
This book was a good reminder of why I love Victorian literature so much!
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