The Wife's Tale

The Wife's Tale is the new book by Lori Lansens, author of The Girls. I loved The Girls. It was such a compelling, well written story. So I was a little disappointed by The Wife's Tale.

It is the story of Mary Gooch, an obese wife in Canada whose husband leaves her on the eve of their 25th wedding anniversary. She finds courage she didn't know she had, and boards a plane for the first time in her life to California to look for him. The series of people she meets and her tranformation along the way is the slow journey of this book. I understood that this story was about Mary's personal journey, but I found the ending dissapointing and  anti-climactic.

I still think Lansens is a good writer and would check out her next book, but I found this one was a bit underwhelming.

The Widowers Tale

The Widowers Tale is the new novel by Julia Glass, author of Three Junes. I really liked Three Junes and I wasn't disappointed with her new novel. It is just the kind of story you can sink your teeth into. Long enough to develop all the characters into people we really get to know and care about.

It is the story of Percy Darling, a retired Harvard librarian who lost his wife decades ago in an accident at the pond where they live. At 70 years old, his life takes a new turn when his beloved barn is turned into a preschool called Elves and Fairies. His wayward daughter comes home and works there, and he becomes close with his very bright, but misguided grandson. Love is also in the air for Percy Darling.

I won't tell more of the plot, I will only say that it is a wonderful inter-generational story, and I loved getting to know all these characters. Glass is a gifted writer who keeps the reader engaged until the end.

The History of Love

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss is a beautiful and sad novel about elderly writer Leo Gursky. He is at the end of his life and fears becoming invisible. The novel traces his past from a small Polish town that he fled during the Jewish persecution of WWII, and the girl he loved and lost, Alma, who he wrote The History of Love for.

He thought the novel lost, but it ended up in South America, translated into Spanish and published by another writer; where it was given by another man to his love, and later their daughter was named Alma after the main character. Years later, this young Alma searches for the author of this forgotten manuscript and we follow both the journey of the elder Leo and the young Alma throughout the novel.

At times I was confused by the story-unsure of who was even speaking, and frustrated by her overuse of the phrase "And yet." Other times I was taken in by the beauty of Krauss's writing. 

Overall, I think it was a truly beautiful, well crafted, and yet, heartbreakingly sad book.

The Lady Matador's Hotel

The Lady Matador's Hotel is the new novel by Cristina Garcia, author of Dreaming in Cuban.

This novel follows the lives of six very different men and women over the course of a week, all staying at or working at a very upscale hotel in an unnamed Central American capital. Some of their stories are dark and violent, corrupt and depressing, echoing the true history of Central America and its violent civil wars. Others  are filled with passion and courage and poetry, without which no Latin American story would be in the least bit true.

The stories all circle around the charismatic central figure of Suki Palacios, a Japanese-Mexican-American bullfighter. Garcia has a wonderful way of letting the stories unfold and overlap, and the novel is filled with unexpected bits of humor throughout.

I cannot say I loved this book, it was painfully dark at times, but I really liked it.

Seven Year Switch

Seven Year Switch by Claire Cook is another light read perfect for this sunny Spring weather. Nothing to heavy. Cook is the author of Must Love Dogs, which I also liked.

Seven Year Switch takes us on Jill Murray's journey to rediscover herself after being left alone 7 years earlier with a 3 year old daughter, while her husband disappears to Africa taking all their money with him. He has turned up again now that their daughter is 10 and somehow wants to make things right.

Jill was a big traveller in her pre-Single Mom days and now works as a travel agent. The book is filled with wonderful tidbits from all over the globe and I loved this part. Also, I was quite engaged in the story until  everything seemd to wrap up super quickly in just a few pages and then it was over. The ending left me a little unsatisfied as I wanted more, otherwise, another great, fun read.

Perfect Timing

Perfect Timing by Jane Mansell is Brit Chick Lit at its best.

This was just what I was in the mood for. A really good read, nothing too heavy, just a lot of fun.
I have a real soft spot for British writers, so I was easily pleased by this funny romp.

Perfect with a cup of tea, or a glass of Cointreau. I had no idea what that was, but it was mentioned in the last 2 British novels I read. Apparently a popular liqueur in England. Grab yourself a glass and enjoy!