The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe is a memoir about Mary Anne Schwalbe and her son Will, who form a book club of two during the remaining two years of Mary Anne's life, after she is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The book club meets mostly during Mary Anne's chemo treatments.
This book was so moving for so many reasons. Mary Anne lead a very inspiring life, fighting for the rights of refugees, and working tirelessly to bring a library to Afghanistan in her last days, to name just a couple of her accomplishments.
I loved how deeply literature played a part in both Mother and son's lives. Being avid and wide-ranging readers, literature is a living breathing force in their family, giving them direction, understanding, guidance through difficult times, inspiration, courage and sometimes just a smile or a laugh. The stories help inform their lives. I have always felt this way about books, and I was moved me to tears to be in the company of people who felt the same way, and who drew comfort from books, even in such a difficult time.
Whether you are an avid reader or not, this is an inspirational story, with a wonderful reading list at the back. Highly recommended reading.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Monday, October 28, 2013
The Firebird
The Firebird by Susanna Kearsly is a big fat romantic novel full of mystery and travel and a little magic.
Nicola Marter has the rare gift of psychometry, touching an object and being able to see its history. She works for an art dealer and holds a small carved wooden bird that the owner claims once belonged to Catherine the Great. There is no proof of this, yet Nicola knows it to be true as she has seen it all as soon as she held the bird.
This sets Nicola upon a path of discovery that becomes more personal than she could have imagined, as she embarks on a journey to Scotland, and then St. Petersburg.
Reminiscent of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander Series, you will either love it or hate it. I loved it. Nothing remarkable about the writing, just a great story I was happy to get caught up in and go along for the ride.
Nicola Marter has the rare gift of psychometry, touching an object and being able to see its history. She works for an art dealer and holds a small carved wooden bird that the owner claims once belonged to Catherine the Great. There is no proof of this, yet Nicola knows it to be true as she has seen it all as soon as she held the bird.
This sets Nicola upon a path of discovery that becomes more personal than she could have imagined, as she embarks on a journey to Scotland, and then St. Petersburg.
Reminiscent of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander Series, you will either love it or hate it. I loved it. Nothing remarkable about the writing, just a great story I was happy to get caught up in and go along for the ride.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
The Last Runaway
The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier (author of Girl With a Pearl Earring) is a novel set in Ohio in the 1850's. It tells of a Quaker woman, Honor Bright, who has travelled with her sister from England to start a new life in a new world. Her sister dies during the journey, and she finds herself alone in a strange new land.
The women who befriend her have a secret to keep, and Honor needs to decide if she will help them or not. The novel is set during the time of the Underground Railroad, a network set up to help runaway slaves reach freedom.
It is a powerful tale, and Chevalier skillfully brings frontier America to life at a time when many were still struggling with the moral implications of slavery. Recommended read.
The women who befriend her have a secret to keep, and Honor needs to decide if she will help them or not. The novel is set during the time of the Underground Railroad, a network set up to help runaway slaves reach freedom.
It is a powerful tale, and Chevalier skillfully brings frontier America to life at a time when many were still struggling with the moral implications of slavery. Recommended read.
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Peaches for Father Francis
Peaches for Father Francis by Joanne Harris is a continuation of Chocolate, the Story of Vianne Rocher as she returns eight years later to the little French village of Lansquenet, where she had a chocolate shop and fell in love with a gypsy named Roux (played by Johnny Depp in the movie Chocolate.)
I love this story and the way Harris brings the sights sounds and smells of a place to life, especially through the use of food in her novels. Much has changed in Lansquenet in the years Vianne has been away, and she returns to find a new community of Muslims settled there, at odds with the Catholics in town. Mostly it stems from one mysterious woman who wears the veil at all times, and has a devastating effect on the community.
However, all is not as it appears to be, and with insight and a little bit of magic, Vianne begins to uncover what is really going on. A wonderful continuation of the story that left me only wanting more.
I love this story and the way Harris brings the sights sounds and smells of a place to life, especially through the use of food in her novels. Much has changed in Lansquenet in the years Vianne has been away, and she returns to find a new community of Muslims settled there, at odds with the Catholics in town. Mostly it stems from one mysterious woman who wears the veil at all times, and has a devastating effect on the community.
However, all is not as it appears to be, and with insight and a little bit of magic, Vianne begins to uncover what is really going on. A wonderful continuation of the story that left me only wanting more.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
A Hundred Flowers
A Hundred Flowers is Gail Tsukiyama's latest novel. I always look forward to reading her books and wasn't disappointed this time. Her elegant prose is beautiful to read, and in her deceptively simple style, she brings us deep in to the emotions of her characters, while the place comes alive as well.
This novel is set in China, in 1958 during Mao's reign. It focuses on one family of intellectuals, and what happens when one decides to write a letter challenging the government. The protagonist, Kai Yin is left to raise her son alone when her husband is taken to be 'reeducated.'
A beautiful story of grace and courage during difficult times. I loved this novel. Highly recommended.
This novel is set in China, in 1958 during Mao's reign. It focuses on one family of intellectuals, and what happens when one decides to write a letter challenging the government. The protagonist, Kai Yin is left to raise her son alone when her husband is taken to be 'reeducated.'
A beautiful story of grace and courage during difficult times. I loved this novel. Highly recommended.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
The Poet Prince
The Poet Prince by Kathleen McGowan is the third book in The Magdalene Line Series. It is my least favorite of the three, but still worth reading if you are already invested in the series.
This time, the novel is set in Florence during the Renaissance, and explores the lives of Lorenzo de' Medici, Botticelli, and Michaelangelo, as they relate to the story of the teachings of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. The modern characters in this novel are not as central as in the earlier two books, and this part of the book was lacking and felt incomplete.
McGowan continues to bring to life women whom history has ignored, and it is for these insights that the books continue to hold my interest. Although meant to be a trilogy, McGowan is currently at work on the fourth novel in the series, sure to please fans.
This time, the novel is set in Florence during the Renaissance, and explores the lives of Lorenzo de' Medici, Botticelli, and Michaelangelo, as they relate to the story of the teachings of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. The modern characters in this novel are not as central as in the earlier two books, and this part of the book was lacking and felt incomplete.
McGowan continues to bring to life women whom history has ignored, and it is for these insights that the books continue to hold my interest. Although meant to be a trilogy, McGowan is currently at work on the fourth novel in the series, sure to please fans.
Monday, October 14, 2013
The Book of Love
The Book of Love by Kathleen McGowan is book two of The Magdalene Series, following The Expected One.
In this historical fiction novel, McGowan writes of the undiscovered gospel written in Jesus' own hand as preserved and taught by Mary Magdalene.
The story is also set in the present day, again following the life of Maureen Paschal as she is led into a new mystery uncovering this lost document, as well as the life of eleventh century Countess Matilda of Tuscany, another expected one and protector of the true teachings of Jesus.
This time her search takes her to Italy where she is immersed in the mysteries of the labyrinth, and other aspects of the secret society that has thrived there for centuries.
It is a fascinating continuation of the story and will keep readers up late into the night discovering secret symbols that have been hidden in plain view all along. An engaging read.
In this historical fiction novel, McGowan writes of the undiscovered gospel written in Jesus' own hand as preserved and taught by Mary Magdalene.
The story is also set in the present day, again following the life of Maureen Paschal as she is led into a new mystery uncovering this lost document, as well as the life of eleventh century Countess Matilda of Tuscany, another expected one and protector of the true teachings of Jesus.
This time her search takes her to Italy where she is immersed in the mysteries of the labyrinth, and other aspects of the secret society that has thrived there for centuries.
It is a fascinating continuation of the story and will keep readers up late into the night discovering secret symbols that have been hidden in plain view all along. An engaging read.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Consider This, Senora
Consider This, Senora by Harriet Doerr is a novel set in a small town in rural Mexico in the 60's.
Three North American women come to build houses here and for one, live out the rest of her days. Deceptively simple, the novel shows how Mexico changes each of these women, as the local people carry on with their lives.
Beautifully written.
Three North American women come to build houses here and for one, live out the rest of her days. Deceptively simple, the novel shows how Mexico changes each of these women, as the local people carry on with their lives.
Beautifully written.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Still Alice
Still Alice by Lisa Genova is an incredible novel about a 50 year old woman named Alice, at the height of her career as a cognitive psychology professor at Harvard, who is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
The novel is written in the voice of Alice. Through letting Alice tell her own story, Genova gives us a powerful and in depth view into the mind of someone with Alzheimer's. It becomes increasingly painful to read, as Alice's mind is slipping away to the point where she doesn't even recognize her own children.
Genova holds a PhD.in neuroscience from Harvard and researched this book with great care. It has been endorsed by the National Alzheimer's Association, and gives a view not often presented of how Alzheimer's can strike the young and how little we can do about this disease.
A brilliant and heartbreaking novel. Highly recommended.
The novel is written in the voice of Alice. Through letting Alice tell her own story, Genova gives us a powerful and in depth view into the mind of someone with Alzheimer's. It becomes increasingly painful to read, as Alice's mind is slipping away to the point where she doesn't even recognize her own children.
Genova holds a PhD.in neuroscience from Harvard and researched this book with great care. It has been endorsed by the National Alzheimer's Association, and gives a view not often presented of how Alzheimer's can strike the young and how little we can do about this disease.
A brilliant and heartbreaking novel. Highly recommended.
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