The Season of Second Chances by Diane Meier is an in depth character study of Joy Harkness, a Henry James scholar and professor at Columbia who moves from NYC to Amherst Massachusets, buys an old house that needs a lot of work, and finds herself becoming part of a community, against her better judgement.
We are taken on Joy's journey with her as she learns to slowly open herself up to the people around her and let them in- to her life, her home and eventually her heart.
This is a beautifully written novel. I found Joy's character entirely believable and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
The Weird Sisters
The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown is a wonderful and witty and truly unique novel.
It follows the lives of three sisters who have moved back home at ages 27-33, all for different reasons. Their father is a Shakespearean scholar who speaks almost entirely in verse. This could have been a silly ploy, but in Brown's deft hands the result is nothing short of brilliant.
I loved all the characters and didn't want this book to end. This is about a family of readers and I was blissfuly happy sharing their journey from the first page. Highly recommended.
It follows the lives of three sisters who have moved back home at ages 27-33, all for different reasons. Their father is a Shakespearean scholar who speaks almost entirely in verse. This could have been a silly ploy, but in Brown's deft hands the result is nothing short of brilliant.
I loved all the characters and didn't want this book to end. This is about a family of readers and I was blissfuly happy sharing their journey from the first page. Highly recommended.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Lady of the Butterflies
Finally, a book I can really sink my teeth into! Lady of the Butterflies by Fiona Mountain is a wonderful novel. It is historical fiction based on the life of naturalist Eleanor Glanville in the late 17th century.
She was accused of being insane at the time for her interest in the natural world and her preoccupation with butterflies. These were acceptable things for a man, but not a woman. This is the story of a remarkable woman who defied convention at the risk of her very life.
The daughter of a wealthy Puritan landowner, Eleanor grew up in the Moors around Somerset. She found much beauty in this natural environment, which led to her love of butterflies. In later life her husband (who she had been passionately in love with) and her eldest son, tried to have her declared insane to gain control of her land.
There are remarkable descriptions of the environment, of the plants that apothecaries we're learning to use to treat illness, of the coffeehouses in London where men (only) would gather to have intellectual discussions, as well as the religous battles and civil war of the times.
This book is rich in detail, well written, and it is the story of an amazing woman. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
She was accused of being insane at the time for her interest in the natural world and her preoccupation with butterflies. These were acceptable things for a man, but not a woman. This is the story of a remarkable woman who defied convention at the risk of her very life.
The daughter of a wealthy Puritan landowner, Eleanor grew up in the Moors around Somerset. She found much beauty in this natural environment, which led to her love of butterflies. In later life her husband (who she had been passionately in love with) and her eldest son, tried to have her declared insane to gain control of her land.
There are remarkable descriptions of the environment, of the plants that apothecaries we're learning to use to treat illness, of the coffeehouses in London where men (only) would gather to have intellectual discussions, as well as the religous battles and civil war of the times.
This book is rich in detail, well written, and it is the story of an amazing woman. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Men and Dogs
Men and Dogs by Katie Crouch is a quick, mostly forgettable book. It is well written, and drew me in for sure, I just never really cared that much about the characters, and nothing much happened.
Hannah, a 35 year old woman who drinks too much and has made a mess of her marriage, returns home to the South to look for her missing father who disappeared 20 years ago. The book centers on her search for questions that have been unanswered her whole life. She's not particularly likable, and nothing much is resolved.
I also think the title is misleading, but it is a decent enough summertime read.
Hannah, a 35 year old woman who drinks too much and has made a mess of her marriage, returns home to the South to look for her missing father who disappeared 20 years ago. The book centers on her search for questions that have been unanswered her whole life. She's not particularly likable, and nothing much is resolved.
I also think the title is misleading, but it is a decent enough summertime read.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Back When We Were Grownups
I am new to Anne Tyler and this novel, Back When We Were Grownups certainly didn't impress me.
Rebecca, the 53 year old protagonist seems to be going through a mid-life crises. There are just too many characters in the book that are all undeveloped and I didn't even particularly like Rebecca. I kept waiting for something to draw me in, but by that time the book had ended.
Everyone recommends reading Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by the same author, so maybe I will give her another chance.
Rebecca, the 53 year old protagonist seems to be going through a mid-life crises. There are just too many characters in the book that are all undeveloped and I didn't even particularly like Rebecca. I kept waiting for something to draw me in, but by that time the book had ended.
Everyone recommends reading Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by the same author, so maybe I will give her another chance.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Dreams of Joy
Dreams of Joy by Lisa See is the much awaited follow up to Shanghai Girls. This is the kind of historical fiction that I love. However, with such high expectaions for this book, based on how much I loved See's earlier novels, I was a little disappointed.
We continue the story of sisters Pearl and May that we met in Shanghai Girls. Now their daughter/niece Joy has run away to China during Mao's Great Leap Forward, and Pearl, who is very frightened for Joy's safety, follows and tries to find her.
The problem I had with this book is that I didn't entirely believe Joy's character. It seemed far too easy for her to enter China and find her father and start her life there, then, again too suddenly, things went desperately wrong.
It was sobering to learn some of the truths of what went on in the countryside during Mao's Great Leap Forward, when an estimated 45 million people starved to death. I love that See's books are so well researched and I learn so much about the times reading them, however it is her capacity to tell a great story that makes her such a great writer.
For me, Dreams of Joy fell short in comparison to her earlier novels. If you've read Shanghai Girls, you will surely want to read this book. See remains one of my favorite writers, I just don't think this is her best novel.
We continue the story of sisters Pearl and May that we met in Shanghai Girls. Now their daughter/niece Joy has run away to China during Mao's Great Leap Forward, and Pearl, who is very frightened for Joy's safety, follows and tries to find her.
The problem I had with this book is that I didn't entirely believe Joy's character. It seemed far too easy for her to enter China and find her father and start her life there, then, again too suddenly, things went desperately wrong.
It was sobering to learn some of the truths of what went on in the countryside during Mao's Great Leap Forward, when an estimated 45 million people starved to death. I love that See's books are so well researched and I learn so much about the times reading them, however it is her capacity to tell a great story that makes her such a great writer.
For me, Dreams of Joy fell short in comparison to her earlier novels. If you've read Shanghai Girls, you will surely want to read this book. See remains one of my favorite writers, I just don't think this is her best novel.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel
The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel by Maureen Lindley is a mildly fascinating novel about the Chinese princess Eastern Jewel. I think I would have enjoyed the novel more if it hadn't been billed as historical fiction. Although Easten Jewel is an historical figure, most of this story seems to be made up.
Her life story is nonetheless intriguing. She was a strong woman of Chinese birth, cousin of the last Emperor, raised in Japan, sent to Mongolia, and later became a spy for the Japanese during WWII. She was a great beauty who often dressed as a man, smoked opium, flew planes, had many lovers, and betrayed most of the people she came in contact with.
In this novel, she isn't very likeable, and this made it hard to truly care about her. I suspect the true Eastern Jewel was a much more interesting and even likable person than the character Lindley has written.
Known as the "Eastern Mata Hari" and the "Joan of Arc of Manchuria" she deserves a better biographer than Lindley to tell her tale. However, since this was not meant to be a biography, it is still an interesting read.
Her life story is nonetheless intriguing. She was a strong woman of Chinese birth, cousin of the last Emperor, raised in Japan, sent to Mongolia, and later became a spy for the Japanese during WWII. She was a great beauty who often dressed as a man, smoked opium, flew planes, had many lovers, and betrayed most of the people she came in contact with.
In this novel, she isn't very likeable, and this made it hard to truly care about her. I suspect the true Eastern Jewel was a much more interesting and even likable person than the character Lindley has written.
Known as the "Eastern Mata Hari" and the "Joan of Arc of Manchuria" she deserves a better biographer than Lindley to tell her tale. However, since this was not meant to be a biography, it is still an interesting read.
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