On a recent trip to the library, I picked up an interesting little book called The September Society by Charles Finch. It is a historical mystery (fiction), dealing with a murder occurring at Oxford University in 1866 and detective Charles Lenox, who works to solve it.

This was my first book of Finch’s, though he has written another with the same protagonist (A Beautiful Blue Death). Finch himself is a graduate of Oxford and he writes of the school’s traditions and the area it encompasses so skillfully and passionately that I feel that I was there. The mystery is intriguing: two missing students and a dead body along with some puzzling clues, and it kept me guessing until the (surprising) ending. Finch does a nice job developing his characters, with subplots running throughout the book in addition to the mystery.

I enjoyed this book so much, as did my husband, that I am going to look up his other novel. I hope that these are the first of many books to come from Finch!

I give this book 4 Stars.

I recently read Penelope Lively’s novel, Moon Tiger, which won the 1987 Booker Prize. It is beautifully written story of the life of Claudia Hampton, told from varying points of view. Claudia is a memorable character – strong and independent, self-reliant yet selfish. The book largely covers Claudia’s years as a reporter in Egypt during WWII and her ill-fated love affair with an officer stationed there.

While this book was well-written, I found the switching of voice and the lack of chronological order at times confusing.  An experience would be presented, then the same event retold, but told from another point of view. It was not a book you could read lightly!

Claudia is so vividly portrayed that she feels “real”, however, I found I didn’t like her. She was insensitive and self-centered. Her relationship with her daughter, especially when Lisa was young, was heart-breaking for the lack of feeling and lack of love that she displayed. Her relationship with her brother was disturbing. She is a character not soon forgotten.

Lively’s word choice and descriptions are picture perfect, but I can’t say I loved this story. I would give it 3 1/2 Stars. I got my copy from the library.

I have read most, if not all, of Philippa Gregory’s historical novels, so I was excited to receive “The Other Queen” as a Christmas gift. “The Other Queen” tells the story of Mary, Queen of Scots, particularly of the time when she was held against her will, under a type of house arrest, in England. Mary’s years with the Earl of Shrewsbury, George Talbot, and his indomitable wife, Bess of Hardwick, are covered.
In some ways, this book was standard Gregory fare: the characters are well-developed and I felt I gleaned some insights into the difficult Elizabethan times in which this book was set. However, at the same time, I felt Gregory took more liberties with her characters than in other books. Queen Mary is seen as loving George Talbot, who is depicted as honorable to the point of being tormented by his sense of honor. His wife, Bess, is ambitious to a flaw. It is hard to imagine these as real-life characters as they seemed rather “created” to me. Additionally, at over 400 pages, this book didn’t move as quickly for me as Gregory’s other books.

Regardless, I did enjoy this book, and felt I learned a bit about Mary, Queen of Scots, a royal with whom I was not very familiar. I would give this book 3 1/2 Stars!

Moon Tiger (still reading it!)
Peony in Love by Lisa See (bookclub pick)
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
Heart and Soul by Maeve Binchy
False Colours by Georgette Heyer (bookclub pick)

Coming soon — a review of Gregory’s “The Other Queen”

To my delight, I was selected to receive an advanced reader copy of Lisa See’s new novel: Shanghai Girls.  I look forward to reading and reviewing it!

I love Agatha Raisin. I came across this series of light British mysteries one day in the library. They are the perfect read for me for a snowy weekend. Agatha is quite a character – a bit of a cross between Miss Marple and Kinsey Millhone, while still being uniquely herself. I love mysteries – but I don’t like graphic violence. I also am bored by the “perfect” heroine who always seems to be a tough but beautiful cop, who is physically superb and about 32 years old. Agatha is a bit of a grump, middle aged, and at times accused of being “dowdy” (to her horror). She is intelligent, vain, a bit of a man chaser, and a chain smoker. Mysteries and murder seem to find her, and she always gets involved where she shouldn’t. I enjoy her adventures and hope that there are many more to come!
I give this series, which is still in active production, 4 Stars!

Currently, I’m reading:
“Agatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryfam” by M.C.Beaton (love this series!)
“Moon Tiger” by Penelope Lively (recommended by a friend)
“The September Society” by Charles Finch (historical mystery)
and “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller (prepping for an audition)

To prepare for an upcoming local audition, I recently read the play version of Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird”, by Christopher Sergel. Having worked in a school that taught the novel, I feel I am familiar with it and have read it roughly 20 times. I was curious as to how the play would differ from the book, and/or be similar to the movie (1962 version starring Gregory Peck).

The play reads easily and seemed rather short to me (80 pages). The play is actually very similar to the movie in that it captures many of the same scenes and characters, while leaving out similar ones. Once again Scout and Jem are center stage, with Calpurnia their maid, Atticus their lawyer father, Miss Maudie, Miss Stephanie, the Ewells, the Radleys, Tom Robinson, and of course, the Truman Capote character of Dill.
Miss Maudie acts as narrator in the play, as opposed to Scout. The action moves quickly and is staged simply (for instance, the “mad dog” scene occurs with the dog being off in the wings and “seen” only by the actors). The message of the play stays the same, the courthouse scene is pivotal, and Boo Radley once again is the gentle recluse who saves the children.

Beyond the stage, I could imagine this play being used in class with readers for whom the original novel would be too challenging. It would be a great choice for working with adult literacy groups as well.
In my opinion, those truly seeking the essence of the novel should read the novel. And those who seek even more information on the novel’s characters and Harper Lee should read the fine book: “Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee” by Charles Shields.

I give this play 4 Stars — but I would give Miss Lee’s novel, of course, my coveted 5 Stars!!

I really enjoyed Lisa See’s “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan”, so I took “Dragon Bones” out of the library to read. This is a modern day mystery set in China. “Dragon Bones” is actually the third in a trilogy of books focusing on Lui Hulan, an inspector in China’s Ministry of Public Security, and her American lawyer husband, David Stark. A death at the Three Gorges dam site appears more than an accident, and soon Hulan and David find themselves embroiled in mystery and intrigue involving several people’s greedy quests for power, and the archaeological site which is linked to the dam area. Findings of great magnitude and the essence of Chinese culture and history come into play, while Hulan and David try to unravel the clues before more deaths occur.

This was the first of the Red Princess mysteries by Lisa See that I have read, and it was very readable given the fact that I had not read its predecessors. I found this novel to be a page turner. I was taken in by the mystery, but also by the insights into Chinese culture and modern day happenings. I look forward to reading the other novels in this series, along with some of See’s other historical fiction. I feel she does a wonderful job in creating and developing her characters. However, be warned – she does not shirk from writing detailed (sometimes gory) descriptions of victims!

I give this book 4 Stars!

“Soul Catcher” – a book club selection for me – tells the story of Augustus Cain as he seeks to track down two runaway slaves in accordance with the Fugitive Slave Act just prior to the Civil War. Cain is a man haunted by his past – marked by his determination to not be part of his family’s Southern plantation legacy and bearing the scars from his time spent in the Mexican-American War. He views his “profession” as honorable since he works within the law, though this foray to Boston to find the two runaways is due to his need to expunge a debt.

Cain travels with a motley crew – the vile and loathsome Preacher and the two Strofe brothers: Strofe and Little Strofe. They meet a cast of assorted characters along their journey. However, the book is really about Cain’s relationship with the runaway slave woman, Rosetta. Rosetta changes Cain – he goes from considering himself as honorable to rethinking all the ways he has been taught and indoctrinated since childhood. Somewhat predictably, their feelings for each other grow, until the final dramatic conclusion.

While I enjoyed this book, I did find it a little long. Cain’s journey to Boston was fairly quick, but he had countless adventures and trials to endure on the return trip. While I found that White did a good job portraying this time period, at times the character of Rosetta irritated me as she was almost unbelievably articulate in analyzing Cain’s inner feelings and motivations. In another time and place, she would have been an excellent analyst! I did like the character of Cain, however, and felt he was believable. I enjoyed the ending, which was not sappy or predictable.

 I would recommend this book to those who enjoy reading novels of this time period. I give it 3 1/2 stars! I got mine from the library, but then won one from my bookclub giveaway!