Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg

Murder Most Maine by Karen MacInerny

A Break with Charity by Ann Rinaldi

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

Coming soon…a review of Harvard Yard….

The other day at the library I spontaneously pulled out “You’ve Been Warned” by James Patterson and Howard Roughan. I love Patterson’s thrillers as they are quick and fun. This one was no exception. I read the whole book – which goes quickly, even if it is over 350 pages – in one afternoon. The main character, Kristin Burns – a NYC nanny, has some strange, almost psychic phenomena happening to her and tying her to a murder (while all the time she’s also having a secret affair with her employer). This was a quick, fun read – great for the pool or a summer “unwind”!

Harvard Yard by William Martin (got it at the library book sale for a buck!)
The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail (a play) by J. Lawrence and R. E. Lee
The Firemaster’s Mistress (for my HF bookclub) by Christie Dickason

Happy Reading!

I was fortunate to receive a free advanced reader copy of Lisa See’s new novel: Shanghai Girls (which becomes available in late May). I have read See’s other works (some reviewed here) and love, love, love her historical fiction, so I was greatly anticipating this read!

This novel tells the story of Pearl and her sister May – both “beautiful girls” (similar to models) in Shanghai in the 1930’s. After somewhat disastrous arranged marriages, and the invasion of China by the Japanese, Pearl and May begin a harrowing journey to America – to Los Angeles and their husbands – to begin a new life. This story is about new beginnings, clashing cultures, the ability to adapt, long-kept secrets, and the enduring and unending power of familial – especially sisterly – love.

I loved this book – though I have to say that it is sad and at times disturbing. I kept wanting everything to turn happy for Pearl, the main narrator, however, real life kept interfering. Pearl and May are both such strong characters. They are incredibly different, but wonderfully portrayed in both their strengths and their weaknesses. While I loved the characters, I also found it interesting to learn of the Chinese immigration process and the Chinese community within Los Angeles at that time. To be honest, I need to say I was a bit disappointed in the ending. I’m not sure if there is a possible sequel or if it is meant to leave you feeling unfinished, as life too often does.

I would recommend this book to See’s fans – definitely – and to those who enjoy reading of the Chinese culture and experience. I give it 4 1/2 stars!

Lately, I’ve been reading a lot of fun, easy reads. Life got a little busy, so reading needed to be light!
Along with reading Miller’s “The Crucible” for a play I’m performing in, I read two of the Agatha Raisin books – both dealing with her marriage to James and the mysteries she encountered; and I also read the first book that Charles Finch – of “September Society” – wrote: “A Beautiful, Blue Death”.
This morning I finished something more intense: “Shanghai Girls” by Lisa See, so that review is coming soon!

My neighborhood book club’s April pick is Empress Orchid by Anchee Min. What an interesting read! I had never heard the story of China’s last empress, Tzu Hsi (known as “Orchid” to her family). This book traces her life from the death of father while she is a teenager, to her being selected as a wife for the young Emperor, to her bearing him a son and heir, to her helping her very young son to rule China in the days near the turn of the 20th century.

I found this book interesting and engaging. Life in the Imperial court is vividly described, and Min’s style is such that I could picture it down to the last detail. Orchid is a complex character: intelligent and sensual, and at times ruthless and conniving. While this is, of course, historical fiction, I couldn’t help but think that Min had captured Orchid’s character, as she seemed so human. She is definitely a strong, female protagonist.

Min has published a sequel to this book, covering Empress Tzu Hsi’s 46 years in power. I think that I will read it! I got this copy from the library.

I give this book 4 Stars!

I was very excited to see that Maeve Binchy has a new book out called Heart and Soul. It seems that a few years back Binchy herself visited a heart clinic as a patient, and so decided to make it the setting for her new book.

I do love her work and have read all her novels. This one incorporated a lot of characters from earlier books. If you read Scarlet Feather, Quentins, Tara Road, or Evening Class (or others!) you will recognize characters and plot lines from those books.

This is not a short book – over 400 pages – and I read it in large print – 680 pages! – in order to get it more quickly from the library. In part this book is a series of vignettes, telling the background or behind-the-scene stories of the staff and patients who attend the heart clinic at the center of the book. Binchy fans all agree that Maeve is a veteran storyteller – with stories that leave you feeling warm and happy. She is beloved. However, Heart and Soul didn’t quite capture me. While I loved the stories, I was a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of characters in this book and had to think to keep them all straight. I was once taught that in writing all characters must serve a purpose, so I had to wonder about the inclusion of some of these characters (such as Tim – and I bet you’re saying ,”Wait, who was Tim??”) – except that it did lead to a somewhat tidy ending, with people paired up nicely and happily. I also felt that some of the characters were unevenly developed. I would have loved to learn more about Declan (who seemed to stop mid-novel), but I felt Ania was portrayed as a saint. I rather liked Bobby’s rude and abrasive wife, and would have liked to see her turnabout better portrayed.

In all, I would give this book 3 1/2 Stars. I liked it, but I didn’t love it as I have some of her other novels (Light a Penny Candle, Evening Class, The Glass Lake, Silver Wedding). Perhaps part of it is me as a reader – I love to read about “old Ireland” and Binchy has changed her style to reflect the new, modern Ireland, which I find less charming. Regardless, Maeve Binchy is still one of my favorite writers and I will look forward to her next novel!

I truly enjoyed Lisa See’s novel Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, so I looked forward to reading Peony in Love. I was not disappointed. Peony in Love is a wonderful read for those who, like me, enjoy historical fiction that is entertaining, intriguing, and elucidating.

Peony in Love is the story of a young Chinese girl from the 1600’s who becomes entranced with the opera The Peony Pavilion. This story takes over her waking moments and her own life, and death, parallels the story of the opera. Peony, our heroine, goes from being a teenage girl betrothed to a stranger, to a “lovesick maiden”, to a wandering and “hungry” ghost, all the while telling her story and narrating her journey. Even though she is dead, she strives to complete and publish her writings and analysis of the Peony Pavilion opera, using human sources.

Intriguing – yes – but what fascinated me is that so much of this story is based on fact. Without going into too much of the historical details, believe me when I write that there really was a Peony Pavilion opera, a cult of “lovesick maidens, and a person that the character of Peony is based on who contributed to a book about that opera. Even more interesting, there were thousands of published women poets and writers during this period of the mid 1600’s in China, but sadly very little is left of their writings today.

See tells her story with her typical lush and wonderful writing. Her word choice is always spot on. Her depictions are vivid and her characters developed to the point where you feel that they are real. This is a beautiful, poignant story which a reader will not soon forget.

I have to give it my coveted 5 Stars award!! I got my copy from the library, but might need to purchase it!

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.