Book Review: Dearest Dorothy, Slow Down You're Wearing Us Out! by Charlene Ann Baumbich

 

Dearest Dorothy, Slow Down, You're Wearing Us Out! (Dearest Dorothy #2).  Charlene Ann Baumbich. Penguin (2004). 266 pages. Genre: Fiction, Christian Fiction. 

First Line: "Dorothy leaned against the doorframe, her keen, brown, eighty-seven-year-old eyes slowly casting back and forth across the horizon. "

Summary:  Dorothy Jean Westra has finally decided it is time to move from the farm she has lived at her entire life.  She will be moving into a smaller house in town.  Katie Durbin and her teenaged son Josh will be buying the farm and have agreed to keep it just like it is.  Before either of these moves take place, there is a lot of work to do.  The annual Fall tag sale will be taking place at the farm, and there is work that needs to be done at the smaller house.  On top of all of this, Dorothy has been having some health issues and her beloved car, The Tank, is gasping for air. But, never fear, the residents of Partonville will pull together and help Dorothy get settled in her new home.  

My thoughts:  Reading this series is like visiting old friends.  The town of Partonville is people with interesting characters.  In this installment we get to know a few of them better.

Katie is a single mother who works in real estate.  She has had to work hard to provide for herself and her son.  Coming from the big city, she is finding it difficult to imagine ever moving to a town as small as Partonville.  But each time they visit, she feels more welcome.  Katie's son, Josh, has formed a relationship with Dorothy.  She is the grandma he doesn't have.  As Katie watches their relationship grow, she realizes there is a lot she doesn't know about her son.  There is a lot of growth that happens in Katie's life over the course of this story.

Dorothy is dealing with some major changes in her life.   Moving from her beloved farm is daunting, but she feels it is the right time to do so.  She is also dealing with a serious health issue that she really doesn't feel the need to share with anyone else until she is forced to.  Dorothy gives such an inspiring example of how to deal with the difficulties of aging, while keeping your dignity and sense of humor.  

And humor is abundant in this story.  There were several times I laughed out loud while reading.  The author strikes the right balance of dealing with serious themes, while infusing the story with some lightness.  There is a lot to like about this series - an interesting storyline, well-developed characters and a deep sense of community.  I look forward to catching up with Dorothy and her friends in book three.

Quotes:

"Jessie Landers stood on the pitcher's mound, arms down in front of her, hands clasped around the softball.  She glanced at the first baseman, who was staring at the runner for the Palmer Pirates, who was acting as if he was going to try to steal second.  What Jessie knew was that he couldn't run fast enough to make it to second by Tuesday, so she didn't give him another thought."

"Maggie was as vibrant and exotic in her decorating as she was in her clothes, her hair, her life. Currently sporting somewhat chestnut-colored locks pulled severely back into a knot, she'd wrapped a couple beaded, bangle bracelets around it and they clattered when she bobbed her head.  She wore tight, denim slacks, a highly patterned, short-sleeved cotton top and was barefoot, every other toenail painted either blue or violet.  Referring to herself as a bit of a gypsy at heart, at seventy-two, Maggie continued to be a real corker, as she'd always been."

"Even if they were no longer there, she would still enjoy the exploratory prowling, as she liked to call it.  'Feels like mining for gold when I dig through the piles in resale shops,' she once told Paul, who had, of course, just stared at her in amazement that she could be so easily entertained."

Book Review: Hard Times by Charles Dickens

 

Hard Times. Charles Dickens. First Published 1854. 265 pages. Genre: Classic.

First Lines: "'Now, what I want is, Facts.  Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts.  Facts alone are wanted in life.  Plant nothing else, and root out everything else. You can only form the minds of reasoning animals upon Facts: nothing else will ever be of any service to them. This is the principle on which I bring up my own children.  Stick to Facts, sir!'"

Summary: Thomas Gradgrind, schoolmaster in Coketown, is passionate about Fact.  In his opinion, nothing else is needed in life and he has brought his children up in an atmosphere full of Facts, but void of life and beauty.  Tom and Louisa Gradgrind are unhappy and aimless.  Louisa marries Josiah Bounderby, a vulgar banker 20 years her senior because she asks, "What does it matter?".  She soon discovers she is miserable and cares nothing for her husband.  Tom slithers into a life of drinking and deception.  He ultimately allows an innocent man to take the blame for a crime he committed.  As Thomas Gradgrind witnesses the despair and lack of morality in his children, he begins to realize that the beliefs he held so dear have led to the destruction of his children's lives. 

My thoughts:  Charles Dickens can really create some memorable characters.  The cast of characters in this novel is wonderful.  While they are not all deep, they are so well described that you find yourself recognizing them in your own life. Dickens seems to have a deep understanding of the types of human beings that exist.

Thomas Gradgrind has no room for anything but facts and forcing them down the throats of his students and his own children.  No one is ever allowed to say, "I wonder..." because that would be dangerous.  Mrs. Gradgrind has a small role in the story, but what we do see of her was so perfect.  She seems to be a limp sort of woman who is gradually fading away.

Mr. Bounderby is a loud, pompous, vulgar man void of sentiment.  He is forever reminding anyone he comes in contact with that he had a difficult upbringing being raised by his drunken grandmother.  Dickens brilliantly described him as "the Bully of humility". He was a repellent man and I was sad when Louisa agreed to marry him.

Louisa Gradgrind describes herself as being tired. She is tired of nothing but facts and a life void of wonder, imagination, beauty, fun.  But she is an obedient child doing what she is required to do and doing it well.  She and her brother Tom are quite close and share a contempt for the life they are living. Louisa loves Tom most in all the world.

Tom Gradgrind is not a bad boy at heart.  But he has no direction or encouragement towards morality.  He loves his sister, but on his own terms.  His descent into drinking and gambling was perfect and sad. He was often referred to by Dickens as "the whelp", which was a great description.

Sissy/Cecilia Jupe and her father belong to the circus.  As such, they are looked down upon.  Of all the characters she had the most imagination and, in her supposed ignorance, was not afraid to express some emotion.  She loved her father most in all the world and was loved and cared for by the other people in the circus.  She saw the good in people and stood up for them even when they couldn't stand up for themselves. 

Mrs. Sparsit was a "highly connected" widow who kept house for Mr. Bounderby.  She thought very highly of herself and Mr. Bounderby and looked down her nose at most other people, especially Louisa Gradgrind. Speaking of noses, Mrs. Sparsit's was her most prominent feature.  She was manipulative, always looking for the downfall of others.  

Stephen Blackpool was a "Hand" at one of the factories.  He was honest, humble and kind. Many tried to make him a scapegoat. 

James Harthouse becomes overly interested in Mrs. Bounderby (Louisa).  He shows a real interest in her as a person and ultimately tries to get her to leave her unhappy marriage. He seemed to be the character that could bring out suppressed emotions in others.

This book was funny, but also sad.  So many lives were hurt through a lack of love, kindness and beauty.  Overall, this was a great read.

Quotes:

"'I can't talk to you so as to lighten your mind, for I never see any amusing sights or read any amusing books that it would be a pleasure or a relief to you to talk about, when you are tired.'"

"'I used to read to him to cheer his courage, and he was very fond of that.  They were wrong books - I am never to speak of them here - but we didn't know there was any harm in them."

"An overcast September evening, just at nightfall, saw beneath its drooping eyelid Mrs. Sparsit glide out of her carriage, pass down the wooden steps of the little station into a stony road, cross it into a green lane, and become hidden in a summer growth of leaves and branches.  One or two late birds sleepily chirping in their nests, and a bat heavily crossing and recrossing her, and the reek of her own tread in the thick dust that felt like velvet, were all Mrs. Sparsit heard or saw until she very softly closed a gate."

Book Review: Village School by Miss Read

 

Village School (Fairacre #1). Miss Read. Houghton Mifflin Books (2001) (First Published 1955). 239 pages. Genre: Fiction.

First Line: "The first day of term has a flavour that is all its own; a whiff of lazy days behind and a foretaste of the busy future."

Summary:  Miss Read is schoolmistress of Fairacre school.  She shares the task with Miss Clare, who is in charge of the youngest children.  Village school introduces the reader to the village of Fairacre, the students, the families, the daily lives and the celebrations that make them who they are.  By the end of the book we will have gone through an entire school year with this cast of characters.  

My thoughts:  While this is a work of fiction, it is heavily influenced by the author's experiences teaching in a school similar to the one in Fairacre.  The book begins at the beginning by helping the reader understand the details and rhythms of a day in the life of the school.  We get a glimpse into Miss Read's morning routine before the students arrive.  She lives in the little house on the school property, so her commute is not long.  Mrs. Pringle arrives at the school before Miss Read and to clean and tidy the school for the arrival of the children.  However, she can never seem to get the fire going when it is really cold and always has some excuse, usually having to do with her "poor leg". 

The first few chapters are full of domestic details and if you are not someone who enjoys that type of thing, you might find this part a bit tedious.  I love domestic details and really enjoyed this part of the book.  Once the reader is oriented to the school itself and the rhythm of the day, the book becomes a series of vignettes following the school year.  There are misunderstandings and illnesses.  There are tests and concerts to prepare for.  There are outings and new students to welcome.  But through it all, there is a sense of peace and coziness.  

Miss Read is a wonderful character who loves her students and thinks of them as family.  Miss Clare has been teaching for over 40 years.  She is a little strict and efficient, but her students love her and feel secure in her room.  Mrs. Pringle is a cantankerous woman, but is quite soft-hearted underneath it all.  Miss Read has figured out how to manage her and does it expertly.  Reverend Partridge is the vicar of Fairacre and is in charge of the school.  He is gentle and sometimes vague, but he is always kind and enjoys teaching the children hymns. 

I really enjoy Miss Read's writing style.  I have read a few books in the Thrush Green series, but I think I enjoyed this one just a little more.  I felt like I got a glimpse into what a day in the life of a village schoolteacher was like in midcentury England. Not only that, but the characters are well-developed and likeable.  They are people I want to know more about.  If you are looking for a cozy read full of domestic details you can't go wrong with Village School.

Quotes:

"On this first morning of term Miss Clare had already arrived when I walked over at a quarter to nine.  Her bicycle, as upright and ancient as its owner, was propped just inside the lobby door."

"'You hear that man?' he whispered.  'He swored!'"

"Mrs. Roberts, with true farmhouse hospitality, threw open her great kitchen, and sizzling sausages and hard-boiled eggs and hot dripping toast were offered to the hungry skaters, with beer or cocoa to wash down the welcome food."

Book Review: The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher

 

The Shell Seekers. Rosamunde Pilcher. Dell (1989). 582 pages. Genre: Fiction.

First Line: "The taxi, an old Rover smelling of old cigarette smoke, trundled along the empty, country road at an unhurried pace."

Summary:  Penelope Keeling has recently had a heart attack.  She is sixty-four years old and lives by herself at Podmore's Thatch.  Now the doctor has told her she shouldn't live alone.  She thinks that's ridiculous, she is fine.  And besides, she has a housekeeper that comes in several times a week.  However, her oldest daughter insists she must have someone to live with her.  

As Penelope works through these things with her three children, we are shown the saga of their lives. 

My thoughts:  I first read this book over twenty years ago.  I remember having good thoughts about it, but I really didn't remember much of it at all.  However, I do remember that I didn't go on to read anything else by this author.  Now I remember why.

Rosamunde Pilcher has a beautiful writing style.  The prose pulls you in immediately.  Her descriptions of place and people are wonderful and create vivid pictures in your mind.  Her descriptions engage all of your senses and make you feel like you are there.  I understand why many readers love this book.

Unfortunately, I found myself not really enjoying the book all that much.  I was disappointed by the words and actions of the characters, especially those that we were meant to like and root for.  I found it difficult to understand the motivations of Penelope.  She seemed to be a woman who loved people, but she said terrible things about her children and grandchildren.  She had very little good to say about her deceased husband or his mother. And - this next part is SPOILERish - she was unfaithful to her husband and celebrated it as did several other characters in the book - end SPOILER.

I really didn't like any of the characters in the book.  Even though we looked back in Penelope's life, I didn't feel like I ever really understood her motivations or those of her children.  However, I did enjoy the descriptions of Cornwall and the section of the book that covered the war years there.  

I can't say that I recommend this book, but I am glad to have reread it to form my own opinion of it.  I am definitely in the minority when it comes to my opinion.  If you are curious about this book, I encourage you to try it for yourself.

Quotes:

"She saw the house, long and low, red-tiled, hung with bougainvillaea and trellises of vines.  Heard cowbells and cocks crowing.  Smelt the warm resin of pine and juniper, blown in from the sea on a warm wind.  Felt again the nailing heat of the Mediterranean sun."

"And everywhere were evidences of the obviously cultured man who had occupied this place for twenty-five years.  Hundreds of books, not just on shelves, but spilling over onto tables, window-ledges, and the cupboard beside his bed."

"Fires lighted in the sitting room and the dining room, drinks set out, wine opened to chambre.  Here, in the kitchen, the air was filled with the scent of slowly roasting sirloin, baking onions, and crisping potatoes."

"Beyond, all was sunlit, the sands a dazzling white, the deep-blue sea dancing with sunpennies."

Book Review: Joy in the Morning by P. G. Wodehouse

Joy in the Morning. P.G. Wodehouse. W. W. Norton (2011) (First published 1947). 272 pages. Genre: Fiction.

First Line: "After the thing was all over, when peril had ceased to loom and happy endings had been distributed in heaping handfuls and we were driving home with our hats on the side of our heads, having shaken the dust of Steeple Bumpleigh from our tyres, I confessed to Jeeves that there had been moments during the recent proceedings when Bertram Wooster, though no weakling, had come very near to despair."

Summary: When Lord Worplesdon is in need of a place to conduct a secret business meeting, Jeeves volunteers Bertie to help out.  If Bertie would have had any say in the matter, he would have said, "No.". But, since he did not have any say in the matter, he and Jeeves are on their way to Steeple Bumpleigh.  Jeeves has arranged for Bertie to take a cottage where the secret business can be conducted.  Unfortunately, young Edwin, while trying to be helpful, burns down the cottage.  Bertie is forced to stay with Boko, who also enlists his help with Uncle Percy.  This time to smooth the way for a marriage to his ward.  In the meantime, Bertie manages to lose a brooch,  get on the wrong side of the law and become engaged to a woman he would rather have nothing to do with.  Fortunately, Jeeves saves the day with his quick thinking.

My thoughts:  I can't help but giggle while reading P. G. Wodehouse.  In fact, there are times I found myself laughing so hard I had to put the book down.  

Not only is the book funny, the characters are so endearing.  You can't help but like Bertie, even though he does get himself into the worst tangles.  Of course Jeeves is so calm and collected and is almost always able to untangle the mess Bertie finds himself in.  Bertie realizes that the situation is dire if Jeeves is stumped.  And there are a few dire situations in this book.  More than once, Jeeves was stumped.  

The other characters were fun too.  Uncle Percy is a blustering old fellow who has only bad things to say about Bertie.  Bertie is sure that Aunt Agatha "eats broken bottles and conducts human sacrifices by the light of the full moon" so he does his best to avoid her.  Young Edwin, a Boy Scout, has tasked himself with doing an act of kindness everyday.  He has fallen a bit behind and is trying to catch up.  The problem is that often his acts go wrong.  Like when he started the cottage on fire while cleaning out the chimney.  Stilton is engaged to Lady Florence, who was once engaged to Bertie.  Unbeknownst to Bertie, Stilton has become a police officer.  And then we have Xenobia, Nobby for short, who is Uncle Percy's ward.  She wants to marry Bertie's old friend Boko.  However, Boko has not made a good impression on Uncle Percy and he won't give his blessing.

The story bumps along at a good pace and before you know it, Bertie's mess is untangled and all is right with the world again.  If you are looking for something light, but not fluffy, something that will make you laugh, give Joy in the Morning a try. 

Quotes:

"It will be a pleasure to put in a word for you.  I anticipate notable results.  I shall play on the old crumb as on a stringed instrument."

"In appearance, as I have indicated, this man of letters is a cross between a comedy juggler and a parrot that has been dragged through a hedge backwards, and you never catch him at his nattiest in the workshop."

"'I am always stiff in my manner with elderly gentlemen who snort like foghorns when I appear and glare at me as if I were somebody from Moscow distributing Red propaganda.'"

Book Review: Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger

Ordinary Grace. William Kent Krueger. Atria Books (2013). 307 pages. Genre: Fiction, Mystery. 

First Line of the Prologue: "All the dying that summer began with the death of a child, a boy with golden hair and thick glasses, killed on the railroad tracks outside New Bremen, Minnesota, sliced to pieces by a thousand tons of steel speeding across the prairie toward South Dakota."

Summary:  The summer of 1961 Frank Drum is thirteen years old.  It should be a summer like most other summers, hot, dry and full of time.  Instead, it is a summer of tragedy.  Five deaths will occur in the small town of New Bremen, Minnesota before the summer comes to an end.  

My thoughts:  I must admit that the first line of the prologue almost caused me to reconsider reading the book.  I can be a sensitive reader when it comes to sadness and violence.  I had heard so many good things about William Kent Krueger that I persisted.  I am not sorry that I did.  

It was immediately evident that the book would be atmospheric.  From the first pages the reader gets a sense of the mood of the book.  The story takes place over the summer during a time when air conditioning in the Midwest was very rare.  It is hot and you get a sense that people are feeling unsettled.  A young boy has died rather violently and it is hard to understand why he wouldn't have moved when the train was coming. 

The story is told by Frank Drum as he remembers it forty years after it occurred.  He is a believable narrator and I liked the way he would occasionally insert his thoughts about a situation from his perspective as an older man.  Mostly though, his thoughts and perceptions seemed very much like a thirteen-year-old boy's would. Frank's family includes his father, who is a minister, his mother and his younger brother.  I really liked the way his relationship with his brother grows over the course of the summer. 

This is definitely a coming-of-age novel as Frank and his brother both experience situations that most parents would hope their children wouldn't experience until they are much older, if at all.  The book explores tragedy, grief, anger, prejudice, family and expectations while maintaining a thread of hope. It shows the messiness of life, but it also shows the grace of God. 

There is a part of me that wants to say I didn't like the book.  It is a story of grief and that is not always easy to read.  But it is beautifully written and ultimately it is a beautiful story.  If this sounds interesting to you I would definitely encourage you to read it.  

Content note:  There is some language that is appropriate for the situation and is not excessive. 

Quotes: 

"Bobby had a gift and the gift was his simplicity.  The world for Bobby Cole was a place he accepted without needing to understand it.  Me, I was growing up scrambling for meaning and I was full of confusion and fear."

"All three men stared at us and in their faces I could see my own fear reflected and magnified. Magnified to a degree I had not anticipated. Magnified perhaps by all the sick possibility that grown men knew and I did not.  Magnified probably by the alcohol they'd consumed.  Magnified certainly by the responsibility they felt as men to protect the children of their community."

"My father was well liked in the rural churches.  The sermons he preached, which were marked less by evangelical fervor than by a calm exhortation of God's unbounded grace, were well received by congregations composed primarily of sensible farm families who in most aspects of their public lives were as emotionally demonstrative as a mound of hay."

Book Review: The Summer Book by Tove Jansson

The Summer Book. Tove Jansson. NYRB Classics (2008) (First published 1972). 170 pages. Genre: Fiction.

First Line: "It was an early, very warm morning in July, and it had rained during the night."

Summary:  The Summer Book is a series of vignettes told about six-year-old Sophia and her grandmother.  Each summer, Sophia, her father and her grandmother live on an island in the Gulf of Finland. Father mostly sits at his desk and works, while Sophia and grandmother explore the island.  They swim, take the dory out, make friends with a cat or two, visit with friends, snoop around a neighbor's property, talk about God and sleep in a tent.  Before long summer is coming to an end and it is time to return to the main land.

My thoughts:  The format of this book is a bit unusual.  It is told in vignettes.  Each chapter is a complete story, but they all take place on the island over the summer.  There is no explaining or catching you up on the background of the characters, except for an occasional sentence that explains why a character may be acting a certain way now.  Once I got used to the format, I fell in love with Sophia and Grandmother. 

Sophia is only six, but wise for her age.  She is Grandmother's constant companion, except when she is upset with her. She is curious, asks a lot of questions and is not afraid to tell Grandmother when she is wrong.  She has a quick temper, but is also quick to cool off. 

Grandmother is old and can't move very fast.  She likes to lie in bed and read mysteries.  She is often frustrated with herself and Sophia.  However, with Sophia she is quick to change her attitude and her story if it means Sophia will not be upset. Grandmother is adventuresome and a bit naughty.  Sometimes she smokes cigarettes or swears even though she knows she shouldn't. 

The author writes in a beautifully descriptive way.  The reader is left with an image of what an island in the Gulf of Finland is like.  Sometimes it is hot, sometimes foggy.  Spring can be rainy and windy until suddenly, one day, summer has arrived.  There are storms that can cause things not tied down to be lost in the sea. Not only is the writing beautiful, it is also hilarious and had me laughing out loud at times.  

This was the perfect book to enjoy in the height of summer and be reminded of the joys of the season.

Quotes:

"'You can believe what you like, but you must learn to be tolerant.' 'What does that mean?' asked the child sullenly.  'That means respecting other people's convictions.' 'What are convictions?' Sophia screamed and stamped her foot. 'Letting others believe what they want to believe!' her grandmother shouted back."

"Sophia carried the cat back to the cottage and tried as hard as she could to ingratiate herself, but the more love she gave it, the quicker it fled back to the dish box."

"He was often unlucky and was plagued by bad weather and engine trouble. His herring nets would rip or get caught in his propeller, and fish and fowl would fail to turn up where he had expected them. And if he did have a good catch, the price would go down, so it was always six of one or half a dozen of the other."

"The bare granite steamed, the moss and crevices were drenched with moisture, and the colors everywhere had deepened.  Below the veranda, the vegetation in the morning shade was like a rain forest of lush, evil leaves and flowers, which she had to be careful not to break as she searched."

Book Review: Passing by Nella Larsen

Passing. Nella Larsen. Macmillan Collector's Library (2020) (First published 1929). 176 pages. Genre: Fiction, Classic.

First Line: "It was the last letter in Irene Redfield's little pile of morning mail."

Summary:  Irene Redfield receives a letter from Clare Kendry, an old classmate of hers.  They grew up in Chicago and attended school together for a while.  At some point Clare moved away and this is the first time she has heard from her in years. Irene is reluctant to meet with her and she is not exactly sure why.  However, the two do meet and rekindle their friendship.  Still, Irene finds herself avoiding Clare.  

Both Clare and Irene are women of color who are able to pass as white. However, Clare has hidden her lineage from her husband, while Irene married a black man and is living in Harlem.  Irene disapproves of the way Clare has kept this secret from her husband.  As their paths continue to cross the tension mounts until tragedy strikes.

My thoughts:  I can't say that I particularly liked this story or any of the characters.  However, I am glad to have read it after hearing so much about it.  

The story is very well written and complex.  As the title indicates, the overarching theme is women of color passing as white.  This often gave them advantages that they otherwise wouldn't have.  What I liked most about the story, however, was the way the author brought out prejudices that we all carry, not necessarily about race, but about the way other people live.  Irene is a strong woman with very specific ideas of how one should live life.  These ideas extend even to her husband and he has made concessions to accommodate her ideas.  While it does seem wrong that Clare hasn't told her husband that she is black, the author shows that Irene has plenty of issues in her own life that are inconsistent.  

The author does give the reader a very clear picture of what it was like to be a person of color during this time period.  There is also a real flavor of the city of Chicago and the Harlem area.  

If you have hesitated reading this book, I encourage you to give it a try.  It is a short read, but an important one.  

Quotes:

"An attractive-looking woman, was Irene's opinion, with those dark, almost black, eyes and that wide mouth like a scarlet flower against the ivory of her skin.  Nice clothes too, just right for the weather, thin and cool without being mussy, as summer things were so apt to be."

"For, though temporary, it would be important and perhaps disturbing.  Irene didn't like changes that affected her smooth routine of her household."

"She had no facts or proofs.  She was only making herself unutterably wretched by an unfounded suspicion.  It had been a case of looking for trouble and finding it in good measure.  Merely that."

Book Review: The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa

The Cat Who Saved Books. Sosuke Natsukawa, Louise Heal Kawai (translator). HarperVia (2021). 198 pages. Genre: Fiction, Fantasy.

First Lines: "First things first, Grandpa's gone. The tale that follows is pretty outrageous, but he knows that one fact is absolutely real."

Summary:  Rintaro Natsuki's world has been turned upside down.  His grandpa has recently passed away leaving him with a book store.  However, an aunt he has never met is willing to take custody of him which means he will have to close the book store. But Rintaro is hesitant to leave the store, it is his safe haven.  

A few days after his grandfather's death, a talking cat shows up at the book store claiming that he needs Rintaro's help to save books.  It is an odd request, but Rintaro loves books and if books need help, he won't say no.  Over the next several days the cat leads him on three quests to save books from abusive and neglectful owners.  The final quest is the most challenging of all - if Rintaro fails, he will be stuck in the labyrinth forever.

My thoughts:  While I don't often read fantasy, I do like books about books.  When I first heard the premise of this one, I was intrigued.  I tend to like Japanese writers, so I decided to give it a try.  I am so glad I did.

I liked Rintaro immediately.  He is a high school student who has just lost his grandfather.  What I liked most about him is that he loves books.  As well as loving to read, he is also an introvert who finds solace in books.  I could relate to him.  He doesn't think anybody cares about him now that his grandfather is dead.  He is wrong.  There are classmates from school that stop by the book store to bring him homework and check on him.  There are other classmates who ask about him.  But, he tends to keep to himself and doesn't realize that he matters to others.

I also really liked Rintaro's grandfather.  Throughout the story, Rintaro thinks back on things his grandfather did and said.  He was a man who worked hard, lived a meaningful life, loved books and loved connecting others with books. 

There are lots of books mentioned, especially Western literature.  This was a little surprising to me.  But as Rintaro's grandfather said, 

"'There are timeless stories, powerful enough to have survived through the ages.  Read lots of books like these - they'll be like friends to you.  They'll inspire and support you.'"

The scenarios that Rintaro and the cat had to save books from were interesting and pointed out problems with books and reading that we face as modern people.  However, the fourth challenge fell a bit flat for me.  It seemed to drag on more than necessary.

There are two notes at the end of the book - one from the translator and one from the illustrator.  They were both interesting to read.  I always enjoy when authors include notes, it gives further depth to the story. 

This was a quick, entertaining read.  If you enjoy fantasy, like books about books or enjoy Japanese literature, give this one a try.

Quotes:

"'It's not true that the more you read, the more you see of the world.  No matter how much knowledge you cram into your head, unless you think with your own mind, walk with your own feet, the knowledge you acquire will never be anything more than empty or borrowed.'"

"'What was my grandpa trying to accomplish?' Rintaro asked.  The old man smiled. 'Nothing exceptional.  He just tried to remind people of the obvious.  Not to tell lies.  Never bully someone weaker than themselves.  To help out those in need...' Rintaro looked confused.  The old man grimaced slightly. 'Because the obvious is no longer obvious in today's world.'"

The Japanese Literature Challenge can be found at Dolce Bellezza. 

Book Review: Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris by Paul Gallico

 Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris. Paul Gallico. International Polygonics (1989) (First published 1958). 157 pages. Genre: Fiction.

First Line: "The small, slender woman with apple-red cheeks, graying hair, and shrewd, almost naughty little eyes sat with her face pressed against the cabin window of the BEA Viscount morning flight from London to Paris."

Summary:  Mrs. Harris, a widowed London charwoman, is on her way to Paris.  It was over two years ago that she first planned this trip.  One day while tidying up the bedroom of one of her clients, she was struck by the beauty of a dress hanging in the wardrobe.  Never had she seen such a dress and never had she imagined having such a dress for herself.  But she was overcome with desire for that kind of dress.  So, for two years she has scrimped and saved so that she can go to Paris, to Christian Dior and buy a dress for herself.  

The path to the dress is fraught with difficulties and in the end she finds much more than a beautiful dress.  

My thoughts:  On my list of favorite reads from 2021 is a book called My Mrs. Brown by William Norwich.  In the course of that novel, Mrs. Brown reads Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris.  Since that time I had been on the lookout for this book.  I was delighted to finally come across it at a library book sale.  

Mrs. Harris is a hardworking woman who finds satisfaction in her work.  

"She came to these rooms to find them pigsties, she left them neat, clean, sparkling and sweet-smelling.  The fact that when she returned the next day they would be pigsties all over again did not bother her."

She works hard during the day and sometimes sees a film or has a cup of tea in the evening with her neighbor and fellow charwoman, Mrs. Butterfield.  So, when she is overcome with desire for a dress that will cost her more money than she could ever save, it is completely out of character.  

"She was well aware that her wanting it made no sense whatsoever, but that did not prevent her one whit from doing so."

She sets out to scrimp and save and somehow come up with the money to buy a Dior dress. Mrs. Butterfield thinks she is crazy, but that doesn't deter Mrs. Harris. It is her determination against all odds, that causes others to admire her. 

I enjoyed tagging along with Mrs. Harris on her journey to the coveted dress.  She meets some wonderful people along the way and has some interesting experiences.  It is a delightful story that I won't soon forget. 

Quotes:

"Drab and colorless as her existence would seem to have been, Mrs. Harris had always felt a craving for beauty and color and which up to this moment had manifested itself in a love for flowers."

"As long as she had flowers Mrs. Harris had no serious complaints concerning the life she led.  They were her escape from the somber stone desert in which she lived."

"Mrs. Harris' Deity had been acquired at Sunday school at an early age, and had never changed in her mind from a Being who combined the characteristics of a nannie, a policeman, a magistrate, and Santa Claus, an Omnipotence of many moods, who was at all times concerned with Mrs. Harris' business."

Book Review: Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

Anxious People. Fredrik Backman. Simon & Schuster (2020). 341 pages. Genre: Fiction, Contemporary.

First Lines: "A bank robbery. A hostage drama. A stairwell full of police officers on their way to storm an apartment. It was easy to get to this point, much easier than you might think.  All it took was one single really bad idea."

Summary:  On the day before New Year's Eve, eight people attend an apartment viewing.  That same morning, a person who has reached a place of desperation, decides to rob a bank.  When that doesn't quite go as expected, the bank robber flees to the first available building which happens to be the apartment building holding the viewing.  Since the apartment holding the viewing is the only one that is easily accessible, the bank robber bursts in waving a pistol.  The situation has gone from being a robbery to a hostage crisis.  

My thoughts: This is the second book by Fredrik Backman that I have read.  His books leave me with mixed feelings.  So I'm going to start by telling you what I liked about this book:

*Backman is a talented writer.

*This is a unique story told in a unique way.

*Humor - there was one point near the beginning of the story when I was laughing so hard, it was a few minutes before I could keep reading.

*Bringing many of the ills of society or difficulties of the modern age to light in a humorous way.

*Quirky characters - Backman excels in seeing the quirkiness in all of us and extracting that into interesting characters. 

*Themes of love, friendship, grief, mistakes, forgiveness, second chances and hope. 

*The story ends on a positive note.

Things that cause me to have mixed feelings:

*The dark tone of the book, especially in the early part.  It gave me a feeling similar to the movie Fargo. Dark and quirky, unsettled.  This did lift as the story went on.

*Many references to suicide and suicidal thoughts.

*The obnoxiousness and choices made by some of the characters - the author does mention several times, "This is a story about a lot of things, but mostly about idiots.".  I had to keep that in mind when I was getting annoyed by some of the characters. 

This is not a story for everyone.  But, if you like quirky characters in a unique setting you might want to give this one a try.

Quotes:

"Because that was a parent's job: to provide shoulders.  Shoulders for your children to sit on when they're little so they can see the world, then stand on when they get older so they can reach the clouds, and sometimes lean against whenever they stumble and feel unsure.  They trust us, which is a crushing  responsibility, because they haven't yet realized that we don't actually know what we're doing."

"The fact that she didn't phrase her questions as 'Is this some kind of joke' but went straight for 'Are you a joke?' perhaps says a lot about the younger generation's lack of respect for older bank robbers."

"She told herself that way why you should always be nice to other people, even idiots, because you never know how heavy their burden is."

"The truth of course is that if people really were as happy as they look on the Internet, they wouldn't spend so much damn time on the Internet, because no one who's having a really good day spends half of it taking pictures of themselves."

Book Review: The London House by Katherine Reay

The London House. Katherine Reay. Harper Muse (2021). 368 pages. Genre: Historical Fiction, Fiction.

First Lines of Prologue:  "17 October 1941. Caro hugged Martine, whispering close to her ear.  'I won't be back. It's too dangerous.'"

Summary:  Caroline Payne is finally feeling some peace.  She has found work she loves to do and is getting settled in Boston.  When she receives a call from an old college friend, Mat Hammond, she is surprised, but agrees to meet him for coffee.  Mat is a journalist trying to make a name for himself.  On the side, he does genealogical research.  A family has hired him to find out what happened to their relative.  In the course of his research, he came across Caroline's great-aunt, Caroline Waite.   He has uncovered a long-held secret: Caroline's great-aunt betrayed her country and family to escape with a German lover during WWII.  This is the type of story that will garner attention.  Mat has written an article about what he has uncovered and believes it will be accepted by a major news publication.  

Caroline can't believe this is true.  She has been told that her great-aunt died of Polio as a child.  Mat has proof that she was alive as an adult.  Caroline is determined to find answers and asks Mat for a little time to try to find them before he submits his article.   Her family still owns a home in London which they refer to as "The London House".  She and Mat travel to London to scour letters and diaries left by her grandmother and great-aunt.  Will they be able to discover the truth before the article deadline?

My thoughts:  What an amazing story this is!  Katherine Reay is a talented author who has woven fact and fiction to create a story that is hard to put down.  

Part of the story takes place in present day and involves Caroline.  As the story unfolds, we learn about her family's complicated past and the way it has shaped her.  Because of circumstances in their lives, both of her parents retreated into themselves when Caroline was young.  She was distanced from both of her siblings for various reasons.  These things left her feeling alone, unloved and like a failure.  However, Caroline has made a life for herself and is doing the best she can.  Combined with this is her previous relationship with Mat.  They were close friends in college, but then lost touch.  Caroline is not even sure what happened, which makes the fact that he has contacted her more confusing.  

The other part of the story takes place in the days leading up to WWII and is told through letters and diaries.  Caroline's grandmother, Margaret,  had a twin sister named Caroline, but they called her Caro.  Caroline was told she died of Polio as a child.  As Mat and Caroline scour the letters and diaries to try to find out what really happened to Caro, they come to know and love Margaret and Caro.  In the late 1930's, Caro left London for Paris where she worked for Elsa Schiaparelli in her famous dress shop.  I loved learning about this business and the culture surrounding it.  Also interesting was the way Caro picked up the beliefs and ideas of the culture she was living in.  Unfortunately, they were in opposition to the beliefs and ideas of her family still living in London.  The created a wedge between them.  Caro rarely returned home because of the conflict. The author did a great job of showing how the distractions of the fashion world blinded people to what was really going on in the world.  Also how people's beliefs divided them.  

"In World War Two, no one can deny there was a real mix and mess of loyalties.  It must have felt like the world was ending and life would never be the same.  What's more, the enemy was sometimes within your own home."

The parallels to our present circumstances were striking. While all of this seems heavy, there is a thread of hope running through the story.  There are themes of love, confession, forgiveness, truth, family and how the past defines us.  Best of all, it is a story of reconciliation that leaves the reader with a sense of hope for the future.  

Book Review: The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams

The Reading List. Sara Nisha Adams. William Morrow (2021). 384 pages. Genre: Fiction, Contemporary. 

First Lines of Prologue: "2017. The doors are new: Automatic open. Fancy. That has changed since Aidan was here last."

Summary:  Mukesh, a widower with three daughters, is still struggling with grief over the loss of his wife.  She always loved to read.  Mukesh never understood this love, but maybe if he tries reading one of her books he will feel closer to her.  When his daughters find one of her books under the bed, a library book, he decides to read it before returning it.

Aleisha works at the local library.  It was a job her older brother recommended to her.  The problem is Aleisha doesn't read.  It is her brother who loves to read.  So when Mukesh arrives at the library asking for recommendations for something to read, Aleisha doesn't know what to tell him.  She feels guilty for treating him rudely and determines to remedy the situation by reading the first book from a handwritten list she found in a library book.  The next time Mukesh comes into the library, Aleisha is able to recommend To Kill a Mockingbird to him.  The reading list creates a bond between them and helps them both to overcome difficulties in their lives. 

My thoughts: The storyline of this book is very unique.  It revolves around a handwritten reading list found by one of the characters.  This is the thread that weaves the story together.  Also, the layout of the book is a bit unique.  The book is separated into sections named after a book on the list and follows the characters as they are reading that particular book.  Within each section, each chapter is labeled with a character's name and sometimes a date.  This sounds like it could be confusing, but was very easy to follow.

The characters are wonderful.  They are complicated, deep and full of life.  Mukesh is still grieving the loss of his wife and feels adrift.  His daughters treat him like he is old and feeble.  He feels lonely and wishes he had a deeper relationship with his daughters and grandchildren. Aleisha has a difficult home life, but it is all she knows.  Her father left several years ago and since then her mom has not been the same.  She has good days and bad days.  But more often, her days are bad.  Aleisha and her older brother, Aidan, take care of her.  They both have jobs to support the family and one of them must be home at all times.  It is a lot for a seventeen year old to handle.  

The importance of books to bring people together is the main theme in this story.  The author did an outstanding job of showing this.  Some of the other themes are grief, loneliness, family - both biological and found, friendship and stepping out of your comfort zone.  

There is content that might be a concern to some - suicide, mental illness and some profanity.

Overall, this is a heartwarming, hopeful story full of deep, interesting characters.  

Quotes:

"The city had been so large, so vast and lonely sometimes, finding lists was like finding tiny moments of human connection, where she could prove that the silent strangers who walked past her, avoiding eye contact, were people too.  They wrote shopping lists, they planned their dinners, they added some treats in every so often - the lists grounded her."

"'Please try to remember that books aren't always an escape; sometimes books teach us things. They show us the world; they don't hide it."

Book Review: Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis

Prince Caspian (The Chronicles of Narnia #2). C. S. Lewis. MacMillan Publishing Co. (1970) (First Published 1951). 216 pages. Genre: Children's literature, middle grade, fantasy. 

First Line: "Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy, and it has been told in another book called The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe how they had a remarkable adventure."

Summary:  The Pevensie children are summoned back to Narnia by Susan's magic horn.  Prince Caspian is the rightful heir to the throne, but his uncle Miraz has declared himself king.  It is up to Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy with the help of Aslan, to bring the magic back to Narnia and put Caspian on the throne.

My thoughts:  This one is such an adventure!  As the Pevensies journey through the land, discovering talking beasts that are in hiding, they begin to change.  They become braver and more noble.  They more quickly recognize when they are being unreasonable and want to do better.  I loved this aspect of the story.

The characters are wonderful.  Trumpkin, the Red Dwarf or D.L.F (Dear Little Friend) with his silly exclamations - "Whistles and whirligigs!" or "Wraiths and wreckage".  The Bulgy Bears who would rather just have a nap.  Reepicheep, the valiant mouse.  The Giant Wimbleweather who is large, but not very wise.  

The four children play a much larger role in this one working together to put Caspian on the throne.  This is a great follow up to The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.

Book Review: Home by Marilynne Robinson

Home (Gilead #2).  Marilynne Robinson. Farrar, Straus and Giroux (2008). 325 pages. Genre:  Fiction.

First Line:  "'Home to stay, Glory! Yes!' her father said, and her heart sank."

Summary:  Reverend Boughton is well-advanced in years and is becoming more feeble each day.  Glory is the youngest of the eight Boughton children.  After her life fell apart, she returned home to care for her father.  Jack, the black sheep of the family, returned as well. He and Glory begin the work of getting to know one another while caring for their father and keeping him happy.

My thoughts:  I read Gilead last year and really liked it.  This story runs concurrently with Gilead. Gilead is the story of John Ames and a letter he is writing to his son.  John had his son in his old age and he is afraid he will not be able to tell him all the things a father should tell his son.  John Ames and Reverend Boughton are best friends.  They have known one another for as long as they can remember.  In Gilead, we heard about Glory coming to care for her father and that Jack was visiting.  It was interesting to read about these things from a different point of view.  But, I can't say that I liked this one as well as I liked Gilead.  

Glory has come home to care for her father.  She knows he is not long for this world and he requires more assistance each day.  But, since the relationship she was in fell apart and she no longer has a job, she really had no other place to go.  She loves her father and is glad to be able to help him.  

Jack was always the child that went off by himself.  He rarely participated in what the rest of the family was doing.  Everyone always walked on eggshells around him because they were afraid if they upset him, he would leave.  As he got older he stole things, drank and had a relationship with a young woman that produced a child.  He never took any responsibility for that child.  Jack has been a worry to his father for years.  So when the Reverend receives word that Jack is coming home, he is cautiously optimistic.  He has been let down so many times, that he can't allow himself to become too excited about the possibility of Jack returning.  But, Jack does return.

In many ways this book was uncomfortable and difficult to read.  As a reader, you could feel the tension in the atmosphere.  This speaks to the brilliance of Marilynne Robinson's writing.  Of the three, Glory is the most honest character.  She is uncomfortable around Jack, but only because she doesn't know him well.  She takes him as he is and thinks well of him.  She is always eager to help him.  

Most of the time I wanted to shake Jack.  He is constantly concerned with himself and what others think of him.  I guess maybe he has reason to be.  He knows he has been a worry to the family, but he claims he can't help what he does.  His lack of personal responsibility was frustrating.  One good thing I can say about him was that he seemed to be remorseful and he was very polite. 

Reverend Boughton loves Jack deeply.  But he is constantly giving him backhanded compliments.  He will compliment him while also jabbing him.  He feels like he has let him down as a father.  It is not surprising that a minister would have high expectations for his children, but it is clear that several of the children present themselves as the people they think their father wants them to be, while not being so lily white in reality.  Some of them felt the pressure to live up to these expectations, but felt they couldn't.  I'm not sure that Reverend Boughton saw his children for who they really were. 

But, ultimately, I think Jack did want to change.  He just wasn't sure how to do it.  He was one of those people who feels things deeply and this is what made him run away or drink. He couldn't bear to be hurt, so he fled even when he knew this would hurt those he cared about most.

This is a complicated and moving story.  While I didn't like it as much as I liked Gilead, I have a feeling it's going to stick with me for a while.  

Quotes:

"She went off to help her father put his socks on and shave and get his shirt buttoned, and  she thought, as she often did, At least I know what is required of me now, and that is something to be grateful for."

"It's television that makes things seem important, whether they are or not."

"Her father had always said, God does not need our worship.  We worship to enlarge our sense of the holy, so that we can feel and know the presence of the Lord, who is with us always."

"Still, there was something strained about it all, as if time had another burden, like humid air, or as if it were a denser medium and impervious to the trivialization which was all they would expect or hope for on an evening like this one, now that grace was said."

"He looked like a man full of that active contentment that makes even ordinary movement graceful."

 

Book Review: The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island. Colleen Oakley. Berkley (2021). 368 pages. Genre:  Fiction, Contemporary.

First Line: "At first when Piper scanned the docks and didn't see the familiar rickety white-pine-and-fir fisherman's trawler, she thought nothing of it."

Summary:  Piper Parrish has a near perfect life.  She is married to her best friend, lives on a small island in Chesapeake Bay and is surrounded by people who love her.  When her husband's boat is found after a storm with no trace of him, she is devastated.  She knows that Tom would never leave her, so she copes the only way she knows how.  She imagines that he is with her and goes about her daily life as it was before Tom disappeared.  The townspeople love her so much, and realize that everyone grieves differently, so they go along with the charade.  One day, reporter Anders Caldwell, is sent to the island to cover their annual cake-walk.  While there he befriends Piper and becomes fascinated with the island.  He returns to the island under the cover of doing research for a podcast, and soon befriends many of the residents.  However, Anders is hiding something and when the people of Frick Island discover his secret, they have a hard time forgiving him.

My thoughts:  When I heard about this book some of the things that caught my attention were: quirky characters, an island in Chesapeake Bay, the fascinating premise and several reviewers who said they loved it. I have to admit, I really enjoyed this one. 

While the story does include some difficult topics - death, grief, mental illness, inclusion - it never gets heavy. Along with those difficult topics were themes of friendship, found family, love, kindness, and patience with others.  I loved the hopeful thread that wound its way through the entire story.  And the island itself captured my imagination.  Once I started reading the book I found it hard to put down.  I just had to know what happened.  Why did the townspeople go along with Piper's charade?  What was going to happen when they found out about Ander's secret?

While this is not a mystery, it does contain several mystery elements.  Some reviewers have called this a romance.  There is some romance in the story, but it is just a part of the full story.  It is a well-written novel with interesting characters that will steal your heart.  I don't want to give too much away.  The less you know going in the better, I think.

Don't miss the author's note at the end of the book talking about her inspiration for the island.

If you are in the mood for a light-hearted, captivating read, I highly recommend The Invisible Husband of Frick Island.

Book Review: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. Gail Honeyman. Viking (2017). 336 pages. Genre:  Contemporary Fiction.

First Lines:  "When people ask me what I do - taxi drivers, dental hygienists - I tell them I work in an office.  In almost nine years, no one's ever asked what kind of office, or what sort of job I do there."

Summary:  Eleanor Oliphant is a woman who prefers things to stay the same.  Every day she eats the same breakfast, takes the same route to work, does the same work, eats the same lunch, goes home to the same flat and eats the same dinner.  Every Wednesday she has a phone call with Mummy.  She is completely fine.  She doesn't need anything else.  One day when Raymond, a  man who works in IT, strikes up a conversation with her, a real conversation, she finds herself enjoying it.  She doesn't remember the last time she had a real conversation with anyone.  When she and Raymond find themselves in a situation where they must save a man's life, she finds her heart softening even more.  Ultimately, it is these friendships that will save her life.

My thoughts:  I like quirky characters.  Eleanor is definitely a quirky character.  However, it took me many pages to warm up to her.  At first, she was just really odd.  But as the story moves along, we finally get a glimpse of some tenderness in her.  She becomes likeable.  I'm glad I didn't give up on her.  

Eleanor's life is void of human contact, she is lonely.  But, she doesn't think she is lonely.  Sometimes she will admit that it would be nice to have a friend.  Mostly she avoids relationships because they cause pain.  She has gone through a lot of difficulty in her life and survived.  However, in order to get through the loneliness of the weekend, she often relies on vodka.  There is some heavy subject matter is this book, but the book never feels heavy.  Eleanor is funny and very relatable.  We have all found ourselves in situations like she has.  

I really liked Raymond.  He is just an ordinary guy, well an ordinary IT guy.  But he is kind and gentle and a true friend.  He is patient with Eleanor even when she is being very difficult. 

This story shows the power of friendship, kindness and unconditional love in a person's life.  It was these glimpses that I loved most in the story.

"She was, quite simply, a nice lady who'd raised a family and now lived quietly with her cats and grew vegetables.  This was both nothing and everything."

"There was birdsong, a descant over the sounds of a television drifting through an open window. Everything felt safe, everything felt normal.  How different Raymond's life had been from mine - a proper family, a mother and a father and a sister, nestled among other proper families."

"I realized that such small gestures - the way his mother had made me a cup of tea after our meal without asking, remembering that I didn't take sugar, the way Laura had placed two little biscuits on the saucer when she brought me coffee in the salon - such things could mean so much."

If you like quirky characters or stories of friendship and hope, give Eleanor Oliphant a try.

Book Review: Father Elijah: An Apocalypse by Michael D. O'Brien

Father Elijah: An Apocalypse (Children of the Last Days #4). Michael D. O'Brien. Ignatius Press (1996). 597 pages. Genre: Fiction, Christian Fiction.

First Lines: "Brother Ass found Father Elijah in the onion garden. The old monk was hoeing, sweating under his straw bonnet, and the young brother felt a moment of pity for him."

Summary:  Father Elijah is a Carmelite monk at a monastery near Jerusalem.  Raised in Warsaw, he lived through the atrocities of World War II.  However, the rest of his family did not.  It was this suffering, combined with more difficulties in his adult life that brought him to the Catholic faith and to the life of a monk.  He has been quite content to live this life for the past twenty years, having never left the monastery. 

So, it is a bit unnerving when he is called into the world to assist the Pope.  He wonders why he was chosen and thinks there must be someone better equipped than he to carry out this mission.  When he is sent he really doesn't know what his mission is, except that it relates to archeology, a longstanding interest of his. When he finally meets with the Pope the mission is made clear.  There is a new President of Europe who is rapidly rising in power.  He has many followers and more each day.  The Pope has asked Elijah to warn him of his spiritual danger and attempt to convert him to the faith.  The President also has an interest in archeology and this will be the connection between the two of them.  The Pope realizes that the President only wants to use the Church as a way to gain more followers.  Elijah will meet the President to report on some new Dead Sea Scrolls that have been discovered.  It is a dangerous mission that could cost Elijah his life. 

My thoughts:  I generally avoid apocalyptic novels and those that far exceed 400 pages, so if a friend had not recommended this book I never would have picked it up.  However, I really enjoyed this novel and am so glad I chose to read it. 

Father Elijah is such an interesting character.  At first he seems like a typical monk who relishes solitude, work and the routines of daily life in a monastery.  He is definitely that person now, but as the story unfolds, we learn of his past and how he came to choose this life. He is very devout and often encourages other members of the cloth in their faith.  I loved all those things about him.  But, I equally loved the juxtaposition of Billy, his friend from his first days in the monastery.  Billy is nothing like what you would expect a monk to be.  He is very outgoing, dresses in fine clothes and drives a luxury car.  By looking at him you would never guess that he is a man of the cloth.  However, he is also very devout and intelligent.  He does important work for the Vatican and is especially suited to do it. Their mutual respect for one another is wonderful.

This book read like a thriller with lots of twists and turns.  There are murders and cover-ups and people not being who they seem to be.  Father Elijah communicates in code with more than one person.  He must meet in secret with others.  Someone is bugging offices and cars and other things. No where is safe. There were a couple of parts that did slow down a bit.   These sections were usually where Elijah was in a debate with someone about faith in God.  They may have been slower, but were rich in theology.  The author's clean writing style made it easy to read. 

I am not Catholic, but I enjoyed reading about the rituals of the church.  There was also a fair amount of WWII history involved as Father Elijah was a Holocaust survivor.  He traveled to Rome and Poland in the course of the story.  While in Poland, he visited the place he used to live, knowing it would have changed, but needing to see it anyway. I enjoyed the descriptions of the countryside in Italy.

I have not read any of the other novels in this series, but I didn't feel like I was missing anything.  Overall, this was a fascinating read. 

Quotes:

"'Also, among your many outstanding gifts you have the gift of humor.  You make me laugh.  I'm a serious person, you may have noticed.'

'I noticed that.  You're not exactly a funny guy, Davy.'

'You see, you can't help yourself.  You always say amusing things.  That is a gift from the Lord.  It lifts the heart.'"

"'I live here in this great city like a monachus, a solitary one.  I pray. I work. I put good books in the hands of the people.  Perhaps good thoughts are born in their minds. That is my calling.'"

Book Review: Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson

Meet Me at the Museum.  Anne Youngson.  Flatiron Books (2018). 272 pages.  Genre: Fiction, Epistolary Fiction. 

First Line:  "Bury St. Edmunds, November 22, Dear Professor Glob, Although we have never met, you dedicated a book to me once; to me, thirteen of my schoolmates, and your daughter."

Summary:  Tina Hopgood has always meant to visit the Tollund Man at Silkeborg Museum in Denmark.  She decides to send a letter to Professor Glob, who wrote a book about the Tollund Man that inspired her interest.  She really doesn't expect to receive a response, figuring that Professor Glob is probably quite old or dead by now.  

Anders Larsen, curator at the Silkeborg Museum, receives and reads the letter.  He responds to Mrs. Hopgood, explaining to her that Professor Glob is indeed dead and gives her some further information about the Tollund Man.  He doesn't expect a response to this letter, but thought it would be kind to let her know her letter was received and that the professor had died.

Tina sends another letter and so their correspondence continues.  In the course of the writing they leave off talking about the Tollund Man and move to sharing about their personal lives. 

My thoughts:  I have mixed feelings about this book.  I didn't love it, but there were things I liked about it. One of the things I liked about it was the epistolary nature of the novel.  After reading 84, Charing Cross Road last year, I have enjoyed this type of writing.  This story is somewhat reminiscent of 84, Charing Cross Road in that it consists of letters written between a man and a woman in different countries.  However, that is where the similarities end.  Of course, one is fiction, the other non-fiction.  One is about the books and the other isn't.  

I could relate to the characters' thoughts about reaching mid-life or slightly beyond and wondering if your life has meant anything and feeling a sense of loss because your life has turned out differently than you imagined.

"One of these thoughts is about plans never fulfilled.  You know what I mean - if you are still alive you must be a very old man by now and it must have occurred to you that what you thought would happen, when you were young, never did."

However, I found Tina to be someone who was void of joy and who had been putting on an act for most of her life, especially in her marriage.  She made comments about finding joy in things her grandchildren did, but otherwise she seemed to have a martyr attitude.

I spent most of the book feeling uncomfortable with the relationship forming between Tina and Anders, as well as some of the decisions made by family members.  Fortunately, some of these things resolved themselves or came to light before the conclusion of the book.  

Overall, this was just not the book for me.  Others have given the book high praise, so your mileage may vary.

Book Review: The House Girl by Tara Conklin

The House Girl.  Tara Conklin.  William Morrow (2013). 416 pages.  Genre: Historical Fiction, Fiction.

First Line:  "Mister hit Josephine with the palm of his hand across her left cheek and it was then she knew she would run." 

Summary:  Carolina Sparrow is in her first year working for a law firm in New York City.  She works hard, always going above and beyond what is asked of her.  Like many associates, she has dreams of one day becoming a partner.  So, when her boss comes to her with  a new case, a big case, she can't say no.  The case is unusual.  A large oil and gas company is making a historical reparations claim against twenty private companies that benefited from slave labor.  The claim is on behalf of the ancestors of the slaves.  Carolina's boss readily admits it is mostly for publicity.  However, this is a big client and they pay well, so the firm will do their best for them.  Carolina is assigned to find an ancestor of a slave to be the face of this case.  Not just any face, but one that is photogenic and has a compelling story.

Josephine Bell is a slave living on the Bell Creek Plantation in Virginia.  She was not born there, but she remembers no other place.  Missus Lu keeps Josephine close.  She sends others on errands, but relies on Josephine to do the work in the house.  Missus Lu is good to her, but Master treats her and the other slaves poorly.  Josephine tried to run once, but was forced to come back.  She is determined to try again.  It is all she can think about.  

When Carolina learns about Josephine, she is sure that one of her descendants would be the perfect face for their case.  But, did Josephine have descendants?  The two women's stories intersect in ways Carolina didn't imagine.

My thoughts:  This story is told in a way that flows peacefully through your mind.  The author's writing style fits the time period and characters.  Her use of different characters to tell different parts of the tale is unique.  Most of the story is told in prose, but parts of it are told through letters.  This makes the people and their stories come alive. 

Carolina, who is called Lina by most people, still lives with her dad in the same house she grew up in.  Her mother died when she was young and she and her dad never spoke of it again. Lina always assumed this was because it was too difficult for her father.  However, he has begun to paint pictures again and he is painting her mother.  Lina is not sure how she feels about this.  

"The difference between how Lina saw the world and how it truly was seemed suddenly vast and breathtaking, and Lina felt again as if she were four years old, mystified by a loss she could not control and events she did not understand."

During the course of the novel her world is expanded by people and circumstances in her life and by people she meets through words on a page.  She grows and matures in positive ways. 

Josephine Bell is a deep character who has endured much in her short life.  We are transported to Bell Creek Plantation and can feel the heat and dust along with the characters.  Josephine is fortunate because she has been chosen as the house girl.  This means that rather than spending her days in the field, she spends them in the house.  She looks after Missus and cooks and cleans.  But she is still a slave and longs for freedom.  

Part of her story is told by the daughter of a man who assists the Underground Railroad.  It was really interesting to get this perspective.  

Many of the characters struggle with faith.  They are all trying to reconcile a good God with the loss and pain and affliction experienced in their lives and the lives of those around them.  

The book contains some language and hints at abuse.  Nothing is graphic or excessive.

I enjoyed walking along with Lina as she navigates her relationship with her father and as she conducts research for her job.  I learned a lot about what life was like in the south leading up to the civil war.  If you like historical fiction woven with a modern timeline, give this book a try.

Quotes:

"It seems an impossibility - that a woman is so beloved by a man, who together bore & raised a child, & yet that same man would deliver upon that same woman such cruelty & pain.  Perhaps you think me naive.  But what God could allow such a thing to transpire? The weight of the things I do not understand would crush an ox."

"Our small chapel still echoes with the tones of Pastor Shaw's sermon delivered this Sunday last.  It was a deeply affecting lecture, Kate, one that I continue to ponder even now three days gone.  He spoke on the universal sanctity of life, how the taking of life regardless of the station of the person will always be viewed as sin before God, that all men yearn for life & its natural corollary, freedom."

"'The world will do as it pleases,' he said to me.  'I ride along best I can.'"

"The studio was at the front of the house, four long steps from the door of Missus' room, with windows that looked west to the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the low mounds sloping soft as though drawn with a crumbling crayon."