What?! It has not been over a year since I last posted! Seriously. Let this post remind all how very much can change in a year.
1. My children are all a year older. In adolescence, a year is a long time.
2. My beloved mother is spreading joy safely supervised in a dementia unit.
3. My husband was unemployed, and now employed in a job he enjoys.
4. There was a pony in my pool.
5. We are experiencing the third snowiest winter on record.
6. I got a new job.
Okay, so let's focus on #6. I got a new job. I loved my former job - K-12 school librarian/HS English teacher. I was in that school district for 20 years. My children go to school there. I loved the people I worked with and my students. I loved buying books with other people's money. But one day in September, an email came about a job opening for an institution I admired and had always kept in the back of my mind as a home for my retired self. So, I applied. And I got an interview. Then, I had a second interview. I got the job. I am now an ILibrarian (the I stands for Integration) at INFOhio, Ohio's PreK-12 Digital Library. I work from my home, and travel locally about 5-6 days a month. I love it. I miss my students and my friends at my former school, but I do not miss the new Ohio teacher evaluation system, the testing we piled on students, and the frustration of the testing and evaluation system combined. I do not believe I am alone in saying that this was a small part of the reason why I left teaching after 20 years.
Did I mention I miss buying books? I am still reviewing, but I feel an emptiness in the results. I have seriously considered making lists to buy just for fun. I have not done it yet, but I have thought that maybe somewhere, someone needs a book-buying consultant on the side. That could be me. I haven't visited Net Galley in a while, but I was prompted to do so in search of a sequel to M.D. Water's Archetype which I received through Penguin's First Read's program. It was such a great read, but more importantly, when I shared it with some of my older student readers, they loved it. We can't wait for the sequel - I am hoping I can track down an ARC or galley somewhere!
In my quest for Protoype I found Shirley by Susan Scarf Merrel, a fictional book about a young, married couple's brief stay with the author Shirley Jackson. I have greatly enjoyed Shirley Jackson's writing. The Haunting of Hill House is near the top of my scariest-books-ever list. I taught it to my sophomore English classes, and I love exploring with them the psychological terror and uncertainty that Hill House evokes. That scene in the bedroom and the walk in the garden....brrrr. Still gives me the shivers. Whatever walks in Hill House walks alone, and so does whatever walks in the home of writer Shirley Jackson and her scholarly husband Stanley Edgar Hyman. The troubled marriage of two larger-than-life characters and their old, creaky, well-lived in home provides the setting for the book. It takes place a few years before Shirley's sudden death at the age of 48, and is told from the viewpoint of young Rose Nesmer, whose husband Fred has come to be a teaching associate at the college. Rose can only be 18 or 19 years old, and is incredibly naive, but likable. She is pregnant, and finds herself attached easily to Shirley's big personality and her unpredictable moods. Over the course of about 8 months, Rose finds herself both loved and hated by Shirley, but through it all, she remains enamored of the author.
What is most frightening about this book for me is not the underlying question of Shirley's involvement in the death of a young college girl. Hyman was good at sleeping with his students, and Shirley's instability is largely hinted to be due to his infidelity. There is plenty of suspense from this elephant in the book, but it was not this plot line that frightened me. I was most afraid of how Rose changed while she lived in the Jackson-Hyman house. She was a young bride whose own mother had left her, and Rose absorbed Shirley's energies, as well as the miasma of the house itself. For me, the climax of the book was when Rose finally succumbed, much like Eleanor to Hill House, to the ghosts and horrors of her temporary home. Rose became part of what was bad, ugly and wrong in the house and within two highly intelligent, dramatically charged and fatally entwined people.
The ending was full of irony and wisdom; Rose's transformation in the book is tangible, but not in a decrepit or stale way. She has grown, as all humans do, through hardship and hurt. Rose's character is very much a foil to the Ozymandias that was Shirley Jackson, broken and forgotten too soon.(Though really, Shirley's writing has certainly kept her alive!) Instead of living in a haunted house, Rose moves on, and find where joy abides. It was a thought-provoking, dark and eerie book.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Two and Twenty Dark Tales
It's been a long time since I have blogged, but in that span of time, life certainly did not stop. I've been working and reading, and cooking and caring for my family. I have had stacks of books piled up for reviews; between Library Media Connection, SOYAMRG, NetGalley and Penguins First Reads Program, there never seems to be a time when I don't have obligatory reading to do. Not that I am complaining...but maybe I am. I am finally reading a book right now that I want to read - Donald Ray Pollock's The Devil all The Time which has been on my to-read shelf for about 8 months. I am excited to read this - it sounds dark and suspenseful and that's the way I like my books. I just finished reading Philip Reeve's Predator City quartet - Mortal Engines, Predator's Gold, Infernal Devices and On a Darkling Plain. These are fantastic books - new classics and I was absolutely weepy at the end of the series. But, I spent a long time in that Steampunk world, and my brain was craving some new setting.
Two and Twenty Dark Tales was a switch, but not the one I really wanted. This is a NetGalley download published by Month9Books, and is marketed as a charity anthology of dark retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes. I was most pleased with the publisher - this is their first release and they will donate the proceeds from the sale of the first 5,000 books to a charity they love. In fact, this title is the first in a series of annual charity anthologies to be released. It is refreshing to see this act of charity in a publishing world that seems to be dominated by greed for money. I am not ignorant; I know that money makes the publishing world go 'round, but Penguin's attitude about ebooks and libraries can be called nothing but selfish. So, bravo, Month9Books and Georgia McBride on your debut. I am looking forward to future publications.
The book is delivers just what it promises to in its title. Mother Goose nursery rhymes serve as the inspiration for dark and fantastic short stories for young adult readers. There are to be 22 tales in the final publication, but this ARC had only 21 total. There were some extended versions of stories not included, as well as a poem. Several of the stories stand out to me, while others left me as soon as I finished. The first story in the book, "As Blue as the Sky and Just as Old" by Nina Berry was an excellent start to the anthology and was inspired by the nursery rhyme about Taffy the Welshman. I'm a real sucker for Welsh words - there's just something about all those y's that is pure poetry to me. But this story really captured the retelling or even the real telling of this nursery rhyme. So many seemingly childish rhymes are in reality based on dark and grim events and folklore. Berry's story of timeless search for three disguised objects and the evil forces that seek them is deliciously frightening with enough magic glimmering at the edges to keep it light. It was well-developed with just enough back story to make the plot interesting and characters believable. On the other hand, "Pieces of Eight" by Shannon Delany and Max Scialdone was overly developed for a short story. There was too much to accomplish - an entire quest- in one short story and I found myself overwhelmed and eventually uninterested in this retelling of the nursery rhyme Sleep, Baby, Sleep. The authors might want to consider writing a novel based on this short story in order to include the full quest plot and character development.
"Wee Willie Winkie" by Leigh Fallon and "Life in a Shoe" by Heidi R. Kling are two stories that should be developed into novels. The setting of each story were unique and beg to be developed fully. Voice was strong in each as well, and I found myself wanting to know more about the females narrators in these two dark tales. Also satisfying were "The Wish" by Suzanne Young and "A Ribbon of Blue" by Michelle Zink. These two stories managed to catch me by surprise and deliver an element I wasn't expecting.
Overall, the book is entertaining and a treat for anyone who loves nursery rhymes. This will be a great addition to school libraries and will be perfect for readers who like their stories short and sweet. It is a solid first publication for Month9Books.
Two and Twenty Dark Tales was a switch, but not the one I really wanted. This is a NetGalley download published by Month9Books, and is marketed as a charity anthology of dark retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes. I was most pleased with the publisher - this is their first release and they will donate the proceeds from the sale of the first 5,000 books to a charity they love. In fact, this title is the first in a series of annual charity anthologies to be released. It is refreshing to see this act of charity in a publishing world that seems to be dominated by greed for money. I am not ignorant; I know that money makes the publishing world go 'round, but Penguin's attitude about ebooks and libraries can be called nothing but selfish. So, bravo, Month9Books and Georgia McBride on your debut. I am looking forward to future publications.
The book is delivers just what it promises to in its title. Mother Goose nursery rhymes serve as the inspiration for dark and fantastic short stories for young adult readers. There are to be 22 tales in the final publication, but this ARC had only 21 total. There were some extended versions of stories not included, as well as a poem. Several of the stories stand out to me, while others left me as soon as I finished. The first story in the book, "As Blue as the Sky and Just as Old" by Nina Berry was an excellent start to the anthology and was inspired by the nursery rhyme about Taffy the Welshman. I'm a real sucker for Welsh words - there's just something about all those y's that is pure poetry to me. But this story really captured the retelling or even the real telling of this nursery rhyme. So many seemingly childish rhymes are in reality based on dark and grim events and folklore. Berry's story of timeless search for three disguised objects and the evil forces that seek them is deliciously frightening with enough magic glimmering at the edges to keep it light. It was well-developed with just enough back story to make the plot interesting and characters believable. On the other hand, "Pieces of Eight" by Shannon Delany and Max Scialdone was overly developed for a short story. There was too much to accomplish - an entire quest- in one short story and I found myself overwhelmed and eventually uninterested in this retelling of the nursery rhyme Sleep, Baby, Sleep. The authors might want to consider writing a novel based on this short story in order to include the full quest plot and character development.
"Wee Willie Winkie" by Leigh Fallon and "Life in a Shoe" by Heidi R. Kling are two stories that should be developed into novels. The setting of each story were unique and beg to be developed fully. Voice was strong in each as well, and I found myself wanting to know more about the females narrators in these two dark tales. Also satisfying were "The Wish" by Suzanne Young and "A Ribbon of Blue" by Michelle Zink. These two stories managed to catch me by surprise and deliver an element I wasn't expecting.
Overall, the book is entertaining and a treat for anyone who loves nursery rhymes. This will be a great addition to school libraries and will be perfect for readers who like their stories short and sweet. It is a solid first publication for Month9Books.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Summer Heat
We made it through the 4th of July blast - temperatures in the high 90's and low 100's here in the Midwest. It was miserable. I finally gave in and turned on my A/C. I hate being shut in during the summer months. I grew up in a big old house that had electric heat for the winter and some 20 year old fans for the summer. One fan was made in the late 30's, probably. I kid you not - heavy, wood encased dark metal blades. In other words, I am used to temperature inconvenience. My best childhood memories are of nights scorching hot where my sisters and I would sleep at the ends of our beds in order to be closer to the breeze from our box fan. Inevitably, sometime in the night, the temperature would drop and I would crawl to the head of the bed, and pull a sheet over me to deter the chill. Bliss.
Middle age brings the need for comfort, however. Night times are the worst for sweating, I have found. Air conditioning is the savior for those uncomfortable muggy evenings when not a breath of air is moving through the windows. Reading in bed is one of my favorite things to do, so a cool evening is appreciated. My latest read came from Penguin First Reads. City of Women by David R. Gillham is a WWII story set in Berlin in 1943. All the men are gone - either burned up in ovens or fighting the battle against the Russians. Sigfrid lives with her mother-in-law while her husband fights on the front. She works in the patent office and appears to be an honorable German hausfrau doing her part for the Motherland. In truth, however, she is an adulteress who has had an affair with a Jew named Egon. The beginning of the book centers on this relationship and with Sigfrid's self absorption as she deals with his recent disappearance. Strewn with glimpses at Sigfrid's sad childhood and her lonely adult existence, the book allows readers to see the motives for the protagonist. She is not a likeable character, but by the end of the book, she has added layers and matured to become a believable and complex woman who makes choices no longer based on her wants and needs. Her involvement with the illegal hiding of Jews complicates her life in numerous ways, which leads to death, betrayal and finally redemption.
This was an excellent book and I am glad that it was part of the Penguin First Reads program as it is not a book I would have committed to otherwise. I no longer seek Holocaust literature, though it will certainly haunt me forever. But this book was more than just a story of the underground railroad for Jews. It was the story of a woman who like a slim wick dipped over and over in hot wax, developed into a candle with the possibility of light. This will be a great discussion book, and one that will stay with me for a while. Complex and sad, it is not a beach book, but it was a cool spot during the summer heat for me.
Middle age brings the need for comfort, however. Night times are the worst for sweating, I have found. Air conditioning is the savior for those uncomfortable muggy evenings when not a breath of air is moving through the windows. Reading in bed is one of my favorite things to do, so a cool evening is appreciated. My latest read came from Penguin First Reads. City of Women by David R. Gillham is a WWII story set in Berlin in 1943. All the men are gone - either burned up in ovens or fighting the battle against the Russians. Sigfrid lives with her mother-in-law while her husband fights on the front. She works in the patent office and appears to be an honorable German hausfrau doing her part for the Motherland. In truth, however, she is an adulteress who has had an affair with a Jew named Egon. The beginning of the book centers on this relationship and with Sigfrid's self absorption as she deals with his recent disappearance. Strewn with glimpses at Sigfrid's sad childhood and her lonely adult existence, the book allows readers to see the motives for the protagonist. She is not a likeable character, but by the end of the book, she has added layers and matured to become a believable and complex woman who makes choices no longer based on her wants and needs. Her involvement with the illegal hiding of Jews complicates her life in numerous ways, which leads to death, betrayal and finally redemption.
This was an excellent book and I am glad that it was part of the Penguin First Reads program as it is not a book I would have committed to otherwise. I no longer seek Holocaust literature, though it will certainly haunt me forever. But this book was more than just a story of the underground railroad for Jews. It was the story of a woman who like a slim wick dipped over and over in hot wax, developed into a candle with the possibility of light. This will be a great discussion book, and one that will stay with me for a while. Complex and sad, it is not a beach book, but it was a cool spot during the summer heat for me.
Monday, June 18, 2012
One Moment
A couple of years ago, I was fortunate enough to meet author Kristina McBride at a Librarian's Luncheon at a local JVS. She talked about her first book, The Tension of Opposites and about her inspiration for the book. Her book sounded intriguing and the explanation of her process was so helpful, that I took notes and actually followed through on her advice. I wrote about two chapters of that book I have always wanted to write before I lost focus yet again. I haven't looked at it in about a year, but reading McBride's second book One Moment inspires me once again to work on that book.
When I met Kristina, it wasn't her presentation that intrigued me. It was the discussion we had after the presentation. My mother had just been diagnosed with dementia and I was somewhat overwhelmed that day. I was talking to the host of the luncheon, an old friend, and Kristina became part of the dialogue. I found her to be one of those people that I instantly click with, one who is easy to talk to, real in her approach and downright likeable. We found each other on Facebook and have kept in touch over the last two years. I have kept up with the writing of One Moment and have eagerly waited to read this book. When it finally was available on Net Galley, I immediately downloaded it and read it in one day. It is a great book, and one I think will establish Kristina as a well-known young adult writer. This is a book that teens will seek out for its subject and for its realistic take on adolescent emotions and concerns. In other words, Kristina nailed it.
The book is the story of a group of friends in a small town in Ohio (based on Yellow Springs) who face a great loss and must deal with the realities that arise as a result. Beginning with action, One Moment never loses that initial pace. Readers will not find rest until the final pages of the book when the resolution leads them just where they knew it should. There are no real twists in this book; I could see what was coming all along. However, Kristina's writing is strong enough to make me connect fully with the characters, especially Maggie. Realistic dialogue and intuitive teenage actions combine to create a strong emotional tie for readers - even one who is 40 years old. I imagine adolescents will identify even more with the feelings and thoughts of the characters as they encounter painful truths and realities that will shatter life as they knew it. Overall, the books seems tautly composed and cleanly written. It is Kristina's style that makes this book a winner, and I will highly recommend it to my friends and library patrons.
As a reviewer, I have to conclude by saying this book is a necessity for YA libraries. As a friend, I have to conclude by saying, "Bravo!"
When I met Kristina, it wasn't her presentation that intrigued me. It was the discussion we had after the presentation. My mother had just been diagnosed with dementia and I was somewhat overwhelmed that day. I was talking to the host of the luncheon, an old friend, and Kristina became part of the dialogue. I found her to be one of those people that I instantly click with, one who is easy to talk to, real in her approach and downright likeable. We found each other on Facebook and have kept in touch over the last two years. I have kept up with the writing of One Moment and have eagerly waited to read this book. When it finally was available on Net Galley, I immediately downloaded it and read it in one day. It is a great book, and one I think will establish Kristina as a well-known young adult writer. This is a book that teens will seek out for its subject and for its realistic take on adolescent emotions and concerns. In other words, Kristina nailed it.
The book is the story of a group of friends in a small town in Ohio (based on Yellow Springs) who face a great loss and must deal with the realities that arise as a result. Beginning with action, One Moment never loses that initial pace. Readers will not find rest until the final pages of the book when the resolution leads them just where they knew it should. There are no real twists in this book; I could see what was coming all along. However, Kristina's writing is strong enough to make me connect fully with the characters, especially Maggie. Realistic dialogue and intuitive teenage actions combine to create a strong emotional tie for readers - even one who is 40 years old. I imagine adolescents will identify even more with the feelings and thoughts of the characters as they encounter painful truths and realities that will shatter life as they knew it. Overall, the books seems tautly composed and cleanly written. It is Kristina's style that makes this book a winner, and I will highly recommend it to my friends and library patrons.
As a reviewer, I have to conclude by saying this book is a necessity for YA libraries. As a friend, I have to conclude by saying, "Bravo!"
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Books Are Our Friends
I know I am not the only one who experiences something in life, and thinks, "Oh, this is just like when so and so in such and such book did this.." Good books are not over when the last page has been read; good characters last despite the ending of a series. I am often reminded of Nick Carraway watching that light and thinking of Gatsby's life...beating against the current. Aren't we all in some way or another? Good books are going to capture those moments that are ubiquitous and real. I am often borne back into the past, even if it isn't the way to move on in life. I just can't help it.
Life is challenging right now, even more so than usual for me. I have some tough realities to face, but face them I must. I have lots of family and friends to get me through, and I am so very grateful for that. I also have books, and I know I will bring them with me into any challenge. I wonder how much I will think of Michelle Cooper's Montmaray Journals series when I think back to this period of time in my life. It is very apropos, to be sure, for anyone who has grown and changed, loved and loss, looked back and looked forward. Sophie's story is not unique in theme. Despite a made-up country, her story is anyone's. I love this series, and the characters have always felt more like friends to me than like fictional characters. The Montmaray Journal, The Fitzosbornes in Exile, and The Fitzosbornes at War are books in a series that is overshadowed by showier, more dramatic series. The writing, characterization and development in this series is far superior to that of many other series. I hope the general public discovers them.
I have a happy memory of when my kids were little and we first moved into the house where we live now, but won't be for much longer. The boys were 5 and three, and they ran across the yard to a fence that separated our property from the neighbor's. I had been afraid that we would not like living so close to others, that this new house wouldn't suit our needs. But as I watched them race across the grass and climb the white fence, my fears were put to rest. I remember it along with the end of the final book about the Fitzosbornes, as Sophie remembers her sister Henry racing along the beach, her beloved dog at her side. "That is just like when the boys ran to the fence," I thought. Good books last like good memories.
My NetGalley review is below.
Michelle Cooper's third and final installment in the Montmaray Journals series is a much more mature and sophisticated book than the previous two. It is to be expected, however. In The FitzOsbornes at War, Sophie, Veronica, Toby, Henry and Simon grow considerably since they were introduced to us in the first book, with years passing and wars brewing. Not only have the Fitzosbornes aged, but they have faced grim realities: the occupation of Montmaray by Nazis, the rationing of food and supplies, the bombing of London, and the entanglement in a war by all ages and genders. Toby and Simon join the RAF, Henry becomes a WREN, Veronica works as a translator, and Sophie writes propaganda for the British Food office. Even Aunt Charlotte does her part for the war effort, trying to outdo her rival Lady Bosworth in monies collected for charities. The books spans the five long years of WWII, and is again told in the form of Sophie's journal entries, letters and articles. The naive Sophie has a much wiser voice in this final book, but she stays true to character, and is an excellent storyteller. Readers will weep with the FitzOsbornes as they experience loss, and rejoice as they reach victory. Cooper does not spare the family from the war; readers should be ready for a realistic look at how it changes people and places forever. Each member of the royal family will be altered in some way while fighting the war and finding the way to return to the beloved island of Montmaray. Cooper's final book in the series is a satisfying ending to a story full of characters who are more like friends, and a plot that will last in memory. Readers who have faithfully followed this underappreciated series will remember Sophie, Veronica, and the others and think, "I wonder what she is doing now?'' Well-crafted, this final book is a victory for Cooper and a must-read for fans.
Life is challenging right now, even more so than usual for me. I have some tough realities to face, but face them I must. I have lots of family and friends to get me through, and I am so very grateful for that. I also have books, and I know I will bring them with me into any challenge. I wonder how much I will think of Michelle Cooper's Montmaray Journals series when I think back to this period of time in my life. It is very apropos, to be sure, for anyone who has grown and changed, loved and loss, looked back and looked forward. Sophie's story is not unique in theme. Despite a made-up country, her story is anyone's. I love this series, and the characters have always felt more like friends to me than like fictional characters. The Montmaray Journal, The Fitzosbornes in Exile, and The Fitzosbornes at War are books in a series that is overshadowed by showier, more dramatic series. The writing, characterization and development in this series is far superior to that of many other series. I hope the general public discovers them.
I have a happy memory of when my kids were little and we first moved into the house where we live now, but won't be for much longer. The boys were 5 and three, and they ran across the yard to a fence that separated our property from the neighbor's. I had been afraid that we would not like living so close to others, that this new house wouldn't suit our needs. But as I watched them race across the grass and climb the white fence, my fears were put to rest. I remember it along with the end of the final book about the Fitzosbornes, as Sophie remembers her sister Henry racing along the beach, her beloved dog at her side. "That is just like when the boys ran to the fence," I thought. Good books last like good memories.
My NetGalley review is below.
Michelle Cooper's third and final installment in the Montmaray Journals series is a much more mature and sophisticated book than the previous two. It is to be expected, however. In The FitzOsbornes at War, Sophie, Veronica, Toby, Henry and Simon grow considerably since they were introduced to us in the first book, with years passing and wars brewing. Not only have the Fitzosbornes aged, but they have faced grim realities: the occupation of Montmaray by Nazis, the rationing of food and supplies, the bombing of London, and the entanglement in a war by all ages and genders. Toby and Simon join the RAF, Henry becomes a WREN, Veronica works as a translator, and Sophie writes propaganda for the British Food office. Even Aunt Charlotte does her part for the war effort, trying to outdo her rival Lady Bosworth in monies collected for charities. The books spans the five long years of WWII, and is again told in the form of Sophie's journal entries, letters and articles. The naive Sophie has a much wiser voice in this final book, but she stays true to character, and is an excellent storyteller. Readers will weep with the FitzOsbornes as they experience loss, and rejoice as they reach victory. Cooper does not spare the family from the war; readers should be ready for a realistic look at how it changes people and places forever. Each member of the royal family will be altered in some way while fighting the war and finding the way to return to the beloved island of Montmaray. Cooper's final book in the series is a satisfying ending to a story full of characters who are more like friends, and a plot that will last in memory. Readers who have faithfully followed this underappreciated series will remember Sophie, Veronica, and the others and think, "I wonder what she is doing now?'' Well-crafted, this final book is a victory for Cooper and a must-read for fans.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Debut
If someone says "free books," I instantly raise my hand. It's a Pavlovian thing, probably. Getting my hands on more books is a daily goal. Of course, I have to read them, too. That's where the problem begins, not because I don't want to, but because I do want to. I also want to read the other 294 titles I currently have listed as To-read on Goodreads. I want to do nothing but read, but there are these other obligations like children, work, cooking...When I got my weekly update from Early Word and it was looking for reviewers for the Penguin Debut Authors group, my hand shot up in the air. "Pick me! Pick me!" I am that annoying kid in the class who always has to be heard.
Two weeks ago, I received the first book in the mail, The Orphanmaster by Jean Zimmerman. While Zimmerman has written other books, this is her first fiction. It is historical, and is set in mid-seventeenth century New Amsterdam. The book takes its title from an actual position in earlier time periods. Orphan masters were in charge of caring for the orphans of a community. New Amsterdam's orphans play a key part in this historical suspense book, and unfortunately for many of them, it is the supporting role of corpse. Someone is killing orphans. That someone uses the Native American folklore to confuse the community, and appears as a Witika. Also know as the Wendigo, this Native American boogeyman haunts the wilderness and takes, rapes, kills and eats its prey. A grown orphan, Blandine von Couvering, finds herself thrust into the mystery, not only to help the orphans, but eventually to clear herself of blame. As more children disappear, familiar and beloved members of New Amsterdam become suspect, including Aet Visser, the orphan master and Blandine, whose independent, assertive nature makes her stand out even in the gender-tolerant Dutch community. Aided by a British newcomer, Edward Drummond, Blandine discovers the truth is often more frightening than tales of the boogeyman. United by love, the couple must face a serial killer who is haunted not only by loss and hunger and but also by a sense of entitlement.
The setting of this book is fascinating. Historical fiction lovers will adore Zimmerman's writing style which brings life to a long-gone Dutch community in 17th century America. Political upheaval is imminent for New Amsterdam, and Zimmerman deftly weaves a cast of characters whose actions and interactions create a beautiful and intricate plot tapestry.Characters who seem extraneous initially eventually become central to the plot, and each is cleverly developed and connected to the mystery at hand. The plot may be somewhat formulaic - that was one problem for me. I found myself checking off a mental checklist each time an event occurred that was predictable or expected. Overall, however, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it easy to pick up and hard to put down. Zimmerman is an author I will seek in the future.
Sometimes, raising your hand a lot pays off, as it did in this case. This afternoon is the live chat that is part of the Penguin Debut Authors group, and I look forward to sharing thoughts with others who have read this fascinating book. Can't wait to see what arrives next, but until then, I am reading Michelle Cooper's third installment of The Montmaray Journals, The FitzOsbornes at War, a Net Galley ARC that I snagged immediately. I also have seven books to read for SOYAMRG by the third week in May. Oh, and I went to the public library this week and checked out three books that really look good, including a book of short stories by Joyce Carol Oates. So many books, so little time.
Two weeks ago, I received the first book in the mail, The Orphanmaster by Jean Zimmerman. While Zimmerman has written other books, this is her first fiction. It is historical, and is set in mid-seventeenth century New Amsterdam. The book takes its title from an actual position in earlier time periods. Orphan masters were in charge of caring for the orphans of a community. New Amsterdam's orphans play a key part in this historical suspense book, and unfortunately for many of them, it is the supporting role of corpse. Someone is killing orphans. That someone uses the Native American folklore to confuse the community, and appears as a Witika. Also know as the Wendigo, this Native American boogeyman haunts the wilderness and takes, rapes, kills and eats its prey. A grown orphan, Blandine von Couvering, finds herself thrust into the mystery, not only to help the orphans, but eventually to clear herself of blame. As more children disappear, familiar and beloved members of New Amsterdam become suspect, including Aet Visser, the orphan master and Blandine, whose independent, assertive nature makes her stand out even in the gender-tolerant Dutch community. Aided by a British newcomer, Edward Drummond, Blandine discovers the truth is often more frightening than tales of the boogeyman. United by love, the couple must face a serial killer who is haunted not only by loss and hunger and but also by a sense of entitlement.
The setting of this book is fascinating. Historical fiction lovers will adore Zimmerman's writing style which brings life to a long-gone Dutch community in 17th century America. Political upheaval is imminent for New Amsterdam, and Zimmerman deftly weaves a cast of characters whose actions and interactions create a beautiful and intricate plot tapestry.Characters who seem extraneous initially eventually become central to the plot, and each is cleverly developed and connected to the mystery at hand. The plot may be somewhat formulaic - that was one problem for me. I found myself checking off a mental checklist each time an event occurred that was predictable or expected. Overall, however, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it easy to pick up and hard to put down. Zimmerman is an author I will seek in the future.
Sometimes, raising your hand a lot pays off, as it did in this case. This afternoon is the live chat that is part of the Penguin Debut Authors group, and I look forward to sharing thoughts with others who have read this fascinating book. Can't wait to see what arrives next, but until then, I am reading Michelle Cooper's third installment of The Montmaray Journals, The FitzOsbornes at War, a Net Galley ARC that I snagged immediately. I also have seven books to read for SOYAMRG by the third week in May. Oh, and I went to the public library this week and checked out three books that really look good, including a book of short stories by Joyce Carol Oates. So many books, so little time.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Two for One
A long and snowless winter has become an early spring. On the second of April, flowers are in full bloom and trees are green, a sight usually not seen until the middle of the month. Temperatures have already hit the high 70's this year, and wintry pale legs emerge from shorts and summer skirts.
We are in our Spring Break now. Eleven days free of schedules, alarm clocks and homework. I left everything work related at work. This week, I will concentrate on the tasks I want to concentrate on: reading, gardening, parenting.
In the past two days, I have finished two books for review. One was Unspoken: Book One of the Lynburn Legacy by Sarah Brennan Rees. The other was A Greyhound of a Girl by Roddy Doyle. The completion of this book fulfilled the responsibility of two reviews - Net Galley and SOYAMRG. Two very different books.
The first in a new series, Unspoken is the story of Kami Glass, a British teen living in the village of Sorry-in-the Vale. All her life, Kami has been different. It is not just the matter of being half-Japanese that separates her from her peers. Kami hears a voice inside her head, that of Jared, a very real boy that Kami has never met. Despite the peculiarity of hearing the voice, Kami is quite close to Jared and can reach out to him in times of need or joy. The two share thoughts and feelings. Her parents are aware of the situation and Kami has one friend, Angela, who is too lazy to be bothered by Kami's real imaginary friend. Trouble has come to Sorry-in-the-Vale. The disappearance and ritualistic death of animals and the return of the Lynburns has stirred up the small village. Secrets hide in the back of the once familiar shops, and the faces of neighbors are lined with worries and fears newly discovered. The return of the aristocratic Lynburns, sisters Rosalind and Lillian, is perhaps the most disturbing event that has occurred in the past twenty years. The beautiful blond women bring with them their families, including handsome sons Ash and Jared, and live in the cold, imposing manor house. On an awkward elevator ride, Kami finds herself face-to-face with Jared. In her mind, she hears her beloved Jared complain about the Asian girl he has encountered. It is her reaction to this comment that reveals to Jared who Kami is, and thus begins their strained and unexpected real relationship. Despite the difficulties of interacting as physical beings, Jared and Kami find themselves thrown into the mysteries of Sorry-in-the-Vale, the sleepy town that is not at all what it seems. When a girl is found dead, the community turns its fearful eyes to the Lynburns and the strange power they seem to hold over them all. Kami and Jared must overcome their own fears and doubts to stop the evil that has returned to the village, before it is too late.
Sarah Brennan Rees has written a suspenseful and moody first installment in the Lynburn Legacy series. An abrupt ending will seduce readers back for answers and romantic fulfillment. Sorry-in-the-Vale is a well-developed setting and despite the mysteries that surround it, really quite charming. The strong sense of place is the best feature of the book: Gothic, yet quaint all at the same time. It is the believable setting that makes the whirlwind plot easier to follow. Within the first 20 pages of the book, Rees has thrown readers into a half-dozen realities that are all central to understanding both the rising action and the characters. Readers may find themselves taking deep breaths and flipping back a few pages to fully understand the issues introduced at the beginning of the book. A slower pace is not always a good thing, but I think the plot and characters of this book would benefit from just that. After the hundred yard dash that is the beginning of the book, the pace does slow down. Some of the best moments of the book are when Jared and Kami are alone exploring who each is in light of the others existence. The climax and the resolution of the book work: thus the surety that readers will be back for more. There are few factors in the book that separate it from other YA paranormal romance, but if Rees focuses on the bond between the connected teens, she may be able make Lynburn Legacy series one a must read for teens and the young at heart.
*****************************************************************************
Doyle's A Greyhound of a Girl is a story for all generations, one that offers insight for the young and the old. It is about four generations: Mary, her mother Scarlett, her grandmother Emer and great-grandmother Tansey. The journey the women take is one both metaphorical and physical, and with it, each gathers elusive memories as well as the realities of life.
Mary's best friend has just moved away. Forlorn, she walks home from school, only to be met by a lady in the front of her house. Odd features which emerge as age, transform into an old-fashioned appearance, and Mary finds herself intrigued by the lady, Tansey, with her quaint way of talking and dated methods. When she mentions the name to her mother, she is told that the name is that of her great-grandmother, a woman who died when her own ailing Granny was only three. After several encounters, Mary introduces her mother to Tansey, and she confirms that she is indeed, a ghost who was unable to leave her daughter. Realizing that Tansey and Emer must be reacquainted before it is too late, Mary and Scarlett invite the ghost to visit the hospital. Riding in a car is a new experience for the ghostly great-grandmother, and she savors every moment of the trip. Sadly, ghosts are translucent, and the trio realize she cannot venture into the hospital where her appearance may cause more trouble than needed. Instead, frail and worn Emer is bundled into a wheelchair and then into the car where the four generations travel to the family farm where Tansey died of the flu after she cared for the slippery, skinny greyhounds in the yard. Emer's fear of the dogs is tied to the loss of her mother, who quickly puts to rest that fear. In the empty, abandoned farmyard, the four generations look upon a life that was, and still is, despite the change of year and scenes. Grand, indeed.
Doyles' beautiful, lilting writing speaks to the reader as if the room is full of Irish lassies. The style and structure of the dialogue carries the reader quickly from one line to the next, as if borne by windy, green meadows where greyhounds run. Each character has her turn to talk and tell her story, and the essence of each generation is caught in simple memories. The book is a quick read, and will engage readers from one chapter to the next, until there is no more to read. However, the voices of the book remain, and will last well after the last page is read. Doyles' story, then, is one of life and of what passes from one generation to the next. A Greyhound of a Girl is a sweet story, one to be read and savored by any age.
***********************************************************************************
Moving on to The Orphanmaster by Jean Zimmerman. Review to follow! Now for some April sunshine!
We are in our Spring Break now. Eleven days free of schedules, alarm clocks and homework. I left everything work related at work. This week, I will concentrate on the tasks I want to concentrate on: reading, gardening, parenting.
In the past two days, I have finished two books for review. One was Unspoken: Book One of the Lynburn Legacy by Sarah Brennan Rees. The other was A Greyhound of a Girl by Roddy Doyle. The completion of this book fulfilled the responsibility of two reviews - Net Galley and SOYAMRG. Two very different books.
The first in a new series, Unspoken is the story of Kami Glass, a British teen living in the village of Sorry-in-the Vale. All her life, Kami has been different. It is not just the matter of being half-Japanese that separates her from her peers. Kami hears a voice inside her head, that of Jared, a very real boy that Kami has never met. Despite the peculiarity of hearing the voice, Kami is quite close to Jared and can reach out to him in times of need or joy. The two share thoughts and feelings. Her parents are aware of the situation and Kami has one friend, Angela, who is too lazy to be bothered by Kami's real imaginary friend. Trouble has come to Sorry-in-the-Vale. The disappearance and ritualistic death of animals and the return of the Lynburns has stirred up the small village. Secrets hide in the back of the once familiar shops, and the faces of neighbors are lined with worries and fears newly discovered. The return of the aristocratic Lynburns, sisters Rosalind and Lillian, is perhaps the most disturbing event that has occurred in the past twenty years. The beautiful blond women bring with them their families, including handsome sons Ash and Jared, and live in the cold, imposing manor house. On an awkward elevator ride, Kami finds herself face-to-face with Jared. In her mind, she hears her beloved Jared complain about the Asian girl he has encountered. It is her reaction to this comment that reveals to Jared who Kami is, and thus begins their strained and unexpected real relationship. Despite the difficulties of interacting as physical beings, Jared and Kami find themselves thrown into the mysteries of Sorry-in-the-Vale, the sleepy town that is not at all what it seems. When a girl is found dead, the community turns its fearful eyes to the Lynburns and the strange power they seem to hold over them all. Kami and Jared must overcome their own fears and doubts to stop the evil that has returned to the village, before it is too late.
Sarah Brennan Rees has written a suspenseful and moody first installment in the Lynburn Legacy series. An abrupt ending will seduce readers back for answers and romantic fulfillment. Sorry-in-the-Vale is a well-developed setting and despite the mysteries that surround it, really quite charming. The strong sense of place is the best feature of the book: Gothic, yet quaint all at the same time. It is the believable setting that makes the whirlwind plot easier to follow. Within the first 20 pages of the book, Rees has thrown readers into a half-dozen realities that are all central to understanding both the rising action and the characters. Readers may find themselves taking deep breaths and flipping back a few pages to fully understand the issues introduced at the beginning of the book. A slower pace is not always a good thing, but I think the plot and characters of this book would benefit from just that. After the hundred yard dash that is the beginning of the book, the pace does slow down. Some of the best moments of the book are when Jared and Kami are alone exploring who each is in light of the others existence. The climax and the resolution of the book work: thus the surety that readers will be back for more. There are few factors in the book that separate it from other YA paranormal romance, but if Rees focuses on the bond between the connected teens, she may be able make Lynburn Legacy series one a must read for teens and the young at heart.
*****************************************************************************
Doyle's A Greyhound of a Girl is a story for all generations, one that offers insight for the young and the old. It is about four generations: Mary, her mother Scarlett, her grandmother Emer and great-grandmother Tansey. The journey the women take is one both metaphorical and physical, and with it, each gathers elusive memories as well as the realities of life.
Mary's best friend has just moved away. Forlorn, she walks home from school, only to be met by a lady in the front of her house. Odd features which emerge as age, transform into an old-fashioned appearance, and Mary finds herself intrigued by the lady, Tansey, with her quaint way of talking and dated methods. When she mentions the name to her mother, she is told that the name is that of her great-grandmother, a woman who died when her own ailing Granny was only three. After several encounters, Mary introduces her mother to Tansey, and she confirms that she is indeed, a ghost who was unable to leave her daughter. Realizing that Tansey and Emer must be reacquainted before it is too late, Mary and Scarlett invite the ghost to visit the hospital. Riding in a car is a new experience for the ghostly great-grandmother, and she savors every moment of the trip. Sadly, ghosts are translucent, and the trio realize she cannot venture into the hospital where her appearance may cause more trouble than needed. Instead, frail and worn Emer is bundled into a wheelchair and then into the car where the four generations travel to the family farm where Tansey died of the flu after she cared for the slippery, skinny greyhounds in the yard. Emer's fear of the dogs is tied to the loss of her mother, who quickly puts to rest that fear. In the empty, abandoned farmyard, the four generations look upon a life that was, and still is, despite the change of year and scenes. Grand, indeed.
Doyles' beautiful, lilting writing speaks to the reader as if the room is full of Irish lassies. The style and structure of the dialogue carries the reader quickly from one line to the next, as if borne by windy, green meadows where greyhounds run. Each character has her turn to talk and tell her story, and the essence of each generation is caught in simple memories. The book is a quick read, and will engage readers from one chapter to the next, until there is no more to read. However, the voices of the book remain, and will last well after the last page is read. Doyles' story, then, is one of life and of what passes from one generation to the next. A Greyhound of a Girl is a sweet story, one to be read and savored by any age.
***********************************************************************************
Moving on to The Orphanmaster by Jean Zimmerman. Review to follow! Now for some April sunshine!
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