"I beg to present you as a Christmas gift, the city of Savannah, with one hundred fifty heavy guns and plenty of ammunition, and also about twenty-five thousand bales of cotton."
-General William Tecumseh Sherman to President Lincoln, 1864
A big fan of historical fiction, I have read many novels by John Jakes. Years ago I enjoyed his Bicentennial series which began with The Bastard and his North-South trilogy of the Civil War era. Recently I read Charleston in anticipation of a trip to that city. We will be visiting Savannah, GA soon, as well, thus the selection of this novel.
Savannah or a Gift for Mr. Lincoln was one of the more entertaining historical fictions I have read lately with interesting characters and an intriguing plot. I liked the novel enough to rate it a 5. The main protagonist, young Hattie Lester is brave, sassy and very likeable. One plot centers around efforts by Judge Cincinnatus Drewgood, a devious rascal, to get his hands on Silverglass, the rice plantation of Hattie's widowed mother. Other side plots involve "Uncle Billy" Sherman's stay in Savannah, the kidnapping of a free black under the pretense of "recruiting," the revenge of a prison escapee who was falsely accused, the low-life acts of a band of foragers and, on the lighter side, some hints of romance. It all centers around late fall to Christmas of 1864 and the holiday figures into the story in a compelling way. There was even a good bit of humor, especially in the use of figurative language, for example "Grandpa smelled like the inside of a steamer trunk used for storing dead squirrels." The author's use of now-obsolete words such as sockdologer and slanticular amused me; he explained in the Afterword.
I would love to read any comments you may have.
Friday, March 20, 2015
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Oolong Dead by Laura Childs
"And there were loads of tourists, too. Folks who'd been drawn to the romance and genteel beauty of Charleston and journeyed from all points of the globe. They explored the 250-year-old historic district, trod narrow cobblestone walkways, marveled at the Italianate, Georgian, and Victorian mansions that lined the Battery, gasped at the beauty of the Atlantic Ocean rushing in to meet the Ashley and Cooper rivers, and succumbed to the charms of Charleston's bountiful gardens that seemed to flourish anywhere and everywhere. And for some intriguing reason, a lot of these tourists ended up at the Indigo Tea Shop."
-from the novel
One of the later additions to the prolific Tea Shop Mystery series by this author, Oolong Dead is only the second I have read. It was an easy read and quite entertaining; I'll rate it a 3.5. Both were chosen because of an upcoming trip to Charleston, S.C., the setting of the novels in this series. The author admits the Indigo Tea Shop is fictionalized so it will be interesting to see how many other places mentioned in the novel really exist. I do know that our Road Scholar program in Charleston includes Gullah culture, sweet grass basket weaving, visits to several ante-bellum mansions and a tea plantation, all of which figure into the story.
The main character, Theodosia Browning, once again discovers a dead body early in the novel, this time while riding in a horse race. (In The English Breakfast Murder, Childs has Theo finding a body while participating in a turtle watch on the beach which makes me wonder if this is the pattern of all the mysteries in the series. A little hard to believe one person would come across multiple dead bodies in their lifetime!)
The corpse turns out to be Abby Davis, a journalist and sister of an ex-boyfriend, as well as Theo's adversary. Always the amateur sleuth, Theo sets out to catch the perpetrator. Suspects are numerous since the victim was tough and abrasive. There are clues that involve an extra-marital affair, workplace revenge, a jewelry theft and a secret society with a little black magic thrown in. One pretty exciting part was when Theo and her prima donna friend, Delaine, explore a dilapidated mansion and become trapped in scary circumstances.
During the course of her investigation, Theo falls in love with a "dream house" that is for sale. I may have to read another tea mystery to find out if she buys it.
-from the novel
One of the later additions to the prolific Tea Shop Mystery series by this author, Oolong Dead is only the second I have read. It was an easy read and quite entertaining; I'll rate it a 3.5. Both were chosen because of an upcoming trip to Charleston, S.C., the setting of the novels in this series. The author admits the Indigo Tea Shop is fictionalized so it will be interesting to see how many other places mentioned in the novel really exist. I do know that our Road Scholar program in Charleston includes Gullah culture, sweet grass basket weaving, visits to several ante-bellum mansions and a tea plantation, all of which figure into the story.
The main character, Theodosia Browning, once again discovers a dead body early in the novel, this time while riding in a horse race. (In The English Breakfast Murder, Childs has Theo finding a body while participating in a turtle watch on the beach which makes me wonder if this is the pattern of all the mysteries in the series. A little hard to believe one person would come across multiple dead bodies in their lifetime!)
The corpse turns out to be Abby Davis, a journalist and sister of an ex-boyfriend, as well as Theo's adversary. Always the amateur sleuth, Theo sets out to catch the perpetrator. Suspects are numerous since the victim was tough and abrasive. There are clues that involve an extra-marital affair, workplace revenge, a jewelry theft and a secret society with a little black magic thrown in. One pretty exciting part was when Theo and her prima donna friend, Delaine, explore a dilapidated mansion and become trapped in scary circumstances.
During the course of her investigation, Theo falls in love with a "dream house" that is for sale. I may have to read another tea mystery to find out if she buys it.
Monday, March 9, 2015
The English Breakfast Murder by Laura Childs
“My dear if you could give me a cup of tea to clear my muddle of a head I should better understand your affairs.”
-Charles Dickens from Mrs. Lirriper's Legacy, quoted in the novel
This book was chosen solely for its setting, Charleston, S.C., in preparation for my upcoming visit there. Apparently there are many Tea Shop Mysteries by this author but I had never read one. I enjoyed it and have begun a second. It seems each novel has the same protagonist, Theodosia Browning, owner of a tea shop in Charleston and amateur sleuth, and includes related recipes at the end.
The story begins with volunteer sea turtle watching on the beach which results in Theodosia's shocking discovery of a dead body. The deceased man turns out to be a friend of Drayton, Theo's employee and self-appointed crime-busting partner, so the two of them take on the task of solving what they see as his murder. Early suspects involve the dead man's business partner and fellow members of the English Breakfast Club. Other interesting characters add interest and humor to the plot, such as a fastidious and uptight ladies' apparel shop owner and her kleptomaniac sister.
According to the author I would be a "tea initiate" since I know little about the world of tea. In reading this book, I discovered there must be about as many varieties of tea as there are wines. Who knew? Of course, the story centers around tea. Why, Theo even has a dog named Earl Grey.
Though I found that the Indigo Tea Shop is fictional, there were several landmarks of Charleston mentioned, something I was on the lookout for, like Fort Sumter, Magnolia Cemetery, Church Street in the Historic District, the Hunley (a sunken ship of the Civil War era), and so on. I am guessing some other businesses named are also made up; perhaps I will find out when I visit.
I would suggest this as light reading, not really great literature and not the ultimate page-turner. Some would call it "chick lit." If you like to cook, you may find the recipes at the end interesting. I will rate it a 3. It is good enough that I will read a second of the series but probably no more after the trip to Charleston.
Warning: If you read the English Breakfast Club Murder, you may find yourself wanting a scone and a cuppa!
-Charles Dickens from Mrs. Lirriper's Legacy, quoted in the novel
This book was chosen solely for its setting, Charleston, S.C., in preparation for my upcoming visit there. Apparently there are many Tea Shop Mysteries by this author but I had never read one. I enjoyed it and have begun a second. It seems each novel has the same protagonist, Theodosia Browning, owner of a tea shop in Charleston and amateur sleuth, and includes related recipes at the end.
The story begins with volunteer sea turtle watching on the beach which results in Theodosia's shocking discovery of a dead body. The deceased man turns out to be a friend of Drayton, Theo's employee and self-appointed crime-busting partner, so the two of them take on the task of solving what they see as his murder. Early suspects involve the dead man's business partner and fellow members of the English Breakfast Club. Other interesting characters add interest and humor to the plot, such as a fastidious and uptight ladies' apparel shop owner and her kleptomaniac sister.
According to the author I would be a "tea initiate" since I know little about the world of tea. In reading this book, I discovered there must be about as many varieties of tea as there are wines. Who knew? Of course, the story centers around tea. Why, Theo even has a dog named Earl Grey.
Though I found that the Indigo Tea Shop is fictional, there were several landmarks of Charleston mentioned, something I was on the lookout for, like Fort Sumter, Magnolia Cemetery, Church Street in the Historic District, the Hunley (a sunken ship of the Civil War era), and so on. I am guessing some other businesses named are also made up; perhaps I will find out when I visit.
I would suggest this as light reading, not really great literature and not the ultimate page-turner. Some would call it "chick lit." If you like to cook, you may find the recipes at the end interesting. I will rate it a 3. It is good enough that I will read a second of the series but probably no more after the trip to Charleston.
Warning: If you read the English Breakfast Club Murder, you may find yourself wanting a scone and a cuppa!
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Savannah by the Sea by Denise Hildreth
"Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."
-from Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, quoted in the novel
This is the third Savannah from Savannah novel I have read and, as far as I know, the most recent. I found it both light and delightful. I will rate it a 5 for sheer entertainment. It made me laugh aloud numerous times.
Narrator Savannah Phillips decides to go on vacation with her family on the pretense of writing a story about hurricane victims in Seaside, Florida. She finds it a daunting task when she is distracted by Amber Topaz, the depressed would-be beauty queen, and her mother's new "fur baby" and then she is surprised to run into a co-worker from Savannah, a fellow she finds both attractive and annoying. Just as Savannah starts to think she could be falling in love with Joshua, he reveals a past mistake that devastates her. It was very touching how her family and friends, one by one, gave her emotional support and wise counsel as she tried to come to grips with her disappointment.
I love this author's Southern voice: "she was a rhinestone short of a complete tiara." I am still wondering what "tilling" meant in the context of the novel. I looked it up and saw no definitions that seemed to fit what I surmised was similar to "vegging out."
I also appreciate Hildreth's Christian faith, which is apparent from the story but even more so in the acknowledgements. Savannah is blessed with wonderful parents: a sweet, loving and very perceptive father, and even her Georgia-peach-Southern-belle of a mother comes through when needed. From the dedication, I think they may well have been modeled after Hildreth's own parents. The family interactions are often humorous, especially en route to Florida---5 adults and two dogs in the vehicle. Mother Vicky's backseat driving reminded me of my husband's "helpfulness" when I am driving. And later in the book when Vicky is forced to use a Porta Potti, the outcome is hilarious!
The more serious themes of honesty and forgiveness come through clearly but not too moralistically.
I chose to read the Savannah series because of an upcoming trip to Savannah, Georgia. The first two were set in that city and I took some notes on places I might want to go. I was a little disappointed that this one was set mostly in Florida but I got over that quickly as I was taken in by an amusing and touching story. My husband would call this one "chick lit" and I believe it is, in the best sense of the phrase.
*Dear Reader, I would love for you to leave a comment!
-from Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, quoted in the novel
This is the third Savannah from Savannah novel I have read and, as far as I know, the most recent. I found it both light and delightful. I will rate it a 5 for sheer entertainment. It made me laugh aloud numerous times.
Narrator Savannah Phillips decides to go on vacation with her family on the pretense of writing a story about hurricane victims in Seaside, Florida. She finds it a daunting task when she is distracted by Amber Topaz, the depressed would-be beauty queen, and her mother's new "fur baby" and then she is surprised to run into a co-worker from Savannah, a fellow she finds both attractive and annoying. Just as Savannah starts to think she could be falling in love with Joshua, he reveals a past mistake that devastates her. It was very touching how her family and friends, one by one, gave her emotional support and wise counsel as she tried to come to grips with her disappointment.
I love this author's Southern voice: "she was a rhinestone short of a complete tiara." I am still wondering what "tilling" meant in the context of the novel. I looked it up and saw no definitions that seemed to fit what I surmised was similar to "vegging out."
I also appreciate Hildreth's Christian faith, which is apparent from the story but even more so in the acknowledgements. Savannah is blessed with wonderful parents: a sweet, loving and very perceptive father, and even her Georgia-peach-Southern-belle of a mother comes through when needed. From the dedication, I think they may well have been modeled after Hildreth's own parents. The family interactions are often humorous, especially en route to Florida---5 adults and two dogs in the vehicle. Mother Vicky's backseat driving reminded me of my husband's "helpfulness" when I am driving. And later in the book when Vicky is forced to use a Porta Potti, the outcome is hilarious!
The more serious themes of honesty and forgiveness come through clearly but not too moralistically.
I chose to read the Savannah series because of an upcoming trip to Savannah, Georgia. The first two were set in that city and I took some notes on places I might want to go. I was a little disappointed that this one was set mostly in Florida but I got over that quickly as I was taken in by an amusing and touching story. My husband would call this one "chick lit" and I believe it is, in the best sense of the phrase.
*Dear Reader, I would love for you to leave a comment!
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