The Tenth Island: Finding Joy, Beauty and Unexpected Love in the Azores by Diana Marcum

"The Tenth Island is what you carry inside you. It's what's left when everything else falls away. Those of us who live between worlds just know the Tenth Island better. No matter where I have lived---I have never left my island."
             -Alberto to Diana, from the book


This book was free---an Amazon First Reads selection for my Kindle. I was intrigued that much of the story took place in the Azores, a port-of-call on our last cruise. Because of that and other factors, I really enjoyed the book. In fact, I gave it a 5 rating.

Author Diana Marcum, a Los Angeles Times journalist, follows up a Pulitzer Prize-winning story on Central California agriculture with a trip to the Azores. You may have guessed from the quote that her interest was piqued by the Azorean diaspora in California, many of whom owned or worked on farms and ranches and some of whom she had interviewed for her article. Diana had discovered so many Azorean immigrants in the United States that she called it the Tenth Island. She also learned that many of these folks returned to their native islands regularly.

My husband and I had visited Ponta Delgada on Sao Miguel, one of 9 islands in the archipelago. (I actually had to look up the name of the island. The port had been named but I'm not sure the island ever was.) Although the author spent most of her time on Sao Jorge and Terceira, I could relate to some of her descriptions of the breathtaking scenery, including cliffs, volcanic peaks, beautiful waters and hydrangeas growing wild and profuse even along highways. I also learned a lot from the book about Azorean culture---foods, celebrations, language and a popular sport which sounded much like their version of "running with the bulls."

I really liked the author's style---so down-to-earth, witty and quite personal. I felt like she'd be someone I'd like to know. The format of the book---I would call it travel memoir--was similar to Eat, Pray, Love but the vibes were so different. While Elizabeth Gilbert came across as very self-absorbed, Diana Marcum showed humility and seemed genuinely interested in other people. More likeable, for sure. Marcum has a delightful sense of humor, as well. I found her "theories" quite clever, e.g. "The Paper Cut Theory" or the "Willy Wonka Candy Bar Theory."

Overall, a delightful read!

True Places by Sonja Yoerg

"Sometimes it takes a stranger to show you what should be obvious, how far you've drifted from who you want to be, from what's right for you, your true place."
                           -Suzanne, from the novel

Suzanne Blakemore is conflicted about her identity and purpose in life. While driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway she spots a young girl, seemingly lost and weak from hunger and dehydration. Suzanne immediately feels drawn to the girl and eventually brings her into the Blakemore home. Husband Whit goes along but the two teenagers are not so welcoming, particularly 15-year-old Brynn.

The girl turns out to be a very under-developed 16-year-old named Iris who admits she is an orphan. She has lived all her life in a cabin in the woods with no modern conveniences so you can imagine she has some serious problems adjusting to the Blakemore's upper middle class world. And of course, the family home is thrown into some turmoil as Suzanne tries to "fix her" while Whit wants to search for any of her relatives.

Early on there is the mystery of "who is Ash?" a name mentioned frequently by Iris. This reader guessed it was her brother but had no idea why he did not appear. Also the reader is kept guessing as to the existence of Iris's father who she believes is dead.

I thought the book was well-written and the story was intriguing. True Places gets a rating of 4 from me.

Teacher Man by Frank McCourt

"If I could travel to my twenty-seventh year, my first teaching year, I'd take me out for a steak, a baked potato, a pint of stout. I'd give myself a good talking to. For Christ's sake, kid, straighten up. Throw back those miserable bony shoulders. Stop mumbling. Speak up. Stop putting yourself down. In that department the world will be happy to oblige. You're starting your teaching career, and it isn't an easy life. I know. I did it. You'd be better off as a cop. At least you'd have a gun or a stick to defend yourself. A teacher has nothing but his mouth. If you don't learn to love it, you'll wriggle in a corner of hell."                   -Frank McCourt, from the memoir

I fell in love with Frank McCourt's writing after I read Angela's Ashes a few months ago. I was lucky enough to listen to a good portion of it narrated by the author, his Irish brogue greatly enhancing the story of his youth in Limerick. It didn't take long for me to find his second memoir, 'Tis in which McCourt describes his return to the U.S. where he was born. I was delighted to find Teacher Man in  both the audio and print versions. Though I enjoyed the first 2 books immensely, this one may be my favorite. Could it be because I taught school 37 years?

As the quote indicates, Frank McCourt began his teaching career at age 27 and for 30 years taught in several New York high schools. Even though I taught elementary school I could totally relate to many of his experiences. Some were laugh-out-loud funny like the sandwich-throwing incident. Many others were quite touching like Kevin's and Serena's stories.

I was impressed by McCourt's teaching strategies---unorthodox, very creative, motivating and relevant to his students' lives. The lesson in which he had students writing excuses for historical figures is a great example. He was the kind of teacher I aspired to be (and hopefully was, at least at times).

On a scale of 1-5, I want to give Teacher Man a 6! I don't often reread books but I can see myself picking any of McCourt's memoirs up again in the future. Since he began his writing career late in life, his body of work is limited. I read Angela and the Baby Jesus, a very short illustrated children's book about his mother as a child "rescuing" the baby Jesus figure from a church nativity. The only other McCourt books are co-written with his brother Malachy like A Couple of Blaguards. I'll find it soon!

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

"In the vast expanse of this unpredictable wilderness, you will either become your best self and flourish, or you will run away, screaming, from the dark and the cold and the hardship. There is no middle ground, no safe place; not here, in the Great Alone."
            -Lenora Allbright Walker, from the novel

I loved The Nightingale by this author and it was a highly-rated selection for our Page Turners group. Since I had seen The Great Alone on the Bestseller list some time ago and knew it was set in Alaska, a favorite place to visit, I wanted to read it. When I spotted it on the New Fiction shelves at the library, it almost jumped into my hands.

Beginning in 1974 the story centers around the Allbright family---parents Ernt and Cora and daughter Leni, told in third person, but mostly from Leni's perspective, starting as a young teen. Leni's coming-of-age story is told in the midst of family dysfunction caused by Vietnam vet and former POW Ernt's apparent PTSD which was not very well recognized or treated in the '70s. Early in the novel Ernt inherits land in Alaska and decides to relocate the family to "live off the grid." Cora agrees, thinking her troubled husband will be happier there and for a while he is. The move turns out to be both blessing and curse.

I am always curious about the significance of book titles. I learned the term "Great Alone" came from "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" by Robert Service. (excerpt follows)

Were you ever out in the Great Alone, when the moon was awful clear,

And the icy mountains hemmed you in with a silence you most could hear;

With only the howl of a timber wolf, and you camped there in the cold,

A half-dead thing in a stark, dead world, clean mad for the muck called gold;

I was familiar with "The Cremation of Sam McGee" by Robert Service but didn't realize he is known as the Bard of the Yukon.

Some of the setting seemed familiar to me. The first time I traveled to Alaska, a friend and I visited with some folks who had been pioneers in the '70s so much of this story rang true.

Among the themes of The Great Alone are domestic abuse, unconditional love and survival. I thought it was an excellent read---a page-turner---although much of the plot was not exactly enjoyable. I will rate the book a 4+. Not as good as The Nightingale. Just saying....

Page Turners' Favorites 2018

Page Turners’ Favorites for 2018, our 10^th Year

NR          A Promised Life, Elizabeth Paige Maxwell McRight                                             November

4.1          The Horse Dancer, JoJo Moyes                                                                                April

4.0          Glory Over Everything, Kathleen Grissom                                                             February

3.7          A House Without Windows, Nadia Hashimi                                                          September

3.4          Hidden Figures, Margot Lee Shetterly                                                                    January

3.4          Little Women, Louisa May Alcott                                                                             June

3.4          Redemption Road, John Hart                                                                                    July

3.3          The Japanese Lover, Isabel Allende                                                                          May

3.1          Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation, Cokie Roberts         March

3.0          My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, Fredrik Backman             August

3.0          The Underground Railroad, Colson Whitehead                                                     October

A Promised Life by Elizabeth Paige Maxwell McRight

"I know that I speak for the Board when I express deep appreciation of your contribution to the life of the Mission and the Church in India. Many of the tasks that you have carried out have been of the type which are arduous without giving much evidence of reward. Nevertheless, you have performed them willing and well. It is our prayer that God may continue to bless you, enriching your last months of service in India and giving you more years of usefulness to the Church both in India and in America subsequent to your retirement."                
                     -Dr. Reed of the Foreign Mission Office, to Robert Maxwell upon announcement of his retirement, 1941

The Page Turners selected this book for November because it was written by one of our members, a special friend, and was newly released. The book is essentially the biography of "Robert Maxwell: Missionary to the Punjab  1900-1942" (a subtitle), who was the author's grandfather. Paige has said that she intended the book to be not just a family memoir but a history of the period from the Civil War through WWII as experienced by one family, a family very much involved in God's work.

Robert Maxwell's story begins before he was born when his father, a Union prisoner in a Confederate camp, promised God if he made it out alive he would educate a son for the ministry. So Chapter 1 is "George Small Maxwell's Vow"and the final Chapter 11 is "A Promise Kept." Everything in between describes events that happened in the process of the promise keeping---and you can probably imagine it was not all a bed of roses!

Author, Paige McRight, is a retired Presbyterian minister, the daughter AND granddaughter of ministers. The apple did not fall far from the tree! When a sizable collection of Maxwell's letters were found by Paige's cousin, the question arose: What should we do with them? This book was the answer and what an amazing undertaking it was, taking 7 years to complete! I am quite sure Robert Maxwell and Paige's father, Pollock, are both smiling down on her accomplishment.

Through the reading of the book I thought often of the missionaries our church has supported with prayers and monetary support and love. Thankfully those were available to Robert and his wife, Maud, in their mission work, as well.  The obstacles they faced were different than today's, yet even now there are many difficulties to overcome in the mission field. I think only very strong, faithful, dedicated people can succeed.

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When Page Turners met to discuss A Promised Life, the author, of course, was in attendance! Our policy is not to rate a book when the author is present. Normally for our discussions we use questions found online from the publisher and this book is too new for that so each attendee was asked to bring a question or two. This made for a very interesting discussion that enhanced our understanding of the book. Folks wanted to know if any family of her generation became ministers other than herself and when  she knew she wanted to follow in the footsteps of her father and grandfather. We learned that Paige's grandfather died 3 days after she was born and grandmother Maud lived 10 years after that. Apparently Maud was a strong, assertive woman and Paige admits she was referred to as Little Maud by her family, at times. We were awed that Robert's father promised him to the ministry and he never seemed to question the path laid out for him or to waver in his resolve. We couldn't help but wonder how likely (or unlikely)  such a thing would be today.

I thought a map might have helped me since I did not know the area of India/Pakistan so well and someone else thought a family tree would have been an excellent addition to the book. I wondered about the exclusion of captions with photographs but had failed to notice the subjects of the photos are listed at the end of the book on page 145. Several of us thought the inclusion of historical events gave us better perspective of the times and enhanced the story. I think we all agreed that Paige had taken on a HUGE project and done an outstanding job!

'Tis by Frank McCourt

"When I look at the framed book jackets on the wall at the Lion's Head Bar I suffer with envy. Will I ever be up there? The writers travel the land, signing books, appearing on television talk shows. There are parties and women and romance everywhere. People listen. No one listens to teachers. They are pitied for their sad salaries."
              -Frank McCourt, from the memoir 'Tis

The reading of this book was pure joy for me! I enjoyed it almost as much as Angela's Ashes so my rating is 5. Frank McCourt is suddenly one of my favorite authors.

When I mentioned to the Page Turners how much I had loved Angela's Ashes, someone asked if I had read 'Tis, a continuation of McCourt's life story in which he becomes a teacher. Since I am a retired teacher, I immediately put it on my "Must Read" list!

As a young man, Frank McCourt returns to New York, the place of his birth, from Ireland where he has spent his formative years. He had long dreamed of his return but finds it is not quite the promised land he had envisioned. Though he yearns for an education, he works many blue collar jobs and joins the army for a time, where he learns some useful skills. He is finally admitted to NYU even without a high school diploma. When he is able to acquire a teaching job, he finds himself questioning his choice of profession as well as his ability. In college he has shown a flair for writing and the dream of becoming an author grows more intense, as reflected in the quote above.

McCourt has certainly led a very interesting life, with a mixture of family loyalty and dysfunction, humor and sadness, so he has many stories to relate. Some tugging on the heart strings and other tickling the funny bone with his Irish humor. I love his practical and unpretentious prose; he doesn't even use quotation marks in his dialogue.

I will certainly read all of McCourt's work eventually but I am sad to find out he died in 2009. He left a fine legacy!

The Whole Truth by David Baldacci

"...PM stands for perception management. It's the way to manufacture the truth, on a large scale. The Department of Defense has it more precisely defined in some manual or other. The military really got into PM in a big way after the Vietnam War. I did a story years ago on the subject. Or at least I tried to do a story. A few people were speculating that PM firms were behind some of what happened in Persian Gulfs One and Two. WMDs, embedded reporters buying the company line, stuff like that. They have all sorts of methods and devices to do it. The best PM firms have taken it to a high art."
                         - Katie James, from the novel

I haven't read a Baldacci novel for a while and with its short chapters, fast-paced action and gripping plot, I found this one a real page-turner.  I got into the story quickly and easily because Shaw was working in places I had recently visited---Amsterdam and Dublin. 

Protagonist Shaw is an effective operative for a highly secretive international law enforcement agency (think James Bond) looking into mysterious efforts to stir up global conflict which could ultimately lead to WWIII! Yikes!

Add to the mix one Katie James, a relentless journalist in search of the truth. At her peril, she ends up working with Shaw. The quote above, where Katie is explaining PM---perception management--the efforts of certain firms to manufacture a "truth" and then sell it to the multitudes is an ongoing problem and provides much of the plot. Though The Whole Truth has a copyright date of 2008, I kept thinking it is so like today when people in high places often lie and then accuse the ones who report facts of spreading "fake news." Dick Pender, head of the PM firm hired by antagonist Nicolas Creel, says "Why waste time trying to discover the truth when you can so easily create it?" He admitted what he did best was "selling the truth to a gullible world." Pender's perception management in the novel is like fake news on steroids!

The Whole Truth was very entertaining but I found it a little scary to think a war might start over false perceptions. I am rating the novel a 4.

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

"Cora read the accounts of slaves who had been born in chains and learned their letters. Of Africans who had been stolen, torn from their homes and families, and described the miseries of their bondage and then their hair-raising escapes. She recognized their stories as her own. They were the stories of all the colored people she had ever known, the stories of black people yet to be born, the foundations of their triumphs."
          -from the novel

I had wanted to read this novel since it was quite-a-while on the Bestseller List. Being a fan of historical fiction, it seemed like a must-read for me so I selected it for our Page Turners. As it turned out, I didn't like it as much as I thought I would. Since it was an Oprah Book Club selection and a winner of the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Literature, I am questioning my taste. My mediocre reaction may have had something to do with having just read A House Without Windows, a pretty intense story of an Afghan woman. The Underground Railroad made it seem pretty tame but maybe I just needed something lighter this month. I also thought the skipping around in settings was a bit confusing.

When I taught American history to 5th graders, we discussed the Underground Railroad, always stressing that it was NOT an actual railroad but a network of secret routes and safe houses used to help slaves escape to freedom in the North. In Colson's novel there are tunnels and railroads literally underground. That was difficult for me to imagine.

Protagonist Cora is a young woman in slavery on a cotton plantation in Georgia. The treatment is as barbaric and cruel as you would expect---very difficult to read and try not to visualize. When Caesar arrives from Virginia he tells Cora of the Underground Railroad and convinces her to run away with him. For a while they evade Ridgeway, a very hateful and relentless slave catcher, but the path to freedom is fraught with dangerous obstacles. They find good people along the way who could be called conductors and many of them are caught and brutally punished. The novel certainly portrays a ghastly time in United States history!

I will give the book a rating of 3. I didn't dislike it but I surely didn't love it. It will be interesting to see how our group reacts. More later...
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When the Page Turners met to discuss the book, I discovered I was not the only one who had a lukewarm reaction. Our average rating was 3.0 but 4 out of 15 participants gave it a 2. That hasn't happened in ages! We could agree that the writing was good, even lyrical in places, but felt the author had an "agenda." One member said the book was "didactic without being artful."

The questions we used, from the publisher, mentioned the "magical realism" of portraying the Underground Railroad as a literal railroad. We just thought it was weird and left some confusion as to what was fact and fiction in the novel. We also pretty much agreed that the characters were not fully developed and some of us felt there was no one to connect with emotionally. We thought the state-by-state structure of the story made it more difficult to follow but served to show the different kinds of heinous acts that were being carried out against people of color in this era.

Of course, we agreed that if the purpose of the novel was to show the horror of slavery, that mission was accomplished! I will end with a quote we thought was very significant to the theme: "The treasure, of course, was the underground railroad....Some might call freedom the dearest currency of all." How true, and something we take for granted!

Halsey Street by Naima Coster

"If she could have written more things she would have: how we do things we do not mean; we do evil things; if we see an open door, we will dart through it, before we lose our guts, no matter who is left behind, we will move at the chance to be free."
             -Mirella's thoughts, from the novel

This will likely be short since I didn't really care much for either main character nor did I identify with the setting. I am not sure why I finished the book but it seems to be a curse of mine "to finish what I start." I will give a rating of 2.

Penelope Grand, an aspiring artist without much success, moves from Pittsburgh to Brooklyn to spend more time with her ailing father, Ralph. Not only has Ralph suffered an accidental injury, he is seemingly depressed over the loss of his record shop and is drinking too much. The family home on Halsey Street is in a neighborhood being greatly changed by gentrification.

Woven into Penny's story is that of her mother, Mirella, who abandoned the family some years before. When Penny receives a letter from Mirella, now living in the Dominican Republic, seeking reconciliation, she struggles with a response.

I found both Mirella and Penny to be pretty self-absorbed which is the main reason I didn't get emotionally involved. Also the author used quite a bit of Spanish without always providing translation or even context to help with meaning.

It WAS ironic that I just saw the play "In the Heights" a couple of weeks ago and it centered around a main character longing to return to his homeland of the DR---Dominican Republic. There was Spanish spoken in the play, too, but the viewer could always get the gist. Thank goodness I enjoyed the play since I really didn't like Halsey Street.

Vinegar Girl (The Taming of the Shrew Retold) by Anne Tyler

"In my country they have proverb: 'Beware against the sweet person, for sugar has no nutrition.'"
             -Pyotr, from the novel
"Well, in my country they say that you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."
             -Kate, from the novel
" But why you would want to catch flies, hah? Answer me that, vinegar girl."
             -Pyotr

This book was recommended to me and, at only 237 pages, it was a short and simple story. I enjoyed it on its own merits. A 4 is my rating.

Since I had no recollection of Shakespeare's play (see subtitle), I had to read a summary of it. I found very little to compare to Vinegar Girl, I must say. The Taming of the Shrew features ill-tempered Katherine while this novel stars Kate Battista, a strong-willed, out-spoken woman, an eldest daughter taking care of her eccentric scientist father. Her father, Louis who is on the verge of a breakthrough in his research, proposes Kate marry Pyotr, his valued assistant, whose visa is about to expire. Kate is reluctant, as is the bride in Taming... but the marriage does take place and the ending is pleasantly surprising. Would you expect the line "Kiss me, Kate"? You won't be disappointed.

A House Without Windows by Nadia Hashimi

"Men treasure their manhood as God's greatest gift
Because without it, justice is brutal and swift.

What good is a woman's telling of truth
When nothing she says will be taken as proof."
          -Zeba, from the novel

When I checked this book out, I had only a week to read it before our book club meeting to discuss it. Not to worry---I finished it in less than 3 days. In fact, I could hardly put it down!

The story is compelling. First readers meet Zeba, an Afghan woman, who is found with her brutally murdered husband and is quickly assumed to be his killer. Next we are introduced to Yusuf, a native of Afghanistan brought to the U.S. as a youngster, who becomes a lawyer and follows his dream to return to his native land and work for justice. One could easily predict that Yusuf would end up defending Zeba. Indeed he does, and he has his work cut out for him since his client refuses to tell him what happened.

Gradually, we become acquainted with the women imprisoned with Zeba, as well as her family members. Her mother, Gulnaz, is particularly intriguing since she is known as a jadugar, or wizard, described by some as a "green-eyed sorceress." The reference  to her haunting eyes reminded me of the very famous photograph of an Afghan woman in National Geographic years ago. In fact, when Yusuf meets her he "felt himself pulled by the crystalline green of her eyes. How exotic, he thought, feeling fully Western as it occurred to him. These were the kinds of eyes that foreign photographers would plaster on magazine covers." The reader soon becomes aware Zeba has inherited her mother's "gift."  As she shares it with her cellmates, she is treated with reverence and awe. The women are also taken with her self-expression in couplets. (See above.) One of them, Latifa, composes her own near the end of the book:
"These hardheaded men from their pulpits won't budge.
How the world would be different if a woman could judge!"

I thought I would be comparing this novel to A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. Though the setting is the same, I was relieved to find this book is not as graphic in its portrayal of violence toward women as …Suns. The fact that women are "second-class citizens" at best comes through loud and clear, however. I am reminded how blessed I am to be an American!

I feel A House Without Windows is very well-written. This was the first I've read by this author but won't be the last. I am rating it a 5 and I look forward to the meeting on Thursday to hear what the other Page Turners think!
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Our Page Turners' meeting today produced a very good discussion even giving cause to compare the plight of women in Afghanistan with that of American women of the past and even the present. The group appreciated the book overall, with an average rating of 3.7. We used questions from Savvy Reader which were the same as in the book club edition of the novel but hardly needed them since many had ready comments and questions. We first addressed who we thought killed Kamal and it was amazing how many different directions our minds had gone in predicting. The author, we felt, had planned it just so. We agreed that Gulnaz was an interesting character and we sure wouldn't want to get on her bad side! We also liked Timur for finding creative ways to get the neighbors to come forward in Zeba's behalf. We felt he had known of Kamal's evil nature and perhaps had witnessed his abuse. There was agreement that the judge was pretty wise and progressive. We liked Yusuf and some of us wanted to believe he and Sultana would later become a couple. The possibility of a sequel came up. I have to wonder about a film  adaptation, as well. Hmmm....

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman

"Having a grandmother is like having an army. This is a grandchild's ultimate privilege: knowing that someone is on your side, always, whatever the details. Even when you are wrong. Especially then, in fact."                     -from the novel

I selected this book for our Page Turners because we had really enjoyed A Man Called Ove by this author and because I was intrigued with the title. I must admit if it had not been a book club selection I probably would not have gotten past the first few chapters.

Protagonist Elsa is a precocious almost-eight-year-old who is bullied at school. Her Granny is her number one fan and protector. Granny is outrageous and wacky but also wise and loving. (See quote above---as a grandmother myself, I totally get it!)

Granny has created a fantasy world for Elsa called the Land-of-Almost Awake where there are dragons, cloud animals, knights, snow-angels and other odd beings. I am not a big fan of fantasy and some of these references were confusing to me. When the neighbor known as the Monster and a creature called the wurse were added to the plot, I was pretty frustrated. What was real and what was fantasy? I forced myself to keep reading, fortunately; I must admit the ending was rather touching. My rating is 3.

Elsa is charged by Granny to deliver letters of apology to various family members and neighbors. (see title) As Elsa carries out the deliveries, she starts to understand more about each character. The theme of family relationships rings true.

The author's style is unusual but worked fairly well considering the story is from a child's perspective. I did enjoy the references to the Harry Potter series. Elsa is a big fan, as am I. Yes, I said I don't love fantasy, but Harry Potter is an exception to the rule!

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Page Turners met without me to discuss this one, as I was out of town. Their average rating was 3. From what I heard, a few people loved the book.

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

"I want to go on living even after my death! And therefore I am grateful to God for giving me this gift, this possibility of developing myself and of writing, of expressing all that is in me."
               -Anne Frank from The Diary of a Young Girl

Anticipating a trip to Amsterdam, including a tour of the Anne Frank house there, I chose to read this book. I can't actually remember having read it in my youth although I probably did. I had seen the film and stage adaptations so I was quite familiar with Anne's story. I had hoped to finish the book before our tour but had only completed about a quarter. As it turned out, the tour greatly enhanced the reading of the remainder. Seeing the "Secret Annex" as it was called, was very profound. It was hard to imagine being exiled with 8 people in such a small space for close to 2 years.

Anne Frank, a precocious and high-spirited girl, receives a diary for her 13th birthday and it will become her best friend, in a sense, as she and her Jewish family are forced into hiding in Amsterdam during the Nazi occupation. Anne names her diary Kitty and shares her deepest feelings about her father, mother, sister, the Van Daan family and Mr. Dussel (Fritz Pfeffer). The reader learns that Anne feels great affection for her father but has a contentious relationship with her mother. She lets it be known she feels mistreated and under-appreciated by the others. She gradually forms a strong bond with Peter Van Daan. I recently read that Otto Frank, the only survivor of the family, excerpted portions of the diary which referred to Anne's sexual feelings and conflict with her mother, before publication of the book. This edition had all the original material. It was interesting that such feelings weren't revealed in our tour of the "Secret Annex" at Prinsengracht, Amsterdam, even though a number of exhibits in the museum come straight from the book.

It is so sad to be reminded that all these refugees are caught just before the end of WWII and sent to separate concentration camps where all perish except for Anne's father, who finds her diary and thankfully, passes it on to the world. I will rate the book a 4. It was the perfect time for me to read it.

Here's to Us by Elin Hilderbrand

"It's not a house to us. It's a home. And it's not a home, it's a way of life. Our summertime happens here. This house is part of our past, it's our present, it'll be our future. It's who we are."
                     -memories of a home on Nantucket

I admit I selected this book because it was a bargain but I also thought I was familiar with the author. Either I confused her name with another writer OR this isn't her best work. I will rate Here's to Us a 2.5---I finished it but it is far from memorable.

The story centers on DeaconThorpe, a celebrity chef who, after the prologue, is deceased. He has left behind a beloved but heavily mortgaged Nantucket beach house and a wife and two exes to "fight" over it. Most of the story takes place over a 3-day period as the family gathers to memorialize Deacon and spread his ashes. There are "intermezzos," or flashbacks to give the reader insight into the love stories behind each of 3 marriages. The prologue involves Deacon as a boy enjoying a perfect day with his father at Nantucket while the epilogue, appropriately, describes his last moments in the same locale. The plot centers on the revealed secrets, jealousies and resentments between the women---Laurel, Belinda and Scarlet---and their children.

Unfortunately I didn't find any characters with whom I truly identified or cared about. After the last few books I have read, this one was pretty superficial. My husband would say it's "chick lit" but to this "chick" it left a lot to be desired.

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt

"When I look back on my childhood I wonder how I survived at all. It was, of course, a miserable childhood: the happy childhood is hardly worth your while...People everywhere brag and whimper about the woes of their early years, but nothing can compare with the Irish version: the poverty; the shiftless loquacious alcoholic father; the pious defeated mother moaning by the fire; pompous priests; bullying schoolmasters; the English and the terrible things they did to us for eight hundred long years."                        -Frank McCourt

Anticipating a visit to Ireland I wanted to read something with the flavor of the Emerald Isle. I began one novel titled Ireland but it started out slow and I gave it up. For some reason I thought of Angela's Ashes, an older book but one that I had heard of and thought to be set in Ireland. When I checked the library, no print copy was available but there was a recorded version on CDs. The library clerk suggested ordering the print copy to be delivered when available and in the meantime, listen to the recording. What a wonderful surprise this turned out to be! The book is narrated by the author, with his delightful Irish brogue. He changes his voice for different characters and even sings. Listening was a pure delight!

When the print copy came in the mail, I began reading and was several chapters in before I realized there are NO quotation marks and often no dialog tags like "he said" and such. In the narrated version, the dialog was obvious and, apparently, I was so used to the style, I had no confusion with the print copy.

Angela's Ashes is a memoir taking Frank McCourt from around four years old, when his family left New York for Ireland, to his late teens, when he finally achieves his dream to return to America. This reader's emotions ran the gamut---from profound sympathy for the abject poverty to anger focused on the alcoholic father to sadness over deaths in the family to the humorous perceptions of a child, especially regarding the Catholic faith and sex. One of my favorite laugh-aloud parts is Chapter IV in which Frank receives First Communion. The quote above, from the very first page, is illustrative of Frank's youth.

I was quite amused by the references to Presbyterians, seen by the Limerick folk as lower than low. I am Presbyterian and not used to being treated with scorn. An example is when Grandma is trying to get Frankie ready for First Communion, complains about this hair and says, "If your mother had married a proper decent Limerickman you wouldn't have this standing up, North of Ireland, Presbyterian hair." Seemingly, Presbyterians, North of Irelanders, the English and Americans are all seen in a very bad light.

It tickled me that each time Uncle Pat is mentioned, the reader is reminded he was dropped on his head as a child. I am going to borrow the expression "I don't give a fiddler's fart" from the novel though I don't remember which character used it.

I am sure I don't have to tell you I am rating this one a 5. It has me really looking forward to visiting Ireland. I enjoyed Angela's Ashes immensely and can't wait to read another by Frank McCourt. 'Tis has been recommended.

Before the Fall by Noah Hawley

"Everyone has their path. The choices they've made. How any two people end up in the same place at the same time is a mystery."
              -from the novel

No doubt---this one rates a five! I could hardly put it down. Much of the novel was exciting and vividly descriptive with even some philosophical musings for good measure.

A private jet crashes off Martha's Vineyard with 11 people on board. Only 2 survive---Scott Burroughs, would-be artist, and a small boy, J.J., whose parents and sister are among the lost. Scott, a champion swimmer in his prime, miraculously saves himself and the child and should be considered a hero, but that is not exactly what happens.

The cause of the crash is up in the air (pun intended)---mechanical failure, terrorism, sabotage? Author Hawley introduces each passenger in turn, revealing background and personality, keeping the reader guessing through many chapters. In addition to the pilot, co-pilot and flight attendant, there is a family of 4, the father being the very wealthy David Bateman, a Rupert Murdock type character and founder of a FOX-like news network. With David: wife Maggie, daughter Rachel, son J.J, and security guard Gil. Another rich couple, invited guests of the Batemans, are Ben and Sarah Kipling. We find out later Ben is being investigated by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Controls and on the verge of being charged. Last to embark is Scott who just recently has gotten his life back on track and was offered a lift to New York by Maggie Bateman.

To the major characters add in some investigators, a rich heiress trying to rescue Scott from the paparazzi, an aunt and uncle who will be expected to raise J. J. (and along with that, guard his inheritance of millions) and a bulldog of a sensationalist news commentator---think Sean Hannity---easy for me to dislike.

I found Scott's story of being inspired by Jack LaLanne when he was just a boy especially interesting because I remember his TV show back in the day and my mother was a huge fan. Jack was called the "fittest man on earth."

I am not sure how long it would have been before I discovered this one on my own. As it turned out, my husband noted that on an upcoming cruise, a book club would form to read and discuss this novel. I am ready! (I've read it may soon be a movie. Fingers crossed!)

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I chose this book for Page Turners for February, 2019, because I had enjoyed it and could check out a "book bundle" ( a set of 10 copies) from our public library for our members. When we rated the book I was surprised that most did NOT love the book. The rating was 3.4 with two 5's and twos 2's. Apparently some readers found parts of the plot implausible and others thought it started out as a page-turner but did not maintain its intensity. I would have to agree it is not really great literature in the strictest sense but it held high entertainment value for me. Most did not think they would read it again, but I believe I will. Our discussion was interesting, as always.

Last Train to Paradise (Henry Flagler and the Spectacular Rise and Fall of the Railroad that Crossed an Ocean) by Les Standiford

"And on the pedestal, these words appear:

 'My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings,

 Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!'

 Nothing beside remains. Round the decay

 Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare

 The lone and level sands stretch far away."

          -Percy Bysshe Shelley

This book was recommended to me but even if it had not been, it was inevitable that I would read it. I have taught and will teach again in October, an adult class called Florida's Four Henrys. Of course, one of the Henrys is Flagler, the focus of this book. I don't generally go for nonfiction but this one was well-written, historical in nature with a goodly amount of Flagler biography. 

There is much to admire about Henry Flagler---his vision, determination and unrelenting spirit. He made a fortune as cofounder of Standard Oil and, at a time when many men retire, began a second career as developer of Florida. When asked why, his answer was "For the last fourteen or fifteen years I have devoted my time exclusively to business, and now I am pleasing myself."

The primary focus of this book is the building of the Overseas Railroad, an extension of Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway to Key West. When he began talking of the project, people called it "Flagler's Folly" and a "lunatic notion." It was amazing how dedicated he was and the perseverance he showed in continuing the work in spite of numerous difficulties, not the least of which were two major hurricanes. One has only to drive across the current Overseas Highway to Key West to realize how daunting the challenge was!

I was glad I read the book---I will rate it a 5 because many parts were quite exciting and I learned a number of new facts about this railroad baron and his work. It was interesting that Standiford began the book with a chapter called "End of the Line" about the demise of the Overseas Railroad. The next to last chapter is "Storm of Storms" which explains in much more detail how the "fall" (see subtitle) came about. Ernest Hemingway was apparently a witness to the monster hurricane of 1935. His descriptions and others were horrifying! 

I enjoyed the photographs included in the book, many of which I had not found online. I hope to one day visit the Henry Morrison Flagler museum in Palm Beach from whence the pictures came. What is now the museum was his mansion called Whitehall.

I was not aware that Flagler thought President Theodore Roosevelt had a vendetta against him from the time he was with Standard Oil. I also didn't know that Flagler felt he could have been a rich man except for getting involved in Florida! Perhaps he did more for Florida than the state did for him!

Redemption Road by John Hart

"Bent as he was, he looked different yet the same, violent and held together and still somehow lovely. It was a foolish word---lovely---but that, too, came from childhood so she gave it a moment. He was lovely and undone, every tortured inch a mystery. Like the church, she thought, or Crybaby's heart or the souls of wounded children. But childhood was not all good, nor were its lessons. Good came with the bad, as dark did with light and weakness with strength. Nothing was simple or pure; everyone had secrets."              -Elizabeth's thoughts, from the novel

This book was chosen for the group because it was a Book Bundle from our public library (10 copies available) and also it was rated fairly highly on goodreads.com. One more reason I selected it: we just read Little Women and this would be VERY different and hopefully interest the guys in our group a little more. So far the feedback is mixed! I'm guessing our folks are either going to like it or hate it. I have to say it is absolutely a page-turner!

The plot involves a serial killer, identity unknown until near the end, and a few subplots---a detective, Elizabeth Black, accused of using undue brutal force against two kidnappers, and a former cop, Adrian Wall, recently released from prison and lucky to be alive after gross mistreatment by the warden and guards. A young man, Gideon, who wants revenge on the man who killed his mother and Channing, the teenage girl kidnapped by the men Elizabeth is accused of killing, provide even more mystery and angst.

About the time Adrian gets out of prison, a series of murders of young women are dramatically revealed. Since he had been found guilty and  imprisoned for the murder of one woman, fingers started to point in his direction, with some people being convinced he was the perpetrator and Elizabeth being totally sure he is not! For most of the book, we are left to wonder although I admit I leaned toward Elizabeth's opinion.

I had some questions about Elizabeth's attempted martyrdom and I really was shocked to discover the killer. Many of the bad guys in the story get their comeuppance, so that was good. My favorite character was Faircloth "Crybaby" Jones, a retired lawyer, seemingly with a heart of gold. I cannot say too much more about the plot without spoiling the suspense so I will stop....

The violence is graphic and disturbing but the story is riveting. Even at just over 400 pages, I almost inhaled the book! A hard one to put down. I might rate this a 2 for literary value and a 4 for readability so I guess I will say a 3, overall. Wonder what the group will think.....more later.
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Redemption Road provided the Page Turners with a lively discussion even though we had to use generic questions for mystery/suspense. The group's rating was 3.4---votes in the extreme, 5 all the way to 1! Some members of the group found certain elements of the plot implausible and a number of us didn't like the ending. Most didn't find many likeable characters---except Crybaby Jones, and we agreed several were downright despicable, especially the warden and, of course, the murderer. (No spoiler here!)

There was a good bit of speculation about the choice and meaning of the title. One member with a background in publishing reminded us a title is often chosen by the publisher, not the author. Another participant, a retired pastor, shared some very interesting insight into the significance of the word redemption. We were still left questioning which characters were redeemed and to what extent.

Several in our group said they would read another novel by John Hart so we apparently thought the writing was good.

Eleanor's Story An American Girl in Hitler's Germany by Eleanor Ramrath Garner

"America's involvement in the war sent me into a tailspin. How bizarre! I thought. The soldiers of the country where I was born, the country I love, will be told to kill me, my family, and my new friends. And the soldiers of the country of my ancestry, of my beloved Omis [grandmothers], the country where I live, will be told to hate and kill Americans. Where do I stand in all of this? Who should I be loyal to? I felt pulled in two between America and Germany."
                       -Eleanor, 1941

I doubt I would have ever discovered this book had it not been for the Orlando Fringe Festival. How is that? you ask. At this year's festival, we saw a performance with the same title as this memoir. It was a one-woman show by the granddaughter of this author, Eleanor Ramrath Garner. It was a gripping story beautifully told by a talented young lady. At the end of her show, the granddaughter/actress, whose name I do not remember, mentioned that she had adapted her script from this book. I determined then and there to read it!

The book apparently was intended for young adults so it was a fairly quick and easy read. However, the subject matter is very intense with some disturbing images. Indeed, how could one write of Hitler's Germany without some horrifying details?

Eleanor tells her own story, starting when she was 9 years old and her family moved from Stratford, N.J. to Berlin in late 1939 because of her father's work. By the time they arrive in Germany, the political situation is looking bad but it is too late to return to the U.S. Father's job was to be a 2-year stint but the family is stuck there indefinitely. The family must survive frequent air raids and bombings, terrible food shortages, bitter cold, the threat of the SS terrorism of citizens and family separations.

I enjoyed figuring out the German words though the author did not overdo and the context gave hints. German food is not one of my favorite cuisines but I remember seeing Heaven and Earth on a German menu, a mixture of mashed potatoes and applesauce. It was a welcome treat for Eleanor in the story. I am passing this book on to a friend who has spent a good amount of time in Germany and has kept in touch with German friends. I think she will like it.

I would not want to spoil the ending so I will just say Eleanor is an ordinary girl who lived an extraordinary life. Her memoir is completely captivating. I rate it a 5.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

"Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well.  Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life become a beautiful success, in spite of poverty."
                 -Marmee's advice, from the novel

When I heard that PBS was airing a miniseries called "Little Women" as a part of Masterpiece Theater in May, I thought it would be interesting to read or reread the classic novel in June. Several book club members agreed it was a fine idea.

As I began to read I started to doubt whether I had read this book as a youth or had just seen the 1949 movie because much of the plot was unfamiliar and I surely did not realize how LONG it was! And one could not accuse Alcott of either being concise or of using a limited vocabulary! I thought I would never finish the novel so it definitely was not a page-turner. I will rate it a 3.

I was able to view the first Masterpiece showing but missed the second. Somehow my DVR did not record it. I thought the first part followed the book pretty well and I enjoyed it. I have just seen a trailer for a new film version, a modern retelling, to be released in September. I look forward to seeing it. Perhaps we can get a group together. I found out there was another movie done in 1994 and I will check the library for that one. I somehow think this is a story I will like better in movie form, a rare occurrence.

The "little women" of the novel are the March sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, ages 16 to 12, respectively, at the start of the novel. Each has her own unique personality and talents. All struggle with their poverty and at times, sibling rivalry. Their father, Mr. March, is away, involved in the Civil War, so the mother and sisters must carry on without him. Through it all Marmee (mother), tries to teach her girls how to be good people and how to achieve happiness. One reviewer of the book calls it a "morality tale." It does get pretty didactic, at times. (see the quote above) I think the overarching theme of the novel, though, is the importance of family and the power of love.

A good companion novel for Little Women is March by Geraldine Brooks. I read it 2 years ago and rated it a 5. I enjoyed it very much. Here is a description from Wikipedia:
March is a novel by Geraldine Brooks. It is a novel that retells Louisa May Alcott's novel Little Women from the point of view of Alcott's protagonists' absent father. Brooks has inserted the novel into the classic tale, revealing the events surrounding March's absence during the American Civil War in 1862. The novel won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for fiction.

My blog post for March is dated August 24, 2016, if you want to read it.
I will continue this post after our Page Turners meeting this week.
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Our meeting today was enjoyable with  a lovely spread of edibles. Interestingly a number of attendees had NOT read the book---perhaps the first time ever. Many had read it years ago or had seen the movie or PBS miniseries. Our group average rating was 3.4---kind of a middling reaction. We all agreed that the novel strongly illustrates women's independence and the love of family. Jo was the favorite "little woman" for several and a few of us thought Amy's transformation was a bit unbelievable. One person reminded us of The Pilgrim's Progress and how it was used in the novel as an underlying theme. We decided it would have been helpful to have read that classic ahead of time. A few people in the group felt we enjoyed Little Women more as a younger person. We are looking forward to seeing the updated film version when it is released in September, hopefully as a group.

The Mapmaker's Children by Sarah McCoy

"Listen carefully. Never be ashamed of our cause. I wish that my funeral attendants not be any of these policing Pharisees but the barefoot and impoverished slave children of Virginia. Hold them close to you, my dears. Be their angels. The abolishment of slavery does not end with me. You must carry on. I have given this same revelation to your living brothers by letter. You girls, Ruth, and little Ellen are the mothers of the next generation, which I pray will know no nation that places shackles on another man and stands on his back.....Promise me, daughters."
              -John Brown at the time of his execution, from the novel

A friend loaned me this book, knowing my love for historical fiction. It was an uncorrected proof which may have had something to do with my lack of enjoyment at first. By the middle of the novel I was more involved with the characters and ended up appreciating the story. I will rate it 3.5.

Sarah Brown is the daughter of John Brown, the abolitionist martyr of Harper's Ferry fame. She is a talented artist who discovers she can use her skills to make escape maps to help in the efforts of the Underground Railroad (UGRR).

Alternating with Sarah's story (1859) is that of Eden Anderson who, along with husband Jack, has just moved into an historic house in New Charlestown, WV in 2014.They soon make a few discoveries, like a secret space and a doll's head, that lead them to the conclusion that the home was a station on the UGRR.

The connection of Sarah and Eden seemed predictable but it was actually more intricate than I had thought. The reader really doesn't know all the who's who and what's what until near the end.

One of my favorite characters is Chloe, the dog "nanny." She is an 11-year-old going on 30---very perceptive for her age. I taught kids of that age for many years so I was impressed by her intelligence and maturity.

Recently I heard of a novel called Cloudsplitter by Russell Banks which apparently involves the story of John Brown as remembered by his son. Sounds like the perfect companion book for this one! I'm putting it on my longggg to-read list.

The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende

"I'm fine here, Lenny. I'm discovering who I am without all my ornaments and accessories. It's quite a slow process, but a very useful one. Everybody ought to do the same at the end of their life. If I had any self-discipline I would beat my grandson to it and write my own memoirs. I have time, freedom, and silence, the three things I never had amidst all the noise of my earlier life. I'm preparing to die."
                  -Alma Belasco, from the novel

This novel was selected for our Page Turners group for May because we could get multiple copies from our local library, known as a "book bundle." From the short description offered on the library site, it sounded interesting and indeed it was.

The story begins with 23-year-old Irina Bazili working at Lark House, a retirement community. There she meets aging resident Alma Belasco who hires Irina to be her personal assistant. The two become emotionally attached as Alma tells her story of being sent to the U.S. from Poland in 1939, living a good life with her aunt and uncle and falling in love with Ichimei Fukuda, the gardener's son, as a very young girl. This would end up being a 'love affair for the ages," literally.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor when the Fukuda family is relocated to Topaz in Utah, one of several internment camps, Ichimei and Alma are cruelly separated. This part of Ichi's story reminded me of a Japanese-American friend who has shared the story of his family's internment when he was young so it seemed very real to me and was quite personal. Alma and Ichi are reunited from time to time through the years and the plot is interspersed with letters to her from him. So one might think from that and the title that the whole plot is summarized but then secrets are revealed one by one, from Alma but also Irina.

In The Japanese Lover, Allende has woven together stories of two unique women, one young and one old, both survivors of the problems life has thrown their way, and she has done it in her very engaging style. I enjoyed the book and have rated it a 4.

More after our meeting....(caution: spoilers ahead)
We had a great discussion today even though the book received very mixed reviews. The group average rating is 3.3, ranging from 4's to one 2. A couple of people agreed that if they had liked the main character, Alma, more they might have enjoyed the book more. Some of us thought she was very self-absorbed. Someone brought up the fact that she did not have the courage to take her relationship with Ichi to the next level although Ichi's sister Megumi absolutely did. A few people questioned whether Alma's meetings with Ichi were even real. We used discussion questions from the publisher which hardly even mentioned Irina. A couple of our members thought she was contrived. I personally found her more likeable than Alma.

Some in the group admitted to being confused about the timing of the events. The author's style received comments both positive and negative. Several folks had read her work before and liked it but some had not enjoyed her other novels. Her addition of ghosts left us wondering...

It is strange that normally we would rate a book higher AFTER the discussion but in the case of  The Japanese Lover we thought we might rank it lower!

The Cottage by Danielle Steel

"Coop didn't 'do' unpleasant. He did pretty. And easy. And fun. And elegant. And gracious. He had somehow managed to weed out of his life the things he didn't like or that frightened him, and only acknowledged the things he found 'amusing,' and fun to do. The trouble was, Alex reminded herself, real life wasn't like that. And there was generally a lot more 'unpleasant' than 'amusing' in life. But not in Coop's world. He wouldn't allow the bad stuff in. He just pretended to himself and everyone else that the bad stuff didn't exist....He didn't 'do' broke either. He did it, but didn't acknowledge it. He just went on living, and spending, and playing."
                  -Alex's thoughts on Coop's attitudes, from the novel

I was reminded quickly in reading this novel why I haven't read any Danielle Steel in a long time. It was weak on plot, if indeed, there was one. I found it repetitive, predictable, and saccharine. My husband would call it "chick lit." The main character, Cooper Winslow, was very self-absorbed and superficial but other characters were more likeable. I will rate The Cottage a 2. It has been a long time since I read one so unsatisfying.

Coop, as he is called, is a former Hollywood leading man, a legend in his own time. He owns an elaborate mansion known as "The Cottage" which he can ill-afford since at age 70 he is not getting many acting roles. His accountant forces him to fire most of his staff and rent the guest house and gatehouse on his property. Jimmy and Mark become the leaseholders of the two. They are both single and mourning lost spouses.

The third main character is Alexandra Madison, a young and attractive medical resident, who meets Coop at a dinner party. They become an item although I never quite understood her attraction to him. She is something like 40 years younger and he is a well-known playboy! When Taryn shows up, the adult daughter Coop never knew he had, and then Jimmy's mother, one could just about figure on a love triangle, square, circle or some other geometric pattern.

I am guessing it will be a number of years before I choose this author again.

Miss Julia Weathers the Storm by Ann B. Ross

"So we listened to a book on CD about a feisty woman who speaks her mind, hitches a ride on a Harley---at her age, too---and serves open-faced cucumber sandwiches on a silver tray."
                  -Miss Julia, from the novel

I am always greatly entertained by Miss Julia and this episode is no exception. In fact, I found it more of a page-turner than some. With Julia's usual good intentions of helping friends that get her into some humorous predicaments and the added suspense of an approaching hurricane and three mysterious strangers, this one rates a 5 from me. I will pass it on to a friend who is also a fan.

Julia's husband, Sam, wants to treat family and friends to a week at the beach. The quote above describes the beginning of the trip by car and tickled me because it seems to describe Miss Julia. Everyone is having a great time at the beach except Julia's friend, LuAnne who is moaning over her husband's recently discovered affair. Toward the end of their first week an odd thing happens on the beach that will later be called "The Great Money Haul" and will have some frightening results. Soon after, it looks like Hurricane Marty is heading their way and they're told to evacuate.

Upon arriving at home and over several days, it seems some of the beach-goers are being stalked by some strangers they had seen on the beach. Why? That's the question they are all asking and the answer is pretty surprising....but you will have to read to find out!

I'd love for you to leave your comments!

Miss Julia Inherits a Mess by Ann B. Ross

"I had to double down on my intention to stick to my own knitting and let these so-called burdens roll right off. My first responsibility was to Lloyd and Sam. Then came Lillian, Hazel Marie, and their little ones, and after them would come a number of others. To my way of thinking, I had my hands full, and I intended to remind the Lord that He'd already piled my plate quite high enough."
                              -Miss Julia's musings, from the novel

When I found this Miss Julia book on the shelf at the library I was pleasantly surprised. I thought I had read all in the series, some 17 by now, but lo and behold, I discovered two I didn't know existed! I thought I was on the author's mailing list but I guess I am out of the loop. Luckily I read this one first because the other, Miss Julia Weathers the Storm, refers to the plot of this one. Ms. Ross always seems to be able to "catch the reader up" with past episodes which would surely help anyone reading the novels out of chronological order.

Miss Julia already has several irons in the fire when she is shocked at being named executor of the will of an acquaintance. She is faced with getting rid of a houseful of furniture, as the title would imply, but also must determine how to reconcile the generous wishes of the deceased with the meager assets she's left behind. To complicate matters, a strange man shows up claiming to be a long-lost great-nephew.

Miss Julia enlists the help of a friend and a furniture appraiser to help prepare the furnishings for auction but soon a seemingly valuable cellarette goes missing. (I had to look that one up---a liquor cabinet.) Friend Etta Mae is a huge help by deciphering a mysterious note and even saving Julia from a "wild ride"! I remember she has helped Miss Julia in other plots.

Reading this novel was almost like "coming home" since the setting and characters are so familiar. It might not be my favorite of all in the series but I will give it a 5 for sheer enjoyment!

I would love it if you would leave your comments!

The Horse Dancer by Jojo Moyes

""Because it is a rare person, a rare person, who can contain their own pain and still give a child the support and understanding it needs. In my experience, most parents haven't got the time or the energy to make sure it happens. Perhaps they're just too selfish. But what do I know? I'm not a parent. I'm not even married. I'm just one of those unfortunate people who gets paid to pick up the pieces. "                             -teacher Constance Devlin, from the novel

I do not remember how I came to select this book for Page Turners. Maybe just an interesting title and a familiar author. At any rate, as I began reading I had second thoughts on the choice since I had a difficult time getting into the story. Too horsey, perhaps? I know next-to-nothing about horses although I do think they are beautiful creatures. About halfway through the book, it became a page-turner because I was involved with the characters and it was all about the people, not so much the horse.

Natasha Macauley is an attorney, a solicitor advocate, what we might call a guardian ad litem. She has been separated from her husband, Mac, and planning a divorce when he appears at the home they own together and moves in, supposedly on a temporary basis. Inconvenient, to say the least. Sarah Lachapelle is a 14-year-old living with her aging grandfather, an expert horseman who trains Sarah and her very special horse called Boo. When Sarah's Papa has a stroke and must be hospitalized, Sarah is taken in reluctantly by Natasha and Mac. The situation is complicated by Sarah's disappearances when she visits Papa or secretly goes to the stable to care for Boo. (It takes some time for Natasha and Mac to learn about the horse.)

When Sarah is threatened about money by Maltese Sal, the new owner of the stable, she steals from the Macauleys but still loses Boo to Sal's evil plan---he sells the horse to cover her debts. Sarah then runs away to find her horse and follow her dream. To say much more might spoil the plot.

I learned more than I wanted to know about the Cadre Noir.  It is a corps of ecuyers, or instructors, at the French military riding academy Ecole National d'Equitation at Saumer in western France, founded in 1828. It also performs as an equestrian display team. Its name comes from the traditional black uniforms worn by riders It is considered one of the most prestigious horsemanship schools in the world. [See photos]

I had no idea who Xenphon was either, except that he is quoted at the beginning of each chapter, all advice on handling horses. Wikipedia helped me there: Xenophon was a Greek historian, philosopher, soldier and mercenary who wrote a short treatise "On Horsemanship," obviously the origin of the quotes.

I am not sure I would have finished this novel if it had not been a Page Turners selection but I liked it in spite of myself. I will rate it a 4. Looking forward to hearing reactions from the group!

More after the meeting......

 

               

                                                                                      Xenophon

https://binged.it/2HyMRwJ
Above is a link to a short YouTube video of a Cadre Noir presentation.

Page Turners met today, our first outdoor meeting in quite a while. The weather was beautiful and 18 people were in attendance. The group rating for The Horse Dancer is 4.1, with most folks voting a 4. One participant is a horse owner and gave us a wonderful perspective on the realism of Sarah's bond with Boo. Two in the group were able to translate the French sentences and phrases while the rest of us figured out what we could from context. Several of us agreed it was difficult to visualize the area around London where Sarah rode on the first leg of her journey.

Our discussion was stimulating with some talk centered around the lies, deception and lack of trust in the story that built much of the plot. We thought the author developed Sarah's character quite well but left Natasha rather one-dimensional until she finally found her heart.

 

Idella Parker From Reddick to Cross Creek by Idella Parker with Bud and Liz Crussell

Idella Parker

The tenant house at Cross Creek

"It's strange to me how in those early days at Cross Creek we knew it wasn't slavery; but our life there must have been similar to plantation life. We lived crowded in the small unpainted, tin-top tenant house, with little comforts. We had to do what we were told, and we were isolated from other people. We couldn't leave the place unless Mrs. Rawlings let us use her car or truck, and we were always told what time to be back. The only difference between that and slavery, I think, was that the slaves were not paid like we were."

                 -Idella Parker

For a few years I have taught classes centered around Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. In preparation, I read several books by and about her, including one called Idella: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' Perfect Maid by Idella Parker with Mary Keating. I had found it very enlightening, showing a very different perspective of Rawlings. Recently I discovered this one, another autobiography? Well, yes, and it seems Idella's purpose was to tell more of her own story---describing her hometown of Reddick, FL, her family, her love life and the time before and after she worked for Rawlings. I will rate it a 3. I found it interesting although much of the portion about MKR, about a third of the book, was repeated to some degree from the first book.

Idella had a fairly challenging life in pre-Civil Rights north central Florida. (see quote) I didn't realize she had taught school before working for Rawlings and was a teacher of educable mentally handicapped children later. Idella's mother's reaction to Marjorie's offer of blood after Idella's surgery was quite amusing. I would have to say I learned a lot about Parker but didn't find much new material on MKR---disappointing. But I really liked that Idella maintained a relationship with Marjorie's second husband, Norton Baskin after her passing.