"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!
Monday, May 21, 2018
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
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.
-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.
Thursday, May 3, 2018
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, 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!
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