The Dark Heart by Joakim Palmkvist

"There are many people for me to thank for helping to bring this book into existence, but none more than Therese Tang, who cut through the veils of secrecy, took personal risks, and brought an impossible case to justice. There are more cases out there, Therese! Go get 'em!"
                          -Acknowledgments, by the author

This nonfiction is subtitled A True Story of Greed, Murder, and an Unlikely Investigator, who happens to be Therese Tang mentioned in the quote. Therese is not in law enforcement, is really only a citizen leading a branch of Missing People Sweden when she encounters the case of Goran Lundblad, a wealthy man who vanished without a trace in August, 2012. Although foul play is surmised and there are a few suspects, no body has been found---no corpus delecti, a new term I learned. Therese is relentless in her efforts to find a body and get a confession, not necessarily in that order, and even at personal risk.

At first I didn't really like the book. There were so many unfamiliar Swedish names of people and places and the sequence of events shifted around and left me confused at times. Once I was into the plot and emotionally involved with Therese, it was more of a page turner. It reminded me of some true crime shows I have seen on TV like "Dateline NBC" or "48 Hours" on CBS. I have rated the book a 3.

Every Thing You Are by Kerry Anne King

"Adventure Angels Manifesto
I herby commit to falling in love with life in all of its manifestations of trouble and triumph, joy and grief, boredom and excitement. 
I will treat each day as an adventure, full of possibility, and I will seek to be present for every moment, whether pleasant or unpleasant....
I commit to becoming an ambassador for adventure, bringing new experiences into the lives of others while engaging in them myself.
And I solemnly promise to hold sacred the confidences and stories shared in this group, along with the identities of individuals who attend.
If I should fail, I commit to picking myself up and trying again...."
                    -excerpts of the Manifesto, from the novel

Ophelia MacPhee is a luthier in Seattle. Don't know that term? Neither did I. A luthier is a maker/repairer of stringed instruments such as violins or guitars. When her grandfather bequeaths his business to Phee, as she is called, she is forced to make a promise to him, one with which she is uncomfortable and which will literally haunt her for years.

Braden Healey, formerly a premiere cello player, has lost use of his hands in a tragic event, and shortly after, lost most of his family and fell into the clutches of alcoholism. Braden's daughter, 17-year-old Allie, also a gifted cellist, is also burdened by guilt. Phee, who has secretly loved Braden for years, sets out to reunite the two with each other and with the music so sadly missing in their lives.

I found the story compelling and well-written so I rate the book a 4. I believe anyone who is deeply involved in the world of instrumental music would LOVE the book. Having little musical ability, I had a harder time identifying with the cello obsession which drove the plot. The themes of family dysfunction, broken promises, and redemption were more universal, of course.

2019 Page Turners Book Rankings

                                                                                                        

1.Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens                             4.4



2. Devil in the Grove by Gilbert King                                         4.2



3. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor              3.8


    Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover                                   3.8

4. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles                              3.7 5. Saints for All Occasions by J. Courtney Sullivan                    3.6

    The Library Book by Susan Orlean                                          3.6

6. Standing Alone in Mecca by Asra Nomani                               3.5

7. Before the Fall by Noah Hawley                                              3.4

8. Glass Houses by Louise Penny                                                 3.0

9. The Orphan Mother by Robert Hicks                                       2.9

       

My Name Is Eva by Suzanne Goldring

"Well, to tell the truth, I am wondering how I'll feel when I see his face for the first time, as my hatred for the man who caused your death has not declined one tiny bit. But I've decided I'm going to absolutely do the best job I possibly can and while I'm doing it, if I see any glimpse of a chink in his armour or find any opportunity to make him pay dearly for his dreadful errors of judgement, I will do so, just you wait and see."
                 -Eva, in a letter to deceased husband Hugh, 1945

I selected this book for my Amazon First Reads recently and it was a winner! The rating is a 5.

Protagonist Evelyn Taylor-Clarke, an elderly resident at Forest Lawns Care Home in England, is a loveable and memorable character. Her story begins in 2016 but then flashes back to WWII era and just after, through narratives and also multiple letters to her husband, like the quote above. Throughout, the reader learns of a promise made to her beloved Hugh and secrets she guards of her time working in post-War Germany.

Evelyn's niece, Pat, visits her at the retirement home and is charged with taking some care of the family estate, Kingsley. There she finds a photo and a passport with a strange name and questions her aunt about them. Evelyn, though very sharp mentally, pretends dementia to avoid revealing her true past. When she is questioned by law enforcement about a mysterious disappearance, deception is a game she seems to enjoy.

An engaging plot with themes of love, courage, strength, determination and revenge make this a true page-turner! I recommend it, especially to those who love historical fiction as I do.

Dead Certain A Novel by Adam Mitzner

"I'm a cautionary tale...I went to the high school for the performing arts here in New York City. You know, the one that the movie 'Fame' was based on. College at Columbia, majoring in theater, with every intention of becoming a singer after graduation. Then my mother died the fall of my junior hear, and...I guess it made me feel like I needed to do something more grown-up. I suppose a shrink might also surmise that I wanted to curry favor with my father. Anyway, I went off to law school. Fast-forward fifteen, sixteen years, and here I am, wishing I had made vastly different life choices.":
              -Ella Broden, from the novel

Due to an odd circumstance, I reread this novel. I was on a cruise and thought I had plenty of books loaded on my Kindle but when I finished one, I found I needed WIFI to download a couple of novels that were only queued. I began reading this one and quickly realized by the highlighting I had read it previously. I really didn't remember how it ended so I stuck with it to the end. I found it interesting for a 2nd time. I rated it 4 the first time and I will leave it at that. To read more, see my post of this title from July 3, 2017. I don't think I could review it much better than I did then. I do know I will NOT read it a third time!

The Halo Effect by Anne D. LeClaire

"Now some people would say that this is nothing more than coincidence. Happenstance....But there are others who believe there is no such thing as coincidence...They believe everything is connected and that these connections---what we call coincidences---are meaningful signals from the universe."
                              -Father Gervase, from the novel

At first I found this novel depressing, then intriguing, thinking it might rate a 5. The ending confused me a bit knocking it down to a 4. There WAS a lot to like, however.

Accomplished portrait artist Will Light has been suffering the agonizing loss of his only daughter, 15-year-old Lucy, to a brutal murder. Because he is so bitter and vengeful, his marriage to wife Sophie is in jeopardy. This seemed realistic to me as I've heard of marriages torn apart by the death of a child. Will's story is interrupted occasionally by narratives of Rain La Brea, Lucy's best friend, and that of Father Gervase, the parish priest, who at the bequest of the Cardinal, asks Will to paint portraits of saints for a new cathedral.

My favorite characters were Father Gervase and Dr. Mallory, the psychiatrist who sees Rain, a very troubled teen. Both of them are very wise, as well as kind and patient. Of course, their profound thoughts have to be credited to the writer. LeClaire's style is very readable and I will look for other novels she has written.

Let the Circle Be Unbroken by Mildred D. Taylor

" We arose in the early-morning darkness, greeting each other with Christmas wishes, but the words were hollow, without feeling, and before we tended to anything else, we gathered before the fire in a circle as we did each Christmas morning and sang "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" It was a song of family of love, of loss; we all felt it deeply. Then we fell to our knees, hands still clasped, and prayed, each of us in our turn, for Stacey and Moe's safe return."
                       -from the novel

I am not sure how many times I've read this novel---not as many as Song of the Trees and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, others in the series by Taylor, that's for sure. I was inspired to reread it by the Country Music TV documentary series by Ken Burns which aired recently. The gospel hymn, "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" was prominently featured.

I enjoy Ms. Taylor's writing so much and feel as if I know her fictional Logan family, some characters apparently based on the author's own family members. I especially love Cassie Logan, the feisty little narrator, about 11 years old in this sequel. Mama and Papa Logan are very special, too, seemingly near-perfect parents.

Of course the Logans are protagonists in this novel but the new characters added include union organizers, an elderly neighbor who is determined to register to vote and a cousin of Mama's who shows up with a biracial daughter. (He had married a white woman while living up north.) Of course many of the same antagonists show their ugly racist faces, along with a few new ones.

When oldest son, Stacey, runs away to work in the cane fields in Louisiana, the family is frantic. Many side plots make a compelling story in Let the Circle Be Unbroken. Once again I rate it a 5 and will, no doubt, reread The Road to Memphis soon!

[To see more of my thoughts look for my post of the same title on 12/13/16.]

Glass Houses by Louise Penny

"It was hard to know, at that moment, what to believe. It seemed not only extra-ordinary but, frankly, incredible. That some sort of ancient Spanish debt collector had appeared in a small village in Quebec. And I wouldn't have believed it, had I not seen it for myself. The photograph and the real thing."
                   -Chief Superintendent Armand Gamache

I cannot remember how this book was selected for our Page Turners. Most likely someone recommended it. I believe more than one member of the group has mentioned enjoying mysteries by this author. Also we needed something with less emotional intensity than our last two: Where the Crawdads Sing and Educated!

It took several chapters for me to get into this novel. I suspect folks who had read others in this series, already knew many of the characters and were familiar with the author's style, enjoyed it right away. I really didn't like the book at first and had to force myself to keep going. (Since I am the leader of our book club, I don't give myself permission to quit.) Fortunately the plot did become a bit clearer and gradually pulled me in. I must admit to being confused much of the time in my reading, as evidenced  by a quiz I took at bookrags.com. I scored 16/25 for 64%, a D! How embarrassing!

In the novel, protagonist Armand Gamache, the Surete's Chief Superintendent has multiple problems in the small Canadian town of Three Pines. Law enforcement is being beaten by the drug cartels, a mysterious black-robed figure appears on the village green and a young woman is found beaten to death in a church basement. It is learned that the figure in black is a "cobrador," something like a conscience of Spanish lore and about the time IT disappears, the dead woman is found wearing the same black costume. These stories are told alternating with scenes from the murder trial. How are all these situations related?  It's an intricate plot, to be sure, and obviously, too intricate for me!

It was interesting that the book references an historical event that I didn't remember:  that Cortez, after arriving in Mexico, had his generals burn the ships to prevent his men returning to Spain. Coincidentally, the day after I finished the book there was an article in the newspaper about the musical duo For King and Country who have a recent album called "Burn the Ships." Apparently this is a phrase akin to burning bridges, in other words, forging ahead without looking back or letting the past define you.

I am rating Glass Houses a 3. I liked it enough, I may read another of Penny's novels soon. At least I will be familiar with some of the characters and the setting next time.

I will not make the meeting this month but perhaps I can, at least, add a group rating later.
-----------------

Paraphrased notes from the group leader post-meeting:

I thought the conversation went well. Several of us, at least three, are Louise Penny fans and by the end of the discussion several said they thought they would try more of her books.  One participant is from Quebec near the Vermont border and could give a feel for the place. Also she knows some people who know Louise Penny and could give us insights into her background.

The book was not one of the better liked.  People found the plots hard to follow and the distractions distracting, not in a good way. The average rating was right at 3.

The Orphan Mother by Robert Hicks

"She would talk about the death of her son with that woman who had also lost children. In this there was no distinction between them. Carrie described herself as a widow, but Mariah thought of herself as orphaned: orphaned from both her elders and her own child, alone, the last possible orphan in her line. The orphan mother."
                -from the novel

Some years ago I read The Widow of the South by this author and liked it very much. When this one, something of a sequel with a different protagonist, was available as a "book bundle" from the library, I was pleased to request it for our Page Turners. It was a disappointing, at best.

Mariah Reddick, a former slave has become a mid-wife, respected and valued in the town of Franklin, Tennessee. When her only son Theopolis, an aspiring politician, is killed in the midst of a riot, Mariah bravely sets out to investigate. Mariah's story is woven into that of George Tole, an
ex-soldier who has become a hit-man.

I rated the novel a 3. I thought the writing was good but the plot failed to reel me in. As a rule, I love historical fiction but this one was neither satisfying nor entertaining. The book was made more interesting for me because my husband and I visited the Civil War sites in and around Franklin years ago. I remember going to Carnton Plantation which is where Mariah was slave to Carrie McGavock, known as the 'Widow of the South" and a hero to many.

The average rating of our group was 2.9, with many 3's noted, but also votes for '2' and even a '1.' A very rare thing! One participant did not think the dialect was true to the setting and another said it was difficult to "suspend disbelief." A few members said they started the book, put it down and restarted a few times before getting perhaps 3/4 through and finally wanting to finish. A couple of folks said they fell asleep while reading the earliest chapters.

Carnton Plantation House

The Orphan Mother was apparently based on a true historic happening. One group member thought the author took an exciting actual event and turned it into a boring novel!

Mariah Reddick

Carrie McGavock

Invasion of Privacy The Cross Creek Trial of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings by Patricia Nassif Acton

"To me, Cross Creek is a love story. It is a story of my love for the land, and for that particular portion of the land where I have felt I belonged, which is Cross Creek. And when you love a person or a place, then their faults and peculiarities----that does not interfere with your love for them at all."
               -from the trial testimony of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

I suppose this nonfiction would not be for just anybody but to this long-time fan and student of Marjorie Rawlings, it was fascinating! I purchased the book several months ago at a Marjorie Rawlings Society conference. I had saved it to read before I taught my next "Florida's Three Marjories" class. I knew I would learn a great deal about this trial that took place in the 1940's but I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did. I thought it would be factual and pretty dry. Factual, it was, but definitely not dry! There was actually quite a lot of humor.

I had not noticed when I purchased the book that it was illustrated by J.T. Glisson, a multi-talented writer and artist whom I have met in person. I have read his books and three of his autographed prints hang in our home. His book, The Creek (I would call it a memoir), recounts many entertaining and downright funny stories of his growing up in North Central Florida as a neighbor of Marjorie Rawlings. His drawings in Invasion of Privacy were a wonderful surprise and made the reading even more special. My rating is 5 but I wouldn't recommend it unless you're really into Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.

The Library Book by Susan Orlean

"This is why I wanted to write this book, to tell about a place I love that doesn't belong to me but feels like it is mine, and how that feels marvelous and exceptional. All the things that are wrong in the world seem conquered by a library's simple unspoken promise: Here I am, please tell me your story; here is my story, please listen."
              -from the author

Recently a friend asked me what I was reading and I responded, "The Library Book." She asked, "Which one?" Rather humorous. Another friend had recommended it a while back and I was planning it for our November Page Turners selection. I ordered the eBook from the library too soon, I guess, and when it became available I had to read it. Hope I remember at least some of it in November!

This nonfiction is very unique, to say the least! Ms. Orlean, a staff writer for The New Yorker, is obviously passionate about books and libraries. She became fascinated with the devastating fire of 1986 in the Central Library of Los Angeles, "the single biggest library fire in the history of the United States," and has researched it thoroughly for this book. Her cast of characters are mostly the librarians who ran the library one after another from its beginning in 1926 along with the primary suspect in the possible arson, aspiring actor Harry Peak.

The author manages to even work in some history of libraries and describes the role they have played and continue to play in our culture. Her description of recent developments was quite interesting. She wrote of bookmobiles which I remembered fondly from my youth. She described the founding of OverDrive which handles e-book loans for many libraries around the country. As a matter of fact, that was where the copy I was reading originated. Ms. Orlean  goes on to discuss the recent phenomenon of The Little Free Library of which I have seen "branches" in our neighborhood and at our church.

The only negative I would mention would be the chronology. At times I was confused as to pre-fire and post-fire events. I rate the book a 4. It was a compelling story though not really a page-turner. The amount of research and passion that went into the writing deserves much admiration!
-----------------------------------
When our group met to discuss The Library Book, we used questions issued by the publisher as jumping off points. We especially enjoyed hearing each other's personal experiences with libraries. Some of us remembered actual library buildings and others recalled enjoying bookmobiles or school libraries. A few participants found the book disjointed but someone made the point it was something like a library in itself, with a mixture of facts and story. Some thought the author purposely went back and forth from description and fact to narrative to keep the reader's interest. The group's average rating was 3.6.

Ripper by Isabel Allende

"Which comes first the chicken or the egg? Perhaps my mission truly was decided by the position of the planets. In which case it was fated from the moment I was born. It was inevitable; I am only fulfilling my destiny. We'll never know, will we?"
              -the "Perp" from the novel

I found this novel when I was looking for Daughter of Fortune, a newer one by this author. I have read Allende before and I was expecting a story set in South America. Was I surprised! This one, apparently translated from Spanish, is a thriller---a story involving a serial killer in San Francisco. The title refers to a group of amateur sleuths playing an online game called Ripper. The group includes one main character, high school senior Amanda Jackson, her beloved grandfather Blake and some friends around the world. Ripper becomes an essential resource in solving multiple murders in the Bay Area.

There are numerous other significant characters to keep up with in the novel---Amanda's mother, Indiana; her father Deputy Chief of Homicide Bob Martin of SFPD; and Ryan Miller, former Navy Seal and war hero whose prosthetic leg does not hold him back. Of course, there are secondary characters, some of whom are killed in a series of strange murders. The precocious Amanda is like a chip off the old block (her father) but couldn't be more different from her mother, a free-spirited healer. Amanda is the first to determine connections between all the murders, which seem at first to be unrelated.

My favorite character was Ryan, a strong, brave and likeable character but with a temper, to be sure. He is in love with Indiana, called Indi, and when she disappears, Ryan and Ripper get busy, along with Indi's ex-husband, Bob Martin and the SFPD, trying to find her before it's too late. I kept guessing who the "perp" was and it was not until late in this almost-500 page novel that I knew for sure.

I am rating Ripper a 4. It really is longer than I like a book to be and there are so many characters to keep up with. It started out a little slow but soon became a page-turner. So bottom line: I liked it, didn't love it.

Eleanor Roosevelt A Life of Discovery by Russell Freedman

"It was not until I reached middle age that I had the courage to develop interests of my own...From that time on, though I have had many problems, though I have known grief and loneliness that are the lot of most human beings... I have never been bored, never found the days long enough for the range of activities with which I wanted to fill them. And, having learned to stare down fear, I long ago reached the point where there is no living person whom I fear, and few challenges that I am not willing to face."
          -Eleanor Roosevelt, looking back on her life

If I ever read a biography of Eleanor Roosevelt, it would have been as a child. I knew she was a much-beloved first lady and an amazing woman but I had so much to learn. The impetus for me to pick up a biography now was learning of a play I will see later in the year called "My Lord, What a Night," which involves singer Marian Anderson. It seems when Ms. Anderson was denied a concert hall in Washington DC by the DAR, Eleanor resigned her membership from that organization in protest. Also I remembered in a Smithsonian traveling exhibit about the workings of the White House, I had learned she was the first to integrate the White House staff.

This particular biography is from the juvenile section. I quite often look for biographies or nonfictions there to get a brief overview of something I may want to explore more in depth later. There were several biographies on the shelf and this one caught my eye because of the author, who I remembered from my teaching days as one who includes many photographs. It did not disappoint.

Eleanor Roosevelt was truly a woman ahead of her time---in the areas of race relations and world peace, in particular. Some of the countless adjectives used to describe her by many people who met her were: warm, sympathetic, compassionate, humble, energetic, independent, a "gracious and magnificent lady."  She was the first First Lady to fly and she made great use of that transportation, traveling the world and being called "Eleanor Everywhere." On most of these trips she was attempting to help people.

I was surprised to learn that Eleanor was a school teacher for quite a while when she was living in New York and even during Franklin's time as governor. She loved teaching and hated giving it up to move to DC when FDR became president. After he passed away she would end up teaching again. As a retired teacher of many years, I was touched.

I am glad to know more about Eleanor Roosevelt. I will be looking for The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt. I think it would be enlightening to learn more about her life from her own words. She is my new (old) hero!

Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover

"Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery.
None but ourselves can free our minds."
                -Bob Marley, from 'Redemption Song,' quoted by the author

Years ago our book club read The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls, a memoir of an almost unbelievably horrid childhood. This one is reminiscent in its intensity. Westover's dysfunctional family is led by a fundamentalist Mormon who is paranoid about government interference to the point of not allowing his children to go to school or seek medical help from doctors or hospitals. Tara's mother, a midwife and herbalist, exclusively provided the medical treatment. The family was waiting for the End of Days and hoarding food and other supplies in their rural Idaho home.

Since Tara had a father who failed time and again to keep his children safe and then refused help from the medical community, a brother who was almost certainly schizophrenic and a mother who refused to go against her tyrannical husband, it was not only a wonder that she eventually earned advanced degrees at prestigious schools and wrote this book, but that she survived to adulthood at all! Some families are dysfunctional but being a member of the Westover family was dangerous.

I can't say I really enjoyed the story but I did find it riveting, perhaps because Tara's upbringing was SO different from mine in a loving home. I found the structure confusing at times as it was not always chronological. I found it sad that being educated indirectly led Tara to her estrangement from her parents and some siblings. I can't help but wonder if she has reconnected with them now. My rating is a 4. More after the Page Turner meeting....

It's time for an entertaining, somewhat mindless fiction now!
-------------------------------
Fourteen of us met to discuss Tara Westover's memoir. Individual ratings were all over the place with an average of 3.8. I'm not sure that any of us really enjoyed the book but most admitted they found it a page-turner anyway. We used the discussion questions issued by the publisher as a jumping off place but no one needed much motivation to talk about the book. Much of our conversation centered on the author's education, both formal and informal---learning about the world outside her mountain home. I believe we were all amazed and impressed that Ms. Westover has accomplished all she has in spite of her very abnormal upbringing. A new member of our group who had grown up in an LDS community contributed beautifully to our understanding of some aspects of the book so I will rate our meeting a 5!
In seeking more information about the author of Educated: A Memoir, I found numerous interviews on YouTube. Here is a link to the one with Ellen DeGeneres, one of the shorter ones.

https://binged.it/2Zi3yEx

The Secrets of Lost Stones by Melissa Payne

"It takes time for all the loose ends to be in one place, but once they are, things tend to move quickly."
                -Lucy, from the novel

This was another free novel from Amazon First Reads. It was intriguing, to be sure. I had a hard time putting it down midway through. I am rating it a 4.

Protagonist Jess Abbot, is a young woman seemingly with nothing more to lose, when she tries a change of location and winds up in the small town of Pine Lake. There she soon meets an eccentric old lady named Lucy who hires her as a caregiver.
In the meantime, co-protagonist Star, a teenaged runaway ends up in Pine Lake and is befriended by Lucy, as well.

It would seem that Lucy is a clairvoyant as she knows that both Jess and Star are holding tightly to regrets and guilt in their pasts. Lucy's many mentions of her "loose ends" make both Jess and Star wonder why they've been brought together. Lucy's odd ways (some townspeople call her a witch) and mysterious happenings, including the frequent appearance of secret stones, add to the intrigue.

The story is told with alternating perspectives of Jess and Star. Although I correctly predicted some events, the climax was pretty surprising. So many coincidences were a bit difficult to believe but I did enjoy the story.

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

"What the mind don't 'member, the heart still know. Love, the strongest thang of all. Stronger than all the rest....Secrets ain't a healthy thang. Secrets ain't a healthy thang, no matter how old they is. Sometimes the oldest secrets is the worst of all."
                -Bart's mother, from the novel

This book was recommended to me and it was an excellent read. A story of exploitation of children, it was very difficult to read in places and even more poignant because it is based on a true story.

In 1939 five children---ages 12 and under---are essentially stolen from the shanty boat where they'd been living and taken to a home run by Georgia Tann, the director of the Tennessee Children's Home Society, Memphis, Tennessee. They are led to believe they will be reunited with their parents but will actually be offered---at a price---to wealthy childless couples. Rill Foss is the eldest of the children and sees herself as the protector of her siblings. She narrates her story which is heart-wrenching, to say the least, and it goes back and forth to....

Present time in Aiken, South Carolina, where lawyer Avery Stafford meets a woman in a nursing home who calls Avery "Fern" and seemingly filches her bracelet. Later a photo found in the woman's room piques Avery's curiosity and starts her on an unexpected path where she will uncover a long-held family secret and discover much about herself.

In A Note from the Author, Wingate relates the fact and fiction of the novel. "Though Rill and her siblings exist only in these pages, their experiences mirror those reported by children who were taken from their families from the 1920s through 1950. The true story of Georgia Tann and the Memphis branch of the Tennessee Children's Home Society is a bizarre and sad paradox." Shockingly, Tann had a lot of people fooled for a long time as she was called the "Mother of Modern Adoption." According to the author, Eleanor Roosevelt sought her advice about child welfare. Also from the author: "While Mrs. Murphy and her home in the story are fictional, Rill's experiences there were inspired by those reported by survivors."

The novel was thoroughly riveting, a page-turner to be sure. I rate it a 5.

--------------
Here we are a year later with the Page Turners having read this book and meeting via Zoom to discuss it. The group's average rating is 3.9 with almost everyone liking the book on some level. Of 19 participating, there were 15 4's and 5's.

Some found the multiple characters, several with more than one name, and the dual timeframe format confusing. Others really enjoyed the story within a story which eventually connected the past and present kept the reader turning pages until the connection was clear. Most agreed it was not as enjoyable as it was compelling.

A few participants had been personally touched by adoption or foster care and had interesting experiences to share. Some found the book comparable to Where the Crawdads Sing.

Several members had read additional information about Georgia Tann and the Tennessee Children's Home Society. So shocking that this corruption and exploitation of children went on so long! I think we agree that children in deplorable conditions need to be rescued but biological parents should be given the opportunity to prove themselves before their children are taken from them.

The publisher has provided a wonderful resource on Before We Were Yours, including Author's Notes, an interview, discussion questions and even recipes.

Here's a link:

http://www.randomhousebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/BeforeWeWereYours_BookClubKit.pdf

The Boy by Tami Hoag

"Murder was generally depressingly simple. Person A hated Person B bad enough to want them off the planet. Motives were basic. Money, sex, drugs, revenge. But why did anyone kill a child?"
                    -Nick's musings from the novel

I have read several Tami Hoag novels and liked them all. She is an excellent storyteller and knows how to weave a plot that will have you turning pages quickly. This one will provide quite an exciting ride!

I have read plenty of murder mysteries but I think this is the first involving husband and wife detectives, namely Nick Fourcade and Annie Broussard. Nick is a "hot-headed, temperamental Frenchman" according to his former boss and "an arrogant, disrespectful ass" from the perspective of his current one, Sheriff Dutrow. One of the interesting things about Nick is that he often speaks using Cajun French. (The novel is set in Bayou Breaux, LA.) The author even provides a Cajun French glossary at the end. Annie is certainly a more patient, level-headed and compassionate character. Both characters were likeable.

When a young child is found murdered in chapter 2, there are many questions including why his mother escaped the same scene with injuries but still alive. Add to this horrific crime: folks with questionable pasts, workplace conflict, juvenile bullying, domestic abuse. It equals a page-turner for sure! I will rate it 5 for its entertainment value.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

"You see that fig tree over yonder, Cassie? Them other tress all around...that oak and walnut, they're a lot bigger and they take up more room and give so much shade they almost overshadow that little ole fig. But that fig tree's got roots that run deep, and it belongs in that yard as much as that oak and walnut. It keeps on blooming, bearing good fruit year after year, knowing all the time it'll never get as big as them other trees. Just keeps on growing and doing what it gotta do. It don't give up. It give up, it'll die. There's a lesson to be learned from that little tree, Cassie girl, 'cause we're like it. We keep doing what we gotta, and we don't give up. We can't."
                -David (Papa) Logan, from the novel

Since my first reading of this novel it has remained at the top of my favorites list. I have probably read it at least 6-8 times. Why? I read it aloud to my fifth grade students for a number of years, usually during Black History Month (February) to illustrate the importance of the Civil Rights Movement and celebrate the accomplishments of black leaders such as MLK Jr. I never got tired of it and came to feel a very close connection to the Logan family. I have read all the other novels in the series, most more than once, and love them all.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is considered Young Adult literature and suggested for middle school age. I maintain the story is compelling enough for adults. It remains to be seen what our book club will think. I have resisted the book's inclusion on our reading list for 10 years because I thought my feelings would be hurt if others didn't like it. Guess I better just get over it!

Ms. Taylor's descriptive powers are great and she develops her characters beautifully. For example, protagonist narrator Cassie Logan is a feisty 3rd grader with a quick temper and an amusing dry wit. Mary and David Logan are wise and loving parents to Cassie and brothers Stacy, Christopher John and Clayton Chester, called "Little Man." The beginning quote serves to illustrate a bit of Papa's philosophy.

I have so many favorite parts of this novel---mostly episodes where the Logans find subtle ways to exact revenge on the hateful, bigoted white folks who threaten and mistreat them. The reader must stomach the ugliness of racial discrimination and violence in the plot in order to be touched by themes of family love and loyalty, personal dignity, courage and the all-encompassing importance of the land.

This copy of the novel gave me new insight since it is a 25th Anniversary edition and includes a Foreword from the author written in 2001 in which she shares some of her inspiration and purpose and reveals her feelings about efforts to ban the book in some locales.

My rating for Roll of Thunder: 5, higher if it were allowed! It is easy to see why this book and others of the Logan family saga have won multiple awards for distinguished literature. I am ready now to work my way through the sequels (and prequels)!

More after the Page Turners meet....
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The group's rating is 3.8, with mostly ratings of 3 or 4, so as a whole, the group did not love the book as much as I do. I confessed  much of my affection for the book may be a result of my having taught children near the Logan kids' ages for a long time.

For discussion we used generic questions for fiction from LitLovers and a few others from SparkNotes. The conversation was enlightening, as always, centered mostly around the characters. When we got around to discussing what befalls T. J. Avery near the end of the book, I mentioned he goes to trial in Let the Circle Be Unbroken but would not reveal the outcome. They will have to read it; no spoilers from me.

One member had a special 40th anniversary edition of the book which included a Logan family tree and photos of the author's real family, many of whom "became" characters in her novels. I WILL be ordering one for my collection!

I told the group I have long wished Oprah Winfrey would produce a film adaptation. Now that I have said it, I think I will follow up with an email and see what happens!

A Fire Sparkling by Julianne MacLean

"Sometimes you think you know someone, but maybe it's impossible to really know everything about a person, even someone you love. Maybe good people---the very best people---are just better at keeping secrets."
                   -Gillian's father, from the novel

Another Amazon Prime First Read and the second historical fiction in a row! I'm not sure I would have read it immediately after Along the Broken Bay if I had realized the similarity of the two but it was quite interesting to compare and contrast the two novels. Both were WWII era---this one about Hitler's threat to England and the other, the Japanese takeover of the Philippines. Both novels featured female characters working for the Allied resistance in undercover roles requiring great personal risk and even the sacrifice of leaving a young child behind. Coincidentally both of the protagonists were or had been songstresses entertaining military personnel.

A Fire Sparkling begins with Gillian Gibbons and her father's discovery of old photographs hidden away in a dusty sea chest in the attic. The photographs show Gillian's grandmother, Vivian, as a young woman apparently in love with a Nazi officer. Gillian and her father Edward are blown away by this revelation as they had no knowledge of such an episode in  96-year-old Vivian's life. When Vivian is confronted with the photographs and a few questions, the flashbacks begin: back to 1939 London. The intricate plot woven as Vivian's story makes for a real page-turner.

I was not familiar with this author possibly because she is considered a romance writer and I'm not drawn to that genre. I would not label this novel "romance" however, since it lacked any overt sex or syrupy love scenes which I would expect from such a label. There was definitely romantic tension though, which I thought added to the character development and offered a secondary plot.

The Good Reads description ends with "perfect for fans of The Nightingale and Beneath a Scarlet Sky."  I've read and enjoyed them both! I'm giving  A Fire Sparkling a 5 rating. It is a compelling story of love, betrayal and courage with family secrets unfolding one by one.

Along the Broken Bay by Flora J. Solomon

"Never arouse me from the throes of a nightmare, for nothing is ghastlier than waking to this reality."
                -Ray Thorpe, Cabanatuan prison camp, from the novel

This was a free book from Amazon First Reads and I am glad I selected it. Most of my friends and readers of this blog know historical fiction is my favorite genre. This one is well-written with a compelling plot.

In 1941, Gina Thorpe, a former songstress and now military wife, is living in Manila when the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor and proceed to take over the Philippine Islands. Her husband is in harm's way and seems to have been captured by the enemy. For their own protection and that of their children Gina and her best friend Vivian flee to the Zambales Mountains. There they meet up with members of the American/Filipino resistance. Since the guerrillas are in great need of money and supplies they recruit Gina to go back to Manila to secretly solicit funds from those friendly to the cause. Gina agrees to this assignment even at the great sacrifice of leaving her young daughter Cheryl behind in Vivian's care and risking her own capture and possible execution if she is caught.

Gina is smuggled into Manila and eventually ends up running Pearl Blue, a nightclub where Japanese officers come to be entertained, spend their money and, hopefully, spill some secrets. Ironic that the enemy is helping to fund the resistance! Without giving anything away, the plot thickens and the book becomes a page-turner. I will rate it a 5.

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

"But I had heard something. Something that had made me start from my sleep with my heart pounding two hundred beats per minute, and my palms wet with sweat, and the conviction that somewhere very close by, another woman was in grave trouble. I knew what it was like to be that girl---to realize, in an instant, how incredibly fragile your hold on life could be, how paper-thin the walls of security really were."
                -Lo's thoughts, from the novel

I can't remember where I spotted a synopsis of this novel but with a planned cruise approaching, it seemed a perfect fit. I checked the eBook out from the library for my Kindle. What do you call a captivating suspense novel that you can hardly put down when it is on such a device? It can't really be a page-turner, can it? Page tapper, perhaps? Whatever you call it, this was one! I give it a 5 for sheer entertainment.

British journalist Laura "Lo" Blacklock is on assignment from Velocity travel magazine. Her boss has asked her to cover the maiden voyage of the Aurora Borealis, an elite cruise ship owned by extremely wealthy and influential Lord Richard Bullmer. The luxury cruise liner is smallish compared to any we have sailed on---only 10 guest cabins---so the passenger list is limited: Lo, some fellow journalists, including ex-boyfriend, Ben Howard, Bullmer and his wife.

The book actually begins with a break-in at Lo's flat that leaves her traumatized so when she is awakened the first evening on the ship by a woman's scream and a splash sounding much like a body falling overboard, she is worried for "the woman in cabin 10" whom she had met briefly. When Lo goes to the security officer with her suspicions, he tells her cabin 10 is vacant and goes to great lengths to cast doubt on her story. As she continues to look for evidence and to question others, she receives not-so-subtle threats and finally realizes her own life is in danger. The twists and turns will keep you guessing and if you get halfway---don't plan on doing much but reading to the end!

This was the first novel I have read by this author but it won't be the last!

Saints for All Occasions by J. Courtney Sullivan

"As she walked, she thought of her mother, and of the sister Nora had never mentioned before yesterday.....Bridget thought of her family in terms of what they didn't know about her. She had rarely wondered about the mysteries they harbored. How could you be this close, be a family, and yet be so unknown to one another?"
                    -Bridget's musings, from the novel

This book was selected  for June because it was a Book Bundle, multiple copies of the same book available on loan from the public library. The ratings looked pretty good.

The story centers on two sisters who immigrate from Ireland in 1957. Nora Flynn, at age 21, is the serious, introverted older sister thrust into a role of responsibility by the death of their mother. Seventeen-year-old Teresa is flighty and more of a social butterfly.  The tale actually begins in Boston with the tragic accidental death of Patrick Flynn, oldest son of Nora, in 2009 and then moves back and forth between then and the late '50s and 60's. 

You may be able to guess from the beginning quote that the family situation is complicated. The two sisters become estranged for many years as a result of a secret I won't reveal. Teresa has become a nun renamed Mother Cecilia and lives in an abbey in Vermont. The author introduces us to Nora's children---John, whose relationship with the deceased Patrick was seriously damaged; Bridget, who has her own secret from her mother; and Brian, the youngest, who had idolized Patrick. In flashbacks we learn more about Patrick and begin to understand his tortured personality. Suffice it to say, there are too many secrets and the family members don't communicate well.

The plot was engaging but I didn't find the ending very satisfying. I am rating the book a 3---liked it, didn't love it. I thought it was interesting that Nora was a big Red Sox fan and player David Ortiz was mentioned. Big Papi as he is known, has recently been in the news after being shot in the DR. And although Nora was not extremely simpatico I really liked this quote that Brian remembers his mother saying: "What would you have today if you woke up with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?" That will stick with me!
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Our Page Turners met on Thursday to discuss the novel. Our average rating was 3.6. Most everyone liked the book to some degree but many of us agreed that Nora was not the greatest mother. I think we all wished to have the story "wrapped up" a bit better at the end.
Our group seems to feel that a story structure of multiple time settings is a trend in novels these days. It can sometimes be quite confusing but at least this author informs you of the date changes.

The President Is Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson

"What does it mean to be an American today? It's a question that will answer itself if we get back to what's brought us this far: widening the circle of opportunity, deepening the meaning of freedom, and strengthening bonds of community. Shrinking the definition of them and expanding the definition of us. Leaving no one behind, left out, looked down on."
                    -from the novel

For a long time, I was quite a fan of James Patterson but have been disappointed in some of his collaborative efforts. However, this one caught my attention, with Bill Clinton as the co-author. Also the novel's time on the best-seller list was impressive.

U. S. President Jonathan Duncan is facing possible impeachment proceedings in the midst of a cybersecurity emergency. The code word "Dark Ages,' only known to 8 top-ranking officials is passed on to the President, giving him reason to believe one of the eight is a traitor. The country is in grave danger of a cyber attack and the President "goes missing" as he tries to prevent disaster. The plot is pretty far-fetched but even so, the novel became a page-turner for me as I tried to keep up with the twists and turns. Since I musn't be a "spoiler" I will leave it at that.

This combination of authors is very compelling since Patterson is extremely popular as a suspense writer and, obviously former President Clinton has extensive personal experience with what goes on with White House staff, foreign relations, political conflict, etc. Often, especially toward the end,  I "heard" Clinton commenting on current political situations. Some reviews of the novel are negative---critical of the prose and believability of the plot---but for sheer entertainment, I rate it a 4.

I found out there is a TV adaptation in the works from Showtime. It will be interesting to see who is cast in the main roles BUT I will know the outcome!

Beneath a Ruthless Sun by Gilbert King

""One of the cardinal rules of newspaper work drilled into me as a 'cub' reporter was: 'Be sure you are right, then go ahead.' Since we all know it is most often difficult determining 'beyond a reasonable doubt' what is absolutely right, I have made my own maxim. It is, 'Be on the side of right, then go ahead.'"
             -Mabel Norris Reese in a letter to Judge Truman G. Futch

A few years ago, I read The Devil in the Grove, Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America by this author. I called it a real-life horror story! The research was very thorough and the writing so compelling, I gave it a 5. I thought it read like fiction. This one is no different! It gets a 5 also---another page-turner!

The villain is the same in both stories---Lake County Florida's Sheriff Willis McCall, a man so powerful, he seems to dictate all judicial matters in the county and even to the state level from 1944 to 1972, having been elected to 7 consecutive terms. He is still using his position to harass blacks but the main protagonist in this novel is Jesse Daniels, a white mentally challenged nineteen-year-old, falsely accused of the rape of a white woman, wife of a prominent landowner. With a conspiracy of deputies, states attorney Gordon Oldham, judges and even a governor, McCall sends Jesse to the dreaded Florida State (Mental) Hospital at Chattahoochee. There, despite the unrelenting efforts of Jesse's mother, Pearl, and journalist Mabel Norris Reese to prove his sanity and innocence, he is kept for over 14 years. Mabel is a heroic figure to me, absolutely driven to seek justice for Jesse, even though she is threatened in numerous ways. Eventually, a couple of lawyers---Richard Graham and Ted Husfeld---are convinced to get involved. More heroes!

I liked the Epilogue because it described what happened to the major players. Even the Acknowledgements and Notes at the end of the book are fascinating. King obviously did extensive research, even interviewing central figures still living at the time. Beneath a Ruthless Sun is both heartbreaking and infuriating in parts but I can only hope it uncovers prejudice, injustice, hatred and violence that we can vow to overcome.

Thin Air by Lisa Gray

"There were thousands of other similarly tragic stories, all of the people apparently disappearing into thin air."                  -from the novel

This was a First Reads freebie from Amazon but if I had paid for it, I wouldn't have been disappointed. It was a suspenseful story with a rather unique twist. Jessica Shaw is a private investigator specializing in missing persons. She mysteriously receives a photo of a missing child and is shocked to realize it is HER, 25 years back. Come to find out, her mother, who is also in the picture, was killed at the same time the child (Alicia Lavelle/Jessica Shaw) was abducted. Obviously the case has gone rather cold but Jessica has a VERY personal interest in getting to the bottom of it. Until now Jessica had categorized missing persons two ways---probably dead or missing on purpose. Now she must add another: didn't know they were missing!

Almost predictably Jessica meets a handsome journalist, Jack Holliday, also fascinated by this story. At the same time Jessica is starting her quest, LAPD detective Jason Pryce is on a murder case involving a college student, Amy Ong. Finding out how the two investigations intersect keeps the reader turning pages.

The title of this book reminded me of a favorite TV show from a few years back: "Without a Trace." Seemingly, that is what happened to Jessica (Alicia) as a child.

I am rating Thin Air a 3. I found the plot compelling but toward the end, a bit confusing. Also I wasn't crazy about the ending---seemed to be a bit of a cliffhanger for the next Jessica Shaw novel.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

"'What d'ya mean, where the crawdads sing? Ma used to say that.' Kya remembered Ma always encouraging her to explore the marsh: 'Go as far as you can---way out where the crawdads sing.'"
                    -Kya, from the novel

This book was recommended to me weeks before it hit the top of the Best-Seller list and stayed there a long time. It was SO popular several of our Page Turners found themselves impatiently awaiting their turn to receive a library copy or a loan from a friend. My expectations were high!

I know there are several in our group who loved this book and I expect it to be one of our highest-rated in some time. I have struggled with my rating and it will be a 4. The writing is beautiful, giving lovely tribute to the natural world. It is not surprising that the author's background is biological science, particularly wildlife. It is likely she has projected her passion for nature onto her protagonist, Kya,

In this novel, Kya Clark is abandoned by one after another of her very large family until she is completely on her own at age 7. People in the nearby small town in North Carolina call her the "Marsh Girl" because of where she lives and, with few exceptions, they shun her. The novel tells of her survival alone in the woods which I found somewhat difficult to believe. And I found it strange that social services did not seem to care that this very young child was fending for herself.

The setting moves back and forth from the early 1950's to 1969, when Chase Andrews, a former Barkley Cove football hero. is found dead and authorities are suspicious of foul play. The plot becomes more engaging as an investigation is begun. When Kya meets a boy named Tate Walker, romance blossoms.

So take a survival story, add coming-of-age angst and society prejudice. Mix in a murder mystery and there you have Where the Crawdads Sing.

More after our meeting.....
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We met outdoors today, an appropriate setting for discussion about a book that celebrates so much of the natural world. A near-record number of attendees---18---could it have been the popularity of the book or the promise of a delicious brunch?

Our average rating was 4.4, the highest-rated book so far this year. Everyone appreciated the author's writing style. A few agreed with me that the survival of a child alone at Kya's age was a bit implausible but some argued that in other cultures it is likely common and one of our members shared personal experience to convince us of the real possibility.

Some of our folks made accurate predications about  how Chase met his unfortunate end and others of us were taken by surprise but you will get no spoilers from me! Needless to say, we enjoyed a stimulating discussion of this novel. Most of us would recommend it!

Say Nothing A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe

"The famous

Northern reticence, the tight gag of place
And times: yes, yes. Of the 'wee six' I sing
Where to be saved you only must save face
And whatever you say, you say nothing."

              -Seamus Heaney, from "Whatever You Say, Say Nothing"  1975

I am not sure when I became a Hibernophile, a person with fondness for all things Irish. It could have been when I read Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt about a year ago or it might have been visiting 4 ports in Ireland on a recent cruise. When I saw a review of Say Nothing in a magazine a few months ago, it captured my interest and I added it to my must-read list.

When John and I visited Ireland last year, a tour guide in Belfast mentioned the option of a Troubles Tour of sites involved in that conflict.  Although I had heard of turmoil in Ireland between Protestants and Catholics years ago, I knew precious little of the history. I saw plenty of hints of animosity between the two religious groups and anti-British feelings in Angela's Ashes. It was rather funny to me that McCourt's father would come home drunk late at night and wake his sons to make them promise to "die for Ireland." In watching the Masterpiece Theatre series "Victoria" it became clear that the discord goes back much farther than the late 60's forward which is the focus of this book. 

After reading this thoroughly researched narrative nonfiction about The Troubles by award-winning journalist Keefe, I wish I could go back and do that tour in Belfast.

The most challenging thing for me in reading this book was keeping the names of so many organizations straight! Googling the Troubles in Ireland helped to line up the Irish Republic paramilitaries, (mostly Catholic) and their splinter groups and the Ulster Loyalist paramilitaries, (mostly Protestant) and others on their side, including, it would seem, the British. The violence was disturbing but not so different from sectarian brutality in other parts of the world, even our own country. Apparently over 3500 people died during the Troubles.

In his final chapter, Keefe gets personal, sharing his own ethnic background and motivation and inspiration for writing Say Nothing. This passage, I believe gives a good overview of book's theme and historic figures: "In the intertwining lives of Jean McConville, Dolours Price, Brendan Hughes, and Gerry Adams, I saw an opportunity to tell a story about how people become radicalized in their uncompromising devotion to a cause, and about how individuals---a whole society---make sense of political violence once they have passed through the crucible and finally have time to reflect."

Say Nothing was close to being a page-turner for me; it gets a rating of 4+. The story was mesmerizing, if not exactly enjoyable. Every Hibernophile should read it!

Miss Julia Takes the Wheel by Ann B. Ross

"Assuring both him and myself that I was always careful, especially when there was a possibility that someone's feelings could be hurt, I went to bed feeling energized. I'd told Lilian that I had a great urge to fix something, and what better project could I take on than a young woman who badly needed fixing?"                                       -Miss Julia, from the novel


After reading a few challenging books lately, I breezed through this one---such an easy and entertaining read! I believe I have read all 20 of the novels in the Miss Julia series and this one is number 21. I have loved them all.

Miss Julia is a delightful lady likely close to my age with whom I have a number of things in common. She lives in a small town in North Carolina and pretty much knows everyone and everything that's going on or if she doesn't she makes it her business to find out. Many of the characters are so familiar, they feel like friends and family to me!

The quote I began with hints at the plot of the novel. When an unknown doctor comes to town to stand in for the beloved Dr. Hargrove while he is on a long-awaited vacation, Julia invites him and his wife for dinner, only to begin wondering how she can help (or fix?) the doctor's enigmatic wife, Lauren Crawford. Mix in grandson Lloyd's driving lessons, a real estate project, and a dear friend's husband's heart attack and you have more than enough for a lively plot. And then suspicions start to build around both Crawfords.

Ms. Ross's humor is my favorite thing about her books. For example, in trying to understand her grandson Lloyd, Julia says, "Teenagers, after all, tend to see things in black and white: This is right; that is wrong. Yet as we age, hair is not the only thing that begins to fade into gray areas, and we find reasons and excuses for activities that we would have once condemned. 'Thou shalt not' turns into 'Under certain circumstances, maybe thou canst.'"
And in describing a certain woman she says, "My stars, her clothes and her makeup! Not enough of one and too much of the other."
Julia compares new roofs on run-down houses to "fancy hats on bag ladies."
Many, many smiles and laughs in reading Miss Julia adventures. This one gets a 5 rating for sheer enjoyment!

Standing Alone in Mecca by Asra Nomani

"This book is testimony to the potential for all of us to become empowered, spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally, if we allow it. When I started the book, my goal was to describe my experience doing the hajj. But along the way I found my voice, and the book helped me to clarify my identity as a Muslim woman."
             -Asra Nomani, from the Epilogue

I am not sure I would ever have read this book if someone else had not chosen it but I am so glad I did. A member of our Page Turner group had volunteered to lead the group meeting in May while I was away on a 3-week trip. I suggested she select the book and her choice was Standing Alone in Mecca. I admit my first reaction was lukewarm. As it turned out my trip was cancelled and after realizing I would be attending the May meeting after all, I felt I had to read it. It didn't take long to realize how extraordinary it was!  While I wouldn't say the book was entertaining, I was grateful for all it taught me about Islam, earning a solid 4 rating from me.

Journalist Asra Nomani was brought up a Muslim by immigrant parents from India. In an effort to learn more about her faith and her place within it, she decides to embark on a hajj, or religious pilgrimage to the most sacred sites of the faith. Accompanying her are her parents, niece and nephew and her infant son, whose birth out of wedlock has caused her much guilt due to the rigidity of conservative Islamic beliefs about sex. Though I felt the quote I chose to begin my post was a good overview of the book, there were SO many worthwhile and profound opinions of the author and quotes from other religious scholars that she included, it was a difficult choice.

Although I knew of male domination in Islamic communities of the Middle East, I was not aware of its extent in the U.S. Validated and inspired by her hajj experience, Nomani becomes a very strong vocal advocate for Muslim women's rights. I was very impressed by her passion and determination. And it seems she IS making a difference! The author includes letters and emails of affirmation and appreciation from some of her readers, along with some ugly, threatening messages. With that being said, let's add brave to her list of attributes!

Standing Alone in Mecca reminded me in some ways of My Father's Paradise by Ariel Sabar. There are interesting contrasts also. Both books are written by journalists, 2nd generation Americans, one a Muslim woman and the other a Jewish man. Both books were somewhat inspired by the birth of a first child and a desire for self-examination. Each book involves travel in the Middle East and includes a good bit of history.

Kaaba, Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Al-Masjd an-Nabawi, "The Prophet's Mosque," Medina, Saudi Arabia

                                                                                                           
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Our Page Turners discussion was very thought-provoking with most readers feeling they learned so much about Islam. Even one member who is a retired pastor and admitted she had taken world religions said she discovered things she didn't know. Our leader who selected the book said she felt it was very personal and honest and made her feel she actually KNEW Asra Nomani. Some of our discussion centered on how other religions have been or still are corrupted by the desire for power and control just as radical Islam has been. The group's average rating was 3.5.

The Secret Orphan by Glynis Peters

"It [the battered suitcase] still housed paper memories of lives well lived. It also housed a letter which held the truth about Rose's past life, and why Elenor had chosen to leave Britain and move to Canada. A secret Elenor had kept for so many years. A secret that had saved Rose's life."
                         -from the novel

This novel was a First Reads free selection, an historical fiction that sounded intriguing. I did enjoy it but there were parts that seemed to drag a bit. I will rate it a 3.

The story begins with an elderly Rose Sherbourne celebrating her birthday with her family. When they coax her to tell them of her past, a flashback relates her history for the remainder of the book.

The setting of the novel is WWII England, where Elenor Cardew has escaped an unpleasant family situation in Cornwall to become a caretaker for her aunt in Coventry. In that position she becomes involved with fellow employees and their young daughter, Rose Sherbourne. She also meets Jackson St. John, a Canadian pilot, and is rather smitten by him. When Elenor's two brothers are killed in the war, she feels compelled to return to Cornwall to save the family farm. I thought some of the description of her rural life was tedious. Elenor becomes the guardian of young Rose through some unfortunate (or maybe not) circumstances. When Elenor discovers a dangerous secret about Rose's past and romance enters the picture, the novel became more of a page-turner for me.

I liked the book but I have read many historical novels of the era that were much more compelling.

My Father's Paradise by Ariel Sabar

"The thing about our idea of paradise is that some are not all that they seem. That was certainly true for my grandparents and great-grandparents in Israel, where Kurds and other Sephardic Jews struggled against poverty and bigotry and suffered great disappointments. At the same time, some paradises are of our own making."
                        -Ariel Sabar, from the interview with the author

I doubt I would have ever read this book if it had not been the selection for an intergenerational book study for which I volunteered. I found it informative and at times, compelling. There was a great deal about linguistics that I didn't necessarily need or want but I appreciated learning about the history of some parts of the Middle East. I am rating the book a 3.

The book is probably more memoir or personal narrative than anything, not surprisingly written by a journalist. Ariel Sabar grew up American while his father, now a professor of Aramaic language at UCLA,  was an immigrant from Kurdistan by way of Israel. There was generational, as well as religious/cultural, conflict between them. The two had not been close and Ariel had thought little of his heritage until he had a son. Suddenly he was motivated to reconcile his present with the past. One might say he started a quest to discover what he might pass on to his child..

The quest takes him and, eventually, he and his father back to Zakho in the mountains of Northern Iraq, at some risk. There the author interviews people who knew his family and even begins a search for a long-missing aunt. He meets some very interesting people along the way.

My Father's Paradise gives some valuable insight into obstacles faced by immigrants and especially family relationships where 1st, 2nd and even 3rd generation Americans live together. One undergraduate college student in our group is 2nd generation Mexican-American and she freely shared some differences faced by her and her mother. Very comparable to Ariel's story.

The group read and discussed the book in thirds over a couple of months and I believe I would have enjoyed it more, had we read it in one month and discussed it at the end. The facilitator, a college professor, is trying to get the author to come and speak to the group. I would really look forward to that!

Still Alice by Lisa Genova

"Alice watched and listened to the relentless, breaking waves pounding the shore. If it weren't for the colossal seawall constructed at the edges of the properties of the million-dollar homes along Shore Road, the ocean would have taken each house in, devouring them all without sympathy or apology. She imagined her Alzheimer's like this ocean at Lighthouse Beach---unstoppable, ferocious, destructive. Only there were no seawalls in her brain to protect her memories and thoughts from the onslaught."
                -from the novel

Still Alice was a compelling story about a 50-year-old Harvard psychology professor who is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. After Alice Howland experiences unusual forgetfulness and disorientation, she seeks a medical evaluation and the results are devastating. She dreads sharing the diagnosis with her husband, children and the administration at Harvard. She has grave concerns about who she will be when her memory is gone---will she be "still Alice"? Will her life be of any value?

The novel begins with September, 2003 and takes the reader through 2 years, month by month. Alice has made a plan that involves answering 5 simple (?) questions which she forces herself to answer each month. At first the answers are easy but each month they become more difficult.

It seemed to me the  novel was well-researched, exposing causes of Alzheimers, drugs used to treat it and clinical trials being introduced. The book must have been well-written since I finished it in about 3 days---truly a page-turner, even though I could see the disease progressing and it made me sad for Alice. The story seemed very real since I remembered my mother-in-law first showing signs of memory loss by repeating herself and asking the same question again and again.  In fact, it was so realistic that I worry whenever I forget important things I will be self-diagnosing.  So it was both enlightening and frightening! Still Alice gets a 5 rating from me. One of these days I hope to see the film adaptation.