Purgatory Ridge by William Kent Krueger

 "You have a choice, Corcoran O'Connor. You can keep company with despair, or you can choose a different companion."     -Henry Meloux, from the novel

I would rate this one a 5+, one of the most exciting novels I have read in ages! This is number 3 in the Cork O'Connor series and my favorite so far. I have come to love this author.

Former sheriff of Aurora, Minnesota, Cork O'Connor cannot help getting involved in local crimes. This one starts out with a protest against cutting trees and a fire, leaving one man dead. It turns out the death was not accidental. Cryptic messages from someone calling himself "Eco-Warrior" have local law enforcement and even the FBI stumped for a time. A secondary plot has casino worker, John LePere, struggling with emotional problems caused by the drowning death of his brother.

The kidnapping of the wife and son of Karl Lindstrom III, lumber magnate, adds to the suspense but not only those two, but Cork's wife and young son, as well. As you would imagine, this adds to Cork's desperate efforts to find and rescue them. The perpetrators have different intentions, and the plot twists and turns to offer surprises and keep one turning pages. I could barely put the book down 3/4 through.

One of my favorite characters, other than Cork, who I feel like I know well by now, is Henry Meloux, an old Ojibwe medicine man. He is quoted above, and I think I quoted him in another post. He has such great wisdom and Cork consults him often.

If you like a great mystery, give this one a shot. I will be on to book 4, Blood Hollow. After that, maybe I will take a break and read something else. Maybe...

The Great Christmas Kidnapping Caper by Jean Van Leeuwen

 "It's the perfect place to spend the winter. Besides all the comforts of my own little house, there is plenty of food just an escalator ride away, TV to while away the long winter nights, the electric train for excitement. And with the cop around, just enough danger to keep life interesting. Yes, I have made my decision. I will not set foot out of the store until spring."

              -Marvin the Magnificent, from the novel

This is one of my favorite books to read aloud to kids at Christmas time. Remembering my fondness for it, I wanted to share it with some new children at our church. (Sadly, my grandchildren are way too grown up and I am not sure I ever shared it with them.) It is out of print so a bit difficult to find. I did manage to order two used copies.

I reread the book in short order since I wanted to loan it out. Although I knew the plot quite well, I enjoyed it so much---an easy read and lots of laughs! Illustrations by Steven Kellogg are wonderfully detailed and comical. The book gets a 5 rating from me. Fantasy is not a favorite genre, as a rule, but when it comes to children's literature there are several exceptions. 

Marvin the Magnificent is the main character, a mouse with plenty of bravado. To get out of the cold New York December, he steps inside a store which turns out to be Macy's. As you see in the quote, he finds it the perfect home for a mouse. He soon decides to fetch his gang: Raymond the Rat (the smart one) and Fats the Fuse (well-named because he is "pleasingly plump" and has a fondness for explosives). 

The much-beloved Santa Claus of the Macy's toy department discovers the mice living in the doll house and is kind to them. When he goes missing, the gang decides he has been kidnapped and they must find and rescue him.

If I revealed anymore, I'd spoil the surprises. Just read and enjoy! (If you can find a copy!)

Merry Christmas! 

The Christmas Thief by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark

"A very special chorus of gratitude to the folks at Rockefeller Center for the joy they have given to countless millions of people over the past seven decades with their tradition of finding and decorating the most beautiful Christmas tree in the world."

                 -from Acknowledgments in the novel

This is the 2nd novel of one volume---both Christmas mysteries by Mary Higgins Clark, "America's Queen of Suspense," and her daughter.

Private investigator Regan Reilly returns in this novel, now engaged to Jack Reilly, head of Major Case Squad of NYPD, whom she met in Deck the Halls. The two are planning a long weekend in Vermont along with Regan's father and mother, Nora, a mystery writer, as well as friend and journalist/amateur detective Alvirah Meehan and her husband.  A new character is introduced, Opal Fogarty, a former lottery winner whose millions were scammed by Packy Noonan. Alvirah invites her friend Opal to come along on the trip.

If the protagonists are familiar, the antagonists are new. Packy Noonan's release from prison is imminent, after 12 years of incarceration for cheating investors out of almost $100 million dollars, Opal having been one of the victims. His accomplices are Jo Jo, Benny and the unsuspecting Milo. Their roles are arranging a getaway car for Packy's escape from parole and a hideaway until they can retrieve the hidden millions, long since converted to diamonds and secreted away. And wouldn't you know the hideaway is near the lodge where the Reillys and others are staying!

The third part of the plot is the well-publicized cutting of the Rockefeller Christmas tree from a property in Vermont, very close to the vacationing Reillys and friends. So, you guessed it: the title refers to the theft of THAT tree---all 80 feet and 3 tons of it! Sounds crazy, huh? I'll let you read to find out why and how that comes about.

I will rate The Christmas Thief a 2.5, pretty far-fetched but it kept me reading until the end. 

Deck the Halls by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark

 "Deck the halls with boughs of holly, Fa la la la la la la la! 

'Tis the season to be jolly, Fa la la la la la la la! 

Don we now our gay apparel, Fa la la la la la la la! 

Troll the ancient Yuletide carol, Fa la la la la la la la!

             -lyrics from "Deck the Halls"

I found this book including two mysteries by these authors in a used bookstore. I felt like I would enjoy reading something Christmassy in December and the price was right!

I will say I am not sure what the title of this book has to do with the plot except that the setting is a few days before Christmas and there IS a deck involved. 

Protagonist Regan Reilly, a private investigator, is visiting her mother, crime novelist Nora Regan Reilly, who is hospitalized with a broken leg. Right away Regan's father Luke disappears with his driver, Rosita. It soon becomes clear they have been kidnapped for ransom.

Regan, along with her friend Alvirah, an amateur sleuth, set out to find and rescue the two victims. Head of the NYPD Major Case Squad, Jack Reilly, works with them and wouldn't you know, there is some chemistry between him and Regan!  

Two little boys are missing their mother, Rosita, adding more urgency to the situation but there is some humor offered by the kidnappers as C.B. hurls insults at Petey, who obviously isn't the brightest light in the chandelier! 

I am giving this novel a 3, good entertainment but not much literary value.

Adventures in Faith by Nancy Warlick

 " I See Your Pain

I see your pain

     and want to banish it

     with a wave of a star,

but have no star.

I see your tears

     and want to dry them

     with the hem of an angel's gown,

but have no angel.

I see your heart fallen to the ground

     and want to return it

     wrapped in cloths woven of rainbow

but have no rainbow.

God is the one

     who has stars, and angels and rainbows,

and I am the one

God sends to sit beside you

until the stars come out

and the angels dry your tears

and your heart is back in place,

rainbow blessed."

                 -Anne Weems

I begin with this poem which the author mentioned is among writings that have inspired her. Knowing Nancy as I do, it is a beautiful description of her own spirit! I feel very blessed to count her among my close friends. She is an amazing woman, often referred to as the "Energizer bunny" or even Saint Nancy!

I must rate this memoir a 5; I enjoyed it immensely! Although it is not exactly a page-turner, Nancy's story is compelling and inspiring. I knew about some of her accomplishments, but I learned so much more through this reading. 

Nancy's subtitle is A Reflection of My Life in Africa and, indeed I knew she and her husband Bill had been missionaries in Africa. I never realized how many countries they had served in---5---Congo/Zaire, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique and Madagascar. I found it so interesting that they had to evacuate Congo for their own protection after speaking out against the evil tyrant, Mobutu. And I was so impressed with her lobbying in Washington, DC against US support of Mobutu.

Some of my favorite parts were the ones about Nancy's work with children, especially working with the street children in Zimbabwe, helping to start the Lovemore House and the Namumu Orphanage Center and Kanyama Crisis Nursery in Zambia, where she fell in love with little Stanley, pictured on the book cover. I remember her reports to our church congregation about these projects and that our annual Mission Fairs at Park Lake Presbyterian Church raised money for them. We have met some of the African pastors Nancy and Bill worked with when they visited our church---Paul Neshangwe, Nedson Zulu, Sebber Banda. I only wish I could have met Joan and Craig Trevelyan who did such amazing work with vulnerable children.

Our church has given generously to many of the needs brought to our attention by Nancy and Bill and also by their daughter, Elizabeth, and her husband, Dan Turk, missionaries in Madagascar. We have donated money for wells, fishing boats, birthing kits, building of churches, scholarships to Justo Mwale Theological University, bicycles for pastors who must serve many churches and many more, including the children's homes mentioned previously. 

Adventures in Faith is not without humor---especially tales of unusual pets the Warlick family had. Numerous parts are exciting where sickness or political danger threaten. The descriptions of some of the children they encountered are poignant and the whole book showcases examples of loving God and others. What a wonderful legacy Nancy has offered us in the writing of this memoir!

Crispin The Cross of Lead by Avi

 

"Lady Fortune is friend and foe.

Of poor she makes rich and rich poor also.

Turns misery to prosperity

And wellness unto woe.

So let no man trust this lady

Who turns her wheel ever so!"

        -Bear's song, from the novel

Recently I have read and blogged 2 selections of children's literature. I mentioned earlier that I read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe because of my granddaughter's performance in a school drama. There is a very different motivation for this one. A friend asked for suggestions of historical fiction for her grandson and I realized I still had a copy of Crispin in my bookcase. I remembered reading it years ago when I was still teaching and knew it was a compelling story, a Newberry Medal winner as a matter of fact. I couldn't think why I still had this novel in my collection since I had long ago given away my classroom library. When I pulled it off the shelf with the intention of passing it on to the grandson, I realized it is an autographed copy of the book signed by the author when he spoke at our local library. I still intend to give it away.

The setting of this story is 14th century England, a time when there was very strict social class structure and much hard labor and injustice for the lower classes. The protagonist has been called Asta's son for all of his 13 years but after his mother, Asta, dies, he finds out his given name is Crispin. With his mother gone, he has only one friend, Father Quinel, and one frightening enemy, John Aycliffe, the steward of Lord Furnival, who seems something like the sheriff of the small town. When Aycliffe falsely accuses Crispin of theft, he names the boy a "wolf's head" which means anyone can kill him. This sends Crispin on the run, taking with him a cross of lead given to him by his mother. 

As Lady Fortune would have it, Crispin meets up with Orson Hrothgar, a huge man called Bear. At first Bear is quite threatening and makes Crispin his slave. As they travel together though, their relationship changes. In many ways Bear saves Crispin and late in the story, Crispin is able to repay him. Bear reminded me of Hagrid in the Harry Potter series----a giant of a man, intimidating but kind-hearted.

I really enjoyed rereading this novel. I will rate it a 5 as juvenile fiction. I would think it most appropriate for grades 4 and higher.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

 "It means that though the Witch knew the Deep Magic, there is a magic deeper still which she did not know. Her knowledge goes back only to the dawn of time. But if she could have looked a little further back, into the stillness and the darkness before Time dawned, she would have read there a different incantation. She would have known that when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor's stead, the Table would crack and Death itself would start working backward."

             -Aslan, from the novel

I read this book years ago when I was teaching school, but seeing my granddaughter play a role in a drama adaptation at her school inspired me to reread it. It was a quick and easy read but I did enjoy it, even knowing how it would end. I will rate it a 3.

At the time of WWII, four English children are sent to live in the country estate of a professor. While exploring the home the youngest, Lucy, discovers a magic wardrobe through which she is able to enter the fantasy land of Narnia. Eventually all the children enter this place "where it is always winter but never Christmas" because of a spell by the White Witch who calls herself Queen of Narnia.

The novel could be seen as an allegory with a Christian theme. Aslan, the lion, resembles Jesus Christ in his sacrificial death and resurrection. I have recently done a bit of study of Revelation and the final battle where evil is defeated is reminiscent of that book of the Bible. It seemed to me the breaking of winter into spring in Narnia could symbolize the arrival of a "new heaven and a new earth." (Revelation 21:1) I think the parallels with the Bible made this reading more fascinating for me.

Boundary Waters by William Kent Krueger

 "Oh, the water is wide. I cannot cross o'er. And neither have I wings to fly. Give us a boat that will carry two. And both shall cross, Shiloh and I."

                 -a song Shiloh was taught by her mother, from the novel

This is the fourth book I have read by this author, the second in the Cork O'Conner series of mysteries. So far Ordinary Grace and This Tender Land are my favorites. I've enjoyed the mysteries but the other two were extraordinary. This one gets a 3 rating. Although I liked it overall, I found it confusing in parts. I surely never figured out the real "bad guy" until it was revealed.

The plot is set with the disappearance of Shiloh, a famous singer, into the Boundary Waters. A group of men, including Cork set out to find her when they suspect she is in trouble. The book becomes quite a page-turner when rescuers are being stalked and even murdered and Shiloh is caught by a mystery man. 

As with other books by Krueger, this one takes place in rural Minnesota and involves Native Americans. I have enjoyed learning a bit about the culture---religion, respect for nature, mythology and language---through his writing. 

There are many novels in this series and I plan to read all of them eventually. Purgatory Ridge is next up.

The Secret River by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

 "The Secret River is in my mind.                            

I can go there anytime.

Everything Mother Albirtha says is true.

The sky is gold and the river is blue.

River, river, I love you."

                                                  -Calpurnia's poem

I am a long-time fan of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and had read this book so long ago I had the vaguest remembrance of the story. "The Secret River" is to be performed by Opera Orlando in December and we have tickets. I wanted to read the story again as a reference point. The book is the only one written by Marjorie Rawlings specifically as children's literature. The copy pictured above is illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon with beautiful artwork. Not really an opera fan, I was drawn to this one because of Rawlings and because the composer is a University of Central Florida professor of music and I am a two-degree graduate of UCF.

The story involves Calpurnia, an African American girl of a poor family in Florida. She visits Mother Albirtha, who is something of a forest guru, for advice in helping her father to turn his "hard times to soft times." As you can guess from the quote, she is an aspiring poet.

Being reminded of this lovely children's story, I am enthusiastically anticipating the opera version!

2021 Page Turners Book Rankings

 Page Turners Book Rankings for 2021

1.  American Dirt                                         Jeanine Cummins            4.4

     Ordinary Grace                                       William Kent Krueger     4.4

2.  Anxious People                                        Fredrik Backman            4.1

3.  We Are Not From Here                            Jenny Torres Sanchez     3.9

4.  The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks     Rebecca Skloot               3.8

5.  The Murder of Roger Ackroyd                Agatha Christie                3.7

     Pride and Prejudice                                  Jane Austen                     3.7

6.  The Night Watchman                                Louise Erdrich                3.5

7.  The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop            Fannie Flagg                    3.4

8.  The Mountains Echoed                            Khaled Hosseini               3.2

We Are Not From Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez

August 3, 2020 Original Post

"We wait, all of us, for the beast to wake up again. We watch as it sleeps, unbothered, unhurried. It doesn't care that my heart is racing. That my mind feels dizzy from the heat and hunger. That my body is prickly with sweat and readiness. It doesn't care that we're dying, literally dying, to get as far away as possible from the places we love but that have turned on us."
               -Pequena, from the novel

I am very familiar with this author who writes for a young adult audience; I know her personally and have read 3 of her novels previously. This book, however, is SO timely and so intense, I think it would be an important read for everyone, from age 15 up to all adults. We read and hear of the plight of immigrants in our country and see images that make us wonder what happened to the America who invited "your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" (from The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus)  Through the eyes of three Guatemalan teens, we are drawn into the struggles and emotions of these refugees.

These young people are living in fear of violent gangs that run rampant. Danger seems to be around every corner. Pulga, Chico, close enough to be his brother, and Pequena, Pulga's female cousin, have family who love them in Puerto Barrios but they decide they must run to save themselves. They set out on an extremely perilous journey through Guatemala and Mexico, mostly via La Bestia, the train called "the Beast" because of the number of people who have lost life or limbs to its ferocity. These muchachos must survive so much cruelty along the way but occasionally are met by compassionate people running shelters. It takes real desperation and determination to keep them going.

The author uses what I would call lyrical prose. Pulga and Pequena alternate telling their very emotional stories, expressing themselves in a powerful, sometimes poetic way. I became totally involved with the characters, almost wishing I could help them on their way somehow. Ms. Sanchez also uses magical realism, especially in Pequena's mind, to lift the narrative to another plane.

The novel, of course, is written in English but in a number of places there is Spanish dialogue. This was interesting because I could challenge my mediocre knowledge of Spanish in trying to translate. More often than not, the author helps out with the context.

This is a captivating story of survival, although it is difficult to read in parts---sad and scary, at times. Short chapters and great intensity made it a page-turner and I can easily rate it a 5.

Updated October, 2021

Our Page Turners finally met to discuss a selection we had planned for spring. It was postponed because of our reading of American Dirt. We felt the subject matter was too similar to read so soon after it.  Much of our discussion centered around a comparison to that other novel. We also talked about the appropriateness of this book for youth. (We thought it was and that young people would find it readable and engaging.) We agreed We Are Not From Here elicited intense emotions and that the author's use of figurative language is very compelling. Our leader even read an excerpt to illustrate the lyrical quality of the writing. 

The group's average rating was 3.9. 

The Passing Storm: A Novel by Christine Nolfi

 

"Secrets were corrosive, especially when they were bottled up for too long. Rae knew this from bitter experience---her own secrets had weakened her relationship with her late daughter and tested her father's love and his patience as he reluctantly learned to live with them."

       -from the novel

A novel I selected from  Amazon First Reads, The Passing Storm was quite good. There was enough mystery to keep me engaged and even a hint of romance toward the end. I rated it a 3.

Rae Langdon lives on a 40-acre farm in Ohio with her aging father. It is getting harder and harder to maintain the property, particularly when they are both grieving the loss of Rae's mother and teenage daughter, Lark. Both family members were victims of seemingly freak accidents. In fact, the reader does not know much detail about Lark's death for quite a while.

Quinn Galecki is a teenage boy, close friend of the deceased Lark, who has neglectful and abusive parents. He is offered refuge by the Langdons, much to the displeasure of his father when he finds out. 

As intimated by Rae in the quote above, the story is built around several corrosive secrets---her own and others, including Quinn. These are revealed gradually as the plot progresses.

A Conspiracy of Mothers by Colleen Van Niekerk

 ""A tremor had always run beneath the surface of their family. With all the ills they'd suffered, she had simply assumed it was the result of hardship. Instead, everything they were, everything she had become, rested upon a conspiracy of mothers."                 -Ingrid's thoughts, from the novel

I chose this title as my free book for September because the setting of South Africa was one I haven't experienced and I can certainly identify with mothers, since I am one. The plot sounded pretty interesting and the small number of ratings were good. I will be generous in rating it a 3 because I didn't enjoy it all that much. There were things to like about the novel but too much magic realism, a literary element I am easily confused by and don't really enjoy.

As I mentioned the setting is South Africa, 1994, with much of apartheid still rearing its ugly head and the first democratic election looming. The plot involves 3 mothers---Rachel, who is dying of cancer; Yolanda, her daughter and mother of Ingrid, quoted above; and Elsa, mother of Yolanda's former white lover, Stefan. Each of the mothers plus Ingrid and a hired hit man narrate alternating chapters, giving multiple perspectives to the story. 

Yolanda, an artist suffering from PTSD and living in Virginia, has been estranged from her family for years. In South Africa, Rachel has raised her granddaughter, Ingrid, who has long thought her parents were dead. Yolanda "hears" her mother calling and returns to her homeland, only to find both Rachel and Ingrid missing. The only conspiracy that I really understood was that of Elsa, going to extreme measures to protect her son, the unlawful father of Ingrid. (It was illegal for races to mix.) I must admit those efforts made for the more exciting parts of the book.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

 

"The presence of a humorous heroine means that Pride and Prejudice can unite in one character two of the author's most treasured aims: amusing the reader and imparting moral points."              

             -from the introduction by David M. Shapard, regarding protagonist Elizabeth Bennet

Does a book club need to read at least one classic every year? Maybe. This one was suggested for 2021. As the leader of Page Turners some 13 years, I have always tried to finish each book club selection. This one had me wondering if I wanted to break that habit! I felt I was slogging through the first half but then began to like it a bit more. I began to think of all the books in my queue that I really WANT to read and yet I felt compelled to finish this one. I rated it a 2.

I did come to like Elizabeth, sometimes called Lizzy. She was a spunky one, independent enough to seem ahead of her time. Her sister Jane was likeable, as well.

My eBook was an annotated version so it included footnotes about the language usage and historic significance of some references. I saved the notes to read last and actually enjoyed them more than the novel itself! 

---------------------------

Page Turners had an enthusiastic discussion with several members finding interesting points to make about the characters, plot and themes. A question offered by Penguin Classics had us thinking of how Hollywood and television have borrowed the premise of two people with a mutual dislike finally becoming romantically attached. Think Hallmark movies!

One participant reminded us that Bridget Jones's Diary was an updated version of P and P. I DID enjoy that story.

The fact that Longbourn, the Bennet property, was entailed, meaning it could only be inherited by a male relative, remined me of "Downtown Abbey," the setting of which is actually some 100 years later.

It was mentioned that Austen's style and somewhat archaic language was off-putting to some. One of our members related it to reading Shakespeare---challenging but worthwhile if you can get into it. 

The group's average rating was 3.7 with half the group voting 4 or 5---a surprise to me. Personally, I am looking forward to anything but classics in the next few months!

Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger

"Everything disappoints us sometimes. Everybody disappoints us. Men let women down, women let men down, ideals don't hold water....I think we expect too much. Simple as that. And the only thing that lets us down is our own expectation.  I used to pray to God for an easy life. Now I pray to be a strong person." 

                           -Father Tom Griffin, aka St. Kawasaki, from the novel

This is my third novel by Mr. Krueger, but the first of his Cork O'Conner series. It was a page-turner, for sure, but I must rate it a 4 because it didn't quite measure up to the quality of Ordinary Grace or This Tender Land, which I loved.

Each of Krueger's novels I have read are set in or around Minnesota and two of them have involved native Americans in a significant way. I am learning things about the native cultures of the area and about the injustice often faced by these people.

Corcoran "Cork" O'Conner is the former sheriff of Aurora, Minnesota who cannot seem to get investigating crime out of his system. When the town judge is found dead seemingly by suicide---or not---and a young boy disappears while out delivering newspapers, Cork cannot help getting involved. The more he snoops and questions townsfolk, the more he uncovers---dishonor, graft, treachery...and murder!

In the process, he finds himself at risk, as well as people he holds dear.

I look forward to reading Cork O'Connor, book 2!

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

 "Between life and death there is a library. And within that library, the shelves go on for ever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be different if you had made other choices...Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets?"

                              ---Mrs. Elm, the librarian from the novel

Nora Seed is contemplating suicide when she is transported to The Midnight Library of the book title. The quote above provides a hint at what happens there. In times in her life, Nora aspired to be an Olympic swimmer, a glaciologist, a rock star, a wife and mother, and she has given up on each goal and even failed "to be a truly good and truly happy person," in her own mind. Nothing has given her lasting happiness and she is in despair as she faces a dark future.

The librarian, Mrs. Elm. shows Nora The Book of Regrets which holds every regret she has ever had in her life. And she can choose a path she regrets and, seemingly try to undo it. Yes, it was pretty hard to believe a person could move in and out of different phases of their life. Closer to fantasy than fiction, in my opinion. One character Nora meets who is experiencing the same thing she is, says this, "I have encountered a few other sliders. That's what I call them. Us. We are sliders. We have a root life in which we are lying somewhere, unconscious, suspended between life and death, and then we arrive in a place. And it's always something different. A library, a video store, an art gallery, a casino...." Sound weird? Yeah, I thought so.

I finished this book because I was just curious enough to want to know what happens to Nora. I will rate it a 3---I sort of liked it, didn't love it. It was unique, I must admit.

I almost feel like recommending the book to a couple of friends who are physicists. Quantum physics is mentioned several times for example, "The many-worlds interpretation of quantum physics suggests there are an infinite number of divergent parallel universes." Wow! Totally over my head!

Good luck with this one!

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

 "'We can't change the world, and a lot of the time we can't even change people. No more that one bit at a time. So we do what we can to help whenever we get the chance, sweetheart. We save those we can. We do our best. Then we try to find a way to convince ourselves that that will just have to...be enough. So we can live with our failures without drowning.'"                     -Jack's mother's advice, from the novel

Our book club has previously read two other novels by this author, A Man Called Ove (rated 4.5) and My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry (rated 3). I am very curious to see what the group will have to say about this one. I am rating it a 5; I loved it.

This is the story of a failed bank robbery that led to a hostage situation in an apartment being shown by a realtor. Several anxious people are thrown together in an event that sounds frightening but ends up being, in turns, mysterious, hilarious, and profound. The story is told achronologically (a new word for me) meaning shifting back and forth in time. Probably this author's style would not appeal to everyone but I enjoy it very much. Long sentences, short chapters, and frequent foreshadowing make it very much a page-turner.

Interspersed with the hostage story are narratives of the character's background and police interviews with the hostages after their release. Jim and Jack, father and son respectively, are the policemen/investigators and interviewers. The hostages are unhelpful, even sarcastic; the author tells us they're idiots.

I giggled and LOLed a lot while reading this very unique and entertaining story. At it's more inspiring moments though, it reminds us of our impact on other people and that we all have basic needs and desires and our own burdens to carry.

I look forward to our Page Turners' meeting tomorrow. More then....

============

Only nine of us gathered to talk about Anxious People this morning. The discussion was lively and centered around the quirky style of this author. The average rating was 4.1 with votes from 5 down to 2. Some found it unbelievable (fiction can often be that) and confusing (achrononological sequence sometimes is that). More found it entertaining and fun to read. We decided the characters were interesting, if not entirely likeable, and we seemed to agree the ending was heart-warming.

What Passes as Love by Trisha R. Thomas

 "Caring for someone who'd never be yours only ripped out a man's heart. He'd seen way too many souls plucked like ripe fruit from a tree by the masters, then brought back a shell of themselves, nothing left to give. It was best not to get attached."             -Bo, from the novel

Although historical fiction is a favorite genre I didn't find much to love about this novel of the pre-Civil War South. I did finish it since that is my habit and ended up liking it better than I thought at first. This was a free selection with my Amazon Prime and I am glad I did not pay for the book. In looking for a quote to use I was surprised how few passages I highlighted. I think that is telling about the literary value and I found much of the plot to be unbelievable. I am giving a rating of 2+.

Dahlia Holt is a young slave woman living on a plantation in Virginia starting in 1850. She has grown up with Bowman "Bo" Carter, another of Holt's slaves. In some strange circumstances, Dahlia ends up passing for white, changing her name to Lily Dove, marrying a white slaveowner of another plantation and then constantly fearing her past will be revealed. When Bo arrives at Ross Manor, Lily's new home, the plot gets a little more interesting as they each try to keep the other safe.

I don't really recommend this one.

Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie

 

"Miss Marple is not the type of elderly lady who makes mistakes. She has got an uncanny knack of being always right."

            -Vicar Leonard Clement, from the novel

I'm not sure but this may be my first Miss Marple mystery, probably won't be the last. 

Early-on there is a murder, of course. Colonel Protheroe is shot dead in the study of the vicarage. He was a man disliked by many in the village so Miss Marple, who lives near the vicar, feels there could be as many as 7 suspects. This is pretty typical of Christie's mysteries, it seems to me.

The vicar, Len Clement, narrates the story. Although he appreciates Miss Marple's powers of observation, the constable seems to think she is just a dotty old lady. Naturally, by end of novel, she has solved the crime. I was rather surprised by the ending. Perhaps you will be better at predicting the killer.

It is entertaining to read a good mystery that does not take itself too seriously. No gruesome blood and guts and lovely British humor sprinkled in here and there. I enjoyed Murder at the Vicarage; will rate it 4.

Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger

 "It seems to me that when you look back at a life, yours or another's, what you see is a path that weaves into and out of deep shadow. So much is lost. What we use to construct the past is what has remained in the open, a hodgepodge of fleeting glimpses.... So what I recall of that last summer in New Bremen is a construct both of what stands in the light and what I imagine in the dark where I cannot see."

                     -Frank Drum, from the novel

I have forgotten who recommended this book for Page Turners but what an amazing novel! It had me mesmerized; I did not want to put it down! 

Forty years later, Frank Drum, narrates the story of the summer of 1961 in the small town of New Bremen, Minnesota, when he was 13 years old and saw way too much death. It is very much Frank's story of a confusing and tragic time in his young life, along with his younger brother Jake. It seemed so real, so detailed and so emotional, it could have been a memoir. 

This novel is a page-turner from the get-go. The prologue begins "All the dying that summer began with the death of a child..." and then we learn there are several other deaths to follow. Foreshadowing is used to great advantage. It turns out the child mentioned first was killed by a train. Strangely, I had a classmate in third grade who was killed in a train accident.

The time period intrigued me with mentions of newly-elected President Kennedy, TV shows I remembered seeing like "Have Gun, Will Travel," and other cultural happenings. As a former teacher of pre-teens, I found the boys believable and simpatico. By turns the novel was humorous, poignant, and even profound. I give it a 5 rating and highly recommend it! I look forward to seeing what our Page Turners think when we meet to discuss it. More after that.....

-------------------------------

The group met today to discuss Ordinary Grace. The average rating was 4.4 and, to be honest, I was a little disappointed. But that does tie with American Dirt for our highest-rated book of the year so far. One class member, the one who suggested the book, reread it and said she liked it even better the second time. We discussed some of the red herrings surrounding the central mystery; many of us were misled by them but one person said she figured it out early-on. We felt the author purposely left some mysteries unresolved to be realistic---that's just the way life is.

When a question was posed about the title, we thought about the occasion of Jake's saying grace before a family meal. The narrator, Frank, tells us it was an ordinary grace but so special he still remembers it after 40 years. We felt it was actually extraordinary because it caused some miraculous changes for the family.

Several of us appreciated Krueger's power of description, his use of figurative language often very poetic. A few of us plan to read more by this author. This was no ordinary novel!

Golden Girl by Elin Hilderbrand

"You're my sunshine and my light, my treasure, my prize; you're the fire in my eyes...my golden girl, my girl so bold, your path I'll clear, your heart I'll hold."

                -lyrics to song "Golden Girl" by Brett Caspian, from the novel

A friend recommended this book and I enjoyed it. I am not sure I have read others by Hilderbrand but apparently she is known as the "queen of beach reads." This one would surely be a great beach read but with a unique twist. 

Vivian Howe, prolific author of novels set in Nantucket, is killed by a hit-and-run driver while out for a jog. She goes to heaven, the "Beyond," and meets her angel, "Person," named Martha. At first Vivi, as she is called, isn't accepting that she will not see her 3 grown children again or find out if her current novel, Golden Girl, will make it to #1 on the Bestseller list. Martha cannot, or will not, answer all her questions but she does allow her 75 VW and a 3 N provision. Say, what? That is, 75 days of a viewing window to watch what is happening below and 3 nudges, in other words, 3 chances to change what is about to happen on earth.

There is a good bit of suspense to make the novel a page-turner: Who hit Vivi? and What on earth is the mysterious photo texted to a group of folks? The reader must guess for quite a while before the truth is known. In the mean time, Vivi needs to find a way to keep a secret from her past from coming to light (having to do with a high school boyfriend and the song title mentioned with the quote.) Also, she is so tempted to use her nudges to help her kids who all have their own secrets and/or demons.

I kind of hated that one of the least likeable characters was a Southern girl and an Auburn grad. (I attended A.U. for two years when I lived in Alabama.) Also, I have been to Cape Cod but was wishing I had been to Nantucket. 

I rate Golden Girl a 4. It might have been a 5 except it didn't compare favorably to Ordinary Grace, the last novel I read which has higher literary value, in my opinion. I found it annoying that Hilderbrand uses parentheses so frequently. 

 

There's a Hole in My Bucket: A Journey of Two Brothers by Royd Tolkien

"It's in moments like this, moments of clarity, that I remember why I'm doing what I'm doing. Mike's bucket list. Because every so often it brings me back closer to him, and closer to some vague, almost attainable sense of peace."

                -Royd Tolkien, from the memoir

I selected this book from Amazon Prime First Reads and I am very glad I did. I will rate it a 4 and perhaps the reasons will be clear as I continue. 

The Welsh Tolkien brothers, Royd and Mike, great-grandsons of J.R.R. Tolkien, were about as close as any brothers can be. Both enjoy the outdoors and high adventure activities. (Some I would call high-risk!) Although he is 5 years younger than Royd, Mike competes with his older brother, even tries to best him in everything---and often succeeds. This competitive part of their relationship reminded me of what my husband has said about his 4-years-younger brother, who often excelled beyond his older brother's achievements.

In his memoir, Royd describes the bond with his brother and how it is tested by Mike's diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease (called ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease in the U.S.) Royd takes on a large part of Mike's care as the disease progresses rapidly. When Mike passes away he has left behind a "bucket list" of 50 tasks for Royd to perform. Some are silly and embarrassing but others are downright frightening. 

Royd describes these challenges so well----at times suspenseful, nerve-wracking and quite often, humorous. Many passages are poignant as he relates what the particular bucket list item meant to his brother and to himself. 

I would recommend this book, especially to male readers and those who have a working knowledge of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. I was not familiar with the works of Tolkien and I believe I would have enjoyed it even more if I had been. I have never been to New Zealand either, and much of the action takes place there. I'd love to see that place but would definitely not aspire to the activities Royd undertook!

There's a Hole in My Bucket was both entertaining and touching. The love between these brother was almost palpable.

Sooley by John Grisham

 "Well, if I had not chosen the kid back in April, he would have been at home with his family when their village was raided. Knowing him the way we do, he would have tried to save everyone. He'd probably be dead now."                                                        -Coach Ecko Lam, from the novel

I have read numerous novels by John Grisham and can't remember disliking a one. Sooley is a basketball story, one of Grisham's departures from his usual legal thrillers. Of the sports stories, I've read Bleachers, featuring football and maybe Playing for Pizza, another about football, so long ago I don't remember for sure. The other is a baseball saga, Calico Joe, and not being much of a baseball fan, I never picked it up.

I enjoy football more than basketball, and to be sure, there is a lot of basketball in this novel, but I did find Sooley a pretty captivating story. Samuel Sooleymon, later nicknamed Sooley, is a South Sudanese 17-year-old chosen for an Under 18 basketball tournament in the U.S., a chance to showcase his raw talent and considerable physical attributes. Interestingly the tournament begins in Orlando where the team from Africa practices and plays in places familiar to this Central Floridian reader---CFE Arena on the campus of the University of Central Florida (my alma mater) and the Alfond Sports Center at Rollins College. They were awed by getting to play at the Amway Center, home of the Orlando Magic. They were treated to Disney World visits and pictured in the Orlando Sentinel newspaper.

Not long into the tournament, Samuel receives word that his family has been victims of a violent civil war. His father is killed, his sister missing and mother and 2 younger brothers are forced to flee. Samuel wants to return home to find them but that is not possible.

Samuel is given an athletic scholarship at North Carolina Central although his abilities have not proven exceptional. With a quickly maturing body and outstanding work ethic, that will soon change dramatically. I'll not spoil the suspense!

I am rating Sooley a 4. It was an interesting read but I will say I was ambivalent about the ending. It was especially interesting to read in the Author's Note that Grisham played multiple sports in his youth but realized his athletic abilities would not carry him to a professional level. He obviously exercised his brain power instead and earned a law degree. That background supplied all he needed to become arguably the most popular writer of legal thrillers. He says he still loves sports and satisfies his passion by writing about them from time to time.

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café by Fannie Flagg

 After reading The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop by this author I was inspired to reread this, the original written 30+ years prior. I enjoyed it immensely! It still gets a 5 rating. So much funnier than the second book---made me laugh out loud several times. Now I REALLY want to see the movie of "Fried Green Tomatoes..." again!

See my original post of August, 2017.

The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop by Fannie Flagg

 From 11/29/2020

"'That boy of yours is a real wonder boy.....Because he's always wonderin' about somethin' or another. Why do kittens purr, or why do rabbits have long ears?'"        

                         -Aunt Ninny Threadgoode to Buddy's mother, Ruth

Although I don't believe it is advertised as such, I saw this book as a sequel to Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café, written by this author and published in 1987. I loved that book and the film version of it which made this one enjoyable in many ways. So many delightful characters were reintroduced that it almost felt like going home. I found myself visualizing scenes from the movie, especially of the wild but loveable Aunt Idgie.    

This novel centers around Bud Threadgoode, called Buddy in his youth, in the 1930's when Whistle Stop, Alabama was a bustling railroad town. By the 2000's Whistle Stop has become a ghost town and Bud is living in a senior residence facility in Atlanta, near his daughter, Ruthie. Feeling nostalgic about his hometown, he sets out on a trip to find out what has become of his beloved home town. His journey sets in motion a series of events---meeting new people, discovering surprising facts about beloved characters of Fried Green..., like Ninny Threadgoode, Evelyn Couch, and his indomitable Aunt Idgie---plus some lucky coincidences (or God winks?).

Thomas Wolfe wrote, "You Can't Go Home Again." In this novel, maybe you can!

The only downside of the novel is the changing of date settings for the very short chapters---from 1933 all the way to 2017 and Present Day. I counted 33 different dates that bounced forward and back, all over the place! It was confusing for this reader until I got used to it and the plot started to be unveiled so that the pieces fit together. The story is touching, to be sure, and entertaining, so I am rating it a 4. I hope a film will be coming soon!

Updated June 24, 2021

"During all this upheaval in the world...people are feeling a little rattled. They sort of want to go back home, you know? To a time when it was different. I just thought, I want to revisit that little town and revisit those characters that I love. And it was like a comfort type thing."           -Fannie Flagg, as to why she was inspired to write this book 33 years after the first Whistle Stop saga

Since The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop was the Page Turners' June selection, I reread it. I gave it a 4 the first time through and would not change the rating after a second reading. Our group met today and the average rating was 3.4. Most of us enjoyed the lighter, "homier" tone of the novel after some of the heavier themes we have encountered recently. Those of us who had read Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café (August, 2017---Page Turners rating was 4.1), agreed it was somewhat disappointing in comparison. For one thing, it was not as funny. Secondly, it was somewhat repetitious. Since Amazon shows a rating of 4.6 and Goodreads a 4.1, we agreed the book is overrated. 

If we could ask the author, we would like to know how Buddy Threadgoode got into the military with one arm and---what is the significance of the title? One of our favorite parts was when Buddy took off on the train to revisit Whistle Stop. A few of our members thought the story could make a very entertaining film. I, for one, would buy a ticket!

The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherrill

"Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word."

        -Psalm 119:114

I thought I had read this book years ago but now I think I may have only seen the movie. I found it very touching and inspiring.

The subtitle of this memoir is The Triumphant True Story of Corrie ten Boom. Corrie lived the first 50 years of her life as pretty much an ordinary Dutch citizen and after that, it got extraordinary!

Corrie's whole family were devout Christians and at the time of the Nazi occupation of Holland they became leaders of the Dutch resistance and saviors to many Jews. Father Casper was a watchmaker and much-beloved by the townspeople. Corrie and her older sister Betsie were spinsters who lived with him above the shop and helped in the business. Married sister Nollie and brother Willem, a minister, lived nearby. The Ten Boom family made their home a hiding place for Jews and used their connections and resources to help them escape to safety. Their compassionate work eventually led to the their arrest by the Nazis and time in various prisons and camps. 

After a time of being separated, Corrie and Betsie were reunited and, I believe, survived a great deal of trauma by giving strength to each other---Corrie's physical strength and Betsie's strong faith. I have always thought of Corrie as something like a saint but after reading her story, it turns out Betsie was her mentor and inspiration. (And the apples didn't fall far from the tree, as both parents passed on their deep religious faith.)

This is a story of beautiful, profound Christian faith---of walking the walk, serving God. It is a story of resilience and miracles. I was so surprised to read some reviews that dismissed the book as being "too preachy" and unbelievable. As a Christian, I know that nothing is impossible with God. As I mentioned, I was touched and inspired, leading to my rating of 5. Now I want to see the movie again!

The Women of the Bible Speak by Shannon Bream

 "But like the men of the Bible, the women of the Bible are complicated.  They are, on the whole, neither fully good nor completely bad people, but simply people, in all their messy and uncomfortable humanity. And it's when we can see them in their full humanity that God can teach us something about ourselves."

        -from the book

Subtitle: The Wisdom of 16 Women and Their Lessons for Today

I had recently taught several adult Sunday school lessons on women of the Bible so when I saw this book recommended somewhere, I ordered it. I planned to read it, loan it to family or friends and perhaps, eventually donate it to our church library. While it was not a page turner, I enjoyed it and was educated and inspired by the women's stories. I rate it a 4.

Ms. Bream chose to feature the women in pairs---some not-so-likely ones. For example, Mary and Martha of Bethany were sisters of Lazarus so could easily be compared and contrasted. Perhaps, Hannah and Miriam or Esther and Rahab would not be such obvious choices. Eight pairs of women are described and after each pair, discussion questions are offered which would make this a very nice women's Bible study format. The final section introduces women---many nameless---who encountered Jesus when they were accused or in great need.

I was struck by this statement: "The Christian life calls us to find a balance between cultivating our relationship with Jesus and also serving Him. The trouble comes when we become overly focused on all the things we can do for God, rather than on spending time and being in communion with Him." Definitely something I need to work on!

         

Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen

 "The sitting President of the United States was a soulless imbecile who hated the outdoors but, in Angie's view, at this point Teddy Roosevelt himself couldn't turn the tide if he came back from the dead. All the treasured wilderness that had been sacrificed at the altar of growth was gone for all time. More disappeared every day; nothing ever changed except the speed of destruction, and only because there were fewer pristine pieces to sell off, carve up and pave."

             -Angie Armstrong's reflections on the state of Florida's environment

                                         

I have read a few novels by this author and they are quite amusing. This one is no exception. Hiaasen's writing style is very different from authors I've read recently mainly because of his crudeness and liberal use of profanity. It seems one of the underlying themes of the novel is concern for nature which occurs in a few of Hiaasen's works, I believe. (Note the quote.) Being a tree-hugger, I can appreciate that.

Angela Armstrong, self-proclaimed wildlife wrangler, has her work cut out for her when giant pythons start appearing around Palm Beach Florida. It starts with one of the huge reptiles having swallowed a rich elderly woman, Katherine "Kiki" Pew Fitzsimmons, a member of a group called the Potussies, a portmanteau of POTUS and pussies. (I did mention crudeness, right?) There are so many unsubtle references to our former president that one couldn't miss the satire---Winter White House in Florida called Casa Bellicosa, womanizing, xenophobia, compulsion for tanning and social media.  (Again, the quote.) I found it very humorous but I doubt if DJT would!

The novel is a page-turner with frequent foreshadowing, the mystery of who is responsible for a couple of murders including Kiki and where these scaled beasts are coming from, not to mention romantic tension between Angie and Paul Ryskamp of the Secret Service and I already mentioned the humor. I will rate Squeeze Me a 5 for entertainment value and a 3 for literary value---so it's a solid 4!

The Removed by Brandon Hobson

 "Believe you have wings, and you fly. Believe you are an animal, and you roar. Believe you are dead in the mud, and you sleep with the worms in the mud. No matter what you decide, provide counsel to your people as they are removed."                  -the wolf  to Tsala, from the novel

I am glad I read The Removed but I can't say I truly enjoyed it. It involved some Cherokee history I knew a bit about, e.g. the Trail of Tears, but it was loaded with magic realism (see quote above). The characters were interesting and each shared their perspectives in first person but there was not a great deal of happiness in their lives. So the book was thought-provoking but not very uplifting. I am rating it a 3.

In Quah, Oklahoma, four members of the Echota family are still struggling to cope with the tragic loss of their son and brother, Ray-Ray 15 years before. Maria, the mother, still grieves and must cope with husband Ernest's Alzheimer's disease. Grown daughter Sonja seems to look for love in all the wrong places and youngest son Edgar tries to fill the void in his soul with drugs.

Their lives change for the better when Maria and Ernest take in a foster kid, Wyatt. It is almost like Wyatt is channeling Ray-Ray and bringing some temporary joy to the home.

The family's stories are interspersed with Cherokee history and mythology. I have to admit I am still confused as to how Tsala fits in!

These Tangled Vines by Julianne MacLean

 "This was my reality going forward. What good could come from grappling forever with 'could have beens'? Every life was full of 'could have beens.' The best we could do was make the most of what was and what had been."                      -Fiona's thoughts, from the novel        

This was an Amazon First Reads and I am glad I selected it. It is the first novel I have read from this author but I liked her style. The reading was easy, the main characters were likeable and you've got to love the setting---Tuscany!

In 2017 Fiona Bell gets a surprise phone call that sets the plot rolling. Her biological father, Anton Clark, whom she has never met, has passed away and she is a beneficiary of his will. As far as Fiona knows only she and her deceased mother are aware of this connection. Anton Clark was owner of a very well-known vineyard, Maurizio Wines, in Italy. Though Fiona has known nothing about this man and his relationship with her mother and, in fact, has thought the worst of him, she decides to go to Italy to see what her inheritance might be. She has been primary caretaker of her paraplegic father, Freddie, since her mother, Lillian, died and she thinks that, at the very least, a financial windfall could make life easier for them.

When she arrives at the Clark property, she is greeted warmly by the help, but skeptically by her half-sister and brother, Sloane and Conner. All three of them are surprised by meeting a secret sibling(s). Needless to say the two "legitimate" heirs are upset to think they might not get all of daddy's wealth, which is considerable.

By chapter 7 the reader meets Lillian, flashing back in time to 1986, when she and her husband, Freddie, go to Italy to help him with the writing of his novel. There Lillian takes a job as a tour guide at Maurizio Wines, working for Anton Clark. The story moves back and forth then, mostly between Lillian and Fiona as more is revealed about the mysterious relationship between Lillian and Anton. Far be it for me to spoil the plot, so you will have to read to get the details.

As I read the novel which is based on a family secret, the title reminded me of the phrase "Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive." (Sir Walter Scott). Other themes of love, sacrifice and forgiveness make this a worthwhile read. I rate These Tangled Vines a strong 4. 

By the way, the story surely made me "thirsty" to visit Tuscany and tour some vineyards---and, of course, do some wine tasting!