A Couple of Blaguards by Malachy and Frank McCourt

 

"Come here, come here till I comb that hair. Look at that mop, it won't lie down. You didn't get that hair from my side of the family. That's that North of Ireland hair you got from your father. That's the kind of hair you see on Presbyterians. If your mother had married a decent Limerickman you wouldn't have that standing up, north of Ireland Presbyterian hair."

             -Grandmother's lament over Frank's hair

I have had this book for some time. I purchased it after reading---and loving---Angela's Ashes and 'Tis by Frank McCourt. This book, more like a booklet with just over 50 pages, is written as a play. I wish I could have seen this performed by the two brothers. It must have been hilarious as they play themselves as well as many characters in their childhood in Limerick, including the grandmother quoted above. Since I am a Presbyterian that story about Frank's first communion made me laugh aloud.

I did learn what blaguards are. It is Celtic form of black guard, a dockworker specializing in unloading coal from ships in Dublin's harbor.

I am not sure what took me so long to read this book. It surely was a quick read with much humor. I will rate it a 4 for enjoyment. Here is an example of the humor from an Introduction by Malachy: "Very loosely, it [the play] is meant to convey a bit of drama, a lot of comedy, and a few tears but, most importantly, it is intended for people who want to lose weight because we have high hopes that you will laugh your arse off and finish reading with a smile on your lips and a song in your heart."

Never Meant to Meet You by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans

 

"Marjette, it's always easier to be the victim than it is to forgive. People make whole lives out of playing the wronged person, and you know where it gets them? Nowhere."

                 -Judy Oliphant, from the novel

This was an Amazon First Reads selection and I hit upon a winner! I found it very entertaining, especially after the last couple of books I have read that were rather intense.

Main character Marjette Lewis never meant to meet her neighbor, Noa Abrams, but when she notices Noa sitting outside her home looking devastated, her compassion (with a touch of nosiness) kicks in. 

Marjette is a black divorcee, mother of a teenaged son and veteran kindergarten teacher. Noa is a white Jewish widow, mother of Esther, who will be in Marjette's kindergarten class. An unlikely friendship develops centered on grieving---Noa's husband has recently passed and Marjette is still grieving the failure of her marriage, not her ex-husband so much as the broken dreams of a bright future. The two women end up helping each other to get through a difficult time.

I was very amused by certain scenarios in the novel. Having taught elementary school for many years, I could relate to preparing for the first day of a new school year and dealing with overbearing parents.

When Marjette and Judy Oliphant, her friend, mentor and former boss attend weekly Weight Watchers meetings, I was reminded of meetings I attended. I so enjoyed the banter between these two women. From the "About the Authors" it appears the relationship of Marjette and Noa is somewhat based on that of Frank and Youmans.

A lot of humor and a little romance made this novel a fun read. I rate it a 5.

Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson

 "I have loved you,” says the Lord.

“But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’

“Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his hill country into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.”                  -Malachi 1:2-3

Katherine Paterson was one of my favorite authors when I was teaching 5th grade. When my adult Sunday school class was discussing a lesson from Genesis 25:19-34 (the story of Jacob and Esau) last week, I was reminded of this youth novel. I couldn't remember much of the plot although I believe I read it back in the day. I just recalled that the twins in the novel were girls. I reread the book in a couple of days and found it quite engaging.

Protagonist Sara Louise Bradshaw and her twin sister Caroline live on Rass Island on Chesapeake Bay. Their father makes his living as a "waterman" as do most others in the community. He fishes oysters and crab in their seasons and many of those descriptions were not well understood or greatly appreciated by this reader. However, the relationship between the two sisters was more intriguing. Very reminiscent of the Bible story in which one twin is favored. Caroline is pretty, talented and popular, seemingly favored by the parents. Louise, nicknamed Wheeze by her sister and friend, Call Purnell, struggles with poor self-esteem, jealousy and resentment toward her twin.

There are many Biblical references in the book, often quoted by the curmudgeonly grandmother, but also some humor, especially when Louise tells jokes that Call doesn't get and later, he tells jokes that she doesn't find funny.

This is one of Paterson's Newberry Award winners from 1981, a very high honor. I am rating the book a 4. I enjoyed it even though the last couple of chapters felt rushed. Since the book is written for young people, it is an easy read but worthwhile.

Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse

 

"I've spent two years wanting nobody to trust me, wanting not to be depended on. But now I have seen a transport, and I have seen a deportation center, and I have seen the hopeful handwriting of a frightened girl, and I have seen brave people forced to hide, and mean people become secretly brave, so when I open my mouth, I say to Willem: 'You can [trust me]. I'll do my best, Willem.'"

                     -from the novel

I am not sure how this book arrived in my house. It is likely someone loaned it to me; no idea who. Historical fiction is my favorite genre and this one did not disappoint. One could possibly call this novel a "history mystery."

Hanneke Bakker is a young woman in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam who is a self-proclaimed "finder." That is, she works the black-market supplying hard-to-find goods to paying customers. When a customer, Mrs. Janssen, asks her to find a missing Jewish girl who she has been hiding, Hanneke does not want to get involved in such a dangerous mission at first. When she finally decides she will take on the search, she soon becomes even more involved with the Dutch resistance movement, which includes many young people of Hanneke's age. 

I learned that some in the resistance, like Mina in the story, took photographs in hopes of documenting the disturbing events for history.

My husband and I were fortunate to visit Amsterdam several years ago and what a fascinating city! There were several things mentioned in this novel that took me back. Hanneke and her friends ride bicycles and we saw many, many bicycles everywhere. Also, we took the ferry into town along with many cyclists. We visited Westerkerk, the church Hanneke mentions. Of course, there are references to canals and Amsterdam Centraal, the transportation hub that we walked through many times. We got to sample stroopwafels while we were there, too.

Although this book is labeled Young Adult Fiction, I found it compelling; my rating is 4. The writing is lovely, in parts quite profound. It seems thoroughly researched and the plot and characters are well developed. I really liked "A Note on Historical Accuracy" at the end and the Acknowledgments which included this: "And finally: So much of what the world knows about the war, the city, and the human experience is because of one particular book, written from an attic, in the middle of the occupation. I am most profoundly grateful to Anne." Aren't we all grateful to Anne Frank!

Two Nights in Lisbon by Chris Pavone

 

"This reporting is why the very First Amendment of the US Constitution enshrines freedom of the press. This is something Americans have always known, even if sometimes we neglect it: Nothing is more important to democracy than holding the powerful accountable for their transgressions."

         -from the novel, journalist Pete Wagstaff's thinking

I saw a review of this book somewhere a while back and put it on my to-read list. I was in Lisbon a few years ago---for 2 days, as a matter of fact---and I was hoping to be reminded of our tour. Sadly, there was very little---a mention of the lovely blue tile work all around and that Portugal is the number one cork producer in the world.

In this international thriller, Ariel Pryce wakes up in a hotel in Lisbon and finds her husband, John Wright, is missing. He left no message and is not answering his phone. She is sure something bad has happened to him. She takes her concern to hotel security then to the local police and finally to the American embassy. In each case she is met with skepticism and faces many questions. Eventually, it becomes clear that the only person who can help her is the one she least wants to ask.

I enjoyed this novel. The foreshadowing and twists and turns of the plot kept me guessing. Numerous flashbacks to 14 years prior were sometimes confusing but overall, it was a compelling story. And the ending? A BIG surprise to me! My rating is 4.