The Broadway Butterfly by Sara Divello

 

"That was the life of a crime reporter: to bear witness to the ripple effects of tragedy, and to have one's own life irrevocably intertwined with the people involved. And then to pick up and move on---always onward---to the next case, the next story, the next unbelievable set of facts. And so she would."

               -Julia Harpman, from the novel

I must admit this one was free with Amazon Prime---a good choice though. I am rating it a 4. A true crime story, it was suspenseful enough to keep me reading although I found the editing a bit careless and many characters were confusing, especially ones in law enforcement and politics. It was obvious the author spent countless hours researching and she admits that in her "Backstory" at the end.

My favorite character, and I would have to say the protagonist, is Julia Harpman, a bulldog of a crime reporter at a time (early 1900's) when women in many fields were not taken seriously and faced gender discrimination. She is captured by the murder of a beautiful, young model, Dot King, who became known as the Broadway Butterfly and is determined to hold the perpetrator to account. There are two suspects and the plot twists and turns, keeping the reader guessing as to "who dunnit."

One of the fascinating parts for me was the Postscript, where Ms. Divello describes the real people who are her characters. Many historical fictions I read have few real people and more fictional characters. This one is almost like a documentary of a true crime of 1923 but it does draw the reader in like a work of fiction. I enjoyed it.

The Listening Life by Adam S. McHugh

"The very first word of the Rule of St. Benedict, that famous text that has guided the life of monastic communities since the sixth century, is listen. I want for us to put listening back where it belongs, at the beginning, in every aspect of life and faith. Listening isn't only something we do in the preparatory stages of life, as though it's a phase we grow out of once we reach a certain age. Nor is it just a pleasant medicine that we need to inject a little more of into our relationships. Listening ought to be at the heart of our spirituality, our relationships, our mission as the body of Christ, our relationship to culture and the world. We are invited to approach everything with the goal of listening first. We are called to participate in the listening life."

                 -from the Introduction

I chose this book as a summer study for our adult Sunday school class after being introduced to it at a church workshop event. I have finished the book, but the group will not conclude the study until the end of August. I have found it enlightening and helpful, sometimes humorous but tedious in places. I will rate it a 3.

The quote pretty much sums up the purpose of McHugh's book. His nine chapters include "Listening to....God, Scripture, Creation, Others, People in Pain." In teaching this series, I have come across a number of powerful quotes which I have shared with our group. 

Examples:

 “One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.” Bryant McGill 

“Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you would have rather talked.” Mark Twain  

And there are many scriptures that reflect the importance of listening also like Mark 4:1-20.

I believe the book has inspired me to be a better listener and I am thankful. I only hope it has affected others positively as well.

Here is a relevant message I spotted recently on a church marquis.

The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni

 

"God gave you extraordinary eyes, Samuel, because he intends for you to lead an extraordinary life....Our skin, our hair, and our eyes are simply the shell that surrounds our soul, and our soul is who we are. What counts in on the inside."

              -Samuel's mother, to her very young son

This book was highly recommended by one or more of our Page Turners and at the time, I was skeptical about the title. It ended up being an awesome read---a true page-turner. I have rated it a 5 but would give it a 6 if allowed!

The novel chronicles much of the life of Samuel Hill, born with ocular albinism, an affliction with which I was unfamiliar. This cause the eyes to be red although other traits of albinism are not present. The story takes Sam from a precocious 6-year-old to his teens and later adult years. After being an outsider who is bullied for most of his youth, it takes Sam many years to accept that his life has indeed been extraordinary as his mother predicted. (See quote.)

There are unique, loveable characters like dear friends Ernie and Mickie and ones to hate like David Bateman. The reader goes through a roller coaster of emotions---anger at the abuse of power and mistreatment, especially of a child, sadness at tragic loss, frustration through failed romances and happiness in a life fulfilled. (I hope that's not too much of a spoiler.)

This last photo shows ocular albinism and is pretty much how I visualized Sam's eyes. However, the images online showed great variations of this rare genetic disorder.

I look forward to hearing what our group has to say about the novel when we meet next week. More then...

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Page Turners met on our regular day, light in numbers but heavy in thoughts and experiences to share. We admitted we had never heard of ocular albinism. Much of our discussion centered around being proactive mothers (like Sam's) and bullying. Several former teachers shared how they related to Sam's school years. We hardly needed the discussion questions I had found at readingroupguides.com because we had plenty to say. The average rating was 4.5, highest of 2023 so far.

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

"Girls of the '30s and '40s joined the SOE to train as spies against the Nazis because they had been inspired by books and stories about women like Louise de Bettignies---and they weren't inspired by her feminine graces. They were inspired by her courage, her toughness, and her unflinching drive, just as I imagined Charlie being inspired by Eve's. Such women were 'fleurs de mal' indeed---with steel, with endurance, and with flair, they thrived in evil and inspired others in doing so."

           -from the Author's Note

I wasn't far into this novel when I realized I had probably read it. In searching my blog site, I had indeed read it WITH the Page Turners book club in July of 2020. I had purchased the Kindle version at a bargain price and since I HAD paid for it, I decided I should continue reading. I am glad since I did enjoy it; I'd forgotten enough details to keep me turning pages. (Only figuratively on Kindle!:)) Originally, I rated the book a 4. I'm not sure why because this time it gets a 5. I look forward to reading another by Kate Quinn.

Here is a copy of what I wrote after my first reading:

"There are two kinds of flowers when it comes to women. The kind that sit safe in a beautiful vase, or the kind that survive in any conditions...even in evil...Which are you?"

              -Eve to Charlie, from the novel

This is the third novel about the French resistance that I have read in a few months but they have all been different enough to keep my interest. This one was more related to WWI than the other two. I found it very engaging----quite the page-turner especially toward the end. My rating is a 4.

Nineteen-year-old Charlotte "Charlie" St. Claire, with her mother accompanying her, is on her way to Switzerland to have an abortion in 1947.  While they are in Southampton, England awaiting passage to France, Charlie who has been obsessed with finding her missing French cousin, Rose, takes off to London to find a woman named Evelyn Gardiner, who may know something of how Rose disappeared during WWII. This begins a huge adventure as Charlie takes off with the drunken, crotchety ex-spy Evelyn, called Eve, and her driver, Finn, a hot-tempered but charming ex-convict Scotsman, to parts of France searching for Rose. Eventually their quest would include hunting down a cruel man named Rene from Eve's past on whom she has long-dreamed of taking revenge.

In this dual timeline novel, one learns of the Alice Network, a spy-ring of mostly women who worked against the Germans when they occupied northwestern France in WWI (1915-19) including Eve's part in that mission. In the Author's Note, Ms. Quinn tells of the actual women who were a part of the network, like heroine Louise de Bettignies, and distinguishes historical characters from the ones she invented. The second timeline, of course, is a couple of months in 1947, telling Charlie's story. 

I felt the characters were very well-drawn to the point where I could really like them (like Charlie) or purely hate them (like Rene)! All the main characters---Eve, Charlie and Finn---all undergo some personality changes in the course of those two months. The Epilogue then extends the story. 

I got very curious about the car Finn was driving on the road trip, a Lagonda LG6, a British made vehicle I had never heard of. I am attaching a picture. Hopefully the one Charlie, Eve and Finn were riding in was NOT a 2-seater!

Sulfur Springs by William Kent Krueger

 

"You have work ahead of you, Niece. It will probably be hard work, work that will test you. That is one of the things love does. It tests us in different ways. But love is also fear's worst enemy. In what is ahead of you, hold to your love and not your fear. And when you imagine, imagine the best of what might be."

             -Henry Meloux to Rainy, from the novel

If you follow my blog, you will know I am a huge fan of this author and I enjoy the Cork O'Connor series immensely! I practically inhaled this one---finished in 2 days.

This installment has Cork married to Rainy Bisonette, a bit of a surprise. I had read Manitou Canyon, #15, in May and had forgotten it ended with a hint of romantic events to come. 

Early on, Rainy gets a mysterious and troubling voice message from her son Peter in Arizona and then is unable to reach him. He had indicated that he was in trouble so Rainy and Cork, a darn good private investigator, set out to find him and help however they can. This is quite a departure for the series since the action takes place in the desert of the Southwest, not the usual mountains, lakes and woodlands of Minnesota.

When Rainy's ex-husband Berto, father of Peter, joins the search, Cork can't help feeling nervous about their emotional connection. In the quest for Peter, Cork and the others come across questionable policing, drug cartel activity, anti-immigration gangs, as well as a group called Los Angeles del Desierto, or Desert Angels. who try to protect the fugitives. Cork is always trying to figure out who to trust when he realizes his life is in danger.  All this adds to the urgency to read on to the climax. Will they rescue Peter? Will Cork and Rainy get back to Minnesota in one piece? I'll not be a spoiler!

It looks like there are only 3 more Cork O'Connor mysteries. I hope Mr. Krueger is writing another as I finish this! Sulfur Springs rates a 5. I look forward to Desolation Mountain.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

 

"My father felt it his duty to continue to treat animals long after he stopped getting paid. He couldn't stand by and watch a horse colic or a cow labor with a breech calf even though it meant personal ruin. The parallel is undeniable. There is no question that I am the only thing standing between these animals and the business practices of August and Uncle Al, and what my father would do---what my father would want me to do---is look after them, and I am filled with that absolute and unwavering conviction. No matter what I did last night, I cannot leave these animals. I am their shepherd, their protector. It's more than a duty. It's a covenant with my father."

                             -Jacob, from the novel

I love, love, love this book! It was one of the first novels our Page Turners read when we began in 2008 and one of the highest rated ever with a 4.8 out of 5. I just enjoyed it again for a summer reading challenge which required I reread a favorite. I finished it in 2 days---such a page-turner!

The Prologue starts the story off with a BANG and leaves you wanting---needing---to read on! You will not solve the mystery until near the end when the event repeats and you learn what REALLY happened.

Jacob Jankowski tells his story from his 90-something-year-old perspective in a few alternating chapters with his memories of his time with the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth, a fictional train circus. The young Jacob is about to sit exams for his veterinary degree when his parents are killed and he finds they were greatly in debt so there will be no inheritance. He doesn't set out to join the circus but that's what happens. 

While Jacob meets some friendly, helpful sorts, and a young, beautiful performer, he discovers some of the men in charge, Uncle Al, the boss and August, the equestrian director and superintendent of animals, are very cruel. As an almost-vet who was raised by a vet (see quote), he has a very hard time coping with the abuse, especially of Rosie, the elephant. Even the workers are often mistreated (an understatement!).

The Author's Note was particularly interesting where Ms. Gruen shares how she came to write the novel and some of the recorded events of circus history she researched and included in this story. Water for Elephants gets a 5 rating from me---AGAIN! I now want to view the film version a second time and find another by this author.

Forever by Judy Blume

 

"In the old days girls were divided into two groups---those who did and those who didn't. My mother told me that. Nice girls didn't, naturally. They were the ones boys wanted to marry. I'm glad those days are over but I still get angry when older people assume that everyone in my generation screws around."

                   -Katherine, from the novel

After hearing of more and more banned books (and this is one) and viewing an interview with Judy Blume, I decided I wanted to read this one. As an upper elementary teacher, I read MANY Judy Blume novels, mostly meant for 8–12-year-olds. I had found her to be a wonderful author of children's literature. This one is more appropriate for young adults. It involves young love and has considerable sexual content, probably leading to the controversy. 

Ironically, I read Forever in one day. I gave it a 3 rating. I imagine it would be higher for its targeted teenaged audience. I wouldn't want to see young children reading this book, but I believe it is appropriate for high schoolers since it presents issues with which they are faced and suggests a practical and safe approach toward sex.

I think I will soon try to read a couple of Blume's adult novels which seem geared towards women: Summer Sisters, Smart Women and Wifey.