The Night Portrait by Laura Morelli

 

"I have come to accept that war is inevitable. Beauty is fleeting. Only love and art endure. At least that's what Master da Vinci taught me."

          -Edith Becker, from the novel

Unbeknownst to me, I had read another novel by this author early in the year, The Last Masterpiece, with the same subject---saving valuable works of art from the Nazis in WWII. The story involved two timelines---1490's and 1940's---and four major characters: Leonardo da Vinci, Cecilia Gallerani, Edith Becker, and Dominic Bollini. 

Da Vinci is commissioned by Ludovico il Moro, Regent and later Duke of Milan, to paint his mistress Cecilia's portrait in Milan, Italy in the 15th century. The painting would be called Lady with an Ermine and would become very famous and extremely valuable. 

In the 20th century, Edith Becker is an art conservator in a museum in Munich when she is forced to work for the Reich in its efforts to "relocate" (think steal) the most important art of Poland. Dominic Bollini is an American soldier who becomes involved with a group trying to find and eventually restore the stolen pieces to the original owners and locations, the Monument Men (Monuments, Fine arts and Archives Program or MFAA).

I had never heard of the painting of the Lady with an Ermine, nor did I know of the other two of the Great Three most valuable works in Polish collections: Landscape with the Good Samaritan by Rembrandt and Raphael's Portrait of a Young Man. So naturally, I had to look them up. I also had never heard of Hans Frank who was known as the Butcher of Poland. (Poor Edith ended up having to work with him.) 

I thought this novel was well-researched and well-written. I learned a lot and liked it better than the author's The Last Masterpiece. It seemed less scholarly and more reader-friendly. I have rated it a 5. It has left me wanting to see the film "The Monument Men."

The Case for Christmas by Lee Strobel

 

"A Journalist Investigates the Identity of the Child in the Manger"

    -subtitle of The Case for Christmas

There was to be a Bible study class using this theme so I purchased the book. The classes would actually entail using the videos that complement the book. I did read it, however, and learned a great deal. It was not your ordinary Bible commentary but more like a detective story with someone looking for evidence, not of a crime, of course, but of the birth and origin of Jesus Christ. (see subtitle at the top)

With only 100 pages the book is in 6 parts: Introduction, Ch 1The Eyewitness Evidence; Ch2 "The Scientific Evidence"; Ch3 "The Profile Evidence"; Ch4 "The Fingerprint Evidence" and the Conclusion, "The Verdict of History." I gained new knowledge in each part. The author is an investigative journalist seeking information and theories from several experts, including a Messianic Jew. He quotes from interviews with these authorities.

One of the most striking quotes was from philosopher William Lane Craig, who first found the virgin birth a stumbling block but after study came to this conclusion: "If I really do believe in a God who created the universe, then for him to create a Y chromosome would be child's play!"

I am rating the book a 5. Easy to read, informative and perfect for December!

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

 

"The state opened the school in 1899 as the Florida Industrial School for Boys. 'A reform school where the young offender of law, separated from vicious associates, may receive physical, intellectual, and moral training, be reformed and restored to the community with purpose and character fitting for a good citizen, an honorable and an honest man with a trade or skilled occupation fitting such person for self-maintenance.' The boys were called students, rather than inmates, to distinguish them from the violent offenders that populated prisons. All the violent offenders, Elwood added, were on staff."

            -description of the Nickel Academy, from the novel

I had been interested in reading this novel for some time and a friend recently offered it for loan. I was especially intrigued by the fact that it was inspired by stories from the notorious Dozier School for Boys in Marianna, Florida. There was considerable uproar in the state around 2014 when at least 43 graves were found in the area by a group of archaeologists. Since then, more has come to light about the horrendous treatment of the boys. Some have survived to tell the story.

In this fictional account, Elwood Curtis is young black male in Tallahassee during the Jim Crow era. A smart boy, he is working and about to finish high school with college in his future when he inadvertently gets in trouble with the law. He is sent to the Nickel Academy mentioned in the quote. There he meets Turner who will become a friend but is subjected to terrible conditions and cruel punishments for the least infraction. For comfort and hope, he hangs onto many quotes of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Part 3 confused me a bit because Elwood was suddenly an adult living in NY and running a business. In this part, the time setting goes back and forth which I did finally get used to. It is not until the final chapter and Epilogue that the reader finds out what happened to Elwood and Turner after leaving Nickel. (No spoilers!)

It was difficult to read of the vicious discipline of the "Nickel Boys" but Whitehead's writing is beautiful, and the story is compelling. My rating is 4.

The Road to Grace by Richard Paul Evans

 

"I suppose if I were completely honest with myself (which I've already established I'm not), I'd have to admit that I'm not really walking to Florida. Key West is as foreign to me as any of the towns I've walked through on the way. I'm walking to find what life may hold. I'm looking for hope. Hope that life might still be worth living, and hope for the grace to accept what I must live without."

              -Alan Christoffersen's thoughts

This is the third book in The Walk series and the third I have read. I guess I am hooked. Another 5 rating.

Our sojourner, Alan Christoffersen, began walking in Seattle with the goal of making it to Key West. In this installment, he started in Custer, South Dakota, where he met a woman from his past. She ended up stalking him (6 chapters!) seeking his forgiveness. Near the Badlands, Alan visited Wall Drug, a famous place I'd never heard of.

When Alan became extremely ill on the road, he was aided by a good Samaritan, a Polish fellow by the name of Leszek, who got him to the ER and then took him in until he recovered. During that time Jewish Holocaust survivor Leszek told his amazing story of escape from the Nazis and spoke to Alan of forgiveness. A very poignant part of the novel.

I was amused by Alan's brief meeting with ladies of the Red Hat Society in Sioux Falls. I was once a Red Hat member.

When Alan reached Sidney, Iowa, he figured he was about halfway to Key West. A lonely woman named Analise invited him to her home. Later he met Israel, a self-professed tramp with a "most unfortunate view of God."

Alan enjoyed some tourist time in Hannibal, Missouri, home of Mark Twain, but nearing St. Louis, he became very ill again and ended up in St. Lous University Hospital. When he woke, he was surprised to see Falene, his former employee and good friend from Seattle. She had to give him difficult news.

Now I can look for Book 4, A Step of Faith. I surely hope Alan makes it to Key West!

Missing on the Gulf Coast by Andi Lodge

 "Aunt Pearl sometimes teases me about my 'strays' but she has one of the biggest hearts around. We're not saints, nor do we want, or expect praise. When it does come, we try to deflect it to the ones who have earned it. We make it understood these people earned it by making the choice to work hard and improve their lives."

         -Hilda Mae Palmer, from the novel

I selected this book because it was a mystery and set in Florida, where I live. At first, I liked it. Main character, Hilda Mae is an amateur detective and a down-to-earth, rather quirky young woman and I found her amusing. But the last quarter of the book was very confusing and, I felt convoluted, not very believable. Also, I found a number of typos or other editing errors that bothered me. Guess I am just that much of a grammar geek. Anyway, I rated the book a 2, which is rare for me. I won't be looking for another in this series.

Cinder Bella by Kathleen Shoop

 

I selected this book because of the title---my youngest granddaughter is called Bella and the cover made it look like a Christmas story. I only read a few chapters because it quickly seemed like a mix of romance and magical realism, my least favorite genres! So, no rating on this one. No quote either.

The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans

 

"And to this day, the Christmas Box remains a source of great joy to me. For though it appears empty, to me it contains all that Christmas is made of, the root of all wonder in a child's eyes, and the source of magic of Christmases for centuries to come."

             -from the Epilogue

Why did I choose this book? It is December so I was in the mood for a nice holiday story plus I have gotten into The Walk series by this author. I feel The Christmas Box is a memoir and one of Evans's earlier writings. It was very short---less than 150 pages, inspirational but perhaps too sentimental for my taste. I would say his writing is vastly improved from 1995. I am generously rating it a 3.

Evans tells the story of moving his young family into a mansion to be of help to the elderly owner, Mrs. Mary Anne Parkin. In storing some of their things in the attic, he comes across the Christmas Box of the title which is part of a collection of Mrs. Parkin's late husband. Evans and his wife, Keri, discover that the box has a poignant secret and one that leads to an important life lesson for Richard. (I could never find a preferred first name for him.)

One humorous part of the book is when Mary Parkin tells the others about a collector's item called the "wicked Bible" because in Exodus the seventh commandment reads "Thou shalt commit adultery." A pretty shocking misprint! Coincidentally, I had just seen a "Jeopardy!" episode on TV where that Bible was the subject of a clue.

Miles to Go by Richard Paul Evans

 

"This is a story of contrasts---about living and dying, hope and despair, pain and healing, and tenuous, thin places between both extremes where most of us reside.

I'm not sure whether I'm walking away from my past or toward a future---time and miles will tell and I have plenty of both. As the poet Robert Frost said, I have 'miles to go before I sleep.'"

    -Alan Christofferson, from the novel

Well, I guess I am hooked on this series now. Book 2 of The Walk series was just as good as the first one. The author has an easy style, so readable, and I felt this one had more humor than the other. Our journal keeper Alan starts in Spokane where he is recovering from a beating and gets as far as Rapid City, SD in this installment. (I like that the author includes a map of Alan's current progress.) I'm determined to get him to Key West, so bring on Book 3!  

Alan meets several likeable characters in Miles to Go. There is a kind and encouraging nurse in the hospital, Norma. Angel is the woman he helped with a flat tire who turns up at the hospital and offers him her home as a place to convalesce. As they get to know each other, it becomes clear Angel has some secrets and eventually reveals her real name is Nicole. Together Nicole and Alan make a positive difference in the lives of two others. Alan's father reconnects with him when he hears of his serious injuries. 

When he can finally restart his journey, Alan meets teenager Kailamai when he saves her from an attack by some young men. She has run away from a foster home and has been hitchhiking but decides to walk along with Alan. They travel together almost as far as Yellowstone NP when Alan has a brilliant idea how to help her in a more lasting way. 

Some of the humor in this book came with the joke-telling of Kailamai and a memory of a Yellowstone tourist. I enjoyed mentions of places I've been like Old Faithful Inn and other familiar things like the Auburn-Alabama football game (I'm a long-time Auburn fan.) and Alan's mother's love of The Carpenters' music---I loved them, too. And I learned about the Crazy Horse National Memorial monument in SD.

All in all, I enjoyed the book, rating it a 5, and will definitely finish the series.

The Walk by Richard Paul Evans

 

"Above all do not lose your desire to walk. I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it."       

      -Kierkegaard, from Alan Christofferson's diary

Coincidentally, I finished this novel on the same day I saw "Extraordinary," a film about a runner who finished the Trans-American Footrace (California to New York) against the odds.

In The Walk, something of a riches to rags story, Alan Christofferson loses all that he holds dear, considers suicide but decides to walk instead---from his home in Seattle to Key West, Florida! I did not realize at first that this trek would be chronicled over several more installments. In book one he gets as far as Spokane.

During this journey, Alan meets some interesting and likeable characters like Ally, a diner waitress, and Colleen Hammersmith who runs a B and B. He helps a woman with a flat tire who is very grateful but later is brutally beaten by a gang.

The book was recommended to me by a friend. It was very readable---finished in a couple of days. With short chapters and frequent foreshadowing, it was a page-turner. I enjoyed Alan's diary entries at the beginning of each chapter. Evans's writing made "the walk" seem very realistic. I rate the book a 4 and the only reason it's not a 5 is: I must now look for the sequel!

The Art of Power: My Story as America's First Woman Speaker of the House by Nancy Pelosi

"I accept this gavel in the spirit of partnership, not partisanship. In this House, we may be different parties, but we all serve one country...this openness requires respect for every voice in the Congress. As Thomas Jefferson said, 'Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle'...Let us all stand together to move our country forward, seeking common ground for the common good."

        -Nancy Pelosi, becoming Speaker of the House on January 4, 2007

I have greatly admired Nancy Pelosi for her spirit, courage and tenacity. In reading, I was reminded of many of her accomplishments in her 40 years of public life---addressing the 9-11 terrorist attack, and voting against the war in Iraq, addressing the economic crisis of 2008, the passing of the Affordable Care Act and helping the nation survive the global pandemic of 2020 and an attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Not to mention witnessing two presidential impeachments and dealing with an attack in her own home that seriously injured her husband, Paul.

I learned a great deal from the book and gained even more respect for Speaker Pelosi although I can't say I enjoyed the reading, and it was not a page-turner. There was some repetition and some people's names and political jargon I didn't quite get. I am rating the book a 3.

Trial by Ambush by Marcia Clark

 

"Society wins not only when the guilty are convicted but when criminal trials are fair; our system of the administration of justice suffers when any accused is treated unfairly."

 -from Supreme Court decision, Brady v. Maryland (1963)

When this book was offered at a discount by BookBub, I was struck by the author's name. I remembered her as a prosecutor in the trial of O.J. Simpson years ago. As it turned out, she mentioned that experience several times in the course of this true crime story.

In 1953 Barbara Graham gets mixed up with some unsavory characters and in the process of robbing a home, a brutal murder is committed. Barbara had survived a horrible childhood and youth which let to many bad decisions with the one just mentioned being the worst. She and others are arrested for felony murder.

Ms. Clark spent two years researching all she could find of the crime---trial proceedings, evidence, newspaper reports, etc. and goes into great detail about the unethical, even sleazy methods of the prosecution. The reader gets the distinct feeling the author seriously questions the jury verdict. She feels Barbara Graham was treated unfairly at almost every turn, by the prosecution, the media and even the judge!

I rated this one a 3, interesting but not especially memorable.

The Women by Kristin Hannah

"Somehow Frankie would find a way to tell the country about her sisters---the women with whom she'd served. For the nurses who had died, for their children, for the women who would follow in the years to come. 

It started here. Now. By speaking up, standing in the sunlight, coming together, demanding honesty and truth. Taking pride.

The women had a story to tell, even if the world wasn't quite yet ready to hear it, and their story began with three simple words.         We were there."                  

                                             ---from the novel

I waited for this one a good long time. Seems it's been on the Bestseller list forever! It was worth the wait, not just a compelling story but a very informative work. I cannot imagine how much research went into the writing of this novel. 

Soon after nursing school, Frankie McGrath volunteers for Vietnam as a nurse, partly out of patriotism and to follow in her brother's footsteps. In spite of horrendous circumstances, she sticks it out for two years with the help of Esther and Barb, fellow nurses who become like sisters, and Captain Jamie Callahan, the surgeon who patiently encourages her. She eventually becomes an excellent surgical nurse, seeing the most horrible injuries, pain and death imaginable. Of course, these were difficult parts to read.

When Frankie returns home to California, the reader might think her troubles are over but not by a long shot! She is greeted by fellow Americans who spit on her, call her names or even shun her. Even her parents seem to be embarrassed by her service. She suffers from PTSD, becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol. I knew this had happened to our Vietnam vets but somehow it was more intense seeing it through Frankie's eyes. Shockingly some of the fellow vets she meets tell her "there were no women in Vietnam"!

Thankfully, Frankie is able to overcome these challenges, even joining and protesting with Veterans Against the Vietnam War. 

I really liked the book and rated it a 5 although I did find a couple of occurrences pretty miraculous, almost unbelievable. I learned so much I didn't know and was captured by Frankie's story. I wish I could personally thank the real women who served!

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

"Chona had never been one to play by the rules of American society. She did not experience the world as most people did. To her, the world was not a china closet where you admire this and don't touch that. Rather, she saw it as a place where every act of living was a chance for tikkun olam, to improve the world. The tiny woman with the bad foot was all soul."

                 -from the novel

I really wanted to like this book. It had been a NYT bestseller for so long and our book club made it an end-of-the-year selection because it would be easier to find a copy. I was very disappointed. I found it very confusing with so many characters and the story seemed to jump from one conflict to another. Hard to keep it all straight.

Chona Ludlow, wife of Moshe, owns the Heaven and Earth Grocery Store in the Pennsylvania neighborhood of Chicken Hill. It is a mostly Jewish and Black area with typical racial tensions. Chona was an especially likeable character, as you might guess from the quote I selected. She becomes the guardian for a black deaf 12-year-old boy named Dodo who is like the son she never had. 

When Dodo is falsely accused of a crime and sent to the notorious Pennhurst State Hospital, plans are made by a few of the neighbors to break him out. Finding out what happened to Dodo is probably what kept me reading. That and the fact that it is a Page Turners selection. I am generously giving the novel a 3 but I was thinking 2 for a while. I look forward to our group discussion so I can hear what others found enjoyable.

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Twelve of our members met to discuss Heaven and Earth... The book received an average rating of 3.7. Four participants loved the book and it was interesting to hear their thoughts. They appreciated the writing style and the plot. One had listened to the audio version and enjoyed it very much. Another said a second reading added to her appreciation. A couple of ladies said they took notes which helped them keep up with multiple characters who dropped in and out of the story at times. I wish I had done that!

Several members agreed with me that the maltreatment of Dodo kept them turning pages to finish the novel.

When We Were Widows by Annette Chavez Macias

 

"Some people believe like me that we're connected to certain people because they're meant to be in our lives, meaning you're destined to have some sort of experience with them. Sometimes we meet these people before we're supposed to. Kind of like a 'wrong time, wrong place' sort of thing. So we drift apart, only to be pulled back together again by an invisible string when the universe decides you're both ready to be in each other's lives again."

                   -Evie, from the novel

Three generations of widows----Mama Melda, Ana Diaz and Yesica Diaz-Taylor must live together when a plumbing catastrophe forces Mama and Ana to move from their home to live with Yesica. As one might imagine there are long-time resentments that keep this living arrangement from being a happy time. All the women hold on to secrets that must gradually come to light in order for them to find understanding and compassion and the love they should have had as a family all along.

I rated the book a four, not a favorite but it kept my interest.

Spirit Crossing by William Kent Krueger

 

"There is a single thread that runs through us all and connects us to the Creator. In birth, that thread draws our life spirit from the heart of the Creator. In death, the thread draws our spirit back into the Creator's heart. It is the same for every living thing."

                   -Henry Meloux, from the novel

I practically inhaled this one! I did feel a little sad when I finished this last in the Cork O'Connor series (#20) since I now have to wait for the next installment.

So much is going on in this novel---pipeline protests, 3 missing women, two found dead; Steven is awaiting his wedding to Belle and Annie is home from her mission in Guatemala with her partner, Maria, and a troublesome secret. And 7-yr-old grandson, Waaboo, little rabbit in Ojibwe, may be in danger because of his visionary gift.

I have loved each novel by this author. This one gets another 5 rating. I enjoy the Minnesota settings so much; very different from Florida where I live. It has been so interesting "watching" the O'Connor family grow and change. Also, I have learned some about Ojibwe culture---language and especially spiritual beliefs which I find inspiring. (See quote) Henry Meloux is a favorite character, over a hundred years old, and I fear reading of his death in a future novel.

The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future by Robert P. Jones

 

"The spirit of the Doctrine of Discovery continues to haunt us today. We remain torn by two mutually incompatible visions of the country. "Are we a pluralistic democracy where all, regardless of race or religion, are equal citizens? Or are we a divinely ordained promised land for European Christians? The confounding paradoxes, constant confusions, and violent convulsions of the present are signs that we have yet to choose between these two streams of American history."

      -Robert P. Jones

This is the October selection of our Page Turners group. We rarely read nonfiction, but this one made it to the 2024 list. I can rate it a 5 but I suspect not everyone in our group will appreciate it so much. It confirmed much of US history I know and taught me a lot I didn't. It is certainly not an easy or enjoyable read but was thoroughly researched, revealing important truths about our country.

Jones addresses the roots of white supremacy with examples from the Mississippi Delta (the author is a Missippian), Duluth, Minnesota and Tulsa, Oklahoma. In each of these three parts he relates stories of the horrible treatment of Indigenous people of the area and the enslaved African Americans, as well as free blacks. In this way "Jones exposes the role of white supremacy that originated in 15th century Vatican documents called the Doctrine of Discovery justifying slavery and land theft." 

The second part of the title is presented in a final section about each of these geographic areas telling ways in which the people involved and/or their descendants are trying to face the truth of the ugly history and make some amends for it. These parts are the easiest to read and give some hope for a "shared American future."

The author calls out some states where the reality of history such as slavery is denied, including our own, Florida. Very disturbing to a former teacher who wanted to teach ALL of history not just the feel-good parts! I hope the book will be widely read and bring positive changes to our country.

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Our Page Turners meeting was sparsely attended but no less rewarding for the 8 of us present. In-person participants liked the book with votes of 4 and 5. Average 4.0 for all ratings. Most of us had a difficult time with the content---definitely NOT a page-turner, but we learned things we did not know and felt were important to understand. The member who suggested the book said it was "painful but helpful." We were reminded in The Hidden Roots... of Killers of the Flower Moon which we read in August, especially in the author's description of the great harm done to Indigenous peoples by Euro-Americans. 

Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

 "As I eat, I remember that first day I met the family, the time Mrs. Williams fed me the stew cooked over a hole in the ground. I had never seen anyone cook like that. The Williamses had always fed my soul, even when I did not know I was hungry. It occurs to me that I have received more from them than I ever could have given." 

          -Civil, from the novel

Someone gave me this paperback copy quite a while ago, maybe a couple of years. Since I read e-books about 90% of the time, I kept putting it off. I am so glad I finally pulled it off the shelf and read it! My rating is 5; I believe it is an important story to know.

The Author's Note describes how this novel is inspired by a true story of 2 young black girls profoundly mistreated by a broken system in early 1970's Alabama. Civil Townsend, newly graduated from Tuskegee Institute, is employed as a nurse at the Montgomery Family Planning Clinic. She is assigned to administer birth control injections to two young black girls---Erica and India Williams, ages 11 and 13, respectively. When Civil visits the poor family for the first time, she is appalled at their living conditions and sets out to help them get into government housing. 

When Civil finds out that the drug, Depo-Provera, that the clinic is dispensing, including to the Williams' girls, is not FDA approved and has caused cancer in lab animals, she is extremely concerned and sets out to make some changes. About this time and without Civil's knowledge, the girls are subjected to surgical sterilization. Both she and the family--father and grandmother---are horrified. Civil takes her activism even farther by finding a young lawyer willing to seek legal action. Since these procedures are financed through the U.S. government, they end up taking a federal office to court. 

The novel has two time frames, 1973, when most of the action occurs and 2016 as Civil goes back to visit Erica and India. As Civil is returning in 2016 she is relating her memories and thoughts to her daughter, Anne--an interesting literary device.

This book reminds me a great deal of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, in which a black woman's cancer cells are used in research with no permission of next-of-kin. And the author brings out the fact that many black men had been untreated for syphilis in a Tuskegee study for decades prior. The story of the two sisters certainly informs the reader of just another instance of racial injustice. And one can't help but think of the overturning of Roe v. Wade recently and consider how abortion bans affect poor women of color, as well as whites.

All the Glimmering Stars by Mark Sullivan

 “The medicine man also told me that our spirits come from stars and return to stars when we die. So, when you look up at the stars, Anthony, you may also be seeing the spirits of your ancestors and the souls of your children shining back at you.”

     -George Opoka, to his young son 

 "He bowed his head and wished to God that all the glimmering stars in the sky, the souls of his ancestors and the spirits of the unborn, could come together to show him the right direction to take."

     -Anthony Opoka, remembering his father's words

I've read 2 historical novels by this author and enjoyed them both. In selecting this one, I surely didn't know what I was getting into!

Based on a true story it begins in Uganda in the late 1980's when the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) is wreaking havoc in the country under the leadership of maniacal Joseph Kony. 

Two teens are kidnapped from their loving families in two different villages and forced to become soldiers in the LRA. Anthony Opoka is an outstanding student and athlete while Florence Okori, also an excellent student, dreams of becoming a nurse. The situations they are forced to endure among other "child warriors" makes for difficult reading. In the course of 400+ pages, one wonders if they will ever be able to escape but one keeps reading and hoping.

When Anthony and Florence meet and fall in love, there is some joy---briefly, but they remain slaves to Kony, called the Great Teacher, whose cruelty is horrifying. By the time the couple have two sons, they become desperate to get away. Memories of their good upbringing helps them survive. And Anthony's chance meeting with Mr. Mabior, a dying man whose last words to Anthony are very wise and inspiring make a huge difference for him through some terrible times.

The story was compelling but far from enjoyable, so I am rating it a 4. The story of Anthony and Florence Opoka is an amazing one, to be sure, and it is interesting to read Sullivan's notes about how he discovered it. I can only hope it brings attention to the use of children in combat because that horrible practice should be banned across the globe.

Snow Creek by Gregg Olsen

 

"I think of how I'd dreamed of a big case as I waded through the property crimes that marked my routine. I'd wanted more than anything to make something so very wrong, right. And now this. In the mostly undisturbed magnificence of the Pacific Northwest is a spate of murders, dark and ugly as any could imagine."

     -Detective Megan Carpenter, from the novel

I selected this from Amazon First Reads and at first, I liked it. The setting was interesting, a very isolated area of the Northwest with cultlike characters, two of which turn up missing. When the missing woman is found dead, Detective Megan Carpenter at first speculates the husband killed her and took off. She couldn't be more wrong. 

After a while multiple characters come into play, and I found it hard to keep up with who was who. Not only that, it becomes clear that Megan has a mysterious past of her own. 

The novel was well-written and kept my interest for quite a while, but I found the ending very dissatisfying as the author leaves so much unresolved. I surely prefer a murder mystery that stands alone and does not try to impel you to read a sequel. This one only rates a 3. I likely will not read another in this series, but I won't rule out others by the author.

Have You Seen Luis Velez? by Catherine Ryan Hyde

"The world will still be a place where people do terrible things. But here's the thing about despair. We fall into despair when the terrible gangs up on us and we forget the world can also be wonderful. We just see terrible everywhere we look. So what you do for your friend is you bring up the wonderful, so both are side by side. The world is terrible and wonderful at the same time. One doesn't negate the other, but the wonderful keeps us in the game. It keeps us moving forward. And, I'm sorry to have to tell you this, Raymond, but that's as good as the world is going to get."

          -Mrs. G, from the novel

I loved this novel! After a few books with intense themes and disturbing plots, it was breath of fresh air. It rates a 5 from me.

Teenager Raymond Jaffe has two families and doesn't have a sense of belonging to either. When he learns his best friend is moving away, Raymond is devastated. But around this time, he meets Mildred Guterman, a blind 92-year-old neighbor when she asks him the title question, "Have you seen Luis Velez?" He soon learns Luis was a caregiver for Mrs. G and has been missing for several days. Because it's obvious that Mrs. G has been isolated and unable to do necessary errands on her own, Raymond takes it upon himself to replace Luis in helping her to the bank and market and even taking her out to eat. As the two bond, Raymond is compelled to try to locate Luis Velez. It is quite an undertaking since there are several men of that name in the area and not knowing an address, he must contact them one by one.

I began with a quote from Mrs. Guterman, but it was hard to choose just one. A Jewish immigrant who barely escaped the Nazis, she shared much wisdom with Raymond who, in turn, encourages her.

This novel is an endearing story of a surprising friendship. I will find another novel by this author. I look forward to hearing reactions of the other Page Turners. More after the meeting....

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When Page Turners met, 14 gathered plus one participating by phone. The book was well-liked earning an average of 4.5. This is the highest rated of the year by our group. I think everyone loved how Mrs. G and Raymond helped each other and how many other characters in the story were so kind and helpful to them. Although a couple of participants found some of the story unbelievable it was still very heartwarming. Some felt the novel could be very beneficial for young adult readers.

Toward the end of the story, there is a jury trial where racism raises its ugly head. This brought forth some good discussion of privilege, seeming to segue into our next book selection: The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy by Robert P. Jones.

I believe most of our group would recommend the novel. 

A Monk Swimming by Malachy McCourt

 

"Now I’m resolved to try it, I’ll live on a moderate diet,

 I’ll not drink and will deny it, And shun each alehouse door, 

For that’s the place they tell us, We meet with all jovial good fellows, 

But I swear by the poker and bellows, I’ll never get drunk anymore. 

A man that’s fond of boozing, His cash goes daily oozing,

His character he’s losing, And its loss he will deplore.

His wife is unprotected, His business is neglected, 

Himself is disrespected, So I’ll not get drunk anymore."

     -OLD TEMPERANCE SONG, quoted in the memoir

This was a free eBook which I selected because I am such a fan of Frank McCourt, Malachy's brother. I must admit it produced some laughs, but I didn't appreciate it as much as Frank's memoirs. Of course, since they grew up together, their background is the same---growing up Catholic and poor in Limerick, Ireland with a drunken, no-good father and making their way to America as young men. 

It seems to me, Malachy squandered much of his early adult years with drunken philandering and gallivanting the globe smuggling gold. His vocabulary was rather amazing---I learned some new words, but the editing of the book was poor. It was sometimes hard to determine if something strange was his Irish lingo or an error in the publication. His story is irreverent, even sacrilegious at times. The quote above came late in the book, if only Malachy had followed that advice much sooner! According to the Author's Note, he turned his life around in later years.

I am left wondering: what does the title mean? There is no monk and no swimming!  I mentioned earlier, the memoir was quite humorous, and the style was unique, but I wouldn't look for another by this author. My rating is 3.

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

 Posted originally on 2/3/24

"Travel in any direction that you will from Pawhuska and you will notice at night Osage Indian homes outlined with electric lights, which a stranger in the country might conclude to be an ostentatious display of oil wealth. But the lights are burned, as every Osage knows, as protection against the stealthy approach of a grim specter---an unseen hand---that has laid a blight upon the Osage land and converted the broad acres, which other Indian tribes enviously regard as a demi-paradise, into a Golgotha and field of dead men's skulls....The perennial question in the Osage land is, ' who will be next?'"    

           -reporter from Daily Oklahoman, 1929

After viewing the film "Killers of the Flower Moon" I was told I should read the book which I had not heard of before. Supposedly it held much more background information and I found that to be true. The book was thoroughly researched with about 40 pages of notes, references and bibliographies. Our Page Turners had read The Lost City of Z by this author in 2015. I gave it a 3 and the group's rating was 2.9 with most agreeing it was well-researched but not exactly a page-turner. I will rate this one a 4; it was a bit more of a page-turner. I can't say I enjoyed it since it made me sad and angry, but I do think good literature makes you feel something. The topic of abuse of our indigenous people is one I am familiar with but the treatment of the Osage in this story was especially heinous.

The story is set in Gray Horse, Oklahoma, an Osage settlement, in the 1920s where oil had been discovered years before making most of the Osage very wealthy, and sadly, many whites very covetous of their land and oil rights. By 1923, 24 tribe members had died mysteriously or violently. This included many of Mollie Burkhart's family---mother, 3 sisters and brother-in-law. Most law enforcement and others in authority were in the pocket of William K. Hale, known as "King of the Osage Hills," and did nothing toward solving what many had determined were murders. When the newly formed FBI became involved, Agent Tom White and his team eventually had some success. He is seen as a hero by the Osage.

Having seen the movie before reading, the characters seemed more vivid and the story more personal. Some like Mollie were easy to feel sympathy and sadness for and others were easy to hate. No spoiler here! I really liked that numerous photographs were included, not always the case with nonfiction. 

Grann is the author of the current bestseller The Wager, which is on my TBR list. 

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Posted on 8/23/24

A smaller group of Page Turners gathered to discuss the book on our regular day. Several members who could not attend sent their ratings. The average was 3.9 with no one really disliking it but some being confused by the time changes and many characters to remember. Most of us felt it was very important for this story to be told and that the author was meticulous in his research. Perhaps we just couldn't enjoy it that much for the same reasons I mentioned above and in my first post.

Only 3 participants had seen the movie, so we spent only a bit of time comparing it to the book. We had a list of 17 questions and hardly addressed them because there were things we could relate to, for example some had lived near Native American people, even in Oklahoma, and many of us had witnessed ugly prejudice toward minorities. All were struck by the quote, "It is a question in my mind whether this jury is considering a murder case or not. The question for them to decide is whether a white man killing an Osage is murder---or merely cruelty to animals." How horrendous!

One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow by Olivia Hawker

 

"I stooped and let four peas fall from my finger into the soil, reciting the rhyme as I did it: One for the blackbird, one for the crow, one for the cutworm, and one to grow."

           -Beulah, from the novel

This novel was a free First Reads selection from Amazon. It was probably the only historical fiction choice in that month and, of course, it's a favorite genre of mine.

The setting is Wyoming, 1876. The Bemis and Webber families farm adjacent pieces of land, but no other neighbors are nearby. Right away the conflict is revealed: Ernest Bemis catches his wife, Cora, with Substance Webber and in his fury murders his neighbor. Of course, Ernest goes to jail, leaving his wife and 4 children to try to survive. Fortunately, the eldest child, Beulah, age 13, is intelligent and capable.

Surprisingly, 16-year-old Clyde, the only son of Substance Webber, after burying his father, offers his help to the Bemis family. Clyde's mother, the widow Nettie Mae, not surprisingly hates Cora for her part in the death of her husband so she is chagrined that Clyde is helping with the Bemis's farm.

A brutal winter forces the two families to live together in order to survive. These are uncomfortable months with Nettie Mae's rage and Cora's remorse darkening the mood. However, they manage to save each other's family members from drowning, a serious illness, a fall and other problems. Fortunately, Clyde and Beulah work well together and, in a sense, are the saviors of their families. 

The Author's Note is very interesting, telling of the personal basis of the story. Some characters originated in the story of the author's great-grandparents. (I can't say which characters without a spoiler.)

Hawker's descriptions are detailed and lyrical but at times, tedious. That and the long chapters kept the novel from being a page-turner until the last 50 pages or so when I didn't want to put it down. I am rating One for the Blackbird... a 4. I may read another by this author.

Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett

 

After reading 7 chapters of this novel, I am so confused. I am giving up on it which I very rarely do. I have read 2 others by this author that I enjoyed very much but this one leaves me cold. I won't even spend the time looking for a memorable quote in those first chapters. Apparently, this is one of Follett's first novels and he definitely improved to be able to write Pillars of the Earth and World Without End. I won't rate this; it wouldn't be fair. Unless you love spy novels, don't choose this one.

The Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman

 

"When I passed by the mirror in the corridor, I sometimes thought it was my mother's image I spied, not mine. This was her revenge. Everything I had done to her, my son now did to me."

    -Rachel Pomie Petit Pizzaro, from the novel

This was my first novel by this author. I liked it, didn't love it. I must admit I learned something about the artist Camille Pissaro, one I had never heard of before. Apparently, he was a very important French painter and a leader of the impressionist movement. I have Googled his work and it is lovely.

This book is mostly the story of Camille's mother, Rachel, who, as a young woman, was quite rebellious, much to her conservative mother's chagrin. (See quote) She grew up on the island of St. Thomas, along with other Jewish families who had been displaced by the inquisition. 

I enjoyed the settings of St. Thomas and Paris, both of which I have had the pleasure to visit. I didn't care for the magical realism and, at times, found the descriptions tedious---not a page-turner for me. The chapters were very long and there were many characters to try to keep up with. However, I must admit the lyrical writing is quite beautiful. I have rated the book a 3.

The Marriage of Opposites reminded me a bit of The Secret Life of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar in which a relative of Vincent van Gogh's is determined to introduce his art to the world while in this novel, the parents of Camille Pissaro tried to thwart his artistic genius.

The Artist's Garden at Eragny by Camille Pissaro

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When the Page Turners met, it was clear that no one disliked the book. The average rating was 4.3, the highest rating of any of our selections this year. There were several members giving a rating of 5, fans of the author's style and perhaps, art lovers. One participant knew someone who had experienced something similar to the shunning of Rachel and her second husband. Most of us enjoyed learning more of the history and culture of St. Thomas and some Jewish traditions.

In Such Good Company by Carol Burnett

 

"I'm so glad we had this time together

Just to have a laugh or sing a song.

Seems we just got started

and before you know it

Comes the time we have

to say, 'So long.'"

   -from the theme song of "The Carol Burnett Show"

Someone left this book at my door anonymously. I suspect it was someone who knew I was a fan of Carol Burnett. It was not really a page-turner, but it was an easy, enjoyable read. I will rate it a 3. Liked it, didn't love it. Ms. Burnett is a great stage talent but not the best writer. I found a good bit of repetition and a few long descriptions of certain shows rather tedious.

The subtitle of this memoir is Eleven Years of Laughter, Mayhem and Fun in the Sandbox. As the actual title would indicate Carol writes mostly about the people she worked with on her variety show from 1967-1978. She goes into detail about her regulars like Harvey Korman, Tim Conway and Vicki Lawrence and even describes some of her favorite comedy sketches. She also compliments writers, producers, camera operators and other behind-the-scene contributors, not to mention Bob Mackie, the amazing costumer. One can sense that the cast was like a family and enjoyed "playing in the sandbox" together.

My favorite parts of the book were descriptions of sketches I remember like the Starlet O'Hara costume, Tim's elephant story, and the dentist scene with Tim and Harvey. (See link below---enjoy!) 

https://youtu.be/9IUSM4EKcRI

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

"If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way."

      -Martin Luther King, Jr.

I have read several books by this author, and I can truly say Ms. Picoult does not shy away from social issues, even provocative ones. Neither is she reluctant to take on tons of research to make her novels believable and accurate. She has tackled such topics as a school shooting, the Holocaust, abortion and transgenderism. In Small Great Things, she addresses systemic racism in a compelling story reminiscent of a Grisham legal thriller. 

The main character is a black labor and delivery nurse named Ruth Jefferson who faces a dire legal challenge. Much of the story is told by Ruth and other parts are narrated by her white female public defender, Kennedy McQuarrie, and a white supremacist, Turk Bauer, who is the originator of Ruth's woes.

With a gripping plot, more medical details than I could understand and disturbing scenes of hatefulness, both verbal and physical, the novel was a true page-turner. There is absolutely no humor and in her author's note, Ms. Picoult says she did not write it for fun but because it was the right thing to do. The chapters are longer than I prefer but I must rate the novel a 5. I believe it improved my insight into the Black experience, so it was the right thing to read even though it was not fun.

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

 WRITTEN 6/23/23

"It was funny, she thought, how often we stuck to the safe path in life, pulling on blinders and keeping our eyes to the ground, doing our best not to look at the fantastic view. Without seeing the heights we had reached, the opportunities actually awaiting us out there; without realizing we should just jump and fly, at least for a moment.          -Sara, from the novel

This book was recommended by a friend, and it was really a fun read---much different than anything I've read lately. It was truly unique in that it is quite literally a book about books! Plus one of the main characters is dead from the start!

Sara Lindqvist travels from her home in Sweden to the fading small town of Broken Wheel, Iowa, to meet her pen pal, Amy Harris. Sara, who had worked in a bookshop, had been sharing a correspondence with Amy about their mutual love of books. She arrives only to find that Amy has passed away and she had just missed the funeral. Of course, Sara is shocked and confused about what she should do but the residents of the town, who have apparently adored Amy, take it upon themselves to welcome Sara. She feels as if she already knows some of the citizens from hearing about them in Amy's letters, which are sprinkled throughout the novel. They included the prim and proper (and bossy) Caroline Rohde and "Poor George'" who is suffering a broken family and Tom Harris, a relative of Amy, who is single and seems rather cold at first. 

Sara decides to open a bookshop in Broken Wheel against everyone's advice. As you might predict, it ends up being a blessing to the town and provides Sara with a sense of belonging and purpose that she has been missing.

I enjoyed the mention of so many well-known books, a number of my favorites like To Kill a Mockingbird, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. The author even lists the books and authors mentioned in a special section of the book. Among them authors I enjoy so much like Jodi Picoult, Mark Twain, Fannie Flagg and John Grisham. 

In one scene, Sara is talking to a customer about the smells of different books and that "New books always had the strongest aroma." This made me realize the reader misses this feature while reading in a digital format.

According to an author bio, Ms. Bivald is Swedish and worked in a bookshop herself so one could assume there is at least some resemblance to her main character, Sara. This is her debut novel, and a good one. I rate it a 5, very enjoyable. I may recommend this for Page Turners for next year.

ADDED 6/29/24

It was clear the other Page Turners didn't enjoy the book quite as much aa I did. The average rating was 3.3. At least a couple of people said it reminded them of a Hallmark movie but most thought it was a refreshing relief after last month's read, Half the Sky. Like me, several found it interesting that many books mentioned were ones we'd read, some discussed as Page Turner selections. One participant rated the book a 5 because of personal experience similar to Sara's. A few felt the character development was weak.

On the Bright Side The New Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen by Hendrik Groen

 

"It's at moments like these that you need friends to rescue you from complete apathy and give you a kick in the behind: no whining! Another day the roles may be reversed and it's your turn to cheer someone up and help them get through the day. If you're alone, you can't do it. You'll sink into total lethargy, unable to haul yourself out of your chair by the window. Then you're dead before actually dying. You have to keep yourself from falling into that trap. That's what our club is for: Old But Not Dead. It sounds a bit pathetic, but it's the truth."

          -from the NEW diary

After reading Hendrik's first Secret Diary, I couldn't resist diving into this one! Being married to an octogenarian and not far from that age myself AND living in a retirement community, or care home as Hendrik describes it, I can SO relate to the stories he tells! Elevator queues to complaints about food and overexposure to other's aches and pains are all things we have experienced. Hendrik tells all in such a humorous way. And although much of the book is funny, there are poignant passages, too, when Hendrik loses 2 close friends---one in each diary. Definitely a disadvantage to becoming good friends with folks of 80+ years!

In his 85th year, Hendrik hears rumors that the care facility where he resides may be shutting down in the near future. He and friends from the Old But Not Dead club find a way to make up the majority of the resident council in order to investigate and, hopefully, stop such a thing from happening.

I must rate the book a 5, even though I am a little disappointed to find out these diaries are actually fiction and Hendrik Groen is a pen name for a Dutch author who may be much younger that the book's Hendrik. The diaries seem so realistic from my point of view, I was comfortable believing he could be a resident in my own "care home"!

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt

 

"Well let's see where that puts us. We've got a weirdo bug specialist slinking around town with a bottle of deadly poison. We've got a nigger drag queen, an old man who walks an imaginary dog, and now a faggot murder case. My friend, you are getting me and Mandy into one hell of a movie."

           -Joe Odum to the author

I read this book a number of years ago, probably the late 1990's. My husband and I both got such a kick out of it, we planned a "Midnight in the Garden" tour of Savannah. I enjoyed rereading it and reminiscing about our trip as references were made to places we visited for example the Mercer House, Clary's drugstore and Bonaventure Cemetery. 

I would call this book a memoir although the Super summary website claims it's a mixture of genres. The author, a New York journalist, lived in Savannah off and on for about 8 years, met some amazing, eccentric people and experienced some crazy happenings. See the quote for hints about the characters but add a so-called voodoo princess to the mix!

Jim Mercer, one of the upper crust of Savannah society and a noted antique dealer, is accused of murder when a young employee of his is found dead in his home. As he spends years at trial (there are 4!) or in jail, the author who has gotten to know him is intrigued by all the legal wrangling. During this time, Berendt also meets Joe Odum, named above, and several other very unique characters including the drag queen Lady Chablis who acts the part of Grand Empress of Savannah and becomes something of a thorn in Berendt's side.

One of my husband's and my most vivid memories of our "Midnight..." tour years ago was seeing Lady Chablis perform live. At that time, she was living in South Carolina and would come to Savannah occasionally to perform. Our tour guide informed us she would be appearing while we were in town and to top off the tour, it was a must-do! 

I have rated the book a 5 and hope to see the film again soon.

The Devil's Bed by William Kent Krueger

 

"1. The world is hard. Be strong.

 2.  Love is for only a few. Don't expect it.

 3. Life isn't fair. But some people are. Be one of them."

               -Bo Thorsen's credo for life

I am a HUGE fan of Mr. Krueger. I believe I have now read all of his novels. At first, I was disappointed in this one because I had been anticipating another installment in the Cork O'Connor series. This one I would call a political thriller which is a departure for this author. It didn't take long for me to be hooked and, toward the end, I was finding it hard to put down. I rate it a 5.

Bo Thorsen is with the Secret Service and assigned to protect the First Lady of the U.S., Katherine "Kate" Jorgenson Dixon. Early in the novel Kate's father, a former vice-president, has a terrible farming accident at his home in Minnesota...or was it? Bo discovers a mysterious man, David Moses, whom the reader first knows as Nightmare or Nocturne when he is telling his own story. Doesn't take long to see him as a monster. But then again... is he?

So many twists and turns and just who should Bo trust? President Clay Dixon seems like an upfront guy but his father, a senior senator, may be up to no good. Although this is not a typical murder mystery, people are dying and Bo uncovers a deep-seated conspiracy in the government and, at great risk to himself, sets out to investigate and bring the evil to light. Need I say more?