Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt

"When I look back on my childhood I wonder how I survived at all. It was, of course, a miserable childhood: the happy childhood is hardly worth your while...People everywhere brag and whimper about the woes of their early years, but nothing can compare with the Irish version: the poverty; the shiftless loquacious alcoholic father; the pious defeated mother moaning by the fire; pompous priests; bullying schoolmasters; the English and the terrible things they did to us for eight hundred long years."                        -Frank McCourt

Anticipating a visit to Ireland I wanted to read something with the flavor of the Emerald Isle. I began one novel titled Ireland but it started out slow and I gave it up. For some reason I thought of Angela's Ashes, an older book but one that I had heard of and thought to be set in Ireland. When I checked the library, no print copy was available but there was a recorded version on CDs. The library clerk suggested ordering the print copy to be delivered when available and in the meantime, listen to the recording. What a wonderful surprise this turned out to be! The book is narrated by the author, with his delightful Irish brogue. He changes his voice for different characters and even sings. Listening was a pure delight!

When the print copy came in the mail, I began reading and was several chapters in before I realized there are NO quotation marks and often no dialog tags like "he said" and such. In the narrated version, the dialog was obvious and, apparently, I was so used to the style, I had no confusion with the print copy.

Angela's Ashes is a memoir taking Frank McCourt from around four years old, when his family left New York for Ireland, to his late teens, when he finally achieves his dream to return to America. This reader's emotions ran the gamut---from profound sympathy for the abject poverty to anger focused on the alcoholic father to sadness over deaths in the family to the humorous perceptions of a child, especially regarding the Catholic faith and sex. One of my favorite laugh-aloud parts is Chapter IV in which Frank receives First Communion. The quote above, from the very first page, is illustrative of Frank's youth.

I was quite amused by the references to Presbyterians, seen by the Limerick folk as lower than low. I am Presbyterian and not used to being treated with scorn. An example is when Grandma is trying to get Frankie ready for First Communion, complains about this hair and says, "If your mother had married a proper decent Limerickman you wouldn't have this standing up, North of Ireland, Presbyterian hair." Seemingly, Presbyterians, North of Irelanders, the English and Americans are all seen in a very bad light.

It tickled me that each time Uncle Pat is mentioned, the reader is reminded he was dropped on his head as a child. I am going to borrow the expression "I don't give a fiddler's fart" from the novel though I don't remember which character used it.

I am sure I don't have to tell you I am rating this one a 5. It has me really looking forward to visiting Ireland. I enjoyed Angela's Ashes immensely and can't wait to read another by Frank McCourt. 'Tis has been recommended.

Before the Fall by Noah Hawley

"Everyone has their path. The choices they've made. How any two people end up in the same place at the same time is a mystery."
              -from the novel

No doubt---this one rates a five! I could hardly put it down. Much of the novel was exciting and vividly descriptive with even some philosophical musings for good measure.

A private jet crashes off Martha's Vineyard with 11 people on board. Only 2 survive---Scott Burroughs, would-be artist, and a small boy, J.J., whose parents and sister are among the lost. Scott, a champion swimmer in his prime, miraculously saves himself and the child and should be considered a hero, but that is not exactly what happens.

The cause of the crash is up in the air (pun intended)---mechanical failure, terrorism, sabotage? Author Hawley introduces each passenger in turn, revealing background and personality, keeping the reader guessing through many chapters. In addition to the pilot, co-pilot and flight attendant, there is a family of 4, the father being the very wealthy David Bateman, a Rupert Murdock type character and founder of a FOX-like news network. With David: wife Maggie, daughter Rachel, son J.J, and security guard Gil. Another rich couple, invited guests of the Batemans, are Ben and Sarah Kipling. We find out later Ben is being investigated by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Controls and on the verge of being charged. Last to embark is Scott who just recently has gotten his life back on track and was offered a lift to New York by Maggie Bateman.

To the major characters add in some investigators, a rich heiress trying to rescue Scott from the paparazzi, an aunt and uncle who will be expected to raise J. J. (and along with that, guard his inheritance of millions) and a bulldog of a sensationalist news commentator---think Sean Hannity---easy for me to dislike.

I found Scott's story of being inspired by Jack LaLanne when he was just a boy especially interesting because I remember his TV show back in the day and my mother was a huge fan. Jack was called the "fittest man on earth."

I am not sure how long it would have been before I discovered this one on my own. As it turned out, my husband noted that on an upcoming cruise, a book club would form to read and discuss this novel. I am ready! (I've read it may soon be a movie. Fingers crossed!)

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I chose this book for Page Turners for February, 2019, because I had enjoyed it and could check out a "book bundle" ( a set of 10 copies) from our public library for our members. When we rated the book I was surprised that most did NOT love the book. The rating was 3.4 with two 5's and twos 2's. Apparently some readers found parts of the plot implausible and others thought it started out as a page-turner but did not maintain its intensity. I would have to agree it is not really great literature in the strictest sense but it held high entertainment value for me. Most did not think they would read it again, but I believe I will. Our discussion was interesting, as always.

Last Train to Paradise (Henry Flagler and the Spectacular Rise and Fall of the Railroad that Crossed an Ocean) by Les Standiford

"And on the pedestal, these words appear:

 'My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings,

 Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!'

 Nothing beside remains. Round the decay

 Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare

 The lone and level sands stretch far away."

          -Percy Bysshe Shelley

This book was recommended to me but even if it had not been, it was inevitable that I would read it. I have taught and will teach again in October, an adult class called Florida's Four Henrys. Of course, one of the Henrys is Flagler, the focus of this book. I don't generally go for nonfiction but this one was well-written, historical in nature with a goodly amount of Flagler biography. 

There is much to admire about Henry Flagler---his vision, determination and unrelenting spirit. He made a fortune as cofounder of Standard Oil and, at a time when many men retire, began a second career as developer of Florida. When asked why, his answer was "For the last fourteen or fifteen years I have devoted my time exclusively to business, and now I am pleasing myself."

The primary focus of this book is the building of the Overseas Railroad, an extension of Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway to Key West. When he began talking of the project, people called it "Flagler's Folly" and a "lunatic notion." It was amazing how dedicated he was and the perseverance he showed in continuing the work in spite of numerous difficulties, not the least of which were two major hurricanes. One has only to drive across the current Overseas Highway to Key West to realize how daunting the challenge was!

I was glad I read the book---I will rate it a 5 because many parts were quite exciting and I learned a number of new facts about this railroad baron and his work. It was interesting that Standiford began the book with a chapter called "End of the Line" about the demise of the Overseas Railroad. The next to last chapter is "Storm of Storms" which explains in much more detail how the "fall" (see subtitle) came about. Ernest Hemingway was apparently a witness to the monster hurricane of 1935. His descriptions and others were horrifying! 

I enjoyed the photographs included in the book, many of which I had not found online. I hope to one day visit the Henry Morrison Flagler museum in Palm Beach from whence the pictures came. What is now the museum was his mansion called Whitehall.

I was not aware that Flagler thought President Theodore Roosevelt had a vendetta against him from the time he was with Standard Oil. I also didn't know that Flagler felt he could have been a rich man except for getting involved in Florida! Perhaps he did more for Florida than the state did for him!

Redemption Road by John Hart

"Bent as he was, he looked different yet the same, violent and held together and still somehow lovely. It was a foolish word---lovely---but that, too, came from childhood so she gave it a moment. He was lovely and undone, every tortured inch a mystery. Like the church, she thought, or Crybaby's heart or the souls of wounded children. But childhood was not all good, nor were its lessons. Good came with the bad, as dark did with light and weakness with strength. Nothing was simple or pure; everyone had secrets."              -Elizabeth's thoughts, from the novel

This book was chosen for the group because it was a Book Bundle from our public library (10 copies available) and also it was rated fairly highly on goodreads.com. One more reason I selected it: we just read Little Women and this would be VERY different and hopefully interest the guys in our group a little more. So far the feedback is mixed! I'm guessing our folks are either going to like it or hate it. I have to say it is absolutely a page-turner!

The plot involves a serial killer, identity unknown until near the end, and a few subplots---a detective, Elizabeth Black, accused of using undue brutal force against two kidnappers, and a former cop, Adrian Wall, recently released from prison and lucky to be alive after gross mistreatment by the warden and guards. A young man, Gideon, who wants revenge on the man who killed his mother and Channing, the teenage girl kidnapped by the men Elizabeth is accused of killing, provide even more mystery and angst.

About the time Adrian gets out of prison, a series of murders of young women are dramatically revealed. Since he had been found guilty and  imprisoned for the murder of one woman, fingers started to point in his direction, with some people being convinced he was the perpetrator and Elizabeth being totally sure he is not! For most of the book, we are left to wonder although I admit I leaned toward Elizabeth's opinion.

I had some questions about Elizabeth's attempted martyrdom and I really was shocked to discover the killer. Many of the bad guys in the story get their comeuppance, so that was good. My favorite character was Faircloth "Crybaby" Jones, a retired lawyer, seemingly with a heart of gold. I cannot say too much more about the plot without spoiling the suspense so I will stop....

The violence is graphic and disturbing but the story is riveting. Even at just over 400 pages, I almost inhaled the book! A hard one to put down. I might rate this a 2 for literary value and a 4 for readability so I guess I will say a 3, overall. Wonder what the group will think.....more later.
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Redemption Road provided the Page Turners with a lively discussion even though we had to use generic questions for mystery/suspense. The group's rating was 3.4---votes in the extreme, 5 all the way to 1! Some members of the group found certain elements of the plot implausible and a number of us didn't like the ending. Most didn't find many likeable characters---except Crybaby Jones, and we agreed several were downright despicable, especially the warden and, of course, the murderer. (No spoiler here!)

There was a good bit of speculation about the choice and meaning of the title. One member with a background in publishing reminded us a title is often chosen by the publisher, not the author. Another participant, a retired pastor, shared some very interesting insight into the significance of the word redemption. We were still left questioning which characters were redeemed and to what extent.

Several in our group said they would read another novel by John Hart so we apparently thought the writing was good.

Eleanor's Story An American Girl in Hitler's Germany by Eleanor Ramrath Garner

"America's involvement in the war sent me into a tailspin. How bizarre! I thought. The soldiers of the country where I was born, the country I love, will be told to kill me, my family, and my new friends. And the soldiers of the country of my ancestry, of my beloved Omis [grandmothers], the country where I live, will be told to hate and kill Americans. Where do I stand in all of this? Who should I be loyal to? I felt pulled in two between America and Germany."
                       -Eleanor, 1941

I doubt I would have ever discovered this book had it not been for the Orlando Fringe Festival. How is that? you ask. At this year's festival, we saw a performance with the same title as this memoir. It was a one-woman show by the granddaughter of this author, Eleanor Ramrath Garner. It was a gripping story beautifully told by a talented young lady. At the end of her show, the granddaughter/actress, whose name I do not remember, mentioned that she had adapted her script from this book. I determined then and there to read it!

The book apparently was intended for young adults so it was a fairly quick and easy read. However, the subject matter is very intense with some disturbing images. Indeed, how could one write of Hitler's Germany without some horrifying details?

Eleanor tells her own story, starting when she was 9 years old and her family moved from Stratford, N.J. to Berlin in late 1939 because of her father's work. By the time they arrive in Germany, the political situation is looking bad but it is too late to return to the U.S. Father's job was to be a 2-year stint but the family is stuck there indefinitely. The family must survive frequent air raids and bombings, terrible food shortages, bitter cold, the threat of the SS terrorism of citizens and family separations.

I enjoyed figuring out the German words though the author did not overdo and the context gave hints. German food is not one of my favorite cuisines but I remember seeing Heaven and Earth on a German menu, a mixture of mashed potatoes and applesauce. It was a welcome treat for Eleanor in the story. I am passing this book on to a friend who has spent a good amount of time in Germany and has kept in touch with German friends. I think she will like it.

I would not want to spoil the ending so I will just say Eleanor is an ordinary girl who lived an extraordinary life. Her memoir is completely captivating. I rate it a 5.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

"Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well.  Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life become a beautiful success, in spite of poverty."
                 -Marmee's advice, from the novel

When I heard that PBS was airing a miniseries called "Little Women" as a part of Masterpiece Theater in May, I thought it would be interesting to read or reread the classic novel in June. Several book club members agreed it was a fine idea.

As I began to read I started to doubt whether I had read this book as a youth or had just seen the 1949 movie because much of the plot was unfamiliar and I surely did not realize how LONG it was! And one could not accuse Alcott of either being concise or of using a limited vocabulary! I thought I would never finish the novel so it definitely was not a page-turner. I will rate it a 3.

I was able to view the first Masterpiece showing but missed the second. Somehow my DVR did not record it. I thought the first part followed the book pretty well and I enjoyed it. I have just seen a trailer for a new film version, a modern retelling, to be released in September. I look forward to seeing it. Perhaps we can get a group together. I found out there was another movie done in 1994 and I will check the library for that one. I somehow think this is a story I will like better in movie form, a rare occurrence.

The "little women" of the novel are the March sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, ages 16 to 12, respectively, at the start of the novel. Each has her own unique personality and talents. All struggle with their poverty and at times, sibling rivalry. Their father, Mr. March, is away, involved in the Civil War, so the mother and sisters must carry on without him. Through it all Marmee (mother), tries to teach her girls how to be good people and how to achieve happiness. One reviewer of the book calls it a "morality tale." It does get pretty didactic, at times. (see the quote above) I think the overarching theme of the novel, though, is the importance of family and the power of love.

A good companion novel for Little Women is March by Geraldine Brooks. I read it 2 years ago and rated it a 5. I enjoyed it very much. Here is a description from Wikipedia:
March is a novel by Geraldine Brooks. It is a novel that retells Louisa May Alcott's novel Little Women from the point of view of Alcott's protagonists' absent father. Brooks has inserted the novel into the classic tale, revealing the events surrounding March's absence during the American Civil War in 1862. The novel won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for fiction.

My blog post for March is dated August 24, 2016, if you want to read it.
I will continue this post after our Page Turners meeting this week.
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Our meeting today was enjoyable with  a lovely spread of edibles. Interestingly a number of attendees had NOT read the book---perhaps the first time ever. Many had read it years ago or had seen the movie or PBS miniseries. Our group average rating was 3.4---kind of a middling reaction. We all agreed that the novel strongly illustrates women's independence and the love of family. Jo was the favorite "little woman" for several and a few of us thought Amy's transformation was a bit unbelievable. One person reminded us of The Pilgrim's Progress and how it was used in the novel as an underlying theme. We decided it would have been helpful to have read that classic ahead of time. A few people in the group felt we enjoyed Little Women more as a younger person. We are looking forward to seeing the updated film version when it is released in September, hopefully as a group.

The Mapmaker's Children by Sarah McCoy

"Listen carefully. Never be ashamed of our cause. I wish that my funeral attendants not be any of these policing Pharisees but the barefoot and impoverished slave children of Virginia. Hold them close to you, my dears. Be their angels. The abolishment of slavery does not end with me. You must carry on. I have given this same revelation to your living brothers by letter. You girls, Ruth, and little Ellen are the mothers of the next generation, which I pray will know no nation that places shackles on another man and stands on his back.....Promise me, daughters."
              -John Brown at the time of his execution, from the novel

A friend loaned me this book, knowing my love for historical fiction. It was an uncorrected proof which may have had something to do with my lack of enjoyment at first. By the middle of the novel I was more involved with the characters and ended up appreciating the story. I will rate it 3.5.

Sarah Brown is the daughter of John Brown, the abolitionist martyr of Harper's Ferry fame. She is a talented artist who discovers she can use her skills to make escape maps to help in the efforts of the Underground Railroad (UGRR).

Alternating with Sarah's story (1859) is that of Eden Anderson who, along with husband Jack, has just moved into an historic house in New Charlestown, WV in 2014.They soon make a few discoveries, like a secret space and a doll's head, that lead them to the conclusion that the home was a station on the UGRR.

The connection of Sarah and Eden seemed predictable but it was actually more intricate than I had thought. The reader really doesn't know all the who's who and what's what until near the end.

One of my favorite characters is Chloe, the dog "nanny." She is an 11-year-old going on 30---very perceptive for her age. I taught kids of that age for many years so I was impressed by her intelligence and maturity.

Recently I heard of a novel called Cloudsplitter by Russell Banks which apparently involves the story of John Brown as remembered by his son. Sounds like the perfect companion book for this one! I'm putting it on my longggg to-read list.