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Tuesday, February 15, 2011
January and books
YOU KNOW WHEN THE MEN ARE GONE by Siobhan Fallon (Amy Einhorn Books, 978-0-399-15720--2) is a sleeper.It sneaks up on you as you read it. It is an loosely interconnected stories that deal with service wives and families when their husbands are off on tours of duty. The fallout when they come home is there as well. As is the hum drum of lives on hold. Each woman and each family cope in different ways, when they do cope at all. The stories are spare and lean, but cut to the bone on their depiction of fear, guilt, loneliness. They also deal with death, alienation, jealousy and remorse. Fallon has been a service wife herself and her tales have that been there seen that quality. This is a penetrating and powerful look at what war does to those who live it at home.
A CUP OF FRIENDSHIP by Deborah Rodriguez (Ballantine, 978-0345-51475-2) is a novel from the author on the nonfiction best seller KABUL BEAUTY SCHOOL. Set in Kabul. this is the story of Sunny, an ex -pat American who operates a coffee shop for her peers. The stories that they all live and tell about are the grist for this saga. Sunny rescues a young woman, Yasmin. who was kidnapped from a rural village, used, and then abandoned in the city when she became pregnant. The cafe is the meeting place for
a wide range of characters who include a wealthy American beguiled by a shady local playboy type, Halajan,a older widow affiliated with the coffee house whose long love defies custom, political speakers, her politically correct son, Sonny's ex, Tommy, and the enigmatic Jack as well as political speakers and others. There stories involve clandestine love, rescues of kidnapped girls, adventure, friendship, love, and life on the cusp pf a coming war. One can learn much about a co8untry and its people by listening to those who live where even if they are fictional. The writing in this book is beautifully crafted.
And last but not least, we have THE ANATOMY OF GHOSTS by Andrew Taylor (Hyperion,978-1-4013-0287-0). Set in England in 1785 this is the story of a book seller, John Holdsworth. He has fallen on hard times and after his son drowns and his wife commits suicide after she claims to be visited by the son Georgie's ghost Holdsworth had written and published a treatise on the anatomy of ghosts but this did not deter his wife.and so sets about debunking their existence. Even though his dreams about his dead son are as real to him as are the ghosts to others.This book however was the reason he is taken into the circle that includes Lady Ann Oldershaw, whose late husband has made a huge bequest of his books to
Cambridge University. He is attached to her household to evaluate and value these books, but his real purpose turns put to be to exorcise or at least explain some ghosts that have been reported in the area. These ghostly emanations have been seen by the impressionable son of Lady Oldershaw and because of this he is incarcerated in a rather suspect mental hospital. Lady O wants him out and she thinks Holdsworth is the man for the job. His investigation uncovers illicit loves, plots among and against the instructors, tutors, and the undergraduates of the university, as well as murder most foul as well as some mistaken identities and unfortunate events as well as some shady beginnings of some of the colleges secret societies for the chosen. This is a suspenseful thriller set in a period that gives the plot credence, It also provides a backdrop for an interesting foray into the history of English life, the eternal politics of academia, and above all,the anatomy of a ghost - or at least the anatomy if a ghostly story. A spirited romp.
A CUP OF FRIENDSHIP by Deborah Rodriguez (Ballantine, 978-0345-51475-2) is a novel from the author on the nonfiction best seller KABUL BEAUTY SCHOOL. Set in Kabul. this is the story of Sunny, an ex -pat American who operates a coffee shop for her peers. The stories that they all live and tell about are the grist for this saga. Sunny rescues a young woman, Yasmin. who was kidnapped from a rural village, used, and then abandoned in the city when she became pregnant. The cafe is the meeting place for
a wide range of characters who include a wealthy American beguiled by a shady local playboy type, Halajan,a older widow affiliated with the coffee house whose long love defies custom, political speakers, her politically correct son, Sonny's ex, Tommy, and the enigmatic Jack as well as political speakers and others. There stories involve clandestine love, rescues of kidnapped girls, adventure, friendship, love, and life on the cusp pf a coming war. One can learn much about a co8untry and its people by listening to those who live where even if they are fictional. The writing in this book is beautifully crafted.
And last but not least, we have THE ANATOMY OF GHOSTS by Andrew Taylor (Hyperion,978-1-4013-0287-0). Set in England in 1785 this is the story of a book seller, John Holdsworth. He has fallen on hard times and after his son drowns and his wife commits suicide after she claims to be visited by the son Georgie's ghost Holdsworth had written and published a treatise on the anatomy of ghosts but this did not deter his wife.and so sets about debunking their existence. Even though his dreams about his dead son are as real to him as are the ghosts to others.This book however was the reason he is taken into the circle that includes Lady Ann Oldershaw, whose late husband has made a huge bequest of his books to
Cambridge University. He is attached to her household to evaluate and value these books, but his real purpose turns put to be to exorcise or at least explain some ghosts that have been reported in the area. These ghostly emanations have been seen by the impressionable son of Lady Oldershaw and because of this he is incarcerated in a rather suspect mental hospital. Lady O wants him out and she thinks Holdsworth is the man for the job. His investigation uncovers illicit loves, plots among and against the instructors, tutors, and the undergraduates of the university, as well as murder most foul as well as some mistaken identities and unfortunate events as well as some shady beginnings of some of the colleges secret societies for the chosen. This is a suspenseful thriller set in a period that gives the plot credence, It also provides a backdrop for an interesting foray into the history of English life, the eternal politics of academia, and above all,the anatomy of a ghost - or at least the anatomy if a ghostly story. A spirited romp.
New books in January
Many books that I recently read were published in January, They represent many styles and genres and view points .I have included some here that caught my fancy.
NEPTUNE'S INFERNO, THE U.S. NAVY AT GUADALCANAL by James D. Hornfischer, (Bantam
978-0-553-80670) is a nonfiction account of the bloody sea battles that occurred during the fight for the south Pacific and its islands. This is a no frills look at the battle that shows both sides of the battle and the seeming lack of preparation that went into our effort. The book whitewashes no one and is pitiless in its placing of blame, (rightly or wrongly). The book is stark and gruesome at times and is not for the faint of heart - or eye. From what I recall hearing and reading at this time (I probably 9 or 10 at the time) it is pretty accurate, It seems a wonder that either side won. Written in a rather dry and fact laden style, this is a lot of information about a defining time of out history. Now we would learn about everything instantaneously through the media. Then we waited until it went through government hands, made it to newspapers and appeared in theaters in newsreels or on the radio. Times as well as wars have changed.
From nonfiction gloom and global war to gloom and doom on a smaller scale. CARIBOU ISLAND by David Vann, ( Harper, 978-0-06-187572-4) is a book full of darkness and despair. Set in
Alaska ,this is the story of a failed marriage between two people who basically love each other but are totally unable to communicate and who seem to aggravate and infuriate each other by just by being themselves. Irene, the wife, is melancholy and her husband Gary is taciturn. Irene is carrying a dark memory of her own family life and her mother. The daughter Rhoda is planning on marrying her long time love Jim who drifts into relationship with a visiting free spirit. The family dynamics suggest tragedy is just around the corner at any time. This is a book that peels away at layers if guilt and passion and reveals the true person. The writing is precise and pristine. Although the book is dark and sometimes depressing it is a gem of a read.
For a quick read you might want to gibe Laura Lippman's THE GIRL IN THE GREEN RAINCOAT (William Morrow, 978-0-06-193836-8) a look. This novel was originally serialized in the New York Times and now is a Harper trade paper. The book features a pregnant Tess Monaghan who has been ordered by her doctor to stay put. So she has a kind of a "Rear Window" episode where she watches through her window. She notices a woman walking a feisty dog every day. The woman is wearing a green raincoat. And then, the woman is gone and the dog is out side alone. Tess decides something is amiss and gets her household and her work associates involved in finding out why this dog is alone and where the woman is.
Naturally, with Tess stirring the pot and her intrepid assistant, Mrs. Blossom, tracking down clues and doing the leg work, no crime can go undetected or unsolved. Tess and Crow will become parents and life will be changing for Tess. It will be interesting to see how Lippman handles the change of status of her independent strong woman private eye when she becomes an independent and strong mother with competing and complicating responsibilities and desire. I am looking forward to the next chapter in the saga.
NEPTUNE'S INFERNO, THE U.S. NAVY AT GUADALCANAL by James D. Hornfischer, (Bantam
978-0-553-80670) is a nonfiction account of the bloody sea battles that occurred during the fight for the south Pacific and its islands. This is a no frills look at the battle that shows both sides of the battle and the seeming lack of preparation that went into our effort. The book whitewashes no one and is pitiless in its placing of blame, (rightly or wrongly). The book is stark and gruesome at times and is not for the faint of heart - or eye. From what I recall hearing and reading at this time (I probably 9 or 10 at the time) it is pretty accurate, It seems a wonder that either side won. Written in a rather dry and fact laden style, this is a lot of information about a defining time of out history. Now we would learn about everything instantaneously through the media. Then we waited until it went through government hands, made it to newspapers and appeared in theaters in newsreels or on the radio. Times as well as wars have changed.
From nonfiction gloom and global war to gloom and doom on a smaller scale. CARIBOU ISLAND by David Vann, ( Harper, 978-0-06-187572-4) is a book full of darkness and despair. Set in
Alaska ,this is the story of a failed marriage between two people who basically love each other but are totally unable to communicate and who seem to aggravate and infuriate each other by just by being themselves. Irene, the wife, is melancholy and her husband Gary is taciturn. Irene is carrying a dark memory of her own family life and her mother. The daughter Rhoda is planning on marrying her long time love Jim who drifts into relationship with a visiting free spirit. The family dynamics suggest tragedy is just around the corner at any time. This is a book that peels away at layers if guilt and passion and reveals the true person. The writing is precise and pristine. Although the book is dark and sometimes depressing it is a gem of a read.
For a quick read you might want to gibe Laura Lippman's THE GIRL IN THE GREEN RAINCOAT (William Morrow, 978-0-06-193836-8) a look. This novel was originally serialized in the New York Times and now is a Harper trade paper. The book features a pregnant Tess Monaghan who has been ordered by her doctor to stay put. So she has a kind of a "Rear Window" episode where she watches through her window. She notices a woman walking a feisty dog every day. The woman is wearing a green raincoat. And then, the woman is gone and the dog is out side alone. Tess decides something is amiss and gets her household and her work associates involved in finding out why this dog is alone and where the woman is.
Naturally, with Tess stirring the pot and her intrepid assistant, Mrs. Blossom, tracking down clues and doing the leg work, no crime can go undetected or unsolved. Tess and Crow will become parents and life will be changing for Tess. It will be interesting to see how Lippman handles the change of status of her independent strong woman private eye when she becomes an independent and strong mother with competing and complicating responsibilities and desire. I am looking forward to the next chapter in the saga.
As I was saying
The sun is shining! The snow is melting! And I am definitely thinking spring. As are the birds outside my window.That includes the very noisy robin on the fencepost looking slightly annoyed. The pile of books to be read seems to shrink, while the stack to review grows by the day. So many things get in the way. Weather. Egypt. Taxes. But I digress.
FREEBIES! That' right. I have 5 copies of CALL ME IRRESISTIBLE by Susan Elizabeth Phillips to give away to eh first five readers and/or new followers who contact me at laurabelle.mccaffery@gmail.com with name and mailing address. The books will be mailed out in a week to ten days after I receive your email. Then let me know how you liked the book.
And, no, no one pays me to do any of this. I read and provide my opinions whether anyone agrees or not.
FREEBIES! That' right. I have 5 copies of CALL ME IRRESISTIBLE by Susan Elizabeth Phillips to give away to eh first five readers and/or new followers who contact me at laurabelle.mccaffery@gmail.com with name and mailing address. The books will be mailed out in a week to ten days after I receive your email. Then let me know how you liked the book.
And, no, no one pays me to do any of this. I read and provide my opinions whether anyone agrees or not.
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