Two Rivers by T. Greenwood
I read this book in January so the details are foggy. I read reviews online to refresh my memory but they didn't help much. My apologies in advance.
The book stars Harper Montgomery and opens in a memory of the past... 1968. "Blackberries. The man's skin reminds him of late summer blackberries. The color of not-quite midnight. The color of a bruise. This is what Harper thinks as he looks at the man they have taken to the river, the one who is half-drowned now, pleading for his life: the miracle that human skin can have the same blue-black stillness as ripe fruit, as evening, as sorrow itself."
The book switches between past and present, which I've found to like in novels as of late. Present day Harper lives with his daughter Shelly in an small town apartment. He works at the railroad and has been in a state of depression since his wife Besty died twelve years earlier, the day Shelly was born. Betsy was Harper's childhood crush turned love-of-his-life, and her death devastated him.
Harper was somehow involved in a murder in 1968, but the book reveals little of the crime or why he was involved. However, the event significantly impacted his life and he feels guilty about his involvement.
This becomes more clear after a horrific train derailment occurs present day in Two Rivers, in which many people die. He attempts to save a man who's stuck in one of the train cars under water, but is unsuccessful. The man had skin the color of blackberries. As a result of not being able to save the man, Harper runs out of the water and rushes to a place to be alone, collapses next to a tree, and his mind goes back to 1968 and the murder. After many minutes, he becomes aware that a young pregnant black girl stands dripping wet in front of him, begging for him to help her. Reluctantly he lets the girl stay with him and his daughter, explaining that she's his "mother's friend's daughter."
In addition to flashing back to the 1968 murder, the book also flashes back to Harper and his growing relationship with Betsy, and with his parents. His father invented things to make his mother's life easier, although his father reminded me somewhat of the crazy inventor in the movie, "Honey I Shrunk the Kids," and the inventions were clunky and useless. Harper's very liberal mother spent most of her time alone, writing. Once Harper left for college, she left the home to help register black voters. In Harper's sophomore year of college, his mother started Freedom Press Monthly and had one thousand subscribers. At one point she was beat up so badly that her jaw was wired shut.
Harper's mother printed a special edition of the Freedom Press almost immediately after Martin Luther King, Junior was murdered. The headline read DREAM TURNS NIGHTMARE. She delivered to her usual neighborhoods. "But on April 4, when she drove down Blue Hill Avenue, the street was on fire, and the last thing the residents of Roxbury wanted to see was a crazy-haired white lady driving a Buick through a riot." After the beating she received on that day, she lapsed into a coma at Harvard Medical Center, and quickly died.
Betsy was pregnant at the time of Harper's mother's death. Besty died after giving birth, and the murdered man had something to do with Betsy's death, but we don't know what until the end of the book.
Does Harper find redemption? Forgiveness? I guess you'll have to read the book to find out.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Book review: Water for Elephants
I am so far behind on my book reviews, it’s rather embarrassing. I will do my best to recall each book I’ve read since January 2011. I will begin with…
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Water for Elephants is told as a series of memories by Jacob Jankowski, a “ninety or ninety-three year-old” man who lives in a nursing home. Jacob longs to eat food with flavor and of substance, like corn-on-the-cob or steak, but because he’s “the only one who still has teeth” he’s forced to eat tasteless “mush” at the nursing home. He’s a witty character that will make the reader laugh aloud at times.
The book goes between Jacob’s present non-exciting and lonely life in a nursing home to memories of his past working for The Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. As a young man, Jacob was about to take his final exam to become a vet at Cornell when he was informed that his parents died in a car accident… and that his father mortgaged the family home (and vet business) to send him to school, so he no longer had a home or a vet business. Devastated, he literally ran away; he hopped on a train in the middle of the night only to find out later that it was a circus train.
Thankfully he was able to get a job with the circus because of his veterinary skills. He’s forced to share a boxcar with a dwarf named Walter and his dog Queenie, neither of which are happy about the new living arrangements. Jacob also meets Camel, an alcoholic who later befalls the effects of drinking Jamaican ginger extract for years and loses the use of his arms and legs. Walter, Camel and Jacob eventually get along and become good friends.
The head trainer August is married to the star of the circus, Marlena, with whom Jacob falls in love. August is a violent man who abuses the animals and people, Marlena in particular. This can be seen more vividly after Rosie the elephant is purchased “to save the circus.” August, although sometimes charming, is not a likable character. Jacob develops a guarded relationship with August and Marlena.
August becomes suspicious of Jacob and Marlena’s “relationship” and beats each of them. Marlena runs away to a hotel while she’s not performing. The reader, and August, can clearly see that Jacob and Marlena are falling in love with one another, although neither have acted upon it physically.
Meanwhile, circus sales are down, workers aren’t being paid (sometimes for months) and circus hands are being “red-lighted” (throwing circus workers off a moving train as either punishment or to avoid paying wages).
As Jacob sees the results of August’s beatings of Marlena and Rosie the elephant, he becomes enraged and wants revenge. One night Jacob climbs up and jumps each car, while the train is moving, to August’s room, carrying a knife between his teeth intending to kill August. He sees Marlena in bed with August and instead quietly lays the knife on August’s pillow as a type of warning. When Jacob returns to his boxcar, he only finds Queenie. He realizes that Walter and Camel were red-lighted and Jacob himself was supposed to be too. The train stops in the next town and the tents go up. Some are shocked to see Jacob there…
As the story climaxes, several circus workers who were red-lighted off the train come back and release the animals causing a stampede during the performance.
Panic arises. August is killed by Rosie the elephant, who plunges the stake which had “secured” her to the ground, into his head. Jacob is the only one who sees this happen. Rosie then returns the stake into the ground. As a result of the stampede, the circus is shut down. Marlena and Jacob leave, along with Rosie the elephant, Queenie, and a few other animals, to begin their life together.
We discover that Marlena and Jacob married, had 5 children, and spent the first seven years at another circus before Jacob secured a job as a vet at a zoo, who also took Rosie the elephant. Evidently Marlena died a few years before Jacob was put into the nursing home.
In the present, ninety-three year old Jacob is waiting for his family to take him to the circus. Alas, they forgot. He is deeply saddened, but then decides to walk across the street to the circus by himself. He arrives as they are loading up to go to another city. Jacob meets the manager and finds that he is “home” again. He secures a job as a ticket salesman.
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Water for Elephants is told as a series of memories by Jacob Jankowski, a “ninety or ninety-three year-old” man who lives in a nursing home. Jacob longs to eat food with flavor and of substance, like corn-on-the-cob or steak, but because he’s “the only one who still has teeth” he’s forced to eat tasteless “mush” at the nursing home. He’s a witty character that will make the reader laugh aloud at times.
The book goes between Jacob’s present non-exciting and lonely life in a nursing home to memories of his past working for The Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. As a young man, Jacob was about to take his final exam to become a vet at Cornell when he was informed that his parents died in a car accident… and that his father mortgaged the family home (and vet business) to send him to school, so he no longer had a home or a vet business. Devastated, he literally ran away; he hopped on a train in the middle of the night only to find out later that it was a circus train.
Thankfully he was able to get a job with the circus because of his veterinary skills. He’s forced to share a boxcar with a dwarf named Walter and his dog Queenie, neither of which are happy about the new living arrangements. Jacob also meets Camel, an alcoholic who later befalls the effects of drinking Jamaican ginger extract for years and loses the use of his arms and legs. Walter, Camel and Jacob eventually get along and become good friends.
The head trainer August is married to the star of the circus, Marlena, with whom Jacob falls in love. August is a violent man who abuses the animals and people, Marlena in particular. This can be seen more vividly after Rosie the elephant is purchased “to save the circus.” August, although sometimes charming, is not a likable character. Jacob develops a guarded relationship with August and Marlena.
August becomes suspicious of Jacob and Marlena’s “relationship” and beats each of them. Marlena runs away to a hotel while she’s not performing. The reader, and August, can clearly see that Jacob and Marlena are falling in love with one another, although neither have acted upon it physically.
Meanwhile, circus sales are down, workers aren’t being paid (sometimes for months) and circus hands are being “red-lighted” (throwing circus workers off a moving train as either punishment or to avoid paying wages).
As Jacob sees the results of August’s beatings of Marlena and Rosie the elephant, he becomes enraged and wants revenge. One night Jacob climbs up and jumps each car, while the train is moving, to August’s room, carrying a knife between his teeth intending to kill August. He sees Marlena in bed with August and instead quietly lays the knife on August’s pillow as a type of warning. When Jacob returns to his boxcar, he only finds Queenie. He realizes that Walter and Camel were red-lighted and Jacob himself was supposed to be too. The train stops in the next town and the tents go up. Some are shocked to see Jacob there…
As the story climaxes, several circus workers who were red-lighted off the train come back and release the animals causing a stampede during the performance.
Panic arises. August is killed by Rosie the elephant, who plunges the stake which had “secured” her to the ground, into his head. Jacob is the only one who sees this happen. Rosie then returns the stake into the ground. As a result of the stampede, the circus is shut down. Marlena and Jacob leave, along with Rosie the elephant, Queenie, and a few other animals, to begin their life together.
We discover that Marlena and Jacob married, had 5 children, and spent the first seven years at another circus before Jacob secured a job as a vet at a zoo, who also took Rosie the elephant. Evidently Marlena died a few years before Jacob was put into the nursing home.
In the present, ninety-three year old Jacob is waiting for his family to take him to the circus. Alas, they forgot. He is deeply saddened, but then decides to walk across the street to the circus by himself. He arrives as they are loading up to go to another city. Jacob meets the manager and finds that he is “home” again. He secures a job as a ticket salesman.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Men, part 2
Men, part 2
When it comes to men, I always want what I can’t have. It’s my protection. A shield. A way for me not to get hurt. Intellectually I realize this fact, but my heart doesn’t want to go through the pain again. Heart wins. However, my heart aches to be loved. My body yearns to be held, my lips kissed, my hands intertwined with another… our bodies joining together in pure passionate pleasure.
I can have *all* of those things with DJ (not his real name). I shouldn’t because he’s married… morally off-limits. But there’s the catch, you see, he’s safe. He’s safe BECAUSE he is married. He can’t commit to me. I know he can’t stay the night or see me as often as I’d like to see him. He won’t love me and leave me or break my heart. He’s safe, you see? He holds me close and kisses me; he intertwines his fingers and body with mine, like a perfect mold… we are made for each other. Just seeing his name in my e-mail in-box excites me. Oh, and hearing his voice…! *slow deep breath* That excites me more. And when he arrives on my doorstep unexpectedly during the late night hours, we can’t keep our clothes on long enough to shut the front door. Passionate. Raw. Animalistic.
See? He can’t hurt me.
But he does… our time together is temporary and fills a momentary need. When our time together is over I am alone once again—only this time I’m alone and left feeling bad because I compromised myself, my morals, my values. So begins the cycle.
I know I have to stay away from DJ. I’ve done well for almost a year. But his name appeared in my in-box recently… my pulse quickened, my breathing grew shallow, my eyes dilated, I was ready—that intense lust rushed through my entire body. Just. By. Seeing. His. Name.
I can justify sleeping with him to myself: “if he’s going to cheat on his wife, it might as well be with me;” or “they haven’t slept together in years, so why does it matter?;” or “it’s no big deal; it’s just sex; it’s only physical.”
Who *is* that person? Not the Keri I know.
Will that lust ever go away? It didn’t a year ago when I was dating my boyfriend. Perhaps it was because that relationship was long distance? Regardless, every time I saw DJ’s name in my inbox I wanted nothing more than to be with him. I didn’t, of course. Regrettably. Or not. I am faithful in my relationships. Hypocrite. It’s true. I don’t cheat. My ex-husband cheated on me and I know what it feels like. So why… why did I sleep with DJ? Am I not worthy of a great man? Am I not worthy of love? Do I fear love…?
DJ isn’t the only man on my mind.
There’s one man I am ever so slowly getting out of my mind. We met online years ago, but just met in person in the past six months. He’s considerably younger but definitely has an old soul. He’s accepting and open-minded and will try anything at least once. He’s genius intelligent so there’s never a lull in the conversation. And I can be me with him… no apologies. He accepts me for me. In addition, although we have haven’t slept together, I know we are sexually compatible from the site on which we met and from our conversations over the years. He’s a beautiful and caring man with a lot to offer to someone… I don’t think he thinks *I* am that someone.
But again, because of the age difference, he is safe. *I* do not have a problem with his age, and because I don’t look or act my age, I don’t think it’s a problem, but that is not my decision to make. Most of my friends are his age or a year or two older than him… idk… Regardless, he’s unavailable to me right now and that is a choice he made.
Men. Men. More men.
Is it normal to look at someone and want to tear off his clothes and have sex? Like right there. In the very moment. You know I’m an open book and I have no boundaries. I’m laying it all out here. Clearly I am not ready for a relationship, right? Or maybe it’s a farce so I don’t have to admit I’m afraid to love someone… to give him my full heart. Sex is easy. Love on the other hand, is not.
I walked into my ACA meeting one evening and as soon as I entered the meeting room, my eyes locked on Brian. He was back! *grin* I then looked to my right and saw another hottie—and he was new. I took my seat one away from the new hottie and joked that with the room full of 5 men and me, it was like I had my own harem tonight. The hottie smiled at me with his beautiful eyes and long curly eyelashes and said, “take your pick!” In my head I already chose… him. When the meeting began, we joined hands, and because the other side of the table was shorter than our side, I told the hottie that we’d have to stand close to each other so I could reach across the table. He pulled me close and wrapped my arm around his back, still holding my hand, and said, “that’s OK with me,” and then our heads bumped together a little bit and we laughed. The meeting began. We ended up in different groups, so I don’t know anything about him other than his name. LOL I haven’t seen him since. And hopefully he doesn’t read my notes section. *blush* I doubt he does, and he’s rarely on Facebook anyway, so I hope luck is on my side.
When it comes to men, I always want what I can’t have. It’s my protection. A shield. A way for me not to get hurt. Intellectually I realize this fact, but my heart doesn’t want to go through the pain again. Heart wins. However, my heart aches to be loved. My body yearns to be held, my lips kissed, my hands intertwined with another… our bodies joining together in pure passionate pleasure.
I can have *all* of those things with DJ (not his real name). I shouldn’t because he’s married… morally off-limits. But there’s the catch, you see, he’s safe. He’s safe BECAUSE he is married. He can’t commit to me. I know he can’t stay the night or see me as often as I’d like to see him. He won’t love me and leave me or break my heart. He’s safe, you see? He holds me close and kisses me; he intertwines his fingers and body with mine, like a perfect mold… we are made for each other. Just seeing his name in my e-mail in-box excites me. Oh, and hearing his voice…! *slow deep breath* That excites me more. And when he arrives on my doorstep unexpectedly during the late night hours, we can’t keep our clothes on long enough to shut the front door. Passionate. Raw. Animalistic.
See? He can’t hurt me.
But he does… our time together is temporary and fills a momentary need. When our time together is over I am alone once again—only this time I’m alone and left feeling bad because I compromised myself, my morals, my values. So begins the cycle.
I know I have to stay away from DJ. I’ve done well for almost a year. But his name appeared in my in-box recently… my pulse quickened, my breathing grew shallow, my eyes dilated, I was ready—that intense lust rushed through my entire body. Just. By. Seeing. His. Name.
I can justify sleeping with him to myself: “if he’s going to cheat on his wife, it might as well be with me;” or “they haven’t slept together in years, so why does it matter?;” or “it’s no big deal; it’s just sex; it’s only physical.”
Who *is* that person? Not the Keri I know.
Will that lust ever go away? It didn’t a year ago when I was dating my boyfriend. Perhaps it was because that relationship was long distance? Regardless, every time I saw DJ’s name in my inbox I wanted nothing more than to be with him. I didn’t, of course. Regrettably. Or not. I am faithful in my relationships. Hypocrite. It’s true. I don’t cheat. My ex-husband cheated on me and I know what it feels like. So why… why did I sleep with DJ? Am I not worthy of a great man? Am I not worthy of love? Do I fear love…?
DJ isn’t the only man on my mind.
There’s one man I am ever so slowly getting out of my mind. We met online years ago, but just met in person in the past six months. He’s considerably younger but definitely has an old soul. He’s accepting and open-minded and will try anything at least once. He’s genius intelligent so there’s never a lull in the conversation. And I can be me with him… no apologies. He accepts me for me. In addition, although we have haven’t slept together, I know we are sexually compatible from the site on which we met and from our conversations over the years. He’s a beautiful and caring man with a lot to offer to someone… I don’t think he thinks *I* am that someone.
But again, because of the age difference, he is safe. *I* do not have a problem with his age, and because I don’t look or act my age, I don’t think it’s a problem, but that is not my decision to make. Most of my friends are his age or a year or two older than him… idk… Regardless, he’s unavailable to me right now and that is a choice he made.
Men. Men. More men.
Is it normal to look at someone and want to tear off his clothes and have sex? Like right there. In the very moment. You know I’m an open book and I have no boundaries. I’m laying it all out here. Clearly I am not ready for a relationship, right? Or maybe it’s a farce so I don’t have to admit I’m afraid to love someone… to give him my full heart. Sex is easy. Love on the other hand, is not.
I walked into my ACA meeting one evening and as soon as I entered the meeting room, my eyes locked on Brian. He was back! *grin* I then looked to my right and saw another hottie—and he was new. I took my seat one away from the new hottie and joked that with the room full of 5 men and me, it was like I had my own harem tonight. The hottie smiled at me with his beautiful eyes and long curly eyelashes and said, “take your pick!” In my head I already chose… him. When the meeting began, we joined hands, and because the other side of the table was shorter than our side, I told the hottie that we’d have to stand close to each other so I could reach across the table. He pulled me close and wrapped my arm around his back, still holding my hand, and said, “that’s OK with me,” and then our heads bumped together a little bit and we laughed. The meeting began. We ended up in different groups, so I don’t know anything about him other than his name. LOL I haven’t seen him since. And hopefully he doesn’t read my notes section. *blush* I doubt he does, and he’s rarely on Facebook anyway, so I hope luck is on my side.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Book review: The Postcard Killers
December's book club choice was "individual choice" with the option of participating in a book exchange (gift wrapped) at the January meeting. I chose The Postcard Killers by James Patteron and Liza Marklund. There's no hiding that I love the work of James Patterson, although I cannot keep up with his novels! I think he publishes one each month... sometimes more!
The Postcard Killers opens at the Louvre in Paris, France as the killers admire the portrait of Mona Lisa. They meet a nice couple on their honeymoon and invited them to dinner, and afterwards, to share champagne with them in their hotel room. It's no surprise that the newly married couple are killed.
Meanwhile New York police department detective Jacob Kanon is visiting Europe's most famous cities, trying to catch the killers before they murder anyone else... AND to get justice for his daughter. Kanon's daughter Kimmy and her boyfriend were murdered while vacationing in Rome. Since then, young couples throughout Europe have been murdered. The only thing connecting the murders is a postcard mailed to a local newspaper that precedes each new victim.
Kanon teams up with Swedish reporter Dessie Larsson to find the killers before the next couple meets the same fate as those in other cities. Of course an obligatory love story is weaved into the story...
Will they find the killers? Will justice be served? You won't know unless you pick up the book and start reading. Enjoy!
The Postcard Killers opens at the Louvre in Paris, France as the killers admire the portrait of Mona Lisa. They meet a nice couple on their honeymoon and invited them to dinner, and afterwards, to share champagne with them in their hotel room. It's no surprise that the newly married couple are killed.
Meanwhile New York police department detective Jacob Kanon is visiting Europe's most famous cities, trying to catch the killers before they murder anyone else... AND to get justice for his daughter. Kanon's daughter Kimmy and her boyfriend were murdered while vacationing in Rome. Since then, young couples throughout Europe have been murdered. The only thing connecting the murders is a postcard mailed to a local newspaper that precedes each new victim.
Kanon teams up with Swedish reporter Dessie Larsson to find the killers before the next couple meets the same fate as those in other cities. Of course an obligatory love story is weaved into the story...
Will they find the killers? Will justice be served? You won't know unless you pick up the book and start reading. Enjoy!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Book review: Room
November's book club choice was Room by Emma Donoghue. I LOVED this novel and I think it took me record time to complete the book; I could NOT put it down! At once point I literally could not read fast enough to find out what would happen! It was similar to sitting at the edge of your seat during an intense part of a movie!
Writing this review is difficult because I don't want to give anything away. Suffice it to say that the book is AMAZING!
The novel is unique because it's written by five-year-old Jack's perspective, and Room is his world. Jack was born in Room; it's where he eats, sleeps, and plays. He's a highly intelligent five-year-old with a great imagination, which is credit to his mother, known only as Ma, since Room has been her prison for seven years.
It's not Jack's mother's choice to live in the windowless 11-by-11-foot space; she was kidnapped and imprisoned in the room when she was nineteen years old. Her captor, Old Nick, brings the pair food and necessary items on Sundays, and occasionally "visits" Ma late at night while Jack sleeps in Wardrobe.
Ma tries to give Jack as normal of a life as she can. She teaches him songs, how to read, and makes up exercises to keep his muscles toned and healthy. They do have a television, but she limits their time watching it. Because Jack was born in Room, Ma tells him that things like trees, birds, animals, and cars exist "outside" which he believes to be another planet, or "outer space".
But soon after Jack’s fifth birthday, Ma realizes she can’t raise him in confinement forever and forms an awful, desperate plan for escape.
I can't say any more. You will not be disappointed in this novel. Enjoy!
Writing this review is difficult because I don't want to give anything away. Suffice it to say that the book is AMAZING!
The novel is unique because it's written by five-year-old Jack's perspective, and Room is his world. Jack was born in Room; it's where he eats, sleeps, and plays. He's a highly intelligent five-year-old with a great imagination, which is credit to his mother, known only as Ma, since Room has been her prison for seven years.
It's not Jack's mother's choice to live in the windowless 11-by-11-foot space; she was kidnapped and imprisoned in the room when she was nineteen years old. Her captor, Old Nick, brings the pair food and necessary items on Sundays, and occasionally "visits" Ma late at night while Jack sleeps in Wardrobe.
Ma tries to give Jack as normal of a life as she can. She teaches him songs, how to read, and makes up exercises to keep his muscles toned and healthy. They do have a television, but she limits their time watching it. Because Jack was born in Room, Ma tells him that things like trees, birds, animals, and cars exist "outside" which he believes to be another planet, or "outer space".
But soon after Jack’s fifth birthday, Ma realizes she can’t raise him in confinement forever and forms an awful, desperate plan for escape.
I can't say any more. You will not be disappointed in this novel. Enjoy!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Book review: The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane
I'm behind in my book club book reviews. My apologies! Where does the time go?
October's book selection was The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe. I "discovered" the book from a friend who posted its book trailer on Facebook (http://www.physickbook.com/trailer.html). The trailer made me want to IMMEDIATELY buy the book! I could not wait to sit down and read! I'm fascinated by the Salem Witch Trials and that period of time.
The book was interesting, and although the story line was realistic with regards to researching and writing a dissertation, I found myself bored at times. However, there were moments in the book when I could not put it down! The author also threw in an obligatory romance to spice things up, but it was very predictable...even for someone who doesn't read romance novels.
Similar in format to Sarah's Key, the novel moves back and forth between time periods. The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane moves from the summer of 1991 in Salem, Massachusetts, to the 17th-century witch trial era. It is in the 17th century era that the reader discovers that Connie has ties to the witch trials, and that's what kept me reading.
Harvard graduate Connie Goodwin planned to spend her summer doing research for her doctoral dissertation, but her mother asked her to handle the sale of Connie's grandmother's abandoned home near Salem. Reluctantly she agreed. The house is falling apart, has no electricity, and no phone; quite a change for Connie.
As she cleans up the house one room at a time, she discovers an ancient key hidden inside a seventeenth-century Bible. The key contains an obviously old piece of parchment paper with "Deliverance Dane" written on it. This discovery intrigues Connie and makes her want to find out who this woman was, AND find the physick book and its secret recipes.
I found the ending of the book predictable on two levels, but won't spoil it for you. All and all, I'd give the book a 5 out of 10.
October's book selection was The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe. I "discovered" the book from a friend who posted its book trailer on Facebook (http://www.physickbook.com/trailer.html). The trailer made me want to IMMEDIATELY buy the book! I could not wait to sit down and read! I'm fascinated by the Salem Witch Trials and that period of time.
The book was interesting, and although the story line was realistic with regards to researching and writing a dissertation, I found myself bored at times. However, there were moments in the book when I could not put it down! The author also threw in an obligatory romance to spice things up, but it was very predictable...even for someone who doesn't read romance novels.
Similar in format to Sarah's Key, the novel moves back and forth between time periods. The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane moves from the summer of 1991 in Salem, Massachusetts, to the 17th-century witch trial era. It is in the 17th century era that the reader discovers that Connie has ties to the witch trials, and that's what kept me reading.
Harvard graduate Connie Goodwin planned to spend her summer doing research for her doctoral dissertation, but her mother asked her to handle the sale of Connie's grandmother's abandoned home near Salem. Reluctantly she agreed. The house is falling apart, has no electricity, and no phone; quite a change for Connie.
As she cleans up the house one room at a time, she discovers an ancient key hidden inside a seventeenth-century Bible. The key contains an obviously old piece of parchment paper with "Deliverance Dane" written on it. This discovery intrigues Connie and makes her want to find out who this woman was, AND find the physick book and its secret recipes.
I found the ending of the book predictable on two levels, but won't spoil it for you. All and all, I'd give the book a 5 out of 10.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Book review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
September's book club selection was The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. I've heard nothing but good things about the trilogy novels so I was naturally excited to read the first book.
I was immediately drawn into the mystery of who was sending a framed dried flower annually...for decades to the rich Henrik Vanger. But then I got bored.
Without giving anything away, I figured out early on that the mystery wasn't what it appeared. One of the main characters, Mikael Blomkvist, was a financial journalist who stepped down from his magazine because he was sued for libel (and would go to jail). In another part of the city, a loner and goth-like Lisbeth Salander works as a kind of private investigator with an amazing ability to hack in to any computer without notice, regardless of security walls. She is hired to dig up information on said journalist.
Meanwhile Henrik Vanger contacts Mikael and offers him a one-year "job" to write the Vanger family history (HOOK), but there's a secret twist: Mikael will really be trying to discover what happened to his great-niece before he dies (LINE). Mikael only agrees to take the job because after the one year, Vanger promised to give him tangible information on the person with whom he libeled -- which will prove that the man really is a criminal (SINKER).
Mikael ends up working with Lisbeth and the two gradually uncover clues and piece things together to discover corruption in the Vanger family. Throughout the book, the reader learns more about the mysterious Lisbeth and gives us a glimpse into why she is the way she is.
Before I go on, I should say that I am not into drawn-out detailed novels unless the details have meaning. I was bored fairly quickly because nothing really happened in the first 100+ pages of the 590 page book. I almost went insane. Seriously, nothing happened. Blah blah blah. As a result, it took me forever to get into the book--and at page 460 or so the story started to get really good.
As far as I'm concerened, the book could have ended 100 pages before it did. The author describes every detail about everything. It's almost like he wrote a screen play instead of a novel. However, all and all, it was a good book, minus the details. *wink*
I swore I wouldn't read the rest of the trilogy, but I read the prologue of The Girl who Played with Fire and was sucked into the story, so we'll see. *wink*
I was immediately drawn into the mystery of who was sending a framed dried flower annually...for decades to the rich Henrik Vanger. But then I got bored.
Without giving anything away, I figured out early on that the mystery wasn't what it appeared. One of the main characters, Mikael Blomkvist, was a financial journalist who stepped down from his magazine because he was sued for libel (and would go to jail). In another part of the city, a loner and goth-like Lisbeth Salander works as a kind of private investigator with an amazing ability to hack in to any computer without notice, regardless of security walls. She is hired to dig up information on said journalist.
Meanwhile Henrik Vanger contacts Mikael and offers him a one-year "job" to write the Vanger family history (HOOK), but there's a secret twist: Mikael will really be trying to discover what happened to his great-niece before he dies (LINE). Mikael only agrees to take the job because after the one year, Vanger promised to give him tangible information on the person with whom he libeled -- which will prove that the man really is a criminal (SINKER).
Mikael ends up working with Lisbeth and the two gradually uncover clues and piece things together to discover corruption in the Vanger family. Throughout the book, the reader learns more about the mysterious Lisbeth and gives us a glimpse into why she is the way she is.
Before I go on, I should say that I am not into drawn-out detailed novels unless the details have meaning. I was bored fairly quickly because nothing really happened in the first 100+ pages of the 590 page book. I almost went insane. Seriously, nothing happened. Blah blah blah. As a result, it took me forever to get into the book--and at page 460 or so the story started to get really good.
As far as I'm concerened, the book could have ended 100 pages before it did. The author describes every detail about everything. It's almost like he wrote a screen play instead of a novel. However, all and all, it was a good book, minus the details. *wink*
I swore I wouldn't read the rest of the trilogy, but I read the prologue of The Girl who Played with Fire and was sucked into the story, so we'll see. *wink*
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