Category Archives: Book Reviews

Book Review: Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand

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Major Pettigrew

Helen Simonson’s debut novel, Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, is a delightful, charming story centered around Major Ernest Pettigrew (retired).

In the small English countryside village of Edgecombe St. Mary, Major Pettigrew, a widower, is attracted to a lovely widow, Pakistani shopkeeper, Mrs. Jasmina Ali. Although Mrs. Ali was born in Great Britain and, in fact, has never been to Pakistan, she follows many of the traditions of her culture.

The Major and Mrs. Ali are drawn together by their love of literature and loneliness resulting from the loss of their spouses, but soon find themselves caught up in stronger feelings than mere friendship and a good pot of tea.

When they attend a country club program that spirals out of control, they find their relationship threatened. The village considers the Major a pillar of their community, while regarding Mrs. Ali as a foreigner.

The author, Helen Simonson, was born in England and raised in a small village. The English humor and way of expression is part of the enchantment of this novel. At one point the Major finds himself in a stressful situation. “He calmed his voice to a tone suitable for placating large dogs or small, angry children.” Great emphasis is placed on tradition, the importance of one’s family, and appearances. The threat of change can be one’s undoing, or can it be a good thing?

Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand is a fun read, but it also has its moments of truth, issues most of us face in our modern world. I loved spending time in the English mindset, particularly of an older man happily set in his ways. And I particularly appreciated Major Pettigrew’s wit. To learn more about the author, visit http://www.helensimonson.com/

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Book Review: Arctic Dreams

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Arctic DreamsArctic Dreams by Barry Lopez is a compelling masterpiece about the Arctic, the mysterious land of stunted forests, frozen seas, and animals perfectly suited to the harsh far north.

The book offers exquisite descriptions of the biology, anthropology, and history of a land few of us will ever see. The arctic’s harshness has carved a way of life unknown to all but a few. Through the centuries, various countries have sent men to explore this mysterious land, and more often than not, the explorers did not live to tell about it.

Arctic Dreams is not a book you rush through. Nor does the author hurry through his descriptions of the animals, plants, sea life, or the frozen sea itself that is both the giver and taker of life.

Lopez’s keen observation of life is amazing in its scope. He is an uncompromising defender of the wild country and its native inhabitants, and shares minute details of the far north. He lingers with his description of the polar bear, its habits, its ability to not only survive but thrive in this cold country. He shares his fascination of the narwhal with its ivory tusk spiraling out of its forehead. This “unicorn of the sea” lives year round in the Arctic waters of Greenland, Canada and Russia. Many animals, birds and sea life are discussed in great detail: how they survive, how they relate to each other as sources of food, and how they serve the native people.

The author speaks highly of the Eskimos and normally uses that broader term for the native Arctic people throughout the book. Eskimos today more often speak of themselves in terms or their origin, such as “Inuit” that refers specifically to Eskimos of the eastern Canadian Arctic. Lopez has high regard for the Eskimos’ skill of survival, of observation, and adaptation to the harsh environment.

Memorable moments in the book stay with me. In describing a particular scene at Melville Bay, Lopez states, “It was so beautiful it made you cry,” but in the next breath, while looking at an iceberg, he says, “It was so beautiful it made you afraid.”

Lopez’ Arctic is a land of contradictions and mystery, of rare, raw beauty. Through Barry Lopez’s precise and thorough descriptions, I experienced a sense of this frozen landscape and could see, through his observant eyes, the beauty of this wild place.

If you’re a lover of nature and value detailed descriptions, you will appreciate Arctic Dreams. It’s a scholarly and engaging Arctic experience. To learn more about the author, visit http://www.barrylopez.com/

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Book Review: Sacred Hearts

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Sacred HeaartsI was riveted to this book. Having read Sarah Dunant’s The Birth of Venus, I hoped this last novel of the trilogy would be as good. I wasn’t disappointed. Sacred Hearts is a powerful account of convent life in the northern Italian city of Ferrara.

In the late sixteenth century, the price of wedding doweries was so exorbitant that most noble families could afford to marry off only one daughter. The remaining women were dispatched to convents, with doweries to be sure, but much less than for a wedding. Many of these women went against their will. Some adjusted to the rigors of convent life, others chafed at the idea of spending their lives cloistered in a strict environment, following rigid rules, sometimes at the whims and dictates of the outside world.

When sixteen-year-old Serefina is forced into the Santa Caterina convent, ripped from her family and the man she loves, she is consumed with rage. She’s a talented young woman, bright and gifted with a thrilling singing voice, but she is determined to never surrender to what she believes to be a place of horrors.

Sister Zuana, the convent’s dispensary mistress and the daughter of a doctor, is sent to sedate the ranting young newcomer. Remembering her early years at Santa Caterina, the older nun becomes a mentor. What follows–the intricate relationship of trust and betrayal–is the story of Sacred Hearts. The Abbess, Madonna Chiara, who commands the convent’s total and unquestioning obedience, plays an important role in the intrigue and complications of life in a shuttered world.

Durant describes convent life in such realistic detail that the reader can feel the chilly dampness of the stone walls and floors, the bone-weariness of 2:00 a.m .prayers, the discipline of imposed fasting, silence, and humiliation. But one also feels the pure acceptance of Christ, the joys of serving, and of being able to exercise one’s talents to benefit sisters of the convent to the glory of God.

Sacred Hearts is an absorbing, meticulously researched novel of historical fiction. Durant gives life to the Renaissance period, particularly of its brutal affect on women.

I highly recommend this book and plan to read the second of the trilogy, In the Company of the Courtesan.

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Book Review: Life in a Whirlwind of Numbers: 26 Years of OCD

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Life in a WhirlwindIn Life in a Whirlwind of Numbers: 26 Years of OCD, David William Dahlberg shares his painful and often overwhelming life with OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder).. What made David’s condition even more tragic is that his condition went undiagnosed until well into his adulthood.

Triggered by a distressing event in his early teens, Dahlberg is tormented by consuming images and frightening scenes that won’t go away. He develops ritual behavior that he repeats over and over again to expel the tormenting images. Math was an easy subject for Dahlberg, but numbers both triggered his phobias and played into temporarily abating them by numerically ritualizing common actions. With a complicated system of calculations, he determined which numbers, or combination of numbers, were “good” and which were “bad.” Even going to bed would sometimes take a half hour or more, taking his feet off the floor a prescribed number of times, coinciding with the clock.

His condition began affecting his school work. He was a bright, musically talented boy, but, left on his own it would take an uncommonly long time to complete his lessons, obsessing over a phrase and repeatedly writing it. Often socially withdrawn, he would infuriate teachers and other students with inappropriate comments. Studying by himself seemed impossible; he couldn’t stay focused on the task at hand. Although he could concentrate on music while in band or orchestra, when alone he found himself repeating the same passage over and over again, obsessed with doing it the “correct” number of times.

It became clear, especially in later years looking back, that when he was in a classroom or otherwise around people he could hide his irrational fears, or at least he wouldn’t act on them when he could be observed. But when alone his time and energy were spent trying to dispel the persistent images.

Throughout his school and college years, Dahlberg struggled with OCD, while all this time his condition went undiagnosed. He had never even heard the term Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. In addition to having to make his rituals in certain numeric order, for years he suffered from sleep deprivation. He was married a number of years before a crisis occurred in which he sought professional help. It was then that he learned his condition had a name: OCD.

Life in a Whirlwind of Numbers is a well-told story about the all-consuming, debilitating affects of OCD. I admire the author’s honesty and courage in discussing his often painful and tormented life. He leaves the reader with hope that diagnosis and treatment are available, as are medications to bring relief. I recommend this enlightening book to anyone interested in learning more about obsessions, and especially to those who suffer from the affects of this condition.

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Book Review: The Interestings

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Meg Wolitzer’s engrossing novel, The Interestings, brings the reader into the lives of six The Interestingsteenagers who meet at a summer camp for the arts, form a strong bond, and call themselves “The Interestings.” Some of the teens come from wealthy families, some are there on scholarship. To them it makes no difference: they form life-long friendships that will endure through decades. That is, most of them. Some will follow different, even dangerous paths.

Most of the novel is seen through the eyes of Jules Jacobson, who comes to the summer camp with aspirations to become a comic actress. Beautiful and gracious Ash, Jules’ best friend and hopeful playwright, and Ethan, a gifted animator, eventually marry and become extraordinarily wealthy. We follow the six teens into adulthood as they pursue their diversified lives.

The book takes place almost exclusively in New York beginning in 1974, the year President Nixon resigns, and sweeps through to the characters’ fifties. Wolitzer’s skill in following these six characters—male and female, young and old, gay and straight, rich and of ordinary means, depressed and vital—is never confusing, and is always thoughtful and perceptive. Even though there are flashbacks, I always knew where in the story I was. The author articulates the thoughts of the various characters with feeling and humor, consistent with their age. She also brings us along with the times: the early days of diagnosed HIV-positive, cordless phones, the Moonies, Women’s Lib, the Internet.

The Interestings is an ambitious human study and is immensely entertaining. The paperback version I read has 538 highly absorbing pages. I found myself fully engrossed with the characters, place, and time.

Meg Wolitzer is an accomplish writer and teacher. To learn more about her work, visit http://www.megwolitzer.com/

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Book Review: Sycamore Row by John Grisham

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Sycamore RowOn a Sunday morning after church, Seth Hubbard, a wealthy man dying of cancer, hangs himself from a sycamore tree. Just before his final act, he hand-writes a new will, one that replaces his previously filed will that named his adult children his primary beneficiaries..

On Monday, when Clanton, Mississippi attorney Jake Brigance receives a letter from Seth Hubbard and the hand-written will, he’s astonished. The will reads that Seth Hubbard has left 90 percent of his vast holdings to his black maid, Lettie. The attorney doesn’t know Mr. Hubbard nor Lettie, but he feels obligated to handle this case judiciously.

The estate is estimated to be $24 million, mostly in cash assets. When Hubbard’s daughter and her husband and Hubbard’s divorced son learn of their father’s death, they come running, unlike their behavior when their father was alive. Of course, they’re already mentally spending their inheritance.

When the facts of the hand-written will become known, the chaos begins. Attorneys gather to contest the more recent will, salivating at the money to be earned in defense of the family.

The case goes to trial and surprising, even shocking, events are revealed. Author John Grisham, a southerner, doesn’t soft-peddle race relations in the late 1980s, when this story takes place.

Readers of Grisham’s first legal thriller, A Time to Kill, will recognize the attorney Jake Briggance and some of the characters from his world. I especially enjoyed the banter between the lawyers.

A former attorney, John Grisham practiced Mississippi law before he turned to writing. His popularity is well deserved. In reading his books, you learn about the law, but his stories aren’t steeped in legalese. Coming from the Northwest, I cringed at some of the racial insinuations. I realize they are true in the south, or were in the 1980’s, and especially further back when some of the story takes place.

Sycamore Row is a fast-paced and engrossing legal thriller, one I heartily recommend.

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Book Review: Angel Falls

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angel_falls_smAngel Falls by Kristin Hannah is a fast-paced story of depth, a story of love between husband and wife, love between parents and children, and passionate love that sometimes turns into regret.

When Mikaela Campbell lapses into a coma after a horse-back riding accident, her doctor-husband, Liam, is beside himself with grief and worry. He knows how serious this type of brain injury can be. Their two children are frightened and confused with their mother unresponsive and away from home.

While Mikaela is in the coma, her family rallies to help. Her mother comes to take care of the family. Liam spends hours, days, talking, reading, playing music to his comatose wife, hoping to bring her back to consciousness,

Mikaela never wanted to discuss her previous marriage. Her daughter was four when Liam and Mikaela were married ten years ago, and they have a son, now 9. While searching for something in their closet, Liam stumbles across evidence that his wife’s previous marriage was to world-famous actor Julian True. Desperate to bring his wife back, Liam turns to her ex-husband for help. He knows what a chance he’s taking, but love for his wife overrides his own happiness.

Angel Falls is a poignant story about love and commitment. The author’s characterization and sense of place is superb. This novel is more than a love story, it’s a story of hope, faith, and commitment.

To learn more about the author, visit http://kristinhannah.com/content/index.php

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Book Review: Getting Stoned with Savages: A Trip Through the Islands of Fiji and Vanuatu

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Getting Stoned with SavagesJ. Maarten Troost’s Getting Stoned with Savages provided hours of fun as I vicariously traveled along with him to the South Pacific island nations of Vanuatu and Fiji.

When Troost’s wife accepts a job offer in Vanuatu, they jump at the chance to revisit the South Pacific. Their previous adventure to the Republic of Kiribati resulted in his first book, The Sex Lives of Cannibals. This next venture led to another set of Oceania misadventures and ironic twists of fate.

Although it sounds idealistic, actually living in Vanuatu on the rugged island of Efate, while it has its pleasures, can be plagued with typhoons, frequent earthquakes, and giant centipedes. Troost brings hilarity into his account with an impressive command of narrative and place. The title of the book refers to the use of kava, a potent drink used for medicinal, religious, political, cultural and social purposes throughout the South Pacific. While not available for recreational use in many countries, including the United States, in Vanuatu it is apparently abundant. Its use and misuse brings lively accounts of the bitter muddy-looking drink.

When Troost’s wife becomes pregnant, they move to Fiji for its more comprehensive medical facilities. While in Fiji the author delves into the incongruities of tribal politics. He has a deep curiosity of cannibalism and learns surprising facts, primarily that it isn’t restricted to being only an ancient custom. Cannibalism has occurred within native people’s memories.

I greatly enjoyed this travel book. Although we sailed through the South Pacific, Vanuatu and Fiji weren’t on our itinerary. In any event, it takes living and working in a place to really know it and its people. Troost’s account, with his sly self-depreciating humor, makes for a lively, fun read.

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Book Review: A Man of His Own

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A Man of His Own

 

Susan Wilson’s novel, A Man of His Own, delves into a dog’s world and shows the powerful connection between dog and man.

Rick Stanton is out with his fellow baseball players, relaxing at a neighborhood tavern. He steps outside and a little stray pup, apparently a German shepherd mix, appears out of the darkness. The two quickly become attached. The pup adopts Rick and enjoys having this young bachelor all to himself.

When Francesca comes into their lives, it isn’t love at first sight for the dog, Pax, but once Francesca and Rick are married, he accepts her as family, though the dog still treasures the time when he has Rick to himself.

Rick’s ambition as a baseball pitcher for the majors is put on hold when he’s drafted into the Army and sent to Europe. Francesca and Pax sadly adjust to Rick’s absence. She treasures Pax now–he’s her connection to Rick.

As World War II escalates, the government is calling for war dogs, smart, sturdy dogs that could be trained to help men in the battlefield. Although it’s a tough decision, Francesca, with Rick’s written permission, volunteers Pax into the K-9 Corps.

At first Pax is reluctant to respond to his new master’s commands. But Keller Nicholson’s gentle persuasion wins the dog’s heart and the two of them become an inseparable team, forming a strong and profound bond.

The agreement is that after service, war dogs will be returned to their original owners, but Keller has become so attached to Pax that he can’t bear to give him back. In the meantime, Rick, Pax’s original owner, has returned home with serious, life-altering injuries.

Keller goes to Rick and Francesca’s home to ask their permission to keep Pax, but he finds a difficult situation. Rick’s health needs are more than Francesca can physically cope with. The three of them form an arrangement where Keller will be Rick’s live-in aide. Pax now has all his loved ones in one place and he manages to serve his three humans.

Complications set in. Rick’s injuries are creating severe depression. An attraction between Keller and Francesca can’t be denied. As his three people struggle with feelings they can’t control, Pax, with his unconditional love and loyalty, may be their only hope.

A Man of His Own is an extraordinary novel, a captivating story about the bond between dog and human, love and loyalty, duty and sacrifice.

For more information about the author, visit http://www.susanwilsonwrites.com/

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Book Review: The Walk Series

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thewalk-194x300Richard Paul Evans touched my soul with the Walk Series: The Walk, Miles to Go, The Road to Grace, A Step in Faith, and Walking on Water. Each of these five books is a treasure, full of heart wrenching and heartwarming moments, bits of wisdom, humor, determination and self-discovery.

When Alan Christoffersen’s cherished wife, McKale, dies from complications after falling off her horse, his grief is indescribable. Not only that, but, unbelievably, his associate absconds with Alan’s advertising business, and the bank forecloses on his home and cars. He’s lost everything.

Alan decides to walk across America from Seattle, Washington to Key West, Florida, roughly 3,500 miles. With nothing but the pack on his back, he faces challenges both physically and emotionally, but he keeps going, determined to meet his goal.

Each book covers the section Alan treks, and in each book Alan discovers hope, healing, and the power of second chances. The series was a fast read, probably because I simply couldn’t put them down.

I highly recommend The Walk Series written by this inspirational writer. It’s a journey worth taking.

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