Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks
Author of one of my all-time favorite books -- People of the Book -- Geraldine does it up in fair fashion again; writing about the first Native American to graduate from Harvard College. Although the book is based on fact, Brooks takes huge literary license when Caleb, the Wampanoag chief’s son, befriends the pastor’s daughter Bethia Mayfield. The two grow up exploring Martha’s Vineyard which is a nice romantic tale, even though Bethia is an entirely fictional character. Caleb eventually lands in Cambridge, studying Latin and Greek. That’s the truth. ♥♥
In The Garden of Beasts:
Love, Terror and An American Family in Hitler’s Berlin by Erik Larson
When Professor William E. Dodd becomes America’s first ambassador to Hitler’s Germany in 1933 he is (along with the rest of the world) naive about Hitler’s true mission. As time goes by he cannot ignore the Third Reich and their quest to restore Germany to a position of world prominence. His flamboyant daughter, Martha is the most interesting character in this historical fiction book, as she has one affair after another, including first chief of the Gestapo, Rudolf Diels.
The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison
Willa Jackson’s family should have been wealthy and living in the town’s finest home, The Blue Ridge Madam – built by Will’s great-great-grandfather. Instead the Madam has stood empty for years as a derelict monument to misfortune and scandal. Willa has returned and unwillingly unlocks the mystery of the peace tree on the property. Yawn.
The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom
by Slavomir Rawicz
OMG this is a good book. In 1941, Rawicz and six fellow prisoners of war escaped a Soviet labor camp in Siberia. Their trek is over thousands of miles by foot -- out of Siberia, through China, the Gobi Desert, Tibet, and over the Himalayas to British India. Holy crap it’s amazing. ♥♥
6.26.2011
5.28.2011
May Books
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
Take one hot professor who happens to be centuries-old vampire, one cute witch, and one ancient magical manuscript. Add a horde of daemons, stir well, and what do you have? Not much.
Abused Men, the Hidden Side of Domestic Violence
(Second edition 2009) by Philip W. Cook
It may come as a surprise that almost 40% of domestic violence victims each year are men. Few resources and little support have been given to this issue, however over the past ten years this has begun to change. Philip Cook’s book(s) Abused Men, the Hidden Side of Domestic Violence published in 1997, and second edition published in 2009, along with the television movie Men Don’t Tell have been instrumental in this effort.
Once Upon A Time, There Was You by Elizabeth Berg
John and Irene Marsh have been divorced for many years yet mange to remain adoring parents to Sadie, who is about to start college. Sadie is kidnapped and they are forced to bond to help each other through the trauma. I’m not sure what it was about this book but it felt so trite and rushed. Almost like a first draft. Elizabeth did you send the wrong version to the publisher??
Take one hot professor who happens to be centuries-old vampire, one cute witch, and one ancient magical manuscript. Add a horde of daemons, stir well, and what do you have? Not much.
Abused Men, the Hidden Side of Domestic Violence
(Second edition 2009) by Philip W. Cook
It may come as a surprise that almost 40% of domestic violence victims each year are men. Few resources and little support have been given to this issue, however over the past ten years this has begun to change. Philip Cook’s book(s) Abused Men, the Hidden Side of Domestic Violence published in 1997, and second edition published in 2009, along with the television movie Men Don’t Tell have been instrumental in this effort.
Once Upon A Time, There Was You by Elizabeth Berg
John and Irene Marsh have been divorced for many years yet mange to remain adoring parents to Sadie, who is about to start college. Sadie is kidnapped and they are forced to bond to help each other through the trauma. I’m not sure what it was about this book but it felt so trite and rushed. Almost like a first draft. Elizabeth did you send the wrong version to the publisher??
April In Paris With The Hemingway's
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
Set mostly in Paris during the 1920’s, Ernest Hemingway and his wife Hadley are the golden couple in the famous group – the “Lost Generation” that includes Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, and F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. Hemingway’s career starts to blossom during these years, and as interesting as that piece of the story is – Hadley’s tale is what makes this historical fiction book really shine. ♥♥♥♥
The Evolution of Bruno Littlemore by Benjamin Hale
Bruno Littlemore was born in a zoo. He lives there until university primatologist Lydia Littlemore determines he is one remarkable chimp. She eventually takes him home to oversee his education. Ultimately she loses her job, and thus starts a most unforgettable journey. Parts of this book were incredible but most of it was just plain weird.
Townie: A Memoir by Andre Dubus III
Father a famous writer. Parents divorce. Mom gets short end of the stick. Kids grow up deprived. Fights, drugs, and not able to stay in college, the son becomes a writer. This is the soil that grew the author of House of Sand and Fog.♥
Set mostly in Paris during the 1920’s, Ernest Hemingway and his wife Hadley are the golden couple in the famous group – the “Lost Generation” that includes Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, and F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. Hemingway’s career starts to blossom during these years, and as interesting as that piece of the story is – Hadley’s tale is what makes this historical fiction book really shine. ♥♥♥♥
The Evolution of Bruno Littlemore by Benjamin Hale
Bruno Littlemore was born in a zoo. He lives there until university primatologist Lydia Littlemore determines he is one remarkable chimp. She eventually takes him home to oversee his education. Ultimately she loses her job, and thus starts a most unforgettable journey. Parts of this book were incredible but most of it was just plain weird.
Townie: A Memoir by Andre Dubus III
Father a famous writer. Parents divorce. Mom gets short end of the stick. Kids grow up deprived. Fights, drugs, and not able to stay in college, the son becomes a writer. This is the soil that grew the author of House of Sand and Fog.♥
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