2007

Thursday, December 13, 2007

BRIBERY, CORRUPTION ALSO (H.R.F. Keating)
This book is quite a bit different from what I usually read. It is one of the later entries in Keating's Inspector Ganesh Ghote mystery series set in Bombay, India. In this entry, Inspector Ghote's wife, Protima, has unexpectedly inherited an estate in Calcutta from a distant cousin. She is determined that she and Ganesh will retire there to live peacefully immersed in the culture and customs of her youth despite her husband's longing for his not-yet-finished career and their long-time home in Bombay. When they view the estate they find it in ruins and occupied by squatters. Lawyer A.K. Dutt-Daster, who has been administering the property since the death of Protima's cousin, suggests that the estate is beyond repair and that it should be sold to a mysterious buyer who is willing to pay well for the property. Ganesh is suspicious of Dutt-Daster and his motives and proceeds to investigate. One of the interesting aspects of this novel is its use of the English language as spoken by Indians. Whether or not it is an accurate porteayal, I cannot say, but it sounds like it might be. Keating's repeated emphasis on the Bengali tendency towards verbosity gives the reader a good idea of the cultural and behavioral differences that must exist in a country the size of India, just as they do here in the United States.Inspector Ghote is an appealing, even charming, character and the book is well written and very readable. The facts in the case unfold cleverly and logically, but I kept waiting for a body to be discovered! I enjoyed the book, but when I came to the last page I was convinced that additional pages were missing from my copy. I understand from an acquaintance that the Inspector Ghote series is especially delightful in audio format, due mainly to the narrator. If you are in the mood for something different and interested in the culture and "personality" of India, this might be a series to investigate. If you love a good "whodunnit", you might want to think twice about this one.
Posted by eileenp at 12/13/2007 04:14:00 PM

Friday, November 23, 2007

KISSING CHRISTMAS GOODBYE (M.C. Beaton)
It's hard to believe that this is the 17th book in Beaton's Agatha Raisin series. Agatha Raisin first appeared in 1993 in Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death. Over the years she has neither aged nor mellowed, her endearing combination of abrasiveness and vulnerability remaining as unspoiled in this 17th entry as in the first. In short, Agatha never learns. She is eternally hopeful that she will find true, lasting love. She believes wholeheartedly in her own prowess as a detective. She is an astute business woman fighting middle age in a world that values youth and beauty. Her glossy hair, small, bear-like eyes, good legs, and expanding waistline are her trademarks along with her ability to rub people the wrong way.In this story Agatha is hired by wealthy widow Phyllis Tamworthy, who suspects that someone will try to kill her before she can change her will, effectively disowning her children. When Mrs. Tamworthy is poisoned it is Agatha who insisits on pursuing the investigation, clashing repeatedly with the local police (as usual) as clues unfold. In between following up leads Agatha hires 17-year-old Toni as a new operative for her agency, providing her with a home, a car, and a means of escape from her abusive family along the way. Agatha also plans an elborate Christmas dinner intended to help her ensnare old love James Lacey with her charms and domesticity. I think that what makes Agatha so appealing is her cluelessness. She totally believes in happy endings but has not yet figured out how to apply the hard work and insight that made her so successful in business to her personal relationships. She is loved and lovable but completely unaware of that fact. This great weekend read won't disappoint Agatha's fans!
Posted by eileenp at 11/23/2007 03:32:00 PM

Monday, November 19, 2007

BAREFOOT (Elin Hilderbrand)
Three women arrive in Nantucket to spend the summer at a family cottage. Vickie, wife, mother of two, and recently diagnosed with lung cancer, will spend her time on the island undergoing chemotherapy and enjoying time with her two small sons. Brenda, her sister and co-owner of the cottage, has fled from New York in disgrace after being fired from Champion University for vandalism and moral transgressions. She plans to write a screenplay and to forget, at least for a short time, her disastrous love affair and destroyed academic career. Melanie, after undergoing 7 failed rounds of in vitro, finds that her husband has been carrying on an affair with a coworker and that she herself is finally pregnant. She decides to accompany her friends to Nantucket to consider her life and her future. Josh, a college student home on summer break, enters their lives through a series of coincidences and bonds with all of the women while working as a babysitter for Vickie's two son's, 4-year-old Blaine and baby Porter. The reader experiences a virtual kalidescope of emotions as we travel through the summer with these four characters as their relationships ebb and flow like the Nantucket tides (sorry, I just couldn't resist the metaphor!). Hilderbrand's novel is definitely women's fiction, but the multiple points of view that the author utilizes allow her to explore a male perspective as well. This is a solid offering. Hiderbrand has four other novels out there and I think that I just might check out a few more of them.
Posted by eileenp at 11/19/2007 03:05:00 PM

Friday, November 16, 2007

MURPHY'S LAW (Rhys Bowen)
This historical mystery received a unanimous thumbs up from the Christie Capers Book Club! Red-haired Irish immigrant Molly Murphy is Bowen's heroine and amateur detective in this wonderful cozy series. Molly is intelligent, loyal, curious, attractive, outspoken, and completely charming throughout the book, which is a pleasure to read. Molly has SPUNK! After accidentally killing (as far as Molly and the readers know) a landowner's son in self defense, Molly flees Ireland and its biased legal system and finds passage to America as the "mother" of 2 children whose father awaits them in New York. Naturally, she finds herself involved with yet another murder and ends up traversing the streets of New York seeking to prove her own innocence and that of a young male friend from the ship. This is the first of the Molly Murphy series and I plan to read more. Bowen creates a rich historical atmosphere and has an easy, appealing style of writing. Stock up on this series for a winter weekend. You won't be disappointed!
Posted by eileenp at 11/16/2007 02:59:00 PM

Thursday, November 01, 2007

STARBURST (Robin Pilcher)
Robin Pilcher is a worthy successor to his mother, popular author Rosamunde Pilcher, and I have enjoyed his previous novels. I am especially drawn to stories set in Scotland, as this one is. The setting here is the annual Edinburgh Festival, which features 3 weeks of artistic performances for all tastes and ages. Initially I had a hard time following the large number of disparate characters being introduced and it took a little too long to establish connections among them. This might turn off impatient readers, but the book is well worth the effort it takes to get through this slightly-too-long introductory phase. The characters are drawn as real human beings with flaws, fears, and courage. The backdrop of the festival, the venue that brings all of the characters together, provides a nice opportunity for cultural immersion from afar. I would recommend Pilcher's latest, but caution that you will need to work a bit to really get into the story!
Posted by eileenp at 11/01/2007 03:41:00 PM

Sunday, October 21, 2007

JANE AND THE UNPLEASANTNESS AT SCARGRAVE MANOR (Stephanie Barron)
This is the first in Stephanie Barron's Jane Austen mystery series. In this novel the Earl of Scargrave has died suddenly of dyspepsia after a reception celebrating his 3 month old marriage. His grieving young widow, Isabel, confesses to her guest, close friend and confidante, Jane Austen, that she shares an unrequited love with the earl's nephew and heir, Fitzroy. However, she claims to have been unwaveringly faithful to her husband, an older man whom she loved and respected. When notes accusing Isabel and Fitzroy of conspiring to kill Isabel's husband result in the arrest of the pair, Isabel begs Jane to somehow prove her innocence. As circumstantial evidence against the pair piles up, they remain imprisoned, Isabel believing that Fitzroy has betrayed her love and trust by murdering the Earl.Stephanie Barron intersperses actual journal entries by Jane Austen throughout this novel, adding a great air of authenticity to the idea that Jane may have actually dabbled in crime-solving, reminding the reader of a much younger Miss Marple. Barron does an excellent job of introducing clues and of explaining the machinations of the British judicial system during the early 19th century. The characters are interesting and the author maintains a good pace throughout the novel. I would recommend this series wholeheartedly. In fact, if this entry is any indication, Stephanie Barron may be considered a worthy successor to Agatha Christie!
Posted by eileenp at 10/21/2007 07:34:00 PM

Monday, September 24, 2007

STOLEN IN THE NIGHT (Patricia MacDonald)
Those of you who wait anxiously for each new Mary Higgins Clark book should take note of Patricia MacDonald. I have read most of her books and found each one to be well-crafted, suspenseful, and enjoyable to read. Her latest offering is no exception.Clark and MacDonald write "romantic suspense", a genre that is appealing to a wide range of readers. The "romance" genre in itself always includes two people who meet and often misinterpret each others' motives and intentions, ultimately ending up together. Romances must always have a happy ending in terms of the relationship. "Suspense", as opposed to mystery (which involves a murder, an amateur or professional detective, and an eventual identification of the murderer), gets a psychological hold on readers through the eyes of the main character and leads them through a series of often harrowing and confusing events that lead to an eventual resolution. The perpetrator of whatever series of crimes is being revisited or investigated is usually a trusted individual or respected member of the community. In mystery, the focus is on the characters of the victim and the detective, while in romantic suspense the focus is on the romantic leads. One of them will inevitably become entangled in the problems at hand, either through witnessing a crime or being in the wrong place at the wrong time, often ending up in mortal danger. The other is also involved in the problems and is often an object of both suspicion and regret (because of the inevitable attraction between the two). The mark of good romantic suspense is that, once the criminal is revealed, all of the pieces make sense, that the events of the book fall logically into place, and that the reader, like the characters in the novel, is surprised. If you have it all figured out well before the end (a little while before is OK) then you are probably not reading a great example of the romantic suspense genre. I would classify Patricia MacDonald as very good.If you enjoy a bit more bite to your suspense novels, I would also suggest Carol Smith. As far as I can find she has written only 4 novels. They are more edgy and deeply psychological than Clark and MacDonald and do not, as I recall, feature the romantic element. If you discover more than 4 of Carol Smith's works out there, please let me know!
Posted by eileenp at 9/24/2007 08:26:00 AM

Saturday, September 22, 2007

VIEW FROM MOUNT JOY (Lorna Landvik)
I was thinking hard about the theme of this book, which I would consider to be one of Landvik's best (but aren't they all?), as I read. I will admit that, much as I like Lorna Landvik, I actually almost passed on this novel for the moment because it was written from the point of view of a teenage boy/man who works in a grocery store. I'm glad that I reconsidered, because this is a story left me feeling content and very positive about the human spirit. I think that the theme of the book is joy and the fact that it comes from within. We make our own choices and decisions for various reasons and recognizing that life can be good despite never having achieved our youthful dreams is the key to both success and real contentment in life.Joe Andreson is a teenager when his father is killed in a plane crash and eventually he and his mother, a music teacher, move 200 miles away to live with his aunt and start a new life. The relationship between Joe and his mother is delightful. They share a love of music that continues as a motif throughout the book. As always, Landvik's characters are quirky and diverse, but very human. They include: Darva, an aspiring artist with an unquenchable thirst for travel; Kristi, the gorgeous, amoral drum-playing cheerleader who claims to have found God in the Northern lights; Ed Haugland, the MS-afflicted grocer who wills his store to Joe; Kirk, Kristi's younger brother and Joe's best friend; Beth, Joe's lesbian aunt; and Flora, Darva's daughter. The story spans 35 years and I particularly enjoyed the fact that Joe was exactly my age, which made it much easier to relate the various cultural references throughout the book. I would call this book life-affirming, as Landvik's books always are. I was just thinking how interesting it would be to meet this author. She seems to possess both an understanding of humankind and an unshakable faith that all will be as it should be no matter what setbacks and disappointments are encountered along the way.
Posted by eileenp at 9/22/2007 10:34:00 PM

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

GOING GRAY (Anne Kreamer)
Most of us face the prospect of what "to do" about our hair color at some point in our lives. In my parents' generation it was primarily women who worried about covering the gray, but nowadays both sexes seem obsessed with trying to stave off old age with cosmetics, surgery, and hair coloring. As the children of a mother who was completely gray by age 35, my siblings and I have been dealing with prematurely graying hair since our teens. My two sisters and I have probably spent a combined total of 85 years altogether coloring our hair! I recently decided that at age 53 I could no longer be considered "prematurely gray" and that it was time to stop the madness and let my hair be what it is. Going Gary was, I think, published just for me at the perfect time!Anne Kreamer's book (yes, it is nonfiction), subtitled What I learned about Beauty, Sex, Work, Motherhood, Authenticity, and Everything Else That Really Matters, is one woman's exploration of our society's obsession with aging, particularly in terms of hair color. Through interviews, surveys, research, and introspection Kreamer discovers people's true perceptions of gray hair. During the course of her research she tests signs up for online "dating", visits makeover consultants, talks to men in bars, consults headhunters, solicits opinions from friends, and interviews various people on the subject of gray hair, including folk singer Emmy Lou Harris and author Mireille Giuliano (French Women Don't Get Fat). This is not a scholarly, scientific study, but rather a real life journey through the process of accepting, even embracing, the passage of time. Kreamer describes our hair as a "personal flag," an "emotionally central sign of what each of us is trying to be." We care about the "big" issues, but we also care about how we look to others. Kreamer concludes that letting herself go of an artificial image of herself is tantamount to taking control of her life, and that it feels good! As someone who is also in the process of "letting go," I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Posted by eileenp at 9/11/2007 10:31:00 PM

Sunday, September 09, 2007

WOMAN IN RED (Eileen Goudge)
This is just a quick post, but those of you who enjoy the likes of Goudge, Barbara Delinsky, Belva Plain, Judith Henry Wall, etc. will not be disappointed by Eileen Goudge's latest release. Set on Gray's Island in the Pacific Northwest, "Woman in Red" alternates between the present and the past, telling the intertwining stories of a grandmother, Eleanor Styles, and her grandaughter, Alice Kessler, both of whom suffer losses and consequences that most of us can only imagine. This is a very readable book. Goudge always creates realistic, sympathetic characters who posses human flaws and sometimes questionable judgement. The only thing I disliked about the book is that I was left with a feeling of incompleteness regarding some of the characters' lives. We THINK we know what will happen down the road but it is not completely clear at the end if the truth about Alice's ancestry is ever revealed to her. I would have been very interested to know how the relationship between Alice and Owen White would have evolved given that knowledge. Overall, though, I would recommend this book.
Posted by eileenp at 9/09/2007 02:58:00 PM


THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS (Ursula K. Le Guin)
Any of you who have read my previous blogs are probably surprised by the fact that I am now reviewing a science fiction work. We read "The Left hand of Darkness" for the First Tuesday Book Club. I am not a fan of science fiction and would not have chosen to read this book despite the author's fine reputation, but I have to admit that I did not HATE the book. In fact, in some ways I enjoyed it. "The Left Hand of Darkness" is the story of Genly Ai, a human envoy to the planet Gethen, or Winter, at some point in the far future. Mr. Ai's mission is to convince the two countries that comprise Gethen (Karhide and Orgoreyn) to join the Ekumen, an alliance of more than 80 planets. His mission in Karhide, where he has spent almost 2 years, is interrupted when his main contact, Prime Minister Estraven, is declared a traitor and flees to Orgoreyn. Mr Ai himself travels to Orgoreyn, eventually meets with Estraven, and the two embark on a thrilling 800 mile trip across the ice and snow. Gethen is in the middle of an ice age (hence the nickname "Winter") and poor Mr. Ai, used to the more moderate and fluctuating temperatures of planet Earth, is perpetually freezing.The people of Gethen are ambisexual, meaning that they are basically asexual most of the time but randomly transform into either male or female every 26 days during their "kemmering" (basically, they go into heat). Genly Ai cannot wrap his mind around the thought of male/female in one person and primarily relates to the Gethenians as males. He frequently comments in apparent disgust at their softness and feminine characteristics.Le Guin has a powerful imagination and a great talent for writing. In a sense this book explores opposites: yin vs. yang, male vs. female, dark vs. light, anarchism vs. totalitarianism. If you enjoy time warps, futuristic technology, alternative political systems, adventure and intrigue, and thinking outside the box in terms of how we view gender issues, this could be the book for you!
Posted by eileenp at 9/09/2007 01:58:00 PM

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

FAMILY TREE (Barbara Delinsky)
This novel is another great weekend read. Delinsky has made an admirable transition from the romance novels of her earlier career (I'm not knocking them - they are just not my cup of tea!) to solid women's fiction. Family Tree is the story of a happily married couple, Dana and Hugh, jarred out of their idyllic existence when their first child is born with obvious African-American traits. The ensuing story explores marital trust, pride, and bigotry, not on a large- scale, dramatic level, but from a very personal, down-to-earth standpoint. This book has a lovely underlying plotline revolving around Dana's grandmother's life and the yarn shop that she owns. The way that some of the characters' lives are interwoven reminded me of a knitting pattern, which is one of the motifs prominently featured in the novel. This is one of those books that is a great example of fiction that makes you think. I hated to finish the book. The characters are likable and the plot is believable. If you enjoy this one I would recommend that you check out Lake News, The Vineyard, and some of Delinsky's other novels of the past few years. You will be very happy that you did!
Posted by eileenp at 8/21/2007 08:53:00 AM

Monday, August 20, 2007

SECOND CHANCE (Jane Green)
Tom's death in a terrorist attack is the catalyst for a reunion of 4 old friends: Holly, Saffron, Paul, and Olivia. Coming together to share their grief and memories, each of them realizes that Tom was a common thread in their complicated lives and relationships. Holly is marking time in a loveless marriage that, until now, she has accepted and strived to improve despite her husband's judgmental and manipulative personality. Saffron, now a famous movie actress, struggles with alcoholism and an impossible affair that she recognizes as the "real thing." Paul and his wife have exhausted their financial and emotional resources in their unsuccessful quest to have a child, and Olivia, the animal-lover, finds herself in an unexpected, life-changing situation. Jane Green has come through again with this wonderful, multi-layered story of how one man's life and death inspire a group of friends to re-evaluate their lives and relationships. I would recommend it as a great weekend read.
Posted by eileenp at 8/20/2007 02:46:00 PM

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

ADRIANI TRIGIANI
I discovered Adriana Trigiani about a year ago when I read Lucia, Lucia and Roccoco. Since then I have been waiting for the opportunity to read her Big Stone Gap books. A couple of weeks ago I finally read Big Stone Gap and I just finished Big Cherry Holler a few days ago. I have to say that they were well worth the wait. Both novels follow the life of Ave Maria Mulligan, a pharmacist who, at the beginning of the first novel, is a 35-year-old "spinster" still trying to find her true place in the world. In her small Virginia town she is a respected, well-liked business woman, a "ferriner" whose mother came to Big Stone Gap from Italy. After her mother's death Ave Maria learns facts about her own origins that send her into an emotional tailspin and lead her on a quest to discover who she is and what she wants out of life. Along the way we are introduced to a variety of charming, quirky characters and to life in the mountains of Virginia. The second novel takes place 8 years later, and rather than the "happily ever after" that we expected from the end of Big Stone Gap, we see that even in fiction there are obstacles to overcome and that the path of true love never runs smoothly. The relationships in these novels are a true reflection of how human beings interact, evolve, and come to terms with life. One wonderful thing about Trigiani is that you know there is more to come. Often, when you read a truly good book that really engages your emotions, you wonder whatever might have happened to this character or that one. With Trigiani there is an opportunity to find out! I am looking forward to both Milk Glass Moon and Home to Big Stone Gap. I may not get to them right away (so many great books, so little time!), but I know that when I do it will feel like I never left Big Stone Gap.
Posted by eileenp at 8/15/2007 08:30:00 AM

Sunday, July 15, 2007

SEX WARS (Marge Piercy)
This book was an eye opener for me. As a reasonably well-read person I have always been aware that the struggle for women's rights spanned more than a century and that some of the most notable early figures in this long process were Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and our first woman presidential candidate, Victoria Woodhull. The extent to which women were subjugated in the 19th century was not clear to me, however, as a child of the idealized era of TV westerns. Piercy vividly presents the slave-like existence that was the lot of most females of that era through a series of 4 interwoven stories spanning the mid-1800's through the early 20th century. I was bothered, however, by the liberal use of actual historical personages as characters in this fictional work. Only one of the 4 distinct points of view was through the eyes of a fictional character, Freydah, a widowed Jewish immigrant who takes in street urchins and builds a successful business manufacturing condoms. This character eventually crosses paths with the other main characters, who were all too real. The other 3 major storylines were written through the eyes of Victoria Woodhull, Anthony Comstock, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Despite the disclaimer at the beginning of the novel, I'm not sure that using "real" people in such a way really constitutes "fiction". One of the participants in our First Tuesday Book Club suggested that this novel might actually, in many respects, be viewed as "narrative nonfiction".I would recommend Piercy's novel to anyone interested in the struggle for women's rights and the development of the United States' laws regarding "obscenity". Anthony Comstock, whose namesake "Comstock Laws" set our original national standards for acceptable levels of prurience in written or visual materials available to the public, was especially fascinating. In this work, at least, he took great pride in the fact that his adopted daughter was "slow", which in his eyes made her a suitably subservient and, thus, nearly ideal example of how a woman should be!I have enjoyed some of Piercy's earlier novels, including "The Longings of Women". A quick look at her biography reveals some striking similarities to Victoria Woodhull's life as well as a long history of involvement in women's rights. Her writing requires thought and attention, but will leave a lasting impression on you.
Posted by eileenp at 7/15/2007 03:30:00 PM

Thursday, June 28, 2007

HEARTSTOPPER (Joy Fielding)
Another one of my favorite authors (I'm catching up on reading during vacation) triumphs yet again. Like Michael Palmer, Joy Fielding does not utilize recurring characters or settings in her thrillers. Each book is a standalone and each seems better than the last one you read, no matter what order you read them in. Heartstopper is set in Torrance, FL, a relatively quiet, safe small town populated by the requisite worn-out sheriff, a recently separated school teacher, a surgically- enhanced bimbo who has slept with half the men in town (including the sheriff), a weird high-school drama teacher, an abusive husband, etc., plus the usual array of high-school students in varous stages of angst.This book interweaves the journal of a killer with the unfolding story of the the personal lives of Torrance's citizens. When the body of a popular high school senior is discovered in a shallow grave several days after she went missing, fear becomes the town's watchword. Suspicions and emotions run high until a local man is arrested for the crime. Fielding cleverly presents the killer's journal in such a way that the reader will make certain assumptions about this individual, but upon reexamination will realize that these assumptions are completely unfounded. I have to admit that I did correctly identify the killer quite a while before the actual reveal near the end of the book, but only after looking over the journal entries a second time. I wasn't actually sure that I was right until the end, though. I think this would make a great movie and I wouldn't be surprised if it ended up as a feature film. In the meantime, all readers know that the book is always better than the movie, so don't wait. Read it!
Posted by eileenp at 6/28/2007 04:43:00 PM


THE FIFTH VIAL (MICHAEL PALMER)
Michael Palmer never fails to impress me with the quality of his medical thrillers. His characters are both interesting and believable, his settings rich in detail, and his plots are scarily believable! The Fifth Vial explores organ transplantation from the perspective of entitlement, not based on who can afford to PAY for a new organ or, as the system works in reality, on who is most medically IN NEED OF an organ, but on who is most DESERVING of an organ. The Guardians are a group of "philosopher kings" who use Plato's Republic as their bible and believe that they have been designated as the guardians of the world's organ transplant system, determing who most deserves a chance at renewed life and health.As the story develops we are introduced to Natalie Reyes, a headstrong, 4th-year, Boston-based medical student who is disgraced, suspended from school, and ultimately finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time while in Brazil to deliver a scientific paper for her mentor, Dr. Doug Berenger. Natalie soon finds herself embroiled in a dangerous search to discover the truth behind her hospitalization in Brazil. At the same time, a struggling private eye named Ben Callahan is hired by Organ Guard, an organization dedicated to preserving the integrity of the world's organ transplant process. While investigating the mysterious case of a an unidentified man who appears to have donated bone-marrow just before his untimely death in Florida, Ben finds himself pulled inextricably into what he believes to be conspiracy that extends far beyond the death of one man. I can't tell you anymore without giving too much of the story away and I know you will want to read this one yourself!If you are wondering about the title of this book, suffice it to say that after you have finished it you might keep you eye out for green tops next time you have blood drawn for routine testing! If you have enjoyed Palmer's previous books and are a fan of Tess Gerritsen and Robin Cook, check this one out today!
Posted by eileenp at 6/28/2007 04:14:00 PM

Thursday, May 31, 2007

CATALOGUE OF DEATH by Jo Dereske
Helma Zukas, librarian extrordinaire, returns to solve yet another bizarre murder in Jo Dereske's latest entry in this series, set in fictional Bellehaven, Washington. A few years ago I emailed Ms. Dereske, then a librarian in Washington State, to ask when the next Miss Zukas mystery would be published. I was disappointed when she told me that she had no plans to continue the series at the time, but after a break she resumed writing and has now added two more books to this cozy series. This latest focuses on the mysterious and untimely death of Franklin Harrington, an elderly historian and triplet whose family had other plans for the land he had so generously donated as the site for a brand new library building. When all of library director Mae Ellen Moon's files on construction of the new library are stolen from Helma's car, things begin to look especially bleak for the project. Using her finely-honed reference and organizational skills, Miss Zukas tackles the investigation despite gentle warnings from her sometimes "beau", police chief Wayne Gallant. Bibliophiles and those who value order and simplicity will love Miss Zukas. If she is just a bit too perfect for comfort, there are plenty of other not-so-perfect citizens of Bellehaven to love, including free-spirited artist/best friend Ruth Winthrop, Helma's interfering Mom, Lillian, and the sometimes confused but always charming Aunt Em. Check out this series!
Posted by eileenp at 5/31/2007 07:42:00 PM

Monday, April 30, 2007

I FEEL BAD ABOUT MY NECK (NORA EPHRON)
I am planning to purchase copies of this book for several of my 50-something friends with birthdays coming up soon. I waited a long time on the hold list to finally have a chance to read this delightful collection of essays and now I want every woman I know to be able to read it, too!Ephron's writing style is unpretentious and conversational. Her wry humor and on-the-mark observations about the problems of getting older make this book feel more like a conversation with an old friend than anything else. The title essay, the first in the book, is hilarious (and so true) and the section on "parenting" in the 80's had me wishing that Ephron would stop by my house so we could discuss our theories on child-rearing and the handling of teenagers (get a dog when your children are adolescents so someone will be happy to see you when you come home). Every essay has some universal insight to offer. I think that being able to look at life realistically and still maintain a sense of humor is one of the greatest gifts to which any a human being can lay claim and Nora Ephron certainly has this gift. I will have to admit that I embrace the idea of purses with much more enthusiasm than she does, possibly because I invest much less money in mine, but overall Ephron has expressed what so many of us are thinking about various aspects of being a woman of a certain age. The best thing about this book is that it makes us realize that we are not alone in how we feel and what we fear, and that is a comfort and a joy.
Posted by eileenp at 4/30/2007 08:11:00 AM

Saturday, April 14, 2007

THE PROFESSOR AND THE MADMAN
This is just a quick note about this book, Simon Winchester's story of the development of the Oxford English Dictionary. We read this in March for the First Tuesday Book Club and I think that we all enjoyed the fascinating story of the long years and meticulous work that went into the creation of the first real English-language dictionary. One of the founders of the OED was Frederick Furnivall, an enthusiastic oarsman and outdoorsman. Furnivall was supposedly the basis for character of Water Rat in "The Wind in the Willows." It was interesting to have read both of these works in such close proximity, timewise! Winchester's book is a great nonfiction selection, very interesting and readable.
Posted by eileenp at 4/14/2007 10:36:00 PM

Monday, April 09, 2007

RESTORING GRACE by Katie Fforde
British author Katie Fforde always manages to leave me feeling happy and believing that people can, indeed, live happily ever after. Her main character is always a woman (sometimes modeled on herself) who somehow manages to forge an interesting career and, in the process, some interesting relationships as well. In this novel Grace, a reluctant divorcee (her older husband left her for someone else because she wanted a baby and he did not), is trying to maintain the beautiful old house left to her by her late aunt / godmother by holding wine-tastings and writing columns and wine for local publications. During the course of the novel she deals with dry rot, greedy siblings, a needy step-daughter, a pregnant friend, and, of course, a handsome real-estate developer and wine-lover who is interested in more than her property. She is viewed by those who have known her longest as a helpless, naive incompetent who needs to be protected and ordered about. Through her new relationships she comes to see herself for what she really is, a woman who can take control of her own life and make her own decisions. Mutual support, trust, and the ability to give freely of oneself are the traits that make Grace, Ellie, Demi, and the rest of the cast of characters so likeable and this book so readable. I always recommend Katie Fforde as an enjoyable read!
Posted by eileenp at 4/09/2007 11:10:00 AM

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

THE KNITTING CIRCLE by Ann Hood
This book had mixed reviews, but I couldn't resist the idea of a story about learning to knit as a healing experience. This is the story of a woman who has lost her child, written by a woman who has lost a child. It may not be for the tender-hearted or depressed. I found myself feeling very conflicted and out-of-sorts as I read the book; of course, it is always difficult for a mother to read about anyone's loss of a child, no matter what the circumstances. After the sudden death of her 5-year-old daughter, Mary Baxter joins a knitting group at Big Alice's Sit and Knit on the advice of her estranged mother. Through knitting she begins to heal and progress through the various stages of grief. Eventually Mary and the other group members form a bond, sharing their stories of grief and helping each other to heal or at least to accept their losses. In the end, the book is a tribute to the power of friendship and love and the incredible resilience of the human spirit. I would recommend it. It is well written and the characters have depth and power.
Posted by eileenp at 2/28/2007 10:21:00 AM

Sunday, January 14, 2007

THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS by Kenneth Grahame
When the leader of our Yesteryears Book Club suggested reading "The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame, I was skeptical. I already felt like I was buried under book club selections (being involved in 3 of them here at the library can be intimidating at time) and I was much more in the mood to read a good cozy or chick lit selection than a children's classic. Well, I was pleasantly surprised. Every adult should read this book even if they do not have a small child with whom to share it. Rat, Mole, Badger, and Frog live in a community much like any inhabited by humans, except for (1) easy access to funds without the bother of actual jobs, (2) the mysterious ability to put together a meal without a hint of stress or fatigue, and (3) the lack of long-term consequences for actions like escaping from prison or breaking and entering!. I was completely and utterly charmed by all of them and found myself, when engaged in the non-literary responsibilities of my life, occasionally wondering what was going to happen next and anxiously awaiting an opportunity to find out. The characters in this book seemed to me to be living exactly the way a child would imagine them to live. If you haven't read it, do it soon. You won't regret it!
Posted by eileenp at 1/14/2007 05:23:00 PM