What can I say about this novel? I feel like my emotions have been shredded and scattered into the wind over and over again. Ka Hancock's powerful story left me drained, yet weirdly and freshly hopeful about life choices and death.
Lucy and Mickey are madly in love, completely committed to each other and to a marriage made fragile by bipolar disorder and cancer. Years before, just days before he was killed in the line of duty, Lucy's police officer father promised his then 5-year-old daughter that there are three things that are true about death: that it is not the end, that it doesn't hurt, and that if you are not afraid you can watch for it and be ready. Lucy soon sees death, a comforting, feminine presence, and understands that she is there for her father, not for her, not yet. Twelve years later, when Lucy is 17, death comes for Lucy's mother as well in the form of breast cancer, which had also claimed Lucy's grandmother and aunt. Lucy and her sisters are left to face life together, wondering what the future holds for them.
When Mickey was 12 years old his severely depressed mother took her own life and soon after he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Struggling to manage his illness over the years, Mickey is a successful club owner by the age of 29, when he falls in love with Lucy. They decide to marry despite the trepidation of Lucy's sisters, Priscilla and Lil, choosing to live and love, dancing on broken glass with each other despite the terrible possibilities that lurk in the genes that eventually betray them.
I am trying not to say too much about what happens to Lucy and Mickey as their story progresses because this is a book that you should feel on your own as you read it. The two tell their own stories and their devotion to each other shines through on each page, as does the anguish they face when forced to choose between two impossible paths. This is a love story, a tear-jerker, a learning experience. I confess that I feel more confident about life and possibilities after reading Dancing on Broken Glass. Bravo, Ms. Hancock!
BIBLIOPHILY
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
KNIT ONE PEARL ONE (Gil McNeil)
Gil McNeil's knitting series is a pleasant way to spend a lazy spring weekend. If you have read her earlier books, you know that Jo McKenzie is a widow (her husband crashed his car into a tree just after announcing that he was leaving her for his mistress) and the mother of 2 rambunctious boys plus Pearl, a toddler. Jo owns a seaside knitting shop in England and, with the help of her Gran and the lovable Martin, her carpenter, sometimes boyfriend, and son of Elsie, her shop assistant, she is making a go of her business and raising her fatherless boys. Thanks to movie-star knitting student Grace she has enough income to keep the shop and her classes going, and thanks to good friends Connie and Mark she also has opened a cafe next to the shop. When Pearl's father, Daniel, reappears in their lives, he seems, surprisingly, to fit comfortably into the mix.
The Beach Street Knitting Society series (I still can't figure out why it is called that!) doesn't offer car chases, crimes to solve, or impossibly passionate romance. In fact, McNeil reminds me a bit of Marcia Willett and Rosamund Pilcher, who write about the business of coping with everyday life, family, and friends. It's not that there is no excitement here, but it's the same sort that you or I might experience - familiar and personal, but with a lot of yarn thrown in! It was a pleasure.
The Beach Street Knitting Society series (I still can't figure out why it is called that!) doesn't offer car chases, crimes to solve, or impossibly passionate romance. In fact, McNeil reminds me a bit of Marcia Willett and Rosamund Pilcher, who write about the business of coping with everyday life, family, and friends. It's not that there is no excitement here, but it's the same sort that you or I might experience - familiar and personal, but with a lot of yarn thrown in! It was a pleasure.
Monday, March 12, 2012
I'VE GOT YOUR NUMBER (Sophie Kinsella)
I'm experiencing very conflicting emotions now, because I have just finished a delightful novel. I listened to the first 10 chapters (great job, Jayne Entwhistle!) and read the last 1/3 of the book or so and now I am wishing for more, but I wouldn't change a thing about the way it turned out. The thing about Sophie Kinsella is that she completely engages your emotions under the guise of fun chick lit. At first glance, her main character, Poppy Wyatt, would appear to be a somewhat superficial young woman marrying into a family of wealthy intellectuals. Her fiance, Magnus, finds her charming and sexy and a little bit inferior to him. She can't believe that someone so wonderful has chosen her to be his wife and overlooks the strange behavior of his parents and wedding planner, Lucinda, a hyperactive, demanding friend of the family who constantly complains about how burdened she is with the wedding preparations.
Poppy's life changes when her phone is stolen and she finds an abandoned mobile in a trash bin. The reader is treated to the her hilarious handling of various dilemmas, the development of her relationship with gruff businessman Sam Roxton, the owner of her new phone, and to the gradual and completely endearing emergence of Poppy the person: intelligent, caring, helpful, and insightful. She will completely capture your heart as she almost single-handedly brings down a complicated plot to discredit a respected businessman and take over Sam's company, White Globe Consulting, in the process. To me, one of the things that makes a novel worth reading is wanting more at the end, and I do!
Poppy's life changes when her phone is stolen and she finds an abandoned mobile in a trash bin. The reader is treated to the her hilarious handling of various dilemmas, the development of her relationship with gruff businessman Sam Roxton, the owner of her new phone, and to the gradual and completely endearing emergence of Poppy the person: intelligent, caring, helpful, and insightful. She will completely capture your heart as she almost single-handedly brings down a complicated plot to discredit a respected businessman and take over Sam's company, White Globe Consulting, in the process. To me, one of the things that makes a novel worth reading is wanting more at the end, and I do!
SWEET POISON (Ellen Hart)
Ellen Hart's Jane Lawless series falls under the category of gay literature, and it is done pretty well. Jane is a Minneapolis restaurant owner in a long distance relationship with a college professor, Kenzie Mulroy. Jane's best friend Cordelia is also gay, with a partner who lives in an adjacent building within yelling distance. Other gay characters include Jane's former partner, Julia, Jane's father's campaign IT guy, and a minister who has been the victim of a serious gay-bashing crime.
Some of the Christie Capers were decidedly not pleased with this choice and I believe that for some of them the general plot (more gritty than cozy) along with the gay theme and large number of gay characters were simply not appealing. For others, including myself, the novel was fine, but I did find myself, like Joan Cusack fleeing that bar in her wedding gown in the movie "In & Out," thinking, "Is everybody gay?"
Jane's father, Raymond Lawless, is running for governor of Minnesota when Corey Hodge is paroled from prison just before the election. Corey has always proclaimed himself innocent, but took a plea bargain on the advice of Ray Lawless, his lawyer, and served 10 years in prison. Now he is accused of another, similar crime when one of Ray Lawless' campaign volunteers is found dead after being seen with him. In addition to the press frenzy over Hodge's connection with Ray Lawless, campaign headquarters is plagued by computer problems and Ray has been suffering some perplexing health problems that he is trying to conceal until the election is over. Jane is not as involved in "investigating" as I would have expected, but she is supportive of her father and worries about the impact of all of these factors on his bid for governor.
I read an interview with Ellen Hart in which she talks about her books being somewhat marginalized by the mainstream literary world because of their gay theme, so I went into this mystery with the expectation that the main character being gay would be a primary focus, as it was. I admire the author for providing a good solid series in a genre that is obviously in demand and often difficult to find. I think that perhaps readers like me, who are not gay, might have a hard time identifying with Ms. Hart's novels because the number of gay characters seems out of proportion with the general population. For someone gay who is looking for a mystery with characters with whom they can identify, though, this would be a good choice. If Ms. Hart changed her series to appeal more to the mainstream, she might sell more books, but I think she would leave a void in an area of literature that she fills quite well as is.
Some of the Christie Capers were decidedly not pleased with this choice and I believe that for some of them the general plot (more gritty than cozy) along with the gay theme and large number of gay characters were simply not appealing. For others, including myself, the novel was fine, but I did find myself, like Joan Cusack fleeing that bar in her wedding gown in the movie "In & Out," thinking, "Is everybody gay?"
Jane's father, Raymond Lawless, is running for governor of Minnesota when Corey Hodge is paroled from prison just before the election. Corey has always proclaimed himself innocent, but took a plea bargain on the advice of Ray Lawless, his lawyer, and served 10 years in prison. Now he is accused of another, similar crime when one of Ray Lawless' campaign volunteers is found dead after being seen with him. In addition to the press frenzy over Hodge's connection with Ray Lawless, campaign headquarters is plagued by computer problems and Ray has been suffering some perplexing health problems that he is trying to conceal until the election is over. Jane is not as involved in "investigating" as I would have expected, but she is supportive of her father and worries about the impact of all of these factors on his bid for governor.
I read an interview with Ellen Hart in which she talks about her books being somewhat marginalized by the mainstream literary world because of their gay theme, so I went into this mystery with the expectation that the main character being gay would be a primary focus, as it was. I admire the author for providing a good solid series in a genre that is obviously in demand and often difficult to find. I think that perhaps readers like me, who are not gay, might have a hard time identifying with Ms. Hart's novels because the number of gay characters seems out of proportion with the general population. For someone gay who is looking for a mystery with characters with whom they can identify, though, this would be a good choice. If Ms. Hart changed her series to appeal more to the mainstream, she might sell more books, but I think she would leave a void in an area of literature that she fills quite well as is.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
DIVA RUNS OUT OF THYME (Krista Davis)
Sophie Winston is an event planner & domestic diva based in the Washington, DC suburb of Old Town Alexandria VA . Sophie and her ex-husband, Mars, are good friends and no more, but Mars' current love, Natasha, Alexandria's answer to Martha Stewart, considers Sophie her biggest rival on both professional and personal arenas. It doesn't help that their respective mothers keep incorrectly referring to Natasha as the woman who stole Mars from Sophie and plotting to get Sophie and Mars back together despite the fact that they are happily divorced.
Sophie's and Mars' families are all in town for Thanksgiving and to attend the finals of a stuffing contest at a local hotel, but tragedy strikes when Simon, the contest organizer, is found dead. Unfortunately for Sophie, it is she who discovers the body and becomes the chief suspect, especially since she recently stumbled on another murder, that of a PI who just happened to have a picture of her in his truck. Wolf, the handsome police officer with a mysterious past and an obvious interest in Sophie, seems convinced that she is a common element in both crimes. Sophie knows that she is not guilty, but who is? Could it be her sister Hannah's new fiance, Dr. Craig, or Mars' old friend Bernie? What about Simon's chauffeur, Clive, or Mars' brother, Andrew, who was cheated in business by Simon? The Colonel, whose granddaughter died as a result of a botched stunt on one of Simon's TV shows, or even Natasha could have had motive or opportunity. With the help of neighbor / best friend Nina, Sophie sets out to wade through the suspect pool and prove herself innocent of two seemingly unconnected crimes.
Davis has created an entertaining cast of characters in this Domestic Diva series. I wish that I had read this one before Diva Takes the Cake. I would recommend reading them in order, but it is not strictly necessary if you have a good head for keeping track of characters. This series is hilarious, filled with twists and turns, dead-ends and surprise clues, and adorably quirky neighbors and side characters. Each chapter opens with a bit of Sophie's or Natasha's domestic wisdom, which serves to highlight he contrast between the two woman. Read and enjoy!
Sophie's and Mars' families are all in town for Thanksgiving and to attend the finals of a stuffing contest at a local hotel, but tragedy strikes when Simon, the contest organizer, is found dead. Unfortunately for Sophie, it is she who discovers the body and becomes the chief suspect, especially since she recently stumbled on another murder, that of a PI who just happened to have a picture of her in his truck. Wolf, the handsome police officer with a mysterious past and an obvious interest in Sophie, seems convinced that she is a common element in both crimes. Sophie knows that she is not guilty, but who is? Could it be her sister Hannah's new fiance, Dr. Craig, or Mars' old friend Bernie? What about Simon's chauffeur, Clive, or Mars' brother, Andrew, who was cheated in business by Simon? The Colonel, whose granddaughter died as a result of a botched stunt on one of Simon's TV shows, or even Natasha could have had motive or opportunity. With the help of neighbor / best friend Nina, Sophie sets out to wade through the suspect pool and prove herself innocent of two seemingly unconnected crimes.
Davis has created an entertaining cast of characters in this Domestic Diva series. I wish that I had read this one before Diva Takes the Cake. I would recommend reading them in order, but it is not strictly necessary if you have a good head for keeping track of characters. This series is hilarious, filled with twists and turns, dead-ends and surprise clues, and adorably quirky neighbors and side characters. Each chapter opens with a bit of Sophie's or Natasha's domestic wisdom, which serves to highlight he contrast between the two woman. Read and enjoy!
Sunday, March 4, 2012
THE DRESSMAKER (Kate Alcott)
Fed up with domestic service and longing to develop her talents as an expert seamstress and designer, Tess Collins sets off from Cherbourg, France on the Titanic as the hastily hired assistant to the famous couturier Lady Lucile Duff Gordon. The dramatic, volatile Madame Lucile and her husband, Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon, are on their way to New York to present her new fashion line and are serendipitously (for Tess) in need of a maid/assistant just as Tess arrives looking for work. When the supposedly indestructible ship sinks, Tess escapes into one of the last lifeboats while the Duff Gordons, along with 3 other people and 7 crew members (including Tess's friend Jim Bonney), depart in Lifeboat One, a boat designed to hold 50 people. After the survivors (about 1/3 of the total on board) are rescued and transported to New York on the Carpathia, U.S. Senator Smith conducts a series of hearings to investigate the cause of the disaster and the actions taken in its aftermath, including reports that the passengers in Lifeboat One, at the insistence of Lady Duff Gordon, refused to pull additional victims from the icy waters of the Atlantic.
The Dressmaker is perfectly timed to take advantage of the popularity of "Downton Abbey" and the 100th anniversary of the Titanic disaster. Rather than focusing on the disaster itself, Alcott writes about its emotional toll on the survivors and the impact of class and wealth in determining who escaped from the ship. The year 1912 was a time of change in the United States, with the suffragist movement in full swing and class barriers being broken down, and fashion reflected changing attitudes in and toward women. Tess is caught up in this new, exciting world, caught between servitude and ambition and torn between two very different men.
As a historical novelist, Alcott presents the reader with an unusual view of the Titanic incident. I have said in the past that I enjoy real historical figures being used as characters in fiction. Here, the Duff Gordons were real as was the incident with Lifeboat One, but I feel that Alcott has taken a little bit too much liberty with the Duff Gordons' involvement, mixing fact and fiction a little too freely. There are some interesting accounts of their experiences available in Encylopedia Titanica at http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-survivor/lady-duff-gordon.html,.
Another issue that I had with the novel is that it seemed to fall a bit short on focus. I would have liked more detail on the hearings, or more of an emotional connection (aside from Lucile's hysterics) to the loss of the Titanic. Almost no one seems to have suffered from PTSD or had lingering after-effects from their near-death. I think that perhaps the reader needs to keep in mind, though, that the title is The Dressmaker and that Tess' reactions and experiences are probably in keeping with her station in life, her upbringing, and the time in which the novel is set. In this modern age we are so used to political correctness, media frenzy, over-reaction, and litigation that acceptance and deference as reactions to a tragedy may seem almost foreign to us. This is a book written from the point of view of a young woman moving from a restricted, class-oriented world to one of new freedoms and opportunities. Overall, I enjoyed the novel very much and would recommend it.
The Dressmaker is perfectly timed to take advantage of the popularity of "Downton Abbey" and the 100th anniversary of the Titanic disaster. Rather than focusing on the disaster itself, Alcott writes about its emotional toll on the survivors and the impact of class and wealth in determining who escaped from the ship. The year 1912 was a time of change in the United States, with the suffragist movement in full swing and class barriers being broken down, and fashion reflected changing attitudes in and toward women. Tess is caught up in this new, exciting world, caught between servitude and ambition and torn between two very different men.
As a historical novelist, Alcott presents the reader with an unusual view of the Titanic incident. I have said in the past that I enjoy real historical figures being used as characters in fiction. Here, the Duff Gordons were real as was the incident with Lifeboat One, but I feel that Alcott has taken a little bit too much liberty with the Duff Gordons' involvement, mixing fact and fiction a little too freely. There are some interesting accounts of their experiences available in Encylopedia Titanica at http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-survivor/lady-duff-gordon.html,.
Another issue that I had with the novel is that it seemed to fall a bit short on focus. I would have liked more detail on the hearings, or more of an emotional connection (aside from Lucile's hysterics) to the loss of the Titanic. Almost no one seems to have suffered from PTSD or had lingering after-effects from their near-death. I think that perhaps the reader needs to keep in mind, though, that the title is The Dressmaker and that Tess' reactions and experiences are probably in keeping with her station in life, her upbringing, and the time in which the novel is set. In this modern age we are so used to political correctness, media frenzy, over-reaction, and litigation that acceptance and deference as reactions to a tragedy may seem almost foreign to us. This is a book written from the point of view of a young woman moving from a restricted, class-oriented world to one of new freedoms and opportunities. Overall, I enjoyed the novel very much and would recommend it.
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