Well, this time I actually read the original before the sequel, but I was about halfway through this novel before I realized why some of the characters and mentions of past events sounded familiar!
Suzanne arrives in Walton, Georgia, obviously on the run from something. She wears a necklace, given to her by her mother and made in Walton, engraved with the sentence, "A life without rain is like the sun without shade," a sentiment that shows up over and over again throughout the novel. Suzanne meets a man, Joe Warner, the mayor of Walton, teacher, widower, and father of 6. If you've read Falling Home you you might remember that Joe's wife, Harriet, died of cancer just days after giving birth to her sixth child. It is now 3 years later.
The plot of After the Rain is predictable. Vulnerable, very attractive young woman, trying to escape her past, is accepted and embraced by a community in a way that changes her life. Along the way she falls in love, but fights it because she doesn't want the new man in her life to be hurt by her past actions. She needs to move on, but something holds her in Walton. Could it be true love?
This novel was a little too romancey for me. There was a little too much of Joe carrying Suzanne around (literally) due to illness, accidents, and passion. I did enjoy the characters, especially 17-year-old Maddie, Joe's oldest daughter, but I'm not a big fan of love at first sight and overwhelming male compassion, sensitivity, and understanding. If you like romance mixed with some intrigue and some very likable characters, you will love this book. It won't be to everyone's taste. but what novel is?
BIBLIOPHILY
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
PUSHING UP DAISIES (M.C. Beaton)
Agatha will always be Agatha (this is book 27 in the series). Of course a handsome retired detective comes to the village of Carsley, just in time to help Agatha solve the murder of Lord Bellington, the owner of a popular community garden that he feels is ripe for development. Bellington's strange son and heir, Damien, hires Agatha to investigate, and in the process her unearths several likely suspects and another murder.
In this story dowdy Mrs. Bloxby develops a crush on Gerald the retired detective, which results in her sprucing up her wardrobe and coloring her hair, much to Agatha's concern. Sir Charles is Agatha's main investigative partner and it seems like he is becoming very much the voice of reason in her life. I vote for this couple to tie the know and live happily ever after. Perhaps in book #40?
By the way, the BBC series of Agatha Raisin mysteries is set to air on PBS starting January. I've already watched them on Acorn TV and I will admit that I was perturbed by the choice of blonde, Scottish actress Ashley Jensen to play Agatha, but it turns out that she is perfect in the role. casting of James Lacey and Bill Wong were also perfect, but the jury is still out on Charles Fraith. If you love Agatha, try to catch the series. Very entertaining!
In this story dowdy Mrs. Bloxby develops a crush on Gerald the retired detective, which results in her sprucing up her wardrobe and coloring her hair, much to Agatha's concern. Sir Charles is Agatha's main investigative partner and it seems like he is becoming very much the voice of reason in her life. I vote for this couple to tie the know and live happily ever after. Perhaps in book #40?
By the way, the BBC series of Agatha Raisin mysteries is set to air on PBS starting January. I've already watched them on Acorn TV and I will admit that I was perturbed by the choice of blonde, Scottish actress Ashley Jensen to play Agatha, but it turns out that she is perfect in the role. casting of James Lacey and Bill Wong were also perfect, but the jury is still out on Charles Fraith. If you love Agatha, try to catch the series. Very entertaining!
SMILE AND BE A VILLAIN (Jeanne Dams)
What I like most about this series (and have probably mentioned before), is that Dorothy Martin and Alan Nesbitt are so REAL, so comfortable in their own skins and in their relationship, suffering the aches and pains of advanced age, getting hungry, and caring so much about each other. It's refreshing!
Week are now at book 18 of Dorothy and Alan's adventure, and I wish they could continue on forever. Vacationing in Alderney in the Channel Islands (check out http://www.visitalderney.com/ if you are interested in more information), Dorothy and Alan naturally discover a body while out walking the hills of the island and become involved into the investigation into the death. One of things I liked most about this novel, aside from Dorothy and Alan, was the details on Alderney. If you look at the website above you'll discover that Dams did her research! Most of the restaurants, hotels, and other places really exist and are integral to the story. This is probably the best tourism campaign that Alderney could ever have. I want to go there. I just wish Dorothy and Alan were still there, too!
Week are now at book 18 of Dorothy and Alan's adventure, and I wish they could continue on forever. Vacationing in Alderney in the Channel Islands (check out http://www.visitalderney.com/ if you are interested in more information), Dorothy and Alan naturally discover a body while out walking the hills of the island and become involved into the investigation into the death. One of things I liked most about this novel, aside from Dorothy and Alan, was the details on Alderney. If you look at the website above you'll discover that Dams did her research! Most of the restaurants, hotels, and other places really exist and are integral to the story. This is probably the best tourism campaign that Alderney could ever have. I want to go there. I just wish Dorothy and Alan were still there, too!
Monday, September 12, 2016
MARJORIE MORNINGSTAR (Herman Wouk)
I feel guilty that I chose this novel as the September selection for the Vintage Book Club. It is a daunting 565 pages and I do feel that Wouk could have cut out some of the detail somewhere, but I can't figure out exactly where!
Marjorie Morgenstern is an aspiring actress, a Jewish princess whose hope is to become famous as "Marjorie Morningstar." In the 1930's, young women were called upon to be chaste and to become good wives to suitable men, and in the Jewish community, those men should be Jewish and successful. Despite Marjorie's ambitions, her parents are loving and supportive (in as much as they know what she is actually doing). Marjorie, throughout the novel, is always the prettiest girl in the room, with men falling at her feet and worshipping her from afar. All men, that is, except for cool, collected Noel Airman (formerly Saul Erdmann), the handsome, creative rebel who becomes her obsession.
Herman Wouk (now 101 years old) is an avid student of the Jewish faith and culture and this novel is a insider's view of the family dynamics, guilt, and cultural angst of being Jewish in a changing world. Written in the 1950's, but set in the mid-to-late 1930's, the reader follows Marjorie's evolution from girl to woman, where she is called upon to make moral and religious choices that take her out of her comfort zone. It is a fascinating study, but the ending is a bit disappointing. I would recommend it because, despite Wouk's tendency to prolong some of the story lines, it's though provoking and leaves you feeling like you have learned. Wouk manages to weave solid insight and knowledge throughout his somewhat melodramatic story. I just wish he stayed true to Marjorie's character and ambition right through thr end.
Marjorie Morgenstern is an aspiring actress, a Jewish princess whose hope is to become famous as "Marjorie Morningstar." In the 1930's, young women were called upon to be chaste and to become good wives to suitable men, and in the Jewish community, those men should be Jewish and successful. Despite Marjorie's ambitions, her parents are loving and supportive (in as much as they know what she is actually doing). Marjorie, throughout the novel, is always the prettiest girl in the room, with men falling at her feet and worshipping her from afar. All men, that is, except for cool, collected Noel Airman (formerly Saul Erdmann), the handsome, creative rebel who becomes her obsession.
Herman Wouk (now 101 years old) is an avid student of the Jewish faith and culture and this novel is a insider's view of the family dynamics, guilt, and cultural angst of being Jewish in a changing world. Written in the 1950's, but set in the mid-to-late 1930's, the reader follows Marjorie's evolution from girl to woman, where she is called upon to make moral and religious choices that take her out of her comfort zone. It is a fascinating study, but the ending is a bit disappointing. I would recommend it because, despite Wouk's tendency to prolong some of the story lines, it's though provoking and leaves you feeling like you have learned. Wouk manages to weave solid insight and knowledge throughout his somewhat melodramatic story. I just wish he stayed true to Marjorie's character and ambition right through thr end.
ISLE OF PALMS (Dorothea Benton Frank)
Anna Lutz Abbot, divorced mother, hair stylist, and sassy as all get out, grew up at the mercy of her distant father and her hellacious, fire-and-brimstone-spouting grandmother. Her mother died when Anna was 10 years old, scandalously in bed with another man. After becoming pregnant at 17 (the result of a date-rape by a boy her horrible grandmother considered a highly suitable date), Anna married her gay best friend, Jim Abbot, who joyously accepted Anna's daughter Emily as his own. Long divorced but still best friends with Jim, Anna's ambition is to move back to her childhood home of Isle of Palms, SC and open her own beauty salon. She has finally saved up enough money to live her dreams, but she worries that her pediatrician father, with whom she has lived for years, will be upset. Who will get his meals and do his laundry? Now that daughter Emily is in college, can she really provide a home for her that is truly theirs alone?
Isle of Palms is one of those novels that leaves you feeling as if you've been through a whirlwind. The quickly evolving friendships, the sometimes riotous antics, and the deep, loyal relationships can leave the reader a little breathless. This didn't start out to be one of my favorite Dorothea Benton Frank novels. In fact, I wasn't really sure I was going to like it at first. It definitely grows on you, though, once you get used to the folksy tone, and I ended up liking it immensely. Ms. Frank never lets her readers down!
Isle of Palms is one of those novels that leaves you feeling as if you've been through a whirlwind. The quickly evolving friendships, the sometimes riotous antics, and the deep, loyal relationships can leave the reader a little breathless. This didn't start out to be one of my favorite Dorothea Benton Frank novels. In fact, I wasn't really sure I was going to like it at first. It definitely grows on you, though, once you get used to the folksy tone, and I ended up liking it immensely. Ms. Frank never lets her readers down!
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