I was lucky enough to win this book from the author for finding a minor mistake on her website calendar! And when I say "lucky," I mean lucky! Author Maxwell is very versatile, writing historical mysteries, 2 food-based series (one under the name Maddie Day), and the Tace Baker mysteries (under the pseudonym Lauren Rousseau). She also has a new series under contract called the Cozy Capers Book Group Mysteries, which I hope was inspired just a bit by our library's Christie Capers mystery book group!
The Quaker Midwife series, set in the late 1880's, feature midwife Rose Carroll, a woman of great intelligence and common sense who consults frequently with New England Poet John Greenleaf Whittier. Maxwell brings to life the devastation of the 1888 Amesbury, MA carriage factory fires and expertly weaves her historical research into a very satisfying historical mystery. Her characters are believable and appealing. I can't wait to read the next in this series!
BIBLIOPHILY
Saturday, December 30, 2017
THE PARISIAN CHRISTMAS BAKE-OFF (Jenny Oliver)
This another fun story that's perfect for the holidays, or for any other time when you just need to zone out from real life.
Rachel Smithson is a primary school teacher who loves what she does, but something has been missing in her life since the death of her mother several years ago at Christmas time. Rachel's mother was the village baker and her bakery was a gathering place for the village. Rachel worked along side her as a child, helping to bake cookies and bread, but when her mother died she stopped baking completely and her father emotionally withdrew from life. When Rachel's friends arrange for her to compete in a bake-off contest in Paris with a famous chef, she is alternately horrified, resistant, and intrigued, but ultimately her relationship with baking changes.
Oliver presents us with a little romance, friendship, back-stabbing competition, and inspiration. Is it the next big best-seller? Certainly not. But it is a good way to recharge, especially if baking is one of your passions.
Rachel Smithson is a primary school teacher who loves what she does, but something has been missing in her life since the death of her mother several years ago at Christmas time. Rachel's mother was the village baker and her bakery was a gathering place for the village. Rachel worked along side her as a child, helping to bake cookies and bread, but when her mother died she stopped baking completely and her father emotionally withdrew from life. When Rachel's friends arrange for her to compete in a bake-off contest in Paris with a famous chef, she is alternately horrified, resistant, and intrigued, but ultimately her relationship with baking changes.
Oliver presents us with a little romance, friendship, back-stabbing competition, and inspiration. Is it the next big best-seller? Certainly not. But it is a good way to recharge, especially if baking is one of your passions.
Saturday, December 23, 2017
THE THIN MAN (Dasiell Hammett)
I would like to say that I enjoyed The Thin Man, but I really didn't. This was the December selection for the Christie Capers Mystery Book Club and I was looking forward to it. When I began reading I found the banter and numerous characters (not to mention the constant imbibing of alcohol) confusing, so I went to YouTube and watched about 10 minutes worth of clips from The Thin Man movies series. I had never seen them before, so it was helpful to get a better idea of the characters and how they function. Truth be told, though, this turned out not to be particularly helpful in the long run.
Nick and Norah Charles are a wealthy, hard-drinking husband and wife. Nick is a former private detective who retired to run his wife's family business. Norah is much younger. They are visiting New York City in 1932 when Nick is asked to investigate a murder.
I retrospect, the story itself is interesting, full of surprising twists and turns and devious characters. I liked this about it. I also like the unexpected twists at the end. However, I didn't meet any characters that I actually liked. All of them, even Nick and Norah, seemed ethically questionable and unappealing. I think they were probably more likable in the movies! For me, there has to be at least one sympathetic character who you root for as the story progresses. I didn't find that here. I know this is a classic, but I just couldn't get into it.
Nick and Norah Charles are a wealthy, hard-drinking husband and wife. Nick is a former private detective who retired to run his wife's family business. Norah is much younger. They are visiting New York City in 1932 when Nick is asked to investigate a murder.
I retrospect, the story itself is interesting, full of surprising twists and turns and devious characters. I liked this about it. I also like the unexpected twists at the end. However, I didn't meet any characters that I actually liked. All of them, even Nick and Norah, seemed ethically questionable and unappealing. I think they were probably more likable in the movies! For me, there has to be at least one sympathetic character who you root for as the story progresses. I didn't find that here. I know this is a classic, but I just couldn't get into it.
CHRISTMAS BLISS (Mary Kay Andrews)
As always, Mary Kay Andrews comes through with a fun novel filled with humor, human drama, excitement, and romance. Those of you who have read Andrews's previous Savannah novels will be familiar with antiques dealer Eloise (Weezie) Foley and her best friend, the dramatic Bebe Loudermilk.
With Christmas fast approaching. Weezie attends to the final details of her planned wedding to Daniel Stipanek while Daniel works in New York as guest chef at a prestigious restaurant. In the meantime, Bebe is due to give birth in a month but adamantly refuses to marry her lover and the baby's father, Harry. Little does Bebe know that there might be impediments to their marriage and, of course, other problems ensue as well. Christmas fun all around!
With Christmas fast approaching. Weezie attends to the final details of her planned wedding to Daniel Stipanek while Daniel works in New York as guest chef at a prestigious restaurant. In the meantime, Bebe is due to give birth in a month but adamantly refuses to marry her lover and the baby's father, Harry. Little does Bebe know that there might be impediments to their marriage and, of course, other problems ensue as well. Christmas fun all around!
THE COSY CHRISTMAS TEASHOP (Caroline Roberts)
I think that I actually started reading the first book in this series, but I'm not sure. It may have been one of those thing where I glanced at the first few pages and then was distracted by something else!
Anyway, this was a great little book to read over the holidays (I read it on my Kindle) or at any other time that you feel the need to escape into a charming. Ellie Hall and her husband, Joe, live at Claverham Castle, where Ellie has established a teashop and Joe oversees the running of the estate for the bad-tempered Lord Henry, who was also recently revealed to be Joe's father. Now expanding into wedding planning, Ellie is in great demand by both lovely brides and bridezillas alike, but her secret hope is to become a mother.
During the pre-Christmas season Ellie is inundated, trying to meet the demands of an over-the-top bride planning a reception at the castle, cope with a personal loss, and plan a dream wedding for a couple who have recently seen their own share of tragedy. These characters are wonderful, hard-working, creative people and you will enjoy getting to know them better.
Anyway, this was a great little book to read over the holidays (I read it on my Kindle) or at any other time that you feel the need to escape into a charming. Ellie Hall and her husband, Joe, live at Claverham Castle, where Ellie has established a teashop and Joe oversees the running of the estate for the bad-tempered Lord Henry, who was also recently revealed to be Joe's father. Now expanding into wedding planning, Ellie is in great demand by both lovely brides and bridezillas alike, but her secret hope is to become a mother.
During the pre-Christmas season Ellie is inundated, trying to meet the demands of an over-the-top bride planning a reception at the castle, cope with a personal loss, and plan a dream wedding for a couple who have recently seen their own share of tragedy. These characters are wonderful, hard-working, creative people and you will enjoy getting to know them better.
Monday, December 4, 2017
POLDARK: DEMELZA (Winston Graham)
I loved reading the continuing saga of the Poldark family. Demelza focuses on Ross Poldark's young wife and her development from a kitchen maid to the wife of an upper-class man well-regarded in the community. Those of you who have watched Poldark, the old or new version, will be familiar with the joys and sadness of Demelza's life. I highly recommend the novel!
THE PROMISE GIRLS (Marie Bostwick)
Family dysfunction is rampant in The Promise Girls! Sisters Joanie, Meg, and Avery were conceived and raised to be prodigies. According to Minerva, their mother, the girls are the children of carefully chosen sperm donors who were geniuses in their respective fields. Joanie was designated to be a talented pianist, Meg a gifted artist, and Avery a superb writer. The 2 older girls showed early signs of promise and Minerva became a minor celebrity after publishing a book detailing the experience of raising 3 prodigies. It all fell apart the day Joanie won a bronze medal (instead of gold) in a prestigious piano competition.
This novel raises some interesting questions regarding parental responsibility and the ethics of child-rearing. In today's society there is an obsession with raising "gifted" children, winning at all costs, and public achievement. It seems as if schools and sports focus on self-esteem rather than excellence so no one will "feel bad" about not being the best. At the same time, many parents focus on their child's superiority rather than on developing their strengths and their happiness. Minerva Promise took this obsession to a whole new level, taking on a sort of Dr. Frankenstein role in manipulating her daughters' lives and future careers. Of course, it all blows up in her face eventually.
As adults all 3 daughters have abandoned their "talents" and have little contact with their mother, but they are very close to one another after having been separated and in foster care after being removed from their mother's care. When a life-changing accident occurs each of them rethinks their lives and choices.
Although this is a work of fiction, it is a thought-provoking novel that should give all of us pause. When a child is born, whose life should they live and whose dreams should they strive to fulfill? I would highly recommend this novel.
This novel raises some interesting questions regarding parental responsibility and the ethics of child-rearing. In today's society there is an obsession with raising "gifted" children, winning at all costs, and public achievement. It seems as if schools and sports focus on self-esteem rather than excellence so no one will "feel bad" about not being the best. At the same time, many parents focus on their child's superiority rather than on developing their strengths and their happiness. Minerva Promise took this obsession to a whole new level, taking on a sort of Dr. Frankenstein role in manipulating her daughters' lives and future careers. Of course, it all blows up in her face eventually.
As adults all 3 daughters have abandoned their "talents" and have little contact with their mother, but they are very close to one another after having been separated and in foster care after being removed from their mother's care. When a life-changing accident occurs each of them rethinks their lives and choices.
Although this is a work of fiction, it is a thought-provoking novel that should give all of us pause. When a child is born, whose life should they live and whose dreams should they strive to fulfill? I would highly recommend this novel.
ADAM BEDE (George Eliot)
George Eliot is both tough and brilliant. There are SO many words and so much local dialect and expression. Set around 1800, it is the story of Adam Bede, a man of intelligence and character, a hard-working carpenter who is obsessed with a beautiful but characterless woman. The novel is rich in historical atmosphere. It is a tale of morality, focused on human choices and decisions.
Eliot presents the reader with characters that might be considered stereotypical if not for the depth of her portrayals. Adam, the poor but highly moral, responsible man, contrasts with Arthur, the good-natured but spoiled heir who possesses a conscience but no restraint when it comes to his own personal needs. Seth, Adam's brother, is a weaker, paler version of the dynamic Adam. Dinah, the plain, devout Methodist preacher, contrasts with the beautiful Hetty, the undeserving object of Adam's affections.
I could spend hours analyzing Adam Bede, but I think it's more important to tell other readers to persist. It's slow-going at the beginning. I read this book for the first time in my 20's and I remember loving it. After all these years I found it very difficult to read. The first 3rd of the novel is description - of the village, the characters, the customs of the time, and life in 1799 - and seems to drag in places. Persistence is the key to enjoying this novel, and you won't be sorry! Get a footnoted version if you can. It not only references the many biblical illusions and quotes that appear in the novel, but it also provides definitions for many of the archaic words and expressions that are part and parcel of the story. It is well worth reading.
Just a note: If you enjoy reading or watching Poldark, this novel is set at about the same time in English history, so many of the social customs and historical situations are the same. It's interesting to compare the perspectives of the 2 stories, written 100 years apart, by two excellent authors.
Eliot presents the reader with characters that might be considered stereotypical if not for the depth of her portrayals. Adam, the poor but highly moral, responsible man, contrasts with Arthur, the good-natured but spoiled heir who possesses a conscience but no restraint when it comes to his own personal needs. Seth, Adam's brother, is a weaker, paler version of the dynamic Adam. Dinah, the plain, devout Methodist preacher, contrasts with the beautiful Hetty, the undeserving object of Adam's affections.
I could spend hours analyzing Adam Bede, but I think it's more important to tell other readers to persist. It's slow-going at the beginning. I read this book for the first time in my 20's and I remember loving it. After all these years I found it very difficult to read. The first 3rd of the novel is description - of the village, the characters, the customs of the time, and life in 1799 - and seems to drag in places. Persistence is the key to enjoying this novel, and you won't be sorry! Get a footnoted version if you can. It not only references the many biblical illusions and quotes that appear in the novel, but it also provides definitions for many of the archaic words and expressions that are part and parcel of the story. It is well worth reading.
Just a note: If you enjoy reading or watching Poldark, this novel is set at about the same time in English history, so many of the social customs and historical situations are the same. It's interesting to compare the perspectives of the 2 stories, written 100 years apart, by two excellent authors.
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