"The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it." (James Bryce)

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

JUST IN TIME (Marie Bostwick)

Three very different women meet at a grief support group, but each of them decides that they feel out of place, that they don't belong there.  Grace is not a widow.  Her beloved husband, Jamie, has been in a coma since suffering a head injury on a hike celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary.  Monica has been bitter since her husband was killed in a boating accident with his current mistress, leaving Monica to raise her two recalcitrant step-children and run their restaurant on her own.  For Nan, the past 20 years, since her husband died in a plane crash, have been difficult yet rewarding.  When Nan invites the other two women to join her in their own support group, they form a strong and supportive friendship.

After finishing Lisa Genova's "Every Note Played" I approached this novel with a bit of trepidation.  Sadness and grief are worthy themes in fiction, but sometimes you feel like you need a break.  Knowing Bostwick, though, I was pretty sure that the mood would improve, and it did.

I've read a few books lately where the characters were not particularly likable, which to me means that it is difficult to invest yourself in caring about where it all ends.  Bostwick's characters, however, are like real friends.  You want to know them better; you grieve when they grieve; you rejoice at their happiness, when things start to go right.  Is the progression from nearly unmanageable grief and anger necessarily a linear and predictable event?  Of course not, but novels are novels.  there needs to be a beginning, a middle, and an end, and happy endings are sometimes a welcome alternative to the struggles of everyday life.  If you want to experience a sense of inspiration and positivity and feel the strength of friendship, pick up almost any book by Marie Bostwick.  You won't regret it!

EVERY NOTE PLAYED (Lisa Genova)

If you are in the mood for a good cry or are curious about how ALS develops, this is the book for you.  Genova is a wonderful author and a neuroscientist, so she does know her stuff.  This novel is heart-wrenching, though, the story of two pianists, one who gave up her potential and the other who gained fame and fortune while losing his family.

Richard Evans is a world-renowned concert pianist, a man who has sacrificed his marriage and his daughter in pursuit of his art.  His ex-wife. Karina, an even more talented pianist, gave up her dreams of playing Jazz when they moved to Boston for his job and their daughter was born.  When Richard, now world famous, starts experiencing numbness in his left hand, he assumes that it is due to tendinitis, a common condition among pianists.  When he is diagnosed with ALS he hopes that it is a mistake or that he will defy the odds and his disease will stop progressing.

This is the story of two people whose inability to communicate and whose dishonesty with each other have ruined what could have been a brilliant partnership, personally and professionally.  When Richard is left with nothing and no one as his disease progresses, Karina makes the decision to step in and help.  She obviously dislikes Richard, but has a strong sense of duty and some regret for what they have made of their lives and their marriage.

Genova's step-by-step descriptions of the progress of ALS are frightening and depressing.  It is a bit too easy for the reader to imagine themselves experiencing this progression and it is heart-wrenching to watch Richard's loss of everything that is important to him, bit by bit.  I only gave this novel 4 stars on Goodreads because it was too sad and the main characters were, quite frankly, both a bit TOO flawed and unlikable.  I would definitely recommend it, but not if you are already sad!

Monday, April 16, 2018

AN APPETITE FOR MURDER (Lucy Burdette)

What a terrific mystery!  My 93-year-old mother, who has told me that she doesn't like "silly" cozies, is a big fan of the of the Key West Food Critic mysteries.  Burdette (a.k.a. Roberta Isleib) does a terrific job of creating a likable (and a few quite unlikable) cast of characters in this series.

Our heroine, Haley Snow, moved from New Jersey to Key West for lust, which she had, unfortunately, mistaken for love.  When she is dumped by her boyfriend, Chad, after discovering him in bed with another woman, she and her cat, Evinrude, move temporarily to her friend's houseboat.  When Kirstin, Chad's new (and, as it turns out, old) lover is found murdered in Chad's apartment, Haley is a prime suspect, especially after her article on Key Lime Pie is published at the same time the murder takes place.  Kristin died from eating a poisoned Key Lime pie!  Adding to Haley's troubles is the fact that someone claims to have seen her going into Chad's building with a box just before the murder.  Kristin was also the co-owner of the magazine where Haley was hoping to work as a food critic, so Haley has to go to great lengths to remain in the running for the job of her dreams.

This mystery is filled with humor, action, references to Key West locales, and, quite frankly, adorable characters.  I'm really looking forward to the rest of the series.  The next one is coming out soon and Lucy Burdette will be at Windsor Locks Library in August to talk about her series.  I'm looking forward to meeting her and hearing more about what comes next for Haley!

Saturday, April 14, 2018

WEYCOMBE (G.M. Malliet)

My first impression of this novel, which I had been anxiously anticipating, was that I didn't like Jillian White, the main character.  An American married to a member of a nearly impoverished British aristocratic family, she seemed a bit too calculating.  Her marriage was in a sorry state, her husband weirdly distant, and her relationships with her neighbors seemed a bit emotionless and self-serving.  I almost stopped reading, but because I am a big fan of Malliet's other novels, I continued.

At the outset, Jillian discovers the body of realtor and neighbor Anna during her usual morning walk by the river in the little village of Weycombe.  Worried about a killer in their midst and doubting the abilities of the local police, Jill starts her own investigation into the untimely death.  This truly is a novel of suspense, with new insights and suspicions coming to light with each chapter.  I can't say too much without giving away the plot, but I can say that I'm glad (yet, somehow, also horrified) that I continued reading it.

While I don't think this is Malliet's best effort, I do believe that the story is much better in retrospect than in the actual reading.  It is well-written;  I don't mean to imply that it's not.  It is, however, the type of story that makes you feel uneasy about people, which may be why it didn't appeal to me as much as I expected it to.  It leaves you with the same sort of impression as "Gone Girl," unsure of human nature and a bit horrified at how evil people can really be.  I think you should probably read it yourself!

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

A NANTUCKET WEDDING (Nancy Thayer)

If you just want to escape from cold weather and cloudy days, this is a great escape book.  It's not deep or unpredictable, but it includes just enough intrigue and emotional drama to keep readers interested. 

The premise is romantic:  Allison, a widow, is preparing to marry David, a very successful and wealthy businessman, also widowed.  She is encouraging members of their soon-to-be-blended families to travel to their beautiful summer home on Nantucket to meet and, hopefully, get to know each other so all can co-exist harmoniously as Allison and David begin their new life together.  Allison's daughters are Jane, childless by choice and married to Scott, and Felicity, the mother of two children with entrepreneur husband Noah.  Jane and Felicity are half-sisters, different as night and day, and not close.  Jane and Scott are ambitious lawyers devoted to travel, adventure, and each other.  Jane has recently begun to feel the tug toward parenthood, an idea completely opposed by Scott.  Felicity, an earth mother, and Noah, who plans to save the earth with his green food company, are growing apart as Noah becomes more and more involved in his business.

David's children are Ethan, the wildly attractive single (at least he claims to be) father, and Poppy, pregnant with her third child and slated to take over the reins of David's company when he retires.

Thayer does a wonderful job of balancing all of the evolving relationships and stresses related to family and wedding against a backdrop of beautiful Nantucket beaches and customs.  It's not my favorite Nancy Thayer novel, but they're all good, so that doesn't really matter.  I would recommend it for a relaxing weekend or vacation read, but be prepared for a bit of intrigue and drama mixed in with the ocean breezes and salt air!

Friday, April 6, 2018

THE FAMILY NEXT DOOR (Sally Hepworth)

The first thing (and only negative, which probably isn't the best way to start out), is that I don't like the title of this book.  To me it implies some sort of sinister activities associated with the people who live next door to the protagonists of the novel, which is not the case. 

That being said, this can't-put-it-down novel is about a neighborhood in Melbourne, Australia.  Essie and Ben live there with their 2 small daughters, Mia and Polly,  Essie has had problems with major postpartum depression in the past, so Ben, who runs a fitness studio, and Essie's mother Barbara, who lives next door, are concerned when she starts acting a bit off again.  Barbara moved to the neighborhood to help out after Essie's problems when Mia was an infant.  Lucas, a photographer, and Ange, a successful real-estate agent, also live here, with sons Will and Owen.  Lucas is extraordinarily handsome and not the best in the fidelity department, but Ange is madly in love him and chooses to believe that he has mended his ways.  Nigel and Fran, a lawyer, complete the group of couples.  They are the parents of Rosie and Ava, but since Ava's birth Fran has been troubled and uses running to try and escape her demons.

Everything seems relatively normal, as normal as life can be with small children, when Isabella moves into the neighborhood.  Since most of the people on the cul-de-sac are families, it is intriguing to have a friendly single woman with a mysterious background move into their midst. Isabella is not afraid to introduce herself and offers to babysit, although a few disturbing issues pop up as the story progresses.

I won't tell you anymore.  All I can say is that I read this novel in less than a day and a half (while also working full time!) because I couldn't get it off of my mind.  While I suspected what might be going on, I was surprised at what was eventually revealed.  I would highly recommend it!

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

A FAMILY AFFAIR (Rex Stout)

It's been quite a few years since I read Rex Stout.  Remember the TV series with William Conrad as Nero Wolfe and Lee Horsely as Archie Goodwin?

One thing that made this a bit difficult to read was the number of characters.  Many of them were "regulars," but not being familiar with them it was hard to keep track.  If you aren't a reader of the series (or haven't read it for years), it is kind of difficult to follow the personalities and habits of the main characters.

In A Family Affair, waiter Pierre Ducos arrives at Nero Wolfe's doorstep saying that someone is going to kill him.  Archie Goodwin informs him that he can't see the great detective until the next morning and installs him in a bedroom to stay the night.  Soon afterward a bomb detonates and Ducos is dead.  So begins a complicated series of deaths, red herrings, and characters.

I read a review of this, Stout's final Nero Wolfe novel, by Madeline St. Just, who considers this to be a "weak" mystery.  As someone who is much more familiar with the series than I, St. Just made some excellent points about the contrived nature of the killer's actions and reactions during this case and the lack of the usual depth in the recurring characters, plus she considers the murder methods and motivation to be far-fetched.

Personally, I think that another reading would give me a much better experience.  My advice, actually, unless you're a mystery reader who can't enjoy one unless you try to solve the crime as you read, is to look at the end and see who did it before you get into the story.  I wish I had!