The History Book Club discussion

30. by Emma Heatherington
Finish date: March 2020
Genre: Fiction
Rating: C
Review: "You are inside me. You are a part of me. You are within my every move. I feel like I know you, Lucy Harte, I really do. But you will never, ever know me."

Maggie was given a second chance of life when she was given a heart transplant eighteen years ago. Now she is at a low point in her life going through a divorce.

The brother of her organ donor contacts Maggie. He feels that it would help him deal with the loss of his sister, Lucy Harte, if he could meet Maggie. He gives Maggie the gift of Lucy's diary where she wrote of things she wanted to experience, and places she wanted to visit. Maggie decides to fulfill some of Lucy's dreams, and starts on a journey of self-discovery. She regains her sense of joy, and reaches out to mend fences.

Emma Heatherington is an author from County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. She set this book in her home country as well as Nashville and France. "The Legacy of Lucy Harte" is women's fiction with a positive message about living life fully.

APRIL

31. by Graeme Macrae Burnet
Finish date: April 2020
Genre: Historical Fiction, Crime
Rating: B
Review: In 1869, a seventeen-year-old crofter from the Scottish village of Culduie admitted that he committed a horrific triple murder. The story unfolds through his prison memoir, police reports, psychological reports from prison doctors, and newspapers covering his trial. His solicitor is hoping to keep his client from the hangman's noose with an insanity defense.

The prisoner, Roderick Macrae, is an intelligent loner whose family was bullied by the victim, a local constable. Roderick was also regularly beaten by his father. The crofting system seemed to condemn the tenants to abject poverty where there was no hope of ever getting out of debt. Roddy's memoir shows us the social and economic problems of the poor tenant farmers.

The prison doctor's report illustrates the feelings of the mental health experts of the era. He felt that criminal behavior is hereditary. It's fascinating seeing the possible motives for Roddy's crime looked at from many perspectives. This book is an interesting combination of historical fiction and crime fiction. It was a Booker Prize Nominee in 2016.

32. by Anne Tyler
Finish date: April 2020
Genre: Fiction
Rating: C
Review: "Once upon a time, there was a woman who discovered she had turned into the wrong person."

Rebecca Davitch, a widow and a grandmother, is still running her husband's business of hosting catered parties. She had broken off a relationship with another man and dropped out of college when she met Joe Davitch, an enthusiastic man with three young daughters. Now the middle-aged Rebecca is wondering who was her true self. Was she the outgoing party planner, or the more sedate person of her youth? Does a person change to fit the life that's given to them?

Anne Tyler infused "Back When We Were Grownups" with humor, and an understanding of family connections. She writes about the warmth and the craziness of dealing with a quirky bunch of family members.

33. by James Joyce
Finish date: April 2020
Genre: Short Stories
Rating: B+
Review: Dublin was James Joyce's native city in Ireland. He felt that he needed to escape from a grim life in a poor Dublin neighborhood, and lived in Paris and other European cities as an adult. Everyday situations are portrayed in the fifteen short stories in "Dubliners." They start with stories about children, move to tales about adults, and end with the longest story "The Dead."

The stories often feature characters who are trapped in routine, and hesitate when opportunity calls. They are paralyzed, unable to change, even if love could end loneliness. There are references to religion and political tensions. Food and drink are often mentioned, and help show economic despair and class differences. The stories are not happy, but they are extremely well-written.

The last story, "The Dead," is about traditions, the past and the present, life and death. It ends with Gabriel during a thoughtful moment as he watches an unusually widespread snowstorm through the window during the night:

"Yes, the newspapers were right: snow was general all over Ireland. It was falling on every part of the dark central plain, on the treeless hills, falling softly on the Bog of Allen, and farther westward, softly falling into the dark mutinous Shannon waves. It was falling, too, upon every part of the lonely churchyard on the hill where Michael Furey lay buried. It lay thickly drifted on the crooked crosses and headstones, on the spears of the little gate, on the barren thorns. His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead."

Yes, James Joyce - a wonderfully written treatise but I agree not altogether the height of enjoyable reading when the stories focus on paralyzed people who are inert only because of the chains within their own psyche. But a great writer - no less.

We covered this book for the Ireland challenge. Very good review Connie. You capture the pathos well in your review and the challenge each one of these characters face. Thank you.

James Joyce

34. by Patti Smith
Finish date: April 2020
Genre: Memoir, Music, Art, Photography
Rating: B
Review: This is an intimate memoir of Patti Smith's relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe in the 1960s. They lived together in poverty for several years in New York City, devoted to their art. Even when Robert came out as gay, they remained close friends. Patti is a writer, poet, rock star, and artist. Robert was famous for his art and photography. As Robert was dying of AIDS, he asked Patti to write a memoir of their relationship, and "Just Kids" pays tribute to their love.

35. by Daphne du Maurier
Finish date: April 2020
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: B
Review: Daphne du Maurier is one of those authors who can sweep you away from the concerns of our troubled times, and leave you enthralled in her writing. "The King's General" takes the reader to Cornwall during the English Civil War during the reign of Charles I.

Honor Harris was a spirited eighteen-year-old when she first met Richard Grenvile. Richard was a fine soldier who had the confidence of his men. A tragic accident prevented Honor and Richard from a lifetime together, but their love remained strong. While Richard was tender and loving toward Honor, he was a man of many flaws when dealing with others. His strong beliefs in what he considered right often obscured his vision as a father or a friend.

"The King's General" has lots of historical detail, Gothic elements, and colorful characters. Life was precarious in 17th Century Cornwall with the English Civil War that tore countrymen apart, along with coping with disease and food deprivation. The activity in a secret passage added to the atmosphere and adventure.

MAY

36. by Louise Penny
Finish date: May 2020
Genre: Mystery
Rating: B+
Review: "In the kingdom of the blind. . . the one-eyed man is king," Gamache read from Erasmus.

Chief superintendent Armand Gamache is under suspension from the Surete du Quebec since he failed to stop a shipment of deadly narcotics into Montreal. Gamache has to find the location of the opioids before the drug hits the streets, and kills thousands.

Gamache also becomes one of three executors for the will of a stranger that he never met. The deceased is a cleaning lady who called herself the Baroness. European connections, a murder, and financial manipulations complicate the picture.

The book also revisits some of the delightfully eccentric residents of the village of Three Pines. Gamache remains charming, intelligent, and honorable as he works along his intense son-in-law, Jean-Guy Beauvoir. "Kingdom of the Blind" is a well-plotted addition to Louise Penny's enjoyable series of mysteries.

37. by Ron Rash
Finish date: May 2020
Genre: Short Stories
Rating: A
Review: Every one of the twelve short stories in "Burning Bright" is worth reading. Author Ron Rash takes us to the Appalachian mountains in the Carolinas. His stories are about people facing poverty, addiction, desperation, and loneliness. Superstitions and traditions are passed through the generations. There are several stories about meth-addicted characters that are heartbreaking for their families.

Rash also interjects some humor into some of the stories, such as "Dead Confederates," about looting Confederate graves for memorabilia. There are moral shades of gray that make some actions forgivable. The beauty of the rural mountainous area, and strong community ties also come through in these tales. Ron Rash is a very talented writer who shines a light on the Appalachian people he knows so well.

38. by Isabel Allende
Finish date: May 2020
Genre: Fiction, Magical Realism
Rating: B
Review: "She sowed in my mind the idea that reality is not only what we see on the surface; it has a magical dimension as well and, if we so desire, it is legitimate to enhance it and color it to make our journey through life less trying."

Eva Luna was orphaned at an early age, but her mother passed on her gift of storytelling. Eva was poor and worked as a servant for some eccentric people in an unnamed South American country. While reality was grim, a good storyteller can change her reality by embellishing it with magical qualities. Eva's stories were also a way to give back by entertaining people who were kind to her. She used her talent like a South American Scheherazade.

The life of Rolf Carle, who came from Eastern Europe to South America as a young man, intersects with Eva's life when they are adults. The talented photojournalist reported on the volatile political situation of the 1960s-1970s. Eva wonders if changes of leadership will make much difference to the South American women who live in such an oppressive patriarchal atmosphere.

"Eva Luna" is a picaresque book full of adventure and colorful characters ranging from the powerful and wealthy to those living in the red light district. Eva has the gift of taking the harshness of life, and replacing it with magical adventure in her imaginative stories.

Very nice reviews as always Connie. Thank you.

Bentley wrote: "Very nice reviews as always Connie. Thank you."

Thank you, Bentley.

39. by Alice Munro
Finish date: May 2020
Genre: Fiction
Rating: B+
Review: "Her concern about my life, which I needed and took for granted, I could not bear to have expressed. . . . Advice that assumed being female made you damageable, that a certain amount of carefulness and solemn fuss and self-protection were called for, whereas men were supposed to be able to go out and take on all kinds of experiences and shuck off what they didn't want and come back proud. Without even thinking about it, I had decided to do the same."

In "Lives of Girls and Women" Del Jordan tells about coming of age in a small Canadian town in the 1940s. Each chapter centers on an important theme in the confused life of a teenage girl. Family, the atmosphere of a small Ontario town, her thirst for learning, the existence of God, friendships, men, and exploring sexuality are among the subjects that Del has in her thoughts. She has a modern mother who sells encyclopedias, is agnostic, has feminist views, and regrets that she never had the chance to attend college and live in a city.

Considering that Alice Munro wrote this book in 1971, she was very progressive in the way she brought the empowerment of women into her novel. Her writing is brilliant as she portrays the uncertainty, humor, and excitement of an adolescent girl who is searching for answers.

40. by Agatha Christie (no photo)
Finish date: May 2020
Genre: Mystery
Rating: B-
Review: Agatha Christie stumped me again, but Miss Marble figured out who murdered the woman in the library. This was an enjoyable, quick, light read.

41. by Lucy M. Boston
Finish date: May 2020
Genre: Childrens, Time-travel
Rating: B+
Review: Green Knowe is the new manor house that is being built by a Norman lord in 12th Century Britain. His son, Roger, finds two magical stones in the woods shaped like thrones. When he sits on the larger stone he can wish to time-travel forward in time. Roger only tries sitting on the smaller stone chair once since it brought him back to the frightening conquest by the Saxons.

This is a delightful book for older children with lots of historical details. As Roger travels forward in time, he finds that he is the ancestor of the children living at Green Knowe in the future. Since industrialization is changing England, every trip to the future is a different experience. The manor house had a warm family history of sheltering the children through the centuries. Children will enjoy the adventures and magical qualities of this time-travel story, and the illustrations by Peter Boston (the author's son).

42. by Victoria Lamb
Finish date: May 2020
Genre: Historical fiction, Historical romance
Rating: B-
Review: Queen Elizabeth I enjoyed escaping the heat and sewage of London in the summer, and visited the castles of her wealthier subjects in the English countryside. The queen traveled with so many people that it often impoverished the owners of the country homes to feed, lodge, and entertain the huge crowd. It was 1575 when she stayed at Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire. It was the home of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, the ambitious man who tried to convince Elizabeth to marry him. He was also carrying on an affair with a married cousin of Elizabeth.

The story revolves around a plot to assassinate Protestant Queen Elizabeth by outside Catholic forces who wished to restore England to Catholicism. Lucy Morgan, a young black entertainer with the voice of a songbird, gets involved in the intrigue and wants to protect the Queen. Her guardian works for the spymaster in Elizabeth's court. Although the assassination attempt at Kenilworth is fictional, there were numerous times that Elizabeth's life really was in danger.

The book is a combination of historical fiction and historical romance with colorful characters. The emphasis of the book was on the relationships among the fictional and historical figures.

43. by Anthony Powell
Finish date: May 2020
Genre: Fiction
Rating: B
Review: Post-war London is bleak with buildings reduced to rubble from the bombings, and people feeling the loss of good friends who died in the war. Nick Jenkins is returning to civilian work writing a book, and reviewing books for a left-wing magazine. He's working for a new publishing company where we are reacquainted with literary types from previous books, and introduced to the novelist X. Trapnel. Kenneth Widmerpool, a MP, writes economic and political articles for the magazine. Femme fatale Pamela Widmerpool has a new victim fall for her.

There are lots of cultural references and humor in Anthony Powell's writing. He knows first-hand what it's like to be a writer and book reviewer, and uses satire in his depiction of the publishing industry. "Books Do Furnish a Room" is the tenth book in "A Dance to the Music of Time" series.

44. by Anthony Powell
Finish date: May 2020
Genre: Fiction
Rating: B
Review: In "Temporary Kings" Nick Jenkins is attending a literary conference in Venice around 1958. He meets Russell Gwinnett who is writing a biography of X. Trapnael, a novelist who was featured in the last book. The conference tours cultural locations, including the Bragadin Palace with its fictional impressive ceiling painted by Tiepolo. The subject of the painting, the story of Candaules and Gyges, sets the stage for other events.

Art, literature, music, film, and Eastern European politics are important in this book. Some characters are aging and declining in health. Kenneth and Pamela Widmerpool spice up the story as they engage in scandalous behavior. "Temporary Kings" is # 11 in the series, "A Dance to the Music of Time," which follows a large group of English friends and family over fifty years.

Connie, great reviews - you already have 180 people (all unique) who are reading your thread.

Thank you, Bentley.

45. by Anthony Powell
Finish date: May 2020
Genre: Fiction
Rating: B
Review: The final volume of "A Dance to the Music of Time" series shows life as a circular dance with the younger generation repeating the same steps to the dance as the older generation moves out of the circle. In "Hearing Secret Harmonies" a 1970s hippie cult camps overnight at Nick and Isobel Jenkins' home in the English countryside. Isobel's niece has been mesmerized by the cult leader, Scorpio Murtlock. He leads the group in pagan rituals often tied to the seasons and the sites of ancient standing stones.

The book ties in mythology, literature, art, and spiritualist characters from earlier books. The Seventies was a time of youthful rebellion, sexual freedom, and experimentation with drugs. Kenneth Winderpool, a college administrator now, embraces the new age. Russell Gwinnett is researching Gothic symbolism of mortality, and also comes into contact with the mystic cult. The occult rituals of the group become increasingly sinister, and there is a power struggle between two of the members.

The twelve books in the series have been following Nick Jenkins' observations about life since he was a teenager. It is the satirical view of someone in the British upper class, well-schooled in literature, art, music, history, and culture, like the author himself. Nick and his friends are getting older. However, the circular Dance of Life will continue moving to the Music of Time.

JUNE

46. by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Finish date: June 2020
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: B+
Review: "Maybe both of them are screaming but there is no sound save the sea and the sky and all the boat lights swallowed and the boats flashing and the boats spinning, the boats flying, turning, gone."

It is Christmas Eve 1617 when a sudden, vicious storm hits the coast of Vardo, an isolated Arctic fishing village off the Norwegian coast. Maren Magnusdatter lost her father, brother, and fiance in the storm. Forty fishermen--all the adult men--drowned, leaving the women to grieve. The women had to do the work usually done by the men, such as fishing and herding reindeer, in addition to their own tasks in order to have enough food to survive.

King Chrisian IV, a God-fearing man, wanted to drive out any non-Christian traditions from his kingdom. He looked to the far North where the indigenous Sami still had their traditions. He sent commissioners to the Arctic to promote worship and to prosecute those thought to be witches. The tragic sudden storm was thought to be the work of witches who worked with the Devil. Commissioner Absalom Cornet traveled with his new wife, Ursa, to root out the evil in Vardo. Ursa was a delicate city woman raised with servants in her father's home. She hired Maren to teach her how to do the household tasks, and the two women became very close. Ursa was frightened by her controlling husband, and sickened by his accusations against the strong women of Vardo.

The Vardo storm and the 1621 witch trials were real events that served as inspiration for this fictional book. "The Mercies" has a strong sense of place showing a bleak island with a craggy shore, and hardworking people who know how to deal with the elements. Like witch trials in other parts of the world during the 17th Century, religion was used to whip people into a frenzy. Torture of the accused witches was used to obtain more accusations until no one was safe. The unvarnished descriptions of the witch trials can be disturbing, but that was the reality of the persecution of the women. "The Mercies" is a beautifully written book with a feminist spirit that I will remember for a long time.

You are on a roll - 46 books!

47. by Louise Doughty
Finish date: June 2020
Genre: Mystery
Rating: C
Review: In rural Rutland county, villagers are shocked when Thomas and Edith Cowper were found dead and bloody at their home. But what happened to their teenage daughter, Gemma, who disappeared?

The "Rutland Record" is a weekly newspaper where Alison Akenside is the chief reporter. She receives a tip relating to the murder case, but her own ambitions become more important than good judgement.

The murderer is revealed when we are about 20% into the story, so the book is not a typical murder mystery. The story shows the family dynamics in two dysfunctional families--the Cowpers and the Akensides. Children are damaged from the psychological effects of growing up in a toxic environment. Charming Rutland county may look beautiful. . . but all is not well.

48. by Paula Daly
Finish date: June 2020
Genre: Mystery, thriller
Rating: C+
Review: Natty and Sean are a successful young couple with two daughters, and a beautiful upscale hotel near Lake Windermere. But they are so constantly busy attending to the needs of their business that they have little time for each other. Natty's college buddy, Eve, visits them during a lecture tour. During the visit Natty receives word that their younger daughter has been hospitalized during a school trip to France, and she immediately rushes to her bedside. Unknown to Natty, Eve is a chronic liar with a history of seducing men with money.

"Keep Your Friends Close" is a psychological thriller where secrets are uncovered from both Eve's and Natty's pasts. Eve is cold and calculating, while Natty is hurt, volatile, and vengeful. Emotions escalate, and lives are endangered. Sean is unbelievably calm through it all. Chapters told in Natty's voice are interwoven with chapters featuring the savvy detective Joanne Aspinall. The book kept me turning the pages and ended with a twist.

I guess these last two books were not so much!

Bentley wrote: "I guess these last two books were not so much!"

They were something fun and light to read while I continue to read Dickens. I would call them beach reads except I'm not going anywhere near a beach for a while!

For sure

Reminder: Don't forget to update your personal reading list as you complete books and make progress

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Thanks for the reminder, Bentley.

No problem - I will be reminding everyone since the personal reading lists will be carried over from year to year.

49. by Robert Macfarlane
Finish date: June 2020
Genre: Non-fiction, Adventure, Science, Environment, History, Mythology
Rating: A
Review: "The same three tasks recur across cultures and epochs: to shelter what is precious, to yield what is valuable, and to dispose of what is harmful."

Robert Macfarlane takes us on a subterranean journey with the excitement of an adventurer, and the scientific eye of a naturalist. He has a sense of wonder and awe when he sees the beauty of nature. Macfarlane also weaves in stories from the occult, mythology and literature (such as Dante's "Inferno") to illustrate that people's fascination with the underworld is not new.

Macfarlane goes back into deep time exploring underground caves, glaciers in the Arctic, and mines under the North Sea whose geologic structures were formed before humans walked on Earth. He follows a river that rages through underground areas in the Alps. He visits the Epping Forest (at the edge of London) to learn about the underground network of fungi that enables trees to communicate with each other. Sinkholes and caves hide bodies of victims of war.

Macfarland goes to France to view primitive cave art. He also explores the catacombs filled with bones in Paris. There is a subterranean city under Paris where "cataphiles" traverse narrow passages, leading them into large decorated rooms of stone for socializing with their friends.

When we think of energy, underground spaces filled with coal, oil, and natural gas come to mind. Subterranean spaces are built to store the radioactive waste from nuclear power plants. How can we label and warn future generations of the dangers that exist in these radioactive areas when languages may be totally different in the future?

Macfarlane is an adventurer, putting himself in danger as he squeezes through narrow tunnels and explores melting glaciers. But each adventure tells us something about the geologic, natural, or cultural history of the world. We're living in an era where humans are accelerating the pace of geologic and environmental changes. "Underland: A Deep Time Journey" reminds us of the importance of being mindful ancestors to the generations that will follow us.

50. by Michael Farris Smith
Finish date: June 2020
Genre: Literary fiction, Southern noir, Gothic
Rating: B+
Review: The smothering green vines of the kudzu creep over the hills and ravines outside the fading downtown of Red Bluff, Mississippi. The kudzu blankets trees, rusted cars, a dilapidated house, and a tunnel. An evil voice whispers with the wind. A destitute family arrives in an old car that refuses to start again. Colburn, a junkyard sculptor, comes back to Red Bluff to face his inner demons after a family tragedy. Then people disappear. . . .

"Blackwood" is Southern noir with gothic elements. The author writes about desperate people--impoverished, strung out emotionally, and victims of poor parenting. Beautiful literary language is used to reveal dark hidden secrets. Recommended!

51. by Morag Joss
Finish date: June 2020
Genre: Mystery, Psychological Suspense
Rating: B-
Review: "Half Broken Things" is a novel of psychological suspense set in an isolated lovely Somerset manor house. Jean is a lonely professional house sitter for a wealthy couple who will be overseas for almost a year. When her supervisor tells Jean that she's reaching retirement age, she feels unappreciated and decides to use the house and its contents as if it were her own. Two other psychologically damaged people join Jean to form the first real family they have ever known. Michael is a small-time thief, and Steph is a pregnant woman escaping an abusive relationship. They empty out the freezer and the wine cellar. Michael hacks into the wealthy couple's accounts. But how long can this fantasy life last?

The story alternates between their year at the English manor house, and Jean's early life as the daughter of a mean, self-centered woman. She has found happiness for the first time in her life with her two "half broken" housemates. Jean's year of house sitting is coming to a close. . . .what should she do? The story increases in suspense as they get more tangled in a web of lies and dark secrets. "Half Broken Things" kept me turning the pages.

52. by Mark Haddon
Finish date: June 2020
Genre: Contemporary fiction, Humor
Rating: B-
Review: Recently retired George Hall, a quiet family man, is thrown into a panic when he finds a large spot on his skin. Although his doctor assures him it's not serious, George is convinced it's cancer and he's going to die. Meanwhile, his daughter Katie announces that she is going to marry Ray, a man who might not be right for her. Katie's gay brother, Jamie, is on the outs with his boyfriend. Adding to the stress, George's wife has a smooth, handsome lover.

This is a domestic comedy about a dysfunctional family trying to cope with wedding preparations for an "on again, off again" wedding. In real life, one would hope that George's mental health problems would be taken more seriously. Everyone seems caught up in their own problems and the impending wedding. There are lots of humorous situations with the family members eventually finding out what is important in life. "A Spot of Bother" was a fun read full of catastrophes and comedy.

53. by John Forster
Finish date: June 2020
Genre: Biography
Rating: B-
Review: Biographer John Forster was a very close friend of British writer Charles Dickens. He gave Dickens legal and literary advice, reading Dickens' works before they were published. The two men corresponded regularly, and Dickens' letters form the backbone of Forster's book.

Volume 1 covers the time from Dickens' birth to the end of his first trip to America. His novel David Copperfield has autobiographical elements from Dickens' early life. Before Forster's book was published, people did not know that Dickens' father was sent to debtors' prison and Dickens had to work in a blacking factory as a child. These experiences helped form Dickens' concern for the poor, prisoners, and children.

A large portion of the book covers Dickens' trip to America in 1841-42. While he was traveling, Dickens wrote long letters to Forster which were the basis of his American Notes For General Circulation. Dickens' letters were colorful, humorous, opinionated, and lively. Forster quotes from these letters extensively in this biography.

Since he was such a close friend, Forster gives us a very positive view of Dickens as a person. He rarely mentions anything about Dickens' wife, Kate, or his home life. This book is a wonderful source of information, but colored by the bonds of friendship.

54. by Isabel Ashdown
Finish date: June 2020
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Rating: B
Review: Lies . . . Secrets . . . Deception . . . Suspicion. Who can you trust?

Jess is staying in her sister Emily's home on the Isle of Wight, and babysitting for her young daughter, Daisy. Emily and her husband, James, were out at a New Year's Eve party. When Emily arrived home, Daisy had disappeared and Jess couldn't remember what happened.

The story alternates between the police investigation, and the back story of the sibling rivalry between the two sisters who were less than a year apart in age. Unreliable narrators and twists in the plot will keep the reader guessing about who is telling the truth about events associated with Daisy's abduction. "Little Sister" is a compelling psychological thriller.

55. by Charles Dickens
Finish date: June 2020
Genre: Fiction, Classic
Rating: A
Review: David Copperfield makes the journey from being an orphaned boy to a happy, successful man in this wonderful coming-of-age tale. It contains autobiographical elements from author Charles Dickens' own life including working in a blacking factory when his father was put in debtors' prison. The plot includes social problems faced by the poor in Victorian England.

David had perseverance, and sought out the help of his aunt when things hit bottom. She provided a home, encouraged him, and connected him with inspirational teachers and mentors. David became close to people of various classes from a wealthy school friend to the warm folks in the fishing village where his first nurse lived. He also met a few villains along the way. We see young David make foolish choices in matters of the heart, and later finding his true love.

The book is narrated by the mature David Copperfield, written in the first person, looking back on his life. Although he is thinking back on some painful events, he has grown as a person from those experiences. The "happily ever after" ending is not surprising. Dickens created unforgettable characters, and entertains us with his wicked sense of humor. Originally written as a serial publication, cliffhangers at the end of chapters keep our interest high. This was a splendid reading experience.

56. by Gail Tsukiyama
Finish date: June 2020
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: B+
Review: "The Samurai's Garden" is a touching, gentle novel filled with Japanese culture. A Chinese young man, Stephen, was sent to his family's vacation home in a coastal town in Japan to recuperate from tuberculosis. The artistic student spends time with the caretaker, Matsu, who has created serene gardens. Matsu is quiet, but has hidden depths of wisdom. Matsu has been taking care of an older woman, Sachi, in a leper colony since they were both teenagers. Although Stephen is the narrator of the story, the lives of Matsu and Sachi were the most important focus of the book. Their devotion to each other under challenging circumstances taught Stephen the true meaning of love.

The novel is set in 1937-38 when Japan invaded China. Occasional radio reports and letters tell of the Japanese advance. Stephen meets his first love, a Japanese girl, but her father has a strong anti-Chinese attitude.

The story has elements of isolation and loneliness because Stephen was dealing with tuberculosis, and Sachi and the other lepers had to live away from society. It also had themes of loyalty, honor, and the quiet comfort of gardens. I enjoyed this lovely story, and wished I was reading it in Matsu's peaceful Japanese garden.

JULY

57. by Julian Barnes
Finish date: July 2020
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: B-
Review: The lives of two very different men intersected in the early 20th Century. Arthur Conan Doyle was the famous author of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, a medical doctor, and a sportsman. George Edalji was the son of a Vicar from India. The extremely near-sighted man with a logical mind studied law. George was a victim of unfounded accusations, and convicted of a crime he did not commit. Racial prejudice and a web of speculation, rather than the truth, led to George's conviction. Arthur was upset with the miscarriage of justice, and worked to clear George's name.

The beginning of the book was very choppy with alternating short chapters about the boyhoods of each man, but the later chapters became longer and smoother. I enjoyed learning about the life of Arthur Conan Doyle, his family, the causes he championed, and his interest in spiritualism. George Edalji's story was told in great detail, and with compassion. The book explored themes of truth, honor, justice, racial prejudice, and faith.

58. by Catherine Cookson
Finish date: July 2020
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: C+
Review: Cissie Brodie grew up on a tenant farm in 1840s England. When cholera took her parents, the fifteen-year-old girl was left caring for nine younger siblings. To keep them out of the workhouse, Cissie moves them to a cave in the fells. She makes the heartbreaking decision to send the older boys out to work in the mines. Some of her sisters worked in the homes of the wealthy. When the life of the offspring of a rich landowner intersects with Cissie's, her world undergoes another great change. Cissie is resilient and overcomes great hardships.

The book captures the plight of the 19th Century poor, especially in depicting the long hours and unsafe conditions worked by children. The story also shows the privileged life of the upper class. This book is among the many novels by Catherine Cookson that was adapted into a TV film. While I didn't care for the ending of The Dwelling Place, the interesting characters and the challenges they faced kept my interest.

59. by Evelyn Waugh
Finish date: July 2020
Genre: Fiction, Classic
Rating: A
Review: Evelyn Waugh's writing is brilliant in this novel about searching for love, a family, and a relationship with God. Charles Ryder, a middle-class student at Oxford, meets Sebastian Flyte whose aristocratic family resides at Brideshead. His life becomes caught up with the Anglo-Catholic family, especially the flamboyant, alcoholic Sebastian, and his sister Julia who becomes Charles' great love. Pre-Vatican II Catholicism, with all its rituals, pervades the household. Sebastian's controlling mother, Lady Marchmain, tries to pass on her moral beliefs to her four children. This contrasts with the temptations of the modern world between the wars. The story shows the actions of divine grace on the various characters.

The book is filled with interesting conversations, some quite comic, between the characters. It shows society in the 1930s ranging from corrupt businessmen to humanitarians helping the destitute. Although Waugh has made religion an important theme, the book is not weighed down with it. "Brideshead Revisited" is an impressive work about families, relationships, and faith

This is one of my all-time favorite books! I’m glad you enjoyed it. If you liked Waugh’s writing, you might want to check out books by Graham Greene, a similar tho’ darker writer.
Regards,
Andrea
Graham Greene

Thanks for the recommendation, Andrea.

Connie, you’re more than welcome. If you’d like specific book titles, I’ll be happy to jump right in!
Regards,
Andrea

Andrea wrote: "Connie, you’re more than welcome. If you’d like specific book titles, I’ll be happy to jump right in!
Regards,
Andrea"

I have several on my TBR list already, but if you have a favorite, let me know.

Connie, if you’ve got several on your TBR List, you don’t need me. My favorite is always the last one I re-read, which today happens to be “The End of the Affair”.
Regards,
Andrea
by Graham Greene

60. by Elizabeth Chadwick
Finish date: July 2020
Genre: Historical fiction, romance
Rating: B
Review: "The Wild Hunt" is a historical novel filled with danger and romance. It is set during the Welsh March Wars at the turn of the 12th Century when feudal lords battled each other to increase their holdings. The death of William II brought even more political turmoil as Henry I took the throne.

Judith of Ravenstow is forced into an arranged marriage to a handsome stranger, Lord Guyon of Ledworth. The sixteen-year-old bride's father was physically abusive to her mother, so she entered this marriage with trepidation. Judith is a skilled herbal healer who saved her husband's life after he was wounded in battle. Guyon is an excellent swordsman and a charismatic leader. Over time, their tentative relationship blossoms into a strong love. Many historical details give a good sense of time and place in this novel.

61. by Hisham Matar
Finish date: July 2020
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: B
Review: Suleiman was nine years old in 1979 Libya. His father was active politically in the underground movement opposing Quddafi's dictatorship. His mother fluctuated between burying her regrets and fears with her "medicine," and trying to keep her family safe.

The telephone was bugged, a neighbor was executed, his father's life was in danger. The young boy was trying to understand what he observed, what he was told . . . and what he feared.

The book is told from the point of view of a nine-year-old child in a terribly stressful situation. Suleiman didn't always make the best decisions, but his world was falling apart and he didn't know who he could trust. This is a thoughtful, compassionate, fictional book written by an author whose father was also a political prisoner.

Connie, what a harrowing read! I’ll keep it on my radar.
Regards,
Andrea