The History Book Club discussion

41. by Elizabeth Gaskell
Finish date: May 2021
Genre: Fiction, Classic
Rating: B
Review: "Wives and Daughters" was Elizabeth Gaskell's last novel which her editor finished with a final chapter after her death. It was published in monthly serial form by Cornhill Magazine before being released as a book. Written in the 1860s, the story depicts life in the 1820s and 1830s in an English small town. The book's original subtitle was "An Every-Day Story," and it shows life in an ordinary blended family.

Widower Mr Gibson is raising his thoughtful daughter, Molly, when he decides to remarry to provide a chaperone and stepmother to the teenage girl. The new Mrs Gibson is a snobbish comic figure who is constantly twisting things around in conversation. Sheltered Molly has a charming new stepsister, Cynthia, who is more worldly and very attractive to men. The Hamley family with two brothers are close friends of the Gibsons. Other family friends keep busy with their small-town gossip as the two sisters are coming of age. Mr Gibson is a respected doctor who provides another look into the lives of the people in town.

There are no big historic events occurring in the novel, although it is shown to be a time of prejudice against the French and Catholics. There are also strict gender roles and social values, and definite hierarchies in society. Some of the characters are interested in the new scientific thinking and African exploration, hinting of early Darwinism.

The father/daughter bond between Mr Gibson and Molly, and the sisterly affection between the Cynthia and Molly are at the heart of the story. This is an enjoyable book with complex characters. Although it slows a bit in the middle, it picks up again in the second half. I look forward to reading more of Elizabeth Gaskell's novels in the future.

Connie, don’t you just love Elizabeth Gaskell? Did you know she was a minister’s wife? My favorite of her novels is the dynamic “North and South.”
Regards,
Andrea

by Elizabeth Gaskell

Andrea wrote: "Connie, don’t you just love Elizabeth Gaskell? Did you know she was a minister’s wife? My favorite of her novels is the dynamic “North and South.”
Regards,
Andrea

I'm hoping to read it someday, Andrea. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

42. by Brit Bennett
Finish date: May 2021
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A
Review: "The Vanishing Half," a multi-generational saga about race and identity, is one of my favorite books this year. At its center are twin light-skinned black girls who come from an impoverished family. As a young adult, Stella passes for white and leaves her prior life behind. Desiree marries a black man, and returns to her hometown with a very dark skinned daughter. The two twins have very different lives as they move on.

The book also explores other ways of changing identity. An actress becomes another person on stage, and stays in character through method acting. A drag queen changes his identity for a short period of time, and a trans man is interested in permanent change. Desiree's job doing fingerprint analysis is a way of identifying someone through physical identification.

"The Vanishing Half" had fascinating characters and good storytelling. It kept me turning the pages and was hard to put down. This well-written book would be wonderful for book discussions.

Yes, indeed, Connie, this would make a good choice for a book club’s read. It reminded me a bit of Nell’s Larsen’s “Passing.”
Regards,
Andrea

by Nella Larsen

Andrea wrote: "Yes, indeed, Connie, this would make a good choice for a book club’s read. It reminded me a bit of Nell’s Larsen’s “Passing.”
Regards,
Andrea

by [authorimage:Nella Larse..."

My library book club is meeting this week on Zoom so I'm curious to see if others liked it as much as I did.

43. by Jesmyn Ward
Finish date: May 2021
Genre: Contemporary fiction
Rating: B+
Review: The Batiste family is living in poverty near the Gulf coast in Mississippi as Hurricane Katrina is approaching. Narrator 14-year-old Esch realizes that she is pregnant, but the baby's father has been only using her for sex. Her oldest brother, Randall, is hoping his basketball talents will be his ticket out of poverty. Skeetah is raising his pit bull, China, as a fighter and is trying to save her newborn litter of puppies. Six-year-old Junior is constantly looking for something to eat, and depends on Randall for attention. The four children have been motherless since their mother died in childbirth. Their father is an alcoholic who still is grieving the death of his wife, and does not have a steady income. He's not very involved in parenting, but he does make an effort to prepare for the hurricane.

The story is narrated over twelve days. There are graphic scenes of the birth of the puppies, and dog fights that may disturb some readers. The events during the hurricane are harrowing, and their Mississippi town becomes a site of destruction. "Salvage the Bones" is a gritty book, but it's written in wonderful prose. The book was the winner of the 2011 National Book Award. It's a story of everyday survival when impoverished, as well as survival from the ravages of Hurricane Katrina. While it may not be a book for everyone, I was impressed with Jesmyn Ward's writing.

44. by Andrew O'Hagan
Finish date: May 2021
Genre: Literary fiction
Rating: C
Review: James Bawn visits his dying grandfather, Hugh Bawn, in his Ayrshire apartment. Hugh was called "Mr Housing" when he was in charge of building high-rise apartments for low income residents in southwestern Scotland after World War II. Some substandard materials were used in the crumbling buildings, and James now works for a demolition company that is destroying them so the next generation can rebuild. Hugh was a mentor and a father-figure for James when it became impossible for James to live with his violent alcoholic father, Robert.

The family had Irish roots, a Catholic faith, a problem with alcohol, and a history of helping the poor through their left-wing politics. James helps his grandfather in his last days, and comforts his grandmother who is devastated by Hugh's passing. He also takes the first steps in reconciliation with his father. Robert, the son of Mr Housing, has rejected his father's ideas and resides in a tiny caravan in a field.

I didn't feel much of a connection to the characters until the end of the book. I enjoyed the parts where there was some action, moving the characters out of the grandparents' apartment. While some of the author's literary prose was beautiful, there were also descriptions in short, choppy sentences and sentence fragments that got tiresome. Overall, I had mixed feelings about this story of family conflict.

JUNE

45. by Laird Hunt
Finish date: June 2021
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: B+
Review: Zorrie lived a full, purposeful life in spite of having to deal with tragedy, the Great Depression, and the loss of family and friends. Zorrie's happy life as an Indiana farmer's wife in a rural community was interrupted when her husband enlisted in the Army Air Corps during World War II. She had also worked for a few years painting radium clock faces before her marriage, and felt the threat of her exposure to that radioactive material hanging over her as she watched her friends succumb to cancer.

"Zorrie" is a lyrical look at the hopes and disappointments of a strong woman and her Midwest farming community. It's a short book of only six chapters that's a lovely meditation about life's journey.

46. by Elizabeth Laird
Finish date: June 2021
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction
Rating: B
Review: Sixteen-year-old orphan Maggie Blair was living in poverty in 17th Century Scotland with her grandmother. After the death of a child, her ill-tempered grandmother--a healer and a midwife--was accused of witchcraft. Since Maggie had been the first one to find a beached whale, accusations were made that she was also a witch. Maggie managed to escape from prison with the help of her old friend Tam, a drunkard and a thief with a heart of gold. She headed to Kilmacolm where her Uncle Blair took her into his household.

Hugh Blair is based on an actual ancestor of the author. He was a farmer who was a strict Presbyterian during the reign of the English King Charles II. The King wanted to govern the Church, but the Covenanters felt they had a covenant with God and not the political leaders. Hugh Blair and other Covenanters were thrown into prison in the fortified Dunnottar Castle. Maggie traveled with Tam to bring him silver coins to trade for food, and to try to obtain his release.

Although this is a YA book with a teen protagonist, "The Betrayal of Maggie Blair" was a fascinating work of historical fiction. Maggie is an engaging girl who changed from an uncertain girl to a confident young woman with good survival instincts. I enjoyed author Elizabeth Laird's inclusion of so many historical details while she kept the plot moving.

47. by Christina Baker Kline
Finish date: June 2021
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: A-
Review: In 1840s Austalia, Mathinna, an orphaned Aboriginal girl, was taken from her people by the wife of the governor of Van Dieman's Land who wanted to "civilize" her. The wife collected artifacts and skulls from Aboriginal tribes, and acted like Mathinna was part of her collection to be put on display in front of her friends.

Meanwhile, a London governess, Evangeline, was sent to Newgate Prison and eventually sentenced to transport to Australia. When her employer suspected that Evangeline was pregnant by her son, a false charge of stealing had landed her in prison.

Another young woman on the transport ship to Australia was Hazel who had learned the skills of a healer and midwife. Her terrible crime was stealing a silver spoon.

This is not a book for anyone with a queasy stomach since the story shows the abuse of guards, filthy conditions, food filled with maggots, and the general oppression of women in the various prisons. But there are also beacons of light--a kindly doctor made some lives more tolerable, Quaker women gave the prisoners fresh clothes and supplies, and the prisoners formed friendships. Some did not survive the relocation to Australia, but it was a fresh hope for others.

"The Exiles" was wonderful historical fiction with courageous, resilient characters. It worked well having the story told through multiple perspectives since each of these young women was such a unique individual, but I would have liked knowing more about Mathinna's outcome.

48. by Larry McMurtry
Finish date: June 2021
Genre: Historical fiction, adventure
Rating: A+
Review: Although "Lonesome Dove" is about 900 pages long, it was a total pleasure to read with its humor, rich characterizations, vivid descriptions, and adventurous plot. It's an epic tale about a cattle drive from southern Texas into the wilds of Montana. Danger is faced by each of the characters from natural hazards, bandits, and Indians as they head into the wilderness. "Lonesome Dove" is a book that's hard to put down, and deserves its Pulitzer Prize.

49. by Alice Hoffman
Finish date: June 2021
Genre: Short stories
Rating: C+
Review: "Local Girls" is a collection of interrelated short stories about the coming-of-age of Gretel Samuelson. The first group of stories are told in Gretel's voice which is cynical and funny, even through tough situations. The other stories are told from the view of a third-person narrator, and often involve her best friend Jill, other family members, or people in their Long Island neighborhood. Alice Hoffman uses magical realism in several of the stories, such as describing the sensation of fire when heroin floods the veins of one character.

The Samuelson family suffers through tragic events--divorce, a cancer diagnosis, drug addiction, deaths. But there are also warm relationships between good friends and close cousins--people they can count on through good times and bad. I enjoyed this mix of short stories revolving around these Long Island girls and women trying to make the best of what life throws at them.

50. by Lillian Beckwith
Finish date: June 2021
Genre: Fiction
Rating: C+
Review: Mairi and Sandy were happy living on a croft on the small Hebridean island of Corrie. Mairi wanted to adopt a child after having several miscarriages. She grew up in an orphanage so she wished to give an orphaned child a loving home. Her husband was surprised that she chose Thomas, a frail little boy with spectacles and a stammer.

Thomas flourished with her love, and enjoyed helping with the chores on the croft. He also developed a special relationship with the seals on the rocky Scottish coast. But the family had some unexpected troubles.

This was a sweet, charming short novel. Although much of it was predictable, it was also very heartwarming. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of the island of Corrie and the lives of the crofters. Corrie is known for its misty weather that produces spectacular rainbows.

51. by Wally Lamb
Finish date: June 2021
Genre: Fiction
Rating: C+
Review: "She's Come Undone" is the story of a troubled woman's journey through a difficult life. Dolores Price felt that she was caught in the middle of her parents' abusive marriage. Her father was a womanizer and her mother was emotionally fragile. After their divorce, Dolores moved to her grandmother's home in Rhode Island where she was friendless at her new school. Dolores went through some heartbreaking times, and comforted herself with overeating junk food. She had to deal with trauma, obesity, low self-esteem, guilt, and grief through her teens. Dolores had a wicked sense of humor, but she often turned hurtful and foul-mouthed. After years of therapy, life was not perfect, but she was able to cope better when life knocked her down again. Dolores met some interesting, unusual people who interacted with her, and some of the best parts of the book involved Dolores helping someone who was going through a bad time.

Wally Lamb wrote the character of a traumatized, depressed girl very well. The Connecticut author set the book in New England at the time he was growing up, so its sense of time and place rang true. However, a few of the situations seemed a little over the top.

52. by Susan Boyle (no photo)
Finish date: June 2021
Genre: Memoir
Rating: B-
Review: Susan Boyle was an unknown woman from a small village in West Lothian, Scotland, when she auditioned for "Britain's Got Talent." The television viewers were impressed with her gorgeous voice, and she achieved overnight fame.

Susan had some slight brain damage due to lack of oxygen at birth. Her years at school were not happy because her classmates bullied her and she had trouble learning. Her large family of eight brothers and sisters were very supportive. Her father was protective, and her mother was encouraging and loving. Her Catholic faith sustained Susan during difficult times.

Susan had a high level of anxiety, and the hounding from the press was almost unbearable. It was often hard for her to step on the stage, but the music took over when she started singing with her sweet powerful voice.

Susan hoped that her accomplishments would make it a little easier for other people with a disability. She wrote, "You should always focus on what you can do, not on what you can't do--and remember, there's no rush." Those are inspirational words for people of all abilities. (Although it is not in the book, she later received an Asperger's Syndrome diagnosis.)

53. by Rosemary Sutcliff
Finish date: June 2021
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: B +
Review: Around 117 AD, the Roman Ninth Legion marched north to deal with an uprising among the Caledonian tribes (in present day Scotland). The Ninth Legion disappeared without a trace. Eighteen hundred years later, a wingless Roman Eagle was dug up at Silchester. The Romans carried their eagle standard into battle, and no one knows how it came to be buried at Silchester.

Rosemary Sutcliff wrote a fictional story about Marcus Aquila, a young Centurion recovering from battle injuries. He wants to investigate what happened to the Ninth Legion led by his father. Marcus and his friend Esca travel into the dangerous wilds of Britain, north of Hadrian's and the Northern Walls, hoping to locate the Eagle and bring it back to the Roman Legions.

"The Eagle of the Ninth" is a riveting adventure story that can be enjoyed by both YA and adult readers. It's a story about loyalty, friendship, and courage. A wolf cub, a beautiful vixen, and a caring uncle round out the main characters. The author, who is also an artist, wrote beautifully so the readers can easily picture the scenes in their minds.
Review:

54. by Helene Hanff
Finish date: June 2021
Genre: Memoir, Travel
Rating: B
Review: "The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street" is an engaging sequel to "84, Charing Cross Road." Helene Hanff had been wanting to visit London for years, and she finally turned her dream into reality. She tells of her experiences in a conversational manner filled with delightful humor. Her London publishers and friends showed her the sights, and treated her to wonderful meals. She especially enjoyed visiting places with connections to some of her favorite authors and historical figures. It left me wishing I was able to accompany her for even a small portion of her trip.

55. by W. Somerset Maugham
Finish date: June 2021
Genre: Fiction
Rating: B
Review: "You know, most of us have had moments in our lives when our happiness was so complete that we've said to ourselves: 'O God, if I could only die now!' "

Love, passion, loyalty, and taking risks are themes running through "Up at the Villa." A beautiful former actress is staying at a villa in Florence when a successful older man asks her to marry him. She wants to think about his proposal for a few days. An Austrian refugee and a wealthy playboy have made big changes to her life by the time he returns. "Up at the Villa" is an intriguing novella filled with psychological tension.

56. by Clare Pooley
Finish date: June 2021
Genre: Contemporary fiction, Romance
Rating: B-
Review: "I often go for days without talking to anyone. Sometimes, when I have to speak . . . I find that my voice comes out in a croak because it's curled up and died in my throat from neglect."

Artist Julian Jessop is lonely, and feels like age has made him invisible. He shares his story in a green notebook, and leaves it at Monica's Cafe in London. Monica finds it, and writes about her insecurities and her dreams, then leaves the notebook in a wine bar. The notebook passes hands several more times. Soon Monica is sponsoring art classes with Julian at the cafe, and new friendships are forming.

While I wonder if many people would be willing to authentically confide their problems and hopes in a notebook to be read by strangers, it's a good premise for a novel. The notebook writers have real life concerns, and it's easy to empathize with them. The warm connections and inclusion among the new friends is heartwarming. After all the social distancing during the pandemic, every town probably needs a cozy gathering place like Monica's Cafe.

Connie, I love the books that you have been reading as so many of them are still sitting on my bookshelves.

Lorna wrote: "Connie, I love the books that you have been reading as so many of them are still sitting on my bookshelves."

I've been enjoying your reviews, Lorna, and adding some of your books to my TBR list.

Thank you, Connie.

JULY

57. by Janet Skeslien Charles
Finish date: July 2021
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: B
Review: In 1939, Odile was hired for the job of her dreams--a librarian at the American Library in Paris. It was an English-language lending library with subscribers from many countries. Adding to her happiness, Odile was falling in love with a young police officer.

Life changed when the Nazis invaded France. The library shipped books to soldiers to keep up their spirits. A family member joined the military. Odile's father and boyfriend had to follow the orders of the Nazi leaders. There was a list of banned books that the library could not circulate. Jews were not permitted in the library so the librarians secretly carried books to their homes--until the Jews disappeared from their residences. Some of their other library patrons, such as English citizens, were also rounded up.

A secondary time line is set in Montana in 1983. Odile is now a lonely widow. Lily is a teenage neighbor who needs a shoulder to lean on during her mother's illness. Odile and Lily find that they both enjoy languages and literature. Each of them also possesses a jealous streak, and a tendency to act impulsively. Odile helps Lily through some difficult times, and also examines some things that occurred during the Nazi Occupation that have weighed on her conscience.

"The Paris Library" is an enjoyable historical fiction novel that looks at World War II from a different perspective. The author, Janet Skeslien Charles, created characters that were often put in difficult ethical situations during the Nazi Occupation. Nobody gets through a war without regrets. She also shares her love of libraries and literature. The author learned about the history of the American Library when she worked there as a program manager, and came to admire the courage of the World War II librarians. The American Library in Paris was more than a place that shelved books. It was also a community of people from many countries that shared ideas and friendship.

58. by Deb Spera
Finish date: July 2021
Genre: Historical fiction, Southern Gothic
Rating: A-
Review: The early 1920s were desperate times in South Carolina after a multiyear boll weevil infestation destroyed the cotton crops. Then the farmers planted tobacco, but it did not fetch a good price. Hurricanes also ravaged the area.

Three women from different classes and races are trying to hold their lives together in this novel. Gertrude is an impoverished and abused wife trying to keep her four daughters fed and sheltered. Annie is estranged from her daughters, and has recently discovered a devastating family secret. Retta works as a cook for Annie at the plantation where her ancestors were slaves. Retta is a healer, has the gift of sight, loves her husband, and grieves for her daughter who died young.

The lives of these three women intersect during the summer of 1924. Deb Spera's writing is vivid and dramatic. Spirits of the dead haunt the living. The book is worth reading if only to be introduced to Retta with her store of wisdom and caring heart. Lovers of Southern Gothic will especially enjoy this novel.

59. by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Finish date: July 2021
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Humor
Rating: B+
Review: "My Sister, the Serial Killer" is a dark comedy, set in Nigeria, that is hard to put down. Korede, the practical plain older sister, has been told since childhood that she must help and protect her beautiful younger sister, Ayoola. The problem is that Ayoola is a sociopath who kills her suitors when she tires of them. Kolede has felt an obligation to help Ayoola clean up the crime sites and dispose of the bodies.

Korede has been secretly in love with Tade, a personable doctor who works at the hospital where she is a nurse. When he falls for her gorgeous sister, Ayoola, she can see the writing on the wall--Tade's life will be in danger. What is stronger--Korede's family loyalty, or her concern for Tade?

The book also tells the backstory about the childhood of the two women as they grew up with an abusive father, and a mother who catered to Ayoola's every wish. Life in Nigeria is also worked into the story, especially the corruption of the Lagos police.

This is a riveting tale that can be read in one sitting. It's an entertaining book if you're in the mood for a book that's a little different and filled with offbeat, dark humor.

60. by David Morrell
Finish date: July 2021
Genre: Literary Criticism, Thrillers
Rating: B
Review: Thrillers create suspense and get the adrenaline flowing. The genre has changed over the years, and the essays in "Thrillers: 100 Must Reads" present some of the most notable works in chronological order. The book begins with classic adventure tales such as "The Odyssey" and "Beowulf," and soon moves on to 20th Century works.

The essays present short biographies of the thriller authors and the essayists. The discussion of each thriller puts the story in its historical context. The essayists often mentioned what the book meant to them, and how it influenced their own work and the output of others that wrote similar books. Many of the works were chosen because they took thrillers into new directions. The authors' original professions often influenced the type of works they wrote--such as espionage thrillers, medical thrillers, legal thrillers, naval thrillers, etc. World Wars, the Nazis hiding in South America, the Cold War, the Kennedy assassination, Vietnam vets with post-traumatic stress, racial conflicts, and other world problems influenced the authors' choice of characters and themes during certain eras. Other works were psychological thrillers or set on the horror/thriller fence.

The essays were enthusiastic and well-written. Most of the thrillers chosen were written by male authors so some of the choices were too high testosterone for my taste. Some of the essays went into spoiler territory as the essayist explained why the thriller was such an exceptional or groundbreaking story. Of course, I'll be adding more suspenseful books to my overflowing TBR list.

61. by Karma Brown
Finish date: July 2021
Genre: Contemporary fiction
Rating: C+
Review: Lucy woke up from a coma after falling on the ice and hitting her head. Not only had she lost some real memories, but Lucy also had fantastical made-up memories after her accident. She remembered events that never happened with an ex-boyfriend who she had not seen in four years. She only remembered her current boyfriend as a work buddy, although they had been living together.

Lucy had a condition called confabulated memory disorder where false memories seem totally real. As she narrates the story, we witness the confusion and frustration she feels in her mind. It's a difficult emotional journey for this Toronto woman to learn who she is, and what she wants in her future. The author writes with empathy for Lucy and the people who love her. The ending was a bit rushed, but it was a compelling fictional story overall.

62. by Maggie O'Farrell
Finish date: July 2021
Genre: Literary fiction, Historical fiction
Rating: A
Review: Author Maggie O'Farrell has imagined the meeting of William Shakespeare (unnamed in the book) and his future wife Agnes (also called Anne). He is working as a young Latin tutor when he notices the unusual Agnes. She is a herbalist and a healer with a strong connection to nature. She has the gift of seeing into the spirit world, and can look into the minds of other people which is both a blessing and a curse.

The book pays homage to their son, Hamnet, who is struck with the bubonic plague. The grief of the family is enormous when this eleven-year-old succumbs to the Black Death. Every time they look into the face of his twin sister, Judith, they are reminded of their son. Agnes expresses her grief by becoming more introspective. Her husband expresses his feelings by writing his masterpiece, "Hamlet."

The story also devotes a chapter tracing the spread of the plague from the Mediterranean ports to England in the late 16th Century. Although the book was written before our Covid pandemic, comparisons can be made between the two tragic situations.

"Hamnet" is a beautifully written book of literary fiction. Losing a child is any parent's worst nightmare. The story expressed the love, the fear, the guilt, and the grief that any parent would feel in lovely prose.

63. by Alexander McCall Smith
Finish date: July 2021
Genre: Crime, Cozy Mystery
Rating: B-
Review: Precious Ramotswe has several more cases to work on in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency in Botswana. Her good people skills lead to satisfactory outcomes for everyone.

Her assistant, Mma. Makutsi, opens an evening typing school for men. In addition to bringing in extra income to help support her relatives, she's hoping for an opportunity to meet an eligible man.

This charming cozy series has a good sense of place since the author lived in Botswana for many years. Mma. Ramotswe again treats her friends and her clients with warmth and fairness.

64. by Chris Offutt (no photo)
Finish date: July 2021
Genre: Mystery, thriller
Rating: B+
Review: Mick Hardin, an Army CID agent, is home in Eastern Kentucky to work out problems with his wife. His sister, a novice sheriff, encounters her first homicide investigation and enlists Mick's help. She's getting political pressure from a prominent politician who is trying to steer the investigation to protect someone. Mick is familiar with the town and the family loyalty of the various clans living there. He heads out in his grandfather's old pickup to question people in the hidden hollers. The Appalachian families have a history of taking revenge for killings and other affronts, and they have memories that go back generations.

Eastern Kentucky is a rural area of natural beauty, extreme poverty, and a lack of opportunity. Author Chris Offut has his roots there, and turns the setting into a strong presence throughout the book. Offut also writes for TV series, and is a master of snappy dialogue. Bits of humor lighten up the darkness of the story. "The Killing Hills" is such an engaging book that I hope there will be a sequel.

AUGUST

65. by Martha Hall Kelly
Finish date: August 2021
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: B +
Review: Martha Hall Kelly has gone further back in time to the Civil War for the third book in her Lilac Girls trilogy. Each of the three books has a flower name in the title, and can be read as a stand-alone fictional book about the real women in the Ferriday-Woolsey family. "Sunflower Sisters" tells the stories of three women, each who has an important relationship with her sister(s).

Georgy Woolsey is one of the middle sisters of a wealthy New York family who volunteers for the abolitionist cause, and gathers supplies for the Union army. Georgy is trained by Dr Elizabeth Blackwell as a nurse, and is sent to treat soldiers in Washington DC, Gettysburg, and Maryland. Georgy is strong, intelligent, and shows that a woman is capable of assisting the doctors in surgery.

Jemma and her parents are slaves on a Maryland plantation while her sister is enslaved nearby. Jemma has been educated to read and write by her previous owner. She's now working for Anne-May, a self-centered, cruel woman who is running the plantation financially into the ground as she indulges her appetite for luxury items. Jemma's family live in fear of being whipped, raped, or hung by the abusive overseer. They hope someday to escape to freedom.

Maryland was a neutral border state during the Civil War so families and neighbors were torn apart as some fought for the Confederate Army while others joined the Union war effort. In New York City there was significant fundraising for the Union Army and for the abolitionist movement. There were also New York draft riots by the poor Irish who were being forced to fight in the Army while many rich men paid someone to take their place. The book starts off slowly, but picks up pace as Georgy and Jemma's stories converge at Gettysburg. "Sunflower Sisters" shows us a troubled, divided country through the alternating voices of three very different women. The author's notes give lots of interesting historical information about the Woolsey family and the era.

66. by Don DeLillo
Finish date: August 2021
Genre: Science fiction, contemporary fiction
Rating: C-
Review: The TV screen on Superbowl Sunday 2022 goes silent in a Manhattan apartment. A plane has to crash land as its electronics suddenly won't work. All technology has been silenced in an unknown apocalyptic event. The reader is experiencing this along with the five people in the New York apartment.

The dialogue has an emotionless, almost robotic, feeling to it so I could not feel connected to any of the characters. However, the book has many interesting ideas to think about as our world becomes so reliant on technology.

67. by Kate Atkinson
Finish date: August 2021
Genre: Mystery, thriller
Rating: A-
Review: Thirty years ago, six-year-old Joanna was able to run away and hide while a deranged man knifed her mother and her two siblings. Detective Chief Inspector Louise Monroe warns Joanna that the convict is going to be released from prison. Joanna is now a doctor, the mother of a baby boy, and the wife of a man who is involved in some questionable business dealings. She has hired a teenager, Reggie, to be a mother's helper. Reggie's mother had recently died, and Joanna helps fill the void with her warm, maternal personality.

Meanwhile, detective Jackson Brodie boarded the wrong train, and is traveling to Edinburgh instead of London. The lives of the characters intersect by the railroad tracks. Jackson and Louise were almost lovers years ago, still feel an attraction, but now are married to other people. When Joanna and the baby go away unexpectedly, Reggie is upset and contacts Louise. Why did Joanna leave her purse and phone behind? Several other plot lines also intertwine with the main story.

Kate Atkinson has created complex characters that the reader will care about. There's some wonderful humor about life, marriage, family, and class differences woven into the story. The author surprised me with and unexpected twist that I did not see coming. This entertaining crime read is the third book in the Jackson Brodie series, but can be enjoyed even if you have not read the previous two books.

68. by Liane Moriarty
Finish date: August 2021
Genre: Contemporary fiction
Rating: B
Review: Alice fell and hit her head at the gym. When she woke up, she had lost ten years of her memory. She thought she was twenty-nine, expecting her first baby, and blissfully in love with her husband. The reality was quite different--she was the mother of three young children and their marriage was on the rocks.

As her memory returns, Alice realizes that she doesn't like some of the qualities she's acquired over the past ten years. In addition to Alice's point of view, we also see the relationship difficulties between Alice and her sister, Elizabeth, from the journal that Elizabeth writes for her therapist. Their honorary grandmother also writes letters with news about the extended family.

Like the other Alice who goes down the rabbit hole, this Alice has to figure out what's real and what's imaginary. "What Alice Forgot" is humorous, engaging light fiction that shows the joys and challenges of marriage and parenting.

69. by S.A. Cosby
Finish date: August 2021
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Rating: A
Review: "They could call what they were seeking justice, but that didn't make it true. It was unquenchable, implacable vengeance. And life, inside the graybar and out, had taught him that vengeance came with consequences."

Two grieving ex-con fathers, one black and one white, join together to determine who killed their sons. It looked like their married gay sons had been gunned down by professional killers in rural Virginia. The fathers had not been very accepting of their sons' sexuality. Feeling guilt and regret, they want to make up for it by avenging their deaths.

The book is suspenseful with a large body count. But it also tackles important social issues like homophobia, racism, classism, and poverty. The dialogue is snappy and sometimes humorous. The characters of the two fathers are very well developed. "Razorblade Tears" is a gritty page-turner with stellar writing and fantastic characterization.

Thanks, Connie, if ever I’m tempted to read a suspenseful thriller with “a large body count,” I’ll check this one out.
Regards,
Andrea

Andrea wrote: "Thanks, Connie, if ever I’m tempted to read a suspenseful thriller with “a large body count,” I’ll check this one out.
Regards,
Andrea"

I don't usually read books with this amount of violence, but it was very well written.

70. by Alex George
Finish date: August 2021
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: B
Review: Author Alex George transports us to Paris for 24 hours to explore how losses and secrets can have a profound effect on the lives of four ordinary Parisians. Souren, an Armenian refugee, is lonely and suffering from survivor's guilt after losing his family to Turkish soldiers. Guillaume, an impoverished painter, has to leave Paris to avoid being killed by loan sharks. Journalist Jean-Paul has written a book to keep the memory of his infant daughter alive. Camille, a housekeeper for Marcel Proust, is holding on to a terrible secret and is afraid that it may be revealed someday.

The lives of these four characters also intersect with some famous celebrities--Maurice Ravel, Sylvia Beach, Ernest Hemingway, Josephine Baker, Sidney Bechet, Gertrude Stein, and more. The novel sometimes brought Woody Allen's movie, "Midnight in Paris," to mind, especially when the various character threads merge at the jazz club, Le Chat Blanc.

There are numerous coincidences that bring the characters together, but I was intrigued by each of their stories. The novel showed how the Great War brought lifelong difficulties into some characters' lives. Post-war Paris was being reborn as an exciting city full of people on the artistic, musical, and literary cutting edge. I've always been fascinated by both Paris and the Twenties so I found "The Paris Hours" to be an enjoyable book.

Ooohhhh, Connie, it’s not fair!. I’m trying to keep my maximum for my TBR List holding at 750!!!!! And you keep on reading and reviewing these incredible books! Why don’t you go and read some terrible books for a change? Please ….
Regards,
Andrea

Andrea wrote: "Ooohhhh, Connie, it’s not fair!. I’m trying to keep my maximum for my TBR List holding at 750!!!!! And you keep on reading and reviewing these incredible books! Why don’t you go and read some terri..."

LOL, Andrea. I just don't finish the terrible books--life's too short!

Sorry, Connie, I’m old school, if I start a book, I finish it, even if I have to grit my teeth and complain loudly.
Regards,
Andrea

If a story is not put together well, give it "C-" then move on to something else. Some books are poorly done. When I was younger I would finish it no matter what. Now at 72 . . .

Mike, I'll finish books that I'm reading for in-person meetings like library book clubs or a lifelong learning class. But I don't rate books that I haven't finished because they could have a great ending. Sometimes it's just a case that I'm in the mood for a different type of book, like needing a light book after reading some heavy reads. The important thing is to enjoy the time we spend reading.

Connie, maybe I’m over-thinking it, but I feel the reader has a responsibility to the author to read his/her/their book in its entirety. So many of the authors on Goodreads depend on our reviews and media participation and personal chatter to help sell their “darling” books that I personally feel obligated to finish and review every book I start reading. I would feel that way if I were an author. It’s a type of courtesy.
Regards,
Andrea

Andrea wrote: "Connie, maybe I’m over-thinking it, but I feel the reader has a responsibility to the author to read his/her/their book in its entirety. So many of the authors on Goodreads depend on our reviews an..."

Everyone has a different way of looking at things. I would feel an obligation to finish a book and review it if it was a freebie from the publisher or author. But if I get a bunch of books from the library, I will only finish the ones I enjoy. Sometimes I just don't have enough time before the due date. I don't rate or review any books that I have not finished.

71. by Francesc Miralles
Finish date: August 2021
Genre: Contemporary fiction, Relationships
Rating: B
Review: Samuel, a Germanic Studies lecturer at a university in Barcelona, has a lonely life that alternates between the classroom and his apartment. His life changes when a cat scratches on his door. When he lets the cat in, he also lets other people into his life, starting with his neighbor when the cat escapes from his apartment. The neighbor sends him on an errand that leads to other connections. Samuel describes "love in lowercase": "Its when some small act of kindness sets off a chain of events that comes around again in the form of multiplied love."

Samuel and his new friends meditate on life, noting the writings of great writers and philosophers. Samuel also makes a connection with Gabriela, a girl he met when they were children. There's lots of self-deprecating humor as Samuel manages to always do the wrong thing when he's in the company of beautiful Gabriela. The book is charming and fun, and Mishima the cat is hard to resist.

72. by Julia Phillips
Finish date: August 2021
Genre: Literary fiction, mystery
Rating: B+
Review: The Kamchatka Peninsula in northeastern Russia is very isolated by its geography. Two sisters disappear while they are playing along the coast of Petropavlovsk, the peninsula's only large city. No roads connect the peninsula to the continent so the only way to leave is by air or sea. Detectives are unable to locate the two girls, aged eleven and eight.

The book is divided into twelve chapters, one for each month of the year. Each chapter is told from the point of view of a woman who may have an association with the disappearance, such as an eye witness, the wife of a detective, the distraught mother, etc. The chapters also introduce us to their families and friends. Some of the links to the two sisters seem tenuous at first, but the connections come together beautifully at the end.

This book is much more than a mystery about a disappearance. It shows the social structure of Kamchatke Peninsula with most of the people in the south having a white Russian ethnicity. Indigenous people with darker skin live in the northern areas. They often live a semi-nomadic life herding reindeer, hunting, and fishing. The book shows the political and economic forces, and the social and ethnic customs that exist on the peninsula.

Julia Phillips' prose is lovely, and the ending is just perfect. This debut novel left me hoping she's at work on a second book.

SEPTEMBER

73. by Anna Katharine Green
Finish date: September 2021
Genre: Mystery
Rating: C
Review: A hiker was traveling through western Pennsylvania in a cool mist. He stopped by a mansion, thinking that it was a tavern, and was told to wait inside. He soon realizes that he was thought to be a relative of a man who died recently. The lawyer arrived for the reading of the will to the greedy relatives. The deceased man had a few surprises for everyone in the room. "The House in the Mist" is an atmospheric and entertaining gothic novella published in 1905.

74. by Anita Brookner
Finish date: September 2021
Genre: Literary fiction
Rating: B+
Review: Edith Hope was spending a few weeks at the Hotel du Lac since her friends had suggested a short break after a socially shocking event. Her closest friend "was prepared to forgive her only on condition that she disappeared for a decent length of time and came back older, wiser, and properly apologetic." The hotel was located in Switzerland by the misty grey shores of a lake, and the grey tones reflect Edith's somber mood at this time. It's the off-season, and most of the residents of the hotel are lonely women.

Edith is an unmarried thirty-nine-year-old writer of old-fashioned romance novels. Like the heroines in her books, she is quiet and looking for love. She is introspective, intelligent, and an observer of life, although her opinion of the other women changes as she gets to know them better. There is a contrast between Edith and the widow, Mrs Pusey, who is vibrant in a superficial way.

The story has flashbacks to her life in London where we find out the reasons for her banishment to Switzerland, her childhood relationship with her mother, and more. Parts of the book are written as letters. The novel contains quite a bit of quiet humor as Edith observes the other people at the hotel and reflects back on her own life. Anita Brookner's writing is lovely, and "Hotel du Lac" was a winner of the Booker Prize.