I am a former schoolteacher from Los Angeles now living in the Pacific Northwest with my husband and 5 kitties. My alma mater is Brigham Young University, which I visit as often as possible. I love the written word, photography, music, technology, and history. Thank you for being here!
Where the Sky Begins broke new ground for this book blogger. It is the first full-length WWII novel I’ve read by Rhys Bowen and, even more exciting, it is the first Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) I’ve downloaded from NetGalley.
When we think of great literary heroines we think of Jane Eyre, Elizabeth Bennett, and Scarlett O’Hara, to name a few. I’m going to add Josie Banks to that list. I loved this character.
A London East Ender (“the slums,” as she describes it,) Josie is stuck in a frustrating life, one that never felt like her own. She helped raise several younger siblings and her brash, Cockney husband, Stan, wants nothing more than a simple, passive little wife. But Josie is smart. Very smart. She made high marks in school and showed great potential. But potential for what?
It doesn’t matter now, because as World War II escalates, all plans are interrupted. Stan is called up and Josie finds herself shuffled off to the countryside, billeted in the dilapidated mansion of reclusive, elderly Miss Harcourt and her grumpy Irish housekeeper, Kathleen. Yes, Josie has a roof over her head and food to eat, but little else.
It’s situations like this that make or break a person. Josie refuses to be broken. Her intelligence, fortitude, dignity, and kind heart will be her greatest assets.
This is a book I could not put down. (Yesterday I had the tired eyes to prove it.) Following Josie on her journey was exhausting but rewarding. Her endurance is admirable and her story is epic. I was immersed in Rhys Bowen’s world. Not just the fleshed-out characters, but the sights and sounds of the time period. Air raid sirens, criss-crossing searchlights, neighbors crowded together in shelters, families being separated, scared young pilots–all of it springs to life in vivid detail with a plot that takes many unexpected turns. At the center of it all is Josie Banks, whose strength and compassion elevate everyone around her.
I highly recommend Where the Sky Begins. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this advanced copy.
If it seems like I’m fan-girling a bit over Katherine Center books right now, it’s only because I am. They’ve been a terrific distraction from the world’s craziness. So, as a postscript to the previous entry, here’s info on two short stories that bridge her novels. Prequels/sequels is a fun trend that several authors use to keep the reader’s interest and, when done correctly, can really be a treat when there are great characters and more to add to their stories.
I listened to both of these as audio books, each one clocking in at just under an hour. Links are available on her website, https://katherinecenter.com/, and can be downloaded for free on Google Play or Apple Books.
The Girl on the Plane: This is a retelling of the first part of How To Walk Away, except now we’re hearing from Cassie the firefighter. Yes, Cassie from Things You Save in a Fire. When the plane crashes at the beginning of the story, it is Cassie who rescues Margaret, the heroine in the main novel. Their brief interaction, with Margaret making an unforgettable impression, prompts Cassie to set things in motion for the rest of the story.
The Guy at the Wedding: The guy is Jake Archer. The wedding is that of Helen Carpenter. Jake is Helen’s brother, Duncan’s “plus one” at the reception. Helen is about to start a marriage that we already know will go down in flames. Several years before Happiness for Beginners, Jake and Helen are just two people living their lives with no idea what lies ahead. This delightful short story tells about their first encounter, setting the groundwork for that fateful hiking trek in Wyoming. Helen and Jake are my absolute favorite characters, so this look into that life-altering evening was like a tasty dessert. I make no apologies for my bias on this one and, what makes it extra fun, is that it is both a prequel AND a sequel.
***
I’m late to the party, but after years of reading about Netgalley on Goodreads, I finally signed up and requested an ARC (Advanced Reader’s Copy) of The Bodyguard, due out in July. Here’s hoping I’ll be approved and can include a review before it’s published. Enjoy!
I am going to do something on this blog that I have never done before, and that is focus on a certain author. Let’s talk about Katherine Center.
Katherine Center graduated from Vassar College and received a Master’s in fiction from the University of Houston. She calls her style “bittersweet comic novels.” An ideal description.
Until recently, the two books I’d read that she’d written were The Lost Husband and How to Walk Away, (click to visit my reviews) both in 2018. I loved them both but went on to other things, as we often do.
Now, four years later, I’ve read three more of her books and I can honestly say that, if I were a storyteller, this is the kind of storyteller I wish I could be. Her books are infused with sadness, humor, wit, and characters beaten up by circumstance who need to start over. Like real life, none of these characters end up on the path they expected. Do any of us? And is that such a bad thing? We grow, we get wiser, we gain perspective, we appreciate things more–all because of the challenges hurled at us.
Things You Save in a Fire: Cassie is a hard-bitten female firefighter who moves from Austin, TX to Rockport, MA to care for her ailing mother. She jeopardized her career when it was at its peak, so this move is a chance for redemption. Aside from being the only woman in the firehouse, Cassie must also endure the pranks and fraternal atmosphere. These guys work hard and play hard. They’ve seen a lot and getting past their hardened exteriors will not be easy. Cassie’s only ally is “the rookie,” a new recruit. Now she just has to prove herself to the others.
In addition to dealing with a new job and a new town, Cassie must also reestablish a relationship with her estranged mother and heal from a violent incident. Her past has made it difficult to trust others. But the saving aspect is that, with one exception, everyone is good at heart, even those who caused hurt. It’s just a matter of allowing themselves to be vulnerable enough to let others into their lives and hearts. 9/10 Stars
What You Wish For: Samantha is single, a bit eccentric, and dealing with epilepsy. It’s embarrassing and isolating. She’s ready for a change of scenery after being a school librarian in California for several years. She’s chosen Galveston, Texas as her new home, working in a school headed by her landlord and surrogate father, Max.
Then Max dies and militant new principal, Duncan Carpenter, is hired. He’s a cross between the fairy tale Beast and Dolores Umbridge from Harry Potter. The problem? Duncan was Sam’s previous principal in California and he used to be completely different. He was creative, fun, and inspiring. What happened? And why doesn’t he even remember her? Like the classic Katherine Center character, Duncan has issues that are reshaping him–but not for the better. He needs compassion, patience, and understanding. Sam does too. 9/10 Stars
Happiness for Beginners: I’ve saved the BEST for last. Remember Duncan from What You Wish For? Now we’re going to learn about his older sister, Helen, and his best friend, Jake. Helen is a first grade teacher, newly divorced, and about to embark on a three-week hiking trek. Jake has recently graduated college and is rethinking his future. He decides to clear his head on the same trek as Helen, bumming a ride to Wyoming in her cramped Subaru. Helen is annoyed at this optimistic, persistent, but highly intelligent kid. She’s known him for six years as her younger brother’s goofy friend, but never really paid attention to him. Now they’re thrown together on the road and, soon, in the wilderness, along with a motley crew of other young twenty-somethings, Helen being the oldest. When you’re at Nature’s mercy, it really changes people.
I LOVED this book. So much so that I bought the audiobook and listened to it again in one day. The banter between Helen and Jake, is humorous and sad, entertaining and profound. The supporting characters–Duncan, Grandma GiGi, and the hiking group are smart and fun. Did I mention that I LOVE this book? 9.5/10 Stars
*****
If you’ve said to yourself, “Well, these books sound formulaic,” I assure you, they are not. Yes, the author starts with a basic template for her characters, but once you get to know them and witness their interactions with each other, you’re sold. (I speak as someone famous for abandoning books that bore me–these never do.) There are lots of deep conversations about life and its struggles. There are people helping each other. There are decisions to be made about how invested one should become in the life of another at the risk of being hurt. They get you thinking about your own relationships and challenges.
Katherine Center has definitely become one of my favorite authors. Happily, there are still a few books left to explore. Her newest, The Bodyguard, will be published in July. She is also very generous to her readers, visiting book clubs in her home state of Texas and interacting with followers and friends on the Goodreads site, including myself.
Be aware that the language sometimes varies between PG and PG-13. But for a reader in their late thirties and beyond, the plots are very appealing. By this time you’ve already been knocked around a little, either by your own choices or the choices of others. Finding intelligent characters with similar experiences and reactions to life’s hardships is reassuring. They become your friends, you root for their happiness, and feel motivated to pursue your own.
I was different. Different from other women. The crushing paralysis that came from being stuck between a past I couldn’t return to and a future I couldn’t have was heightened by the realization there was nothing to be done about it. I couldn’t change the fact I was a woman.
It is the mid 1700’s, closer to the American Revolution than the American Civil War. Sixteen-year-old Eliza Lucas has been set a daunting task. While seeking to advance his military commission in Antigua, her father wants her to take charge of the business dealings of their three plantations in South Carolina. This will involve supervising planting, harvesting, selling, bartering with buyers, managing multiple accounts, sparring with violent overseers, and dealing with slaves and their internal dynamics and hierarchy. Her mother, on the other hand, has only one goal for Eliza–find a husband.
Colonel Lucas has every reason to feel confident in his daughter, but no one can predict the amount of obstacles Eliza will encounter, some of which her father creates. An unmarried teenage girl who cannot vote or own land holds little sway in the business world. Only the most intelligent, respectful, progressive individuals will see past her age, gender and marital status. They are few and far between.
With rice being the main cash crop of the region, Eliza sets a new goal. Indigo. It is a revolutionary idea, one that requires ideal conditions and knowledge of the plants and how to transform them into marketable dye cakes. Success eludes her again and again. But never tell a smart, determined woman that something cannot be accomplished. That will only kindle the fire within her.
This is a true story, which makes it even more remarkable, and perfect for March–Women’s History Month. The real Eliza left behind writings which were, aptly, passed from mother to daughter for generations. Details lost to time are woven in elegantly by the author. The story is inspiring and the writing is marvelous. Very highly recommended and a terrific read for book clubs.
Everyone has choices. To be honest or to lie. To live for yourself or for others. To fulfill your own dreams or become part of a legacy. To follow the rules of convention…or not.
And what about the rules of writing a mystery? Reading this book made me think of them for the first time. Are there rules?Who makes them? Can any be broken when the story is everything?
Why is this important? Because in this book “about the creation of a book” the author creates an entirely new set of rules. He is the writer, the character, the sidekick, the filter, and the visionary. In real life, Anthony Horowitz is a novelist and screenwriter. In the book he is too. He, like this alter ego of the same name, worked on shows like Midsomer Murders (great show) and Foyle’s War (in my queue.) But in the book he accompanies a fictional Hawthorne–rumpled, evasive, brilliant, retired detective Daniel Hawthorne–on a murder case he is consulting on for the police. The outcome may or may not be the core of the upcoming novel. Diana Cowper has been strangled. Not very original, except she was murdered six hours after meticulously planning her own funeral.
The relationship between the fictional Horowitz and the detective Hawthorne is mercurial, to say the least. How does an author create a character based on someone when he refuses to divulge personal details? These two bicker like an old married couple, but they admire each other too. And, while the murder’s solution isn’t necessarily groundbreaking, this is more about the journey than the destination. A unique and entertaining journey.
Once again, a book with numerous accolades has lived up to my expectations. It is also one more example of the incredible stories, both true and fictional, that have been born out of the tragedies of World War II.
Present day. It is 2005, and widowed Eva Traub-Abrams is living in Florida. She sees a German scholar on the news, holding an old book with no owner, recovered from piles of artifacts looted by the Nazis. She recognizes the book and is determined to retrieve it. Suddenly, sixty years disappear and Eva is transported to her own experience during the war.
The majority of the story takes place during that time, beginning in 1942, when Eva was a young woman. Jewish, born in France to Polish parents, her life is about to change forever. Formerly a student at the Sorbonne, her artistic skills are noticed and used to help those who cannot help themselves.
Eva experiences love and loss over the next few years, intensified by the dark cloud of war and the threat of capture, but we are anchored to the knowledge that she survives into old age. The main idea that came to my mind while reading was how war blurs some lines and makes others more distinct. Family and religion are no longer about blood relations and baptism. They are about connections and faith. The definitions of right and wrong also take on new meaning when survival is everything. The caveat, of course, being that everyone thinks they are doing the right thing.
This is a unique plot that looks at a group of people I’ve never seen profiled in historical fiction. We are reminded that the will to live can change one’s belief system, and no one knows what they are truly capable of until they are forced out of their comfort zone and placed into seemingly impossible situations. We are also reminded that, one way or another, God makes all things right.
Do you ever finish a book and sit in awe at the beauty you’ve just witnessed? That is how I feel having just completed Val Kilmer’s autobiography. It is, hands down, the best memoir I’ve ever read.
If you’ve ever seen him as Doc Holliday in Tombstone (the greatest modern western EVER) or his embodiment of Jim Morrison in The Doors, you know that Val Kilmer is a dynamic force onscreen, able to morph into a character while he, himself, disappears. Like his idol and mentor, Marlon Brando, he purposefully chose parts that were difficult. If you’re not constantly challenging yourself, what’s the point?
Then his greatest tool, his voice, was cruelly taken away by throat cancer and its subsequent treatments. The swagger is gone too, replaced by introspection and humility. Why do the great ones lose what’s most important to their work? It seems so unfair. I was reminded of Beethoven losing his hearing and Renoir’s hands crippled by arthritis. Except a true artist will carry on, as exemplified here.
This is a brilliant man who peppers his book with words like equanimity, quixotic, autodidact, and digestif. Thank goodness for the Kindle dictionary link. But not once do you feel you are being talked down to, instead, you’re being elevated and forced to challenge yourself as well. And the profanity that often slithers into celebrity autobiographies? There is none. A wordsmith like Val has no use for curse words in telling his story. They are for the lazy.
Connections to people, nature, and art in all its forms constantly propel him. I loved learning about his devotion to Mark Twain’s writings, his Christian Science faith, and his adoration for his children, Mercedes and Jack. I’ve seen them interviewed and the feeling is clearly mutual. He’s worked hard not to repeat the tenuous relationship he had with his own father.
I can understand why this book was a bestseller. It isn’t just because he starred in several blockbusters. People may buy it for that reason, but they will read it and recommend it for another. It is masterful. Just because his voice is gone, does not mean Kilmer will be silenced. Stay strong, Val. We can still hear you.
A selectively mute runaway, a determined grandma, an empty-nester, and a good-hearted childless couple. These are the characters we follow in Karen McQuestion’s Half a Heart.
After reading two of her books in two days, I’m starting to notice the way this author creates a plot. I wish I had her skill for storytelling. She takes people who are unlikely to meet and finds a creative way to make their paths converge. It’s very interesting to observe. First we see everyone independently, then, little by little, their lives begin to overlap until they are completely intertwined. Like patches on a quilt being stitched together and the finished product is a beautiful thing.
While Half a Heart did not have the same intensity as The Moonlight Child, it is still a very good read. I appreciate how McQuestion (isn’t that a great name?) crafts her characters, making them so full-bodied and realistic. You almost forget you’re reading fiction. She’s able to weave her plots with almost no profanity and is terrific at getting into each person’s psyche. Most of all, it is reassuring to read about kind, decent people who triumph in the face of trials. I look forward to reading more by this author.
There are those who are placed in horrible situations, yet remain good. There are those placed in good situations, yet remain horrible. Both types of people are profiled in Karen McQuestion’s The Moonlight Child.
There are also three families, broken in their own way and navigating life after loss. Like people we have all come in contact with, most of them are decent humans who are doing their best. One is not. Really, really not.
I am going to keep this review brief and vague. Just know that The Moonlight Child is a riveting story that has you holding your breath until the end. The characters are living, breathing, and multi-faceted. You will root for most and be appalled by one. But all of them are worth your time.
Carve out a few hours because this one is hard to put down.
I have spent the last month devouring this series. It is, perhaps, the most delightful, entertaining series I’ve ever read. If you like cozy mysteries with a bit of Phryne Fisher and Downtown Abbey tossed into the mix, these books are for you.
Set in the 1930’s with the effects of World War 1 still felt and and the shadow of World War 2 looming in the future, our heroine is Lady Georgiana Rannoch. She is the great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria, granddaughter of the Duke of Rannoch on one side and a retired policeman on the other. At the beginning of the series she is living in Scotland in the drafty family castle, Castle Rannoch, with her half-brother and his unpleasant wife. Her prospects seem bleak.
But Georgie has an ace up her sleeve. Despite being a minor royal (34th in line for the throne,) she is well-liked by Queen Mary (grandmother to the current monarch, Elizabeth II.) Between minor assignments from the queen to keep an eye on “that American woman” trying to seduce her son, David (the future Edward VIII,) running into her flamboyant mother who ran out on her; sassy best friend, Belinda Warburton-Stoke; her hopeless maid, Queenie; and the mysterious but handsome Darcy O’Mara, each book brings a new adventure. We journey with Georgie from Scotland to England, France, Bulgaria, Italy, Ireland, and even Kenya.
I recommend this series highly and suggest reading the books in order. There are ongoing subplots that necessitate it. The first is available with an Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscription, while others may be in your online library. Of course, they’re available to purchase too.
There are many aspects that make this series fun, but, if you know a bit of British history, you’ll enjoy constant run-ins with the royal family and Mrs. Wallis Simpson (who enjoys a healthy social competition with Georgie’s mother, Claire.)
All in all a wonderful group of characters to cozy up with during the winter months.
9.5/10 Stars
P.S. There is also a short prequel “book 0.5” called Masked Ball at Broxley Manor. It’s only 40 pages and not essential to the story, but still enjoyable.
If you grew up in the 1970s and 80s, you will remember a specific group of comedians that rose to fame during that time. There was the unparalleled original Saturday Night Live cast and there were those who worked from a different direction, like Robin Williams, Andy Kaufman, and Steve Martin to name a few.
The older I get, the more I appreciate Steve Martin’s brand of comedy, which has also matured. His depth and brilliance is equally apparent when he takes on serious film roles. If you’ve never seen him in The Spanish Prisoner, see it. Recently I watched Shopgirl for the first time, with a screenplay written by Steve Martin based on his novella of the same name. These are worthwhile departures from his earlier films and he surrounds himself with cerebral, high quality actors in both.
I knew Steve Martin was originally from Waco, Texas. I knew he once worked in the magic shop at Disneyland. I knew he played the banjo with great proficiency. I knew it was a delight and an honor to see him perform live twice with the Steep Canyon Rangers (in Los Angeles and Eugene, Oregon.) But I knew nothing about his childhood and the years of paying his dues.
Like many comedians, Steve Martin’s humor was born out of pathos and melancholy, partly innate and partly inflicted upon him by others. His mother was his shining light while his father was critical, moody, and envious. Success brought other demons, as it often does.
In a brief two hundred pages and with a deft, fluid style, we travel in that time machine called memory back to simpler decades when a young boy and then young man sought escapism and validation through performing. Never delving much into his personal life except when it intersected with his career, Martin confirms his status as one at the top of his profession. He is a student of the science of comedy, always working to refine, improve, and evolve his technique. In a time where modern celebrities are often famous because of their lifestyles, it was refreshing to read about someone whose success came because of tenacity and a doggedly determined work ethic. In this ever-increasingly serious world, we need people like this.
The blurb on the front of this book says it all in a nutshell: “Painfully beautiful…At once a murder mystery, a coming-of-age narrative, and a celebration of nature.”
In Where The Crawdads Sing, Kya Clark, aka the “Marsh Girl,” is the ultimate outcast. But she didn’t choose to be this way. Instead, family circumstance and society led her there. Innocent, curious, suspicious, eccentric, we follow Kya throughout her lifetime. We root for her, we feel her longing, we hope for changes in her life. Those changes happen in dramatic ways, which I will let you discover for yourself. Suffice to say, she is greatly influenced by how she is treated (aren’t we all?) This brings the nature vs. nurture debate to the surface and forces readers to reexamine relationships in their own lives.
This is a book that has been in my Wish List and Holds for simply ages. It was worth the wait. It’s amazing to think that this is the author’s debut novel. Wow.
I will add that Kya finds herself in some sexual situations of about a PG-13 rating. Her solitude and wildness also affect her language and manners. But nothing feels gratuitous. All of it is part of her story, and that story is gripping.
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