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This is the story of Sanford White’s mistress, Evelyn Nesbit, who in 1900 was the most photographed woman of the era. Very interesting New York history and a fascinating look at the roles women were allowed to chose from: wife or mistress. If you liked Devil in the White City, this one’s for you. Review by Liza
Fast paced series for young adults, the main characters find that in their teens there is a reason they don’t feel like they fit in: they are half-bloods, the children of humans and Greek Gods! Blessed (or cursed) with some powers, Percy Jackson and his friends Annabeth and Grover must find and return property stolen from Mount Olympus or risk the wrath of gods and goddesses alike. Review by Liza
Another book on my list of all-time favorites, Angle of Repose interweaves two compelling stories. Lyman Ward, a wheelchair bound history professor, researches the often too “up close and personal” history of his grandmother. The monumental difficulties of pioneering the American West, coping with a failing marriage and tragic personal lossbring Susan Ward’s life into sharp relief at the same time illuminating Lyman Ward’s own personal struggles. Read anything Wallace Stegner has written; he is a master of American literature and should not be missed. Review by Kirsten
On my list of all time favorites, this beautifully evocative book deals with the horrors of WWII Germany in a very unusual way. Thirteen- year old Liesl, a non-Jewish German girl, sent to live with a prickly foster mother and an accordian-playing foster father, struggles to make sense of Nazi Germany, an impossible task. The narrator is death personified- he tries to be objective, but there are some things that are even beyond his comprehension. Zusak’s poetic use of language takes some getting used to, but it won’t be long until you are completely immersed and forever changed having read this book. Don’t be fooled that this book is shelved in the Teen section- everyone should read it. Review by Kirsten It’s hard to believe art forgeries ever happened- and that the art world embraced them. But they did. This is a thrilling story of a mediocre Dutch artist’s successful attempt at pulling off THE forgery of the 20th century. Truly amazing and mind boggling, Hans Van Meggeren (have you heard of him? No) produced several forgeries of the beloved jewel-toned paintings of Johannes Vermeer during World War II. He lived the high life in Amsterdam, while the rest of the country starved. A fascinating exploration of the art world’s ability to believe what they desperately wanted to believe and how that possibly could have happened. I’ve never read anything like this. Review by Kirsten
This gentle, epistolary novel (a novel written as a series of letters) takes place in England just after WWII. It is a collection of letters between a young journalist living in London and some quirky, endearing residents of Guernsey Island-one of Britians Channel Islands close to France-occupied by the Nazis during the war. A delightful book group book, worthy of discussion, smartly written, full of warmth and humor. It’s a great read! Review by Kirsten Ok, you’ve heard of this book your entire life. If you haven’t read it, you should, that’s all there is to it. Jane Eyre is an intricately woven, intriguing tale of a young woman whose life does not take the conventional nineteenth-century rosy English path. Beautifully written, not sweet or sentimental, a masterpiece of British literature. You won’t be disappointed! Review by Kirsten
Mix one part British class distinction, two parts sweeping WWII romance, finish it with a huge helping of miscommunication and you end up with this astounding novel. What is the nature of truth? The impact of shame, the need to atone and be forgiven? McEwan ponders these themes with an emotional intensity and gripping plot reminiscent of the best ninteenth-century fiction. What begins as a classic erotic love story quickly turns into a devastating family drama and end up a contemplation of the purpose of storytelling itself. Shortlisted for the Booker Prize and named one of the best books of the last 25 years by the London Observer. Review by Jeri
Winner of the Booker Prize and named on of “the best books of the past 25 years” by the London Observer, Disgrace is a heartbreaking novel about the search for grace and meaning set against the new realities of cultural change in South Africa. An affair with a student leaves Professor David Lurie alone and unemployed, shunned by his friends and colleagues. Desperate to reconnect with his adult daughter, he leaves Cape Town and travels to her small landholding in the country, a journey which forces him to confront misunderstandings about his own child as well as about his country. Both a passionate story about family, love, and loss as well as an allegory about the birth of the new South Africa, Coetzee tells his story with touching humor and shocking honesty. Review by Jeri
Review by Sue |
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Jung Chang left China in 1978 when she was awarded a scholarship by York University, where she obtained a Ph.D in linguistics. She was the first person from China to receive a doctorate from a British University. This is an unforgettable memoir; a gripping account spanning three generations of Chang’s family, from her grandmothers concubinage to a warlord, her mothers involvement in the Cultural Revolution, and Jung’s childhood in Mao Zedong’s China. The history, politics, social and personal challenges described in this book will fascinate and educate any reader. This is a well written, interesting, and important book.