Blanche on the Lamb is the beginning of a sassy new series. Blanche White is an intelligent, middle-aged, African-American domestic worker in North Carolina. She is The Help in current time, with attitude. In this book, one of her employers stiffs her with a bad check which cause her checks to bounce, so she lays low by working for a rich family at their country estate. The only member of the family who seems humane and caring is the family's slightly mentally challenged Cousin Mumford. None of the others are worth the air they breathe. The murder and subsequent antics of the family seem silly and at times comedic, against Blanche's commentary on race relations in Southern America. If you enjoy southern Gothic with attitude, you will love Blanche.
Blanche Among the Talented Tenth tackles the ugly truth of discrimination among people of color. Her children are attending an elite private school in Boston, and are beginning to bring home uppity attitudes that Blanche does not like one bit. when the kids are invited to an exclusive Maine resort for wealthy blacks, Blanche decides to allow this romp through exclusive, black America. When one guest commits suicide, and another death leads to complicated questions, Blanche is dragged into finding the truth. This idyllic resort is littered with deceit, snobbery and generations of history, along with a bit of romance.
Blanche is her usual sassy self, with wit and insight that uncovers secrets and a long history of racial discrimination. I cheer for Blanche once again, and for her integrity and her courage to face heart-wrenching decisions. I can't wait until the next volume is published!
Monday, February 2, 2015
Vanessa and Her Sister
The story of Vanessa Stephen Bell and her sister Virginia Stephen Woolf is a story of love and madness, talent and privilege, young people breaking convention and plagued by guilt. The story is told through journal entries, and postcards and letters.
The novel is compelling and kept drawing me in, even though I don't like the format of journal entries, etc. If you are a fan of Vanessa's art and Virginia's writing, this is an intriguing look at their very private lives. I disliked Virginia and felt she was a spoiled, manipulative brat. But my view is from the 21st Century where mental health support is much more enlightened and treatment more successful than ever imagined in 1905.
The lives of Vanessa and Virginia are intertwined with their brothers and friends who loosely form a bohemian and intellectual group that meet regularly to discuss the art scene in London and Paris. All these young people go on to fame as their careers mature.
This novel is an intriguing look at 1905 privilege and creative young talent. If you enjoy art, writing and historical insights, you will enjoy Vanessa and Her Sister.
The novel is compelling and kept drawing me in, even though I don't like the format of journal entries, etc. If you are a fan of Vanessa's art and Virginia's writing, this is an intriguing look at their very private lives. I disliked Virginia and felt she was a spoiled, manipulative brat. But my view is from the 21st Century where mental health support is much more enlightened and treatment more successful than ever imagined in 1905.
The lives of Vanessa and Virginia are intertwined with their brothers and friends who loosely form a bohemian and intellectual group that meet regularly to discuss the art scene in London and Paris. All these young people go on to fame as their careers mature.
This novel is an intriguing look at 1905 privilege and creative young talent. If you enjoy art, writing and historical insights, you will enjoy Vanessa and Her Sister.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
I Am Sophie Tucker
I received an advanced copy of this novel through NetGalley, in exchange for a review. This is my personal opinion.
Susan & Lloyd Ecker have created an interesting, lush story of the life and times of Sophie Tucker. She is an icon of Vaudeville entertainment and the proverbial rags to riches story. She came to America as a young child, and her parents worked night and day to provide for her and her siblings. My favorite part of the story was her tour of Europe with her third husband, Al Lackey. She retraced the journey her parents took from the Ukraine to Connecticut, and I felt it was the most authentic she ever allowed herself to be publicly.
I have very mixed feeling about the book. It was always interesting and compelling and very well written. I have used several of Ms. Tucker's songs in my work as a music therapist with geriatric clients. So I had a vague sense of Sophie, but I really didn't like her when I got to know her better through this book. I found her to be so rude, pushy, abusive and crude. She is not someone I would ever waste time getting to know. But it was fun and interesting reading about her. I love the history of vaudeville, and enjoyed the inside look provided through Sophie's eyes.
I am curious about the revelations at the end of the book. I don't want to share them and ruin it for others, but I am very curious about how true they are. They do shed a kinder and more ruthless light on Sophie.
If you love showbiz stories, you will love this book.
Susan & Lloyd Ecker have created an interesting, lush story of the life and times of Sophie Tucker. She is an icon of Vaudeville entertainment and the proverbial rags to riches story. She came to America as a young child, and her parents worked night and day to provide for her and her siblings. My favorite part of the story was her tour of Europe with her third husband, Al Lackey. She retraced the journey her parents took from the Ukraine to Connecticut, and I felt it was the most authentic she ever allowed herself to be publicly.
I have very mixed feeling about the book. It was always interesting and compelling and very well written. I have used several of Ms. Tucker's songs in my work as a music therapist with geriatric clients. So I had a vague sense of Sophie, but I really didn't like her when I got to know her better through this book. I found her to be so rude, pushy, abusive and crude. She is not someone I would ever waste time getting to know. But it was fun and interesting reading about her. I love the history of vaudeville, and enjoyed the inside look provided through Sophie's eyes.
I am curious about the revelations at the end of the book. I don't want to share them and ruin it for others, but I am very curious about how true they are. They do shed a kinder and more ruthless light on Sophie.
If you love showbiz stories, you will love this book.
Saving Paradise
I recieved this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for a review of the book. This review is completely my own opinion.
Pono Hawkins, an Afghan vet-turned-surfer, literally bumps into the dead body of a beautiful journalist, Sylvia Gordon, and, he becomes obsessed with finding out why she died and who killed her. He searches Hawaii for her friends and finds out what story she was working on. His quest drags him into the underbelly of paradise. Bond writes a scathing story of government and company corruption and a total cover-up of the journalist's murder.
Sylvia has been following the trail of corruption from the Governor's Office to Hawaii's Electric Utility to Hong Kong businessmen who want to build casinos and subdivisions to land companies that control large parts of Hawaii. A company called Wind Power wants to build huge wind farms on Molokai and lay underground cables through coral reefs and habitats of endangered species. All of it will destroy much of Hawaii's paradise, but the powers that be want the money more. Pono won't give up and keeps digging, to the point where the police have to admit that Sylvia was murdered. But then the tables are turned on Pono and he has to go on the run when the police accuse him of the murder. Except for his best friend, Mitchell, he never knows who he can trust, and each interaction is laced with the possibility of being turned over to the police.
This story has more twists and turns, false starts and red herrings than a corn maze. The depth of corruption portrayed is disturbing, both in it's success and in it's propensity to ring true. I found my paranoia level triggered to a record high. If you want to be scared and to think over what happens behind the scenes, this book is for you. Pono is someone to whom I might not be able to relate, but I cheer him on in his stubborn determination to uncover the truth and expose the corruption. Four Stars for a good thrill ride.
Pono Hawkins, an Afghan vet-turned-surfer, literally bumps into the dead body of a beautiful journalist, Sylvia Gordon, and, he becomes obsessed with finding out why she died and who killed her. He searches Hawaii for her friends and finds out what story she was working on. His quest drags him into the underbelly of paradise. Bond writes a scathing story of government and company corruption and a total cover-up of the journalist's murder.
Sylvia has been following the trail of corruption from the Governor's Office to Hawaii's Electric Utility to Hong Kong businessmen who want to build casinos and subdivisions to land companies that control large parts of Hawaii. A company called Wind Power wants to build huge wind farms on Molokai and lay underground cables through coral reefs and habitats of endangered species. All of it will destroy much of Hawaii's paradise, but the powers that be want the money more. Pono won't give up and keeps digging, to the point where the police have to admit that Sylvia was murdered. But then the tables are turned on Pono and he has to go on the run when the police accuse him of the murder. Except for his best friend, Mitchell, he never knows who he can trust, and each interaction is laced with the possibility of being turned over to the police.
This story has more twists and turns, false starts and red herrings than a corn maze. The depth of corruption portrayed is disturbing, both in it's success and in it's propensity to ring true. I found my paranoia level triggered to a record high. If you want to be scared and to think over what happens behind the scenes, this book is for you. Pono is someone to whom I might not be able to relate, but I cheer him on in his stubborn determination to uncover the truth and expose the corruption. Four Stars for a good thrill ride.
Friday, October 24, 2014
It all started when Angela had a really bad day ...
I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for reviewing it. This review reflects only my personal opinions.
The Gillespies live on a sheep station in the wilds of the Australian outback. Life has been pretty good for this family of Angela and Nick, and their four children, 30-something twins Genevieve and Victoria, 20-something Lindy, and 9 year old son, Iggy. Picture perfect, right?
Every year, Angela writes a bubbly Christmas letter, always framing family activities in a positive light. But this year things have not been going to well. The girls are each struggling with their careers and Iggy's imaginary friend has returned. Angela is concerned about whether or not her husband still loves her, and Nick is depressed about losing all his sheep during the drought and selling mineral rights to a drilling company. As Angela sits down to write this year's letter, she just can't muster the bubbles, and spews out all the pain and frustration she has been feeling but not admitting to herself. As she is about to delete it, Lindy starts screaming in the kitchen. Angela races out of the office only to find Iggy covered in blood holding his hand and his index finger on the floor.
After a rush to the local hospital and a helicopter ride to the big city hospital, Iggy's finger is reattached in a long surgery. Angela stays at the hospital with Iggy.
Nick goes into the office and sees the Christmas letter border on the computer screen and decides to help out Angela, and sends the letter to her Christmas letter group.
With all the holiday hullabaloo, and the twins returning home for an extended stay, the letter is forgotten. As one by one. each person begins to realize the letter is causing unusual responses from friends and family, chaos ensues.
It is a story of what it means to be family, and how important it is to communicate, and how some of our worst quirks can be the flip side of our greatest gifts. It is a great holiday read. It is an interesting look at life in the outback. And it is a lesson in moving from chaos to even keel. I will definitely be looking for other books by Monica McInerney.
The Gillespies live on a sheep station in the wilds of the Australian outback. Life has been pretty good for this family of Angela and Nick, and their four children, 30-something twins Genevieve and Victoria, 20-something Lindy, and 9 year old son, Iggy. Picture perfect, right?
Every year, Angela writes a bubbly Christmas letter, always framing family activities in a positive light. But this year things have not been going to well. The girls are each struggling with their careers and Iggy's imaginary friend has returned. Angela is concerned about whether or not her husband still loves her, and Nick is depressed about losing all his sheep during the drought and selling mineral rights to a drilling company. As Angela sits down to write this year's letter, she just can't muster the bubbles, and spews out all the pain and frustration she has been feeling but not admitting to herself. As she is about to delete it, Lindy starts screaming in the kitchen. Angela races out of the office only to find Iggy covered in blood holding his hand and his index finger on the floor.
After a rush to the local hospital and a helicopter ride to the big city hospital, Iggy's finger is reattached in a long surgery. Angela stays at the hospital with Iggy.
Nick goes into the office and sees the Christmas letter border on the computer screen and decides to help out Angela, and sends the letter to her Christmas letter group.
With all the holiday hullabaloo, and the twins returning home for an extended stay, the letter is forgotten. As one by one. each person begins to realize the letter is causing unusual responses from friends and family, chaos ensues.
It is a story of what it means to be family, and how important it is to communicate, and how some of our worst quirks can be the flip side of our greatest gifts. It is a great holiday read. It is an interesting look at life in the outback. And it is a lesson in moving from chaos to even keel. I will definitely be looking for other books by Monica McInerney.
A Book to Lift Your Spirit and Fill Your Soul
I received a review copy of this book through NetGalley. My review is strictly my own opinion.
This is a book of beautiful sunrises ans sunsets paired with inspirational quotes. The photography is quite beautiful and the quotes are uplifting and thought-provoking. This is not a book to breeze straight through, but to pick up in those moments of contemplation and feed your soul.
This would make a lovely gift for the holidays, or for someone needing support, or for someone who loves beauty: almost anyone.
This is a book of beautiful sunrises ans sunsets paired with inspirational quotes. The photography is quite beautiful and the quotes are uplifting and thought-provoking. This is not a book to breeze straight through, but to pick up in those moments of contemplation and feed your soul.
This would make a lovely gift for the holidays, or for someone needing support, or for someone who loves beauty: almost anyone.
Monday, September 29, 2014
The Gifts of Christmas
I have received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for writing a review. This is my personal and true opinion of this book.
All of the Ballad books must be read with a suspension of disbelief. There are hints at spirits present, miracles done, and knowledge known.
Christmas Past is a novella that weaves two separate but related stories from the mountains of North Carolina.
When the house next to Nora Bonesteel is purchased after years of being empty, many memories of Nora's youth are stirred, the new owners experience some difficult to explain episodes, and Nora communicates with her memories to find a solution to ending the upsetting episodes.
At the same time, on Christmas Eve, Sheriff Spencer Arrowwood and Deputy Joe LeDonne are assigned the unpleasant job of issuing a warrant on a gentleman who lives far into the mountains on a night when snow is closing in.
If you enjoy Appalachian life, a bit of magic and good-feelings in your Christmas stories, this book is for you. Each of the Ballad books are fascinating and can be read independently. Enjoy!
All of the Ballad books must be read with a suspension of disbelief. There are hints at spirits present, miracles done, and knowledge known.
Christmas Past is a novella that weaves two separate but related stories from the mountains of North Carolina.
When the house next to Nora Bonesteel is purchased after years of being empty, many memories of Nora's youth are stirred, the new owners experience some difficult to explain episodes, and Nora communicates with her memories to find a solution to ending the upsetting episodes.
At the same time, on Christmas Eve, Sheriff Spencer Arrowwood and Deputy Joe LeDonne are assigned the unpleasant job of issuing a warrant on a gentleman who lives far into the mountains on a night when snow is closing in.
If you enjoy Appalachian life, a bit of magic and good-feelings in your Christmas stories, this book is for you. Each of the Ballad books are fascinating and can be read independently. Enjoy!
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