I love Kate Morton’s novels. They are big, detailed, intriguing stories that pull me in and keep me up half the night reading. The House at Riverton, her debut novel, is no exception. Here Morton has brought us to 1920’s England, a time between the 2 world wars, and shown us the dichotomy between the wealthy inhabitants of the manor, and their staff who serve them. We are told the story by Grace, now 98 years old, remembering her years of service…
Abide with Me by Elizabeth Strout is a rather grim book about a Congregationalist Preacher and his daughter in a small town in New England in the late 1950’s. Although I love Strout’s writing, (there are even moments here reminiscent of Marilyn Robinson’s masterpiece Gilead,) reading her novels would have you believe that the world is full of small minded, small hearted, gossiping people who aren’t satisfied until they have caused harm to others, and only then are the repentant….
Big Girl Small by Rachel DeWoskin is an unexpected delight. We have the clear strong voice of Judy Lohden who seems much bigger than her 3’9″ stature. She is an overly smart, yet troubled teen. De Woskin’s writing is wonderful. At times hilarious, at other times sad. This is an inside look at modern teen culture, as well as the life of a “little person” trying to navigate her way through main stream American highschool. This is a modern day coming…
I loved Marisa de los Santos‘ first two books, Love Walked In and Belong to Me. I was so excited to read her latest, Falling Together. I liked it a lot, but I can’t quite say I loved it. It is the story of Pen, Will and Cat, three inseperable college frineds who haven’t seen each other in six years. Cat mysteriously summons them to their college reunion and from there they begin a long search for her which takes…
Blue Shoes and Happiness by Alexander McCall Smith is the latest book I have read in The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series. If you are not familiar with Precious Ramotswe and her Detective Agency in Botswana, then you should be. The simple wisdom she imparts is wondeful, and the beautiful pace of African life always draws me in. I love these books!
Riding Lessons is the debut novel by Sara Gruen, author of Water for Elephants. It is the story of Annemarie Zimmer, a world-class equestrienne who has a terrible accident at 18 years old, resulting in the death of her beloved horse and severe injuries to herself. Her physical wounds heal, but her spirit never does, and 20 years later she finds herself jobless, divorced, at odds with her teenage daughter, and returning home to her family farm to be with her dying…
The Bowl of Light by Hank Wesselman is a beautiful book detailing the friendship between Hank Wesselman, the scientist, and Hale Makua, the Hawaiian Elder. Makua is the carrier of great ancestral wisdom, and the conversations these two men shared over the course of their 8 year friendship are profound and inspiring. It was a great loss to the Hawaiian community and to the world when this wise elder died in car crash in 2004. It is wonderful to have at least…
Oolong Dead and The Teaberry Strangler are the latest two Tea Shop Mysteries by Laura Childs that I have read. These books are just for fun; to revisit old friends in Charleston’s Indigo Tea Shop, sip a good cup of tea and solve the latest mystery….
If you are interested in Feng Shui, as I am, then Interior Design with Feng Shui New and Expanded, by Sarah Rossbach is a fascinating book to read. Rossbach translates Feng Shui teachings from the Master Lin Yun for a western audience. She goes in depth into many Feng Shui cures for home and office; many are practical and some more esoteric. Although I found it a worthwhile read, it definately left me wanting more.
I Married You for Happiness by Lily Tuck is a slim, elegant novel tracing memories back and forth over a forty year marriage. Tuck’s writing is spare and poetic and drew me in immediately. It opens with the line “His hand is growing cold; still she holds it.” Nina’s husband Philip has just died, and she sits with him all night long remebering moments all throughout their long marriage, starting with their meeting in Paris. Tuck moves back and forth…