Lawhon Beautifully Revives An Old Case

dear readers,

By now you know I love a good mystery and historical fiction...add a true cold case story and it is the perfect night of reading...

(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).

THE WIFE, THE MAID, AND THE MISTRESS
written by Ariel Lawhon
genre: historical fiction, true crime, mystery, suspense

4 STARS 

Based on a true scandalizing case where 1930's Justice Joseph Crater seemed to disappear into thin air.  Ariel Lawhon uses fiction along with facts to weave an answer to Crater's disappearance.

We see Crater through the eyes of three women...his wife, Stella, who is the ultimate supportive trophy wife dressed in designer duds and lives her life according to society's rules...his mistress, Ritzi, a girl from a small town trying to become an actress but is only a chorus showgirl...his maid, Maria Simon, wife of a police detective trying to earn money to supplement their lives...each holds secrets of the man and of their own.

Thirty five years later Stella meets Detective Simon and finally offers him the truth..

Lawhon uses fiction along with facts to really make the story come alive. The writing and setting of the 1930s seemed quite realistic. It adds flavour to the setting and story.  The three women in this story each tell their story and Lawhon does a great job weaving their story together.  

Justice Joseph Crater

For more information about this case and what is fact from fiction please see wikipedia: 
//enwikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Force_Crater









love,
kris

I Tried Staying Awake While Reading this Novel: Review

dear readers,

The following review is for Anna Hope's debut novel, WAKE.  Anna Hope is a British actress well-known for her role in Crime and Punishment.  From reading Wake you can tell that the author researched the era but forgets a bit of the heart of the story...

(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).

WAKE
written by Anna Hope
genre: historical fiction, world war I, literary fiction

3 STARS

"London, 1920. The city prepares to observe the two-year anniversary of Armistice Day with the burial of the unknown soldier. Many are still haunted by the war: Hettie, a dance instructress, lives at home with her mother and her brother, who is mute after his return from combat. One night Hettie meets a wealthy, educated man and finds herself smitten with him. But there is something distracted about him, something she cannot reach. . . . Evelyn works at the Pensions Exchange, through which thousands of men have claimed benefits from wounds or debilitating distress. Embittered by her own loss, she looks for solace in her adored brother, who has not been the same since he returned from the front. . . . Ada is beset by visions of her son on every street, convinced he is still alive. Helpless, her loving husband has withdrawn from her. Then one day a young man appears at her door, seemingly with notions to peddle, like hundreds of out-of-work veterans. But when he utters the name of her son, Ada is jolted to the core. 

The lives of these three women are braided together, their stories gathering tremendous power as the ties that bind them become clear, and the body of the unknown soldier moves closer and closer to its final resting place." (From Amazon) 

I really wanted to like this novel but something about the writing kept me at an arm length.  The writing and characters remind me of 1940s novels which I really liked.  I also liked the realism of the soldiers' lives along with the families they left behind.  I gave it a three because as I said above I could not feel the novel and also at times I found myself drifting off as it did not seem to flow between characters that well.

love,

kris

Review: Mrs. Poe

dear readers,

Everyone knows Edgar Allan Poe for his gothic poem, The Raven and story, The Tell-Tale Heart but did you know his own life was just as gothic as his writing? Poe's young life has had much upheaval and when he was 27 he romanced his 13 year old first cousin.  When Poe meets commercial and critical success with The Raven he meets fellow writer Frances Osgood. Frances is a mother of two young girls living with friends.  Her own husband is busy romancing rich women and leaves her in New York alone.  When Frances - a non-gothic writer - meets handsome Poe things only heat up...

(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).

MRS. POE
written by Lynn Cullen
genre: literary fiction, historical fiction, romance

2.5 Stars 

Mrs. Poe is based on true events, rumours and with Cullen's imagination.  In 1845 Edgar Allan Poe was known for his gothic poem, The Raven and marrying his very young first cousin, Virginia.  Frances Osgood, a writer, has been abandoned by her artist husband.  She and her two young daughters take refuge in New York at a friend's house.  Through a literary society she meets the enigmatic Poe and forges a connection through writing and attraction.  Mrs. Poe requests to meet Frances claiming to be a fan of her.  Curious Frances goes to see her and does not know what to think of the sickly Mrs. Poe.  As Frances visits and spends more time with the couple and Mrs. Poe's mother she grows more attracted to Edgar and more scared of Virginia.  As rumours begin to fly and poems exchanged the once happy trio is hurled into dangerous games.

While the subject matter and plot was interesting the book felt long and then started to get dull. The writing was very flowery which might have been due to the book being about poets.  Yet this added to the book feeling longer. I did finish the novel to see the author's interpretation of the facts and gossip. With better editing I think this novel would have been more engaging.

While the novel did not engage me the story of Poe, his young wife and maybe mistress has definitely intrigued me.

love, 
kris

Do Not Attend Lydia's Party: Review

dear readers,

I was in my early twenties when I read Elizabeth Berg's Pull of the Moon which is about a middle age woman rediscovering her life and herself.  I read books based on writing style rather than the age of the characters.  Nora Ephron's humour is relatable and when she talks about growing old you are interested and invested in reading her stories. I read the synopsis of Lydia's Party and was interested in Margaret Hawkins' novel...

(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).

LYDIA'S PARTY
Written by Margaret Hawkins
genre: literary fiction

2 STARS 

It is late January and Lydia is throwing her annual winter party with the usual suspects - at one time or another were also her colleagues.  As she preps for the evening she thinks about her friends, family, lovers and career over two decades.  In between Lydia's thoughts we get each friend's story.  

I found this story on the dull side.  It was not the "middle age women thinking back on their lives" that bothered me.  I have been reading books with this plot since I was in my mid-teens.  Elizabeth Berg is one author that does well with this subject matter.  I think it was the "tell" not "show" approach to the story and that it fell flat after a few pages.  I really wanted to like this novel as it sounded promising.   Personally I prefer Elizabeth Berg, Anne Tyler and Sue Miller.

Novel will be released...JANUARY 23, 2014.
http://margarethawkins.com/book_lydia.html


love, 
kris 

More Great Canadian Fiction!

dear readers,

It has been a rainy day in Vancouver, BC and I have been feeling a bit under the weather so it has been a great day to read :) I continued to enjoy Alice Munro: My Best Stories (also called Alice Munro's Best: Selected Stories) - some stories were new to me and some were like revisiting old friends...

Alice Munro: My Best Stories
written by Alice Munro
genre: short stories, fiction, canadian literature


5 STARS 

This collection of short fiction includes her works from the 1970s to present day. All of the stories have been published before in other volumes. This collection also has an introduction written by another Canadian author, Margaret Atwood.

As the title states these are Alice Munro's best short fiction.  The Canadian author recently won the Pulitizer for her writing and hopefully this will increase her readership and gain more fans.  I have been reading Munro since I was in my early teens and have been in love with her work for years.  She has the ability to take a story and that most authors would need a novel to tell and condense it to size of a novella.  She is able to pack so much into them without it being overwhelming.  A great collection to introduce or revisit Munro.

Alice Munro: My Best was published October 2009.

Off to choose my next read :)

love,
kris 

Lauren B. Davis Novels Reviewed

dear readers,

Lauren B. Davis has been on my TBR (to be read) list since 2005 after picking up The Stubborn Season on sale at the local bookstore.  The cover drew me in and the depression era storyline sounded intriguing.  Sadly it took me eight years to read Davis and that has been my loss for sure.  For our November book club selection we decided to try Davis's Our Daily Bread - published in 2011.  I started this novel knowing only that it has been described as "backwoods noir".  And, the result...

OUR DAILY BREAD
written by Lauren B. Davis
genre: canadian literature, literary fiction, noir, suspense

4.5 STARS


Inspired by true events - In Davis's haunting story we meet Albert Erskine, a smart 21 year old who sells weed to make money.  He and his family are shunned by the town of Gideon and are called the "Mountain People".  Living among his clan Albert has seen and been through many horrors and it has caused him to become more frustrated and angry.

Soon Albert becomes a mentor to a young boy in town names Bobby Evans.  Bobby and his family also do not fit in among the religious town people.  His father, Tom is well-liked but is ridiculed for his younger wife's unfaithfulness.  Ivy, his sister, is brilliant but bullied by girls in her class.  Her only friend is Dorothy, the 60-something widow who owns the antique shop.  Dorothy sees the righteousness attitude in her peers and tries to stay away from them.  

As we get to know these characters that are considered the "others" in Gideon Davis also shows what can happen when we let some people int our life.

After dinner one night I sat down to start Our Daily Bread, hoping that I could finish the novel in the next few days, in time for my book cub meeting.  The next time I came up for air was when the novel finished.  The way Davis grabs you from the beginning with her characters and plot is amazing.  Even if you cannot relate to the characters personally you can empathize and feel for them.  These are not good or bad people but normal people with every day flaws.  I found myself attached to all the characters - loving and hating them or their actions.

The story, even if it was not based on true events, still lingers in my mind and i think about it time to time.  It was a book we all liked in my book club and it provided us with a great conversation. I recommend this novel to everyone who appreciates a good novel.  



My book club and I enjoyed this novel so much and were greatly impressed with Lauren B. Davis's writing we selected The Empty Room as our December pick.  We have read multiple books by an author in our book club but never back to back...

THE EMPTY ROOM
written by Lauren B. Davis
genre: canadian literature, literary fiction

4 STARS

Colleen wakes up hungover and only has flashes of the night before. As the day progresses her alcoholism comes to the forefront. Colleen thinks back of her family and how drinking and other drugs were the ruination of many of her relatives. Drinking themselves to suicide, accidents,etc. As people bring her drinking to her attention this only causes Colleen to get defensive and retreat. At the end of the day will Colleen admit her problem and seek help? 

I was impressed with the way Davis was able to make Colleen's life and alcoholism work within a day. We were able to see Colleen's past through flashbacks and interactions with her mother, father and lovers. I like that the chapters were broken up into smaller sections so that the flashbacks were able to flow better. While Colleen is not an overly sympathetic character you still want to follow her story and want her to get sober. The secondary characters help the tension in the story and give Colleen further dimension. I am sold on Davis's novels!


In 2014 I am looking forward to finally reading The Stubborn Season!

love, 

kris 

For more information on Lauren and her books visit her at:
http://laurenbdavis.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Laurenbdaviswriter

Review: Whiter than Snow - Sandra Dallas

dear readers,

WHITER THAN SNOW

Written by Sandra Dallas

(Audio)

genre: literary fiction, historical fiction

3.5 STARS

1920s - Swandyke, Colorado - The novel opens with an avalanche heading towards the school house and branches out to show the past life of Swandyke residents.

There is Lucy Patch - born and raised in Swandyke - daughter of a miner and sister to the town beauty.  Her  intelligence bides her time out of the mine and into the city and college life with the promise to return right after as per her father and sister, Dolly. 

Grace Foote is more than the snobby mine manager's wife...she was once a debutante and from a wealthy family whose fortune had crumbled.  Wanting to go to college she is instead sent to finishing school which seems to be of no use in the small mining town.

Joe Cobb once had dreams of walking beside a white man until he saw a lynching of his school teacher.  He now finds himself on the run from Alabama with his young daughter.

Minder joined the war not because he wanted to help the black man but he didn't know what else to do. He finally finds a sense of family only to be ruined by the war that once was though to bring him happiness.

 Essie is a prostitute who has the talent of sewing which keeps her fed and housed.  She was once from a good Jewish family with dreams of having a better life.

They now must turn to one another in the face of tragedy

A great novel!  The characters are so different and come from different pasts but are brought together when tragedy strikes the small mining town.  Some of the men in this novel were so insensitive and the women seemed to have suffered the same path of men bringing down love and forcing them towards one road...Swandyke.

love,
kris

REVIEW: The Lake of Dreams - Kim Edwards

THE LAKE OF DREAMS 
Written Kim Edwards

ON AUDIO – read by Anne Marie Lee
genre: literary fiction

2.5 STARS

Currently unemployed, Lucy Jarrett returns home to Lake of Dreams to see her mother who has injured her arm.  She leaves behind her boyfriend Yoshi in Japan. While at home she revisits her past and her family's.  She suffers guilt over her father's death 10 years ago when she did not go fishing with him; her regret over the high school boyfriend she left behind and stopped talking to when her father died; her uncle and cousin that are greedy and maybe leaving her brother in a dead-end position vs. his fair share; and feeling lost in her own life.  She discovers pamphlets stored away from the early 1900s and a connection to the glass windows in the church.  This starts a mystery into her family history and who this woman was that hid these pamphlets.  This starts to give her a purpose that seems to upset everyone in her life

I consider The Memory Keeper's Daughter one of my favourite novels.  It had me from the beginning to end and I have recommended it to many people.  I was looking forward to Edwards’ next novel and saw this audio was available.  It is read by Ann Marie Lee - an actress.  I was a bit disappointed with both to be honest. Edwards writing was too descriptive and actually repeated her own sentences a few times.  I tended to drift away and am sure I missed some things.  I liked the story of Rose and Iris more than present day stuff (and found Lucy a bit annoying because of overconfidence in herself).  I think this novel needed a bit more editing and tightening

Anne Marie has this breathy voice that sounds like she is either try to whisper or seduce someone...and when she read the letters I was not sure when they ended unless there was a clear "sincerely, name".  Maybe Anne Marie was bored with Edwards’ descriptions as she had a monotone voice through them.


love,
kris

Review: The Last Time I Saw You

dear readers,

THE LAST TIME I SAW YOU

Written by Elizabeth Berg
genre: literary fiction

              

4.5 STARS

Divorced and defeated Dorothy cannot wait wait for the 40th high school reunion as she longs to finally sleep with Pete Decker.  If she can get the most popular guy maybe her life won't be so sad. Her ex-husband has already found someone new and her grown daughter is getting married with no input from Dorothy.  Mary Alice is still single and back living in her childhood home and helping her senior neighbour, Einer and his caretaker.  She longs to go back and show them how far she has come - not that she was ever really bothered being herself - she may even try and seduce Pete Decker.  Einer demands to be her escort in case any of them try anything.  The still handsome Pete Decker has just slept with his wife, Nora (separated) cheating on his mistress.  This has cleared his brain and he now knows he wants his childhood sweetheart Nora back - but she has moved on.  The reunion becomes his obsession in that he hopes it will remind Nora of the good times and bring her back to him.  Lester the once nerdy student is now a vet in the next town over and a widower of many years.  He is bullied into going to his reunion by his receptionist who insists he needs a woman ASAP.  Finally there is Candy Sullivan - beauty queen, the object of lust for men and envy of women.  She has gotten bad news about her health and realized that she missed out on having kids for the sake of her husband who isn't even really there.  She feels alone and lonely and realizes that it has always been like that.  One night will rock these 5 characters life and for once seen beyond their 17 year old eyes.

I listened to this novel on audio - read by the author and LOVED IT!!! Berg is a great reader as well as author.  She has a great depth of emotion and humour.  I loved the characters even when I strong disliked them as people - that is what makes them so realistic - they are flawed and no one is better than another.  I'm in my 30s and I could totally understand the characters' emotions whether male or female.  I still love berg's writing.

love,

kris