The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson

 There are not too many books that we have read about society following World War I.The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club gives an interesting perspective into that time with its focus on women in a small seashore town in England. Poppy Wirrall is the owner of a motorcycle courier service who is staying at the Palm Court Hotel and accidentally meets Constance who is also at the hotel aiding Mrs. Fog who is recovering from influenza. Constance rescues Poppy from a serious faux pas (wearing trousers) and the two become friends, 

The novel introduces the reader to a plethora of characters, many of whom are members of the motorcyle club and also to the families of Poppy and her mother, the venerable Mrs. Wirrall. Poppy's brother, Harris, has returned home from the war in which he lost a leg. Constance grew up a farmer's daughter, but she is educated and would love to move on from being an elderly woman's companion. As such she has followed the social norms and acts with propriety and good taste. Poppy, on the other hand, is free wheeling and throughout the course of the novel tries to bring Constance out of her set ways. 

There are so many themes that permeate the book - racism, the thwarted role of women, disrespect for the disabled, and growth after grief. Mrs. Fog rekindles a romance with a man of mixed race and is virtually ostracized from her family by her daughter, Lady Mercer who has married a baron. Klaus, a waiter at the hotel is a naturalized citizen, but fears for his life because he is originally from Germany. The women fight desperately to maintain their business or get a job, but are stymied by the fact that jobs need to go to men. Harris is denied employment opportunities because he is disabled and remarks that his brain and hand are in full working order, despite his one leg. Harris' friend Jock, struggles to overcome the loss of his family to the flu epidemic and relies on his friends. 

The novel was hard to get into and seemed slow in spots, but the insight into the mores of the times and watching Constance's growth were worth it and make it a rewarding read.  

The Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly

Books that span generations are intriguing to me.  The Last Garden in England was just that type of book. The central character in the novel was the garden in Highbury, England. Although fictitious in the story, Highbury is an actual location out side of London that seems to be the inspiration for the mansion that is depicted within the pages.   

The three sections of the book are the stories of those women who are connected to the garden - Venetia Smith in 1907 whose creativity designed the garden,  Diana Symonds, who inherits the home and is living there during World War II, and Emma Lovell who was hired to restore the gardens in 2021. There were a multitude of characters that became associated with those women. This somewhat was puzzling to the reader because Kelly would use a woman's maiden name at times and it wasn't until about a third of the way into the novel that you could put this together. 

As a characteristic of those generational novels, it becomes part of the mystery to determine how the main players become connected. Kelly does a magnificent job in creating the mystery and then solving it in the end. There is a part of the gardens, The Winter Garden, that is locked with an iron gate. The only way Emma and her crew can work on it is to scale the walls. They do not want to break the lock thereby seemingly breach the work of a previous generation. The mystery of the lost key becomes a central part. Yet another mystery is the name Celeste that is found on one of the original Smith drawings of the garden plans. 

The women in this novel are strong-willed and for the most part trying to discover who they really are and what their place in the world is. When Venetia embarks upon a love affair with the brother of the owner of the garden, Mrs. Melancourt, she finds herself in a position where she must make some very difficult decisions about her life. She becomes a person who socially is well ahead of her generation. 

Diana Symond is the mistress of Highbury house at a time when it has been overtaken as a hospital for wounded soldiers during the war. Her husband, a prominent doctor, was killed in the fighting and she is left to run the manor, much to the dismay of her sister-in-law, Cynthia who is put in charge of the hospital. She has a little son, Robin, who develops a strong bond with the nephew of Stella Adderton, a cook in the service of Symonds. Also a strong character in the time of Symonds, s Beth Pedley. The three strive to find themselves as the war progresses and tragedy befalls them.

 Emma wishes to be a self-sufficient woman of the 21st century, asserting herself as a different person that what her mother thinks she should be. She has founded her own company and it is through that move that she begins work on restoring the garden for Andrew and Sydney Wilcox. Sydney is the heir to the property and is set on restoring it to its glory. As Emma decides that the garden work is more dear than a glitzy office job, she opens herself up to that permanent lifestyle.

This was just a wonderful read watching the characters develop and change and allowing the reader to immerse oneself in the beauty of the English landscape.  

A Death in Cornwall by Daniel Silva

A Death in Cornwall is Silva's 24th Gabriel Allon novel and was his 2024 publication. It is one of my favorite series of books and I look forward to a new novel every July. Unfortunately, I am usually 1 July behind. 

Allon, the former head of Israeli intelligence,  has now, in retirement, transitioned to being a full time art restorer working for his wife Chiara in Venice, Italy. They have twins and many times he is responsible for being the parent in charge. However, he still dabbles in international intrigue when it involves something to do with art theft, restoration or forgery. 

Allon has lived in Cornwall off and on during his days as a spy when he wanted to become incognito. It was because of this and his connection to a young detective, Timothy Peel,  that he became involved in the case of a murdered art historian, Charlotte Blake. She had been researching the whereabouts of a Picasso painting at the same time the "Chopper" serial killer was operating in the same area. Was she his/her victim or was there another murderer on the loose?  

The Picasso had belonged to a Jewish family and was confiscated by the Nazis during the Holocaust. In tracing its provenance, he discovers that it is being held in the Geneva Freeport. The reader always learns something in Silva's novels. As it is owned by a shell company, one of the many created by the corrupt law firm of Harris Weber, the machinations expose the length and depth the owners will go to protect the painting and its worth, influence the selection of a new English Prime Minister, and discredit an upstanding journalist. 

As is the case in all of Silva's novels, the plot twists and turns as he reintroduces characters from the past - Christopher Keller, Rene Montjean, Sarah Bancroft, Ana Rolfe, and Ingrid Johanson. It is more of a page turner than some of the Allon novels and still lets the reader travel to many European locations. The descriptions of the group in Monaco were especially interesting. 

The 2025 Allon, An Inside Job, arrived today so I must finish book club books before embarking on that one.  
 

None Of This is True by Lisa Jewell

Generally characterized as a suspense novel, None of This is True, can be at times a good read, a frustrating read, and a depressing one. The novel opens as Josie Fair and Alix Summer, a podcaster, meet each other at a restaurant where each was celebrating her 45th birthday. They discover that, not only, were they born on the same day, but also the same hospital in London. Using this, Josie integrates herself into Alix's life by coming up with an idea for a podcast based on Josie's life. She indicates that having reached the age of 45, she is about to move on from her loveless marriage and family. 

Alix embraces the idea and begins a series of interviews with Josie. As she discovers more about Josie's life, she feels it necessary to meet Josie's husband, Walter, and to learn more about Josie's daughters, Roxy and Erin. Roxy ran away while she was still in high school and Erin is a gamer, who stays in her room, eats nothing but soft or baby food, and has ADS. Alix is also not without strife in her marriage as she deals with a husband, Nathan,  who has a drinking problem. After an awkward dinner party at which Nathan is a no-show, Josie decides to confront Walter about her plans to leave. She then appears at Josie's doorstep, beaten and tattered. 

Alix offers Josie a room for the night, but Josie has different ideas and stays with her. During this time the reader gets an inside glance at some of her odd behaviour. She borrows Alix's makeup and clothes. steals a bracelet, and stashes a key underneath the mattress. These are the actions that lead to the suspense of what is really the background story of Josie and what are intentions for Alix and Nathan? 

The narrative is interspersed with clips from a Netflix documentary, complete with interviews with the main players, as well as the podcast interviews Alix conducted with Josie.  As the title suggests, the reader knows that someone is lying and the truth will be hard to ferret out. The end has some interesting plot twists that make for an explanation of the actions of Josie, Walter, Roxy, and Erin. A quick read for the month of January and one that will keep you turning the pages until the end.

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

The Thursday Murder Club was a series recommended by a friend and since I love a series that involves the same characters, I thought I would give it a try. By no means was this book a straightforward, solvable mystery. 

Set in a retirement community in England, the Thursday Murder Club is comprised of residents who get together to try to solve mysteries that have stumped the local police. While working on murder that involved a stabbing, the community is thrown into a situation where a couple of murders are committed that are directly related to their retirement home. Elizabeth, Ibrahim, Bernard, Ron, and Joyce work with detective Chris Hudson and Donna De Freitas to solve the murder of Tony Curran, the construction foreman for Ian Ventham, a real estate developer who is in the process of buying the retirement community and its adjacent cemetery. From that situation, other murders are committed, new identities are discovered, and a surprising confession from an unsuspicious character are paraded before the reader. 

Joyce recaps daily events in the the investigation as she writes in her diary. Some may consider this as a repetition of the the actual narration, but it is a good way to maker sure one hasn't missed something because there is a lot that could be overlooked. 

True to English mysteries, this isn't a book for those who want an easy solve. There are no less than 4 plots that with twists and turns all come together at the denouement. I hope to read the next in the series when there is a break in my required book club and P & AL books!
 

The Fraud by Zadie Smith

There are some books that beg to be reread and The Fraud by Zadie Smith is one of those books. Based on historical events surrounding the Tichborne trial of 1873, the novel is meticulously researched and craftily written.  Eliza Touchet is one of the central figures of the story and is a cousin of William Ainsworth, a nearly obscure writer of the 19th century, and also his housekeeper. In flashback and concurrent narration, it is also the story of Andrew Bogle, a Jamaican who was taken to England by Edward Tichborne. 

Throughout the novel as the events of the trial unfold, Eliza becomes the readers' eyes and ears to 19th century literary society where she entertains for her cousing, the likes of Dickens and Thackeray. Her dinner parties are renowned and anticipated. She knows, however, how dreadful her cousin's works of literature are and it is the one part of his life she does not manage. She even manages his wedding to Sarah Wells, his maid, with whom he has fathered a child. 

Although not a courtroom drama, the scenes at the trial are fascinating and show how Sarah, who is obsessed with the man who has claimed to be the the rightful heir of Sir Roger Tichborne and Eliza are on opposite sides. The Claimant has a very weak case in that he couldn't remember classmates, know how to speak French, and the presence of a tattoo, or absence of one. Eliza befriends Andrew Bogle and through him is able to decry her abhorrence of slavery and how the Americans vs. the English are handling that institution.

 Written in a serialized style, as Dickens would have,  The Fraud moves backward and forward through Eliza's life and also that of Andrew Bogle. The many locations in England often time necessitated having a map by my side to understand the travel and journeys made by the characters. It is a masterpiece of writing. Zadie Smith whom we were privileged to hear speak in September, 2023.

The Letter by Kathryn Hughes

In this novel, there are a number of different story lines introduced by the author. Any reader knows that at the end they will all converge and it is the how and whys that determine the plot. Switching between 1939, 1973, and present day create the time warp that seems to be so popular, even though this book was written in 2013. Hughes is from Manchester, England and sets her book there. 

Tina Craig has married the love of her life only to find herself in an abusive relationship with her alcoholic husband, Rick. He has lost numerous jobs and although, as so many abusive husbands do, apologizes profusely, and repeats the same scenario. Tina has become the family's means of support and has a weekend job at a charity shop. It is there that she discovers The Letter in a man's suit that piques her interest. She finally has the courage to move out, but after learning that she is pregnant with his child, decides to give him one more chance.

Back to 1939 and the reader is introduced to Billy Stirling, and adopted orphan. He has met the love of his life in Chrissie Skinner, daughter of Dr. Skinner and his midwife wife, Mabel. Dr. Skinner imposes draconian rules on his daughter and is non-apologetic about sending her away to live on a remote farm in Ireland when he learns she has become pregnant. In a Romeo and Juliet kind of chain of events the two do not connect to learn of their love for each other. 

As the two threads of the story evolve, Tina becomes obsessed with finding the origins of the letter which leads her to Ireland where she meets William, who is in search of a birth parent.  From there serendipitous events occur and the reader is able to see the resolution coming into focus. 

There are two very despicable characters in this novel, Rick Craig and Dr. Skinner. Their actions trigger anger and outrage for the reader. They are among the most detested characters I have encountered in my reading. Supporting Tina are good friends Graham and Linda, whom you love, and from whom you wish Tina had taken their advice. They gave her unconditional love. For Chrissie, it was Jackie who became her strength as she struggle in Ireland. 

The Letter was a quick read and for the most part an enjoyable one. It is a bit predictable and one outcome has me a bit puzzled. It would be a spoiler and I will bring it up at our book club in a couple of weeks.

 
 

River of the Gods by Candice Millard

 Candice Millard takes history and makes it entertaining, informative, and illuminating. She is a master of the obscure happenings in our world and has an incredible gift of researching and then revealing to the reader what she has discovered in a very approachable way. 

River of the Gods is the account of Richard Burton and John Speke, friends who would eventually become adversaries, and their quest to discover the origin of the White Nile. Until their adventure in the mid-1850s the mapping of Africa was void of the where the While Nile's headwaters were. Consequently, the answer to the puzzle was on the agenda of many of the geographers of the time. The two men's talents would seemingly complement each others. Burton, as Millard relates was the first Englishman to travel to Mecca. He was a natural linguist and pulled off the feat disguised as a Muslim. He was courageous, adventurous, and dedicated to finding the source of the river. Speke, on the other hand, was more of the typical aristocratic Englishman, who had served in the military and was distracted by his love of large game hunting. However, the two eventually became at odds with each other and tried to undercut each other's successes and discoveries.

In the book, the reader is immersed in the pains and agonies of the exploration of the African land. Millard describes in depth the illnesses and pains that the two and their caravans of hundreds suffer. Many times one thinks that no one will survive the expeditions. There is also the side story of Burton and the woman who loves him with all her might, Isabel Arundell. There is brief mention of Stanley and Livingston, but Millard stays singularly focused on the quest of Burton and Speke. Each had his own opinion, and were to debate it in Bath, but Speke died the day before. For the most part Speke was correct in identifying Lake Nyanza, a.k.a Lake Victoria as the source. 

In her lecture to the Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures group , Millard emphasizes that she really wanted to tell the story of the formerly enslaved guide,  Sidi Mubarak Bombay. He is seldom given credit for all that he did to enable Speke's journey, as are most of the enslaved Africans who make up the expedition party. Millard brings to the forefront how the men were grossly mistreated and how slavery and mistreatment were so prevalent. 

 

To conclude the book, much of Burton's later life in consulates and as a writer and husband was recounted.  For an historic person about whom I had so little knowledge, this was a great read and so informative. Millard has a gift for making history come alive and writing in a way that the reader is immersed in that history. 

Matrix by Lauren Groff

It is 1158 and Marie de France, seventeen and orphaned, arrives at an abbey where she has been sent to live. Matrix is the recounting of her life and that of the 12th century poet.  

She is a remarkable character and the reader marvels at the fact that she has been orphaned in France since the age of 12 and has managed her estate before being discovered. At that point she was sent to Westminister where she lived for 3 years. Believed to be the illegitimate half sister of King Henry II, she is totally enamored of Eleanor, the queen based on the real-life Eleanor of Aquitaine. She is sent to the abbey because she is most likely unmarriageable due to her largeness of frame and "no godly avocation."

Set in a remote part of the English countryside, the abbey is impoverished despite the large amount of land that it encompasses. Marie discovers this is because the tenants living on the abbey's land have not been paying rent. She makes an example of one family and after that the others fall in line. 

With Eleanor as a model of a powerful woman, the novel recounts how Marie brings order to the abbey and even the countryside. Having taken the veil, she uses her strong character and sense of right to lead the nuns as she works her way up the chains or command from subprioress to prioress to abbess. Groff begins most sections of the book with Marie's age so the reader knows how Marie is aging and becoming more powerful. 

Along the way new women come into the fold of the abbey and Marie's interaction with them and their stories add to the mature person into which Marie has developed and grown. Especially poignant is the tragedy of Avice de Chair, a novice who is sent to the abbey for having sex. She was or becomes pregnant and the description of her labor is heart-wrenching. 

Groff interweaves so many characters in and out of Marie's life and it serves to illustrate the power of a woman as well as one who is compassionate and ambitious at the same time. She makes improvements to the abbey and tends to those who are sick and troubled. The author does not shy away from descriptions and situations that may make a reader uneasy: the queer life in the abbey and the Christian tenet of women being inferior.

Matrix is a fascinating novel and demonstrates the command of prose that Groff possesses. Because of having COVID, I was not able to attend the Gables Book Club discussion of the book, but understood that I was probably the only one who liked it. It is worth a read to not only understand 12th  century life of women in a patriarchal society, but also to witness the development of a woman who can overcome life's strife with determination and ingenuity.

Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear

Upon the recommendation of a couple of my trusted literary friends, I picked up the first in the Maisie Dobbs series, published in 2003. What a treat it was to read something not required for a book club or lecture series. 

In 1929 in London, Maisie Dobbs is in business as a private investigator. She has been hired by a man who suspects that his wife is carrying on an affair with another man. In following the woman, she finds herself in a cemetery and watches her lay flowers on the grave of a man whose headstone only reads Vincent. Vivid memories cascade into Maisie's mind and Winspear uses it as a flashback technique to give Maisie's backstory. 

The daughter of a Frankie, a costermonger and eventually a groomsman, Maisie was sent to live with Lady Rowan Compton, a wealthy philanthropist  to add to some income for the family. Maisie's work ethic and intelligence was recognized by Lady Rowan and she offered Maisie the opportunity to be tutored by Dr. Maurice Blanche. He also is impressed with her propensity for learning and encourages and prepares her to take the entrance exams for Cambridge. Maisie enters Girton College at Cambridge and makes friends with Priscilla Everndon, who introduces her to Captain Lynch. At Priscilla's urging and as a result of losing a close friend to a bombing during the war, Maisie enlists as a nurse and is deployed to France. As it would happen she reconnects with Captain Lynch and they fall in love and he proposes.  

Between the flashbacks and the present time, the story of Maisie becomes clear and her detective skills, honed by Dr. Blanche lead her to uncover the mystery of Vincent and so many other young wounded war veterans. Throughout the present day scenes the reader is plagued by the question as to what happened to Captain Lynch and is grateful for the reveal at the end of the book. 

Winspear's Maisie series is now on book 17. The series has been touted as in the mystery genre, but there was more introduction of the main character in the first book than mystery. I will be anxious to read book #2 to see how Maisie is developed as a private investigator and solver of mysteries. 

 

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

There are so few books that a person reads in a lifetime that leaves such a lasting impression and are candidates for a re-read. Hamnet is one of those books. What a joy Maggie O'Farrell's account of the son of William Shakespeare was to savor. Although not much is known about the life of William in Stafford-on-Avon, Farrell bases her novel on those facts of which we are sure and creates as accurate an historical account as an author can with liberty taken to fill in the missing details.

The title of the novel gives only a hint of the scope of the book. It is much more than chronicling the short life of Hamnet. Rather it is a depiction of the relationships within the Shakespeare family. The beginning chapter of the novel sets a stage of panic as a young Hamnet searches for help for his sister, Judith, who has been come seriously ill with what seems to be the plague. He looks for any adult, especially, his mother, to come to her aid. He races furiously around the house on Henley Street and in the town and is the target of his grandfather John's abuse.

Shakespeare's Birthplace, Henley Street

 Abruptly, the next chapter transitions to fifteen years or so before the first and gives the reader the background information necessary to establish the relationships of the characters and it is in this next part that William Shakespeare is introduced. Throughout the book Shakespeare is never named, but only referred to as the Latin tutor, the husband, or the father.  Farrell has chosen to identify his wife as Agnes, rather than the Anne that many more will recognize. In her father, Richard's will she is named Agnes and it is from that document she is identified. A young Latin tutor comes to her house in the Hewlands for educating young boys as a repayment of some debt owed to the tutor's father. In the apple shed, the two kiss, eventually fall in love and plot to circumvent their families' disapproval of their union. 

Agnes' home in Hewlands

Agnes' home in Hewlands

 

In what was probably one of the most sensual scenes of lovemaking without portraying it graphically they consummate their union which results in Agnes' pregnancy. They are married and six months later, their first child, Susannah is born. Following her birth is the arrival of the the twins, Judith and Hamnet.

In alternating flashback and present timelines, the novel becomes a fascinating depiction of the life of Agnes, her children, and the effect that the death of Hamnet at age 11 has upon her and the family.

It is hard for all of them to understand and deal with his death. The Father and Husband leaves the household to seemingly help his father set up a market for his gloves. Predictably, this fails and the Father pursues his love of writing and the theatre. When word reaches Agnes that the Husband has written a play, Hamlet, she and her brother Bartholomew take off for London to glean an explanation. The last chapter of the book is poignant, tear-inducing, and heart rending. It leaves the reader to pause and consider how Agnes and the Husband will go on. 

Maggie O'Farrell's writing is so lyrical and emotional at every turn. Many times she eschewed dialogue for description, which led to an even more rhapsodic writing. A sheer gem of a book and one that bears reading again and again. It will be interesting to hear O'Farrell's talk on 22 November 2021 when she addresses the Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures 10 Literary Evenings program.

 

Warlight by Michael Ondaatje

In one of the most complex books that I have read, Warlight is the latest of Ondaatje's novels. I had looked forward to reading it from the time Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures announced Ondaatje was the speaker for the last 2020 lecture. Its subject matter concerned two of my favorite topics - World War II and London. 

Narrated by Nathaniel, the book opens with the statement:

“In 1945 our parents went away and left us in the care of two men who may have been criminals” 

It snags the reader in what would seemingly be a tome of young children and their existence in the post war London years. But it, like a good part of the book, is merely a fragment of a puzzle that poses a challenge for those who try to piece it together. When Nathaniel (age 14) and his sister, Rachel (age 16), are left by their parents, to go to live in Singapore where the father has been promoted to run a Unilever office. Their mother, Rose, entrusts their keeping to a friend, Walter, whom the children name The Moth because he is so quiet. With The Moth running some shady business, the children are virtually left on their own. The first half of the novel relates their lives there as they meet and interact with other adults who comprise The Moth's group of acquaintances, including the Pimlico Darter (Norman) and Olive Lawrence who is an ecologist and ethnographer. Despite some criminal leanings The Darter becomes a surrogate guardian to Nathaniel as they smuggle dogs into London for illegal racing as does The Moth to Rachel. The two grow up quickly as they experience life in London, all the time wondering where there mother has gone. Nathaniel works for The Moth at the Criterion, a banquet hall where he meets Agnes, named for the street where she lived and who is first sexual experience. When a kidnap attempt is made on the two children, the realization that there is something more to the disappearance of Rose. 

In the second part of the book, Nathaniel, now a grown man, reflects on those years, his mother's whereabouts, and the covert activities that kept her at a distance from her children. Working at the British Classified Archives, he discovers documents that help him discover what Rose's part was. Ondaatje reveals bits and pieces of that action to the reader over the course of the second half chapters. There are clues and innuendoes that need to be assembled before a clear vision of Rose's life is understood. A seemingly unimportant incident of a thatcher falling from the roof of Rose's parents home escalates into a critical time in her life. 

Warlight references the light that, even tho dimmed, guided emergency traffic in London during World War II. But it also takes on an added meaning of the secrecy and shrouded surreptitiousness of espionage, smuggling, codenames, and interrogations. This is not a book for the faint of heart, but for those who appreciate the complexities of a nuanced novel that reveals its own secrets in measured increments.   

On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan

This book has sat on my "to read" shelf for a few years because of the reviews that had been published and the reputation of Ian McEwan. I was spurred to finally make time to read it after I watched the movie. I then recommended it to the Gables Book Club for the March meeting. 

McEwan has a penchant for hooking his readers from the very first sentence in a book and On Chesil Beach  is no exception.

They were young, educated, and both virgins on this, their wedding night, and they lived in a time when a conversation about sexual difficulties was plainly impossible. But it is never easy. 

The novella takes place in 1962 on the wedding night of Edward Mahew and Florence Pointing at a hotel on Chesil Beach in Dorset in southern England. It is a shingle beach that is characterized by the curve of the land and the arrangement of the pebbles by wind and rain.  It is there they will enjoy the wedding night and a stroll on the beach drinking wine and examining the pebbles. 

Providing some comic relief to the tension that the reader fills building is the description of the waiters and the dinner ordered. There was no real room so the waiters stayed and observed as the two tried to eat the melon, plates of beef, cheese board and trifle. But it was not to be finished as the couple midway through made their way to the four-poster bed. 

In a scene that was a bit reminiscent of Ravel's Bolero, sensual and innocent the reader stands witness to what surely will be a night of bliss. Edward fumbles with Florence's dress and, ultimately, decides to proceed without removing it. But the thought of intimacy so frightens Florence that she bolts from the hotel room in a desperate move to avoid being suffocated by the act and heads to the beach. After a time, he follows and the two engage in a conversation that evolves into argument as they both admit that they are so in love with each other. 

Intermixed between the action of the wedding night, McEwan writes beautifully crafted chapters of the details of Florence and Edward's meeting and courtship. The reader is mesmerized by his words and sentence structure. It is with these chapters that we understand more about the two young people and the worlds from which they came - she from a privilege family but with an abusive father, he from a middle class and hardworking one in which his father has had to assume roles as mother and father since a traumatic accident to his mother. 

At the book's conclusion one is left with a feeling of poignancy and regret for Edward and Florence and the thought of what could have been. Again, the book with all of McEwan's artistry surpasses the movie. Read and enjoy.  

Cometh the Hour by Jeffrey Archer

At the conclusion of the previous novel in the Clifton Chronicles, Mightier then the Sword,  the verdict in the Lady Virginia Kenwick vs. Emma Barrington libel case was about to be read. The accompanying cliffhanger was the mysterious suicide note of Alex Fisher, MP. As the reader would expect the note would be a double edge sword: it could exonerate Emma, but could also ruin the political career of Giles. At a family pow-wow, it was decided not to disclose the contents of the note. And the reader is left to wondering what exactly it did say. 

Lady Virginia is one of the most scheming villains of any novel which I have read. In the installment she is facing being disowned by her father, which would cut off her monthly allowance. This would severely hamper the lifestyle to which she has become accustomed. She needs to figure out how to secure the money that is need to keep her in her comfortable life. And so she cooks up a preposterous scheme that involves a U.S. politician, engagement, and pregnancy. 

Harry Clifton continues to work to free Anatoly Babakov. This story line has contributed to some of the most dramatic of the novel. Emma Barrington is brought into this thread as she is called on to support Babakov's wife. 

Sebastian's life seems to be back on track after coming to terms with Samantha's marriage and Jessica's school life. He has an ally in Dr. Wolfe, head of the school who keeps informed as to Jessica's life there. Jessica is a delightful and precocious child and provides a bit of humor in an otherwise serious book. Sebastian meets Priya, an Indian woman, and falls head over heels in love with her. However, her parents have a different idea of what her future looks like. 

As in all of the Chronicles, there are twists and turns and suspense enough to make the reader hasten on to the last in the series.

Be Careful What You Wish For by Jeffrey Archer

The fourth installment of the Clifton Chronicles, Be Careful What You Wish For, picks up right at the end of #3. It resolves the cliffhanger, which I had suspected all along. The continuing narrative takes the readers into the 1960s as the Cliftons and Barringers expand families and their shipping business.

Although wary of committing to the building of a luxury liner due to the increased efficiency and popularity of the airline business, the company does enter into contracts for the construction of one in Ireland. As one can imagine that process is fraught with delays and sabotage instigated by one Juan Pedro and Diego. Much of the novel deals with the machinations of stock trading that leads to the composition and recomposition of the Board of Directors. 

In another parallel story, Jessica, Emma and Harry's adopted daughter is accepted to the Slade School of Art. She meets and falls in love with Clive Bingham. The two announce their engagement and both families are exceedingly happy. However, enter Lady Virginia Fenwick, a friend of Clive's mother, who manages to poison the occasion. Her revelation of Jessica's parentage brings on dire and tragic consequences. 

To reveal much more of the plot would lead to major spoilers. As is typical of Archer, the novel ends with another cliffhanger. The Barrington ocean liner, Buckingham, is about to begin her maiden voyage when the party is infiltrated by IRA terrorists. As the bomb explodes, the novel ends. Archer's next book in the series will illuminate what actually happened. 

The Clifton Chronicles is an addictive series that keeps the reader engrossed. Is it sometimes predictable? Yes. Is the action sometimes unrealistic? Yes. But the enjoyment is still there and I anxiously await the time when I can get back to the series. 

The Sins of the Father and Best Kept Secret by Jeffrey Archer

SPOILERS FOR THE SERIES BELOW

The next two books in the Clifton Chronicles by Jeffrey Archer were fairly quick reads because of Archer's writing and the fact that I couldn't make our book club for two months. 

Harry Clifton has joined the British Navy and after his ship sinks, he assumes the identity of Tom Bradshaw. As a result, he is sent to prison to serve Bradshaw's term for desertion. Emma Barrington, believes that he is still alive, having read The Diary of a Convict that was published by another inmate in his name. She sets out to find Harry. In the mean time,  Hugo Barrington, possibly Harry's real father, fathers another child by Olga. Hugo refuses to admit to it and Olga murders him and then commits suicide, leaving the daughter as an orphan. As a result of Hugh's death, Giles and Hugo were both contenders to inherit the Barrington estate and title. The novel ends with the judge pondering which of the men is the true heir.


Best Kept Secret opens with the judge's decision that Harry is not Hugo's son. Giles is the

rightful heir and that leaves Harry free to marry Emma. Emma is determined to track down the child of Olga and Hugo. Meanwhile, Lady Barrington changes her will  to only recognize Emma and her sister, Grace. Giles is omitted from the will because of his marriage to Lady Virginia. This sets up one series of revenge moves. 

Sebastian becomes involved with one of the most sinister figures in all of literature - Don Pedro, the father of his best friend at Cambridge. He is unknowingly enlisted to help smuggle counterfeit money into England from Argentina. The plot is foiled and Don Pedro seeks his revenge against the Cliftons and Barringtons. The novel ends with a tragic car accident in which Sebastian is killed, or is he?

I love books in series like this. Although sometimes predictable, it is definitely entertaining. There are three more installments and it will be interesting to see how far Archer takes the revenge theme.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

When Outlander chosen as our Gables Book Club read for September, I was quite surprised because I thought everyone on the earth had read this except me. I had downloaded it a few years ago when it was on sale for the Kindle. It was also surprising since the length of the book was much longer than our usual reads. 

The entire series has been a major player in the world of fiction literature, with each entry skyrocketing to the top of the Best Seller list. The novel opens in 1945 after WWII when Claire and Frank Randall are enjoying being together after spending the war years apart. Frank has some real interest in genealogy has found that the Vicar in the village has knowledge of some of Frank's ancestors, especially Captain Jack Randall. Claire's passion is flowers and she meets a Mr. Cook who shares her interest and who has knowledge of the greenery of the area. He takes her on an exploratory journey of the Highlands and imparts oodles of information about the local flora. On this excursion, Claire comes upon a small henge to which she take Frank back. There they come upon a group of women who seem much like witches. She returns the next day to try to identify a plant and it is on that journey that she passes through the stones and is transported back to 1743. 

Attacked by Captain Jonathan Randall, an ancestor of Frank's, she is eventually rescued by Jaimie Fraser.  From that point in time the novel evolves around the fact that Jaime is on the run trying to keep from being apprehended for a crime he did not commit. In order to protect herself and Jaimie, Claire reluctantly agrees to marry him. She feels guilty about abandoning Frank, but soon comes to love her life married to Jaimie. 

Numerous incidents ensue where Claire and Jaimie must use cunning and power to escape consume the rest of the novel. Some of these drag on through the novel and by shortening them the novel could have been shortened. Diana Gabaldon does not mince words either when she is describing battles and fights or when detailing the actions in sex scenes. 

For the most part, I enjoyed the book, but feel that in some places it dragged on and on. It seemed that the plot took a back seat to all the different episodic encounters that ended most chapters with cliff hangers. I am not sure when I will continue to the 2nd book in the series. I am not as taken with Outlander as many of my friends are, but will likely give the series another chance.  

House of Spies by Daniel Silva

I am always a year behind on Daniel Silva's books, but that's OK since I know I always have one waiting for me every July. Last year's read was The Black Widow and my July read this year was House of Spies, the 17th installment in the Gabriel Allon series. It takes place about 4 months after The Black Widow with nearly the same group of characters. 

Allon has been promoted to the Director of the Intelligence Office on King Saul Boulevard. Appearing with him in this book are his arch rival, Uzi Navot, Ari Shamron, the former director, Christopher Keller, Mikhail Abramov, and from The Black Widow, Natalie Mizrrahi. 

After terrorist attacks by Isis in France, the West End, and Washington, Allon is determined to bring Saladin, the ISIS leader down. Because Natalie nursed him back to health, she is one of the few who can identify him. The path to Saladin is traced to assault rifles from the London attack through a gallery in Saint-Tropez and the Moroccan desert. Along this path Allon and his crew manage to blackmail the drug kingpin, Jean-Luc-Martel and his companion, Olivia Watson into providing information and setting a meeting with Saladin. 

The action becomes quite the cat and mouse game with Keller, once a British special Ops figure, assassin, and now an MI6 officer, in the midst of the planning and execution. It is an intriguing plot that attempts to rid the world of this radical leader. Allon builds a coalition of Israel, France, and the US to carry it all out. Somewhat true to life, the French and the British have the bulk of the action here while the United States' role is somewhat diminished. One realizes, also, that even if Saladin is captured or killed, there will be other who will carry on his war, in just what arena is undetermined. 

Silva is truly a gifted author who keeps the reader on the edge of his seat, turning pages as quickly as possible. As far as this reader is concerned, he is a must-read author, who continues to hone his craft.

Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer

With a bit of a respite from reading book club books, I am delving into some of those "I really want to read" books. Tops on the list was to start reading Jeffrey Archer's Clifton Chronicles series. I have loved his previous books and his easy way of writing and pulling the reader into complex stories of relationships, twists, and historical perspective. 

Only Time Will Tell is the first of this series. It is set in London and Bristol England and chronicles the early life of its protagonist, Harry Clifton. It spans the period from the end of World War I to the onset of World War II. Harry is the son of Arthur, a dockworker, and Maisie Clifton, or at least he believes is. He will most likely follow in his father's footsteps until a choir-mistress discovers his wonderful voice, an event that opens up an entire new world to Harry. By earning scholarships, Harry continues his education and become steadfast friends with Giles Barrington, the son of the shipping company mogue, Hugo Barrington. Although Harry believes that his father was killed in the war, there is speculation that Barrington contributed in some way to Arthur's death. Maisie Clifton offers no further testimony to this fact as she tries to balance financial woes with another series of tragedies and unfortunate events in her life.

Stepping in for Harry's father is Capt. Jack Tarrant, V.C., a hero in the Boer War who saved the life of Barrington. He resides in a railroad car at the shipyard and looks out for Harry in so many ways. 

The other dimension in the novel is the fact that Emma, Giles' sister and Harry become involved in a relationship. The two are very much in love, but Hugo's disdain of Harry presents an issue in more ways than one for the two star-crossed lovers, the foreshadowing of which happens as the two appear in Romeo and Juliet. 

Although Only Time Will Tell may have moments of implausibility with twists and turns it is a very good read. The reader develops quite a bit of empathy for Harry and his plight. But it is a page turner, especially if you have a fondness for Archer's style and plot. Can't wait to get on to the next chapter in Harry's life.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Oh, what a fun read this was! Eleanor Oliphant is a character that one is not likely to forget soon. The combination of wit, mystery, empathy, and tragedy all come together in this novel set in London in 2017. 

Eleanor is a 30 year old account specialist for a firm in London. Her life is very routine as she goes to work Monday through Friday and a reclusive weekend with a bottle of vodka, Chianti, and a pizza that she picks up on her way home from work. On Wednesdays she has her weekly chat with Mummy. But then on her way home one day she and a co-worker, Ray, come to the rescue of a man who has passed out on the street. They accompany Sam to the hospital and develop a friendship with him. They meet his family and are treated as hero and heroine. They even are invited to family birthday parties and weddings. 

 Eleanor has some secrets, one that would explain the scar on her face. Because of her desire to keep to herself, she is totally clueless as to social situations. She knows little about buying clothes or style whether it is make up or hair. As the novel is written in the first person, the reader is privileged to know Eleanor's thoughts. She is smitten, as a teenager might be, with an aspiring rock musician, who is nasty and untalented. Her attendance at one of his gigs throws her into the depths of darkness. This forces Eleanor to face her past and to work through those events that have so shaped her personality and life. 

 The players are well-developed and for the most part quite likeable. Ray is a compassionate and caring person despite his eating and smoking habits. Eleanor's boss, Bob, cares about his employee and keeps her best interest about the company's. The setting in London evokes mind pictures of transport by the tube, shopping at Tesco, and British description and humor. 

There were times that I felt like I was watching This is Us. Breadcrumb clues were dropped all along the way that were to give the reader more of an idea of the life of Eleanor Oliphant. In the end Honeyman reveals to the reader and to Eleanor what has happened to her. There, as to be expected, a very surprising twist at the book's conclusion. A wonderful and satisfying read and a character who could possibly see a sequel.