Everything Under the Sky by Matilde Asensi

One of the good aspects of book groups is that it forces the members to read outside of their comfort zones. This is especially true of me when reading of the Far East or Asian countries. I think it is because I don't have a real grasp of the history - there's just too much of it. Everything Under the Sky started as a novel that seemed it would be the memoir of a middle-aged woman dealing with the consequences of the death of her estranged husband. Was I ever wrong.

Told in the first person by Elvira DePoulain, we find a very seasick narrator making her way from Paris to China to settle the estate of her late husband, Remy´. Although they had lived apart for nearly 20 years, they were on good terms and as such she was responsible for his estate when he died suddenly in Shanghai. Accompanied by her niece Fernanda, she makes the journey only to find out upon arrival that he was very much in debt due to his opium habit and the predilection for many women and that his death was really a murder by the Green Gang who were looking for a decorative box that contained clues to a wealth of hidden treasure. Clued in by Lao Jiang, the antiquarian, and Paddy Tichborne, an Irish journalist, Elvira finds the box that poses more puzzles than provides wealth. 

Lao Jiang explains that the clues are to the the whereabouts of the tomb and wealth of the first emperor of China. In order to find the tomb before the Green Gang, it would be necessary to commence on the journey as quickly as possible. Knowing that she had no money to pay of her late husband's death, Elvira agrees to the strenuous and dangerous quest with Fernanda, Biao (an orphaned servant boy), the group sets off on the trek. What ensues is a series of adventures, dangers, and puzzles that seem so crafted for an Indian Jones or Laura Croft movie. Mysteries and conundrums present themselves at every stage of the journey and the solving of them is critical, not only to the discovery of the treasures, but also for the preservation of their lives. 

The adventure and mystery are only one side of the novel. Throughout the course of its telling, Asensi weaves the history and culture of China. The dropping of names of emperors and dynasties was enough to confuse the novice reader. I wish there had been a timeline or chart. What was more interesting, at least to me, was the elucidation of the concepts of Feng Shui and the Tao. Fascinating explanations of how the world is designed and how our environment should follow that were quite interesting. 

Everything Under the Sky was an ok read. The adventure and problem solving were most exciting, but I was weighed down by the Chinese history and pronunciations. The ending was predictable except for one or two twists and was tied up neatly. Not at the top of my favorites, but not a bad read, either.

The House Girl by Tara Conklin

In her debut novel, Tara Conklin weaves the story of a slave, Josephine,  in pre-Civil War times with that of an aspiring young lawyer, (Caro)Lina Sparrow, in 2004. The House Girl alternates chapters between each of the protagonists. The reader first meets Josephine as she is plotting to run away from her life as the house girl for a mistress who has been a painter and is now very ill and her abusive husband. Lina has just been given an assignment for which she must find a plaintiff who is the descendant of a slave in order to further a reparation case that is being staged. 

The story of Josephine and her mistress, Lu Anne Bell is an interesting one. Lu Anne. Lu Anne was an artist whose works have been acclaimed into the 21st century. She was at times a lenient mistress who even taught Josephine how to read. She and her tobacco grower husband had no children as Lu Anne suffered numerous miscarriages. But freedom was important to Josephine and she was determined to make her way through the underground railroad north.

Lina is a bright young woman who lives with Oscar Sparrow, her father and renowned artist. Her mother is dead and she feels somewhat compelled to remain in the family home as a help and support for her father. When the opportunity presents itself at work to contribute to the law suit that will bring millions to the firm, she jumps at the chance and digs into the research. Her path leads her to the story of Lu Anne and Josephine and the possibility of a descendant who would fit the profile for which she is looking. Her treatment by her boss and colleague at the firm is abhorrent and misogynistic.

The novel was an easy read, but it was not without some issues. First, the idea of a law firm taking on a case for reparations is a bit far-fetched. I am not sure that is could ever happen or be successful. Second, Lina must do some genealogical research to prover her point. For anyone who has dealt with this type of research, you know that it just doesn't fall into your lap, isn't always readily available on the Internet, or can be done over a weekend. The people that Lina meets to help her also seem a bit contrived and put into the novel to make a story "come out well." Although I wanted to like her, Lina's character  just wasn't that endearing. I found Josephine's story much more engaging and appealing although it was painful to read. 

It does seem like Conklin is another lawyer hoping to make it in the publishing world. For me, the jury is still out with my reaction to the book being very lukewarm. The Gables Book Club was divided on this one.

Russka by Edward Rutherfurd

WHEW, I finished it. In anticipation of our trip to Russia, I began reading Russka back in January. I have absolutely loved all of Rutherfurd's books and it was with great anticipation that I started this 900+ page tome. I would have loved to have read this in a much more compressed time period, but my commitment to my ProGen class, The Gables Book Club, and some traveling all got in the way of that goal. But I stuck with it and it certainly was worthwhile for the background history it provided.

Rutherfurd covers nearly 1800 years of Russian history through the stories of 5 families whose stories are told from different perspectives. They are the Bobrovs, Romanovs, Karpenkos, Suvorins and Popovs. The novel weaves the characters from the families into the actual history of the country. Representing serfs, Tartars, Ukrainians, Cossacks, and eventually the Bolsheviks, Marxists, and Socialists. The chapters cover just a snippet of the time period in question and give the reader a sense of the history in the context of the main characters. It is, for sure, an ambitious undertaking. But, that is the style of Rutherfurd. The reader sees the transformation of the country from the rural villages to the world power of the Soviet Union and its consequent break-up. 

This was a very difficult book for me, unlike other Rutherfurd's other novels. It just didn't seem to flow as cleanly from one era to another and I did get bogged down a bit. It did, however, give an impression of the Russian people and the conflicts that they have endured in their history. It was especially telling about the relations with the Crimean people and the Ukrainians and emphasized that the conflicts there today are so deeply rooted in the past that resolution is improbable.

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

The title of Moriarty's book provides a powerful hook. It lures the reader to venture inside to see what that secret might be. The usual thoughts run through the book peruser's mind - an affair, a child somewhere, or the absconding of a large amount of money. They could all be ones to entice the purchase. Set in Australia, the novel takes place the week before Easter and intertwines the lives of three women and their families.

Cecelia Fitzpatrick seems to have the perfect life. Her husband, Jean-Paul, is a successful business man, her three daughters are charming and smart, and she is the epitome of organization and time management, and a successful purveyor of Tupperware. Her daughter, Esther, has a fascination with history and dives into diverse subjects fully. Last month it was the Titanic disaster and this month it is the Berlin Wall. Cecelia has been to the Wall and goes to the attic to find the piece that she brought home as a souvenir. It is there she discovers the letter that is only to be opened on the death of her husband Jean-Paul. The dilemma that presents itself is obvious. Should she open it, ignore it, confront her husband, or destroy it. Nearly a third of the way through the book, the resolve to open it is manifested and her life becomes all the more complicated and thrown into turmoil.

Then there is Tess O'Leary who with her husband Will and cousin Felicity operate an advertising agency. Imagine the hurt and anger she feels when Will and Felicity meet with her to announce their love for each other, tho until this point it has been unconsummated. How will this affect their son Liam. It's a situation that is just incomprehensible and given that her mother has just broken her ankle, she takes Liam and travels from Melbourne to Sydney to be with her.

Finally, there is Rachel Crowley whose daughter Janie was murdered when she was a teenager and whose assailant has never been apprehended. Rachel has led a sad life since that time and her predicament of loss is about to increase when her son Rob and his wife Lauren reveal their plans to move to New York City to help further Lauren's career. She will lose her son and her beloved grandson, nearly like losing Janie 27 years ago. 

Moriarty weaves the stories together masterfully. Her use of flashback and point of view enhance the plot and the readers' involvement in it. The character development is well crafted and the insight into each person is crystal clear. Each has a dilemma of some sort and to peer into their hearts and souls gives so much meaning to the complexity of their characterization. The resolutions to the problems are not easily or one dimensional and they are revealed in a deliberately slowed unveiling. The afterword is a welcomed addition and adds further insight into the characters' lives.

The Husband's Secret is a perfect book for book club discussion. As each character wrestles with their life situation and the decisions that must be made, the opportunity for dialogue whether concurring or differing presents itself. Perhaps it should have been titled The Husbands' Secret.  Put this on the "Must Read" shelf.

Transatlantic by Colum McCann

Novels like Transatlantic intrigue me. They commence as one kind of book and then metamorphose into something totally different. Written in the style of his National Book Award winner, Let the Great World Spin, the novel spans years and places but is tied to one familiar place for McCann - Ireland. 

It begins on the coast of Newfoundland in 1919 as John Alcock and Arthur Brown make preparations for their transatlantic flight. They have spent hours outfitting an old bomber for the flight. Before they take off they are handed a letter by Emily Ehrlich, a reporter for the local paper who lives with her daughter Lottie.  As quickly as they land in a bog in Ireland, the action turns to another time and place, Frederick Douglass' trip to Ireland in 1845.

Douglass is on a speaking tour in Ireland just a few years after his escape from slavery. His message is powerful and the reader gets a glimpse of a bit of history that is often forgotten. He stays with a family by the name of Webb and is tended to by their maid, Lily. Years later the reader is reacquainted with Lily Duggan as she tends to wounded soldiers in the Civil War. 

And then a leap to the 20th where George Mitchell, U.S. Special Envoy for Northern Ireland, is hastily leaving his wife and baby for one of the many treks across the Atlantic in efforts to broker peace with the Northern Irish factions. This was an interesting part of the book, but seemed weak in comparison to the other segments. The year is 1998 and the historic Good Friday agreement is signed.

Throughout the entire book there is a thread that keeps it all tied together - the daughters of Lily Duggan and their tie to Ireland. As the time passes from one generation to the next, they are connected and nurtured by one another and their heritage. In each section McCann gives them a strong voice and identifiable character. The Atlantic is that wide body that allows them to go away, but yet come home. It is the constant as their lives change. A wonderful book and interwoven story that shouldn't be passed over. Very much looking forward to the lecture on this book on 10 March 2014.

The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian

Alternating between 1943 and 1955, Bohjalian crafts a mystery, historical fiction and psychological thriller in his book, The Light in the Ruins. Interspersed with those chapters is a narrator's viewpoint on the murders he has committed and is about to commit. 

Outside of Florence, there is, what once was a bucolic Tuscan villa - Villa Chimera. Owned by the Marchese and Marchesa Rosati, it is a sanctuary for their family from the horrific brutality of the war. Living with Antonio and Beatrice is their daughter, Christina, and daughter-in-law Francesca and her two children Their son, Vittore works in Florence at the Uffizi and their other son, Marco, Francesca's husband is serving in the Italian army. Life in the villa changes drastically one day when Nazi soldiers arrive wanting to see the caves of earlier Etruscan burial grounds. The soldiers subsequently occupy the villa for an outpost and Christina becomes romantically involved with one

In 1955 Serafina Bettini is working as a homicide detective in Florence when she is called to investigate the chilling murder of Francesca Rosati. The body is discovered in her apartment with her heart cut out. As the investigation continues, the reader begins to learn more about Serafina and her involvement in the war. She has suffered brutal wounds that have left her scarred and without a portion of her ear. 

As the narrative moves back and forth between the time periods and through flashbacks in the minds of the main characters, the connections between the characters begin to be elucidated. The serial killer's narration reveals that his/her revenge will be taken on the Rosatis, one by one.

The Light in the Ruins is another example of the masterful and powerful storytelling of Chris Bohjalian. It is gruesome, to be sure, but is also a gripping chronicle of the war in Italy. The struggle between citizens, the Partisans, and the Nazis shows the multi-faceted effects of a conflict. How does one balance doing what is right when it comes to saving one's family? Its strength lies in historical and political analysis. The revelation of the serial killer is a bit of a shock with so many possibilities - a man, woman, Italian, Nazi, an acquaintance or one who needs to exact revenge on the rich landholders?  The meaning behind the title of the book is illuminated at the end, much as the dock light in Gatsby does for that novel.  Bohjalian needs to be on the list of "must read" authors.

The Panther by Nelson DeMille

I have been a fan of Nelson DeMille's books featuring John Corey since I read the first one in the series. Corey's acerbic wit and humor sit well with the reader and DeMille usually delivers an action-packed adventure filled with intrigue, twists and turns, and red herrings.

Fresh off the biggest coup and exciting adventure of The Lion in which Corey and his wife, Kate Mayfield, have put away the terrorist leader, Asad Khalil, the duo are off to Yemen to avenge the sinking of the U.S.S. Cole by sniffing out another big cat, Bulus ibn al-Darwish, known as al-Numair, The Panther. Yemen is a cradle of terrorism and as DeMille colorfully remarks, "if the earth had an anus, it would be located in Yemen." With the PSO (Political Security Organization), the NSB (National Security Bureau) and Al-Qaida, chaos reigns and one who would intend to break through those agencies needs keen observation powers and survival instincts.

What ensues is a very long novel that builds unceasingly to a climax some 630 pages later. Unlike most of DeMille's previous novels, The Panther, is short on action and movement. It is packed with planning and groundwork. Corey and Mayfield are central characters to be sure, joined by Colonel Paul Brenner, another recurring DeMille persona. With some trepidation the two accept the assignment, but Corey has it in the back of his mind that he and Kate are really bait because of their involvement in killing a CIA operative. They travel in Yemen with a cadre of other high level officers and some native Yemenis who are willing to track down the Panther and his Al-Qaida band. The planning is intense, lightened only by the sarcastic remarks of Corey. Lack of alcohol has taken its toll on Corey. 

Substituting for the action to which the reader has become accustomed is a treatise on mid-eastern geography and politics and even some biblical history. Once the mission is fully engaged, the action picks up and comes to crashing end. There are some questions as to who is actually on the side of Corey and whether the CIA agents are aligned with him or against him as Corey prophesied. The conspiracy theory is never far from Corey's mind and his fast thinking and actions are well conceived. 

Although, this was not one of my favorite books, the last third of the book was exciting and fulfilling. It leaves the door open to a new Corey/Mayfield book that, hopefully, will be back in the mold and tradition of the first five DeMille books. 

Tenth of December by George Saunders

When it debuted on the New York Times best seller list at #3, it was remarked back in January of 2013 that this will be the best book that you will read all year. I am not sure that I can echo that praise, but Tenth of December  is a unique book and a thought-provoking read. The stories are diverse and will leave the reader at times scratching his or her head.

I am typically not a short story reader, but since Saunders was lecturing for the Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures Literary Evening program, I was compelled to revisit the genre. I had forgotten how satisfying it can be. The stories have a dark element to them -  "Victory Lap" is about a teenage abduction - but Saunders manages to avoid the depressing aftertaste by bringing a keen sense of humor to them. Each of the ten stories addresses a distinct aspect of the human condition and comes to a fulfilling ending. 

Short stories are hard to write. The author must compress his or her thoughts into a limited discourse. Each word has to have meaning beyond the word itself. It must convey a feeling, a thought, and an action. George Saunders has accomplished all of this in his collection. I will look forward to future works. He says that he works on multiple stories at one time. It may be a while before the next book is released. And so, until that time, when I want a short and challenging read, I will return to Tenth of December.

George Saunders autographing Tenth of December

Crazy in Alabama by Mark Childress

December for the The Gables Book Club always means a light read, usually humorous. Crazy in Alabama certainly was no exception to this rule. Yet as funny as this novel was, it was at the same time serious and disturbing. Set in 1965 at the height of the Civil Rights struggle in the American south, Childress fills his book with acts and deeds that leave the reader in disbelief.

Crazy in Alabama is really two stories, not intertwined, but loosely connected. It opens with Lucille showing up at her mother's home with her six children and depositing them there so that she can head to Hollywood to audition and make an appearance on The Beverly Hillbillies. Her mother already has charge of two other grandchildren who were orphaned - Peejoe and Wiley. As Lucille gets ready to depart she lets Peejoe in on a secret. She produces a green Tupperware lettuce keeper (every bride in the 70s got one of these) in which is the head of her husband, Chester. Chester was an abusive man who kept Lucille "barefoot and pregnant" by punching holes in her diaphragm.  Not able to take care of all of the children, Meemaw sends Peejoe and Wiley to live with their Uncle Dove and Aunt Earlene. Dove is an undertaker in Industry, Alabama, a town beset by racial conflict. Dove and Earlene have serious marital issues compounded by his drinking. However, he is a man of reason and compassion and does his best to be an example to the boys. 

Lucille travels to Hollywood leaving in her path a plethora of murders and sexual conquests. She has picked up a haute couture hatbox in which she keeps the lettuce keeper and Chester. She hits the jackpot in Las Vegas and journeys on with her personal chauffeur and the hatbox that never leaves her side with Chester carrying on a conversation with her. Meanwhile, back in Alabama, racial tensions are palpable and when a young boy dies, the two sides are drawn into conflict and riots. This part of the novel is reminiscent of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird where justice is compromised. It would seem difficult to reconcile the two divergent story lines, but Childress makes it works. Childress says:

"Life would be impossibly tragic if we weren't able to laugh at it. And a life of nothing but laughter would come to seem silly and empty if there wasn't always something darker lurking ahead down the road, something to laugh in the face of."

Mark Childress infuses Crazy in Alabama with iconic personalities of the '60s. There are the Civil Rights notables of Martin Luther King, Jr. and George Wallace, the Hollywood luminaries like Cary Grant, Bob and Dolores Hope, Donald O'Connor, Mitzi Gaynor, Gregory Peck and Soupy Sales. The novel creates its its own playlist of songs from the era with classics like Cannibal and the Head Hunters' Land of 1000 Dances, Brenda Lee's - Emotions, Petula Clark's - Downtown, and Herman and the Hermits' Missus Brown you've got a Lovely Daughter. He drops TV show names liberally: Have Gun Will Travel,
Gunsmoke, Ben Casey, Perry Mason, Alfred Hitchcock, Patty Duke Show, and The Danny Kaye Show. 

The book was great fun, although sobering at the same time. The movie starring Melanie Griffith and directed by Antonio Banderas was entertaining enough, but not nearly as deep and satisfying as the book. It was a good December read. 

The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan

In her newest novel, The Valley of Amazement, Amy Tan returns to the theme of mother-daughter relationships, the pain of abandonment, and the exaltation of the independent woman. After listening to her speak at the Pittsburgh Arts and Lecture's Literary evening, it is apparent that she is consumed by her past and the desire to fit all the pieces of her ancestral story together. The Valley of Amazement is a worthy piece in that puzzle, tho not without some fault.

Narrated by the seven-year old Violet Minturn, daughter of an American courtesan in early 20th century Shanghai, The Valley of Amazement  takes the reader on a journey through the brothels and the life as a courtesan. It begins in media res, when the reader is introduced to  Violet's mother, Lulu/Lucia (one of many names by which she is called). She runs a fairly lucrative business that enables her to connect with the wealthy men of the city. They bring her gifts of money in exchange for the services of the women of Hidden Jade Path.  Throughout the lengthy book, there are insights into to this life in the small enclave of Shanghai. Tan even includes a very descriptive manual for the courtesan as Violet's mentor and protector, Magic Gourd, shares the expectations for Violet's future life. 

One soon becomes acquainted with the visitors of the brothel and the shadiness of some of them who are users and unscrupulous. Their actions leave one outraged and sympathetic for the women, some mere children, whose lives are so dependent upon them. The preparations that a young woman must endure for her defloration ceremony and the ensuing act are abhorrent to the western world. To understand such a culture leaves one incredulous. Through twists and turns Violet and Magic Gourd come to rely upon each other for survival, both physical and spiritual. At this point Tan turns back the pages to the youth of Lucia and offers the explanation of the circumstances that took her to China. It maybe that she addresses that part of the story too late for the reader to have much sympathy for her plight.  To say much more about Violet, Magic Gourd, Edward Ivory, Flora, and Lucia, would give too much insight into the story and yield too many spoilers.

The Valley of Amazement was a bit tedious at the start. However, as one became more familiar with the characters, it the pace at which one read increased. One expected the plot to come full circle and it did not disappoint. Amy Tan is a great storyteller, a trait that displayed so magically in her lecture. She is haunted by her past and as a reader one is drawn into that same realm. There is hurt and love in everyone's lives and she, her characters, and the readers by extension all experience it. It is a mark of

Amy Tan autographing The Valley of Amazement

the human condition and her audience is grateful for her providing a catharsis.