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.

 
 

The Cellist by Daniel Silva

The best laid plans are often sidetracked by life's interruptions. Because our book club was canceled for April, I felt I had ample time to read a number of books before the May book club. However, IT,  happened and my free time, airplane, and travel time were usurped. 

It took me a bit longer to finish Silva's 2021 book than I had expected. Drawing on many characters from past novels, The Cellist takes place as the world is in the grip of the pandemic. There are countless references to lock-downs, masks, and COVID-19.

The book begins, as many of his do, with the very suspicious death of Viktor Orlov, a close friend of the Israeli intelligence commander, Gabriel Allon. The body is discovered by Sarah Bancroft, who had worked with Allon in previous novels and is now working at Isherwood Fine Arts. When she finds Orlov at his desks, she strongly believes that he was poisoned by some sort of nerve agent. Her connection to Orlov was in regard to money she was to collect for the restoration of a painting the gallery had sold to a Russian oligarch.She  In a very convoluted way, this leads to the introduction of the cellist in the novel's title - Isabel Brenner, who works for RhineBank, AG in Germany as a money launderer. Allon devises a scheme to find Orlov's killer and recruits Brenner to become his prime operative. 

From a London, to Geneva, to Zurich to France, Jerusalem and even Wilmington, DE, Silva whirls the reader through a maze of banks, concert halls, museums and villas as he delves into the money laundering schemes of Russia and its wealthy leader, Vladimir Putin. The novel's culmination is at the January 6th Insurrection in Washington, an ending that Silva completely rewrote having been an eyewitness that day while being in Washington on business.  One of the hallmarks of the Gabriel Allon and Silva books is how closely they are tied to the geopolitical real-world events. This was no exception and provides the author a virtual soapbox from which he can deliver his political views, which are quite critical of the 45th president and his followers. The author's notes at the end of the book are illuminating and indicative of the research that Silva does for his novels.

This wasn't one of my favorite Allon books, but a good read, nonetheless. It is my intent to finish the 2022 novel before his new tome is released in July, 2023. Too many books and not enough time.

 

 

Edge of Lost by Kristina McMorris

After reading the prologue and then continuing to the novel itself, I was not sure how the reader was going to get from Point A to Point B. The prologue, set in 1937, describes an apparent escape from Alcatraz, where a young girl has gone missing. As the  pages unfolded, it did become clear and proved to be a very good read. The Edge of Lost is an account of the life of Shanley Keagen, a young boy who is introduced as a young boy living with his uncle in Ireland. His uncle is quite taken with the drink and is eventually kicked off the dole. Shan tries to help make ends meet by performing comedy in some of the pubs. He has in his possession a photo of his mother and a man whom he thinks is his father, am American sailor. His desire is to go to the United States to find him. 

With no other recourse, Uncle Will decides that the two will leave for America to find Shan's father. However, on the voyage, Will dies and Shan is orphaned.  With a serendipitous piece of fortune, he is adopted by an Italian family, the Capellos, and begins his new life in Brooklyn as Tommy Capello. His brother Nick and sister Lina receive him into the family with just less than open arms. Shan/Tommy does will in school and begins to help out his father in the plumbing business while still pursuing the dream of meeting his father. Nick becomes mixed up in some of the criminal activities surrounding prohibition, although he was not really a criminal. Because of this Tommy Capello is sentenced to Leavenworth Prison. From there his is moved to Alcatraz, where he is a model prisoner and is assigned to work in the greenhouses and gardens. 

The intersection of the two story lines is what keeps the reader anxiously turning pages. McMorris skillfully blends the accounts of Italian and Irish immigrants with the hardships of life during the prohibition and depression in America. She has provided an intriguing glimpse into life in that period as well as what it must have been like to live on The Rock as both civilian and prisoner. The twist in the ending pages was one that was not telegraphed in the earlier part of the novel and was a surprise for sure. Good and interesting read.
 

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

When Remarkably Bright Creatures was selected for our book club, I was a bit skeptical about a book being narrated by a giant Pacific octopus. I was very fearful it was going to be like Life of Pi, which I did not like at all. What a great surprise it was to encounter a perfectly delightful book. 

Marcellus, the octopus, has great insight into the human world and manages to steer the plot along. On the human side of the novel is Tova Sullivan, a widow and a mother who lost her son, Erik,  in an accident or suicide. She is a night janitor at the Sowell Bay (Puget Sound) Aquarium where Marcellus lives. 

Then there is Cameron, a thirty-year old, who just can't seem to keep a job. He was raised by his Aunt Jeanne after his mother abandoned him without him ever knowing his father.  After losing yet another job and having to find housing, he buys a dilapidated camper and heads north from California to the Puget Sound area in search of his father. He believes that he knows who the man is after finding a picture in a box of mementos given to him by his Aunt. 

Once in Sowell Bay, Cameron meets the Ethan Mack, owner of the small grocery store, who helps him with his broken camper and allows him to park on the grounds of the store.He suggests to Cameron that there might be work at the aquarium and Cameron is hired to do some cleaning, where he meets Tova. 

Meanwhile, Marcellus becomes involved in the relationship between Tova and Cameron and manages to give some hints to the reader. Pieces of the puzzle start to fall into place as Cameron tracks down the man whom he believes is his father and Tova gets information about her son about which she had been previously unaware. 

The ending is a bit predictable, but it doesn't distract from the charm of the book. The characters are well developed and the writing propels the book into an almost page-turner. I did learn that an octopus has 3 hearts - an answer to a Jeopardy question as I was reading the book. One of the reasons we join book clubs is to read beyond our comfort zone. I would never have picked this book up otherwise. It was a delight and a very good read.
 

The Maid by Nita Prose

The January selection for our book club was a delightful debut novel by Nita Prose who was inspired to write it as a result of walking into her hotel room and startling the maid. She began to think that a maid really knows quite a bit about the hotel guests, whereas the guests know nothing about the maid. So began the story of Molly Gray, a very conscientious maid at the luxury Regency Grand Hotel. 

Molly was raised by her grandmother after her mother disappeared from their lives. Gran had a profound influence on Molly in her actions and thoughts even after she had died. Molly continues the same cleaning routine of their apartment and hear her grandmother's voice when faced with a decision. Molly was not very comfortable in social situations whether because of her isolation in living with her grandmother or, perhaps, because she may have been autistic. 

She is a very hard worker and finds it difficult to understand how other maids can't be so dedicated to their work, especially the head maid, Cheryl, who steals tips from the other maids. One day when cleaning the penthouse suite, she discovers the body of Mr. Black, a tycoon and frequent guest in the hotel. Molly and Black's wife, Giselle, are close acquaintances and Molly has no idea of what has happened. Molly becomes embroiled in the investigation of what is, perhaps, considered murder.  

To detail the rest of the plot would inevitably spoil the enjoyment of the novel. Throughout The Maid reminds the reader of an Agatha Chirstie "who-done-it" with twists, turns and red herrings. At the same time it is like the game of Clue - was it Molly with a rope, Rodney with a knife, Juan Manuel with a hammer? The characters are well-developed, the writing flowing, and the resolution a real surprise! It was a delightful mystery with which to curl up in front of a fire and have a cup of tea or two!

A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg

With all the stress, strife, and struggles of everyday life, it is a welcome relief to read a charming book like A Redbird Christmas. I am not usually fond of the Hallmark style feel-good story, but for some reason this novel really resonated with me. 

Oscar T. Campbell, a divorced alcoholic living in Chicago is given the news by his doctor that he barely has a year to live due to the fact that he suffers from terrible emphysema and other organ failures. He is counseled to move south where it is warmer and where he can possibly extend his life. The doctor gives him a brochure for a residential home that may accommodate his needs. After making a few calls, he is informed that the hotel has long since been gone and there really isn't another suitable place. However, he is given the name of a person who may be able to help him. And she did, offering to give him room and board for $20/week, which fits in nicely with his pension. 

And so he moves to the tiny Alabama town of Lost River, where the residents are friendly beyond belief. He settles in and, although he keeps to himself, the single ladies of the village are all quite interested in this single man who has moved into the community. He becomes friends with the storekeeper (groceries and sundries), Roy, who has taken under his wing a wounded redbird, whom he names Jack. Jack has free reign over the store and becomes a central character and the one for whom the title draws its name. 

Enter Patsy, an orphan given up by her father to a step-mother and a tiny waif. Patsy bonds with Jack and the two even put on shows together. Midway through the novel, Patsy's step-mother abandons her to the care of the townspeople, who are glad to take care of her. The second part of the book centers around Patsy and the need for her to have orthopedic surgery for which the residents of Lost River pay. 

The myriad characters, their compassion and bonding with each other are central to the book. After a tragedy with Jack ensues, they witness a real Christmas miracle that solidifies for the readers that there is still good in the world. Fannie Flagg has written a dear book, filled with humor, a bit of melancholy, and an ending that will take a twist. Included, also, are a number of recipes for dishes that are served in the book.

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. 

The Engineer's Wife by Tracey Enerson Wood

Selected for the September Gables Book Club, The Engineer'sWife is an historical novel based on the life of Emily Warren Roebiling, wife of the chief engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge, Washington Roebling. She has been looked over by historians for her contribution to the construction of the bridge, a definite engineering feat.

The novel begins during the Civil War when Emily's brother introduces her to Washington and the two begin a long distance relationship until the end of the conflict. They seem madly in love and write, even if it is sporadically to each other. 

After their marriage in January, 1865 they, according to the book, moved to Cincinnati while Washington's father was working on the bridge across the Ohio to Covington, Kentucky. She showed her spunk by visiting the job site and taking food to the workers, but also learning about the bridge construction. 

They travel to Europe while Emily is pregnant in order to study the use of caissons in bridge construction. While there she delivers their only child, a son, John. Her delivery was complicated and resulted in the outcome of never being able to carry a baby again. The couple return to the United States and Washington, with his father, commence the building of the bridge. After a freak accident with a ferry, his father dies from a tetanus infection. Washington carries on the project until he developed decompression sickness, otherwise known as caisson disease. From that point on he became a virtual recluse. It was then that Emily took over the supervision of the bridge construction with a bit of Washington's guidance and a lot of studying from the books in his library. Her work came to fruition in 1883 when the bridge was dedicated. 

Throughout the book other characters are introduced, including some of Emily's family, the bridge workers and P.T. Barnum. It is this interaction that caused some consternation. In the afterword, Wood declares that relationship was fictional. Perhaps that statement should come in a foreword instead of the afterword. When an historical fiction author takes that much liberty, it becomes impossible to separate fact from fiction in other areas of the book. 

The  building of the bridge and Emily's role in it are documented and were the interesting parts of the book. Insights into the social and cultural styles of the times are also fascinating. Overall, I just wished the novel was less sensationalized and over-dramatized and I could have spent more time enjoying it rather than fact-checking.

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.

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

In some reviews The Dutch House has been described as a dark fairy tale. In many respects it is: an absent father, a wicked step-mother, 2 step sisters, and a brother and sister trying to survive life ala Hansel and Gretel. 

Set in the early 1950s and 1960s in Elkins Park and Jenkintown, Pennsylvania siblings Danny, the narrator, and his sister, Maeve try to cope with the sudden disappearance of their mother, Elna from their lives. They meet in their car in front of the house and reminisce about when they were residents there. 

When Elna Conroy leaves her husband Cyril in an attempt to flee the ornate excesses of their home, The Dutch House, the children are left in the care of their nanny, Fluffy. After Elna leaves, Danny spends the weekends with his father collecting the rent that is owe on the real estate that Cyril owns. In the meantime, Cyril remarries and Andrea and her two daughters, Bright and Norma move into the Dutch House. 

Danny was fifteen when Cyril dies suddenly in an accident and he is left alone with his step family because Maeve was out on her own. Andrea was not informed of this right away and took steps to ostracize her step children. All of Cyril's estate was left to her except for a trust fund targeted for Danny's education. Maeve proposes he go to medical school to use up as much of the money as possible. 

The novel as narrated by Danny shifts back and forth between the present and his memories that really impact the way he lives his life. He is beholden to Maeve for basically raising him and he despises Elna for abandoning him. His relationship with his wife, Celeste, walks a fine line as he reconciles what everyone wants him to do with his live vs. what he wants to do. He repeats his father's actions in buying homes for Celeste that she doesn't really like, much to his not understanding. 

The Dutch House is very much a character in this novel as it embodies and houses emotional and psychological realms. It is a place that Danny feels grounded and at the same time malcontent. Sitting with Maeve in front of the house gives him a sense of connection and secure. When Elna reappears in Danny's life, the house becomes a major player in his acceptance of her. The ending of the novel further cements the continuity of the house and family connection. 

Maeve develops Type I diabetes when she is a teenager. In two different sections of the book it is attributed to the fact that Elna abandoned her and the trauma of that act. It was interesting to see how Patchett handled the ups and downs of glucose levels and crises that arise from that. 

This is a very good read, especially for anyone who enjoys the interrelationships of families and coming of age. The writing is well crafted and the characters well drawn. Another Patchett recommended read.