Secret Daughter: A Novel
by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
Heartbreak and Hope (1/18/2010)
The loss of a child takes varied forms, but each is a cause of unspeakable grief and heartache. The Secret Daughter enlightens us about a place and a culture that might be unfamiliar to some readers, but the essence of the story is that loss, whether it comes as a result of miscarriage, sacrifice, or life decisions. But I was not left with a sense of hopelessness, rather just the opposite. The author handles all this with great skill and a style that kept me involved with the characters and their story to the very end. I encourage anyone who likes engaging fiction with a chance to learn something about India and its culture to read this one: it will stay with you long after you finish the last page.
Alice I Have Been
by Melanie Benjamin
An Enjoyable Read (10/21/2009)
Melanie Benjamin had some unanswered and even controversial issues to deal with when she took on the life story of Alice Liddell Hargreaves, including her relationship with Charles Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll, author of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, which was inspired by Alice as a young girl. Because fiction is the medium she chooses, the author is able to take a well-reasoned stand on these issues and gives her readers answers in absence of missing facts (I personally like her version). She does so with a gift that makes this an enjoyable read.
Although the second section almost seems to sink into the realm of the romance novel, even to the point of melodrama, the first and third sections ring with mystery and the emotion of family dynamics and Alice’s personal inner journey. The first section is filled with wonderful descriptions of life in Victorian England: childhood, fashion, society functions, and the social and moral expectations of the time.
Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time
by Greg Mortenson, David O. Relin
The hope of education through a real page-turner! (4/15/2009)
I read only a few of the other comments, and although I did notice some writing problems, I was definitely not bored! I was glad to get another viewpoint on the Muslim culture and a clearer understanding of how the Taliban came about and who the members are, although I keep in mind that this viewpoint is also somewhat slanted.
The true importance of this book is the exposition of the need for education and educational facilities in this area and culture, and of the hope for the future it holds. This is true for all parts of the world. Greg Mortenson is to be commended for his determination in the face of all the sacrifices he has made and risks he has taken.
Read this one and see what I mean.