Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal
by Conor Grennan
Everyone should read this one... (4/11/2011)
...to get a picture of another culture, to understand what happens to the children in the midst of rebellion, and to learn about the efforts and sacrifices made by those who want to help them and their families. Conor Grennan is a likable guy who unexpectedly becomes involved in a life-changing mission. His memoir is well-written with vivid descriptions, humor and emotion that had me engaged from the very beginning.
My Jane Austen Summer: A Season in Mansfield Park
by Cindy Jones
Not up to Jane Austen's level (2/2/2011)
When I first began reading "My Jane Austen Summer," and in fact more than half-way through it, I was tempted to consider it as lightweight fiction with nothing I could take away from it. As I continued on to the end, however, I saw what author Cindy Jones is trying to show her readers about relationships, secrets, and our inner selves. As the participants at the Literature Live Jane Austen festival debated about the main character of "Mansfield Park" in the “Fanny Wars,” I expect that some book clubs might have “Lily Wars” regarding whether or not they like the main character here. This novel would be better for those readers who have a familiarity with Austen’s works, as well as the Bronte’s and other authors of the same time and similar genres.
Wolf Hall: A Novel
by Hilary Mantel
A Short Review of a Long Book (11/30/2010)
The number of pages is not really why I call this a long book--I kept thinking as I was reading that surely some of it could have been edited, although I have no specific suggestions. I was thankful for the cast of characters list, because I referred to it repeatedly. I did learn much about Thomas Cromwell, however, and my curiosity about the Tudors, particularly the six wives of Henry VIII, was piqued.
This is good historical fiction about a fascinating segment of history, probably a good selection only for a book club whose members like this genre.
The Doctor and the Diva: A Novel
by Adrienne McDonnell
Brilliant! (6/9/2010)
There are many elements in this novel that ring of truth. The story is believable and well-paced, right down to a climax that led me to almost shout aloud, "No! It can't happen like this!" The descriptions of what it feels like to release the music inside—to sing well—are so true that the author has to have felt that herself, but how did she find the right words? The overriding truth of this novel, though, is that all of us make choices that, no matter what the motivation, force us to face consequences we may not have anticipated.
I think this novel would be a great book club selection and is for anyone who loves music and/or travel to a tropical paradise or Italy at the turn of the 20th century.
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