In Free, Lea Ypi opens with a memorable description of a young girl hugging the knees of the bronze statue of Joseph Stalin, which was made headless during recent student protests.

Her story revolves around her family and the political confusion that exists among them. Her homeland, Albania, is undergoing change and she is trying to grow up. Lea was 11 years old when communism began to collapse. She and her family enter periods of great transition in their thinking and in their lives. Much of the book involves conflicting feelings and questions in the minds of the central characters. Voting in free elections was unsettling for instance, and Lea has a lot of inner turmoil about the actions of her parents.

I was constantly trying to unlock an understanding of Lea's internal political evolution, making this book challenging to read. It was helpful to learn that she currently teaches political theory in London. Having little knowledge of Albania, I appreciated learning more about the turmoil within the country.

After having read two other books by the author, I admit I was very excited to read an advance copy of Honor. However, this novel did not impress me quite as much. From the first pages, I felt I was reading the writing of a beginning author. But other times the writing reminded me of an author who has written so much about the same subject the words became almost trite. The events that take place in the story were emotionally charged, yet although I empathized with the suffering of the characters, I could not say that I felt emotional while reading the story. It was predictable and difficult to plod through and some of the political statements and inferences were contradictory and transparent. Just average writing from someone who can write better than this.

Admittedly, the premise of this story is enticing for many readers. However, this story did not come close to meeting expectations. It was similar to reading a below average YA novel that sounded childish even by YA standards. As I approached the halfway mark, I realized I really didn't care who "dunnit". The characters were not developed, and much of the story and decisions made by the main characters were unbelievable. I wanted to engage while reading this novel, but was unsuccessful. Thank you for the opportunity to read it.

Appearances are everything to the exquisite Mrs. March. Her husband's latest novel has become a much talked about hit, unbeknownst to her. She ultimately learns the novel's protagonist could have been based on herself…. and the main character is (in hushed tones) a whore. She slowly comes undone, which is not difficult for a woman who is her own worst enemy. She lives with high expectations as the elegant victim, ever hopeful in a pitiful way. Her subconscious mind is a formidable thing. Mrs. March's unsettling humiliation overpowers her with paranoia. Poor Mrs. March.

My initial motivator for reading this book was its setting: Johnston, PA and surrounding areas. I grew up in Pittsburgh (and there were a number of 'Pittsburgh connections in the story) and so it was an easy choice. If you have seen Goodfellas (the movie) you will recognize Henry Hill (played by Ray Liotta), a character from the movie. He is the narrator throughout the movie. As I read the Smalltime, the voice of the author/ narrator, Russell Shorto, became the voice of Ray Liotta in my head. This book is riveting and honest and having assigned a "voice" in the telling made the book all that more visual to me. Being able to make those "pictures in your mind" when you read so much more vivid. I don't think I have ever enjoyed historical narrative this much. Mr. Shorto's truthfulness when he writes about his family and particularly his father gives this book special appeal.

In The Prophets, we the readers are transported to the Antebellum south and invited into the lives of Samuel and Isaiah, two young slaves who live on the plantation known as "Empty". Robert Jones, Jr. clearly loves language. Lots of language ---- lots of descriptive sentences that are sometimes overwhelming. I felt as though I knew most of his characters very well by the book's conclusion.
When I consider the book in its entirety I can't help but wonder the motivation for writing this particular story. We all have had our appetites fed with many books about the south and the terrible conditions the plantation owners imposed upon the slaves.
This book is different. It explores the relationship between two young male slaves who have fallen in love and look to each other for tenderness in excruciatingly ruthless surroundings. Imagine these two young men who take care of the animals in the barn and work together with such rhythm and clarity. Now place them and their tender natures under the thumb of their owners who do not believe they are human. Owners who actually have conversations about how to even categorize these black people from Africa. They do not believe these properties have souls. They are simply property. Quite a contrast of characters.
In this book, we have a look at the belly and bowels of the ships that transported the stolen Africans and delivered them to, in this case, a plantation. Jones' words place you directly on the rows of pallets where men and women are stacked with just inches separating them from the person lying above, chained together and unable to do so much as gather enough saliva to swallow as they relieve themselves where they lay.
We experience the brutal punishments meted out for the smallest infractions, real or manufactured. We gather with women in secret as they gather what they can find - herbs, scraps of rags, river water, so that they might soothe the backs of Samuel and Isaiah after a severe whipping.
Add to that, the women on the plantation who are repeatedly raped, and expected to 'produce' future slaves for the betterment of the operation. The children running around are various shades of black, and not very black and almost white, and all shades in between. Many don't know who their parents are because they were stolen or given away at some point in their young lives. Some know that "Massa" is their father.
An older slave wants to gain favor with the 'Massa' and asks for permission to learn the Bible and preach. This leads to questions about the gay relationship taking place under all of their watchful eyes.
But throughout the book, despite the vicious treatment they endure, Samuel and Isaiah cling to each other and are ultimately faced with a decision that affects everyone ---- literally every being who lives here on Empty.