The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna

by Juliet Grames
Jan 20-Feb 9, 2020

There is nothing I like more than a sweeping saga that spans time and generations, and in this case, more than one hundred years. So much needs to be told. Perceptions of characters may change for better or for worse, and some may stay the same. It's a true testament to the author who can evoke such strong feelings for these fictional characters.

Immediately, Grames paints a picture of a staunch Catholic upbringing where tradition is everything. And yet, you can't help but laugh out loud.

"Assunta was shy of boys and had been successfully trained to channel that groin-tightening teenage energy into concentrating on Mother Mary’s virginity while reciting the rosary."

And while there were plenty of laughs – especially every time Stella's sister threw herself to the ground in hysterics – the brutally painful moments erased any of the humor. But for me, a successful book is one that can take my emotions on a roller coaster ride.

"Those who eat alone choke alone." ~CALABRESE PROVERB

A sign of a great book for me is when I think about getting back to it every minute of the day. I actually woke up early this morning anticipating the last few chapters. I also "accidentally" stayed up way too late on a school night as the time passed unnoticed over Stella's story.

"Without faith there are no miracles, just coincidences."

In the end it's about family, faith and tradition and what it takes to endure all these things successfully over the course of a lifetime.

* * * * *

The Huntress

by Kate Quinn
Dec 28, 2019-Jan 19, 2020

2020 is off to a good start! The Huntress immediately drew me in with its alternating chapters based on three of the main characters. Definitely a history lesson, definitely not a mystery (in a good way). It's evident right from the jump who the huntress is, but that doesn't in any way take away from the suspense.

I admit I'm mostly interested in France and Poland's role in WWII, so I wasn't as engrossed in Nina's wartime experience from her Russian perspective. However, it must be said that Quinn did her research and introduced me to the Night Witches – fearless Russian women fighter pilots that played a huge role in conquering the Nazis. But dividing the book into thirds, with the first part establishing the background, the middle defining specific details and history, and the last part tying everything together, the middle dragged on a little too long and tried to include too many extraneous elements. This alone is what knocks my rating down to three (and a half) stars from four. I found the 540+ pages a bit gratuitous.

“We’re standing in the ashes of a war like no other – if we don’t try harder to see the shades of gray involved, we’ll find ourselves in the thick of a new one.”

Irregardless, a highly entertaining, suspenseful book loaded with symbolism. Credit the ending for being a real page turner with a satisfying ending.

* * * * *

The City of Flickering Light

by Juliette Fay
Oct 23-Nov10, 2019

In the span of just one year, two strippers burlesque dancers and one tagalong get everything they ever wanted. That shallow description pretty much sums up the effort given to forming the plot of this book. So many reviews that I read lauded the author for her extensive research (if I read one more review that says how well-researched this book is!), but none of that really matters when the final result is so poorly executed. The descriptions and dialogue are meant to suggest the essence of the roaring 20s, but instead it comes off sophomoric and quite corny.

"She nodded and looked away to hide the gratitude in her eyes."

Huh?

Pick a hot topic and you'll find it within the pages. Rape, murder, pregnancy and drug abuse are just the beginning of the list. The result is almost laughably predictable, and again, seemingly a tactic to imbue a sign of the times. It's as if the author didn't give the reader enough credit to understand what was happening without dumbing it down  – I'm looking at you, Author's Note. Thanks, but I think I got it.

"The silence from Irene’s side of the bed was loud."

Well OK, then.

Overall, a completely non-challenging, quick read of an implausible "isn't-Hollywood-grand" stereotype. 2-1/2 stars.

* * * * *

A Ladder to the Sky

by John Boyne
Sept 19-Oct 14, 2019

This book pulled a protagonist-fast-one on me. For whatever reason, I was ready to abandon it within the first 50 pages, mistaking its intention, when suddenly the pace picked up with no turning back. What at first appeared to be about an old German writer, Erich, changed dramatically in tone when the true lead, Maurice, took center stage.

Wow, what an utterly pathetic human being. I have never read a more dislikeable character, nor have I read such a skillful build-up and decline of a person. Just when I thought I couldn't like him any less, Maurice became even more despicable. Just when I thought, "oh no, he can't possibly," he did. Boyne was superb at bringing Maurice to life and creating a story that simultaneously could and couldn't ever really happen.

“... he was essentially talentless, nothing more than a good-looking hack, and that only charm and sycophancy could keep him in the game.”

The surprise appearance of Gore Vidal was clever and made me want to pick up a couple of his higher-praised works. The book constantly leaves the reader questioning the proverbial good vs. evil. Are Maurice's actions really that of a sociopath, or of cunning, calculated success? The fact that Maurice had absolutely zero self awareness answers that question with the former.

And then, out of nowhere, this:

“You’ve heard the wonderful news, I presume?” “No. Has Mr. Trump died?”

Ha! One could only imagine that world.

* * * * *

The Lost Girls of Paris

by Pam Jenoff
Aug 18-Sept 18, 2019

I wanted to like this book more than I did. What on the surface is a terrific premise, I came away with two major issues. The first was that the facts and the timeline were poorly researched and seemingly rushed to publish without proper fact-checking. The second was the author's note at the end. Much of why I love historical fiction is for the reason that I learn about events, people, etc. that I didn't know about before, and a successful novel will spur me to research its subject further. But pretty much the first sentence of the author's note said that while these overall events actually did happen, none of the actual story lines can be taken with even the slightest grain of salt. Extremely disappointing considering the backbone this book started with. Instead of an homage to these female heroes, we were "treated" to insipid love stories and unfortunately, stereotypical, shallow women.

The 1946 chapters told by Grace were completely gratuitous and did nothing to further the plot. While Grace's portions were meant to increase the drama, they did nothing but induce eye rolls and diminish the female viewpoint. A much more credible novel would have omitted this altogether. The "love" story between Marie and Julian was shallow, unbelievable and unnecessary. Again, trying to be too much. It speaks to why I would go several days in between before picking the book up again.

However, I will never tire of reading about Paris!

* * and 1/2 * * *

The Lost Vintage

by Ann Mah
July 22-August 25, 2019

The Lost Vintage wasn't on my radar until a friend recommended it. I am feeling very behind on my to-be-read list, and I try to stay with books released in the present year and not go too far back. But when I looked up the audiobook version and saw that it was narrated by Saskia Maarleveld, I was all in. I also hadn't listened to an audiobook that wasn't somehow related to The All Souls World in a couple of years (they are amazing, look them up). They were how I knew about the fantastic voice of Maarleveld.

Anyway, what a great story. In times when Nazi-occupied France is a very popular genre, it's nice to get a little different perspective. And listening to it was a great refresher in French – for the most part, I still got it! The author's crave-worthy descriptions of Burgundy are enough to make me want to run out to the nearest wine store.

With a wine lesson, history lesson, and love story all mixed into one, Mah did a great job at keeping the story interesting, believable and not the least bit cheesy. It's always a good sign when I sit in my car in the garage to finish a chapter. Really an unexpected treat!

* * * * *

The Peacock Feast

by Lisa Gornick
July 23-August 18, 2019

A lot happens in this book. Almost too much in the beginning, and it felt a little disjointed, difficult to follow, then it hit its stride and was engrossing to the finish. Spanning from the early 1900s to present day, I found the mid-century stories to be the ones that kept me coming back for more. While some of the timelines lost a little focus, the successful ones gave a payoff that was completely worth it.

The subtle character development of each of the multiple generations of the family unfolds in both heartbreaking and satisfying ways. The character's relationships with one another are believable and surprising. The plot was a bit of a slow burn, but one that I didn't predict. I love that. While I think that it could use some editing and cleaning up of the presentation of facts, I was deeply moved by the ripple effect one action can have on future generations. A unique and original concept that takes just a bit of patience.

* * * * *

The Editor

by Steven Rowley
July 3-22, 2019

What has happened to time when the 1990s are now considered historical fiction?? Even so, this book was delightful and kind of snuck up on me in an unexpectedly charming way. I adored the protagonist's subtle sense of humor and found myself laughing out loud right from the beginning.

Equally enjoyable were the countless poignant moments between James and all the other characters. James' mother was built up to be cold and heartless, but by the end, the reader can easily empathize. For a while James loses his way with his partner Daniel, but he finds his way back in a way that was endearing and not the least bit forced.

“I posit that any riddle whose answer is woman is inherently unsolvable.” 

Of course no review of The Editor can go without mentioning the elephant Onassis in the room. What a treat to read a fictionalized version of a true historical gem and not feel for one minute like it was made up. Her entrance into the story was delightful. The friendship she formed with James was not only believable, but enviable.

Overall, a lovely story full of wit and wisdom.

* * * * *

Daisy Jones & the Six

by Taylor Jenkins Reid
June 9-July2, 2019

Documentary style – following a rock band through the height of their career – a super fun premise for a novel that kept it quick-reading and initially half-doubting if it was indeed true or not (did this band actually exist??). The problem is that the further I read, the more cheesy it became, with a lot of "of course" moments in the end. Think of every stereotypical impression people have of rock bands and it's in here – sex and drugs at the top of the list, "of course."

The band is also supposed to be loosely based on my all-time favorite, Fleetwood Mac. However, if you know anything about them, it doesn't really come close. The similarities boil down to one – a  band that rose to stardom in the 70s. The number of band members isn't even the same! FM didn't break up after Rumors! And Daisy as Stevie is a major NO. Not only did their lives not align even fictionally, but Daisy was desperate, pathetic and needy.

The last pages of the book served as a dust jacket of sorts, with all the song lyrics written out. Talk about cheesy! I found this to be a bit indulgent on the author's part, and honestly, just filler. I skimmed the lyrics at best. I don't see how this furthered the story in the least. Perhaps I'm being harsh, but I expect a lot of my book choices. In the end it was still fun, just missed the mark of being fun and great.

* * * * *

The Tattooist of Auschwitz

by Heather Morris
April 14-19, 2019

A book that was short on pages, but not on importance. Morris did an incredible job portraying Lale's will and tenacity to survive the horrors of Auschwitz. In a time that seems to flooded with books on WWII, a reader can get a little weary of the subject. But it helped that this one was centered around real people and that the author interviewed him for years before writing it all down. Although it's evident that Lale survives, it didn't ease the stress level of reading what he went though. It's amazing how a person finds ways to risk his own life in order to help others when they have never had to do anything close to it in "real life."

“If you wake up in the morning, it is a good day.”

It's difficult to rate a book that is based on facts. Especially these gruesome facts. Of course Lale and Gita's story is one that should be shared and never forgotten, so read this book for that reason alone. Morris is clearly a screenplay writer and it shows here in her debut novel.

* * * * *

The Dakota Winters

by Tom Barbash
March 31-April 14, 2019

I wanted to like this book so much more than I actually did. The premise was really interesting and I love any chance to learn more about the Dakota. But the Dakota as a character fell flat and was unresolved. And while the beginning chapters were compelling, the book took a nose dive for me around the halfway point. I started to ask myself, what's the point? I adore historical fiction, but I really had a hard time believing the relationship with Anton and John Lennon. Someone who is so incredibly famous shouldn't be written in a fictional sense. I couldn't accept this relationship, no matter how much research the author did.

However, the name-dropping and events of the late 70s into 1980 were a fun trip down memory lane. It was when Barbash attempted to blend these people and events into a fictional family's experiences that I began to find the story gratuitous and shallow. I can usually accept historical fiction for what it is and allow myself to suspend belief, but the more I read, the more vapid it became. The fictional characters were all underdeveloped and the real characters left me doubting the historical accuracy. The entire plot was simply asking too much of the reader. Total miss for me.

* * * * *

The Paris Seamstress

By Natasha Lester
Mar23-29, 2019

Wow, I loved, loved, loved this book. So totally unexpected and just what I needed right now. Two separate love stories that were not the least bit schmaltzy, but truly powerful and heart-breaking. What I thought going in was going to be a story mainly focused in Paris during WWII, was instead about a dress designer fleeing Nazi invasion. And so much more.

Something really cool was that some of the characters actually existed. Lester took liberties with their pasts to incorporate them into the story and it worked out beautifully. None of the outcomes were overly-predictable or outrageous, just satisfying resolutions to the endurance of love. The character development was so complete that my feelings for each one was powerful. Overall just great.

* * * * *

Where the Crawdads Sing

by Delia Owens
Feb 1-10, 2019

What a heartbreaking, yet somehow deeply satisfying book! At first a little hard to follow with the "slang" of North Carolina, I soon got a rhythm and was clinging to every word, every piece of poetry. This is a story about abandonment, isolation, racism and cruelty that had me in tears, but in the end turns rather triumphant.

"She feels the pulse of life, he thought, because there are no layers between her and her planet."

Although I was a little put off at first that it was turning into a murder mystery, the evolution made sense and the outcome was not the least bit predictable. Again, I feel like the more I like a book, the less I have to say about it. But this is one of the best I've read in a while, and definitely got me out of an early 2019 slump that was beginning to worry me. Highly recommend!

* * * * *

Sold on a Monday

by Kristina McMorris
Jan 19-27, 2019

What a missed opportunity. I expected a beautiful, heart-wrenching account of children sold during the Depression, and instead I was disappointed by a cheesy, foolish caper. Nothing about it felt timeless like good historical fiction so successfully does. The dialogue was incredibly corny and the author even went as far as describing a woman in an orphanage as "colored." Come on. How does that add to the story when it's not even used in the vocal exchange between characters?

It's not a story about the children who were sold by their dying mother. It immediately lost its focus on the hardships of the Depression after the first few chapters. It was about a reporter with a shallow storyline and a woman inaccurately misrepresented in 1931. I really can't believe this book got as many positive reviews as it did. It was supposedly inspired by a real-life photo of four children next to a for sale sign, but the (mis)interpretation was ridiculous.

* * * * *

How to Stop Time

by Matt Haig
Jan 5-17, 2019

First review of the year! I really like an occasional fantastical story that can almost be believable. In How to Stop Time, the overarching theme holds true whether fact or fiction – no one should be alone. At what cost or sacrifice can loneliness ever be justifiable?

"If I could live without doubt what would I do? ...  If I could love without fear of being hurt? What joys would I allow myself? What internal mysteries would I solve? How, in short, would I live?"

Tom is 439 years old. He's been convinced by the leader of a secret society of equally-aged people that no one can ever find out. The society only has one rule – never fall in love. So he moves around every eight years, never allowing roots to be planted or friends to be made. But, he did personally know Shakespeare and F. Scott Fitzgerald, to name a few. These were fun "facts" that kept me invested in this unique plot. And then, this quiet, meandering sweep through four centuries suddenly turns sinister. Luckily, it happened in the last ten percent of the book, because for me there was no going back. It's a shame really. Such a fun concept with real life questions; I think the opportunity was missed to end a better way.

* * * * *

The Great Believers

by Rebecca Makkai
Nov 15-Dec 7, 2018

I have always been emotionally affected by the AIDS crisis. I was not worried about myself, but all the unfortunate souls who were blind-sided and wrecked by such a hideous disease. So, when in the first chapter the characters are at a funeral for a friend who lost his battle with AIDS, I was immediately in the trenches with them.

I liked how the chapters alternated between the 80s and early 90s to present day. I loved the way the present and past threaded together as the story developed. I have never to my recollection read a chapter twice, but I was so intensely moved when Yale was finally diagnosed, that I had to read it again to feel that raw emotion one more time. While of course I knew it was a matter of time before he too was infected, the author managed to organically and surprisingly weave it into the story. As Yale was thinking of all the things he would never get to do, all of the experiences he would miss out on:

"All the books he hadn't started."

And in present day, his best friend Fiona is in Paris trying to find her daughter. Fiona is a tough character. While you can't help but feel sorry for her, her life and history have made her selfish and untrusting. Rightly so. At 21 she experienced more deaths of friends than most do in a lifetime.

"Why couldn't you ever just go through life without tripping over some idiot's dick?"

I enjoyed the subplot of the art acquisition and how it still managed to tie all the characters together. It was actually a welcome distraction to the anguish I felt for these suffering men. Makkai succeeded in telling a poignant, relevant account of a disease that should never be underestimated.

* * * * *

As Bright as Heaven

by Susan Meissner
Sept 18-Oct 10, 2018

Oof. Talk about having a great concept and letting it get out of control. This one went off the rails fast and hard. The first half, during the Spanish flu pandemic, was gut-wrenching and interestingly told. The concept of the family living and working in a funeral home and not being able to keep up with the deaths was a unique perspective. The amount of lives lost was portrayed in a way that often brought tears to my eyes. And then...

“Life is wonderful and beautiful but oh, how hard it can be.” 

Flash forward seven years and I was left wondering what the point of the story was. Why should I care at all about these new characters/mental patients? How does that further develop the story line? And please, please, please don't reveal what I think you are about to reveal ... oops, too late. The final part was so contrived and gratuitous I nearly abandoned the book. Sure, everyone loves a happy ending, but this one couldn't have been anymore "of course" unless a unicorn showed up on the last page. I honestly don't see why there are so many glowing reviews {eye roll}. Three stars going into it, two stars coming out.

* * * * *

The Stars are Fire

by Anita Shreve
Aug 6-19, 2018

I kind of decided that I shouldn't insist on reading all of the books by the same author just because I loved one in particular. I always end up disappointed. I still remember reading and loving The Pilot's Wife and telling all my friends and family to read it immediately. That was 20 years ago! I do think I read a few other ones; Sea Glass and Testimony sound familiar, but I don't recall the plots. But for some reason, when I heard about Shreve's death and her last novel, I was compelled to pick it up. Glad I did.

As a fan of historical fiction, I seem to be drawn specifically to that of WWII. So when I chose this book, I didn't realize the fires in Maine in the late 40s were actually true, and I didn't pay attention to that "character" when I read the summary. To my surprise, these crazy fires made for an extremely interesting premise, with the tangle of marriage commitments and the expectations of wives during this era mixed in. At only 256 pages, Shreve was able to accomplish a lot with these characters and their circumstances. I tore through it and was pleasantly satisfied. And for once I really enjoyed a serendipitous ending. Sometimes it's just warranted.

* * * * *

Before We Were Yours

by Lisa Wingate
May 17-June 7, 2018

I wanted to love this. I anticipated that I would rate it a seldom-given five stars. But it was only OK. I found many flaws, but I have ideas on how it would have been better.

It's no secret that I hate politics. (I'm also the first to admit that I am not educated enough to express any public opinion on political matters.) So the beginning of the book dragged for me. To the point where I wasn't sure I could continue on. I just didn't get the relevance. Then, when the author took the reader to the past on a riverboat, I failed to see the connection. Once the children were kidnapped, it started to make more sense.  I found it extremely difficult to read about the abuse the children suffered while in the orphanage. I also had doubts whether these tales were actually based on a true story. But because the author continued to refer to a place specifically, the Tennessee Children’s Home Society, I deducted that this must be based on facts.

I just don't think that the story benefited in having the connection to the present as far as the political "controversy" and the story of Avery, one of the adopted children's granddaughter. The present-day portions were shallow and sloppily told. It was too much. The novel would have been great on its own if it had just focused on the Foss children and what became of each of them. Avery was a selfish, self-absorbed, unlikeable character. I also failed to see why finding out your grandmother was a "river gypsy" and adopted was such a scandalous fact. So what?

Overall, good potential, poor execution.

* * * * *

The Velvet Hours

by Alyson Richman
April 22-May 16, 2018

The first two words that came to me while I was reading this: gratuitous and indulgent. For as much as I love novels centered around Paris during WWII, this one was all over the place and eye-roll inducing. I didn't find the structure to be successful, nor did I find the characters to be well-developed or even likable. The author spent more time describing the art pieces than imagining the lives of the characters.

With alternating chapters told by Solange at the beginning of the war and her grandmother in the late 1800s, the changes in their POV was very distracting. The technique was unsuccessful and didn't succeed in building a better story. My quick takeaways from each character are this: Solange is selfish and oblivious. Marthe is an oblivious courtesan. I'm sure there is truth to the whole "kept woman" concept, but wow, is that hard to read in this day and age. And Solange, as the Nazis are about to occupy Paris, all she can think of is her stupid books and her boyfriend. The biggest eye roll of them all was how her boyfriend got "excused" from the draft. Then their escape to South America was rushed and lacking any sympathy that one would imagine was experienced during that time. From all the other historical fiction books I've read about this era, this one just isn't plausible.

The inspiration for this story came from a real-life event, where an apartment was discovered untouched after 70 years. In my opinion, the author missed the best opportunity to tell a really good story. It was a struggle to finish. Such a disappointment.

* * * * *