Novels Now

A Separate Country
By Robert Hicks
Completed December 6, 2009

In A Separate Country, Robert Hicks draws upon one of the Confederacy’s most colorful generals, John Bell Hood, to tell a story of love, redemption and life in post-Reconstruction New Orleans.

After the war, John Bell Hood came to New Orleans a shredded man. Physically scarred with a useless arm and missing leg, Hood’s mental state was equally fragmented, regretting his decisions made during the Tennessee campaign that killed so many soldiers. He marries a New Orleans debutante, Anna Maria, and started their life together, which consisted of 11 children, two bankrupt businesses and the threat of yellow fever. In the end, “yellow jack” was the demise for Hood, his wife and their oldest child, Lydia.

While on his deathbed, Hood asked his friend, Eli Griffin, to take his secret manuscript to his former protege, a known murderer named Sebastian Lemerle. Sebastian served with Hood before the Civil War, and Hood felt guilty for transforming Sebastian into a murderer. If Sebastian felt comfortable with this version of Hood’s life - of a man lost, vulnerable and almost cowardly - then Hood knew he could be redeemed for his sins. It was Hood’s wish that his personal memoirs - not his military one - be published. Compounding matters was Eli’s discovery that Anna Marie also wrote a journal. In possession of both memoirs, Eli was determined to preserve this side of the infamous general’s life, even though Eli knew finding Sebastian could jeopardize his life.

Hicks’s depiction of New Orleans brought the sights, smells and sounds of this city to life. Mix in a thieving dwarf, hulk-size priest, Irish prostitute, and piano-playing octoroon, and A Separate Country depicts New Orlean’s rich and historic melting pot. At times, Hicks lumbered over his descriptions, but he never strayed from his cause: bringing a greater understanding to the life of John Bell Hood and the city that he eventually called home. ( )

So Brave, Young and Handsome
By Leif Enger
Completed November 8, 2009

Leif Enger’s So Brave, Young and Handsome, like its predessor Peace Like A River, was one of those thoughtful books – full of interesting characters, beautiful prose, and journeys both physical and emotional. Like a river, the plot flowed steadily – sometimes tumbling forth in a rapid, while other times, still and unbroken. Enger must be a poet at heart.

Monte Becket enjoyed rapid success with his dime-store novel, but after six years, could not pen another book. His family befriended their quiet neighbor, Glendon, who asked Monte to travel west with him to find Glendon’s estranged wife. Not knowing that Glendon was a former outlaw, Monte agreed to go. Within a day of their journey, Glendon’s past came back to haunt him – his presence alerted to a traveling policeman – and Monte must make a choice: help his fugitive friend make peace with his past, or turn around and go home. Striking out from his usual “safe” personality, Monte chose to accompany his friend, trying to stay one step ahead of the law along the way.

While it was Glendon’s quest for redemption, I quickly learned that it was Monte’s quest too: a quest to become a better person, enjoy his literary success and make peace with his writer’s block. Monte’s journey was deeply personal – he was a character I could root for, despite his mistakes.

Along their journey, the gentlemen meet interesting characters and landmarks. Enger drew real-life men all facing decisions that would forever alter their lives. Mix in a Wild West that was becoming less wild, and you have a wonderful juxtaposition of how things were and are.

Beautifully written, So Brave, Young and Handsome would be perfect for a book discussion. Even the title alone could be a 10-minute discussion. Enger’s themes, characters and descriptions made this novel unforgettable and enjoyable. I would recommend this book to anyone who looks for these elements in their reading. ( )

Her Fearful Symmetry
By Audrey Niffenegger
Completed October 22, 2009

It’s very hard to write a review of Her Fearful Symmetry - the latest book by Audrey Niffenegger – without giving away spoilers. I usually summarize a book before I offer my opinions, but with this book, I will remain vague about its plot. I don’t want to spoil it for future readers!

In a nutshell, Her Fearful Symmetry was the story of twins, Julia and Valentina, who were bequeathed a London flat by their estranged aunt, Elspeth. The estate came with some strings attached: the girls must live there for one year before selling it, and their parents could not step foot into it. The twins were at a crossroads in their early lives and decided to accept these terms. They moved to London, soon realizing that they have a ghostly roommate – the spirit of their Aunt Elspeth.

The plot moved around from there, and I will leave my summary intentionally open-ended. I can tell you this: the book has many twists and turns (some more believable than others); it’s a fascinating account of the historical Highgate Cemetery in London; and the characterization was outstanding. While Julia and Valentina did not move me, the other characters did. The ghost of Elspeth left me hanging on to every page, curious of her next moves. Her former lover, the tortured Robert, played the perfect lost soul (I really did feel sorry for him). And most fascinating character was Martin – the twins’ OCD neighbor whose battle against his condition offered humor and empathy.

The plot has flaws – one must remember this is a ghost story – but the characters made this book move. I am one of the few readers who disliked The Time Traveler’s Wife, but I am glad it did not taint me from books by Niffenegger. Her Fearful Symmetry offered enough creepiness, family drama, and history to satisfy this reader. If you like these types of stories, then this is the book for you. ( )

The Heretic’s Daughter
By Kathleen Kent
Completed October 16, 2009

There are many dark points in American history, and one of the earliest was the Salem Witch Trials. Kathleen Kent, author of The Heretic’s Daughter, based her debut book on her ancestor, Martha Carrier, who was executed for witchcraft. Kent researched extensively her ancestry and this time period, and the end result was a book that was gripping and heart wrenching.

The story was told from the perspective of Sarah Carrier, Martha’s daughter. Through Sarah’s eyes, we learned about the Puritan lifestyle that formed the backdrop for the witch trials. It’s amazing to look back at the “evidence” now – the obvious shenanigans of young girls who grasped their moment of power, despite the horrid outcomes. Though all of those accused were later cleared of their crimes (often posthumously), Kent’s explanation of how reasonable people were swept up into the hysteria was enlightening.

All of the characters in The Heretic’s Daughter were well developed. Sarah misunderstood the love of her mother, who seemed hard and unaffectionate, until the weeks before her execution, when she realized that Martha’s love for her family was endless. Sarah’s father, Thomas, and her brothers were depicted as stoic yet vulnerable. The Carrier family was a pleasure to read about – complete with their faults, strengths and boundless love for each other.

If you are interested in historical fiction, then I would highly recommend The Heretic’s Daughter to you. I enjoyed this book immensely and gained a deeper appreciation for this tragic time of our history. ( )

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane
By Katherine Howe
Completed OCtober 6, 2009

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe examined an alternate view of witchcraft in colonial New England. The story was based on “cunning women,” who used magic, herbs and prayer to heal people. While an interesting premise, this story didn’t fit together as well as it should.

The main character of the book is Connie Goodwin, a Ph.D. candidate at Harvard, who agreed to help her mother with the cleaning of their family home in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Always looking for research ideas, Connie stumbled upon a key and a name – Deliverance Dane – that piqued her interest. Through her research, she discovered that Deliverance was executed during the Salem Witch Trials, but there was no record of her. Additionally, Deliverance had bequeathed a recipe book to her daughter, which could be a valuable primary source for Connie’s dissertation. And so the search for the book began.

I enjoyed Connie’s historical research – her methodology, approach and goals. I too have a graduate degree in history, and Howe accurately described the research process, graduate school and demanding professors. However, I felt most of the novel was predictable, forced and somewhat contrived. I rolled my eyes at the evil mentor (Dan Brown already did that); the coincidental meeting of a handsome preservation expert who became Connie’s love interest; the young heroine alone in a creepy house. Does all of this sound familiar? It should – and Howe didn’t do much to innovate these old themes.

Overall, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane was beneficial because of its historical study of colonial women and witchcraft. It’s a shame that the rest of the story fell flat for me. ( )

In The Kitchen
By Monica Ali
Completed August 23, 2009

In The Kitchen by Monica Ali was like a good-looking, sweet-smelling dessert that held so much promise – until you sunk your teeth into it. Despite its delectable exterior, it turned out to be a book with little taste or appeal.

The recipe was classic. Gabriel Lightfoot was on the brink of culinary success, entering into a business agreement with investors for his own restaurant and involved in a promising relationship with the perfect woman. Then, one night, one of his porters died in the restaurant’s cellar, marking a downward spiral for Gabriel – his life methodically spinning out of control.

As if watching a character deteriorate was not hard enough, it was even harder to read how Gabriel made no attempt to get his life back together. His affair with Lena, a stone-cold wisp of a woman, and his treatment of his dying father did little to add to Gabriel’s plight – or his likeability. Not every character has to be likeable, but at least there should be a purpose in his general “unlikeability,” and I struggled to find that purpose in Gabriel.

I do applaud Ali’s attempts to elucidate the issues of immigration, sex trade and xenophobia in this story, but it was not enough. Her themes were right, but the story wasn’t.

While I had issues with the characterization and the plot, Ali’s writing was superb, and I do plan on reading more by this author. Simply put, In the Kitchen was not the story for me. ( )

Sacred Hearts
By Sarah Dunant
Completed August 15, 2009

The third novel in her Italian Renaissance series, Sarah Dunant transported her readers into the everyday lives of nuns in her latest book, Sacred Hearts. Set in a convent in Northern Italy, Dunant continued her pristine historical writing through strong characters and women’s quests to find freedom during a repressed era.

The story centered on a young novice, Serafina, who entered the convent against her will. During 16th century Italy, the price of dowries was exorbinantly high, and families with more than one daughter often had to choose which one would get married. Serafina’s sister was chosen for marriage, leaving the young woman to become a “bride of Christ,” including a smaller dowry that was given to the convent. Serafina was an accomplished singer and had a lover “on the outside,” and was heartbroken to be confined to a convent.

Serafina disrupted the everyday lives of the convent - ranging in emotions from hysterics to depression - and her advocate was Suora Zuana, the convent’s healer. Suora Zuana took the young novice under her wing, attempting to show her that nuns had more rights inside the convent than outside.

As in her past books, Dunant created unforgettable characters - ones that taught us more about the history than the plot itself. One of the more fascinating characters was the convent’s abbess, Madonna Chiara. The abbess was incredibly savvy, despite her near-lifelong seclusion, and her astute handling of convent politics made her that more interesting. Her adversary was Suora Umiliana - the novice mistress who disagreed with Madonna Chiara’s leadership of the convent. And in the middle was Suora Zuana, whose healing included the body and soul.

While I enjoyed the characters, there were times when the plot of Sacred Hearts dragged, and I became less interested in the “main” story of Serafina and more interested in the political chess game between Madonna Chiara and Suora Umiliana. I wished Dunant made this conflict more central to the story. Sacred Hearts, in my opinion, is the weakest of the three Italian Renaissance stories because of this plot issue. But that doesn’t mean it’s a bad book. It just means its predecessors (The Birth of Venus and In The Company of the Courtesan) had a stronger mixture of characters, plots and historical framework. Lovers of historical fiction, especially of the Italian Renaissance, should find all of Dunant’s books to be compelling and explorative reads. ( )

The Help
By Kathryn Stockett
Completed August 9, 2009

Set in the turbulent Jackson, Mississippi during the early 1960’s, The Help was the debut novel by Kathryn Stockett. Many times, when I read a novelist’s debut book, I think: “that’s not a bad start” or “some flaws but a promising career.” Rarely does a debut knock my socks off – but that’s exactly what The Help did.

The Help was narrated by two black maids, Aibileen and Minny, and a young white woman, Skeeter. Through their stories, we learn about what it was like to be black maid to white employers during the time of segregation. For many maids, the experience was humiliating – backbreaking work for little pay, hostile employers and segregated bathrooms, forks and dish towels. Other maids, however, formed warm and loving relationships with their employers, especially with the children they helped raise. This love, however, was always disguised and hidden. It would be deadly for anyone to know to about it.

To me, the hallmark of a good Southern novel are the excellent characters, and The Help was no exception. I grew angry when the maids were mistreated, cheered for them when something good happened to them and admired the bravery of every woman – black and white – who defied the racial norms to make things better in Jackson. You’ll cheer and jeer throughout this novel – but I don’t think anyone could be very disappointed.

Highly recommended, The Help will go down as one my favorite books of 2009 – a must-read for anyone interested in Southern Literature, race and gender relations and just plain good writing. I wait anxiously to see what the future holds for Kathryn Stockett. ( )
 

The Elephant Keeper
By Christopher Nicholson
Completed August 2, 2009

For an animal lover like me, it’s hard to dislike The Elephant Keeper by Christopher Nicholson. The main character, Tom Page, is a likeable guy, who devoted his life to care for two elephants in late 18th century England. The elephants were all personality – characters that you loved and wanted the best for.

The Elephant Keeper, however, is the perfect example on how interesting characters alone can’t make a good book. The writer must add other ingredients – writing style, plot development and credibility – to the book to make it a story. Unfortunately, these final key elements were lacking in Nicholson’s debut novel.

What frustrated me about The Elephant Keeper was that Nicholson had these elements in the first book of the book. This is the section written by Tom as a “history” of the elephants under his care. Then, the story shifted to the present day, and the whole thing lost its luster. I questioned Tom’s reliability as the narrator, found his conversations with the elephant Jenny to be troubling and was disappointed that the ending tied no loose ends. If only Nicholson could have kept everything as a “history,” I think the story would have fared better.

Where I give Nicholson credit, though, was his depiction of Jenny. Her calm demeanor as an observer of the human race was insightful. Like Rose from Water for Elephants, Jenny had a sense of right and wrong, a wicked sense of humor and love for those who loved her. She was Tom’s faithful companion and the one constant thread throughout the novel.

If you can take The Elephant Keeper at face value – a story about a man and his elephants – than you will enjoy this book. It’s a nice escape into historic England and love between humans and animals. ( )

American Wife
By Curtis Sittenfeld
Completed July 30, 2009

American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld is, according to the author, 15 percent based on the life of former First Lady Laura Bush. I feel obligated to express that I am not a fan of George W. Bush’s presidency, and the quiet, submissive nature of the First Lady also bothered me. So, with this bias, I approached American Wife with much hesitation.

The story is told from the perspective of Alice Lundgren, a bookish Wisconsin teenager, who later married the boisterous Charlie Blackwell. Alice came off as intelligent, articulate and guilt-ridden throughout most of the story. She was plagued by a car accident from her teenage years, where she killed her love interest on the way to a high school party. Later, she was guilty about stealing her friend’s love interest (Charlie), Charlie’s drinking and drug use, the Blackwell family’s enormous wealth and the thousands of deaths resulting from the war that marked her husband’s administration. Sometimes, Alice acted upon her guilt and tried to make up for these situations; while other times, she kept her mouth shut.

Alice was very human, and her marriage to Charlie was quite realistic – a series of compromises and confrontations that made them a strong couple. Charlie was charismatic but needed the support of others to make decisions. He came across as rude and insulting at times, but when Alice dug her heels in (which was rare), he did concede without issue.

I will not venture to guess how accurately Sittenfeld’s characters depicted their real-life counterparts, but it did make for an interesting story. At times, American Wife was bogged down with too many details, and I wish Sittenfeld spent more time showing Alice as the governor and president’s wife. We learned so much about Alice through her younger years – I almost felt cheated not learning more about her in such public roles.

We will never know what made First Lady Laura Bush tick, but this book, if nothing else, reminds readers that we only see what the media and public relations people want you to see. Sometimes appearances are different than actuality. ( )

The Selected Works of T.S. Spivey
By Reif Larsen
Completed July 2, 2009

It was with great anticipation that I picked up The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet from the library. The synopsis of a 12-year-old science prodigy hopping a train “hobo style” to accept an award from the Smithsonian sounded like the coming of tale that I would adore. Once I had the book, the illustrations and marginalia that graced each page pleasantly surprised me. For certain, this was one of the most aesthetically pleasing books I’ve seen in a while.

Unfortunately, the plot couldn’t keep up with the visual interest of the book. The beginning and middle of the book were fantastic, learning about T.S. and his overanalysis of the world around him. His depictions of his scientist mother, rugged father, sarcastic sister and the innocence of his deceased brother all emanated from the pages. T.S.’s narrative made me smile and laugh in some parts, sigh and reflect in others. He was a little boy with a big brain and heart.

As I reached the last 75 pages, the story became muddied with displaced characters, secret societies and a sense of detachment from the first two-thirds of the book. The daVinvi Code-meets-Alvin and the Chipmunks ending was lost to me – as was T.S.’s humor, wit and childish innocence. I missed my old T.S.

Despite the lackluster ending, I would encourage any visual person to check out this book – if for nothing else but to look at the illustrations and sidebars. They did not detract from the story (in fact, T.S. drew arrows to his sidebars so you knew when to veer off). Like T.S., they were wonderful in every way.

All in all, I am glad I read The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet. This was the debut novel by Reif Larsen, and I hope he continues to mature as a writer. His writing style and characterization are spot-on. Perhaps a T.S. sequel is in order? ( )

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
By David Wroblewski
Completed June 28, 2009

 Suspected murder, family loyalty and tragedy all marked David Wroblewski’s debut book, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. Loosely based on Hamlet, this doorstop of a book centered on main character, 14-year-old Edgar, and his suspicions of his father’s death.

Edgar was born mute. While going to school, he assisted his parents at their at-home kennel, where they bred and trained “Sawtelle Dogs” – dogs that were highly intuitive, using their sense of vision to interpret their owners’ commands. One afternoon, Edgar’s father, Gar, fell to the barn floor and died. His death marked the beginning of numerous tragedies for the Sawtelle family.

One rainy evening, Edgar believed that he saw Gar’s ghost. The ghost told Edgar that Gar’s brother, Claude, had poisoned him – that Claude would stop at nothing to get what he wanted (presumably the family business and Edgar’s mother, Trudy, who was now in a relationship with her brother-in-law). Edgar became enraged and vengeful, promising his father’s ghost that he would prove Claude’s guilt. However, before he could, Edgar’s rage forced him off the farm and into the wilderness with three of the Sawtelle dogs.

Wandering through the forest, Edgar learned a lot about survival and had time to think about his situation. He missed his home, mother and loyal dog, Almondine. His decision to go back was a hard one to make, and any reader knowing Hamlet could foresee how this story might end.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle was a long, complex story. I felt Wroblewski’s passion for his masterpiece on every page. With the greatest respect to the author, I wondered where his editor was. So many of the descriptions, plot diversions and character stories were unnecessary to the story. In fact, I bet 200 pages could have been skimmed off the book, leaving a succinct but effective story.

Despite the book’s length, I did enjoy Wroblewski’s writing style, plot and character development and his animation of the dogs. You felt invested in each person or dog that Wroblewski included in his book. My favorite characters were the dogs, Almondine and Essay. Through their actions (and eyes), you could see their loyalty toward their human friends. And with this story’s tragic side, I believed that the dogs had the most common sense of all the characters. They outranked the humans in compassion and spirit.

Patient readers, dog lovers and Shakespearean fans should all give The Story of Edgar Sawtelle a try. It’s a book with many flaws, but the overarching story of love, greed and jealousy made it a worthwhile read. ( )

Shanghai Girls
By Lisa See
Completed May 12, 2009

Shanghai Girls is the latest book by best-selling author, Lisa See. Readers have raved about her Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, which I have not read, but I jumped at the opportunity to read See’s latest book. Overall, I was not disappointed.

Pearl and May were young Chinese women living in Shanghai before the Japanese invasion in World War II. They modeled as “beautiful girls” – young ladies who exhibited the modern Chinese woman: young, vibrant, intelligent and happy-go-lucky (with no bound feet!). When their father gambled away their earnings, the girls faced an arranged marriage, which would alleviate their father’s debt. Devastated, Pearl and May faced the reality that they would leave their beloved Shanghai and the modern lifestyle they carved for themselves.

Then, the Japanese invaded Shanghai, and Pearl and May struggled to stay ahead of the “monkey men.” They eventually met their husbands in Los Angeles, living with their husband/strangers and an overbearing father-in-law. From this point of the story, we learned about the treatment of Chinese-Americans before World War II and during the Red Scare. Like many times in American history, politics and fear clouded our country’s decisions, and Pearl and her family fell victim to prejudice.

Shanghai Girls was written only from Pearl’s viewpoint. She began the story as a 20-year-old-woman and ended the story in her forties. Through her eyes, we learned about Chinese traditions, the atrocities of the Japanese invasion of China and the prejudice against the Chinese. The historical information provided in this story was educational and interesting. If you like historical fiction, then Shanghai Girls should pique your interest.

My only complaint about this book was the pace. See dropped the reader into the middle of the story line, where we lived the story with the characters, and then fast-forwarded through other parts (in a “show, not tell” way). The fast-forwarded parts, in my opinion, could have been told differently – or perhaps deleted. If it’s not interesting enough for the story line to give it a full treatment, then maybe it’s not important to include it?

Despite this shortcoming, I recommend Shanghai Girls to readers who enjoy historical fiction, learning about different cultures and women’s history. I look forward to reading Snow Flower and the Secret Fan someday soon. ( )

One More Year: Stories
By Sana Krasikov
Completed April 17, 2009

One More Year was a collection of short stories by new writer, Sana Krasikov. In this book, Krasikov introduced us to memorable characters through eight stories – each focused on Russians and their experiences in America and their homeland.

Each short story dropped the reader in the middle of the action, and after several pages, you get the idea of the story. Each story presented a conflict with love and life, and though it’s focused on Russians, their trials and tribulations are universal: Maia struggled with pleasing her teenage son, who she hadn’t seen in years, and was frustrated with the whole process. Anya had enough of the physical and verbal abuse of her husband, Ryan, and sought protection from his ways. And Regina, who traveled to Russia to see her old friend, and ended up judging her friend when Regina herself was making a similar mistake.

I found it helpful to look up some of the Russian towns and words on Google to help me understand the story better, but one could follow along without this knowledge. I also devoted one night to each story. Many reviewers complained that they tired of the stories, and I found reading one story per day made each one enjoyable.

One More Year is highly recommended to readers who enjoy short stories by women authors and to those who like learning about other cultures. I was reminded of Rose Tremain’s The Road Home when I read some of these stories. Taken in small doses, I found One More Year to be a wonderful depiction of hope and the pursuit for a better life. I look forward to Krasikov’s first novel, which she is working on. ( )

The Blue Notebook
By James A. Levine
Completed April 11, 2009

The Blue Notebook was one of the most eloquent but haunting books I have read in a long time. It’s the story of Batuk, a 15-year-old prostitute, whose father sold her into sexual slavery when she was nine. Living in a brothel in India, Batuk took up writing as a therapeutic way to deal with the abuse in her life.

The author, Dr. James Levine, is a highly renowned Mayo Clinic physician, who was inspired to write The Blue Notebook after a visit to India. There, he met a young prostitute on the streets who was writing in a notebook, and Dr. Levine spent time talking to this young girl about her life. Thus, the character of Batuk was born.

Batuk left nothing to the imagination in this narrative. The reader learned every detail about her rapes, physical assaults and sexual encounters. Admittedly, it was hard to read about Batuk’s life because she endured such horrors, and the idea of it happening to a child make it harder to bear.

Despite the tragedies, Batuk’s sense of humor and wit made the other parts of the narrative very enjoyable. She was a delightful character. Stories of her childhood provided glimpses into Batuk’s life before she became a prostitute – when she was innocent and fearless. It, however, illuminated Batuk’s tragedies even more.

This book will make many readers uncomfortable, as it should, but it’s an important book because the horrors in Batuk’s life are happening now to girls and boys around the world. If you have the stomach for it, I would highly recommend The Blue Notebook. Additionally, proceeds from the sale of this book will benefit the International and National Centers for Missing and Exploited Children. Thanks to Dr. Levine for being so generous with his creativity and funding – you can tell this is a subject matter near and dear to him. And after reading The Blue Notebook, I believe it will become important to you too. ( )

American Rust
By Philipp Meyer
Completed March 9, 2009

For some reason, the debut novel by Philipp Meyer, American Rust, did not resonate with me. It took me two weeks to complete, which is unusual for my reading pace, and I wanted to abandon it at many times. I stuck with it, but in the end, I wish I had given up at page 50. American Rust had a lot of potential, but this dark and dreary tale of hopelessness and lost dreams fell short for me.

American Rust was the story of boyhood friends, Isaac and Billy. Isaac unintentionally killed a transient at the beginning of the story, and the story examined the boys’ inability to leave their dead-end town, the unhappiness of characters who did leave, and how friendships were tested. The author used different narrators throughout the story, which was distracting after awhile. In my humble opinion, a telling from one boy’s perspective would have been more effective.

Additionally, I was disappointed with the depiction of the main female characters, Lee and Grace. Lee was Isaac’s sister, a Yale graduate in love with Billy but married to another man. Grace was Billy’s mom who suffered from arthritis that left her hands crippled. Both women dealt with their despair by having empty sex with no-good men– over and over again, like a sad broken record.

Where American Rust succeeded was the illumination of former steel towns that later “busted,” leaving thousands of workers unemployed and unhappy. I often had Billy Joel’s Allentown in my head when I read this book. The imagery of the dried-up towns juxtaposed against the beautiful Pennsylvania countryside was not lost on me, and I appreciated what Meyer was trying to do with this element of the story.

I encourage readers to check out other reviews on American Rust before making a decision to read it. Many, many readers enjoyed this book, comparing Meyer to John Steinbeck and Jack London. I am particular about my characterization, and if a book does not meet my standards, I don’t enjoy it. This was the case in American Rust. ( )

Etta
By Gerald Kolpan
Completed December 28, 2008

Etta is the debut novel by journalist Gerald Kolpan. Inspired by a documentary about Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Kolpan became interested in the mysterious Etta Place – Sundance Kid’s lover. Kolpan researched Etta, turned up very little, and decided to write a fictional account about this elusive woman.

In this story, Etta is really Lorinda Jameson – a wealthy girl sent west to escape the Italian mob who wanted to kill her to settle her father’s debts. Trouble followed Etta, though, like a bad shadow. Once settled in Colorado, she was sentenced for murdering a man who attempted to rape her. She was rescued by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and later joined them in their train and bank robberies. She also fell in love with the Sundance Kid (really named Harry Lonbaugh).

With little known about the real Etta Place, Kolpan had many holes to fill. He did plenty of research about everyday life during the turn of the century, from outlaws to train robberies, and bathing customs to cuisine. He structured his story with narratives, diary entries, memos from the Pinkertons and newspaper stories. The historical information and story structure advanced the story nicely.

However, I questioned how Kolpan developed the character of Etta. For example, I could not wrap my arms around how a woman of privilege so willingly embraced an outlaw lifestyle, with very little moral debate about what she was doing. Her diary indicated that she was stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, but it was not a convincing enough argument for me, considering Etta’s upbringing.

I also was unsure on why Kolpan added Eleanor Roosevelt to the story. Etta and Eleanor became friends in this story after Etta saw Eleanor’s work with the poor. Eleanor Roosevelt is one of our most honored women, and it doesn’t seem plausible that her path would cross with this debutante-turned-robber. And if their paths were to cross, it seemed unlikely that they would become such close friends, again considering Mrs. Roosevelt’s life and Etta’s career.

Despite these reservations, I enjoyed Etta. I would recommend it to readers who wanted to learn more about the social and economic history of the United States during the turn of the century. ( )

This One Is Mine
By Maria Semple
Completed December 3, 2008

This One Is Mine is the debut novel by former TV screenwriter, Maria Semple. It’s a chick lit book, full of humor, man troubles, fashion woes and self-exploration. More intriguing for me was the satirical look at the Beverly Hills life of the two main characters.

Violet Parry was in a loveless marriage with a famous music producer. A former screenwriter, she gave up her career to take care of her home, and eventually, her daughter, Dot. Violet was frustrated with the drudgery of her life, and when she stumbled upon former drug addict, bass-playing, Hep C-infected Teddy Reyes, he brought her some excitement that she yearned for in her life.

Meanwhile, Violet’s sister-in-law, Sally, was a body-obsessed, status-obsessed young woman who pegged her affections on an up-and-coming sports broadcaster, Jeremy. Jeremy had the personality of a toenail, but he was on his way to fame and fortune – and was intensely loyal to Sally.

As I followed Violet and Sally’s lives, Semple showed off her former screenwriting skills by creating a very descriptive story. You knew what the characters were thinking not only by their language but also by their gestures, facial expressions and body language. Semple’s power of observation allowed her to show the story to her reader.

I am not an enormous fan of chick lit, and this book certainly is not for people who are offended by foul language (especially anatomical references). However, this would be a great book for the poolside or cruise deck. If you loved Sex and the City, then give This One Is Mine a try. ( )

An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination
By Elizabeth McCracken
Completed November 5, 2008

I think there’s an old saying that you should never have to bury your child. Outliving my kids ranks number one in things “I don’t want to happen,” but sadly, there are parents who face this reality every day.

While some parents lose children days, months or years after their births, some parents lose their child before the baby is born, experiencing a stillborn birth. This happened to popular novelist Elizabeth McCracken and was the subject of her memoir, An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination.

I have never read a book like this before. As a mom, I am uncomfortable with the thought of losing a child, so I was not sure if I could read McCracken’s story. But with McCracken’s easy writing style, I finished her memoir in one day. Every page sucked me in. And while it’s filled with sadness, you get equal doses of hope and warm memories. She touched on so many important parts of the grieving process, and her reaction to other people’s reactions taught me a lot about how to support someone experiencing a loss.

There were touching moments too. Her chapters about her husband and best friend’s support made me teary-eyed. What a lovely tribute to them both.

McCracken took an uneasy subject and made it very human, very real and very approachable. While it will strike a familiar note with women who experienced the loss of a baby, I think all parents can learn from McCracken’s story. Having gotten to know her at this level, I hope to read her fictional books some day. ( )

The Believers
By Zoe Heller
Completed October 24, 2008

The Believers by Zoe Heller is the story of the Litvinoff family – led by Joel, a political activist and lawyer whose sudden collapse from a stroke put his family into chaos – compounded when a secret was revealed that rocked the family’s already fragile structure. Joel and his wife Audrey did not believe in raising a child-centric family. They were active in the worker’s movement in New York, and Joel was known for representing radical defendants. Audrey was “unmotherly” toward her two daughters, Karla and Rosa, but had a more tender side for her down-and-out adopted son, Lenny. The book only gave the readers snippets of their childhood, but one could conclude that the family was uncompassionate toward each other – as if the passion for their causes was the only passion they could muster.

As adults, the children were a crew of confused people who latched on to their vices (or beliefs) in an extreme way. Karla was overweight and unconfident. Rosa was interested in her Jewish roots and became involved in Orthodox Judaism. And Lenny was a drug abuser who manipulated his mother for money.

It was hard to like any of these characters. Audrey was nasty; Karla, cowardly; Rosa, snobbish; and Lenny, a loser. We learned about Joel only through the eyes of his family, and even he was deplorable.

Even with the unlikable characters, the story was captivating. Like a train wreck, I could not wait to see what disaster the family averted (or did not avert) with each chapter. As the story ended, I was left with a sense that they did not learn anything from their experiences, which was slightly dissatisfying. But not every book can have a fairy tale ending.

If you like a raw look at a dysfunctional family, then I would recommend The Believers to you. It’s a quick read if you can get into the lives of these interesting yet sad characters. ( )