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    Reading Wednesday

    Book Review Do Tell by Lindsay Lynch

    January 16, 2024
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    Edie O’Dare’s less than perfect childhood has her scrambling to be anywhere but home as soon as she can get out. But little does she know how her life will unfold in the star studded and glamorous days of Hollywood in the 1930’s. Here is my book review Do Tell by Lindsay Lynch.

    Lindsay Lynch’s debut novel was a surprise hit for me. An easy read with a page-turner plot, I breezed through it. Great characters and an eye-opening story about the behind the scenes world of actors and the studios in early Hollywood.

    Hollywood

    Edie O’Dare is a not so successful character actress in Hollywood. She manages a few films with her contract with FWM Studios. But on the side she also is a writer, working for the local reigning gossip columnist. But as Edie’s contract is coming to an end and she knows it won’t be renewed, she launches her own column – Do Tell. She rocks Hollywood with a story about Hollywood’s number one heart throb who is accused by a young starlet of rape.

    As Edie’s column becomes more successful, her need to get the scoop on the inside of Hollywood will lose her friends and colleagues, while gaining her money and fame. Although she has always known about the secrets of Hollywood; arranged marriages by the studio, hidden affairs of the rich and famous, and deeply hidden sexuality – now Edie is on the other side of the business where she can capitalize on these trysts. But should she? Does she?

    I enjoyed this book very much and can see why it is on all the must read lists for 2023. I’m glad I did. I hope you enjoyed my book review Do Tell by Lindsay Lynch for this week’s Reading Wednesday. See last week’s book review Lucky Dogs by Helen Schulman.

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    Reading Wednesday

    Book Review Lucky Dogs by Helen Schulman

    January 10, 2024
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    The title of this book never made sence to me. But other than that, I did enjoy this book, “ripped from the headlines” if you will. Fictional but loosely based on the “Me Too” movement. It was a difficult but also interesting story. Here is my book review Lucky Dogs by Helen Schulman.

    Me Too

    Unless you are living under a rock, you will know what the Me Too movement is. Though this novel is not about the actual real life actress whose experience started the movement, it’s quite similar. It includes a beautiful actress, a horrible and unattractive but powerful male Hollywood misoginsit, and a undercover beauty.

    Fiction but Real Life

    Taking real life events and using them as a base for a novel is not new. Schulman does a good job changing the characters just enough to keep them fictional. But the underlying story is the same; women abused, misused and victimized by men. And yet, the most disturbing part of this book for me was how WOMEN surrounding the alleged victim did not stand by her. Their own fear of losing their Hollywood status kept their mouth shut. And even more disturbing was the false friendships, clever and deep, and the lengths the “hired” friends went to in an effort to discredit and once again victimize the actress.

    It’s a tangled web of espionage-esque, fear based emotional trauma and intrigue.

    ****Four stars for Lucky Dogs by Helen Schulman

    Thanks for reading my book review Lucky Dogs by Helen Schulman. See last week’s book review Absolution by Alice McDermott.

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    Reading Wednesday

    Book Review Absolution by Alice McDermott

    January 3, 2024
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    The title of this book is perfect –

    absolution

    /ˌabsəˈluːʃn/

    noun

    1. formal release from guilt, obligation, or punishment.

    I really enjoyed this story of strong women who, in 1963, are on the margins of the Vietnam era while serving as the loving and supporting spouses, both military and civillian in the days before war broke out.

    Here is my book review Absolution by Alice McDermott

    Absolution

    I listened to this book on Audible, and it was unusal to have it read by two actors. Most of the book is in the voice of Patricia, a young newlywed married to a rising attorney in naval intelligence. Patricia is looking back through the decades, as she writes a letter, recounting her year in Vietnam. The year is 1963 and the place is Saigon. Exotic and exciting for a shy young women like Patricia.

    As “Tricia” narrates her experience we are introduced to Charlene, a corporate spouse with three children who is a force to be reckoned with. Charlene will steer nearly everything in Tricia’s life in her need to “do good” for the people of Vietnam. Charlene is quite the scheemer and she finds all kinds of ways to procure black market items, put a little money in her own pocket, and convince just about anyone to do her bidding.

    Sixty Years Later

    The war is over, Tricia and her husband have found a quiet life, and excepted they would never have children. When Alan passes Tricia will downsize, and then downsize again. She will lose touch with everyone who seemed so influential to her during that fateful year of 1963 including Charlene and her friend Dominic.

    But then she will receive a letter from Charlene’s daughter, the young girl Tricia will remember from their short time in Vietnam, now a middle aged women herself. The two will correspond and learn amazing stories about each other, Charlene and Dominic the aging Vietnam veteran from Tricia’s past.

    Book Review Absolution by Alice McDermott

    I really enjoyed this book. It was a fresh take on the Vietnam era…and the women who we never really hear anything about. But they played a role, and their lives would never be the same. For these women finding their own peace for what would happen in Vietnam would take a lifetime.

    Thanks for reading my book review Absolution by Alice McDermott. Read last week’s book review All the Broken Places by John Boyne.

    *****Five stars for Absolution by Alice McDermott

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    Reading Wednesday

    Book Review All The Broken Places by John Boyne

    December 27, 2023
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    How can one 91 year old women, have so many dark hidden secrets? John Boyne’s All the Broken Places introduces us to a women whose childhood in Nazi Germany and her invented history will be a lifetime skeleton in her closet. Here is my book review All the Broken Places by John Boyne.

    Nazi Germany

    A young girl and her mother escape from Nazi Germany as the Allied Forces arrive. The young girl’s father is one of he highest ranking officers in the Reich and the commandant of the most notorious extermination camp.

    A New Identity

    Now known as Gretel, she has spent 80 years pretending, while living quietly in a mansion in London. She has never told anyone about her secret. When a new family moves into the apartment below hers, she finds herself drawn to the little boy Henry, who reminds her of her brother. But when it becomes clear that Henry and his movie star mother are being physically and verbally abused by Henry’s prominent movie producer father, Gretel can’t find her way to stay away.

    Back and Forth

    Like so many novels, All the Broken Places waffles between Nazi Germany past and Gretel’s complacency during the most hideous of human atrocities, and present day London and Gretel’s nagging guilt. As she realizes the producer father will likely eventually kill the child and his mother with his violence, Gretel confronts him and her secrets are revealed. She sees no alternative but to take matters into her own hands and end the situation once and for all.

    The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

    I have not read Boyne’s book The Boy in the Striped Pajamas but I did see the movie. And All the Broken Places is a continuation of that story in the years beyond the concentration camps. I liked that link very much. And I liked the character of Gretel and the character development of all the books players. However I found the ending far-fetched and unrealistic. Thank you for reading my book review All the Broken Places by John Boyne

    ****Four stars for All The Broken Places by John Boyne

    Read last week’s book review The Armour of Light by Ken Follett

    My current read Do Tell by Lindsay Lynch

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    Reading Wednesday

    Book Review The Armour of Light by Ken Follett

    December 20, 2023
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    Ken Follett is in my opinion, one of the best authors the United Kingdom has ever produced. And this book, The Armor of Light, was long awaited by me. My love of the Kingsbridge series, starting with the brilliant Pillars of the Earth more than thirty years ago, has kept me intrigued through all five novels. Here is my book review The Armour of Light by Ken Follett.

    Ken Follett

    Now aged 74, I only hope Follett has the stamina to write one or two more Kingsbridge books. The level of detail and research in all of his Kingsbridge novels is so incredible. The series starts in 997AD with The Evening and the Morning (which was a prequel released in 2020), followed by Pillars of the Earth set in the 12th century and the original novel. Each subsequent book is approximately 150 – 200 years later; World Without End set in the 14th Century, A Column of Fire set in Elizabethian England, and now The Armour of Light set late 1700’s to early 1800’s.

    Book Review The Armour of Light by Ken Follett

    In this latest brilliant novel we find ourselves in a changing society as the world, and England, enter the industrial age. With the invention of the Spinning Jenny in 1770, the wool industry and it’s workers will find themselves in a new era. Those who can keep up with the changing times will survive.

    Change means violence, as those with power want more, and will do anything to keep in control of the industrial wealth. As the Napoleon War rages, we meet a cast of characters entwined whether they like it or not. Protestants and Methodists, wealthy and poor, men and women – all fighting for what they believe is right.

    Strong Characters

    Like usual Follett places strong female characters against ruthless church, political and industry male leaders. Convicted of misdemeanor crimes, punishment for the poor could mean being shipped to Australia for years of hard labor…or death.

    The survivors of this violent time, and the ashes of war, will rise up to be the early disciples of workers rights and labor rights and the future of the working class of England. Many will die before this long drawn out change in the system will benefit them, but their sacrifice will change the world forever.

    The novel is not lacking in Follett’s usual love stories, villains, vanity and religious persecution. There is a tantalizing collection of under-stories to titilize as usual. It’s a wonderful book, and another in the genius collection.

    Thanks for reading my book review The Armour of Light by Ken Follett. See last week’s book review The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher.

    *****Five Stars for The Armour of Light by Ken Follett

    My current read Absolution by Alice McDermott

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    Reading Wednesday

    Book Review The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher

    December 13, 2023
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    I think this is my first book by Rosamunde Pilcher, surprisingly. She has a lot of novels out, and this one, The Shell Seekers has won numerous awards in Europe. But, it’s new to me! Here is my book review The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher.

    Reflection

    The novel begins when Penelope Keeling is in her 60’s and after a recent heart attack she is reflecting on her past. The story flits back and forth between Penelope’s childhood – the daughter of a famous artist and his much younger French wife – and present day. Through Pilcher’s strong writing we learn about Penelope’s relationship with her father, mother and their survival during the World Wars.

    Pilcher creates some lovely characters in this novel as the life of Penelope Keeling evolves. Her oldest friend Doris, her French mother Sophie and her brilliant artist father Laurence Stern. All are living in England together during WWII and that time will define the rest of their lives.

    1984

    The novel moves from the past to present day 1984 when Penelope has just had a heart attack. Stubborn and self-confident, Penelope checks herself out of the hospital against her doctor’s advice. Through this experience we are introduced to her three adult children, who respond differently to Penelope’s decision. Each sibling is unique from the other, and two of them are desperately in need of money.

    As the novel moves forward it is revealed the paintings of Penelope’s father Laurence have recently become popular again and therefore valuable. Penelope has several paintings, and two of her children try to convince her to sell them. This is where the family begins to rip at the seams.

    Family

    Like so many beautifully written stories about family ties, The Shell Seekers is complex. Relationships between mother and children, and the siblings themselves is fraught with misunderstanding, stress, rivalry but of course, also love. Penelope finds she can identify more with two young people who come into her life (a gardener and a caretaker) than she can with her own children. But Penelope acknowledges her health issues require her to make some decisions about the future of the valuable art she owns. How will she satisfy her own love of the paintings, and all the players in this story?

    You’ll have to read Rosamunde Pilcher’s beautiful book, The Shell Seekers to find out. Thanks for reading my book review The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher.

    *****Five stars for The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher

    See last week’s book review In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson

    My current read All The Broken Pieces by John Boyne

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    Asia & Oceania Travel  --  Reading Wednesday

    Book Review In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson

    December 6, 2023
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    We listened to a couple of Audible book this past month while tooling about Australia in a Motorhome. If you haven’t been following that journey you might want to check it out here Caravan Travel Australia Part One and Part Two. Anyway, my friend Pam asked if I had read Bill Bryson’s In a Sunburned Country. This book is old…published in 2000, one my husband read it when it came out. But I had not, and so it seemed like the perfect story for our long drive. Thanks Pam. Here is my book review In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson.

    Bill Bryson

    First of all, if you have never read Bill Bryson you are missing out on one of America’s greatest gems. What a writer, humorist, humanitarian and witty observer of people he is. Bryson has numerous book, but I had never read his book about traveling around Australia. Nothing could have been more perfect for us to enjoy, agree with and guffaw at on our road trip.

    Discovering the Undiscovered Country

    Bryson spends weeks and weeks while researching this book, traversing this incredibly empty, huge and surprising continent/country of Australia. In his telling of the journey he meets Australia’s most amazing creatures, encounters the most unlikely characters, falls in love with the solitude, all while finding humor in each and every unexpected moment.

    In a Sunburned Country brings to life a place that many will never get the opportunity to discover. I am lucky to have been here twice. And much of Bryson’s prose echo my own feelings about this lethal place (“more things that can kill you in malicious ways than anywhere else in the world”) and yet it’s like you just can’t get enough – forget the danger!

    Book Review In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson

    In a Sunburned Country brings to life this usually forgotten country – with solid and cheerful people, low crime, safe cities, abundant sunshine, fascinating history and the craziest collection of animals. And yet, we hear so little about Australia in the media. Another reason you should visit. And whether you visit on your own, or via Bryson’s wonderful storytelling, you should get to know amazing Australia.

    Thanks for reading my book review In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson.

    *****Five stars – I definitely recommend it to travelers or those who dream to travel.

    Read last week’s book review Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

    My current read The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher

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    In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson
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