A truly great American story teller’s last book centered in the west is a marvelous read with a great group of eccentric cLAST BUS TO WISDOM
Ivan Doig
A truly great American story teller’s last book centered in the west is a marvelous read with a great group of eccentric characters and the landscape of America as its backdrop!
Eleven year old Donal Cameron’s grandmother, a cook at the Double W ranch in Two Medicine Country of the Rocky Mountains, which is familiar territory for Mr. Doigs loyal fans, needs an operation. She determines the only solution is to send Donal to her sister in Wisconsin until she is on her feet again. Equipped with his treasured autograph book he rides the dog bus (the Greyhound) filled with interesting fellow travelers.
Arriving in Wisconsin turns out to be a real trial for him as his Aunt Kate is a bossy, argumentative, tyrant while German Uncle Herman is a mild mannered hen pecked husband who becomes his only retreat. Aunt Kate decides to send him back to his grandmother and Donal is shocked when Herman jumps on the dog bus with him.
Thus begins an enchanted journey with trial, tribulations, and fascinating adventures that begin for them with thieving ministers, convicts, cowboys, hobos and championship bronco riders to name a few.
What a charming tale told in a vernacular seldom seen and with an authenticity that is amazing.
This dark and electrifying novel is good old fashioned Stephen King! The master storyteller who always comes up roses! There is a REVIVAL
Stephen King
This dark and electrifying novel is good old fashioned Stephen King! The master storyteller who always comes up roses! There is a feeling for me that the characters are all friends of the author, and he is just sharing their lives with us. The depth and grace of their depictions are tantamount to losing yourself in someone else’s skin. This magic of characterization, the multi layered plots, the trivia, and the glorious writing capture me every time.
In a small New England town a new young reverend, Charles Jacobs bonds with a young Jamie Morton and his family during his introduction to the community. The reverend is obsessed with his mythic ‘secret electricity� and he and the young boy form a disturbing relationship while experimenting. The reverend, his pretty young wife and their small boy are embraced by the community until a tragic car accident kills the wife and child. When consumed by grief the reverend gives a blasphemous sermon and unhinged by his inability to cope with the loss, he is run out of town.
Twenty years later, the boy now a junkie meets the disgraced clergyman who has become a carny using his ‘secret electricity� by taking pictures with it that are very unusual. Jacobs uses his ‘healing� experiment with electricity to cure Jamie of his addiction, and takes him on as an apprentice.
Years later, summoned to the culmination of Mr. Jacobs work, Jamie is drawn into a shocking and horrifying climax.
ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE is set in Germany and France before and during World War II depicting the horrificALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE
Anthony Doerr
ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE is set in Germany and France before and during World War II depicting the horrific consequences and devastation of war by a writer with a great depth of knowledge of the human soul.
The real story is the documented focus on the inner life of its two main characters. Told in alternating voices of Marie Laure a blind 14 year old girl who lived in Paris before the occupation, and Werner a gifted gadget obsessed German orphan who cross paths late in the novel. These young people are presented in the light of the deprived civilian conditions and the insane military orders that daily must make horrible choices between morality and survival.
Mr. Doerr has done a wonderful job of painting the two young people, but also added many marvelous character such as Marie Laure’s father, her uncle, and the loving and extremely loyal and talented maid. Werner is surrounded by a dear friend he has a great deal of guilt about, and a giant soldier who becomes his protector.
This is an extremely well written book. But, be warned it is quite long and can be a little confusing because some of the time frames are not explained. ...more
In my humble opinion this is one of the greatest prophets and writers of all time. He immigrated to the UnTHE COLLECTED WORKS GOLDEN OLDIE
Kahil Gibran
In my humble opinion this is one of the greatest prophets and writers of all time. He immigrated to the United States as an adolescent, and was part of our culture unlike so many that were years ago.
His superb title THE PROPHET is poetry and philosophy for almost any time or place.
As is obvious I am in total awe and dependence on his brilliance and immense humanity and understanding of the human condition in a very spiritual, enlightened and passionate man. ...more
Unlike many reviewers I felt this novel needed a great deal of editing. I also believe there were four novels wrapped into oneTHE GOLDFINCH
Donna Tartt
Unlike many reviewers I felt this novel needed a great deal of editing. I also believe there were four novels wrapped into one with a damaged main character who is so weak he is influenced by almost everyone he meets. Even to the extreme of almost marrying a woman he doesn’t love.
That said I do understand the hullabaloo as this is a very good coming of age novel populated by interesting characters. Hobie is the outstanding individual in this bag of misfits and criminals.
THE GOLDFINCH begins when Theodore Decker loses his mother as a bomb detonates in the Metropolitan Museum. The lynch pin of the story is Theo leaves the museum with the masterpiece THE GOLDFINCH. Theo while missing his mother begins a new chapter when he moves in with the Park Avenue family of his best friend, Andy. Later his distant and larcenous father and his sleazy girlfriend take Theo to Las Vegas where he meets a Russian friend, Boris. This chapter is the most disturbing as there is no home life and the boys are allowed to roam free and use a lot of drugs. When Theo’s father dies in an accident, he returns to New York and is welcomed by Hobie, a furniture restorer and owner of an antique store. Hobie is drawn with such depth, maturity and nurturing he is a shining beacon in this novel. The final chapter deals with the ultimate outcome of THE GOLDFINCH in Amsterdam tied into art thieves and violence.
I understand the high praise for this novel as the author utilizes a huge amount of creativity while following Theo and the masterpiece. The unusual and unexpected stories take you to places and incidents that are very intriguing. Ms. Tartt is a good story teller and touches you with the curves and emotions of an orphaned boy. ...more
John Brown, the legendary abolitionist arrives and creates an incident in the Kansas Territory in 1857 when he attacksTHE GOOD LORD BIRD
James McBride
John Brown, the legendary abolitionist arrives and creates an incident in the Kansas Territory in 1857 when he attacks a slave owner. As a result a young black slave named Henry Shackleford becomes a pawn when his master is overcome by John Brown, and forced to leave with Mr. Brown, who believes he is a girl.
Henry struggles to stay alive by concealing his identity, and becomes John Brown's good luck charm, and he renames him Little Onion.
The raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859 finds Little Onion still with John Brown on this historic raid.
THE GOOD LORD BIRD is a rousing adventure, a chapter in history, and a detailed exploration of identity and survival in Mr. McBride's extremely capable and talented eye for time, detail and marvelous characters. ...more
My friend Bernadette recommended this book and I’m ever so grateful. The recommendation coupled with my lifelong fascinatiLILLIAN AND DASH
Sam Toperoff
My friend Bernadette recommended this book and I’m ever so grateful. The recommendation coupled with my lifelong fascination and respect for these two literary giants was an incredible experience. I loved the book!
Mr. Toperoff’s expert writing brings this exciting over the top couple vividly to life. Dashiell Hammett is the recognized king of mystery noir while Lillian Hellman’s genius is widely known as a playwright. They are really so much more as they were erudite, passionate about causes and willing to put themselves at risk for their principles. The brilliant blending of fact and fiction and time and place is nothing short of masterful. It recreates their love story from its very beginning and bristles with their repartee, their wit, and their enormous influence on each other’s work.
These two prominent and headstrong individuals were a fast living, hard drinking part of the world of the New York literary and society worlds, Hollywood’s heyday, the Spanish Civil War, McCarthyism and both world wars. Their complex relationship was as glorious as it was painful since his drinking, roving eye and neurotic questioning of his talent played havoc on their on again off again romance. Lillian’s strength and talent threatened his macho instincts even though she needed him as much as he needed her.
This excellent recreation of two of the most treasured American icons touches the heart, allow you to bask in their adventures and to share their enchanted journey.
SONGS OF WILLOW FROST is a marvelous novel that will give you a glimpse of Seattle against the backdrop of the 1930’s aSONGS OF WILLOW FROST
Jamie Ford
SONGS OF WILLOW FROST is a marvelous novel that will give you a glimpse of Seattle against the backdrop of the 1930’s and the Great Depression. The mesmerizing flashbacks to the 1920’s are very well done, but the overwhelming theme is the anguish and despair of a young Chinese American woman and her equally pain ridden son separated by circumstances.
Five years after having been abandoned, twelve year old Chinese American, William Eng and all the other orphans at Sacred Heart Orphanage are taken to the theatre. William is shocked when he sees an exotic Chinese actress on the screen he believes is the mother he thought dead. Determined to find her, he runs away and finds the actress using the stage name Willow Frost is really his mother, Liu Song. Willows past is told in flashbacks that fleshes out the tragic evolution of her life. Confronting his mysterious past and his connection to his mother is very complicated and filled with both of their needs for love, hope and forgiveness.
Although Mr. Hosseini is male and Afghan not Persian he is undoubtedly the Scheherazade of our generation. EvenAND THE MOUNTAINS ECHOED
Khaled Hosseini
Although Mr. Hosseini is male and Afghan not Persian he is undoubtedly the Scheherazade of our generation. Even though Scheherazade was telling stories to save her life and she took a thousand and one nights, you will only need one to finish this astounding and masterful novel.
Having said that how do I go about justifying a criticism of the male Scheherazade? The only flaw I found in the book is the abrupt and unexplained appearances and exits of the myriad characters without presenting any kind of time frame or introduction of characters. This was very disconcerting and had a tendency to take me out of the story which is why I can only give the book four and a half stars. Granted Mr. Hosseini, being the masterful writer he is manages to tie it all together and create a fantastic read.
In 1952 a father sells his daughter to a wealthy couple in Kabul. What follow is many stories within a series of stories about the consequences for all the extended family that reverberates through generations. The story is told from multiple viewpoints; it covers more than half a century, and unfolds across continents.
Every story becomes more complex and powerful with each chapter.
An emotionally charged, heartrending treatment of the nature of families that nurture, sacrifice, betray, wound and love that resonates throughout their lives, and the lives of their children.
I believe Mr. Hussein’s books will be regarded as must reads for future generations not just for his accurate depiction of Afghanistan, its customs, rituals and philosophies, but for his masterful storytelling and writing.
In 1952 recently wealthy attorney, Arthur Wise buys a beach house on Cape Cod. His teen age son, Hilly befriends the black caretaWISE MEN
Stuart Nadler
In 1952 recently wealthy attorney, Arthur Wise buys a beach house on Cape Cod. His teen age son, Hilly befriends the black caretaker and his niece. His affection for the girl triggers some of his father's darkest secrets. Later, Hilly, haunted by his memories, sets out to right the wrongs he feels he committed. Can his guilt overcome the bonds of family, love, and identity?...more
Christopher Bohjalian is an enormously gifted and talented storyteller who has set himself up to be the keepTHE SANDCASTLE GIRLS
Christopher Bohjalian
Christopher Bohjalian is an enormously gifted and talented storyteller who has set himself up to be the keeper of the flame. As in previous novels Mr. Bohjalian mystically zeros in on the lesser know but horrendous atrocities that should never be forgotten with an engrossing storyline and he never hits a false note in his elegant and exquisite prose.
THE SANDCASTLE GIRLS is a mesmerizing work of historical fiction influenced by the author’s heritage and driven by a beautiful believable romance. Mr. Bhojalian’s grandparents were survivors of that sad episode in history.
Elizabeth Endicott, her father and an envoy of volunteers arrive in Aleppo, Syria in 1915. A Boston based Friends of Armenia organization has sent them to deliver food and medical supplies to the refugees of the Armenian genocide. A young Armenian engineer named Armen becomes important to Elizabeth and when he joins the British Army their bond grows deeper. They remain attached by an erratic war correspondence.
In present day New York a young Armenian novelist sees a newspaper picture of her grandmother promoting an exhibit at a Boston museum which becomes the beginning of her journey back through her family’s history. This is a compelling and painful quest that answers questions she didn’t know she had and creates a new respect and awareness of the emotionally reticent grandparents she barely knew.
A masterful novel of war, love, loss with a bittersweet secret buried for generations. THE SANDCASTLE GIRLS is a passionate engrossing novel that glorifies the formidable human spirit of survival and endurance.
THE PEARL By John Steinbeck Having recently reread the Steinbeck classic, THE PEARL, I was totally blown away. It is as relevant today as it was the daTHE PEARL By John Steinbeck Having recently reread the Steinbeck classic, THE PEARL, I was totally blown away. It is as relevant today as it was the day it was written. Steinbeck’s writing excels at warmth, sincerity and magnificent craftsmanship.
This short book was written in 1947, and is based on an old Mexican folk tale. It is the story of a great pearl; how it was found and how it was lost. This is a simple story about simple people. The diver, Kino, his wife and their infant child’s fall from innocence is mesmerizing. The priceless pearl introduces greed, treachery and loss to their small village.
The tale is written with distinction, illumination and a deep understanding and love of humanity. ...more
This is a stunning novel written in 2005. I think it is so breathtaking, everyone should be able to share in its beauty. The story takes place at a ruThis is a stunning novel written in 2005. I think it is so breathtaking, everyone should be able to share in its beauty. The story takes place at a rustic fishing camp on the northern tip of Maine, and spans the eras just after World War II and continues through three generations of family and friends. The plot revolves around a wealthy entrepreneur who fell in love with the camp as a young man and revisited it for thirty years. The last trip he makes there is different in that he has come for his final visit - he is dying of terminal cancer. The camp itself serves as the physical and emotional center for the extended circle of family and friends. Each character tells their back story in alternating chapters that depict love, war, disease, loss, betrayal and redemption . These stories are told with such deep and touching sincerity of emotions that it’s hard to look away. The novel has a lovely timeless quality that remains constant even when dealing with the bedrock realities of family and place. Mr. Cronin has a superb ability to create tremendous beauty out of the everyday business of living, loving and dying. This is an extraordinary book peopled by fantastic characters and heartbreaking warmth. Do yourself a favor and become a summer guest in this beautifully created tale. ...more
When Pat Conroy writes about his home town of Charleston, South Carolina, he describes it so masterfully and with such deep and abiding love that you When Pat Conroy writes about his home town of Charleston, South Carolina, he describes it so masterfully and with such deep and abiding love that you can almost smell it and taste it! His true genius is always evident in his strong narrative and his involved devotion to his characters. His ability to present mankind as naked and vulnerable while extolling its virtues, needs, and weaknesses goes far beyond magnificent. In Mr. Conroy's latest book, South of Broad, young Leopold Bloom King is the protagonist and the narrator. He is the son of a gentle, loving father who teaches science and a mother who is an ex-nun and principal of the high school. Leo's older brother commits suicide at thirteen, and the family must bear the devastating effects of the tragedy. As a senior in high school, Leo becomes part of a tight knit group of friends who support and depend on each other with real love and caring. His friends include a set of glamorous twins whose parents are greatly flawed, a brother and sister who are orphaned runaways, and a beautiful socialite and her rich boyfriend. The relationships and lives of this group flourish during the 60's counterculture decade and into the 80s and the AIDS crisis of the time. This is a larger than life look at a group of friends who weather and find strength in each other through every crisis or tragedy with unconditional love. As might be evident, I am a huge fan and devotee of Pat Conroy's writing. His deeply emotional works consistently present the joy and agony of his characters through phenomenally beautiful literature. More kudos to this brilliant author for his latest creation!...more
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