This was my fifth novel by Susanna Kearsley, and probably my favorite. Although there were two separate stories set in very different times, there was no time traveling or ghosts or genetic connection between the two stories. There were some familiar characters from her other books, as the author is wont to do, but to be honest, I didn't even pick up on that until I read the author's notes at the end of the book.
I think I said this after the last Susanna Kearsley novel I read, but the author certainly knows her history of the Jacobites! She uses real names, real people, real events and combines it all to tell a very detailed historical fiction story. I really loved the 1732 story about Mary and Hugh MacPherson. They did not have a typical journey to love, that's for sure. I wasn't even sure initially who Mary would fall in love with, although I knew it would be somebody! Mary had a fear of Hugh at the start and thought him dangerous and scary - especially his eyes. And he was not at all attractive. ;) It was interesting to watch her transforming opinion of him as the story progressed. I love strong female characters, and I thought that Mary's strength showed in her quick thinking, adaptability and storytelling abilities. She was essentially abandoned by her immediate family (father and brothers) and even though she longed to be wanted by them, at the end she realized that she identified with Hugh's comment that "Home is not always where you left it."
The other story, of Sara code breaking the diary of Mary, was also very good - and unique. I love stories that share the positive traits of someone on the autism spectrum, while also explaining some of the challenges of living with autism - and loving someone with autism. How wonderful that Luc accepted Sara for who she was and loved her for her strengths instead of judging her for her difficulties. Luc is a keeper! The one thing I wish had been explained more thoroughly is how Luc and Denise ended up getting married and having a child - and why they ended up divorced so early on in their marriage since they obviously cared so much for each other. I just thought their whole story was a little odd.
I liked how the diary that Sara was deciphering just ended mid-sentence, and the book ends with Mary thinking, "It mattered not that no one else would bear the moment witness nor remember it, for if the future could not know them, neither could the past confine them, and the choice was always theirs to make, the tale their own to finish, as her aunt had once assured her." What a perfect ending! Sara & company never find out what happens with Mary & Hugh - and the reader gets a satisfying ending. I really loved it!
Another moment that I really liked is when Mary thinks Frisque would rather be left with the children and Hugh tells her, "Call him." Mary simply says his name, and the dog comes running from the children to her. Mary remembers that moment when Hugh is ready to leave for Spain without her, and she "calls him" too.
Wendy's Rating: ****
Saturday, June 25, 2016
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens
A first novel by a Minnesota author. I loved it! The author did a wonderful job of developing the characters while driving the plot. Many books seems to have one or the other: the development of characters or a fast-paced plot, so this was a really good read. The title's meaning is significant to nearly every single character in the book. Each person had something in their history that they wanted to forget, but couldn't, and most of them were punishing themselves for it. Even though they were each trying to "bury" it in their own ways - certainly by not acknowledging it to others - they were living their lives and making decisions based on those same things.
I really liked both Joe and Lila. I think they were really good for each other. They both had things in their past that caused them a lot of guilt, so it was great that they found someone who wouldn't judge them for their past actions. I thought Joe made some questionable decisions, like bailing his mother out of jail with his college money and going after DJ on his own, but there were reasons, that were actually understandable, for his actions. On top of that, he was a college kid, and people that age sometimes think they are invincible! I loved how resourceful he was when he had to be though. His will to survive was apparent in the most direst of situations! He persevered and definitely had his McGyver moments in the cabin! ;)
Carl was the most tragic character in the novel of course. Talk about someone living with his guilt. He certainly did not deserve to spend his live in prison or die a painful death from cancer. It's interesting that he could put a positive spin on his imprisonment though. He lived a life in prison when he most likely wouldn't have lived at all if he hadn't been sent to prison. In his mind, he deserved to be there anyway for what he did in Vietnam.
I loved the code used by Crystal in her diary. I think it's appalling that the police used the diary to convict Carl without even breaking the code though. Talk about assumptions! What's even more interesting to me is that the book I am currently reading - set in a completely different country, culture and time - is also about a woman who journals using a code. It's so weird that subject matters in common pop up so often in books I read consecutively, although there is no prior indication they would have a common theme. Anyway, it's too bad that Crystal didn't have a trusted person she could confide in. Very sad.
The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the ending. It wasn't exactly a "neat and tidy" ending in one respect, because after all, Joe found himself the primary caregiver for his autistic brother while trying to attend college and work. But in another respect, the rewards seemed too neat and tidy. Not that I didn't want the best for Joe and Jeremy, but the rewards did seem to tie things up in a neat little bow....
All in all, a great read. The author has a second book out called "The Guise of Another", which I will definitely read.
Wendy's Rating: *****
I really liked both Joe and Lila. I think they were really good for each other. They both had things in their past that caused them a lot of guilt, so it was great that they found someone who wouldn't judge them for their past actions. I thought Joe made some questionable decisions, like bailing his mother out of jail with his college money and going after DJ on his own, but there were reasons, that were actually understandable, for his actions. On top of that, he was a college kid, and people that age sometimes think they are invincible! I loved how resourceful he was when he had to be though. His will to survive was apparent in the most direst of situations! He persevered and definitely had his McGyver moments in the cabin! ;)
Carl was the most tragic character in the novel of course. Talk about someone living with his guilt. He certainly did not deserve to spend his live in prison or die a painful death from cancer. It's interesting that he could put a positive spin on his imprisonment though. He lived a life in prison when he most likely wouldn't have lived at all if he hadn't been sent to prison. In his mind, he deserved to be there anyway for what he did in Vietnam.
I loved the code used by Crystal in her diary. I think it's appalling that the police used the diary to convict Carl without even breaking the code though. Talk about assumptions! What's even more interesting to me is that the book I am currently reading - set in a completely different country, culture and time - is also about a woman who journals using a code. It's so weird that subject matters in common pop up so often in books I read consecutively, although there is no prior indication they would have a common theme. Anyway, it's too bad that Crystal didn't have a trusted person she could confide in. Very sad.
The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the ending. It wasn't exactly a "neat and tidy" ending in one respect, because after all, Joe found himself the primary caregiver for his autistic brother while trying to attend college and work. But in another respect, the rewards seemed too neat and tidy. Not that I didn't want the best for Joe and Jeremy, but the rewards did seem to tie things up in a neat little bow....
All in all, a great read. The author has a second book out called "The Guise of Another", which I will definitely read.
Wendy's Rating: *****
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
The Sound of Glass by Karen White
One thing I really like about Karen White novels is that I care about her characters. Some are dysfunctional and some appear unkind or downright mean at times, but they are flawed for a reason. And there are always kind characters, to help soften the rough edges of the others. Karen White also attaches a mystery to her stories and leads the reader, along with the main characters, to the resolution. Lastly, I love the setting of each of her novels. All of them involve beaches/oceans/water and a southern environment.
This story demonstrates the vicious cycle of domestic abuse from generation to generation. This particular story focuses on the genetic component over the environment component since in the third generation, one brother is an abuser like his father and grandfather and the other is a gentle and caring doctor. It goes without saying that I adored Gibbes. ;)
I didn't quite understand Merritt and Cal's love for each other. Part of it is not understanding how a person can abuse a woman he truly loves. Secondly, Merritt doesn't really act like she has lost someone she loved. She certainly felt guilt, since she told Cal to walk into the fire and he did, but it was difficult to see her loving him. But, maybe Cal walking into that fire did in fact show how much he loved Merritt. He stopped the cycle of abuse in his family.
I absolutely loved Loralee! She was such a kind soul - and wonderful to Merritt who initially didn't want to give her the time of day. I bawled like a baby at her passing. How brave of her to move to Beaufort, SC and move into her step-daughter's inherited house without an invitation - all for the sake of her son.
I was fascinated by the details of Edith's crime scene boxes. The time and patience those must have taken! It was hard to know how it was going to connect in the end, but when it did, it made sense. I couldn't figure out why Edith would bury the suitcase - and why she was so confused by the suitcase missing the dopp kit - but all of those details were explained in the end.
I really enjoyed this novel. I am making my way through all Karen White novels because I have liked every one a lot.
Wendy's Rating: ****
This story demonstrates the vicious cycle of domestic abuse from generation to generation. This particular story focuses on the genetic component over the environment component since in the third generation, one brother is an abuser like his father and grandfather and the other is a gentle and caring doctor. It goes without saying that I adored Gibbes. ;)
I didn't quite understand Merritt and Cal's love for each other. Part of it is not understanding how a person can abuse a woman he truly loves. Secondly, Merritt doesn't really act like she has lost someone she loved. She certainly felt guilt, since she told Cal to walk into the fire and he did, but it was difficult to see her loving him. But, maybe Cal walking into that fire did in fact show how much he loved Merritt. He stopped the cycle of abuse in his family.
I absolutely loved Loralee! She was such a kind soul - and wonderful to Merritt who initially didn't want to give her the time of day. I bawled like a baby at her passing. How brave of her to move to Beaufort, SC and move into her step-daughter's inherited house without an invitation - all for the sake of her son.
I was fascinated by the details of Edith's crime scene boxes. The time and patience those must have taken! It was hard to know how it was going to connect in the end, but when it did, it made sense. I couldn't figure out why Edith would bury the suitcase - and why she was so confused by the suitcase missing the dopp kit - but all of those details were explained in the end.
I really enjoyed this novel. I am making my way through all Karen White novels because I have liked every one a lot.
Wendy's Rating: ****
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