This was a really good reading month, some excellent books and a nice mix of genres.
The Amalfi Curse - Sara Penner - historical fiction - three stars - This one was a bit of a disappointment. Haven Ambrose is a nautical archaeologist like her father. He recently died, but told her about a treasure he had discovered, but didn't have a chance to go back for. She is in Positano to disover/retrieve it. While there, she meets a man, but also discovers some women who appear to be able to control the waters in the area. This is a dual timeline story, and fell flat for me. I was much more interested in the historical story, the present day timeline didn't hold my interest as much.
Under the Stars - Beatriz Williams - fiction - five stars - Audrey Fisher's mom is a famous movie star who has just completed rehab and needs to stay sober until her next movie starts filming. Audrey, whose husband has just just cleaned out their bank accounts and disappeared is the lucky individual who gets to chaperone her mom until then. They head to the old family home on Winthrop Island. There, Audrey reconnects with her father, and discovers a trunk that contains a key to her past. The book alternates between current day, Audrey's Mom's story, and the story of Providence Dare, a woman who shipwrecked on the island in the 1840's. I really enjoyed Williams' previous book Husbands and Lovers, and an added bonus is that here are some characters from that book that appear in this one as well.
The Elements (The Elements, #1-4) - John Boyne - fiction - five stars - This is an excellent book, but covers the difficult subject of abuse. It consists of four novellettes which are indirectly related. Boyne does an excellent job creating complex characters and tackles the subject with great care and finesse. You see the effects and results of abuse from the perspectives of indirect victims, direct victims, and abuser. This one took a while to get through, but well worth it.
Bright Lights, Big Christmas - Mary Kay Andrews - fiction - five stars - I really enjoy Andrews' books, and this was a quick fun read. Kerry Tolliver's family owns a tree farm, and each year they set up a stand in NYC. This year, Kerry's Dad can't go due to health issues, so she's coopted into helping her brother at the stand. There she meets a variety of regulars and friends the family has made over the years, and of course meets a special someone. Sweet Christmas story.
Daughters of the Bamboo Grove: From China to America, a True Story of Abduction, Adoption, and Separated Twins - Barbara Demick - nonfiction - four stars - I was really interested in the story behind this book. It's about twins who were separated when one twin was taken by the Chinese Family Planning group after their parents broke the rules of the One Child Policy too many times. The book uncovers the truth about child abductions under the guise of enforcing the One Child Policy, which fueled an international adoption business. Demick overlays the story of this particular family with reporting about the system and historical context. My interest was mostly in the story of the family, which I found fascinating. I would have liked to have had more of that aspect, but the other pieces provided really interesting background as well.
The Lies They Told - Ellen Marie Wiseman - historical fiction - four stars - An interesting read following the previous book. This tells the story of Lena, who emigrates to the US from Germany for a better life. She goes to work for a distant cousin, Silas, helping him care for his children in the Shenandoah. Unfortunately, the government of Virginia is trying to take away Silas' land. They want to create a park, and are forcing out Appalachians who have lived on the land for generations by deeming them unfit, immoral, and backwards with the help of the Eugenics Office. Lena finds herself institutionalized, separated from her daughter as well as Silas' children. When she is finally released, she learns the children have all be adopted into better homes. A look at an appalling part of history.
Life in Two Worlds: A Coach's Journey from the Reserve to the NHL and Back - Ted Nolan - Autobiography - four stars - I was a big fan of Ted Nolan when he coached the Sabres and thought it somewhat crazy that they let him go after winning the coach of the year award. I also thought it odd that he really didn't coach much after that. Nolan tells his story here. I thought his playing career was really interesting, he had to overcome a lot to even get into the NHL, and had a career shortened by injury. I enjoyed hearing about his coaching philosophy, and the connections he made with players. Of coruse ther eare two sides to every story, but it seemed like he provided a pretty fair explanation of his experiences as a coach. I do think that it's too bad others didn't take a chance on him. He would have been a far better coach for the Caps than Bruce Cassidy was.
When the Cranes Fly South - Lisa Ridzén - fiction - five stars - This was a fantastic book, but a total tearjerker. It's about Bo, whose wife has dementia and is living in a facility. Meanwhile, his health is failing. He lives at home with his dog Sixten, and is helped by a variety of caregivers as well as his son Hans. The story is told by Bo interspersed with the notes that the caregivers leave one another as to his status during each visit. It's a short read, but really gets you. Must read, but be prepared.
Favorite this month was When the Cranes Fly South, and least favorite was The Amalfi Curse. I've got a whole bunch of hold books that just showed up, so I've got a lot of reading work to do this month. What have you guys been reading?
