“CHINA ROOM” by Sunjeev Sahota
A small book with a punch. Set in rural India nearly 100 years ago, the story deals with a family living under the strict marriage rules of those times. But in addition, the plot-line intertwines into the 21st century when a distant relative comes from England to live in the house where the family at one time lived. We feel the strong difference between the centuries while, at the same time, realize that the age-old themes of love, power, truth, and violence remain as part of our lives - no matter what century.
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“THESE PRECIOUS DAYS” by Ann Patchett
This collection of essays gives us a smattering of stories to savor one at a time when sit-and-read-time permits. Pulling from various times and experiences in Patchett's personal - and writing - life, we get to explore her different interests, thoughts at random, plus special people and times in her life. I was particularly touched by her "Three Fathers," an essay centering on her original father plus the other two men who married her mother in later years - each man providing something special in her life.
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“THE REDHEADED PRINCESS” by Ann Rinaldi
I have read any number of books about English royalty, especially during the convoluted times of Henry VIII. But I have never read one written especially for young adults. This small volume was a delight. Full of action and with lots of factual history - all with young readers in mind. In her notes at the end, Rinaldi speaks of her work admitting that "there are others more accurate and more exacting" but she hopes she has made hers "interesting, eye-opening, and fun to read." It was.
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“THE POWER” by Naomi Alderman
Let me be straight with you from the get-go: I am not a fan of science fiction. And this is powerful science fiction. A winner of literary prizes and with quality kudos from Margaret Atwood, this book is worth your while if you like this genre. And if you don't mind strong language and plenty of sex. I gave the reading a good try but, to me, life is too short to spend time in reading something that turns me off rather than on. So, with that caveat, and if science fiction is your game, go for it. Otherwise, be forewarned.
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“HIS VERY BEST: JIMMY CARTER, A LIFE” by Jonathan Alter
This is a thick and heavy book (although the last 100 pages are the necessary notes and references), but our author has been able to weave his writing magic into this biography of a one-term president. Since I knew little about Carter's early years, I appreciated how thoroughly and interestingly Alter leads his readers through the time of peanut farming and local politics. And then, even the nitty-gritty of Washington with its political hazards at every turn is well narrated. A biography worth your while.
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“FAULT LINES” by Emily Itami
Oh, to be young and talented, with a delightful sense of humor, a warm heart and a way with words that keeps a reader turning the page! That's what went through my mind as I sat in my favorite reading chair with this thin book in hand. Our author's plot is spare, her words settle in easily, and I'm smiling as I read. Some other author might take the same plot (a young mother slowly falling apart) and make me angry, or cry, or at least be depressed. But Emily Itami makes this story sing. All the way to the very end.
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“INNOCENT TRAITOR” by Alison Weir
Although this is Alison Weir's first book of historical fiction, she is already well known as an historian - for her biographies of royalty such as Mary Queen of Scots, Queen Isabella and Eleanor of Aquitaine. This story centers on Lady Jane Gray, the great-niece of King Henry the Eighth. A young queen for only nine days, she grew up through those harrowing times of deception and betrayal before finally being imprisoned and beheaded, as so many were in those tumultuous days.
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“WHAT'S MINE AND YOURS” by Naima Coster
In this novel, we meet three generations living multi-racial lives in a convoluted plot that winds throughout the book. It will help to sort out the characters if you begin by making a few notes - at least, that's what I did when I was part-way through the saga - then backed up and started over again. It's not a simple feel-good story, and not everything straightens out in the end to everyone's satisfaction. But then, real life doesn't always end up that way, either.
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