Finished on 7/14/09:
THE BLACK TOWER by Louis Bayard, 2008.
An excellent historical mystery concerning the son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, who was incarcerated in the Black Tower, and after his parents' deaths, allegedly died there a short time later. This story, set in 1818, involves Vidocq, the chief of the Parisian plainclothes police force, who is on the trail to find out if this prince has somehow survived death. A murdered man has been found with a paper on him containing the name of Hector Carpentier, and that's where Vidocq's search begins. This Hector is the son of another Hector Carpentier, who was the prince's sympathetic physician in the tower. These two characters become involved in a dangerous and tangled quest to find out the truth of what actually happened to the prince: is he dead or alive? Where is he? Who is he? And who is behind the series of attacks and murders against those who are out to either discover or conceal the truth of the matter? Great details of Restoration France, intriguing historical premise, fast paced narrative, and colorful characters (Vidocq is definitely interesting), make this a good read.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
My wife and I watched a little indie film last night called "Junebug". It was a quirky, odd, entirely character driven movie set in North Carolina. Amy Adams, Alessandro Nivola, and Celia Weston starred; Adams made this before she became famous ala Disney's hugely popular and successful "Enchanted". This movie involved the homecoming of a young married couple to NC from Chicago; the wife (Embeth Davidz) is chasing down a NC folk artist she wants to represent and is meeting her in-laws for the first time. Amy Adams, as the very pregnant, cute, and somewhat childish Ashley is the only family member to welcome her openly, and she nearly steals every scene she's in. There's lots of family issues like love, jealousy, anger, fear, loss, etc., and the idea of one son being the "golden boy"(Nivola, in this case). The new wife struggles to understand his family and their ways and tries to fit in, and all the while trying to sign the artist she's after; the husband seems to quickly revert to the old environment. There are no easy or pat answers to some of the issues and not everything gets resolved. It is well written and realistic, with interesting camera work, and very well cast. Shot in and around Winston-Salem, NC, which adds to the realistic feel. Worth a look and discussing afterward, as we did.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Finished on 7/8/08:
BOUND by Sally Gunning, 2008.
A thoroughly entertaining and researched novel concerning a girl named Alice Cole, who at 7 years old, arrived in Boston with her father in 1756, after losing her mother and brothers to death while at sea. Her father sells her as an indentured servant to work for Mr. Morton for 7 years, then disappears from her life forever. Morton treats her well, raises her with his own daughter, Abigail. But when Nabby marries Emery Verley, Alice goes with them as a gift, is sexually abused and humiliated by Verley and mistreated by Nabby, and finally runs off, stowing away on a ship in Boston harbor. She ends up in Satucket on Cape Cod, taken in by Widow Berry and Mr. Freeman. The novel explores Alice's further trials and tribulations, including the consequences of running away, an unwanted pregnancy, attraction to the widow's grandson, alleged murder, and the unsettled political climate of the times. Great detail, interesting, informative narrative, an intriguing heroine, and about a topic that is probably often overlooked: indentured slavery. Recommended.
A thoroughly entertaining and researched novel concerning a girl named Alice Cole, who at 7 years old, arrived in Boston with her father in 1756, after losing her mother and brothers to death while at sea. Her father sells her as an indentured servant to work for Mr. Morton for 7 years, then disappears from her life forever. Morton treats her well, raises her with his own daughter, Abigail. But when Nabby marries Emery Verley, Alice goes with them as a gift, is sexually abused and humiliated by Verley and mistreated by Nabby, and finally runs off, stowing away on a ship in Boston harbor. She ends up in Satucket on Cape Cod, taken in by Widow Berry and Mr. Freeman. The novel explores Alice's further trials and tribulations, including the consequences of running away, an unwanted pregnancy, attraction to the widow's grandson, alleged murder, and the unsettled political climate of the times. Great detail, interesting, informative narrative, an intriguing heroine, and about a topic that is probably often overlooked: indentured slavery. Recommended.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Finished reading 7/3/09:
CITY OF THE SUN by David Levien, 2008.
Swiftly moving thriller about the taking of an 12 year old boy, Jamie Gabriel, while on his paper route one morning. To the police and his parents, he has vanished without a trace. The father, Paul, hires Frank Behr, a p.i. with police connections to track him down and find out what happened to him, as the parents want some kind of closure. Behr, working with the slimmest of clues, begins the hunt. Paul wants to be more involved in the investigation, and Behr and Paul form a kind of uneasy bond and work together to solve the case. The whole investigation leads them down paths no one wants to follow.
The unsavoriness/seaminess of the subject matter could be a stumbling block: it is repellent, but at the same time intriguing and makes for a thrilling story. Definitely a page-turner.
CITY OF THE SUN by David Levien, 2008.
Swiftly moving thriller about the taking of an 12 year old boy, Jamie Gabriel, while on his paper route one morning. To the police and his parents, he has vanished without a trace. The father, Paul, hires Frank Behr, a p.i. with police connections to track him down and find out what happened to him, as the parents want some kind of closure. Behr, working with the slimmest of clues, begins the hunt. Paul wants to be more involved in the investigation, and Behr and Paul form a kind of uneasy bond and work together to solve the case. The whole investigation leads them down paths no one wants to follow.
The unsavoriness/seaminess of the subject matter could be a stumbling block: it is repellent, but at the same time intriguing and makes for a thrilling story. Definitely a page-turner.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Finished on 6/22/09:
CASSANDRA & JANE by Jill Pitkeathley, 2008.
This novel tells the story of Jane Austen's life from the POV of her elder sister Cassandra. Lifelong companions, as well as sisters, Cass probably knew Jane better than any other sibling or contemporary. Author manages to convey a sense of Jane's times through her use of language, writing style, and period detail, but doesn't bog down the story. Shows the trials and tribulations of being an unmarried, well educated, middle class sort of female during the English Regency, as well as Jane's struggles to write and have her novels published, and how Jane handled the fame and adoration that came with the notoriety of being a published author. Pitkeathley also touches on the two sisters' love affairs (including the Tom Lefroy episode) and their sometimes prickly relationships with their parents and siblings. A good read based on solid facts.
CASSANDRA & JANE by Jill Pitkeathley, 2008.
This novel tells the story of Jane Austen's life from the POV of her elder sister Cassandra. Lifelong companions, as well as sisters, Cass probably knew Jane better than any other sibling or contemporary. Author manages to convey a sense of Jane's times through her use of language, writing style, and period detail, but doesn't bog down the story. Shows the trials and tribulations of being an unmarried, well educated, middle class sort of female during the English Regency, as well as Jane's struggles to write and have her novels published, and how Jane handled the fame and adoration that came with the notoriety of being a published author. Pitkeathley also touches on the two sisters' love affairs (including the Tom Lefroy episode) and their sometimes prickly relationships with their parents and siblings. A good read based on solid facts.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Finished reading on 6/12/09:
SPELLBOUND BY BEAUTY by Donald Spoto, 2008.
Alfred Hitchcock, a great director, was not very nice to many of the actresses who worked for him, particularly Tippi Hedren and Diane Baker. A worthwhile look at a famous director who had some serious issues in his relationships, especially with women.
SPELLBOUND BY BEAUTY by Donald Spoto, 2008.
Alfred Hitchcock, a great director, was not very nice to many of the actresses who worked for him, particularly Tippi Hedren and Diane Baker. A worthwhile look at a famous director who had some serious issues in his relationships, especially with women.
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS by Sara Gruen, 2006.
Excellent story about life in the circus during the Great Depression, narrated by Jacob appearing both as an old man and a young man in flashbacks. The story has thought provoking themes involving loyalty, friendship, love and loss, treatment of circus animals, ageing, etc. Jacob, a veterinary student running away from his personal tragedy, joins the circus train and falls in love with Marlena, who is married to August (who is mad as a hatter). All kinds of adventures ensue, involving circus animals, dwarves, fat ladies and other freaks, and assorted workers and performers. Gruen has done huge amounts of research, but overall it's the storytelling that moves this story along a fast clip. Her opening describing the circus stampede and murder quickly draws the reader in. And her depiction of Rosie the elephant and her antics is most memorable. Great book for discussion.
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