Do novels fly through time and space?
From historical England to distant planets, via Chicago, Shanghai and more, I've been enjoying a wealth of deeply absorbing novels recently--I just haven't had time to post my book reviews. But now my mum's back in England and my husband's playing chess, so here are some reviews of books that carried me through time and space over Christmas.
The Familiars by Stacey Halls takes readers to England in the 1600s, the time of the Pendle Witch trials. Neighbors accuse neighbors, friends betray, spouses keep secrets, and a young pregnant girl grow into wisdom and strength during the course of the tale. Well-researched, darkly real, and well-told, it's one to enjoy with some dark five-star coffee.
Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield is set around the River Thames in the late 1800s. There are still rumors of magic in the world, especially when a dead child dragged from a river comes back to life. But there's also science, human darkness, and kindess and hope. Enjoy this one with some complex four-star coffee.
Women seem to be a common theme in these tales--I hadn't noticed before I started posting reviews.
What Heals the Heart by Karen Wyle is set in the time after the Civil War, where a doctor hides his PTSD and struggles to learn new skills, and a Jewish widow tries to marry him off. Much more than just a historical romance, this evocative tale is one to enjoy with a complex four-star coffee.
Parlor Games by Maryka Biaggio opens with the trial of a women in the early 1900s. It's a continent-spanning tale, smoothly non-judgmental, of a woman who does whatever it takes to keep her head far above water. The Gilded Age forms the backdrop as she narrates a life of bordellos, cruises, castles and towns--a complex tale to enjoy with some more complex four-star coffee.
Wakenhyrst by Michelle Paver tells of another woman who, as a 1900s teenager battled against the rules and regulations of her world. Encountering an ancient painting that seemingly changed everything, she ends up a lonely spinster, daughter of a murderer who happens to be a great artist. Part coming of age, part gothic horror, with lots of evocative descriptions and curious mystery--this is one to enjoy with some seriously dark five-star coffee.
Set in the 1950s and 60s, Delia Owens' Where the Crawdads Sing is a hauntingly evocative depiction of life, love and promises through the eyes of an isolated child, growing up to womanhood. Learning relationships from books and animals, learning to read from a boy who cares but can't care enough for her, coming of age on the outside looking in... it's blended with a murder mystery that grabs like an anchor in the sand, and it's one to enjoy with some elegantly complex four-star coffee.
Then there's Matthew Flinders’ Cat by Bryce Courtenay. The past most surely affects the present in this - and the protagonists are all men (or boys). The cat--a real cat--sailed around Australia with its owner. Now a drunkard finds himself telling its tale, meanwhile trying to heal himself so he can better heal a wounded boy. Details of addiction and recovery, Salvation Army hostels, child welfare and more abound in a truly absorbing tale, with the cat adding lightness and hope at every corner. More dark five-star coffee for the readers please.
Melmoth by Sarah Perry invites readers to see flawed characters of the past and present, all the time watched by a waiting observer who somehow shares their guilt. Exploring guilt and forgiveness, history and fear, it's a fascinating dark novel to enjoy with more dark five-star coffee.
And finally, racing into the future, (or the past of a different galaxy, far far away), there's Lost Stars by Claudia Gray. Tying perfectly into the original movies, and dealing with current-day issues through the love story of characters who end up on opposite sides, it's a really cool young adult novel with excellent adult appeal. Enjoy with some well-balanced smooth three-star coffee.
The Familiars by Stacey Halls takes readers to England in the 1600s, the time of the Pendle Witch trials. Neighbors accuse neighbors, friends betray, spouses keep secrets, and a young pregnant girl grow into wisdom and strength during the course of the tale. Well-researched, darkly real, and well-told, it's one to enjoy with some dark five-star coffee.
Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield is set around the River Thames in the late 1800s. There are still rumors of magic in the world, especially when a dead child dragged from a river comes back to life. But there's also science, human darkness, and kindess and hope. Enjoy this one with some complex four-star coffee.
Women seem to be a common theme in these tales--I hadn't noticed before I started posting reviews.
What Heals the Heart by Karen Wyle is set in the time after the Civil War, where a doctor hides his PTSD and struggles to learn new skills, and a Jewish widow tries to marry him off. Much more than just a historical romance, this evocative tale is one to enjoy with a complex four-star coffee.
Parlor Games by Maryka Biaggio opens with the trial of a women in the early 1900s. It's a continent-spanning tale, smoothly non-judgmental, of a woman who does whatever it takes to keep her head far above water. The Gilded Age forms the backdrop as she narrates a life of bordellos, cruises, castles and towns--a complex tale to enjoy with some more complex four-star coffee.
Wakenhyrst by Michelle Paver tells of another woman who, as a 1900s teenager battled against the rules and regulations of her world. Encountering an ancient painting that seemingly changed everything, she ends up a lonely spinster, daughter of a murderer who happens to be a great artist. Part coming of age, part gothic horror, with lots of evocative descriptions and curious mystery--this is one to enjoy with some seriously dark five-star coffee.
Set in the 1950s and 60s, Delia Owens' Where the Crawdads Sing is a hauntingly evocative depiction of life, love and promises through the eyes of an isolated child, growing up to womanhood. Learning relationships from books and animals, learning to read from a boy who cares but can't care enough for her, coming of age on the outside looking in... it's blended with a murder mystery that grabs like an anchor in the sand, and it's one to enjoy with some elegantly complex four-star coffee.
Then there's Matthew Flinders’ Cat by Bryce Courtenay. The past most surely affects the present in this - and the protagonists are all men (or boys). The cat--a real cat--sailed around Australia with its owner. Now a drunkard finds himself telling its tale, meanwhile trying to heal himself so he can better heal a wounded boy. Details of addiction and recovery, Salvation Army hostels, child welfare and more abound in a truly absorbing tale, with the cat adding lightness and hope at every corner. More dark five-star coffee for the readers please.
Melmoth by Sarah Perry invites readers to see flawed characters of the past and present, all the time watched by a waiting observer who somehow shares their guilt. Exploring guilt and forgiveness, history and fear, it's a fascinating dark novel to enjoy with more dark five-star coffee.
And finally, racing into the future, (or the past of a different galaxy, far far away), there's Lost Stars by Claudia Gray. Tying perfectly into the original movies, and dealing with current-day issues through the love story of characters who end up on opposite sides, it's a really cool young adult novel with excellent adult appeal. Enjoy with some well-balanced smooth three-star coffee.
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