When I finished Fall of Giants, the first in Ken Follett's latest trilogy, I was filled with happiness. It was a stunning book filled with accurate historical accounts of the events surrounding World War 1 and the characters where rich and real to me. About five minutes later, I started to panic a little for the exact same reason - the book was over and I would never again get … [Read more...]
‘Secret Keeper’ Is the Story of Love Lost and Found
Kate Morton has proven once again that she is the master of historical fiction, dual narratives, and punching you right in the gut. I have yet to read a book by her that I didn't like and most of them I've loved but this is, perhaps, her greatest accomplishment yet.The Secret Keeper is about Laurel, who has spent her life wondering about a violent incident committed by her … [Read more...]
Cementville by Paulette Livers (Book Review)
On a stormy day in May 1969, seven coffins and one war-torn veteran were brought home from Vietnam to the small town of Cementville, Kentucky. So begins this "semi-autobiographical" story by Paulette Livers, who grew up in Bardstown, Kentucky - the real-life town with the highest per capita loss from the Vietnam War in the United States. Drawing on her personal experiences … [Read more...]
The Hired Man by Aminatta Forna (Book Review)
The Hired Man by Aminatta Forna is a haunting tale that you know from the first few pages is a book you want to read slowly so as to savor it. Set in the small town of Gost, Croatia, this relatively quick read is a story about the sorrows and tragedies of the aftermath of war and the power of perseverance in spite of it all.When an English family buys a rundown … [Read more...]
Ripped-From-the-Headlines’ “Mistress” Is Magnificent
From the first few pages of The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress by Ariel Lawhon, I knew I would be hooked. You see, the book is centered around the ripped-from-the-headlines disappearance of a NY State Supreme Court judge who just happened to go missing on the date of my anniversary: August 6. This is, of course, a complete coincidence, but it did intrigue me from the … [Read more...]