Two new reviews!

It appears I am better at reading than writing lately. Hopefully everyone has been able to find a few good books without me! If not, here are two new reviews for you to consider.

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand - Helen Simonson

Does it say something that I seem to be reading a lot of novels about older peoplelately? That was rhetorical, meaning don't answer. I really enjoyed this novel, it was different in an Olive Kitteridge king of way. The story told the tale of an old-fashioned Major whose wife has died and he finds love again in a Pakistani widower. His friends and son look down upon this relationship and the Major capitulates only to realize it's his life to live. He finds himself forced to make a decision whether to save a future he wants or live in a past of comfort but solitude. The novel is filled with rich characters and settings, from the snotty yet insecure son to the brash Pakistani nephew of the Major's amore. Major Pettigrew is a very comfy read by the fire with a cup of tea and shawl.

The Girl who played with Fire - Stieg Larsson

This author clearly doesn't need any help from me - his books are everywhere including the best seller list for I don't know how long but it's been at least all summer. Fans of his are clearly bereft that there won't be anymore Lisbeth Salander in the future because Larsson unfortunatley died but a movie based on his books is in the works.
As for me, I sort of did everything wrong with this book, which could be why it didn't grip me. I bought #2 first, not realizing it was a series. I thought it was more like Lawrence Sanders or Janet Evanovich where you can pick up anywhere and it's another story with the same characters. No so. If you want the full experience buy The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo first. Though I realized my mistake I solidered on. As I read I had a hard time (as did many of the readers I spoke with) with pronouncing the Swedish names and places . I was also very distracted because the majority of my reading was done on the beach with the kids who tend to wait until someone is about to be murdered (or the murdered is to be revealed) before they feign drowning.
The story was definitely thrilling; two writers and a bad guy are killed and we don't know if Lisbeth, who is a troubled character, did it or not. My issue was it was looonnnnngggg, I'd say too long for the plot, but again I was distracted and not super into it. A lot of people love these books - I've seen it on the train, in Maine, on-line, all over the place - and I think I'm the only one who wasn't head over heels so try it for yourself and let me know what you think!

Marshfield Literary Events - 2010

Here is a list of upcoming Writers Workshop Author Series, being held at the GAR Hall in Marshfield Hills:

• Saturday, September 25 at 2 p.m.: Brunonia Barry (The Lace Reader, The Map of True Places)
• Saturday, October 23 at 2 p.m.: Lynne Griffin (Life Without Summer, Sea Escape)
• Tuesday, November 16 at 7 p.m.: Michelle Hoover (The Quickening)

All of these Author Series events are free and open to the public, so please spread the word! See the North River Arts Society page for more information.

Bad Blood - Casey Sherman

Recently I was sitting at the YMCA pool talking with my friend about books.He said, somewhat louder than usual though he tends to be loud (in a good way) anyway, "YOU SHOULD READ CASEY SHERMAN."
"Really?" I said. "What does he write?"
My friend looked sheepish so I wondered what was up.
"Um, non-fiction. True crime stuff," he said.
"Oh I'll have to.." I said but turned when the woman next me to me spoke up, "He's my husband, that's why he's saying that."
"Oh, cool," was my usual intelligent response.
As you may expect I then proceeded to probe her about her husband's agent, whether I might speak to him, how he first got published, etc.
She, clearly being well versed in this approach, directed me to his Facebook page. I did and found his impressive listing of books including Bad Blood.
Bad Blood is about a townie from Franconia, NH named Liko Kenney and a police officer, Bruce McKay. The two men come from different backgrounds and ideologies. Liko is a free spirit with a wild bent, while Bruce is a disiplinarian who doesn't play favorites. Their first interaction is during a 2003 suspicious loitering traffic stop. The situtation dissolves as Liko refuses to bend to Bruce's will. As the author takes us through this troubling event, he takes great care not to take sides. It's difficult to understand how either man wouldn't have walked away from the situation at some point but neither did and Liko ends up squeezing Bruce's testicles in front of two other officers. The hatred from this event lingers in both men's souls for years until their final showdown after which both men end up dead.
In order to understand where these two were coming from the reader must know the history of both the Kenney and McKay families and of Franconia itself. Throughout the story, Mr. Sherman shows his expertise at weaving pertinent historical information into a action packed narrative.  I was so enthralled after finished the book I looked up more information about Liko on You Tube and found a great video of him describing how much he loved living in the North Country and how outsiders just didn't get it. He reminded me of a lot of young men: confident, self-assured, and naive.
Bad Blood is the story of a sad confluence of events but stands as a great lesson to police officers and wild youth alike - holding a grudge doesn't do anyone any good and sometimes it can kill you.
Check out Casey Sherman on Facebook or click here to buy Bad Blood.

Caught - Harlan Coban

Harlan Coban is the new Sidney Sheldon or Lawrence Sanders of our times. He has seventeen novels in print including Caught, his most recent release.
In this thriller/mystery, Wendy Tynes is a sensationalistic television reporter. She works for a tabloid show that "outs" sexual predators. When she realizes that her latest journalistic victim, Dan Mercer, may be just that, a victim, she begins an investigation into the case of a young girl that was recently abducted and attributed to Dan.
As the story unfolds, Wendy ends up questioning her career and her motives, along with the validity of her investigation into this charming alleged predator. In the end we find out things aren't always as they seem and justice should be left in the hands of the law. It's a thrilling, beach read, just like the other Coben novels I've read. Worth the read!

Loose Girl - Kerry Cohen

In general I'm not a huge fan of memoir. They tend to meander into personal opinion and intricate detail of events I don't care about. Not so in this novel. Loose Girl - A memoir of promiscuity is the story of Kerry, the daughter of  divorced parents. Her mother leaves her and her sister to go to the Phillipines to get her doctorate depositing the two girls with their father, a self-involved 80's capitalist.
Kerry and her sister are left to their own devices. Kerry turns to men while her sister retreats into herself. Much of Kerry's adventures are scary. I read them now - a mother of two young daughters - wanting to stop her. At 14 she frequents New York City bars - one of which is the infamous location of the "Preppy Murder". In fact, Kerry knew Robert Chambers and Jennifer Levin and had seen them a few nights before her murder. She weaves this story and a myriad of others into her tales of searching for her next mate hoping to fill the void her parents have left behind.
Many of Kerry's conquests remain nameless but a few she hangs on to for longer periods of time. Leif, Eli and Heath are ships she returns to again and again giving us a glimmer of hope for this lost little girl. The story ties up somewhat neatly but I was left with the impression that Kerry's nature, her longing and search, may continue though she clearly hopes it doesn't. It was a very satisfying ending, not romanticized but realistic.
Any woman who sowed her wild oats at one period of time will appreciate this story while thanking her lucky stars these days are behind her.

Life without Summer - Lynne Griffin

Lynne Griffin is another South Shore writer I met at the Muse & Marketplace conference. Her debut novel, Life without Summer, is the story of two families struggling to deal with the deaths of their young daughters.
The stories are interwoven when one woman's four year old daughter, Abby, is hit by a car while walking from the park to her pre-school (cringe, I know!) The driver of the car speeds away leaving poor Abby to perish. The mother, Tessa, works through her pain by resolving to find her daughter's killer. As her pain threatens to drag her down she begins therapy. The therapist, Celia, while helping the grieving mother, is dealing with issues of her own. Her ex-husband is a recovering (we think) alcoholic and her son has just left her house to live with his father.
The beauty of this story lies in Lynne's ability to make each chapter flow seamlessly from Tessa to Celia's story. Each chapter is titled cleverly, keeping you in the proper storyline.
If you are a mother and in need a reminder of all that you have (and have to lose) this book is definitely for you. I know I'll never complain about my children again without thinking of Abby.
Lynne also has a website and has just launched her newest book, Sea Escape, which I'm planning to pick up as soon as possible. She's reading at Buttonwood Books in Cohasset tonight but, unfortunatley, I can't make it. If you are in the area please check it out.

The Surrendered, Olive Kitteridge, Hush

The Surrendered by Chang-Rae Lee

This story of three interwoven characters beautifully depicts the human toll war takes on innocents and soliders. It also exposes the brilliant ability of people to adapt, overcome, and live.
June is an 11 year old left to take care of her siblings when her mother and sister are killed by a bomb in the Korean War. Her younger siblings don't fare any better, and when June is left alone she, too, is prey to the evils of men in a war zone; until she meets Hector, an American GI.
Hector and June end up at an orphanage where she becomes the black sheep among the gaggle of children left behind and he falls in love with a minister's wife. Sylvie, the subject of Hector's passion, turns out to have a devasting story of her own.
The novel follows these three, using backstory and dialogue, from their childhoods to the present. Hector's tale felt to me like the main plot but I think that may be open to interpretation depending on which character you find most relatable.
The Surrendered is beautifully written and difficult to put down - though the subject matter is hard to read. This is not light reading - coming in at 480 pages - but an enlightening tale you are sure to remember for a long time.

Olive Kitteridge, by Elizabeth Strout

This novel is a Pulitzer Prize winner and an Oprah recommendation so I won't review too thoroughly as it clearly doesn't need my 2 cents.
Olive is a collection of short stories woven together by a common thread: Olive Kitteridge a retired school teacher. She is crochety, mean, and hard to like; everything they say you shouldn't have in a main character. But she's like most of us. We see her judging herself (and others) like we all do. And there is a lot to judge - from her infidelity-longing-unable- to-follow-through husband, to her son, Christopher, who can't get far enough away from his mother, and she can't understand why.
Each story opens us up to new limb on Olive's tree , making us wonder where it will end - and end it does, in a twist you'll find surprising.

Hush, by Kate White

This is a beach read; a summer quickie.
Lake Warren (see the name even evokes summer time) is a marketing consultant for a fertility clinic. She is coming off of a recent divorce and gets herself into hot water with one of the new doctors at the clinic. Twists and turns ensue as she learns she can't trust anyone, even her closest friends. The one piece I would have liked to see more realistically depicted is her relationship with her children, who are away at camp during the entire book. Otherwise it was a fun, mystery/thriller.