What Robin Reads

Remarkable Creatures

2010-03-21T16:07:00.000-07:00

...by Tracy Chevalier

In this book, Chevalier tells the story of Elizabeth Philpot, and her friendship with Mary Anning in Lyme Regis, in or near the time of Jane Austen. Elizabeth and her two sisters have not married, and their newly wedded brother sends them off to live in Lyme, since there will no longer be a place for them in the family home. At first, Elizabeth considers this a death sentence; a place to be locked away and out of the way. But it is in Lyme that she discovers her first fossil along the beach. She becomes fascinated with it, and soon fills her days scouring the beach for more, becoming more and more knowledgeable as time passes. She befriends Mary, a young girl of lesser standing who has a talent for finding fossils, and this is their story, spanning several years, as told from their points of view.

This story is about many things. First of all, it’s fiction based on actual people and actual prehistoric finds. We see the women behind the history; the women who got none of the credit, of course, this being nineteenth century England. But more than that, we see how unmarried women, specifically those interested in science, were viewed during that period, and how they saw themselves and each other. Elizabeth almost sees herself as a fossil of sorts; maybe that’s why she’s so fascinated with them. We also see the birth of what would become a lifelong friendship between Elizabeth and Mary, and how social status, jealousy and thirst for fame nearly tear them apart.

There’s not a lot of suspense in this novel, as these are ordinary women, but at the same time remarkable creatures. This book was a joy from the first few pages as a quiet look at ordinary people who contributed greatly.

Loved it.

Housekeeping--better late than never...

2010-02-07T13:17:00.000-08:00

Well, since we're well into February, I suppose it's time to do a little blog housekeeping. The "LibraryThing 50 Book Challenge" counter, at left, has been removed (shamefully, with my head hung low). Reading only 20 books in 2009, I prefer to remove any trace of my woeful attempt. I doubt seriously that there will be a similar counter in it's place for 2010, but I WILL keep reading and writing about what I read here. Please do me a favor, and don't keep count....I won't be.

Read much, but not many books.
~ Benjamin Franklin ~

The Book of Fires

2009-12-29T18:47:00.000-08:00

...by Jane Borodale (a debut novel)

Rec'd as an Advanced Readers Copy
356 Pages
Release Date: 01/21/10

This is the story of a young, naïve country girl who, given the worst of circumstances, sets out to make the best of her life anyway. Her innocence is touching, making her very likeable from the start.

The eighteenth century isn’t such a good time to be unwed and pregnant. In England, it is a hangable offense, and poor Agnes is left to her own devises, each day drawing nearer the time she would be found out. It’s in desperation that she leaves her home and finds herself in London. Borodale is an excellent storyteller, and the characters that Agnes meets along the way are colorful; I could “hear” all their voices as I read, and could practically feel Agnes’ anxiousness that they may find her out. All the while, she is working as assistant to a brooding fireworks maker, whom I have decided should definitely be played by Alan Rickman in the movie, should there be one. It is with him, in his workshop, that Agnes learns that she has a talent, I think; potential that makes her realize that she matters and is truly worth saving, despite what the world is telling her. This is a story about making one’s way; finding not only survival, but also purpose, friendship, and a place to belong.

The last chapters, instead of winding down the story, as many books do, is filled with twists and surprises that make you want it to go on and on. It gave me the impression that Borodale didn’t want it to end as she was writing. It was absolutely wonderful clear up to the last page, and not once did I find myself saying, “but what about…..?”. I was able to put this down, finished, with satisfaction, and I can’t wait to read something else from this writer, when it becomes available (this is a debut novel).

The Book of Fires will be available in late January, 2010.

A Walk With Jane Austen

2009-08-10T09:18:00.000-07:00

...by Lori Smith

Smith takes readers along for the ride as she travels to Jane Austen’s England; visiting all the significant locations in Austen’s novels, as well as to where Jane spent her real life. This read very well, as Smith wrote of her own life’s journey as it unfolded along the way. With wit and insight, she explores the landscape of Austen’s life and those in her novels; looking for Jane, but finding pieces of herself along the way. Beginning in Oxford, Smith travels through English countryside, from Steventon, where Jane’s father was a rector, on through Lyme, Bath, and Pilsley (what Jane Austen fan could help but go in search of Mr. Darcy’s home…), among others. What I like most about this (aside from all the Austen-y stuff), is that we are along for the ride of Smith’s life. We watch her grow as a person, becoming surer of herself. She starts out on this journey, not really knowing who she is, or why she’s found herself in sort of a funk, and as she travels, and looks at Jane’s life, it helps her sort out her own. Historically, I learned much about Austen the author, and intimately, I learned much about Smith the author. Her search for life’s meaning, love, good health, and faith are familiar to me.

I was able to relate to this in a few ways, as I am usually in a funk of sorts (it’s my normal state, really), and I still have no idea who I really am, or who I’m meant to become. It was very much a sort of “girl-bonding” in an unusual way. Not so much with your best “living” friend, but with one who lived in another era, to whom you are relating just by following her footsteps and looking at life through her eyes…but not in a creepy way.

Leaving A Trace

2009-08-08T16:54:00.000-07:00

...On Keeping A Journal, by Alexandra Johnson

I don’t need inspiration as much to keep a journal as I do to know what to journal, what to skip, and how to sort it all out once it’s on paper.

What a pleasant surprise this book was! I picked it up from the clearance rack at Barnes & Noble, thinking I’d get a couple tips on keeping my journals current. What I got instead was chapter after chapter, each led by quotes from the likes of Virginia Woolf, Annie Dillard, and Gail Godwin, among others, examining the importance of writing about key life events as well as the day-to-day. In reviewing your journals, you reveal your life story. She urges going back and re-reading what has been written, and more importantly, what was omitted, because there, often, are where the stories are. After reading this book, I really realize that anyone who considers themselves to be, or wants to be, a writer, must journal. She talks about why one should journal, the forms that journals can take (milestone journals, crisis journals, thankfulness journals, travel journals, etc..),dealing with your own internal censor, learning to view the world in detail---“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes”---Proust, as quoted in Leaving A Trace. This, specifically, appealed to me, as I have begun, in the past 10 years, to look at everything with “new eyes”. Johnson also talks about finding inspiration, and connecting the patterns in your journal that tell your story. She also includes very useful (and just plain fun) exercises at the end of each chapter, designed to train the writer to pay attention to the details, look for omissions, find “missing links”, and shape your daily writing into a meaningful story.

I’ve read other journal-keeping books in the past, but none of them come close to packing so much useful information into one place. On top of the information itself, Alexandra Johnson is a gifted storyteller, so she presents it all in a way that keeps your attention. I got more out of this than all the other books on this subject that I've read, combined. And the quotes and tips from the known writing community that she includes are inspiring. My copy is highlighted and written in the margins from the first read-through, and I’m sure I’ll keep using it and making more notes as I re-read it again and again.

The Glassblower of Murano

2009-05-18T13:19:00.000-07:00

....by Marina Fiorato

This story begins in the 1600’s, in Venice. Corradino Manin makes one last attempt to make things right. In present-day, we meet Leonora, who moves to Venice after a bitter divorce, in search of her ancestor, famed maestro Venetian glassblower Corradino Manin. She has a bit of talent with the glass, too, and hopes to find a fresh start there, following in his footsteps. We learn his story along with Leonora, as she discovers there is more to her beloved ancestor’s history than she may care to know. But she has come this far, and must find out, or she will never be at peace with her own life. She has a connection with him that borders on obsession, and she can’t seem to live her own present day life without considering him in every detail.

As Corradino’s history unfolds, Leonora discovers who he really was, and just how important family was to him, and still is to her. In reading this book, we learn a little bit about the history of Venetian glass, and to what lengths the powers that be went to keep the secrets of its making in the 1600,s. We also learn to what lengths a man will go for the love and safety of his family. For Leonora, it is about putting the pieces together; glass, family, love and forgiveness.

I really enjoyed the word pictures in this story. Glass is presented as a metaphor, and the connection is made to the reflective surface of the water in the canals. Well done. I would read more from this author.

I give it 4 shiny chandelier droplets out of 5.

Life

2009-04-22T08:44:00.000-07:00

---Selected quotations of Paulo Coelho

I first read The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho about 10 years ago. I enjoyed it, for the most part, but I think you need to read Paulo Coelho with discernment (kind of like listening to Oprah). He writes with passion and depth, and sometimes you find a gem. There are also some jagged rocks about the universe conspiring to help you find your destiny, and stuff that set off my 'caution' radar. There are several of each in this book of quotations. These aren't words to bet the farm on, but they do prompt thought, and the journal-style artwork is good, and for that, I enjoyed this.

Journal: The Short Life and Mysterious Death of Amy Zoe Mason

2009-04-05T18:59:00.001-07:00

....by Joyce Atkinson

Strange book. Not a narative story at all, but rather a "found journal". The author presents this as an art journal found in a desk purchased at an estate sale. Read Amy's journal and put together the pieces of the puzzle of her death. This is a really good idea, but the "story" could have been stronger. By about page 5 of Amy's journal, we knew pretty much what was going to happen. If you have an afternoon, this can be read in an hour or two. It is fun to flip back through the pages to look for missed clues along the way. If you like art journals, you will love this, otherwise, it's just not a strong enough mystery to be that interesting. Good idea, though. Makes me want to put one together....

The Glass of Time

2009-04-05T18:48:00.000-07:00

....by Michael Cox

Accompany Esperanza Gorst as she poses as a lady’s maid in Victorian England. Orphaned Miss Gorst is sent by her Guardian to report on certain goings-on at Evenwood, the estate of widowed Lady Tansor. The reason for Esperanza’s deception is unknown even to herself, but her devotion to her guardian plunges her headfirst into a web of deception that grows larger with each passing day; with each newly discovered secret. And Lady Tansor has secrets; that is for certain, but what do they have to do with Esperanza? As we learn more about Lady Tansor and her 2 sons, we also learn, along with Esperanza, the secret of her own past, and how they are connected. Almost no one is who they seem in this Victorian mystery. This is a story of the destructive nature of obsession and feelings of guilt that eat away at the soul. Lady Tansor has made a bed in which she must now lie, but she isn’t the only one hiding something. Our Miss Gorst struggles with the part she is asked to play in uncovering her Lady’s lies, but does so unquestioningly. In the end, all is revealed (of course), but at what cost? Through most of this story, I sympathize with her, believing her unquestioning devotion has her at a disadvantage to those whose orders she follows. Only near the end do I lose a little of that sympathy as she becomes more proactive in manipulating circumstances on her own to gain the advantage. The suspense pulled me in right away with this one, but seemed to drag unendingly towards the end. Overall, I’m giving it a thumbs up for engaging plot and Victorian English dialogue that I love, but it does get slow in spots.

Land of a Thousand Hills: My Lfe in Rwanda

2009-02-27T17:34:00.001-08:00

...by Rosamond Halsey Carr (with Ann Howard Halsey)

I picked up this book because I am going to Africa this summer, and want to read as much African adventure biography as I can---I am very excited, and very much into everything-Africa these days…

This review on the inside cover helped, also:

“Many lone women seem to have a deep affinity for Africa. Thankfully, they continue to record their memoirs and enrich our understanding of this vast continent…Carr thoughtfully examines the bliss and turmoil of life near the Rwandan-Congo border for over fifty tumultuous years…[She] has articulated a new world for those who have not experienced the paradox that is Africa…Readers will continue to be captivated.”
---The Christian Science Monitor

Rosamond Carr moved from the U.S. to Africa in 1949 with her husband Kenneth. This is her story, including several pages of her personal photos. Her marriage strained even before they left, Rosamond and Kenneth divorced, but she had already fallen in love with Africa. She spent the next 50+ years of her life there, making it her home, and the people there her family. She paints a breathtaking picture of the landscape and the culture where she lived in peace, and a terrifying picture where she barely escaped a brutal war. She survived set-back after set-back, but always found her way to happiness again in this uncommon setting. She dined with nobles and danced with the local tribes. She describes in detail the events leading up to the most brutal of genocides, giving the reader her point of view as someone caught in the midst of it, as well as that of both the Hutu and Tutsi people, whom she knew well. She describes a tragic story of revenge that should serve as warning to us all. As usual, mainstream media covers what it chooses to cover, rather than the whole story. Beautifully told, I’d like to say this is reminiscent of Out of Africa, but I’d hate for Rosamond’s remarkable story to have to share a spotlight. Her story is her own; that of a determined woman who fell in love with a country, became an important part of its history, and found her heart’s desire. I could not put this down (which is unusual for me with non-fiction; I usually read a chapter here and there over a month or more).

A very good, and I believe, a very important book.

People of the Book

2009-02-23T18:21:00.000-08:00

....by Geraldine Brooks

Its 1996, and Dr. Hanna Heath, an Australian Book Conservator, is commissioned to conserve the recently found Sarajevo Haggadah, a rare Jewish Haggadah rescued from the Bosnian war. In studying the physical attributes of the book, Hanna discovers some unanswered questions about its history. An insect wing, a fine hair, and wine stains, among other things cause her to speculate its path and its survival, time and time again in times of war--times when other Jewish books didn’t survive. But this one survived, and we are shown, chapter at a time, its journey. I love the way this was written; sort of a collection of stories, all distinct in time and place; going as far back as 1480 Seville and as recently as 2002 Jerusalem; but common in that each story holds its place in the history of the making and the preservation of this sacred manuscript. Each story makes you go “Ohhhh, that’s what happened!” Hanna’s own story unfolds as well, as the missing pieces of her own history are revealed by the time we reach the final chapter in the book’s history. This is a beautiful story of the perseverance of the Jewish people to rescue a treasured record of their faith when it seems the entire world is out to destroy it--and them. The Sarajevo Haggadah is real; the stories of its past, from its incredible creation to the courageous people who kept it safe in this novel, are fictitious.

Read it, read it, read it.
(Note: Not for younger readers, as some scenes are very disturbing)

The Truth and Nothing but.....

2009-02-20T16:09:00.000-08:00

I've had a lot of fun this month helping my local public library inventory their shelves. What better way to add to my ever-growing TBR list, than to take every single book off the shelf at the library:) I was in the non-fiction section a couple days ago; somewhere in the crafting/paper arts area; when a school group came through on a little tour of the library. The woman leading the group, I assume was a teacher, because I didn't recognize her as library staff. "Where are we now?", she asked. "Non-fiction", everyone replied (they were actually paying attention!). "Right. Non-Fiction means that the book is true. Fiction means it's not true.". Ohhh, I really wanted to raise my hand and question that statement, because I'm thinking, I don't know that that's necessarily true..... For example, I had just finished up in the always entertaining self-help section of the non-fiction shelves, where I saw this title: How to Improve Your Marriage Without Talking About it. And just today, I ran across this one: Anyone Can Be An Expert Skier. Now call me a pessimist, but I'm fairly certain that that's not true.

I'm just sayin'....

The Coffee Trader

2009-02-14T14:45:00.001-08:00

....by David Liss

Follow the unscrupulous dealings of the merchants and traders of 17th century Amsterdam through the eyes of Miguel Lienzo, a Portuguese Jew who, once wealthy and respected on the exchange, had fallen on hard times with one trade-gone-bad. Like many traders of the time (maybe any time…), Miguel was master of manipulation and deception; a way of life he had become accustomed to in Portugal, where Jews learned to fancy themselves Catholic and despise Jews to avoid The Inquisition. Amsterdam is not without its dangers in this area as well. He discovers a new commodity; a strange fruit called coffee that is nearly unheard of. He quickly becomes seduced by its effects, and plots to regain his fortune with it. From the first page, we are given a sense of Miguel’s desire to redeem himself, and also of his desire to “do the right thing”, that seems to drive his character throughout the novel. Unfortunately, Miguel has a little trouble in that area, too, as he also has a talent for finding trouble, and often convinces himself that the end justifies the means. Like the coffee that would be his salvation or his ruin, Miguel left a thick, bitter taste in my mouth sometimes, but I found myself always wanting a second cup. He is likeable in many ways, in spite of, or maybe because of his wiles, and I quickly found myself intrigued by his ventures. I also learned much about 17th century Amsterdam, the stock exchange of that period, and the life of the segregated Jew in that time and place. In the end, will Miguel’s deception be the ruin of him, or will he come out on top once again? I won’t tell, but will say that I enjoyed pouring a nice hot cup and going along for the ride.

A Monstrous Regiment of Women

2009-01-22T22:16:00.000-08:00

....by Laurie R. King

Well….I’ve managed to do it again. I’ve read a series book out of sequence….accidentally, of course. A Monstrous Regiment of Women is the second of The Mary Russell Mysteries by Laurie R. King. The first, apparently, was The Beekeeper’s Apprentice, which I will have to get to at some point. No matter---on with the review.

This is an historical mystery, taking place in early twentieth century London. The main character, Mary Russell, is the apprentice of none other than an aging and near retirement Sherlock Holmes. Now, normally, I do not like it when an author uses someone else’s idea; someone else’s fame; to further their own careers by ‘easing’ a new story out of an already-known character or story, and in the process ruining said character or story for me…er…the reader…forever . (Wicked, and Son of a Witch come to mind….). I will give small allowance in this case, as King didn’t mutilate Holmes’ existing stories, or completely alter who we, as readers, know him to be (at least not too much….). I draw the line at books that have Jane Austen or Beatrix Potter and her animals solving mysteries….these are bridges that were never intended to be built, and should not be crossed…. but back to this book (I do have trouble staying on task).

We meet Mary Russell in the opening lines, and learn that she is an Oxford scholar and theologian, who is about to come into an inheritance. The story is told from her point of view. Through an old Oxford friend, she stumbles onto a sort of feminist/forward thinking church led by a very Charismatic woman. As Mary spends more time here, she begins to wonder where the money comes from, and then people start to die, and….well….you’ve got yourself a mystery. What kept me reading wasn’t the mystery, but rather, Mary’s character. She is a bit of an oddball, kind of like her mentor, Sherlock Holmes, who helps her sort things out, and shows up whenever she needs him. But this mystery is Mary's to solve, and Holmes is more of a supporting character. He’s part mentor/part…something indefinable. There is also an underlying romance here (which made me gag just a little….) that was just subtle enough to be ok. There were a few references to the first Mary Russell mystery…the one I should have read first…..that left me guessing at Mary’s past. She referred to an experience, or conversation, or situation that the reader was obviously supposed to know from the first book. Either way, I was able to follow it, and enjoyed going along for the ride. This is a good rainy/snowy day read; nothing too deep. I’ll probably read The Beekeeper’s Apprentice, just to find out what happened to Mary earlier that affected her physical/mental condition in portions of this one, and how she came to know Sherlock Holmes.

3 ½ stars out of 5.

The Secret of Lost Things

2009-01-03T20:36:00.000-08:00

….by Sheridan Hay

This book is a story of lost things, both literally, and in every sense.
Rosemary Savage finds herself in New York City, working at bookstore. The Secret of Lost Things chronicles her time there. Written in first person, it reads like a memoir, written by the now much wiser main character, Rosemary Savage. With literary prose, she tells her coming-of-age story as it leads up to life-altering events that change the way she views the world. The people she encounters seem to all be lost in their own, often strange, ways. Apart from being lost, Rosemary is their common thread. They are not necessarily likable, but the way she sees them is. They all want to teach her something, as if she is the key to being found. There are many parallels between Rosemary’s own journey and those of the people, places, and things around her.
I really liked this book. For one thing, it takes place (mostly) in a bookstore, even if it is a strange one. I loved the many references to Shakespeare, among others, and mostly Herman Melville, whose works are much entangled into Rosemary’s story. She finds that he, too, was lost, in a way. I’ve never read Melville, and this left me wanting to read Moby Dick. I think Rosemary did discover the secret of lost things, but I won’t give that away…you’ll have to read it to determine that for yourself.
The author did a lot of research for this novel, which gives it validity. She explains her sources in an author’s note at the end, and I appreciate that she points out what is fact and what is fiction, as they are interspersed throughout the novel. Not all authors are as clear on that point…I won’t name names….
I would recommend to anyone who likes books about books, with a little mystery and intrigue thrown in among some very colorful (and one not…) characters.
It gets a 5 out of 5 from me.

Favorite Reads of 2008.....

2009-01-02T17:33:00.000-08:00

...only 1 of which I've reviewed here; I'm afraid I've been remiss.

Silent in the Sanctuary, by Deanna Raybourn---I just discovered Raybourn this year, and really like her writing style. I'll read more from her in the future, and I hear the next book in the 'Silent' series comes out in May!

Story, and Sailing Between the Stars, both by Steven James. Non-fiction thoughts on Christian faith as told by this master storyteller. This is how I would like to be able to write.

The Dream Giver, by Bruce Wilkinsen. This is really not much longer than a gift book, but it tells a beautiful parable of Ordinary, and his quest to follow his dream. A wonderful weekend read, recommended to me by my pastor, that gave me the kick in the pants that I needed.

The Thirteenth Tale, by Diane Setterfield. Equally mysterious, shocking, marvelous, and more than a tad disturbing. I couldn't put it down. I really should do a full review of it here sometime.

As for the worst of 2008....let's not dwell on that; we'll stick to the positive and leave it at that.

The Gates of Trevalyan

2008-12-16T13:29:00.000-08:00

...by Jacquelyn Cook

I received this book from the publisher as an early reviewer's copy through LibraryThing.

Spanning a period of 22 years; years leading up to and through the American civil war; The Gates of Trevalyan follows two primary characters of the American south as they navigate life during this difficult time in history. There are also numerous secondary, related characters that we follow; some real historical figures, some not.

We meet the first main character, Jenny, when she is a teenager and looking for true love. We watch her grow from a self-conscious young girl who fears she isn’t good enough, into a strong woman who, though still humble, tackles her war-torn world from her home, Trevalyan, with grace and efficiency. Our second main character is historical figure Alexander Stephens, a friend and acquaintance of Jenny, whose political career we follow clear up to the Vice Presidency of the Confederacy. He is a sad character, very sickly, who just keeps on rallying one more time, and one more time, and on and on. Jenny and Alexander have separate, yet related stories, as The South was a small world, and everyone in southern ‘society’ seemed to know each other. Their paths did cross occasionally, and they thought fondly of each other throughout the novel. I liked watching Jenny grow. She held to her faith. It was refreshing to see this as an important part of the story.

More than anything, this is a coming of age story in a very difficult and a very significant time in history. It is, to some extent, a romance, but in a secondary sense. I saw this as an historical fiction novel as told through the eyes of the southerner. The writing engaged the reader, and was obviously biased in favor of southern thought. This is not a criticism, just an observation, as fiction is allowed to be biased any way the author chooses. Personally, I didn’t care for the portrayal of southern slave owners being so benevolent and self-righteous, nor did I care for the negative light in which President Lincoln was portrayed, but again, this is fiction as told from a southern point of view.

The story was beautifully told, in that the words painted for the reader a sense of ‘being there’ that is necessary in good writing. It was also an intriguing history lesson, if you put the writer’s bias aside, as dates were given, and each significant event leading up to the outbreak of war was given detail. It appears that Jacquelyn Cook conducted quite a bit of research, and that is highly admirable, adding to the validity of the storyline.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read that kept me awake until the wee hours as I neared the end, as I couldn’t wait to find out where our characters ended up. As far as the number of characters to follow, there were quite a few, and I found myself having to look back to find out who was married to whom. Again, this is a minor issue, as the story was good enough that I didn’t mind.

Codex

2008-10-12T18:20:00.000-07:00

...by Lev Grossman

Banker, Edward, hired by wealthy (noble) client to find an ancient manuscript that may or may not even exist. There's something hidden within the manuscript that could be damaging. Parallel plot is that he's given a video game by his college friend which seems to parallel the history of the manuscript. Edward stumbles upon a scholarly girl, Margaret, who helps him.

This was such a promising book---one of those 'hidden secrets in old books' sort of stories that I usually love! It started off well enough: 'unsuspecting protagonist that stumbles into a puzzle to be solved that comsumes his every thought'; except it didn't, really. He played the reluctant hero throughout, which only works if the reluctant hero only pushes on because something is at stake (either moral or financial would have been ok; but there was nothing---he had a good career already, he wasn't the least bit knowledgable or even interested in his quarry; he wasn't even in love with the girl.) It simply wasn't believable that this particular character would be drawn into this. Even towards the end, on one page he was ready to chuck his career, and on the next, he was saying he'd never let anything get in the way of it. He didn't know who he was. This would have been ok, had it been a growth process, but he was the same person in chapter one that he was on the last page.

The plot concept was awesome! Very interesting how the author told parallel stories; one the historical account of a lost manuscript, the other the progression of a mysterious video game that 'fell' into Edward's hands. This part was frustrating to me. I thought that part of the plot would devolop differently, like maybe the college friend would be 'in on it', but he wasn't. This would have been an awesome place for conflict that just never took place. The first half of the book did a good job of laying the foundations, but the second half just hurried through everything and ended without a notable climax in the story at all. We read every detail of how Margaret (Edward's Medieval expert) unobtrusively picked the lock on an ancient book, but skimmed through her cracking the code within a code (the main object of their search) on the first try. I guess that was the climax, because after that, everything just fell into place. Even the bad guys (if you can call them that--I'm not really sure), talked tough at one point, and I though, oh, now we've got some conflict--I knew this would get better, only to be frightened off when Edward's college buddy happened to show up and say something to the effect of, 'leave him alone' (I knew he was in this story for some reason). That, apparently, was enough, even though a noble family's fortune, birthright, and reputation for all of history was at stake. You'd think they could have afforded better thugs. We saw no more bad guys for the rest of the novel. At this point, I was really hoping for the college buddy, or Margaret, or somebody, to be hiding something--throw me a curve, cause the story is flat. Even the explaination of the video game was dull, and I had high hopes for that. And as far as what was at stake--I don't get that, either. We weren't given sufficient background info on the Duke and Dutchess to warrent their quarrel. I'm not saying it couldn't have been, but the reader wasn't given enough to indicate a reason why one would turn on the other. AND, on top of all of that, the 'secret' they found within the manuscript--I'm not sure that it would have been solid enough to ruin a man. Alot could be read into what was found, but I don't think it would have held up without further documentation--just my opinion.

There was no satisfying resolution to this story. Good didn't win, evil didn't win. Nobody won. It seemed to me the author may have been leaving options open for a sequil. There still needs to be some resolution. He could have left one little thread hanging that would have served as an invitation to write more later (Luke, I'm your father....sorry, I digress). It felt to me that the author got tired of writing, and wanted to 'wrap it up' and be done with it.

This could have been great, but the plotline was under developed and the characters were flat.

Iknow from reading the back cover that this author is a book critic. I feel a little bad, and hope he doesn't see this; it's just my opinion; but I gotta call it as I see it.

Silent in the Sactuary

2008-10-07T14:16:00.000-07:00

by Deanna Raybourne

First of all, welcome to my book review blog--this is my first review here! Autumn is upon us, and it makes me want to curl up in my favorite leather chair with a cup of Constant Comment, some Thomas Newman in the background, and a good story.

Silent in the Sanctuary is one of those books I bought because I liked the look of the cover. I was not previously familiar with this author, nor had I heard about this book previously. The fact that it is second in a series, and I haven't read the first, verifies my ignorance here.

This book is a 'Jane Austen meets Agatha Christie' sort of book; an historical fiction mystery, told in first person (which is sometimes tricky, I've heard) by Lady Julia Grey. Julia and her brothers are summoned home to the family estate in England for Christmas by their father. A house party with various family members and a few others ends up in murder. One of the guests just so happens to be Nicholas Brisbane, a private detective type, that Julia knows from a prior mystery involving her dead husband. This and a few other references to the first book, that I have not read, are made. I was still able to follow this with no problem. As Lady Julia and Brisbane embark on an investigation, the past they share is gradually revealed, to a point, as well. Oh, and there comes a storm, restricting all of our players from leaving the manor (ala Agatha Christie). I changed my mind a couple of times during the story, but had the culprit/culprits, if not the exact motive, figured out before the reveal. Either way, it was an enjoyable first book of the 'curling up' season:)

This was a fun little read with colorful characters that I read in a weekend. It stood fairly well on it's own, and I didn't feel like I was in the dark at all in not having read the first. I think I'm a new fan of Raybourne's, and will be reading the first Lady Julia Grey Mystery, Silent in the Grave, and will keep an eye out for the next.