Strange Times

I have to start with an apology for not having made regular entries in the past two months.  Hurricane Sandy, and an early snowfall, have knocked me off my game a little, and sent us all scrambling.  With that being said, now that life is back to normal, I am going to combine my entries for October and November into one.  Here we go....

I chose this book as my October entry, because I thought that it's "creepy" factor lent itself to the Halloween season.  I had a hard time getting started with this book.  It took me a few chapters before I really started to get into it, and as the story progressed, it was a real page turner.  I do not want to give a lot of the plot away in this entry, as it will ruin the story for you, but lets just say that the "big twist" had my jaw dropping.  Also, true to the unsettling nature of this story, it does not end in a nice neat bow.  You are left hanging, and unnerved, and more then a little concerned about what the future holds for the characters in this novel.  If you love psychological suspense thrillers, this is the book for you!
From Booklist, May 2012
When Nick Dunne’s beautiful and clever wife, Amy, goes missing on their fifth wedding anniversary, the media descend on the Dunnes’ Missouri McMansion with all the fury of a Dateline episode. And Nick stumbles badly, for, as it turns out, he has plenty to hide, and under the pressure of police questioning and media scrutiny, he tells one lie after another. Juxtaposed with Nick’s first-person narration of events are excerpts from Amy’s diary, which completely contradict Nick’s story and depict a woman who is afraid of her husband, has recently found out she’s pregnant, and had been looking to buy a gun for protection. In addition, Amy is famous as the model for her parents’ long-running and beloved children’s series, Amazing Amy. But what looks like a straighforward case of a husband killing his wife to free himself from a bad marriage morphs into something entirely different in Flynn’s hands. As evidenced by her previous work (Sharp Objects, 2006, and Dark Places, 2009), she possesses a disturbing worldview, one considerably amped up by her twisted sense of humor. Both a compelling thriller and a searing portrait of marriage, this could well be Flynn’s breakout novel. It contains so many twists and turns that the outcome is impossible to predict.

As part of my job as the school librarian, I read a LOT of young adult fantasy.  This seems to be a genre that children love, and there is an ample supply of great stories.  Now, when it comes to adult fantasy, a good one can be hard to find.  I am not a huge reader of traditional "high fantasy" (i.e. Robert Jordan, Tolkien, etc.) as I find them laborious to read.  This book was recommended to me by a friend, and I will admit it is a lovely fantasy story.  To be completely honest, I have nothing I can compare it to.  The story is completely unique in nature, and as a debut novel for Erin Morgenstern, I am excited to see what she will write next.
From the Publisher:
The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Cirque des Reves and it is only open at night. But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway - a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love - a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands. True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead. Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Welcome back to another great year of reading at The Peck School.  I read a lot of really wonderful books over the summer, some of which I will discuss on this blog this year!  If you look on the right side of this page, you will see a complete list of the books that I will highlight each month this school year.  I encourage you to read them, and offer your thoughts in the comment section below each entry.  You can also see posts from last year if you are looking for more great books to read!

I am going to start off the year with an amazing work of nonfiction.  The extraordinary thing about this book is, even though it delves deeply into medical ethics, biology, and cell culture, it reads like a novel.  Don't let the heavy scientific nature of this work scare you off.  Scientific writer Rebecca Skloot spent 10 years doing the research for this book.  While the scientific nature of the book is important, Skloot bring forth the very human side of the story of the "HeLa" cell culture line.  With this book, Henrietta Lacks is finally getting the recognition she deserves for her contribution to science and the great sacrifice she made.  See a full description below, and enjoy this wonderful book!

From the Publisher:

Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors, yet her cells-taken without her knowledge-became one of the most important tools in medicine. The first "immortal" human cells grown in culture, they are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than sixty years. If you could pile all HeLa cells ever grown onto a scale, they'd weigh more than 50 million metric tons-as much as a hundred Empire State Buildings. HeLa cells were vital for developing the polio vaccine, uncovered secrets of cancer, viruses, and the atom bomb's effects; helped lead to important advances like in vitro fertilization, cloning, and gene mapping; and have been bought and sold by the billions. Yet Henrietta Lacks remains virtually unknown, buried in an unmarked grave. Now Rebecca Skloot takes us on an extraordinary journey, from the "colored" ward of Johns Hopkins Hospital in the 1950s to stark white laboratories with freezers full of HeLa cells; from Henrietta's small, dying hometown of Clover, Virginia-a land of wooden slave quarters, faith healings, and voodoo-to East Baltimore today, where her children and grandchildren live and struggle with the legacy of her cells. Henrietta's family did not learn of her "immortality" until more than twenty years after her death, when scientists investigating HeLa began using her husband and children in research without informed consent. And though the cells had launched a multimillion-dollar industry that sells human biological materials, her family never saw any of the profits. As Rebecca Skloot so brilliantly shows, the story of the Lacks family-past and present-is inextricably connected to the dark history of experimentation on African Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over whether we control the stuff we are made of. Over the decade it took to uncover this story, Rebecca became enmeshed in the lives of the Lacks family-especially Henrietta's daughter Deborah, who was devastated to learn about her mother's cells. She was consumed with questions: Had scientists cloned her mother? Did it hurt her when researchers infected her cells with viruses and shot them into space? What happened to her sister, Elsie, who died in a mental institution at the age of fifteen? And if her mother was so important to medicine, why couldn't her children afford health insurance? Intimate in feeling, astonishing in scope, and impossible to put down, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lackscaptures the beauty and drama of scientific discovery, as well as its human consequences.

Mrs. Kennedy and Me

I love the glimpse that personal memoirs give into a person's life.  Of course when the glimpse includes a look at the life of the Kennedy White House, it is even more interesting.  Clint Hill was the Secret Service agent assigned to protect Jackie Kennedy during her time as First Lady.  His memoir begins with his assignment to her (a post that he is initially disappointed to receive) to a year after the assassination of JFK, when he leaves Mrs. Kennedy and the Secret Service.  While you might not recognize his name, you certainly know who he is: Mr. Hill is the Secret Service agent that you see jump onto the back of the car following the assassination in Dallas on the Zapruder film.  There is not doubt that Mr. Hill cared deeply for Mrs. Kennedy, and had a great deal of respect for her.  If you are looking for a book that deals in scandalous secrets, this is not it.  However, it is an intimate look at a very private woman, and her life. This would be a great book for summer reading, and I would encourage all to read this fascinating memoir.

From the Publisher: HE CALLED HER MRS. KENNEDY. SHE CALLED HIM MR. HILL. For four years, from the election of John Fitzgerald Kennedy in November 1960 until after the election of Lyndon Johnson in 1964, Clint Hill was the Secret Service agent assigned to guard the glamorous and intensely private Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. During those four years, he went from being a reluctant guardian to a fiercely loyal watchdog and, in many ways, her closest friend. Now, looking back fifty years, Clint Hill tells his story for the first time, offering a tender, enthralling, and tragic portrayal of how a Secret Service agent who started life in a North Dakota orphanage became the most trusted man in the life of the First Lady who captivated first the nation and then the world. When he was initially assigned to the new First Lady, Agent Hill envisioned tea parties and gray-haired matrons. But as soon as he met her, he was swept up in the whirlwind of her beauty, her grace, her intelligence, her coy humor, her magnificent composure, and her extraordinary spirit. From the start, the job was like no other, and Clint was by her side through the early days of JFK's presidency; the birth of sons John and Patrick and Patrick's sudden death; Kennedy-family holidays in Hyannis Port and Palm Beach; Jackie's trips to Europe, Asia, and South America; Jackie's intriguing meetings with men like Aristotle Onassis, Gianni Agnelli, and Andre Malraux; the dark days of the year that followed the assassination to the farewell party she threw for Clint when he left her protective detail after four years. All she wanted was the one thing he could not give her: a private life for her and her children. Filled with unforgettable details, startling revelations, and sparkling, intimate moments, this is the once-in-a-lifetime story of a man doing the most exciting job in the world, with a woman all the world loved, and the tragedy that ended it all too soon-- a tragedy that haunted him for fifty years.

By Fire, By Water

I had high hopes when I picked up this novel, which won the Independent Publishers Award for Historical Fiction.  It did not disappoint. Set in 15th century Spain, during the second inquisition, this sweeping novel brings together all of the major historical figures in Spain during this time.  Aragon's royal chancellor, Luis de Santángel's grandfather was a converso, one of the many Jews forced to convert to Christianity. The chancellor retains an interest in his Jewish heritage, a dangerous prospect given the "New Inquisition" that has recently come to Spain. When a close friend of his is killed by the inquisition, Santángel decides to take matters into his own hands.  I should warn that the descriptions of the torture used in this book are graphic in nature.  The tension is sustained from start to finish, and you find that you are truly hoping all the characters will find some type of peace in the end. The ending is a satisfying one, even if it isn't all together happy.  I think I happy ending however would have taken away from very authentic nature of this story.  See a full description of the story below.  Hopefully you will enjoy this book as much as I did.  Look for my last book review for the year in June, and a full list of my suggested summer reading!  Happy reading!


Publishers Weekly (March 15, 2010)
Kaplan, a screenwriter, sets his debut novel in 15-century Spain, amid the Inquisition, the attempt to unify the kingdoms of Spain under Christian rule, and the voyage of Christopher Columbus to what the seaman expects will be the Indies. The action centers on the historical figure of Luis de Santangel, chancellor to the king of Aragon and a converso, a Jewish convert to Christianity at a time when the Inquisition sought to repress "judaizing." Santangel is friend and financier of Columbus, surviving parent of young Gabriel, and more curious than is prudent about his Jewish heritage. While he learns about Judaism in clandestine meetings, a parallel story unfolds, centering on Judith Migdal, a beautiful Jewish woman who learns to become a silversmith in Granada, located in the last part of Spain under Muslim rule. Santangel's attraction to Judith grows, even as the Inquisition closes in and the prospect of another world to the West tantalizes. Kaplan has done remarkable homework on the period and crafted a convincing and complex figure in Santangel in what is a naturally cinematic narrative and a fine debut. (May) Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information.

Death Comes to Pemberly

The kids ask me all the time, "What is your favorite book." I have so many "favorites" it is hard to pick just one. Rather then just one book, I tend to focus on authors. I have a collection of authors that are my favorite. Children's Literature = Mo Willems and Dr. Seuss. Juvenile Fiction = Mary Pope Osborne, Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, Dan Gutman, and Kate DiCamillo. Young Adult Fiction = J.K. Rowling, Suzanne Collins, Sherman Alexie (The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian), Rick Riordan, and too many more to name here. Even though I read a large variety of adult literature, hands down my very favorite author of all time is Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice is Austen at her best, with her clever wit and mastery of conversational language. Enter P.D. James, and modern day mystery writer. It is a brave soul that would take the characters of Pride and Prejudice and continue their story with a murder mystery. The good news here is, James does is masterfully. I was prepared to be very critical of this book, but now that I have finished it, I truly did enjoy it. While Ms. James uses Austen-like language, this book is a straight forward mystery. While perhaps not as fast paced as her Adam Dalgliesh detective books, this story moves right along, and has a satisfying ending. See a full summary below, and enjoy your return to Pemberly!

From the Publisher: A rare meeting of literary genius: P. D. James, long among the most admired mystery writers of our time, draws the characters of Jane Austen's beloved novel Pride and Prejudice into a tale of murder and emotional mayhem. It is 1803, six years since Elizabeth and Darcy embarked on their life together at Pemberley, Darcy's magnificent estate. Their peaceful, orderly world seems almost unassailable. Elizabeth has found her footing as the chatelaine of the great house. They have two fine sons, Fitzwilliam and Charles. Elizabeth's sister Jane and her husband, Bingley, live nearby; her father visits often; there is optimistic talk about the prospects of marriage for Darcy's sister Georgiana. And preparations are under way for their much-anticipated annual autumn ball. Then, on the eve of the ball, the patrician idyll is shattered. A coach careens up the drive carrying Lydia, Elizabeth's disgraced sister, who with her husband, the very dubious Wickham, has been banned from Pemberley. She stumbles out of the carriage, hysterical, shrieking that Wickham has been murdered. With shocking suddenness, Pemberley is plunged into a frightening mystery. Inspired by a lifelong passion for Austen, P. D. James masterfully re-creates the world of Pride and Prejudice, electrifying it with the excitement and suspense of a brilliantly crafted crime story, as only she can write it.

Sarah's Key

In the interest of full disclosure, I really wasn't sure I was going to read this book. I have a difficult time reading books about the Holocaust. They simply are too upsetting, and emotionally draining. There was so much talk surrounding this book, that I felt I had to read it, not matter how upsetting the subject matter might be.

Sarah's Key is an interesting look at the little known Nazi roundup of Jews living in Paris in 1942. In alternating chapters, we learn the story through the eyes of Julia Jarmond, a journalist writing a magazine article on 60th anniversary of the event, and Sarah who lived through the events themselves. A full summary of the story can be found below. This is a beautifully written story, and so engrossing it is difficult to put down. You find yourself completely taken in by both main characters in this book, and want desperately to learn if they will each find a happy ending. Needless to say, there are no easy answers to any questions surrounding this time period, or simple happy endings for all.

If you have read this book, share your thoughts by clicking on "comment" below!

From the publisher:

A young girl. A fateful key. A woman searching for the truth... Experience the novel that has touched millions. Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten-year-old girl, is taken with her parents by the French police as they go door to door arresting Jewish families in the middle of the night. Desperate to protect her younger brother, Sarah locks him in a bedroom cupboard - their secret hiding place - and promises to come back for him as soon as they are released. Sixty Years Later: Sarah's story intertwines with that of Julia Jarmond, an American journalist investigating the roundup. In her research, Julia stumbles onto a trail of secrets that link her to Sarah, and to questions about her own future.

The Atlas of Love

February has finally arrived, and love is in the air. This seemed an appropriate novel to review for this month, as love is at the center of the whole story. While this may not be the "hard hitting" fiction that will find its way onto the best seller lists, or even the best books of the year lists, it is a lovely book that explores the make of up the modern family.

Jill is in graduate school when she discovers she is pregnant. She decides to have the baby, and her much younger boyfriend decides that he is not ready to be a father and abandons them. Jill moves in with her best friends, and the 3 embark on a grand experiment in tri-parenting the new baby named Atlas. The book follows the women as they try to find the balance in parenting, studying, and working (themes anyone can relate to). Soon the girl's parents, grandparents, and happily coupled gay friends are also helping. It truly does take a village. Atlas's father later enters the picture again, and there is a falling out between the friends that is painful for all of them.

I would recommend this book to anyone that is interested in some light reading, with emotional depth. It will leave you thinking about the many different facets of love.

Library Journal web-only (July 30, 2010)

Janey, Jill, and Katie meet in grad school in Seattle and, despite their different personalities, become fast friends. Jill is harsh and straight to the point; Janey, sweet and dependable; and Katie, a devout Mormon on the lookout for her perfect husband. Jill starts dating a great guy, until she gets pregnant and Daniel can't handle her decision to have the baby. Janey has a solution to Jill's dilemma: all three women will move in together and jointly raise the child, named Atlas. This works beautifully for a while as the friends bond with adorable Atlas. But of course, things take a wrong turn. Jill starts abusing her friends' dedication, and when Daniel steps back into the picture, quite an emotional mess ensues. How far can female friendship be pushed? What are the limitations to parenting, and when is a baby yours? Told from Janey's point of view, the narrative is sprinkled with literary techniques that color each chapter beautifully. Verdict Frankel's debut is a wonderful literary treat that offers a fresh twist on the modern family, one that relies on the bonds of women.-Beth Gibbs, Davidson, NC Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information.

Unaccustomed Earth

I have been a fan of Jhumpa Lahiri since first reading her Pulitzer Prize winning collection of short stories, Interpreter of Maladies (1999). She is perhaps best known for her work The Namesake (2003), which was recently made into a movie. Lahiri is a master of the short story format. In Unaccustomed Earth, Lahiri again examines the complex relationship between Bengali ex-pats and their American born children. What makes all of these stories even more appealing, is Lahiri's ability to delve deeply into family themes that are universal to all cultures. If I were to have one criticism of this book, and I felt the same way about The Namesake, it is that each story comes to a rather abrupt end. You are left feeling like you need to know more, but perhaps this is also what makes her work so compelling, and open to individual interpretation.

Below you will find a summary and published review. Let me know what you think of Unaccustomed Earth, and check back next month for our next book!

Library Journal (February 1, 2008)

Four years after the release of her best-selling novel, The Namesake, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Lahiri returns with her highly anticipated second collection of short stories exploring the inevitable tension brought on by family life. The title story, for example, takes on a young mother nervously hosting her widowed father, who is visiting between trips he takes with a lover he has kept secret from his family. What could have easily been a melodramatic soap opera is instead a meticulously crafted piece that accurately depicts the intricacies of the father-daughter relationship. In a departure from her first book of short stories, Interpreter of Maladies, Lahiri divides this book into two parts, devoting the second half of the book to "Hema and Kaushik," three stories that together tell the story of a young man and woman who meet as children and, by chance, reunite years later halfway around the world. The author's ability to flesh out completely even minor characters in every story, and especially in this trio of stories, is what will keep readers invested in the work until its heartbreaking conclusion.