I STILL DREAM ABOUT YOU by Fannie Flagg

I STILL DREAM ABOUT YOU  by Fannie Flagg

This fun read still has an emotional punch.  Flagg is an expert at creating characters one cares about – even the ones that are not very nice!  In this outing Flagg joins a “fat” African American, a midget, an ex-beauty queen, and a thoroughly detestable real estate agent to tell a tale of what might have been, what is and what may yet be.

Pathos and hilarity join forces for a romp in Southern charm and dirty deals.  Flagg manages to tell a good story without stooping to vulgar language or explicit sex.  Written for the adult female audience I STILL DREAM can be enjoyed by all audiences including teens. There is enough here for an interesting book group discussion that might cover family dynamics, faith, integrity, racial harmony, interpersonal relations and much more.

Similar in feel to FRIED GREEN TOMATOES, this book would also make a good movie.

5 of 5 stars

DEATH OF A NEW AMERICAN by Mariah Fredericks

DEATH OF A NEW AMERICAN  by Mariah Fredericks

Jane Prescott, lady’s maid and mystery solver, becomes embroiled in labor disputes, the Black Hand and murder in this entertaining novel set in 1912 New York. 

Louise, Jane’s lady, is about to marry the son of a prestigious family.  When the Tyler’s nursemaid is murdered and notes are found threatening the infant child of Louise’s soon to be in laws, Jane and newspaperman Michael Behan spring into action. 

Between love and the criminal underworld, the tension is palpable.  Well written, with interesting situation and characters, this novel will be a welcome addition to book groups and individual readers alike.

4 of 5 stars

THE SATAPUR MOONSTONE by Sujata Massey

THE SATAPUR MOONSTONE  by Sujata Massey

This the second mystery starring Purveen Mistry, a female Indian lawyer practicing in Bombay in 1921.  (If you have not read the first, you might want to check it out first, so you know the backstory.)  Purveen has been asked to determine if the children of a deceased Maharajah in princely India are being properly cared for and educated, and the royal succession maintained while the two remaining maharanis remain in purdah (seclusion).

Several mysterious incidents come to light as Purveen and an agent for the British Empire join forces to untangle the intricacies of Satapur’s royal aristocracy. Several deaths and more than several possible culprits appear along the way. Massey’s care with the cultural differences observed by the various religions, political entities, and Indian versus British desires become part of the mystery. A bit of romance may even be hinted at if this entertaining series continues – and I hope it does.

Well written with strong characters and intricate plotting make this novel a great addition to the genre. 

4 of 5 stars

TURBULENCE by David Szalay

TURBULENCE  by David Szalay

This very short book is a collection of very loosely connected vignettes.  Each tells of an incident in the life of the “main” character, a person who has interacted in some way with the main character of the preceding story. Although each vignette poses a problem or life changing incident,, there are no conclusions and there is no background information. 

While each story is compelling in the moment, each is also dissatisfying in the lack of resolution.  The writing is clear, the characters are distinct, the stories disparate. 

Ultimately, the novel is unsatisfying. It would serve a literature class well, but as a read for enjoyment – choose something else.

3 of 5 stars

THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK

THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK by Kim M Richardson

In the depths of the depression and hidden in the deep mountains of Kentucky was Troublesome Creek. The people were starving for both and learning. The WPA hired women to ride packhorses or mules and take “learning” in the form of books to the cabins hidden in the hills and hollows. Also hidden in those hollows were the “Blue’ people. Blues suffered from a genetic abnormality that caused their skin to range from pale blue to deep indigo. They were feared and ostracized even more than “normal” black skinned people.  Cussy is both Blue and a Book Woman. 

This is her story.

Based on the real blue Fugate family of Kentucky, this novel ranges from terrifying to humorous to touching. The writing paints the forests and hills in all their awe inspiring glory and all their fearful terrain.  The closed away feeling of the miners and dirt farmers is clarified by the prose. The plot is engrossing.  The people are sympathetic and haunting.

Readers will learn more than they anticipated and enjoy it. An excellent book for book groups. Appropriate for parent/middle ager (and up) groups

5 of 5 stars

Beirut Hellfire Society by Rawi Hage

BEIRUT HELLFIRE SOCIETY  by Rawi Hage

This tale presents the raw outrage, fear, misery, and indelible sadness of a country at war. The writing is excellent. Unfortunately, it is so filled with sex and depravity that I can not recommend this book.  After having to force myself to read past the first few chapters, the book did offer some moments of humor (of the black variety) and the final pages did offer some version of hope after the devastation of hopelessness that war engenders.  The feelings of the outcast (religion, societal, employment, mental illness, etc) are clearly shown.  I had hoped for a better read.

2 of 5 stars

BLOOD OATH by Linda Fairstein

BLOOD OATH  by Linda Fairstein

This thriller by a master of the art starts a bit slow but by the time you get all the players straight the thrills a minute lead to a heart pounding conclusion.

Alexandra Cooper, back from a leave of absence, is the heroine of the tale. Lucy, a troubled young woman is the object of concern.  Along the way a wide cast of characters, some good, some evil, come into play.

Tightly plotted and unerringly fleshed out, Fairstein’s novel is one of the best of the genre.

4 of 5 stars

BLOOD OATH by Linda Fairstein

BLOOD OATH  by Linda Fairstein

This thriller by a master of the art starts a bit slow but by the time you get all the players straight the thrills a minute lead to a heart pounding conclusion.

Alexandra Cooper, back from a leave of absence, is the heroine of the tale. Lucy, a troubled young woman is the object of concern.  Along the way a wide cast of characters, some good, some evil, come into play.

Tightly plotted and unerringly fleshed out, Fairstein’s novel is one of the best of the genre.

4 of 5 stars