AS THE POPPIES BLOOMED by Maral Boyadjian

This bittersweet love story takes place in Turkish Armenia just before and during World War I, a time when the Muslim Turks and the Muslim Ottomans sought control over the Christian Armenians. Hidden away in a mountaintop village, 15 year old Anno, daughter of the village Headman,  falls in love with Daron, son of the local merchant.  As village life proceeds, war and the Armenian genocide come ever closer.

Boyadajian knows her subject well and relates it with sympathy and clarity.  Anno and Daron become people you care deeply about.  Conflict within the village and conflict with the outside world illuminate the plot.  The village of Salor in the province of Sassoun is the focal point of the struggle between religions and politics. Salor and its inhabitants will live long in your memory.

5 of 5 stars

THE STORYTELLER by Jodi Picoult

A story within a story within a story is the only way to quickly describe THE STORYTELLER.  There are three storytellers -- Sage, a baker, who carries guilt and grief that consumes her; Josef, a beloved elderly man, who confesses to Sage and wants her to forgive and then kill him; and finally, Minka, a Polish Jew and resident of a concentration camp during WWII.  I found Minka’s story compelling. Forgiveness is the overriding theme of the book. A sentence on page 450 states that you can only forgive someone the wrong they have done to you personally. Sage, Josef and, even Minka, need forgiveness, but who can forgive them and will they – that is the question.

I found this to be one of Picoult’s more challenging and thought provoking books. She is known for addressing timely topics with a twist ending. THE STORYTELLER addresses forgiveness in way that will give you pause for thought, especially the ending.  Book groups will have a lively discussion of guilt and forgiveness. 

5 of 5 stars

THE LAST CONFESSION OF THOMAS HAWKINS by ANtonia Hodgson

After a thrilling start The Last Confession of Thomas Hawkins takes a while before the reader truly cares about Tom, his “trull” Kitty and the other characters in the novel.  But, once apprehension for Tom’s life and liberty sets in, the thrill ride begins and doesn’t stop.   Hodgson’s characters are engaging and fully formed.  The setting and history (London, in the early 1700’s) is well researched and clearly told.  The mystery is exciting with many red herrings and plot twists. The picture presented of Queen Caroline is delightful -- and convincingly nefarious.

Readers of both historical fiction and mysteries will be captivated with this book.  Although this is a second outing for Tom Hawkins and several other characters from The Devil in the Marshalsea are present, the necessary information from the first is presented logically and without undue repetition.

5 of 5 stars

THOMAS JEFFERSON AND THE TRIPOLI PIRATES by brian Kilmeade

THOMAS JEFFERSON AND THE TRIPOLI PIRATES  by Brian Kilmeade and Don Yeager

Have you ever heard the line in The Marine Hymn that states “to the shores of Tripoli” and wondered what happened in Tripoli?  This book will tell you why the Marines are proud their actions in Tripoli and why it might suggest an answer to some of today’s more pressing problems with Islamic nations. 

In the early 1800’s, the rulers of Morocco, Algiers, Tripoli and Egypt extracted tribute payments from the new United States as well as other nations.  The payments escalated until they were simply too much to pay for unfettered access to the Mediterranean Ocean and the northern coast of Africa.  Ships and their contents were being confiscated and the sailors aboard enslaved by the rapacious rulers.  Jefferson determined that the cost of tribute was more than the cost of war and sent a nascent navy to the shores of Tripoli to free the Americans held in the Barbary Coast nations and free the seas for all nations.

Much more “history” than “story” the book reveals the machinations, men and navy needed to win the war.  Interesting and factual with notes and sources, this book is for the historian and the student of public policy as well as those interested in how the past affects the future.

4 of 5 stars

MISS BUNCLE'S BOOK by D E Stevenson

What a fun book!  Miss Buncle is a spinster of a certain age in a small village in England during the 1930’s.  When she discovers that the world wide depression has caused a serious depletion of her income she decides the only thing to do is write a book.  As she admits, she knows nothing about writing a book so she simply describes her fellow village citizens. Miss Buncle, it turns out, has a devastating way of showing her neighbors in all their foibles and, since nothing much happens in the village, she applies a bit of magic and writes their futures as well. She has villagers marry, run away, confess, and expose their worst fears.  A visiting grandchild and a publisher provide clear eyes.

Miss Buncle, fortunately, has used a non de plume. Mayhem ensues when the book is a bestseller and the village realizes THEY are the characters in the book. A humorous and gentle book that will delight and entrance.

4 of 5 stars

BONE LABYRINTH by James Rollins

If you have been following the exploits of the Sigma Force, this book is a tour de force.  The team, that now includes former assassin, Seichan, races from peril to peril all while trying to prevent a disaster of epic proportions. In searching for the beginning of modern man, a scientist who works with Baako, an unusually intelligent gorilla, is kidnapped and forced to reveal a part of her work to identify why and how Neanderthals became modern man.  Of course there is a demented quasi scientist in the Beijing Zoo who is trying to use the information to rule the world and controls an army of minions ready to die at his bidding.

Exciting, and based loosely on real science, this continuation of the Sigma Force series will satisfy fans and introduce new readers to a new series.   Hint: If you are new to the series, jot down the names of each character and a brief description as you meet them. Makes reading this series sooooo much easier, especially when characters (like Gray Pierce) are referred to by both names.

4 of 5 stars