The Alice Network

The Alice Network
By Kate Quinn
Harper Collins, 2017, 503 pg., Historical Fiction

In 1915 Eve Gardiner was asked to join a secret spy network in France. Run by a woman named "Alice" the network spied on the German's to help end the Great War. Eve became Daisy and posed as a waitress in the restaurant Le Lethe where she was able to eavesdrop on German officers and pass along secrets that could help end the war - but it all came at a price. By the end of the war the Network had collapsed and Eve is left wrecked to live out her life in London.

In 1947 Charlie St. Clair is trying to save her family from the ravages of World War II, but she feels like she is continually failing everyone. Now she has run away from her mother, who insists she must go to Switzerland to take care of her "little problem," and she is looking for a woman named Eve Gardiner. Eve Gardiner may be the only person who can help Charlie find her cousin Rose, who disappeared in France during the War.

This is a fantastic novel, which explains why it was picked as part of Reese Witherspoon's Book Club. Based on the true story of the real Alice Network and "the queen of spies" Louise de Bettignies, this is a story of two wars that destroyed lives and changed the world over and over again. It is the story of women and their friendships, heartaches, loves, and loses. It is a story of survival, sturggle, and courage in all its forms. This is great for anyone who loves World War stories, but also may appeal to fans of The Nightingale, or Secrets of a Charmed Life. Readers should be aware that this book deals with violence, drugs, swearing, death, and sex.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz

The Tattooist of Auschwitz 
by Heather Morris
Harper Collins, 2018, Fiction, 288 p.

Ludwig (Lale) offers to give himself up to the Nazis in hopes that it will save his family.  He is shipped to Berkenau concentration camp where, by several chance encounters, he becomes the official tattooist, who tattoos the ID numbers on all the prisoners as they enter the camp.  His assignment gives him special privileges which he uses to try to help other prisoners whenever he can.  One prisoner means more to him than all the others, a young woman named Gita. It is his love for her that gives him the courage to try to survive and help her survive as well.

This book was one of the top ten books checked out at the Highland Library last year and that is why I read it even though Holocaust books are always hard for me to read. Though it was hard, I am glad I read it.  It is beautifully written and emotionally powerful.  I actually didn't realize until I read the author's note that it was based on a true story.   It is a great book and I do recommend it but know what you are getting into.  The author doesn't leave much out. There are horrific scenes, though the author has a good sense of how much detail to include.  But harder to read is the sadistic cruelty of many of the guards. Lale's humanity, hope, and love for Gita helps the reader get through the hard parts. This book is available from the Library in print, on CD, as an ebook and e-audiobook.

Pope Joan

Pope Joan

by Donna Woolfolk Cross

Crown Publishers, 1996, Fiction, 422 p

Joan is born to a tyrannical church leader in 814 Frankland.  Joan has an eager mind and an academic aptitude in a time when women were expected to only keep house and care for children.  She convinces her brother to teach her how to read, and catches the eye of a progressive scholar who teachers her Latin and Greek.  When her brother is killed in a Viking raid, Joan decides to cut her hair and assume her brother's identity so that she can continue her studies at a monastery.  There she learns healing lore and her medical skills eventually lead her to become the physician to the Pope.  Fate further takes her hand and leads her to be elected to the Papacy.

I found this title on our library's "Good Reads" book list and couldn't resist.  It is a fictionalization of a real historical legend that there once was a woman who briefly became Pope.  Many scholars discount the story and the Catholic church denies it, but some scholars argue that there are enough historical clues to make it plausible. The novel has many elements that I really enjoyed.  Joan is a complex and endearingly flawed character.  Her relationship with Gerold is likewise complex and believable. I am fascinated by that time period, which the author  has carefully researched and (in an end note) calls the darkest of the dark ages.  I am a bit of a medieval humanities geek, but I think a lot of people who like historical fiction would enjoy this book.

2019 Top Ten: Fiction

Ever wonder what your neighbors are reading?  Over the next few weeks, we will post the top ten lists for items checked out at the Highland Library during 2019.  Here are the top ten adult fiction books:

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Before We Were Yours: by Lisa Wingate
Edenbrook: by Juilanne Donaldson
Mistborn, the Final Empire: by Brandon Sanderson
Blackmoore: by Julianne Donaldson
The Way of Kings: by Brandon Sanderson
Secrets of a Charmed Life: by Susan Meissner
Promises and Primroses: by Josi Kilpack
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
The Tattooist of Auschwitz: by Heather Morris

Click on the title to find the book in our catalog.  Most are also available on CD and all are available through Overdrive as e-books/e-audiobooks.

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

 

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
by Andrew McCall Smith
 Anchor Books, 2002, Fiction. 235 p.

At thirty-five years old, Mma Ramotswe has survived a bad marriage, the loss of a child, and her beloved father's death. Now she must find a way to support herself.  She takes her inheritance money and sets up a small detective agency in her hometown of Gabarone, Botswana.  It is a risky undertaking in a country where women are rarely professionals, but with her hard won wisdom and comfortable personality, she soon has a reputation as someone who "knows what's what."  Her clients range for poor grocers to wealthy business owners, and she hardly ever disappoints.

This is a book that was hugely popular when it came out in 2002 and now there are now more than 20 in the series.  I think the charm of the book is Smith's great characterizations, and the authenticity of the setting. As you read the book, you feel that you could walk into a town in Botswana and the people you would meet and the things you would see would be just as Smith describes.  Mma is strong, confident, and funny, though not a beauty or a super woman. If you love a good comfortable mystery and reading about other cultures, this is the series for you.

The Noel Stranger

The Noel Stranger
(Noel Collection #2)
by Richard Paul Evans
Simon and Schuster, 2018, Fiction, 330 p.
Maggie grew up in an abusive home, but married a handsome and influential man, and also runs a successful catering business. Her "happily ever after" comes crashing down when her husband is arrested for bigamy.  Publicly humiliated, Maggie withdraws from the world until her best friend and employee urges her to get out and start living again.  She decides to start by buying a Christmas tree, and when she gets to the tree lot she meets its rugged and handsome owner, Andrew Hill.  They both fall into a whirlwind romance and Andrew seems to be the perfect man for Maggie, but then something happens to make Maggie doubt that Andrew is being completely honest with her. 

This is a decadent confection of a book, just right to curl up with on a cold winter evening for those of us who can't get enough of Hallmark Christmas Specials during December.  Although Maggie and Andrew's romance is anything but subdued, Evans keeps it pretty clean, which is an added plus.  This is the second in a "collection" but it is a stand alone story with different characters than the first in the collection and the books can be read in any order. If someone beats you to the print copy of the book at the Library, it is also available through Overdrive as an ebook or e-audiobook. 

The Giver of Stars

The Giver of Stars
by Jojo Moyes
Viking, 2019, 390 pg., Historical Fiction

Alice was thrilled to marry the handsome Bennett Van Cleave and leave behind her dull life in England. She imagined that married life in Kentucky would be full of all the happiness she craved. But when her marriage remains cool and the locals of the small Kentucky town eye her with either suspicion, humor, and sometimes outright hatred; she realizes that she had no idea what she was getting into. Margery O'Hara is an independent woman who has never allowed herself to rely on anyone. It's how she survived her poor Appalachian family. Now she is determined to lead the new traveling pack horse library initiative inspired by Mrs. Roosevelt and funded by the WPA. Margery, Alice, and other women in the community set out to deliver books and encourage literacy to the impoverished mountain folks. But when murder stalks the library's doorstep it just might undo everything they worked for - and their lives.

This novel is a pick for Reese Witherspoon's book club, and it deserves that distinction. Moyoes' characters are deep and captivating. Their lives intertwine to form a beautiful story of love and friendship. But Moyoes went a step further and did fantastic research on not only the WPA's pack horse library, but also what personal lives for women were like in late 1930's Kentucky. This lends her story a powerful backdrop. Readers who enjoyed books such as Kirsten Hannah's The Nightingale or The Great Alone, Susan Meissner's Secrets of a Charmed Life, Delia Owens' Where the Crawdads Sing, or Lisa See's Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane will also enjoy this title. Readers should be aware that there are scenes of death, murder, domestic violence, some language, and sexual content.

The Guest Book

The Guest Book
By Sarah Blake
Viking, 2019, 486 pg., Historical Fiction

"'Wars, plagues, names upon tombs tell us only what happened. But history lies in the cracks between. In the inexplicable, invisible turns - when someone puts a had down, pushes open one particular gate, and steps through. A man saying no instead of yes, two hands grasped on a dark street. A twenty-year-old nun in her cell, eyes closed, praying, touching the word God in a book we recover, over and over and over, so that what we have left is the trace of her devotion. In the erasing of that word' - she paused - ' is a person. That is history.'" (pg. 43-44    )

For me, this quote defines why I love this book, and what I think is part of it's message. The actual plot of this book center's on an island off the coast of Maine and the three generations of the family who owns it. The story moves back and forth between present and past, and is told from multiple characters perspectives. It can be a little confusing. But at its heart Blake seeks to show the human side of many difficult moments in history. I love how this book addresses some of the most difficult points in American history; Jews, the Holocaust, Segregation, and Feminism, but focuses on the humanity of peoples choices. Blake does not spend time criticizing her characters choices (nor does she praise them), but instead she illuminates the struggles they go through in making them - and living with the consequences. She also does not tie up all the loose ends, which I think is appropriate, because in history there are some choices we will never really know. As she points out early on, history, people, may sometimes be found in the act of erasing - in what is not there.

This would be a great book for those who enjoy complex plots and characters. Historical fiction fans may enjoy it as well. Readers should be aware that there is some swearing, death, and sexual content.

The Island of Sea Women

The Island of Sea Women

By Lisa See

Scribner, 2019, 365 pg., Historical Fiction

"No one picks a friend for us; we come together by choice, We are not tied together through ceremony or the responsibility to create a son.; we tie ourselves together through moments. The spark when we first meet. Laughter and tears shared. Secrets packed away to treasured, hoarded, and protected. The wonder that someone can be so different from you and yet still understand your heart in a way no one else ever will." (pg. 36)

See's story of  Young-sook and Mi-ja is a masterpiece. It follows the lives to two girls as they grow up and become women. They are tied together by their love of the sea, but are torn apart by war. They face unbelievable choices and heart-ache, but ultimately their friendship survives through their shared memories, their love, and the sea.

I have been a fan of Lisa See's book for sometime. She invests so much research into each of her books, and then crafts emotional stories of women's lives, love, friendship, and tragedy. Typically her stories revolve around Chinese history, but this new book takes place on a small Korean island called Jeju and the fading historical tradition of the haenyeo. The characters are so life like readers will find themselves growing attached to them. Fans of Lisa See's other books such as The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane or Snow Flower and the Secret Fan will enjoy this new book, as will fans of Kristen Hannah's The Nightingale. 

Readers should be advised that this book contains violence, swearing, and adult sexual content.

Where the Crawdads Sing

Where the Crawdads Sing
By Delia Owens
G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2018, 370 pg., Fiction

Kya remembers the day her mother left. After that, one by one, so did her siblings and finally her father. Alone in the marsh she learns how to survive on her own. The marsh is her home. It is her family, her world. No one knows the marsh like her. Kya only ventures into town when she has to and people there call her "the marsh girl." Very few ever reach out and even less care about her - until Chase Andrews shows up dead. Suddenly the whole town focuses on Kya, Chase's murder, and the brutal quest for justice.

There is a reason this book has been on the New York Times Bestseller list for 50 weeks.  First let's talk about the setting. This book is set on the marshes of the North Carolina Coast in the 1960's and 70's. It is a time of racial and social prejudice. It is also a remote landscape - human wise, but the animal and plant life abound and the marsh is a character in itself. Now let's talk about the language. Owens is practically poetic in her descriptions of the marsh. Sentences echo their subject - from lush march grasses, the flapping seagulls, to rhythm of ocean tides. Owens has captured the what the human senses would describe were the reader to actually visit a marsh - and she has put it on paper. Next let's discuss her characters. Kya is of course the main character and much of the book focuses on Kya's character development, but she also builds each and every other character alongside Kya, piece by piece. While it may seem to be aggravatingly slow each character emerges so complete that they are all but tangible. Owens tops this off with a rich and captivating story line. Chapters move back and forth between the present - Chase Andrews murder - and the Kya's past in order to tell the story. Both story lines move side by side until they intersect; the overarching question being "who killed Chase Andrew's?" I was positively captivated by this book. There is no other way to describe it. It is a must reader. Readers who enjoy historical fiction/drama, mystery,  or coming of age stories.
Reader's should know that this book does contain mature romance, abuse, and strong language.

Elevation

Elevation
By Stephen King
Scribner, 2018, 146 pg., Adult Fiction

Scott McCarey is not concerned about his weight loss, until he notices the thing with his clothes. No matter how much he wears; his weight does not increase. He also shows no signs of losing weight, though he is steadily losing a pound or two a day. Neither he nor the retired Dr. Ellis knows what is happening, or how to stop it. As he looses weight he notices that his physical abilities increase. He can run and jump with ease and this in part inspires him to enter the yearly Turkey Trot 12K. However, he also enters because of his neighbors Deidre and Missy; a married lesbian couple who opened  a Mexican restaurant in town. Scott has not been on the best of terms with his neighbors, but wants to make an effort to change that. Through the course of his "illness" Scott learns what really matters, and helps others to learn to see life from an "elevated" perspective.

King's new novel is short, but powerful. His excellent story line and writing bring into focus the feelings a person may experience when they stop to admire a sunset, a blooming flower, or a new born baby - but may not be able to put into words. It highlights the classic argument of what matters most in life. Not being a fan of scary stories that keep you awake at night, and having never read a Stephan King novel for that very reason, I was nervous about picking up this book. But I am glad a did. I enjoyed it and have thought about it's message more then once since finishing it. This is a good choice for someone who wants a book with a deep resonating message or a quick read for an airplane or short road trip. And don't worry - there are no scary monsters anywhere in this book.

Readers should note that there is strong language used in this book.

The Department of Sensitive Crimes

The Department of Sensitive Crimes 
by Alexander Smith McCall
Little Brown, 2019, Fiction. 229 p.
Detective Ulf Varg is part of the Department of Sensitive Crimes in a small police agency in Sweden.  He, along with two colleagues, investigates cases that are unusual or have elements that require that they be handled discretely.  In this book, Ulf and his partner, Anna, along with Blomquist, a regular officer, deal with three different cases that are funny and interesting. Beneath the plot line, Ulf carries on a pensive exploration of the meaning of love, friendship, and kindness.

This is by the author of the outrageously popular series, The #1 Ladies' Detective Agency.  This first book in a new series is more of a "cozy mystery" than an action adventure. None of the mysteries the detectives encounter are especially tricky or thrilling. Some are kind of funny, but even the humor is rather subtle.  The characters are quirky and endearing and the mood of the book is relaxing, almost soothing.  It would be the perfect read for someone who was fed up with their anxiety-filled life and wanted to escape for an afternoon into an interesting but completely non-confrontational world.   I rather enjoyed it.

Commonwealth: A Novel

 

Commonwealth: A Novel
by Anne Pratchett
HarperCollins, 2016. Fiction. 322 p.

This is a sweeping epic account of two families that are split apart and molded together by divorce and remarriage over two generations. It all starts when Bert Cousins shows up, uninvited, at a christening party for the daughter of Fix and Beverly Keating.  Beverly is stunningly beautiful, and tired of her life with Fix.  Bert is bored with his life with his wife, Teresa, and their 3 3/4 children.  The party is the beginning of an affair between Bert and Beverly that ends in divorces in both families so the two can marry.  Their 6 (combined) children spend summers together and build a odd kind of bond, even after one of the boys dies in a tragic accident.  The book ends with the initial couples in advanced age, looking back at their lives and their wonderful crazy family.

This is a story of a modern family with complicated, often dysfunctional relationships, but bound together by something more than blood.  The timeline of the book is fluid.  Point of view bounces erratically from the children's childhoods, to the middle years when they were young adults, and to their later years when kids are pretty much settled with families of their own. Underlying everything  is the hopeful message that tragedies soften over time, and people really do end up settling down into a kind of peaceful resolution in the end. 

(note: readers should be aware that this book has a lot of harsh language.)

The President is Missing by James Patterson and Bill Clinton

The President is Missing

By James Patterson and Bill Clinton

Little, Brown and Co. 2018. Fiction. 512 p.

President Jonathan Duncan is under fire because he made a phone call to one of the world's most famous cyber terrorists.  The Speaker of the House and even the Vice President are talking impeachment.  What they don't know is that the country is in eminent threat of a massive cyber attack that could topple America's economy.  Duncan has also discovered that one of his top advisors is a traitor working with the terrorists. Not knowing who he can trust, Jonathan Duncan puts his own life on the line to try to uncover the virus and its creator and stop them both before it is too late.

How often does a past President of the United States team up with one of the most successful American authors to create a fiction novel? This book got a lot of attention when it was published in 2018 because of its unique authorship, but is it worth all the hype it received?  I was a little skeptical starting out, but I ended up enjoying the book pretty much.  It is fast paced and exciting with unexpected plot twists and a very interesting view of the life inside the White House.  It also has a sobering message about how modern dependence on the internet creates vulnerabilities unlike any from past centuries. Those who like Patterson's other action adventures will enjoy this one.  Those who are new to Patterson's writing should be aware that this is written for an adult audience, and there is some swearing, violence, and brief references to sexual exploitation of women. 

Magic Hour

Magic Hour
By Kristen Hannah
Ballantine Books, 2006, Adult Fiction, 416 p.

Little girls don't come from the forest. They don't howl, have wolf pups for friends, or run and climb as fast as animals. Chief Ellie Cates doesn't believe it when she gets a call describing the girl who wanders into town, but where did she come from? Who is she? Why is she the way she is?
Dr. Julia Cates left her small town in Washington behind years ago. But now with her career as a child psychiatrist falling apart in LA, she accepts a call from her sister to come work with a mysterious child who wandered out of the woods. 
Girl doesn't know who all the strange people are, she knows she shouldn't have left her cave - but when Him never came back, and the food ran out ... she had to go Out There.

Kristin Hannah is a masterful storyteller who has the power to keep you reading late into the night. She does not disappoint with this story about family, love, and the variety of experiences that make us who we are. Adults who enjoyed other Hannah books such as The Great Alone or The Nightingale will also enjoy this heart-pounding novel. Readers should know that this book contains some adult content and language. This would be a great choice for anyone who wants a good story of fiction that sucks you in and won't let go.