The King's Deception

Patrimony. Steve Berry continues his successful formula with a new novel titled, The King’s Deception. Protagonist Cotton Malone and his son, Gary, are caught in a scheme that involves both a modern and a historical controversy. At the end of each novel, Berry separates fact from fiction, as a way to inform readers. His alternative history is always imaginative, in this case a Tudor period deception. The theme of patrimony runs through the novel, both in Tudor times and in Malone’s relationship with Gary. Readers who like fast-paced action novels, and who can tolerate leaps of imagination that deviate from scholarly historical accounts, are those most likely to enjoy this novel. I was entertained by the action and amused by Berry’s alternative history. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The King’s Deception from amazon.com.

Bunker Hill: A City, a Seige, a Revolution

Warren. I love to read history written by contemporary authors. I find that they are often entertaining to a general reader like me, and I always learn something new. The four hundred pages of Nathaniel Philbrick’s book, Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution, present a lively, comprehensive and entertaining account of this critical battle. I went into the book with plenty of knowledge about the battle and the leadership of John Adams and John Hancock during this time period. I learned (or re-learned) the important role of Doctor Joseph Warren from Philbrick’s account, and came to appreciate the loss that his death in that battle meant for Boston. Any reader who enjoys a well-written history will find something to like in this book. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Bunker Hill from amazon.com.

The Engagements

Rings. Readers looking for a sprawling novel to escape into this summer are not likely to be disappointed by J. Courtney Sullivan’s The Engagements. She creates an ensemble of characters with interesting connections, and links them together in interesting ways through diamond engagement rings. She weaves their narratives forward and backward, allowing readers to settle into their lives before moving along. We leave one couple at a reasonable break point, and when we return to them, it is as if we never left. Sullivan covers many decades in presenting this story, and every relationship comes alive through finely written prose. I was swept away into the lives Sullivan presents, and I found myself thoroughly entertained by the time I spent with these interesting characters. I think that any book club that selects this novel will engage in lively conversation, about the characters and about our own relationships and wedding rings. Rating: Five-star (I love it) Click here to purchase The Engagements from amazon.com.

The City of Devi

Desire. Manil Suri alternates narrators of his novel, The City of Devi, to present different perspectives on the plot. The threat of nuclear annihilation between India and Pakistan provides a backdrop for the tension in the novel. Sarita is searching for her missing husband, Karun. On her journey, she meets the other narrator, Jaz, who is also on a search. As readers learn more about this triangle of characters, their lives become vivid, their strong desires revealed, and the world in which they life laid bare. Suri’s writing is clever and provocative, packed with clear descriptive language and insight into human behavior. Readers who are intrigued should read a sample before plunging into this story. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The City of Devi from amazon.com.

We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves

Sisters. When I finished reading Karen Joy Fowler’s novel, We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, I was reminded of something a friend called to my attention decades ago. She said that one of the most important questions we have to answer is that when we say “we,’ who do we mean? Fowler refers to “we” in a manner that may surprise readers. The family life of protagonist Rosemary Cooke fell apart starting at age five when her sister, Fern, was suddenly removed from the household. Rosemary didn’t know family life without Fern, and the loss was devastating for Rosemary and for her brother, Lowell. The surprising element of this novel is that Fern is a chimpanzee. Fowler injects both wit and sadness to this story, constantly reinforcing how closely related humans and chimps are, leading readers to suspend any disbelief about how a family could include a chimp in close family life. Her writing engaged me throughout the novel, and the question for all readers will likely be: “when you say ‘we’, who do you mean? After all, “we” are all creatures, aren’t we? Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves from amazon.com.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Guardian. Reading can take us to places that are both familiar and very different. In Neil Gaiman’s capable hands, readers of his novel, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, leap into a setting that blurs reality and appearance, and to a plot that’s wildly imaginative and close to anyone’s coming of age experience. The narrator returns at age forty to the home where magical things happened to him at age seven. We learn through his recollections of the way he was protected by some unusual neighbors who guarded him from danger. The pond at the end of the lane was somehow also an ocean, and the guardian was more than a neighbor. The mythic themes will delight close readers, and the well-told story will engage all readers in the joy of a sad and poignant tale. I read the novel quickly, and enjoyed in from beginning to end. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The Ocean at the End of the Lane from amazon.com.

Sisterland

Earthquake. Twins possess a special bond that “singles” may not understand and appreciate. Curtis Sittenfeld explores that bond in her novel, Sisterland. Violet and Daisy grew up with heightened senses, a gift of being able to foresee future events in general or specific ways. Violet embraced her gift, while Daisy rejected it, even changing her name to Kate to erase part of her past. While the sisters head in different directions, their personal bonds remain strong. Vi predicts an earthquake for the St. Louis area where they live, and Kate senses the exact date. While that provides a gimmicky plot that I found overly quirky, I enjoyed this novel because of the ways in which Sittenfeld developed the complexity of these characters and the ways in which they behaved, both good and bad. I didn’t like Sittenfeld’s earlier novels as much as this one. There was something about the ways in which she explored the conflicts of love that I found entertaining and enjoyable. Readers with the patience to overlook some gimmicks are those most likely to enjoy this story of powerful relationships. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Sisterland from amazon.com.