Redbery Books

The Round House is set on an Indian Reservation in North Dakota in 1988.  It is narrated by a thirteen year-old boy, Joe, yet told from the perspective of a man looking back on the events of that year. In the opening pages, Joe's mother is found sitting in her car in the family's driveway after having been brutally raped and beaten and smelling of kerosene.  She's not talking about what happened and Joe and his father are determined to bring justice to the perpetrator.  Although it is a very dark theme, the writing is so lovely and the tension builds so exquisitely that it's a joy to read.  The depth and complexity of the characters, combined with the nuances of life on the reservation, make the novel both interesting and entertaining.  If you're a fan of Louise Erdrich, you'll love this one! 

If you like Rhodes' Driftless, get ready for another trip to Words, Wisconsin!  Jewelweed sparkles with the same poetic prose and quirky characters that make the reading this novel an entirely pleasurable experience.  This is a story about community and the flawed characters whose lives are intertwined in both the ordinary and the unusual ways in a community is bound together.  From Blake, newly released from prison, to Winnie, the pastor married to the mechanic, to Buck and Amy Roebuck, wealthy and powerful, to the "wild boy" who lives within the tangled edges of town, everyone in this rural town has something to gain from their relationships with each other.  Jewelweed is meant to be savored until the final pages when some myseries are made clear and others remain as muddied and complicated as the characters themselves.

Le Cirque des Reves.  It arrives without warning, opens at dusk and closes at dawn.  Inside the black and white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking sights, sounds, smells, textures, and tastes.  A maze made of clouds, a garden made of ice, and a room full of bottles filled with memories are just a few of the delights at the Night Circus.

Behind the scenes, there is a fierce competition underway, a battle between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who are fully aware of the scope of the games that has been orchestrated by their mentors.  As it happens, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love, a deep magical love that makes the room grow warmer whenever they so much as brush hands.

Written in rich, lyrical prose, this novel is a feast for the senses!  Every time I opened the book, it was like falling into a dream.

This is the story of two women, a young refugee from a small village in Nigeria and the editor of a posh women's magazine in London.  Their lives unfold in ways that are sometimes humorous, sometimes painful.  The language is beautiful and direct.  The characters are deeply developed.  Their story is unforgettable.  This will definitely be on my Top Five.