Redbery Books

This book is definitely a candidate for my new book category of “No Chores Today” or NCT.

You won’t see it coming – any of it – and that’s just as well. It’s even more of a kick like that.

Irene America is clearly not a happy woman. She’s successful, has three children and one husband, who is clearly, well, I’m not going to tell you. It would spoil everything. Suffice it to say, Gil, Irene’s husband, would not be welcome in my home.

Irene indulges Gil’s artistic bents when soon after they met, he began painting her in various ways: nude, sexual, depraved – the list goes on. And if this doesn’t make you uncomfortable, his constant verbal and physical manipulation will.

Their marriage goes through all the stages some marriages go through, but the gigantic leaps and turns down dangerous life highways are what will keep you guessing and wondering how this ultimate mind game will end. Who will survive and at what cost?

If you’re in a “bad patch” in life, So Much for That may not be for you. The cast of characters is huge, (they all will make you fluctuate wildly between loving them and hating them), the themes and subplots are not, at first glance, uplifting. Keep reading.
 
Shep Knacker has had an excellent life. He sells his successful handyman business to an employee for one million dollars. Shep is well on his way to his “After Life.” The “After Life” is Shep’s euphemism for his life away from every part of his current life that makes him unhappy. Every detail is in place and he’s ready – packed even – in fact to make the move to Africa. That is, until his wife comes home with startling news.
 
The storylines are indeed “ripped from the headlines” and are compelling. There are a couple of instances where Shriver has her characters on a several page soapbox (where the character beats the issue to death), but those are not central to the story. The general nature of what each character is dealing with in the novel is the true meat. The diatribes are necessary to show the character, but they do tend to get in the way.
 
No matter. Shriver weaves such an excellent story that touches on so many parts of real life, you’ll be unable to put the book down. I won’t promise you that you won’t be depressed – you most likely will be, but there is so much to hold on to between the covers of this superb book, you must read it. Shriver’s a master storyteller.
 
(Also try: We Need to Talk About Kevin.)

The Tale of Halcyon Crane made me realize I need a category for books like this. So here it is: No Chores Today (NCT). Don’t even think about getting anything accomplished. This book has it all: ghosts, legends, intriguing characters, great writing and a plot with mysterious happenings that will keep you turning the pages so quickly you’ll have it read in no time and wish for more.

So here’s a taste of what you’re in for. Hallie James is content with her life in the Northwest. She’s recovering from a divorce that left her in a certain amount of shock. She’s content with her job. The really, really sad part of her life is her father has Alzheimer’s and while he was once a large, vibrant part of her life, he is now reduced to mixed days of clarity and lost memories.

When Hallie receives a letter in the mail from an attorney, William Archer (you have to watch this guy!!), from Grand Manitou Island near the Great Lakes, he informs her that Madlyn Crane has died and named Hallie in her will. Enclosed in that letter is another letter from Madlyn Crane herself to Hallie which opens up a whole other portion of Hallie’s life that she would never have guessed or known about. What had her father done when Hallie was young? Why does she remember nothing about Grand Manitou Island? What should she do? Her curiosity tells her how to proceed and this is where you REALLY need a seatbelt. So buckle up and get ready to be scared, surprised, delighted, romanced, awed. And remember: NCT.

City of Dreams is set in New York City from 1776 through 2009. We follow Peter Fallon, an antiques expert and his fiancé, Evangeline Carrington as they search for a box of valuable bonds from 1776. It’s a mad, mad clandestine dash that has them (and us!) caught up with a bag lady, a bookseller, Wall Street biggies, shady characters who could be either with Peter and Evangeline or against them and very bad, determined men who are clearly against Peter and Evangeline.

First we're in NYC, in 2009 and in the next chapter, Martin has us comfortably back in 1776, 1893, 1987 or 2001. Try to read a chapter a sitting; this keeps the story straight. His attention to architecture and historical detail was magnificent. Then, the characters! You will be completely involved with every character's life and feel as though you are walking (or running!) with him, dodging bad guys, protecting loved ones and all the while in search of something more. We also see how politics has evolved (or not) throughout the years - excellent!

Martin does an excellent job of storytelling, alternating between past and present characters and situations as we trace the bonds from their first owner to their final destination. Throughout City of Dreams, Martin tosses in wonderful bits of U.S. history without a heavy hand, while he takes us on a “hold onto your hair” kind of read.

Do you like Dan Brown? You’ll feel right at home with City of Dreams.

Bonds, bonds, who’s got the bonds??

Have you seen this book? Unbelievable! I’ve said before what happens to me when a book grabs me like this – you guessed it – not one single chore was done at home until I finished it.

Reading the synopsis, you may think that Girl in Translation is a similar story to recent novels about coming to the U.S. with nothing and having success. Well, yes, it is similar, but that’s all it is. You will be riveted as you watch Kimberly Chang and her mother struggle to succeed in a place where they thought they would have an advantage because they knew someone.

Kimberly Chang and her mother emigrate from China, beholden to Kimberly’s Aunt Paula. Kimberly is intelligent but doesn’t speak much English. Girl in Translation is the story of her struggle to be more than people thought she could be. She is lucky to have a wonderful, steadfast mother. Kim also relies on her one true friend in the States, Annette who remains true to her throughout every turn in Kimberly’s life.

A story of love, friendship, romance, perseverance, Girl in Translation was a terrific, satisfying read that will make me watch for Kwok’s next novel.

Pick up Girl in Translation if you enjoy Amy Tan and Lisa See.

Where do I start? One of the reasons I enjoy Anne Tyler is she seems to write for me. She writes about subjects I understand, are reasonable to me and always leaves me wondering what I would do in the situations she writes about. That’s a sign of a great author.

Liam Pennywell in Noah’s Compass is a laid off, 60-year old fifth grade teacher who manages to be forced or shoved into situations he wouldn’t want to be in, except he has no choice. Every position he’s held since college hasn’t been of his choosing, but for family obligations, he does what needs to be done. He is forced to retire and finds himself adrift, but coping. He’s a widower and most recently divorced. He moves from a large apartment to a smaller one and the night of the big move, his apartment is burglarized with him in it! He wakes in the hospital with no memory of the incident and throughout the novel, he only wants to remember/know what happened.

Along the way, we meet his daughters, his ex-wife Barbara and Eunice, a love interest. Liam finally chooses to do what he wants to do instead of what is expected of him and it’s refreshing to see how surprised and pleased he is with himself.

One reviewer didn’t see much hope or contentment by the novel’s end, and that’s fine for this reviewer. But I think this is a novel where the reader is allowed to make decisions. There are several ways to interpret Liam’s life (past and present) and your interpretation may depend on your life.

If you haven’t read an Anne Tyler novel, I recommend you begin anywhere. You may be comfortable with The Accidental Tourist because you know the film. I began withBreathing Lessons. You won’t be disappointed.