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AUGUST 2006 REVIEWS:
CAMILLE CLAUDEL: A NOVEL
Alma H. Bond, PublishAmerica, 2006, $19.95, pb, 244pp, 1424116708
Camille Claudel: A Novel is written from the first-person perspective of
Claudel as she pens an autobiography shortly before her death in an asylum for
the insane. In the story she revisits the joys and pains of her life as a
struggling female artist in 19th century Paris in order to ultimately find peace
with, and understanding of, her life.
Claudel is stunningly rendered by the amazingly subtle skill of Dr.
Bond. The author's professional experience as a psychoanalyst seems to truly add
nuance and texture to Claudel's deteriorating mental condition. The text
primarily hinges around Claudel's relationship with the famous sculptor Rodin
and her struggles to forge a career as a female artist in a culture and time
that was intolerant and punitive. Because of the rich portrayal of all aspects
of the psyche, Claudel is not necessarily a likeable character and certainly not
a simple caricature of women's rights. Readers will find they are as exasperated
and frustrated with her as often as they will find themselves sympathizing with
her plight.
While the novel is a fascinating character portrayal, it lacks
dynamic plot elements and a tight story, which leads to some slow-paced
repetition. Overall, though, Claudel and her life are so interesting that any
reader will be moved by this memorable story.
Amanda Yesilbas
THE ASHGROVE
Diney Costeloe, Castlehaven Books, 2004, £8.95, pb, 410pp, 0954038312
When newspaper reporter Rachel Elliott is sent on assignment to cover a
seemingly uneventful town council meeting in the sleepy English village of
Charlton Ambrose, she doesn't expect much more than the usual routine. However,
she discovers a promising human-interest story: a grove of nine ash trees
planted as a memorial by the families of World War I casualties. The names
behind eight of the trees are known, but one was planted for an unidentified
soldier.
As Rachel investigates the stories behind the Ashgrove, she finds
that she is personally linked to the memorial through her great-grandmother, a
servant turned wartime nurse named Molly Day. The narrative shifts between
Rachel's present-day experiences in Charlton Ambrose, where she works to save
the Ashgrove from development, and the story of Molly Day. As Rachel reads her
great-grandmother's diaries and letters, she discovers the truth about her
ancestry and the ninth tree in the Ashgrove.
Costeloe is an experienced author who has published several novels
in her native England, and her experience shows through this highly polished,
engaging, and well-researched novel. Though the point-of-view shifts frequently,
the shifts are handled in a sophisticated manner and are not at all jarring or
extraneous. Costeloe covers a difficult and painful subject--the plight of
deserters during World War I--with care and sensitivity. Her depiction of
women's heroic roles during the war is fascinating, and the combat scenes are
well-written. This exceptional novel is highly recommended as enjoyable for
readers of a variety of tastes and interests.
Nanette Donohue
WIND TIME, WOLF TIME
Brian Deming, Hard Shell Word Factory, 2004, $16.95, pb, 413pp, 0759904340
The story begins in 1613 and ends with the death of the Swedish king, Gustavus
Adolphus, in 1632. Deming follows two sets of siblings during these treacherous
times as they struggle with adversity, poverty, and war in Europe during the
Thirty Years War. Anna and Katerina are sisters who desperately need to change
their living conditions. They boldly find work in the royal household of King
Frederick and Princess Elizabeth of Heidelberg and thus tie their destinies to
this court. Josef and Thomas, sons of a Munich merchant, become estranged as the
religious war engulfs Germany.
It is a time when one must choose religion not by his or her true
beliefs but rather by the beliefs of the current rulers. Religious politics
rule. Deming describes the conditions of war, the paraphernalia of war, and the
battles with dexterity and believability. The appalling living conditions of the
poor and down trodden are well documented. It was hard to believe that these
sisters and brothers could be separated, lead such different lives and yet find
each other miraculously at the end of the novel. However, the manipulations of
their lives enabled Deming to explore much of the Thirty Years War. The
Habsburgs against the rest of the European world worked the wonders of war at
the expense of all the peasants struggling to survive.
Readers who enjoy wars and 17th century politics will be admirably
impressed with Deming's rendition of the Bohemian, Palatinate, Danish and
especially the Swedish phase of these war years.
Naomi Theye
THE ARMS OF QUIRINUS (SEVEN KINGS OF ROME SERIES)
Sherrie Seibert Goff, iUniverse, Inc., 2005, $18.95, pb, 294pp, 0595343600
This is the first novel in the Seven Kings of Rome series, examining the more
legendary past of this important ancient and medieval city. King Romulus Silvius
Quirinus, said to have reigned from 753-715 B.C., is brought to life in this
historical recreation of Rome's pastoral beginnings. Five narrators tell the
tale of this first king of Rome, from the young vestal virgin's account of the
birth of her twins Romulus and Remus, to the shepherd who rescued them from the
Tiber River, to the wood nymph's lament on the fate of the two men, moving into
Romulus' own account of his kingship, and finally ending with the priest who
unfolds the end of Romulus' reign. This captivating tale is continued in The
Scent of Hyacinth.
Goff uses the five narrators as interesting observers as well as
participants in the history of King Romulus. Having Romulus himself be one of
the narrators provided a fascinating personal perspective of his life that would
not have been available from any other narrator. I enjoyed reading this first
volume, and look forward to its continuation in the next book of the series.
Brad Eden
THE SCENT OF HYACINTH (SEVEN KINGS OF ROME SERIES)
Sherrie Seibert Goff, iUniverse, Inc., 2005, $16.95, pb, 254pp, 0595343619
This is the second novel in the Seven Kings of Rome series, examining the more
legendary past of this important ancient and medieval city. King Numa Pompilius,
said to have reigned from 715-673 B.C., is brought to life in this historical
recreation of Rome's pastoral beginnings. Again, the story is told from the
perspective of five narrators, who each follow the life and legend of King Numa.
Robur, an Arician woodcutter, sacrifices all for his love of Egeria. Egeria
picks up the tale, describing her survival in Aricia leading up to her fated
role in Rome's history. Dauna, a pottery artisan, plays a part in the political
maneuverings of Egeria meeting Numa. Numa then continues the story, confronting
his hatred for Rome's politics. Finally, Prima, daughter of assassinated king
Romulus, ends the novel by bringing her friend Numa into political power in
Rome. The Warrior's Dance will be the next book in the series.
Goff again uses the same narrative style and format that she
incorporated in The Arms of Quirinus, having five narrators tell the
story both as observers and participants. In this story, however, the main
protagonist, Numa, is not given the opportunity to provide his perspective
regarding his life and political reign, which is an interesting difference from
the first book in the series. It will be fascinating to see what narration
techniques Goff uses in the next book in this series.
Brad Eden
IDLE HOURS
Pat S. Hogeboom, Xlibris, 2006, $21.99, pb, 286pp, 1413498981
The Willie K. Vanderbilt family and a farming family who lives in the
neighborhood of the Vanderbilt home, "Idle Hours" on Long Island, each have
daughters who become good friends despite their differences in social class.
Laurel Haag, daughter of the Haag farmer and his wife, narrates the story of her
friendship with Consuelo Vanderbilt. Because of this friendship, Laurel learns
to speak French and eventually travels overseas.
The author introduces the story by saying she hoped to give "'the
amazing Consuelo Vanderbilt, whose grace and heart captured my imagination long
ago, the friend she should have had." This fictional friend, Laurel Haag, is
indeed a friend worth having. Laurel's mother is never wrong, and Laurel always
follows her mother's advice. Thus, Consuelo has more mature advice than the
average young girl of the early American elite class. Consuelo becomes the most
intriguing character of this novel and the reader becomes more and more curious
about her and her marriage to one of the Spencer-Churchills of England.
Readers who enjoy light romance set in nineteenth-century America
will enjoy this novel. It is apparent that the author loves her subject as well
as her historical neighborhood and her connections to her church. The standard
disclaimer at the front of this novel helps the reader realize that this is
truly fiction. The novel is well written and a quick, fun read.
Naomi Theye
SILVERSWORD
Krista Janssen, Whiskey Creek Press, 2006, $13.95, pb, 391pp, 1593746555
Silversword Ranch, an unspoiled paradise on the Big Island of Hawaii, is the
pride of the McKinsey family. When patriarch Angus McKinsey dies, his daughter,
Paris, finds that the ranch is in dire financial straits and that the impending
war between the U.S. and Japan could cause further difficulty. When Paris meets
a young Japanese-American businessman named Alan Sakura, he makes her an offer
that could save the ranch. But where do his loyalties lie--with Japan or with
Hawaii, his grandmother's homeland?
Though Janssen provides some detail about the prejudice faced by
Japanese-Americans living in the U.S. and Hawaii in the years leading up to
World War II, much of the other historical detail is little more than a pretty
background to an engaging romance story. The focus in Silversword is more
on character development and plot than it is on history.
This is a quick, enjoyable read with particular appeal for
historical romance readers who are looking for an atypical setting, but readers
looking for in-depth historical detail on pre-World War II Hawaii may wish to
look elsewhere.
Nanette Donohue
FOR HONOR: AN ADVENTURE OF WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN
Kathleen Jaske, Infinity Publishing 2004, $17.95, pb, 266pp, 0741420570
In 1636-39, the heyday of the musketeers, murder, mayhem, and intrigue run
rampant in Europe. The main characters include musketeers, dukes, kings,
cardinals, and innocent young women as well as an avenging wife who is also
heavily involved in bringing justice to society. This novel, set in locations
across Britain, German, Austria, and France, is the first in a series of four by
Jaske.
The storyline follows young Christophe (Laurel) as she tries to
help her father get crucial messages to the king. Laurel poses as a lad and
becomes involved with four musketeers who aide and abet her in her quest to stop
the spy who is on his way to England. It is a fast paced story and lots of fun.
However, one must suspend disbelief when the musketeers use such language as
"darn" and "heck"; when Laurel has as many fencing skills as the famed
musketeers; and when Laurel's healing talents best even the physicians of the
times. Early on the musketeers realize that Christophe is actually a girl, yet
they seem to accept her and rave about her many talents throughout their
escapades together.
When musketeers are involved, one expects humor, danger, and
suspense and this book does not disappoint. Readers of light romance or those
who seek action and intrigue will enjoy Jaske's novel.
Naomi Theye
THE DEVIL'S ANVIL
Christopher Kavanagh, Moonshine, 2006, £9.99, pb, 298pp, 0953644030
The Devil's Anvil, the first book in the Kelly Series, tells the story of
the horrors of the Irish Rebellion of 1798. Patrick Kelly, son of a blacksmith,
is left orphaned after his father and brother are tortured and killed by Cornet
Billy Evans of the Ancient British Fencible Cavalry. With nothing left to him
but the help of an old hermit, Kelly escapes and swears revenge upon Evans. In
his quest he meets other victims of the "Bloody Britons," both Catholic and
Protestant, and the cruel nature of men at war overwhelms Kelly and his
comrades.
Kavanagh presents an endearing hero in Kelly, a strapping young
man, heartbroken and tortured, yet noble in spirit. Kelly is not a complicated
fellow, nor are his somewhat one-dimensional companions, but the character
development seems secondary to the constant suspense and horror of the many
battle scenes. The violence that likely occurred during the Rebellion is
nauseating, and many cruelties are recounted with relish--a bit too much to take
over the course of nearly 300 pages. Kavanagh does justice to nameless
victims--townspeople caught in the crossfire, taken advantage of, robbed,
assaulted, and killed by rebels, cavalry, infantry, the Church, politicians,
magistrates and nobility, who somehow managed to go on. While fear kept many in
hiding, afraid to help a neighbor, the noble spirit of a few good people is
represented in the town doctor and the Quakers that take the doctor's family and
Kelly in after the raids, risking life and limb for the good of humankind.
Kavanagh's lack of attention to the history of the rebellion and
the Catholic/Protestant hostility is unfortunate, and paired with the thin
character development, this book becomes an action-packed, quick read without
the personality or gravity to be truly memorable.
Catherine Perkins
NEW HOUSE AND GUTO'R GLYN IN 1492
Richard M. Loomis, Xlibris, 2005, $20.99, pb, 140pp, 1413479332
This book provides an interesting twist on historical fiction, as the author
brings to life an imaginary monastery in medieval Wales, complete with invented
documents and a fabricated history of fifteen centuries. Various references and
prefaces are given to each of these documents by the author, creating a
pseudo-research presentation that shows the author's depth of knowledge and
creativity in this subject area. In addition, a paper written and revised for
publication by the author on the fifteenth-century Welsh poet Guto'r Glyn is
included at the end and provides further evidence that this project was a labor
of love by an expert on medieval Welsh historical personages and places.
I found these books to be particularly enjoyable, as inventing
historical documents and places and making them real is so much more difficult
than just creating a story around real historical characters. Loomis is an
author and scholar who goes to great lengths to make his abbey something that
could have actually existed in medieval Wales, from the monks' documentary of
various events and personages to how the charters and pseudo-legitimate letters
were constructed.
Brad Eden
VOYAGE TO THE FARM
Richard M. Loomis, Xlibris, 2005, $9.00, pb, 176pp, 141348672X
In the thirteenth century, at the point in history when Iceland was losing its
independence as a free commonwealth and becoming subject to Norway, ten-year-old
Thorir Gunnarsson is sent to Norway for an education where he loves learning
from his teachers and the older students. At the end of his fourth summer
marauders come and kill the teachers and some of the students while Thorir and
his friends are forced to watch. The school is then burned to the ground. Thorir
and the remaining students are shipped off and sold to an Irish entrepreneur,
who promises them their freedom in exchange for seven years of work. Thorir and
his friends escape and return to their respective families. Even though the
story Loomis tells is believable, one occasionally wonders at the remarkable
abilities of these unfortunate young people. When Thorir returns to Iceland he
learns about the politics, the strife, and the history of his native country as
he advances to middle age.
Loomis writes in such a way that the reader can feel the barrenness
and vastness of the time period including the vague understandings of geography
and navigation. The reader becomes aware that the politics are going to tear
Thorir, his family, and the people of Iceland apart.
Readers interested in early Icelandic history will enjoy this little volume.
Loomis writes of the love between Helga and Thorir, the sparse communication
between Thorir and his extended family, the politics of early Iceland, and the
murder and intrigue as the politics play out. Through his storytelling, Loomis
ably describes the landscape of Iceland and the traditions of its people.
Naomi Theye
SOLWAY SLEUTH-HOUNDS: THE FIRST RECRUIT
Mary S. Moffat, Rooskie Press, 2005, £9.99/$14.99, pb, 390pp, 0955147700
This novel follows the adventures of young Gretna Marshall as she is recruited
by the Laird of Loncrags to be the first member of his private investigation
team, the Solway Sleuth Hounds. The adventure takes place in Dumfries and
Galloway in the 18th century in Southwest Scotland. Gretna is tapped as talent
by the Laird and his wife because of her family connection to the traveling
people and the unique advantages they have living on the fringe of "polite"
society. Her first seemingly straightforward mission of investigating a theft
unfolds into an adventure that encompasses kidnapping, smugglers, Robert Burns,
and the effects of the French and Jacobite Revolution.
Though the novel is geared towards young adults, it is
painstakingly researched and filled with rich characters that will appeal to
many. The geography is lovingly laid out with precision, the flavor of the times
is well captured by the dialect, and the historical events are skillfully
incorporated into the story. Supplementing the already rich educational
experience of reading the novel is a 70-page attachment that includes maps and
photos of the region, a glossary, and explanations of the history.
Perhaps the best aspect of the book, though, is the strong
characters, especially the women, who struggle against the gender and class
biases that were prevalent in the time period. The novel is well researched and
entertaining.
Amanda Yesilbas
HIGHLAND REBEL
Loren Teague, Whiskey Creek Press, 2006, $13.95, pb, 308pp, 1593744455
Even after defeat at the Battle of Culloden, every Highlander's heart still
beats for the return of their true king. Ewan Cameron's heart, however, is torn
between his loyalty to Charles Stuart, whose gold Ewan has hidden away, and his
love for his sweetheart, Lizzie Lindsay, a lowlander and daughter of an
Episcopalian minister. He believes that his love for Lizzie will overcome all
obstacles just as he believes that Charles Stuart will one day claim his throne.
As English soldiers pour over the Scottish countryside of 1746, murdering and
torturing anyone who stands in their way, Ewan and Lizzie are separated, and
each must make difficult choices in order to survive. Along the way, they find
help from David Jamieson, an English soldier who lacks the bloodlust of his
commanding officer, Major Ulverston. Ewan and David find their lives
intertwining as they escape Scotland and travel across the ocean, each hoping to
build a new life with Lizzie.
This story takes the reader on a bittersweet journey through the
harsh reality of war, loss, sacrifice, and love. As the characters confront the
injustices dealt to the defeated, they rely on each other and their own inner
strength to see themselves through to the end. This reviewer gladly recommends
this well-written and well-researched novel.
Debra Rodensky
HUDSON LAKE
Laura Mazzuca Toops, Twilight Times, 2006, $4.95 download; pb edition
forthcoming Feb 2007, $16.95, 213pp, 1933353570
With her third novel, Toops fully steeps readers in the frenetic, heady
atmosphere of the Prohibition-era jazz experience. During the long, hot summer
of 1926, Harriet Braun, an aspiring medical student on break from Indiana
University, takes a job at a hotel adjacent to the Blue Lantern dance hall on
Hudson Lake in rural New Carlisle, Indiana. The Jean Goldkette band headlines at
this resort some seventy miles east of Chicago, and its cornet player,
23-year-old Bix Beiderbecke, frequently steals the show. The lives of Harriet
and Bix intertwine with numerous other well-developed characters, nearly all of
whom are masking personal pain. Things heat up further when Chicago mobsters and
local Klan adherents enter the picture; a poignant romantic subplot turns things
up a notch as well.
Although the pacing's swift from the get-go, giving the novel a
dazzling, almost kaleidoscopic feel, the numerous plot threads don't fully
coalesce until about halfway through. But even though the story gives little
indication where it's going early on, it's impossible not to enjoy the ride. The
enigmatic Beiderbecke, haunted by incidents from his past yet driven by his
passion for music, is a brilliantly developed and compelling personality. The
novel's prose, peppered throughout with period slang and moonshine-laced
attitude, conveys the historical period remarkably well. Highly recommended for
those interested in taking a step back in time to the tumultuous and fascinating
1920s.
Sarah Johnson
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