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MAY 2006 REVIEWS:
MY SON DAVID
R. M. Abram, Dynasty Books, 2005, $29.95, hb, 852pp, 0975503200
My Son David depicts the trials and triumphs of a father and son, a family and
its heritage. The important historical characters in this book are descendants
of King David. The storyline follows them through a number of generations.
Included are Yehuda Halevi, who escapes the inquisition in Spain and makes a
treasured friend of Sanballat, the Moor; Judah Gordon, who leaves Czarist Russia
for the freedom he finds in Holland; Zadok Gordon, who wants to restore
Palestine to the Jews; and Nathan Gordon, a pilot of a P-38 in World War II.
There are essentially two parts to the story—one that follows the historical
characters, and one that describes the life of the contemporary Dr. John Gordon,
a renowned cardiologist in present-day California, and his immediate family.
John Gordon is the only survivor of an illustrious Jewish family. John's legacy
is the Shield of David, a golden heirloom which, according to legend, will find
its final heir and usher in a new era of peace and prosperity.
One common thread throughout the book is the problem of carrying out the
lineage of David and yet fulfilling the desires of the heart. Another constant
is the importance of the Davidic shield, the inheritance for this particular
family. Within the context of the story, premonitions are rife and dreams are
most generally foretelling events.
This book does an excellent job of promoting peace between the varied
branches of Abraham's family tree. It will appeal to readers who are interested
in history, readers who are interested in the tenets of the Jewish, Muslim and
Mormon faiths, and readers who enjoy romance—contemporary and/or historical.
Naomi Theye
NOBLE STONE: A NOVEL
Curt Bissonette, iUniverse, 2005, $15.95, pb, 227pp, 0595338038
This book is a fictional account of a real tenth-century Anglo-Saxon king named
Athelstan. His father was a great king in southern England, and like most kings'
sons, Athelstan was sent away to be trained and nurtured. While away, his
younger brothers are able to replace him as favorites and heirs with their
father. Athelstan rises to the occasion, however, and leads his countrymen into
a major battle with the Vikings. This is truly a "historical" novel, in that the
author takes the time to set the real historical background for the drama by
explaining the political realities and characters of tenth-century England, as
well as provide the family trees of the royal Saxon families. Noble Stone
is a very good historical recreation of the life of Athelstan.
Brad Eden
SHANGHAI LEGACY
Marion Cuba, Celadon Books, 2005, $14.95, pb, 194pp, 1591138094
Shanghai Legacy skillfully explores the relationship between past and present,
mother and daughter, and injury and redemption. The novel entwines the stories
of Maya, a middle-aged, affluent New Yorker, and her mother, Hannah, a harsh
Jewish refugee from the ghetto of Hongkew in Shanghai. Maya discovers a German
diary while cleaning out the house of her emotionally distant and seemingly
cruel mother after her death. The discoveries Maya makes about her mother's
unspoken past and hard decisions help Maya focus on her own empty, wavering life
and make decisions she never could before.
The book is beautifully poignant and moving, not only in its rendering of
the Jewish ghetto of Shanghai but also in its profound understanding and
illustration of the daily hurts and struggles faced by everyone; these transcend
a historical time period. The ghettos and atrocities that occurred in Shanghai
are nearly forgotten in the larger scale of World War II, and the author does an
important service of keeping the memories alive. Not a word is wasted in the
excellently crafted prose.
Despite being a short, quick read, the characters are so intimately drawn
that genuine involvement is elicited from the reader be it disgust, sympathy, or
heartbreak. This novel, a rare accomplishment, blends history and literature
into a beautiful read.
Amanda Yesilbas
GARFIELD'S TRAIN
Feather Schwartz Foster, PublishAmerica, 2005, $19.95, pb, 226pp, 1413769152
Garfield's Train is the story of a little-remembered period in American history.
The narrator's grandmother was a resident of the New Jersey beach resort where
James Garfield and his family vacationed before his presidency. The grandmother,
Louise Dunbar, was a girlhood friend of young Mollie Garfield. Louise's
reminiscences, as told to her granddaughter during a long train ride to
California in the 1940s, comprise most of the book.
The author's portrait of Long Branch, New Jersey, and the
politics of the Garfield era is well-drawn. Readers will enjoy having this
seemingly dull period brought to life through Foster's stories of personalities
such as the prideful James G. Blaine and much-despised Chester Arthur. In
describing these figures and revealing the personal and political struggles of
the 1880s, the author does her best work.
More perplexing is the first chapter, which loses the reader
in a genealogy of the Dunbars and their connections with far more detail than is
necessary. This section is almost completely unrelated to the Garfield story,
and most of the people named in it play no role in the rest of the book. Readers
who make it through the slow beginning, though, will be rewarded by the latter
part of the book.
In order to merge historical facts into the fictional story,
the author uses the convention of weaving in "research notes" as alternating
chapters. This upsets the flow of the fictional story. However, the writing in
the non-fiction portions of the book is more fluid and readable. One wonders
whether the author might have done better to write a history instead of a novel.
Chuck Sherrill
OF WATER AND DRAGONS
Kelley Heckart, Booksurge, 2005, $15.99, pb, 195pp, 1419604570
In AD 84 Northern Caledonia, a Roman commander wounded in battle, Ambiorix,
finds himself under the gentle, healing care of Nemu, a half-human, half-water
fairy. Time and allegiance prevent Ambiorix from pursuing his fascination with
the winged female, so he returns to Roman-occupied lands and tries to build a
life for himself and his family. Yet despite his attempts to lead a quiet,
peaceful life, dreams disturb his sleep: dreams of Nemu and of leading the
Celtic enemy into battle. Nemu, for herself, tries to forget the handsome Roman
warrior, but her growing love for Ambiorix draws her out of her forest realm and
into the world of battle-hardened Druids, eager to wage war against their Roman
enemy. The cruelty of fate tugs Nemu and Ambiorix together as they play out
their roles in an uncertain destiny.
The author spins a fine tale, though her writing lacks a
professional polish. The characters are three-dimensional and easily captured my
interest. The plot weaves seamlessly through a complicated time in history,
taking advantage of ambiguities to insert an otherworldly mystique. I truly
enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more from this author.
Debra Rodensky
TUNNELL'S BOYS
Tony Junker, iUniverse, 2005, $18.95, pb, 288pp, 0595359515
Set in the United States in the late nineteenth century, Tunnell's Boys tells
the tale of Peter Long and Ebenezer Soule, shipmates aboard the schooner Tunnell.
Apprenticed together aboard the Tunnell, Soule and Long forge the bonds of
friendship, though their beliefs often clash. While the initially calculating
perspective of narrator Peter Long delays an understanding or appreciation of
the characters, Junker's novel gains steam, and Long warms to his mates,
revealing intricate and charming characters. The intriguing character of Soule
embodies the turbulent times when war with Spain was on the minds of many in the
United States; the novel illustrates the struggle between the human desire for
peace and the desire to fight against perceived wrongs.
Junker provides a vibrant picture of seafaring life, and his
knowledge of ships and sailing fills the book with the language of the sea. His
enthusiasm is contagious, although the flood of sailing jargon can be
overwhelming at times. Equally vibrant is his representation of Quaker
life and society, and he does not fail to reveal both good and bad of the
fascinating Quaker life and philosophy.
Tunnell's Boys will appeal to fans of seafaring fiction and to all who are
interested in the vibrant, conflicted world of Philadelphia in the late
nineteenth century. A love of the beauty and respect for the power of the sea
and the human soul will be felt by all readers.
Catherine A. Perkins
THE NERO PREDICTION
Humphry Knipe, Process Media, 2005, $25.00, hb, 336pp, 0976082225
As a library slave in Alexandria in 48 A.D., Epaphroditus led a fairly tame
life; little did he know what the stars had in store for him. Agrippina, the
cunning and devious niece of the Roman emperor, Claudius, knew exactly what his
stars told of his future. She sought him out and brought him to Rome to fulfill
his destiny, helping her son, Nero, become the ruler of the Roman Empire.
History tells us how Nero's story ends, with him fiddling while Rome burns to
the ground, but Knipe tells us how things ended up that way.
Full of the passion and intrigue of ancient Roman society, The Nero
Prediction reveals the private lives of Rome's power players. Knipe brilliantly
creates this look back into another time, weaving together descriptions of court
life and the influence of astrology. His attention to detail, particularly in
regard to the complexities of astrology, show that he has definitely done his
research. The novel is well written and moves at a quick pace. The intrigues and
scandals for which Romans are so famous certainly make this book hard to put
down. Anyone interested in ancient Rome would enjoy reading this novel about one
of its most unique emperors.
Joey Nicholson
THE LAST AMAZON—BOOK ONE: SEADRAGON
Leigh Michaels, Booklocker.com, Inc., 2005, $16.95, pb, 300pp, 159113756X
Based on the premise that behind every good man there is a woman, this book
attempts to portray that behind every good woman there is a man. At the point of
death, the main character, General Artemisia, recalls the three most important
periods in her life. This is Book One, which recalls Artemisia's decision to
take a "wife," and her unraveling of a political conspiracy. Seadragon is the
old ritual name of her mate, Merdracon, and this first book follows the
development of their relationship, and Merdracon's attempts to prove himself to
Artemisia. At the same time, rival political factions are intent on Artemisia's
demise, and the book focuses on the intrigue and drama surrounding this coup.
The Last Amazon is an interesting and fascinating tale, one that I am sure will
continue to develop in the two books that will follow.
Brad Eden
THE SLAVE
Pauline Montagna, Mountain Lily Press, 2005, $25.00, pb, 411pp
(To purchase, order directly from
http://www.mountainlilypress.com
Aurelia Rubbini is the only living child of a successful fourteenth-century
merchant. She lives a pampered yet sheltered life, surrounded by servants who
care for her and parents who provide her with the comforts and luxuries
befitting a young lady. When her father returns from a sea voyage with human
cargo—an Asian slave named Batu—Aurelia finds herself fascinated with the young
man. However, Aurelia's father arranges a marriage of convenience to a
nobleman's son with a dark secret, and she is separated from Batu. As Aurelia
becomes further involved in the drama of her marriage, she finds that her life
is inextricably intertwined with Batu's.
Readers looking for a rich, detail-filled description of Italian life during the
fourteenth century will be disappointed at the lack of detail related to time or
place, other than the occasional Italian phrase or the characters' names. As a
character, Batu is not particularly well-developed—he seems like a mélange of
"mysterious foreign" characteristics rather than a fully-developed person. The
plot, while occasionally believable, tends to devolve into soap opera-style
clichés. Despite its weaknesses, however, The Slave is enjoyable, especially for
readers who appreciate tales of forbidden love or 1970s-era "sweet and savage"
romances.
Nanette Donohue
KYSELAK WAS HERE
Michael Robin, The Ascog Press, 2003, £7.50, pb, 176pp, 0954598911
In 1825, Josef Kyselak was an insignificant clerk in the Viennese ministry at
the time of Emperor Franz I. Kyselak's claim to fame is that he wrote his name
in all manner of places, especially inaccessible places. He wrote his name on
cliffs, church towers, walls, buildings, caves and bridges. He was Austria's
famous graffiti artist—the predecessor of Kilroy. According to this account of
his life, he was most certainly career-challenged and able to frustrate any
ambitions his parents may have had for him.
Michael Robin has taken his knowledge of Austrian culture and
what little is known of Kyselak and written his version of what Kyselak's life
may have been like. The reader is given an insight into life as it was lived in
the times of Emperor Franz I, with Metternich at the helm of the secret police.
Robin incorporates several of the folk tales and legends that were prevalent in
Kyselak's time and makes them relevant to his protagonist's travels. He also
imagines what Kyselak may have endured in his travels to the highest mountains
and lavish landscapes from the four corners of the Austrian Empire: the Vienna
Woods, Bohemia, Slovenia and Transylvania.
This book will appeal to those readers who enjoy reading
travelogues. Romance readers may also enjoy reading about the steamier side of
life in the early 1800s. Robin uses the facts of Kyselak's life, weaves a
believable story, and gives life to a little-known Austrian eccentric.
Naomi Theye
THE TUREL EFFECT: BOOK ONE OF THE LAODICEA PROXY
Andrew J. Weis, Booklocker.com, Inc., 2005, $15.95, pb, 288pp, 1591137713
The Turel Effect follows the unlikely adventures of John Harrod and his best
friend, Dave Sowell, as they are transported back in time to World War I to save
a relative of John's. During the quest it is revealed that John, with the aid of
Dave, has been divinely chosen to combat the machinations of a fallen angel,
Turel, whose ultimate agenda is to recreate mankind under an evil order known as
the Laodicea Proxy.
The story struggles awkwardly in the first pages to create
background and credibility for such a fantastic tale. The characters start off
as ultra-manly caricatures of weight lifter and cowboy, and the story begins
like a buddy adventure road trip. The introduction to the characters and time
shift is stiff and unconvincing. However, the book does eventually hit its
stride and becomes a fast-paced and engrossing adventure.
Weis captures the tension, horror, and pathos of living and
serving in war-torn France in 1917. The action sequences are exciting and
compelling. The characters also begin to develop distinct personalities and lose
some of their caricature-like nature. Unfortunately, confusion often results due
to jumps from one person's perspective to another's with no warning or
transition, leaving the reader wondering which character is narrating the tale
at the moment.
Overall, the book starts out weak but develops into an enjoyable read as the
action, plot, and characters are fleshed out. When the novel concludes, the
reader is left wanting to know how the story will ultimately play out over the
series.
Amanda Yesilbas
CHILDREN'S
THE HASWELL CHRONICLES: Web of Treason
Susey Nuttall, Matador, 2006, £6.99, pb, 136pp, 1905237561
This is the first book in a trilogy.
Lancashire just after the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Thirteen-year-old Tom
Caswell has just moved, with his parents and younger sister, to an estate with a
bigger house. There are many things Tom does not understand, like why he has
been forbidden to see his old friend Edward Fishwycke. But Tom is soon to find
out all about the troubled times in which he is living.
One day Tom sees Edward selling firewood in the marketplace.
Tom hears his story. When King Henry broke with the Pope and set up his new
Church of England Edward’s family refused to comply and remained Catholics. For
doing this Edward’s father was branded a traitor and put to death with all the
barbarities of the law and his family were turned out of their home.
Tom then realises that the same thing could easily happen to his own family. His
father has been given his new estate by King Henry as a reward for unmasking
some plotters. But Henry could just as easily take it away again. Especially as
Tom and his sister Kate have found a monk’s robe near the stables. Harbouring a
monk is regarded as treason. Even worse they believe that someone on the estate
is plotting against the King and is trying to implicate their father. From then
on the plot races on to an abrupt and TV- style cliffhanger of an ending.
This book gives a good picture of the running of a large
country house in Tudor times and the lives of the different classes of people,
but above all it brings out the perilous conditions of the people under Henry
VIII’s autocratic rule. It moves at a good pace and is a real page turner. but I
have reservations about the sudden ending.
There is also a very attractive accompanying web site at
http://www.haswellchronicles.com.
Mary S. Moffat
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