Book Review -- The Member of the Wedding

The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers

My enjoyment rating: 3 of 5 stars

Hangover rating: 3

Source:  Library copy

Genre: General fiction

Objectionable material: None

Frankie Addams is bummed. Her older brother is getting married and moving away. Now she will be stuck at home with her dad and housekeeper with no chance of leaving her small town Georgia home.

Why oh why won’t the newlyweds take her with them?

Carson McCullers brief but powerful novel expertly examines the mindset of a precocious 12 year old girl who is dealing with tremendous loneliness and trying to find her way in the world, all the while thinking she’s more mature than she really is.

This was an interesting novel. It was difficult to read initially because first: it was written almost entirely without chapters (drove me crazy!) and second: it took place almost entirely around the kitchen table between 3 characters, Frankie (aka F Jasmine or Francine), housekeeper, Berenice, and cousin, John Henry (which is why a stage adaptation would be brilliant).

Frankie was crazy. Really. What 12 year old isn’t? And I’m an expert – I am a mother of a 12 year old girl who acts just like Frankie. One minute she was playing – the next she was angry – the next she was threatening to run away from home – the next she was trying to hijack her brother’s honeymoon.

This is the type of book one needs to read in an English Lit class because the author obviously crafted a brilliant novel – but one I need explained to me. It wasn’t until the end that it occurred to me – oh – that might have been really good.

It also is a novel that requires a tremendous amount of patience.

But if you are a mom of a 12 year old girl – it was peaceful confirmation to learn that 12 year old girls in the 1940s were just as crazy as modern day 12 year olds – just without electronics.

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Book Review -- The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

My enjoyment rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Book hangover rating: 4 of 5 stars

Source: Personal copy

Genre: Classic fiction

Objectionable material: none (I would let my 12 yr old read it)

(Ladies of Literature and Big Love Book Club May book choice)

 

In Old Testament fashion, F. Scott Fitzgerald created a story of greed, decadence, inequality, and moral decay that led to utter destruction. All in turn of the century America.

I was completely captivated by the excess Fitzgerald created in such a sparse novel spanning only a few months.

It oozed lusciousness.

It celebrated temptation.

Souls were sold.

Dreams were shattered.

Lives ruined.

What an amazing piece of literature.

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April Book Club -- My Cousin Rachel

My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier

My enjoyment rating: 4 of 5 stars

My book hangover rating: 4 of 5 stars

Source:  Personal copy

Genre:  Classic fiction; mystery

Objectionable material: None

April Book Club choice

 

 

 

My Cousin Rachel…the original Gone Girl.

Rachel Ashley has buried 2 husbands…now she is after the wealth and trinkets of her deceased husband’s cousin…or is she?

Daphne du Maurier does what no other author can do – keep you guessing until the very last word.

She creates tension, doubt, atmosphere, and character tone that changes instantly.

More than once I wanted to vocally scream at the page – “Philip Ashley – are you crazy? What are you doing?” How many authors have the literary power to evoke such audible emotions?

This was a psychological thriller, with the beauty of a Cornish estate. Or possibly…Gone Girl meets Downton Abbey.

Final word of caution…be wary of your house guests and their tea.

 

May Book Club choice:

 

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

 

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Book Review -- The House on the Strand

The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier

My enjoyment rating: 2 of 5 stars

Book source:  personal copy

Genre: Classic fiction

Objectionable material: none

Nothing like having your best friend use you as a science experiment.

But that’s exactly what happens to Dick Young. He’s been asked by his long time college buddy (now scientist), Mangus Lane, to imbibe on a potion he’s created to transport him back in time. Mangus himself has taken several “trips” to the 14th century…now he needs confirmation from another source to confirm the secrets to his elixir.

Things initially go smoothly for Dick: he drinks the mixture; transports back to Cornwall of 1335; follows around a group of ancient Cornwallians (I hope that’s what you would call someone from Cornwall!); learns that one in the group, Roger Kylmarth, was the first inhabitant of Mangus’s cottage; also that there is some philandering going on within this group – and then – without much effort – he transports back to the present day.

It becomes quite a bit more complicated when Dick’s wife, Vita, shows up and he has to explain to her his absences and odd behavior. She’s not too willing to accept his recent interest in 14th century history. Regardless of Vita’s concern, Dick decides he really gets his kicks and giggles out of his new found hobby, even if he is becoming more aggressive, starts loosing feeling in his extremities, and sweats all the time.

Then Mangus takes a “trip” of his own and the time travel experiment completely unravels. And not in a good way.

This was one of the strangest books I’ve ever read!  And I love Dame DuMaurier! But this was a huge struggle.

I’ve read time travel books before – but never back to the 14th century – where I have absolutely no context for time or historical participants (i.e. 16th century = Henry VIII).

Also, I was confused from the moment DuMaurier introduced her 14th century characters until the last page: I could never figure out their relationship with one another, why they were conflicted, who was sleeping with whom – and she even provided a genealogy tree in the preface to help the reader – but it was of no help whatsoever. At least to me.

The present day story line was easier to follow, but not by much: All of the locales Dick visited to begin his trips started with Tre --- Treesmill, Treverran, Trevenna – I couldn’t keep them straight. Also Vita, Dick’s wife, was plain annoying (would it have to do with the fact that she was an American?). Every time she entered the narrative, I cringed.

The one upside to this book: DuMaurier is a complete genius in creating a sense of “place” that I was swept away in the locale of Cornwall – the beaches, the farms, the villages – I think her narrative was the only thing that kept me going.

All in all, not an enjoyable read…but I will continue to adore Dame Daphne DuMaurier.

*House on the Strand was written as an homage to her estate in Cornwall, Kilmarth.

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Book Review -- Their Eyes Were Watching God

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Book source:  Public library

Genre:  Classic fiction

Objectionble material:  None...that I can remember

Read it for Ladies of Literature book club

Dear Ms. Hurston:

I must admit – I was a reluctant at first. I got bogged down with the afro-centric dialog. I was reading pages over and over again, just to understand. But suddenly, like reading Shakespeare or Jane Austen, it all started to make sense – beautiful, beautiful sense. It wasn’t always easy – but it was worth it.  

You have written a coming of age story like no other: Janie Woods -- granddaughter of a former slave, no memory of either her mother or father, who sets her sights on a life of love and adventure.

But her grandmother marries her off, against her will, to a man twice her age. Unhappy, she leaves him for Jody Starks, the man she thinks will make her dreams come true. But he belittles her and forces her to work in his store, while he reaps all the glory and money. 

Finally, you provide Janie with Tea Cake – a man full of adventure and ideas. In spite of the murmurings of the town folk – Janie leaves with Tea Cake to work the “muck” – the growing fields of the everglades -- where they befriend characters like, Motor Boat, Stew Beef, Coodemay, Bootyny – and a whole host of others who laugh and gamble and dance the days away.

But you still don’t make things easy for Janie – you take her to the depths of degradation as an abused wife, to surviving the devastation of a hurricane. Then you put her in a position know woman should have to face – choosing one’s own life over that of your spouse.

Finally Ms. Hurston – you give us Janie – a woman who survived it all – who lived to tell about it. And did so with love, honor, and without regret.

Thank you for the privilege of marveling over your brilliant words.

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Book Review -- Kilmeny of the Orchard



 

Book: Kilmeny of the Orchard by L. M. Montgomery

Enjoyment rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Book Source: e-book from Project Gutenberg (the first book read on my Nook™!)

Challenge: L. M. Montgomery Reading Challenge sponsored by Reading to Know

Eric Marshall has accepted a teaching post in the quaint village of Lindsay, with the intent of staying but the few brief months to finish the term of the previous head master. While exploring the surrounding country side, Eric discovers an abandoned apple orchard that so betwixts him, he lingers to enjoy its beauty. After but a few minutes his meditative state is startled by the strings of a violin, played beautifully by an enchanting mistress who is also enjoying the orchard. As Eric approaches this young maiden, she is so started by his presence she runs in fear back to her family’s farm. Eric is immediately mesmerized by this young woman and is determined to find out her identity. What he learns is that Kilmeny Gordon, an orphan who lives with her aunt and uncle, is not what she seems: A woman with immense talent and beauty but without the ability to speak. Eric is determined to woo Kilmeny and is convinced that his love will conquer her muteness.

This was a delightful novel. L. M. Montgomery’s works are wholesome stories about love and survival.

I liked that this book was from a male perspective, where most of Ms. Montgomery’s works are written in the female voice.

She is superb in describing the flora and fauna of Lindsay and the surrounding areas. She also meticulously weaves a story about Kilmeny’s mother and her marital misfortune, that it is believed to have cursed Kilmeny and her future.

Another vintage contribution by L. M. Montgomery.