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By Sharra, November 23, 2012

Flight Behavior

by Barbara Kingsolver

Chaos. Beauty. The cycle of life and death, destruction and creation. Barbara Kingsolver’s latest novel, Flight Behavior, shows us the beauty of every day life, and the tragedy of miracles. The novel takes place in a small Appalachian town in Tennessee, where a woman struggles to find the balance between her needs and the actuality of her life. When we first meet Dellarobia, she seems to be fleeing her home, driven on by her own lust and need, willing to through her entire life away for the simple pleasure of giving in to desire. What she finds instead is a miracle. Monarch butterflies, millions of them, in columns on the trees, floating through the air, and underfoot. Her near act of selfishness is the first step in a series of changes for herself, her family, and the town in which she lives. Dellarobia’s life expands as the butterflies bring scientists, tourists, and activists into her life, and into her front yard.

Kingsolver addresses the issue of the effects of climate change and of harmful acts towards natural environments, such as logging, by exploring the life cycle of butterfly through the eyes of a woman whose personal metamorphosis becomes linked to the survival of the butterflies she accidentally stumbled upon.  Dellarobia’s growth through the novel, the changes seen in her family, her friends, and the life of a small town, as well as the trials of the butterflies who have flown miles from their normal path are a gripping, emotional read.

Barbara Kingsolver will be speaking on Flight Behavior on November 27th at the Nashville Public Library as part of the Salon@615 series. 

Pleasant Reading -
Sharra

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By Sharra, November 9, 2012

Astray

By Emma Donoghue

Emma Donoghue, the red-headed Dublin native, re-visits leave-takings, journeys, wanderings and meanderings throughout history in her latest book of short stories Astray. It’s not just about the physical – these are people going astray in many aspects of their lives; they cross boundaries where boundaries have not been crossed before. Fourteen stories track fourteen lives throughout history as they are led astray – by themselves, by others, by race, by sexuality, and many other ideas.

The stories are reminiscent of a previous collection of Donoghue’s The Women Who Gave Birth To Rabbits, which focuses on grotesque and odd historical anecdotes. Just like in her previous collection, Donoghue breathes life into stories that seem like nothing more than footnotes in the grand scheme of history, but in truth are important reminders of all the little things we miss when looking at the “big picture.”

One of my favorite stories in this book is actually the first one, called “Man and Boy”, which reads like a monologue. At first, you can’t tell that the person speaking is an animal trainer, addressing his ward: an elephant named Jumbo. The story tells of the elephant’s sale to P.T. Barnum, and the trainer’s preparation for the ocean voyage from London. There is so much tenderness in the speaker that it is easy to believe why Matthew Scott, the trainer, refers to Jumbo as “his boy”.

If you like historical fiction with a twist, this is definitely a book for you!

Meet Emma Donoghue on November 13th, as she joins the Nashville Public Library as part of their Salon@615 series. Please check the calendar for details.

Pleasant Reading –
Sharra

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By Sharra, October 26, 2012

The Handmaid’s Tale

by Margaret Atwood

This novel was selected by the Mayor for Nashville Reads, for the entire city to read and discuss.

First, let me say that I have previously summarized this book as part of my blog on dystopian novels.

Here is that original entry:

“This novel was originally published in 1986, and it will bring a chill to anyone who reads it. The United States has become a theocracy – women are subservient, forced into specified roles – Handmaiden, Wife, and Servant – according to Biblical law. Women who are capable of breeding are treated like animals. There is a reason – government has been suspended due to a “terrorist attack” where most of the important leaders are killed. Another group, dubbing themselves “Sons of Jacob” take over, freezing the assets of all women (and other people they don’t like), and creating a society based on their believes. The story is told from the perspective of one handmaiden ‘Offred’ who started life as a free woman, who had a husband and a child, and who is forced into servitude by the change in laws.  The end of the story leaves you with a question mark, but it definitely makes you think.”

Interested yet? If not, let me implore you to do so. This novel was a timely selection for Nashville Reads, considering the current news articles about women’s rights. Margaret Atwood stated in an article she wrote for the Guardian, “I made a rule for myself. I would not include anything that human beings had not already done in some other place or time, or for which the technology did not already exist.” If that doesn’t make you want to take a long look at society, nothing else will.

The Handmaid’s Tale has been one of my favorite novels since high school. I’m not ashamed that I’ve read it at least once a year since I first read it. Each year, I find something new that I missed before, something that keeps me coming back to it time and again. As I grew older, the ideas from the novel that affected the most began to change. That is one reason this book is so wonderful; returning to it at an older age changes the way you interpret what is written.

Since then, I’ve read everything that Atwood has ever written (no joke).  Most writers, when they become as prolific as she is, begin to lose a little steam in their writing. But with Margaret Atwood, I’m never disappointed. The Handmaid’s Tale is an excellent starting point for this wonderful writer.

Also – don’t miss Margaret Atwood’s public lecture and book signing on October 27th at 10 a.m. Check the library calendar for more details!

Pleasant reading -

Sharra

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By Sharra, October 19, 2012

Live by Night

By Dennis Lehane

With the renewed interest in Prohibition-era living (think Nucky Thomas and Boardwalk Empire), Dennis Lehane opens up the literary road for those of us who don’t have cable television (or if you’d rather just read a book!)

Joe Coughlin is a man who lives outside the law. He lives in a time where a whole new criminal lifestyle which revolves around the making, shipping, and distributing of alcohol. He starts the story at the bottom level – a hired tough who spends the first part of the novel under the thumb of one crime lord or another. When we first meet Joe, he’s about to be sent to the briny deep with a pair of concrete shoes. He’s reflecting on what brought him to that point – namely, a woman. This novel is a tale of revenge, but not just the main character’s search for it.

The story is rich with details about the time – clothing, cars, buildings. I’ve read some reviews that say that there was too much detail, but I disagree. We are seeing the world through Joe’s eyes.  It’s difficult to tell whether the main character is just very lucky, or very smart. It is obvious that he has the guts to take what he want and survive with it – but his lifestyle comes with a heavy price.

The characters in this story aren’t necessarily meant to be loved. There are times when Joe’s behavior is deplorable. However, even though he lives outside of the law, he has a sense of honor that seems to help as much as hinder him.

If you love this book, or any of Dennis Lehane’s other works, please join the library in welcoming him as part of the Salon@615 series on October 23rd. Check the library calendar for details!

Pleasant Reading -

Sharra

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By Sharra, October 12, 2012

The Bone Bed

by Patricia Cornwell

The Bone Bed is the twentieth novel in Cornwell’s popular Kay Scarpetta series. If you are like me, and you haven’t read any of them before, that’s perfectly alright. The Bone Bed can be read by someone who has never read the series before, although some of the back story on the characters does nothing more than wet your whistle to read the other books.

The Bone Bed begins with an e-mail to the Chief Medical Examiner, Kay Scarpetta, with a grisly ending to a short video – the shot of a severed human ear. The rest of the novel, without giving too much away, is about Scarpetta’s search for the killer who seems to be toying with her. She spends quite a bit of the novel trying to decide who she can and can’t trust, even casting doubt on her closest friends and her husband, as well as sorting out her feelings towards some of the same people.

One thing that definitely impressed me about this book, especially as a first time reader, was the level of detail that went into it. When Scarpetta conducts a medical examination of a dead body, you almost feel as if you are in the room with her. Cornwell has a way of keeping you guessing up until the very end!

Regardless of whether you are an avid fan or a new reader, if you like mystery novels with a twist and gory details galore, this is definitely a novel for you.

Patricia Cornwell joins readers in Nashville for a talk as part of the Salon@615 series on October 20th, at the University School of Nashville. Check the calendar for more details!

Pleasant reading -

Sharra

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By Sharra, September 28, 2012

For you fans of Edith Wharton, there have been two great books recently released that explore her relationship with her governess Anna Bahlmann. Both of these authors recently gave a talk at the library on their experiences, and some of Anna Bahlmann’s family was able to attend. In case you missed them, though, here is a review of their works.

My Dear Governess: The Letters of Edith Wharton to Anna Bahlmann

By Irene Goldman-Price

This book contains a selection of letters from Edith Wharton to her governess, secretary, and lifelong companion. Goldman-Price includes thoughtful introductions to each section, in order to help the reader understand the progression of Edith’s life and her relationship with Anna. Interestingly enough, Anna’s letters were not kept by any of her famous correspondent, so we only have Edith’s communications. The letters cross forty-two years, showing a young, precocious woman as she became a person whose literature is unforgettable. Wharton’s extensive travels, her interest in poetry, German translations, and writing become apparent, as well as Bahlmann’s influence on her. This book reveals much information about Edith Wharton’s life, even some that contradicts her biography. It was an interesting and in-depth look at the woman behind the writing.

The Age of Desire

By Jennie Fields

The Age of Desire is a work of historical fiction, which explores not only the relationship between Edith Wharton and Anna Bahlmann, but Anna’s friendship with Edith’s husband Teddy. The novel also delves into the torrid love affair between Edith Wharton and the journalist Morton Fullerton.  The story is told from Anna’s and Edith’s perspective, and the differences in class and upbringing are brought to life. Edith seems a tragic figure – a woman who is strong, but whose life is burdened by a husband who she neither loves nor understands. Anna’s affection for both Edith and Teddy are apparent, but her attraction to Teddy and her disapproval of Edith’s behavior causes strain in their relationship. This book was also an interesting take on the life of this literary giant, and brought to life some of the places, times, and people described in Edith’s letters to Anna.

Pleasant reading -

Sharra

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By Sharra, September 14, 2012

When It Happens to You

by Molly Ringwald

For those of you who grew up in the 1980s, you probably remember Molly Ringwald as the quirky actress in coming-of-age teen movies, The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles. Though she has an extensive acting career, Molly Ringwald is also an accomplished writer. Her articles appear in Esquire and The New York Times, as well as a non-fiction book titled Getting the Pretty Back: Friendship, Family and Finding the Perfect Lipstick.

When It Happens to You: A Novel in Short Stories, is Molly Ringwald’s fiction debut. The stories revolve around a central cast of characters. Greta is a woman who has given up her own dreams in order to raise a family. She struggles with fertility issues and, as the novel opens, the betrayal of her husband against everything she has held dear. Greta’s husband Phillip is successful and handsome. He tries to be attentive to his family’s needs. However, he finds himself turning away from family life, seeking something outside marriage. Charlotte is their six-year-old daughter. At times, she can be a trying child, especially when her parents separate, after Phillip’s revelations to his wife.

The stories in the novel are connected through these three characters, even if the story may seem unrelated to the novel as a whole. Ringwald addresses a series of issues regarding family, infidelity, infertility, and identity through the diverse cast of characters whose lives rotate around the central family like the earth around the sun.

Out of all the stories in this novel, my favorite is called “My Olivia”. The story is about Charlotte’s playmate, Oliver, and is told through his mother’s perspective. Without giving too much away, the story explores gender identity issues in small children and how one mother learns to come to terms with her young son’s confident insistence that he is a girl.

When It Happens to You is a study of the realism of life. The characters are human beings with faults, who make mistakes, and who struggle for redemption and understanding.

Molly Ringwald will be kick-starting this season’s Salon@615 series, on September 18th at the Main library downtown. Check the calendar for details!

Pleasant Reading -

Sharra