What happens when a band gets so big so fast, and the star begins to be overshadowed by a new member? This book follows the journey of an up and coming rock band that makes it big – and then calls it quits.
This was entertaining, in a “VH1 Behind the Music” kind of way (does that still exist?).
The book is set up as interviews with members of the band – The Six, Daisy Jones, record execs, and various friends and family. It kept me entertained, but nothing too surprising as the interviews describe what most people would think of a typical rock band – drugs and sex and more drugs. But there is something underneath it all, and that’s what kept me reading.
It’s more than just fun gossip as everyone’s memories are not quite in sync. People have their own way of remembering things. Some of the stories are funny, some are sad, and some are downright tragic. But that’s Rock and Roll!
Looking at the cover, and putting some of the pieces together, it’s easy to see that the author is a Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks fan, which she mentions in the supplemental reading. As a Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks fan myself it was hard not to make the comparison. I just hope that they had a lot more fun than Daisy Jones & The Six.
Update: March 21, 2023 – Finally getting to see Reese Witherspoon’s vision of the book come to life for TV. As a fan of the book it’s always a bit unnerving when you see that someone has decided to bring it to the screen. Surprise! Eight episodes in, with two more to go, I’m happy to say that I’m enjoying it very much. The transition from book to screen is very well done, and I’m finding it true to the story and overall feel of the book – although it has been a number of years since I read the book.
Kudos to Reese Witherspoon and Amazon Prime for snatching up the book. I hope that fans of the show that have not read the book grab a copy, and see for themselves how well they adapted the source material. Happily, this is one time that I don’t have to abandon a show or movie because some show-runner or producer has decided to butcher the source material….yes, I’m looking at you “Mayfair Witches”.
This recommendation came to me by way of the Six-Gun Justice Podcast Facebook group. I read the intriguing description – “A love child of The Searchers, Lonesome Dove, and True Grit” and I knew I couldn’t go wrong. Not wanting to wait, I downloaded the Kindle version and jumped right in.
The story is set-up as a narration by 16 year old Jane Fury as she begins, “It was early spring when the ocotillo was in bloom that the raiders come down on us and killed everyone but me and Sally.” She goes on to describe how the day started peacefully as she and her twin brother Jamie gathered leaf buds from the cattails growing in the marsh. It was Jamie who went running when they heard the screaming in the distance, ordering her to stay put. She wanted to go with him, but he told her there was no reason – she couldn’t do anything anyway because she was a girl. And there’s the hook – because she’s a girl!
Jane then goes on to describe in painful detail how she stays behind listening to the horror that is happening to her family, and only after a rain storm and then silence does she venture to where her mother, brother and father lay dead. But where is Sally? The three-year old is nowhere to be found, and that’s when Jane realizes that the Comanche have taken her. This is Jane’s story – her quest to find her lost sister, and she will use any means necessary to find her.
With Jamie’s words ringing in her ears, “you’re a girl—there’s nothing you can do up there”, Jane makes a crucial decision. She puts on Jamie’s bloody clothes, chops off her hair, and grabbing her father’s guns she goes after the Comanche raiders. And boy does she go after them.
Fueled with anger, Jane’s journey (now as Jamie) takes her dangerously close to dying herself. Surviving on her wits, sharp aim, and sheer determination she tracks down the Comanche that killed her family, joins a cattle drive, tries to find help at an army fort, and eventually finds her way back to the Comanche – not all at once mind you – there is plenty of wild adventure in between but to go into any more detail would give away some crucial information. But through it all the Comanche Kid, as “Jamie” is now known, never stops looking for Sally.
Jane’s narration is so personal and at times very painful, yet it never wavers or bogs down. The story is fast paced and moves with almost the same relentless speed as Jane when she realizes just how close she is to finally avenging her family. With a cast of wonderful characters this story is very reminiscent of those masterfully told stories mentioned above; and I did think quite a bit of “True Grit”, but I was also thinking of the TV series “1883” and how the narration of that show was also very personal and bittersweet.
This book was beautifully written and Jane’s voice was very much alive throughout. I took a chance on a book recommended from a Facebook post that I might have normally skipped, and I’m so glad that I did. This one is so special that even though I purchased the Kindle version, I just knew that it also needed to be added to my bookshelves, so I purchased the hardcover as well.
If you’re a fan of westerns or just good adventures, try this one. And if you do, please let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear from other fans of “The Comanche Kid”.
This was a book that I wasn’t even sure I wanted. It was an alternative to a Book of The Month Club pick. I didn’t like the description of the main pick for the month, but didn’t want to skip a month, so I reluctantly added this one. It sat on the shelf for awhile, and when I reached for what I thought was a different book, this one was there instead. Is that book serendipity? I think so.
This book was paced very well, and had such an air of mystery that I finished in one sitting. It was that good.
The story is written from the points of view of three different women:
Nella, the apothecary, begins the story in 1791 London. Although not old in years, her body is failing her and it’s her belief that it’s a form of punishment for what she has become. You see, Nella didn’t always set out to be a poisoner; it was at a very young age that she learned the skills of healing and helping women from her mother. She studiously watched and learned, and observed the great respect that was shown to her mother by the women that came to her for all types of remedies. But then Nella is left on her own, and in her grief meets someone who would shatter her world, which would lead her to a secret life that starts to break down not only her mind, but her body.
Eliza is also in Nella’s timeline. She is a young 12 year old girl who initially meets Nella at the behest of her employer, but then relies on Nella when she needs to rid herself of a ghost – real or imagined. Nella is drawn to Eliza, but fears that her young and innocent curiosity will lead her on a path as lonely and dangerous as her own. One night Eliza makes a horrible mistake, and it starts to bring everything crashing down on Nella. Eliza naively tries to make it right, and sacrifices everything.
Caroline’s point of view is present day. She is in London alone. Her personal life is falling apart, and she has no idea what’s next for her. She has a chance meeting with a gentleman who convinces her to join his group for “mudlarking” on the Thames. Not exactly sure what mudlarking is, and with nothing really planned, she joins the group. She’s about to give up searching through the muddy water of the Thames, when she finds a blue vial with an etching of a bear. And so begins her journey to find out where it came from, and leads her onto a search for a lost apothecary. But another mistake puts Caroline in jeopardy. Will anyone believe her? And will she finally make peace with her life and make the right decisions.
This book is simple in the storytelling, but so very compelling and satisfying that you empathize with each character. All too often when a book is written by various points of view, and one being of a killer, it’s hard to like all of the characters – and yes, I know some books are written so that you hate or despise a certain character, but this book makes you feel such sympathy for each one of these women that you only wish the best for them. I’ve been in such a reading slump lately, and this book that “accidentally” came to me got me right out of it – and it turned out to be such a sweet pleasant surprise.
Let’s chat about The Lost Apothecary – leave your comments below!
Interested in “mudlarking” on the Thames? Here is a great article:
I had a real love/hate relationship with this book. That doesn’t usually happen with me. To explain, let me first tell you the four rankings that I give books:
Ranking #1 – Loved it right from the beginning. I slow down to savor it. Anyone who enjoys reading knows how this feels – you just are blown away from the start, and you don’t want it to end. It stays with you for a long time, and you can’t wait to review it or recommend it – so shout it from the rooftops! (and yes, I have been known to hug the book when done).
Ranking #2 – Kind of “meh”. I stick with it because I want to see how it ends. There is nothing wrong with it, but it just didn’t grab me like some do. I sometimes find myself rolling my eyes and speeding through. It doesn’t stay in my mind – other than to remember it wasn’t a favorite. When I run out of shelf space it’s the first to get donated.
Ranking #3 – Not my cup of tea. I don’t finish it. I don’t take giving up on a book lightly, so sometimes I read well beyond where I should just trying to squeeze something out of it to like. When I decide I’ve had enough, I put it back on the shelf for another day. Sometimes it’s just my mood, so I might try to give it another shot.
Ranking #4 – How did this get published! It’s so bad that I’m screaming “you’ve got to be kidding” or “what the ever loving f*ck”, and want to throw it across the room! It makes me angry that I wasted my time. It’s donated as well. Why keep something you hate.
That brings me to “The Cuban Affair”. Parts of it fit into each one of those rankings. As I go through my thoughts on this book I’ll tell you where some of those parts fit.
The book opens with the main character recounting the story –
“I was standing at the bar in the Green Parrot, waiting for a guy named Carlos from Miami who’d called my cell a few days ago and said he might have a job for me. Carlos did not give me his last name, but he had ID’d himself as a Cuban American. I don’t know why I needed to know that, but I told him I was Scots-Irish-English American, in case he was wondering.”
“My name is Daniel Graham MacCormick — Mac for short — age thirty-five, and I’ve been described as tall, tan, and ruggedly handsome. This comes from the gay clientele in the Parrot, but I’ll take it. I live here on the island of Key West, and I’m the owner and skipper of a 42-foot deep-sea fishing charter boat called the Maine, named for my home state — not the American battleship that blew up in Havana Harbor, though some people think so.”
This hooked me right away. It reminded me of some of those old film noir movies that I love so much. In fact, the first thing that popped into my mind was Fred MacMurray in “Double Indemnity” – classic film noir narration.
And so begins the story of how Mac is recruited to steal millions of dollars that has been hidden away in a cave in Cuba.
Mac meets Carlos, an attorney, who wants to hire Mac’s boat for a fishing tournament under what is known as the “Cuban Thaw” – the warming of U.S. and Cuba relations.
But Mac’s no dummy, he knows that Cuba is a country that doesn’t take too kindly to Americans, and he’s not quite convinced that Carlos is giving him the entire story. Carlos is undeterred and convinces Mac to take him and his clients on an evening cruise on Mac’s fishing boat. He wants Mac to hear the whole story, and believes that his clients can persuade him.
Enter the beautiful Sara Ortega, and an older gentleman, Eduardo Valazquez. Sara explains that her grandfather managed an American bank in Cuba, and was able to hide sixty million American dollars in a cave before he fled Castro’s revolution. Eduardo, the mysterious Cuban exile, has other reasons which mostly revolve around his hatred of the Castro regime and longs to someday return to a free Cuba.
The plan on paper is pretty simple, Mac and Sara will join a group from Yale on a cultural tour to Cuba. There they will pretend that they don’t know each other, but then later fake a “holiday romance” so that when they disappear from time to time no one will question it. I mean, who would question two lovers who sneak off for a little romance.
The second half of the plan is how they are going to get all of that cash off the island – and that’s where Mac’s boat and the fishing tournament comes in. Once again, on paper, it looks pretty simple. Mac’s cut of two million dollars is nothing to sneeze at, but is it worth risking his life, or even worse, living the rest of his life in a Cuban prison.
Of course we know that Mac takes the job, and also recruits his first mate, Jack, or there’d be no book. But as we also know, plans don’t always work out and this plan starts to nose dive quickly.
Okay, so let’s stop here and take a look at my ranking system. So far it’s Ranking #1. I love the premise, and it promises to be a great adventure. I enjoyed the description of Key West and that easy-going lifestyle. It made me want to live there. I thought Mac was an interesting character, and there was a little about his background and his time as a soldier in Afghanistan. Just enough to give me an idea of how he wound up in Key West.
Moving on —
So now we have Mac and Sara in Cuba and things get off to a rocky start. They’re not sure who to trust – and the police may be suspicious of Sara, a Cuban American, who they know visited the year before. They stick with the plan and slowly begin their “fake” romance. But of course the romance becomes real and that’s where I move to Ranking #2.
I didn’t buy the relationship. I found the characters to be annoying and there didn’t seem to be any spark. Their “witty repartee” was at times painful, and not very witty. The narration that I loved at the beginning was gone, and Mac’s recounting of the story started to sound more like a 13 year old who just discovered that women had boobs. You know when you read a book, and two characters are just meant to be together and you keep waiting through the slow burn for them to finally get there – well this didn’t happen. In fact, I kept thinking the story would be so much better if they just went their separate ways.
And then there are some of the ancillary characters.
Jack, the first mate. Jack was great. I’d want him on my side if I ever needed a grizzled old Vietnam vet. He’ll have your back.
Eduardo, the Cuban exile. His only role as a character was for his connections, and how DeMille was able to get some of the implausible pieces of the story to fit.
Antonio, the tour guide. What a weasel, but their encounter with him was one of those implausible pieces that just didn’t fit. I guess it was thrown in for some drama, but it fell flat.
Filipe, who I can’t say anything about at his point without spoiling something later in the book. Just know that I wanted to slap the crap right out of him.
And that’s how I get to Ranking #4. Eduardo, Antonio, and Filipe.
So to sum it up, the adventure part of the book was very good; the romance left a lot to be desired; some of the dialogue was very juvenile; and some of the characters were awful. That’s why I have a love/hate relationship with this book.
Lastly, I do want to mention something that I did like about the book, and that is Cuba as a character. I did some additional reading on Nelson DeMille and how this book came about. It seems that when DeMille was a child his neighbors were Cuban refugees, and it sparked an interest. It must have been something that he thought about throughout his life, and in 2015 he was able to visit Cuba on one of those cultural tours. It was at that time that he scouted locations for this book. His descriptions of how people live in such a closed society, under a communist regime, are vivid. It paints a very bleak picture. I’m going to do some research myself because I’m curious about how such a beautiful and prosperous country can get so caught up in corruption that a communist dictator can take over – and before they knew it, the people of Cuba went from one corrupt government to one that was even more deadly. It’s a valuable lesson.
Postscript – I’m sure most of you are too young to remember the old movie “Double Indemnity”, but it’s a classic and stars not only Fred MacMurray, but my all-time favorite actress Barbara Stanwyck. Check it out – it pops up on Turner Classic Movies from time to time.
“An espionage thriller to rival the very best, a high stakes game of cat-and-mouse, played in the shadows, which will keep you guessing every step of the way.
An elderly woman of striking beauty is found murdered in Orleans, France. Her identity has been cleverly erased but the method of her death is very specific: she has been killed in the manner of traitors to the Resistance in World War Two.
Tracking down her murderer leads police inspector Inès Picaut back to 1940s France where the men and women of the Resistance were engaged in a desperate fight for survival against the Nazi invaders.
To find answers in the present Picaut must discover what really happened in the past, untangling a web of treachery and intrigue that stretches back to the murder victim’s youth: a time when unholy alliances were forged between occupiers and occupied, deals were done and promises broken. The past has been buried for decades, but, as Picaut discovers, there are those in the present whose futures depend on it staying that way – and who will kill to keep their secrets safe.” – Bantam Press
If that doesn’t hook you in, nothing will!
So apparently this is the second book in the series, but so far I don’t think there has been a third. It didn’t dawn on me right away, which is not a bad thing. When a book can stand on its own and doesn’t depend on the reader knowing the characters or plot of the previous book, the reader doesn’t feel left behind. I have stopped reading a book when I realized that I wasn’t reading in order, and had to go back and start the series from the beginning. Not great when you realize that the series may not be your cup of tea. But there were hints at the beginning of this one that led me to believe there was a prior book, or books. It didn’t really matter – like I said, this stands on its own just fine.
About this book (big sigh) — I did like it quite a bit. The mystery surrounding the murder was very good, and it kept me guessing. The flashbacks to the 1940’s and 1950’s were right up my alley – as I have stated many times, books that move through time are my thing (I was going to say “my jam”, but thought better of it).
But I did find this book very hard to follow – and that’s unusual for me. So what was it about this book that gave me a hard time. I liked the plot, I liked that characters, and I really liked the flashbacks; but what I didn’t like was how difficult it was for me to follow who was who as it bounced from 2018 to the 1940’s. I’m sure it’s just me and my lack of attention span, I mean I did start it back in March before all of the crazy COVID-19 pandemic stuff happened, and I only picked it up from time to time as I had to get used to being in lock-down and working from home, but I did find myself flipping back to earlier chapters wondering “who is this again?”. I almost felt like I needed to start over and read it straight through, rather than how I was reading it in stops and starts. However I wanted to move on, so I kept at it.
Now to answer my question – what was it that made it hard for me to follow? Was it all the French names? (to my friend Marie – don’t laugh at me).
The story takes place in France, so of course most of the characters are French – and some of the names were similar. What didn’t help is that some of the characters were family members, so I had to remember if I was reading about senior, junior, or a cousin. Alright, before you think I’m a complete idiot – some of those same characters worked as spies during the war – and used fake names and nicknames, and even changed their names. Crazy times!
Other than that confusion (which I’m still convinced was probably only me), I really did enjoy the story. The characters are strong, and Ms. Scott does a great job of keeping the reader guessing as she weaves fictional characters with some very real spy agencies and organizations that fought for freedom in France during World War II. Of course my fascination with WWII spies made the flashbacks a bit more interesting to me – but the current time mystery was also very well done and kept me wanting to know who the killer was.
The main character, Inspector Inès Picau, is a smart, tough character that has obviously been through something traumatic (a clue that there is a prior book), and I enjoyed how she interacted with her team and with the suspects. She’s a clever one.
The other main character is Sophie, who you only get to see in flashbacks, is also a great strong character. I loved her story, and she is the puzzle piece that pulls all of this together. She’s actually the heart of the story.
That’s really all to say – the story has so many twists and turns that it can be hard to describe without accidentally giving something away. I’m glad that I read this one, and will likely go back to the first book – even though I hate reading books out of order.
One last thing to mention – I did read that the book has been optioned as a new TV series, but no word on when. Here is an article for more information (but I have to say I’m somewhat disappointed that every article I read about this says the murder takes place in WWII France – it does not – the murder takes place in 2018 France):
This is definitely a “go run right out and get this book now”! This book made my heart break. The story is gorgeous, and painful, and it felt so real. It’s about friendship and love, and fighting for all that you love – and living through things that can either make you or break you. I could not put it down, and it definitely got me out of my book slump!
The story begins in 1939 when Romy and her family are forced to flee Nazi invaded Austria to Shanghai. From 1939 to 1945 we read how Romy, her family, and her two friends, Li and Nina survive the war. Their stories are heartbreaking, but also heartwarming – their friendships are what hold the story together.
Romy meets Nina on the boat to Shanghai, and they become fast friends. Unfortunately, Nina has to leave Romy and her family when she is sent to live in different immigrant section of Shanghai with her uncle. Romy’s parents, knowing that Nina’s living conditions won’t be that great, try to convince Nina’s uncle to let her stay with them – but he won’t give his permission.
Once settled in Shanghai, Romy is living pretty much in comfort, if not luxury. It’s in her apartment building that she meets Li, the girl who lives across the hall. Romy and her parents strike up a friendship with Li and her family, and they become quite close.
But war is horrible, and things happen that tests their strength and even their friendship. This part of the book was so compelling that I felt like I could smell the food cooking from the street stalls, and hear the sounds of Shanghai. In fact, food plays a big part of the story, as well as the fascinating portions that talk about Chinese medicine, which Romy takes an interest in.
But that’s not all that this book has to offer. We also meet Alexandra, Romy’s granddaughter, who in 2016 travels from Australia to Shanghai trying to locate her deceased mother’s family, or at least the truth about her mother’s adoption by Romy. Romy is very secretive about her daughter’s adoption, and Alexandra sets out to uncover the secret. But again, there were so many orphans left after the war and records were destroyed – if they existed at all. All she has is a diary, a copy of certificate of adoption, and her mother’s jade necklace with the engraved lily.
If you love stories with a lot of grit, a lot of heart, and a bit of a mystery – this one is for you.
Just a quick post today to talk about a new book, that’s really an old friend.
Throughout the years I’ve gone back and forth trying to pinpoint how, and why, I became a “reader”. What was it that made me love books so much?
As a small child I remember my mother reading to my sister and me; in fact, I still have a photo of the three of us sitting on the living room sofa, a book in my mother’s lap. As I learned to read myself, I read everything in sight. I would pore over the backs of cereal boxes as I crunched my Cheerios, and every new school year I would read my English books and Social Studies & History books – cover to cover – within the first week. I was also very lucky to have a full set of encyclopedias to pick up and read at random, and learn about anything that caught my eye that day – I think that was probably the beginning of my love of research.
But what was it that turned me from reading things in snippets and bits & pieces, to someone who loved holding a book, and disappearing into a full-fledged story? Well, I think I have finally figured it out – I know where it all began, and like all great stories, it begins with…
Once upon a time – I was introduced to my school library. Now I can’t remember how old I was, only that it was a long, long time ago, but the first book that I checked out of that small school library was “Black Beauty” by Anna Sewell. I’m not even sure how I found it, but I can bet it was because it had a picture of a horse on the cover. What I do remember, however, was that I fell in love with the story; and I read it over and over throughout my childhood.
Narrated by Black Beauty himself, the book chronicles all of the good times, the adventures, and even the bad times of his life. I can vividly remember how this book – for the first time – made me feel emotions about a fictional character (and a horse, no less) that was brought to life in the pages of a book. I think that’s when it clicked! Books could bring me to places that I would never visit; introduce me to characters that feel like friends; and put me in the middle of a mystery that I can solve along with the amateur sleuth. Books truly opened up my world. And it all began with a book about a horse.
So, what prompted me to think back to my fond memories of Black Beauty? It was a simple Facebook post from The Folio Society. They just issued their beautiful new version of Black Beauty, and I knew I had to add it to my collection – because as weird as this seems – I never actually owned the book. It was always a book that I borrowed from the library. But, that has been remedied, and I’d like you to take a look at this gorgeous version of my beloved “Black Beauty”
So what was your moment? What was that first book that clicked – that made you realize that the love of reading was with you forever? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. Happy Reading!
I found this book pretty enjoyable, even if I didn’t like any of the characters – not one. It was just twisty enough that I had to keep reading to find out what happened in the past, as told from two different points of view, and what was about to happen. It was like one of those really annoying MTV reality TV shows that you just can’t stop watching even though you really dislike all of the people involved.
We start with a dead body, that at first seems pretty obscure, but later makes sense. Like everything else in the book, this lays the foundation of piecing together all of the clues sprinkled throughout. But, I have to admit, those clues are pretty obvious. Nothing really surprised me, and in fact, it was annoying to see that it was so obvious in places.
So, after the opening, where are we?
Set in Tangier in 1956, we meet Alice Shipley – a British citizen, married, and unhappily living in a foreign land because of her husband John’s “secret” job. She’s not exactly sure what her husband does but he may be working for the “government” – I don’t think she’s even sure which government. It is during this time that Tangier is gaining its independence from France, and the book hints that this could be part of John’s secret job – although John is an American. But then again, Tangier has always been known as the spy capital of the world, so maybe John is there for some other nefarious deed.
As far as Alice is concerned, however, the city is oppressive in both climate and culture. She’s regretting her marriage to John, and particularly his insistence that she accompany him to this part of the world, so far from her home and where she feels comfortable. But as miserably as she feels at the beginning of the book – things are about to get worse.
One day, out of the blue, Alice’s roommate from college shows up. Alice doesn’t seem particularly happy to see Lucy standing in her doorway, but whether out of manners or a feeling of obligation or guilt, Alice invites Lucy in.
At first it seems that Lucy wants to make amends for something that happened to cause the rift between them – again only hinted at, with the clues slowly building throughout the book. And if Alice is slightly wary, well then John is downright suspicious. It’s obvious from the moment that Lucy and John meet that they are not going to be friends – the animosity and petty jealousy between them is putting Alice in a pretty bad spot, and she begins to fall apart emotionally as things escalate.
As their past unfolds, Alice and Lucy tell their versions in alternating chapters and we begin to see how Alice – the rich, orphaned girl, and Lucy – the poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks, became so close that it’s difficult to see where one begins and the other ends – but maybe that’s exactly how Lucy wants it. Her manipulation of a feckless Alice is disturbing and sinister.
Now because this is a mystery, I won’t go into much more detail, but I will say that throughout I just wanted to slap some sense into Alice. I thought John was a complete ass; and by the end of the book I despised Lucy so much that if she had been a real person standing in front of me – I would have hurled the book right at her.
See, just like I said at the beginning – I did not like one character in this book!
One last thought – I was intrigued by the Tangier setting, and I really wished that the author had done a better job of bringing the city itself into the story. There were glimpses of Tangier, but I think with a city so rich in history and beauty I would have enjoyed feeling a little more immersed. Maybe we’ll get to see more of that in the movie version, because apparently George Clooney intends to bring this book to the big screen. Not sure I’d watch for the story, but I would watch for the setting.
The Balcony
by Jane Delury
Published by Little, Brown and Company
When I browse through the book store and I pick up a book that I had never heard of, it’s always a leap of faith whether or not it’s the book for me. The only thing that I have to go by is the blurb on the cover. This one was a bit deceiving. These were loosely related stories – many of which had nothing to do with “The Balcony”. Some of the stories were OK, but pretty dull for the most part. All in all, a disappointment.
From the Goodreads description:
A century-spanning portrait of the inhabitants of a French village, revealing the deception, despair, love, and longing beneath the calm surface of ordinary lives.
What if our homes could tell the stories of others who lived there before us? Set in a small village near Paris, The Balcony follows the inhabitants of a single estate-including a manor and a servants’ cottage-over the course of several generations, from the Belle Époque to the present day, introducing us to a fascinating cast of characters. A young American au pair develops a crush on her brilliant employer. An ex-courtesan shocks the servants, a Jewish couple in hiding from the Gestapo attract the curiosity of the neighbors, and a housewife begins an affair while renovating her downstairs. Rich and poor, young and old, powerful and persecuted, all of these people are seeking something: meaning, love, a new beginning, or merely survival.
Doesn’t that description sound intriguing?
This book is set up with the first story focused on the “balcony”, however it really doesn’t factor into any of the other stories. Kind of strange since the title is “The Balcony”. I kept waiting for the title character – le balcon – to show up. Instead, the book revolves around characters that are sad, flawed and even pretty distasteful.The stories take us through time, but not in a linear manner, which was fine. I didn’t find it hard to follow as some other reviewers did, but the way it was arranged and the way some of the stories started it was not always clear where we were in the story, or how they were related – if at all.
I didn’t really love this book, but I think that was because I expected it to be an ongoing story of characters that lived in the manor. However, the stories are well written, and there were some that I wished had gone on a little longer. What I didn’t like was how depressing and hopeless some of the stories seemed. But I admit, that’s a personal preference. I have a pretty busy life, and work a full-time job, so when I read it’s to entertain and uplift me – I tend to stay away from books that are tear-jerkers. Not that this book could be described as a tear-jerker, it just was a bit of a downer. And the last chapter/story – left me so muddled that I’m still unsure of what in the world was going on.
All in all, it was a 50/50 for me. There was never any time during my reading that I felt immersed in any of the stories, which is why I tend to stay away from short story collections. I wish this one had made it clear from the start that this was basically a short story collection. If it had, I would have passed on “The Balcony”.
I’m very curious to hear if anyone else has read this book, or plans to. Please leave you comments below.
Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions (An Auntie Poldi Adventure – Book 1)
By Mario Giordano
Translator: John Brownjohn
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
I’m always so reluctant to post an unfavorable review, and to date I don’t think that I’ve had to. This one may be my first.
There were a few things that I liked when I was deciding whether or not to buy it. First, it was compared to “Auntie Mame”, but as a zany mystery. Second, it takes place in picturesque Italy.
However, there were some things that I just couldn’t get my head around. One of which was how this zaftig, 60-year-old woman, who sweat profusely under her wig was able to convince her family, and a police officer, to bend to her every whim. I just didn’t buy it, and frankly, Auntie Poldi just wasn’t an interesting character.
However, with all of that said, I wanted to finish the book – which I did in one sitting (it’s a pretty quick read), but then found myself a little let down by the ending. Needless to say, I don’t think I’m going to continue with the series.
But to be fair, the premise sounded promising to me and others may find it interesting, so I’ll do a quick synopsis of the plot.
Sixty-year-old Isolde “Poldi” Oberreiter, is the daughter of a Munich police detective, (but I’m not sure if we know that right away). She’s a widow who doesn’t think she has much to live for, so she retires to a Sicilian village in Italy, where she believes that she’ll live out her days away from her family, slowly drinking herself to death.
When she finds the body of her young handyman on the beach, she decides that maybe there is some life in her left, and resolves to find the murderer. She bases this idea on the fact that since her father was a detective she must surely have the skills to solve this crime. Of course, she goes bumbling along, dragging her family into her zany plan – which are all too happy to become accomplices because she no longer thinks about her death.
We also learn that Poldi has a weakness for good-looking policemen, and likes to go around town taking snapshots of them as they go about their daily routine. When she gets romantically involved with one, he is also pulled along into her wacky scheme. To his credit, he doesn’t cave in to her every whim, and gives her a hard time when she has the audacity to take over his investigation. It’s no surprise that like all amateur sleuths Auntie Poldi solves the crime, and makes the police look like dolts.
So, why am I being so hard on this book when I usually do like a cozy mystery with an amateur sleuth. It has to be Auntie Poldi herself. I found her to be so overbearing and unlikeable; and the way she is described in the book as overweight, unable to climb steps without wheezing, and the sweat that seems to accumulate under her wig that needs continuous adjusting; well let’s just say that I really didn’t want to visualize that in my head.
All in all I’m glad that I finished it. There were some fun characters, but not enough to bring me back for the second book in the series.
I’d like to hear from anyone that has read this book or series so far. There seems to be some fairly good praise for it – I guess it just wasn’t for me.
May 28, 2019
Overdue Books 