Thursday, September 23, 2010

Sister Mine

Sister Mine by Tawni O'Dell

This is the story of Shae-Lynn Penrose, a forty something former police officer turned cab driver
who returns to the coal mining town in Pennsylvania where she grew up. Then her younger sister, presumed dead for 18 years, shows up along with a New York attorney, a Connecticut housewife, and a Russian thug. It is a story of complicated relationships dealing with such issues as abuse, betrayal, abandonment, perseverance, and reconciliation.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

A Painted House

A Painted House by John Grisham

"A Painted House" is the first John Grisham novel that I have read. If I have read another, I don't remember. Although the back cover says this is "the kind of book you read slowly because you don't want it to end", it is another that I read in two days, all 465 pages. The story takes place during the summer of 1952 in the Arkansas Delta and is told through the eyes of 7 year old Luke Chandler whose family rents and works a cotton farm. Two different groups of migrant workers take up residence on the farm, each with a dangerous man in their midst. As events of the summer unfold, Luke finds himself keeping more and more secrets. This is a story of murder, suspicion, gossip, passion, mystery, danger, and hardship and written in style that kept me turning the pages.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Big Cherry Holler

Big Cherry Holler by Adriana Trigiani

This novel follows Big Stone Gap. The characters have grown over the last eight years.
Ave Maria married Jack MacChesney and moved into the homestead instead going off to find her place in the world. But did they live happily ever after? This book combines, love, romance, and forgiveness, in the mountain of Virginia and Italy.

Friday, September 3, 2010

The Blind Assassin

The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood

This book was here for me to read at just the right time. At 521 pages, and with many things to do other than reading, I had hesitated to pick it up it. But I somehow managed to pinch a nerve and was in pain with limited use of my right arm and hand. So for a week while I alternated heat and ice, and rest, I used my left hand to hold the book and began reading. Although not a page turner, as some books are referred to, I did want to keep reading, but I could put it down, when something or someone called. I love Margaret Atwood's style of writing. It is very descriptive, and though I often skip over a lot of description, I wanted to read her every word. The Blind Assassin has joined some others at the top of my list of favorite books and will definitely seek out other books by the author.

The Blind Assassin is really a novel within a novel with three plots that alternate throughout the book. It is the story of two sisters growing up in Canada whose family was affected by WWI, the Depression and Communist witch-hunts. The story is told by the oldest sister, Iris Chase Griffin, now in her 80's and suffering from a heart condition. It is a family chronicle of love, greed, danger, anguish, and secrets.