Sleeping in Eden by Nicole Baart - review

Sleeping In Eden
Nicole Baart
Fiction
2013

******  {six out of six stars}


Cover - I like this cover - the dress, the apple - you're not quite sure what you're going to get with this cover, but you hope it's going to be good.  It's dramatic in an understated way - which doesn't really make sense to me, but it's how I see it.


I won Sleeping In Eden in a giveaway.  I entered on a whim, since my main reading genres are SciFi and Urban Fantasy and this doesn't fit either category.  Even so, I do enjoy the occasional "palate cleanser" novel, so when I saw the description of this novel (first in one of those It's Monday posts, and then in the giveaway post) I decided it would be an interesting novel - and even though it was stated that a body is found in a barn - and hours later, another one is found buried in the floor....I wasn't quite prepared for just how intense this novel ended up.

There is two stories going on - and it's hard to describe without giving anything away.....

A smalltown doctor is called out to pronounce an apparent suicide dead.  This suicide happens to be a rather unlikable character, the owner of a large piece of property and an alcoholic prone to rages....in the midst of checking things out, another body is found under the floorboards of the barn (where the guy hung himself).

The young doctor is having some of his own problems.  His wife is just on the edge of leaving him, and he's sort of drifting through his life, barely hanging on but not doing a whole lot to convince her to stay. Seems like every time he tries to do something nice for her she reacts with anger.  Her character wasn't a very nice - or rather to me, she came across as a raging woman who wasn't going to make things easy for him.  She's gone through something to cause her to feel this intense sadness and rage, but she's taking it out on him, and he seems lost.  I was completely frustrated with his and her characters - which is a sign of a good writer.  Because I wasn't frustrated with stupid writing and lame characters, but I was frustrated with these incredibly well written characters who are lost in their suffering.  So buried in their own emotions that they don't really see what they're doing to the other, and the wife doesn't really seem to care about anything but her own feelings....until

There's this other character - who happens to be the daughter of the alcoholic who had committed suicide.  And she's been missing for about eight years....  There is some uncomfortable history between her and the doctor, even while the wife has a great love for this young woman, who is either the body under the floorboards, or ....

The other story line has to do with a young woman who falls in love with the new kid in town.  As she's growing, her neighbor - her friend's older brother, suddenly decides he's madly in love with her and there's this kind of strange relationship that develops.  She's not really that into him, and yet sometimes she is - but it's nothing like the intense feelings she has for this other guy - the new guy in town, who, according to some, isn't quite right for her (i.e. not good enough for her).  Now, here is another set of characters that you can't help feeling frustrated with.  You want to shake the girl and tell her not to be a fool.  You want to grab the new boy and tell him not to waste time.... you want to grab the neighbor boy and tell him.......well.  You get the gist of it.

And by the last section of the book, I was so involved with the two stories, and so irritated by a few of the characters, that I was left feeling a little wrung out by it all.  And the ironic thing, is that people really are that foolish, to waste time in relationships that aren't equal, to make the other one suffer because you don't feel good about something that happens, to shut out others because you are so engulfed with anger and grief over an event...

Damn, this woman wrote an intense story that can make you either swear to treat your own relationship better or make you want to just get away from everyone because it's just too hard to let people completely in....and that woman's rather hostile behavior to her husband hits just a little too close to home.  

You should read it.  It's at once sad, surprising and yet a little hopeful.

Wicked Wives by Gus Pelagatti - review

Wicked Wives  
Gus Pelagatti
fiction 
e-book
****
cover - interesting; captures the look of the 30/40's style look.

Wicked Wives is based on true events that took place in Philadelphia in the 30's and 40's. Gus Pelagatti took some events that happened years ago, in the 30's and fictionalized them producing a story with two parts.  One part deals with some of the stories of the characters who were desperate for money and/or an escape from their current situation.  The second part is the investigation and trials of the characters involved.

A debut writer, Gus Pelagatti didn't write the most polished story I've ever read, but he did write it in an interesting enough style to keep me reading.  Being a non-professional reviewer, I guess it's a match, lol.  Anyway, as far as the story narration went, it was a style that I haven't read much of.  Of course, the fact that I haven't read many crime novels might be why it I had the impression that it could have been more polished.  

This was a sometimes dry, sometimes humorous, fact based story; I could imagine that I was sitting in a lecture hall, learning the story of a group of people who took to poisoning their husbands to get insurance money.  They all had slightly differing reasons, but they all had one thing in common.  They were involved with a certain individual who made things happen, either supplying poison, helping to administer poison or even planning out murder in other ways.  As long as he received a cut of the insurance money, this guy was happy to help.  In fact, he made sure there were policies out on these hapless husbands.  Each woman also seemed to have a basic lack of regard or compassion, as well as an obsession with this man - a tailor who considered himself quite the ladies' man.

The dialogue reminded me of dialogue in old black and white crime films I used to see when I was little - those films that were always on t.v. when we were supposed to be in bed, but we would sneak out to see what our mom was watching.  (we always got caught, though it took her a little while to catch us).  Props on the realistic dialogue that fit the time era.  The attitudes the characters' displayed also fit the times - this is set way before women's liberation was came around, when women and men had double standards.

As I mentioned earlier, the narration was interesting - a mix of a report like fiction and procedural.  During the story itself, it seemed that there was no mystery - Pelagatti lays everything out, the murders, the participants, the investigations and the trial.  Except for the one very huge twist at the end.  I was surprised - it was a good plot twist.  Didn't see it coming.

While I think that Pelagatti could use some work or experience in writing a novel that reads a bit more polished, or more like a novel - that might not be what he was going for.  Either way, with experience, if he decides to write more, I bet he'll improve with time.  I also think that it's cool, very cool - that after a lifetime of 'lawyering', he took a chance and just wrote a novel.  How many people dream of writing and never really go for it? (of course, it's probably GOOD that some don't realize their writing dreams - but think of all we might miss if nobody took a chance on writing?)

Interesting to me is the fact that Pelagatti is an attorney, and grew up hearing stories of the true life crime ring he writes about.  More info at his website (click on his name above).  And as a debut crime novel, not a bad job.  I have a habit of giving up reading books that bore me, and this novel kept me interested, especially for a book that isn't in my normal reading interest.  If it keeps my interest it's a plus for me.  

The Girl Who Chased The Moon by Sarah Addison Allen - review

The Girl Who Chased The Moon
Sarah Addison Allen
fiction/magical realism
2011

****** (6 out of 6 stars)

cover - beautiful cover.  I'm not sure it really represents what's going on in the story.  It does in a way, but there's way more to the story....

The Girl Who Chased The Moon is another beautifully written story with magical words, happenings and atmosphere.  There is so much to this story - it's not just about the main character - Emily, but about her mother and a boy from a strange family long ago.  It's about Sawyer and  Julia, who had one night long ago, and came from different walks of life.  It's about Dulcie (Emily's now deceased mother) and her past.  And about Vance - the grandfather of Emily, over 8 feet tall and a rather reserved man and his lost love.  

Emily is a young under 18 year old, whose mother has recently died.  Not knowing any other relatives, Emily and her grandfather have been put in touch with each other and her grandfather tells her she's welcome anytime.  Emily travels to Mullaby to meet her grandfather and plans to go to school there at least for a little while.  When she gets there, she's surprised at just how tall her grandfather is, and how he seems so aloof.  Not only that, but she's not prepared for how the town reacts to her coming to her mother's hometown.  Seems the mother Emily has grown up with - workaholic, putting other people's needs ahead of hers and her family, working very hard for the unfortunate - is not the same Dulcie that left the town of Mullaby so very long ago.  Emily has some surprises in store.

Emily's first surprise is her room - with the wall paper that supposedly changes according to the mood of the occupant. At first the changes of the wall paper didn't come into play much - something I was hoping would be a frequent occurance, but toward the end of the novel, there were some dramatic changes.  Emily is taken under the wing of Julia - a former rebel who has her own secrets to overcome or hide.

Julia and Sawyer - a lawyer, grew up going to the same school, but never really walked in the same circles.  her father was a hardworking man and Julia was a rebellious teen who colored her hair vibrant pink.  Sawyer grew up with the other priviledged kids of Mullaby, but one night the two come crashing together, leaving a lasting impression on the both - though they don't really talk much until Emily's appearance seems to set some forces in motion, drawing secrets out and exposing things some would rather not have exposed.

There is so much more to this story - it's a wonderful story full of that magical realism that Sarah Addison Allen has been known for.  There are these lights in the back yard that Emily is told to ignore - does she follow the edict?  of course not.  The Girl Who Chased the Moon is about secrets, history and the story of how these secrets cause more damage remaining secrets than they do when finally exposed.  There are quite a few stories interwoven with each other, all affecting the others.  It's a very well written addition to Allen's other stories with quirky towns and characters with that touch of magic that she's known for.  I recommend it for a wonderful afternoon of reading.

One of the fun things about Sarah Addison Allen is that she includes not only an excerpt on her site, but recipes that her  characters use, and other little tidbits that are connected to the novel.  It's fun to explore her book pages.

Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner - review

click on cover for excerpt link

Fly Away Home
Jennifer Weiner
fiction
2011


cover - I love when a cover fits the story so well.  There are three women, there is a beach, and a house on the cliff that plays a large part in the story.  The only thing I can find different is one of the women should have very curly long blonde hair, the other should be very, very skinny...and the mom - looks like a mom from the back.  Good cover.


Fly Away Home is one of those books - you're angry and pushing for the characters at the same time.  It's life affirming, these people go through some horrible events, and some make some stupid decisions, but in the end everyone perseveres....and as usual, Ms Weiner has written a book that keeps you engaged in the characters and the story. This is about three women - Sylvie, Diana and Lizzie.  A mom and two daughters who each have come to a crossroads in their life.  Very different stories.



It starts off with the Mom, Sylvie - who has been an uberdevoted wife of a politician.  At times more devoted to her husband and his career than her two children she has totally lived her whole life for him and his career.  He pays her back by cheating on her.  The story is broken over the news and Sylvie has to do that thing that all politician's wives seem to be forced to do - stand there with a smile on their face while their husband is admitting or lying about the affair in front of millions of viewers. (just once, I'd like to see a women totally lambast her husband, just say on air, he was a cheating bastard and I'm leaving his dirty ass!).  After going through this, she becomes so angry that she has to leave - and ends up at the family coastal estate where she spends the following months learning how to finally live for herself.


Diana, the oldest daughter is a driven doctor.  She is so into her career and was previously hurt in a relationship and has purposely married a man that she really isn't attracted to, just because she thought he might be the right man.  Only years later, she is so bored by him that the slightest thing he does (or doesn't do) enrages her.  Only she won't even admit that she's disgusted by him.  Nope she stuffs it down and runs miles to de-stress.  However, her story begins after she's begun a torrid affair with a young intern...Things are complicated because she has a son.  This is ironic, because Diana has always been the correct daughter, the daughter who did every thing right and would never make a mistake.


Lizzie has always been the black sheep of the family.  Into drugs and taking pictures or hiding behind a camera.  She has a real talent for photography, but she's always been different from the rest of the family and has taken refuge in drug use from an early age.  Recently out of rehab, she ends up staying with her sister to take care of her nephew.  Of course, Diana is just waiting for Lizzie to screw up - expects it.  Lizzie meets a man - a great guy but this is complicated because he has a bad experience with an alcoholic mom...


At one point, all three women's lives hit this moment where they just have to get away.  The end up with their mother at the beach house, healing.  Only healing is a long process.  


Basically, Fly Away Home is the story of the three womens' past as well as how they each come to terms with their lives and find their own ways of moving forward.  I found myself unaccountably irritated with the mom and her final decision regarding her husband - not the choice I would have made.  But I loved how the two daughters' lives turned out and the decisions that they made.  None of these women were angels, they all made some bad choices - but they all moved ahead, eventually learning how to deal with life and all the life dumps on you.  And each of them ended up with a certain kind of peace.


Good story.  Very believable dialogue and some characters that I had fun hating, as well as some wonderful characters that I was rooting for.  Ultimately it's a book about healing and forgiving - forgiving others as well as yourself.  Jennifer Weiner has written quite a few wonderful books - always inspiring.  Her characters can make some bad choices/mistakes or have some rotten things happen to them and still grow as people.  Inspiring.