Book Review: Turtle Valley

After reading Robert Morgan's Gap Creek, I went on a hunt of other works of literature that had similar characters who are realistic, hard, and genuine. Yet, it was not until I stumbled upon this novel that I found Morgan's match. Gail Anderson-Dargatz is a beautiful writer who knows how to balance plot and character. What emerges is a fantastic story about love, hardship, redemption, family, and the power of one's own character.


When Kat returns to her hometown of Turtle Valley, it is under the duress of impending fire. Yet it is clear that the fire is not the greatest hurdle Kat will have to combat. Upon her return, she is faced with her unresolved feelings towards her ex-lover. Accompanying her on this return to Turtle Valley is her invalid husband and overly emotional son. To add to her stress, she must pack up her parents' house and move them to another location while the fire rages. Additionally, her mother is suffering from memory loss and her father is on his death bed. Kat must deal with her past and present while the fire rages and threatens her future.

While Kat is contemplating the choices available to her, she stumbles upon her grandmother's papers. In these papers, Kat finds that her grandmother once battled with the same internal demons as she is. This second storyline can be confusing at times and I found myself wishing to go back to Kat's plot, however, it all came together beautifully. Clearly this book is character driven, so if you are not interested in personal growth and development then this novel may not be for you. However, if you like psychological books that challenge your emotions then this is right up your alley! It is a strong novel written by a strong author about strong characters meant for a strong reader.

-DLP

Book Review: Prep

I started this novel with very high hopes as it was recommended to me by one of my best friends who has a very similar taste in literature as me. I listened to the audiobook and was so entranced that I borrowed the hardcover from the library to read when I wasn't listening. I devoured the book, rushing to what I expected would be a fabulous conclusion. No such luck...Nothing really happened in the whole book which made me think that the ending would have a wonderful twist or resolution, yet it seemed to just fizzle.


The plot of this book centers around Lee's experience at a prep school in Massachusetts. The majority of the students at the school are affluent and Lee finds it difficult to assimilate once there. The novel follows Lee as she makes friends, develops crushes, ends friendships, and goes through the ups and downs of teenage life. There are certainly passages that are heartbreaking as Lee struggles with herself, her friends, and her family while trying to find a balance in her life between who she wants to be and who others expect her to be.

If Curtis wanted to capture the "typical boarding school experience", I think that she did a pretty decent job but it read too much like a boring diary than an insightful look into a young woman's growth during her teenage years. As a former faculty member at a boarding school, I thought that this novel would be filled with the exciting and sometimes outlandish things that happen at prep schools. However, I had no such luck. I am a bit surprised as to why this novel received so much attention when it was first released as it only really scrapes the very surface of adolescent troubles. I feel that YA novels such as "Speak" or classics like "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" are far more poignant than this book.

-DLP

Book Review: The Incident Report

When I first finished this book, I was speechless (which is rare for me). I stumbled upon this novel while in a bookstore in Canada and thought that the premise was interesting so I bought a copy. I had no idea how impressive such a slim book could be. I rarely keep books after I finish reading them, however, this book will have a permanent place on my bookshelf for future re-readings and re-re-readings.


Author Mariam Baillie tells the story of Miriam, a public librarian in the city of Toronto. Miriam tells her personal and work story through about 140 "incident reports" in which she records her interactions with patrons. Some of the incidents are humorous while others are disturbing or heart-warming. As the novel progresses, Miriam begins recording certain "incidents" in her personal life and the reader gets a glimpse into Miriam as a person.

Miriam's reports are fragmented, which is symbolic of human interactions in today's cities. Despite the situation, every entry is beautifully written and poetic. A reader could easily fly through this novel in a matter of hours but a true lover of literature will want to savor each of these "reports" and look forward to a second and third read

-DLP

Book Review: Bottle Rocket Hearts

Do not be fooled by this slender novel because Whittall packs in quite a punch! Set against the backdrop of Montreal's 1995 referendum, Whittall brings the reader into a world where rebellion is the norm and assimilation is not a guarantee. It is here that the reader meets Eve who is young and naive in this changing city. She wants more than anything to move out of her parents' house and start a life of her own. When she meets Della, Eve thinks that she has found the answer to her prayers. Della is older, experienced, and wild. While Eve learns a great deal from Della's antics, she learns even more from herself and her reactions to life with Della. In a roundabout way, she is finally able to accept herself and gain confidence in her decisions.


The turmoil of the 1990s in Montreal is a fantastic setting for this novel in which all of the main characters are in emotional flux. Whittall's writing is refreshing and a delight to read. Her characters have great depth and even those who are antagonizing someone find a way to win your heart. Overall, this is well-worth a read and a re-read.

-DLP

Book Review: Lost and Found

Sensational doesn't even begin to describe Shaun Tan's "Lost and Found". This book is actually a collection of three stories that Tan has previously published to great acclaim including: The Red Tree, The Lost Thing, and The Rabbits. These three stories are quite diverse so a reader can easily find at least one story that strikes his or her fancy. This book has been listed as a children's book as well as a graphic novel. Typically it is a huge feat to create a book that is of interest to both children and adults, but Tan does it!! Children will enjoy the intricate illustrations while adults will love the Gothic undertones and brilliant drawings. I haven't seen this kind of artistry in a long time...if ever.

The Red Tree can be described as the adult version of "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day". The illustrations are the best in the collection (in my opinions). The story is simple yet profound.

The Lost Thing is about a boy who finds a thing that is lost on the beach and tries to find it a home. I did not enjoy this tale as much as the others. Still, I though that the drawings were fantastic. It is also proof that within the three stories in this collection, there is definitely something for everyone.

The Rabbits is a story about rabbits that begin to come from all over to inhabit a land that is already populated. The rabbits inflict great pain on the natives and leave the land worse off. The story is symbolic of the treatment of Native Americans when the Europeans arrived in North America. The illustrations are not my favorite for they are a bit too Dali-esque for her. In fact, I find them to be a bit scary. Still, there are certainly readers out there who will fall in love with the pictures.
Overall, this is a fantastic collection. One for children and graphic novel-lovers alike.

-DLP

Book Review: Birth of Venus

In 1999, "The Girl with the Pearl Earring" was published and the critics went wild! The idea that an entire novel could be written about an artist's muse was spectacular to many. Though little actually happened in the novel, it became a sensation and was even made into a movie. Four years later, "The Birth of Venus" was published and told a very similar story, one that would be retold again and again between then and now.

The Birth of Venus tells the story of Alessandra who is the second daughter in a Florentine family. She dreams of painting and living a life that is against society's norms. When her family befriends a painter, Alessandra feels like she has found what she has always been looking for; a fellow artist. Unfortunately, her parents wed her off to a man who holds many secrets that could endanger both of their lives and perhaps that of her family.

Like "Girl With the Pearl Earring" and later "Loving Frank", this novel is about an artist's muse who is not your traditional woman of the time. Though this novel was fast-paced and certainly more interesting than others of this genre, I still was not thrilled. I found the characters to be one dimensional and the story to be a bit stale. But for those who want to get lost in an easy read, this is your book!

-DLP

Book Review: The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove

I heard about this book through a podcast and downloaded the sample onto my Kindle. The second I read the first paragraph I rushed to the library to check it out! At just under 300 pages, this novel flies by. I read it over one weekend and could have read it within one day if I didn't have prior commitments. However, when it ended, I felt a bit let down like I had expected more of the characters and writing. Still, it is worth a read if you're looking for something to get lost in for a bit.


Susan Gregg Gilmore tells the story of Bezellia Grove who was born into a wealthy family that is at the top of high society. People covet the Groves but within the confines of their mansion, they are an incredibly unhappy family that consists of a workaholic father, an alcoholic mother, an emotionally stunted little sister, and Bezellia. Bezellia is a typical girl growing up in the south in the 1960s. Her family was one of the founding families of the town in which they live and her life is comprised of social gatherings that her mother believes are mandatory for a young woman of society. Bezellia goes along with her mother's whims even though she doubts either of her parents love her as much as the African American nanny and groundskeeper who have taken care of Bezellia since she was born. When Bezellia falls in love with the groundskeeper's son, her life is thrown off kilter. She must then decide whether to stand up for herself, her love, and her future or bow to the southern societal norms that are engrained in her family and herself.

Though I found parts of this novel to be predictable, I was still surprised by some of Bezellia's choices and felt right there with her the whole time. It certainly was a fun read if not a challenging one. I would recommend it to anyone interested in southern literature or a good novel in which you can get lost!

-DLP