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

Book Review: Heart-Shaped Box

I am not usually a horror reader but every now and then I get a hankering for a good spine-chilling tale. My go-to author is Stephen King or H.P Lovecraft, but change is not always bad. It is for this reason that I branched out and chose Joe Hill's Heart-Shaped Box. I know that he is Stephen King's son and therefore was hoping that the apple did not fall far from the tree. My hopes came true as this novel is fantastic and certainly better than some of King's own novels. As a writer, Joe Hill can absolutely stand on his own!
Has-been rockstar Judas Coyne is a collector of the macabre but when he buys a haunted suit he has no idea what he has gotten himself into! It just so happens that the suit is haunted by his ex-girlfriend's stepfather who is out of vengeance. Judas and his goth girlfriend (Georgia) decide to flee in hopes of out-running the ghost and therefore their own deaths. While on this road trip, Judas and Georgia begin to learn more about each other in a way that is not typical for horror novels making this book heart-warming and spine-tingling.
Hill's writing is wonderful. It is creepy in all the right parts but also endearing when discussing Judas and Georgia's relationship. This novel reminded me a great deal of Stephen King's "The Shining" in that the true horror of the tale is within the personal relationships and not reliant upon blood and violence. I suggest that horror readers and non-horror readers alike should take a chance on this novel. I doubt that many will be disappointed.

-DLP

Book Review: Missing Something

More often than not, I read books that are heavy and depressing. Typically, they are filled with troubled characters with troubled pasts and (inevitably) troubled and depressing futures. "Something Missing" is the exact opposite and because of that it is a very welcomed breath of fresh air!

Matthew Dicks tells the story of a "friendly" thief, Martin, who calls those he steals from his "clients". He is a conscientious thief in that he only takes items that he knows the owner will not miss including potatoes, dish soap and the occasional diamond earring. To ensure that these items won't be missed, Martin reads his clients diaries, bank statements, and documents on their computers. In doing so, he becomes emotionally attached to his clients. Therefore, when he believes a client is in danger, he puts his career and life on the line to help.
If there could ever be a noble thief, Martin is the man! His meticulous attention to detail while in his client's houses is astounding. I loved reading about how he acquired clients and the reasoning behind his choosing certain households. As Martin develops emotionally, it is heart-warming to see him reach outside of his bubble. This is the perfect read because it is quirky, fun, and light without being shallow or insipid. I urge all of you to find this book and take a chance...I doubt that you will be disappointed.

-DLP

Book Review: Suddenly in the Depths of the Forest

I truly enjoyed this book. At a lean 120+ pages, Amos Oz crams in a fantastic tale about a village that has lost of all its animals to the Mountain Demon. The older residents of the village remember animals from the childhood, but their children have never seen a live animal. One day, two children from the village think that they see a fish. They are astonished by their finding and decide to venture into the forest in hopes of finding the other animals that were taken from them years before.

This is a simple tale but it is Oz's descriptions that make it such a treat. It is targeted to grades 4-7 and while I think these children will understand the story, there are multiple layers that they may not comprehend until they are older. Therefore, making the novel a perfect book for children and young adults to grow with. Parents will also enjoy the beautiful tale and find great meaning in a world where animals no longer roam.
I did not give the novel five stars because it was slow at times and I can imagine that children and young adults may lose patience with the long descriptions. It makes for a wonderful tone and atmosphere, but there are certainly pages that go on for a while without much action. This book is perfect for teaching children about cruelty, bullying, and the importance of the world around us. However, don't look for it to be packed with action or humor.
 
-DLP

Book Review: Beyond Rain of Gold

There is no denying that Victor Villasenor is a fantastic writer. He has two Pulitzer Prize nominations to prove it! That is why I was thrilled when his new book came out this year. The synopsis stated that it would discuss spirituality as well as Villasenor's (always interesting) family, two topics that he has explored before and excelled at portraying. Unfortunately, this does not live up to his other works...not even close!

The majority of the book focuses on Villasenor's difficulty in getting "Rain of Gold" published as nonfiction instead of fiction, as the publisher had wanted. The first part focuses on his father and the differing opinions that people had of his father. While Villasenor saw him as a smart but sometimes brutal man, his friends viewed him as a saint or king. It is not until Villasenor is contacted by his father from the other side to offer help and guidance that Villasenor begins to believe his father may have been a saint.

Perhaps, Villasenor meant this work to stand as a tribute to his father. However, it does not do so as the majority of the book is taken up with Villasenor's complaints about the publishing of "Rain of Gold" and the personal struggles that he had to endure in order to ensure it was published the way he wanted. It is only when his father helps Villasenor with said publishing that he believes in the power of the other side and the kindness of his father. The last 100 pages or so did focus a bit more on spirituality, but I had already slugged through over 200 pages and was no longer interested in Villasenor's spiritual awakening.

For avid fans of Villasenor's work, this may be a book for your collection. Unfortunately, it did not strike my fancy.
 
-DLP