The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

Fiction - 3.5 stars

Sage Singer is a baker for a reason. She works at night to escape people, her own loneliness, the guilt from a hidden relationship, and the memory of her mother’s death.Her constant reminder, a significant facial scar, is her constant companion. Sage meets Josef Weber, an elderly man in Sage’s grief support group, and they strike up an unlikely friendship. They see past each others' scars, and they grow comfortable together.

Everything changes when Josef asks Sage for an unimaginable favor. The request begins a story of horror and heartbreak, and through it, Sage begins a journey of self-discovery that will make her realize who she really is. 

I really liked this book. Though the subject matter is tough (the Holocaust), it is an interesting and easy read. I would recommend it for a book cub read. 

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Fiction - 3.5 stars

As part of my quest to read the classics assigned in high school with an adult perspective, I re-read this classic to see if I enjoyed it more than my 11th-grade self did. While I did understand the themes and context much more, I will say that I did not find it an enjoyable read. Hawthorne's language is unnecessarily complicated and flowery, and it tends to make the read very slow and dry. I am not a fan of over-description, and he is definitely guilty of that.  

That being said, the subject matter of the book is more modern than most of that time. It is set in 17th century Puritanical New England, and it tells the story of Hester Prynne who has a daughter through an adulterous affair and is forced to wear a scarlet "A" on her breast for all to see. The purpose of her penance is for her to create a new life of repentance and dignity, but it eventually becomes a part of her for which she is nearly unapologetic. I recommend the book as a reminder of how the founders of our country behaved and treated citizens. 

The People of the Abyss by Jack London

Non-fiction - 4.5 stars

I did not know what to expect from this book, as London is mostly known for his Yukon-set fiction, but I will have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by this piece of mostly non-fiction work. In many ways an essay on the social issues in the turn of the 20th century East End of London, The People of the Abyss is a peek into the lives of millions at that time and outlines the challenges faced by them to eek out a meager living. It also addresses the homeless situation, perpetuated by the laws and the social programs of the time - a problem we face even with today's homeless society. I really enjoyed this peek into history, a glimpse of the true horrid nature of life in places such as the famed Whitechapel. London pulls no punches describing the wretched nature of the impoverished subculture of workers and homeless. I highly recommend it for those interested in British History or for those interested in social history. Filled with monetary breakdowns of income vs. expenses and with the vivid descriptions that are true to London's style, this book is a true piece of history itself.

The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory

Historical Fiction -4.5 stars

I am a huge Philippa Gregory fan, and this book is no exception. This standalone sequel to The White Queen is told through the eyes of Lady Margaret Beaufort. As a girl, she had visions of being Joan of Arc and performing some grand feat for God. Instead, she was rejected by her first fiancé, she became first a mother and then a widow at 13, and then married (Henry Stafford)and was widowed again several years later. She wed her fourth husband (Lord Stanley) in a pure business arrangement, including being granted a vow of chastity. While not at the altar or mourning, Lady Margaret was maneuvering in court and out to place her son, Henry, onto the throne as he was the next Lancaster heir. The Red Queen offers a portrait of a woman who refused to believe that she was not the most important in God's eyes. Her arrogance and unrelenting desire for her son to be king prove to be successful as her son becomes Henry VII, father to Henry VIII and grandfather to Elizabeth I. I recommend the book, but I do not like Margaret. Her nickname, "t' old bitch", proves absolutely true.

The Call of the Wild and White Fang, by Jack London

Fiction - 5 stars

Megan presented three books for her book club to choose the one their next going to read, and White Fang was one of her three choices. While they did not pick that one to read, I decided to read it anyway, I got the combo of The Call of the Wild and White Fang on my nook, and I really couldn't read one without the other.

So, I began with The Call of the Wild, London's masterpiece about Buck, 1/2 St. Bernard, 1/2 Scotch shepherd who lives a comfortable life as a family dog in California. He's taken from his pampered surroundings and shipped to Alaska to be a sled dog. In Alaska, the landscape is as harsh as life itself during the gold rush of the 1890s. All but forgetting his earlier existence, Buck succumbs to his instincts, encountering danger and adventure as he becomes the leader of a wolf pack and undertakes a near-mythical journey, ultimately to answer the undeniable call of the wild. The details come from London's knowledge of Alaskan frontier life, and they make the writing exquisite. Once it was finished, I immediately began reading White Fang.

Although written much later, White Fang has often been called a companion novel to The Call of the Wild because it takes the story and reverses it. The story begins with a glimpse into the life of a wolfpack, hunting and finding prey often among the sled dogs of the 19th Century Klondike Gold Rush. White Fang's mother is part dog, part wolf, and when she and another wolf have puppies, White Fang is the only survivor.  Living in the frozen north, he learns to hunt in the wild, and then is "adopted" by Gray Beaver, an Indian living in a camp on the Mackintosh River. White fang is the alpha male, and he is well-known for his ability to strike dogs dead in an instant. When Gray Beaver enters Fort Yukon with White Fang, he is immediately noticed by Beauty Smith, a cruel man who manipulates Gray Beaver with whisky and gambling to gain White Fang as a debt payment. Beauty places White Fang in the dogfight ring where he is undefeated, until a pitbull is introduced and White Fang is nearly destroyed by the men's vicious cruelty. He is saved by Weedon Scott, and under Scotts care, White Fang is lucky enough to experience the one thing that can save him human love. He gradually comes under the spell of man's companionship, and when Scott returns to his family home in California, White Fang is is constant companion and eventually proves his worth to everyone.


I can't say enough about these books. I enjoyed them from the moment I began, and while the cruelty is hard to read, it gives a true glimpse into a period of history that many of us don't know about. People, as well as their dogs, had to be tough survivalists, doing anything to stay alive. Also, the adventurers who went to Alaska to seek fortune in the gold rush were not all peace-loving men. They were a mix of entrepreneurs and alcoholics, low-lifes and fur traders, businessmen and ex-convicts. London again had first-hand knowledge of these men, and depicts their lifestyle vividly in both books.

I love them both and recommend them to anyone who likes animals or is interested in the history of our country. 

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

Youth Fiction - 5 stars

One of our Mother/Daughter book club selections, Number the Stars is the story of Danes and the Jews in Copenhagen Denmark in 1943. As the Nazis increased their presence in Denmark, rationing and relocation became realities for the people. An underground resistence movement also existed that focused on the protection and removal of Jews from Denmark to Sweden. This book, told from the perspective of 10 year-old Annamarie Johansen, touches on these very real subjects in a way that children can understand but not be truly saddened. It is one of the few holocaust books that I could say that about. I know Megan will enjoy reading this book, and I can't wait for the conversations that will come from it.

John, Paul, George & Ben by Lane Smith

(Youth) History - 5 stars

5 stars for a history book? you say. History books are so boring - Wrong! This book is a hilarious look at 5 (yes, 5) of the most influential men in early American history (John Hancock, Paul Revere, George Washington, Ben Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson), as it places the characteristics most remembered about them into their personalities as children. It is targeted for the 6-8 year old crowd, but it is definitely enjoyable for kids of all ages. I laughed out loud when reading about each of them, and when reading the true/false section that sets the record straight in the back of the book. This is the perfect teaching tool for this 4th of July week. I highly recommend it for anyone who loves teaching kid, humor and history.  

The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

Historical Fiction - 3.5 stars

I absolutely loved this book! The story of Carrie McLellan, a historical fiction writer who moves to a small village on the eastern Scottish coast, unfolds while she is writing her latest book which features an ancestor who is closer than Carrie knows. With comparisons of Kearsley to Diana Gabaldon (my favorite writer!), it was handed to me by my friend Susan who thought of me when she read it. I can see why, as the historical research and the setting make this book as close to perfect for me as any out there. My only complaint is the lack of detail that Kearsley gives the main character and her main character's appearances. Other than lovely with bright hair, I have no image of Sophia. Nevertheless, I loved the story and the characters. Totally recommend this book to anyone who likes history or Scotland.

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt

Biography - 5 stars

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I am posting on the Pulitzer Prize-winning Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt. This beautiful tale of the childhood of an American-born child of Irish immigrants (who then return to Ireland to raise their children in Limerick) is a haunting story of unfathomable poverty out of which the author triumphs. I cried when I read this book, as I would reading any true Irish story. It touched me as few books, especially non-fiction, have.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Fiction - 5 stars

If you've never read this book, you absolutely are missing one of the best stories ever told. It is the story of Huck Finn and Jim, the runaway slave that he takes with him down the Mississippi. This sequel to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is truly a classic, and I am glad to have read it. 

The Life and Death of a Druid Prince by Anne Ross and Don Robins

Non-fiction - 4 stars
In August, 1984, a body was discovered in a peat bog in Lindow Moss, near Manchester, England. After further study, it was determined that the 2000-year old remains, known as "Lindow Man", belonged to a 30-year-old druid priest,  sacrificed to the gods in 60 A.D. following a series of disasters. Ross, a Celtic specialist and archaeologist, and Robins, a chemist specializing in archaeology, reconstructed the events around the sacrifice, even going so far as to determine his last meal. This book is for anyone interested in Druid beliefs and practices, history, and archaeology.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Fiction - 5 stars

Not for the faint of heart, this 1500+ page (in small print, I might add) tomme is a masterpiece of storytelling if ever there was one. The story of several characters and timelines, some seemingly insignificant, weaves through the book to culminate into a satisfying and epic conclusion. It only took me two years to read it!

By the way, the movie starring Jim Caviezel is a good adaptation, but nothing beats the book.

Common Sense by Thomas Paine

Non-fiction, 4.5 stars

Can you say "I-Am-A-Nerd?" And yes, I am that big of a nerd that I read Thomas Paine in my spare time. As part of my classics/new novel switch-off, I picked up Paine for relatively little on my nook, and I am glad I did. Anyone who wants to read the sentiment that was in the minds of American colonists prior to the Revolution needs to read this. It not only tells why, in particular, colonists wanted independence, but it also gives sound arguments against monarchy - even extending back to biblical times. This particular version has an introduction by, none other than, Diana Gabaldon. Short, compelling, and a slice of American History, this book has it all!

Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Non-fiction - 5 stars - I grew up with the tv show, a classic for my generation. After reading this book, I only wish I had read these when I was a kid! The story is so revealing about family relationships and the culture of late 1800's pioneer families. Megan and Danny especially liked the stories of the tree that Pa mistook for a bear and the bear that Ma mistook for a cow.

Mornings on Horseback by David McCullough

Non-Fiction - 4 stars - This was a tough read, not because it was dull or bad by any means, but because I'm not sure that I really like Teddy or not. David McCullough paints an excellent picture of Theodore Roosevelt as a child and young man. Definitely worth it.