"A Reliable Wife" written by Robert Goolrick

If you like Gothic novels, you will love this book! There is no mistaking this dark story for what it is, right from the opening page. The bleak, frozen landscape of winter in a small Wisconsin town, where inexplicable madness is rampant among the townspeople, sets the tone for a classic Gothic novel. Living in his castle-like estate, Ralph Truitt our tragic protagonist, places an ad in a Chicago newspaper for a "...reliable wife. Compelled by practical, not romantic reasons..." which is precisely what he gets (albeit not in the way he intended!). Catherine Land, a not so virtuous woman with a sordid past answers the ad and becomes Truitt's bride. Add to that mix, Truitt's relentless search for his estranged ne'er-do-well son Antonio, (from his first marriage) and an intricate plot peppered with plenty of Gothic twists and turns, including Catherine's plan to slowly poison her new husband, unravels.

A Reliable Wife is definitely a page-turner and will provide enough fodder for a solid book group discussion, and is a great example of the Gothic novel. I personally found myself growing weary of the sense of fatalism that typically defines the Gothic genre. The fatalistic tone is exemplified in this passage "Catherine Land.........set out to poison - slowly, with arsenic - the husband who loved her, whom she herself loved, to her surprise, the man who had saved her from a life of destruction and despair. Such things happened".

All in all, if you are interested in a chilling, dark, Gothic page-turner, go ahead and give A Reliable Wife a try!

"Peace Like A River" written by Leif Enger

I must confess that I've had a copy of this book for several years now where it's been sitting on the shelf of my "to read" books. Several times over the last four years I have picked it up, looked at it and put it down but I finally read it this week. I know that a book can't be judged by its cover, but this one (although it came highly recommended to me) just wasn't looking very appealing. However, once I actually began reading it I was sorry it took me so long to get to it! It's an unusual story of a family, set in the midwest with a wonderful cast of characters and an intriguing plot, but what I really loved about "Peace Like A River" was Leif Enger's prose. He is clearly a master storyteller, but he also has a wonderful poetic style of writing that is simple yet evocative.

When I find myself thinking about a book days after finishing it, I know I have read something worthwhile. Together the characters, plot and setting create a powerful story of faith, love and family that raises as many questions as it seeks to answer. The Land family (interesting choice for their name) consists of Jeremiah (the dad), Davy (oldest son), Reuben (11 year old son) and Swede (their sister/daughter). They are poor in material wealth but rich in love and spirit. When faced with a terrible string of events that end with Davy running from the law, their faith - both in God and each other - keeps them strong. Despite the tragic events the family suffers, this is a well-written and uplifting story that has more than enough complexity to make it an excellent book club choice.

"Mudbound" written by Hillary Jordan

Life in the Mississippi delta circa the late 1940s was not an easy one - especially for the McAllan and Jackson families. The Jacksons are sharecroppers on farm property recently purchased by the McAllans. There is a symbiotic relationship between the families - they need each other to survive. Farming in the delta is a harsh life for Laura McAllan who is college educated and used to more genteel surroundings. World War II has just ended and prejudice (between the races, between the sexes, between the classes) is abundant in the delta. The Jackson's oldest son, Ronsel, returns home after fighting on the German front only to find the war of prejudice he left behind still raging. Ronsel and his family come to realize that sometimes we simply have to fight against injustice and that sometimes, we have to do something "wrong" to make things right.

Hillary Jordan creates memorable characters that are very believable and transforms their individual stories into something larger than themselves. It is a bittersweet tale about the human condition and our capacity to love and to hate. It is about the transforming power of love and as Laura tells us in the second chapter, "The truth isn't so simple. Death may be inevitable, but love is not. Love, you have to choose". We have the power of free will to choose how to live our lives - whether to hate or to love, to fight or walk away, to cheat or be faithful. Part of the human condition is making those choices and living (or dying) with them.

I personally enjoy hearing the same story told from different viewpoints and thought that Hillary Jordan used this convention very successfully. Each of the characters has a distinct and interesting voice- I looked forward to hearing from every one of them. I found Mudbound to be a compelling read and highly recommend it for a great book club discussion.

"The Wednesday Sisters" written by Meg Waite Clayton

The Wednesday Sisters is the story of four young women/mothers who meet at the playground and form a lifelong friendship. Set in Palo Alto, circa 1968, Frankie, Brett, Kath and Linda navigate together the fast moving and often turbulent changes in the world around them. The women form a unique friendship when they begin to meet on Wednesdays and grow into a sort of writer's support group. How the "wednesday sisters" react to and explore changes in social mores, the roles of men and women, technology, civil rights & politics while dealing with their individual lives and issues, makes for a somewhat entertaining read but not meaty enough for a great book club discussion.

Overall, I found it a bit tedious and was not very attached to the characters - they just weren't fleshed out enough and at times I found myself confusing them. In fact, I couldn't even remember their names when I sat down to write this review shortly after I finished reading the book. The plot was too contrived and while the book touches on many possible themes, I am hard-pressed to find one that unified all the elements of the novel. I think perhaps The Wednesday Sisters tried hard to be a grand, sweeping epic but didn't quite succeed. Save this one for a beach read - not great book club material.

"Let The Great World Spin" written by Colum McCann

One moment in time - New York City, 1974 - New Yorkers stop to look up at a man walking across a tightrope strung between the twin towers. A poignant foreshadowing of another moment in time that will come decades later on September 11th. A time when all New Yorkers (and all the world) will look up at the towers and have their innocence shattered. We are all connected in this life and our actions (or lack thereof) have an impact on the delicate balance that keeps this great world spinning.

Underneath the tightrope walker the great world continues to spin, yet time seems to stand still while everyone watches him. McCann carefully sketches several seemingly discordant vignettes that will ultimately intertwine as tightly as the wire strung between the towers. The threads of each story slowly spread across the city and are masterfully woven into one tapestry that becomes a true moment in time. Let The Great World Spin captures the essence of New York City through every character and subplot - from the gritty south Bronx neighborhood of drug addicts and prostitutes (and the Irish brothers who try to save them); to the debilitating sadness of Claire, a wealthy Park Avenue mother/wife who lost her only child to the war in Viet Nam and her support group; to the free-wheeling artists whose irresponsibility sets off an irreversible chain of events that will link all of the characters and stories together.

I was engrossed in each vignette and grew very attached to all of the characters but what I loved most about this novel is the way McCann captures the soul of New York City. He engages all of the reader's senses so we can see, hear and smell 1974 New York. The city becomes the central character of the book. There is plenty of tragedy in this novel, but there is also sweetness and beauty in all the characters and their stories. Let The Great World Spin is a loving tribute to the heartbeat of New York City and the spirit of its people.

"Sarah's Key" written by Tatiana DeRosnay

When a friend suggested I read Sarah’s Key by Tatiana DeRosnay, my initial response was (simply because I have read so many books about this topic) oh no, not another book about WWII and the holocaust. But, despite my initial reaction I read it and am very glad I did. What truly impresses me is that with every book of this genre that I read, I can honestly say that I learn something new about that period of history that I didn’t know. From the opening sentence “The girl [Sarah] was the first to hear the loud pounding on the door” I couldn’t put Sarah's Key down.

The novel is set in WWII France and explores yet another unfathomable atrocity of the holocaust – the Vel’d’hiver. On July 16th, 1942 the French police (yes, the local French gendarme) conducted a well thought out round-up of French Jewish families in the middle of Paris. The round-up was conducted by the French authorities and it was the first time they took entire families including women, infants and children. The fact that this atrocity was conducted by their local police brought the moral dilemma of the holocaust to the hearts and minds of ordinary Parisians for the first time. I won’t give the horrific details of what happened – suffice it to say that if you had no knowledge of history you just wouldn't believe it could happen.

DeRosnay engages the reader with some very likable characters and very a compelling story. She cleverly interweaves of the stories of Sarah, her family and the Vel’d’hiver with the story of Julie, an American expatriate journalist married to a French man and living in modern day Paris. Although the parallel plot is a bit contrived, the convergence of the story lines makes for a very compelling read and an interesting group discussion. Overall, I enjoyed Sarah's Key for a fast read and a great book club pick.

"The Sister" written by Poppy Adams

The Sister is a tale of two sisters, vivacious Vivien and the very logical, lepidopterist, Virginia. Their complex relationship undergoes a dramatic metamorphosis, much like the moths that Virginia and her father study so intently. As told to us by Virginia the young sisters are inseparable, loving and carefree. Vivien is three years younger than Virginia, but she takes on the role of protecting her older sister.

Although we’re never quite sure why Virginia needs protection, there are many implications that she has some kind of disability – perhaps a developmental disorder on the autism spectrum. Clearly she has difficulty understanding and relating to people, including her family. By her own admission, Virginia much prefers the company of moths and the scientific process to the company of human beings & their incomprehensible emotions.

The family begins to unravel when Vivien “sheds her shell” and moves to London to begin a new life, leaving Virginia behind to deal with her mother’s alcoholism and her father’s absorption in his research. Virginia finds security and comfort in the order and rules of nature and scientific study but the secrets they keep are the catalyst for the dramatic turn of events at the end of the story. The sisters each have their own perception of reality, but what determines the truth? The Sister explores the theme of what constitutes reality and truth and led me to the question: is there such a thing as universal truth that transcends our individual realities?

Although it contained a bit too much information on the study of moths for my taste, I found The Sister to be a thought provoking and interesting read with enough complexity for a good book group discussion.

"The Well & The Mine" written by Gin Phillips

The Well and the Mine is a beautifully written novel. From the lyrical prose and finely drawn characters to it's evocative setting, this debut novel from Gin Phillips is masterfully composed. Set in 1931 in a coal-mining town of rural Alabama, the plot unfolds as young Tess watches an unknown woman throw a baby into her family’s well. From the opening scene I was completely immersed in the story’s place, time and characters, but The Well and The Mine is about much more than the mystery of the baby in the well and coal mining in Alabama. The strength of family, love and community temper the harsh reality of poverty and racism in depression-era life.


The Moores are hard-working, compassionate people and through their example they instill those values in their children. Their love for each other and their ability to see beyond their own needs enable them to manage their daily struggles with grace and dignity. There will always be those who are more fortunate and less fortunate than you, but what matters most in this world is how you live with what you are given. Although the Moores are clearly of modest means, they never refuse food to anyone who knocks on their door.


In the book, the well and the mine are dark underground places yet both can sustain life or deplete it depending on the circumstances. The coal miners rely on the mine to provide their daily living and sustain their lives. But the mine can just as easily take their lives. The same paradox applies to the well. The water that the well provides is life giving, but for the unknown baby it is a grave. Is it fate that determines the circumstances of our lives and does it matter what cards we have been dealt? Or is it what we do with what we have that counts? The Well and the Mine explores these themes with a richly woven story and beautiful prose that drew me in and wouldn’t let me go.

The beginning...

It all started with a love of reading, a passion for well-written stories, interesting characters & plot lines that leave you begging for more and it resulted in....

The Book Enthusiast your source for what's worth reading!

My addiction to books began a long time ago when I was 5, and my father took me to get my very own library card. By the time I worked my way up to the "Nancy Drew" mysteries, I was truly hooked on reading. My BA in English helped me understand how to read critically and appreciate well-written literature. Over the years my taste has matured and my thirst for well-written (but very readable) books has taken on a life of it's own. To help me quench my thirst, I founded a local book club that has been meeting monthly for over 10 years.

Because so many of my friends and co-workers routinely ask me for book suggestions I decided to write down my thoughts and share them via this blog. My motto about reading is "so many books, so little time!" I will be posting mini reviews of books that are not only good reads, but will definitely make for good book club discussions.

Enjoy!

The Book Enthusiast