The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman

Brilliant writing and wonderfully educational....

I really enjoyed learning about this never-before-told Holocaust story of two zookeepers in Warsaw who helped more than three hundred people escape and hide during WW2. However, I have a really hard time recommending it to others since its extremely historical and fact-driven, and reads more like a text book than a novel.

That being said, I found Ms. Ackerman's writing superb, as was her attention to detail and research on her subjects, both animal and human. The omnipresent comparison/contrast between human and animal subjects and how they are treated in this book was poignant, as was the essence of the story she tried to capture. At times I found it slightly monotonous/boring and found myself skimming, but as a whole I enjoyed reading it and learning about their lives and the sacrifices they made to help others.

I wish this novel had been written more as a work of fiction from the zookeeper's wife's perspective instead of from an outsider's perspective. I think it would have greatly enhanced the story and made it more enjoyable to read as a work of historical fiction/ novel.

Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell

Did the editor vanish too? ...

The reviews and recommendations of this book really intrigued and appealed to me. A story of a woman committed to an institution for more than sixty years, whose release upon the closing of the institution to a relative who never know of her existence is truly a unique and creative plot. So too was the writer's desire to tell the story from three perspectives and add multiple sub-plots which certainly enhanced the story. However, the stream-of-consciousness writing and lack of good editing did me in and I was left skimming the last seventy-five pages. Had this book been formatted differently, it would have been a much better read.

I can't recommend this book, although I would love to have read a copy of it in a different format where it didn't jump all over the place.

The Nineteenth Wife by David Ebershoff

An enjoyable read, especially for lovers of historical fiction...

The 19th Wife is an intriguing, insightful, captivating and educational example of historical fiction at its finest. The novel weaves together the stories of two women, both of whom are their husband's 19th wife in differing examples of pleural/celestial/polygamous marrages and cultures.

Perhaps just as interesting as the storylines themselves is the manner in which the stories are told from varying viewpoints/perspectives: the gay narrator Jordan who was excommunicated from the Firsts of Mesadale, Utah and whose mother is awaiting trial for allegedly killing her husband; Ann Eliza, Mormon Prophet Brigham Young's 19th wife (although her real "number" is debatable) who led the crusade to rid the Mormon church of its polygamous ways; a research student's Masters thesis on the evolution of the Mormon Church and its connection to celestial marriage; varying news articles and wikipedia entries, court documents, secret jail diaries, etc. While some may not prefer this method of storytelling, I found it greatly enhanced my understanding, appreciation and love of this book as a whole. It felt like I had personal access to historical documents and research, as opposed to just learning about their lives from the traditional narrational perspective.

Without going into too much detail, I would HIGHLY recommend this book for those who enjoy historical fiction, those interested in different religions/cultures, those with little or no knowledge about the Mormons or Firsts (like myself- it was really insightful!), bookclubs, and anyone taking religious studies, womens studies or history courses.

The Gurnsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Schaffer and Annie Barrows

A Wonderful Gem of a Novel...

This is one of my favorite books of 2008 - a sweet, fast-paced, wonderful novel about a woman who quite frankly, I can't believe is a work of fiction. I LOVED the characters, and most of all, the protagonist Juliet. She is so full of love, life and is positvely hysterical! The characters and their stories (forming their literary society under false pretenses and right under the noses of the soldiers who occupied Gurnsey Island during the War) were so real, so absorbing and so enjoyable to learn about. This novel is a perfect blend of historical-fiction and a coming-of-age-discovering-oneself story told from different perspectives via letters, which enable the reader to feel like he/she is uncovering a heretofore undiscovered treasure. I can't stress highly enough how terrific this book is - a "must read" and "must-share" novel!

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson

Couldn't get into this one...

I'm astounded reading all the positive reviews and hype for this novel since I personally could not get into it and can't imagine it being worthy of such praise. I felt the first hundred or so pages were quite boring, convoluted and slow - the complete antihesis of what would normally lure me into a mystery/thriller. Perhaps there was something missing/lost in the translation. Or perhaps the characters were too one-dimensional and didn't speak to me at all. Regardless, I gave up around page 200; when I come up with every excuse not to pick up a book I'm reading, I just have to throw in the towel, as there are too many gems out there to discover.

Black + White by Dani Shapiro

A "GREY" review...

I read this novel in one sitting in a matter of about three hours, and actually spent more time trying to figure out if I loved it or hated it- that's how polarizing it felt upon finishing it. However, since nothing in life is clearly "black" nor "white," I have somewhat of a grey review and will settle on giving it three stars.

On the one hand, I respect and admire the author for forcing her readers to deal with uncomfortable subject matter, while raising the question of whether provocative/nude photographs of a young child by her famous photographer mother were art or abuse. I thought the story, told in a series of flashbacks, was very well-written; it felt very real and relevant for modern readers.

On the other hand, I was so uncomfortable reading it at times that I felt myself literally squirming. For me, this was so clearly a situation of power and abuse, as opposed to art, that I had a hard time with the subject matter. So, while I commend the author for putting these topics and feelings out there for readers in general, for me personally, it was a little too hard to read about.

While some readers may perhaps feel that the mother redeemed herself at the end of the novel (I won't give anything away), for this reader there was no redemption because even though it seems like Clara had a choice at the end, there was never any choice and her childhood- life's most precious and formative experience- was taken away from her.

So, despite this mixed review and my continued "grey" feelings towards it, would I recommend this book? Yes and No. Yes, I would recommend it to those who, knowing what the book it about, still want to read it. You will find a well-written, intellectual, thought-provking novel. However, I would not recommend it to anyone who has a hard time with this type of subject matter, because it would be too upsetting.

The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough

Wanted to love this book but felt it too outdated...

I went into this book knowing its a beloved classic therefore I really wanted to love it; for the first half of the book I really did. I felt connected to the characters and thought the author's ability to capture both time and place was supurb; she really made the Australian Outback come alive. I truly felt the Cleary family hardships, their bitterness and secrets. However, after awhile I found it somewhat outdated. I can't put my finger on precisely what made me feel this way, but perhaps it was the unrealistic and weak dialogue that finally did me in. Or perhaps Father Ralph's somewhat obsessive feelings towards the young Meggie made me feel uncomfortable. Regardless, despite its cult-like status, I simply can't recommend this one.