Kaseys Korner

Secrets of a Charmed Life

What an amazing peek into the ramifications of evacuating children from London during the second World War. It's made so personal in the story of the two sisters, Emmy/Isabel & Julia.

I think it would tear me in half (as a Mom) to be forcefully separated from my child, as the parents in London were ordered to do. Half of me would want them to be safe, but the other half would be traumatized wondering if they were okay. I really want to read more about why England decided to take this path and how it actually worked out in the end. How many children had no parents to come home to when the War was over? What happened then? Would it have been better to die together if that was the case?? In this effort to save them, did they also inflict lifetime psychological damage??

There were so many times in this story I was mad at Emmy/Isabel for being so self centered, then I would have to remind myself of her age and that she was making "adult" decisions while still being a child herself. She lacked guidance from her Mother and without it, and the better judgment that comes along with age, so many lives were destroyed or irreparably damaged. It was heartbreaking the guilt both girls suffered practically their whole lives because of one fateful choice.

There is a very small piece in the book that describes what evacuee's did with their pets before leaving London. It's such a tiny mention, I wouldn't write about it except it was a novel revelation. In all the WWII books I've read, never has the topic even been skimmed over so it hadn't occurred to me to think about it. It was heartbreaking (as a pet lover) to imagine taking this action.

Very interesting and enjoyable read despite how "real" the material is of life during wartime and how dramatically it changed the courses of these sisters lives.

Last Letter Home

I started reading 'Last Letter Home' on the Monday prior to Thanksgiving. Maybe the holiday caused me to be sentimental about families but whatever the case, this story struck the perfect chord with me. It contained all my favorite components: a dual timeline, old houses, gardens, plus a jag back thru WWII. Most of the past timeline was revealed thru an exchange of letters between Sarah & Paul. I found that interesting & I really liked both of those characters. They were equally rock solid.

In the current day timeline, the protagonist gets handed a bundle of old letters while on vacation in Italy which leads to a revelation in her own family history. It would be easy to get a little confused if one was reading the book without completely concentrating because it encompassed three generations. That made for keeping all the characters straight a bit tricky. More than once I had to pause & mentally remind myself who was who.

I wanted to know more about several characters; Sarahs sister, Diane for one ~ what made her so different, something that was alluded to on a couple of occasions but never explained. And poor Harry Andrews. What truly became of him? I feel like he didn't make it, which would be so sad because he was a genuine good guy. The way war changes or highlights aspects of peoples personalities was brought out really well in several of the characters. Also, the twist at the end, food for thought, makes me wonder how often something like that did happen?? In todays world, I think it would be a harder feat to pull off but in the mid 40's it seemed perfectly plausible.

Footnote to self: get to one of these walled gardens before I die. They sound absolute BLISS.

Well & thoughtfully researched novel, a really nice read, just as I have come to expect from Rachel Hore.

 

 

Midnight is a Lonely Place

** spoiler alert ** If you aren't open to the idea of the supernatural, or are a flat out disbeliever, I'd say skip reading any book by Barbara Erskine. This is the fourth book of hers I've read and like the others, the supernatural is a predominant feature. This was definitely my favorite book so far. I couldn't put it down last night, blowing thru 300+ pages in one night until I finished.

The author has a beautifully evocative, moody, atmospheric style. I felt I was right there on the marshes and dunes of that tragic grave site. The premise of revenge from the afterlife (after a major wrong doing in life) seems plausible to me so I bought into the storyline. Can't say I liked any of the men the protagonist (Kate) was attracted to in the modern day story, I was more caught up in the ghost triad. As beautiful a writer as Mrs. Erskine is tho, her book endings have always come up a tad short for me. I finish them feeling slightly unsatisfied?? In this case, Marcus just fades away? No mention of discovering the two priests bodies (who were murdered along with Nion?) The grave site never to be excavated? How can the spirits suddenly rest when nothing from their 2000+ years injustice was resolved?

Also why a family would "indulge" their daughter & not notify authorities of something so archeologically significant, seems a bit bonkers to me. Perhaps it happens more often than I realize especially in countries with histories more ancient than those in the United States?? Fiction tho it may be, it has inspired me to read more about the Trinovantes and Romans in Britain.

I waffled about the rating ~ I want to go higher but I think 3.5 Stars is where I'm settling (at least for now.) I was completely caught up but just wish the ending could have been stronger. That being said, no doubt I'll read another book by this author down the road.

 

 

The Joy Luck Club

I'm sure this was ground breaking exposure to Chinese/American culture when the book was originally released but I wonder (if you switch out the customs) if it could be representative of all 1st generation and 2nd generation immigrants?? Coming to this country, hoping for a fresh start/better life but still clinging to the ways of their home country, only to raise children who want nothing to do with those ways but rather want to fully Americanize.

The relationships between all the Mothers and daughters was so sad to me. The daughters couldn't appreciate what the Mother's had been thru and why they were the way they were and acted they way they did. The daughters were also in a lose/lose situation because as much as they wanted to be American they were caught in the middle of two cultures. Not fully American nor Chinese. At home or with family, life was one way but at school and later at work, another way. I can't even imagine being a newcomer to a country and trying to instill customs & values from the "home" country. It seems impossible to keep continuity going?? Especially with so much resistance from the 2nd generation (in this case the daughters.) We witnessed that frustration (it felt more like a disconnect from each other??) although there was some hope that the older the daughters got, the more willingness they had to try & understand their Mothers.

At the end when Jing Mei visits Shanghai to meet her Mother's twin daughters (from another marriage) it brought tears to my eyes that she thought she recognized the country & felt a familiarity despite having never been there before. I've heard that from other people when they visit their own country of heritage. It seems like a birthright lives in your blood and somehow surfaces when it recognizes its homeland. Does that sound crazy?!! The reunion with her half sisters was such a bittersweet moment.

I know nothing about Mah Jong so I missed how the book was supposed to be structured similar to the game? It seems like the kind of game that is deceptive in appearance ~ where it looks easy but actually requires thought? Maybe I could convince my book club to read this & then try to learn how to play afterwards?

'The Joy Luck Club' was a great concept & I loved what Suyuan was trying to achieve by forming it. It made for an intriguing title too because it sounds "happy" but all eight of these women were anything but. I'm glad I finally read the book and now I'm putting the movie on my "want to watch" list.

The Alchemist's Daughter

Oh Emilie. How you frustrated me!! Here you are, this phenom of a daughter (at least that's what we're told,) who couldn't have been more woefully unprepared for life.

All the time spent cooped up in her father's laboratory, advancing herself to an almost unheard of level of higher learning (for the time period), but can't discern a "dandy" from a real man when the evidence was served on a platter and practically labeled as such. I saw her flying headlong into disaster, the author made Aislabie just that transparent from introduction, and cringed throughout the whole shamble of a journey. All the preparation her father thought he was giving her in the art of critical thinking, flew out the window at the first insincere word from the lips of a good looking "snake charmer" (that was my personal term for Aislabie.) Too bad I didn't feel more sympathetic toward her. She just wasn't written as that endearing of a character despite the bumpy ride of the journey we endured with her.

Actually, there were zero characters in the book I felt like cheering. They were all a bit flat, dull & depressing. Once Emilie discovered her father's journals, and the contents were revealed, they made him a wee bit more understandable but still not very likable. In my experience, scientists are the worst at human interactions, they are too absorbed & singularly focused on their chosen subject area to have much interest in the social & ordinary aspects of life. Thank goodness for them except for what a huge flaw it was in his "experiment," especially considering his child was a daughter that would be of marriageable age & her choice of spouse would dictate her future. (and consequently his.)

It's interesting how the study of Alchemy was classified as scientific research in the time period but isn't given any oxygen in todays world ~ not that I hear about anyway. That aspect of the book appealed to me when I first read the description. Sir Isaac Newton is mentioned in the pages as well and it's always fascinating to read about a larger than life figure when incorporated into fiction. Not a terrible book, just missing something that would make it more noteworthy & the main characters more memorable. In the end, I think I liked the book cover more than anything!  It's simply stunning.

Little Fires Everywhere

I waffled back & forth about whether or not to read this book. Something about the description (I think?) made me wonder if I would even like it. Pleasant surprise ~ I found the book pretty absorbing. It flows nicely and is something I could typically read in one or two sittings.

'Little Fires Everywhere' is a literal & figurative title. There was an actual fire & from that fire, the ignition of the books multiple story lines ~ some more intriguing than others. Big overall lesson, no matter how hard people work to create a "Utopia," (like Shaker Heights) there's no way to keep out the messiness of life. Make all the rules you want, draw all the boundaries possible to think up, vet carefully and thoroughly but it's going to seep in no matter what.  Also, there's ALWAYS a backstory to every. single. persons. life ~ no matter how they present themselves. Digging into that backstory illuminates why they comport themselves the way that they do. I found Mia & Izzy's stories most compelling but just like all of us, they're flawed too.

I feel like this would be an excellent book club pick. There's a lot of meaty discussion matter within the pages ~multiracial adoption, surrogacy, pros and cons of planned communities, perils of teen sex/love, etc., etc., all served up in an easily readable format. A 3 1/2 star read for me.

 

 

The Ten Thousand Doors of January

If I had a copy of this book in my hands, I'd be hugging it to my body right now & not wanting to let go! However, I read it on my Kindle & hugging that just wouldn't be quite the same. I love when a book has that kind of powerful impact. I literally did. not. want. it. to. end. & fervently HOPE there's a sequel coming. I mean there are so many more characters in the "society" that have ill will toward January & so many Worlds & Doors to explore ~ there's enough material available for years of writing. Please, please, please set some goals for that to happen Ms Harrow!!

I really didn't know what to expect when I started the book. I downloaded it merely because it sounded "interesting" but honestly, it blew me away how immersed I became in it. It's sheer reader euphoria when that happens! Excuse me while I levitate in the bliss of that threshold for a moment ~it's been a while.

I have no intention of describing the story, only to say it's very unique & imaginative ~ as is January. Getting to know her and her parents, reeled me in equally ~ which doesn't happen often. Usually I'm partial to one character or another. Actually ALL the characters in the book are quite fascinating and come with their own absorbing side stories. It's an experience of a book. Especially appealing to anyone who secretly fantasizes about concentric worlds and the magical, endless possibilities that reality would present. If I were to run thru a Door, I'd want it to be into a World like Yule Ian's. Would that I could!!!! *sigh* Also to readers, who already know the power of words, his World (and January) elevate that power to dream level.

If this book doesn't win any awards, I'd be stunned! Extraordinarily transportive.