March Book Challenges

 

March *1 A book written by a woman

Silver Wedding

Author: Maeve Binchy

Genre: fiction

Page number: 385

First published: 1988

Setting: England and Ireland

Rating: 5 stars

First sentence: Anna knew that he was doing his best to be interested.

One sentence comment: This fourth novel by Maeve Binchy didn’t live up to her first three novels, which are marvelous and dazzling; however, I still felt very much drawn to various characters in this comparatively thin book.

 Binchy is on top of my favorite authors. She had an extraordinary ability of telling stories, bringing the lost time and values to the present. Yet, time may be different, emotions are tangible, lingering in my heart for a long time. During my reading, I watched a video of Binchy where she talked about her summer love that had turned to despair. I suddenly understood why in the first four books I have read, there was always a charming young man in each story to break the girl’s heart. In this book there were two things that surprised me. The first is that I didn’t know she could write the war between a man and a woman so pungent! Secondly, previously she wrote about female characters to the full. This time she wrote a man’s thought, conscience and rage deeply and vividly that I stopped to ponder and question myself whether I haven’t held on enough to integrity. I had never loved a multi-point-of-view novel before, but Binchy altered my prejudice.

 

March *2 A book with a woman on the cover

What Remains of Heaven (Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery #5)

Author: C. S. Harris

Genre: historical mystery

Page number: 324

First published: 2009

Setting: London, 1812

Rating: 5 stars

First sentence: His breath coming in undignified grasps, the Reverend Malcolm Earnshaw abandoned the village high street and struck out through the lanky grass of the churchyard.

One sentence comment: I am delighted to know about the politics in Britain in 1812 by this highly entertaining book.

This is the fifth book of the Sabastian St Cyre series. I couldn't help smiling even before turning the first page. I love the confrontation between Lord Jarvis and his daughter, Hero. Jarvis has the reputation that anyone inconvenient to him had a habit of turning up dead. However, Hero is his indomitable enemy and love. He often wishes she were a son so he could appreciate her intellect and courage. On the other hand, I grow to like the male protagonist, Sabastian.  I chuckle whenever he says 'why tell me this?' in front of people seeking his help. Most of the time he is full of himself, contrary to Hero, but they are bound to bind together.

       The murder in this book is unusual for it involves something thirty years ago. Therefore, this is the most intriguing death. Another interesting matter in the story is that it involved rivalry in the parliament on slavery law and child labor issue. Furthermore and most unexpectedly, we get to meet Benjamin Franklin's son, who was against his father's revolt in the US, and stayed royal to the Prince in England. This is something I had not heard of before.

       I think Harris had played down her language a lot comparing with her first two books. She used to use lush vocabularies to augment the aura of regency era where aristocrats in the pursuit of  fashion and fine art.  Perhaps the mass market didn't bye it so she changed her style.

 

March *3 A book with a woman’s name in the title

The Ordeal of Elizabeth Marsh

Author: Linda Colley

Genre: biography

Page number: 361

First published: 2008

Setting: Europe, Africa, East Asia

Rating: 3 stars

First sentence: This is a biography that crosses boundaries, and it tells three connected stories.

One sentence comment: This book can be useful if I want to write a novel about seafarers of the time.

I could be a very interesting story concerning a British woman's life during pre- Victorian era when the empire was launching its global sea power. However, the historian writer kept rambling the story with meticulous details as if I were in a soporific lecture room.

 

March *4 A book with a woman in a non-conventional role for her time

A Royal Pain (A Royal Spyness Mystery #2)

Author: Rhys Bowen

Genre: historical mystery

Number of pages: 303

First published: 2008

Setting: London, 1932

Rating: 5 stars

First sentence: The alarm clock woke me this morning at the ungodly hour of eight.

One sentence comment: Excellent plot with a funny German princess coming to England, then brought up an international conspiracy.

 Bowen is good at writing comic scenes and hilarious characters. With Hitler prepared to lead Germany and Russian communists keen on subversion, this book is a light read to experience the the pre-WWII era with depression and uncertainly. A bit like the present time in Europe. By the way, I adore the style of book covers on the series.

 

Local club choice

The Call of the Wild