Tuesday, July 31, 2018

The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve

The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve

During a recent family vacation in Maine, the women decided to read The Weight of Water and take an excursion to the Isles of Shoals in kind of a combination summer book club and field trip. It's always fun to add to our reading enjoyment with a visit to the setting even if the topic is murder.

In March of 1873, the gruesome murder of two women took place on the island of Smuttynose, one of the 9 islands or sometimes 8 depending on the tide, of the Isles of Shoals.  The islands are an archipelago off the coast of Maine and New Hampshire.  In fact some of the islands are in the State of Maine and the rest in New Hampshire.  The landscape is desolate, rough and rocky 7 miles offshore of the mainland.

Jean is a photographer researching the murders for a professional assignment.  She, her husband, Thomas, and her daughter, Billie join her brother-in-law, Rich and his girlfriend on a sailing trip to the islands for some fun in the sun while she's working.  This family's present day problems are woven with the lives of Maren, her fisherman husband, John and her sister Karen in 1873.

My understanding is that the author's historical account of the actual murders is far from factual, but still made for a good story.  The way the book is written and formatted however, is often distracting and gives a jolt to the reader every time the story switches centuries.  In any event our vacation book club had plenty to talk about as we sailed from New Hampshire to the Isles.  Could Louis Wagner, the man hanged for the crime, have rowed in a small boat to Smuttynose that night?  Was his motive that his advances to the women were rebuffed?  Or did Karen push her sister to the edge with her constant complaining?

We may never know the truth but the story was intriguing and the discussion, lively. More importantly we had a wonderful day discussing a good book and exploring a new place.  See if you can find a book that relates to your next vacation destination and add a book discussion.  You'll see how fun it can be.

Friday, July 6, 2018

City of Thieves by David Benioff

City of Thieves by David Benioff

It's World War II in Leningrad, Russia.  17 year old Lev elected to stay behind in the city when his mother and sister flee to the country.  When an already dead German paratrooper lands in the street after curfew, Lev and his friends rush out to see what can be looted from the body.  This is a crime punishable by execution and Lev is caught while helping the others escape.  

His prison cell is a dark and lonely until the arrival of his cell mate, a soldier accused of desertion.  Kolya vehemently denies any such thing.  He's a man capable of talking himself out of a paper bag.  So when the Colonel says he will spare them both in return for 10 eggs by Thursday to bake his daughter a wedding cake, Koyla agrees to the challenge. 

The unlikely pair end up on a grueling journey through the countryside in search of the rare and elusive eggs.  Koyla says what he thinks at all times in all situations.  The naive and shy Lev learns many life lessons from him while trekking through the snow.  Their banter is often funny and quite entertaining.  There are many laugh out loud moments even though the backdrop is the death and destruction of war.  

I liked this story alot. The writing is wonderful, characters engaging and lovable, the scenes authentic.  City of Thieves will hold your interest whether you're laughing, crying or feel like throwing up while you're immersed in a very real tale of war and despair. 


Splintered Silence by Susan Furlong

Splintered Silence by Susan Furlong First off I have to say I happened on this book by chance.  My sister's name is Susan Leigh Furl...