Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano

July 4, 2020

Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano

Edward Adler was 12 years old when a plane crash killed the rest of his family.  They were in the process of relocating from New York City to California, where his mother had taken a job as a screenwriter.  As the sole survivor of the crash, Edward's story captures the nation's interest.  Fortunately for Edward, his mother's sister Lacey and her husband John care deeply about Edward and immediately travel to where he is hospitalized to take him home with them.  

The story line moves back and forth between the day of the plane crash and Edward's life as he tries to come to terms with both his physical injuries and the grief of losing his family, especially his beloved older brother Jordan.  His aunt and uncle shield him from the news media and the intrusion of strangers who view him as a Miracle Boy, while still trying to give him a normal life.  Other friends use their own forms of therapy to help Edward, including his school principal, his psychologist and his best friend Shay.  One night a few years after the crash, Edward and Shay find bags of letters addressed to Edward that his uncle has hidden in the garage, keeping them for when Edward is older, from survivors of other victims and people who just want to urge Edward to live his life to the fullest.  They begin to read the letters and have to decide what to do about them.  Ultimately, Edward has to find his own way forward and to find closure.

The novel is inspired by a news story that the author read many years ago, about a flight that crashed en route to London with one child surviving, but this isn't just a disaster novel.  Ann Napolitano does a masterful job of portraying Edward's confusion and grief as he learns to cope with an unimaginable tragedy and go on with his life.  We also hear Lacey and John's story as they attempt to help their damaged nephew while dealing with their own grief.  At one point, Lacey laments that her sister Jane (Edward's mother) would be appalled at what a poor job they were doing and blamed it on their own childlessness.  My immediate thought was that this is a situation no one is prepared to deal with, even if they have six children.

My heart was deeply touched by Edward and all of the passengers on the flight, from the girl dealing with an unexpected pregnancy to the gay soldier who has been forced to hide his feelings for a fellow soldier.  The characters are well-rounded and multi-dimensional, and the story is satisfying without being maudlin or sappy.  Highly recommended

As You Wish by Cary Elwes

July 1, 2020

As You Wish by Cary Elwes

When he was selected to play the part of Wesley in the now-classic movie The Princess Bride, he never suspected it would be the defining role of his career.  This is a charming behind-the-scenes look at the making of the movie, with a number of the original cast members providing narration and comments.  But it’s not just about the film – Elwes shares annecdotes from his life, from his self-inflicted broken toe on the set to the death of his beloved grandfather during filming.  Deeply affectionate and full of fond memories of being part of a very special project, this is a real love letter to fans of this enduring classic.

The Princess Bride has always been a movie favorite.  I love the way it works on two levels – kids see a cool adventure movie with pirates, princesses, and giants, and adults laugh at the clever dialogue and the caricatures and satires of movie stereotypes.  True love, sword fights, pirates, wizards, giants, and evil princes – what’s not to like?  The book narration is wonderful, and I need to re-read the book and watch the movie again.  As soon as possible.

Who Buries the Dead by C. S. Harris

July 1, 2020

Who Buries the Dead by C. S. Harris

 

When a socially ambitious Londoner is found decapitated on the outskirts of the city, and a number of prominent citizens appear to be involved, Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is drawn into the investigation.  But as the brutal murders increase, Sebastian finds himself not only in the drawing rooms of Mayfair but also in the haunts of London’s poorest residents.  Joining forces with his independent wife Hero, Sebastian must identify the killer and figure out their motives before harm comes to himself or his family.

This is the 10^th book in the Sebastian St. Cyr series, set in the early 19^th century during the Regency period, and there ends up being more than one mystery to solve.  I love the way C. S. Harris weaves historical figures such as the Prince Regent and novelist Jane Austen through the story, as well as historical events such as the discovery of the lost tomb of Charles I.  I also really like the way that Sebastian and Hero’s relationship is deepening with each book, as well as the growth of Sebastian’s backstory.  Sebastian’s hobby of investigating murders is no more popular with his or Hero’s families than is her hobby of investigative journalism.  While the Devlins are definitely one of London’s glam couples, it is also charming to read the domestic scenes about things like having a colicky baby – it is so satisfying that someone who suffers as much as Sebastian does for the acts he committed or witnessed during war, finally has a happy life.  But it was shocking when one of the recurring characters was murdered quite suddenly.

The Sebastian St. Cyr series is one of my favorite historical series, and I’m so glad there are several more books to look forward to.  The books are all well-written and researched, and I save them to enjoy like special treats.

The Murder House by James Patterson and David Ellis

June 28, 2020

The Murder House by James Patterson and David Ellis

After barely escaping prosecution for corruption, former NYC detective Jenna Murphy takes the only job she can get, with the Southampton Town Police Department, where her uncle is the chief of police.  She is shocked to find the wealthy and privileged community is a hotbed of murder, where a serial killer has apparently been preying on tourists and transients for years.  All of the murders seem to center around Number 7 Ocean Drive, a fabulous oceanfront mansion that has stood empty for years, locally known as The Murder House.

The main character is flawed almost to the point of being ridiculous.  Although we’re told repeatedly what a great cop she is, she accuses one male character after another of being the murder, physically attacks suspects before questioning them, and does not demonstrate any of the instincts that are vital to being a good police officer.  She is also paranoid and a heavy drinker.  Noah, the character that she attacks repeatedly, unbelievably ends up being her love interest.  Although some readers gushed about the great suspense, I figured out who the killer was a little over halfway through the book. 

James Patterson isn’t one of my favorite authors, and I had a really hard time finishing this one.  The female narrator’s voice in the audiobook grated on my nerves.  I finally ended up returning the audiobook and getting the print version instead.  I don't recommend this one at all.

Her Last Flight by Beatriz Williams

June 27, 2020

Her Last Flight by Beatriz Williams

Photojournalist Janey Everett has long been fascinated by legendary aviators Irene Foster and Sam Mallory who both disappeared in 1937.  At the time of their disappearances, Mallory was fighting with the loyalist forces in Spain during the Spanish Civil War, while Foster was participating in an around-the-world aviation race before she vanished somewhere over Africa.  A chance meeting with an RAF pilot in 1944 leads Janey to believe that Irene not only survived but that she is living in seclusion in Hawaii.  Determined to write a photo-biography of forgotten aviation pioneer Sam Mallory, Janey sets out to find Foster to fill in the gaps in Mallory’s story.

Very loosely based on the life of Amelia Earhart, author Beatriz Williams started out with Earhart's story but imagined a different ending for the famous aviatrix.  Janey and Irene are both strong-minded independent women who work in male-dominated fields.  Both had difficult childhoods, but Janey’s backstory is especially heart-breaking.  Following dual timelines, Williams weaves the many threads of the story together to a satisfying and surprising conclusion.  I much prefer her historical fiction to the historical romances that she writes with Lauren Willig and Karen White.  This is one of the best books I've read in 2020.

Like many people, I have always been fascinated by Amelia Earhart, and I keep hoping that someone will finally discover what really happened to her.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in return for a review.

Nothing Can Hurt You by Nicola Maye Goldberg

June 22, 2020

Nothing Can Hurt You by Nicola Maye Goldberg

A college student is murdered in the late 1990's and people who knew her or heard about her reflect on her murder.

Really disappointing.  It's not a mystery or suspense - the murder occurred years earlier, the killer served time briefly in a psychiatric facility and was released, he has a whole new life and family.  The characters either knew or heard about the victim.  Several people in the book know where the murderer is living, and at first I thought one of them would take revenge for the killing, but none of them do anything but ponder the meaning of her death.  The book is being heralded as the new Gone Girl (please, can we stop comparing everything to GG and just let GG be GG?), but it's nothing like that story.

About the best thing I can say about this book is that it's short.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in return for a review.

Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier

June 21, 2020

Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier

The unnamed narrator of Pizza Girl is 18 years old, Korean-American, pregnant, and single.  She lives with her mother and boyfriend who are supportive to the point of suffocation, and delivers pizzas at night.  Pizza Girl's father died a year earlier of alcoholism and as she works through her grief, she fears she is more like her father than she originally thought.  She thinks a lot about han, a Korean concept described as a sickness of the soul, an acceptance that life will be filled with sorrow and resentment.  As a pizza delivery girl, she encounters all kinds of people, and their lives seem perfect when compared to her own (until she learns that many of her customers are hiding dark secrets).  Delivering pizzas is just a job until a customer requests a pizza with pepperoni and pickles (how gross is that??).  The woman begins ordering the same pizza every week, and soon Pizza Girl is obsessed with the woman and her life.

The narrator hits new lows in characters making bad decisions and disturbing behavior:  unmarried, pregnant, no interest in college or a stable job, heavy drinking during pregnancy/heavy underage drinking, sexual confusion and obsession, theft, housebreaking, and just general aimlessness.  But the reader can't help feeling a certain tenderness toward this teenager and her raw emotions, her overall depression.  Small wonder that she continually grabs onto anyone or anything that interrupts her hopelessness.

There is a lot of stream of consciousness going on here, with the narrator frequently distracted by random thoughts.  The story and the main character were messier, more complicated and darker than I was expecting, especially with the colorful graffiti-like cover art.  I would have liked to know more about the family's background, their experience with racism as Korean immigrants,  There is some black humor but not enough to deflect the main character's overall depression.  I was expecting more from the ending, but there really wasn't any resolution.