Red Clay, Running Waters by Leslie K Simmons is a masterful account of John Ridge, a Cherokee statesman and his wife, Sarah Northrop. Simmons' research is phenomenal and gives readers a glimpse into what it was like as Georgia tried to force the Cherokee from its borders.
Quite honestly, I had trouble reading and could only take the novel in small doses. Not because of the writing - which was flawless - but because of what I learned about how my government treated the Cherokee - lying, slandering, stealing, and killing. In addition to the heartless treatment of a great People, the book also looks at love. The relationship between Sarah and John is beautiful, though in no way perfect. Despite having continual trials, this couple found a way to keep moving forward. It certainly gave me hope. This is not a book for the faint of heart, but one that should be on everyone's TBR list.
0 Comments
South of Heaven by Patti Frye Meredith is a contemporary family fiction that is filled to the brim with amazing characters, as well as a delightful and though-provoking storyline. In fact, if you have family - and we all do - you'll relate to miscommunications, slights, white lies, bold-faced lies, and reinventions of the past that often occur between those we love.
Fern made a poor choice when she was barely accountable for such things and has lived with the consequences every single day since. Except for her son, her aunt, and one friend, she has kept to herself, hoping to somehow atone for her sins. Her sister, Leona, on the other hand, seems to have it all, moving beyond their rotten childhood. But what happens when truth - old and new - becomes headline news? I love this story because it is one of redemption and love. We all make mistakes. We all try to cover those mistakes up, usually with disastrous results. We all find a way to love family, despite it all. This is a wonderful novel, and I highly recommend it. Alpha Bette by Jennifer Manocherian is a contemporary fiction told from the viewpoint of several characters who revolve around the matriarch Bette Gartner. At ninety-five, Bette has lost her husband, most of her friends, and even her granddaughter. She has to rely on help from her housekeeper and night nurse after a fall that left her reliant on her wheelchair.
One morning, after what she is sure is a sign from her dead husband, Bette orchestrates a dinner party. The entire story takes place in one day giving readers a glimpse into the past and present of Bette and those around her: housekeeper, aide, two neighbors, daughter and son-in-law, great-granddaughter, and what Bette hopes to be her eventual great-grandson-in-law. Throw in a cremated parrot, political prisoners, a spoiled puppy, a cancer scare, and a medium who Bette believes can speak to her husband, George, and you have a dinner party you'll never forget. This book reminds me a bit of My Grandmother Told Me To Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman and The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley. I think it is because we get into the heads of so many characters and see how they touch one another's lives. Manocherian states that people either love or hate the ending. I'm in the love category, but that may be because I saw it coming! This is another must-read. |
AuthorTeri M Brown, author of An Enemy Like Me and Sunflowers Beneath the Snow connects readers with characters they'd love to invite to lunch. Follow the Blog Using the RSS Feed link below:
Archives
May 2024
Categories
All
|