Faithful Place by Tana French

Faithful Place is the third installment in the Dublin murder squad series and I’m just as jazzed about this one as the first two — In the Woods and The Likeness.

What is unique about this series is that a character who had a minor role in one book may be the protagonist in another — with a case told from their perspective. You don’t have to read Ms. French’s series in order – but I am.

Here we have the foul-mouthed, manipulative Frank from the second book, The Likeness which focused on Cassie, a female undercover officer. But in Faithful Place we get a better understanding of Frank’s hardscrabble childhood and gain insight into his toughness.

Frank is called back to his poor childhood neighborhood of Faithful Place, Dublin — which he has avoided for years. His sister calls to tell him that his first love Rosie Daly’s suitcase has been found.

Twenty two years ago, Frank was in love with Rosie whose father forbid the romance, assuming that his own family, poor as it might be, was stationed above the Mackeys. Frank and Rosie are determined to escape their families and inevitable destinies by running away to London. They saved their money, bought the tickets, and on the night they were to leave, Frank sneaked out to wait for Rosie ~~ but she never showed up. With his heart broken, Frank fled the rough neighborhood of Faithful Place vowing never to return. Now he’s drawn back to investigate the discovery of her suitcase and long ago disappearance.

“I waited there in the shadows, watching the plumes of smoke that my breath sent into the lamplight, while the bells tolled three and four and five. The night faded to a thin sad gray and round the corner a milk cart clattered over cobblestones towards the dairy, and I was still waiting for Rosie Daly at the top of Faithful Place.”

“The suitcase was by the window. It was a pale-blue thing with rounded corners, spotted over with big patches of black mold, and it was a crack open; someone had forced the pathetic tin locks. What got to me was how small it was… Rosie had been heading for a whole new life with something she could carry one-handed.”

The opening pages of Faithful Place draws you in, as we go back in time to Frank’s younger years in this rough Dublin neighborhood. There are many flashbacks, which under a lesser writer can be confusing and superfluous, but Ms. French handles them with such genius that a reader will never loose track of what’s happening.

Frank’s perspective is often cruel, unforgiving, and especially self serving. But here is where Ms. French shines. One can’t help but become deeply involved with her characters. And, as you keep reading and start to scratch the surface you see why Frank is such a mess (can everyone say ‘family discord’? ). About a third of the way through the book, I fell hard for Frank and my heart ached for him. In Faithful Place, Frank faces unanswered questions, unethical behaviors, and ultimately himself. Ms. French takes us on this roller coaster ride all while deftly adding layer upon layer to the mystery

It’s difficult to pigeonhole Ms. French’s novels – they are so much more than mere police thrillers or murder mysteries. Her books are atmospheric, yet literary, and deliver complex insights into what brings people to the precipices in their lives — and then — what ultimately saves them.

If you’re not reading this Tana French series, you’re seriously missing out.

Marriage for Rosamond by Louise Platt Hauk

I’m sure most everyone is bored by this, but sometimes it bears repeating.  I volunteer at the Friends of the S.F. Library Bookstore, and every so often we get vintage books.

For five dollars I took this charmer home.  Just look at that cover, can you blame me?  (Volunteering yet still buying books — this is why Husband has gray hair.)

Marriage for Rosamond was written in 1937 and published by Madison Square Books which sports the following marketing blurb on the back with a listing of their titles:

Books for every taste and mood — outstanding novels, delightful romances, thrilling mysteries, two-gun Westerns.

Can’t you just picture these colorful volumes carelessly stacked on musty bookshelves in knotty pine summer homes in upstate New York, with comfortably shabby furniture, porch swings, and long afternoons reading…

Okay, sorry folks, I’m back from my daydreaming digression.

Marriage for Rosamond was one of Madison Square’s romances, the chick-lit of the 1930’s.

The plot revolves around the innocent and privileged Rosamond who falls in love with Jim.  But in this period piece they don’t just fall in love, they woo, for pages and pages.  I almost gave up, but when they finally get married and Rosamond moves to Jim’s grand home in Kansas City, the plot actually got more interesting and there were some simple, but unforeseen developments.

Jim has a sickly brother Rich, and Jim dotes upon him.  Rich moves into their house and while he doesn’t seem all that ill, he has trouble recovering from small health setbacks.  Rosamond has mixed feelings, recognizing that Jim is being manipulated — but she decides to stick it out as a loving and devoted wife:

[She] learned hard lessons during these weeks.  She learned to sit quietly by while Jim talked of Rich; his accident, the possible weakening of his reserve strength, his childhood illnesses.  She learn to eat her meals with Jim sunk into depressed silence or starting up when one of the nurses came downstairs.  She learned — and this was the bitterest lesson of all! — that she did not count at all with Jim, at least while Rich was so ill.

When Rosamond is called upon to be Rich’s full time caregiver — the situation becomes intolerable.  Rosamond flees back to her devoted grandfather and their comfortable family home.  All seems over with the marriage — but in the end the story revolves around to a satisfying ending.

What I found most interesting about Marriage for Rosamond was the author’s writing style — typical of the period.  The literate vocabulary was a joy with proper usage of words such as ~~ benighted, quiddity, indubitably and vivant.

And, the often sentimental passages, which border on the saccharine, in this context are merely old-fashioned and somehow touching:

She dropped a velvet cheek against his hand…

Jim was too close to the weaving to see the pattern…

For me this romantic novel was a master class in 1930’s American domestic drama and while it was sometimes over dramatic, it was never overwrought.

I had a grand time reading Marriage for Rosamond

Educated by Tara Westover

I’m late to the party on this one. It seems everyone has read this gripping memoir about a young girl who, kept out of school, escapes her survivalist family, goes on to college and eventually earns degrees from Harvard and Cambridge. Ms. Westover has been interviewed by all the major press and television outlets and Educated was on the bestseller list for many, many weeks.

Tara’s father, Gene Westover is a self-appointed prophet, with a psychotic nature, as well as revolutionary religious beliefs. He traumatizes his family both emotionally and physically. His children are indentured workers for his scrap metal business — and they suffer burns, head injuries, and deep wounds. No medical intervention was allowed, so these dreadful injuries are treated at home with the mother’s homemade collection of herbs, tinctures, and salves. The children and their mother are manipulated and controlled by Gene who demands loyalty at all costs.

On the highway below, the school bus rolls past without stopping. I am only 7, but I understand that it is this fact more than any other that makes my family different. We don’t go to school. Dad worries that the government will force us to go, but it can’t because it doesn’t know about us. Four of my parents’ seven children don’t have birth certificates. We have no medical records because we were born at home and have never seen a doctor or nurse. We have no school records because we’ve never set foot in a classroom.

I kept having to put Educated aside, not because of the writing — no, no — Ms. Westover writes beautifully — but because this book is so very hard. This is no sugar coated story – this is grim reality and I needed many breaks from this mesmerizing but cruel account.

I no longer needed breaks once Tara strikes out on her own and surmounts many, many hurdles — from passing the testing required to get into Brigham Young, to interacting with the outside world. She makes friends, gains mentors and discovers just how much she doesn’t know. This second half of the book tells of her struggle to be ‘educated’ and her pursuits to pass the next course, the next level, the next requirement which takes her eventually to earn a PhD from Cambridge University.

During this time Tara goes back home to try and help her sister in law (married to Tara’s abusive brother) and then again to nurse her father after a horrific burn accident. Each visit leaves her with a new perspective that even this craziest of upbringing was, in her child’s view — normal.

Not knowing for certain, but refusing to give way to those who claim certainty, was a privilege I had never allowed myself. My life was narrated for me by others. Their voices were forceful, emphatic, absolute. It had never occurred to me that my voice might be as strong as theirs.

Having grown up loving school and education, I found the notion of being deprived even the basic education just heartbreaking. I finished Educated feeling wrung out, yet I still must recommend this incredible memoir. Educated is beautifully written, heartrendingly insightful, and uplifting.

So if you think your New Year’s resolutions are insurmountable – read Educated – getting back to the gym will seem like a cake walk.

A digital review copy was kindly provided by Random House via Netgalley.

A Better Man by Louise Penny

A Better Man is the latest installment in Ms. Penny’s bestselling mystery series. If by chance, you’ve been banished in Siberia and aren’t aware of this series, please drop everything and start with her first Still Life – you should read them in order.

Don’t start with this one as you’ll just get confused. A Better Man, uses many references from her previous novels.

It’s Gamache’s first day back as head of the Surete’s homicide department, a job he temporarily shares with his second-in-command, and son-in-law, Jean-Guy Beauvoir. There’s massive flooding in Quebec and the mystery begins when a father reports his daughter missing. Sadly, the daughter is found dead in the flood waters and it becomes clear that she had been abused by her husband and was also pregnant. So, of course the main suspect is this abusive husband…but perhaps not.

Ms. Penny takes us through plot twists and sub plots, scattering suspects as we go along. There are surprising dynamics that lead to the crime(s) committed here — from the psychology of spousal abuse — to the Surete’s highly questionable manipulation of a suspect’s social media account.

I always look forward to the cozy time back in the village of Three Pines, where the characters (and the reader) can gather sustenance from the community. But we only get short respites in the village and its characters. Clara deals with harsh critique of her latest art — all brutally served up via social media. Ruth meddles where she shouldn’t and Myrna has a sweetheart.

I will take a short break here to quote the New York Times on this book:

“a constantly surprising series that deepens and darkens as it evolves”

And there it is – A Better Man (like her previous two installments) is deeper and darker and for this reader that takes some getting used to. 

 Ms. Penny’s still writes beautifully and deftly takes the story in multiple directions, always building the tension.  But it is darker world for Three Pines and our beloved characters. 

Spousal abuse is only part of the dark story — Gamache’s past still haunts him and his career. Social media is used to hurt and maim. Global warming is causing unprecedented flooding. And is Gamache or Jean Guy the better man?

Yes, the series is turning darker, more brooding, but perhaps just more reflective of today’s societal influences. I still maintain that Ms. Penny delivers some of the best mystery writing out there.

And, true to form I found myself furiously caught up in A Better Man with much late night page turning.

Ms. Penny, I’m your biggest fan.

Hopeful Thanksgiving

So a little story to tell.  I was working at the bookstore yesterday and it was slow – being the day before Thanksgiving and all.  When in came Penny (not her real name) and her stalwart mom.  If you don’t remember Penny you can read about her HERE.

It was raining, and Penny had on a bright yellow rain slicker and red polka dot rain boots. She’s grown up since I last wrote about her…her hair is longer and she, of course, is taller – but she still has style.

She’s too old now for the children’s art class next door…she’s in school so I don’t see her as much.  But her mom will occasionally bring her in after school gets out.   Her mother explained that this was a school holiday but Penny insisted on coming in just to talk to me.  Mom escaped to get a coffee and browse books on her own.   I took a break and Penny and I sat down at one of our tables to chat.

Many months ago I had bought Penny a copy of The Secret Garden and gave it to her telling her it was one of my favorite books.  Penny wanted to come in just to tell me she’d just finished it and how much she liked it.  I asked her if it would be alright with her if I wrote up her review of The Secret Garden on my blog – she said yes.  (Of course, Penny knew what a blog was. I was silly to ask.  Even the very young know everything about computers and the internet it seems. Her mom is an occasional BookBarmy follower and said she will show this to her.)

Penny’s Review of The Secret Garden

(I took notes, but this is a bit paraphrased)

It  was a very long book with lots of chapters, but me and my Dad read a bit most every night and then I couldn’t wait, so I ended up reading the rest on my own.  I didn’t like Mary at first because she was mean — Dad said it was because she was spoiled and used to her old home with servants.

But then she got nicer once she found the secret garden.

I really liked the secret garden behind a wall and how Dick (en) helped fix up the garden…and how all the animals love him. I also like when Mary and Dick (en) help the other boy (Colin) learn to walk in the garden and how they surprised everyone when he got out of his wheelchair.  Mary ends up liking her Uncle and starts getting happy.  I just really liked the story.  It was a nicer story than Harry Potter which gets scary sometimes.

Then I asked her what she would say to end her review and she had to think for a bit–

(Penny’s quite serious when it comes to reading)

and she responded ~~ this part is verbatim

I think the book is full of hope.  All through the book I was hoping that the garden grows back.  I hoped that the boy in the wheelchair will walk again and that Mary will be happy.

There you go folks – out of the mouth of a special young girl – it’s all about Hope

Happy Hopeful Thanksgiving

Black Rabbit Hall by Eve Chase

I wanted to read something creepy and Gothic over Halloween and found Black Rabbit Hall, which the publisher sent to me ages ago. 

I know publishers want their advanced readers to actually read the book close to the publication date, but I, alas, tend to read as the mood strikes me — even if it takes three years.  (Sorry G.P. Putnam’s Sons.)

I was sucked in by the blurb – as I am a big fan of Kate Morton

 

For fans of Kate Morton and Sarah Waters, here’s a magnetic debut novel of wrenching family secrets, forbidden love, and heartbreaking loss housed within the grand Gothic manor of Black Rabbit Hall.

Black Rabbit Hall is the Cornish county estate of the Alton family, who come every summer to get away from London. It’s the summer in the late 1960’s and American, Nancy Alton and her wealthy English husband are enjoying the summer with their four children.  Teenager, Amber and her twin brother Toby are especially close and can read each others’ minds. One very happy family, until tragedy strikes.  Soon the four Alton children are trying to find their way in the world after a tragic accident.

Forward in time to 30 years later, and Lorna is looking at wedding venues with her fiance Jon. She has a vague memory of visiting Black Rabbit Hall years ago with her mother. Lorna had read that Black Rabbit Hall was now a bed and breakfast. But, they discover in contrast to it’s glory days, Black Rabbit Hall is now run down and dilapidated. It is occupied by a cantankerous old woman who has secrets and a housekeeper who has lived her whole life in the mansion — setting the stage for this Gothic tale.   Jon tries convince Lorna to forget about this creepy manor home, however, she’s obsessed with both the tragic history of the Alton’s and the feeling that she somehow fits into their story. What is it about Black Rabbit Hall that draws her?

I won’t reveal any more of the plot — no spoilers here.  Just let me say these two crossing story-lines unwind to reveal twisty family secrets, tragic loss, betrayal, and illicit love.

N.B. It seems many of the books I’ve read have alternating voices in alternating times. I should be getting sick of this literary device — but nooo, not yet.

Ms. Chase has created a delicious Gothic tale – a crumbling old mansion filled with the fragments of its past glory, overgrown gardens, clocks that won’t tell the correct time, shadowed woods, dark secrets, ghostly happenings, a wicked stepmother— all adding up to a wonderful debut novel. 

I found myself quickly turning the pages to find what would happen to Amber and Lorna. Black Rabbit Hall is nicely written, with great character development — the greatest character of all being the Hall itself.

Black Rabbit Hall pulled me in and I was totally absorbed.   I had a hard time setting it aside for either the trick or treaters or even later – the temptation of the remaining Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups ~~ a true testament to such a good read.

Since this debut,  Ms. Chase has written two other novels – both now on my TBR list.

A digital advanced readers copy of Black Rabbit Hall was kindly provided by G.P. Putnam’s Sons via NetGalley.