All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Blurb

For Marie-Laure, blind since the age of six, the world is full of mazes. The miniature of a Paris neighbourhood, made by her father to teach her the way home. The microscopic layers within the invaluable diamond that her father guards in the Museum of Natural History. The walled city by the sea, where father and daughter take refuge when the Nazis invade Paris. And a future which draws her ever closer to Werner, a German orphan, destined to labour in the mines until a broken radio fills his life with possibility and brings him to the notice of the Hitler Youth.

In this magnificent, deeply moving novel, the stories of
Marie-Laure and Werner illuminate the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another.

My Perspective

This is the first book I read from my post Credit Where Credit’s Due – Part 2. I read about All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr from Cely at Running Off The Reese’s. You can read her thoughts on the book here.

All The Light We Cannot See follows the stories of both Marie-Laure, a blind French girl, and Werner, a German orphan, from the beginning of WWII to the end, and where and how their paths meet in between.

I love novels like this, where there are two different people with their two different story lines and as their tales unfold you can feel those story lines growing ever closer, ever closer until they are bound to intertwine.

Marie-Laure was easy to like and really how could you not root for her? Even though she became blind, she didn’t let that stop her, still enjoying the fullness that life had to offer, constantly learning and exploring. I adored her Dad, the love and life he poured into her was beautiful. And Madame Manec and Uncle Etienne were equally likeable with their quirks, fierce love and loyalty. Werner was extremely likeable and again, you couldn’t help but root for him, this extremely clever orphan who was working so hard to look after those he cared about whilst still trying to stay true to himself. I admired his sister however I found her attitude hard because although I understood where she was coming from, life is not so black and white. Frau Elena, Frederick, and Volkheimer were all likeable characters that you wanted the best for.

This novel really takes you out of your comfort zone, and before you realise it, you’re torn because of the challenges that the characters face – that they are not necessarily solved by either being right or wrong. War is so conflicting and creates so many broken people. Really this story just dives under the surface of what war does however it’s enough to punch you in the gut and forever leave a mark.

The writing was intricate and creative, all five senses were immersed. It flowed well and was a steady pace.

Novels written in this style are becoming the vogue thing however I find a lot of them overdo it or aren’t very well written. This one isn’t like that at all, it’s what all those other novels are trying to be like.

Without spoiling the ending, I’ll just write this; Neville Chamberlain Quotes, “In war, whichever side may call itself the victor, there are no winners, but all are losers.”

I would definitely recommend this book if you like historical fiction, especially if it’s centered around WWII. It’s not an easy, escapist read however it’s so well written and life-changing.

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The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress by Ariel Lawhon

Blurb

One summer night in 1930, Judge Joseph Crater steps into a New York City cab and is never heard from again. Behind this great man are three women, each with her own tale to tell: Stella, his fashionable wife, the picture of propriety; Maria, their steadfast maid, indebted to the judge; and Ritzi, his showgirl mistress, willing to seize any chance to break out of the chorus line.

As the twisted truth emerges, Ariel Lawhon’s wickedly entertaining debut mystery transports us into the smoky jazz clubs, the seedy backstage dressing rooms, and the shadowy streets beneath the Art Deco skyline.

My Perspective

This is the twenty-third book I read from my post Credit Where Credit’s Due. I read about The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress by Ariel Lawhon from Ionia at Readful Things Blog. You can read her thoughts on the book here.

The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress is a fictional story of what really happened to Judge Crater, who disappeared without a trace in 1930. It is from the point of view of the three women who would have known him the most; his wife, his maid and his mistress (as the title suggests).

I didn’t actually know that this story was based on true events, that Judge Crater was a real person who did disappear without a trace. I think I would have had a different mindset while reading it if I had known that.

The story was well written and interesting. It held my attention and the story unfolded at a steady pace.

The three women were all likeable and easy to root for. I did find Stella a bit aggravating at times though. Judge Crater and Owney Madden were extremely unlikeable characters.

I was a little bit disillusioned with the outcome of the story. I felt it fell a bit flat at the end and I was surprised at how obvious everything was both throughout the story as well as how it ended. I was expecting there to be more mystery and it to be a lot less predictable. It’s a bit of a shame because it would have been exceptional had this not let it down.

Overall it was an entertaining read that I would recommend to those who like murder mysteries, however it’s definitely not up there with the Agatha Christie novels.

The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro

Blurb

One letter will turn newly-married Grace Munroe’s life upside down: ‘Our firm is handling the estate of the deceased Mrs Eva D’Orsey and it is our duty to inform you that you are named as the chief beneficiary in her will.’ So begins a journey which leads Grace through the streets of Paris and into the seductive world of perfumers and their muses. An abandoned perfume shop on the Left Bank will lead her to unravel the heartbreaking story of her mysterious benefactor, an extraordinary woman who bewitched high society in 1920s New York and Paris.

My Perspective

This is the twenty-second book I read from my post Credit Where Credit’s Due. I read about The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro from Ionia at Readful Things Blog. You can read her thoughts on the book here.

The Perfume Collector is about Grace, a young newlywed living in London, England in the 1950s and how she finds herself the sole beneficiary of a deceased Parisian woman’s estate of whom she’d never met. She decides to stay in Paris awhile to find out who this lady really was however the more she learns, the more she finds there is to untangle.

I love a good mystery and although this one was rather predictable, the telling of the tale with all its intricate details was highly enjoyable.

Grace was a fairly easy character to like. There were moments where I found her frustrating however considering the upheaval happening in her life, it would be unrealistic if she didn’t have moments of weakness and unwise decision making. I didn’t find it easy to like Eva however I found it hard not to admire her. She had it tough, her life was far from easy and she kept fighting all the way. Monsieur Tissot was a dream! Probably too unrealistic

The story was rich in detail and description, with fascinating settings, delicious food and overall beauty and depth. It was hard not to be immersed.

There were some slight sexual references in the book (including rape) however as a said, it is very slight so enough to make me uncomfortable and to mention it however not enough to warrant me feeling the need to stop reading the book.

It was well written, interesting and kept you turning the pages. I would definitely recommend this book if you like historical fiction.

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas Pere

Blurb

This swashbuckling epic of chivalry, honor, and derring-do, set in France during the 1620s, is richly populated with romantic heroes, unattainable heroines, kings, queens, cavaliers, and criminals in a whirl of adventure, espionage, conspiracy, murder, vengeance, love, scandal, and suspense. Dumas transforms minor historical figures into larger- than-life characters: the Comte d’Artagnan, an impetuous young man in pursuit of glory; the beguilingly evil seductress “Milady”; the powerful and devious Cardinal Richelieu; the weak King Louis XIII and his unhappy queen—and, of course, the three musketeers themselves, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, whose motto “all for one, one for all” has come to epitomize devoted friendship. With a plot that delivers stolen diamonds, masked balls, purloined letters, and, of course, great bouts of swordplay, The Three Musketeers is eternally entertaining.

My Perspective

The Three Musketeers follows d’Artagnan, a young Frenchman, as he journeys to Paris to join the King’s Musketeers. He soon becomes firm friends with three of the King’s Musketeers whilst entangling himself in the political war between the King, the Cardinal and the Queen.

I really enjoyed this book.

It was fairly slow to start off with and the language took a bit of getting used to however once d’Artagnan was in Paris, it started to flow a lot more smoothly.

Although young and a bit foolhardy, d’Artagnan is easy to like. His companions, Athos, Porthos and Aramis are extremely likeable and the more you read, the more you feel a part of their friendship group. They are both honourable and courageous as well as arrogant and pleasure seekers. I pitied the Queen, thought the King was spineless, and the Cardinal both cruel and intriguing. I absolutely loathed and abhorred Milady. I wondered what on earth happened to her to create such a monster of a person.

The story was long and fairly detailed and although it had a steady pace, most of the time it had me hardly able to put it down. It was quite complex due to its political nature and there were times that I got a bit lost however it was so interesting that I didn’t mind that at all. It had action, some romance, intrigue and drama – all what make a great novel.

I enjoyed the way in which it was written, it was fairly unique with the author’s tidbits throughout.

Overall I really enjoyed the story and I would definitely recommend it if you like historical fiction.

 

A Punctual Paymaster by Dan Groat

Blurb

A TOWN DIVIDED BY RACE IS HIDING A MIRACLE AMONG ITS SECRETS

Travel seventy years through the secrets of the white Thanos family and the black Taylor family, twisted like strands of yarn woven together on a loom. The wealthy, powerful Nikkos Thanos owns a woolen mill and almost everything else on the north side of Delphi, Missouri, and is the overseer of a fractured society. The brave, judicious Thaddeus “Cousin” Taylor owns a grocery store and a tavern on the south side and carries a past hauntingly shrouded in tragedy. Each man tries to shepherd his part of town through the turmoil of racism, the depression, and war. With the passage of time, those caretaker roles are filled by Evangelina, Nikkos’ beautiful and strong-willed daughter, and T.J., the grandson who worshipped Cousin. Forty-five years after high school, two friends, Ab and Grady, return for the funeral of their mentor, T.J., and walk into the middle of a mystery. They unweave the black and white threads that are the town’s concealed, troubled past, revealing an extraordinary tapestry of life and death, revenge and triumph.

My Perspective

I downloaded this eBook for free on Amazon awhile back.

The story follows the history of two families, the Thanos family and the Taylor family. The Thanos family are white and live on the north side of town, a town that has basically been built by Nikkos, the father of the Thanos family. The Taylor family are black and live on the south side of town and Cousin, the father of the Taylor family, is basically the unofficial leader of the south side. The story is set from 1939 through to 2010 and spans around three generations of the families. It deeply explores the racial tension between whites and blacks in America through a story filled with mystery, intrigue, sadness and redemption.

I had really high hopes for this book because the premise sounded so interesting however i felt it fell a bit flat. It started out really strong and then got a bit lost on the way.

The characters were really interesting however some of them could have been developed a lot more. Even though some of them had a lot of “air time”, i still felt like i barely knew them.

Most of the book was slow paced with a lot of content, the kind of book that doesn’t have you turning the pages as fast as you can, more the kind of book that you slowly digest and can even put down for awhile to process before picking it back up again. The pace wasn’t very consistent though, with big jumps in time and disconnect between chapters where you weren’t really sure what was going on.

I wasn’t sure whether the mystery of the story was meant to be obvious to the reader or not, because i found it was a bit predictable. If that was the intention of the author then it worked well because you wondered whether the characters would be able to figure it out or not and how the story would end – them living the rest of their lives never knowing or them being fully aware of their history and moving forward from it.

Overall it was a good story with a lot of depth and richness however I think it could have benefited from a lot more editing. I would probably still recommend it, especially if you like historical fiction, in particular novels about the racial tension in the USA.

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Blurb

It is 1945 and Barcelona is enduring the long aftermath of civil war when Daniel Sempere’s bookseller father decides his son is old enough to visit the secret Cemetery of Forgotten Books. There Daniel must ‘adopt’ a single book, promising to care for it and keep it alive always. His choice falls on The Shadow of the Wind.

Bewitched, he embarks on an epic quest to find the truth about Julian Carax, the book’s mysterious author. Soon Daniel is consumed by strange discoveries about love and obsession, art and life, and how they become entangled within the shadow world of books.

My Perspective

The Shadow of the Wind is about how Daniel as a ten year old boy, is taken to The Cemetery of Forgotten Books by his Father and where he finds a novel by Julian Carax, The Shadow of the Wind. He soon discovers that the book is quite sought after, especially by a faceless man who smells of burnt paper. As a young man, he decides to find out more about Julian Carax however the more he digs, the deeper the mystery and the more trouble he finds himself in.

This book was recommended by one of my customers.

The story was really quite fascinating and unusual. It was written quite differently too – it didn’t flow smoothly, it was quite stilted. However I found this really worked in with the theme and mood of the book, which was a bit dark and mysterious.

I liked Daniel. He was slightly frustrating at times however he was young and naive. The other characters were well written and rich in depth.

The story really made you want to discover Barcelona. There were some great descriptions throughout and a lot of the writing was rich and colourful.

The book had plenty of mystery and intrigue however there were some parts where I was slightly confused. I also predicted some of the major mysteries, which I was slightly disappointed that I saw them coming. There was a lot of others that I didn’t though so it did keep me on my toes.

The book was really interesting and kept me turning the pages.

I would definitely recommend this book if you like historical fiction with a gothic feel to it.

The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

Blurb

1961: On a sweltering summer’s day, while her family picnics by the stream on their Suffolk farm, sixteen-year-old Laurel hides out in her childhood tree house dreaming of a boy called Billy, a move to London, and the bright future she can’t wait to seize. But before the idyllic afternoon is over, Laurel will have witnessed a shocking crime that changes everything.

2011: Now a much-loved actress, Laurel finds herself overwhelmed by shades of the past. Haunted by memories, and the mystery of what she saw that day, she returns to her family home and begins to piece together a secret history. A tale of three strangers from vastly different worlds – Dorothy, Vivien and Jimmy – who are brought together by chance in wartime London and whose lives become fiercely and fatefully entwined.

My Perspective

The Secret Keeper is mainly about Dorothy “Dolly” Smitham’s life and how nearing the end of it, Dolly’s eldest daughter Laurel, starts digging into the past to find out her mother’s secrets of the life she led before she was married – specifically how the event Laurel witnessed as a teenager came to be.

The Secret Keeper was written in true Kate Morton style – a complex family saga spanning over a couple of generations with plenty of drama, mystery and twists and turns.

I really did not like Dolly. More so from before she was married than after. She was so selfish and so self absorbed. It took so much tragedy for her to realise how much she truly had. I really liked Laurel. I felt like you couldn’t help but be drawn to her. Jimmy was such a sweetheart with such a good heart and I really hated the way Dolly treated him and that he let her! Vivien was such an interesting character with many layers and I couldn’t help but like her.

The story was quite long and about half way through I thought it was about to come to a head and the story was going to be finished. Obviously it didn’t and instead there was a bit of a dead spot and I couldn’t fathom that there was still a whole other half to the story. However it did pick up again and after a bit even more pieces to the puzzle became clear.

There were so many twists and turns in the book that quite a few times I felt a bit lost. It was very interesting though and really kept me guessing. I was able to figure out a few of the minor mysteries however the major one had me completely fooled until the very end. It’s such an in depth book that really once you’ve finished reading it, you need to start at the very beginning and read it all over again and you’d probably still miss some things!

Overall I quite enjoyed the story and I found it hard to put down. I wish I could have loved the story however as I didn’t like Dolly’s character, that put a blemish on it for me. I would definitely recommend if you like a dramatic family saga.

Where The Heart Is by Annie Groves

Blurb

The country is going forward together – but will the Campions?

Three years into the war and the country is facing its darkest days. Victory has never seemed so far away. The changes that war has brought are affecting everyone, not least the Campion family.

Eldest son Luke is fighting on the African Front. Emily is harbouring romantic thoughts about Wilhelm, the German POW. Bella still pines for her forbidden love. The war effort has steered twins Lou and Sasha on different paths, but has it driven a wedge between them?

The Campions, along with the rest of the nation, must face their fears and endure their darkest hour. All of their tomorrows depend on it.

My Perspective

This is the twelfth and last (finally!) book i chose to read from my post Third Lot – And It’s A Lot

Where The Heart is follows the Campion family three years into WWII and how it is affecting each one of them including cousin Bella, ex-billetee Katie, aunt Francine, Con and Emily.

Although it was a bit soppy in places, I really enjoyed reading this book. It was interesting and well written and the many storylines of each person kept you on your toes. As I’ve mentioned before, I really like books with multiple main characters.

I liked most of the characters except I was annoyed at both Luke and Sasha for their attitudes – especially Sasha. She seemed like a selfish brat.

There were many love stories throughout, which at times I found myself rolling my eyes at. The way the men were portrayed was a bit…I’m not sure how to describe it. Over the top? Overall though it wasn’t too bad.

Overall I enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend it to those who like romance and/or historical fiction.

NOTE: I didn’t realise that this book was the fourth in a series so it probably would have been better to start at the beginning! However I still enjoyed it and wasn’t really confused by anything so I suppose you could read it as a stand alone book.

How To Be An American Housewife by Margaret Dilloway

Blurb

A mother-daughter story about the strong pull of tradition, and the lure and cost of breaking free of it.

When Shoko decided to marry an American GI and leave Japan, she had her parents’ blessing, her brother’s scorn, and a gift from her husband-a book on how to be a proper American housewife.

As she crossed the ocean to America, Shoko also brought with her a secret she would need to keep her entire life…

Half a century later, Shoko’s plans to finally return to Japan and reconcile with her brother are derailed by illness. In her place, she sends her grown American daughter, Sue, a divorced single mother whose own life isn’t what she hoped for. As Sue takes in Japan, with all its beauty and contradictions, she discovers another side to her mother and returns to America unexpectedly changed and irrevocably touched.

My Perspective

This is the eighth book I read from my post Credit Where Credit’s Due. I read about How To Be An American Housewife by Margaret Dilloway from Ionia at Readful Things Blog. You can read her thoughts on the book here.

How To Be An American Housewife is the intertwined stories of Shoko and her daughter Sue. Shoko, a native Japanese, marries Charlie, a medical officer in the navy, while he is stationed in Japan. Her story is not just about her childhood but also the state in which she leaves her family in Japan and how she tries to assimilate into American culture. Sue’s story is the result of the assimilation and how it affected her growing up and throughout the rest of her life.

This book was interesting and reads like a memoir. It almost felt like a non fiction at the beginning when it was just Shoko’s story compared to the last part of the book, which felt a little bit unbelievable.

I found it hard to connect with Shoko, more so as an adult than as a child. I still liked her though. I really liked Sue.

It was interesting to read about the two different cultures and how America seemed like such a step up from Japan (when really I don’t think it is).

Interspersed throughout are snippets of guidance, which come from the manual “How To Be An American Housewife”. This confused me as it’s the same title as the book. I assumed then that the snippets were from the original book, which was an actual guide, and this was a story of a Japanese woman who actually lived it out. However at the end I read that it was fictional and the author had made it up! Although i found it confusing at the beginning, it was quite a clever way to incorporate certain cultural information and differences.

Overall it was an interesting and informative read that gave insight into the two different cultures. It was steady paced and although it wasn’t gripping, kept you curious. A nice gentle read that I would recommend to those who like memoirs or historical fiction.

The Reluctant Widow by Georgette Heyer

Blurb

Stepping into the wrong carriage at a Sussex village, Elinor Rochdale is swept up in a thrilling and dangerous adventure. Overnight the would-be governess becomes mistress of a ruined estate and partner in a secret conspiracy to save a family’s name. By midnight she is a bride, by dawn a widow . . .

My Perspective

This is the second book i chose to read from my post Third Lot – And It’s A Lot

The Reluctant Widow is about Elinor Rochdale, a governess who gets in the wrong carriage and ends up marrying a man on his deathbed to prevent the man’s estate from being passed on. However soon her and the rest of the family realise that he may have been involved in a lot more than was thought. And Elinor is becoming more and more worried about her choice in marrying him.

The story was set in the Regency era and so had the feel of a Jane Austen novel. It was quite lengthy and wordy however I really enjoyed it and didn’t find my interest waned at all.

Elinor was easy to like, albeit being a bit tiresome occasionally, however for the era, she was quite witty and sensible. I really liked Lord Carlyon and his brothers – Nicky was a very loveable character. Really, the whole cast was excellently written and you got a feel for exactly what kind of person each of them were.

The book isn’t fast paced however there are a lot of incidents that happen throughout. I was surprised to realise after I had finished the book that only a week had passed in the timeline of the story! The book feels like it was a much bigger chunk of the character’s lives.

The story isn’t realistic or believable however I don’t really think it’s meant to be. It’s a light, enjoyable story that keeps you happily engaged.

Overall I really enjoyed it and I would definitely recommend it those who are looking for a light period fiction.