Indiscretion by Charles Dubow

 

Indiscretion by Charles Dubow

 

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Date: July 9,  2013

ISBN:  9780062201065

Pages:   400

Rating:  3 out of 5

 

Book Summary:   Harry and Madeleine Winslow have been blessed with talent, money and charm.  Harry is a National Book Award-winning author.  Madeleine is a woman of sublime beauty and grace.  The Winslows play host to a coterie of close friends and acolytes eager to bask in their golden radiance, whether they are in their bucolic East Hampton cottage, abroad in Rome, or in their comfortable Manhattan brownstone. 

One weekend Harry and Maddy meet Claire, who eagerly falls into their welcoming orbit.  But soon her reverence transforms into a dangerous desire and she no longer remains one of their hangers-on. 

A story of love, lust, deception and betrayal as seen through the omniscient eyes of Maddy’s childhood friend, Walter, a narrator akin to Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby, Indiscretion is an irresistibly sensual page-turner.   

 

My Thoughts:  Personality and behavior has always interested me.   Infidelity, for example: cheating on a significant other, especially a spouse, is one of those behaviors I just don’t “get”.   It makes life messy, unhappy and complicated for the people directly involved and for many who are involved tangentially.  So I was interested in Indiscretion by Charles Dubow because I wondered if the cheater would be taken to task for what he did or if the author, himself a male, would gloss over the behavior.  I also hoped that Charles Dubow would portray the results of a spouse’s cheating.  Often it destroys the lives of the people they supposedly loved.  I still don’t understand cheating and, although Indiscretion is an interesting book and written well-enough to make me angry at times as well as sad, it didn’t provide any more insight or answers for cheating than I had going in.  I expect this is because there aren’t any.  But Dubow does show what can happen to a solid, loving family when one spouse cheats. 

Harry Winslow, a fiction writer, lives what many would consider a charmed life.  He  and his wife Maddy have a strong marriage and love each other like they did the day they were married twenty years ago.  They have a young son, Johnny, whom they fought hard to have.  He is their pride.   Thanks to Maddy, who has supported Harry in all ways, including financially, he’s been able to work at writing for years.  Currently, his first bestselling book was awarded the National Book Award.  When Indiscretion begins, Harry and Maddy are throwing one of their usual summer parties in the Hamptons to celebrate.  Harry is charming, funny, a great host and storyteller.  He appears to only have eyes for his beautiful wife, Maddy who is kind and witty. 

One of the guests at their party, Claire, isn’t that interested in her date, Clive, but wants a weekend in the Hamptons and the chance to meet the author, Harry Winslow.  Claire is in her early 20s and, of course, is “beautiful and alluring”.  She’s just starting out her publishing career so she has very little money.   Claire instantly falls in love with Harry and Maddy’s home and is  smitten with Harry.  She flirts with him then ingratiates herself with Maddy by offering to help in the kitchen.  Claire has found something she likes and wants:  Harry and Maddy’s life.  After some careful and subtle manipulation, she’s suddenly spending every weekend with the Winslows in the Hamptons. 

We soon see a different side of the charming, pleasant Claire, however, when she learns the Winslows are moving to Rome for a year once the summer’s over. Her poise and charm are replaced by a sullenness and anxiety.  She drinks far too much one night and when Harry drives her home, Claire throws herself at him, declaring her love and asking him not to go to Rome.  She beseeches him to run away with her which a flabbergasted Harry declines.  Claire slips away the next morning leaving a contrite note of apology and the Winslows move to Rome. 

From the title of the book, I was sure Dubow wasn’t finished with the saga of Claire and Harry, especially since the book was barely half over.  At this point in the story, I distrusted almost everything Claire said and did, believing it was all designed to serve her ulterior motive: Harry.  But then I stopped myself, wondering if I really thought she alone was to blame for whatever was growing between them.  Very few older men don’t respond to the flirtations of a young, beautiful woman. Given Harry’s personality, I suspect he went right along with Claire’s flirting and went out of his way to charm her with stories from his past and life anecdotes.   

After being in Rome a few months, Harry returns to NYC alone to meet with his publishers.  Unfortunately, the formulary aspect of this book means I expect every reader knows where the story is going.  Harry’s agent takes him to a publishing party where his presence is expected.  I’m sure you can all guess what comes next.  Shocker of shockers: Claire happens to be at the party.   Coincidence?  She’d have Harry think so. Claire seems genuinely surprised to see him.  Harry’s only too happy to see her, confirming suspicions that Harry’s interested.  So when their affair begins, I don’t think either one deserves the lion’s share of the blame.   They both know what’s at stake.  Harry has a responsibility to Maddy and Johnny, of course but Claire knows all about his family and how Harry loves them.   Claire behaves like a “typical mistress”, whining, cajoling, crying, and becoming angry when she’s denied time with him.  She wants to go to fancy, expensive restaurants and on vacations together etc.   As the story progresses, it doesn’t appear as if it’s going to end well.  You’ll have to read it to find out!   

Dubow includes an interesting vehicle in the story that made me question what was really happening with Harry and Claire.  Walter  is a high-powered attorney who never married.  He’s been friends with Maddy Winslow since she was a child.  They went to Yale together and he becomes a great friend to Harry as well.   He lives near the Winslows in Manhattan most of the year.  Summer weekends he spends at his family’s summer house next door to Harry and Maddy.  Suffice to say, Walter knows them well.  Walter becomes the narrator of this story from page 25 to the end.  I think he means well and wants to tell a true story.  He admits “I have tried to be as scrupulous as possible in my telling of it.”  The problem I have with Walter is that he’s in love with Maddy and has been for many years.   

At one point Walter tries to seduce Claire but she turns him down, seeing Walter more like an older brother.  As a result of his feelings for both women, Walter isn’t a reliable narrator.  He also admits that much of the story he tells is second-hand, culled from scribbles on legal pads, recalled memories and other sources that are inherently unreliable.  So it’s almost impossible to know if the story we get is unbiased.  Is it tainted by personal feelings and emotions, and if so, who’s? Harry’s or Walter’s or both depending where in the story we are. This is because much of what Walter tells us comes from a manuscript of Harry’s.  I can’t divulge more without giving away the ending. 

Ultimately, it’s the story of a cheating spouse with a woman who knew his family well but wanted their life to be her own.  And, as with so many tales of indiscretion, it doesn’t end well.  Indiscretion is well written.  I had strong feelings for the characters, and not always positive ones, which is a good thing as it means they were well developed and complex.  However, despite a few surprises, the book was really nothing more than a typical May-December story of cheating populated of beautiful people.  Of course there is the fallout to deal with, but this part of the book didn’t offer much in the way of new insights so if you’re looking for compelling psychological studies, this isn’t the book for you.  

 

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and William Morrow for a paperback copy of Indiscretion.

Stargazey Point by Shelley Noble

 

Stargazey Point by Shelley Noble

Publisher: William Morrow

Published: July 2013

ISBN: 978-0-06-225834-2

Pages: 384

Rating:   3 out of 5 

Book Summary: Once a popular South Carolina family beach resort, Stargazey Point’s beaches have eroded, businesses have closed and skyrocketing taxes are driving the locals away.  Stargazey Point, like Abbie Sinclair, is fighting to survive.

 

Devastated by tragedy, Abbie thinks she has nothing left to give, but slowly she’s drawn into the lives of the people around her, the Crispin siblings, each with their own secret fears.

My Thoughts:  Stargazey Point, set in South Carolina in a once thriving beachside community is a light and sweet, if not somewhat predictable story, ideal for hot summer days.  I was hoping for a story with a lot of southern flavor but was somewhat disappointed. However, there are some wonderful, charming and quirky characters in Stargazey Point that make this book a worthwhile read.   

 Beau, Marnie and Millie Crispin are elderly siblings.  They live together in a huge wood and stucco house with wrap-around porches on several acres of ocean-front property in Stargazey Point.  The Crispin’s home has become a ‘white elephant’ (albatross) for them in their old age.  Upkeep costs, as well as taxes, have forced the Crispins to think about selling, a common enough situation for many elderly.  Beau, Millie and Marnie hoped to leave the property to their niece, Celeste, who is also Abbie’s friend and the woman who sent her to Stargazey Point to convalesce. 

 Millie’s a sweet, thoughtful typical southern lady.  She loves dressing up for dinner, prefers dining on the best china with beautiful glasses and using the silver, treats everybody as a guest, bestowing them with her gracious manners and adores hosting fancy parties.  Millie finds the issue of selling too painful and refuses to think or talk about it.   She won’t let go of the past and voices the hope of recreating and reliving some of her favorite times.  Millie wants to throw an enormous birthday party for Beau’s 80th, for example.  She talks about opening the ballroom which hasn’t been used in years, redecorating it, hiring a string quartet and the best caterers.  Money doesn’t concern Millie: she’s only desperate to bring back the happiest times spent in Crispin House.  

 Beau drives his sister’s nuts but they love him.  He’s happiest whittling away at a piece of wood and always has the supplies he requires to do so bulging out of his pockets.  He knows nothing of Millie’s big plans for his 80^th and wouldn’t care for them.  He’s a calm, quiet man who enjoys his solitude.  He ‘keeps his counsel’ and others feel comfortable and secure in his presence. 

Marnie is the most worldly of the three which shows in her attitude and mannerisms.  She’s observant and understands people.  Having traveled extensively, she knew what Abbie needed when she first arrived at Crispin House.  Marnie’s innate understanding of people often bonds her to others, as it bonded she and Abbie.  Sometimes, though, Marnie’s outspoken way puts people off! 

The Crispin siblings welcome Abbie into their home.  They quickly realize she’s sad, lonely, angry and restless.  They’re unaware of the devastating tragedy Abbie is grieving over.  But she’s unaware of the difficulties and sadness troubling Beau, Millie and Marnie.  Abbie soon realizes something’s amiss in Crispin house as well as in Stargazey Point.  It’s easy to see that the beautiful spot isn’t the glorious place it once was.   It’s possible that Abbie with her background nurturing the less fortunate and creating beauty where there was once despair can help the residents of Stargazey Point resurrect the beautiful beach community it once was.  But first the people of Stargazey Point might have to help Abbie get back on her feet, forgive herself and smile again.  Can this dysfunctional group of scared, flawed characters help and support each other and rebuild a crumbling town?  In this story of love, support and friendship it seems possible.  Life doesn’t always work out for the best but Abbie may discover it’s worth starting over and trying again.

Stargazey Point is a sweet, quirky little novel that’s a quick and light, a little too light for my tastes, generally, but great for the beach or those late sleepless nights.  I also would have loved to have this book in the hospital where it was distracting and difficult to concentrate except when reading about a beautiful place, on the ocean, where people are trying to overcome a myriad of troubles!

 

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and William Morrow Publishers for an ARC of Stargazey Point.

~ ~ Fear in the Sunlight by Nicola Upson ~ ~

 

Fear in the Sunlight by Nicola Upson

Publisher:  Bourbon Street Books

Date:  April 2013

ISBN:  978-0062195432

Pages:  432

Rating:    4.0 out of 5 

Book Summary:    Summer 1936. Mystery writer Josephine Tey joins her friends in the resort village of Portmeirion, Wales, to celebrate her fortieth birthday. Alfred Hitchcock and his wife, Alma Reville, are there to sign a deal to film Josephine’s novel, A Shilling for Candles. But things get out of hand when one of Hollywood’s leading actresses is brutally slashed to death in a cemetery near the village. The following day, as fear and suspicion take over in a setting where nothing—and no one—is quite what it seems, Chief Inspector Archie Penrose becomes increasingly unsatisfied with the way the investigation is ultimately resolved. Several years later, another horrific murder, again linked to a Hitchcock movie, drives Penrose back to the scene of the original crime to uncover the shocking truth. 

My Thoughts:   The title, Fear in the Sunlight, is a reference to a quote by Alfred Hitchcock, a central character in this book.  Hitchcock, writer, director and creator, was always curious about people’s behavior and reactions.  In this novel, Nicola Upson focused on a comment by Hitchcock referring to the fear people experienced in specific conditions.  Hitchcock believed “Fear of the dark is natural, we all have it, but fear in the sunlight…where it is so unexpected – that is interesting.”  Hitchcock sets up the conditions to test his notion while dismissive and uncaring about the troubling effects his “experiment” could have on his ‘subjects’.  Upson appears to have thoroughly researched Alfred Hitchcock and his relationship with his wife for this book to our advantage and enjoyment.  Hitchcock is quite an eccentric and complex character according to Upson’s description.  He has a vulgar sense of humor and a penchant for practical jokes and experimentation involving his crew and the actors and actresses in his movies.  

 His wife, Alma, understands him very well and his assistant director, David Franks seems to, as well, but few others do.  Alma serves partly to explain Hitchcock to people he upsets as well as to smooth the feathers he ruffles. Hitchcock has the capacity to annoy and upset many people, as he does in this story.  Josephine Tey, an author of mysteries, is one of the characters Hitchcock has a big impact on in this book.  She’s turning 40 and, although loathe to be the center of attention, decides to spend the weekend with a group of close friends in the idyllic spot of Portmeirion, Wales where Hitchcock is nterested in basing his next movie on her most recent book.  He’s come with Alma to Portmeirion for the weekend to woo Josephine. 

Josephine is suspicious of Hitchcock and unsure if she wants to grant him permission to her book. She’s well aware that the movie he makes based on her book won’t resemble the mystery she wrote.   This intrigues her because it will keep the spotlight off but she has greater fear that his cinematic product will be far better than her written one.  For a woman who exudes confidence, Josephine is very unsure of herself in most situations and prefers to stand back and observe life rather than join in. But when Alma approaches Josephine to broach the topic of her book and begin negotiations, Josephine is intrigued by the conversation and begins feeling more positive about the prospect of seeing her book on film.

I expected Josephine to be the main character in the story. Although she is one of a few central characters, this book is more about Hitchcock and his personality and character, his films and his impact on the people with which he surrounds himself.  Hitchcock invited a large contingent of actors and actresses and crew members to Portmeirion for the weekend as they’re all working on his next movie. He wants to see how they react to “fear in the sunlight”.  When his prank goes awry and ends abruptly because of two murders and a possible suicide, the idyllic Portmeirion feels like a sinister, foreboding place in the sunlight.  But this wasn’t the way Hitchcock wanted to see how people reacted to “fear in the sunlight”.  Even the murders are over-shadowed somewhat by Hitchcock and his plan to experiment when it’s leaked by his assistant director.  The number of people at Portmeirion for the weekend and the confusion as to where everyone was at the time of the murders makes it nearly impossible for the police to solve the crimes.   

We eventually learn these are only a few of many murders that have been committed over the years.   In the book’s first and last section, Chief Inspector Archie Penrose, incidentally, a long-time friend of Josephine Tey, unravels the complex and confusing  string of murders that have been going on for years reveals who committed the murders and theorizes why.  The connection to Alfred Hitchcock and the guests at Portmeirion that one weekend is tangentental although there is a bit of a connection to Hitchcock’s films.    As I was reading the book, it all seemed to make sense and work but as I write this review, I’ve realized there was a lot going on in this book and it doesn’t always coalesce.   Upson is a terrific writer, creates interesting characters and uses subtle humor and fascinating observations that made this a terrific book. 

Fear in the Sunlight is the fourth book in Nicola Upson’s Josephine Tey mysteries.  I’ve always meant to read the first in the series, An Expert in Murder, and the others but before I had the opportunity to do so, Fear in the Sunlight was offered to me to review from my favorite TLC Book Tours.  I couldn’t say no and I’m glad I didn’t.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  This despite the fact it’s not quite clear what the author wanted to say, unless it’s meant to be a mini-bio/tribute/study of Hitchcock.  I wish the book hadn’t been so “busy” as it was sometimes a bit overwhelming if not hard to follow.  This is perhaps why I wish I’d read this series from the beginning even though Upson does a terrific job making the reader feel as if they haven’t missed out on anything important if they haven’t read the other books in the series. 

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and Bourbon Street Books for the opportunity to read and review Fear in the Sunlight by Nicola Upson.

~ Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline ~

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

Publisher:  William Morrow Paperbacks

Date:  April 2, 2013

ISBN:   978-0061950728

Pages:  304

Rating:  4.0 out of 5 

Book Summary:   Between 1854 and 1929, so-called orphan trains ran regularly from the cities of the East Coast to the farmlands of the Midwest, carrying thousands of abandoned children whose fates would be determined by pure luck. Would they be adopted by a kind and loving family, or would they face a childhood and adolescence of hard labor and servitude?

 

As a young Irish immigrant, Vivian Daly was one such child, sent by rail from New York City to an uncertain future a world away. Returning east later in life, Vivian leads a quiet, peaceful existence on the coast of Maine, the memories of her upbringing rendered a hazy blur. But in her attic, hidden in trunks, are vestiges of a turbulent past.

Seventeen-year-old Molly Ayer knows that a community-service position helping an elderly widow clean out her attic is the only thing keeping her out of juvenile hall. But as Molly helps Vivian sort through her keepsakes and possessions, she discovers that she and Vivian aren’t as different as they appear. A Penobscot Indian who has spent her youth in and out of foster homes, Molly is also an outsider being raised by strangers, and she, too, has unanswered questions about the past.

Moving between contemporary Maine and Depression-era Minnesota, Orphan Train is a powerful tale of upheaval and resilience, second chances, and unexpected friendship. 

My Thoughts:  I have never heard of orphan trains and have no recollection of learning about them when studying early 20th century American history.  This seems so strange to me, as well as sad, considering these were neglected, abandoned children, lonely and alone, in our country.  I just can't imagine being an innocent 10-year old little girl, such as Niamh (pronounced Neev), who is suddenly all alone in a big city like New York, her parents and siblings gone from her life for in an instant  It sounds frightening to me, an adult who lives in the city, and it's simply a heart-breaking story.

 

Niamh is the main character in Orphan Train.  Christina Baker Kline does a wonderful job portraying the physical and emotional hardships experienced by the children who are a part of the orphan train group.  They are deeply connected to one another despite not knowing each other well.  Kline makes it clear through Niamh and the other characters how different the prevailing attitudes were towards homeless, abandoned and orphaned children in the early 20th century in contrast to today.  Niamh and thw other children feel ashamed and humiliated.  They're expected to appreciate anyone who gives them a home and any home they get despite the conditions or the treatment. Niamh's journey from the day she steps on the bus to the day she's married is sad, poignant, heart-warming and fascinating.  It's also similar to the situations many of the other children encounter, although they all have their differences.

 

This book is well worth reading for the period of American history it details.  Kline has written an absorbing account of one little girl's remarkable life.  I'd hoped to learn more about the modern day 'orphan', Molly, who helped Niamh recount her remarkable life.  If we're lucky, maybe Kline will  revisit Molly in another novel.

 

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and William Morrow for the opportunity to read and review Orphan Train.

~ ~ Wife 22 by Melanie Gideon ~ ~

 
Wife 22 by Melanie Gideon 

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Date: February 12, 2013

ISBN: 978-0345527967

Pages: 416

Rating:  4.5 out of 5  

Book Summary:   Alice has been married to her husband, William, for twenty years.  Though she can still remember the first time they met like it was yesterday, these days she finds herself posting things on Facebook that she used to confide to him. So when she’s invited to participate in an anonymous online survey on marriage and love, she finds that all her longings come pouring out as she dutifully answers questions under the name “Wife 22.” 

Evaluating her responses is “Researcher 101,” who seems to listen to her in a way that William hasn’t in a very long time, and before she knows it, she finds herself trying hard not to e-flirt with him. Meanwhile, her elderly father is chatting on Facebook, her fifteen-year-old daughter is tweeting, and everything in her life is turning upside down. 

Wife 22 is a hilariously funny, profoundly moving, and deeply perceptive novel about the ways we live and love in this technological age, from a dazzling new voice in fiction. 

My Thoughts:   I adored the main character, Alice.  She’s sweet, funny, kind and a little nutty.  She’s also going through a difficult time right now.  Her 20^th wedding anniversary is coming up.  Recently, she’s been especially troubled by a growing distance between she and William. They no longer confide in each other, let alone talk about anything deep or personal.  Alice has been busy raising their children, tending the house, being a good mother and a good wife for most of their marriage.  Suddenly, Alice realizes she's been feeling lost, alone, and even a little angry for quite a while.  It doesn’t help she’s about to turn 45, the age her mother was when she died, making Alice even more anxious than usual. What’s more, she has a host of fears and worries about her teenage daughter, Zoe and her 11-year old son, Peter.  Alice worries she’s lost touch completely with Zoe and worries, among other things, this will happen with Peter.  

 Alice is an extremely likeable character who she can also be infuriating.  She’s not without her faults: she spends more time checking Facebook than talking to her children and William.  She runs away from the problems and people she doesn’t want to face and can’t cope with.  She gets carried away with perceived fears she convinces herself are real and is often cold and unsupportive of William.  Alice’s flaws make her real and human.  What Melanie Gideon has done, superbly, is create a character that is easy to relate to and to understand.  I felt this way even when I didn’t agree with Alice’s behavior.  What makes this so amazing is that everyone one of us knows at least one person like Alice.  One doesn’t often find such a fleshed out character in fiction, where stories are often populated by people of extremes. 

Many women will surely see some of themselves in Alice, as well.  Alice’s fears and worries are ones many mother’s share sometimes, if not always.  Because of her inability to confront her fears and deal with her problems, there were times I wanted to throttle Alice.  She escapes into her computer, furthering her disconnection with her children.  And yet these same infuriating dysfunctions make Alice relatable and evoke sympathy, if not empathy.  Ironically, her failure to connect with her family underscores the importance of connecting.  As long as she remains disconnected from those around her, nothing in her life works.  Her disconnection from herself is what ultimately keeps her from realizing this basic truth.  There were plenty of times when I wished I could confront her just to say, “What are you thinking?” or “Stop that!” much as her best friend, Nedra does many times.  Not surprisingly, Alice doesn’t appreciate Nedra’s input.  

Wife 22 is an intelligent and clever book filled with funny, laugh-out-loud and poignant scenes, as well as sad passages, heated moments and great dialogue.  Melanie Gideon understands how disconnected couples, family members and friends can become as time rushes by and days turn into weeks which turn into months and then the years fly by.  Gideon also displays an amazing understanding of people and their instinctual behavior whether they're 12 or 40, male or female as shown through a fascinating cast of characters. Peter, Alice's son, for example, is great character. He is sweet, funny, silly and a little quirky. Clearly he is his mother’s son and as such, loves and understands his mom very well.   Zoe, on the other hand seems very true to life as she's instantly recognizable by any parent of a teenager: a girl who needs her privacy and is almost perpetually crabby.  They, like many of the other characters creatted by Gideon round out this book and make the terrific reading experience it is.

 I read this book last month thanks to Andrea at Great Thoughts and meant to review it much sooner, following a great Twitter book club meeting attended by Melanie Gideon, who added some great thoughts and ideas to our discussion.  But, as tends to happen, life got in the way and illness and health problems have prevented me from blogging regularly (but not from reading, haha!).  Something I suspect Alice would understand or, at least, sympathize with my inability to get on-line!  But Wife 22 stayed with me all this time.  I found it easy to recall the story and Alice, her family and friends because the story is so relatable and current.  I highly recommend this book to all anyone who enjoys great books about real characters and, especially women whether you're a mother, daughter, friend or all three.  Oh, and when you read this book, I expect you'll never think of a Hostess snack cake quite the same way ever again!    

~ ~ The New Republic by Lionel Shriver ~ ~

 

The New Republic by Lionel Shriver

Publisher:  Harper Perennial

Date:   April 2, 2013 (Reprint edition)

ISBN:  978-0062103321

Pages:  416

Rating:   3.5 out of 5 

Book Summary:    Edgar Kellogg has always yearned to be popular. When he leaves his lucrative law career for a foreign correspondent post in a Portuguese backwater with a homegrown terrorist movement, Edgar recognizes Barrington Saddler, the disappeared reporter he’s replacing, as the larger-than-life character he longs to emulate. Yet all is not as it appears. Os Soldados Ousados de Barba—”The Daring Soldiers of Barba” —have been blowing up the rest of the world for years in order to win independence for a province so dismal and backward that you couldn’t give the rathole away. So why, with Barrington vanished, do incidents claimed by the “SOB” suddenly dry up? A droll, playful novel, The New Republic addresses terrorism with a deft, tongue-in-cheek touch while also pressing a more intimate question: What makes particular people so magnetic, while the rest of us inspire a shrug?

 

My Thoughts:  Lionel Shriver has been on my list of authors who I’ve wanted to read for far too long.  So, as is often the case, when TLC Book Tours provided me the opportunity to review Shriver’s most recent novel, The New Republic, I happily signed up.  I didn’t enjoy The New Republic but I thought it was an interesting and well-written book. It’s about a few things: journalists and the lengths they’ll go to for a front-page story; terrorism and how it pervades every continent and country; politics and the means some activist groups use to make themselves heard; how people – especially journalists – fill the time while waiting for something to happen but mostly, this book is about the main character, Edgar Kellogg. 

The protagonist, Edgar Kellogg, is 37 years old and recently quit his lucrative career as a corporate lawyer to be a journalist.  He isn’t a very likable character, tending to be snide, arrogant and cynical as well as insecure. He wasn’t popular as a corporate lawyer (who is?) and he’s decided to pursue a career in journalism.  He believes it’ll get him a lot of love especially since Toby Falconer, the BMOC from high school, whom Edgar adored and was obsessed with, is a journalist. Edgar hasn’t spoken to Toby for 20 years but he’s followed Toby’s byline in the paper. He has no qualms about calling Toby for a connection at his paper, the “National Record” because Edgar’s that self-absorbed.  He’s sure Toby has amassed friends in every port from traveling around the world writing articles. That’s what Edgar has always wanted most: popularity.  He’s only managed, so far, to be the follower.  The adorer and not the adored.  Part of Edgar’s problem is he gets bored easily and doesn’t like most people, but he’s convinced being a journalist will give him the life he wants. 

Edgar’s dreams of a glamorous life as a journalist are shattered before he even gets on the plane.  His interview with the “National Record” and his subsequent drink with Toby make it clear there’s not much glamour in journalism. Guy Wallasek, editor of the “National Record”, calls journalists “parasites” and “histories secretaries”.  He also warns Edgar that journalists don’t have an opinion of their own - they simply report what happens, and more often than not it’s something depressing or outright morbid. Most of the time, journalists are just waiting around, “chewing at the bit” for a story to write. Shriver shares this in the second chapter, shortly after two quotes that open the book, one from Conrad Black, the other from George Orwell, that criticize journalists.  As the book continues, we meet plenty of journalists and nothing they say or do puts them in a good light.  One thing’s for certain: there’s nothing glamorous about where Edgar’s been assigned by the “National Record”.  Barba, the very bottom of Portugal, is excessively windy, boring and covered with prickly pears.  But the journalists camped out there are happy to remain so long as the SOB continue to explode bombs around the world, giving them fodder.  Maybe this is why Shriver doesn’t like journalists.  In The New Republic, their moral center, if it exists at all, is badly skewed. 

When Edgar arrives on Barba and hears more about the missing Barrington Saddler, try as he might, Edgar cannot ignore all the talk.  He’s intrigued but also jealous. After all, Saddler is larger than life, adored by one and all. Edgar has basically assumed Barrington’s life. He lives in Barrington’s very large and ostentatious house, eating and drinking his gourmet sundries, driving Barrington’s SUV and even wearing some of his luxurious clothes. It was easy to see where this story was going, at least part of it. Despite himself, Edgar is smitten with Barrington (a man he’s never met) and emulates him.  Soon, Edgar conjures up a Barrington apparition to keep him company at night and to discuss the SOB terrorists and related topics. Living in Barrington’s home, using his computer and extensive notes on the SOB and Barba’s history, Edgar discovers a frightening and glorious secret.  To divulge anymore would be to spoil the book.  Once I was over the shock I found the rest The New Republic inconsistent. 

Shriver makes it abundantly clear she thinks little of journalists.  She succeeds in making them appear to be a pack of hungry, groveling dogs willing to do just about anything to get their byline in the paper.  This includes manufacturing witnesses to interview and hoping and praying for terrorists to set off a bomb somewhere, anywhere.  But with Edgar and Barrington the story delves into fantasy when Shriver  goes too far to prove her point.  While skewing journalists, Shriver also slams the notion of “boys will be boys” using terrorist bombings as a game of sorts making people’s fears seem inconsequential.  Maybe it’s me, but I don’t think terrorism and bombings are humorous or a topic for satire, not to this degree anyway. The ending is extremely unsatisfying, almost aggravating, in this light.  Some may find it amusing but, ultimately I thought there should have been consequences for Edgar as well as Barrington’s behavior.  But, if the ending is more realistic than I could imagine, meaning Shriver knows a lot more than I can even fathom, it makes the ending something to inspire outrage.  If this is the case, no wonder Shriver skewers journalists.  I think The New Republic is worth reading to decide for yourself what you think about Shriver’s themes and ideas.  And, although I didn’t like this book, it’s made me even more interested in reading Lionel Shriver’s other novels. 

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and Harper Perennial for the opportunity to read and review The New Republic.

Review: Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear

Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear

Publisher:  Penguin Books
Date: May 25, 2004 (Reprint)
ISBN: 978-0142004333
Pages: 294
rating: 4.5 out of 5

Book Summary:  Maisie Dobbs, Psychologist and Investigator, began her working life at the age of thirteen as a servant in a Belgravia mansion, only to be discovered reading in the library by her employer, Lady Rowan Compton. Fearing dismissal, Maisie is shocked when she discovers that her thirst for education is to be supported by Lady Rowan and a family friend, Dr. Maurice Blanche. But The Great War intervenes in Maisie’s plans, and soon after commencement of her studies at Girton College, Cambridge, Maisie enlists for nursing service overseas. Years later, in 1929, having apprenticed to the renowned Maurice Blanche, a man revered for his work with Scotland Yard, Maisie sets up her own business. Her first assignment, a seemingly tedious inquiry involving a case of suspected infidelity, takes her not only on the trail of a killer, but back to the war she had tried so hard to forget.

My Thoughts:  The Maisie Dobbs series caught my eye when the books first began appearing on reader's blogs sometime last year.  I guess I'm an Anglophile since I'm a big fan of most British culture and literature and also enjoy some of the British TV series. I also like the literary mystery genre, as well as thrillers, books about criminal investigations and detective fiction.  (That said, there's quite a bit I don't like in those same genres but that's for another day!).  So, when Trish, from my favorite book site, TLC Book Tours, emailed me about an upcoming tour highlighting Jacqueline Winspear's new Maisie Dobb's book, Leaving Everything Most Loved, as well as a month-long celebration of the rest of the Maisie Dobbs series, I was ecstatic. Choosing which books I wanted to read, (all of them! But I knew I couldn't read all of them in one month and actually enjoy them). took me some time.  I chose the first book in the series, Maisie Dobbs, to learn who Maisie is and what the series is about, and a more recent book, A Lesson in Secrets, because I  liked the plot and I loved the cover (not the best reason for choosing a book but I've done it before and it's worked for me!) .

When I began reading Maisie Dobbs, I honestly, didn't like it. This book was very different from what I expected.  It was intense, dense and laden with descriptions of everything from people's behavior to decor, both rooms and people, to the view out a window. But now that I've finished it, I feel foolish for having put any expectations on the story when I began reading it.  I really enjoyed this book.   Maisie Dobbs was very different from any other mysteries or criminal investigation stories I've read.  The more I read, the more I enjoyed Maisie's story particularly the character of Maisie.  JacquelingeWinspear creates terrific characters reminiscent of real human beings.  Maisie's father, Frankie, for instance, is a dear older man and a father any woman would love to have.  He adores his daughter and would do anything for her.  I sympathized with him completely and cannot imagine any parent not empathizing with Frankie over the decisions he has to make.  It's obvious Winspear understands people and the behavior of human beings.  She shows an awareness for how complex humans are and makes it clear that what you first see and experience of a person isn't all of which they are composed.  Humans have many underlying layers of personality with both good traits and faults.  I wondered while reading Maisie Dobbs, if Winspear wasn't an author might she be a psychologist or counselor of human beings? It wouldn't surprise me!

 Maisie displays these similar traits of understanding human behavior.  She's aware that there's much more to a person than meets the eye.  Maisie is opening her own  "P.I." business as this story unfolds.  It becomes clear early on (Chapter One) that Maisie is much more that your basic PI as she and her patron (and former employer), Lady Rowton try to figure out what Maisie should name her business.  As the narrative progresses it becomes clear that Maisie has quite a knack for analyzing people' s behavior.  Maisie's behavior, both physical and mental, is described in the utmost detail by Winspear throughout the book.  At first, I wasn't sure why this.  When I focused on the narrative and paid attention, I realized that Maisie's has a knack for understanding how and what people arte feeling, even when they themselves aren't sure.  I was thrilled when i realized Maisie's 'talent' and the situation, especially since one of my few, favorite TV shows is Criminal Minds which concentrates on the cases worked on by attorneys in the FBS's Behavioral Analysis Unit.

Maisie's understanding of people isn't the only reason to like her or to enjoy this book.  Maisie is a serious young woman but she has a great sense of humor and it's worth it to get her laughing. Maisie's from a working-class family.  A sad and debilitating tragedy enables Maisie to begin working for Lady Rowan Compton.  This changes Maisie's life in remarkable ways. But had Maisie not been intelligent, clever and talented, she wouldn't be opening her own business in the Spring of 1929. 

Maisie is sincere, hardworking, kind and very interested in other people.  It's her character that drew me into Winspear's first novel and hooked me on the series. Winspear fashioned an unique character in Maisie but, even more so, an amazing investigator, unlike any other.  Maisie is more interested in her clients and her victims more than any other detecive or investigator I've encountered and learns as much as she can about them.  This is one of the few places I found fault with Winspear's books.  Maisie has more energy and time than everyone else.  Although Winspear writes of Maisie retiring at night, she accomplished more in daylight hours tahn anyone. She's a super-woman.  So far that seems to be her only fault!

I highly recommend Maisie Dobbs to anyone interested in mysteries and criminal investigations as well as British fiction.  I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.  I will be posting my review of A Lesson in Secrets on Monday, March 24, 2013so long as it fits with TLC Book Tours schedule.  Trish, I apologize to you for posting my reviews on dates other than we discussed.  I hope this is okay.

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and Penguin Books for the opportunity to read and review Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear.