THESE IS MY WORDS

NANCY E. TURNER

Five Stars

Offered through the device of a diary comes this roller coaster of a story, which is in turn joyful and harrowing, romantic and devastating. 

The opening chapters of the novel are a relentless barrage of horrific action. The trials of life on a wagon train are laid out in all of their brutality; the death of a sibling is followed by the death of a father and the rape of a friend; corpses are found, children are murdered, limbs are amputated, and there is no anesthetic for either the characters or the reader. Thank goodness the seeds of a beautiful love story were being sown. Thank goodness for a fierce protagonist whose thirst for knowledge is as great as her bravery. Thank goodness for humor, new born babies, and an entire cast of complex characters to fall in love with.

I enjoyed the subtle transition in the narrative style as Sarah's knowledge increased. I liked the honesty that was poured onto the pages and the tender moments depicted between mother and daughter, sister and sister-in-law, husband and wife. I love that even weeks after reading the book I'm still thinking about it, still devastated by it, and still completely in love with it.

THE REMAINS OF THE DAY

KAZUO ISHIGURO

Four Stars

I found this novel tedious at first, but as I continued reading I found that rather than being slow, the novel is quiet and subtle and therein lies its strength.

The narrative, delivered through the point of view of Mr Stevens, is polite and dignified to the point of absurdity; I certainly felt the frustration of Miss Kenton when she demanded, 'Why, why, why do you always have to pretend?' As memories are recounted in a manner completely void of emotion the reader is left to infer all that the butler has sacrificed personally, the depth of his self deception, and the extent of his misplaced trust.

Beautifully written and thought provoking as the reader is faced with the possibility that ideals can prove as destructive as apathy and cynicism.

THE SEANCE

JOHN HARWOOD

Three Stars for this one:


I really can't decide what I think of book.

The author utilizes the conventions of the Victorian gothic novel- ghostly apparitions, haunted woods, the decaying manor, mesmerism, and the question of an impossible murder. All of the ingredients for a gripping story are there, yet the narrative's lack of momentum keeps the book strictly in the 'good' category. Whilst rambling, overly detailed accounts are to be expected from a Victorian pastiche, the narrative is at other times overly abrupt- a jarring combination.

On the up-side, Harwood provides two female protagonists to root for. Their narratives are engaging, their similarities add interest, and their search for identity, in a world where insanity and nonconformity are one an the same, adds, perhaps, the most abosrbing dimension to the labyrinth tale.

A good story? Yes. A great story? No