Just a week ago I had the privilege of listening to Connie Willis speak about the books she loves. Although I had read her last two, Blackout and All Clear, I felt moved to sample some more of her work. Lincoln's Dream's by Connie Willis is an amazing book! Although we have all come to know Willis as a Science Fiction writer this book doesn't fit that mold and yet I can't suggest a better genre label as it doesn't fit my concept of fantasy either.
Jeff, a young man doing research on the Civil War for his employer. Specifically he is trying to find where Willie Lincoln's body was buried prior to being interred with his father. Through an unusual set of circumstances he meets Annie, the patient of his former college roommate. Annie is being treated for nightmares that appear to be the dreams of Robert E. Lee.
The basic premise is easy to state. The multitude of themes are more complex, simply stated they are love and death. Love appears in many guises: love's power for destruction, the loneliness and melancholy left behind when love ends, and the dedication of love. Death is not drawn with simple lines, the ability to reach beyond the grave through time and space borders on the metaphysical or parapsychology. Foreseeing one's own death is also explored.
The development of characters is excellent. It was as easy to get to know Lincoln and Lee as it was to know Jeff and Annie. I was able to relate to all the characters and suffer along with them.
The serious tone and rich context built the suspense and a haunting sense of foreboding. I would recommend this title to people who enjoy history, suspense, mystery or love stories. This book haunts me and left me wanting more.
Lincoln's Dreams won the 1988 John W. Campbell Memorial Award for the Best Fantasy Novel of the year. It is available in hardback, paperback, Nook, Kindle and at eBooks.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Amish Romance
Recently my best friend from high school recommended Wanda E. Brunstetter. Brunstetter has written a variety of books, including an Amish cook book, but Joyce suggested the Indiana Cousins Trilogy.
This modern day trilogy is set in Indiana's Amish country and features young adult cousins who have grown up together in their close-knit community. The first book, A Cousin's Promise, begins with an outing to the Hershey theme park. When their van crashes into a pole three people in the group die, others face life-changing injuries and they all must learn to deal with the changes to their lives and families.
The story centers around Loraine and her soon-to-be husband Wayne. Their happiness is destroyed when Wayne loses his leg and rejects Loraine out of his deep love for her. Loraine wonders if anything will ever be the same and considers seeking the love of a man from her past.
If you do not like Christian romance you will want to skip this book recommendation. Bible verses and prayers are part of this story just as they are part of the Amish way of life. However the plot and characters are believable; the emotions and reactions ring true.
German, or Pennsylvania Dutch, words make the dialog authentic. The activities and foods lend to the overall atmosphere. Background information on the Amish, recipes and questions for discussion enhance the reading experience. The other titles in the trilogy are A Cousin's Prayer and A Cousin's Challenge.
I suggest picking up A Cousin's Promise and see for yourself. Joyce picked up a selection of Bunstetter's books at her local library. I was able to download the complete trilogy to my Kindle for less than $9.
This modern day trilogy is set in Indiana's Amish country and features young adult cousins who have grown up together in their close-knit community. The first book, A Cousin's Promise, begins with an outing to the Hershey theme park. When their van crashes into a pole three people in the group die, others face life-changing injuries and they all must learn to deal with the changes to their lives and families.
The story centers around Loraine and her soon-to-be husband Wayne. Their happiness is destroyed when Wayne loses his leg and rejects Loraine out of his deep love for her. Loraine wonders if anything will ever be the same and considers seeking the love of a man from her past.
If you do not like Christian romance you will want to skip this book recommendation. Bible verses and prayers are part of this story just as they are part of the Amish way of life. However the plot and characters are believable; the emotions and reactions ring true.
German, or Pennsylvania Dutch, words make the dialog authentic. The activities and foods lend to the overall atmosphere. Background information on the Amish, recipes and questions for discussion enhance the reading experience. The other titles in the trilogy are A Cousin's Prayer and A Cousin's Challenge.
I suggest picking up A Cousin's Promise and see for yourself. Joyce picked up a selection of Bunstetter's books at her local library. I was able to download the complete trilogy to my Kindle for less than $9.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Fredrickson Winery Mysteries
I have just finished the two Fredrickson Winery books by Barbara Ellen Brink. They were the perfect reads for settling in with a blanket and hot tea while I fought the cold outside and the one I caught last week.
The first volume, Entangled, does a wonderful job of setting up characters that drew me into the story. The setting particularly appealed to me--the wine country of California. The process of harvesting grapes and producing wine appears authentic.
The main character, Billie Fredrickson goes to her Uncle Jack's funeral at the insistence of her mother. She remembers very little about visiting the winery as a child and is surprised to learn that her Uncle has left her the winery. Billie is a lawyer who specializes in family law. When she arrives she meets a playmate from her previous winery visit, Handel Parker. Although his speciality is criminal law he was her Uncle Jack's long-time attorney. A rocky beginning sets the stage for discovering an old crime and bringing it to resolution as a relationship begins to develop between Billie and Handle.
Entangled won the 2006 Pacific Northwest Writer's Association Award.
The second book, Crushed, takes place a year later. Billie is living on the winery and preparing for the harvest and crushing. Her relationship with Handle has blossomed and she enjoys living next to Handle, his sister Margaret and her young son Davy. When Davy's biological father returns to the United States the trouble begins and Davy's kidnapping is the second crime involving the family since Billie moved to the winery.
Brink has other books, and awards, to her credit. These who-done-it stories will engage you and possibly make you a fan of Barbara Ellen Brink as well.
The first volume, Entangled, does a wonderful job of setting up characters that drew me into the story. The setting particularly appealed to me--the wine country of California. The process of harvesting grapes and producing wine appears authentic.
The main character, Billie Fredrickson goes to her Uncle Jack's funeral at the insistence of her mother. She remembers very little about visiting the winery as a child and is surprised to learn that her Uncle has left her the winery. Billie is a lawyer who specializes in family law. When she arrives she meets a playmate from her previous winery visit, Handel Parker. Although his speciality is criminal law he was her Uncle Jack's long-time attorney. A rocky beginning sets the stage for discovering an old crime and bringing it to resolution as a relationship begins to develop between Billie and Handle.
Entangled won the 2006 Pacific Northwest Writer's Association Award.
The second book, Crushed, takes place a year later. Billie is living on the winery and preparing for the harvest and crushing. Her relationship with Handle has blossomed and she enjoys living next to Handle, his sister Margaret and her young son Davy. When Davy's biological father returns to the United States the trouble begins and Davy's kidnapping is the second crime involving the family since Billie moved to the winery.
Brink has other books, and awards, to her credit. These who-done-it stories will engage you and possibly make you a fan of Barbara Ellen Brink as well.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
A Paranormal Mystery
Loose Ends is a Mary O'Reilly Paranormal Mystery by Terri Reid. This is one of those "popcorn books" that are so pleasurable for a quick weekend read. I don't think I am the only person who can really relax when immersed in a good book.
Mary O'Reilly is a former policewoman turned Paranormal Private Detective in Freeport, Illinois. Chief Bradley Alden is new to town, but experienced in police work. Their relationship is friendly, awkward, and yet often comfortable. With the help of some ghosts they pull together to solve six 24 year old murders. While there is plenty of action the book is not bloody or brutal, in a world with too much reality I appreciate that.
The story line gave clues to several people who may have committed the murders but did not reveal the murderer until near the end. The people are likable and believable and the two main characters will call me back to the second book. The ghosts have kept much of their humanity. I like the way they worked together to help solve the crime although some of them were strangers to each other in life.
Although I do not dislike vampire and werewolf tales I will always choose a nice set of ghosts for my reads. It probably seems more realistic to me since I grew up hearing one of my Grandmothers talking about the ghosts that inhabited her Grandma's house.
Loose Ends is the first volume, there are currently six in the series. Good Tidings, Never Forgotten, Final Call, Darkness Exposed and Natural Reaction follow in that order. I ordered the first book on my Kindle for $.99 but I will be downloading the rest.
Mary O'Reilly is a former policewoman turned Paranormal Private Detective in Freeport, Illinois. Chief Bradley Alden is new to town, but experienced in police work. Their relationship is friendly, awkward, and yet often comfortable. With the help of some ghosts they pull together to solve six 24 year old murders. While there is plenty of action the book is not bloody or brutal, in a world with too much reality I appreciate that.
The story line gave clues to several people who may have committed the murders but did not reveal the murderer until near the end. The people are likable and believable and the two main characters will call me back to the second book. The ghosts have kept much of their humanity. I like the way they worked together to help solve the crime although some of them were strangers to each other in life.
Although I do not dislike vampire and werewolf tales I will always choose a nice set of ghosts for my reads. It probably seems more realistic to me since I grew up hearing one of my Grandmothers talking about the ghosts that inhabited her Grandma's house.
Loose Ends is the first volume, there are currently six in the series. Good Tidings, Never Forgotten, Final Call, Darkness Exposed and Natural Reaction follow in that order. I ordered the first book on my Kindle for $.99 but I will be downloading the rest.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Reading and Writing--Letters
I have my letters for both today and yesterday done, sealed and stamped. Yes, I noticed it is the second, but it is not too late to join in and catch up. Try to write every day even if you can't mail them daily. It can be a very enriching experience. I chose to write the first two letters to my oldest friend and to my newest friend.
About 15 years ago one of my New Year's resolutions was to pick out two people and write to them monthly. I let them know at the onset that I had made a commitment for a letter a month during the calendar year but did not expect them to make that same promise. I chose my Aunt Twyla and my cousin's wife D'aun. Writing to them monthly was a great experience in my life.
I got to know my Aunt as an adult and "talk" to her about things that children never know about the older family members. We shared family history, I had begun genealogy and had collected a lot that she did not know. We shared recipes, not only was she a great cook but was a retired Home Economics teacher. She loved seeing pictures of my kids more than a once-a-year school photo enclosed in a Christmas card.
I only met D'aun once, at a family reunion, since we live several states apart. I liked her the minute I met her, however liking is not knowing. Her son and my youngest daughter were about the same age and had a similar interest in music. That was a starting point but over the next 12 months our friendship grew.
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