Two Lives by Vikram Seth

Two Lives is a part-memoir/part biography by the acclaimed author of A Suitable Boy, Vikram Seth.  Primarily based on letters between each other and friends, Two Lives accounts for the lives of his great-uncle Shanti, an Indian immigrant to Germany prior to World War II, and his great-aunt Henny, a Jewish German.
The book is divided into five parts: the author's relationship with his great-aunt and uncle, his uncle's life prior and post- World War II, his aunt's discovery of events during the war and how she comes to terms with the horrific revelations, his aunt and uncle's life in England together post-World War II and finally, the author's process in writing the book.

Vikram Seth is a gifted writer and his writing style has earned him worldwide accolades. One can not deny his talent; however, my interest level waned between each parts.  The first part served a as satisfying introduction as it revealed the author's relationship with this the main characters.  While parts of Uncle Shanti's story intrigued me, I was most fascinated by his Aunty Henny's story.  While Henny was able to immigrate to England prior to World War II's onset through the assistance of a close Christian family friend, her Jewish friends and family were not as fortunate.  Rather than describing first-hand experiences of the Holocaust, the book takes a unique perspective as Henny discovers the war's horrors after the war, including the tragic deaths of her sister and mother, via correspondance with her Christian friends.  Henny must also come to terms with deciding which Christian friends to trust and keep allegiance with based on their treatment to fellow Jews during the war.
"For most of them (non-Jewish Germans), the war was only a misfortune because they lost it and as a result don't have anything to eat. That there are people who wish to dissociate themsleves from them, seems incomprehensible to them."

Shanti had first-hand experience of the war, where he served as a military based dentist.  This ultimately lost him his arm.  During the war, he corresponded with Henny declaring his love for her.  They were friends prior to the war in Germany, during this time Henny was in committed relationship with a non-Jewish German.  During the war, Shanti gained the courage to declare his affection towards Henny who although she was no longer dating the German man appeared to not have any romantic feelings towards Shanti.  It was only when Shanti arrived in London did she recognize her interest in marrying him.  While Henny grew to love Shanti, it appears that Shanti always held a more ardent love for his wife than she did towards him.
This one-sided, lukewarm relationship contributed toward the bland nature of the book's fourth part, describing their life London post-World War II.

The final part regained my interest, as it described the author's journey as a writer and path leading towards writing this book.  While I was bored and skimmed through several portions of the book, this book piqued me interest in Vikram Seth and let me to committ myself to reading his acclaimed, mega-sized 1400 page novel "A Suitable Boy".

Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Year of Magical Reading by Nina Sankovitch

Following the death of her sister, the author decided to spend a year reading and reviewing a book a day.  She undertook this endevour to help her deal with her grief and connect her to her sister since they shared a passion for reading.  The book touches equally upon her grief process and impressions of books read during this year. 

Unfortunately, I am writing this review several months after reading it.  As I no longer have a copy of this book, I am unable to provide direct quotations and references.  I remember not being interested in many of the books she read; however, I relate to the vital role of books in her life.  I support her belief that books are a source of escape and comfort.  She began each chapter with a quote (often by a famous author or philospher) relating to the power of books and reading in our lives.  I plan on borrowing this book again so that I can catalog some of these inspiring quotes.

Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante

Alice LaPlante's debut novel is one of the most sophisticated and intelligent novels I have read.  Similar to Lisa Genova's novel Still Alice, Turn of Mind is a first person account of an individual with Alzheimer's disease.  The main character, Dr. Jennifer White, is a retired orthopdic surgeon who is suspected of murdering her best friend and neighbor at the onset of the novel, as the vicitim was found dead at her home with four fingers surgically removed.

The past and present is accounted for through Jennifer's journal, which not only includes her thoughts but also messages written by the other main characters which include her son, daughter and caregiver, Magalena.  The journal not only masterfully documents Jennifer's gradually deteriorating mind but also unravels her past including her complex relationships with her children, deceased husband and best friend, Amanda, the murder victim.  The novel has a non-linear sequence of events, shuffling between the past and present.  While this a risky literary device, if not done well it can result in a highly confusing novel; however, Alice LaPlante succeeds in creating a intriguing and gripping novel.

Turn of the Mind is not a traditional mystery novel.  While, like most mystery novels, the murderer and motive is not revealed until the end of the novel, it is much more than a mystery novel.  It is a multi-layered psychological drama that delves into interpersonal relationships and intrapersonal struggles of a dementia patient.

Similar to  Lisa Genova's Still Alice, readers follow the main character's progression from mild to severe Alzheimer's.  Early in the novel, when Jennifer is relatively cognizant, she makes an interesting observation about the condition while at a Alzheimer's support group.  Following the group leader's reference to the "Two Circular Step of Alzheimher's" (i.e., Step One, Admitting you have a problem. Step Two, Forgetting you have problem), she adds to herself a step three, Remembering that you forget, which she perceives as the hardest step of all.  On the otherhand, her friend Amanda makes an acute observation regarding how loved ones deal with Alzheimer's  I am very selfish: I am more concerned about myself than you in this regard.  You'll get past this stage of awareness, and the disease will be its own pain management regime.  But me....[I'm] going to be to weak to withstand the pain of separation that is looming.

As a reader, it was rewarding to experience a multitude of emotions during the course of this novel. On one hand, it was heartbreaking to observe Jennifer's mental deterioration involving her weak to almost non-existent grasp of reality.  On the other hand, I was fascinated with the mystery surrounding Amanda's death and Jennifer's past.  Overall, a very satisfying read.