"Good Wives" by Louisa May Alcott

With great anticipation and excitement, I began reading “Good Wives” the sequel to one of my adolescent favorite books “Little Women”.  “Good Wives”, set three years after “Little Women” continues to follow the lives of the March sisters: Meg, Jo, Amy and Beth. 

The first third of the novel was disappointing.  While Alcott remains faithful to each characters unique traits and charms, the storyline lacks cohesion. Several of the first chapters serve as individual vignettes describing events within the lives of each sister.  For example, chapters dedicated to Amy’s artistic booth at a local fair, Amy and Jo’s neighborly house calls and Meg’s domestic argument over financial issues.  Rather than moving the story along, many of the details within these chapters appear trivial.  Significant plot events such as the birth of the Meg’s twins, are referred to in an abrupt, off-handed manner.

The novel begins to take shape upon Amy’s departure to Europe and Jo’s temporary position as a children’s tutor in New York.   At this point, readers start to witness these characters’ transformation from young girls into young women.  While many fans of “Little Women” may initially be disappointed when Jo rejects Laurie’s romantic advances; his romance with Amy is the novel’s highlight.  With picturesque Europe as the perfect romantic backdrop, Amy and Laurie’s friendship gradually and believably blossom into love.  Not only does their relationship change but their characters become more evolved.  Amy changes from a flighty, materialistic young girl to a tender, sensible young woman.  In fact her wise advice to Laurie “Love Jo all your days, if you choose, but don’t let it spoil you, for it is wicked to throw away so many good gifts because you can’t have the one you want.” guides Laurie on a path of self-discovery and growth.

Jo also experiences significant growth, especially following her beloved sister Beth’s death.  While her deep pain is described with sensitivity, her romance with the aged Professor Bhaer is less convincing.  Although Professor Bhaer is a kind and decent man, Jo’s connection with him is not well-developed and seems more like a convenient plot device to tie up loose ends.

Alcott preserves her descriptive writing and keen insights into human nature, especially Marmee’s maternal advice given to each daughter.  Despite “Good Wives” disappointing beginning and ending, Alcott’s writing style will continue to captivate readers; however, the novel’s weaknesses make it clearly apparent why “Little Women” is a treasured classic and “Good Wives” holds a relatively obscure position in literary history.

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.

Snobs by Julian Fellowes

Julian Fellowes wrote the screenplay for the acclaimed movie "Gosford Park" and more recently the fabulous Masterpiece Theater production "Downton Abbey", for which he earned an Academy Award and an Emmy, respectively.  Consequently, I was eager to read his novel "Snobs", which served as appropriate travel reading during our London vacation.

"Snobs" is a witty, often tongue-in-cheek, inside view into England's upper class and those who dare to enter their world by breaking their crystal ceiling.  The novel's narrator, a British actor with an upper class background, observes the relationship between his friend Edith, a middle-class social climber, and  Charles, the son of a highly respected, upper crust family.  At times throughout the novel he is asked by both sides to intervene as a liason due to his understanding of both disparate worlds.

Edith meets Charles while visiting his stately country home, which is open to the general public for tours.  He is genuinely besotted by her, while she finds him amicable enough to accept his marriage proposal.  His wealth and social stature serve as the rose colored glasses which convinces her that she will find marital satisfaction.  Edith soon becomes bored with her husband and discovers that her life is not as glamourous as she expected.  This leads her into the arms of a strikingly handsome and charming actor, Simon.  While Simon provides her with the passion and excitement that Charles could not provide, she realizes that her marriage with Charles provided her with status and security.  Much to Charles mother's, Lady Uckfield's, dismay, Charles welcomes Edith back into his life.

I was conflicted in my opinion about this novel.  On one hand, I felt the plot was trite and superficial.  Edith's conceit, selfishness and shallowness angered me. I was completely disappointed in the ending in that she faced no repercussion for her infidelity.  While the author often attempted to portray her as a sympathetic character, one with weaknesses rather than vices, I could not sympathize with her.

On the other hand, I was captivated with Julian Fellowes writing style and intrigued with his commentary on British upper class social mores.  His writing is breezy, yet meaningful filled with humor and wit.
His astute insights into upper-class behavior and proclivities are artfully imbedded in the dialogue and narrative.  While some of these observations may have been generalizations, which one is often at risk of making when making social commentaries, it was easy to overlook since like his screenplays his novel was engaging and entertaining.

Imagined London by Anna Quindlan

I began this book several weeks before our London vacation.  I was intrigued after reading the book's subheading, "A Tour of the World's Greatest Fictional City".  For those who know me, my love for British fiction, alongwith TV/motion picture productions based on British fiction, is not a secret.  While I enjoy modern British fiction and productions,  "period peices" enthrall me as I relish losing myself in time and place.  The  place is London- graced with its elegant historical buildiings, lush gardens and upper society's glamour, while the time periods typically include the Victorian and Geogian eras.

While I have read several of Anna Quindlan's novels and found them to be pleasant reads, I knew I encountered a kindred spirit when I read one of the lines in "Imagined London":   "...the places I most feel at home are bookstores and libraries.  And London."  I definitely agree with feeling very much at home, surrounded by books in libraries and bookstores.  While I visited London briefly as a teenager, seeing all the chief tourist sights, I do not recall feeling at home in London; however, since then my anglophile passions have multiplied and I antiicipate feeling at home in London during our upcoming trip. 

Anna Quindlan's account of London persuaded that the possiblity of feeling home in London is very likely. 
"For a person raised on books (such as I), walking through streets in her mind's eyes, engaged in love affairs and life losses of imaginary men and women,  London is indisputably the capital of literature, of great literature and romance novels and mystery novels, too."  While I am not a fan of Charles Dickens, London's most revered literary export (I find his novels dark and depressing, focusing on human nature's sinister elements), I revere many other British authors and have savoured countless PBS "Masterpiece Theater" productions, whose characters' lives have unfolded in London. 

Anna Quindlan describes a London where modern-day vibrancy meets historical tranquility and charm.  She compares London with her hometown New York, another world-renowned city that artfully blends the past with the present.  " It is as though four different landscapes, histories, ways of living, can be encapulated in a walk aroun the corner...one moment, the throng  and the lowering office building.  The next, quiet isolation, and the window eyes of a mews house.  London has nearly as many residents as New York has, yet even its most central locations never feel overwhelming in the way much of Manhattan does, mainly because of this effect, the ability to step within minutes from tumult into peace. " 

Anna Quinlan highlights well-known and relatively obscure places to visit in London.  From verdant parks, revealing that "A third of London is grass or gardens",shopping districts: " Up on Piccadilly, the shopping arcades are as Victorian as anyone could want...The one between Albermarle and Bond Streets is particularly atmospheric, with its enormous bay windows and gilded signs.  Queen Victoria bought her riding hapbbits ino one of the shops and feels as if the servant sent on the task had only lately left." and historical monuments such as the Albert Memorial, heightening my anticipation to reaquaint myself with London.  While we may not have the opportunity or the inclination to visit all the places she visited, I hope to share her captivation and delight for London.

The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff

On June 17, 1971, almost twenty two years after Helene Hanff began corresponding with Frank Doel from Marks & Co, Booksellers, she finally embarks on her long-awaited trip to London.  She will be attending a book signing of her bestseller, 84, Charing Cross Road, which documents her twenty year correspondance with Frank Doel.

Her journey is bittewsweet.  While she is eager to explore London and greet her British fans, she reognizes that void of two major driving forces in her desire to visit London.  One is the absence of Frank Doel, who passed away in 1969 (a letter from Frank's wife, Nora, imforming Helene of Frank's passing is one of the last letters included in 84, Charing Cross Road) and the other is Marks & Co., Booksellers closure.  It does leave regret, like we have all felt, that we did not seize an opportunty sooner to visit loved ones or friends abroad. 

The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street is in journal format, entries from Helene Hanff journals during her visit to London.  It includes encounters with old and new friends, alongwith impressions on places visited.  I was slightly disappointed since I was hoping the emphasis would be more on the latter.  Rather she focued more upon her encounters with friends including Frank Doel's wife Nora and daughter, Sheila, a amiable fan Colonel, and friend of a friend, "P.B". While P.B. comes across to me as slightly odd, for example are too-the-point, lacking any warmth is his requests to set up future meetings and are always uniquely signed, "In Haste".  Despite these idiosyncrasies, I get the impression that  Helene developed a minor crush on P.B. by the end of her trip although she doesn't outwardly confess her feelings in her journal.

Some of the sites visited during her visit to London include:  St Paul's Cathedral, Charidge's restaurant (featured in Noel Coward plays, a reference I wasn't aware of), Royal Chapel at Malborough, St. Jame's Park, Westminister Abbey, the Knights Templar, Buckingham Palace, Harrod's department store and of course, bookstores on Charing Cross Road.  Day trips included visits to Oxford, Trinity College and Stratford-upon-Avon.  She doesn't include extensive details about each attraction and her impressions are typically limited to a few paragraphs; however, a few descriptions sparked my interest in visiting select areas.  One in particular was the idyllic, charming Calton Gardens, which she describes as  "beautiful street of very plush apartment homes" and a nearby unmarked street, "a kind of enclosed courtyard, a cul-de-sac behind Clarence House and St. Jame's Palace" where "there is no reek of money here, only the hallowed hush of privlege" causing her mind to fill "with stories of fairy-tale splendor of monarchy".  I don't kow if the homes still stand today and the street still retains this charm, but I do want at least attempt to discover street.  This is the London I dream of seeing during our visit.