Coconut Library

Sunday Salon {The Map of True Places :: review}

 

The Map of True Places

By Brunonia Barry

407 pages. William Morrow. $25.99

published May 1, 2010

Fans of Brunonia Barry will enjoy her second novel, The Map of True Places. Set in Massachusetts and continuing with the theme of motherless daughters with tragic yet magical and mysterious pasts that play heavily into who they are as adults, Barry's protagonists in both of her books have more in common than the fact that they call everyone in their families by their first names instead of the usual familiar monikers. An enchanting tale though not written in the tightest prose; with an irksome habit of repeating the same information in the span of a couple of paragraphs (among others throughout the book, the line: "The dory was later discovered on the  Miseries, oarlocks worn down to bare bone" was repeated almost verbatim from three paragraphs before), and spots at the beginning where the reader is left so in the dark about what is going on that it's tempting to skip paragraphs. While sometimes dumbing down the reader with unnecessary plot or character reminders, the author contrasts that by giving those who know their history (i.e. The Troubles in Northern Ireland, Hawthorne history, etc.) subtle lines and interwoven plot details that perhaps allow them to enjoy the book that much more than their counterparts. Though nothing is lost if one does not catch these historical nuances because, as always, Barry manages to use the more pivotal details teach us all some nuggets about the past that are both interesting and intelligent. Among other things, Barry has an uncanny ability to write stories that balance on the threshold of reality and fantasy, while mixing together a delightful amount of history and profound musings that keep the reader wanting more. 

When we meet Zee Finch she is working as a psychotherapist in a prominent office in Boston. Lilly Braedon enters her life and won't let go, not even after she has committed suicide on a day that changes Zee's life forever. Lilly is a catalyst for many turning points throughout this novel, and she perhaps sums up the theme of this work in a statement on page 49, "We think we're free... but we're not. We're the product of every association we've ever made, and sometimes of ones we inherited from people we never even knew." Barry continues to prove this statement in her work as Zee returns to Salem, her home town, after Lilly's funeral to care for her ailing father. It is here that the story really begins to take flight as Zee is confronted with her ghosts and battles them. Characters from The Lace Reader (Barry's debut novel) reprise their roles as Barry fleshes out the story by building the plot and working the town into the tale in the way that is becoming her trademark. Another signature Barry move, interweaving a story within the story, creates more tension and mystery. In this novel, the inner story is as much of a treat as the main plot. It is also a delicious means of foreshadowing towards the end, answering questions that linger throughout the novel. Love, acceptance, tragedy, and renewal all abound in this story that will keep you turning pages until the very end. 

Rating: Three and a Half Stars

 

Needles and Pearls :: review

 

Needles and Pearls

By Gil McNeil

415 pages. Hyperion/Voice. $14.99

published May 11, 2010

(read an excerpt from the book here)

In The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club, Gil McNeil introduced us to Jo Mackenzie. Having learned that her husband was cheating on her and was leaving her and their two sons, Jack and Archie, for his mistress was the first crushing blow of the night. The  other? Having her husband die in a car accident within an hour after breaking the news and walking out on her. (We learn all of that on the back flap, so no need to throw rotten tomatoes at me for ruining the book.) What happens next is the heartwarming and surprisingly funny story that McNeil weaves for us throughout the rest of this alluring tale about a mother's love and the power of her relationship with her children. We meet back up with Jo, Jack, and Archie along with the other flavorful characters in Broadgate (a small seaside town in rural England) in Needles and Pearls. 

McKnits, the yarn store that Jo has been given by her lovable and spunky grandmother, is starting to grow with the help of sweet local carpenter, Martin and the publicity given to it (and Jo) through a friendship started with top actress Grace Harrison, who has commissioned Jo to be her personal knit instructor. Jo and her boys are settling in well to their new community as they near their one year anniversary of moving there, when life sends them some unexpected surprises. In true McNeil fashion, these bumps in the road are quickly made into endearing episodes and plot twists that make her characters more real and layered. She takes the chance to explore some topics that are not traditionally found in the lighter side of literature; pregnancy, divorce, death, dysfunctional families. Yet she is able to come at the subject with the warmth and hindsight of someone who convinces the reader she knows what she's writing about. 

Though this heartwarmer doesn't  keep us at the edge of our seats and can sometimes be a bit hard to follow as to who is speaking (it is strongly dialogue driven without always noting who the speaker is), we can count on McNeil to make us laugh while wrapping up loose ends somewhat tidily. While the adults are the crux of the novel, McNeil writes children in a vividly accurate portrayal adding extra charm and humor to her work. 

Though knitting is certainly a presence in these novels, it is mostly because these books are set partly in Jo's yarn shop. McNeil herself comes from a line of champion knitters, and is able to seamlessly interweave this passion into a much bigger story. Those looking for a novel about knitting might be disappointed when they find that these stories have about as much to do with the actual practice of knitting as the movie Beaches did with the beach. It's more of a catapult for story lines rather than the overall theme of the book. 

Enjoy this book over a lazy weekend when you could use a good laugh and a bit of relaxation. 

Rating: Three Stars
 (please note the new rating system for reviews below)

Rating Guide for Coconut Library:
***** Classic : A timeless book to be read by all
**** Excellent: One of the best of its genre
*** Good: Enjoyable, particularly for fans of the genre
** Fair: Some problems, approach with caution
* Poor: Not worth your time

Disclosure: This book was sent to me by the publisher. The review is my honest opinion and I was given no compensation to 
write about this book. 

Harry Potter

 I have finally finished the Harry Potter series. As I have mentioned before, I bought book seven (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows) when it first came out, but have been unable to read it. I just didn't want this series to end. However, the other night, I realized I must read it before I can no longer remember what happened in book six! So, here I am -- having finished the series and wanting to weep because it's over. I cannot believe what a creative mind J.K Rowling has. Her prose makes you feel like you did when you were a kid reading your favorite books, yet she has the ability to keep adults interested because of the fast pace and intricate plots. Believe me, I have read much children's literature (and am still reading it for a particular class), and I love it. But there are few authors who can keep me as engaged as the children are. Most of the time I read the books to students, or others in my care, because I want to share the experience with them. With the Harry Potter books, I read them for me. If you are one of the, what? 2%, of people in this world who have not read this series... what are you waiting for??? Honestly, if you are looking for a good book (or series for that matter) that will pull you in and have you reading a 700 page book faster than the two-hundreder (just made that word up) you read last month, you have no excuses... these are your books. 

Ah, weep, gulp, gasp. Goodbye beloved series... I will miss you and, absolutely-most-definitely, read you again someday.
Five Coconuts

xo,
The Coconut Librarian

One Amazing Thing -- Part 2

 You can tell a writer is worth her weight in words if you have to remind yourself that you are not part of the story. I had to look up from this book every now and again and remind myself to breathe... I was not trapped with the characters trying to conserve oxygen. But lest you think this book is only a stressful and sad version of an earthquake disaster, I need to tell you that part of the reason I was holding my breath was because I was listening to the stories. As each story started I would hesitate, thinking that this next story is probably going to be boring (don't ask me why I thought this, there was no truth to it or past experience to build on) and then before I knew it the story was over and while I was wanting to know more I was preparing myself for the next story to be boring. But it never was. In fact, each story was so transfixing that the very last page snuck up on me and then shocked me with it's appearance. 

I have no idea if there will be a sequel, but I do warn you that this book finishes without us getting a tidily wrapped up ending. At first I was dismayed, but then I started to realize that the book really wasn't about the earthquake, or what happened to the characters in the unwritten pages. Because inevitably they will all die, just as all people do (sorry to be morbid here), and it doesn't fully matter when that happened for them. What matters is that they all (we all) have a story to share. And each of us wants to be heard and to have our story told while we still have the chance. 

Maybe what this book is really about is reminding yourself to not only articulate your story, but  also hear the stories of those around you while you still can.
Four Coconuts

xo,
The Coconut Librarian

"One Amazing Thing is one powerful and beautifully written book." -- Lisa See (author of Shanghai Girls)

"One Amazing Thing collapses the walls of dividing characters and cultures; what endures is a chorus of voices in one single room." Jhumpa Lahiri (author of Interpreter of Maladies)

"An incredible and highly original premise in the hands of a gifted storyteller has resulted in this jewel of a story. It is, to paraphrase the book's title, an amazing thing." -- Abraham Verghese (author of Cutting for Stone)

One Amazing Thing -- Part 1

 The latest book sent to me from Hyperion/ Voice is called One Amazing Thing. I read half of the book today in just a little over an hour. At first, it was a bit hard to digest considering it is about a large earthquake that traps a motley crew of people in a basement of a visa office. In light of what is going on in the real world, this was not what I wanted to read. However, I became hooked. Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is a talented writer, who's work (and this particular book) is touted by such impressive writers as Abraham Verghese (Cutting for Stone) and Junot Diaz (The Brief and Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao)

I have reached the crux of the plot, where Uma, the original narrator, has suggested that they pass the time and lift their hopes by telling each other a story about one amazing thing that has happened in their lives. These stories are what makes the book fly by. I will be finishing the other half tomorrow -- or tonight! You can start reading this book tomorrow, February 2nd, when it hits bookstores. 

Stay tuned for the full review...

xo,
The Coconut Librarian

Her Fearful Symmetry

Audrey Niffenegger, the author of The Time Traveler's Wife, brings us her new novel, Her Fearful Symmetry. It's obvious that Niffenegger enjoys a theme of loss in her writing -- of phantom limb syndrome in a metaphorical sense. This novel is testimony to that. It, like The Time Traveler's Wife, is a mix of science fiction and general fiction. It centers around twins, two sets in fact, and the somewhat symbiotic relationship that they have - including the beauty/necessity but also the destruction that can happen. While this is a ghost story, it is also a love story with a component of mystery. And its ability to involve the supernatural while being interesting instead of spooky served me well. 

Though the last 100 pages of this novel are impossible to put down they are also incredibly bizarre. It all ends a bit abruptly, with no warning, kind of like a dangling nerve. Lots of wonderful, detailed build up, and then... done. 

However, this book was easy to read, incredibly unique, and thoughtful. I encourage you to read it -- it's worth the little time it will take you to get through it.
Three Coconuts

xo,
The Coconut Librarian

Book Movement's List of Top 10: Jan. 3rd-10th

Here are the top picks from book clubs around the nation...

 

 

     1. The Help
     2. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
     3. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
     4. Sarah's Key
     5. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
     6. Olive Kitteridge
     7. One Thousand White Women
     8. Her Fearful Symmetry
     9. Loving Frank
    10. In the Woods

The books are in order in which they have been voted for this week. Next time you are ready to hit the bookstore, make sure you bring this list with you! I just went to my local bookstore this afternoon to pick up Her Fearful Symmetry, which I will try after I finish the monster of a novel I am working on (Wolf Hall-- if you want a challenge, grab yourself a copy of this prize winning, yet challenging novel). The bookseller says she stayed up until 2 a.m. to finish her copy of HFS. Sounds good to me!

xo,
The Coconut Librarian

The Help

 I've wanted to read The Help by Kathryn Stockett since the moment I saw it on the shelf about a year ago. I put it on my wishlist, but kept reading other books. As the months went by I heard people say how much they loved it while it rose on bestseller lists. I finally bought it in October (because the hold list at the library was a mile long), and though my book club read it in November, I still procrastinated. I knew this was going to be a good book; too many people loved it for it to be a flop. However, I (wrongly) thought it was going to be a large commitment. A thick hardback about segregation in early 1960's Mississippi? That to me was a no brainer... get ready to have some heavy reading in a book you should be reading, even if you don't thoroughly enjoy it. Wrong. Incorrect, mistaken, false; if I could remember how to say it in another language I would. 

This novel, that I thought was going to be more of an education than an escape, was nothing like what I expected it to be. It reads smoothly, like you are sitting at a kitchen table sipping sweet tea with the very characters themselves while they are filling you in on the gossip of their town. The narration switches between Miss Skeeter (a white aspiring writer and new college graduate in her early 20's), Minny (a black maid and sassy mother of five in her 30's), and Aibileen (a black maid, sought after baby nurse, and talented writer in her 50's). Skeeter returns home to Mississippi after graduating from college in 1962 only to find that she no longer quite fits in with her lifelong friends. While they left college after one or two years to marry and start having babies, Skeeter finished her education and came home with plans for a career. Once home, the town's views about segregation and the roles of black and white people as citizen classes do not bode as well with her as they do with her friends (one of whom is the Junior League president, and staunch segregation supporter). And, to top it all off, her beloved maid and nurse, Constantine, has been fired and nobody will tell her why or where she's gone. Skeeter, wanting so much to be a writer, begins a project that has the potential to bring light to the circumstances in Jackson, Mississippi (one of the most notoriously racist cities of the time) but she will need the assistance of Aibileen, Minny and other Help even at the risking of their own lives. 

Though Stockett includes tragic events in the story, they are not the crux of the novel. They add to the setting because they explain the time. This is not a hard book to swallow, however, and you will not be wading through pages of history to get to the heart of the story. This book is actually the opposite. It wears it's heart on it's sleeve and adds history as relish to give the story depth and authenticity. The chapters narrated by Aibileen and Minny are especially beloved by many readers, me included, for the tone, rhythm, and flavor that they add to the story. 

I can't make you read this book, but I can tell you that you will be missing out if you don't. There are not very many books that pull you into them in such a way that you enter a different world while you are reading. This is one of those. I envy those of you who will be opening it and reading it for the first time. Don't pass it up.
Five Coconuts

xo,
The Coconut Librarian

Say You're One of Them

 After reading each story in this book all I could think was thank God I live in America. Some would say this is a small minded, uncultured point of view. To those people I say; perhaps you need to educate yourself about the perils of living in some of the other countries in our world, and possibly you need to survey your surroundings and be grateful for the abundance, freedoms, rights, and opportunities we have in this country. That's not to say that the United States is perfect, it is far from it. But we, who live in this country, are blessed beyond measure compared to others around the world, and lest we be arrogant enough to forget it Uwen Akpan has written a book that will strikingly remind you of it. 

This wasn't the easiest book to read, and not just because of the heartbreak. The prose was often choppy, and the dialects used can be hard to follow unless you are reading carefully. It is not a book that you can speed through -- nor would you want to. I've heard people say they can't put this book down once they started, but I did not feel the same way. Though I wanted to know what ultimately happened to each child, it was not in a form of eagerness and excitement. It was because I felt like I should know what happened to each child, as they are representations of many, many human beings out there.

Whether they be facing the dark realities of religious intolerance, child trafficking, prostitution, or genocide, each child in these stories reminds us of the pure place from whence we all came. The dearness and innocence is prevalent throughout this book, and such an amazing eye opener. What incredibly different experiences human beings can have. Even if living in the same country, but especially living a world apart. What a fantastic reminder to not only open your heart to help with what's important (do we really need another building in someone's name when there are children being traded as sex objects?), and to be utterly grateful for the amazing blessings in our lives. If you are reading this on your computer, you are far and away more blessed than 80% (get that, eighty percent) of the world's population. So whether or not I think you'll love this book is irrelevant. Whether or not I think you should read this book is definite. You should. When was the last time each of us volunteered, donated, or reached out on a regular basis? These are important questions to ask oneself, and these are questions you will not be able to ignore after reading this book. 
Five Coconuts

xo,
The Coconut Librarian

(poverty data taken from www.globalissues.org)

The Lace Reader

Let me start by saying that although this book is a New York Times bestseller, there have been mixed reviews from people who have read it. You must remember that bestseller lists portray how many people are buying it, but does not take into account how much people like it once they've read it. It's true, bestsellers are helped by word of mouth, but many are made by publicity and having the right reviewer (or celebrity) endorse the title. On GoodReads, The Lace Reader has received less than stellar reviews. The Washington Post review, however, tells us that this is the first in what will be a three part series. Knowing this, going in, helps the reader to understand that not all of our questions will be answered and neatly wrapped up by the last page of this first novel. 

That being said, I loved it. Perhaps it was because I have just fallen into major crush-mode over Salem, Massachusetts. The book is somewhat a tribute to the town and, having just been there, reading the prose extended my visit. Though the town is what drew me into the story, the characters and plot held me there. Combine magic, generations of women, and a mystery that I have to figure out and I'm pretty much hooked. This book is darker than many would imagine by hearing the title, so please don't open it thinking you are going to hear about frilly lace and girly sagas. The narrator, Towner, is a woman with a disturbed past, and a highly influenced present because of it. Many reviewers tell you to take her at her word from the beginning of the novel when she states that she is a liar and can't be trusted, but that won't help you figure out the ending. The truth is Towner is trying to survive a heartbreaking foundation without having all the pieces to make her well. It isn't until the end of the book that she, and the reader, begin to figure out what exactly happened to her. So rather than think of her as a liar, think of her as a confused person telling you a story to the best degree that her befuddled memory can portray. Yes, there are parts of this book that are not clear (and, as I mentioned, the ending does not answer every question), but that is because the narrator is not clear about her life. She is as much in the dark about the big picture as we are. Hopefully that, and knowing that there is more to come in the story (by way of the next two novels), will help you appreciate the ebb and flow in this web of a story instead of becoming frustrated by trying to be Sherlock Holmes. 

My advice to you; read it. But sit back, relax, and don't work too hard. Let the story wash over you and remember that there is more to come. There will be enough answers to satisfy your biggest queries, even if you are left wondering about some of the details. 
Four Coconuts

xo,
The Coconut Library

By the way, all three novels' movie rights have been purchased already, and The Lace Reader movie is already listed as in production.