Katya is a Russian immigrant in New York who lives with her husband, two children, and her mother. The story revolves around the relationship between Katya is a Russian immigrant in New York who lives with her husband, two children, and her mother. The story revolves around the relationship between Katya and her mother, a math professor who she both loves and has never understood. Her parents’ great love for each other, tragically cut short by her father’s early death, inspires Katya to yearn for an epic love of her own. Unfortunately, she is torn between her husband, her first love, and the rich man who loves her more than she can ever love him.
Mathematics is at the heart of the book; each chapter begins with a quote from one of her mother’s math textbooks. Trying to create a lineal and logical approach to love brings Katya nothing but frustration. She tries to examine the pros and cons of every scenario in her chaotic life, but nothing adds up for her. She and her mother appear to speak different languages, and the situation only becomes worse as her mother is diagnosed with cancer and begins to prepare for her inevitable death.
Witty, tragic, funny and sad at the same time, this is a book full of contradictions but infinitely gratifying to read....more
This book was written during a period in time when the subjugation of women’s needs to the desires of the men who controlled the patriarchy was acceptThis book was written during a period in time when the subjugation of women’s needs to the desires of the men who controlled the patriarchy was accepted, even applauded. Women, like children, were to be seen and not heard. If they also happened to be talented and could support the producers, agents, husbands, and other men who lived off them so much the better. Just give them alcohol and pills and they’ll be complacent and provide money, companionship, and sex to their masters.
The lives of Anne, Neely and Jennifer were only extraordinary in that they were exceptionally talented women. That none of them were appreciated by the men they loved is tragic. No matter how intelligent, beautiful or talented, they were never truly loved in return. They were used and cast aside by the destructive machismo of men with no concept of the meaning of partnership of reciprocation.
Yes, the book is dated, but with the current “Me Too” movement it’s also an indictment of the system that allowed women to be used so egregiously by their supposed partners. Well worth reading in context....more
Loved this novel about a high school girl named Nalena who is ostracized by her peers because of her mother’s paper hoarding. Mrs. Maxwell writes the Loved this novel about a high school girl named Nalena who is ostracized by her peers because of her mother’s paper hoarding. Mrs. Maxwell writes the beginning of stories; literally just a sentence per person. Nalena doesn’t understand this strange habit but her mother refuses to explain other than to tell her “it’s complicated.”
Nalena is shocked when a strange boy, the handsome and popular Garrett, joins her in the library where she goes to escape from the paper mountains at home and study. She can’t believe he’s there just to talk to her — no one talks to The Waste, as she has been named by her cruel classmates. Stranger still is when she is suddenly attacked in the woods behind the library by an unknown man. Who should come to her aid but Garrett, driving her home and on to the hospital to have her broken arm set.
Nalena slowly learns more about her mother’s odd habits when Mrs. Maxwell enters Garrett’s house and admits that she knows his family. The tension and danger ramps up as her mother’s religion is explained to her, a congregation of peacekeepers who are opposed by a chaotic group calling themselves The Fury. Suddenly, she longs to go back to being invisible but that’s no longer an option.
Nalena is a strong female character who is willing to fight to protect the only family she has, her mother. She and Garrett overcome huge obstacles to keep their families and community safe. I couldn’t put the book down and can’t wait to move on the the next novel in the series....more
**spoiler alert** I’m giving this book a 3.5 rating. I would’ve liked to give it a 4 as it ticked a few of my boxes: a cast of female characters and t**spoiler alert** I’m giving this book a 3.5 rating. I would’ve liked to give it a 4 as it ticked a few of my boxes: a cast of female characters and their needs, small-town setting, family ties, etc. The problem is that these women were often bullied and subservient to the men in their lives, the small town was an abysmal place to grow up or raise a family, and the family ties often threatened to destroy rather than bind together.
Sweet Hollow is the small Louisiana town inhabited by 4 generations of women. The matriarch of the story was once a rich and privileged girl of good reputation who throws it all away to marry a laborer on her Daddy’s farm. Unfortunately, he also turns out to be a low level criminal who joins his debauched brother in a bank robbery gone horribly wrong that ends with 2 dead police officers. The good news is he turns over a new leaf and refuses to keep any of the tainted proceeds, letting his brother take all the money. The bad news is that he hides his involvement his entire life, and that his wife knows about it and also keeps it secret.
Their daughter overhears the brothers plotting and sees the stolen money hidden in a shed. She also keeps the secret, but in doing so rejects her parents and leaves home as soon as she’s old enough to be on her own. She marries a damaged PTSD sufferer and lives a life of poverty and apathy.
Her daughter, although gifted at math, gets pregnant by an abusive troglodyte, drops out of high school, and runs away to follow a rich boy who doesn’t really love her and has no intention of allowing a teen mom to spoil his chances of getting a college education and making lots of money. She returns to town, dumps her baby on her mother to raise, and marries the trollish baby-daddy, moving to another town and breeding 5 more children she can’t take care of.
Carasine (a horrible misspelling of Caroline) is finally reunited with her mother and step siblings after her grandmother dies in an accident. She too gets involved with a local loser, but fortunately sees his true colors before she ends up in the same boat as her mother. She is the main character of the book and is also a thoughtful, intelligent young woman who sees what happened to her mother and grandmother and decides to make something of herself. When her mother again decides that she needs to be jettisoned from the family, Carasine goes to live with the great grandparents she hardly knows. This is fortunate for her as they, in an attempt to rectify the mistakes they made with their own daughter, give her a good home and their support as she finished high school.
The women in the book mostly make horrible choices, and almost all the male characters are vile human beings, but there are many moments when the good hearts of these women shine through and I felt for them. Carasine in particular is a bright, generous spirit who loves her mother and siblings even as they treat her as if she’s an stranger in their family. Her great grandfather comes through in the end to provide her with a much-needed boost to get her life on track.
There’s a lot of tragedy in this story, but there’s also humor, love and good people doing the best they can. A good weekend read that will keep you engaged and wanting to know how it all turns out.
Great novel that reads like true-life rock history. These people reach out of the pages and grab you by the throat as they share their recollections oGreat novel that reads like true-life rock history. These people reach out of the pages and grab you by the throat as they share their recollections of the infamous Daisy Jones and Billy Dunne. The different accounts of the same incidents are exactly what you would expect when multiple people are asked to share their memories.
Billy’s love for his wife and the conflict of his attraction to Daisy was poignant and true-to-life. Daisy’s tragic search for meaning in a world of sex, drugs and transience is heartbreaking. They’re both struggling to come to grips with the rockstar life and adulation of the multitudes. The conflicts of the other band members as they strive to make their individual contributions, only to be overshadowed by two larger-than-life stars, are compelling and believable.
I loved this book. Kudos to the author for making this all feel so real; it’s like a Rolling Stone article but larger. I recommend it to anyone who loves music and has an interest in people watching....more
Fanny Flagg is the best at capturing the charm of small-town America in the last century. This story was full of warm, funny and winnA 3.5 on my scale
Fanny Flagg is the best at capturing the charm of small-town America in the last century. This story was full of warm, funny and winning characters and the joys of small events in their lives. A cozy and calming read anyone can enjoy....more
I’ve been a Patricia Cornwall fan for a long time, her Kay Scarpetta books being my favorite. That said, I believe the romance may be over.
This was noI’ve been a Patricia Cornwall fan for a long time, her Kay Scarpetta books being my favorite. That said, I believe the romance may be over.
This was not a bad book. It was not a dull book. But it was a book I have read before, more than once. The unstoppable Carrie Grethen, the mad villain in this story, has been revived one too many times. Yes, she is an evil genius and a truly bad bitch, but how many times will she be institutionalized or killed, only to come back to torment Kay and her niece, Lucy. Come on Patricia, you can come up with some new characters..
I’m also starting to sour on exactly how brilliant, beautiful and rich Kay and her posse are. Are there no ordinary people who can solve crimes and outmaneuver criminals? Must you be incredibly wealthy and talented to make a difference in this world? I’m a bit overwhelmed with the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous vibe the Scarpetta novels have assumed.
That said, this is still a good mystery story about the sudden and unexplained death of a young woman on a bicycle. As always, the forensic details are fascinating and the pace is fast. The entire novel covers a 24 hour period, and not a minute is dull.
Not a bad read, but I’d really like to see some new blood (no pun intended) in the Scarpetta franchise. Your fans are ready and waiting, Patricia....more
This book is Jane Austen being Jane Austen. No one explores the damaging effect of misogyny in the 19th century better than Jane. This novel is no excThis book is Jane Austen being Jane Austen. No one explores the damaging effect of misogyny in the 19th century better than Jane. This novel is no exception, chock full of women raised as wealthy and comfortable until the death of the family scion. The heir, half-brother John, egged on by his money-grubbing, class snob wife Fanny, casts Mrs. Dashwood and her three young daughters out of the family manor promptly after promising his dying father that he will provide for them for the rest of their lives. Oh well, Papa is dead — dealbreaker.
Mrs. Dashwood is fortunate to have a small income of her own and a cousin who comes to the rescue with a cottage the four women can occupy. Of course, now it becomes imperative that she make advantageous marriages for the girls to ensure they are taken care of after she’s gone.
All appears to be going along swimmingly as the eldest daughter, Elinor, seems to have caught the eye of evil Fanny’s far more personable brother, Edward. He is the heir to a sizable fortune of his own, dependent on the pleasure of his mother, a woman even more nasty than Fanny who is determined to see Edward seated in Parliament and married to some rich girl (any rich girl....). Hmmm, sounds like trouble ahead, Elinor.
Next in line is Marianne, who catches the eye of an older gentleman, Colonel Brandon, who has an income and estate of his own. The only problem is Marianne has fallen hard for the dashing Willoughby, a man who loves to hunt and pursue women but has little to offer unless he makes a good marriage of his own. I sense heartache on the horizon, Marianne.
We don’t really hear much of the third daughter, what’s-her-name. I’m not really sure why she even appears, albeit sporadically and briefly. She’s like the third wing on a chicken; seldom seen and utterly useless. Let’s just forget about her as she does absolutely nothing to advance the plot.
There are many more disenfranchised women and lousy situations, but that was life a century ago. I enjoyed this book immensely and will continue my quest to read the classics. Austen is my idol, a woman of courage and wit born in a rather dark time for the female sex....more
I enjoyed this story of magicians vs. warriors. When the son of the High Enchanter and the daughter of the Warrior Queen meet unexpectedly in the foreI enjoyed this story of magicians vs. warriors. When the son of the High Enchanter and the daughter of the Warrior Queen meet unexpectedly in the forest trouble is in the air. The return of the feared witches, long believed extinct, brings an extra measure of danger to the plot.
Honestly, however, I would have found the novel a bit flat if I hadn’t listened to the audiobook version read by David Tennant. His performance is a whirlwind of voices and sound effects issued at a machine gun pace. He’s the Celtic Robin Williams and could read tax forms and keep me entertained.
I intend to find any other audio gems displaying Mr. Tennant’s prodigious talent at the earliest opportunity. I’d recommend you do the same....more
I was excited to start this book. I love Disney’s Aladdin and was expecting s smart and sassy YA version of the tale. Sadly, I was wrong.
Ms. Braswell I was excited to start this book. I love Disney’s Aladdin and was expecting s smart and sassy YA version of the tale. Sadly, I was wrong.
Ms. Braswell is not an impressive author: not insightful or quirky or even mildly amusing. Her book is so derivative of the cartoon version that I felt like I was reading the movie script. The characters are exact replicas of the movie. The dialog is also the same, sometimes word for word. I had hoped for Gregory McGuire-like plot twists and clever character turns. I got a stilted version of the children’s book.
I listened to the audio version of the book on Audible. One would expect an audio book produced by Disney to be good quality. Unfortunately, I feel sure I could have done a better job of reading the book than their narrator. His voice was lackluster and dull. His inflections were all wrong; his statements sounded like questions and vice versa. All the characters sounded the same. Action scenes were read as if he were describing ordinary events. Overall impression: BORING.
If you’re looking for a fun new series of twisted tales, keep looking. This is not the book it’s made out to be....more
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