The Rebellion of Jane Clarke

The Rebellion of Jane Clarke is my favorite of the trilogy of pre-Revolutionary War novels by Sally Gunning. Jane Clarke is an honest and expressive heroine, and the riveting historical elements — including the Boston Massacre and descent into madness of famous patriot James Otis — add depth to the story.

I heartily agree with this sentiment written by Geraldine Brooks on the jacket cover.

"Beautifully researched and ardently imagined, Gunning's writing is so vivid you can taste the salt in the Cape Cod air . . . Her Satucket novels are destined to become classics."

Bound

Sally Gunning returns to pre-Revolutionary War New England in her second piece of historical fiction, Bound. This book tells the story of Alice Cole, who has been 'bound' into indentured servitude at the age of seven when her family experiences misfortune journeying from London to Boston.

After escaping an abusive master outside of Boston, Alice connects with the characters from Gunning's first book, The Widow's War, and joins them in Satucket on Cape Cod. From there the story follows Alice's quest for freedom and happiness, while also chronicling the historical unrest brewing between the colonies and England.

Alice is a compelling character because she unabashedly shares with the reader her deepest and most brutally honest emotions. She is basically a kind and decent girl who because of unfortunate circumstances is sometimes forced to behave dishonorably. Her frankness and introspection help the reader to empathize with Alice and root for her to find peace and contentment in her life.

The Widow's War

I can't decide if The Widow's War: A Novel by Sally Gunning is carefully crafted historical fiction or a trashy romance novel. I guess I like it because it's a little of both. This is the first book I read on my iPhone, after downloading it onto iBooks for 99 cents—all 1,384 pages of it on that tiny screen! But I've discovered that I love reading on these little electronic devices!

While the morals and values of the story's heroine may be questionable, the author defends the book's carnal elements noting that according to her research, "The Puritans were anything but pure." I appreciate her attention to historical details and her authentic depiction of colonial life on Cape Cod. Interestingly, the book's 18th century characters wrestle with the same emotional demons as many contemporary people. When the Indian Cowett and the widow Lyddie discuss sins such as adultery, he explains that, unlike the English, Indian men and women are free to leave one mate and try another whenever they wish.

"Then where lies the sin?" Lyddie asked.

"When the trying comes before the leaving."

The Help

I miss Connie's Nook! I had a hard time lugging around this hardcover copy of The Help by Kathryn Stockett. And, it took me fooooreverrrr to read this cumbersome book.

The movie premiers on August 10, and I just finished reading last night. I hope the story comes to life for me on the big screen because it certainly put me to sleep every night in written form.

I like the premise of the story, although it did seem vaguely familiar—like I had heard of something with a strikingly similar plot recently. Trouble is, I lost interest in the characters who I felt were very stereotypical.

The author admits in her afterword, "I was scared that I was crossing a terrible line, writing in the voice of a black person." Rightly so, and I also think she was not particularly effective in capturing the nuances of the language. I found myself having to reread passages several times before I identified what the character was trying to say, even though I had no problem deciphering the African-American vernacular in Walter Mosley's book, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey.

Overall, I was mostly disappointed by this book that received many rave reviews and recommendations from friends.

UPDATE:

Loved the movie. Saw it with teacher friends Saturday night and thought it presented the perfect combination of humor and reverence for the subject matter. This is very unusual for me, but I believe I identified with the movie's point of view more than the book's.

The Art of Racing in the Rain

LEXILE 850

I'm more of a cat-person than a dog-person, and I'm not a huge NASCAR fan, yet I really enjoyed reading The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. Go figure.

I was easily drawn into the story about a mechanic/race car driver named Denny which is told through the insightful point of view of his observant and endearing pet dog, Enzo.

So many of life's heart-rending truths are captured in the pages of this strange little book. Enzo's thoughtful commentary on people and society is spot-on, and his philosophical comparisons between life and car-racing are often profound.

“Racing is about discipline and intelligence, not about who has the heavier foot. The one who drives smart will always win in the end.”

“There is no dishonor in losing the race . . . There is only dishonor in not racing because you are afraid to lose.”

“The race is long. It is better to drive within oneself and finish the race behind the others than it is to drive too hard and crash.”

“One can never be angry at another driver for a track accident. One can only be upset at himself for being caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Enzo is a steadfast companion and witness to many of Denny's trials and tribulations, including ongoing financial problems, a family feud, and the death of his wife, Eve. Throughout, Enzo provides gentle support and humor as he passes judgement on everything from hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and the decimation of the rain forest to euthanasia, loneliness, and the self-destructive nature of humans.

Enzo also has a great sense of humor. This is what he has to say about monkeys.

"Monkeys have thumbs. Practically the dumbest species on the planet, next to the duck-billed platypus, who make their dens underwater even though they breathe air. The platypus is horribly stupid, but is only slightly dumber than a monkey. Yet monkeys have thumbs. Those monkey-thumbs were meant for dogs. Give me my thumbs, you f-ing monkeys!"

The ultimate lesson shared by the dog who longs to be human and his devotion to his race-car-driving master is this gem:

"That which we manifest is before us. The visible become the inevitable. Your car goes where your eyes go."