fiction – Page 21 – Kristin Houlihan, Writer

Book Review: Cape May by Holly Caster

Cape May by [Caster, Holly]

Spoiler Alert – This review includes some spoilers. If you don’t want to know what happens, don’t read past the second paragraph.

When author Holly Caster contacted me and asked me to review her novel Cape May, I was interested mostly because I’m from New Jersey and I welcomed the opportunity to read a little about Cape May, even fiction. I’m honestly not sure I’ve ever been there (maybe I’ve passed through once?), but my parents and my sister and her husband enjoy spending time there, usually staying at a small bed and breakfast. So, that made the premise of the story even more interesting: the main character, 60-year-old Joanna, seeks a change, planning to move from New York City to Cape May to open her own bed and breakfast. Perfect, right? I thought so. I was less sure about the rest of the premise: in the process of pursuing her dream, she falls in love with a man who is not her husband, whom she had married on a whim—and not for love—twenty years earlier. The specter of infidelity made me slightly less interested in reading the book, but the book jacket’s description ends thus: “How will her late awakening affect the future and her three-decade relationship with [her husband] Brian?” I figured the story could go either way – Joanna could choose rightly or wrongly; the idea that she would remain faithful to her husband seemed just as plausible as her choosing infidelity. So, I said yes and agreed to read the book.

The result? Mixed. On the first count, regarding reading about Cape May, I definitely enjoyed the description of the town, the old houses and bed-and-breakfasts, and just generally reading about being in a “Seaside Resort,” as the author terms it on the book jacket. It made me miss living by the beach, and I could practically hear, smell, and taste the ocean while I read about Michael showing Joanna around Cape May.

BUT.

My lingering overall impression of the book is just sadness. No, heartache. The novel’s central characters experience such profound heartache, most of it inflicted by those close to them, that I just felt—and still feel—so sad. I feel sad for Joanna that she wound up unhappy in her marriage, but more sad for Brian that he wound up with a selfish, unfaithful spouse. I can find no room in my heart to be happy for Joanna and Michael as they embark on a life together, living Joanna’s dream of running her own bed and breakfast. None. Instead I just feel disgust for them.

It’s unfortunate that I wound up disliking the story so much, because the writing is great. The story is engaging and emotional – I literally had tears rolling down my cheeks when I read it (and I don’t think it’s because I was newly pregnant…though it could be). I cried for all of the characters as they navigate their unfortunate circumstances: Joanna, for her adolescent mistakes, for her decision to settle with Brian, for her indecision and heartache when she becomes involved with Michael. For Brian, and for Michael, as Joanna’s indecision drags each of their hearts through the ringer. And for much more. It’s just so, so sad what people do to one another, intentionally or not, as they navigate life and love. I also just have a really hard time reading (especially fictional) accounts of people making such bad choices…

In any case, this book gets 3 stars. Usually 3 stars means “it was good enough/it taught me something.” My rationale in this case is basically that while I didn’t particularly care for the story, I really do think it’s an excellent piece of writing and the author deserves credit for crafting a well-written and emotionally compelling story.

**Many thanks to Holly Caster for providing a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Cosi Fan Tutti by Michael Dibdin

When I first mentioned I bought this book at a used book sale I said something like “Italy? Mafia? What’s not to love?” which I followed up with a post about how I’m NOT in the mafia nor do I admire criminal organizations. I wish I could say “what’s not to love?” about the book, but it didn’t blow me away by any means. It was entertaining, and there were definitely things I enjoyed about it, but it just generally was mediocre. Now that I’ve given it that ringing endorsement, if you care to keep reading I will tell you why.

The story takes place in Naples and centers on a police officer, Aurelio Zen, recently transferred from a posting in northern Italy. We follow Zen through his professional and private endeavors, which involve all sorts of interesting characters from mafia members to local prostitutes and taxi drivers. The story itself really wasn’t the most interesting part of the book; I found the writing a bit flowery and sometimes just odd, and while the ending wraps up all the disparate storylines, it read to me like a big explanation that wouldn’t have been entirely necessary had some of the plot elements been more adequately woven in throughout the book.

What was great about the book, though, was how it captured life in Naples and so much of Neapolitan and otherwise generally Italian culture. I’m three-quarters Italian, and two of those three quarters are from Naples or the surrounding area. The little things throughout the book that point to Neapolitan culture—like wearing a horn-shaped amulet around your neck to ward off the evil eye—were my favorite parts. My grandmother actually gave my oldest daughter such a piece of jewelry (previously was my great grandmother’s, if I’m not mistaken) just for that purpose when she was a baby; I have it saved for her until she gets older! Having studied Italian, I also really enjoyed the frequent use of the language throughout, although it was a little difficult for me since much of it was in the Neapolitan dialect rather than formal Italian (which I haven’t studied at all in the last ten years…).

The book also captures some of the more unfortunate, or unsavory, aspects of Italian culture, including animosity toward (particularly Albanian) immigrants and racially charged disdain for anyone from further south on the peninsula. In the book, for example, Zen’s Venetian mother complains that it’s bad enough she lives with the backwards people of Rome, but now her son lives with those “neri” in Naples! It reminded me of the blatant racism I witnessed among Florentines when I studied in Italy in college, and also of how my Neapolitan and Calabrian family viewed Sicilians.

In sum, I’m glad I read the book. Reading about the Italian language and culture was most of my motivation in purchasing the book to begin with, and in that regard it didn’t disappoint. That said, it wasn’t anything super special and I won’t be reading any of the author’s other, similar books. 2.5 stars.

Book Review: The Fever by Thomas Fenske

Make no mistake, this is not just another “Lost Gold Mine” story!
Sam Milton’s life revolves around two things, a cryptic riddle and the mystery of a lost gold mine and so far, his search for the truth has only led to frustrating dead ends.
In his mind, he has only one choice: keep looking!
His dangerous trespassing trips into the unknown have alienated his family and friends, and even cost him the woman he loved but “the fever” continues to push him. Just how far will his lust for gold take him?

The Fever by Thomas Fenske

I read Thomas Fenske’s The Fever several months ago, but life interrupted my plans to write a speedy review. Since it has been awhile since I read the book, I wanted to make sure my recollections are accurate and I took a look back through my Kindle highlights and notes (I actually always do this, but not always as a first step in writing a review). The handful of highlights and notes basically confirmed what I’ve been thinking – what drew me in to The Fever and has remained with me after reading it is its uncanny relation to reality. The events of the story are engaging and memorable, but the most lasting impression for me is that this book truly captures life, from the simplicity of a donut store, well-known and praised despite its run-down appearance, to the messiness of a life structured around a seemingly unrealistic obsession. I think few readers who are looking for an honest, enjoyable read will be disappointed with Fenske’s work.

The story follows Sam as he pursues a passion/quest/obsession with finding a long-hidden gold mine in Texas. We hear how Sam learned of the mine from a dying drunk through an unfortunate but very realistic series of ill-advised adolescent decisions that land him in jail for a night, and then how, for a time, he dismissed the idea and (tried to) put it out of his mind. Years later, he still can’t forget the drunk’s story and accompanying riddle designed to lead searchers to the mine and he decides to devote himself to finding it. We see how Sam’s life quickly becomes centered around this quest, how “he knew he was being guided by that relentless gnawing urge” (Kindle location 1125): he takes jobs that allow him the time off to have an opportunity to travel out to where he believes he will find the mine; he skimps on groceries so he can afford his searching trips; even his friendships and romantic relationships revolve around who understands or supports his endeavors. You’ll have to read the book to find out how he searches and whether he is ultimately successful!

As I mentioned above, what I loved about the book is how realistically life is portrayed, in everything from Sam’s relationship with his parents to how he goes about planning his hiking routes. Some of my favorites:

Sam’s vow not to leave a pile of dirty dishes in the sink when he leaves town and subsequent admission to himself that it’s a hopeless expectation (Kindle location 1392). This sounds a lot like me… until my recent trouble with ants, anyway. Now I usually can’t leave things in the sink overnight without finding ants in the sink the next morning.
The image of Sam with maps of his search area spread out across the floor as he “crawled over them with a gooseneck lamp and a magnifying glass” (Kindle location 1601). My comment here was: “Adam!” because it reminded me of my husband planning his climbing trips.
The frequent mention of an “unwritten rule” that “parents were better off not knowing about some of the things their kids did” (Kindle location 1956). I have to say – this last one did not sit well with me for a good long time – I commented that this is true from a child’s perspective but not a parent’s – though I am trying to come to terms with the reality of this statement, particularly as my children grow; I may need to know everything they do at age four, but I won’t—and shouldn’t—as they get older. It takes A LOT for me to let go of this control.

I’ve just realized I have said a lot about more obscure parts of the book that have stuck with me than about the story line in general, and I think this actually speaks to the quality of the book. It’s true that I read for entertainment, but I feel a lot more satisfied when I have something to take away with me when I finish a book. Ultimately for me, the worth of a book often comes down to how it sticks with me after I’m done with it, and The Fever has definitely stuck around in my mind. I think a lot about Sam when I come across things in spiritual reading that refer to the troubles caused when we put things—anything—ahead of our journey for union with God’s will. He’s sort of a reminder to me, at times, not to let some temporary (or, in his case, very long-lasting) interest too high on my priority list in life, and, in a way, helps me stay focused on what’s important.

I think it takes a lot of talent and skill to write a book that both entertains in itself and impacts the reader, and in my opinion, Thomas Fenske has succeeded with The Fever. I honestly can’t wait to read the sequel, A Curse that Bites Deep!

Four stars!!!

Check out www.thefenske.com for more about The Fever, author Thomas Fenske, and The Curse that Bites Deep (now in editing with the publisher – Wings ePress.

You can buy The Fever at the following places:

Kindle (Amazon) $3.99
Nook (Barnes&Noble) $3.99
iBOOK (Apple iPad/iPhone) $3.99
Other ebook formats are also available at smashwords.com
Buy the Paperback at Amazon — $13.95

Also check out Thomas Fenske’s blogs: Author’s Blog & That Crazy Cookbook Guy!

**Many thanks to author Thomas Fenske for providing a free copy of The Fever in exchange for an honest review!