Book recommendations

Now that I take the subway to and from work, I find a good book makes the commute pass in the blink of an eye! So I’ve read several wonderful novels lately, and just wanted to share! (If you don’t enjoy reading, never mind! :-> )

1. “Elegance” by Kathleen Tessaro. An American in England, struggling with her failing marriage and her directionless life, tries to become a better person by following the advice written in a book on elegance by a Parisian woman. This book is a bit like the Bridget Jones novels, but less neurotic (and probably therefore less funny), but with much more depth and heart. 8.5 out of 10

2. “Priceless” by Marne Kellogg Smith, is the sequel to the thoroughly enjoyable “Brilliant”. Glamourous Kick Keswick used to be the paragon of an executive assistant at a London auction house, but she was also the highly successful “Shamrock Burglar” (stealing jewels only from people who didn’t deserve them, of course). At the beginning of the sequel, Kick is enjoying retirement in the south of France when she hears of a string of burglaries attributed to the Shamrock Burglar, and she soon decides that she has to go to Italy to discover the imposter and to defend herself. These books are amazing – not just the depiction of the lifestyles of the glitterati, but also the wonderful character of Kick. She’s smart, savvy, resourceful, and sexy. She’s in her middle years, she’s made some mistakes in her past, and she is NOT rake-thin! I really enjoy reading about such a powerful yet human female character! A great “beach” read – 10 out of 10

3. “We Are All the Same” by Jim Wooten. Wooten, as a correspondent for ABC News, had an opportunity to meet a charming young African boy named Nkosi Johnson, and then wrote this book about his all-too-brief life. Nkosi and his remarkable white foster mother used his HIV status (and his very engaging personality) to bring worldwide attention to this epidemic and to the needs of millions of Africans for support, shelter, medical care, and understanding. I found Wooten gave a bit too much background information, but it still was a great opportunity to be inspired by some remarkable human beings. 8 out of 10

4. “Girl with a Pearl Earring” by Tracy Chevalier. I haven’t seen the movie yet, but the novel is beautiful. Chevalier imagines the story around the painting of the same name by Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer. If you have ever longed for someone you couldn’t have, you will be able to relate to this novel, even though it takes place in the 17^th century. 10 out of 10

5. “The Virgin Blue” by Tracy Chevalier. This novel alternates between 16^th-Century France and Switzerland and modern-day France as a young Frenchwoman (Isabelle) struggles with the consequences of the religious superstitions of her day, and her American descendant (Ella) who discovers a strange connection to Isabelle’s life. Complex and rewarding. 9 out of 10

6. “The Lady and the Unicorn” by Tracy Chevalier. Again Chevalier creates historical fiction around a real-life work of art, this time around a set of Belgian/French tapestries. The novel follows the tapestries from their commission to their completion and follows the lives of the various women who are involved (the wife and daughter of the nobleman who orders the tapestries, the wife and daughter of the man who weaves the tapestries, etc.). Chevalier has a remarkable talent to make the reader relate to and feel for each of the main characters. As I was racing to read the last chapter, I truly felt that this book is a gift. 10 out of 10

There! I hope I haven’t bored anyone – please note I get no commissions from bookstores! LOL If you have read any of these novels, or decide to, I would love to hear your thoughts on them!

Cheers,

Eclecta