Lean, Mean Thirteen

 Shirley J                 Adult Fiction      Ex-Husbands and Female Bounty Hunters

Lean, Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich    310 pages

Stop!   Stephanie Plum's ex Dickie Orr has gone missing and Stephanie is the main suspect in his disappearance!   Ranger asked her to plant a bug on Dickie because Ranger suspected him of being involved in some shady business which he was, but in the process of going to Dickie's office with Lula and Connie in tow, Stephanie found out that Dickie was Dickery Do Daing Joyce Barnhart again and proceeded to kick his ass right there in his office with his office staff as witnesses.   YIKES!  Then he comes up missing and every finger seems to be pointed at Stephanie.    Good story I highly recommend it to teenagers on up.

Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaido

 The Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaido by Keisai Eisen, Utagawa Hiroshige, and Sebastian Izzard, 157 pages

Nineteenth century Japan saw an intense interest in travel, and a corresponding market for travel books and prints, whether sold as guides, mementos, or as objects of art.  Among the main routes for travel was the Kisokaido, a highway running down the center of Honshu from the Tokugawa capital of Edo to the imperial capital of Kyoto.  The artist Keisai Eisen was commissioned to create a series of prints depicting the route, but he only completed 24 prints before abandoning the project, which was then handed over to Utagawa Hiroshige, whose fame as a master of ukiyo-e was destined to eclipse that of Eisen.

The Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaido collects the best reproductions of the original prints and offers both an opportunity for aesthetic appreciation and a vicarious journey through 19th century Japan.  Izzard offers his guidance for each of these paths, commenting on the sites depicted and on the history of the prints themselves.  Whatever the motive, the journey is certain to be a rewarding one.  

The Legend of the King

 The Legend of the King by Gerald Morris, 295 pages

Book 10 of The Squires Tales series, this is the final installment. And I've read this series before, and knew the first time around how Camelot ends, but oh my, it was sad to read again! Readers are reunited with nearly all the major characters of the previous books, and many of the characters are given excellent and touching endings. 

And of course there still are wonderful passages with stories of adventure and the friendship of Terence and Gawain, along with the other characters in the series, some from Arthurian literature and some (like Terence) completely made up by Gerald Morris. I cried when the story ended, because it's Camelot and it's sad, but also because I loved reading this series and I was sorry to come to the end again. But as a person who likes to reread, I can always start the series over again! 

These books are an excellent introduction to the King Arthur tales. Even though many of the characters are adults, middle-graders will love the action and the compelling stories. Highly recommended for young readers who might not be ready for angsty teen books, but who are looking for something challenging after graduating from chapter books.

The Beauty of Your Face

 Shirley J.         Adult Fiction      Life in America for a Pakistani Family

The Beauty of Your Face by Sohar Mustafah   300 pages

This is the tale of a Palestinian family living in Chicago.   WAhile her parents still hold to the old ways of their Palestinian culture, Afaf, her sister and brother are being brought up in two cultures, American at school and Palestinian at home.    When her older sister goes missing it tears the family apart.    Her mother is never the same aqain and her father tries toembrace Islam and coerce the remaining children in the household to do so, too.    Afaf has tried to fit in at school to the point of going overboard with the boys until one day she too embraces Islam.    Her life forever changes So many things happen even a shooting at the school she grows up to become principal of terrifying moments seen through her eyes.   A good story with lots of twists and turns.   I would recommend this to middle-schoolers on up.  A  good introduction to life in multi-cultural households and the religion of Islam.        

Unleashed

Unleashed by David Rosenfelt   308 pages

 Shirley J.              Adult Fiction       Murder Mystery    Golden Retrievers    Luck

Well I stumbled onto another series.   The Andy Carpenter series, but, it is a good one, so, I will likely start at the begining and read the set.   This book was a stand alone story, except that you got the feeling there was history to these fellow's friendships.     A freak accident hitting a golden retriever mysteriously "saves" Sam Willis' life as he would have gotten on a plane that later crashed that night  which in Sam's mind is divine providence and he believes the dog to have mystical powers and will bring him luck.   Funny enough, things do seem to go luckier for him (and others) if they just pat injured dog on the head.    Sam nurses the golden retriever back to health and feels he owes his life to the precious dog.    Lawyer Buddy, Andy Carpenter also has a golden retriever and the two dogs become pals.   Strangely enough the man piloting the plane turns out to have been poisoned and had died prior to the plane crash setting up a world of conjecture on who did it, how did they do it and why?   Clever plot and even more clever dialogue.   I am an Andy Carpenter fan now and will have to go back and learn more about him.    Yes, I do recommend this book to highschoolers on up.   The repartee is fun, the relationship of Andy and Laurie amusing and his trial personna genius.   Good one.

Between the Plums

Between the Plums  by Janet Evanovich  496 pgs
 

Shirley J.              Adult Fiction                Female Bounty Hunters, Christmas, Supernatural    

What a fun surprise, 3 Stephanie Plum stories in one book.    While the stories are a short ones, they are still quality Stephanie Plum and give her a new man in her life to play with, Diesel.   He is mysterious and tall like Ranger, built solid like Morelli but he is blond and looks like a surfer, oh yeah, he is supernatural, too.   He doesn't have to break n to Stephanie's apartment, the bolt and lock just slide back on their own when he wants in.    He is like a bounty hunter for supernatural bad guys and enlists Stephanie's help with some of his cases.   He makes his first appearance around Christmas in the short story, "Visions of Sugar Plums,"  Stephanie hasn't mailed out her cards, she hasn't got a tree nor any decorations up, she hasn't bought present one and Lula calls her on not having Christmas spirit because she isn't even wearing anything red.   Fun story.

Plum Lovin' is set at Valentine's Day and a relationship specialist is accused of armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon.  Stephanie ends up helping her with some of her cases and one of them is dealing with Albert Kloughn.   Are there enough relationship specialists in the world to get  Albert over his marriage phobia?   Not to mention more bombshell news.   Hilarious.   Who really is Stephanie's valentine?  Last but not least "Plum Lucky" is set at St. Patrick's Day, there are little people, Atlantic City, a lame horse and Grandma Mazur with more loot than any of them will ever see again ready to hit the road.   Great stories, you won't even realize they are short stories, they are so full of action and hilarity.   Big points for this book.   I enjoyed it from beginning to end.   I recommend this book to Middle Schoolers on up.   Chock full of holiday cheer.  

In Such Hard Times

In Such Hard Times: The Poetry of Wei Ying-wu by Wei Ying-wu, translated by Red Pine, 359 pages

Wei Ying-wu lived in hard times indeed.  The eighth century saw the crisis of the An Lushan rebellion, which forced the Tang court to flee Chang-an, and even the final suppression of the revolt only seemed to increase the power of the regional warlords.  Wei himself lived a life full of disappointments - a born aristocrat but a middling scholar, his career as a civil servant never equaled his early promise.  How much of this was a cause and how much a result of his desire for a retired, ascetic life is an open question.

     reports neglected for days

     no one dealing with ink or words

     it must be because of the quiet

     or because I met a man of the Way

In medieval China, poetry was the language of social discourse, and most of Wei's poems look to past meetings or present ones or future encounters, or all of these simultaneously.

     we met and got drunk among the flowers

     we were going in different directions but not very far

     what the evening tide took away the morning tide brought back

Wei's status as a man of culture with at least aspirations to virtue moving in and out of an imperial administration is one he shared with a number of celebrated figures in Chinese history, many of whom he acknowledges as models.  It gives him a certain sensitivity to human foibles.

     the price of a single cup was a hundred sacks of grain

     it was strong at first and then thin and finally robbery

     but patrons knew its name and nothing of its taste

The world was hardly clamoring for an English translation of the poetry of Wei Ying-wu.  That Red Pine took the task upon himself is itself evidence of the way the life and work of the poet resonate with those of his translator, and the latter's excellent commentary makes it available to the receptive reader.

     whistling out loud I hike past towering trees

     admiring the heights his footsteps have reached

Kennedy's Avenger: Assassination, Conspiracy and the Forgotten Trial of Jack Ruby

 Kennedy’s Avenger: Assassination, Conspiracy and the Forgotten Trial of Jack Ruby by Dan Abrams and David Fisher 400 pages

It seems each time there is a trial that the entire nation is watching, whether it be via newspapers, radio or television, it’s called “the trial of the century.” The 20^th Century had a number of the sensational trials.

First it was the 1905 trial of Henry K. Thaw, heir to coal and railway fortune, for the murder of renowned architect Stanford White. Following that was the 1924 trail of Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb for the murder of fourteen-year-old Bobby Franks and their attempt to commit “the perfect crime.” Others that followed were the Lindbergh Baby kidnapping and murder (1932); the espionage trial of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg (early 1950s) and the O. J. Trial (1995).

Those are the ones that come easily to mind; I’m sure there were others. However, there is one forgotten “the trial of the century.” One that had millions of eyewitnesses: The murder of JFK assassinator Lee Harvey Oswald by Jack Ruby. Television cameras showed Ruby step out of crowd, shove a pistol into Oswald’s stomach and pull the trigger.

The writing team of Dan Abrams and David Fisher explores this trial in their new book, “Kennedy’s Avenger: Assassination, Conspiracy and the Forgotten Trial of Jack Ruby.”

I admit that I have a rather morbid fascination with JFK and his death. One of the top questions I have on my to-ask-God list when I get to heaven is “who was behind the JFK murder?” There seems to be so many right answers to that question that they are all suspect.

Abrams and Fisher’s book opens with an overview of the assassination. Fortunately they do not rehash JFK’s death all over again or Oswald’s reasons. They do a fabulous job staying focused on what Jack Ruby did and his attempt for justice both behind the gun and behind bars.

Readers get a solid look at Jack Ruby and his life. I knew he was a nightclub owner and operator. He had bouts with depression and mental illness ran rampant through his family. To me, getting to know Ruby was far more interesting than the trial.

And the trial! What a circus! It makes the O.J. Trial look like a church picnic. All during the trial, Ruby sat staring straight ahead, seemingly detached and not much interested. For the defense was the Melvin Belli, “the nation’s most flamboyant lawyer.” For the prosecution, the “tough-as-Texas” Henry Wade. Presiding over the shenanigans was Judge Joe B. Brown, who “had been elected (to) his position. He was not a lawyer and lacked legal knowledge.”  Can you imagine someone with that lack of qualifications presiding over a high profile case today? Me either.

The antics that went on in that truly gave me a headache. I cannot imagine being on that jury. Heck, it took Judge Brown seventeen minutes just to read the charge against Ruby. How they were able to return a verdict in two hours and nineteen minutes is beyond me. I would still be trying to look pass the all the antics.

One thing that I did not care for, and subsequently glossed over, was when the authors gave a history of different things about and during the trial. That happened about five times, I believe.  Therefore “Kennedy’s Avenger: Assassination, Conspiracy and the Forgotten Trial of Jack Ruby”  receives 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

 

King's Minion

The King's Minion: Richelieu, Louis XIII, and the Affair of Cinq-Mars by Philippe Erlanger, translated by Gilles and Heather Cremonesi, 240 pages

As the Thirty Years' War stumbled to its exhausted close, it became increasingly clear that the power of France would dominate the Continent, and that the director and architect of that power was the Red Eminence, Armand Jean de Plessis, Cardinal de Richelieu.  If to some he seemed nearly omnipotent, canny observers - and there were none more canny than the Cardinal himself - understood how precarious his position truly was, for he was deeply unpopular and served only at the pleasure of the king.  Louis XIII, for his part, personally loathed the man who had forced him to send his beloved mother into exile and thrown France into a murderous war for which he would have to answer before God, yet Louis also recognized his minister's genius and found him irreplaceable.  In an effort to ensure that this did not change, Richelieu went to great lengths to introduce Louis to the charming young Henri Coiffier de Ruze, Marquis de Cinq-Mars.  As Richelieu hoped, Cinq-Mars captivated the king, swiftly replacing his quarrelsome mistress Marie de Hautefort in his affections.  The proud, impetuous Cinq-Mars chafed under Richelieu's patronage, however, and soon found himself embroiled in a series of conspiracies against the Cardinal, eventually leading to a tragic end for the royal favorite.

Erlanger walks breezily through the backroom intrigues of the baroque court, following the interwoven plots with a clear narrative and such memorable sketches of the various personalities involved that even minor figures are easily distinguished.  If at times this leads him to go beyond the facts and to presume to know the hearts and minds of his subjects, it is easy enough to recognize this as the informed speculation it is.

SLPL Team totals for April, 2021

 This April, we were a very small but mighty team.

4 people
read 35 books
for a total of 11273 pages

Shirley J. joined back in this month, logging an absolutely whopping 19 books!!  However, Julie E-C logged 3 books with bonuses (2 with a City in the title, and one title that ends in Y).  So, accolades all around!

We'll see what May brings to us --- hopefully some great reads!

Integralism

Integralism: A Manual of Political Philosophy by Thomas Crean and Alan Fimister, 279 pages

A spectre is haunting what was the West - it is the spectre of Integralism.  All the powers of the old liberalism have entered into an unholy alliance to exorcise this spectre: Democrat and Republican, libertarian and socialist, German and Brit, Dorsey and Zuckerberg, Bezos and Gates.  

This may seem a trifle overblown.  It is true, however, that as the liberal consensus crumbles, engaged Catholics, and especially younger Catholics, have begun looking for traditional alternatives to the naked emperor of modernity.  One of the most trenchant criticisms of the movement has been the lack of agreement as to what, precisely, is meant by "Integralism", particularly in a country founded on the rejection of throne and altar.  Is Integralism equivalent to Falangism, or is it a particular flavor of common-good conservatism, or is it a fundamentally unserious social-media phenomenon with no meaningful content whatsoever?

Although disagreements will no doubt continue, with the publication of Crean and Fimister's manual at least the last is no longer an entirely plausible answer.  Without being argumentative, they carefully build their argument for a rational society and a politics which respects the entire human person.  Although their conclusions are unlikely to convince anyone who does not agree with their premises, their political philosophy is at least coherent, which is more than can be said for any of the post-modern alternatives.  The result is a challenge to many, and an invitation to a few.

The King's Coat

 The King's Coat: The First Naval Adventure of Alan Lewrie by Dewey Lambdin, 384 pages

When nothing else could hold my attention (I've started and abandoned about 4 books recently!) a British Navy tale will always do. This was one I'd been meaning to read for quite a while, and once I realized I just did not have the attention span for nonfiction or dense literary fiction, I decided to go with action and adventure in search of something that would keep me turning the pages. 

Alan Lewrie is no Horatio Hornblower and Dewey Lambdin is no C.S. Forester, but that's okay. This was an action-packed adventure and even though I won't devour these books like I did the Horatio Hornblower series, I'm sure I'll pick up more in the future. 

Alan Lewrie has enjoyed the life of an aristocrat in 1780s England, but his father, fearing Lewrie will inherit all his wealth and preferring the children of his wife to the child of his mistress, sends Lewrie to sea, half expecting Lewrie not to survive the adventure and not much caring either way if he does. Lewrie is very much a fish out of water (pun intended) as he struggles to learn his new duties and to find ways to survive in a difficult and unforgiving environment. While I found myself occasionally shocked and scandalized at some of Lewrie's choices (I prefer the rule-following Hornblower!), I did enjoy the action and descriptions of the seafaring life. And I enjoyed the descriptions as Lewrie begins to actually thrive as a midshipman and hope for promotion, prizes, and glory. 

Lots of action (both on the sea and, uh, in some of the seedier port towns) and good supporting characters and situations, I was glad to find a book that held my interest again.

Broken (in the Best Possible Way)

 Broken (in the Best Possible Way) by Jenny Lawson 285 pages

Summary from Goodreads:  As Jenny Lawson’s hundreds of thousands of fans know, she suffers from depression. In Broken, Jenny brings readers along on her mental and physical health journey, offering heartbreaking and hilarious anecdotes along the way.

With people experiencing anxiety and depression now more than ever, Jenny humanizes what we all face in an all-too-real way, reassuring us that we’re not alone and making us laugh while doing it. From the business ideas that she wants to pitch to Shark Tank to the reason why Jenny can never go back to the post office, Broken leaves nothing to the imagination in the most satisfying way. And of course, Jenny’s long-suffering husband Victor―the Ricky to Jenny’s Lucille Ball―is present throughout.

And here's what I thought: Typical for her books, Jenny Lawson makes me laugh until I'm crying and then with the next chapter, makes me get choked up. Mostly, I laugh until I'm ready to cry - which is why I cannot read her books when I'm in bed before I go to sleep . . . I get way too punchy and laugh too much.  She's a little like Allie Brosh -- I can't relate to all of her stories, but I can relate to some of them. And that's what makes Jenny Lawson pretty awesome --- she's not afraid to bare it all, even if it's something ugly or sad. And she's there for the journey and takes you along with her.

By the way - I also cannot listen to her audiobooks in the car. I tried her first book on audio and was laughing so hard I had tears running down my face . . . which I could tell alarmed the person stuck next to me in traffic.

The Ladies of the Secret Circus

The Ladies of the Secret Circus by Constance Sayers  454 pages

Summary from Goodreads: Paris, 1925: To enter the Secret Circus is to enter a world of wonder-a world where women tame magnificent beasts, carousels take you back in time, and trapeze artists float across the sky. But each daring feat has a cost. Bound to her family's strange and magical circus, it's the only world Cecile Cabot knows-until she meets a charismatic young painter and embarks on a passionate love affair that could cost her everything.

Virginia, 2005: Lara Barnes is on top of the world-until her fiancé disappears on their wedding day. Desperate, her search for answers unexpectedly leads to her great-grandmother's journals and sweeps her into the story of a dark circus and a generational curse that has been claiming payment from the women in her family for generations. 

And here's what I thought:  Secret circus? Sign me up!  If you like stories of circuses, and things like Cirque du Soleil, as well as dark fantasy, this is your book. I really enjoyed this book and the back-and-forth in time storytelling.  This circus is fascinating, but there's something very dark at play here and as the pages turn, more and more is revealed, bit by bit. A ticket may be something you want, but is it worth your soul?  Can you pay off a lifetime of bad acts by performing a circus act?  Definitely a dark story, and a bit of heartbreak here.  Smoothly paced, this story builds in intrigue with each page and there is a dark current running all the way through.

Girlsplaining a (sorta) Memoir

 Girlsplaining a (sorta) Memoir by Katja Klengel  154 pages

Summary from Goodreads: Cartoonist Katja Klengel tackles the subjects that have shaped her life: from body shaming to the exploration of female sexuality, from the representation of women in the media, and the social pressure on women who have not yet started a family all with a sense of humor, an open heart, and an unsparing candor.

Why do we fear the word “vulva” more than “Voldemort”? (Shh, don't say his name!) Do we really have to be ashamed of our body hair? Why do gender roles in children’s toys seem stuck in the 50s? In seven chapters, cartoonist Katja Klengel tackles the subjects that have shaped her life: from body shaming to the exploration of female sexuality, from the representation of women in the media, and the social pressure on women who have not yet started a family. With a sense of humor, an open heart, and an unsparing candor, Klengel draws inspiration from her own life as she examines what being a woman today means to her (and really, a whole lot of us!)

And here's what I thought: I saw this at the library and was curious. It's a fun book, but there are some thoughtful things here. Exploring personal topics through a graphic format makes it look less serious than it is, but Klengel does explore some pretty interesting ideas here. Very funny, but also very real.

The Drowning Kind

 The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon  319 pages

Summary from Goodreads: When social worker Jax receives nine missed calls from her older sister, Lexie, she assumes that it’s just another one of her sister’s episodes. Manic and increasingly out of touch with reality, Lexie has pushed Jax away for over a year. But the next day, Lexie is dead: drowned in the pool at their grandmother’s estate. When Jax arrives at the house to go through her sister’s things, she learns that Lexie was researching the history of their family and the property. And as she dives deeper into the research herself, she discovers that the land holds a far darker past than she could have ever imagined.

In 1929, thirty-seven-year-old newlywed Ethel Monroe hopes desperately for a baby. In an effort to distract her, her husband whisks her away on a trip to Vermont, where a natural spring is showcased by the newest and most modern hotel in the Northeast. Once there, Ethel learns that the water is rumored to grant wishes, never suspecting that the spring takes in equal measure to what it gives.

And here's what I thought: This was a really nice, creepy story. With the back-and-forth in time, you get an interesting perspective on the property in question, which I thought was interesting. In fact, the property and the pool of water, itself, is a character unto itself. I also liked that because some of the characters have . . . . issues, they are unreliable narrators. That sense of "can I believe them," and "is the water somehow evil?" kept things interesting.

Definitely a good story if you like a little ghost story with your suspense novel.

The Little Shop of Found Things

 

The Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston    307 pages

Summary from Goodreads: Xanthe and her mother Flora leave London behind for a fresh start, taking over an antique shop in the historic town of Marlborough. Xanthe has always had an affinity with some of the antiques she finds. When she touches them, she can sense something of the past they come from and the stories they hold. So when she has an intense connection to a beautiful silver chatelaine she has to know more.

It’s while she’s examining the chatelaine that she’s transported back to the seventeenth century. And shortly after, she's confronted by a ghost who reveals that this is where the antique has its origins. The ghost tasks Xanthe with putting right the injustice in its story to save an innocent girl’s life, or else it’ll cost her Flora’s.

While Xanthe fights to save her amid the turbulent days of 1605, she meets architect Samuel Appleby. He may be the person who can help her succeed. He may also be the reason she can’t bring herself to leave.

And here's what I thought:  This book was okay. I thought the premise was interesting, but I found it was a bit much on some of the detail and there was more romance than I wanted in the story. The author does put a lot of detail into the story, so it's easy to picture the settings and the characters, which I did like. However, the time spent in 1605 seemed a little too "clean" to me --- I think my practical mind just couldn't always accept that things went so smoothly for her. Oddly enough, I can suspend my disbelief for science fiction and fantasy stories --- but not  "I went back in time and everyone smelled good and everyone's teeth were fine and I never ever worried about the fact that I might get my period."  Enough said.

Just because I didn't love this book doesn't mean it won't be someone else's cup of tea, though.

Unleashed

 Shirley J.     Juvenile Fiction        Science Fairs/Young Inventors

Unleashed by Gordon Norman (Book #7 in the Swindle Series)   208 pages

When their school is invited to participate in a science fair everyone expects Griffin Bing to be the first to sign up - his father is a serious inventor so naturally everyone expects Griffin to follow in his Dad's footsteps, everybody except Griffin that is.   Gordon has no interest in the competition but when his arch nemesis and arrogant bully, Darren Vader, taunts him into a competition to see which of them will win and force the other to get up in the lunchroom in front of everybody and make a speech about how great the winner is - well!   Griffin plans to enlist the help of his science geek friend Melissa only to find out Melissa has signed up to compete herself which causes a big hoorah between them escalating into a girls vs. boys match.   Griffin is stuck trying to talk his dad into helping her, but, his Dad makes it clear he will help but he won't DO the project.   And then new crabby neighbor, Mr. Hartman ("Heartless" the kids call him) moves in and stops the gang from taking a short cut through his yard.     And what is he  up to squirreling away building materials and boxes of groceries?  Things get way out of hand and surveillance becomes the word of the day enlisting Ben's ferret, "Ferret-Face," to do search and rescue missions.    A cute story that can stand alone in it's own right.   I would recommend this story to 4th graders on up.

The Dutch House

Shirley J.          Adult Fiction          Childhood Homes and Memories    Families    Forgiveness

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett      337 pages

I loved this story.   It is the bittersweet story of siblings Danny and Maeve Conroy and their memories of growing up in the Dutch House a mansion-esque home in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia, PA.   Their father, Cyril Conroy, made his fortune in real estate and as a surprise for their mother bought the Dutch House, a home that had been owned by a Dutch family and still held many of their things though all the Dutch family had by then passed away.    It was a great old house, a bit of a fixer upper on the third floor (raccoons had moved in) but a joy to behold for young Maeve who basically had her own suite as she awaited the birth of her younger brother Danny.    Their mother was of a mind to become a nun until Cyril talked her out asked her to marry him.    But, she never go away from her calling to help others and be a servant to mankind.    So much happens over the years, I will say one man's happiness does not mean every one is happy and a huge toll is taken on the family and changes come overnight.   Nothing is ever sure and tomorrow is not promised.   The story unwinds and people come and go, families are formed and reformed.   An excellent tale.   I couldn't put it down.   Sometimes the bond between siblings is so tangile it is almost supernatural and if you are not part of that bond, you will never understand it..   Great story.   I recommend this to mature elementary school students on up to senior citizens.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

 

Shirley J.     Adult Fiction           Deals with the Devil

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab   444 pages

Addie Larue was born in the 1700s in a small town in France.   She grows up being friends with a local woman who teaches her about herbs, healing, the new and old gods.   When Addie comes of marrying age, her father and a local older man who is a widower with children strike a deal for Addie's hand in marriage.   Addie does not want such a life and when she is unable to reason with her parents she goes to her wise woman friend for advice.   Addie plans to run away but the woman tells her to take her plight to the old gods but not the ones out after dark.   Fate being what it is Addie is out after dark running from her parents who are giving her over to this stranger to marry.   She runs pleading with any entity that will hear her to save her from this fate.  Guess who is listening and turns up?   He  first appears as the "Green Man,' of the forest but later he turns up in the guise of the man of Addie's dreams, tempting her though she knows this personna is not a true one, she still often finds it irresistable.     Deals made in the dark to dark gods are never without a dear price to pay for them in exchange and Addie finds this out to her sorrow.   A good book that holds your interest throughout.    I would recommend this book to highschoolers on up due to sexual content.