A Mystery -- Breaking Silence

Sometimes I feel the need to read something outside my comfort zone which is typically historical fiction or nonfiction. And lately I find I've read a lot of Amish based fiction which isn't historical actually but more like a romance. As it's also outside of the usual American culture, Amish fiction shows a peek into what a simplier life is like.

 However, this particular book Breaking Silence by Linda Castillo is rather a police mystery set in Amish country in Ohio featuring Police Chief  Kate Burkholder.  I didn't realize that it's the third one with similiar settings and the same main characters but it stands alone -- it's not necessary to have read the others to understand and follow the story line. 

Conversations between characters seemed stilted to me; as well, as limited character development. I didn't particularly enjoy this one; it was rather gory and some of the facts and incidents were shocking.

Sometimes it seems writers aim for the "shock" value. 

Bibiography Time with

I seeming to gravitate toward non-fiction at the moment. Just finished:

The Real Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Andrew Marr

The biography was completed in time to correspond with the 60th anniversary of her reign. What an amazing life she has had. A life of privilege with huge responsibilities. She ascended the throne in 1952; all my life she has been the queen.  Her first child, Prince Charles is a few years older than I am --- when I was little my mother would tell me I could become a princess if I married him.  Hummm...where did she get that?

She became queen in her mid-twenties, married only a few years and with young children.  Her first Prime Minister was Winston Churchill, a figure made famous during World War II. She has known and received all the U.S. Presidents since Harry Truman--again a person known from history books. She has given such continuity to the British people and Commonwealth. And through bad times and troubles, she has conducted herself with dignity and grace. Monarchy is modernized and made more relevant because of her reign. But it hasn't been all tea and crumpets. National issues and crisis, family and associates and the changing face of the world all have shaped her reign.

 It's an interesting read and shows a personal side of modern history.

A New Year's Resolution Type of Book - The Time of Our Lives

I also read one coming from Tom Brokaw, well-respected journalist since the 60's. It was an appropriate one for the New Year as it has several ideas that could be incorporated into resolutions on a personal and national level. Perhaps Congress should have this book as a "Everyone Reads Book" and then gets together to discuss.

The Time of Our Lives: A Conversation about America: Who We Are, Where We've Been, and Where We Need to Go Now, to Recapture the American Dream
     

This books reads just like Tom Brokaw is speaking to you.  He has such credibility; he's been such a part of the American and international scene reporting all the significant events in recent history. This book is somewhat of a personal reflection on his own life, family and America---how we have arrived in the troubling times we find ourselves presently.  But this book offers much more than just a litany of our ills, he presents some suggestions for getting America moving again and in a positive way toward a brighter future for all our citizens.  Some areas considered include: education reform, higher education partnerships with industry, personal finance (i.e. saving for that "rainy" day), the importance of being involved with your community both locally and nationally---consider volunteering.

It's a worthwhile read and perhaps can offer some insight and ideas for the future.

Another January book - The Soldier's Wife

Another book, I recently read was an historical fiction novel, The Soldier's Wife by Margaret Leroy.

Evocative with exquisite descriptions of the setting on Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands between France and Great Britain. I've always enjoyed reading historical fiction and histories set during the World War II period but I had never explored what happened in this area. The Channel Islands are just off the coast of Northern France and are dependencies of Great Britain. The Germany Army invaded and occupied these islands from June, 1940 until the end of the war in 1945.  I loved the cover: a woman looking out over the water --- thinking, dreaming, wanting the war to be over. What is she thinking? Lovely flowers grace the lower part of the cover--elements featured in the book.  Her husband, Eugene, has joined the army and left the island.  Life during the Occupation begins shortly after Vivienne de la Mare decides to stay on Guernsey with her two daughters instead of evacuating to London. 

 Returning to her home, she and her girls along with her aged mother-in-law find several German officers have been quartered in the vacant house next door.

As the days go by, shortages and hardships develop and a subtle but beguiling friendships with Gunther, one of Germany officers living next door.  He is a gentle, kind man. A love affair begins and Vivienne believes she can keep this secret from her family and friends.  He is the enemy yet she loves him.

I enjoyed this book and seeing Vivienne work through the issues of her life: what would you do for your family? for love? All set with the backdrop of war.

First Book for 2012 - Somewhere Inside

When I began this blog several years ago, I was a middle school librarian so I read and reviewed a number of YA books -- still read them a lot but am focusing more now on reading for my own pleasure from a wide variety of genres. As the closing days of 2011 came around, I decided I would more formally keep track of the books I've read for 2012.  I'll be using this format to share and discuss what I'm reading. In early January, I read a remarkable book about two sisters.

Somewhere Inside: One Sister's Capitivity in North Korea and the Other's Fight to Bring Her Home by Laura Ling & Lisa Ling

 Having lived for over 14 years in Seoul, S. Korea, I'm always interested in books about the area and especially what's life like in N. Korea.  In March, 2009, Lisa Ling (journalist) and her photographer, Euna Lee, were interviewing N. Korean defectors along the N. Korea border with China. When they were arrested by N. Korean soldiers, five harrowing five months in captivity begins. Told in alternative voices, Lisa shares her day-to-day moments with her guards with the readers while Laura tells of her family and her efforts to gain their release.

Lisa is able to develop some rapport with her captors -- some small interchanges show their humanity. The overwhelming  control of the Dear Leader in N. Korea over all areas of life is readily apparent. Apology and sincerity of expression are very important in Korean culture when mollifying a situation. Lisa has to make every effort to appease those in control of her future.

On the other side of the world, Laura is working frantically to explore every option to procure release of her sister and Euna. Various suggestions on how to proceed are considered and rejected. Along the way, different persons are suggested as possible envoys to travel to N. Korea to bring them out. When the trial finds them guilty and sentences them to twelve years of hard labor, time is running out to bring them out.

I found this to be a powerful read and I enjoyed finding out about the sisters and their lives. Taking a peek into N. Korea and the politics and maneuvering during this trial were fascinating. If you wish to read an article appearing in the New York Times appeared Aug. 4, 2009, when former President Bill Clinton brings Lisa and Euna back to the U.S.