Books set in Asia: China

Colors of the Mountain, by Da Chen (1999)

Colors of the Mountain is a memoir of a young boy who grew up during the Cultural Revolution in China. His parents and grandparents were landlords before Mao took over. They were considered in an elite class, so after the revolution they suddenly found themselves outcasts in a rural farming community. Da was a good student, but was bullied in school by the farming students in his class. He essentially dropped out of school for a few years, thinking there was not future for him in academics. After Mao died, educational opportunities opened up for all young students and Da realized he may have a chance to leave his commune and realize his potential as a scholar.

This book was on my mother's suggested reading list.  I wish I had a more extensive list of her favorite books.

Interesting book, especially since I just returned from an extended stay in China.

Read:  October 30, 2017

3 Stars

Books Set in the United States: New England

Mystery on the Isles of Shoals, by J. Dennis Robinson (2014)

I picked up this book for two reasons: First, it is about the Isles of Shoals, the mysterious islands off the coast of Maine and New Hampshire, where I spent my childhood. Second, because it reminded me of my late mother. My mother first told me about the ax murders that had taken place in the 1870s on Smuttynose Island. This book isn't really a mystery, per se, as we known from the start that the murderer was captured, tried, convicted and executed. The "mystery" is the legend that surrounds the murders.

Almost as soon as the murder of two Norwegian immigrant women were murdered on Smuttynose Island, their deaths became local legend. The author of this book attempts to dispel the legend and compile the evidence that supported the trial of Louis Wagner and show that justice was served.

The two women, Karen Christensen and her sister-in-law, Anethe Matae Christensen, were brutally murdered on the night of March 6, 1873. The women, along with Maren Hontvet, were alone on the island that evening and, with their husbands, were the sole residents of the island. On that night, the women were all together in the house owned by the Hontvet's, Anethe and Maven's husbands were on the mainland preparing their nets for a fishing expedition. John Hontvet, Maren's husband, was a successful fisherman and was believed to have some money hidden in his house.

Enter Louis Wagner. He was a Prussian immigrant down on his luck. He stole a dory and oared out the 10 or so miles to the island in the dark of the night with plans to seal John Hontvet's stash of money. He knew the men of the house were on the mainland (in fact, he was going to assist them in preparing their nets), so thought he could easily enter the house, grab the money and return to the mainland with no one being the wiser. His planned robbery, however, went terribly wrong, when, upon entering the dark house on Smuttynose, he awakened Karen, who was an unexpected visitor in the house.

He picked up an ax and began bludgeoning the women. Maren was able to escape, but Karen and Anethe were not so lucky. After stealing approximately $16, Wagner rowed back to the mainland and set off for Boston, where he spent to stolen money on a haircut and new clothing.

Wagner quickly became the main murder suspect and was caught. He never actually confessed and offered numerous theories and stories explaining his sudden departure for Boston, not of which made any sense. Despite this, many people questioned whether or not he was the actual murderer, and in the a trial that went on for days, many technician theories were raised. He was ultimately found guilty and hanged.

Many books have been written about the Smuttynose ax murders, including Anita Shreve's novel, The Weight of Water. Her book takes a fictional spin on the murders and depicts Wagner in a more sympathetic light than the fact show.

I found this book an interesting read. As I noted, it is not so much of a mystery as it is a compilation of facts the support a finding that Louis Wagner had the means and opportunity to commit this horrendous crime. The author also provides an interesting history into life in the New England fishing villages and thoughts on capital punishment at this period in time.

3 Stars

Books Set in the United States: New York City

The Nest, by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney (2016)

The Nest is a novel of a very dysfunctional family.  The four adult children believe they will inherit a very large sum of money when the youngest, Melody, turns 40.  On the eve of her 40th birthday, the oldest sibling, Leo, found himself in a compromising position when he crashed his car and his passenger, a 19-year-old undocumented waitress, was maimed.  The family matriarch decides to buy off the waitress to avoid a scandal.  The money used, however, was the "Nest".  The remaining sibling realize that their portion is greatly reduced, and they had been living a lifestyle that was relying on the funds.  All are in desperate financial straights.  Will Leo repay the Nest, so each sibling can receive the amount each believes they are owed?

I didn't find any of the characters particularly likable.  Although Leo promises to repay the Nest, he claims he needs three months to come up with a plan.  Will he come through with his promise?  Does the reader care?

Read:  October 9, 2017

3 Stars

Books Set in the United States: Vermont

The Winter People, by Jennifer McMahon (2014)

I picked up this novel solely because it was set in Vermont, my mother's home state.

The story follows the live of Sara Harrison Shea, who lived in West Hall, Vermont in the early 1900s, and jumps to present time with teenage Ruthie, who lives with her mother and young sister in Sara's old farmhouse.

Sara's young daughter, Gertie, died in 1908 during a brutal cold winter, when she ostensibly fell into a well.  Sara has a hard time overcoming her grief over losing her daughter.  Soon after Gertie's death, Sara is discovered brutally murdered ~ her mutilated body found in a field.

Jump to present day, where Ruthie has been out late and sneaks into her house hoping not to face the wrath of her mother, only to find her mother has gone missing.  Ruthie searches the house for a clue as to why her mother may simply have vanished.  She comes across copy of Sara Harrison Shea's diary hidden in the floorboards of the house.  In her diary, Sara discussed her dead daughter.  Critical pages, however, were missing.

Ruthie continues to search for her mother and runs across Katherine, a recent widow who moved to West Fall to discover why her dead husband was visiting the town on the day of his death.  (Really?  You suspect your husband is having an affair, so move to the "scene of the crime"?)

Katherine and Ruthie realize that Katherine's husband had met with Ruthie's mother on the day the husband died and the mother vanished.  Is this a coincidence?

The book was mildly interesting, but not one I could highly recommend.

Read:  October 3, 2017

2.5 Stars

Books Set in the United States: New York City

The Swans of Fifth Avenue, by Melanie Benjamin (2016)

This book is pure gossip, but oh, what dish!  The Swans are the wealthy socialites who lead glamorous and perfect lives, or so it seemed.  Babe Paley, who was married to television mogul, William Paley, seemed to have it all.  She was beautiful and wealthy, and had influence on the social scene of New York.  Her friends included Slim Keith, Gloria Guinnes and Pamela Churchill, all of whom had their own secrets.

Truman Capote managed to enter their circle and befriend these woman.  He and Babe became especially close; he was the only person to see her without her make-up.  Even her husband had never seen her without her perfectly made-up face.  With Capote, Babe shared the details of her unhappy marriage.  She had a trust in Capote that was not warranted.  When he betrays her and her social circle, he seems at a loss to why he was suddenly shunned.

This book was a fun read.  The rich are, indeed, different.

Read: September 28, 2017

5 Stars