Books Set in North America: United States

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post, by Allison Pataki (2022)

I didn’t know that much about Marjorie Post other than she was the Post cereal heiress and had Mar-a-Largo built as her winter escape.

In this novel, based on her life, the 4-time married and divorced heiress comes across as a wealthy name-dropper more interested in her enormous wealth than her husbands.  She came from humble beginnings, although by the time she was a teenager, her father had established the Postum Cereal Company, and she lived a life on great wealth.  Although she had three daughters, her daughters barely play a role in the novel.

Her first husband, whom she married as a teenager, was Edward Bennett Close.  They divorced after 14 years.  Her second husband was E.F. Hutton, of the stock brokerage firm.  Together they expanded her company which ultimately was renamed General Foods Corporation.

Her third husband was Joseph E Davies.  He was a lawyer and diplomat who served as Ambassador to represent the United States in the Soviet Union after Stalin came into power.  It was during this period that Post acquired scads of Russian art, including works by Fabergé.  He was later sent to Belgium and Luxembourg during World War II.  In the novel, Marjorie is portrayed more concerned about her art and money than her husband being near the War front.

After the War, Marjorie spends millions of dollars building a home to showcase all her art.  She loves to throw parties and have people fawn over her.  She is also very proud of her jewelry, which the book references on every other page.  Although Marjorie is considered a philanthropist, the novel doesn’t focus as much on her philanthropic efforts as it does her spending habits on homes, jewelry, and art.

If the real-life Marjorie Post is anything like the Marjorie portrayed in this novel, she really wasn’t the type of person I would want as a friend.

I had previously read Sisi: Empress on Her Own, also by Allison Pataki.  That novel was about Empress Elizabeth of Austria-Hungary, wife of Franz Joseph I of Austria.  I loved that novel and looked forward to reading about Marjorie Post.  It didn’t live up to my expectations.

Read:  September 20, 2023

2 Stars

Books Set in North America; California and Oregon

Small World, by Jonathan Evison (2022)

 

This novel starts out with a train crash in the winter somewhere in Oregon en route to Seattle.  Walter Bergen is on his final run as engineer before his retirement.  After the crash, we meet several of the passengers, who come from all walks of life and backgrounds.  Not only do we meet them, but we are introduced to their ancestors and their struggles to make a life in America.

 

The novel switches from the present day to the 1850s where we learn of the immigrant experience of several families.  Walter Bergen descended from an Irish family who fled Ireland during the potato famine.  There is Jenny Chen, whose ancestor Wu Chen, came from China in the 1850s and began life in California panning for gold.  He acquired a small stash of gold, which he turned into thriving grocery business.  Malik Flowers is a young basketball with dreams of being drafted by the NBA.  He is descended from a run-away slave.  Laila, whose ancestors were Native Americans, hopped on the train to escape from an abusive husband.

 

I enjoyed reading about the backgrounds of all of these characters.

 

Read:  September 13, 2023

 

4 Stars

Books Set in Europe: Rome, Italy

Eternal, by Lisa Scottoline (2021)

This novel is about Italy during World War II, Fascism and the treatment of Jews.

Although the novel was historically correct, I didn't care for the characters.  (It even addresses Syndrome K, which was how Catholic doctors saved a number of Jews by convincing the Nazis that the Jews were infected with a highly contagious disease called Syndrome K).

The plot revolved around three teenagers:  Sandro, Marco and Elisabetta.  They have been friends from childhood.  The two boys vie for Elisabetta, who professes to love them both.  Marco and Elizabetta are both Catholic; Sandro is Jewish.  Sandro's father initially supported Mussolini, until Germany invaded Italy and Jews were forced into the Ghetto, then the camps.

The story line with Sandro, Marco, and Elisabetta didn't ring true.

Read:  September 3, 2023

3 Stars

Books Set in North America: New York, New York

Single Jewish Male Seeking Soul Mate, by Letty Cottin Pogrebin (2015)

 

Zach Levy is the son of two Holocaust survivors.  Although not raised in a religious household, Zach’s family was culturally Jewish and his parents insisted on fighting for Jewish survival.  Zach promised his mother he would marry a Jewish woman and raise his children to be Jewish.  As he studied for his bar mitzvah, he was became obsessed with his Jewish identity and refused to participate in the Christmas festivities in his public school.

 

By the time Zach has become an attorney for ACLU, his parents have both passed.  He fulfills his mother’s promise, marries a Jewish woman, and has a daughter.  All was seemly going fine until his wife suddenly springs it on him that she has found someone else and is moving to Australia, taking their daughter with her.

 

In his legal practice, Zach becomes involved in controversial social issues.  As such, he becomes involved in a community program to discuss Jewish-Black relationships.  It is there that he meets Cleo Scott, a Black radio host and social activist.  She grew up in a religious Baptist household.  From the start, Zach has informed Cleo of his promise to his mother.  Still, as their relationship develops, they fall in love and move in together.

 

His love for Cleo forces Zach to consider his identity as a Jew.  Who is a Jew?  How can he keep his promise to his mother and yet continue his relationship with Cleo?

 

The title of the book might suggest that this novel is a rom-com.  It is not.  It is a thoughtful discussion about identity with dialogue about Jews and Jewish tradition and theology without being heavy-handed.

 

I loved this book.

 

Read:  September 9, 2023

 

5 Stars