Read: December 31, 2024
3 Stars
Monday, December 30, 2024
Sunday, December 22, 2024
Books Set in North America; Maine, United States
The Frozen River, by Ariel Lawhon
Read: December 22, 2024
5 Stars
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Books Set in Europe and North America: Germany and California
Address Unknown, by Katherine Kressman Taylor (1938)
This is a very short book, written in letters between friends and business partners, in the early 1930s. Martin recently returned to Germany and writes to Max about the rise of the Nazi party. He initially thinks the new government will benefit Germany. Max, who is Jewish, begins to question the stories of violence against Jews, but Martin dismisses his concerns.
When Max learns that Martin turned Max's sister away, and she was subsequently killed, Max devised a plan by written letters to Martin that appear to be in code. Martin begs Max to stop writing, but Max continues until one of his letters to Martin is returned, marked "address unknown."
Read: December 17, 2024
May 9, 2004
5 Stars
Monday, December 16, 2024
Books Set in Europe, Lisbon, Portugal
The Day of Atonement, by David Lisa (2014)
This novel takes place in 1755, the year of the Great Lisbon Earthquake. The Inquisition is still alive and well and going after the New Christians. Ten years earlier, 13-year-old Sebastião Raposa was whisked out of Lisbon, but his parents were killed by the Inquisition. When Sebastião Raposa returns, he poses as the Englishman Sebastian Foxx, and vows to seek vengeance on those who harmed his parents.
Sebastian also wants to help Charles Settwell, an English trader who smuggled him out of Portugal. Settwell has now fallen on hard times with the English after having converted to Catholicism. Sebastian, upon learning of Settwell's circumstances vows to avenge Settwell, as well.
The novel is full of twists and turns. Who is actually the villain, and who is to be trusted. A satisfying historical novel.
Read: December 16, 2024
3 Stars
Benjamin Weaver Series:
A Conspiracy of Paper; August 28, 2003
A Spectacle of Corruption; June 28, 2010
The Day of Atonement; December 16, 2024
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