Loyalty: Book Review

 

Loyalty

By Lisa Scottoline

Galley copy from Netgalley

Lisa Scottoline is known as a mystery-suspense author. In her first novel, She has gone out of the box to shake things up and went out of her usual with Eternal, and now Loyalty. I can't give you my take on Eternal because I haven't read it yet. Instead, I read Loyalty and absolutely loved it. I didn't know what to expect. The only other author I know who wrote out of his usual was Chris Bojhalian. He wrote a spooky novel. In the years past he has written novels out of his usual, with historical fiction as well.  I shouldn't have been surprised then, with Ms. Scottoline writing a terrific novel either. 

I have learned to take notes when there are many characters to keep track of at first. Then once the story is set up I can usually then understand what is going on. As I have gotten older I hate starting a new book. I tense up and get nervous until I know how the story is set up. My reasoning for taking notes in the beginning of the novel.  Is to keep track of the characters. 

Loyalty takes place in Sicily sometime in the 1800s. It takes a bit to get to know who is who is in the novel. The cast of characters includes Franco and Roberto( Franco's twin brother), who work for a wealthy lemon grower, a Baron, a lawyer, Gaetano, and his family, Mafalda is a new mother, and Alfred, a farmer who produces " magical cheese", and Dante a person who intersects the entire story between all the characters. 

The lemon grower, the Baron asks Franco to commit an illegal act, kidnap 5 year old, Dante and murder him. Instead, Franco takes him to the madhouse. Gaetano, who is a lawyer and believes in Justice seeks out and investigates what happened to the little boy, and Alfredo who I'm not sure why he is a character in the book. But does enhance and enrich the folk tale-type novel He is a minor character. I would love to see more of him in the novel. I hope Lisa in the future finds a place to put him in another novel. 

Dante is held in prison for years. Most workers don't understand Dante in the Mad House. They think he is psychotic and crazy. Who wouldn't if you were imprisoned and isolated for years? 

One part I was confused about with Dante as he is older. I was trying to figure out if she was a vision or a real person. If so, how did she get into the madhouse without detection? Maybe I missed something. It didn't take away from the book though. Years later Franco thought his boss loved him. Found out the baron used him as a tool. Instead, Franco takes revenge on the Baron and burns the Baron's property, and ruins the Baron. Franco and his brother rise up to become a group of men and form what is called a mafia. The novel has themes of injustice throughout the novel. 

The novel is a unique novel set in Sicily. Some people will not like the novel because of the many unfamiliar names. But also the characters don't come all together and connect till the end. If you have the patience to let the author play with it. Then you will keep going. It is a wonderful read for the beach. Sicily is a character in the novel. I could imagine the landscape in Sicily, think of the movie, The Godfather. I could see the landscape and the music of The Godfather while reading. If you saw the second Godfather you will know what I am talking about. 

                                                  

Book Club, and Review: The Lost Apothecary

The Lost Apothecary

By Sara Penner

 The Lost Apothecary is one of the novels you just sit back and read and take in. Just let the author do the work, and you imagine and enjoy. I am a literary snob and enjoyed reading the unique style of writing.

The author had two times lines that really worked for me. The timelines are usually weak. Usually, when I read there is one timeline I care about and the others don't usually work. The authors use the technique too much.

The author of The Lost Apothecary allows you to use all your senses of imagery. The author spun the tale of each of the characters in corresponding chapters and parallel each of their actions and behaviors. What a lot of work for an author. But it worked for the intensity of the story.

The novel is a feminist tale with injustices to women, and also is a mystery, suspense, escapist, friendship, and historical fiction, with a touch of magic. Some novels don't tell the story specifically. The authors who write at times think we are stupid and have to lecture us in the story, not Lost Apothecary.

The author used many literary techniques and tricks which includes symbolism in many parts of the novel which worked for me. The author made a point to say that women are erased from history. You will understand what I am talking about while reading. Also, the use and crimes against women For thousands of years were unaccounted deaths in suspicious deaths of men.

One part of the story bothered me a tad. Eliza is a 12-year-old girl not understanding menstruation. No one told her. She thought she was cursed. The correlation between menstruation and the curse was an interesting take. Our book club realized and talked about how the author used it in the novel. Did it work? Or was it unbelievable? You decide.

A female apothecary, Nella in 17 Century England sells disguised potions to women seeking revenge and the men who wronged them, either by abuse, neglect, etc.

 Two hundred years later in the present day, US a woman and her husband are planning on a trip to England.  She leaves without her husband. 

She finds out he was cheating on her. She arrives in London once in London. She takes a walk. During her walk she finds a vial in the Thames River. 

This is the intersection of the two storylines intersect. Instead, she finds out he has been cheating on her. The hardest part she gave up her dream of going to college and becoming a historian. After she learns he has cheated she takes the trip alone. That's when the lives intersect.

I would like to recommend the novel to anyone looking for a book to read at the beach. Anyone who loves historical fiction and take you away to another time and place with a touch of magic.

Book Review: The House of Lincoln

the House of Lincoln

By Nancy Horan

Library Copy 

I enjoyed the novel. It made me feel like I was actually living it in real-time in Springfield, and Washington DC. The Characters came alive and actually helped me understand the times before and after the Civil War, and Lincoln's election. I had empathy, and sympathy for some of the characters, Mary for instance. What she went through losing her sons, and the assassination of her husband. What would you do? How would you react?

The toll on slaves, and slavery, the legacy of Lincoln. The effects of the Civil War were never resolved after Reconstruction. It makes you wonder what if. What if President Lincoln wasn't assassinated? What would have been different? It makes you wonder. The author put it in perspective in the last quarter of the novel what did the Civil War solve? Was it worth it? The author fast-forwards to another event in the 1908 riot in Springfield. There is a connection of one of the characters to the riots which surprised and saddened me. Are we surprised we didn't know about this? For me, I'm not. I learned some years ago about Tulsa, then learned ab.out Wilmington. So, no I'm not surprised. There were several riots around the country in the late 19th century and the early 20th century.

I recommend the novel to anyone interested in American History, particularly the history of Lincoln. The only issue the novel was a bit slow in some parts, hence the four stars. But keep going as it gets better. I learned some much and did my research to learn about the riots.