Staff Choices

The best selling book The Help has been on wait lists for patrons for months and is worth the wait.  I just finished with a book discussion for our Novel Experience book group and we had a lively and interesting discussion on the many social issues this book tackles. 

 

In her debut novel, Stockett adresses the turbulent times of the early 1960s in Mississippi through the eyes of  the domestic help.  The story is told through three narrators, Skeeter, Abileen and Minny.  Skeeter, is a a young brave white woman who is fighting her own stereotypes and figuring out what line to cross.  She works in secret with Abileen and Minny to write about  the plight of the black maids.  Together they write stories about mistreatment, abuse and heartbreaks of working in white families' homes, all just before the Civil Rights revolution.   As they put it, they are entrusted to care for white people's children but they are not trusted with white people's silver.

 

This book address so many issues such as Civil Rights, color barriers, women's issues, friendships, families and more.  It is a book you will never forget and is well worth the waiting list.

Daniel Kennedy has invited his longtime girlfriend, Nancy,  on a surprise trip to the Galapagos Islands where he will propose to her. When their seaplane crashes into the sea miles from the islands, Daniel panics and pushes past Nancy to get out. They both survive but Nancy questions his love for her. Surely if you loved someone you would not abandon them during such a time.

 

While Daniel and Nancy try and put their world back together, Daniel and his father Phillip begin to learn more about their Great/Grandfather who seems to have gone missing during World War One.  Letters suggest he may have abandoned his post and started another life in France. Daniel wonders if courage and cowardice are genetic.

 

A third story interwoven between the two above, is how one of Daniel's colleagues at the University where he teaches, pretends to be a very close friend of his but tries to sabotage Daniel's career. Wetherby claims to be envious of Daniel, but after every transgression he goes to confession and is absolved.

 

So what does forgiveness mean? Daniel apologizes to Nancy for his actions, but she is having a difficult time accepting them. An interesting novel of courage and cowardice and what phenomenally challenging times can do to a person.

Lady Georgiana is 34th in line to the throne of England. It is 1932 and she is broke--not a penny to her name. When Queen Mary calls her to the palace and asks her to be the royal representative in the marriage of the Princess of Romania and the Prince of Bulgaria, she has no power to refuse. Of course, the royal family will pay for the travel arrangements for she and the maid. The maid? Lady Georgiana has no money for a maid. What can she do?

 

This is the latest mystery in the delightful romp of Her Royal Spyness series. Royal Blood is the latest book, but you do not have to read them in order to follow along the crazy adventures of Lady Georgiana who is a sharp young woman always in the wrong place at the wrong time. Follow the antics of her best friend Belinda who is part of the IT crowd of bright young things in England; her Mother who is on husband four or five, and her enigmatic love, Darcy who always shows up when most needed.

 

This is a fun light read that really tries to capture the times, although no one would mistake it for historical fiction. Bowen tries to keep the  real people true to their characters including the royal family and that of course adds to the fun.

 

For more with the royal family checkout Royal Flush. The King, Queen and their children, including David, who is very interested in an American divorcee named Wallis make an appearance.

In the old West, the Comanche ruled.  Settlers, soldiers and sheriffs fought them for territorial rights for over 4o years.    They were the most adept horsemen and fierce fighters.  They often took as captives, young white women and children; marrying them and raising them as part of their tribe.

 

Cynthia Ann Parker was a classic example of a white woman who spent most of her life with the Comanche until the day that she was "rescued" against her will, by some Texas Rangers.  Her half-breed son, Quanah Parker, went on to be the last of the great tribal chiefs.  A life defined by never having lost a battle.

 

Gwynne has a firm handle on his research and this work speaks volumns supporting the long history of governmental abuse of the American Indian and their struggle to conform to a society whose morals are alien to their own.

 

Not as profound as Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, but very insightful.