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Monthly Archives: February 2016

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

24 Wednesday Feb 2016

Posted by Weston Public Library Staff in Fiction, Historical Fiction, History

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1928-1937, China, history, married women, social life and customs

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Author Pearl Buck drew from her own experiences growing up in China to write this novel, a family saga set in the rural countryside in the years just before the political and social upheavals of the 20th century. The book portrays the life of Wang Lung, a poor subsistence farmer who prevails over setbacks both man-made and natural to eventual prosperity.  An atmospheric, reflective novel with strong characterization makes for an enjoyable tale.  The book won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1938.

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Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman

17 Wednesday Feb 2016

Posted by Weston Public Library Staff in Fiction, Historical Fiction

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Camille Pissarro (1830-1903), Jewish family, love stories, man-women relationships, scandals, St. Thomas, widows

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I loved this story of a strong woman and her family, friendships, and faith. It’s beautifully written.  If you enjoy historical fiction, it’s not to be missed.

“Lilting prose, beautifully meted out folklore and historical references, and Hoffman’s deep conviction in her characters (especially those “willing to do anything for love”) make reading this “contes du temps passé” a total pleasure.”—Kirkus, starred review

“[A] rhapsodic blend of keenly observed historical elements and vibrantly fabulistic invention generates an entrancing saga of sacrifice, forbidden loves, betrayals, and family tragedies endured in a world fractured by religion, class, and race, and redeemed by art and by love. Hoffman is at her resplendent best in this trenchant and revelatory tale of a heroic woman and her world-altering artist son.” – Booklist, Starred Review

“Hoffman’s subject matter and her evocative writing style are a wonderful fit for this moving story, which illuminates a historical period and women whose lives were colored by hardships, upheavals, and the subjugation of personal desires.”—Publishers Weekly

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Brooklyn: a Novel by Colm Toibin

11 Thursday Feb 2016

Posted by Weston Public Library Staff in Fiction, Historical Fiction

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20th century, Brooklyn (New York city), Ireland history, Irish in America, women immigrants

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A pure delight to read.  The author depicts a young Irish woman, Eilis Lacey, who leaves a small town in Ireland in the 1950’s to live in Brooklyn and then unexpectedly returns to Ireland. Eilis has to deal with the consequences of love lost and found. What choice should she make?

Brooklyn “is one those magically quiet novels that sneak up on readers and capture their imaginations.” USA TODAY

“[A] masterly tale… There is not a sentence or a thought out of place.” — Irish Times

“Toibin’s prose is as elegant in its simplicity as it is complex in the emotions it evokes.” — The New York Times Magazine

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The Nightmare Place by Steve Mosby

01 Monday Feb 2016

Posted by Weston Public Library Staff in Fiction

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crimes against women, stalking, suspense, violence

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I don’t read a lot of crime fiction, so I’m not sure why I picked this up, but I’m glad that I did.  It was definitely creepy and a page turner, told from the point of view of a police officer, a murderer, and a helpline volunteer at a confidential call-in support center.  Don’t read it before bedtime!

“Not for the faint of heart or stomach, but for the rest of you, The Murder Code heralds the American debut of a major new voice in crime fiction.”–BookPage

“He writes like the very best American thriller writers. Cancel all other engagements for the day.”–The Guardian

“Mosby joins Ken Bruen, Mo Hayder, Val McDermid, and others on the dark side of UK crime fiction; his thrillers build suspense superbly, but his real strength is in character development. All his characters, particularly the women, are well drawn and complex, without a cliché in the bunch.”–Booklist
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