Southern Man by Greg Iles

 

This seventh Cage Penn book is the icing on the cake following Iles' amazing Nachez Burning trilogy (Nachez Burning, The Bone Tree, and Mississippi Blood), which also features Penn Cage. Set fifteen years after Mississippi Blood, in 2023, on the eve of the presidential election, it is a microscopic look at the state of US politics, race relations, and the nature of the unrest we are currently experiencing.

When a rap concert turns bloody at the hands of the Sheriff's Department in Bienville, Mississippi, two figures emerge as leaders: one, a Black tourist guide, and the other, a White third-party presidential candidate who has the best chance of winning since Ross Perot. One hopes to quell the retaliatory mood of the crowd, and the other hopes to raise his political aspirations to a national stage. At odds, the stage is set for a confrontation with far-reaching consequences.

This looks like it will be the final Penn Cage book, as it is revealed early on that Cage's cancer is no longer in remission. That's sad news for fans of the series, myself included, but Iles does a good job of handling the characters and dealing with the life-threatening situation. This fast-moving story weaves together today's political climate and Civil War-era slavery issues. It is sometimes uncomfortable to read, but it is a story that needs telling. This political and historical thriller shines a light on corruption, race relations, and family relationships, both past and present. It is an excellently written book that can be read as a standalone--although the other books in the series are so good, I recommend reading them all. 

5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is May 28, 2024.

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Elizabeth Finch by Julian Barnes

 I loved Julian Barnes' "The Sense of an Ending." When I saw this book, it sounded so interesting that I couldn't wait to dive in. Once again, Barnes delivers an intriguing, beautifully written book.

When middle-aged Neil signs up for Elizabeth Finch's college class "Culture and Civilization," little does he know he will become enamored with Finch and carry her philosophy for the rest of his life. Following Finch's notes, he explores the life of Roman emperor Julian the Apostate. Through Neil, Barnes explores the last pagan emperor, Julian's views of religion and Christianity, and his effect on history.

This story started slowly for me, but I found Julian the Apostate's life enlightening. Neil’s and Elizabeth's relationship is an intricate dance between friendship and unrequited platonic love—a combination I found hard to resist. The relationship, combined with the history lesson, was hard to put down. 

3.5/5 stars.

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Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

I don't know which Ann Patchett book I like more, "Tom Lake" or "The Dutch House." I enjoyed them both, but I can't pick a favorite. Patchett is good at writing about families and the dynamics that exist, and her writing is excellent, as are her characters.

As the country began to shut down for the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Lara and Joe gathered their three daughters on their Michigan farm to help bring in the cherry crop. Seeking to relieve the tedious work, Lara recounts her life before marriage when she was briefly a successful actress and had a fling with a now-famous actor. Typecast to forever play Emily in "Our Town," she reprieves the role at a summer theater production and quickly becomes involved with the handsome and talented Pete Duke. As the cherries get picked and her past is revealed, sometimes uncomfortably, Lara's daughters begin to see their mother in a new light and question some of the choices she made and, in turn, their own decisions.

This is a story about the different types of love we experience, the heartbreaks, and the families we surround ourselves with throughout our lives. It is an engaging read with characters who are flawed but whose redeeming qualities outweigh their negative aspects. Always insightful and sometimes heartbreaking, this is another winner from Ann Patchett. 

5/5 stars.

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The Painter's Daughters by Emily Howes

In this excellent debut historical fiction novel, Emily Howes hits a home run with her depiction of the lives of Molly and Peggy Gainsborough, daughters of the portrait artist. It is an intriguing look into their lives and the secret the family tried to hide.

Children Mary (Molly) and Margaret (Peggy) Gainsborough lead a carefree life in the English countryside while their father Thomas tries to earn a living as a landscape artist. Realizing there is more money to be had as a portrait artist and bowing to his wife's wishes for a more societal life for their daughters, the family moves to Bath in the early 1700s. Success finds Thomas, but at what cost to his daughters? Molly's mental health declines, and Peggy, trying to keep the severity of it from her parents, vows to protect her from commitment to Bedlam. Little did Peggy know the implications of keeping this vow would have on her life.

This carefully crafted novel is beautifully written and transported me to 1700s English life. It is well-researched, resulting in an intimate look into the lives of the Gainsborough family and the society in which they moved. It is a fast-paced and engaging story that captured me from page one. Ms. Howes's next book is about the life of Mrs. Charles Dickens, and I can't wait. If you enjoy historical fiction or good storytelling, you should pick up this book. It's excellent.

5/5 stars.

The publication date is February 27, 2024.

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The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

At almost 800 pages, I hesitated to start this book even though it came highly recommended. Having waited for a long time for it at my library, I decided to try it. Oh my! What a wonderfully written, engaging, and unforgettable book.

In 1900, a twelve-year-old girl in India was married off to a 40-year-old man. This could be a more traumatic experience than it already was, but her husband is kind and waits until she is older to consummate the marriage. The girl, later known as Big Ammachi, becomes the matriarch of a family cursed with a condition where members drown in every generation.

Meanwhile, in Glasgow, a young doctor signs on to the Indian health service and is sent to work under the guidance of an incompetent, racist hospital administrator. What follows is his life as he comes into his own in the medical community in India.

I knew these two storylines would eventually meet, but it took a while as I followed the life of Big Ammachi through three generations. It is a story of love, loss, and exploring the political structure in turn-of-the-century India. Big Ammachi is a larger-than-life character, and her life, like most of ours, is filled with happiness and tragedy. How the characters and situations develop is a beautiful trip through a pivotal time in Indian history. Even after nearly 800 pages, I was reluctant to let the characters go. The story never lags, and I often neglected my to-do list to read just a few more pages in this epic family saga. Don't let the size of the book distract you. It's an adventure you shouldn't miss.

 5/stars

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Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls

 I didn't read Jeannette Walls' best-selling memoir "The Glass Castle," but I'm rethinking that decision after reading this book. Walls is a fantastic storyteller, and I'd like to know more about her background.

Sallie Kincaid, the daughter of Duke Kincaid, the ruler of a small county in rural Virginia, is the apple of her father's eye. Her mother, Duke's second wife, is killed when Sallie is young, and Duke quickly remarries and has a son, Eddie. When eight-year-old Sallie puts her brother Eddie's life in danger, she is sent to live with her poor maiden aunt, and there she remains for nine hard-scrabble years until the death of Eddie's mother. Duke recalls Sallie and tasks her with teaching Eddie how to be more like his hard-charging father, but Sallie, truly her father's daughter, has bigger goals in mind: she wants to help run the family's bootlegging business. Only the Kincaid lines of succession and the view of a woman's place in society hold her back.

This moving family saga set in prohibition-era Virginia captured my imagination and had me rooting for feisty Sallie Kincaid from page one. It is a fast-paced novel filled with plot twists and family secrets. Walls' writing is exceptional, and the characters are true to life. I highly recommend this book.

5 stars.

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