art} books
Book Review Sponsored by
862-9659 - 242 Central Avenue, Whitefish Below Copperleaf Chocolat Co.
The Weird Sister By: Eleanor Brown BOOK REVIEWS BY JOAN G. SMITH This book is about an eccentric family, comprised of three sisters, their mother and their father (Dr. James Andreas), a professor of Shakespeare at Barnwell College. For starters, all of the girls were named for The Bards heroines – Rosalind, Bianca and Cordelia. The oldest daughter is Rose, the middle one is Bean, and the youngest is Cordy. They are all avid readers, and the father speaks mostly in Shakespearean verse. TV is not a part of their lives and all of life’s problems can be solved with a library card! Rose is the homebody, a college graduate, recently engaged to Jonathan and living at home with a good career.
Bean is a fast living sophisticate in New York spending way beyond her means, and Cordy is a traveling bohemian who finds herself pregnant while on the road. Their mother has just been diagnosed with cancer, which gives everyone an excuse to come home after being away for several years. No one wants to say that things have not turned out as expected, but make up excuses instead… at least at the beginning! As the truth gradually appears, and we are treated to a humorous, thought-provoking display of a family torn apart and stitching its way back together. I didn’t find a single boring page on this journey – the characters are all wonderful.
The girls have a way of describing themselves, and I quote, “See, we love each other. We just don’t like each other very much.” Eleanor Brown has written a novel that pulls you into the lives of a family that makes you feel you are right there with them.
The Innocent By: David Baldacci The Innocent is the very newest Baldacci thriller – just out in April 2012. Will Robie is the hit-man called on to eliminate enemies of the U.S. when all else has failed, including the military, the FBI and the police. His missions take him all over the world, and his life is lonely and secretive at all times. So far he has been successful; otherwise he would be dead. Suddenly his mission is close to home, which is unusual. It’s in Washington D.C. Everything is out of control – and he reacts in an unusual way – he refuses to kill. The person involved is a fourteen year old girl, supposedly a runaway from a foster home. There is something about Julie that makes him want to help her instead of turning her in. She is intelligent, careful and brave, but she desperately needs help 406
WOMAN 76
and Robie finds he can’t abandon her. As Julie finally decides to trust him, they are on their own, and Robie finds out her parents, who loved her, have been murdered. The hunt is on and Robie can’t even trust his own people. Somebody is playing him, and the cover-up may involve people in very high places. Robie finds himself being contracted by “Blue Man”, who is from the Bureau in the highest category. Robie is asked to help. Robie agrees, but secretly his first priority is turning out to be Julie, and he has to keep her hidden, for her safety, until he can clear her name. Various characters emerge, such as Agent Vance, a woman from the FBI on duty in the White House.
Then there is Annie Lambert, a resident in Robie’s apartment building, who makes herself available. Robie finds her attractive, much to his surprise. Will Robie finds himself forced to play a different game in order to save Julie and even himself. The action is nonstop, spell bounding and remarkably innovative. The Innocent is a mystery thriller in the here and now.