The Birth of Venus - Sarah Dunant

This historical fiction novel is set in 15th century Italy, and follows the life of Alessandra Cecchi, the teenage daughter of a wealthy fabric merchant. Alessandra is a bit of a free spirit, and is interested in art and politics, which is not considered befitting of a young woman her age. When a young painter is hired to paint the family's chapel, Alessandra forms a unique relationship with him, but is not allowed to fully explore that relationship because it is not considered acceptable, and also because she is married off to a much older man, and moves out of her parent's house to become the mistress of his house.

But her days with the painter are not over, as the circumstances of her marriage become clear to her only after she becomes a wife, and her life is full of twists and turns, all with a backdrop of political and religious wars that are tearing Florence apart with violence.

This was a book I could not put down. I really got into Alessandra's story, and there are so many unexpected plot turns that you can't wait to see what happens next. The prologue pulls you in from the very start, and actually discusses the circumstances of Alessandra's death - then the story is woven to tell you how she got to that point. A beautifully written story, reminiscent of Tracey Chevalier's "Girl With A Pearl Earring," but with a richer backdrop and more vibrant plot and characters. A good read particularly for those interested in historical fiction.

Hummingbird House - Patricia Henley

This book is about an American women, Kate, who takes a trip to Mexico but ends up staying and working in Nicaragua as a midwife. She gets caught up in the plight of the country's people and works to make a difference in their lives. Years later, when she feels it maybe time to go back home to the States, she finds herself suspended in Guatemala, visiting friends who have changed substantially and seeing the underside of a social and political conflict that tears at her heart. Along the way, she finds love and family in unexpected places.

I have always enjoyed Latin American lit, and this book certainly did not disappoint. The author does a fantastic job of getting you involved in the emotions of the characters and the overall political atmosphere. This is a story of love lost and love found, of family, of hope, and also of terrible and unjust consequence. There were times the drama was so heartwrenching that I found myself cyring out loud in disbelief. Not since "Kiterunner" have I felt so emotionally affected by a book. It's hard to believe this is the author's debut novel.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime - Mark Haddon

A friend recommended this book to me, and I wasn't sure how I would like it, but I really did! It's about a 15-year-old autistic boy, Christopher, who is trying to solve the mystery of the death of his neighbor's dog. Through his "investigation" you are taken into the world of autism and his thought processes. Other reviews of this book say it is a very accurate portrayal of an autistic mind, but this I cannot attest to. I think it would be interesting for someone who has worked with autistic children to read this book and weigh in on it.

Christopher lives with his father and mourns the death of his mother. His dog investigation leads him to some realizations about both; and these truths are painful. The one thing Christopher can believe in is that he knows his father will never lie. When he discovers otherwise, it is devastating. This was the most captivating part of the book for me.

The book is told from Christopher's perspective, and as you may expect, it jumps around a bit from topic to topic. This book may not be for everyone - some may not have the patience for it. I did find myself skimming over some parts where Christopher described in detail the solving of some math problem in his head. But the story is endearing, and this book is worth a look.

March - Geraldine Brooks (Book Club)

The inspiration for this book was taken from the book Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott. The father of the March family has little mention in the original novel. From Little Women we know that Mr. March left his family to serve in the war as a chaplain, an occasional letter was written home and read aloud to his daughters, a telegram arrived informing Mrs. March that her husband was very ill, and that he did eventually return home to his family. March tells the story of what Mr. March was up to during his time in the war.

Throughout the novel the reader gets a birds-eye view of Mr. March’s activities as part of the Union Army, for which he served as a chaplain and later a teacher to “freed” slaves and their children. In his journey he stumbles upon a house he had known in his past, and in it the same slave women, Grace, whom he developed a special relationship with as a younger man. Grace is a strong presence throughout his year of service, and one of the strongest characters in the book. Mr. March himself is a very complex character, and the author does a wonderful job of helping the reader to feel his emotions and the weight of the difficult decisions he has to make. Often Mr. March is caught between a rock and a hard place; whatever decision he chooses will likely result in some terrible consequence, mostly to those whom he has come to assist. But he must often choose the lesser of two evils, and in his heart and actions attempts to hold true to his religious and personal ideals. His relationship with Grace and his attachment to the other slaves make his decisions all the more personal and tough to bear. He holds himself to such high standards that his guilt nearly becomes his death, and he learns a hard lesson from the woman he held on a pedestal for so many years.

Overall I really enjoyed this book, and it spurred some very good conversation in our book club. Mr. March was a changed man when he returned from the war, both physically and mentally. He carried a lot of guilt for what he had seen and done, and felt helpless that he could not do more to see results. His family at home had also changed, but in different ways. These are issues that ring very true in today’s time as well, with the war going on in Iraq.

No need to have read Little Women to enjoy or understand this book, it stands on its own. You don’t even have to be that interested in the Civil War to like it. The characters are excellent and well-developed, and you’ll find yourself wrapped up in Mr. March’s conflict and asking yourself “what would I do?”