Ilsa - Madeleine L'Engle

Open Road Integrated Media, February 7, 2017.

 

Four Stars

 

First published in 1946, Ilsa is one of the first adult novels from L’Engle, who is most well-known as the author of the children’s series, A Wrinkle in Time. Although it begins with a childhood friendship between wealthy Henry Porcher and bohemian Ilsa Brandes, this is certainly not a story for children. It is often dark and gritty, and even though some parts feel dated, others are surprisingly modern considering that it was written decades ago.

 

Young Henry doesn’t realize his level of privilege, until he sees his life through the eyes of Ilsa and her father – they live in a modest home overlooking the beach, and seem free and happy in comparison with Henry’s old-fashioned and often cold family. Ilsa wants to help Henry to be free and independent, but instead he ends up being reliant on her for happiness. His love for Ilsa continues to grow through adolescence and young adulthood, and he suffers when Ilsa falls for and eventually marries his cousin.

 

Henry observes Ilsa throughout her miserable marriage, watching as she raises a daughter, becomes a widow and eventually takes a lover that seems to cause her more unhappiness. Henry puts Ilsa on a pedestal, unable to see anything she does as wrong – but there is a dark underside to his unrequited love, simmering with passion and intrigue.

 

Everyone in the novel seems to revolve around Ilsa – she is a strong, powerful force, and yet she is always bound by the conventions of female roles in the early 1900s. She also struggles with her own strict beliefs in honour and self-punishment. Although she almost immediately regretted her marriage to Henry’s cousin, it would never occur to her to abandon the responsibilities of a wife and mother, even if they would all be happier alone.

 

While Henry left home briefly to strike out on his own, he quickly gave up his own chance at love and success in Europe to come home and care for Ilsa after she experiences a personal tragedy. In addition to his unrequited love of Ilsa, Henry also struggles with his relationship with the Porcher family – they have strong Southern beliefs of superiority that have not moved past the American Civil War, but there are suspicions about their wealth, as well as multiple issues of incest within the family. With these heavy themes, this novel is a much darker departure from L’Engle’s other work.

 

Despite this novel following the lives of Ilsa and Henry from childhood to adulthood, there is no real climax here – it is more a series of misadventures that the characters struggle to survive. It was hard to watch their passivity as they are acted upon, and they don’t seem to take any responsibility or ownership of their lives. Ilsa lets her life pass by without acting, and Henry watches from a distance, drifting through time. Even though Ilsa’s experiences were depressing and sometimes even dull, I enjoyed having the chance to read this early novel from the author of some of my favourite children’s books, and seeing another perspective from this great author.

 

I received this book from Open Road Integrated Media and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Harvest of Thorns - Corban Addison

Thomas Nelson Books, January 24, 2017.

Three Stars

A Harvest of Thorns opens dramatically on a garment factory fire in Bangladesh – the fire kills hundreds of workers, especially young girls and women working for little pay in the unregulated industry. In the aftermath of the fire, a shocking photo goes viral. It is the image of a teenage girl who jumped out of a factory window and lies broken on the ground, with a piece of clothing worn as a mask over her face in a futile attempt to protect her from smoke. The clothing clearly shows a label from Presto Corporation, one of the biggest retailers in the U.S.

Across the globe, at Presto’s headquarters in Virginia, the company’s lawyer attempts to do damage control after the photo is released to the public. Cameron starts an investigation into the disaster at the factory, and attempts to find out who was supposed to be monitoring the working conditions in Bangladesh. His research reopens the company’s controversy about sweatshops, labour rights and the ethical implications of globalization.

Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., disgraced journalist Joshua receives a tip about the fire that includes confidential information about Presto Corp. The details he learns could expose the company and force them to accept culpability for the deaths of the Bangladesh workers. For Joshua, this story could be his shot at redemption – but while he starts out simply trying to salvage his tarnished reputation, he ends up building a case that will provoke the conscience of the fashion industry and change the way consumers feel about cheap clothing.

Addison uses his background in law to write a novel that explores the hidden costs of low-priced fashion. In a globalized world, we often don’t know where the products we buy are coming from, or how the workers have suffered to make them for us. The fictionalized Bangladesh factory fire is based on real events from 2012, in which a factory with no fire code became a death trap, and the cheap fabric fueled the flames.

The plot is very relevant, fast paced, and clearly researched by the author. Despite its length, it was a fairly quick, thrilling read. However, it is almost entirely plot-driven, and the characters lack any real complexity. The story is intellectually stimulating, but I was unable to empathize with the characters, which leaves a barrier between the reader and the book. If you enjoy the thriller genre, this is an exciting, political story – an entertaining novel that also makes you think.

I received this book from Thomas Nelson Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Signal Flame - Andrew Krivak

Scribner, January 24, 2017.

Three Stars

The Signal Flame follows three generations of a European immigrant family as they carve out an existence in Pennsylvania’s Endless Mountains. First settled by Austrian Jozef Vinich, he lives out his life on his family farm in 1971, with his widowed daughter Hannah Konar and her remaining son, Bo. The Vinich-Konar family has experienced love and loss for years through the filter of three different wars, including the Vietnam war in which Bo’s brother Sam is currently missing in action.

Jozef survived the trenches of WWI as an Austro-Hungarian soldier, before emigrating to America and raising his daughter, Hannah. Although Hannah’s husband Bexhet was born in Hungary, he fought in WWII as an American soldier – and was imprisoned for desertion under mysterious circumstances. After surviving war overseas, Bexhet returns home only to be shot in a tragic hunting accident on his own land. And while Bo is Bexhet and Hannah’s firstborn son, it is his brother Sam who follows the family military tradition in Vietnam. Bo is grieving for his brother but also has hope for his return to the land they both love – and he soon finds out that Sam has his own family to return to, when Sam’s girlfriend reveals her pregnancy.

Krivak’s first novel followed Jozef’s life, but I wouldn’t call this novel a sequel. It has echoes of the war and memory that have haunted this family for generations, although it is also an exploration of old values versus new ways of coping with grief and loss. The prose is quiet and moves slowly, giving the reader a feeling of expectation – of a life on pause. Although the novel talks about several wars, it is actually the periods of peace in between that make this family what it is.

Because of Bexhet’s death, the Vinich-Konar family has been feuding with his killer’s family – the death was an accident, and the hunter was responsible for a poor family struggling to find sustenance, but Hannah still finds it impossible to forgive him. It is in the next generation that Sam and Bo find understanding and forgiveness, especially as they and the hunter’s family are joined in unexpected ways. This novel is filled with small, intimate moments that are rich in character and place. Their emotions feel truthful and real, although I often found it hard to see below the surface of their actions.

The Signal Flame is a contemplative story, even when major dramatic incidents are occurring. The novel is bleak and tragic, but sprinkled with moments of hope. In each new generation, there is a rebirth of the family and the possibility of a future lived in peace. After decades at war, the Konars have hope for a future in which Sam’s child can grow up in safety and peace, in the Endless Mountains that they love.

I received this book from Scribner and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Golden Legend - Nadeem Aslam

Faber & Faber, January 10, 2017.

 

Four Stars

 

In broad terms, The Golden Legend is an exploration of the conflict between Muslims and Christians, set in contemporary Pakistan. However, it is much more than that, because Aslam puts a human face to the conflict. He gives us the perspectives of several very compelling individuals, both Christian and Muslim. The religious and political situation in the Middle East becomes personal and accessible, in Aslam’s capable hands.

 

Both moderate Muslims, Nargis and Massud are a happily married couple – they are architects, living an idyllic life that focuses on literature and the intellect. Although they have no children of their own, they have helped to raise Helen, the daughter of their housekeeper. Helen’s family is Christian, but Nargis and Massud embrace her with religious tolerance – they observe the conflict around them with distaste, but do not actively participate in any way. They are more concerned with building a new library in the city, but as they help to transfer priceless books to the new location, they are drawn into the religious battle around them through a shocking tragedy – Massud is caught in the crossfire of an American shooter, and is killed instantly.

 

With Massud’s death, Nargis’ entire life is called into question. She finds herself being threatened by a U.S. military intelligence officer, who demands that she pardon her husband’s killer in order to quell an uprising against American forces. Meanwhile, someone is broadcasting the secrets of local citizens from the city’s minarets – and Nargis has a huge secret that she never found the right time to tell Massud. The military threats and Orwellian accusations of people acting against the regime certainly adds to the dystopian feel of the novel – although it is unfortunately based on reality. Nargis and her neighbours live in fear of having their secrets exposed, and they move through streets filled with violence and corruption.

 

Amongst this terror, Aslam shows us that there is room for hope and tolerance in this threatening world. Helen and Nargis work together to repair the book that Massud was holding when he was killed, which was later torn apart by Nargis’ interrogator. And Helen meets Imran, a mysterious man from Kashmir who is searching for peace, and a place where he can be himself. Nargis, Helen and Imran find solace together, but they cannot hide from reality forever.

 

In The Golden Legend, Pakistan’s past and present collide. The characters act as symbols for their various beliefs, and yet they are also clearly developed as individuals. There is some magic realism, and the weaving of legend into everyday life, but most of all the focus is on a world that is all too real. In the political reality that we find ourselves in today, it is so important for Aslam to illustrate his novel with unique individuals on an intimate scale – this is not just a distant conflict, it is about real people and their joys and sorrows. The novel is thoughtful and timely, and it shows the survival of the human spirit despite all odds.  

 

I received this book from Faber & Faber and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Last Neanderthal - Claire Cameron

Little, Brown & Company, May 2, 2017.

Four Stars

The Last Neanderthal is an innovative new novel from the author of The Bear. Once again, Cameron uses a haunting, unexpected voice to tell a story that explores what it means to be human, particularly as a woman. This novel connects two women who are separated by 40,000 years – and yet they both face the same struggles and taboos as they attempt to reconcile motherhood with their own desires.

Thousands of years ago, in what is now France, Girl is the oldest daughter in a close-knit Neanderthal family. They are hunters and gatherers, with minimal language, and yet they find ways to express themselves and their feelings for each other. Big Mother is the respected matriarch, doing her best to raise her children to be strong and healthy. However, she cannot prevent Girl from growing up and exploring her newfound sexuality in dangerous ways. As the family travels to their annual meeting place to find Girl a mate, they face many problems along the way – including their own complex relationships.

In present day France, archaeologist Rosamunde Gale makes an incredible discovery – a Neanderthal female buried in an intimate embrace with a Homo Sapiens male. As Rose and her assistant slowly reveal the burial site, they realize that it could lead to a reevaluation of everything we know about our human roots. While scientists formerly scorned Neanderthals as an inferior species that was simply a step on the way to Homo Sapiens evolution, we now know that Neanderthal DNA can be found in up to four percent of the current European and Asian populations. The exposure of Rose’s cross-species couple could be the answer to how this happened - instead of a stepping stone in evolution, the Neanderthals were perhaps close cousins and even lovers to Homo Sapiens.

When she finds out that she’s pregnant, Rose races to finish her excavation before it is taken from her by the male financial backers who don’t believe that motherhood is compatible with the rigors of archaeology. Simply because of her gender, Rose is forced to defend her abilities to continue the job at which she excels – she struggles to succeed as a working woman, providing for her family both financially and emotionally. As we jump to the past, Girl’s journey is also fraught with disaster – small issues soon become life-threatening, and the family diminishes quickly. Girl is left alone to care for Runt, a child who was adopted into the family, and she realizes how much more difficult it is to survive the winter with the responsibilities of a child.

There is a clear link between the two women across time, as they struggle to reconcile their work and desires with the obligations of family and the strict bonds of being female. From Girl to Rose, 40,000 years have passed and yet it is still taboo for a woman to put herself before her family. While science and archaeology continue to show us that our past is much more complex than we realize, it is also true that the Neanderthal girl and the Homo Sapiens woman share more than just DNA.

This novel is an exploration of what it means to be human, specifically as a woman today, and how it is reflected on our past. It shows that survival always comes with compromise, and ultimately sacrifice. Both Girl and Rose follow their biological imperative to preserve their people, and yet they show us that there is room for individual desires and successes within their female roles. It is fascinating to see that an examination of a girl who lived thousands of years ago, can teach us about being human in the world today.

I received this book from Little, Brown & Company and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Double Take - Abby Bardi

Harper Collins – Impulse Australia, April 1, 2016.

 

Three Stars

 

Aimless and unsure of her future, Rachel has just returned to her childhood home in Chicago after finishing college. She takes a job in a coffee shop in her old neighbourhood, which she seems to enjoy, even though her parents think she is wasting her life. It is 1975, but being back in her old surroundings brings back Rachel’s memories of her turbulent adolescence and the loss of a close friend in 1969.

 

The novel jumps back and forth between these two time periods, as Rachel reconnects with her old friend Joey and they reminisce about the past. Back in 1969, some of their friends became involved with drugs, leading to the death of Rachel’s boyfriend Bando. It was an apparent suicide, but Joey has other information – he tells Rachel that he thinks it may have been a murder. Joey and Rachel spend their nights in the back room of a seedy bar, drinking cheap beer even though Rachel seems to be a recovering alcoholic. Her memories of Bando lead her to drink more than ever.

 

After graduation, Rachel had planned to move to California with her boyfriend Paul, but she finds herself unable to move on until she comes to grips with her past. Rachel becomes obsessed with Bando’s death, and puts her own life at risk, meeting with dangerous people from her past in order to uncover the truth. However, when she does find out what really happened, she realizes that it isn’t so easy to place the blame on the person who is at fault for Bando’s death.

 

As she moves between 1975 and 1969, Rachel realizes there are two versions of herself – in the past, she was known to her friends as Cookie, and she seems to be slipping back into that former personality, aided by her increased drinking. Cookie was naïve and idealistic, believing the best about the bohemian crowd she spent time with, and disregarding the ominous clues about their involvement in drugs and violence. In the present, Rachel eventually realizes that she can hold on to the positive memories from her past, while still moving forward as the person she is today.

 

The dreamy, evocative passages bring the 1960s and 1970s to life. Jumping between short scenes increases the pace of the novel, making the reader feel compelled to find out what happened to Bando, and what will happen to Rachel. The time jumps are confusing at first, but once you get into the rhythm, the novel is almost impossible to put down. Although the final scenes seem a bit far-fetched, this novel is more about atmosphere than realism, and I think it succeeds in bringing this gritty historical setting to life.

 

I received this book from Harper Collins – Impulse Australia and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Armadillos - P.K. Lynch

Legends Press, April 1, 2016.

Three Stars

Aggie and her sister JoJo live on a farm in Texas with their father and brother, both of whom are physically and sexually abusive. JoJo tries to protect her younger sister as much as she can, but she isn’t always successful. At fifteen, Aggie has never known anything different in her life, but she still dreams of escape. One day, she walks out the front door as usual – but for once, she just keeps walking.

With no experience in the outside world, and no preparation for her journey, Aggie ends up walking the highway, hitchhiking with anyone who will pick her up. She seems to have no fear, extorting money from the men who pick her up by threatening them that she will say they kidnapped her. Aggie meets many people as damaged as she is, and forges connections from their shared history of abuse. Eventually, she ends up becoming a part of a new dysfunctional family – a group of squatters who each have their own dark problems.

As she settles in with her new group of friends, Aggie finds herself embroiled in a crisis involving drugs and stolen money. Living with her group of misfit friends in a derelict house, Aggie sees no alternative but to help them. This is a gritty coming of age story, shadowed by the difficult subject matter of systemic abuse and highlighting the fact that most victims have nowhere to turn for help. Aggie’s journey is one of self-discovery, as she searches for a better life – but instead of finding it, she just experiences different forms of abuse.

Aggie is a strong character, and her unique opinions and distinct speech patterns make her seem very human – but she never seemed able to empathize with others. After her traumatic experiences with her friends, Aggie eventually realizes that she must return home to confront her past. However, instead of facing her fears, she learns new shocking secrets about her family. Some scenes are too convenient and obvious, but the overall plot has a good flow and quickly moves forward. Aggie is a difficult character, but she grows into a strong woman throughout her tough experiences. I wasn’t always able to suspend disbelief during Aggie’s unusual journey, but it was interesting to be along for the ride.

I received this book from Legends Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Tears in the Grass - Lynda Archer

Dundurn Press, March 18, 2016.

Four Stars

In 1968, Saskatchewan Cree artist Elinor is 90 years old. Although her daughter and family live nearby, she prefers to live alone in her rustic cabin, communing with nature and creating artwork based on the flora and fauna surrounding her. At 90, Elinor is sometimes confused about the details of her life, but there is one memory she will never forget – a child that was stolen from her many decades before.

As a young girl, Elinor was forced into a residential school, where she was raped by an older man in a position of power. The resulting child was taken away from her and put up for adoption in another province, where Elinor would never see her again – but now, at the end of her life, she is determined to find the daughter she lost. Making her search more difficult is the fact that the daughter she raised knows nothing about her missing sister.

Elinor feels that her family has forgotten their Aboriginal heritage, and her thoughts explore a history of trauma, racism and ultimately survival. As she grows weaker in body, Elinor finds the strength and courage to open up about her past to a family that is living firmly in the present, neglecting their traditional beliefs. Elinor’s desire is to bring her entire family home, to embrace the Cree beliefs that have been forgotten by so many.

Meanwhile, Elinor’s daughter Louise and granddaughter Alice have secrets of their own. They find it difficult to communicate with each other, but are inspired by Elinor’s willingness to share her past before it is too late. Although the author is clearly trying to draw parallels between these three women through their traumatic secrets, the whole thing is wrapped up a bit too neatly. However, I don’t think that matters because I see this more as a parable for indigenous women in Canada today – Elinor is symbolic of all women of her circumstances, and this novel shows how their past affects their descendants for many generations to come.

This is a story of mothers and daughters, and of the continued discrimination towards women – Aboriginal women in particular. Louise ran away from her home on the reservation and turned away from her roots, and Alice must hide her relationship because of her sexuality. Their shared secrets create connections between the three generations, as well as exploring the complex issues between the women. Elinor’s story is emotional and heartfelt, yet it never slips into the realm of melodrama – it is told in a clear, unsparing voice. The novel is well-written, with a strong message, giving a voice to the many women who were treated in the same way as Elinor in our shared past.

I received this book from Dundurn Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In Another Life - Julie Christine Johnson

Sourcebooks Landmark, February 2, 2016.

Four Stars

Lia Carrer is a newly widowed historian – after the sudden death of her husband, she returns to the South of France to rebuild her life and finish her dissertation on Cathar theology. Living in a cozy cottage, strolling through the ancient villages in the Languedoc region of France, and visiting her best friend at her nearby vineyard – everything in Lia’s new life is helping her towards rest and recovery. That is, until she meets two mysterious men who bring back memories of a life she doesn’t remember.

While the Languedoc was Lia’s mother’s birthplace, she grew up all over the world and doesn’t really feel at home anywhere – until she meets Raoul. After their confusing first meeting in an ancient church, where Raoul feels compelled to protect her from an unclear danger, Lia is convinced that Raoul is crazy. However, when they meet again, she begins to feel that they have known each other before, perhaps in a former life.

Meanwhile, Lia is approached by a photographer named Lucas, who wants to publish a book about the local history of the area. He asks Lia to provide the descriptions of his photos, and the two begin to explore the region together. Lia is quickly drawn into the historical world around them, especially as it fits into her dissertation on Cather beliefs in reincarnation and the afterlife. However, Lucas seems to have darker, ulterior motives as he tries to keep Lia away from Raoul.

We spend most of our time following Lia’s character in the present, but there are also flashbacks to the 13^th century Cathar crusades, and the horrors that came with them. With the advice of Father Jordi, a priest that remembers the past all too well, Lia comes to understand her own connection to the Cathars, and why she seems to remember Lucas and Raoul from a former life. There are mystical, fantastic qualities to this novel – although not any traditional time travel – but it somehow always feels realistic. The two different time periods converge, and the characters connect with each other despite the constraints of time.

Johnson is a thoughtful, exciting storyteller, and her prose is somehow dreamy and precise at the same time. Although some of the characters are truly wicked and evil, they are always supplied with clear motivations that make them human. At the core of the story is love, although Lia doesn’t understand her feelings for these two men at first. And even though we are jumping centuries backwards in time, the plot is never difficult to follow.

The setting is described so luxuriously, it is as if you can truly see the lush landscape, smell the regional food and taste the wine. Underneath this beautiful setting is a dark current of suspense, as we, like Lia, never know who we can trust. The flashbacks don’t distract from the present, and it is easy to suspend disbelief as we follow Lia’s journey from 1208 to the present. Overall, this novel is a perfect combination of historical fact and romantic escapism.

I received this book from Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.