Flashback Friday: Word of Honor

Posted in Flashback Friday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Flashback Friday is a weekly tradition started here at Bookshelf Fantasies, focusing on showing some love for the older books in our lives and on our shelves. If you’d like to join in, just pick a book published at least five years ago, post your Flashback Friday pick on your blog, and let us all know about that special book from your reading past and why it matters to you. Don’t forget to link up!

My Flashback Friday pick this week:

Word of Honor by Nelson DeMille
(published 1985)

Synopsis (Goodreads):

He is a good man, a brilliant corporate executive, an honest, handsome family man admired by men and desired by women.But a lifetime ago Ben Tyson was a lieutenant in Vietnam.There the men under his command committed a murderous atrocity — and together swore never to tell the world what they had done. Now the press, army justice, and the events he tried to forget have caught up with Ben Tyson. His family, his career, and his personal sense of honor hang in the balance. And only one woman can reveal the truth of his past — and set him free.

Many years ago, I went through a reading frenzy related to the Vietnam War. History, memoirs, biography, and fiction — Vietnam was my reading obsession for a time, and when I stumbled across Word of Honor, there was no way I could resist.

The secrets and deceptions in this novel revolve around a covered-up massacre similar to the historical atrocities committed at My Lai. In Word of Honor, we meet a decent man with a shameful past, and as the truth emerges, questions are posed about forgiveness, responsibility, and justice. The fictionalized historical events are fascinating, as are the court martial and legal proceedings that follow. Ultimately a military and courtroom thriller, Word of Honor is fast-paced and absorbing, while at the same time providing an intriguing look into the psychology of men at war and the damage that lingers long afterward.

What flashback book is on your mind this week?

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21Mar2014

Flashback Friday: The Ruby in the Smoke

Posted in Flashback Friday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

My Flashback Friday pick this week:

The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman
(published 1985)

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Sally is sixteen and uncommonly pretty. Her knowledge of English literature, French, history, art and music is non-existent, but she has a thorough grounding in military tactics, can run a business, ride like a Cossack and shoot straight with a pistol.

When her dear father is drowned in suspicious circumstances in the South China Sea, Sally is left to fend for herself, an orphan and alone in the smoky fog of Victorian London. Though she doesn’t know it, Sally is already in terrible danger. Soon the mystery and the danger will deepen – and at the rotten heart of it all lies the deadly secret of the ruby in the smoke…

Before the amazing His Dark Materials trilogy, there were the Sally Lockhart books. The Ruby in the Smoke is first, followed by The Shadow in the North, The Tiger in the Well, and The Tin Princess.

Set in Victorian London, there’s intrigue a-plenty, as Sally investigates the mystery of her father’s disappearance and faces danger of all sorts, as well as a whole range of shady, nefarious people. I must admit that I never read past the first in the series, but I did like it quite a bit, and have always meant to read on.

Have you read the Sally Lockhart books? Should I finish the quartet?

And a little aside for Doctor Who fans: Hold onto your heads so they don’t explode — the TV movie version of The Ruby in the Smoke (2006) starred Billie Piper and Matt Smith. Awesome, right?

What flashback book is on your mind this week?

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13Mar2014

Flashback Friday: The Icarus Girl

Posted in Flashback Friday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

My Flashback Friday pick this week:

The Icarus Girl by Helen Oyeyemi
(published 2005)

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Jessamy “Jess” Harrison, age eight, is the child of an English father and a Nigerian mother. Possessed of an extraordinary imagination, she has a hard time fitting in at school. It is only when she visits Nigeria for the first time that she makes a friend who understands her: a ragged little girl named TillyTilly. But soon TillyTilly’s visits become more disturbing, until Jess realizes she doesn’t actually know who her friend is at all. Drawing on Nigerian mythology, Helen Oyeyemi presents a striking variation on the classic literary theme of doubles — both real and spiritual — in this lyrical and bold debut.

I was reminded of this book, which I read several years ago, after reading the first batch of reviews for Helen Oyeyemi’s newest novel, Boy, Snow, Bird. It’s hard to believe that this talented writer, author of five novels to date, is only 29 years old!

The Icarus Girl, Oyeyemi’s debut, was published when the author was just 20. This is the only book of hers that I’ve read, so I don’t know how or if her style has changed since her first novel. In any case, while the entire plot didn’t necessarily hold together for me, what I remember about The Icarus Girl is the lovely writing, the sense of magic and mystery that pervades the novel, the very scary and eerie supernatural moments, and the use of Nigerian mythology to deepen and enrich the overall mood.

Have you read anything by Helen Oyeyemi? Do you plan to read Boy, Snow, Bird?

What flashback book is on your mind this week?

Note from your friendly Bookshelf Fantasies host: To join in the Flashback Friday fun:

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27Feb2014

Flashback Friday: The Stolen Child

Posted in Flashback Friday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

My Flashback Friday pick this week:

The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue
(published 2006)

Synopsis (Goodreads):

“I am a changeling-a word that describes within its own name what we are bound and intended to do. We kidnap a human child and replace him or her with one of our own. . . .”

The double story of Henry Day begins in 1949, when he is kidnapped at age seven by a band of wild childlike beings who live in an ancient, secret community in the forest. The changelings rename their captive Aniday and he becomes, like them, unaging and stuck in time. They leave one of their own to take his place, an imposter who must try — with varying success — to hide his true identity from the Day family. As the changeling Henry grows up, he is haunted by glimpses of his lost double and by vague memories of his own childhood a century earlier. Narrated in turns by Henry and Aniday, The Stolen Child follows them as their lives converge, driven by their obsessive search for who they were before they changed places in the world. Moving from a realistic setting in small-town America deep into the forest of humankind’s most basic desires and fears, this remarkable novel is a haunting fable about identity and the illusory innocence of childhood.

This beautiful, haunting book is both fairy tale and a story of disillusioned adulthood, drawing on the myth of the changeling to follow two characters who feel isolated and alienated in their lives. It’s a sad look back at the lost days of youth, with a fantastical twist serving to explain why a man might feel so strange in his own life, always feeling like there’s a part of himself missing.

The Stolen Child is really quite lovely to read. I’ve seen it described as a fairy story for adults, which sounds just about right to me. I’d put it on my shelf right next to Graham Joyce’s Some Kind of Fairy Tale, which also conveys the sense of unfulfilled purpose and a lost life while dwelling in realms both mortal and magical.

I’ve yet to read Keith Donohue’s two subsequent novels, but both (Angels of Destruction and Centuries of June) sound like books that are right up my alley.

What flashback book is on your mind this week?

Note from your friendly Bookshelf Fantasies host: To join in the Flashback Friday fun:

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21Feb2014

Flashback Friday: Stardust

Posted in Flashback Friday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

My Flashback Friday pick this week:

Stardust by Neil Gaiman
(published 1999)

Synopsis (Goodreads):

In the sleepy English countryside at the dawn of the Victorian Era, life moves at a leisurely pace in the tiny town of Wall–a secluded hamlet so named for an imposing stone barrier that surrounds a fertile grassland. Armed sentries guard the sole gap in the bulwark to keep the inquisitive from wandering through, relaxing their vigil only once every nine years, when a market fair unlike any other in the world of men comes to the meadow. Here in Wall, young Tristran Thorn has lost his heart to beautiful Victoria Forester. But Victoria is cold and distant–as distant, in fact, as the star she and Tristran see fall from the sky on a crisp October evening. For the coveted prize of Victoria’s hand, Tristran vows to retrieve the fallen star and deliver it to his beloved. It is an oath that sends the lovelorn swain over the ancient wall, and propels him into a world that is strange beyond imagining.

But Tristran is not the only one seeking the heavenly jewel. There are those for whom it promises youth and beauty, the key to a kingdom, and the rejuvenation of dark, dormant magics. And a lad compelled by love will have to keep his wits about him to succeed and survive in this secret place where fallen stars come in many guises–and where quests have a way of branching off in unexpected directions, even turning back upon themselves in space and in time.

Neil Gaiman works his unique literary magic in new and dazzling ways in “Stardust, a novel that will shine in the heart and memory far beyond the turning of its final page.

I consider Stardust a modern classic — a dreamy fairy tale with touches of witchy evil, struggles for a throne, and flying pirates! As far as I remember, Stardust was my very first Neil Gaiman book, and I love the fact that it’s perfect for adults but really accessible for kids too.

Stardust is also one of the rare cases where a great books is adapted into a pretty terrific movie… but still, if you’ve only seen the movie, read the book! It’s fun, it’s romantic, it’s exciting, and totally enchanting.

PS – In case you need encouragement to see the movie… how about these magic words? Henry Cavill. The guy who plays Prince Caspian. Are you convinced yet? 🙂

What flashback book is on your mind this week?

Note from your friendly Bookshelf Fantasies host: To join in the Flashback Friday fun:

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14Feb2014

Flashback Friday: House of Stairs

Posted in Flashback Friday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

My Flashback Friday pick this week:

House of Stairs by William Sleator
(published 1974)

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Peter. Lola. Blossom. Abigail. Oliver. Five sixteen-year-old orphans. One by one, they are brought to a place that is unlike anything any of them has ever known. It’s not a prison, not a hospital. It has no walls, no ceilings, no floor. Nothing but endless flights of stairs leading nowhere – except back to the red machine. The five will learn to love the machine, will let it rule their lives. But will they let it kill their souls?

House of Stairs Can I just tell you how freaked out by this book I was when I was a kid? It’s a totally bizarre tale of psychological conditioning — and I loved it. Five teens trapped in a weird place that just consists of stairs going every which way, plus a single machine that dispenses food… but only if you do what it wants. Yikes! It’s not very long, but it certainly has stayed with me all these years.

House of Stairs When my daughter was the right age, I gave it to her to read, and she was blown away too. And now that my son is in middle school, it’s come back off the shelf again… and we’re trying to convince him that he just has to read this book!

A note on the covers: I think I actually prefer the older, slightly cheesy versions for House of Stairs. The one above just lacks any personality… versus these older ones with bad hair, odd clothes, and lots of drama.

Have you read House of Stairs? Or anything else by William Sleator?

What’s your favorite flashback book this week?

Note from your friendly Bookshelf Fantasies host: To join in the Flashback Friday fun:

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7Feb2014

Flashback Friday: The Samurai’s Garden

Posted in Flashback Friday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

My Flashback Friday pick this week:

The Samurai’s Garden by Gail Tsukiyama
(published 1994)

Synopsis (Goodreads):

A 20-year-old Chinese painter named Stephen is sent to his family’s summer home in a Japanese coastal village to recover from a bout with tuberculosis. Here he is cared for by Matsu, a reticent housekeeper and a master gardener. Over the course of a remarkable year, Stephen learns Matsu’s secret and gains not only physical strength, but also profound spiritual insight. Matsu is a samurai of the soul, a man devoted to doing good and finding beauty in a cruel and arbitrary world, and Stephen is a noble student, learning to appreciate Matsu’s generous and nurturing way of life and to love Matsu’s soulmate, gentle Sachi, a woman afflicted with leprosy.

The synopsis is not terribly helpful, and really doesn’t do justice to the sense of beauty and strength that comes through in this lovely novel. The characters are much more intricate than is first apparent, and as the book progresses, the complicated dynamics unfold to reveal secrets, shames, and passions.

It’s been many years since I’ve read The Samurai’s Garden, and I should probably read it again. I’ve read and enjoyed other books by this author as well, but The Samurai’s Garden is the one that really stands out in my mind as truly special.

Note from your friendly Bookshelf Fantasies host: To join in the Flashback Friday fun:

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31Jan2014

Flashback Friday: The Queen’s Fool

Posted in Flashback Friday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

My Flashback Friday pick this week:

The Queen’s Fool by Philippa Gregory
(published 2003)

Synopsis (Goodreads):

A young woman caught in the rivalry between Queen Mary and her half sister, Elizabeth, must find her true destiny amid treason, poisonous rivalries, loss of faith, and unrequited love.

It is winter, 1553. Pursued by the Inquisition, Hannah Green, a fourteen-year-old Jewish girl, is forced to flee Spain with her father. But Hannah is no ordinary refugee. Her gift of “Sight,” the ability to foresee the future, is priceless in the troubled times of the Tudor court. Hannah is adopted by the glamorous Robert Dudley, the charismatic son of King Edward’s protector, who brings her to court as a “holy fool” for Queen Mary and, ultimately, Queen Elizabeth. Hired as a fool but working as a spy; promised in wedlock but in love with her master; endangered by the laws against heresy, treason, and witchcraft, Hannah must choose between the safe life of a commoner and the dangerous intrigues of the royal family that are inextricably bound up in her own yearnings and desires.

Teeming with vibrant period detail and peopled by characters seamlessly woven into the sweeping tapestry of history, The Queen’s Fool is another rich and emotionally resonant gem from this wonderful storyteller.

A lot of people discovered Philippa Gregory because of her bestseller The Other Boleyn Girl and its movie adaptation. But for me, my first exposure to this author came when a friend put a copy of The Queen’s Fool into my hands and ordered me to read it!

Long story short, I thought this book was marvelous! The fictional character of Hannah Green is a terrific invention, providing an outsider’s view of the closed confines of life at court. The element of hiding her Jewish faith adds both an interesting historical note as well as a more personal risk for Hannah in her role as companion to both Mary and Elizabeth. Through Hannah’s eyes, we get intimate views of the royal half-sisters’ hopes, fears, and struggles, and it’s all quite fascinating.

There are a ton of books out there, fiction and non-fiction, focused on the Tudor dynasty. In The Queen’s Fool, we see the Tudor women from the unique perspective of a young woman who is powerless yet has almost unlimited access to those on and closest to the throne. I’ve read several of Philippa Gregory’s novels about the Tudors, and while I haven’t loved them all, The Queen’s Fool is one that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.

Note from your friendly Bookshelf Fantasies host: To join in the Flashback Friday fun:

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Check out other FF posts… and discover some terrific hidden gems to add to your TBR piles!

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23Jan2014

Flashback Friday: The Last Ship

Posted in Flashback Friday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

My Flashback Friday pick this week:

The Last Ship by William Brinkley
(published 1988)

Synopsis (Goodreads):

The unimaginable horror of total nuclear war has been let loose upon the world, and only one ship, the Nathan James, with 152 men and 26 women aboard, has survived. Her captain narrates the electrifying story of this crew’s voyage through the hell of nuclear winter, their search for survival, and the fate of mankind when they find an uncontaminated paradise.

This books gave me nightmares for weeks! Fascinating and horrifying, The Last Ship focuses on — literally — the last ship, a naval warship that has somehow survived the initial devastation of nuclear war by being far enough at sea to avoid the blasts. As the ship’s crew searches for some remaining corner of the world safe from fall-out and radiation, they struggle with what it means to be the last people on earth, what a future might hold for them, and what their obligation toward the survival of the species might compel them to do.

The disasters of nuclear war are unflinchingly described, and the psychological impact of being alone in the world is skillfully explored, with many shades of grey and endless capacity for complete ruin. I enjoyed the descriptions of life aboard ship, particularly as this book was ahead of its time in positing a US Navy in which women serve on board ships alongside men. (The survival of the species thing would be a bit tough, otherwise…)

When it comes to cautionary tales about the arms race and nuclear annihilation, The Last Ship belongs on the “best of” shelf right alongside Nevil Shute’s On the Beach.

Note from your friendly Bookshelf Fantasies host: To join in the Flashback Friday fun:

Grab the Flashback Friday button
Post your own Flashback Friday entry on your blog (and mention Bookshelf Fantasies as the host of the meme, if you please!)
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Check out other FF posts… and discover some terrific hidden gems to add to your TBR piles!

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16Jan2014

Flashback Friday: Good in Bed

Posted in Flashback Friday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Keeping things light this week! My pick for Flashback Friday:

Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner
(published 2001)

Synopsis (Goodreads):

For twenty-eight years, things have been tripping along nicely for Cannie Shapiro. Sure, her mother has come charging out of the closet, and her father has long since dropped out of her world. But she loves her friends, her rat terrier, Nifkin, and her job as pop culture reporter for The Philadelphia Examiner. She’s even made a tenuous peace with her plus-size body.

But the day she opens up a national women’s magazine and sees the words “Loving a Larger Woman” above her ex-boyfriend’s byline, Cannie is plunged into misery…and the most amazing year of her life. From Philadelphia to Hollywood and back home again, she charts a new course for herself: mourning her losses, facing her past, and figuring out who she is and who she can become.

Good in Bed is probably the first book I heard referred to as “chick lit” — and while in general I really dislike the term for its derogatory overtones (but that’s a topic for another blog post!), I don’t mind it so much here. Maybe that’s because Good in Bed defies all the expectations that “chick lit” seems to promise — hearts and flowers, shopping, BFFs and looking for love. Yes, some of that does factor into this book, but it’s also honest, sneaky, snarky, and in places, really devastating too.

Granted, the synopsis does make Good in Bed sound like a single-girl-on-the-prowl type of book — but it’s really a deeply emotional portrayal of a woman who is smart and strong, and who goes through some unimaginably painful experiences. Cannie is not perfect by a long shot, and maybe that’s why so many women relate to her. She doesn’t have great taste in men, things don’t always work out for her, and her weight is an ongoing issue. She goes through one particularly terrible experience, and the chapters dealing with this are truly heartbreaking — so that when she does find moments of happiness, we really want to cheer.

Good in Bed isn’t high-brow literature by any means, but it’s a terrifically fun read with a big heart and surprising depths. For someone who doesn’t usually frequently the “chick lit” sections of the bookstore, enjoying this book was a great surprise.

Have you read Good in Bed? If so, how does it measure up for you against other books lumped under the “chick lit” heading?

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