Dr. Harvey Burdell was a successful dentist with a penchant for engaging in shady business deals on the side. Thrown into the mix is Emma Cunningham, a widower with 2 children that occupied the upper floors of the townhouse in exchange for running the household and staff. Emma is cast at the murderess that was after Dr. Burdell’s fortune. What follows is nothing short of a scary legal process that had me clenching my gut for 2 days.

The coroner puts the entire household under house arrest with no access to legal representatives while he carries out a coroner’s jury proceeding. The jury is chosen from men around the city that are charged with listening to testimony given by household servants, neighbors, and anyone else the coroner could dig up to testify against Ms. Cunningham. To add to that legal nightmare, reporters from every newspaper in NYC are present as they record and release the daily transcripts for the entire city to read the next day.

As the story unfolds we are taken back through history as NYC settled around land that still held Indian tribes and African Americans that were escaping slavery in the South. It was interesting for me to try to imagine an NYC that considered 16th Street to be uptown, with nothing but farmlands as far as the eye could see, and NJ was nothing but a swampland. It was more difficult than I would have imagined, but I loved reading about John, a young boy, and other characters just hopping in a canoe that they left on the bank of the Hudson. Such a different mental picture than the NYC of today, so of course I had to look up actual photos. Moran does an excellent job recreating a city that was once filled with horse drawn carriages, women in hoop skirts, and racial/sexual tensions that are coming to a head.

I love stories that are created from true events, but I’m always left wondering which parts are true and which parts were created for the story by the author. I love that Moran included information at the end of the novel stating which characters were real and what actually happened to their lives during and after the trial. If you are one of those people that reads the ending before starting a book, I urge you to read the book first before flipping to the last pages!

If you love historical novels and mysteries with many turns, definitely pick up 31 Bond Street. Once you’ve read it make sure you enter the contest to win a box of Bond Street Chocolates plus a signed 1st edition of 31 Bond Street by choosing who you think should be cast in the 31 Bond Street movie.

31 Bond Street

Novel Whore Rating: 4 Notches on the Bed Post

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* I received a review copy of 31 Bond Street from the publisher as part of the TLC Book Tour, go read more reviews!

Campion opens with Alice asking the question “Yet when had I a choice to be other than I was?” It’s certainly a question we’ve all considered about our own choices. Most historical accounts portray Alice as a usurper that worked her way into the King’s bed in order to take over the castle, gain lands, and a fortune of her own. Campion paints a picture that I think is much more realistic when looking at the power that a commoner would have had in England at the time. A time when a commoner, especially a woman, would have no choice about the trail her life would take.

By piecing together actual records of Alice’s land holdings, marriage records, and historical accounts of court proceedings, Campion weaves a tale around a young Alice that is married off at a mere 15 years of age to a man she truly comes to love. What seems like a fairy tale wedding, quickly turns into a nightmare centered around a secret that must be kept in order to protect the Dowager Queen. Alice and her young daughter’s lives are soon in peril, their only chance of protection coming from King Edward and Queen Philippa, with strings Alice isn’t quite sure she wants to accept, but is left without another option.

The attention to historical detail is amazing in The King’s Mistress, including dressings, jewels, entertainment, and interactions between different levels of society. I also loved how other historical figures played into the story, especially Chaucer. There are certain historical figures I could never picture as a young child and Chaucer was definitely one of those, but Campion really brought him to life. The King’s Mistress really hits the mark, bringing history back to life in a fictional tale that ties together true events of the court of King Edward III to the life story of his renowned mistress.

The King’s Mistress

Novel Whore Rating: 5 Notches on the Bed Post

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* I received a review copy of The King’s Mistress from the publisher as part of the TLC Book Tour, go read more reviews!

Set in Mexico and the U.S. from 1929-1951, Kingsolver tells the story of Harrison Shepherd, a young boy on the verge of adolescence, interacting with some of the largest political players in history. Born to an American father that knows nothing of him, and a Mexican mother that is always looking for her next companion, Harrison is on his own navigating through life. By chance, Harrison begins working for Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, first as a paint mixer, then cook, and finally a secretary. The story is told through Harrison’s diaries he keeps along the way, and actual news stories that were printed throughout the world as historical events occurred.

I love The Lacuna because of the great mix Kingsolver creates between reality and fiction. Weaving the story of Lev Trotsky, Stalin and the U.S. reaction to communism and the Iron Wall with the story of Harrison’s coming of age as an author himself. One of the things that really ticked me off was wanting to read the novels Harrison wrote throughout the story! Especially having spent a lot of time in Mexico last summer visiting many of the historical sites Harrison wrote his stories around like Chichen Itza, the underground cenotes, and Mayan villages.

While Kingsolver was writing about political upheaval that happened over 60 years ago, several lines struck me about our current state of affairs.

“But people desire fair government. You say that constantly.”

“They want to believe in heroes, also. And villains. Especially when very frightened. It’s less taxing than the truth.”

So true. One of the many reasons I can’t stand watching the news anymore.

Final thought: Pick it up!

The Lacuna

Novel Whore Rating: 5 Notches on the Bed Post

Wine Pairing: Las Rocas de San Alejandro Garnacha 2007

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Dr. Guillotin, designer of the guillotine, Tobias Schmidt, builder, Nicolas Pelletier, first victim, Father Pierre, Nicolas’ priest, and Sanson, the executioner, are followed in what seems at times to simply be a dissertation on the current philosophical state of capital punishment. The characters are strong which makes the story all that more compelling as I found it hard to dislike any one of them, even though I felt like I should have disliked them.

I enjoyed Estrin’s introductions of other historical figures like Mozart, Mesmer, and Louis XVI, whose own unfortunate fate ended under the guillotine just years later.

The writing is interesting, but didn’t necessarily feel like a story at some points with the essays in the authors voice, and discussion on modern politics. It’s possible Estrin could have written two books, but of course unlikely he would have sold many of the one just on capital punishment. I think it’s an interesting combination, but one I would have enjoyed more had I known and been interested in reading more philosophical capital punishment issues. From a historical standpoint I really enjoyed learning more about the players in the guillotine movement and the French Revolution itself and I definitely have a hankering (did I really just say hankering?) for reading more on the subject.

The Good Doctor Guillotin

This review is part of the Unbridled Books Spotlight Tour – stop by to read new reviews of other recent releases!

Novel Whore Rating: 3 Notches on the Bed Post

Wine Pairing: Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir 2007

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Copyright 2010 NovelWhore.com – Novel Book Reviews

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Sarah’s Key intertwines the stories of Sarah, a 10 year old Jewish girl taken from her home by the French police in the raid of Velodrome d’Hiver, and Julia, an American journalist living in France 60 years later tasked with writing a story on the 60th Anniversary of Vel d’Hiv, something the French would rather forget about. Julia meets resistance from her French husband Bertrand, even as it becomes clear Sarah and his family have a connection.

The character development is fierce in Sarah’s Key, from the concierge that gloats as Sarah and her family are removed, to the policeman that warns with a cold smile that they wouldn’t open their window while they packed as they didn’t want a repeat of a mother throwing her child from the window and following after to avoid where they were going, to the farmer that rescues Sarah and Bertrand’s family as they try to repair the guilt they feel for being involved. You can feel the hurt, agony, and sinister feelings, but most of all, the fear.

As Julia researches the Vel d’Hiv she learns that the apartment she and her family are currently remodeling, an apartment that Bertrand’s family has lived in since the 1940’s, once belonged to a Jewish family that was removed during the roundup of 1942. From that point on Sarah’s Key becomes a quest to find a long lost girl and her family through France, Italy, and finally America.

Alongside the search for Sarah, Julia has to deal with personal demons and make decisions about her marriage and a surprise pregnancy. Written from Julia’s perspective you get to see how Americans are treated in France and how the French view relationships. Some of the dialogue and circumstances are stereotypical, but you can see them playing out without being forced by the author. While the characters are fictitious, the historical events are real, and a great reading to remind us of just what the human mind can create, both the evil and the greatness. And as always, any book that makes me want to research a time or place more, always has a place in my bedroom.

Sarah’s Key

Novel Whore Rating: 5 Notches on the Bed Post

Wine Pairing: Delas St. Esprit Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge 2007

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I fell in love with The Age of Innocence by simply envisioning myself dressing for dinner, attending the opera at least once a week, and being able to act like a lady without looking like a pompous idiot like I sometimes fear in my current life. Imagine not only walking down 5th Avenue in NYC, but being one of the elite families that founded NYC and contributed to the mecca of westernization it is today. Ah, but back to the story…

Wharton tackles the transgressions of marriage and infidelity in The Age of Innocence through Newland Archer, a young attorney, his lovely wife, or so it seems, May Welland, and May’s cousin Countess Olenska who has returned from Europe after a demeaning marriage to a Count, the details of which are implied but never revealed. Unlike many novels, Wharton knows when to hold back and leave your imagination to fill in the blanks.

Archer’s thoughts on marriage open a line of thought that many are afraid to face:

…with a shiver of foreboding he saw his marriage becoming what most of the other marriages about him were: a dull association of material and social interest held together by ignorance on the one side and hypocrisy on the other.

Archer falls in love with the Countess after his wedding to May and we are taken through a love affair that is tested by the constraints of a moral system that is against divorce, and two characters that want to remain loyal to their obligations while understanding they can’t be apart.

Wharton goes on to reveal a knowledge of social double standards that still exist today as she reveals a short love affair Archer had during his youth:

The affair, in short, had been of the kind that most of the young men of his age had been through and emerged from with calm consciences and an undisturbed belief in the abysmal distinction between the women one loved and respected and those one enjoyed – and pitied. In this view they were sedulously abetted by their mothers, aunts, and other elderly female relatives, who all shared Mrs. Archer’s belief that when “such things happened” it was undoubtedly foolish of the man, but somehow always criminal of the woman.

It’s shocking how far we’ve come, and yet how far we have to go in our belief systems. The Age of Innocence surprises the reader with the depth of character and unexpected events that come from May Welland. All in all a great read, and with an author that uses words like dilettantism, milieu, untrammelled, and embonpoint, Wharton has stolen my heart.

The Naked Review:

The Age of Innocence

Novel Whore Rating: 4 Notches on the Bed Post

Wine Pairing: Las Rocas de San Alejandro Garnacha 2007

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The Historian takes a different view on vampirism as it retraces what happened to the remains of Vlad Tepes, a 15th century Byzantine ruler of Wallachia, through Istanbul, Bulgaria and Romania during the Cold War era. The search begins as several characters receive an antique book that contains nothing but a wood print of a dragon and the word: DRAKULYA.

As it turns out Vlad Tepes was affectionately referred to as Vlad Dracula as he had a fetish for tormenting his prisoners. Elena listens to her father’s stories about his attempts to find Vlad Dracula years before, until her father disappears one day to continue the search on his own. The journey takes Elena and her father Paul back through 500 years of history, and a geographical search fueled by vague mentions of Dracula in monastery collections and libraries throughout Eastern Europe. Why all of the research? Simple, Vlad Dracula is still alive.

Kostova does an excellent job revealing the beauty of countries that were closed off to most readers during the Cold War, without The Historian becoming a travelogue. One of the things that I judge a book by, is how much it makes me want to read more on the subject, and good Lord do I want to travel to Europe right now and visit about 1100 libraries! The Historian is a perfect combination of history, travel and intrigue.

The Naked Review:

The Historian

Novel Whore Rating: 4 Notches on the Bed Post

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Timeline is set in the twenty-first century and focuses on a group of archeologists that are working on a historical site that includes Castelgard and La Roque, two ancient towns separated by the Dordogne River. Like many historical and sporting sites these days, the site is sponsored by a corporation which is rumored to be buying the surrounding land for what appears to be nefarious plans.

As the plot unfolds, it comes to light that the corporation has knowledge of the architecture of the site that seems impossible, unless they’ve actually seen the towns when they were occupied, in the 1300’s. It turns out, they have, through time traveling of course! You all know how much I love stories about time traveling! Ahem, as it turns out the time traveling isn’t the most interesting part of the story.

What I loved most about Timeline is how Crichton portrays the real issues that would occur if someone from 2000 was thrown into 1397, it’s a completely different world, and not just because there is no Internet. Language, mannerisms, violence, religion, all conspire against the modern man, and most lead to a violent death, especially in two towns that are under siege from a foreign army.

Follow the motley group that travels back in time to rescue their director from certain death as he tries to find the hidden passageway (love hidden passageways!), and avoid the one unknown native that knows they are from the future, because he is as well.

Timeline

Novel Whore Rating: 3 Notches on the Bed Post

Wine Pairing: Dom. d’Andezon Cotes du Rhone “La Granacha” 2007

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One of the things that strikes me in novels set in the past is how much violence actually occurred in everyday life. For some reason I always believe that the amount of violence we hear about on the news today is something we’ve invented recently, but historical books including the Bible always seem to bring me back to the realization that the two oldest things in the world are violence and sex. Water for Elephants recalls the tales of Jacob, now in his 90’s (you know my penchant for older men), as he joined the traveling circus of Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth after losing both of his parents just before graduating from college as a vet.

The Benzini Brothers Circus is run by probably the most notable narcissists I’ve seen in a novel recently, one of which is a paranoid schizophrenic with a penchant for violence named August. Jacob is thrown into circus life, almost becoming a victim of redlighting, the practice of throwing men off the train to their deaths when the management didn’t want to pay them anymore, and falling in love with August’s wife Marlena, which of course can’t end well.

Over on the really unexpected side of the circus was the practice of a “cooch tent.” Yes, a cooch tent. Similar to a burlesque show, but with a little twist at the end where the performer would take gentlemen callers at the end of the show. I never would have guessed that a prostitute was an actual part of the circus show! As you can imagine, this didn’t sit well with many wives, or local law enforcement. Many a circus was run out of town due to such delightful treasures, and of course liquor smuggled out of Canada during prohibition.

Jacob’s life is paralleled by his youth where he must learn to exist in a subculture with no family, and his current life in a nursing home where he has been dumped by his children to be surrounded by “old hens” and a newcomer that is trying to steal his thunder by relaying stories of carrying water for the elephants in a circus when he was a young boy.

You never know what is going to happen when the circus comes to town and the entire nursing home waits for the opening act…

Water for Elephants

Novel Whore Rating: 3 Notches on the Bed Post

Wine Pairing: Wine? Oh no, this calls for some moonshine

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Set in early 20th century china, the characters in The Concubine’s Daughter suffer through standard Chinese torture regiments including foot binding, working in the silk farms with substandard conditions that we Americans can barely comprehend, opium dens, and finally becoming a si-fu studying the Way of the White Crane. Chinese customs that seem so alluring from the outside, remind us of how many women have gone before us through a system that was determined to “cure” our evil souls by making us submit. Yet, in the end, each generation succeeds one step further than the last until at last we triumph. Feminism be damned, this is about finding our true selves, and recognizing that men, real men will always be our supporters, and we theirs.

But you want to hear about the juice don’t you? Of course. We are first introduced to Pai-Ling, a young concubine that makes the horrible mistake of producing a daughter instead of a son, a pretty big no-no in China last century. As she watches her daughter being buried alive, she commits suicide a bit prematurely, without realizing her daughter is saved by the lore of a white fox. And with this introduction the reader is treated to many more Chinese traditions with appealing themes like the dried penis of the wild horse, and two duck eggs that are placed in the expecting mother’s chamber pot to attract testicles in her unborn. That pretty much rocks, I wonder if I can buy a dried wild horse penis on Ebay?

As we get to know Pai-Ling’s daughter Li-Xia, we see a glimpse into the thoughts of a young girl that must grapple with being sold to a silk farmer, and being chosen as a concubine, all while falling in love with a “white foreign devil” she sees from afar. With conversations like “They have the private parts of a donkey that would split a Chinese woman in two,” how can you go wrong? You can’t.

Li-Xia the concubine’s daughter gets her prince, but not without a price. Li’s daughter Siu-Sing is sent off to protect her from a family blood feud, and in the tradition of her ancestors, must fight her own battles including being sold to an opium den where she has her first sexual encounter. After drinking “Buddha Jumps Over the Fence” (sounds way better than Sex on the Beach doesn’t it?) she is set in front of a full length mirror for the first time to enjoy the sight of her young body.

“In a trance, she watched Ruby’s long, rose-tipped fingers gently stroking the slight flare of her hips, urging her to turn herself to look at the flowing lines of her back, the strong swell of her buttocks. Siu-Sing stood transfixed as Ruby grasped her narrow waist, turning her to again confront the mirror. “See how very beautiful you are.” The slender fingers shifted lightly to her breast, the nipple tightening at the touch of a fingernail. The pleasure was so new to her she gasped in disbelief.”

The Concubine’s Daughter by Pai Kit Fai stirs sexual fantasy with classic romantic ideas in a tale that urges us to fight for true love. Fight for true love I will.

The Concubine’s Daughter: A Novel

Novel Whore Rating: 5 Notches on the Bed Post

Wine Pairing: Raymond Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

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