Marching into the Unknown

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods—Are you looking for a novel that incorporates magic, romance, feminism, and love of books, moves along quickly and leaves you with a happy ending? You have found your February choice.

Once again, (like so many of the books I’ve read) we travel back in time to 1921 where Opaline, under the oppressive thumb of her brother, escapes an unwanted marriage and flees to Paris where she meets (the real) Sylvia Beach, owner of Shakespeare and Co.  and makes a new life for herself, that is, until her brother finds her. Many adventures to come.

Modern day Martha, escaping an abusive marriage, flees to Dublin and meets Madame Bowden who offers her a job in her home. But is Madame Bowden who she says she is? And then Martha meets Henry, a scholar, searching for the elusive lost bookshop as well as Opaline herself.

In between, literary icons come and go, literary allusions appear and love blossoms for both women. Can you ask for more?

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali—No magic here, just a story of life in Iran from the 1950s to 2020s through the lenses of two idealistic young girls as they grow up and confront the changing landscape of Iran in the last 70 years.

Elaheh, too young to really remember her deceased father, moves with her mother, from a rich area in Tehran, to a working-class neighborhood where she meets her new best friend and free spirit, Doma. Doma becomes her mentor, showing Ellie the life she has missed, their future as women in Iran and introducing her to a real family, not like Ellie’s.

When Ellie’s mother remarries, and they rejoin life in the upper echelon of society, Ellie gradually fits in with her new friends and memories of Doma fades. But Doma suddenly reappears, and Ellie remembers what it’s like to have a real friend. But no…not the end of the book…far from it.

Kamali follows the 20th century history of Iran and the political protests, especially for women. Doma becomes part of that story, and as she says, she was hated by both the Shah and Khomeini.

This was a lovely story about friendship, growing up in Iran and how far dedicated women will go to change their lives and others. The story continues.

Wordhunter by Stella Sands—Small town Florida Maggie Moore is pierced and tattooed and she drinks and takes drugs whenever possible. She also loves to diagram sentences, can read and write backwards and has a peculiar penchant for forensics and literature. For example, when she reads a kidnapper’s notes, she can figure out where that person was born and very likely will catch the perpetrator.  But she has issues, many issues.

When a 13-year-old girl is kidnapped, Maggie, as a top student in the Forensic Linguistic class is called in to help. Life takes a strange turn as she meets Detective Jackson, starts to work for her professor and finds some leads for her long-lost friend.

The plot meanders somewhat with plot twists, but this very new and different heroine is unforgettable. I’d like to see her again and since there is a sequel in the works…and a possible TV series, you may also.  But don’t forget to read this book rather than listen to it. You wouldn’t want to miss all those wonderful, diagrammed sentences!

The Wrong Daughter by Dandy Smith—Caitlin was 10 years old when her beautiful 16-year-old sister, Olivia was kidnapped by a masked man. By the time Olivia reappeared, Caitlin was a teacher, engaged and ready to start a life.

End of story? Not even close. Olivia seemed somehow different, refusing to divulge anything, acting strangely, especially to her sister, stealing from their parents, and making strange phone calls. Somehow, Olivia keeps adding to the suspicion, almost on purpose.

Is this the wrong sister? It’s up to Caitlin to figure it out.  Only one person gives her any help: her sister’s therapist, Gabriel, who seems like he doesn’t believe Olivia either. Will he help her out? Will she find her real sister?

But wait, there is a parallel story of a brother and sister, growing up a little too close to each other under the control of their evil uncle. What does this have to do with Olivia? You’ll find out.

It’s a wild ride. Hold on for the plot twists! And let me know how you feel about the ending.

Now, let’s go in our way back machine to August 25, 1999, when I wrote this article for the Gaithersburg Gazette Newspaper. If you haven’t read Corelli’s Mandolin then it’s new to you.

Corelli’s Mandolin: A Novel by Louis de Bernieres—The island is Cephanonia and the time is World War II, during the Italian and German occupations of Greece. Part history and part romance Corelli’s Mandolin is a sweeping saga that focuses on Greek history as well as numerous characters whose previously innocent lives are changed forever.

Pelagia and her father, Iannis lead a quiet life that is highlighted by their interesting neighbors including the innocent fisherman Mandas who is engaged to Pelagia but goes off to war and returns a different man.

When the Italians occupy Cephalonia, Captain Antonio Corelli enters Pelagia’s house and the two fall in love. This is the romantic part of the story: the affair between star-crossed lovers who are bound by time, politics and treachery.

De Bernieres, in the style of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, allows his readers to see through both the eyes of the Greeks who were born on the island and the Italians who wish they could stay forever. In this way we see how history and nature combine to test and retest the faiths of these islanders.

As much as I loved this romantic and historically accurate novel, I felt the ending was a little flat. However, it is well worth the read, especially if you don’t mind the vocabulary. You be the judge.

Well, we’ve gotten through February and hopefully you’ve had some engrossing books to get you through. Will March be better? You tell me. Anyway, it’s probably going to be warmer.