Author: Anthony Doerr

This is a story (starting in ancient Greece) within a story (during the 1400’s) within a story (Korean War years) within a story (the 2020’s) within a story (the 2100’s). Sound confusing? I thought so too at first but I was so engaged in the various stories that I had no trouble keeping the characters straight.

A man in ancient Greece has written a story for his niece who is dying. Anna has learned to read a little and finds bits of the text. Omeir has been conscripted into the army who is about to seize control of Constantinople. Zeno is taken prisoner during the Korean war; when he returns home he begins to translate the story from scraps of the text. Seymour is an autistic boy who is increasingly upset over the environmental issues of the day. Konstance was born on a ship that is heading for an unknown planet.

The way the lives of the characters unfold and the way they are woven together is very entertaining.

Goodreads Rating: * * * *

Author: Louise Kennedy

I can’t resist a book set in Ireland and written by an Irish writer. And if the author is a woman and the story takes place during the Troubles, even better.

From the prologue you can assume there won’t be a happy ending. Cushla is a teacher who occasionally works in her family’s pub. When Michael stops in at the pub one night there is an instant attraction. Although it isn’t specifically mentioned one is Protestant and one is Catholic. When Michael is murdered is Cushla’s affair with him the cause and is her favourite student the link between Michael and the murderer?

Goodreads Rating: * * * *

Author: Kathleen Grissom

Lavinia is an indentured servant at a large tobacco plantation in Virginia. Here she becomes a helper to the slave Belle who runs the kitchen house. Lavinia soon becomes a favourite among all of Belle’s family and is instrumental in the care of the mistress of the plantation. 

The story is told mainly through the voice of Lavinia but Belle’s story gives her take on the ups and downs of plantation life. What runs through the book are the differences between the life Lavinia has (even though indentured) and the life of the slaves.

The author was born and raised in Annaheim, SK.

Goodreads Rating: * * *

Author: Barbra Streisand

This was a Christmas gift from Christy. I’ve read Streisand biographies before but this was so much better. It is a big book (970 pages) and my reading was interrupted several times with books that needed to be returned to the library.

Every story in every chapter revealed not only what Barbra was working on at the time but her thoughts about the movie or album and the people involved. She also is clear about the way she was treated by the media throughout her career.

I have quite a few of Barbra’s albums but I’ve only seen a few of her movies. Some of the movies I’ve never even heard of and I wonder if they are still available at the library.

Goodreads Rating: * * * * *