November, 2023

"Twilight Territory" by Andrew X. Pham

Following the end of WWII, this book sets up and outlines the tragic history of Vietnam during the Cold War.  Tuyet, her Aunt Coi, cousin Ha and daughter Anh are eking out a living with a small storefront in the village of Phan Thiet.  When Japanese Major Takeshi reaches out to Tuyet to get a feel for the village, she is instantly suspicious and worried about what her neighbors will say.  She directs him elsewhere, but slowly begins to date and see the Major.  As their relationship grows, relationships between the Japanese, French, and Vietnamese worsens and interrupts in violence.

This book was fascinating!  I have never read anything about Vietnam during this period of time.  I found it historically enlightening.  The characters were well developed, I felt connected to them even through time and cultural differences.  I would love to read more from this author.  Overall, highly recommended.

"The Tuscan Orphan" by Siobhan Daiko 

After signing up as a nurse during WWII, Carrie is assigned to a variety of hospitals in Italy.  In Florence, she meet’s Vito, a resistance fighter.  After Mimi, an injured child, is brought into the hospital, Vito and Carrie work together to find Mimi’s parents.  

I was a little skeptical about this book at first, but quickly fell in love with the author’s storytelling.  The plot moved at a nice pace, the characters were well developed, and the story itself was interesting.  This book was well developed and much more than the typical love story.  Overall, highly recommended.

"Leizar" by David Gelernter 

This book follows multiple generations of the Domansky family from the 1840’s until post WWII.  The vast majority of the book takes place in a small Russian occupied village in Poland.  The book then follows the family to Poland and around Europe.  

Leizar, a third generation son is the focus of the book.  However, I wish each generation had been given their own book.  There was enough content here to feature each generation separately and more fully.  At times the book felt sparse -time passed quickly and the day to day life was brushed over.  Overall, 4 out of 5 stars.

"Cloistered" by Catherine Coldstream 

After losing her father, Catherine begins a spiritual journey that leads her into the cloistered life of a Carmelite nun.  Once inside, she found mediocrity, conformity and unquestioning obedience.  I’m not sure what to say about this book.  It was a bit slow moving and anticlimactic.  I couldn’t figure out what the plot was.  I would have been more foraging or understanding if this was a memoir, but for fiction, it was a bust.  Overall, it just wasn’t for me.

"Sky of Ashes, Land of Dreams" by Erin Jamieson

Bolormaa and Ganbaatar were born and raised in the Gobi desert.  After their engagement, Ganbaatar meets Aisin, a Chinese woman sent to Mongolia after the death of her parents.  He immediately falls in love with her and finds himself deciding between desire and duty.   

The book covered large spans of time, often employing time jumps.  I missed reading about the day to day life in the Gobi desert and the culture and customs of it’s people.  I never really got to know the characters, they were not well developed or flushed out.  Overall a bust.