Be Frank With Me by Julia Claiborne Johnson

Be Frank With Me
Julia Claiborne Johnson
2016
5/5 stars

Alice Whitley is sent by her boss to be assistant to literary legend and recluse M.M. (Mimi) Banning while Banning writes her much anticipated second book.  Once installed in the Banning's Hollywood household, she finds she is to be cook, babysitter, housekeeper, and general dogsbody.  Mimi's son, Frank, takes up most of Alice's time.  He is a nine-year-old classic movie buff, who dresses like his favorite actors, has awkward social skills, is prone to tantrums, and does not fit in with his fourth grade classmates.  He is also immensely lovable, which Alice discovers almost immediately.  While she waits impatiently for any sign that Mimi is actually writing the book, she and Frank bond over a series of misadventures.

This, Johnson's debut novel, is stellar.  It is warm, moving, funny, and heartbreaking.  The opening hooks the reader right away, and the well-crafted story keeps the reader enthralled all the way through to it's perfect ending.  The characters, while quirky, are believable, as is the plot.

While the book never states what might cause Frank to act as he does, personal experience tells me that he is on the high functioning end of the Autism spectrum.  Johnson makes him alive, never a caricature, and the reader grows to love him as deeply as Alice.

Be Frank With Me is a not-to-be-missed experience for the right audience, and I highly recommend it.

On a side note: Tavia Gilbert, the audio book narrator, does an amazing job.   

The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar

The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock
Imogen Hermes Gowar
2018
4/5 stars

When the captain of one of Jonah Hancock's ship returns bearing  the skeleton of a mermaid, Hancock is catapulted into fame, with all classes being eager to view his treasure.  A famous madam arranges a lavish party at her brothel to feature the mermaid, and while there, Hancock meets a well-known courtesan, Angelica Neal, just returning to society after the death of her patron.  The lives of Mr. Hancock and Mrs. Neal become entwined due to the mermaid, leading them to an interesting future, which may be blighted by the power of a mermaid's curse.

This is an amazingly well-written novel, filled with details about the Georgian age, believable characters, and a hauntingly engaging plot.  It is witty, interesting, intelligent, and engrossing.

The reason for four stars instead of five, however, is the addition of the story of Polly, a black teenager, training to be a high-class prostitute.  Her story was no less intriguing, but did not mesh well with the stories of Mr. Hancock and Mrs. Neal.  Each time she interrupted, the flow of story stalled.  Polly deserved a novel of her own, instead of a throw-away filler.

Other than that, this is stunning debut novel and I look forward to following Gowar's career.   

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

The Husband's Secret
Liane Moriarty
2013
4/5 stars

Cecilia has it all together; she's the perfect wife, mother, and Tupperware saleswoman.  She's looked up to and envied by her friends.  Her perfect life comes crashing down, however, when she discovers a letter written by her husband, which contains his deepest secret.

In the same neighborhood, Rachel lives with a 30 year old grief that she is unable to surrender.  Her entire life is shaped by her loss, and she has settled all her hatred on one man she views as the cause.  Now, her life is entwined with Cecilia's in a manner she would never have expected.

Tess comes to that neighborhood to stay with her mother after her marriage seems at an end.  She begins a relationship that ties her to Rachel, though neither woman realizes it.

This is an excellent book; it is gripping from the beginning and stays compelling all the way through.  Moriarty fleshed her characters well, built up the emotions nicely, and presented a twist toward the end that was unexpected. 

One thing I disliked, however, was the fat shaming; this is the second book I've read by Moriarty, and both have pushed perfect bodies. 

The other thing that kept this book from being five stars was Tess' story.  The story itself is fine, and as well written as the rest,  but it really didn't connect to the main plot the way the other two stories did; it almost felt like filler.

Despite those two negative points, it's a fantastic read that I would recommend universally. 

May 2019 Wrap-Up

Books Read:
Death in Zanzibar by M.M. Kaye  (1959)  4/5 stars
In this novel, Dany is invited to visit her mother and step-father in Zanzibar for a relaxing vacation, but murder, suspense and danger follow her from England to Africa.  While at times absurdly unbelievable, Death in Zanzibar is consistently entertaining and atmospheric.  I enjoyed it much more than anticipated, and will certainly read more of Kay's mystery-adventures.

The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister  (2009) 4/5 stars  (my review here)

The Imperfectionist by Tom Rachman (2010) 4/5 stars (my review here)



Audio Books Completed:
Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton  (1911)  4/5 stars
This classic tells of a love triangle between Ethan Frome, his wife Zeena, and her cousin Mattie Silver.  Wharton's skill breathes life into the characters and the location, and gives an ending that makes this sad, short novel well-worth reading.

A Medal for Murder by Frances Brody  (2010)  4/5 stars
It is 1922 in England, and Kate Shackelton is hired to recover stolen goods. However, while investigating she becomes accidentally involved in murder.   Brody weaves the story between several points of view, which works surprisingly well.   This second of a series is charming and enjoyable; I was kept interested until the end.

The Ex by Alafair Burke  (2016)  3/5 stars  (my review here)

The Tropic of Serpents by Marie Brennan  (2014)  3/5 stars
This is the second in the "a Natural History of Dragons" series, and follows Isabella as she ventures into the swamp known as the Green Hell, in search of indigenous dragons.  The world of these novels is meticulously created, making for an excellent reading experience.  The main story line was engaging, but the politics (though well-explained) caused the story to lag at times.  It was still a pleasure, and I look forward to reading more in the series.

The Guardians of the Horizon by Elizabeth Peters  (2004)  4/5 stars
Amelia Peabody Emerson and her family travel to the Sudan in order to help a friend from a previous novel, who is living in the Lost Oasis.  Murder, intrigue, and royal politics involve them in an experience that the Emersons may not survive.  I have not read all the series up to this one, and was at a bit of a disadvantage in the beginning, as I tried to make sense of who everyone was and what the previous adventure of the Lost Oasis had been.  After that, however, it turned into an exciting adventure that was a pleasure to read.

Murder at the Brightwell by Ashley Weaver  (2014) 4/5 stars
Amory Ames is invited to visit the seaside by a friend from her past, and while there she becomes involved in a murder investigation.  Set in the 1930s, this has a lovely atmosphere, a rather good mystery, and likable characters.  Amory is in a failing marriage, however, and as a result there is much angst throughout the novel.  Otherwise, I enjoyed it, and will probably continue the series.

Congo by Michael Crichton  (1980) 3/5 stars
This is an enjoyable adventure tale, following a team of scientists and their guide as they navigate the terrors of the Congo in search for diamonds.  Crichton's genius -- which is certainly not for lyrical prose -- is his ability to mesh fact with fiction seamlessly.  Even though I only gave it three stars (due to the mechanical prose), it's great escapist fiction.



Did Not Finish:
The Story Hour by Thrity Umrigar
The first narrator of this novel is a Hidustani woman living in America, whose thoughts are related in an off-putting pigeon English,  I found it impossible to believe that Lakshmi would think in such language; she would, I would assume, think in perfect Hindi.  I quit only a few pages in.

The Bridal Wreath (Kristin Lavransdatter, book one) by Sigrid Undset
According to Goodreads, I am in the minority.  I simply could not get into this book.  It was deadly dull with poor writing, and I kept wondering how it won the Nobel Prize.  Perhaps if I had stuck with it, I would have loved it, too, but I simply couldn't.

Murder on Millionaire's Row by Erin Lindsey
This Gilded Age mystery was entirely too unbelievable and lacked authentic historical atmosphere.

Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler
I'm not sure why I picked this book - - it is a retelling of the Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare's worst play - - but I did give it a try.  I wasn't impressed with the writing of what I did read, and the more I thought about the play, the less interested I became in the novel.
(My review of the play is here.)