Book Reviews

Here are a few things I've been reading recently.

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, Adult fiction, 2016

A friend at the gym highly recommended this book a couple of times, so I checked it out. It was popular several years ago, with good reviews and a couple of award nominations. There are readers' guides, Spark Notes, and plenty of information readily available about the book if you're interested.

The premise is interesting. Count Roscov is under house arrest in the hotel where he was living when the Bolsheviks took over Russia in 1922, because he was part of the "unrepentant" upper class that did not fit with the ideals of the new ruling party. The Count would be shot if he stepped outside the hotel. Also, he was moved from his luxury suite to the hotel's attic, which was at best minimal. 

We follow his life for the next 32 years in the hotel, where he goes from a free life of luxury and travel to a confined life in the hotel. The hotel has a barber shop, a bar, two restaurants, and a seamstress, among other things, so he can get his needs met there.  

Slowly, the Count comes to know about the people who work at the hotel and what goes on behind the scenes--especially when he meets nine-year-old Nina, who is also staying at the hotel. In one way or another, she continues to shape the rest of the Count's life.

I won't give away too much of the story, but the book weaves historical events and perspective with interesting personal stories. There are also philosophical discussions about life and world events that are examined by the Count.  

It is a beautifully written book with a touching story. I occasionally had trouble keeping the Russian names, Moscow geography, and historical events straight, but it only slightly distracted me from the story. I'm not sure I would call it the best book I've ever read, as some have said, but it was definitely a good read.

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, Children's fiction (elementary age), 1908 (first published; many versions have been published since then).

A friend recently mentioned this book as one she reads again and again. Her words, "His evocation of the river and the woods never tires my reading." I thought I hadn't read it in a very long time or maybe never, so I added this to my list.

Wind in the Willows is considered a classic of British literature and is based on stories Grahame told his son. The book tells stories of Mole, Ratty, Badger, and Toad, who is always getting into trouble.  I would agree with my friend that the descriptions of nature are lovely. And the friendship between Mole and Ratty is very sweet. Toad can be annoying at times, but every story needs someone who stirs up trouble. 

The book has an older style of prose, with many sentences that are complex and of the length of paragraphs today. I wonder what it would be like if it were written today? It would certainly lose some of its charm, I think.

This is a classic children's book about the outdoors and animals, and right up my alley. However, to be truthful, I grew tired of it. However, I think it would work well as a bedtime story with a chapter/night.

Royal Spyness Mystery Series-#11, #12, #13

 The Royal Spyness books follow Georgie, 35th in line to the British Throne, in the 1930s, as she stumbles onto murder after murder. There are castles, rich people, royalty, and many class restrictions that surround the stories. Despite being royalty, Georgie has no money, which causes a set of problems all its own. The stories are in historically accurate settings, and humorous relief is provided by her inept maid, Queenie.

These books are as much about the characters and settings as the mysteries, and I reach for one of them while I am waiting on a hold or looking for a familiar comfort read. I have read three more in the series recently.

Crowned and Dangerous by Rhys Bowen, Adult Mystery, 2016

This is # 11 in the Royal Spyness mystery series.

Georgie finally meets her fiancé Darcy's father, who has been accused of murder. The father had to sell his castle and horse stables to a reclusive American to pay inheritance taxes. When the American is found dead, the FIL is the first suspect. There had been conflicts between the two about the horses, and the FIL was drunk and couldn't remember what he did the night of the murder.  Leave it to Georgie to have faith in Darcy's father and figure out the real murderer in the end. 

Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding by Rhys Bowen, Adult mystery, 2018

This is # 12 in the Royal Spyness mystery series.

Georgie is busy planning her wedding to Darcy, but is not sure where they will live because they have little money. She is happy when her godfather offers his estate to them to set up housekeeping because she will inherit it when he dies. Her godfather is seldom in residence as he travels around the world climbing mountains.

While Darcy is away on assignment, Georgie moves into the estate to get it ready for them after the wedding. Here she finds a surly and lazy staff. Is that because theyhave grown lax while the master of the house is away for long periods, or is something else going on? They are especially suspicious because there are mysterious deaths, both past and present. Georgie eventually gets to the bottom of it all, of course.

And after teasing us for a dozen books, Georgie and Darcy finally get married! :)

I didn't like this book as much as some of the others. As Georgie is trying to establish herself as mistress of the house with the servants, she is harsh, which is out of character for her. I understand why the author did that, but it didn't jive in my mind with the Georgie I knew. Other than that, it was another typical Royal Spyness book.

Love and Death Among the Cheetahs by Rhys Bowen, Adult mystery, 2019

This is # 13 in the Royal Spyness mystery series.

Georgie and Darcy are honeymooning in Happy Valley, Kenya, an upper-class English settlement. They are staying with a friend of a friend and are invited to the social engagements of the locals. It seems as if everyone has slept with or been married to most everyone else there, and everyone seems to have a beef with someone, especially the earliest English settler in the area. So when he ends up dead, everyone is a suspect. 

As it turns out, it's a working honeymoon of sorts, as Darcy had been sent there on a secret mission. There are multiple underworld elements at play, complicating the whodunit part of the story, but Georgie eventually puts two and two together and solves the murder.

I didn't like this one very much. I didn't enjoy reading about the wild parties and sexual exploits (not graphic) and the attitudes the English had about the native peoples. As well as their view of the wildlife. It was all appropriate for the time period, but I didn't enjoy it.

As it turns out, this was more like a historical mystery. Many of the characters in the book were based on real people, including the man who was murdered. And, BTW, they were famous for the wild parties in real life. 

Until next time...