What's on My Nightstand? (October): Another Four Books Reviewed by an Avid Reader

What an ingenious idea. Sorry guys, but what woman does not love Louisa May Alcott's Little Women? Geraldine Brooks has written a captivating story telling the other side of Alcott's beloved novel. March follows Mr. March, the much beloved and mentioned, but mainly absent father of Jo, Meg, Amy and Beth. Brooks describes Mr. March's experiences throughout the first year of the Civil War. What he witnessed, and experienced, the longing felt for his family, and the unexplainable connections felt between himself and various strangers he meets along the way.

This book in a manner of speaking, allows readers to do the impossible. Sometimes I hate finishing an amazing book, because I will never again be able to read it for the first time. Brooks spin-off of Little Women allows readers to, in a way, experience Alcott's story again for the first time.

The novel unfolds as Mr. March writes a series of letters to his wife. The words in these letters not only describe the experiences of Mr. March till now, but also spark unwritten thoughts, and outside events. These events propel the story further into an unpredictable ending that coincides beautifully with Alcott's own joyous finish.

A potential problem of this writing style is the reader's confusion of time and place. March is never a victim of this problem. March is extremely well written, and it is obvious that Brooks well researched, and prepared her plot and characters.

The Namesake
Juhmpa Lahiri
ISBN 0618485228
First mariner books

If March doesn't sound like your cup of tea, then I highly suggest The Namesake. This novel was a wonderful read. A beautiful story of a child born in America to immigrants from India; and how he struggles to associate and dissociate himself from two cultures that collide more than they coexist.

Indeed from the outside, the Ganguli family's suburban home appears the same as any other. Yet within those walls exist two separate worlds: the Bengali past of Gogol's parents, and the American culture that so heavily influences his upbringing. While in small ways both Gogol and his younger sister manage to pull their parents out of their Indian culture, embracing, as best they can, popular American traditions , holidays, and at times even food. For the most part, they remain true to their heritage and their comfort zone, surrounding themselves with other Indian immigrants.

As Gogol grows into adulthood he pulls as far away from his parents and their Bengali customs as he can. The burden of conflicting loyalties, of being the first born in the first-generation is a heavy load Gogol resents having to carry. He resents his name, his heritage, everything.

This resentment, in essence self-hatred, prevents Gogol from living with any sort of peace. He struggles in relationships, with friends, family, and women. He struggles with himself, never quite knowing what is missing or what he is looking for. And never knowing where to begin his search. It is only after a series losses that Gogol finally returns to his family and his Bengali roots. It is in loosing that he finds himself and the ability to both accept and embrace the two worlds that he has been traveling between.

Lahiri's writing is devastatingly descriptive. She captures the scents of Indian food, of Bengali streets, the sounds of the cities…Time passes swiftly in her book, but in such a way that the reader never feels as though the missed a detail. It is flawless. Also extremely well written are the ranges of emotions each of the characters experience through out the novel. Each character has such an incredible journey, and the reader is taken along for the ride, never left behind, always in step with the character. Tracing his/her every move, feeling his/her every emotion. Everyone interested at all in the human experience should read The Namesake. And sooner rather than later, as the movie is scheduled for an early 2007 release.

One Sunday Morning
Amy Ephron
ISBN 0060585528
Harper Perennial

Four society friends are passing the afternoon playing bridge, eating sandwiches, and sipping their tea, while gossiping as women at such parties always do. It is with this setting and frame of mind that all four witness what seems to be a scandalous act. Through a window in Betsy Owen's house, the four ladies watch as Lizzie Carswell exits the Gramercy Hotel with Billy Holmes. Not only are the two unmarried and caught leaving a hotel together, but worse, Billy is engaged to Clara Hart.

Although the four women swear they will say nothing of the event to anyone, it is unlikely that such a promise will be kept. Amy Ephron's One Sunday Morning follows these women as they live with the repercussions of scandal, guilt, gossip, and lies. While its premise sounds exciting and intriguing, Ephron's novella is not.

One Sunday Morning is like a good present with bad wrapping; deep down, the main story idea is there, but poorly executed. The plot was lacking in strength and clear direction. There seemed to be too many points of view, as if we were following too many characters' stories. At times, this approach can lead to a better understanding of the events and their causes. However, in this case it simply delayed the development of the story and added confusion.

Some of this confusion could have been avoided had Ephron more distinctly defined and sooner differentiated the main female characters from each other. In the beginning of the novella, they all seemed the same; gossiping socialites indulging in the freedoms of their parent's finances and the entertainment of the jazz age.

Jus as the novella is weak in character development, it is equally lacking in storyline. As mentioned they are too similar in the beginning, and while each has a small journey, the events of the novella never seem to carry enough weight to significantly affect the characters. Thus they either have no arc, or else a very small one.
If one is searching for a captivating story within this same genre, might I suggest The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton, or The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Persuasion
Jane Austen
ISBN 0451526384
Signet Classic

I must confess; I have never been a Jane Austen fan. Why then, you wonder, would I choose to read Persuasion? I was intrigued, after watching the film "The Lake House". The book is mentioned so many times in that film I wanted to see what the fuss was all about. And now that I have read it I am still wondering what the fuss was all about. I should say that if you are a fan of Jane Austen you will probably enjoy Persuasion. It's tone, plot, and portrayal of society are unmistakably Jane Austen.

Persuasion is Austen's last book, finished just before her death, and published posthumously. It tells the story of Anne Elliot, the second of the three daughters born to Lady and Sir Walter Elliot. While once somewhat attractive, a life of spinsterhood has softened, if not withered her once graceful appearance. Eight years prior to the start of the novel, Anne refused the marriage proposal offered by Captain Wentworth, a poor navy officer. Since then she has been living with her father in the family estate, tending to his needs and the needs of her younger sister and her children. This is the life she has resigned herself to. The life she believes she will live until her death.

So is the state of Austen's protagonist at the opening of Persuasion. Inevitably, novels are not written because character's lives remain stagnant. And of the many forces that throw Anne Elliot's life into upheaval, the most jarring is her father's economic ruin. Sir Walter Elliot has fallen into great debt and is now forced to lease his estate for profit. The Elliot family will then relocate to a small cottage in Bath. Due to protests by Anne's younger sister, Anne remains nearby in order to continue her aide. While the thought of leaving Kellynch, coupled with the shame of it, causes much distress amongst the Eilliots and their associations, another log is thrown on the fire as a result of who they have leased their estate to.

The new residences of Kellynch Hall are Admiral and Mrs. Croft. An older couple entirely devoted to their marriage. Mrs. Croft also happens to be the sister of Captain Wentworth. Once penniless, Wentworth has become quite successful at sea, both in title and in fortune. As events unfold, the plot's central question is will they or won't they. Will this former couple reunite? (Thus the connection between Persuasion and "The Lake House").

*Writer's Pick
March
Geraldine Brooks
ISBN 0143036661
Penguin books