Monthly Archives: May 2010

The Wheel of Fortune by Susan Howatch

British Literature 5 Comments

Synopsis: The saga of a Welsh family haunted by submerged passions and unfulfilled desire. Review: I was hooked on The Wheel of Fortune from the first pages. It’s juicy, lush, psychologically complex, and keenly observed. The story opens with Robert, scion of the Godwin family, heir to Oxmoon, lusting after his second cousin Ginevra, on the night that she elopes with an Irish rake, Connor Kinsella. When, in pure tragic form, Robert is able to consummate his desire, a chain of events unfolds that scars…

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The Foolishness of God by Ferenc Visky

Eastern European Literature 1 Comment

Synopsis: The prison writings of Ferenc Visky, a Reformed minister who spent seven years in the Gherla prison after the 1956 Hungarian revolution. Review: “He who does not believe in miracles is not a realist.” The Foolishness of God is a slim volume packed with deep wisdom from a man who suffered more than most. Joy beams from every page, a hard-won thanksgiving for a God who justifies and sanctifies through mysterious ways. I love the irony that Ferenc Visky employs in showing how foolish…

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The Hungry Season by T. Greenwood

American Literature 1 Comment

Synopsis: Stricken with writers’ block after the death of a loved one, a writer moves his family to a remote New England cabin to try to rebuild, while a fan makes her way across the country to realize her dream of being with him. Review: I’m a longtime fan of T. Greenwood‘s nuanced character portraits and sticky situations, and The Hungry Season is her best yet. I really can’t say enough good things about this book, which takes an excruciating look at the breakup of…

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Try to Remember by Iris Gomez

American Literature

Synopsis: When her father’s behavior begins to deteriorate, Colombian immigrant Gabriela tries to hold her family together as best she can. Review: Try to Remember has a lot going for it. Gabi is an appealing protagonist caught in a intense situation, afraid that her father’s increasingly erratic behavior will get them all deported. Iris Gomez’s sharp observations of culture and psychology didn’t go unnoticed by, even though ultimately I never totally engaged with this story. I kind of feel guilty that I got bored with…

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