Austen at Sea by Natalie Jenner

 I happened to pass this book when I was browsing at the Washington County Library downtown and recognized the author as someone who had written several Jane Austen spin off books that I enjoyed. I figured this one was worth a try.

At first, I couldn't get into it. It was bland, blah, and not even remotely witty. But the plot began to grow on me, and I persisted. It wasn't worth it. It was actually kind of puzzling the way the story unfolded and perhaps is rife with suffrage history, but I'm not sure if it's accurate or fictionalized. At any rate, the raving women intent on women's rights quickly marry and give up other rights. 

The circumstance that kept me reading was the fight over a Jane Austen letter that was given to one of the main characters after she had married. When her husband insisted she sell it, she bolted. This created a legal battle between London and Boston that had several interesting implications. Did she lose her American citizenship by marrying a Brit? This was just one of the thorny issues...

In the ship travel crossing back and forth across the Atlantic, we meet Louisa May Alcott and get to know other characters that were somewhat interesting. All in all, though the characters are likable and the extensive references to Jane Austen's work and life are occasionally insightful, this book is not worth the time. I'm kind of mad I didn't follow my earlier inclination to give it a miss in the first few pages. Oh, well, you never know if a book is going to come alive...This one didn't. 

Summer of 69 by Elin Hilderbrand on Libby Audio; 14 hours

 I almost returned this early because it was so inane and shallow, but gradually got interested in the characters and finished it as I walked and cleaned house. This author has the annoying habit of overstating and listing and re-explaining things from different characters' points of view. It's constantly redundant. The other annoying thing was the purposeful name dropping of every street and business on the two islands, oh yes, and the beaches and the descriptions; it was almost to prove that she spent some time there. It was unnecessary and annoying. 

She also kept naming the music, the songs, and the bands that were popular in 69. Okay. You know some of the music. What she didn't capture was the mood or ambience. Parts were okay...like the excitement of the moon launch and the way people felt, but it really sort of missed for me. I was hoping for a nostalgic trip down memory lane and there were good parts where Jesse's thirteen year old feelings rang true, but otherwise it was kind of a waste. I believe I'm done with this author. There are so many more satisfying stories out there!

The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali

 In keeping with my new idea to pick up a library book that appeals to me by it's cover, this was my choice in Santa Clara last week. It was an interesting read and it had a beautiful cover!

I related to this story somewhat; since it dealt with intense, passionate, teen-age love that is lost, and only refound late in life. I remember those intense feelings with Leonard, when we were teenagers! However, in this story, this girl cannot move on. There are pages and pages of pain. Later, when she marries, has a child, and the child dies, there are more pages and pages of pain. Roya, the central character is a closed and immovable type of person and it's painful to read seemingly endlessly of her obsessions.

The parts of the book that I liked though, were her descriptions of her closeness with her sister and her parents, and how tied she is to her cooking and memories of Persian food. It made me want to try to eat some Persian food, which I don't believe I ever have. The spices and fragrances sound fantastic! Saffron, cardomom, and cinnamon, for example.

I also enjoyed the brief description of her life in the Bay Area and then Boston. Would I recommend this book? Not really. Too much sad obsessiveness. The plot was interesting with twists and turns, and Roya's husband, Walter, is an admirable character Otherwise, though, I would let it go... Move on! 

Fortune's Rocks by Anita Shreve

 I picked this up at D.I, because it looked interesting. I almost put it down because it was a little weirdly sensual and told through the thinking and eyes of fifteen-year-old Olympia. It didn't feel healthy! And yet, I remember being unreasonable and weird at fifteen, and could relate to a LOT of what she thought and felt. When she started acting on her feelings, and awakened the passion of a man much older than she, I thought this isn't going to turn out well! It was fascinating to read how little honor this man, who should have known better, gave in! I continued to read to find out if it was going to be a cautionary tale or a story to encourage people to follow their passions.

Actually, it turned out to be a rather balanced rendition of what could happen in a situation like this, showing both the pain and the thrill of following the "natural man." The character most interesting to me was Olympia's father, and how he came to change over time, to support the daughter who so cruelly disappointed him. He, over the years, softened and forgave her. And she forgave him, it seems. It's really a story of understanding the pain you're going to inflict and going for it anyway. Both Olympia and Haskell turned out to be incredibly selfish, and yet also showed some incredible self-less ness. Not a simple story with a simple resolve, and one that has a lot of food for thought.

As for me and my house...I vote for honoring your covenants. Haskell's wife and children were irreparably hurt; for their sake alone, the honorable impulses should have prevailed! And isn't it far better to generate and find that passion in your mate? And when you're fifteen, isn't it better to bridle that passion until you understand the consequences better? Olympia never did seem to regret her choice, and that was interesting. Could one be so incredibly selfish??? Is that "grand passion" really so powerful and does it need to be answered? Or is it just a trick to trip up the vulnerable...