The Secret River is a piece of historical fiction set in the early 1800’s colonial Australia. It isn’t the fastest book I have ever read, but it was poignant.
In retrospect, I would like to read this story from the perspective of the native Aborigines. It was hard for me to have a tremendous amount of empathy for the main characters based on the decisions they ultimately make. I can’t highly recommend this one, but those who really like historical fiction should enjoy it.
Month: January 2008
Once Upon A Day, by Lisa Tucker
I loved this book! Once Upon A Day was quite a nice surprise. I loved the characters, their raw and honest emotion, their broken lives and the hope that transcended their separate tragedies. This was the first novel by Lisa Tucker that I read, and I already have another one in my Amazon queue! This was the type of novel and you don’t really want to end, because it will mean the end of your relationship with the characters.
I would definitely recommend this one.
Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides
Middlesex is a beautifully written novel with memorable turns of phrase and a complex rich story line that spans 3 generations. The story takes place in Greece, Turkey and Detroit MI, and is told from the perspective of a narrator who begins their story as a female, and ends as a male.
It is certainly not a short read.  The subject matter is a bit unusual, but there is nothing unusual about the momentum that carries the plot, from war, to the hey day of Motor City, to race riots, all of which so colorfully and often times sadly highlight the human condition.
I would recommend this book, but you have to be in the mood to invest time and be willing to engross yourself in what I sometimes found to be uncomfortable topics.