An American Family by Khizr Khan

Immigrant stories have always appealed to me. My three children are themselves immigrants and every success story which is full of happiness and success brings a lot of happiness to me personally as well as I know it echoes my own wishes for my own children.

This story which propelled one family into prominence through the sad death of their son is no exception. Like most immigrants the Khans were hard working, god fearing, simple folk. The fact that they were Muslim was incidental to the entire issue. That their son was a Muslim who worked in the American forces and was killed in the line of duty is also a fact. That the situation was politicized for someone's gain is shameful.

The title of the book says it all. The Khans brought up their sons the American way, with strong beliefs in the power of justice and equality for all. The parents were strong supportive parents in no way radicalized or partial towards a single group of people. The story of their lives was of huge interest and the way the story unfolds is beautiful.

Mr. Khan Snr spoke up for what he felt was right and he was pilloried and his family was reviled for that. He must be admired that he still believes in what he said and stands up for what is right. From very humble beginnings in Pakistan to Harvard is no easy feat. He and his wife also brought up their children with very ethical and moral understandings and the memoir is a testimony to that.

I loved this book and the story of the Khans.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Random House Publishing.

Dead Man's Chest by Kerry Greenwood

After reading a couple of Kerry Greenwood books, I've fallen in love not with the stories but the style of her writing.

I love the characterizations. All different. Phyrne Fisher private detective extraordinaire. Like Miss Marples mystery and murder follows her, even on holiday as in this case. Her adopted daughters with a very difficult history behind them, her companion the prim Miss Dot. Those she picks on the way
Tinker the odd job boy whom she brushes up and who now adores the Guvnor, the maid Mairie a waif desperate for love and attention and all those who meet her on her journeys.

The story itself is a by the way to the life, descriptions and characters in the story. Their day to day life and how it unfolds around a mystery is even better than the mystery itself. The detail of everyday living, the differences in each person all put together give one a delightful read. Something reminiscent of Delafield in a way, with of course a mystery or a couple of murders thrown in for good measure.

Love the writing style and only disappointed that there are no more I can request for from Netgalley.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Poisoned Pen Press.

At Wave's End by Patricia Perry Donovan

I like food so I did like the idea of a setting in an upmarket Manhattan restaurant where Faith works as a chef for relentlessly long hours but is blissfully happy in her job.  Her mother however is another story - always falling for a hard luck story and keeping her on the straight and narrow has been Faith's responsibility.  Now just a couple of months away from getting a pension Faith faces a quandary. Her mother in one of her infamous lottery schemes has actually won something. A bed and breakfast inn, which looks idyllic on the coast of Jersey Shore.

Knowing very well that her mother will get taken in, Faith is determined to accompany her mother to the Inn and then get her to turn around and return. The whole thing falls apart when Nature (like the present tornadoes, hurricanes and bad weather) turns the Jersey Coast into a nightmare and Faith and her mother Connie are both stuck - one by choice and one by circumstances. Overnight Faith's dream job has disappeared in the storm damage and she decides to wait behind till things change, hopefully for the better.

A story of a fragile understanding between mother and daughter developing into a more solid relationship, lots of romance and stories of human nature and survival in the face of impending crisis is the basis of this story.

The settings helped the story along.

With lots of cooking and chefs involved this is a book for those of us who like food.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Lake Union Publishing.

On The Run by Izai Amorim

A young man of South American ancestry is on the run for crimes he did not commit. How he is going to evade not just the Feds and the Police who are on the look out for him, but most importantly Colombian drug dealers who think he has skipped with their consignment is even worse.

In a series of cross country runs, ingenious thinking, good network of friends and supporters and sheer good luck he is able to survive. In the process he has to change his way of thinking, give up on his family, take on a new identity and think of a career change as well. The changes are very far seeking from his present way of life but he realises earlier on that there is no point in living in the past and what should have, or could have been.

The story was interesting as it gives you pointers into the way of life of different ethnicities and how people are able to survive in a melting pot which is very often hostile to either one or many of them. Not always doing the right thing Pablo who also changes his name to suit the occasion lands on his feet, makes his money and finds the girl of his dreams as well.

The story has a happy ending though it did not seem like that it will go that way for a very long time. Easily told of a life of crime and how it sometimes pays!

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Izai Amorim


PS I just returned from my holiday in Paris and Switzerland. Both places magical in different ways. Just trying to keep my feet on the ground now!

Before I go by Catherine Cookson

A candid story of a rags to riches story of an extremely prolific author - forthright and truthful to the end.

Catherine Cookson's life was hard from the word go. An alcoholic mother who played on the child's emotions, a friend who played her out ruthlessly not just whilst living but even after she was dead (keeping letters in a place where she knew it will be found and hoping that it will hurt and destroy her marriage) and the worst of it all undiagnosed illnesses which would have killed off a less strong willed person.

The illness alone was enough for a biography. It was continuous and Catherine Cookson talks about it so matter of factly it is unbelievable. Even depression after bouts of miscarriages did not mar her spirit, and the jealousy of peers and those around her at her literary success did not affect her generosity of mind. The enduring love and support of her husband is the beacon of light in this story and it shines throughout.

This book was discovered after her death and its publication is a wonderful story of a very brave woman who fought astounding odds to gain the literary position she did.

The book was sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Lake Union Publishing. 

The Sultan and the Queen by Jerry Brotton

Elizabeth I was always a women to be reckoned with. She would done very well in the present times, ruthlessly deciding what was best for her country and her country alone. At the time, she was fiercely loyal to her country and decided that any decision she took was vital for the development of England alone.

Having been excommunicated from the Catholic Church, she was now in a predicament how to maintain her trade links and more than maintain, how to further develop them with the Sultan's Empire. She knew vast amounts of money could be made through trade which would in turn help England immensely.

Establishing trade missions with Morocco, Iran and the Sultan established English supremacy in the trade world for years to come. She had to do a delicate balancing act with these missions  and make sure the alliances went from strength to strength.  Everything Eastern  become fashionable and in demand and this was what established England as a trading power right into the twentieth century.

For readers of history, this was another fascinating read of a powerful Monarch who balanced being a woman and a ruler in medieval times very well. It showed it could be done.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Penguin Group Viking. 

The Valley by Helen Bryan

This was the only cover I could find and I read it in a Kindle variation.

A coming of age story apart from the vast history it covers which in itself was a story. Sophia is an heiress to a tobacco plantation in Virginia and this is the only asset she has left after she finds herself left bankrupt in England. With the help of a French man who is very reluctant to go with her, lots of slaves both free and indentured she sets out to claim her land.

The road to Virginia is hard and troublesome but Sophia is determined that she and her band will make a life for themselves. How they set up camp, marry (all of them) have families, make a settlement and town of a barren landscape is very descriptively and told in detail. The history of slavery, the treatment of slaves even free men was horrendous and was distressing to read about even years later.

The story goes on and on and could have been trimmed a bit. Maybe the telling of it was necessary for the plot but the main story of Sophia got side lined as numerous other characters also had a fairly large role to play and each of their stories added to the main.

It took me a while to get through this book and I felt bad because it had been on my Kindle for a very long time.

The book was sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Lake Union Publishing.