Historical Fiction at Its Finest

Recently I have picked up some really good books.  Two of them I happened to get for my Kindle.  I always select available copies when downloading to my Kindle because I don't check my e-mail enough to successfully download during the notification window and I am more of an instant gratification sort of girl rather than a delayed anticipator.   I want it and I want it now.  Might be one of the reasons I am having a hard time with wait control.  Hmmm... a thought for another time.  Back on track here.  The other title, I found when looking for possible book club selections.  At the end of each year, I compile a list of possible titles that the LA County Library System can support.  I have about 30 people reading the monthly selection although I only have about 10-15 at any one discussion.  Not every book that would make a good selection is eligible for the list and indeed one of the books that I am going to discuss below fell into that category. 

The Lost Wife was Allison Richman opens with a rehersal dinner for Josef and Lenka's grandchildren.  A time when family members that might not have met before do.  Josef looks across the room and studies Lenka.  Eventually he approaches Lenka at the end of the evening to introduce himself.  He says, "I think I am your husband."  Thus starts the book and a tale of sadness, heartbreak and love.  Lovers separated by the Nazi invastion of the fairytale city of Prague after one night of nuptial bliss.  This is a story of escape and survival of rebuilding what world events tore apart and the enduring love of a lifetime.  I checked this book out on my Kindle and immidately ordered a copy of it for the library.  I haven't seen it in the library since.  Well worth the read.

The second title I checked out on my Kindle and will make an appearance in the Book Club next year.  Again a story of survival, loss and being able to find love in midst of heartache.  This compelling story is listed as a Young Adult novel but is worth the older audiences attention.  This book opens in Riga during the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.  Riga is one of my all time favorite cities and would love to return but the tragedy of the Soviet impact on these countries remains reatively untold to a wider audience.  I am glad t hat Ruta Sepetys felt compelled to tell the story of her family's history in novel.  If this doesn't become a movie, I will be sorely disappointed.

I read about The Midwife of Hope River by Patricia Harman on Good Reads while I was researching Book Club selections for the members to vote on.  There was not enough copies to support the Book Club but I felt compelled to request the book.  Within a few words I knew I was in for a good story.  The story begin on the day of the great stock market crash that marked the beginning of the Depression in the United States.  Set in the hallows of West Virginia coal country, we met Patience Murphy who found her midwife apprentenceship cut short by the death of her beloved mentor.  But babies will be born despite and Patience must summon the courage to rise to the challenge of bringing new life into a world that has lost hope while confronting her own fears and past for Patience does have a past.  This is a story of finding rays of hope in a bleak landscape darkened with coal dust, poverty, unfair labor practices, and the growing economic tragedies that threaten to tear the fabric of a nation. 

Patricia Harman is a retired midwife and writes from experience.  She lived on communes and was an activist during the sixties and writes from experience.  Her storytelling is flawless and compelling.  This is a story of the strength of human spirit and the flaws of human characters. 
Once again I ordered a copy of this title for the library.  I have recommended it to several people and had to request it for a couple of them.  Everyone that has read it has enjoyed the story.  I also plan ot give a copy to my mom when I go home.  My mom is very descrimmating in what she is willing to read and it is only the very best that converge in her and my interests.

And one more while I am thinking of it.  I picked up Moloka'i by Alan Brennert at Target two years ago to read while I was at home for Thanksgiving them.  It is a compelling haunting story that will stay with you.  I have been thinking about it quite a bit recently for two reasons, I am going home again for Thanksgiving this year and I was searching for titles to put on the Book Club voting list.  Alas, there are not enough copies to support the Book Club.  When I finished this book, I added to our collection and it hasn't graced my library shelves once in the past two years.  It is always off to the next person that wants to read it.  If that isn't recommendation enough, then I don't quite know what is. 

Set in old Hawaii, a Hawaii that is now lost but yet still remembered, this is the story of a young leper torn from her family and sent to Moloka'i to live in the leper colony there.  It is beautifully told that recounts decades spent in captivity, I found that within the first few pages, I needed to make sure that I had a box of tissues with me at all times.  There is laughter, too.  This is another story of the strength of the human spirit and the tragedy of human shortcomings.