Three Books I Highly Recommend
First we have a book that will inspire you and then two books that will take you to fascinating time periods! Happy reading!
Weight Expectations: One Man’s Recovery from Anorexia by Dave Chawner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“You can drown just as easily in a puddle as a lake. You drown by staying there.”
Dave tells us that he had a pleasant childhood, but as he went off to college and then launched himself into job and life in London, he began to struggle. Anorexia was his way of coping. Anorexia was a clear-cut way of measuring if I was succeeding. Avoiding food was one thing I could be on top of.
“Yes, it was a way to cope, until it wasn’t. It was like my brain had too many tabs open.” Dave organized his book according to the steps in his recovery process.
Dave uses humor to share his journey with us.” It’s ok to have a giggle. In fact, I’d prefer you did.” Dave is British, so while some of his humor is charming to the American ear, much of gets in the way of relating to him. And I felt a bit uncomfortable by the amount of self-deprecating humor that seemed to get in the way of knowing the real Dave.
I also wonder why the book is subtitled One Man’s Recovery from Anorexia because from what I understood from the book- one doesn’t really recover. I liked how he included songs that were meaningful to him and that related to each chapter. He also included a summary of places to seek help. He may want to consider adding some American links. Overall, Dave wrote a solid book that sheds light on how a man deals with an eating disorder. Thank you, Dave. And thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC
Tiffany Blues by M.J. Rose
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Have you ever received a gift in the iconic Tiffany Blue box with the white ribbon? Interesting fact: Tiffany Blue, is a trademark color of Tiffany & Co., which bears the same number (1837) on the Pantone Matching System as the year Tiffany & Co. was founded.
Author Rose has gifted us with a beautiful and evocative story. I urge you to read it slowly. The gift to readers is a book overflowing with beautiful descriptions of the times, the settings, and the art. While there is a mystery, this book’s main focus is the power of art.
The main character is young Jenny Bell. She comes to New York to study art and painting. New York City in 1924: the war was over and the city was “roaring”. The author deftly portrays the essence of the times, speakeasies, jazz, psychic research, a bit more freedom for women. Jenny has secrets and a troubled past, which gradually unfolds.
One of the most fascinating characters is Louis Comfort Tiffany, the first Design Director of Tiffany & Co. and son of the founder. In addition to Tiffany, other famous people of the times are shown: Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, and Thomas Edison.
After World War I Louis Tiffany created a Foundation bearing his name to aid artists at his estate on Long Island’s Gold Coast.
Jenny Bell and her best friend Minx, a young socialite and fellow artist attend the summer session. Jenny longs to “be buffered from the world, cocooned by beauty at Mr. Tiffany’s estate.”
She gets to know Mr. Tiffany who encourages her to “Paint as if your life depends on it.” Jenny also experiences a sensual romance during her summer sojourn.
While much of the story dwells on the beauty and power of art, there is also a focus on the mystery of Jenny’s life. Like the kaleidoscope that is discussed in the book, this story contains some beautiful designs that will enthrall the careful reader.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. This is my honest review.
The Cornish Knot by Vicky Adin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Cornish Knot is the first book in the PastFinders series. History, family, love and renewal are the essence of the four books in the series.
What will we learn about the past? What we learn about ourselves?
The story begins in the present, as we meet the main character, Megan. She is in her fifties and has recently lost her beloved husband. Formerly a capable and loving wife and mother, she is now in a dark place. Her life in the present changes when she receives a letter from a Cornish attorney that opens the door to her past.
The attorney’s letter has revealed that Megan appears to be the long-last heir to the Trevallyan fortune, according to the will of Constance, her great-great Aunt. But Megan must satisfy some requirements first. The author tells Megan’s story in the third-person, with a few diary entries from Megan and Megan’s great-grandmother, Isabel, the older sister of Constance.
Megan must “find” Isabel and honor her memory. Isabel was last known to have lived in New Zealand. How did a proper young English lady end up so far from home? This quest brings Megan back to life. According to Isabel’s diary, Isabel Trevallyan embarked on a European Tour- a trip of a lifetime in 1910. One hundred years later, Megan decides, “This will be a story of her life and my life.” Megan decides to retrace Isabel’s European trip and starts by going to Cornwall. The book presents vivid scenes of life there, as well as in Paris, Italy, and New Zealand. The story also includes Megan’s children and their struggles and dreams
Somewhere along the line Isabel’s journey had become of secondary importance. She had learned so much from her year of discovery. Megan has learned about her past, has recreated her present, and worked with her children to create a future.
Constance and Isabel, the “PastFinders” of this book are compelling. To me, Constance worked to survive in a man’s world and run the family house and business. Isabel did not seem as strong – she seemed capricious, like a butterfly dancing with art and men.
The author notes that she is particularly fascinated by the 19th Century pioneers who undertook hazardous journeys to find a better life. The women, especially, needed strength of mind as well as body to survive, let alone flourish in a strange new land. For the same reasons, I enjoy historical fiction and I appreciated this thoughtful and well-told story. The author writes with a clear, melodic voice. Highly recommend.
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