My Book Reviews

During the months since October – oh, my! It’s been over four months already?! – I have been stressed, disconcerted and anguished! There has been so much going on that is distressing, to say the least! Some days start and end as if I am merely an onlooker, not really living the moment. I am not the only one, of course! So many of us are experiencing various forms of anxiety. However, I look forward to the evenings when I snuggle in bed with my hot water bottle and A Book! That hour of reading transports me to another world where I lose myself in the story and the characters. Against all the odds, and with my attention span diminished due to the circumstances surrounding us, I only managed to finish two novels since the War of Vengeance on Gaza started, which is way below my usual quota!

Anyway, the first novel is titled: The Edentians* by Gissele Trussell, and the second is: Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See. I cannot describe enough the joy that they sprinkled on my sorrowful soul, and I really, really urge you to read both of these treasures. Some time ago I had made an arrangement with myself to give away one of the books on my crowded shelves for every one that I buy. But, I am holding on to these two novels!

Gissele Trussell’s writing is smooth, easy and enticing. She took me into a world of fantastical characters and an imaginary universe. The cosmic characters we encounter along the way are well-fleshed out; the imagery is delightful and the trajectory of the story so enjoyable. But these are not its only attributes, because after reading a chapter, let’s say, and allowing yourself to absorb it, you will find that this is not only a Gripping Fantasy of the astute author that compelled her to pen this, but that it has a much more profound meaning of our Eternal Battle as Humanity between Good and Evil, even more so when it’s characters and storyline are juxtapositioned with our Present Earthly Political Realities. At certain points it is an uncanny reminder of just how precarious a situation we humans are undergoing at this point in time. This excerpt is from the jacket of the book: “The Group – a nefarious consortium of planetary tycoons determined to implement a sinister plot that will not only enslave humanity but could obliterate the human race.” If this isn’t an eerie reminder of our present, I don’t know what could be! Hopefully we will surmount the humongous adversities we are encountering presently and bring on an era of Peace and Justice to our Planet! I loved every paragraph, page and chapter of The Edentians, and as happens when I love a novel, I wanted it to go on and on! I know that I will reread it again!

The second novel: Lady Tan’s Circle of Women transported me to yet another world, to China, a huge country about which we really know so little, because it has been designated as the West’s Rival? Competitor? Enemy? Frenemy? Who knows about the sordid machinations of the political world! However, China has a rich cultural heritage, deep traditional roots and a history of about 5000 years about which, and to our detriment, we are mostly unaware. This vivid novel by Lisa See, who has Chinese ancestry, is not the first one I have read from the wonderful details and meticulous writing of this author. It is about an incredible woman named Tan Yunxian during the Ming Dynasty, and her captivating journey from childhood through old age. Along the way she learns how to treat women’s medical conditions from her Grandparents utilizing an array of herbs and natural remedies, and, eventually earning her place as a respected authority on this subject – which was the strict domain of Men at that time – and despite the traditions that marginalized women like her and pigeon-holed them in the subordinate conventional role of being foot-bound slaves to their menfolk. Along with her role as Healer and Doctor, Lady Tan realizes the important role of cherishing “a circle of women” around her – despite the little spats, petty jealousies and competitions – and the invaluable love, support and guidance that are so vital to our overall well-being. What I found particularly fascinating were some of the words used by Chinese Women. For instance: “bed chamber affairs” mean the intimate relationships between spouses; “moon water” is a reference to our lunar monthly cycle; “child place” is our womb. Enchanting! A truly amazing world brought to life by this very talented author.

In both novels every human emotion you can think of is portrayed: from love to hate to jealousy to wickedness and on and on. It is our human story, and the sooner we all realize how numerous are our similarities as Human Beings the sooner we will be on the road to Peace and Justice in this very dangerous and unstable world we are in at this moment of history, because Empires come and go; war successes are short-lived; the battle between Good and Evil will continue as it has been and as long as we do not surmount our arrogance and learn how to coexist and respect the differences amongst all Earth’s Nations, as well as amongst our Human categories such as gender, ethnicity, religion and such.

And if you need a very easy read, a witty, funny and cheerful novel that would leave you closing your eyes with a smile on your face – and don’t we all need that!! – then Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley is a Must Medicine for the soul!

Finally, and repeating myself here, there is nothing that beats forgetting the depressing news all around us than snuggling with a great book and losing ourselves into its pages, characters and story while remembering that most good novels overtly, or covertly, always have an underlying message of wisdom that enlightens us, and one we should appreciate as these three novels eloquently tell us. Happy Reading!

* I published this review on Amazon