Michael Malone's The Last Noel is a fantastic novel. The novel is about two unlikely friends and 12 Christmases that they spend together throughout the years, beginning in 1963. It is heart warming and heart breaking, funny and emotional. The story grips you from the beginning with a tenderness that is truly felt by the reader, and has excellent character development.
Kaye & Noni are both seven years old. One is a child of privilege, living in the town's grandest home. The other is the grandson of the maid of that home. The two become fast friends one Christmas Eve and their unlikely, but deep, friendship continues across the years. They deal with their families issues, the prejudices of the small North Carolina town, other relationships that threaten to tear them apart and their own stubbornness. This story masterfully weaves through the decades by focusing on the Christmas season, as that is where their story began. As each of them grows, ages, experiences joys and sorrows, their relationship only deepens even when those outside forces do push them apart.
This is a book worth reading. It had me laughing, crying and whole-heartedly cheering for Noni & Kaye throughout their individual struggles, as well as some of the supporting characters. The deep friendship that these characters develop is something that not many of us get to experience. There are so many things to discuss in this book that I was sorry it wasn't a book club reading selection. This is the kind of book that you want your friends to read so you can talk about it. It touches on historical events, physiological and psychological issues, family dynamics, discrimination, womens' liberation, war and peace. The Last Noel is a book that will not be easily forgotten. I highly recommend it.
Happy Reading!
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Devil's Cradle
Devil's Cradle is the second book in the Kendall O'Dell series by Sylvia Nobel. This novel had action and lots of intrigue and conspiracy. So much, that it was a bit confusing!
Kendall O'Dell's next adventure takes her to a small mining town in southern Arizona. A friend of her brother's from Pittsburgh has just been told that she is the heir to a mining conglomerate. But she didn't even know that this was her family. Her entire life has been a lie. Kendall's brother asks her to help this young woman on her journey to AZ, and Kendall senses a good human interest story. The two set out on their adventure and it turns into something they did not expect. There are a lot of people in this mining town that don't seem to want this young girl to stake her claim. But just who has the biggest motive for wanting her father dead? And will she be next?
I was so excited to read this next installment in this series but it fell flat for me. What I loved most about the first novel was the great cast of characters from Castle Valley. Unfortunately, because this story takes place outside of Castle Valley, those characters were not in this novel very much. The story just didn't have as much flavor without them. In addition, the mystery involved was so convoluted with so many characters and potential adversaries that it got confusing. It was hard to keep everyone and their motives straight, and I found myself just wishing I could get to the end of the book to find out who the perpetrator was. There was one final issue I had with the book: I could not stand the young woman that Kendall was helping. She was wishy-washy, needy, full of mood swings and immature. This was her character because she has been sheltered and because of a medical condition. But I found her too annoying to get behind her, and therefore I didn't care as much about the outcome.
I was disappointed with this read. From what I can tell, the next novel in the series takes place back in Castle Valley so maybe it will be better. It isn't all that high on my "want to read" list now though.
Happy Reading!
Kendall O'Dell's next adventure takes her to a small mining town in southern Arizona. A friend of her brother's from Pittsburgh has just been told that she is the heir to a mining conglomerate. But she didn't even know that this was her family. Her entire life has been a lie. Kendall's brother asks her to help this young woman on her journey to AZ, and Kendall senses a good human interest story. The two set out on their adventure and it turns into something they did not expect. There are a lot of people in this mining town that don't seem to want this young girl to stake her claim. But just who has the biggest motive for wanting her father dead? And will she be next?
I was so excited to read this next installment in this series but it fell flat for me. What I loved most about the first novel was the great cast of characters from Castle Valley. Unfortunately, because this story takes place outside of Castle Valley, those characters were not in this novel very much. The story just didn't have as much flavor without them. In addition, the mystery involved was so convoluted with so many characters and potential adversaries that it got confusing. It was hard to keep everyone and their motives straight, and I found myself just wishing I could get to the end of the book to find out who the perpetrator was. There was one final issue I had with the book: I could not stand the young woman that Kendall was helping. She was wishy-washy, needy, full of mood swings and immature. This was her character because she has been sheltered and because of a medical condition. But I found her too annoying to get behind her, and therefore I didn't care as much about the outcome.
I was disappointed with this read. From what I can tell, the next novel in the series takes place back in Castle Valley so maybe it will be better. It isn't all that high on my "want to read" list now though.
Happy Reading!
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Deadly Sanctuary
Deadly Sanctuary is a mystery novel by Sylvia Nobel. It is the first in her Kendall O'Dell Series. It was a fast paced, well developed novel of intrigue surrounding a conspiracy in a small town in Arizona.
Kendall O'Dell has just moved to the town of Castle Valley, AZ to help with her asthma. She has taken a job as an investigative reporter at the local paper, which is a much smaller operation than what she is used to, coming from Philadelphia. The position opened up because her predecessor disappeared. The paper's editor wants her to look into the reporter's disappearance and see if she can link his disappearance to the last story he was working on. One which he kept a secret, only saying that it would blow the lid off of the small town. But, she has to be quiet about it. Because the previous reporter's investigation included the town's sheriff, who also happens to be the financial support behind the paper and the editor's brother-in-law.
What ensues is a twisting turning ride, full of things that seem to be a dead end but somehow weave together to create an intricate plot. Throw in some quirky but lovable co-workers, a sexy rancher and a wealthy lawyer who vie for Kendall's attention and a breathtaking setting and you have a winner of a novel. This is my first experience with Sylvia Nobel and the character of Kendall O'Dell. I enjoyed the book so much that I am going to start the second in the series (Devil's Cradle) right away.
Happy Reading!
Kendall O'Dell has just moved to the town of Castle Valley, AZ to help with her asthma. She has taken a job as an investigative reporter at the local paper, which is a much smaller operation than what she is used to, coming from Philadelphia. The position opened up because her predecessor disappeared. The paper's editor wants her to look into the reporter's disappearance and see if she can link his disappearance to the last story he was working on. One which he kept a secret, only saying that it would blow the lid off of the small town. But, she has to be quiet about it. Because the previous reporter's investigation included the town's sheriff, who also happens to be the financial support behind the paper and the editor's brother-in-law.
What ensues is a twisting turning ride, full of things that seem to be a dead end but somehow weave together to create an intricate plot. Throw in some quirky but lovable co-workers, a sexy rancher and a wealthy lawyer who vie for Kendall's attention and a breathtaking setting and you have a winner of a novel. This is my first experience with Sylvia Nobel and the character of Kendall O'Dell. I enjoyed the book so much that I am going to start the second in the series (Devil's Cradle) right away.
Happy Reading!
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