Marti's July Picks

Three Things You Need to Know About Rockets: A Bookshop Love Story by Jessica Fox 

This is a new book being published in July. It is a memoir about Jessica as she chooses a new path in her life. She left a job at NASA in California and moved all the way to Scotland to a used bookstore and found love. Sometimes you need to find a new path, especially when new visions surround you.

Memoirs are books that are written as a narrative containing personal observations. They are intended to be true and honest reflections while in many cases they are actually self-absorbing. Not in this case! While the book does chronicle Jessica’s search for a new path, it does not grandstand or overwhelm the reader with all the things that she did, as many do. Jessica has managed to balance herself between an honest recount and a reflective narrative.

The story was quirky, heartwarming and romantic. There is a huge cultural divide between the west coast of Scotland and the west coast of California. Jessica manages to bridge the divide pretty well during her first visit. However, once she left she realized that she loved the owner of The Book Store and the town of Wigtown. Luckily, the love was reciprocated. But twists in the path for them, both personal and governmental do intercede in their relationship.

Jessica’s story reads quickly. I found myself wishing for a positive conclusion, but not feeling secure in its existence. The language, feelings and descriptions make the book more interesting. Each chapter begins with a thoughtful quote that in some way enhances the chapter. Often Jessica is having a heart to heart with Melville, just to round out the importance of following one’s heart. An ARC of this book was given to me in exchange for my honest review by Book Browse

The House Girl by Tara Conklin 

This is her debut novel. It is seemly  a story about a lawyer, Lisa Sparrow in a large corporation, with drive toward becoming a partner. However, it is the story she uncovers that changes the book. Lisa is asked to help find a person who is a "good" fit for a lawsuit over slavery. We are introduced to a controversy in the art world about Lu Anne Bell and her slave Josephine. Which one is the artist, the slave or the master? This forms the second line of the story. The stories while over 100 years apart are twisted together. Together they are a powerful tale that leads toward a an interesting conclusion.

I enjoyed reading The House Girl. They are written in a style similar to Jodi Picoult or Chris Bohjalian, the stories continue to meander in an out of the past and present. The House Girl also allows us to view our reaction to slavery and reparation.  The modern day interpretation of racial stereotypes as opposed to the historical reactions.   The book is well written and well paced, allowing us views of the story to come.

The Aviator’s Wife by Melanie Benjamin

This is an account of the wife of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, wife of Charles Lindbergh.  The story while listed as a historical novel does contain a basic accurate outline of Anne and her life. Melanie Benjamin, the author wrote at the end of the book that the events are real, but the emotions are fictional. However it is those emotions that complete the picture of Anne. From falling in love with Charles Lindbergh, learning to become a pilot, losing her oldest child, and living with a brilliant yet seemingly an emotionally bereft individual, Anne loved Charles.  She was his most ardent supporter
throughout his life because of that love. She independently raised her children and faced most days alone, while he was off promoting flying and working in aviation. She was a great writer in her own right, as well as helping Charles publish his writing about his flying adventures. 

I enjoyed the perspective of seeing everything through Anne’s eyes.  I found her reliance of following her husband’s beliefs saddening, but probably quite accurate for the times.  I felt her redemption when at the end she began to forge her own path. I do wish the book had more photos of them, but knowing that this is historical fiction I understand the lack of them. The book was good.  The writing was clear and read quickly. The emotions and feelings felt genuine.  A nice read.

The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro

This book is a wonderful journey taken through the land of scents and perfumes. Grace Monroe is a young lady in 1955 in England. She has made what is known as a "good" match, however she is struggling with the day to day life. Eva d'Orsey has died and left a significant inheritance to Grace Monroe. But who is Eva d'Orsey and why leave Grace Monroe so much money? The novel revolves around these two characters going back and forth in time. The connection is unclear as the women in both story lines become more clear about what they want. Intertwined with the story are the whiffs of scent and color, fragrances that have made women and an industry notable.

There was a lot of information about making perfume within the novel. I was worried that I would be put off by this, as I am not a perfume person. I absolutely was not. I was mesmerized by the tale, and found the the focus was not the perfume but the women and the perfume. I found it fascinating as it wound around the story. Another line within the story that fascinated me was the almost savant memory skills that were apparent in the story.

This is a wonderful story about what makes a life and the richness people take from that life...and about perfume that swirls around scenting the journey!