Leave Me Alone I Am Reading and Reviewing

“The Brightest Star” by Gail Tsukiyama

June 7, 2023June 7, 2023 Martie6 Comments

Genre: Historical Fiction/Multicultural/Bio-Fiction
Publisher: HarperVia International
Publication Date: June 20, 2023

“The Brightest Star” is a fictionalized account of the life and times of Anna May Wong, the first Chinese-American starlet to appear in Hollywood films and the first Chinese-American to get a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. The book is written as if Wong is writing in her journal, so we read our protagonist in the first person. The novel is a tribute to Anna May Wong’s legacy in her battle against racism and sexism rather than reading as historical fiction. I love black and white movies, and having seen a handful of Wong’s films, I thought I would be in awe of this bio-fiction. However, I was disappointed. Anna May Wong was a trailblazer. I wanted to feel her strong spirit and determination as she clawed her way into the movie business. Instead, the story reads more like an article in a newspaper—Passionless.

Tsukiyama did much research for her novel. She presents Anna May’s films in chronological order. Despite this, we don’t get a sense of who Wong was. The author does the same when writing about Wong’s lifelong effort to have America understand and accept Chinese Americans. There are snidbits mentioned of her depression, drinking, and affairs with married men. It even felt flat when I read of her romantic relationship with Marlene Dietrich when they were both cast in the 1932 film “Shanghai Express.”

The only time I felt moved by “Brightest Star” was reading when the studio misled Wong into thinking she would be the leading lady in the classic 1937 film, “The Good Earth.” Despite Anna May’s credited status, a white actress in yellowface makeup was cast. The racism smacked me in the face. I can only recommend this novel if you want to learn about her life and do not want to go to Wong’s Wikipedia page.

I received this novel at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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The Reading Woman Calendar: June 2023

May 31, 2023 Martie2 Comments

“Books may well be the only true magic”—Alice Hoffman

Alice Hoffman

“Dead of Winter” by Darcy Coates

May 30, 2023 Martie2 Comments

Genre: Mystery and Thriller Dead of Winter
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Pub. Date: July 11, 2023

Be prepared to read about being lost in the extreme cold, freezing rain, snow, ice, and high winds ad nauseam. Think of “Ten Little Indians,” with none of Agatha Christie’s talent. Here not ten, but eight strangers are on their way to a ski lodge in the Rocky Mountains. Their bus breaks down, leaving them stranded in a brutal blizzard. There is a high level of tension when the temperature drops. Right about then, one by one, they are murdered. Even with the author throwing in a few twists, I guessed the killer early on—a “whodunnit” survival thriller tale without an “unguessable who.”

I received this novel at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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“The Madwomen of Paris” by Jennifer Cody Epstein

May 26, 2023May 26, 2023 Martie5 Comments

Genre: Historical Fiction The Mad Women of Paris
Publisher: Random House
Pub. Date: July 18, 2023

This historical novel feels tragic, brutal, and authentic. You will learn about the early days of neurology and psychiatry. You will bump into real-life doctors, such as the father of psychiatry, Sigmund Freud, and Pierre Janet, who coined the term split personality. This novel centers on another real-life doctor, Jean-Martin Charcot, who studied hysterics in the real-life La Salpetriere Hospital. In the 1800 and 1900s, hysteria was a commonly diagnosed women’s disease. Many women institutionalized did have a mental illness, but the reader must remember that everything men found mysterious or unmanageable in women back then was labeled hysteria. This is a fact. The author shows us, back in those times, the cringe-worthy cure treatment studies for hysteria.

Epstein has listed many research sources about the notorious women’s asylum goings-on. Medical professionals and newspaper journalists attend Dr. Charcot’s lectures. Here he will demonstrate his methods and then open the floor to questions. The audience will observe a scantily clad woman lying on a stage in a hypnotic state. She receives a pelvic massage that causes her to orgasm. What physically happens to her body afterward is what they are studying for a cure. Epstein will make your skin crawl as she vividly describes women being sexually exploited, used as guinea pigs, and forced into hallucinatory fits before enraptured audiences. Knowing that you are reading history rather than fiction leaves will leave you feeling disgusted.

The author threads the fictional characters Rosalie, Laure, and Josephine into this dark storyline. When we meet Laure, she is no longer a patient at La Salpetriere but a ward attendant. Her job is to prepare Rosalie for the lectures. Epstein shows us the doctor’s complete power over the women when Rosalie refuses to participate. She humiliates Charcot in front of his peers. In anger, Charcot places her into a different, dreaded ward that she will never leave. Josephine becomes the doctor’s next favorite patient to be used on the lecture stage.

While Josephine could be cruel to Laure by ignoring her, the author creates empathy for Josephine by revealing that she may have killed her abuser before she was institutionalized. The plot now centers on discovering whether the two will succeed in escaping and whether Josephine is a murderer. The author throws in a thriller-like twist. This is where the novel stumbles. I assume others may enjoy Josephine’s side mystery story, but I found it an annoying plot change. This historical fiction tale is good enough to stand independently without adding a mystery element. Still, I recommend “The Madwomen of Paris.” Epstein is a talented writer. There is a healthy balance between research and creativity. I would read this author again. Not to mention, that the novel makes you so glad that human medical research has come a long way.

I received this novel at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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I received this novel at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Find all my book reviews at:
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“Romantic Comedy” by Curtis Sittenfeld

May 8, 2023May 8, 2023 MartieLeave a comment

Genre: Women’s Fiction/Reeves Book Club Romantic Comedy
Publisher: Random House
Pub. Date: April 4, 2023

Sally Milz is thirty-six years old. She is a late-night comedy skit writer. Sally has a quick-witted, sharp mind but is not considered attractive. Noah Brewster is an aging but still breathtakingly handsome superstar. These are the protagonists of Sittenfeld’s intelligent and humorous romance story. Sally writes for the fictional “The Night Owls” television show, modeled so closely after “Saturday Night Live.” Sittenfeld pays homage to SNL by creating characters recognizable as the real-life SNL actors in the renowned and beloved TV show. If you ever wanted a backstage pass to Saturday Night Live, this is the book for you —Zibby Owens, “Good Morning America.”

Amidst witty dialogue, the author argues how society values physical attractiveness, talent, youth and how your gender affects it all. Sally thinks, “For Christ’s sake, Danny is a patsy-skinned screenwriter—he is my male version.” Yet, he is in a relationship with “Annabel, a gorgeous, talented world-famous movie star…while Danny is a schlub.” She wonders how such couples never exist when the genders are switched.

Brewster guest hosts one episode. There is chemistry between Sally and Noah. I thought this novel would be a spoof on a Rom-Com. It is not. But it is still hilarious. After her first night sleeping with Noha, Sally thinks that if she were in a romantic comedy film, she would have awoken with sunlight streaming on her face. Instead, she woke up with her plump thighs on display, drool on her chin, and worrying about morning breath—love the reality, so different then what would be shown in a movie. When the episode is over, they go their separate ways. At this point, we are in the pandemic, and the scenes between them become reminiscent of “You Got Mail,” where we can almost predict how it will turn out.

The book stumbles in its abrupt ending, given how many pages Sally spends thinking about how strange it is that someone like her might date Noah. It needed to be more fleshed out. I preferred the author’s previous books, “Prep,” “Sisterland,” and “American Wife.” She also wrote one of my favorite novels by Sittenfeld, which is. So, I am familiar with the author’s work and enjoy reading her. “Romantic Comedy” is my least favorite. But then again, I have never enjoyed Rom-Com. Still, this work is a good paradigm of balancing a probing argument with a humorous narrative. Plus, the SNL scenes are to die for.

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“And Then He Sang a Lullaby” by Ani Kayode Somtochukwu

April 23, 2023April 23, 2023 Martie2 Comments

Genre: LGBTQIA/Nigerian activist aND THEN HE SANG A LULLABY
Publisher: Grove Atlantic
Pub. Date: June 6, 2023

This brutal novel, which reads like a journal, is not for the faint of heart. Kayode Somtochukwu reveals the effects of state sanctioned homophobia on Nigeria’s queer community. The reader sees the daily struggle for survival through the eyes of two gay Nigerian men, August and Segun. When they become romantically involved, the dangers are pronounced. The author’s writing is intensely raw and vivid. I highly recommend this novel.

High school track star, August, enrolls in college to escape his loving but controlling sisters. Because his appearance is masculine and he is an athlete, August can pass as straight. Even his sisters are unaware of his sexuality. The birthday parties they throw him serve as an example of how little they see the real August. Not only are they unaware that he grieves the loss of his mother on his birthday, as she died in childbirth, but he must also hide his attraction toward the boys at these parties. In heartbreaking scenes, the author describes how if he opened up to his sisters, he would expose himself to possible jail time, torture, or death.

Segun carries his own burdens. His mannerisms are overtly feminine, and he bears scars from beatings throughout his school years. Segun’s mother is written as the direct opposite of August’s sisters, which was refreshing for me. She complains to his school each time he is bullied or physically abused. When the principal does nothing, she enrolls her son at another school to give him a fresh start. However, switching schools has little impact. The assaults persist. Ani raises the question of why homophobia is so persistent and why Nigeria feels trapped in the past.

The perspectives alternate slowly and then more rapidly when the boys meet in college. Watching their tender love affair withstand the hostility hurled at them is bittersweet. The young men’s relationship is tested when Segun is beaten close to death in a homophobic attack. This tale has flaws. Ani clearly cares about his characters, but August and Segun feel too archetypical. I would have liked a bit more character development. Still, this is a riveting book. “And Then He Sang a Lullaby” will haunt me for a long time. Kayode Somtochukwu is an author to watch.

I received this novel at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Dysfunction Defined

April 11, 2023 Martie1 Comment

Bookwinked

I recently picked up a copy of the well-known book which was made into a movie called The Great Santini by Pat Conroy at the local library book sale. While searching for an audio copy of the book, I discovered there was a sequel to it written approximately 30 years later. The Death of Santini is the author’s final farewell to his late mother and father.

If perhaps you have read the first book or seen the movie, you will know this is a very emotional story about a family of nine written by the son of Don Conroy who was a man with abusive physical and emotional tendencies towards his wife and seven children. Don, a Marine, flew planes in numerous wars and treated his family as if they were a platoon under his command.

Pat Conroy is an excellent writer and I think both of these books were…

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“What the Neighbors Saw”

April 4, 2023April 4, 2023 MartieLeave a comment

by Melissa Adelman

Genre: Murder/Thriller/Suspense What the neighbors saw
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Pub. Date: June 2023

I just can’t catch a break with murder thrillers lately. I keep going from bad to worse to just plain silly. Well, this one is, for the most part, believable but also campy. A young couple buys a run-down house in a neighborhood they can not afford. From then on, the plot and its twists are soap opera-like. Maybe this was the author’s plan. Perhaps I would have warmer feelings if I read this one on the beach with a cocktail. Then I could laugh along with the plot.

I received this novel at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“The New Mother” by Nora Murphy

April 4, 2023April 4, 2023 Martie2 Comments

Genre: Murder Mystery/Thriller The New Mother
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Pub. Date: Minotaur Books.

Itisy-Bitsy Review

Not much of a thriller, this is more a long and dreary description on how hard it is to be a new mom. The story reads more like a case study in postpartum depression with repetitive dialogue.

I received this novel at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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“Zig-Zag Boy: A memoir of Madness and Motherhood” by Tanya Frank

April 4, 2023 MartieLeave a comment

Genre: Memoir/Mental Illness Zig-Zag
Publisher: W.W. Norton & Co.
Pub. Date: Feb. 28, 2023

Mini-Review

Tanya Frank’s otherwise healthy 19-year-old son, Zach, experienced his first psychotic break in 2009. Will her surfer and chess standout son ever return to her? This memoir left me feeling unsatisfied. My objection is not with Frank’s writing. Indeed, I commend the author for skillfully conveying her bewilderment as a horrified mother watching her son being consumed by psychosis. She does an excellent job of showing how blind-sighted she was and how sad she feels knowing that her life will never be the same. No matter how hard she tries, she can not fix her son’s broken brain and we watch her frantically trying. So with so much praise why was I disappointed? It is that I was expecting to read more about Zach. This is his mother’s story that we see through her eyes. However, to be fair, this was written as his mother’s memoir, not his.

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