In One Person by John Irving

Published by: Simon & Schuster

Published on: May 8, 2012

Page Count: 425

Genre: Literary Fiction

My Reading Format: Review copy sent to me by the publisher for consideration

Available Formats: Hardcover, eBook, and Audiobook

My Review

Billy Dean, the son of an absent father and a mother still living with her own parents, may be young, but he recognizes that he has crushes on the wrong people. He may not always be able to identify his feelings by name, but he understands early on that he is bisexual. Not only does he have a crush on Richard Abbott, the man who will eventually become his stepfather and adopt him, but the tall local librarian with large hands, Miss Frost. It was through Richard’s encouragement and Miss Frost’s reading suggestions that Billy learned that literature can help navigate wrong crushes and bring sense to the human condition. It was there that he first expressed his desire to be a writer. Many decades later, Billy Abbott is a well-know author known for his novels exploring sexuality. It is this older, more secure Billy who is sharing his life. In One Person explores the confusion, fear, pain, wisdom, joy, and peace that comes from honoring instead of repressing one’s full person.

Unlike many others, I’ve read only two of John Irving’s thirteen novels, The Cider House Rules and now In One Person. Both novels are written from the perspective of young men without fathers who find even better father figures, men who teach them what they need to know to navigate their world and love every part of them. Both novels also address shame. There is the internal shame experienced when one does something wrong as well as the outward shame wielded by society to enforce societal norms. Through his storytelling, John Irving illustrates that the key to living as fulfilled life is to distinguish between the two.

There are so many things that impressed me with this book. Irving’s writing is gorgeous and his characters are so rich in personality. Grandpa Harry, the lumber man who loves to take on lead female roles in the town’s amateur theatrical society, is nothing short of a gem. He brings much needed levity and tenderness to Billy’s life. John Irving breaths both life and New England into all of his characters, from Billy and Ellen to the wrestling coach at Favorite River Academy. Just as with his characters, Irving’s themes are layered and intricate. I expected to encounter sexual themes when I picked up In One Person. The main character is, after all, a bisexual man who happens to be attracted to the most “passable transsexuals.” I was particularly touched by the sections where Billy recounts the AIDS crisis in the 80s and 90s. However, what stuck out to me even more was what Irving had to say about childhood and memory. When I read the following paragraphs, I stopped and considered not only how this applied to Billy’s life, but to my own as well:

In a later novel, I would aproach this idea a little differently—a little more carefully, maybe. “In increments both measurable and not, our childhood is stolen from us—not always in one momentous event but often in a series of small robberies, which add up to the same loss.” I suppose I could have written “betrayals” instead of “robberies”; in my own family’s case, I might have used the deceptions word—citing lies of both omission and commission. But I’ll stand by what I wrote; it suffices.

In another novel—very near the beginning of the book, in fact—I wrote: “Your memory is a monster; your forget—it doesn’t. If simply files things away; it keeps things for you, or hides things from you. Your memory summons things to your recall with a will of its own. You imagine you have a memory, but your memory has you!” (I’ll stand by that, too.)

~ from page 260

In One Person was nothing short of a compulsive read for me. From the moment Billy mention Miss Frost’s name until he has finished telling his story, I wanted to be in his story. I loved his quirky family and I loved the honesty with which bared his soul. This novel read especially well for me after having read The Starboard Sea. I wondered how Billy and Jason would have gotten along. Challenging, authentic, gritty, and beautiful, I cannot recommend In One Person more.

Published by: Simon & Schuster

Published on: June 2011

Page Count: 320

Genre: Urban Fiction

My Reading Format: Audiobook provided to me by the Tantor Audio for review for the Armchair Audies

Audiobook Published by: Tantor Audio

Narrator: Alan Bomar Jones

Audiobook Length: 8 hours

Available Formats: Hardcover, eBook, and Audiobook

My Review

Winslow Haircare Products is a family owned company. When their parents died in a terrible car crash, Cobi and Sissy Winslow stood to inherit the business as well as their parent’s assets. There is one catch. Cobi, an up and coming attorney, is gay. His adoptive father never approved of his lifestyle. Before his death, he amended his will to require that Cobi be married before he reaches a certain age. Cobi reaches that age within a few short weeks. Winslow Haircare Products are in danger of a take over, so it is vital that Cobi marries to secure the Winslow family’s position. Cobi may not be out of the closet, per se, but he is proud of who he is. He is resistant to the idea, but Sissy insists. She is a natural businesswoman and born leader. She worked side by side with her father, but her position as the head of the company is tenuous. To head her father’s company, she must ensure that Cobi inherits his portion of the estate. When Sissy sets her mind to something, she gets it done and brooks no arguments along the way. On top of his worries about being untrue to himself, Cobi has another shock come his way. It seems that he had an identical twin brother out there somewhere. His parents simply wanted only two children, so his twin remained in foster care. Cobi desperately wants to find him. While Cobi is searching for Eric Reed, Sissy is searching for a suitable wife. Unfortunately, things may not work out as either plans.

No One in the World was written jointly by E. Lynn Harris and R. M. Johnson. I am not familiar with their previous work, but based upon R. M. Johnson’s introduction, Harris was a writer he admired. Harris died at the age of 54 in 2009 and Johnson is clearly proud of their collaboration. This novel has two main themes: living as a gay African American man and living with and without privilege. The combination of these two themes was interesting. Cobi may have grown up with all a child could ever want, but he never had the love and acceptance of his father, who found his homosexuality more than distasteful. It wasn’t just his father’s will and the financial status of Winslow Haircare Products that continue to make it impossible for Cobi to live his life openly after his parents pass away. He is a rising legal star with future political aspirations and his partner, also in politics, is a married man. There was nothing easy about Cobi’s life on Easy Street. Eric may not have had the advantages that Cobi had, but he doesn’t have the secrets. He is who he is. While he may wish he were a better man in some cases, his actions have been motivated by the love of his daughter. The way that these two men who entered life together fit after being reunited is rather interesting.

The key female characters in this novel are also an interesting contrast. Sissy grew up under the tutelage of a powerful businessman. From the little we met of Cobi and Sissy’s father, Sissy looked up to him and patterned her career after his. She is not untouched by the current economic downturn. While Winslow Haircare’s products are a mainstay in the African American community, that is exactly why large companies are interested in consuming them into their brand. After her father died, Sissy expected to step into his role and continue his work. Worried about the future, the board made her position temporary. She had to prove herself as a leader. Sissy is nothing if not up to the challenge. She is also accustomed to getting her way. As such, she expects people to agree with her opinions and to bow down to her will. In many ways, Sissy is downright predatory in her search for Cobi’s “wife.” Austen Greer, one such potential wife, worked hard to make a career in real estate a success. She had much to be proud of. She had made a name for herself without anyone’s help. Unfortunately, the niche she carved for herself in the upscale market has dried up in the economy and she didn’t have a safety net. The combination of Austen’s self-made woman and Sissy’s haughtiness caused a great deal of friction.

Alan Bomar Jones narrated No One in the World. He has a deep, rich voice with some wonderful qualities. His work shines when the characters are in the thick of an especially emotional situation. When they are mad, excited, scared, or simply on the move, he kept me in the moment. He also distinguished the major male and female characters well. When there wasn’t a lot of action or dialog, Jones’ narration felt impatient to me, as if he was doing his best not to rush ahead. This was most noticeable for me during scenes when Cobi was soul searching. I may not have been blown away by his performance, I did enjoy it.

I did have issues with this novel. While by her very nature Sissy is abrasive, her character did not live up to her potential. Because she was never anything more than a way to keep the conflict with the inheritance alive, her character grated on my nerves. My research prepared me for the explicit sex, but its frequency seemed gratuitous at times. By far the most important issue I had with this novel was the ending. There was a great deal of time and attention given within the story to building up to the crisis that will utterly change the Cobi and Eric’s lives. To have it all finish in the course of what seemed like just a few minutes left me unsatisfied. A major decision seemed to have come from out of nowhere. The decision itself couldn’t be considered entirely out of character, but the rashness of that decision certainly was. There’s room for a sequel, but I would have preferred that more time had been devoted to make this novel stand alone more fully.

No One in the World is a fast paced novel that provides insight into the unique difficulties of being a gay man in the African American community. Frequent readers of Literate Housewife already know that Urban Fiction isn’t something I typically read. I can’t compare No One in the World to other books in its genre, but I thought the book was interesting. While I don’t foresee Urban Fiction becoming a mainstay, I liked that the the Audie awards prompted me to experiment.

Published by: Gallery Books

Published on: August 2011

Page Count: 384

Genre: Women’s Fiction

My Reading Format: Audiobook review copy sent to me by the narrator

Audiobook Published by: Tantor Audio

Narrator: Xe Sands

Audiobook Length: 7 hours 22 minutes

Available Formats: Paperback, eBook, and Audiobook

My Review

Angelina nearly has a charmed life. She and her husband Frank may not have much, but they are deeply in love. They have a strong network of community and Frank’s family. Angelina has lost her family, but her in-laws have taken her into their hearts as their own. Even charmed lives, however, are fragile. They didn’t yet have the children they wanted to have when, so much earlier than would seem possible, Frank passes away in the night of a heart attack. Angelina is hit a double blow when, just after the funeral, she learns that the company she works for is going out of business. Without her husband or a job, Angelina was at a loss. In a frantic fit of grief, Angelina spends an entire night cooking everything edible in her house. In sending out the excess food to friends and family, a chain of events is set into motion that leads Angelina to her destiny.

Angelina’s Bachelors is a sweet story. Angelina is a charming, genuinely nice heroine who, in her mourning, stumbles into her future with an open mind. Her natural cooking abilities enable her to nourish single men in her neighborhood. They, in turn, nourish her spirit. Sometimes it is refreshing to visit a world that is at its heart simply nice. It left me with a warm feeling each time I listened. As the novel progressed, some fairly predictable conflicts arose, but the way in which they were addressed were typically satisfying. There was one instance, however, where the resolution, even with its Catholic twist, was a touch too Roma Downey for my taste. The first half of the novel was stronger for me for this reason. Still, it didn’t dampen my opinion of the audiobook because I didn’t pop it into my car stereo to be challenged. I chose to read it when I did because I wanted a comfort read and Brian O’Reilly delivered exactly the type of read I wanted.

Brian O’Reilly is an Executive Producer for Dinner: Impossible on the Food Network and it shows. Angelina’s Bachelors is full of good food and Xe Sands brought out even more flavor. I am no foodie.  In print I normally skip over descriptions of food. In fact, I’ve yet to check out the recipes included on the first disc of the audiobook. The way in which she narrated Angelina’s menus, however, kept me interested, entertained, and left me hungry. Listening to this audiobook while eating your lunch can make even the most incredible sandwich taste not just ordinary, but kind of soggy. Outside of the food, Xe Sands did a good job of bringing Angelina, her bachelors, and their Philadelphia neighborhood to life through voice differentiation and tone. Having also listened to her narrate Fire and Ice, it was interesting to compare her approach to two very different types of spicy reading.

After reading some tough novels at the start of the year, Angelina’s Bachelors was like drinking a rich cup of hot chocolate on a crisp winter day. Despite the little issues that niggled at me, I appreciated this novel for just what it was, a heartwarming tale of a close knit Italian Catholic neighborhood and family creatively dealing with an unexpected loss. I recommend this novel to anyone who needs a little hug in their day.

Published by: Crown Publishing

Published on: May 6, 2008

Page Count: 368

Genre: Historical Fiction

My Reading Format: Audiobook rented from my local public library

Audiobook Published by: Random House Audio

Narrator: Mark Bramhall

Audiobook Length: 12 hours 13 minutes

Available Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, and Audiobook

Publisher’s Description

In January 1945, in the waning months of World War II, a small group of people begin the longest journey of their lives: an attempt to cross the remnants of the Third Reich, from Warsaw to the Rhine if necessary, to reach the British and American lines.

Among the group is eighteen-year-old Anna Emmerich, the daughter of Prussian aristocrats. There is her lover, Callum Finella, a twenty-year-old Scottish prisoner of war who was brought from the stalag to her family’s farm as forced labor. And there is a twenty-six-year-old Wehrmacht corporal, who the pair know as Manfred–who is, in reality, Uri Singer, a Jew from Germany who managed to escape a train bound for Auschwitz.

As they work their way west, they encounter a countryside ravaged by war. Their flight will test both Anna’s and Callum’s love, as well as their friendship with Manfred–assuming any of them even survive.

Review from My Bookshelf

I picked up this novel on a whim while skimming the audiobook collection  at my local pubic library. I’d always wanted to read Chris Bohjalian and when I saw that Mark Bramhall narrated Skeletons at the Feast, the choice was clear.  Mark Bramhall is a talented narrator and I loved what he did with this novel. I particularly liked what he did with Callum’s accent. It sounded warm and comforting, just perfect for the character. Just as with the novel itself, Bramhall’s  work was strong from beginning to end.

Earlier this month, my husband’s family buried one of its own. William M. Conner, aged 87, served his country during World War II. He was part of the second wave on Normandy beach, fought during the Battle of the Bulge, and helped liberate a concentration camp in Germany. As I took part in the solemn military graveside service, I thought a lot about Skeletons at the Feast and my reaction to it. I relived some of the less pleasant moments in that story and reflected on how Uncle Bill saw that and probably so much worse. That he was able to return to Virginia and live the good and kind life that he did thereafter is a testament to his character and the human spirit. In that, Uncle Bill and Chris Bohjalian’s characters have much in common.

Skeletons at the Feast is a fantastic novel about the true toll of  warm on a continent, a race, a family, and an individual. Due to the subject matter, it was not the easiest book to read. While fiction may be seen as a means to escape reality, when done well it is also a way to sit vigil for those who have lived through atrocities. I am grateful that Mark Bramhall finally gave me the gentle shove I needed to pick up a Chris Bohjalian book. I very highly recommend this novel.

Published by: Knopf Doubleday

Published on: May 10, 2011

Page Count: 400

Genre: Crime Fiction

My Reading Format: Audiobook won by participating in a June is Audiobook Month contest.

Audiobook Published by: Random House Audio

Narrator: Robin Sachs

Audiobook Length: 15 hours 38 minutes

Available Formats: Hardcover, Paperback (on 4/17/2012), eBook, and Audiobook

Giveaway: Random House Audio sent me two copies of the audiobook when I won one of their June is Audiobook Month contests. I’d love to spread the wealth (be forewarned that you may permanently be scared of snow). Just leave a comment to this post before the 24th and you’ll have a chance to give this book a listen for yourself.

Publisher’s Description:

Internationally acclaimed crime writer Jo Nesbø’s antihero police investigator, Harry Hole, is back: in a bone-chilling thriller that will take Hole to the brink of insanity.

Oslo in November. The first snow of the season has fallen. A boy named Jonas wakes in the night to find his mother gone. Out his window, in the cold moonlight, he sees the snowman that inexplicably appeared in the yard earlier in the day. Around its neck is his mother’s pink scarf.

Hole suspects a link between a menacing letter he’s received and the disappearance of Jonas’s mother—and of perhaps a dozen other women, all of whom went missing on the day of a first snowfall. As his investigation deepens, something else emerges: he is becoming a pawn in an increasingly terrifying game whose rules are devised—and constantly revised—by the killer.

Fiercely suspenseful, its characters brilliantly realized, its atmosphere permeated with evil, The Snowman is the electrifying work of one of the best crime writers of our time.

Review from My Bookshelf

Jo Nesbø scares the crap out of me. Couple his story about a deranged serial killer who combines the season’s first snow with calculated attacks against women with the narrative skills of Robin Sachs and I spent the length of this audiobook on edge. It was a gift from God that this winter was the mildest winter of my lifetime. Barely a flake of snow fell. Had we gotten the one snow of the winter while I was listening to The Snowman, I might have had to write this review from a padded cell.

Okay, I exaggerate just a little. Still, serial killers who target and torture women and my stomach don’t mix well. Buffalo Bill of Silence of the Lambs fame did such a number on my tummy that the very sound of Ted Levine’s voice still creeps me out 20ish years later. I think it is a sign of a job well done that Nesbo’s line “I want you to eat snow” had very much the same effect on me. Granted, I have a weak stomach, but in my estimation Robin Sachs corners the market when it comes to narrating sick, twisted, demented, psychopaths. I mean that as a compliment of the highest order.

While there were plenty of suspenseful scenes, there were sections of The Snowman that felt long. There was one two many twists and turns and perhaps because I’ve not listened to the preceding books, I wasn’t as interested in Harry Hole’s back story and career. The meat of this novel is an excellent thriller and I highly recommend the Jo Nesbo/Robin Sachs tag team.

The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt

Published by: Ecco

Published on: April 26, 2011

Page Count: 336

Genre: Western

My Reading Format: Hardcover purchased for my personal library

Available Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, and Audiobook

Review from My Bookshelf

Description from the Publisher:

Hermann Kermit Warm is going to die. The enigmatic and powerful man known only as the Commodore has ordered it, and his henchmen, Eli and Charlie Sisters, will make sure of it. Though Eli doesn’t share his brother’s appetite for whiskey and killing, he’s never known anything else. But their prey isn’t an easy mark, and on the road from Oregon City to Warm’s gold-mining claim outside Sacramento, Eli begins to question what he does for a living–and whom he does it for.

With The Sisters Brothers, Patrick deWitt pays homage to the classic Western, transforming it into an unforgettable comic tour de force. Filled with a remarkable cast of characters–losers, cheaters, and ne’er-do-wells from all stripes of life–and told by a complex and compelling narrator, it is a violent, lustful odyssey through the underworld of the 1850s frontier that beautifully captures the humor, melancholy, and grit of the Old West and two brothers bound by blood, violence, and love.

I am not a fan of Westerns. It’ s not a genre that captures my imagination. It does remind me of my grandfather. He loves Louis L’Amour, so there is something comfortable about it. I listened to 3:10 to Yuma last year and found myself enjoying it more than I had anticipated. So, when The Sisters Brothers made its splash, I decided to pick up a copy for myself. Then it sat on my shelf until it made its way to the Tournament of Books.

When the roster was announced, discussions popped up on Twitter as they are want to do. It was then that Michelle (@michelleerin), Cassandra (@CassandraNeace) and I made plans to read the book together. I was excited to finally be reading the book, especially with some fun bookish tweeps. In the end, that was pretty much all the excitement I found. While I was interested in Eli’s character and had no  problems reading the book, there really wasn’t anything that grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. When I finished the book, I just wasn’t inspired to talk about much of anything about it.

The Sisters Brothers may not have dazzled me, but I am glad that took a chance on something outside of my comfort zone. It’s never a mistake to give something different a try. I want to thank The Morning News, Cassandra and Michelle for giving me the nudge.

Published by: Knopf Doubleday

Published on: October 5, 2011

Page Count: 176

Genre: Literary Fiction

My Reading Format: Audiobook purchased from Audible.com

Audiobook Published by: AudioGo

Narrator: Richard Morant

Audiobook Length: 4 hours 38 minutes

Available Formats: Hardcover, eBook, and Audiobook

Review from My Bookshelf

Anthony is a man in his retirement years. Although divorced, he maintains a good relationship with his ex-wife. Just like the rest of his life, he believes he understands her and the reasons why they eventually divorced. She is still a stabilizing force in her life. Had it not been for an unexpected inheritance from the mother of a former girlfriend, he might have lived his remaining years unaware of how little he really did grasp the events of his life.

I loved this book on every level. The writing was gorgeous. It drew me in before I got to know Anthony or the other boys with whom he went to school. There was punch in this novel as well. As the story of Anthony’s youth unravels, my face flushed when he was finally caught in a lie he had been telling himself for decades. Richard Morant’s narration was another high point. His voice is crisp and clear. He brought a seriousness to the story that very much reflected for me Anthony’s opinion of himself and the story he was telling. For me, the story and the narrator were a perfect compliment. There is no doubt that I will be reading more Julian Barnes and listening to more Richard Morant in the future.

Published by: Little, Brown & Company

Published on: January 9, 2012

Page Count: 357

Genre: Fiction

My Reading Format: Review copy of the audiobook sent to me by the audiobook publisher for consideration

Audiobook Published by: Hachette Audio

Narrator: Ayad Akhtar

Audiobook Length: 9 hours and 28 minutes

Available Formats: Hardcover, eBook, and Audiobook

My Review

Hayat Shah was born in Wisconsin to Pakistani parents. His father is a doctor who has no time or patience for the Islamic faith in which he was raised. His mother is a homemaker, unhappy in her marriage. She does not want her son to  grow up to be like other Muslim men. Even at the age of 10 she shares with him the troubles in her own marriage. It is into this less than ideal family situation that Mini, Hayat’s mother’s oldest friend, breathes fresh air. Mina is a divorced young mother who was set to lose custody of her son. It was through the intervention of Hayat’s parents that she is able to leave Pakistan and come to live with them. It is Mina who brings a holy expression to the Islamic faith into Hayat’s life. Mina brings so much beauty, peace and love into the household. The longer she and her son live in the Shah household, the more confused Hayat becomes about love and religion. The choices Mina makes in love ultimately shine an unintended spotlight on other ways in which the Quran can be interpreted. Hayat’s juvenile reactions to Mina’s growing freedom in the United States sets in motion a chain of events he cannot escape.

American Dervish is a coming of age novel that captivated me in the same way as The House of Tomorrow. Hayat is trying to make his way in life in a time and place and culture where all he is ever getting are mixed messages. He is the pawn in his parents’ marriage and it isn’t until Mina arrives that he finds a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Even still, he is surrounded by adult problems that he is too young to handle. While he certainly finds Mina beautiful and luxuriates in her attention, I don’t believe his reaction to her Jewish boyfriend Nate was so necessarily just because he was jealous. Young children act out and throw tantrums to get the attention they crave. He doesn’t know what to do with the feelings he has. He wants his home life with Mina to stay the way it is, so he reacts very much like the child he is to keep what he feels is his own. You need not be an adult to wreak havoc on the adult world.

There is so much to discuss while reading American Dervish. I loved the double-sided look at the Muslim faith. The way in which Mina introduces prayer, tradition, and the Quran to Hayat was simply beautiful. In many ways I, as a reader, was like Hayat. I enjoyed her teachings on the Quran and the Muslim stories she told. My own knowledge of that faith is limited at best. I also spent a good deal of time thinking about how the major religions, at their essence, are so very similar. It is the human element, as we find out later, that creates the distance and the discord. The other side comes in to the story with Nate’s decision to convert from Judaism to Islam. It is then that different interpretations of the Quran come to light. Ayad Akhtar doesn’t pull any punches with the anti-Semitism in the local Pakistani community. It wasn’t just the Muslims who felt that way. The local Christians were no better. The depth and breadth of the hatred was shocking at times. I would have greatly appreciated having someone to discuss this with especially.

Despite the success I’ve found in the past with audiobooks narrated by the author, I was hesitant to request a copy of American Dervish in audio for that very same reason. I’d never heard of the author before. I decided to give it a chance because I wanted to read it as soon as possible and because Ayad Akhtar is an actor. If I knew then what I know now, there never would have been a question. If there is a difference between an author narrated audiobook and one narrated by a professional, I couldn’t pick it out here. Akhtar brought all of the charisma, tone and emotion to this recording I have come to expect from a good audiobook. While others may be able to bring a wider range of voices to a book, Akhtar brought just enough spice to each character’s voice that I knew who was speaking. More importantly, he brought me there with him.

There is a scene in American Dervish between Hayat and his father. It is a confrontation over the Quran and it was unlike any other scene I’ve ever experienced in an audiobook. The entire time I could barely breathe. I was in the room with them and their energy had me pinned to my couch. There was so much fear and tension in the air that I couldn’t move. I wouldn’t have if I could because I didn’t want to break the spell. I enjoyed the entire novel, but it is for this scene in particular that I recommend this novel. It is powerful and honest. This audiobook has a place in my best listens of 2012. It will be difficult to top.

Genre: Fiction

My Reading Format: Audiobook downloaded for free from Mission Audio

Audiobook Published by: Mission Audio

Narrator: Simon Vance

Audiobook Length: 2 hours 54 minutes

Available Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, and Audiobook

My Mini Review

I don’t believe I’ve ever read a copy of A Christmas Carol before I listened to this production from Mission Audio. I have pretty strong memories of an animated version I saw often as a child. I’m sure I’ve seen other dramatizations as well. As much as I love the story and it is a part of each Christmas season one way or another, listening to the words of the author made it such a deeper, more meaningful experience. Not only did the full meaning of the book jump out at me through the voice of Simon Vance, I was struck over and over again by what an amazing writer Dickens was. I also know that if I read this novel as a child that reading it as an adult and as a parent make it an entirely different experience. Having a past of my own to look back upon adds so much to the story. Never again will an animation or a dramatization be enough. I’ll be listening to this copy of A Christmas Carol each and every year. When my daughters get a little older, I’m hoping it can become a family tradition.*

There have been many Simon Vance books I’ve loved, but there was something special about this narration. His voices were spectacular and his pacing was perfect. He brought just the right touch to each emotion. Listen to this audiobook and you’ll know why he is a master.

A special thank you to Mission Audio for so generously making this audiobook available for free download during the Christmas season last year. I cannot tell you how much I appreciated the experience. It was a true gift.

* I encouraged  the girls to listen with me this year. They gave it about 5 minutes and then started playing music on their iPods. I sensed them rolling their eyes at me asbI tried to lure them back by saying, “But this is Simon Vance  reading.” One day they’ll come around to my way of thinking about both audiobooks and Simon Vance.

History of a Pleasure Seeker by Richard Mason

Published by: Knopf

Published on: February 2, 2012

Page Count: 288

Genre: Fiction

My Reading Format: ARC sent to me by a publicist for consideration

Available Formats:

My Review

Piet Barol isn’t satisfied with the life lead by his family. His father lives a working class life and has no aspirations for anything better. Piet’s mother, a skilled courtesan who died when Piet was still young, raised him in anticipation for more. She taught him the skills he would need to charm those born into a higher station and to hold his own in their company. He puts his plans in motion by applying for a position with Maarten Vermeulen-Sickerts, a wealthy hotelier, as the tutor for his youngest son, Egbert. Piet found that his mother taught him well. He quickly finds not only a place in their home, but an honored place as well. Piet is so impressed with himself that he is even resentful of those family members who show any lack of trust in him. It doesn’t take him long to overcome early obstacles and, in his pride, take risks that alter his course in ways he did not anticipate.

I am drawn to stories where characters with varying degrees of ill intent work their way into the lives of unsuspecting people for their own gain. Piet was one such wonderful character. Although moral enough to feel guilt over his most aggregious offenses, he is able to rationalize his actions and continue course. What made this story that much stronger was the complexity of Maarten Vermeulen-Sickerts’ family. They were wealthy people and, as such, do not garner the amount of sympathy of less privileged people. Still, they had redeeming qualities and there was much going on in that household that had absolutely nothing to do with Piet. They too had dreams of their own. In the end, they were unwittingly able to both get in each others way and open each others eyes to their true potential.

In addition to the basic storyline, what drew me initially to this novel was the setting. My Dutch heart simply couldn’t not read this book. What was surprising to me was the characterization of Amsterdam. During the time of this novel, it apparently did not have the most pleasant scent. Still, the way in which the characters in this book lived gave me the glimpse of Dutch life that I was looking for. This was also the first book I’ve ever read containing a character named Egbert, the name of my paternal grandfather. That he was Piet’s young pupil made me happy. While I would hope that my grandfather didn’t have as tortured a childhood as this young Egbert, I did like having the name associated with youth.

I very much enjoyed History of a Pleasure Seeker. Piet never once planned on murdering anyone, yet the tone of the first section of Richard Mason’s story very much brought to mind A Reliable Wife. The second section of the book wasn’t as strong as Piet’s time in Amsterdam. The pacing of the story of Piet’s journey from Amsterdam was uneven, though it did pick up very well at the end. Also, there was aspect of the story behind Piet’s last days at the Vermeulen-Sickerts home that was just a little too easy. That the novel wasn’t perfect did little to detract from how well this book worked for me as a whole. History of a Pleasure Seeker is a study of the pursuit of a luxurious life, come hell or high water. I highly recommend picking up a copy for yourself.