The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet by David Mitchell

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on September 15, 2010
Posted in Books Read in 2010 • Historical Fiction • Japan | 7 Comments

Set on the Island of f Dejima in Japan in the early 19th century, Jacob De Zoet was trying to make a name for himself. Jacob has come all the way from Holland as a young clerk in the hopes of making his fortune. The plan was to go back to Holland to his fiancée and marry her with the approval of her wealthy father.

While on Dejima, Jacob has a chance encounter with Ortio Aibagawa, a midwife who was granted permission to learn medicine under the tutelage of Dr. Marinus. It is very rare to see a Japanese woman unless she is a prostitute. Jacob becomes infatuated with her.

The first chapter of the book grabbed me and wouldn’t let me go. It was of a childbirth that Ortio was midwife for. The child appeared to be dead but Ortio breathed life into him. It’s too bad that the next 130 pages didn’t hold my interest much. They were about the day to day business of Jacob as a clerk. To me they were boring and at times, hard to understand. I felt like I needed to have an interest in Jacob’s job as a clerk, to understand what was going on. Historically, it seemed quite accurate but painfully boring to me.

When Ortio was brought back onto the pages, the story picked up again for me. She ended up in a horrific place that I had to see resolved. That is what kept me reading this book. It was these parts of the book that made me fall in love with David Mitchell’s writing.

I have had David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas and Black Swan Green on my “to be read” list for a very long time. The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet is the first book I have read by him but certainly won’t be the last.

3.5/5

Thanks to Good Reads and David Ebershoff of Random House for an advance readers copy of this book.

Also reviewed by:

Farm Lane Books

S is for the ship that Jacob De Zoet sailed on from Holland, Shenandoah and for the horrific place Ortio ended up at, The House of Sisters, Mount Shiranui Shrine.

David Mitchell is coming to the 2010 Vancouver Writers and Readers Festival. He will be at four different events at the festival. I will be seeing him at event #53, Japaning and event #62 The Sunday Brunch. If your going to be in Vancouver, come join the fun!

Aug 10

16

Houdini Pie by Paul Michel

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on August 16, 2010
Posted in Books Read in 2010 • Depression • Era • Historical Fiction | 6 Comments

Halley, named after Halley’s Comet was born right after his father Charles got caught in one of his fraudulent schemes. Once Hal was considered old enough he was expected to work for Charles in his less than honest business ventures including running a lucrative alcohol business during prohibition.

In 1934, as a young man Hal is a pitcher for and upstart baseball team and strikes just about everyone out. His Uncle Warren shows up after a long absence and asks Hal to join in him in a business venture that his Charles is also tied up with. Hal thinks it sounds preposterous but his mother Vera talks him into doing it with the promise of riches, gold actually.

A Hopi Indian and his daughter lead the search, with the story of their ancestors, who were Lizard people. They hid treasure in Los Angeles California way beneath a downtown street. Somehow the crackpot sounding scheme get approval from the mayor and they are allowed to dig.

This is a story about love, hope and loyalty for Hal. Though the constant reference to Houdini Pie and it’s symbolism got a little tiresome to me, the book flowed well with simple old fashioned story telling. Some of it was quite predictable but the book was enjoyable.

3/5

Thanks to Mary Myers of Bennet & Hastings Publishing for this book.

If you reviewed this book also, please leave a link in the comments.

Jul 10

30

A Place for Delta by Melissa Walker

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on July 30, 2010
Posted in Books Read in 2010 • Children's Books • Environment | 6 Comments

Written for children between the ages 0f 9-14, A Place for Delta is the story of Joseph, an 11 year old boy who is asked by his aunt Kate Morse to come to Barrow, Alaska to help care for an orphaned polar bear cub, Delta. Off course, he jumps at the chance and with his parents permission, he spent the entire summer in a scientific research centre, really a shack, in the Arctic.

This story in not just a cute animal story for kids. It has several layers that has appeal for adults as well. It is a multi-generational story of the Morse family and weaves together a plot of mystery, global warming, politics, love, and friendship.

While in Barrow, Joseph becomes friends with Ada and together they investigate how Delta became orphaned. They finally bring the information they gather to the adults and get help. It becomes clear that the oil companies are somehow involved.

Winner of the 2010 International Book Award for best Children’s Fiction, A Place for Delta is destined to become a classic, with rich illustrations by Richard Walker of drawing and wood cuts and simple yet elegant writing by Melissa Walker. Walker uses a well developed story and plot without the more modern devices such as witches and vampires. It is the kind of book that I read and loved as a child. Now, as an adult, I loved this story and it will stay with me for a long time.

Melissa Walker has been a Professor of English at the University of New Orleans and Mercer University and a Fellow in Women’s Studies at Emory University. She’s a vocal advocate for civil rights and for wilderness. Her previous books include Reading the Environment (W.W.Norton, 1994) and Living on Wilderness Time: 200 Days Alone in America’s Wild Places (Univ. of Va. Press, 2002). She lives with her husband Jerome in Atlanta and spends much of the summer in Alaska.

5/5

Thanks to Lisa Roe, Online Publicist for this book.

Also reviewed by:

Stiletto Storytime

Suko’s Notebook

A Moment with Mystee

Beth Fish Reads
Reading Vacations

Have you reviewed this book? Be sure to leave a link in the comments so I can add it here.