This week’s post features two novels I recently read. One is definitely summertime fare, an absorbing love story set in and near Philadelphia. The other is yet another World War II related historical novel, but from a slightly different perspective than the recent rash of female spy novels. I found that the momentum built the farther I got into it. Character development was a bit slow and with not as much depth as the author’s earlier novel, perhaps because a few more of these characters were real people.
And on a different note, the Chief Penguin and I went to a concert of Irish music performed by the female ensemble, Cherish the Ladies.
AMISH AND BIG CITY WORLDS COLLIDE
Between You & Me by Susan Wiggs
I’ve long been a fan of Susan Wiggs’ novels. Some are historical novels such as her early Chicago Fire Trilogy; others are contemporary. All deal with relationships, both romantic and familial. Not her most recent book, but one I’d missed is Between You and Me. Set in the greater Philadelphia area, it brings into focus the contrast in cultural milieus between a rich medical student destined to become a pediatric surgeon and an Amish farmer who is raising his orphaned niece and nephew in that faith community.
Reese Powell is following the career track her successful physician parents have mapped out for her when she encounters Caleb Stoltz whose nephew Jonah has suffered a farming machinery accident. Jonah loses his arm and has a long road to recovery and adjustment. Despite their different and clashing worlds, Reese and Caleb are attracted to one another. Yet each is bound by pledges they made to their families. I found this an absorbing and fast-paced story that drew me in immediately.
SAVING WWII REFUGEES
The Postmistress of Paris by Meg Waite Clayton
Several years ago, I read and enjoyed Meg Clayton’s earlier novel, The Last Train to London, also set during the Second World War. This new one is built around German artist refugees and activists involved in secretly guiding them out of occupied France across the mountains into Spain or Portugal. A dangerous business.
The main character, heiress Nanee, is based on the real Mary Jane Gold from Chicago. Nanee has a passion for adventure and joins the resistance delivering messages to refugees in hiding and spiriting others across the border. She buys an old chateau on the outskirts of Paris to house herself and colleagues, including the real American journalist Varian Fry. Photographer Edouard Moss, wanted by the Nazis, is reluctant to leave since he has been separated from his little girl. The novel is a story of Nanee and Edouard’s love and the amazing bravery and courage of those who endured.
It moves slowly as the character of Edouard is introduced and then gains momentum as the resistance team becomes involved in a rescue mission from a French labor camp. A sobering portrait of a time fraught with danger.
IRISH MUSIC
It’s just a month since we returned home from Ireland and so, going to a concert of Irish music was both appropriate and appealing. The Opera House at Boothbay Harbor presents a full season of musical events beginning in May and ending in December. Their offerings range from folk music to jazz to Broadway tunes to blues and swing bands. Several years ago, we attended a jazz concert in this historic hall.
This week, the offering was the Irish music ensemble, Cherish the Ladies. This Grammy-winning group, led by an exuberant Joanie Madden on flute and whistle, has been performing together for 38 years. On fiddle, accordion, guitar, and piano plus the whistle or flute, they performed traditional Irish tunes along with some original ones. Interspersed in were two lively step dancers and several haunting County Clare melodies sung by Clare native, Kate Purcell.
The music was lively and lilting and the evening great fun! The group was supposed to be here for a Christmas program in December 2019. Due to Covid, they got here this year instead. The hall was packed and clearly, some in the crowd were big fans. For a sample, here’s a YouTube link to “The Cat’s Meow Jig”, Joanie Madden’s first composition.
Note: Header photo is a Maine sunset off Southport Island ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved).
