I Am Rembrandt’s Daughter, by Lynn Cullen

An absorbing romantic novel about Rembrandt’s daughter at the age of fourteen. After her mother dies and her brother moves away, Cornelia is left alone with her father, Rembrandt van Rijn. He has been denounced by his wealthy patrons and can’t offer the affection and care that Cornelia craves. A work of emotional depth, readers will also learn about Rembrandt’s life and art.

Reviewed by:  Susan K

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Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague, by Geraldine Brooks

Becoming a modern classic, this historic novel creates a story whose main characters are an 18-year-old widow with two sons, and the village rector and his wife. Aiding a community struck by a pandemic disease, they see the people coping with illness and death through any means possible. Religion, ethical behavior, and superstition are all called in to play as the plague decimates a remote British village, later commemorated as Plague Village, which was visited by the author.

Reviewed by Ellen Meyers, Public Relations/CB

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The Janissary Tree, by Jason Goodwin

 

This is a mystery thriller set in nineteenth century Istanbul. It is an exotic and intriguing setting.  The detective is a smart, resourceful eunuch who follows the clues of a series of murders.  He solves them through perseverance and a deductive process. This is a great read. 

A sequel has been published recently: “The Snake Stone,” which continues the adventures of this dectective in Isanbul.

RATING: * * * * Very, very good
Reviewed by: KLM

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“Books for You” article in the Newton Tab

Yesterday’s Newton Tab has a nice article on the Library’s personalized book recommendation service, “Books for You.”  Click here for the article, or click here to request your own booklist!

And to browse our list of recommended titles, click here.

Belva Lockwood: The Woman Who Would Be President, by Jill Norgren

Long before Hillary Clinton, there was Belva Lockwood (1830-1917), who ran for the U.S. presidency in 1884 and 1888 on the Equal Rights Party ticket.  One of the first women to receive a law degree, she was also the first female lawyer admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court.  As an attorney and lobbyist, she worked for property law reform, equal pay for equal work, and women’s suffrage, and lectured around the world.  She was honored on a U.S postage stamp in 1986. 

 

 

 

Haven’t heard of her?  My book group hadn’t either.  Although she was a contemporary of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and a long-time activist in the women’s movement, she often disagreed with other leaders on policy and priorities, and went her own way.  And when she died–her husband and children having predeceased her–most of her papers were cleaned out and destroyed.  Without diaries, letters, photographs and other personal information, this biography is a bit dry and lacking in humanizing detail.  Nonetheless, Belva Lockwood was a fascinating and accomplished woman, and more of us should know her name.

RATING: * * *  A good read
Reviewed by: stc

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