Lucky...I'm not so sure!

So here's my review of the book that I received at my Book Club book exchange this year:

Written by the author of The Lovely Bones, Lucky is a harsh memoire by Alice Sebold. This is a gritty, but controlled account of her vicious rape that occured in 1981 while studying at the University of Syracuse.

Right from page one, I knew that this was going to be a tough go. Very well written, the challenge was going to be the content rather than the style. Sebold is an eloquent author and is able to recount with incredible detail the fateful events of May 7 1981. It is her strength in writing that makes this book so difficult to read. Through her words, I was taken to the scene of the rape, and I felt that I, along side the author, was struggling with the bureacracy of the police and the courts.

Sebold draws the whole picture of life after being brutally victimized. She tells about the struggles with her family, friends and herself. Right up until the last page of the novel, I felt that I was on a journey with the author...A journey that is painful, and long.

I praise Sebold for this work. It is revealing and honest. Perhaps through this book, she will help others that have experienced a similar attack. It might also be helpful for people that deal with the victims of crime, such as the police. I think this might give an entirely different perspective for law enforcement.

Although I thought the novel was well written, it is hard subject matter.  At every sitting, I was brought to tears by the struggles that this women has had to face. It is bitter, and not all that sweet. Much like real life! No Hollywood ending here. I believe Sebold continues to deal with the aftermath. 

What's up Next? Lucky

Ok. I'm onto Lucky by Alice Sebold. I received it at the book exchange on Tuesday, and I'd like to give it a whirl. I'll let you know how it goes!

The Midwife of Venice: Borrowed from Mary!

I love to borrow and lend my books. It's always a treat to be lent a book that comes with a recommendation. I was excited when my friend Mary offered me The Midwife of Venice by Roberta Rich.

As a general rule, I don't enjoy historical fiction, but I am now forced to reconsider my position! The story tells the tale of a Jewish husband and wife who live in Venice during the sixteenth century. She is an accomplished midwife, and he is unfortunately captured and held as a slave in Malta. The story takes us through the struggle of both to find each other and finally reunite.

I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and I found that it was a real page turner. Mary also enjoyed it a lot and highly recommends it too! Oddly enough, my father tried to read it, and quit about half way through...He said that he found it a bit "potboiler'ish" (That's a new word...It's my blog so it will remain here as written!)  He's into Ian Rankin, and I find that a bore so I don't put much stock in his comments! Any way, my mother will be reading it with her book club in the new year, so I will be interested in her comments, as she was a midwife back in England about 3 centuries ago. (I'm dead if she reads that jab!)

Just a couple of bits that I want to remember in particular: page 58 "When your enemy falls, do not rejoice" (from the Torah). Shouldn't we all learn from that statement.  Some of her descriptions are very funny too ie. the description of a putrid stench on page 110 "It was like walking into the arsehole of a camel" and similarly, a description of an unattractive man: "...a tall man, with a head that would be handsome if attached to a horse."!!!  And finally, in the Author's Note on page 324: "...the history of women, their fortitude and accomplishments, is written in water." A very sad statement, and very true.

The author, Roberta Rich is a Canadian writer, and is a former family law lawyer. Check out her personal webpage: www.robertarich.com to see the author and listen to some of her comments. The Midwife of Venice is her first novel, and I will look for her subsequent work. Good job Roberta! You may have turned me onto Historical Fiction!