Susan E. Sage's Blog

Secrets and Lies by H.M. Holten

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


HM Holten once again proves to be a masterful storyteller in the third book of her trilogy. She shows us how it’s all too easy for people--especially a young person--to get misled.

Britta, a young Danish girl during WWII, is eager both for approval from her father and her school. Early in the war, many Danes evidently held pro-Nazi beliefs. When that changes, Britta is still a holdout, and is mystified as to why anyone could turn against Germany. Her earliest friendship is with Rachel, a Jewish girl. Britta can’t process her complicated feeling and is relieved when Rachel disappears from both their school—and Britta’s life. Britta eagerly joins the Hitler youth group—the BDM (Band of German maidens). Being part of this group bolsters her confidence. While she is athletic, she often feels inferior to her brothers. By age thirteen, she takes on her father’s view that women are “silly, demanding creatures always ruled by their feelings.” She strives to be different.

Holten knows exactly how to get us to see through the eyes of her characters. While we may disagree with their takes on the world, we see how they have come to perceive the world. The author artfully portrays how identities are formed. It stuck me how vastly different Britta is from Hedda in the first book of the trilogy, 'Snares & Delusions'. We often expect characters to undergo positive transformations, like we saw in Hedda. Life teaches lessons which enable people to become kinder, more empathetic. When this doesn’t happen in literature—it’s shocking, even mind-bending. This novel is food-for-thought like few others! Soul-searching and ruminative, though fast-paced. A literary triumph!!



View all my reviews

Landscape of a Marriage: Central Park Was Only the Beginning by Gail Ward Olmsted

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


When I first read Historical Fiction, I often wondered about the actuality of characters and depicted events. But does it really matter as long as an author faithfully recreates the given reality from the past? I don’t believe so. What counts, for me, is how seamlessly the author sews together a certain time and place in history. In Landscape of a Marriage, Gail Ward Olmsted, does an outstanding job portraying the complex marriage of Mary and Fred Olmsted. She superbly depicts not only the couple, but their family, friends, as well as the places where they lived and travelled. All of her characters are credible and sympathetically portrayed. Not always easy with such a large cast, she sure makes it look so!

Many issues women faced well over one hundred and fifty years ago are ones they are still dealing with today. The author brings this to light in her sensitive portrayal of her protagonist, Mary Olmsted. Women of today will see their own struggle through her eyes. Despite her many losses—or perhaps in spite of them—Mary becomes increasingly stronger. Her confidence grows as the decades pass. The author’s ability to show Mary’s transformation in a realistic fashion is exemplary.

While we learn of Fred’s brilliance in the creation of parks across America, we also discover the important and pivotal role his wife played in his career. Like many women of her time, she was far too modest in accepting credit for her work. As fascinating as it is to learn of the important contribution Fred Olmsted made to the American landscape with his many parks, this novel truly is the landscape of a marriage—with all its peaks and valleys.




View all my reviews

After having thoroughly having enjoyed two previous novels by Milana Marsenich, I held my breath wondering if Beautiful Ghost would hold up. That it did. In fact, of her three published novels – this is my absolute favorite. I hadn’t expected to find a novel about the 1918 flu epidemic to be so thoroughly compelling. Having lived through—and still not come out the other side—of the recent pandemic, readers will immediately connect with the earlier crisis: lives were upended as ever increasing numbers contracted the virus, schools and businesses closed down. Both viruses sent shockwaves of fear as word of its severity spread. Our power of empathy extends easily to those who lived in Butte, Montana over a century ago – especially knowing they didn’t have access to vaccines or other effective treatments.

Readers are again transported to the American West, as they were in Milana’s earlier books. Beautiful Ghost revolves around two women whom we met and got to know in Copper Sky: Kaly Monroe and Marika Jovich. Kaly, a former prostitute, is now raising two children with help from her mother. She is married and anxiously awaiting the return of her soldier husband from overseas trenches. Marika is also married, but a woman ahead of her times, as she gets ever closer to turning her dreams of becoming a doctor into reality. While their lives are very different, these cousins are both strong-willed and big hearted. Had I not met them in Copper Sky, it still wouldn’t have taken me long to feel like they’d become dear friends in Beautiful Ghost. I found myself worrying about whether one or both of them would succumb to the flu. Marsenich invites us into their lives in her often poetic style as she tells their stories.

Also, integral to the tale, is the role of the wolf dog. He’s got his own chapters, equally both poetic as they are profound. Odors of death mix with aromas of stews, soups, and baking bread. Kaly has taken him in, though he’s really her adopted son’s dog. The wolf dog’s very real presence is at times mystical; like the two women, he symbolizes strength and compassion. When Kaly’s children fall ill with the flu, his steadfast presence is important for their healing. Wolf dog, or Andjo, as he comes to be called, is also prescient about the worsening virus: “He feels the thousand devils in the air, in the snow, on the hoof of a well-trained horse. He can’t see them. But he knows when they have passed, and he sees the trail of devastation they have left.” The wolf dog howls as he tries to keep the devil-virus at bay. When he roams the city, we see though his eyes.

What really turns the tale into a page-turner is the mystery underlying the death of Amelia, a stranger who shows up at the medical office where Marika works. At first glance, her killer appears to have the flu, but it doesn’t take Marika long to be hot on the trail of the actual cause. Amelia’s tragic tale, isn’t the only one slowly revealed, there’s also that of Beth – Kaly’s close friend who live in the Red-Light district. Despite the many losses and a resurgence of the flu, there’s reason for hope in Butte. And it’s the portrayal of tough-minded but tender-hearted women who lessen the suffering in this important tale for our own times.

You might be wondering who the beautiful ghosts are? There are a few, but I’ll keep you in suspense. Find out as you read your copy! High praise for this beautiful novel!