Around The World discussion

We'd love to hear about the latest book you've read.
What was the book like? Your opinion?
And how many stars ★?

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie – 3***
This is a variation on the “locked room” murder – a house full of people with various motives for wanting Ackroyd dead, a missing ne’er-do-well nephew, and clues that don’t quite match up. At least not until the vacationing, retired Hercule Poirot employs his “little gray cells.”
Full Review HERE

The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper – 3.5***
The second (and most popular) of the Leatherstocking Tales is set in 1757, during the French and Indian wars. It’s an adventure novel and romance with a loner hero, “noble savage” trusted companion, lovely heroines in danger, and a plot full of chases and epic battles. William Costello does a fairly good job of reading the audio version, though his slow pace at the beginning made me reconsider whether I wanted to keep listening. I think, however, it was more due to Cooper’s style of writing, than to Costello’s skill as a performer.
Full Review HERE

One Amazing Thing by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni – 3.5***
I was immediately caught up in the “present day” story of these nine people trapped in a basement. I liked the way that the author revealed their strengths and weaknesses as they acted / reacted to the situation. But when they begin telling “one amazing thing” from their lives, the story arc lost momentum, and it became more of a collection of short stories. I don’t mind this too much, because I love short stories, and Divakaruni writes them well. However, this sort of hybrid between a short story collection and a novel seemed a little awkward.
Full Review HERE

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
Rating: ★★★★

In this American classic of America's Gilded Age, Newland Archer (known to all as Archer) finds himself in an approach-approach conflict. On one hand, he is betrothed to May Welland, a member of America's aristocracy, who has been raised to be the perfect wife and mother. On the other hand, he is passionately attracted to Ellen Olenska, a cousin of May. She became a countess by marrying the Count Olenska. Her decision to seek a divorce has become a social scandal which is only aggravated by her free spirit and willingness to flaunt late 19th NYC social customs. If Archer chooses May, he and his career is set for life; however, if he chooses Ellen, he will become a social pariah and his law career and social standing will suffer.

This novel, which earned Edith Wharton, the 1921 Pulitzer Prize provides an excellent window in America's social customs among the wealthy in America in the 1870s.