Recent Reviews
The Scrapbook by Heather Clark
Heather Clark’s novel, The Scrapbook, is a haunting, sensual, and melancholy narrative that offers a fascinating and unique perspective on the enduring impact of World War II. Through exquisite prose and multi-layered psychological insight, Clark crafts a story deeply rooted in how the complexities of history influence the present.
At the heart of the novel is Anna, an American senior at Harvard in 1996, whose life is shaped by a scrapbook left to her by her grandfather. This cherished artifact contains photographs from his time as a young soldier in World War II, including powerful images from his participation in the liberation of Dachau and the seizure of the Eagle’s Nest bunker, where Hitler killed himself. The scrapbook becomes a touchstone for Anna, guiding her thoughts and actions as she begins her own adult life.
Anna’s fascination with the past deepens when she meets Christoph, a visiting German student. Their connection quickly turns into infatuation, leading Anna to follow Christoph to Germany. Like Anna, Christoph is obsessed with World War II, though he holds complicated feelings about his grandfathers’ roles in Hitler’s army. He is simultaneously judgmental and defensive of them, ultimately weighed down by a sense of inherited guilt. For example, he quotes German philosopher Theodor Adorno’s observation to Thomas Mann from the late 1940s: “It was as if the Germans truly believed they had never been Nazis. They had completely repressed their obedience to Hitler.”
As Anna’s first romantic relationship unfolds, she is swept up by Christoph’s intensity. Together, they visit sites featured in her grandfather’s scrapbook, engaging in intellectual discussions about the war, German architecture, art and literature. Despite the passage of fifty years since the end of the war, their love is haunted by unresolved historical trauma. Anna grapples with difficult questions: Does Christoph’s grandfather’s complicity mean Christoph himself is capable of similar actions? Should he be held accountable for the misdeeds of his ancestors?
While the backdrop of their relationship is WWII, their difficulties are not solely the result of their families’ histories. Instead, their eventually dysfunctional relationship is shaped by their youth and Anna’s naivety. In highlighting the uncertainties of young love, some aspects of their interactions did not feel entirely convincing. Their personality traits and relationship also hint at the dynamics between their countries during the war.
Heather Clark’s outstanding novel wrestles with profound themes of inherited guilt, obsessive love, and the trauma that echoes through generations. The Scrapbook is a serious and thought-provoking exploration of how, despite the decades, WWII continues to shape identity and relationships. 4.5/5
(Thanks to my friend Karen for giving me this book!)
How To Read A Book by Monica Wood
Monica Wood’s novel How To Read A Book may not have the most compelling title, but within its pages lies a story rooted in grace and compassion. (Thanks to my sister-in-law Mary for recommending.) The story also illustrates how books possess the remarkable ability to influence, and even heal, those who read them. 4/5
Violet Powell was released from prison after serving time for killing a local teacher while driving under the influence. During her incarceration, Violet was part of a book group led by Harriet Larson. The book group served as a turning point in Violet’s life. Harriet Larson, a widow who leads the prison book group, purchases her books at the Portland, Maine bookstore where Frank Daigle works as the handyman. Each of these three individuals have endured personal trauma. When they encounter each other at this bookstore, their lives intersect dramatically as they realize their tragedies are intricately connected.
The narrative highlights how sharing personal stories and connecting through books can foster understanding and healing. By reflecting on the motivations and struggles of fictional characters, the characters in this novel better comprehend themselves and others. The books they read also serve as a source of comfort and guidance to them.
At its heart, the novel explores the ideas of chosen families, second chances, and redemption. In our current world often defined by mean-spiritedness, cruelty and judgment, this story offers a message of forgiveness, friendship, and the importance of found family. The novel ultimately reminds us that everyone is capable of change and connection.
The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom offers a unique and intimate perspective on the institution of slavery in America during the late 1700s. The story centers on Lavinia, a young white Irish girl who, after losing her parents on a ship bound for America, finds herself brought to a Virginia tobacco plantation by the ship’s captain. Lavinia is left in the Kitchen House, where she lives alongside the other slaves, all of whom are Black. At just seven years old, Lavinia is traumatized by the loss of her parents and is thrust into a world she cannot fully comprehend.
Lavinia quickly becomes attached to the slaves, especially Belle, the captain’s illegitimate daughter. Belle takes Lavinia under her wing, becoming a maternal figure and teaching her to cook, clean, and wait on the captain’s family. Lavinia’s bond with Belle and her family grows stronger over time, and she feels immense gratitude for their love and care. However, Lavinia’s skin color sets her apart in the eyes of the captain’s family.
As Lavinia grows older, she becomes aware of the rigid cruelty of the caste system based on skin color that governs life on the plantation. Her slave family attempts to educate her about the rules and expectations, but Lavinia struggles to understand the social structure that separates her from those she loves. Lavinia simply loves Belle and the other members of the Kitchen House and learns that she cannot openly express her affection toward them.
The historically based novel powerfully illustrates the absurdity of this racial hierarchy and exposes the ways in which white people projected their own negative behaviors onto their Black slaves. The fast-moving plot incorporates a diverse cast of characters and explores complex themes of loyalty, identity, and belonging. Lavinia must eventually assume a new role dictated by her skin color, and her loyalties to those she loves are put to the test.
The Kitchen House provides a distinctive perspective on the deep bonds of hope and love that can exist within chosen families, even in the face of cruelty and injustice. The story allows readers to empathize with the characters’ struggles and appreciate the difficult choices they must make as they navigate the harsh realities of plantation society.
Overall, the novel is a moving exploration of human connection and the enduring hope that sustains people through adversity. This novel is a compelling read, filled with emotion and historical authenticity. 4/5.
