City of Light - Lauren Belfer

City of Light was the debut novel of Lauren Belfer - who wrote Fierce Radiance, reviewed by Eileen previously. The book is kind of a cross between Edith Wharton in Buffalo and PD James! An interesting portrait of, and commentary on, wealthy upper class families in Buffalo in the early 1900's, with a fascinating account of the development of hydroelectric power using water bypassed from the Falls - which aroused passionate opposition from those who revered nature, worshipping the majesty and beauty of the Falls and opposing the forces for development. The main character, Miss Barret, Headmistress of a prestigious girls' academy, is a self-made and independent woman, living within these currents, but unaware of how they direct her life, until she becomes embroiled in a mysterious murder. Ms. Belfer's novels are rich in history and human interaction, powerfully emotional, and compelling. City of Light is not as polished as Fierce Radiance, but is a very worthwhile read - with a bonus for those of us who know Buffalo! For example, a whole chapter is devoted to Elbert Hubbard, the Leader of the Roycroft artists' commune. A hoot! He is depicted as a charming, savvy, and clear-eyed opportunist! Worth the price of admission.

The Dante Club is the first novel, a mystery, by Matthew Pearl, who developed it from a senior thesis completed while he was an undergrad at Harvard - quite a spectacular debut, featuring intimate and fascinating knowledge of Dante's Commedia and the "Club" - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., James Russell Lowell and others - that first translated it into English. In a sharp parallel with current events, the story also explores the fate of veterans of the civil war, returning to civilized Boston after enduring unimaginable horrors on the battlefield. These subjects combine in a series of meticulous and grisly murders, carried out with fidelity to some of the punishments in The Inferno. Quite a good read!

State of Wonder - Ann Patchett

This captivating story describes the quest of a pharmaceutical researcher, Dr. Marina Singh, to determine how her long-time colleague and friend, Dr. Anders Eckman, died. He had been sent by the CEO of their company to the Amazon to find the brilliant but renegade researcher Dr. Annick Swenson, who has shrouded her efforts to develop a new drug in complete secrecy. After three months with little communication from Eckman, the CEO receives a terse and sterile note from Dr. Swenson saying simply that Eckman died of a fever. Dr. Singh initially accepts the assignment to find out what happened out of her friendship for Dr. Eckman, sympathy for his wife, and loyalty to the CEO. But there are relationships within relationships - Singh is actually the secret lover of the CEO, Eckman's wife had been worried about whether Singh was having an affair with Eckman, and the imperious Dr. Swenson was formerly the exacting supervisor of Dr. Singh during her medical residency. These connections, and new ones that develop, especially with a deaf native boy, Easter, are the main substance of the book, and the driving force of its narrative. But Patchett also astonishes with vivid, startling episodes. Wonderful reading.

King Peggy

This was truly a delightful book! It is the true story of how Peggielene Bartels, a Ghanaian native, moved to America to work in the Ghanaian Embassy as a secretary, eventually became a US citizen and then, completely out of the blue, got a phone call from a relative in Ghana, saying that she had been chosen as the village's new King! (Her uncle had been King before, but Peggy thought this had to be a joke, because there are virtually no female Kings in Africa!). She finds out that the news is on the level, but she soon realizes that the village elders have chosen her in large part because she is a woman, is much younger than them, and lives far away - virtually guaranteeing that they will be able to dominate her. Guess she moved away from Africa before they ever got a chance to get to know her!! Peggy is a strong-minded, caring person, who develops big plans for her impoverished village - and she cuts off the bribes and corruption that have prevented much progress, eventually doing wonderful things for the village. She also has a wicked sense of humor - and the book is touching and exceptionally funny. A light, but wonderful, read!

Busman's Honeymoon

Have recently read a couple more Dorothy Sayers mysteries, featuring Lord Peter Wimsey and, in this case, former accused murderer and Wimsey's long-time flame, Harriet Vane. These are delightful reads - very well-crafted mysteries, with excellent writing. Sayers was a classical scholar - she spoke many languages fluently and her translation of Dante was highly regarded. (Amusingly, Wimsey's mother casts disparaging remarks on the contemporary novel The Stars Look Down, elsewhere praised within this blog!) As well as being an excellent mystery, Busman's Honeymoon has the fringe benefit of dueling quotations - Lord Peter and the investigating constable keep commenting on events in the investigation by quoting various poets and playwrights, challenging each other to identify the author. Highly recommended.