City of Women-A Personal Favorite of 2012

 

Personal Favorite 2012
FTC: ARC from HNR Magazine
Review will be in August Issue. 
Photo: Library Thing























© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2010].

The Baker's Daughter, by Sarah McCoy

THE BAKER’S DAUGHTER
Sarah McCoy
Crown Publishers
January 2012,
$23.00, Hardcover
304 pages, 978-0307460189.








In 1944, Elsie Schmidt accompanies a German officer to an official Nazi party given on Christmas Eve in Garmisch, Germany during World War II. Elsie, a baker’s daughter is a bundle of nerves yet lighthearted as her date, Herr Josef Hubb arrives. Many surprises greet Elsie at the party. She is accosted by drunk and vile officer with lascivious intentions. Fortunately she is saved when a young boy who had just finished singing for the Germans interrupts the crime. The boy’s name is Tobias, a Jew. Also during the evening Josef stuns Elsie with a marriage proposal and presents her with an exquisite engagement ring. Josef will have to wait for Elsie’s answer. She becomes suspicious and curious when she discovers some barely visible Hebrew letters nearly etched away on the inside band. She has heard stories about camps and confiscation of property, but would Josef be involved? Later in the evening she is surprised again when Tobias arrives at her back door, he has escaped. With no time to spare, Elsie decides to hide the boy, even though the risk of death at the hands of the ruthless Gestapo is chilling.

Reba Adams is a journalist for a local magazine in El Paso, Texas, in 2007. Her assignment is to research and write about ways various cultures celebrate Christmas. She attempts to interview the elderly woman who owns Elsie’s German Bakery with little success. Finally after meeting Elsie’s daughter Jane at the bakery, she is introduced to the feisty, outspoken, hard working Elsie. Ironically, Reba wears the engagement ring her boyfriend Riki gave her around her neck, still unable to commit to marriage. Riki works for the Border Patrol along the Texas/Mexican border, assigned to capture and return of illegal aliens.

Sarah McCoy has written and expansive, multi-generational family history that is intricately complex. The result is a deep and satisfying story that involves a clever strategy of interconnected lives. Many parallels between characters over time and place become apparent. The reader is pulled across the decades with this writer’s clever craft as you follow Elsie at age seventeen in 1944, to Elsie’s life in Texas at seventy-nine. Family secrets, courage, love and forgiveness are themes that resonate throughout this richly well written novel with boundless depth that will pull the reader forward.

On a personal note: I was a captive reader unable to put it down, reluctant to see this story end.
Thanks to the author for a welcomed legacy from Elsie’s bakery: a warm encore. This will be a top pick for Bookworm’s Dinner in 2012.


Wisteria Leigh
Sunday, April 1, 2012

Disclosure: This book was won in a giveaway through Read It Forward. Many thanks.


© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2008-2012].

Monday Movie Recap-The King's Speech

Wow! I want to share an astounding film with you, The King's Speech. 

What an incredible story of King George VI. If you have not seen this brilliant performance by a spectacular cast, treat yourself to a truly wonderful movie today.  Here is the official trailer to take a look, but honestly, the acting is superb. Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter had me staring at the screen with an engrossing intensity.  I have to see it again, something I have rarely done. The story is based on the history and life of King George VI, who struggled with a speech impediment for years. When he  assumed the thrown after his brother abdicated, the spotlight on his elocution was intensified causing even greater self-doubt. The fascinating and the clever repartee between King George VI (Bertie) and Lionel Logue, his speech therapist will deliver many emotional scenes that are unforgettable. Don't miss this marvelous contender that I predict will be nominated for Best Movie of the Year and Best Actor.  (January 25, 2011).




© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2011].

Sunday Salon--Book Raffles Ending Tomorrow!!

Happy Sunday Salon to everyone and thanks to all who have sent their words of encouragement to me. I am making slow progress where I can now read again. Yippee!!!
Although, I tire very easily. I'm optimistic and looking forward---not backward so all your messages mean sooooo much to me. You are all very special to me. Thank you for being my blogger friends. Wisteria

Hachette Group Giveaways

Don't forget the two contests that are ending on May 25th. Good luck to all who enter.


Testimony-5 Winners will be chosen.

Made in the USA-5 Winners will be chosen.

Book Review

This is a review of the book Daddy's Little Spy that was originally published in Historical Novels Online. Check out the author Pamela Strange on this site that will connect you to a short bio, her website, youtube video and more.

DADDY’S LITTLE SPY--ISABELLA

Isabella Rose, Upfront Publishing, 2007, $18.50, pb, 286pp, 9781844264728

It is unimaginable, unthinkable, unrealistic, and impossible to fathom how any mother could instill the painful abuse and verbal threats of harm to her daughter. Yet, in Daddy’s Little Spy-Isabella, that is exactly what happened to Isabella. Classified a novel, it is based on the true story of one girl’s survival during World War II in England. Her mother practices witchcraft and takes great pleasure devising clever new ways to inflict pain on her daughter and then covering up her demonic deeds. Isabella called her mother Mummy Witch, and hated her too, but in a twisted way really just wants to be loved. Her mummy offers Isabella as a child sacrifice at the tender age of six. Fortunately, the warlock of the coven sends her away until she reaches the age of nine.
Her father, at first an ally, comes back from the war a changed man. Isabella can't wait for her father’s return but when he does, he will not save her. She wonders why he has changed and why is he protecting the Mummy Witch? Isabella is tragically alone and made to look like a child with problems. Her only solace is from her Angel Feebee and her Nana who are not always there to protect her. Always on guard, forced to keep the family secret, living with the pain of bruised and battered bones and frequent bloody injuries, Isabella must learn to live with her evil Mummy Witch or she will certainly die.
The story takes place between 1939 and 1949, a time when witchcraft is against the law and the treadle sewing machine is the rage. Otherwise, this is a timeless, horrifying tale of despicable acts of hatred and evil that will keep you awake. Short, abrupt sentence structure mimics the speech of a child talking, which can be bothersome at times. It’s difficult to believe someone is capable of such acts; this book will shock even the strongest of hearts.

1/2