Paper Wife, a Novel –by Laila Ibrahim

Fiction / Historical, China, California

293 pages / 4223

5 Stars

I’d read about Ghost Brides, Picture Brides, Mail-Order Brides, but never a Paper Wife. The title alone was enough to grab my attention. A paper wife is none of the aforementioned—she is a lie. 

Mei Ling’s older sister Jah Jeh was brokered in marriage to a Chinese man, Chinn Kai Li, who lived in San Francisco. In 1923 it was extremely difficult for Chinese to immigrate to the US, but he was married, lied about his occupation, and came to China to collect his wife and young son. His first wife died just before he arrived. He had all the paperwork for his first wife, and it could not be changed, so he hired a broker to find him a suitable wife to care for his young son, Bo. The marriage would be the following day, and Jah Jeh would have to become his first wife, at least until through immigration.

Jah Jeh gets sick, and Mei Ling gets married to her sister’s betrothed, finds herself with a husband, a very young son, and on a voyage (steerage) to San Francisco. En route, she studies her book, all about her husband’s first wife. By the time they get to San Francisco, she realizes she is pregnant. How will he react? Will she be out of Immigration before the baby is born? Will she be deported? Will he keep her if the baby is a girl? What will happen if he finds out she is not who he thinks she is? All valid questions, and fearful ones.

On the ship she meets a six-year-old girl, who she wants to keep. The girl is in the women’s section, her uncle in the men’s, so Mei Ling “adopts” her. At least for the voyage. Mei Ling wants to make it permanent; will her new husband agree? Adopting a girl is not the usual thing a newlywed couple do. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was a fascinating insight into 1920s China, and even more, into the treatment of the Chinese on our shores. Basically, it is a story of an arranged marriage, a marriage built on lies, and how the couple grow, how Mei Ling adapts to a new country, a new culture, and I couldn’t put it down! I really hated for it to end.

Daughters of the Dragon --by William Andrews

Fiction / Historical, Korea

362 pages / 2675 KB

4 Stars

This could have been an embarrassment, but had it turned out that way, I wouldn't be writing my review. You see, I ordered this book by accident, I wanted another and clicked the wrong button. I am sooooo glad I did.

Though I might not have read this book, had I read the story is about the comfort women, women enslaved by the Japanese for sexual pleasure. By the time I got there, I was intrigued by the story, and read on. Up front, let me state I thought the topic was handled as tastefully as possible.

Anna is Korean, was adopted by Americans as a baby, and is now twenty, and a college student. Her mother has died, and she and her father decide to go to Korea to meet her birth parents if possible. She finds out her birth mother died giving birth to her, but she does meet her grandmother who tells her an amazing story of her youth, an old comb, and how she and her sister were "volunteered" to be comfort women in China. 

This book is not just a story of survival. It is a story of family, of heritage, of coming of age. I am not an historian of Korea, or Asia, so I don't know how accurate the history is, and though there were places I thought might have been a tad contrived, and a couple of places I questioned the validity, over all I enjoyed the book and read it in a couple of days.

I do believe Japan still owes the comfort women a formal apology and some sort of compensense

The Art of Inheriting Secrets --by Barbara O'Neal

Fiction / mystery/romance

359 pages / 1898 KB

5 Stars

I was a tad trepidacious about reading this book. I read her later novel, When We Believed in Mermaids and loved it, and I so did not want to be disappointed in this one. I wasn't. I will now look for more of her books.

As a little girl, I was sure I was a real princess, and had been kidnapped and raised by my parents, and someday... Of course, it was fiction that I grew out of. But can you imagine being an adult, in an abusive relationship, your mother dies, and you discover you're not a princess, but a countess with your own estate in England? 

Olivia couldn't, but she had to check it out. And it was true. She was a countess, and the estate is in a sad state of repair, but she hopes to salvage it. Many of the village detest her, as an American, they are sure she will sell the estate to a developer. Some in the village truly like her, and are willing to help her. And her solicitor has been robbing her blind for years. And where is her uncle? The one who disappeared in India? Puzzles within puzzles. 

And the romance is a breath of fresh air. True romance, not a bodice ripper.  A most delightful book!

Tomas Tranströmer Selected Poems 1954 - 1986 --ed by Robert Hass

Nonfiction / Poetry

208 pages

5 Stars

Seldom has a book of translated poems struck such a chord with me.

The very first line of the very first poem had me: Prelude // Awakening is a parachute jump from the dream. I knew, then, I was in thrall to a Master. What a wonderful introduction. My only complaint is I don't read Swedish, and I would love to read these in the original.

When I'm involved in a good book of poetry, I often find myself underling special lines, marking poems I really like, that speak to me in whole or in part. I'm guessing 50% of the poems in this book affected me so, such as these lines from The Gallery:

"Because the margins will finally rise

over their edges

and drown the text."

"It happens, but seldom,

that one of us really sees the other."

"It is his life, it is his labyrinth."

I look forward to finding and reading more of his work. 

If You Want To Write: A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit --by Brenda Ueland

Nonfiction / How to write

179 pages

5 Stars

First off, I did not read the publication pictured here, the book I read, same title, same author, different publisher came from Graywolf Press. The only reason I mention that is several of the low-rated reviews were complaining about the typesetting, etc. Mine was perfect.

This book was given to me with the caveat that if I didn't like it, I could pass it on. Being one of those horrid people who love to both read and write marginalia and dog ear corners, it has entirely too marked up to share. It is one of the best 'how to' books on writing I've ever read.

I don't recall a single chapter on grammar (read Strunk & White for that, and for formatting and style, check out On Writing by Stephen King). Her chapters are on the art of writing. Relax. Give yourself permission to write a bad story, just write. Have fun. Who cares? I think that is some of the best advice going. The first time I heard it was from the poet, Marvin Bell. He told us to give ourselves permission to write a bad poem. Just write. Write, and then write some more.

Ms. Ueland gives many examples, and has a great sense of humor that comes through the pages. I laughed out loud in many places. 

The more you write, the better writer you will become. Be honest with yourself and your writing will improve. Read this book. That will help, too. Honest. Trust me.

Powwow in Paris (A John Tall Wolf Novel Book 6) --by Joseph Flynn

Fiction / Mystery

213 pages / 1253 KB

5 Stars

This is the 6th, and to this date (5 May 20) last in the series. I'm really sorry, the books are great fun, and this one was no exception. 

Grandfather White River has been asked to speak at a congress of indigenous peoples in Paris who wish to have their holy relics returned to them. The French are not much inclined to do same. Sell them, perhaps, but for no money? Uh, probably not. They seem to have the idea what's taken in love and war is theirs. Oh, but the French have never met Grandfather White River, or John Tall Wolf, or Marlene Flower Moon aka Coyote. But they will.

Bodaway comes to Paris to apologize to his Great Grandfather, Alan White River for trying to kill him. He also apologizes to Coyote for shooting her, and to John Tall Wolf for trying to kill him. He longs for and hopes for forgiveness from all. But he still belongs to Coyote.

And the terrorists who try to kill a few hundred people and destroy a couple of France's iconic emblems have never met Coyote, either. But they will.

I have read all six books, and found mistrakes in 3 or 4 of them. Were they intentional? I don't know. Did they detract from the story? Not at all. Am I gonna tell you? Nope. Buy the books and find 'em yourself!

Big Medicine (A John Tall Wolf Novel Book 5) --by Joseph Flynn

Fiction / Mystery

153 pages / 3198 KB

5 stars

We have our second female President, and she wants John Tall Wolf in her cabinet, a position he doesn't want, but when your President asks...

And Marlene has disappeared. She turned in her resignation when President Morrissey took office and hasn't been seen since. Where is Coyote? What is she up to?

As if those weren't enough to give Tall Wolf a migraine, his Great Grandfather, Alan White River known the world over for stealing the Super Chief has been released from prison after serving two years and is now living with Tall Wolf in DC. Rebecca, Tall Wolf's wife is living and working in Los Angeles area. And Tall Wolf must find a stolen lap top computer that contains information that can be used for tremendous good or tremendous evil, and he has 3 days in which to do so.

Oh, yes, and Bodaway, Tall Wolf's cousin who tried to kill him and had an up close and personal encounter with Coyote that he lives to regret, returns. Others who, for whatever reasons, have such up close and personal encounters with Coyote do not live to tell about it. 

The fun thing about these books is the characters. And they are fun. I laugh out loud often. I'd truly like to have coffee with most of them. Well, not the antagonists, maybe, but the protagonists. We see another side of Coyote here. It's different. But it's Marlene. And it just might surprise you.

Oh, and there's another mistake. And, no, I'm not telling. Read the book. It's a fun read, even if you find the mistrake. Honest. Trust me.

Smoke Signals (A John Tall Wolf Novel Book 4) --by Joseph Flynn

Fiction / Mystery

189 Pages / 1958 KB

5 Star

Coyote is Trickster. Coyote is also very intelligent. One reason Coyote has survived so long since humans came into her territory, is she learns, she adapts, she's wily.

John Tall Wolf his fiancé of the RCMPs, and his boss, Marlene (Coyote) find themselves in the Washington Cascade mountains. Marlene still wants Tall Wolf, but she is learning, adapting, becoming more wily. Who will win this dancing contest? It's anybody's guess, but there is a strong indication that Coyote has met her match. Will she figure it out?

There is a bear prowling these woods and he's hungry. He isn't particular who he eats, he just wants someone, anyone, and seems to really want Tall Wolf. There is also a monster who makes an appearance or two. Something no one has seen and lived to talk about. The monster also wants Tall Wolf.

Again, Tall Wolf is playing well with others, which I find refreshing, instead of all the books with protagonists who are terminally ill with testosterone poisoning. Tall Wolf has his share, and then some, but he isn't poisoned by it. He sees no harm in sharing, in fact, he sees benefit in same, if not now, perhaps later. He even tries to make his boss look good.

Marlene has more of a presence in this book, and it's great. How much does she change? I'm not sure, but Book 5 is waiting for my perusal.

Super Chief (A John Tall Wolf Novel Book 3) --by Joseph Flynn

Fiction / Mystery

220 pages / 3419 KB

5 Stars

Want to make a statement? Want to commit an act of domestic terrorism and not have anyone die? Steal a train! Not just any old Amtrak train, but the Super Chief, spiffed up and on its way to a museum in Chicago. Make it disappear. Then hope and pray that John Tall Wolf isn't sent to find you. (Your prayers will not be answered.)

Tall Wolf, the Apache and Navajo adopted by Haden Wolf and his wife Serafina Wolf y Padilla, finds himself being forced to go the one place he swore he'd never go – onto a reservation. Not just any reservation, but the one his birth mother was from. And some members of his blood family still want him dead. But not all.

If you've not read any of the series, you can start here, but I highly recommend you start at the beginning and read sequentially. Many of the minor characters move through the books, and I think you'll enjoy the series more if you get in at the beginning.

Once again, Tall Wolf is playing well with others, local cops, train cops, and feds. Coyote is still trying to get Tall Wolf, but something changes. Just barely. True, she wants Tall Wolf, has claimed him, and that claimed ownership makes her meaner than a mama bear when someone else goes after him. They are still dancing around each other, and my advice is, don't get between them as Tall Wolf's cousin, Bodaway, found out.

A terrific series to binge read

War Party (A John Tall Wolf Novel Book 2) --by Joseph Flynn

Fiction /  Mystery

155 pages / 2182KB

5 stars

John Tall Wolf is Apache and Navajo who works as a BIA cop. His boss is Coyote. If that's not enough to grab your attention and hold it, as a Fed, he should be in competition with other Feds, like the FBI &c. Instead, Tall Wolf plays well with others including the local cops and actually prefers others get the credit. 

Eight 'Indians' rob a bank in New Orleans during a city-wide hacking job where all traffic lights go 'green.' Due to the Native American ethnicity of the robbers, Tall Wolf is called in. 

Why eight? What kind of sign language do they use during the robberies (yes, there's more than one)? What tribe do they belong to? All good questions, and eventually, all is made clear.

There was one major mistake in the story. Is Mr. Flynn using Aaron Elkins's tactic of deliberately placing a mistake in his books to get letters from readers? I don't know. Was their a mistake in Book 1? I don't remember. And, no, I'm not divulging said mistake. If you catch it, you'll chuckle like I did. If you don't, it won't affect the story at all.

A great read. In this time of Novel Coronovirus, I think I'll binge the whole series.