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 When her best friend Kitty decides to leave to be a nurse on Bora Bora at the start of World War II, Anne throws her entire life to the side – temporarily of course – to join her. After all, her previous existence was a little bit mundane and uninspiring, including her engagement to her fiance, and nothing says excitement like a nursing post in the South Pacific. But Anne isn’t entirely prepared for what Bora Bora will bring to her; a murder mystery, a forbidden love affair, and secrets that may tear her from her best friend forever.
I’d heard a lot of praise for Sarah Jio’s first novel, The Violets of March, so when she gave me a chance to review The Bungalow, I leapt at it, and I’ve been looking forward to the book ever since. I wasn’t disappointed; this is a solid love story and all-around good read. It’s a short one, so perfect for zipping through over the course of an afternoon or evening while you can get fully wrapped up in the book.
The book’s setting, on a lush tropical island in the midst of World War II, seems absolutely designed for romance – especially since I have done work with a travel company in the midst of my old job, and I’m very familiar with the idea of Bora Bora even if I haven’t been there myself. It’s an inspired setting, creating the urgency of war while still allowing a couple to fall in love outside the actual warzone. That threat of danger is always hanging over their heads.
The plot was also an incredibly compelling aspect of the book for me and kept the pages turning (or me clicking the button on the Kindle). The characters, particularly Westry, weren’t as well defined as I think I’d like in a proper romance, but because so much else was going on in a relatively short period of space, I could understand the relative shadowy dimensions and enjoy the rest of the story as it happened. And I really related to Anne, the star of the show, who has so much going on in her life that she can’t contain it all and ends up torn before she decides what she really wants. I found myself captivated and swept into her world.
As a result, I found The Bungalow to be a fast, very enjoyable read; with its evocative setting, I actually think it would be an excellent choice for a beach read with a little bit more depth. A fantastic book for historical fiction and romance fans alike. Recommended.
This book was provided to me for free by the author for review.
 Towards the end of last year, I shared with you a number of books that I was excited about, but somehow just didn’t manage to read. Unfortunately, there are two books on that list that I *still* haven’t made time for (Generation A andThe Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay), but I also have a crop of 2011 books which were exciting to receive, but which I’ve simply not read for whatever reason. Am I going to read them in the next 3 weeks? Probably not – but it would be nice to squeeze in at least one of them before we ring in the New Year.
At Home, Bill Bryson – I never fail to enjoy a Bill Bryson book, though some more than others, and I have no idea why this one has been sitting on the shelf since I got it for my birthday last January. It has all the little details that I love about the history of the home, but somehow that hasn’t persuaded me to actually dig in.
Full Dark, No Stars, Stephen King – Another birthday gift from 2011. The fact that I haven’t read this nor Under the Dome despite the fact that I actively love Stephen King’s books means that I haven’t picked up 11/22/63 yet either. I’m a bit disappointed in myself here, this isn’t even a chunkster and should actually be a fairly speedy read once I open it up.
Leviathan Wakes, James S. A. Corey – I bought this one this summer, and while only 6 months ago, I’ve been looking forward to it an incredible amount, so I’m not really sure why it has remained over there on the shelf. I can always use a good space opera, so I’m sure this will get read once I feel I can spare it time (it’s a chunkster).
Wedlock, Wendy Moore – I simply can’t believe I’ve owned this book for a year and a half without reading it. Non-fiction about a Georgian couple, this book immediately captured my interest from the shelf in the store but has unfortunately sat patiently on my shelf ever since.
Naamah’s Curse and Naamah’s Blessing, Jacqueline Carey – I adored Carey’s Kushiel series and went through a phase where I read everything she wrote, no matter how chunky. Now, although I’ve read the first book in this particular trilogy, I haven’t managed to finish it up with these two. I think it’s chunkster syndrome, but since I haven’t read these, I’m not allowing myself to get her newest book yet, either.
These are only a few of many that stare accusingly at me from my “unread” bookshelves. What books have you struggled to find time for this year?
On Monday I published a little gift guide to historical fiction books for you, so today I’m going to talk about actual history – you know, the non-fiction variety that I adore. Some excellent history for the general reader was published in 2011; here are the recommendations that I think would make beautiful gifts.
Cleopatra, Stacy Schiff
Okay, I lied already; this book wasn’t published in 2011, it was published in 2010. But now it’s out in paperback, which means it is the perfect gift for anyone who has enjoyed any manifestation of Cleopatra. This book was sold a bit strangely in that many people thought it was closer to historical fiction, but as an actual biography which peels back the layers to reveal a little bit more of the real Cleopatra, it is an amazing choice.
She-Wolves, Helen Castor
I’ve read both of Castor’s published popular histories and they are both fantastic. This one is a choice for the feminist on your list. It looks back at medieval women in power and examines how history changed to allow Elizabeth, England’s first fully fledged female queen, to reign in peace at last. It demonstrates that women have not been simple chattel throughout history while at the same time acknowledging the difficulties they had and still have in being in power without becoming a man. Brilliant.
Blood Work, Holly Tucker
Not a book for the squeamish, this goes into depth about the history of blood transfusions and a curious mystery surrounding one of the principal players. It’s one of those books I love that uses a single case to illuminate a whole era of history, which is why I recommend it highly. And, like She Wolves above, it doesn’t hesitate in demonstrating how history is still incredibly relevant to our lives today.
 
The Plantagenets, Derek Wilson and The Age of Chivalry, Hywel Williams
I’ll admit that I haven’t finished either of these books yet, but I’ve been dipping in ever since they hit my mailbox, and in truth they seem to suit that method. These large, beautiful, coffee table books are absolutely perfect for the person who loves history and who wants to show it off. They are both full of beautiful illustrations and provide a surface, top layer view which is excellent for someone who perhaps enjoys World War II history but has never felt the desire to go further back. They are completely gorgeous gift choices – so I couldn’t omit them from this list!
What histories would or are you giving as gifts this year?
I received some of these books for free for review.
Historical fiction is incredibly hot right now. If you ask me, history has always been fascinating, but historical fiction gives us the ability to imagine ourselves into a time and place that no longer exists, and never will again. Even those who don’t think they like history – probably because they associate it with memorizing endless lists of names and dates – will find that they enjoy an excellent historical novel just as much as those of us who know we’re obsessed with it!
So, here are a few of my favorite historical fiction books of the year that I think would work exceptionally well as gifts:
Russian Winter, Daphne Kalotay
This fascinating book about a Russian ballerina, both in her prime and in her old age, completely captivated me when I read it. I didn’t hesitate in my praise for the book when I reviewed it either – it’s the perfect choice for a winter read as well.
Lady of the English, Elizabeth Chadwick
Those of us who love historical fiction set in medieval England are intimately familiar with Chadwick’s work, but why not give someone else the gift of discovery? This is a fantastic place to start.
Madame Tussaud, Michelle Moran
Perfect for anyone who has ever visited the famous wax museum, especially the one in London, and wondered about the woman who started it all. Also excellent for those interested in the French Revolution, and an all-around wonderful historical novel.
Rules of Civility, Amor Towles
For the friend or family member who loves New York City, or at least the idea of it, Rules of Civility is just the ticket, capturing a culture alongside a smart, beautifully written story.
22 Britannia Road, Amanda Hodgkinson
A beautiful book that deals with the trials of immigration after World War II, this would be an amazing choice for a family member studying psychology with its peek into the brain of a child and their adaptation skills. Its relatively common immigration story has what was in my opinion an excellent twist.
Death of Kings, Bernard Cornwell
While the latest in a series, this one is ideal for anyone who doesn’t mind getting down and dirty with history. Pair with Praetorian by Simon Scarrow and you have two great new books. Alternatively, start them out fresh with The Last Kingdom and Under the Eagle.
The Autobiography of Mrs Tom Thumb, Melanie Benjamin
For anyone who has ever enjoyed the circus, this glimpse into the life of Miss Lavinia Warren Bump is guaranteed to please. This fascinating, contradictory, stubborn women will captivate all those who encounter her.
Which historical fiction would you or have you chosen as a gift this year?
Some of these books were sent to me for free for review.
I believe this has been the quietest blogging month I’ve ever had. For about half the month, I was neck deep in NaNoWriMo, but when I finally gave up, I had two of the following busiest weeks all year long, as I have probably mentioned in previous Salons. As a result – not only have I not been writing, I haven’t been reading much either, although, on the gaming front, I did manage to finish Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood.The truth is that I miss reading quite a bit, even with the 12 books I read this month, and blogging even more, so I hope that I’ll get more finished in December!
Here’s what I read this month, with links to reviews where I’ve managed to write them:
- Storm Front, Jim Butcher
- The Buddha in the Attic, Julie Otsuka
- Rome, Robert Hughes
- Flawless, Carrie Lofty
- The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern
- Trouble at the Wedding, Laura Lee Guhrke
- Praetorian, Simon Scarrow
- A Moveable Feast, Ernest Hemingway
- The Shakespeare Thefts, Eric Rasmussen
- The Name of the Star, Maureen Johnson
- The Bungalow, Sarah Jio
- Tam Lin, Pamela Dean
Top of the Month
An easy choice this month!
What’s Ahead
I don’t want to make any promises with my free time being what it is these days, and with Christmas coming up. But I have a lot of reviews for amazing books already scheduled for the end of the month, and I have a few exciting books to review for you in the next couple of weeks. Planned reviews include:
- The Plantagenets, Derek Wilson
- The Age of Chivalry, Hywel Williams
- Matilda, Tracy Borman
- The Peach Keeper, Sarah Addison Allen
Finally, I’m guest posting a few places in the near future – Jodie and I are reading The Broken Kingdoms jointly for Lady Business, I’ll be on Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Books this week, and I’ve written a gaming review for Mana Pool. This week, I’m also excited to say I will be finally publishing my history and historical fiction gift guides, so look out for those!
Wishing you all wonderful reading months! How was November?
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