The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr is nonfiction about the search for the long-lost, supposedly "original" The Taking of Christ by Caravaggio. It was particularly interesting to read about the research done by art history graduate students in various libraries and archives, as well as the meticulous work of art restorers. Harr writes in a journalistic style, but lists numerous sources in his four-plus page bibliography, and took the trouble to learn Italian so he could conduct most of his research interviews in Rome in that language.
The Venetian Bargain (also called The Venetian Contract) by Marina Fiorato (also known as M. A. Bennett), read by Pamela Garelick. Set first in Constantinople and then in Venice in 1576, the story revolves around the real bubonic plague epidemic that hit Venice at that time. The two main characters, half-Turkish and half-Venetian Feyra, and Annibale Cason (a Venetian doctor), are fictitious. However, a number of other characters are real: the architect Andrea Palladio; the Doge (ruler) of Venice, Sebastiano Venier, who is Feyra's grand uncle in the story; and Feyra's mother and the Doge's supposed niece (more likely a cousin), the Nurbanu Sultan. Fiorato altered some of the events of their lives to fit the story. Some places are real too - the church Palladio was designing, and the Lazzaretto Novo isolation island (formerly known as Vigna Murada), where so much of the story takes place, although its origins and use are altered to fit the story. The author cites sources on Palladio, Ottoman medicine, and the Renaissance medical treatment of plague. All of this was fascinating, and the story was exciting too. I'd be glad to read more of Marina Fiorato's historical fiction, if I could find any more in a library. I didn't care for Pamela Garelick's narration. Being British, she gave lower-class Italian characters Cockney accents, and the voices of Feyra and older men were all too raspy. She also read the book far too slowly.
Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time, by Dava Sobel - This is a fairly short (175 pages of text in trade paperback size) nonfiction account of the attempts to find a way to determine longitude at sea. It is primarily about John Harrison, inventor of the chronometer. There are no footnotes (intentionally by the author), but there is a two-page bibliography and four-page index.
Stardust, written by Jeanne Willis, illustrated by Briony May Smith - early reviewers, children's picture book - The lovely mixed media illustrations by Briony May Smith enhance Jeanne Willis' simple story about being a star and shining in one's own unique ways.
The Daughter's Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick, read by Kimberly Farr - historical fiction based on the life of Clara Estby Dore, who walked from their home in Mica Creek (near Spokane), Washington to New York City in 1896 with her mother, Helga Estby, and the aftermath for Clara and Helga. In a long author's note at the end of the e-book (not in the audiobook, unfortunately), Kirkpatrick notes her sources, a primary one being Linda Lawrence Hunt's 2005 book, Bold Spirit: Helga Estby's Forgotten Walk Across Victorian America, which was inspired by a History Day essay about the walk by Helga's great-grandson. Kirkpatrick took a different tack by focusing on Clara's story after the walk, which was fascinating.
Two family members died while Clara and Helga were gone, and the rest of the family never forgave them for being away, with Helga's husband forbidding her to ever talk or write about the trip. One daughter in particular (Ida) took it to the extreme of burning what her mother wrote (after her husband's death) at Helga's death, but a sister-in-law saved Helga's scrapbook by hiding it. Here's Helga's story in a graphic novel format. Clara moved out on her own and was rather successful, but was shunned by the rest of the family for over 20 years.
Supposedly this book is classified as Christian fiction, but thankfully Kirkpatrick keeps the religion to a minimum. Kimberly Farr does a fine job voicing Clara, the narrator, with appropriate Scandinavian accents for Helga and other characters.
That Churchill Woman by Stephanie Barron - historical fiction, early reviewer. Before reading this book, I didn't know a lot about former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill's mother, other than the fact that she was an American and did not have a good reputation. That Churchill Woman by Stephanie Barron was an interesting read, as I learned more about Jeanette "Jennie" Jerome Spencer-Churchill and her possible motivations. This historical fiction novel explores her childhood (and how her little sister's death and her adored father's lifestyle likely influnced her own life) and her marriage to Lord Randolph Churchill, ending at his death in 1895. Despite her faults, I found by the end of the book that I actually rather liked and admired Jennie, and I can see how she affected the life of her famous son.
City of Jasmine by Olga Grjasnowa - realistic fiction, early reviewer - Set at first in Syria early in its civil war, this novel follows three young Syrians as they try to escape the conflict. Hammoudi is a doctor trained and newly hired in Paris who has only come home to renew his passport, but he gets trapped in the country and ends up serving as a doctor for the resistance. Amal is a wealthy young actress who participates in the protests out of curiosity (and to irritate her father), and winds up arrested. She and her boyfriend Youssef eventually flee to Europe, where they face more challenges as refugees. Olga Grjasnowa (a refugee from Azerbaijan and married to a Syrian) originally wrote this in German, but the English translation by Katy Derbyshire is excellent.
Where Lilacs Still Bloom by Jane Kirkpatrick, read by Kimberly Farr and Susan Denaker - about Hulda Klager of the Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens in southwest Washington State. Also some subplots I really don't remember, with fictitious characters meant to show Hulda's impact on others.
© Amanda Pape - 2019
