The Printed Page

Title: Sacred Hearts
Author/website: Sarah Dunant
400 pages
Publisher: Random House
Publication date: July ’09
Genre: Historical fiction
I will start by saying that I give this book high marks but if you’re fan of Ms. Dunant’s other historical novels (The Birth of Venus and In the Company of the Courtesan) as am I you may find the pacing of this story more sedate. And that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise given that this story is set entirely within convent walls. Life behind the walls and in veil is very structured. Your days and nights are planned for you far in advance seemingly without much room for deviation but don’t be fooled by appearances. The reader is slowly lead down a path that is building to confrontations and unfolding dramas. I found myself putting down and picking up this book for the first 1/3 and then I got the point where I couldn’t put it down. It provides the reader with a rare opportunity to peek around the sisters’ skirts and stern faces to glimpse their individual personalities and political ambitions. Once again the reader is engrossed and surrounded by the sights and sounds of a fascinating time in history.

The Santa Caterina convent’s newest novice, Serafina, is miserable, having been shunted off by her father to separate her from a forbidden romance. She also has a singing voice that will be the glory of the convent and—more importantly to some—a substantial bonus for the convent’s coffers. The convent’s apothecary, Suora Zuana, strikes up a friendship with Serafina, enlisting her as an assistant in the convent dispensary and herb garden, but despite Zuana’s attempts to help the girl adjust, Serafina remains focused on escaping. Serafina’s constant struggle and her faith (of a type different from that common to convents) challenge Zuana’s worldview and the political structure of Santa Caterina. A cast of complex characters breathe new life into the classic star-crossed lovers trope while affording readers a look at a facet of Renaissance life beyond the far more common viscounts and courtesans.

Title: Saffron Dreams
Author/website: Sahila Abdullah
226 pages
Publisher: Modern History Press
Publication date: February ’09
Genre: Fiction
Have you ever come across a book that is wonderful but you can’t really express why it’s wonderful. You just know you liked it and something about the story touched you. Well if you have then you’ll know what I mean. Saffron Dreams is that book for me. I truly enjoyed this touching, some times amazingly tender, and other times painful love story. I recommend you pick up a copy, get comfortable and then enjoy the time you spend with Arissa as she journeys through love, loss and love again.

You don’t know you’re a misfit until you are marked as an outcast.

From the darkest hour of American history emerges a mesmerizing tale of tender love, a life interrupted, and faith recovered. Arissa Illahi, a Muslim artist and writer, discovers in a single moment that no matter how carefully you map your life, it is life itself that chooses your destiny. After her husband’s death in the collapse of the World Trade Center, the discovery of his manuscript marks Arissa’s reconnection to life. Her unborn son and the unfinished novel fuse in her mind into one life-defining project that becomes, at once, the struggle for her emotional survival and the redemption of her race. Saffron Dreams is a novel about our ever evolving identities and the events and places that shape them. It reminds us that in the midst of tragedy, our dreams can become a lasting legacy.

Here’s a highlight from Marcia’s Kindle Corner. This book has both print and, of course, Kindle editions. If you want to check out all the books I’m sampling/reading this month be sure and stop by the Corner.

Title: Moonlight (Kindle link) / Moonlight (print link)
Author/website: Keith Knapp
File size: 394KB/Print: 472 pages
Publication date: October ’07
Genre: Suspense/horror
Sample size: Ch. 1-5 and the start of Ch. 6
So this another of those amazing 99¢ ‘finds’ that I stumbled across while reading ‘sample’ chapters for Amazon Kindles. First off it might be considered a zombie book or not. Seeing as this is the first book I can remember reading about the ‘undead’ and if the ‘undead’ are considered zombies then yes, it’s a zombie book. Now zombies don’t make my hit list of reading choices but in this case they weren’t at all what I imagined they might be and not the ‘turn off’ I suspected they would be. OK, now that we have that out of the way if you read suspense/horror books read Moonlight. I selected Moonlight on a whim thinking I didn’t have much to lose and a lot to gain. It was a winner for me. I did find beginning a bit slow but once the Man in Dark Coat starts making regular appearances in the story things move right along. Yep there’s horror but not the stomach churning, run for the puke bucket kind. I’ve read much more graphic books than Moonlight (Jack Kilborn’s Afraid which I loved!). Also if you don’t like strong language than Moonlight won’t appeal to you. Overall I give Moonlight high marks and my recommendation.

As the world around them becomes darker, so do the inhabitants of the small town of Westmont, Illinois. A mysterious and evil presence has taken a hold over the village, making the once peaceful town a place of violence and despair.

A small group of individuals, untouched by this presence, must uncover the mystery of why they remain normal and discover what (or who) is taking control of their town, one soul at a time.

Because the Man in the Dark Coat is out there. Hunting them.

And not everyone can remain untouched forever.