The Story Behind the Story

Here is a book I'd like to read, The Wives of Henry Oades, set in the 1860s in England, New Zealand, and California, and rated four stars by amazon readers. The writer, Johanna Moran, thought her fictional story was based on a historical legal fact. It was about a man who unwillingly ended up as a bigamist. The story from a legal text had been passed from her father to her mother and then to her. She worked some 9-10 years on this debut novel.

A descendant of the Oades family questioned the authenticity of the basic story. Now, facts seem to suggest that the basic events did not happen: no Maori raid and capturing of a wife, no court case against a bigamist Henry Oades, in fact no Oades in New Zealand until 1908.

Here is the long story of the unveiling of a hoax. It is the story behind the story.

"The Help" Author being Sued

This sounds like a ridiculous lawsuit. Could there possibly be more to it than what is on the surface? Aibilene, a character in the bestselling novel, The Help, is portrayed positively as a leader, a wise woman, and a writer yet Ablene Cooper, maid to the writer's brother and his wife, wants to sue because she thinks the character is based on her name and likeness and says the character is portrayed negatively. Here is the writer's response to USA Today

Read more in the New York Times. This article points out that the lawsuit is two years after the book is published and just months before the movie version is scheduled to be released.

Advice, How-To Bestsellers

On my Feb 24 post, I alluded to Ayanla Vanzant's book moving up to number 1 on a bestsellers list after her appearance on Oprah's show. I have a list before me of NY Times bestsellers in the category - Hardcover, Advice, how To and Miscellaneous - and there it is, Peace from Broken Pieces is number 1. Number 2 is prospective presidential candidate Mike Huckabee's book, A Simple Government. Janet Jackson's book, True You, is number 5 and Steve Harvey's second relationship book is number 6, Straight Talk, No Chaser. Veganist is holding on to the number 10 slot. The author, Kathy Freston, has had an appearance on the Oprah show as well.

Monster of Florence

I am finally settling down to read the Monster of Florence by thriller writer, Douglas Preston, and Italian Journalist, Mario Spezi. I have to pass over the details of the gruesome murders. They are too horrifying. What injustice man metes out to man! Just watched a video of President and First Lady speaking out against bullying of young people. The murderer in Florence must have been a bully or may have experienced bullying at some point in his life. These Jack the Ripper type murders were just disgusting.

Book Buzz March 2011

Oprah's website lists a new book by Jodie Picoult, Sing You Home, under the heading, 17 Books to look for in March 2011 . Also on the list are History of a Suicide: My Sister's Unfinished Life by Jill Bialosky and Minding Frankie by Maeve Binchy.

Vivaldi's Virgins

I am reading the epistolary novel and historical fiction, Vivaldi's Virgins. It is not an exciting fast paced book but it is holding my interest because I want to see how the issues are resolved in this story set in a nunnery/orphanage/music school in 18th century Venice. The protagonist is Anna Maria dal Violin, a gifted violinist, who like some of the other children in the orphanage, has no last name so she has been given the instrument she plays as her last name. Her issue is to find out who is her mother and why has she been abandoned. I noticed the character was not as concerned about her father's identity. The cruelty of some of the nuns, the hypocrisy of the catholic priests and the nobility, and the discrimination against the Jews in the area were highlighted. I want to know if Anna Maria will choose music over marriage. Apparently in this century, a woman could not choose both.

Book Buzz

Interesting books on Dear Reader's website under Author Buzz. What would you do if your husband suddenly wanted to re-write the rules for your relationship? That is the question Sarah Pekkanen asks in her story, Skipping a Beat.

You may remember that Dear Reader is an online book club of which I am a member. I get the first chapters of new books before they are published.

Ayanla Vanzant has a new book out, Peace from Broken Pieces: How to get Through What You're Going Through, that was at #2000 on one of the bestsellers list. After her first interview on the Oprah show after 11 years, the book went to #8. Last night was the second interview. This morning Ayanla said her book is now #1. It's now clear which bestsellers list. I saw it at #2 on amazon's list of biographies today and Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand as # 1

World Without End

I have put all books down to focus on "World Without End" by Ken Follett. This book continues with the story of Kingsbridge. Kingsbridge is a medieval town with a Gothic cathedral designed and built some 200 hundred years earlier in the 12th century by Jack Builder whom we readers met in "Pillars of the Earth".

I am following the lives of Gwenda and Philemon, raised by their father to be thieves. I am also following Merthin, a skilled mason/builder, and his brother Ralph, a knight, descendants of Jack Builder. I am following the monk and wanna be Prior of the cathedral, Godwyn, and his cousin, Caris, who is in love with Merthin. Both are also descendants of Jack Builder.

Okebook Club's 2010 Selections

January 15
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope by William Kamkwamba

February 19
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

March 19
Angel’s Game by Carlos Luis Zafon

April 16
The Book Thief by Markus Zusac

May 21
The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood

June 18
Sarah’s Key by Tatiana Rosnay

July 15
Thin Woman by Dorothy Cannell

August 20
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

September 17
Handle with Care by Jodie Picoult

October 15
The Help by Kathryn Stockett

November 19
The Blood of Flowers: A novel by Anita Amirrezvani

Pillars of the Earth

I spent all evening yesterday watching 8 episodes of Pillars of the Earth based on the book by Ken Follett. Wonderful historical fiction set in the twelfth century! I was mesmerized by the storyline - corruption in the church and crown, fulfillment of prophecy, murder and mayhem. I think I will be checking out the sequel to Pillars titled, World Without End

Fall of Giants is Follett's first book in the Century Trilogy, set in the twentieth century. This book does not seem to be a big hit with amazon readers/reviewers.

The Shepherd Dreamer

I am enjoying The Alchemist It is the story of Santiago from Andalusia, Spain. He is a shepherd boy who has been having the same dream and the dream has no end. After consultation with a gypsy about his dream, he begins a personal journey. On the spiritual level he seems to be on a journey to find his personal destiny and on the physical level, he is on a journey to find treasure in Egypt. I am interested at this point to find out if the physical and spiritual will connect. He is inspired to seek the treasure to woo the daughter of a merchant but in Africa he meets and falls in love with Fatima, a daughter of the desert. I am curious as to how this love story really turns out.

One key message that comes up is that when you want something, the universe conspires to help you. Along the journey Santiago meets a mysterious old king, a vendor of crystals, an English scholar who is seeking an Alchemist in Africa, and he meets the Alchemist himself. all these are persons that the universe has sent to him to help him on his personal journey. One truth Santiago learns from the Alchemist is that when one possesses great treasure within nobody believes you.