Book Review of "Family of Spies" by Christine Kuehn

 

I have just finished reading a new release from writer Christine Kuehn, "Family of Spies". Keep reading this blog post for all of my favorite moments from the book and to find out whether or not you should read it, too.

Family of Spies

by Andrea Catalano

My rating: ★★★☆☆ 3/5 stars

A propulsive, never-before-told story of one family’s shocking involvement as Nazi and Japanese spies during WWII and the pivotal role they played in the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

It began with a letter from a screenwriter, asking about a story. Your family. World War II. Nazi spies. Christine Kuehn was shocked and confused. When she asked her seventy-year-old father, Eberhard, what this could possibly be about, he stalled, deflected, demurred, and then wept. He knew this day would come.

The Kuehns, a prominent Berlin family, saw the rise of the Nazis as a way out of the hard times that had befallen them. When the daughter of the family, Eberhard’s sister, Ruth, met Nazi leader Joseph Goebbels at a party, the two hit it off, and they had an affair. But Ruth had a secret―she was half Jewish―and Goebbels found out. Rather than having Ruth killed, Goebbels instead sent the entire Kuehn family to Hawaii, to work as spies half a world away. There, Ruth and her parents established an intricate spy operation from their home, just a few miles down the road from Pearl Harbor, shielding Eberhard from the truth. They passed secrets to the Japanese, leading to the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor. After Eberhard’s father was arrested and tried for his involvement in planning the assault, Eberhard learned the harsh truth about his family and faced a decision that would change the path of the Kuehn family forever.

Jumping back and forth between Christine discovering her family’s secret and the untold past of the spies in Germany, Japan, and Hawaii, Family of Spies is fast-paced history at its finest and will rewrite the narrative of December 7, 1941.

- from amazon.com

Book Review and Discussion of

"Family of Spies" by Christine Kuehn

What Worked For Me

Unique slice of history

I learned a lot about the attack on Pearl Harbor from reading "Family of Spies". I don't know whether this is an embarrassing statement to make, but I had genuinely never considered that there were spies in Hawaii monitoring Pearl Harbor! The story of Christine's grandparents traveling from Germany to Hawaii and all of the espionage work that they did there in preparation for the attack was eerie but fascinating. 

Great pacing, quick read

I love the genre, but non-fiction history reads are frequently dense and take weeks for me to get through. It was a treat to be able to pick up "Family of Spies" and get through it so quickly, because it is under 300 pages, while still getting a unique perspective on an infamous historical event.

What I Struggled With

Missing perspectives

The story of Christine and her family hinges on the experiences of her father. For most of her life, Christine was not aware of the relationship her family had with Pearl Harbor. When Christine finds out and brings it up to him, he denies or obfuscates and changes the subject. Shortly thereafter, he begins to experience dementia, and that's how we experience Christine's father for the vast majority of the book. However, Christine cites her father as a source throughout the book. I think it would've been helpful and felt more cohesive if some of those conversations had made an appearance. Without those firsthand conversations, his reliable input felt disjointed from our experience of him as a reader.

Comment down below if you have read "Family of Spies" by Christine Kuehn. Let me know what worked for you in this book and what you struggled with while reading!

Book Review of "The First Witch of Boston" by Andrea Catalano

 

I just finished reading a new release from historical fiction writer, Andrea Catalano, "The First Witch of Boston". This book is currently available on Kindle Unlimited. Keep reading this blog post for all of my favorite moments from the book and to find out whether or not you should read it, too.

The First Witch of Boston

by Andrea Catalano

My rating : ★★★☆☆ 3/5 stars

A gripping and intimate novel based on the true story of Margaret Jones, the first woman to be found guilty of witchcraft in seventeenth-century Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1646. Thomas and Margaret Jones arrive from England to build a life in the New World. Though of differing temperaments, cautious Thomas and fiery Margaret, a healer, are bound by a love that has lasted decades. With a child on the way, their new beginning promises only blessings.

But in this austere Puritan community, comely faces hide malicious intent. Wrong moves or words are met with suspicion, and Margaret’s bold and unguarded nature draws scorn. Soon, Margaret is mistrusted as more cunning woman than kind caregiver. And when personal tragedies, religious hysteria, and wariness of the unknown turn most against her, even the devotion Margaret and her husband share is at risk.

Inspired by actual diary entries and court records, The First Witch of Boston is at once the riveting story of a woman unjustly accused and a love story set amid the political and social turmoil of both Old and New England. Harrowing, and with a deep understanding of the human heart, history is brilliantly imagined.

- from amazon.com

Book Review and Discussion of
"The First Witch of Boston" by Andrea Catalano

What Worked For Me

Relationship dynamics 10/10

The interplay between the husband and wife was one of my favorite parts of reading "The First Witch of Boston". Maggie is establishing her practice and building confidence as a midwife and herbalist. Modern medicine is hundreds of years away, and so opening a window to let out "bad humors" is as real a treatment as most anything else she has to offer. The witch accusations come at a cost that is justified to Maggie by the care she provides her patients. Thomas, on the other hand, is vulnerable and frustrated. He sees exactly how the townspeople view his wife. He is concerned for Maggie but also hamstrung by her inability, or rather lack of interest, in filtering how she describes her work.

The push and pull of their relationship was engaging to read. Maggie would at times attempt to mince her words, or Thomas would stand up for his wife during an attack, knowing that she was skilled in helping others regardless of the perceived link to witchcraft. Thomas and Maggie could be tested from within and without because the author, Andrea Catalano, did a great job of building a relationship that was both respectful and loving, but also reflective of the times. 

Setting for Fall

"The First Witch of Boston" has an excellent vibe for spooky fall reading, particularly if you enjoy historical fiction. Not only is the story set in the Northeast, which is the epitome of fall, but there are countless moments in the book that feel dark and ominous.  In particular, there are excerpts from journals of judges who were there at the trial. The callousness of their decisions and the implausibility of their accusations, combined with the old-timey language, really add to this immersive, spooky fall read.

Excellent Historical Notes at the End

One of my historical fiction pet peeves is walking away from a book not knowing the author's source materials. I am forever curious when reading historical fiction about how much of what happened in a novel is really known, especially when the historical fiction is based around real people and their very real, and often tragic, lives.

Andrea Catalano included several pages of notes at the end of the book that add context to Maggie and Thomas's lives, and also her decisions as a writer when adding in the unknowable details that flesh out the novel. 

What I Struggled With

This book is steamier than my typical read

There is a lot of sex in this book. At a certain point, probably about a third of the way through, it felt like a very repetitive plot device, my prude reading tastes aside. As stated before, I love the interactions between Thomas and Maggie, but their sex life would frequently take an explicit and dark turn. Instead of romance, there was a big dose of violence mixed in with the explicit sexual content, and I'm not a fan of my reading mixing those two together, frankly.

Final scene between Thomas and Maggie

There is a scene in the last 10% of this book that was so awkwardly disjointed from both what fit emotionally and also how the characters interacted with each other, typically, that I really struggled to get through it. Thomas is yelling at Maggie as she waits in her jail cell to be executed. He repeatedly tells her to "hold her tongue" as she calmly attempts to respond to his outburst. I think that his emotions are supposed to be caring, but they are anything but. Thomas and Maggie are allowed in the jail cell the night before execution ostensibly to have a final night together, and it was just so bizarre tonally given the circumstances. 

Comment down below if you have read "The First With of Boston" by Andrea Catalano. Let me know what worked for you in this book and what you struggled with while reading!

How Did "The First Witch of Boston" by Andrea Catalano? All of the Plot Twists and Spoilers!

 

How does "The First Witch of Boston" by Andrea Catalano end? Have you finished reading "The First Witch of Boston" and desperately need to discuss it? Or maybe you've read it, but can't remember how "The First Witch of Boston" ends, or do you want to skip ahead to discover all the spoilers? Need a refresher on "The First Witch of Boston" before heading off to book club tonight? Keep reading to discuss this historical fiction novel and all the twists and turns at the end!

 

 

Spoilers ahead!

Book Review of "Circle of Days" by Ken Follett

I just finished reading a new release from historical fiction writer, Ken Follett, "Circle of Days". Keep reading this blog post for all of my favorite moments from the book and to find out whether or not you should read it, too.

Circle of Days

by Ken Follett

My rating : ★★★☆☆ 3/5 stars

A FLINT MINER WITH A GIFT
Seft, a talented flint miner, walks the Great Plain in the high summer heat, to witness the rituals that signal the start of a new year. He is there to trade his stone at the Midsummer Fair, and to find Neen, the girl he loves. Her family lives in prosperity and offer Seft an escape from his brutish father and brothers within their herder community.

A PRIESTESS WHO BELIEVES THE IMPOSSIBLE
Joia, Neen’s sister, is a priestess with a vision and an unmatched ability to lead. As a child, she watches the Midsummer ceremony, enthralled, and dreams of a miraculous new monument, raised from the biggest stones in the world. But trouble is brewing among the hills and woodlands of the Great Plain.

A MONUMENT THAT WILL DEFINE A CIVILIZATION
Joia’s vision of a great stone circle, assembled by the divided tribes of the Plain, will inspire Seft and become their life’s work. But as drought ravages the earth, mistrust grows between the herders, farmers and woodlanders—and an act of savage violence leads to open warfare . . .

Truly ambitious in scope, Circle of Days invites you to join master storyteller Ken Follett in exploring one of the greatest mysteries of our age: Stonehenge.

- summary from amazon.com

Book Review and Discussion of
"Circle of Days" by Ken Follett

What Worked For Me

Unique historical focus

Historical fiction books can be an incredibly repetitive genre, with most of them focusing on WWII. Even the covers feel uninspired and tiresome. However, "Circle of Days" by Ken Follett reaches far back in the annals of history, sending us to 2500 BC and the beginnings of building what would come to be known as Stonehenge. 

Any switch-up is appreciated in this genre, and I think this huge shift back in time really made the reading experience for me. I was intrigued by the landscape and the characters' primitive lifestyles. The beginnings of science and technology were interesting to see play out as the characters explored so many social structures that we certainly take for granted.

I hope to see Follett continue this series, much as he did the Kingsbridge storyline. Archaeologists believe that the building of Stonehenge occurred over 1000 years, so there's definitely potential for expanding on this story.

Comfy cozy reading experience

A Ken Follett historical fiction novel has come to define fall reading for me. In the last several years, his books have been released in late September. They are notoriously chunky, and I love the world-building. Just as the characters inevitably gather around a large fire to rest, you'll inevitably find me in a cozy reading corner each Fall with one of his books in my hand. Follett's historical fiction has come to define a cozy fall reading experience that I look forward to each year. 

What I Struggled With

Historical Questions

Something I have always found frustrating about Follett's historical fiction novels is how much I am left to wonder as a reader as to the historical accuracy in his books. Granted, I read an e-reader advanced copy, so certainly an appendix could've been added. However, I did not see any notes referencing sources or verifying which events are fact and which are fiction. And perhaps it is all unknown, and that's understandable as well, but I would greatly appreciate notes instead of it being left to my imagination.

Little plotting, considering the length

"Circle of Days" comes in at a whopping 706 pages. That is a large task for most readers. After finishing the novel and reflecting on the plot, there just wasn't enough there for me to stay motivated as a reader. Strangely, the building of Stonehenge itself only occurs at the end of the book and really isn't much of a complicated or intriguing plot line. Follett shows it taking a mere 20 or so years to construct the beginning of Stonehenge. As I mentioned above, this is fictional or based on research, we are left to wonder. The relationships and intrigue are simply plotted, and with that much space for writing, I think more could have been done. I have loved his other historical fiction novels and will continue to read his new releases, but "Circle of Days" would not be at the top of my recommendations from this author.

How Did "Circle of Days" by Ken Follett End? All of the Plot Twists and Spoilers!

How does "Circle of Days" by Ken Follett end? Have you finished reading "Circle of Days" and desperately need to discuss it? Or maybe you've read it, but can't remember how "Circle of Days" ends, or do you want to skip ahead to discover all the spoilers? Need a refresher on "Circle of Days" before heading off to book club tonight? Keep reading to discuss this historical fiction novel and all the twists and turns at the end!

 

 

Spoilers ahead!

How Did "Demon Copperhead" by Barbara Kingsolver End? All of the Plot Twists and Spoilers!

 

How does "Demon Copperhead" by Barbara Kingsolver end? Have you finished reading "Demon Copperhead" and desperately need to discuss it? Or maybe you've read it, but can't remember how "Demon Copperhead" ends, or do you want to skip ahead to discover all the spoilers? Need a refresher on "Demon Copperhead" before heading off to book club tonight? Keep reading to discuss this coming-of-age novel and all the twists and turns at the end!

 

 

Spoilers ahead!

How Did "The Names" by Florence Knapp End? All The Spoilers and Twists!

How does "The Names" by Florence Knapp end? Have you finished reading "The Names" and desperately need to discuss it? Or maybe you've read it, but can't remember how "The Names" ends, or do you want to skip ahead to discover all the spoilers? Need a refresher on "The Names" before heading off to book club tonight? Keep reading to discuss this novel and all the twists and turns at the end!

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How Did "My Friends" by Fredrik Backman End? All the Spoilers and Twists!

How does "My Friends" by Fredrik Backman end? Have you finished reading "My Friends" and desperately need to discuss it? Or maybe you've read it, but can't remember how "My Friends" ends, or do you want to skip ahead to discover all the spoilers? Need a refresher on "My Friends" before heading off to book club tonight? Keep reading to discuss this coming-of-age friendship novel and all the twists and turns at the end!

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How Did "The Wedding People" by Alison Espach End? All the Spoilers and Twists!

How does "The Wedding People" by Alison Espach end? Have you finished reading "The Wedding People" and desperately need to discuss it? Or maybe you've read it, but can't remember how "The Wedding People" ends, or do you want to skip ahead to discover all the spoilers? Need a refresher on "The Wedding People" before heading off to book club tonight? Keep reading to discuss this romance novel and all the twists and turns at the end!

Spoilers ahead!

How Did "The Crash" by Freida McFadden End? All the Spoilers and Twists!

How does "The Crash" by Freida McFadden end? Have you finished reading "The Crash" and you desperately need to discuss it? Or maybe you read it, but you can not remember how "The Crash" ends, or you want to just skip to finding out all of the spoilers? Getting refreshed on "The Crash" before heading off to book club tonight? Keep reading to discuss this suspenseful fiction novel and all of the twists and turns at the end!

Spoilers ahead!

How Did "The Last Mrs. Parish" by Liv Constantine End? All The Spoilers and Twists!

How did "The Last Mrs. Parish" by Liv Constantine end? Have you finished reading "The Last Mrs. Parish" and you desperately need to discuss? Or maybe you read it, but you can not remember how "The Last Mrs. Parish" ends, or you want to just skip to finding out all of the spoilers? Getting refreshed on "The Last Mrs. Parish" before heading off to book club tonight? Keep reading to discuss this suspenseful fiction novel and all of the twists and turns at the end!

Spoilers ahead!