Perla by Caroline De Robertis

Sometimes, to hide your sadness, you have to cut yourself in two. That way you can bury half of yourself, the unspeakable half, and leave the rest to face to the world. I can tell you the first time I did this. I was fourteen years old, standing in a bathroom stall holding the last note I would ever receive from my friend Romina, a note consisting of a single question in furious capital letters.

We had been in class together for years, but did not grow close until we were thirteen, when Romina began to have her experience. That was her own word for it, experience, spoken in a hallowed tone that gave it an aura of great mystery.

“An experience,” I repeated blankly, the first time I heard of it.

“Come over tonight, I’ll show you,” Romina said.

Title: Perla

Author: Caroline De Robertis
ISBN: 9780307599599
Publisher: Knopf/2012
Pages: 256

Perla Correa is the daughter of a naval officer who has been responsible for the disappearance of thousands of innocent people in Argentina. Right from her childhood, Perla knows never to mention her father's work/career in front of her friends and classmates.  Perla is aware that the mothers of her friends march in the Plaza de Mayo, wearing white scarves in memory of the missing family members. She does not know why or how those people went missing. 

When an unlikely visitor, in the form of a stinking corpse, appears in her living room, Perla's is jolted out of her seemingly easy life. This wretched ghostly person was one of the 30, 000 victims of the "Process", the military dictatorship that ruled Argentina from 1976 to 1983. This person was thrown into the sea from an airplane. He is somehow connected to her past. 

All this makes Perla question her father's role in the junta and she is devastated by the truth. In this coming of age novel, the bonds between parent and child is tackled very beautifully. The revolution is in that background all the time and how Perla evolves out of it the crux. 

The language is lyrical and does not jar even when the author is talking about the excesses of the junta. She has made good use of metaphors and symbols which enhance our reading pleasure. Historically, I found the novel very informative.

The Boy That Never Was by Karen Perry

A storm is rising. He can feel it in the strange stillness of the air. There is no movement, no flutter of clothing, not a whisper of a breeze along the narrow streets of Tangier.
   Beyond the lines of washing strung between the building, above the tiled roofs, he sees a patch of sky. There is a strange luminous quality to it, a bluish hue and lights that look almost like auroras.
   He stirs a cup of warm milk, blinks, and looks out again on to the changing and other worldly colours of the sky.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This restlessness rumbled about inside me as I walked from room to room, assessing the varying degrees of dilapidation and making a mental list of what needed to be done.

~~~~Page 56, The Boy That Never Was by Karen Perry 


Title: The Boy That Never Was
Author: Karen Perry
ISBN: 9781405912907
Publisher: Penguin Books/2014 (march)
Pages: 314

Harry leaves his sleeping four year old son for a few minutes, to get candles for his wife, Robin's birthday. Meanwhile, an earthquake strikes and Dillon is lost by being buried. Harry and Robin are artists and they leave Tangier after the loss of their son. Robin seems to be quite forgiving towards Harry. But he is unable to get over his guilt. Thee appears to a crack in their relationship. 

Told alternatively in the voices of Harry and Robin, we get to see the loss of their son has affected both but in different ways. Both feel guilty for different reasons. Harry still can't believe that Dillon is no more. Robin has some secrets that she can't share with Harry. The pain, the hurt almost breaks them apart.

Then one day, Harry sees a boy, who looks like Dillon. Before he can react, the boy vanishes. Harry is convinced more than ever, that Dillon is alive. He does not tell Robin but makes it his mission to search for that boy.

When Robin finally comes to know, we find flaws in both of them, with buried secrets and revelations which almost destroys them. It all builds up to a climax which is horrifying for the reader and both Harry and Robin.

With believable characters which are flawed, taut writing, and psychological twists and turns, it makes an excellent family drama. I was surprised by the ending yet I understood the reason for it. All through the novel, one can feel the love that Harry has for Dillon. It is so palpable that it jumps out of the novel.

It is yet to be published and is worth waiting for. I would say, a superb novel......

The Book of Someday by Dianne Dixon

"Olivia. The soles of her feet pressed hard against the same wood floor. Feeling the vibration of his every step. As he’s circling, gaining momentum, coming closer to the place where she’s hiding. Fierce jolts rippling through her. Edged on one side with terror, on the other with hope."


Title: The Book of Someday
Author: Dianne Dixon
ISBN: 9781402285721
Pages: 345
Publisher: Sourcebooks Store/2013

The Book of Someday revolves around three women, Livvi, Micah and AnnaLee. Livvi Gray has always been haunted by a recurring nightmare, the terrifying image of a beautiful woman in a shimmering silver dress. It does not go away. Micah is a famous photographer now diagnosed with cancer. AnnaLee is a Long Island housewife. The story is told in parallel for all three of them. They have never met.

Then one day, Livvi comes face-to-face with the stranger from her dream. She cannot rest until she learns more. She goes on a quest, meeting one of the other two protagonists. And it is the moment of truth for both of them. And how the third woman is connected is the crux of the story. 

The reader feels for Livvi, when she was abused by her step mother and an totally disinterested father. Micah is an renowned photographer but she has own demons to kill. She feels that her cancer is her punishment for a misjudgement. AnnaLee is so loving that she can encompass the negativity of other people. She stays in mind long after we finish the novel. 

I was totally pulled into the novel, wanting to know the relationship between the three. When two of them come face-to-face, it is one of the most emotional moments of the story. Suffering of one person, miscalculated decision of another results in destroying life and people. Yet there is enough forgiveness despite the grief. 

I have read the first book by Dianne Dixon, The Language of Secrets. I loved it. I recommend The Book of Someday too.

The Rockin' Chair by Steven Manchester

“Grandma?” Evan asked, grabbing her attention.
Elle shook her head, the tears beginning to cascade down her tired face.
“When?” he asked.
Elle reached for his hand. “Last night…right in Grampa’s lap.”
“In the rockin’ chair?” he asked, his voice cracking.
Elle nodded again.
Evan’s eyes filled. “Where else?” he said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Rockin' Chair by Steven Manchester
Published by: The Story Plant
Number of Pages: 242

The Rockin' Chair is not my usual read. But I am glad I read it. It took me into a journey of relationships, love, emotions and family bonding. I could feel for the characters and loved every moment of it. 

Grampa John touches our heart. After his beloved wife Alice dies, he calls for his family to be with him. His son Hank has some issues with him but his daughter in law, Elle has always cared for him and his wife. His three grand children are very fond of him. They all turn up at his farm. To help him heal. And most important, they heal too, basking in his love and wisdom. He helps them all to face life again. By doing that he is at peace with himself too. 

With characters so real, and a dog, this novel stays with us long after we finish it. I am definitely going to read more books by this author.....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Check out the Providence Book Promotions for this novel by clicking here....

Last Train to Omaha by Ann Whitely-Gillen

"What's the matter with you? Your daughter is gravely ill, and you have the nerve to take out your personal feelings on the one person she adores most in life."

Title: Last Train to Omaha
Author: Ann Whitely-Gillen
ISBN: 9780991832507
Publisher: AnnGillen Books/2013
Pages: 296

James Milligan has shut himself from everything after he witnesses his best friend's death when he was 18. He is a successful architect but does not let anyone get close to him. He is only in his elements when he is with dying veterans at the Aaron Milligan Palliative Care Center. He eases their pain and is very gentle and sensitive. He is known as "The Shepherd" because he can soothe dying people on their death bed. When Rebecca Doyle enters his life, he does not know how to react. Her cherubic daughter captivates him but he cannot vocalize his feelings to either of them.

A war veteran Martin Diggs helps him overcome his deep reservations. He also goes on journey of self discovery to finally find love.

This is novel about self realization, thoroughly captivating and thoughtful. It is about embracing life no matter what. The secondary characters made the novel a pleasure to read.