Wildflower Hill, by Kimberly Freeman

Characters
1920s – 1960s	2009
Beattie Blaxtant-Hunter Henry MacConnell – lover, common-law husband Lucy – daughter Cora - friend Molly – Henry’s wife Beattie’s father – fired professor of natural philosophy Mother – ill Margaret Day Doris Penny – neighbor Tilly and Frank Harrow – general store owners Wildflower Hill: Charlie Harris – Aborigine Mikhail – driver, married Catherine Alice – housekeeper Raphel Blanchard – original owner Terry – farm manager Leo Sampson - lawyer	Emma Blaxtant-Hunter Nana Beattie Ray – grandfather, Beattie’s husband Louise Blaxtant – Hunter – mother Dad Uncle Mike Adelaide – personal assistant Wildflower Hill: Monica Taylor Patrick Penelope Sykes – Historical Society Jimmy Farquhar – owned adjacent farm Hollyhocks – dance troupe Mina Carter Raymond Carter – Mina’s father

 For discussion:

Note: Page numbers are from the paperback 2011 edition.

1. When Beattie left Henry and escaped to Tasmania, was Margaret Day’s immediate kindness realistic?
2. What motivation drove the various characters?  Margaret?  Molly? 
3. Discuss Beattie’s and Molly’s relationship concerning Lucy.   Was there anything that could be done to make it better?
4. Later in her life, do you think Beattie should have told Ray about Lucy and her previous life?
5. Discuss the choices the different characters made.  Did they really have a choice?  Is there anything they could have done differently?  Consider Henry and Beattie moving with Lucy, Beattie leaving Henry, Henry reuniting with Molly and taking Lucy, Lucy telling Beattie not to contact her, the townspeople’s reaction to Beattie?
6. Given the historical time period, were people’s actions regarding Charlie and Beattie understandable? 
7. Could you understand Mina’s father’s actions and his resistance to attending the ballet performance?
8. The cover of my edition showed a picture of a young girl from the shoulders down and wildflowers at the bottom.   What do you think an appropriate cover for this book would be?
9. My edition included an interview with the author.  The final question was about what happened to Emma and Lucy after the story ends.  The author responded that she had no plans for a sequel and wrote the following in a reader’s book who was upset that the ending was open-ended, “And Lucy took Emma inside and loved her to pieces.”   Do you think this is what happened?  Why or why not?

*****
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.

Beautiful Animals, by Lawrence Osborne

REVIEW:  I am not actually sure how I feel about this book.  It was interesting and compelled me to continue reading, but I didn’t really care about most of the characters.   It also seemed a bit far-fetched – I was not sure if the story could really happen.  While I understand this is fiction, I did not think it was meant to be total fantasy.  The positives were that it gave an interesting description of the lives of the very wealthy, although not a positive depiction.  I also have no frame of reference to know if it was accurate.  For me the ending was not satisfying.   Given each author’s purpose the ending does not necessarily have to neatly tie everything up, but this one did not make me think or reflect on what I had read.  My review does not seem very positive, but I did read the whole book and enjoyed the reading experience.  I think it would be a good for a book group – it will certainly lead to a lively discussion.   I received a complimentary copy of the book for this review.  

Characters

Naomi Codrington Jimmie – father Phaine – step-mother Carissa – maid Samantha “Sam” Haldane Amy and Jeffrey – parents Brother – 15 Toby Carhargan – American boy Sam met on island Faound – Arab, castaway Benedetta – Met Faound in Italy, stole money Rockhold – friend of Jimmie’s Susan – assistant in London Girls selling drugs from row boat

For Discussion:

Note: All page numbers are from hardback edition of book.

1. On page 79 (chapter 7) Naomi reflected back on the mistake (“ineptitude and cowardice”) she made during her brief law career and wanted to do something good.  She thought, “Morality was nothing more than paying attention to the chain reaction while not causing another one.”   Should she have foreseen the chain reaction of her good deed to Faound?
2. At times Naomi was very reflective.   Could she have used this trait to focus her life and feel that she was doing something meaningful?  Was saving Faound filling this need?
3. On the second page of chapter 8, Naomi was surprised that she “…felt quite at ease confessing everything to him (Faound), it if was even a confession.”  Why did she feel that she could be so open with him?
4. Were you surprised Naomi and Faound had sex?  Why or why not?
5. Naomi thought it was “reprehensible – no, a vile – thing” (page 96, chapter 8) that Jimmie and Phaine had so many material possessions while so many people had nothing.  Do you think they should feel guilty about what they had?
6. On page 106 (chapter 9) Naomi reflected that, “She wanted to be a Samaritan: the easiest job in the world, and perfect for the useless European middle classes.”  What did you think when you read this sentence?
7. Were you surprised how involved Carissa was willing to be in the break-in and cover-up?  Why?
8. When Faound was in Italy he purchased a pair of very expensive shoes.  The author wrote about shoes, “Shoes - so banal and yet so magnificently significant” (page 170, chapter 16).  What did you think about this sentence?  Do you pay attention to people’s shoes?  What information do they give?
9. On pages 194-195 (chapter 17), Carissa says to Naomi, “You’re just selfish…It wasn’t about helping the migrant, it was about you and your father and Phaine.  I know, they were cruel to you.  It’s not entirely your fault.”   Do you agree?
10. Also on page 195 Naomi says to Carissa, “But I understand.  It’s nothing personal, is it?”  and Carissa replies, “It’s very personal.  I wasted seven years of my life here slaving for you.  I’m not letting it go to waste.”   Were you surprised that Carissa held this resentment for seven years?  Did Jimmie, Phaine and Naomi think Carissa was happy and that they were treating her well?
11. What parts did Sam and the girl in the row boat selling drugs play in the narrative?  Were they necessary to move the story along?  Why or why not?
12. Discuss the various characters.  Who did you feel were sympathetic characters?  Who did you not like?  Why?

*****

First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.

Three Pastiches Related to Sherlock Holmes Novels

NOTE: Our local library group is having a “Summer of Sherlock.”  In June, we read Arthur and Sherlock, by Michael Sims.  (This book is about how Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created Sherlock Holmes and who were the models for the detective.)  In July, we discussed the four Sherlock novels written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.   In August, we will discuss three current Sherlock Holmes novels authorized by the Conan Doyle Estate: Moriarty and The House of Silk, by Anthony Horowitz, and The Italian Secretary by Caleb Carr.  The following posting is long, but it contains discussion guides for the three novels as well as a few general questions.

The Italian Secretary, by Caleb Carr

Characters

Sherlock Holmes Dr. John Watson Mycroft Holmes – Sherlock’s brother, confidant of Queen Victoria David Rizzo – murdered 1566 - private secretary to Mary Queen of Scotts Sir Alister Sinclair – murdered – architect at Holyroodhouse Dennis McKay – murdered – foreman Alex Morton – latest of nine to try to kill Queen Victoria Lord Francis Hamilton – resident family member at Holyrood, scamming people about ghost in Holyrood Hackett – butler Andrew – son – footman Robert Sadler – park gillies “Likely Will” Sadler – armourer – partner of Lord Francis in scam Alison Mackenzie – pregnant by “Likely Will”

 For Discussion:

NOTE: Page numbers are from 2005 paperback edition

1. Do you think the depiction of Sherlock Holmes in this modern novel agrees with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original character?  In your discussion consider the following:
1. On page 176 Holmes is very complimentary to Alison Mackenzie and makes similar compliments to Andrew on page 182.
2. Did you have unanswered questions when you were done with the book?  Where these “red herrings” to throw the reader off?  If so, were they effective?  The two things that I wished had been explained (and maybe I just missed it) were:
1. The Queen’s toothache – on page 102 Holmes asked which tooth it was and on page 109 he said that the dentist was of great importance.
2. What was the significance of the lute and sheet music at the end?
3. Did you like the addition of the ghost?  In the “Afterword” written by Jon Lellenberg, the U.S. Representative of the Conan Doyle Estate, he wrote that, “I am not sure Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would approve…” but cited The Hound of the Baskervilles as “excuse and inspiration” (page 330).

The House of Silk, by Anthony Horowitz
Characters
Sherlock Holmes Dr. John Watson Mycroft – Sherlock’s brother Inspector Lestrade Ridgeway House: Edmund Carstairs Catherine – wife (Keelan O’Donaghue) Eliza – sister Mother – died of gas asphyxiation Baker Street Irregulars: Wiggins Ross Dixon Sally Dixon – Ross’ sister	Flat Cap Gang: Keelan O’Donaghue Rourke O’Donaghue Chorley Grange: Reverend Charles Fitzsimmons Joanna – wife Mr. Vesper – teacher Robert Weeks – teacher House of Silk: Inspector Harriman Dr. Thomas Achland Lord Horace Blackwater Honorable Alec Ravenshaw

 For Discussion:

NOTE: Page numbers are from paperback edition.

1. Did you think that the subject matter (pedophilia) was a bit riskier than what Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would write?   Was it effective?
2. How many places did you find that the author paid homage to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?  Two that I picked out were the mention of the short story, “The Red-headed League” (page 101), and where Sherlock explained to the pawn broker how he deduced so much about him similar to when Sherlock first met Dr. Watson (page 111) in A Study in Scarlet.

Moriarty, by Anthony Horowitz
Main Characters
Good Guys	Bad Guys
Athelney Jones – Scotland Yard Elspeth – wife Beatrice – daughter Robert Lincoln – son of Abraham Lincoln, American Envoy in London Police: Lestrade Gregson Multiple others NOTE: Jones, Lestrade and Gregson are characters from The Sign of Four	Frederick Chase – Pinkerton – narrator, a.k.a. James Moriarty Jonathan Pilgrim Colonel Sebastian Moran – sharpshooter Perry Clarence Devereux – agoraphobia, a.k.a. Coleman DeVriess Edgar and Leland Mortlake Scotchy Lavelle Highgate: Scotchy Lavelle – tortured and murdered Henrietta – Lavelle’s mistress - murdered Clayton - petty criminal - murdered Mary Stagg – survived Cook and Kitchen boy – murdered Chancery Lane: Silas Beckett – barber, a.k.a. John Clay Archie Cooke – hurdy-gurdy man, a.k.a. Duncan Ross

For discussion:

NOTE: Page numbers are from the paperback edition.

1. When Beatrice was being held captive and Devereux was using her as a bargaining tool to get Jones and Chase to meet with him, there were two lines of thinking about Devereux’s motivation.  Which did you think was correct?  Did your opinion change when you finished the book?
1. On page 271 Jones felt that Elspeth did not need to worry, that Devereux had nothing to gain by hurting them,
2. On page 272 Chase thought that Devereux had a more sinister plot than just wanting to talk with them, Devereux might kill them simply because it was his nature.
2. When Jones and Chase were held captive, Jones still had his walking stick.   Did you think this was logical or did you question this?  Why?
3. What did you think when you finished the book?  How was it different from what you expected?
4. If there is a sequel what do you think it will be about?
5. Moriarty thought he had left clues for the reader to figure out who he was – see page 346.   Did you pick up any clues?  Were you at any time suspicious that there was a twist coming?
6. Discuss your reading experience?   Did you start the book with any preconceived ideas that were not correct?

General Discussion

1. How true were these three novels to the Conan Doyle canon?  Would Sir Arthur Conan Doyle approve?
2. If you read more than one, which did you enjoy the most?  The least?  Why?
3. Why do you think Sherlock Holmes continues to be so popular?

*****

First Semester Success: Learning Strategies  and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right  link.