Not your typical dracula novel

I was looking for a new book to read at my local bookstore. I don't like to go to the bookstore with nothing in particular in mind because I usually end up buying something that fails to deliver. The book ends up sitting on my shelf collecting dust after that initial read and I experience buyer's remorse. Because I was desperate for a new book, I took the chance- and I'm so happy I did! I stumbled upon Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian and it is a winner.

The Historian is written in the style of a Victorian gothic novel, yet is is immensely readable. Kostova delivers layer upon layer of suspense at just the right pace, which kept me glued to the pages. A young girl follows her father across Europe, learning as she does so about her parents's mysterious contacts with the bloodthirsty noble believed to be long dead- no other than Vlad the Impaler. Immersing herself in her father's fascinating story, she finds herself increasingly in danger from the unbelievable evil her father has discovered.
 Like Morton's The Forgotten Garden, the story is told from the perspective of several characters over a long period of time. Their stories weave together, sometimes abstractly, piecing together cohesively at the end. Yet it couldn't be more different from Morton's novel-in short, The Historian is a vampire novel. Before you lose interest, you should know that this is no twilight or Sookie Stackhouse novel. Instead it is literary, heavily researched and so enjoyable to read. Mingled with the supernatural and suspenseful elements are historical details about the Ottoman Empire and Eastern Europe. This novel might even teach you an historical fact or two. If vampire novels aren't your thing- keep an open mind. This is surprisingly light on gore and oh so good! This book has put me in the mood to read Bram Stoker's Dracula and  Kostova's newest novel, The Swan Thieves. Happy Reading!

Father knows best?

In a recent conversation with my parents, I mentioned that I wanted to start reading more classics. While I love many classics, including everything by Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters, I find that I need to be in the right mood to read them. Consequently, I have a long list of authors I would like to try but just haven't gotten around to, such as John Steinbeck and Ernest Hemmingway. My Dad, a big fan of John Steinbeck, recommended an author I had never heard of, a Mr. Nevil Shute. The late Nevil Shute has written several books, many taking place during World War II or on the subject of aviation (Shute was an aeronautical engineer as well as a popular novelist). While I have only read two of his novels at this point, I now consider myself a big fan of Nevil Shute. Here is a little taste of the novels I have read- I hope you'll give him a try too.

On the Beach is perhaps the most well known of Nevil Shute's novels. After a nuclear war has wiped out most of the earth's populations, the few survivors await for the radiation sickness to come. Shute introduces some unforgettable characters in this book who all cope in different ways- a young woman who copes with levity and plenty of alcohol, a young couple with a new baby who plan next year's garden and find respite in day-to-day tasks, and an American submarine captain who finds comfort by pretending that his wife and children are still alive and well, waiting for him to return home. Some characters deal with their coming deaths with grim finality, while others cling to hope. Shute writes in a very straightforward, simple manner. He makes every word count, and the pace carries on despite the sometimes mundane events in the novel. This novel is almost anti-climactic, yet somehow that makes it all the more compelling. I found myself clinging to hope at times, while at other times I was overwhelmed with despair. This is the kind of novel that doesn't let go of you once you have closed its pages- it clings to you and makes you think. Wonderful.

The Pied Piper is a more exciting, suspenseful narrative, yet it is written in the same straightforward, highly readable manner as On the Beach. In this novel, an elderly Briton travels to France for a fishing trip during the Second World War. His vacation is cut short, however, when he learns that the Germans are invading France. He agrees to take two young children back to Britain with him, and he soon finds himself in danger as the country becomes increasingly battle-stricken. As he makes the slow and arduous journey, Mr. Howard finds more children who are in danger, and before long he has quite the collection of children to take care of and bring to safety. The old man deals with declinining health, bombs, Nazis and intrigues. This is a wonderful novel - it is highly readable, and it has an engaging, suspenseful plot.

I'm glad I took my Dad's advice and gave this author a try. I'll be sure to take his advice more often in the future- at least on the subject of books!