Louis Bayard has written an historical account of Lincoln and his relationships with the two people that were probably the most influential in his life—Mary Todd and Joshua Speed. The novel is arranged with each chapter alternately narrated by Mary and Joshua.
Mary Todd is portrayed as an intelligent, politically conscious young woman who challenges society’s expectations of how someone her age, and her gender, should conduct themselves. She goes to live with her sister in Springfield with the intention of finding a husband. Her vitality makes her a standout at social gatherings. She is approached by several eligible suitors, but it’s an exceptionally tall and awkward budding politician that catches her eye. What eventually turns into a courtship is the heart of this novel. The narrative follows their secret liaisons, break ups and make ups. And the story could begin and end there, except for an additional angle added to the plot—the character of Joshua Speed.
Speed is a dry-goods store owner that begins as Lincoln’s landlord and becomes his most intimate friend. The two share a bed (which was not uncommon in those times), conversations of bachelorhood and life—they become best friends. Speed acts as somewhat of a mentor to Lincoln, providing the reader with insight into another side of the man.
As Lincoln’s interest in Mary deepens and the relationship with Joshua progresses, a triangular relationship develops—it almost becomes a question of “who’s courting who?” The reader follows each character as they navigate their way through expectation and desire.
Atmospheric as well as fascinating, Courting Lincoln is written so illustriously that it transports the reader to 19th century Illinois—muddy streets and all—in beautiful and detailed prose. An absorbing read, this novel would appeal to any reader that enjoys a period piece, an abundance of atmosphere, strong character development, and a good love story.
Read-alikes:The Pale Blue Eye by Louis Bayard
Roosevelt's Beast by Louis Bayard
Mary by Janis Cook Newman
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
Deborah Formosa, Northport-East Northport Public Library
In September, 1908, Clementine Hozier, a young British socialite, married Winston Churchill, a prominent member of parliament whose political and social views matched her own. Unsurprisingly, her story has been forgotten while his lives on. In Lady Clementine, author Marie Benedict reconstructs it.
Clementine tells her own story, from her solitary dash across London on her wedding day to her reunion with Winston after she completes her own diplomatic mission.
The book should appeal to readers who want women to receive credit for their contributions to British history.
Read-alikes:
Mistress of the Ritz by Melanie Benjamin
And They Called It Camelot by Stephanie Thornton
Becoming Josephine by Heather Webb
Jackie Malone, Retired Librarian
The Tuscan Child by Rhys Bowen is a sweet story that takes place in Tuscany, a beautiful region of Italy. It is about a love affair between a British fighter pilot named Hugo Langley, who was shot down while flying over a village around the end of WW II, and the beautiful Sofia, who finds him and nurses him back to health.
The story toggles back and forth between 1970s London and the winter of 1944 in a small Tuscan village. Joanna is the daughter of Hugo Langley, who only knows him as a cranky old man trapped in a loveless marriage. But after her father dies, she finds a letter that implies there may have been a child born out of wedlock while he was in the service. She quickly decides to go to Italy and find out the truth.
While there, Joanna meets an attractive man and the two begin to fall in love. Along the way she makes friends with some kind and not so kind villagers. Ultimately she learns about Sofia, her father’s true love, and what became of her.
I enjoyed this book very much. I loved learning about Italian culture and customs. It was an exciting read especially towards the end when the identity of “our little baby” is revealed. I thought it was an easy read and the characters were well developed. This book would be great for those who like historical fiction set in Europe with a healthy sprinkle of romance.
Read-alikes:
Early One Morning by Virginia Bailey
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer
Karen McHugh, Harborfields Public Library
Did you know that the lions in front of the New York Public Library weren't always named Patience and Fortitude? Neither did I. (For the curious, their names were originally Leo Astor and Leo Lenox, after Jacob Astor and John Lenox, two of the library's founders. They were renamed in the 1930s by Mayor LaGuardia.) This was just one of the many things I learned about the New York Public Library, its history, and its beautiful house on Fifth Avenue.
Lest you think that this is a boring treatise on the NYPL, it most assuredly is not. This is a story of feminism, and not being afraid to fall in love again, and books, and book thefts. Told in two different time periods, we start with Laura Lyons, whose husband is the first superintendent of the NYPL. They live with their two children in an apartment in the library itself (and yes, that apartment actually exists, but the Lyons bear no resemblance to the actual family of the first superintendent beyond borrowing their living quarters). Laura loves her family, but is dissatisfied with her role in life and chafes under the gender norms of the early 20th century.
Jump 80 years into the future, and Laura's granddaughter Sadie is the curator of a special collection at the NYPL (she got the job entirely on her own merits, by the way, as no-one there even knows about the family connection). When first editions and valuable papers start disappearing from her collection, though, she must look back to her grandmother's time, when something similar happened. Could the past and future be connected? Why? How?
As Sadie works to solve the mystery of the book thefts, she must also try to answer questions about her family and their life in the library. Sadie is a character to be reckoned with, and her wit and determination shine off the page. Laura, too, is a character not soon to be forgotten, as she tries to solve the mystery of who she is and how she wants to leave her mark on the world. Their stories come together in a heart-pounding mix of whodunit and family saga that will leave readers both satisfied and wishing for a sequel.
Read-alikes:
The Crooked Branch by Jeanine Cummings
The Woman in the Photo by Mary Hogan
The Secret Life if Violet Grant by Beatriz Williams
Mara Zonderman, Westhampton Free Library
The story begins in 1840 on Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania), where the British are colonizing the island. Island native Mathinna is taken in by a British governor and his wife as an experiment in civilizing the girl. When they go back to England, she goes to an overcrowded orphanage.
In London, pregnant nanny, Evangeline is thrown in jail on a false charge. After months in Newgate Prison, she is sent on a slave ship to Van Diemen’s Land. On the ship, she meets Hazel, a young girl who had been in prison for stealing a spoon.
The novel details the months of squalor, abuse, and overcrowding in the jails, orphanage, and ship. Then there’s more of the same in the jail when they arrive in Australia.
This is a story of hardship, of female friendship, and the birth of a nation.
Read-alikes:
The Secret River by Kate Grenville
The Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
Morgan's Run by Colleen McCullough
Lori Ludlow, Babylon Public Library
During the summer of 1492, Rodrigo Borgia has risen to power as pope. Cesare, his eldest son has been forced to follow his father into the church. He detests his ecclesiastical role and fumes with jealousy and resentment of his irresponsible brother, Juan, who has been chosen for the military greatness which he desires.
Maddalena Moretti is a young widow and servant in the Vatican Palace. When Cesare saves her from an attempted rape by Juan, an unlikely love affair between them is set into motion. As a servant of the Borgias and Cesare’s lover and confidant, Maddalena becomes privy to the inner workings of the powerful and corrupt Borgia family.
Through Maddalena, a fictional character, the author gives fresh insights into the Borgia family, the corruption of the papacy, and the inequities of the time period, both in class and gender. Politics and the machinations of war are revealed through conversations between the Pope and Cesare.
This is an engaging story for all readers of historical fiction, which is sure to engender a curiosity to read further into the turbulence and unscrupulousness of the period…and the Borgias.
Read-alikes:
In the Name of the Family by Sarah Dunant
The Most Beautiful Woman in Florence by Alyssa Palombo
Violinist of Venice: A Story of Vivaldi by Alyssa Palombo
Grace O'Connor, Retired Librarian
When Charlie finds herself pregnant shortly after the end of World War II, her mother decides she needs to take care of her problem by taking her to a clinic in Switzerland. Charlie has other plans; however, and uses the chance of a trip to London to try to find her French cousin Rose, who was more like a sister to her growing up and is missing, presumed dead. Along the way Charlie meets Eve, a hard woman who was one of the last people to see her cousin, and Eve’s driver, Finn, both who agree to accompany Charlie in her quest. While traveling, Eve shares her story, starting in World War I when she was part of an underground movement called the Alice Network smuggling secrets about the Germans to the British.
The chapters switch back and forth between Eve as a young girl during WWI and Charlie in the present, drawing the reader into the perils of both trying to make a place in a world where women are treated as second best in a man’s world. Eve’s experiences as part of the Alice Network are dangerous, as the London girl pretends to be a small-town French girl in order to fool the owner of a restaurant that caters to important German soldiers that have loose lips while enjoying their evening meals. Eve’s harrowing experiences have shaped the woman she’s become, someone Charlie is becoming fonder of despite her prickly exterior. Then there’s Finn, the ex-con with a heart, who has been taking care of Eve and by extension Charlie on the search for Rose. Charlie is a smart young woman, good with numbers, and not only wants to find Rose but also her place in the world all the while deciding if she should keep the baby or follow her mother’s wishes and get rid of it.
The story draws the reader in from the start. You immediately want to know what caused Eve to become the jaded, old lady she is now. You can’t help but hope right along with Charlie that she finds Rose alive and well. The relationship that develops between Finn and Charlie gives the story a little bit of romance without being overpowering. The story never lags, whether we’re with Eve during her time as a spy or in the present on her own quest parallel to Charlie’s, the reader is consistently drawn to each character wanting to know more. The Alice Network is based on a real underground spy network run by a woman, who was one of the best spies the British had. Although some of the story is embellished to move the plot along, there are plenty of facts from the real network to give it authenticity. A great read for lovers of historical fiction, books set during WWII, and spy stories. This would also make a good book discussion selection as there are multiple aspects to explore.
Read-alikes:
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman
Azuree Agnello, West Babylon Public Library
Past and present converge in this quick, light-hearted read. Picture it: New York City, 1949. Charlotte dreams of finishing school and beginning a successful advertising career, but her father insists she must help out at the family’s business - a struggling paint store. An opportunity arises for Charlotte to participate in Miss Subways, a beauty contest where the winner achieves local celebrity from their picture and a short bio being displayed in all of the MTA’s subway cars. Charlotte isn’t looking to win to gain fame or an acting career like most of the contestants. She wants to use the exposure to benefit her father’s paint store so she can continue to pursue her own career...
It’s 2018 and Olivia is an advertising executive in New York City. She’s tasked with proving to her boss that she’s the best person for the job when he pits her against her office rival to land a massive account - the NYC MTA. While trying to come up with ideas, Olivia stumbles upon the old Miss Subways campaign…
Told from the alternating viewpoints of Charlotte and Olivia where romance, competition, secrets and betrayal abound, this book is predictable, but enjoyable.
Read-alikes:
The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis
The Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
The Wartime Sisters by Lynda Cohen Loigman
The Glass Ocean by Beatriz Williams
Jessicca Newmark, The Smithtown Library - Smithtown Building
