Though low on thrills, the book engagingly explores secrets of the past in a concise and dreamy way.
Maggi’s historical novel takes readers through a brief exploration of ancient wisdom.
The story begins during the lead-up to the festival of Anthesteria in the city of Corinth during the days of ancient Rome. (Anthesteria is “one of the most anticipated and colorful festivals of the year,” and it marks the transition from winter to spring.) It is in Corinth that the unnamed narrator and his friend Gaius meet with a man named Erastus. Gaius and Erastus speak in conspiratorial tones about spreading esoteric knowledge. They want to utilize “connections to organize discreet gatherings where we can discuss these teachings openly and freely.” When the narrator examines some of the papers that contain these teachings, it is clear that they “held secrets far beyond what [he] had initially imagined.” The narrator and Gaius sail to Brundisium. On the ship, Gaius expounds on topics like the lost city of Atlantis and the significance of the ancient Egyptian penchant for scarabs. He argues that there are a great many connections to be found between such subjects, and that “there are truths hidden within the fabric of history, truths that lie beyond the reach of ordinary people.” The journey by ship largely serves as a setting for dialogue; upon the quiet sea, Gaius can reflect on such subjects as the Basilica of Neptune, observing that it is not simply a military monument—it “symbolizes the vast, uncharted realms of knowledge and mystery.” The story is not driven by action or plot but by a desire to convey ideas to the reader. (Simple diagrams, like the circular layout of the mausoleum of Augustus, are included for effect.) And while concepts such as how “rekindling our relationship with the stars, we can rediscover their wonder and purpose” may be flowery, they offer plenty to consider. Coming in at under 200 pages, the novel proves to be brief yet thoughtful.
Though low on thrills, the book engagingly explores secrets of the past in a concise and dreamy way.Pub Date: July 28, 2024
ISBN: 9789695392058
Page Count: 140
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: Oct. 26, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A dramatic, vividly detailed reconstruction of a little-known aspect of the Vietnam War.
A young woman’s experience as a nurse in Vietnam casts a deep shadow over her life.
When we learn that the farewell party in the opening scene is for Frances “Frankie” McGrath’s older brother—“a golden boy, a wild child who could make the hardest heart soften”—who is leaving to serve in Vietnam in 1966, we feel pretty certain that poor Finley McGrath is marked for death. Still, it’s a surprise when the fateful doorbell rings less than 20 pages later. His death inspires his sister to enlist as an Army nurse, and this turn of events is just the beginning of a roller coaster of a plot that’s impressive and engrossing if at times a bit formulaic. Hannah renders the experiences of the young women who served in Vietnam in all-encompassing detail. The first half of the book, set in gore-drenched hospital wards, mildewed dorm rooms, and boozy officers’ clubs, is an exciting read, tracking the transformation of virginal, uptight Frankie into a crack surgical nurse and woman of the world. Her tensely platonic romance with a married surgeon ends when his broken, unbreathing body is airlifted out by helicopter; she throws her pent-up passion into a wild affair with a soldier who happens to be her dead brother’s best friend. In the second part of the book, after the war, Frankie seems to experience every possible bad break. A drawback of the story is that none of the secondary characters in her life are fully three-dimensional: Her dismissive, chauvinistic father and tight-lipped, pill-popping mother, her fellow nurses, and her various love interests are more plot devices than people. You’ll wish you could have gone to Vegas and placed a bet on the ending—while it’s against all the odds, you’ll see it coming from a mile away.
A dramatic, vividly detailed reconstruction of a little-known aspect of the Vietnam War.Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781250178633
Page Count: 480
Publisher: St. Martin's
Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2023
PERSPECTIVES
BOOK TO SCREEN
SEEN & HEARD
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.
The sequel to It Ends With Us (2016) shows the aftermath of domestic violence through the eyes of a single mother.
Lily Bloom is still running a flower shop; her abusive ex-husband, Ryle Kincaid, is still a surgeon. But now they’re co-parenting a daughter, Emerson, who's almost a year old. Lily won’t send Emerson to her father’s house overnight until she’s old enough to talk—“So she can tell me if something happens”—but she doesn’t want to fight for full custody lest it become an expensive legal drama or, worse, a physical fight. When Lily runs into Atlas Corrigan, a childhood friend who also came from an abusive family, she hopes their friendship can blossom into love. (For new readers, their history unfolds in heartfelt diary entries that Lily addresses to Finding Nemo star Ellen DeGeneres as she considers how Atlas was a calming presence during her turbulent childhood.) Atlas, who is single and running a restaurant, feels the same way. But even though she’s divorced, Lily isn’t exactly free. Behind Ryle’s veneer of civility are his jealousy and resentment. Lily has to plan her dates carefully to avoid a confrontation. Meanwhile, Atlas’ mother returns with shocking news. In between, Lily and Atlas steal away for romantic moments that are even sweeter for their authenticity as Lily struggles with child care, breastfeeding, and running a business while trying to find time for herself.
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-668-00122-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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