Charming, I'm sure

So, I've read a few books that have *really* charmed me this last year. Just wonderful, sweet, enthralling, enrapturing books.

I'm finishing up "The Help". This is powerful as well as charming, funny, written in several voices (which can be very hard to pull off, see my review of Eve, which did not pull it off). Its a tribute to strong, affirming women, and to the power of womanhood, basically. I think this one is the sleeper hit of the summer. Its difficult to describe in a few easy sentences because just giving a few sentences to this book would almost oversimplify and cheapen the book. Its set in the South, in the 1950s and 60s, and was written as a tribute, in some way, to the woman who raised the author. Its a story of anger, frustration, self-worth, and empowerment. My friend Mary-Anne was talking some months ago about how difficult it is for some authors to write in an authentic 'voice' for race. This succeeds. Its not just a story of civil rights, though, its a story about prejudice on all levels, and alienation, acceptance, and self-worth.


Kissing Games of the World is another sleeper novel, which most people would never pick up, in part for the title. Again, its not something easy to describe in a few sentences, but it again is a story of growth, love, acceptance and empowerment. My boss read it and she loved it. While at first glance it seems to be a typical romance plot, it is so much more. And is just compellingly written. I just loved it.

Nothing But a Smile is another captivating book about an unlikely, unexpected romance. Set in 1944 it is also a discussion of independence, equality, censorship, all kinds of issues, clothed in an enrapturing book. Again, its not something most people would take out or buy, based on both the title and cover, but it is about so much more than pinup art. Its a story of an era, of changing times, and of finding talent. Of fulfillment...

I'm sure you've seen the movie, Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day. The book is so much better, so much more complex and just completely, utterly charming. I took the book out and just devoured it overnight. And the characters are still people you see today, on the street. Maybe not the exact circumstances, but still, its light-hearted without being marshmallow fluff. Its well-crafted, well-written....

The Guernsey Literary and potato peel pie society, or, as its referred to by most library patrons, the book with the potato pie in the title. This is a book written in another manner that can be hard to pull off...letters. An epistolary (have I impressed you yet?) book is, I've found, one of the harder forms for authors to get right, to convey the story without faltering. This works, and works well. You really get to know the characters, the situations, and get a flavor for the novel. All through the letters, from different characters, with different plots and subplots (just like life!). Its not perfectly written, and there is a subtle change in flavor in the two sections (One of the authors died , so perhaps the book was finished by the other?), but all in all, a good book (and very popular).