After the Falls

After the Falls , by Catherine Gildiner, is the sequel for all those readers who wonder what happened to the quirky little girl with the extraordinary upbringing in Too Close to the Falls. As you might expect, Catherine's family life in the 60's was unusual, and when you throw in the chaotic and liberated political and social scene of the time, it makes for another fascinating memoir. There's a bit of a twist at the end which goes a little way to explain some things, but her story is still improbable and entertaining.

The Postmistress

I enjoyed The Postmistress , by Sarah Blake, particularly for its fleshing out of what I know about World War II-era Europe. The story is a sort of a romance, a little twist from the usual, but it gave me a very tangible and real sense of what it was like for the Jews who were being expelled from Europe. Don't be put off by that - it's a warm book. I liked the characters a lot, and if the last concept of the plot was just a little too coincidental, I was willing to forgive it. A nice read.