The Descendants / Kaui Hart Hemmings

A pointed look at a family in crisis. The book received a resurgence in popularity due to the film adaption. Hemmings beautiful crafts the story of a family patriarch Matthew King and his two daughters as they deal with the coming loss of their flawed wife and mother. The character of Joanie (renamed Elizabeth in the movie) comes to life through the memories of her husband, daughters, family and others. King and his daughters make the decision to visit individual family and friends and notify them the decision to take Joanie off life support, when they discover that Joanie was having an affair and set off to find her lover. A subplot focuses on King's role in deciding what to do with his family's ancestral land.

While the book is thin, it's not a quick read, but it holds your attention every step of the way.

The Rope

The Rope /Nevada Barr, New York: Minotaur Books, 2012 (357 p.)

By my count this is the seventeenth book in Barr’s Anna Pigeon series.  For some, this should have been the first book since it introduces the reader to how and why Anna Pigeon came to work for the National Park Service and decided to become a full-time park ranger.

Like most of Barr’s books, The Rope combines mystery with the beauty of our National Parks and those who have travelled to the parks where the stories are based will recognize both the geography and many of the specific locations that Barr includes.  In this book, Anna has abandoned her life in New York City and moved to the Glen Canyon/Lake Powell area where she is serving as a part-time summer worker.  While initially living in a shell of self-imposed seclusion, after her life is threatened Anna is forced to become more open and develop friendships with those who will help find the culprits.

I have enjoyed most of the Barr books that I have read, including this one but I agree with others who have indicated that this book is a bit dark when compared with others in the Anna Pigeon series.  It seems like Barr must be going through a change in her writing style because the other recent work of hers that I’ve read, 13 ½ was extremely dark.  Hopefully Barr will move back to the more traditional story lines if she continues with the Anna Pigeon series.

Even though the book is a bit lengthy and dark, I would still recommend it, particularly to those who have followed Anna Pigeon’s National Park Service work at other parks around the U. S.

The Night Circus

The Night Circus / Erin Morgenstern. New York: Doubleday, 2011 (387 p.)

Imagine a circus that travels the globe. It arrives unannounced and only opens its gates at night. But when you go in, you're greeted with tents filled with magic and mystery. Welcome to the Night Circus. While the plot centers on a strange competition between two magicians, the book's strength lies in the author's skillful and colorful description of the circus, its performers, and magical tents.