Book 25: June 2008
To kick of Season Three of the Box of Wine Book Club (sounds more dramatic that way), I turned to Katherine who represents all of Canada in our book club. She sent me several fine choices - we picked a mystery, which we haven't read much of in our group, and also the shortest of the options (still not SHORT at over 400 pages). Please join Katherine and me in reading The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman.
The book is described this way in a review by The Boston Globe:
"Twenty years ago, Jane Hudson fled the Heart Lake School for Girls in the Adirondacks after a terrible tragedy. The week before her graduation, in that sheltered wonderland, three lives were taken, all victims of suicide. Only Jane was left to carry the burden of a mystery that has stayed hidden in the depths of Heart Lake for more than two decades. Now Jane has returned to the school as a Latin teacher, recently separated and hoping to make a fresh start with her young daughter. But ominous messages from the past dredge up forgotten memories. And young, troubled girls are beginning to die again–as piece by piece the shattering truth slowly floats to the surface. . . . "
Reviews from people we don't know:
"This book will keep you guessing until the end. Carol Goodman did an excellent job of showing details of the story. If you like mystery,suspense and a surprising ending you'll LOVE this book." - Nikki
"I'm not normally a mystery reader, but was really intrigued by the cover and the description of the book. When I started reading 'Lake of Dead Languages', I was pleased to find a really well-written, descriptive book where the language is used to evoke emotions and 'memories' of places that the characters have experienced. An added plus is that the book is easy to read, but doesn't talk down to the reader. I liked Ms. Goodman's use of transitioning between past and present, and was stumped for the entire book about the identity (in the past) of the evildoer (from the present). And since one of the reasons I'm not normally a mystery reader is because I figure out the 'whodonit' before the story completely unfolds, I really enjoyed having to wait til the end of the book to find out! I'm looking forward to more books from Ms. Goodman, and heartily recommend this one." - a reviewer
For this month's pairing, Katherine recommends Corona with a slice of lime. There's no actual tie to the book on this one, but really, does there need to be? Corona with lime, it is so good it can stand on it's own. And in case you need further reviews on this one, I know it also comes highly recommended by two other book club members - my mom and my sister-in-law Carrie. But of all the pairings we've had in the two years of our book club, I'd bet that this is one that almost everyone has heard of AND tried.
The book is described this way in a review by The Boston Globe:
"Twenty years ago, Jane Hudson fled the Heart Lake School for Girls in the Adirondacks after a terrible tragedy. The week before her graduation, in that sheltered wonderland, three lives were taken, all victims of suicide. Only Jane was left to carry the burden of a mystery that has stayed hidden in the depths of Heart Lake for more than two decades. Now Jane has returned to the school as a Latin teacher, recently separated and hoping to make a fresh start with her young daughter. But ominous messages from the past dredge up forgotten memories. And young, troubled girls are beginning to die again–as piece by piece the shattering truth slowly floats to the surface. . . . "
Reviews from people we don't know:
"This book will keep you guessing until the end. Carol Goodman did an excellent job of showing details of the story. If you like mystery,suspense and a surprising ending you'll LOVE this book." - Nikki
"I'm not normally a mystery reader, but was really intrigued by the cover and the description of the book. When I started reading 'Lake of Dead Languages', I was pleased to find a really well-written, descriptive book where the language is used to evoke emotions and 'memories' of places that the characters have experienced. An added plus is that the book is easy to read, but doesn't talk down to the reader. I liked Ms. Goodman's use of transitioning between past and present, and was stumped for the entire book about the identity (in the past) of the evildoer (from the present). And since one of the reasons I'm not normally a mystery reader is because I figure out the 'whodonit' before the story completely unfolds, I really enjoyed having to wait til the end of the book to find out! I'm looking forward to more books from Ms. Goodman, and heartily recommend this one." - a reviewer
For this month's pairing, Katherine recommends Corona with a slice of lime. There's no actual tie to the book on this one, but really, does there need to be? Corona with lime, it is so good it can stand on it's own. And in case you need further reviews on this one, I know it also comes highly recommended by two other book club members - my mom and my sister-in-law Carrie. But of all the pairings we've had in the two years of our book club, I'd bet that this is one that almost everyone has heard of AND tried.
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