profil d'Amy MacDougall

Fascinating characterizations of Aristotle and Alexander, Oct. 24 2009

Knowing little about early Greece, I approached this novel with trepidation, thinking it would be a boring, dry venture in historical fiction. Nothing could be further from the truth! I became totally enraptured by this quick paced novel, and by Lyon's superb characterizations of some great historical luminaries; specifically Aristotle and his young student, Alexander. The novel is about so much more than the molding of young Alexander into his destined "Greatness" - it is about the strained relationships between Alexander and his father, Philip of Macedon, and, even as a child, Alexander's bloodthristy penchant for violence that Aristotle tries, with some success, to temper with a… Lire la suite

Suspenseful novel about family ties and sibling rivalry, Avril 29 2009

The Sudden Disappearance of Seetha is both a coming of age and a mystery novel. Neela and Navi are a sister and brother being raised by their maternal grandmother in what appears to be a country in the Caribbean, or perhaps the author's birthplace of Guyana. Neela and Navi each have their own strengths and weaknesses - Neela is a good writer who often underachieves at school, and Navi is recognized by the community for his exceptional intellectual ability. As children, both vie for the attention of their mother, who emigrated to a Western nation to work as a nanny, during short and infrequent long distance telephone calls.

The novel takes a suspenseful turn of political… Lire la suite

Post WWII story narrated through letter-writing is a heartfelt tale, Avril 4 2009

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a jewel of story - clear, vibrant, and beautiful. The protagonist is Juliet Ashton, a young British woman in her early thirties who survived World War II by working as a journalist. In 1946, with the war over, Juliet finds herself with a case of writer's block. She is ready to write her next piece, but needs a worthy subject. Eventually, she finds her subjects in the people of Guernsey, one of the English Channel Islands that was occupied by the Germans and completely cut-off from any contact with England during the war.

The plot unfolds through a series of letters written between Juliet and her friends, including her… Lire la suite