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The Herald, Utah
Nov 11 2012
Book Buzz: The Sandcastle Girls, Black Count
by Carla Zollinger - Correspondent
'The Sandcastle Girls'
In 1915, Elizabeth Endicott decided to leave her home in Boston and
travel with her father to Aleppo, Syria. Their mission was to aid the
refugees fleeing from the Armenian genocide.
What they found was a nightmare of death and torment far beyond
anything they could have imagined. But amid the despair and violence,
Elizabeth also found friendship and love. Friendship with an Armenian
woman Elizabeth rescues from the camps, and love with an Armenian
engineer whose wife and child have disappeared somewhere in the
desert.
"The Sandcastle Girls" by Chris Bohjalian is a beautiful historical
novel set during a period of history that few Americans are familiar
with. Bohjalian's lovely prose and heart-wrenching story of loss is
captivating. Elizabeth's story is narrated by her granddaughter, which
gives it a very personal touch.
Novels of World War II and the Holocaust abound in recent literature,
but here is a chance for readers to learn more about another equally
tragic period of world history.
'The Black Count'
Any time I am asked for my all-time favorite book, I easily answer
"The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexander Dumas. So, when I learned
that parts of Edmond Dantes's story was based on the life and travails
of the author's father, I knew that was a biography I had to read.
I was not disappointed.
In "The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count
of Monte Cristo." author Tom Reiss describes General Alexander Dumas
as a legendary soldier of mixed race that fought for his beloved
French Republic and was eventually promoted to leading 50,000 men. The
father's adventures and courage proved to inspire his son's most
remembered literary scenes such as D'Artagnan's three-duel day and
Edmond's unjustifiable prison sentence.
Much like Dumas's work, Reiss includes a great deal of historical
detail and context as he presents General Dumas to his readers, but
again like Dumas, the depth is rewarding. Any fan or student of the
beloved author will want to learn more of his father, an inspiring man
whom history has almost forgotten.
- Carla Zollinger is a librarian with the Provo City Library. Email
her at [email protected].
http://www.heraldextra.com/entertainment/books-and-literature/book-buzz-the-sandcastle-girls-black-count/article_dd94d294-a0c3-5cfd-82ac-42a6c871181a.html
Nov 11 2012
Book Buzz: The Sandcastle Girls, Black Count
by Carla Zollinger - Correspondent
'The Sandcastle Girls'
In 1915, Elizabeth Endicott decided to leave her home in Boston and
travel with her father to Aleppo, Syria. Their mission was to aid the
refugees fleeing from the Armenian genocide.
What they found was a nightmare of death and torment far beyond
anything they could have imagined. But amid the despair and violence,
Elizabeth also found friendship and love. Friendship with an Armenian
woman Elizabeth rescues from the camps, and love with an Armenian
engineer whose wife and child have disappeared somewhere in the
desert.
"The Sandcastle Girls" by Chris Bohjalian is a beautiful historical
novel set during a period of history that few Americans are familiar
with. Bohjalian's lovely prose and heart-wrenching story of loss is
captivating. Elizabeth's story is narrated by her granddaughter, which
gives it a very personal touch.
Novels of World War II and the Holocaust abound in recent literature,
but here is a chance for readers to learn more about another equally
tragic period of world history.
'The Black Count'
Any time I am asked for my all-time favorite book, I easily answer
"The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexander Dumas. So, when I learned
that parts of Edmond Dantes's story was based on the life and travails
of the author's father, I knew that was a biography I had to read.
I was not disappointed.
In "The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count
of Monte Cristo." author Tom Reiss describes General Alexander Dumas
as a legendary soldier of mixed race that fought for his beloved
French Republic and was eventually promoted to leading 50,000 men. The
father's adventures and courage proved to inspire his son's most
remembered literary scenes such as D'Artagnan's three-duel day and
Edmond's unjustifiable prison sentence.
Much like Dumas's work, Reiss includes a great deal of historical
detail and context as he presents General Dumas to his readers, but
again like Dumas, the depth is rewarding. Any fan or student of the
beloved author will want to learn more of his father, an inspiring man
whom history has almost forgotten.
- Carla Zollinger is a librarian with the Provo City Library. Email
her at [email protected].
http://www.heraldextra.com/entertainment/books-and-literature/book-buzz-the-sandcastle-girls-black-count/article_dd94d294-a0c3-5cfd-82ac-42a6c871181a.html