The Distant Hours

Novel by Kate Morton

Ok, weird story... in two ways. First, how I came to read this book is different. And second, the story itself is weird. 

I bought this book for my grandma's birthday gift, never having heard of author or title. It just looked like something my grandma would enjoy--a pastoral European story with nostalgia and a hint of mystery. I almost didn't get it, because the paperback version is pretty fat, and heavy books hurt Grandma's hands as she reads. But in total honesty, I wanted to read it too, and Grandma always shares.  Throwing caution and carpal tunnel syndrome to the wind, I bought it and gave it to her. A surprisingly short time later, she put the book in my hands and said, "Read this and tell me what you think." Uh oh. I asked her if she liked it and she said something like, "Yes. No. Just read it." So after I finished The Zookeeper's Wife and before I started rereading the YA books for my class book project, I picked up The Distant Hours. 

 And I have to say, I feel the same. Do I like it? Yes. No. Just read it. The book is billed as historical fiction, but it's really not. The main narrator is a 30-something single from London in the 1990's, but she's investigating (for personal and professional reasons) a mysteriously published book and a mysterious disappearance at a castle in England during World War II. (Side note: my mom was just commenting how many WWII books she's read lately, and I didn't even realize this was another one until I typed that just now. Crazy.) What's weird about this book to me is not that the narration spins around violently in time (not just present/past, but past/past/past/1990's). It's also not that weird that there are many strands of mystery going on at the same time: what happened to the young man? why is the mom so secretive? who is the mystery lover? why did he write the book?  why all the secrets? No, what's weird about the book is that I wouldn't consider it that great, nor do I particularly like any of the characters, but still I looked forward to reading it every moment of the day until I could pick it up at night. On two occasions I even read during my lunch break, a time I usually work on school stuff so I can pick up my kids earlier. On Friday I accidentally left it at work and went back to get it after my kids were in bed even though it creeps me out to go to the school after hours. I am a reader, but I haven't read a book this voraciously in a while. 

So maybe that's what my grandma meant. Yes, she liked it. No, it's not the best book ever. Just read it. 

Next up: I will NOT be blogging about the YA fiction because it's three books I've already read and just need a brushing up so I can teach them in class. So maybe it will be The River Wife (another "wife" book) or Fall of Giants (another war book, this time WWI). I'm a sucker for a trend. 

The Zookeeper's Wife

History by Diana Ackerman

Wait, what was that? This blog isn't only about novels? You're kidding me. I know, I know. I say I read other stuff, but novels are really my first love. And I'd love to be all high brow here, but really I borrowed this book from my mom's shelf thinking it WAS a novel. With a name like The Zookeeper's Wife, it sure sounds like one. There have been so many "wife" books: Ahab's Wife, The Time Traveler's Wife, The Pilot's Wife, to name a few. (Hmmm...maybe my future novel should have wife in the title.) But you see my point. And the good thing is, this historical account really does read like a novel most of the time. Written based on many first hand accounts and journals, it contains descriptions, dialogue, and thoughts that make the story very real.

The zookeeper mentioned is Jan Zabinski of the Warsaw Zoo in Poland. Along with his wife, Antonina, Jan creates an oasis for animals, animal lovers, and culture at the zoo. The beginning of the book describes the Zabinski's idyllic, slightly odd family life as they live in and run the zoo. When the Germans invade Poland and the zoo is bombed and ransacked, the Zabinskis turn the tunnels, cages, and their home into an oasis of a different sort-- they hide Jews. Hundreds of refugees hide in their keeping during the war, some for a short time before moving on to more permanent hiding places, and some for almost the duration of the war. Jan is also part of the undergroup resistance, a connection that helps the family feed and move the refugees, but also brings them into more danger at time.

One of the reviews of the book calls it a lovely story about the Holocaust, which seems a contradiction, but it's true. The book, like the zoo, is full of the art and culture of Poland, which never interested me before but now sounds so appealing. Ackerman also goes into detail about a number of other topics involved in the war, such as the Nazis' fascination with the blood lines of animals and people and the scientific developments of the time period. Most are interesting; some are distracting.

Even with as many rabbit trails as Ackerman explores, Antonina is clearly the central figure in the story. Jan is the official zookeeper, hence Antonina is, in name, just the zookeeper's wife. But in both the zoo and the resistance, she is much more than this submissive and subjugated person.  She is the heartbeat of the family, the provider of emotional and physical needs, a tireless worker for the zoo and refugees, and just as brave as her husband in the face of extreme adversity. Ackerman often refers to Antonina's almost supernatural connection with animals and ability to calm both animals and humans. More than once, Antonina faces a marauding soldier and mentally wills him to back down. She IS the resistance. Actually, this makes me think I will NEVER title a book of mine "someone's wife."

Run

Novel by Ann Patchett

"When an argument in a blinding New England snowstorm inadvertently causes an accident that involves a stranger and her child, all Bernard Doyle cares about is his ability to keep his children--all his children--safe."

So reads the inside flap of this 2007 novel. Because of this snippet, I almost didn't read the book. I am incredibly vulnerable to stories of injury to children right now. For example, I was perusing the first few pages of a very trendy Christian inspiration book, came to a scene where the author's sister dies at a young age, and slammed the book down.  These kinds of images just cause my anxiety to flare and I really don't need that in my life right now. But....I started reading this book anyway, with trepidation, and I'm glad I did. Because really, there is none of that in the story. This quote is misleading--it stirs up ideas of drama that isn't in the book at all. Sure, there's an accident and some injuries, but the children are never really in danger. There's other drama, better drama, but not the heart-palpitation-inducing drama that I don't want to hear about right now.

And I'm glad I got past the cover, because this book is another rich one from Patchett. After I read State of Wonder, Patchett's newest, I asked you which others you would recommend. My friend Marie replied that Run was her favorite, and I can easily see why it appeals to her. As usual, Patchett explores some universal issues in sensitive ways. The ones in this book, social justice and adoption, are close to Marie's heart. It's also as fast-paced as the other books, which is a must for busy moms who choose between reading and sleep. I wondered as I finished, though, why I still liked Bel Canto better than this one. Maybe because Bel Canto was my first experience with her writing and a total surprise. Maybe it's because this one was set in Boston and didn't have that other-world quality. Maybe it's that intangible something about some books that just grab us, and it's different for each reader. So don't be discouraged from reading this book based on my opinion--it may be your favorite.

As I started with a quote, I'll end with one as well. This is also from the cover, and is miles better at describing the heart of this story: "It shows us how worlds of privilege and poverty can coexist only blocks from each other, and how family can include people you've never even met."