The Mallen Streak (#1 of The Mallen Trilogy) - Dame Catherine Cookson

Genre: Fiction (Historical) dealing with class issues

#1 The Mallen Streak

We are introduced to Thomas Mallen at his home, High Banks Hall) and his nieces.  We learn about the signature white streak of hair that afflicts the Mallen’s and their rather unfortunate streak of bad luck.  Thomas loses his home due to bad debt and his son flees the country.  So he moves into the small cottage with his 2 nieces (Barbara and Constance) and their governess, Anna Brigmore, who is in love with Thomas.  One night, in a drunken stupor, Thomas Mallen rapes his young niece, Barbara, upon realising what he has done he commits suicide.

The editing done to this novel was not great as there were quite a few spelling and grammar errors, but I suspect that is because the copy that I read was one of the first edition paperback prints from 1975.  I found the novel rather interesting and struggled to put it down.  I thought the story was well written and I absolutely loved the way Dame Cookson highlighted the class differences and issues of the time, especially her way of focusing on the 'fall from grace' and the inability of some to adjust to a smaller scale of living.  I was disappointed when the book ended but I was glad to find out that there were two more to follow.

The Mallen Girl, number two in the trilogy will feature in the next post.

The Concubine’s Secret – Kate Furnivall

Genre: Fiction

12 Years after her escape from communist Russia, and months after the tragic ending of The Russian Concubine, Lydia returns to find her father, the father she believed dead.  With Alexei Serov, her half-brother, and protector, Liev Popkov, the giant Cossack bear, she travels to Moscow and trouble finds her.  We join her as she tries to find the hidden labour camp where her father is being held.  Soon we meet Lydia’s other companions on this journey, Elena, a prostitute in love with Liev. Edik, the street urchin, and his puppy, Misty.  A Russian soldier and his wife. The ‘Vory’ and a most welcome appearance by Chang An Lo.

Again, this story is wonderfully written but I felt that I was let down by the ending because I hoped, beyond all the doubt that I knew existed, that there would be a happy ending for all involved.  I had also hoped for closure on Lydia’s story but Furnivall gives it an open ending and leaves one wondering.

Will there be another novel about Lydia? I doubt it, but I can’t help wishing that there will be.  I want to spend more time with these beautifully crafted characters and I actaully find myself missing them and wondering how they are doing.

The story of Valentina Ivanova and Jens Friis is found in the prequel, The Jewel of St. Petersburg, which I have yet to read...

The Russian Concubine - Kate Furnivall

Genre: Fiction

The story is not biographical but is loosely based on the story of Furnivall’s own mother, Lily, who was a Russian refugee.

Lydia Ivanova (age 5) and her mother, Valentina, escape Russia during the Bolshevik Revolution, losing her father, Jens Friis, a Danish citizen, in the process.  They end up living in an International Settlement in Junchow China, and without ‘papers’, they are stuck there.  The novel follows Lydia’s escapades through Junchow, from thief to protector to nurse.  She is a daughter, lover, prisoner and fighter.  One day she finds herself in trouble and is saved by the wonderful Chang An Lo, a freedom fighter and a Communist rebel.  Soon we begin to follow their fiery romance and their ‘involvement’ with the Black Snake Brotherhood.

I thought that the novel was expertly written and the ending left me craving for more.  She definitely knows what her readers want and exactly how to give them that.  We watch Lydia grow from a frightened 5 year old to a strong vicious fiery-haired ‘demon’.  Watching this growth, you find yourself falling in love with Lydia and hoping that all turns out well for her.  This story left me in tears when I was finished, and I was disappointed that it had come to an end.

The story is continued in The Concubine’s Secret, which will be the topic of the next post.

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake – Aimee Bender

Genre: Fiction

Just before her 9^th birthday Rose Edelstien discovers that she can taste emotions in food.  Suddenly food is a challenge for her.  All she can really stomach is mass produced machine food like crackers.  This gift, or is it a curse, is the centre of the entire novel.  Rose’s brother, Joe, possesses his own frightening gift and she relies on his friend, the ever smart and charming George to help her with this.

Although the novel is well written I found the story to be a bit ‘blotchy’ as I thought Joe’s gift demanded a further explanation and although Rose’s dad is present, he is such a mysterious character that it just didn't seem like he was needed at all.  The blurb is a bit misleading and resulted in me feeling rather let down as it makes it seem that the story is all about Rose and her gift rather centred more on her brother and her mother, who has a secret of her own.  I read this book on a bit of a whim as one of my favourite authors, Jodi Picoult, is quoted, on the front cover as saying “such beautiful writing” and while I cannot deny this I just found that the story was a bit lacking.

Had I known this in advance, would I have still read the book? Yes.  Even though I felt let down and disappointed I enjoyed the ‘magic’ of the story, making it just a little worthwhile.