The Wildes; A Novel in Five Acts

 Louis Bayard has created an interesting novel about the life of Oscar Wilde and of course written it in five acts in The Wildes; A Novel in Five Acts.

Each act is written from a different person's point of view about the life of Oscar Wilde and his family. Starting with his wife, Constance we see how the life they lived together with their two small sons is blown open when Oscar is accused of the outrageous act of homosexuality.  It is in the fall of 1892 when Constance, Oscar and their son, Cyril are staying in a country house in the Norfolk countryside for a holiday.  Oscar invites young poets to come visit and finally when aristocratic young wannabe poet named Lord Alfred Douglas, arrives Constance begins to see what has been hiding in plain site.  Her husband's affections are revealed and their world begins to crumble.When Oscar is brought up on trial and sent to prison for homosexual relations, Constance moves her family away and changes their last name. B ut the damage is done and the two boys, Cyril and Vyvyan lives are turned upside down.  

In the next acts we learn the extent of how the adults choices have affected these tow boys lives hearing their stories and how their lives turned out.  

It is a well written account of life and the scandal of the time.  In act five the reader will see that maybe if there things were handled a little differently there could have been a different outcome. It is a fabulous story and the reader may wish that people then were as open minded as we wish to be now.

The Lost Baker of Vienna

 Today I went to a book talk by Sharon Kurtzman, author of The Lost Baker of Vienna.  It was a wonderful addition to my enjoyment in reading the novel.

Kurtzman talked about how she was able to sit down with her mother years ago in college and hear about her mother's childhood as a Holocaust survivor. It took her many years to finally reach the moment when she could create a novel out of her mother's lived experience.  The Lost Baker of Vienna is that book.

The book is based on her mother's story but the baker and some other facts are changed to create the novel. This is a well researched plot though and the facts are real even the delicious pastries mentioned were researched in Vienna by the author.

This novel is the story of a mother and her two young adult children who have managed to live through the atrocities of the war and finally escape a DP camp to be smuggled into Vienna.  They are trying to get to family in America but the quotas are making it difficult. 

Now in Vienna with nothing they get work in a hotel kitchen and a room in a boarding house.  But life here is also still dangerous for Jews. 

Alongside this plot is the current day story of a young woman, Zoe Rosenzweig, who is working to make a career as a journalist.  When her grandfather dies and leaves her some information about her past she is determined to find out the family history.  She follows a lead to Vienna and members of the family who were connected to her grandfather and the great aunt she never knew. \

A story of love, hardship and perseverance both through the Holocaust and to learn about family history.  A willingness to take chances and work for what you believe in. 

Under the Stars

 Beatriz Williams one of the authors who work never disappoints has another historical novel out titled, Under the Stars.

Tying the plot to the historical event of the sinking of the SS Atlantic of the coast of Nova Scotia in 1873 Williams has created a delightful novel of relationships.  Husbands and wives and parents and children and the truths that are both hidden and revealed.

Meredith is a famous Hollywood actress who needs to dry out before her next picture contract.  Her daughter, Audrey is getting over the desertion of her husband and the loss of her restaurant. Audrey steps up and takes on the responsibility of bringing her mother home to Winthrop Island for a quiet somber summer before reporting to the set of her new movie. Meredith grew up on the Island and left her boyfriend Mike when she went off across the country wit their baby daughter, Audrey to California many years ago.

A third narrative of the story of Prudence Dare. How she came to be aboard the ill fated ship but escaped when it went down off the coast and came ashore on Winthrop Island.

Now back on the Winthrop Island secrets will be revealed and memories will be remembered.  Audrey will have to make some hard choices with her life.

An entertaining mystery with a little suspense but also a wonderful story of love between a mother and daughter, and maybe even some lessons learned about the importance of family and trust.