ABUNDANCE by Sena Jeter Naslund

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NASLUND

This novel begins when 14-year old princess Toinette sheds her Austrian identity and is "reborn" as the French Marie Antoinette on an island in the middle of the Rhine. Initially, Marie is much beloved by the French people, particularly after finally producing an heir to the throne, but as economic conditions worsen, she is made a scapegoat for the dissatisfaction with the royal regime.

There are many exciting scenes involving the attempted escape of the royal family and poignant ones from her years in prison.

JANE and PRUDENCE by Barbara Pym

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PYM

Jane, a clergyman’s wife, and Prudence, a rather
foolishly romantic young working woman, were tutor and student at Oxford, but they have continued their friendship into the lean years following WWII.
Jane, a dreamy and usually dowdy woman, is entirely unsuitable as a vicar’s wife. Nonetheless, she hopes she can match the fashionable Pru with an appropriate
husband. Unfortunately, Prudence’s interest in her married employer is only too typical of her romantic disasters. While the plot is amusing, the development of the characters is the main focus. The book’s appeal lies in that characterization and in Pym’s sharp wit.

DOG DAYS: DISPATCHES from BEDLAM FARM by Jon Katz

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KAT

Jon Katz, author of A Dog Year,has more stories to tell from his home in upstate New York,Bedlam Farm. The farm is a cross between a working farm and a hobby.
His beloved dogs are his constant companions, —especially Rosie, the border collie who runs the place. There is also Izzy, another border collie with a troubled past who is Katz’s “soulmate.” Not to mention two Labradors, Pearl and Clementine. His goal is to achieve a balance —of nature, of humans, of animals. His struggle to attain this is entertaining reading e. g., Jeanette the donkey, who arrived seemingly overweight but in reality pregnant!
Katz’s storytelling ability is charming yet he has unique views about
animal life that provide many surprises.

THE LAST CHINESE CHEF by Nicole Mones

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MONES

Maggie McElroy, an American food writer, is struggling with widowhood when she receives a call from the Beijing branch of her late husband's law firm. A paternity claim has been placed against his estate. Maggie decides to go there to arrange for a DNA test. Maggie's editor requests that she write an article about a rising culinary star, Chef Sam Liang.
Maggie meets with American-born Sam and follows him around as he prepares for a competition. She learns that the Chinese food she has eaten at home is nothing like the food of China. Sam steers her through the history and philosophy of the most famous dishes, and introduces her to his family who have always taught and supported him.

THE SENATOR'S WIFE by Sue Miller

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MILLER

Nathan and Meri have recently moved into a New England townhouse. They are newly married, beginning new jobs and expecting their first
child. Their neighbor, Delia Naughton, is at the opposite end of the
life spectrum. She has three grown children and an estranged husband, the notorious philanderer, Senator Tom Naughton. When they become
friends Delia asks Meri to watch the house during her frequent trips to
her Paris apartment. Meri takes the opportunity to read a secret stash of letters between Tom and Delia describing their troubled yet
passionate relationship. After Tom suffers a debilitating stroke, Delia
takes care of him, much to the dismay of her angry children. This
powerful book focuses on family, marriage, relationships, and the
experiences of two quite different women.

THE RED TENT by Anita Diamant

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DIAMANT

Dinah, the only daughter of Jacob, tells the story of her father, his relationships with her mother, Leah, and his three other wives, all Leah's sisters, Dinah herself, and her many brothers. Her tale, told from the viewpoint of the women involved, is a good deal more detailed and believable than that told long after by men in the Hebrew Bible. After her marriage to an Egyptian and his betrayal at the hands of her hateful brothers and treacherous father, Dinah's story takes her and her readers to Egypt, where she comes to happiness and , in full circle, to her brother Joseph, now a man of power.

While some more conservative readers might disapprove of Dinah's version of events, since it departs in points from the Biblical story, most women familiar with the original will find Dinah's recounting closer to real life and considerably more interesting. They will quickly understand why The Red Tent became a bestseller.

MISTRESS OF SPICES by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruna

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DIVAKARUN

Readers with an interest in magic or Indian culture will enjoy this story and its unusual conclusion.
Tilo chooses to serve as mistress of spices in a spice shop in moder-day Oakland. In fact, a mistress is a sort of nun, cloistered in her shop, dedicated to the spices, and strictly instructed not to become personally involved with the customers she helps by prescribing magical spices. Her celibacy is easier to maintain in the elderly body she is given. Most of Til's customers are immigrants or second generation, and clash of their new country's culture with that of their homes creates serious problems, as does prejudice and discrimination. Tilo becomes involved in these problems; worse, she falls in love with half-native American Raven. Raven has magical powers of his own and he loves Tilo, seeing the real woman through the disguise of her arthritic body. Of course, the spices exact their punishment, but it is not what Tilo or the reader expects.

HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG by Andre Dubus III

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DUBUS III, A.

Compelling, beautifully written story of two individuals' struggle for a house. Colonel Behrani, an Iranian immigrant, has purchased a house at public auction and hopes to sell it for a nice profit. Unfortunately, the house was sold due to an error by the county, and its owner, Kathy Nicolo, a recovering addict, is evicted.

Neither person sill back down when Deputy Sheriff Lester Burden becomes involved int he dispute, as well as romantically with Kathy, the results are tragic.

LOVE WALKED IN by Marisa de los Santos

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DE LOS SANTOS

One day handsome Martin Grace walks into romantic Cornelia Brown's coffee shop and she thinks her life has changed forever. Handsome, charming, the image of Cary Grant, Martin sweeps her off her feet. He declares his love for her, but for some reason she can't explain, Cornelia is unable to return his love.

One day Martin brings his 11-year old daughter, Clare, to the coffee shop. Clare is distraught as her mother has disappeared. Martin, who has been estranged from both his daughter and her mother, does not know what to do. Cornelia steps in as she seems to know instinctively what to do for the child. As time goes by Cornelia comes to love Clare, but realized she will never love Martin as he seems to have no love for his wonderful daughter. When Martin is killed in a car accident, Cornelia and Clare are left to help each other with difficult choices about who to love and why.

THE CUNNING MAN by Robertson Davies

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DAVIES, R.

A doctor who practices what we would call holistic medicine tends to the bodies and souls of middle class Toronto. Although not as compelling as some of his earlier works, Davies can still stun the reader with his insight and make him laugh out loud at the foibles of the human species.

There really isn't any modern writer quiet like him. Fiction with soul and bite.