Imprint Friday: The Doctor and the Diva by Adrienne McDonnell

Welcome to Imprint Friday and today's featured imprint: Pamela Dorman Books. Stop by each week to be introduced to a must-read title from one of my favorite imprints. I know you'll be adding many of these books to your wish list.

The Doctor and the Diva by Adrienne McDonnell, is exactly my kind of book: historical fiction with a solid foundation in a true story about family members with a generous mix of women's rights, medical issues, and difficult personal decisions. This is a story I want to read.

Here's the publisher's summary:

It is 1903. Dr. Ravell is a young Harvard-educated obstetrician with a growing reputation for helping couples conceive. He has treated women from all walks of Boston society, but when Ravell meets Erika--an opera singer whose beauty is surpassed only by her spellbinding voice--he knows their doctor-patient relationship will be like none he has ever had.

After struggling for years to become pregnant, Erika believes there is no hope. Her mind is made up: she will leave her prominent Bostonian husband to pursue her career in Italy, a plan both unconventional and risky. But becoming Ravell's patient will change her life in ways she never could have imagined.

As I said, this novel appealed to me on a variety of levels from straight historical fiction to an examination of the age-old women's dilemma of how to balance a career with motherhood. But it may have been the opening line of the Washington Post's review that sealed the deal for me: "Some novels just naturally enslave you, and this is one of them."

One aspect of The Doctor and the Diva I find very interesting is that it seems to bring out strong emotions in women readers. For example, Julie from Booking Mama was put off by the characters and their choices; however, she said: "I was extremely impressed with Ms. McDonnell's writing style, and it's hard to believe that [this] is her debut novel. I thought the historical aspects of this novel seemed to be very authentic."

On the other side, Zibilee from Raging Bibliomania was invested in the characters, writing that they "grow and change and their lives become much more than they had been. The three [main characters] are also somewhat diminished by their experiences as well, which is a point I feel was handled beautifully."

The Doctor and the Diva is thus the perfect choice for a book club: a well-written, well-researched novel that creates a variety of reactions. Adrienne McDonnell's website includes a reading group guide, which will jump-start your discussion.

In this short video, McDonnell discusses the basis of her novel, some of her research, and the behavior of her characters. There are no spoilers.

The Doctor and the Diva was an Indie Next Pick for August 2010.

This book was featured as part of my Imprint Fridays feature and my Spotlight on Pamela Dorman Books. For more information about the imprint, please read Pamela Dorman's introductory letter, posted here on December 3, 2010.

The Doctor and the Diva at an Indie

The Doctor and the Diva at Powell's

The Doctor and the Diva at Book Depository
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Published by Viking / Pamela Dorman Books, July 2010
ISBN-13: 9780670021888

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Review: Bad Marie by Marcy Dermansky

Marie, fresh out of jail for accessory to murder and bank robbery, needed a job. Ellen, who had known Marie since they were kids, needed a nanny for two-year-old Caitlin. Seems like the old friends were reuniting at the perfect moment.

Despite her lack of childcare experience, Marie was in heaven: gourmet food and a place to live and a little girl who seemed to love her. The best part, however, was Ellen's French husband, the author of Marie's favorite novel.

After just a few weeks on the job, Marie is caught naked and asleep in the tub, while Caitlin plays in the cool water beside her. Ellen is horrified, but her husband, Benoit, can't keep his eyes off Marie's body. Life in paradise has clearly come to end, but Marie isn't about to go down without a fight, and she proceeds to take a few of Ellen's things before she leaves. Two of those things are Benoit and Caitlin.

Just how bad is Marie and who else is to blame? Can a thirty-year-old ex-con figure out how deal with a toddler while on the run?

Marcy Dermansky's Bad Marie is a fascinating novel. Marie is a complicated character, and her ambiguity--good or bad? victim or perpetrator?--keeps your attention from the first page.

She never drank in the daytime. Only at night. Marie didn't see the harm: a little whiskey, a little chocolate (p. 1).

And you nod your head, agreeing that it doesn't seem so bad.

Marie pushes the limits in such small increments that you never really notice when she crosses the line. You wonder if she knows what's she's doing or if she's a perpetual victim who simply does what she must to survive. You'll read the novel in one go just to see what Marie does next.

This book was spotlighted earlier as part of my imprint feature, which includes Harper Perennial. For information about the imprint, please read Erica Barmash's welcome note of June 18, 2010, and visit the The Olive Reader, the Harper Perennial blog.

Bad Marie at an Indie

Bad Marie at Powell's

Bad Marie at Book Depository
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Published by HarperCollins / Harper Perennial, 2010
ISBN-13: 9780061914713
YTD: 107
Source: Review (see review policy)
Rating: B+
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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Beth Fish visits The Book Lady

Hey guess what? The lovely Rebecca from The Book Lady's Blog invited me to her place to talk about audiobooks and Audiobook Jukebox. Go on over and see what I have to say.

And while you're there, be sure to see what is happening on Rebecca's blog. I'm enjoying her Best of 2010 series.

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Wordless Wednesday 107

Birdhouse Collection

For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

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Imprint Extra: CeeCee Honeycutt and Oletta's Next Adventure

As I have mentioned once or twice, I absolutely loved Beth Hoffman's novel, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt. The women Beth wrote about came alive for me, and I still think about them and hope that CeeCee is feeling safe and strong.

I am honored to have a very special treat for you today: Oletta Jones's debut into the world of journalism. Please give a warm welcome to a wonderfully wise woman, who is here to tell you how she became an author.

What Would Oletta Say?

My name is Oletta Jones. Up until a few months ago not many folks knew who I was, and that was fine by me. Then some woman wrote a book and made me a main character; can you believe that? And now, well, I guess I’m kinda famous. But I don’t mind, not most days, anyway. I go to my job at Miz Tootie’s just like always, and I still keep an eye on CeeCee as if she was my own. Lord knows that child needs some guidance. She’s doin’ real good, but with all she’s been through in her young life, I can’t help but worry.

Lately all sorts of letters been comin’ to my mailbox. People think I’ve got answers to their problems. A lot of those folks think I’m wise. Makes me feel good, especially since I didn’t finish school. Somehow the newspaper people got wind of all those letters and they asked me to write a column—said they’d call it “What Would Oletta Say?”

They want me to pick one letter each week and give my answer so they can put it in the newspaper. Well, CeeCee and I looked over all the letters and had ourselves a gay ol’ time readin’ the questions. It was hard to take some of ‘em serious, I’ll tell you that.

The first question we picked is from somebody named Luellen:

Oletta, No matter what I do in life or how much my net worth is, I never feel like I have enough. To make matters worse, I’m in a relationship, but he hurts my feelings all the time. I was thinking maybe I should see a therapist, but what do you think I should do?

Dear Luellen,

Net Worth? I don’t know what that is, but CeeCee says it’s got something to do with your checkbook. And if you think your worth has anything to do with how much money you got, then you’re in trouble plenty! When I hear about so many folks goin’ to what they call “therapy”—well, I wonder what this world’s comin’ to. Now, I know some people need genuine help, and it’s real good they get it, but here’s the thing: too may people lookin’ to others for answers. Somewhere along the way a whole lot of folks up and forgot how powerful they are. Seems to me you’re of ’em.

Maybe you never feel like anything is enough ’cause you don’t like yourself, and if you don’t like yourself, then you’ll never feel like you’re enough and you’ll never be happy with your place in this world. Now, as for your boyfriend, I’m no expert on love, but here’s what I know—love ain’t supposed to hurt.

Think about that. My momma always used to say, “The Good Lord gave you a brain for a reason. Use it.”

All I know is this: happiness comes from the inside, a good days work should bring satisfaction, people get money all mixed up with happiness, and it sure ain’t love if it hurts.

Seems to me that sentence right there just about sums up anything I could ever say, so there’s no sense in me readin’ any more letters or doin’ this column.

Guess I just put myself out of a part-time job at the newspaper, but that’s okay—I got bread in the oven, friends to laugh with, a nice roof over my head, and I like myself just fine. I’m enough. And I hope one day you'll think you're enough too.

_______

Oh, Oletta, you really are wise, whether you think you are or not. And don't fret over not becoming a famous columnist; you've given so many of us plenty to think about already.

Now my biggest wish is that you have a pot of tea warming on the stovetop and some of that fresh bread ready to slice and eat with honey or your fresh strawberry preserves. I'll make room for everyone else at the table too.

This post was an Imprint Extra for the featured imprint Pamela Dorman Books. For more on Pamela Dorman Books, please see Pamela Dorman's guest post and the introduction to her imprint. For my review of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, click here. To meet Beth Hoffman, visit her website and blog, and follow her on Twitter.

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt at an Indie

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt at Powell's

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt at Book Depository
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