March 15, 2010
"The Kommandant's Girl" is a well written first novel by Pam Jenoff and is based in part on actual events. I found it a quick read -- a romance full of intrigue, difficult decisions, deception, loss, and hope in the midst of a horrific war. It's also a story of lasting relationships forged out of necessity and assistance from unexpected sources. I've always had an interest in the Holocaust and this novel gives a realistic depiction of the Holocaust without all the really gruesome details that I believe would have detracted from the main focus of this story.
Monday, March 15, 2010
"Hold Me Tight & Tango Me Home"
Maria Finn discovers her husband (and salsa dancing partner) is cheating on her so she throws him out and files for divorce. "Hold Me Tight & Tango Me Home" is her memoir that details how she worked through the aftermath of the breakdown of her marriage by taking up tango lessons in preparation for attending a wedding in Argentina. There's a great paragraph on page 53 where Maria explains why being physical is a way of feeling better for her -- and also a form of prayer. Maria's life is consumed by lessons and attending regular tango social dances in New York City where she lives but she still finds time to explore internet dating. Her forays into dating are insightful as well as (at times) amusing. Tango also brings new friendships as her life revolves around this dance. I found the explanation (pages 114-115) of how chemistry plays a part in dating and in dancing interesting. Eventually she travels to Buenos Aires for the wedding and more tango lessons. Along the way she looks at a career change and gives us a fascinating look at the history of tango. I never expected a memoir about divorce and lost love to be so uplifting. I highly recommend this book!
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