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New choices for reading groups
REVIEWS BY JULIE HALE
By Ross King Penguin, $15 304 pages, ISBN 0802713955
By Chuck Palahniuk Anchor, $13.95 272 pages, ISBN 0385722192
By Thomas Steinbeck Ballantine, $13.95 336 pages, ISBN 0345455770
By William Trevor Penguin, $14 240 pages, ISBN 0670031542
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In this compelling account of 16th-century Italy, King, the best-selling author of Brunelleschi's Dome, explores the Renaissance
through the lens of one of its greatest wonders: the frescoes painted by Michelangelo in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel. Commissioned
by Pope Julius II in 1508 to paint the ceiling of the refurbished sanctuary, the artist was hesitant to take on the assignment at
first, having painted very little. But the results were, of course, remarkable, and so is King's chronicle of the four years
Michelangelo devoted to this backbreaking task. With Rome as the backdrop, the everyday life of Michelangelo. unfolds in rich
detail. Providing glimpses of important figures like Leonardo da Vinci, Niccolo Machiavelli and Martin Luther along the way,
the author applies his historical expertise to a fascinating epoch, producing a fast-paced narrative that history buffs and art
lovers will enjoy.
One of contemporary literature's most innovative authors, Palahniuk has consistently surprised readers with his twisted,
satirical tales of life in the modern world. Lullaby is another eccentric bestseller, the story of a journalist named Carl
Streator, who comes across a song with lyrics that—literally—kill. While investigating Sudden Infant Death Syndrome,
Streator learns that all of the disorder's recent victims were read the same poem, an African song that, when repeated to any
listener, has fatal results. Adding to the creepiness of his discovery is Helen Hoover Boyle, a realtor who deals in haunted
houses, and who also knows the secret of the song. Together, they embark on a journey to find and destroy all existing copies
of the poem. With his singular sense of humor and eye for the offbeat, Palahniuk provokes with every page of this memorable
novel.
Talk about good literary genes. Thomas Steinbeck is the son of John, and it shows in this fine debut, a collection of short
stories set on the Monterey Peninsula in the early 1900s. Steinbeck isn't afraid of writing long narratives, and two of the book's
most memorable tales demonstrate his ability to construct a solid, extended plot. In "Blind Luck," a sailor endures the challenges of
his first voyage, overcoming a terrible accident and going on to become a captain—his lifelong dream. "Sing Fat and the Imperial
Duchess of Woo" is a moving novella about a Chinese student who falls in love with a woman while training with an elderly apothecary.
Nature is a recurring character in many of the narratives, including "The Night Guide," which tells the unforgettable story of a
boy who uses his ability as a woodsman to rescue his mother during a storm. Each of these stories proves the author has plenty
of talent in his own right. A reading group guide is included in the book.
Set in 1921, this elegantly crafted, quietly disturbing book—Trevor's 29th—tells the story of the Gaults, a Protestant
family forced to leave Ireland and the country home they adore. Lucy, an only child, is doted upon by her mother and father, and
when she disappears on the night before the family is set to leave, they are devastated. Captain Gault and his wife, Heloise, assume
Lucy is dead and immediately exile themselves to Europe, where they wander and grieve, losing contact with their old existence in
Ireland. When their daughter is found alive only a few days after her disappearance, the Gaults have no way of learning the news.
A poignant meditation on the unexpected courses our lives often take, this is another finely wrought tale from a master fiction
writer. A Penguin Readers Guide is available online at www.penguin.com.