The Road Taken, by Rona Jaffe

A public library book read and reviewed on LibraryThing in March, 2014

A quick paced family saga, focusing on the life events of the family of Rose Smith Carson, born on January 1, 1900, and still living in 1999. Most of the major events of the 20th century affected some member or members of her family: World War I, the influenza epidemic, World War II, beatniks, polio, the women's movement, gay pride, the sexual revolution, the Pill, advances in medicine, and many more. I found it interesting; I wanted to keep reading to find out what happens next, but I wished many parts of it had been more fully developed.

Spring Moon, by Bette Bao Lord

Read, reviewed, and given to a friend in June, 2015

I didn't want this book to end!
Spring Moon is a family saga, continuing through several generations, through many wars and revolutions. China has had a very turbulent history, and this is reflected in the fictional families of Chang and Woo. We follow the young girl, Spring Moon (born in 1877) into adolescence and womanhood, marriage, motherhood, heartbreak and tragedy. Her mother-in-law, on her deathbed, predicts that Spring Moon will live to see five generations.
Mrs. Lord is an excellent writer, conveying the history of China through the eyes of one woman and her family. At the same time we are brought into the sequestered world of 19th century privileged women, confined and bound by tradition, but still feeling hope, love, and despair behind closed doors. Each chapter begins with ancient tale, legend, or note of history, which adds understanding. Also, there is a timeline of the events of Chinese history from the ancient legendary era to 1981, the date of the book's publication.

A Thousand Acres, by Jane Smiley

Read and reviewed in January, 2014. Released later

A family drama loosely based on Shakespeare's King Lear. A man with three grown daughters suddenly decides to divide his 1,000 acre Iowa farm between them. The daughters and sons-in-law have ambitious plans but things don't go as hoped. I found it heavy reading and a bit depressing.

Manor House, by Johannes Meintjes

Read and reviewed in May, 2012, released later.

Just finished this book, a wonderful book that will stay with me. I'm very glad I happened to see it at the thriftshop. It was written by a South African writer unknown to me.

It is a former library book from East Baton Rouge Parish Library of Baton Rouge, Louisiana USA, and in fair condition. Only a couple of marks (one is "I loved this book - very unusual!" written on the frontispiece. I agree with the sentiment) and one torn page that has been taped over and is completely in the margin. The bonus was that I could use the check-out card as a bookmark! I always used to do this before libraries went digital.

The book is about two Cape Dutch Afrikaner (white) families and how their lives are intertwined and affected by a series of tragedies. Featured are the narrator and his friend, a very talented, popular and gregarious artist who returns to the homeplace to restore it, and becomes an impoverished recluse in the process. It was really hard to put this book down; I was fascinated in finding how their lives would unfold and how various issues would be resolved.

The Thorn Birds, by Colleen McCullough

Book image courtesy of Amazon. com

Read and reviewed in January, 2012, given to a relative

A wonderful book! I don't know why I waited so long to start it! Much more than just an illicit affair with a priest, a dramatic saga featuring four strong women in four generations*, and the trials and tribulations of managing an Australian outback station.

*Mary Carson, Fiona "Fee" Armstrong Cleary, Meghann "Meggie" Cleary O'Neil, and Justine O'Neil