Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 21, 1994 TAG: 9408210110
SECTION: HORIZON PAGE: D-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
By Judith Krantz. Crown. $23.
Judith Krantz has done it again - another glitzy bauble in the `Scruples` series. `Lovers` revolves around Gigi Orsini, who leaves the Scruples catalogue division to join an ad agency. (I could have told her no good would come of that move.)
Krantz is a wonderfully talented chef of frivolous, rich desserts of novels. Sure we could live without this kind of glittery fluff, but who wants to? I love checking in periodically with Billy Winthrop Ikehorn Orsini Elliot and Spider, Sasha Nevsky and her brother Josh, along with Vito Orsini every few years. There are even some interesting new characters as love interests in this one. Of course, there are also the obligatory trip to Europe and some terrific sex, as well.
`Lovers` is Judith Krantz's eight major novel. I hope she has lots more to come. There's nothing like a really good romantic story when life gets too serious.
- JUDY KWELLER
The Secret Life of the Seine.
By Mort Rosenblum. Addison-Welsey. $21.
Lovers embrace on the quays of the Seine; fishermen line its banks; tourists and Parisians alike admire the view from the 30-odd bridges spanning the river. But perhaps no one savors the magic of its charm as much as the people who live on the water. One such is Mort Rosenblum, a foreign correspondent who bought la Vieille, a 54-foot boat, to refurbish for his home.
Cruising at a gentle seven miles an hour on two engines, la Vieille provides a life of leisure with plenty of time for sightseeing, for contemplation and for learning. Rosenblum treats those who accompany him on his travels to wonderful tales of the history of the region traversed by the river he often calls by its Gallo-Roman name, Sequana. As a guide, Rosenblum proves as knowledgeable as he is entertaining in recounting arcane but fascinating details about places both well-known and unfamiliar.
Envionmentalists and/or engineers are treated to facts and figures about pollution, river traffic, locks, etc. Gourmets will make lists of restaurants, and lovers of beauty will take note of parks and scenic views which must not be missed. Incidentally, for months before moving from the ile de la Cite to his launch, the author noticed long lines of people waiting to buy ice cream cones from Berthillon. `On freezing December mornings housewives from Rouen stood patiently with tourists from Roanoke.' How is that for fame?
Containing something for almost everybody, `The Secret Life of the Seine' provides a relaxing and comfortable way to enjoy a trip otherwise almost impossible. Mort Rosenblum's enthusiasm for the Seine and its inhabitatnts is contagious. What a great life!
- LYNN ECKMAN
The Always Prayer Shawl.
By Sheldon Oberman. Illustrated by Ted Lewin. Boyd Mills Press. $14.95.
Tradition. How simple is sounds, but what a strong statement Oberman makes with the passing of a prayer shawl from grandfather to grandson along with the words, `I am always Adam and this is my always prayer shawl. That won't change.'
Inspired by his own great-frandfather's prayer shawl, Oberman captures the strength of Jewish tradition and the power of family ties as we follow Adam's life as a young boy leaving Russia to an elderly man living in a retirement home. The story is illustrated with black and white ink washes until Adam the child becomes Adam the man. Then Ted Lewin adds color to his pictures, which makes a rather d ramatic statement of Adam moving into adulthood.
A lovely tribute to spiritual life and the family.
- LYNN ERWIN
Letters From a Sharpshooter.
Edited by William H. Hastings. Historic Publications. (price not listed.)
These are the letters of a scoundrel, one William B. Greene, who enlisted in the Union army during the early days of the Civil War and spent most of his time trying to figure out how to desert. That he did so, was recaptured and not shot is one of the remarkable events recorded here.
Greene and his family were strikingly articulate and literate by the measure of the times, and this interchange of letters gives not just a picture of a soldier's life in camp and field, but that of small town New Hampshire and Vermont as well.
Hastings gives Greene's sharpshooters more credit than they deserve as slayers of Confederates, particularly since they didn't get into a real fight until the Wilderness in 1864. Still, it's a very well put together book, and a welcome addition to the literature of the war.
- ROBERT HILLDRUP
Judy Kweller is vice-president of an advertising agency.
Lynn Eckman teaches at Roanoke College.
Lynn Erwin is a librarian at Hollins College.
Robert Hilldrup is a Richmond writer and former newspaperman.
Memo: ***CORRECTION***