The Orphanmaster, by Jean Zimmerman

Fair disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of The Orphanmaster from Penguin in exchange for my review. All opinions below are completely my own.

I finished this book en route to Hawaii, and I can wholeheartedly endorse the book as a gripping plane read. Upon boarding in Minnesota, I had over 200 pages left. I finished the book before we landed in Portland. Truth be told, I kind of wish I had it here, as The Orphanmaster would be a good beach read despite mostly taking place in winter. The end was a total page-turner (see pic, which my husband snapped at a tense point in the plot).

Two pieces of advice for reading this book: don't read the dust jacket description, and don't give up if you find the first 150 pages a little too much backstory. When I was first asked to read The Orphanmaster, I thought the book description was beyond hokey. I won't even mention it here. Just know that this is essentially a mystery novel set in 1600s New York, when the town was small, Dutch, and still called Niewe Amsterdam. And it does take a bit of reading to get the hang of all the various threads of the plot. It is all worth it.

I studied abroad in the Netherlands, so I have a love of all things Dutch. This book definitely came through on that front, with mentions of the groot kamer (great room) and some yummy Dutch treats. The novel was also nicely grounded in history; the author even references her sources at the end of the story.

If you enjoy historical fiction, mysteries, or love stories, you will find this a satisfying book. Wait, I didn't mention the love story in my review? That was a tertiary part of the plot for me (I found the historical details more intriguing), but love is definitely afoot in The Orphanmaster.

I even loaned the book to my mom to read. This can be considered a hearty endorsement of an enjoyable read.

Now, for the most exciting part. Penguin has gifted me a second copy to give away! To enter, leave a comment below suggesting a summer read you love (or, alternately, sharing your love of Dutch culture). I will make my husband randomly pick a comment to receive this book. Comments must be made by June 26th, 2012, and you must leave an email address where I can reach you (the email can just go in the email line below - just make sure it is good for contacting you).

Also reviewing today are three blog friends. Go check out their reviews, and enter on their blogs for another chance to win a copy of The Orphanmaster. I really recommend reading their posts, as they touched on other sides of the story that I didn't get around to mentioning.

Definitely RA's review of our wonderful read
This Confetti Life gets in on the action (and thanks to Janet for arranging this mini-book club!)
Also, visit Big Mario Life for her review . Also, side note: thanks to the Apple Store for letting me mooch off their internet so I could finish coding this post!

Enjoy, and happy reading!

Comments

[NGS]

Hmm...a summer read? I recommend A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith to every woman who hasn't read it yet. If you're not reading the Game of Thrones (George R. R. Martin) series yet, you should be reading that, too! The Honk and Holler Opening Soon by Billie Letts and Ready Player One by Ernest Cline are two other books I've read recently and really enjoyed.
cheatingpiggies at hotmail dot com

[jen]

I think this sounds like an interesting book. And don't we all need something page-turning to keep our minds off the fact that there is nothing on TV during the summers? :) I plan to read this sitting on my front porch while swatting away the mosquitoes. I love historical fiction and I also have a fond spot for all things Dutch. :)

[Janet]

I liked the historical aspects, too--and agree about the tons of back story. For the first third, I was a bit worried about what I had gotten us into, and was so glad when it picked up!

Thanks for reading with me!

(Of course, if I get randomly selected, pick someone else!)

[Janet]

Oh, and I still don't want to get picked to win, but thought I would weigh in on summer books. I want to read Think by Lisa Bloom and Bringing Up Bebe (just to see what the hype is about) this summer. SO many people have recommended A Tree Grows in Brooklyn so I'll add that to the list, too.

I can't remember--did you read The Glass Castle? So good!

[Viola]

Summer reading...

since summer is about the only time I have time to read, my summer reading might not be a whole lot different from any other season, but here goes:

First of all, with the mention above of _The Glass Castle_ I have to recommend the back story for that book _Half Broke Horses_. It was excellent--the perfect mix of personal history and fictional embellishment. (I have yet to read _The Glass Castle_)

Another great book, also historical (not fictional) is _The Big Burn_. This one is a must read for all of us born in the Western United States and anyone who loves the sanctuary of the wilderness. It's the story of the beginnings of the U.S. Forest Service, Teddy Roosevelt, Gifford Pinchot, and wildfire. Great book!

Happy reading,
V

p.s. I'm always looking for good books to read in English... ;)