Book Review: In the Shadow of the Lamp

In the Shadow of the Lamp by Susanne Dunlap
Review by Arig
(This book will be published on April 12, 2011)

SUMMARY:  Molly Fraser is a young girl living in London in 1854. She had worked at a wealthy family’s house as a servant. One day her ‘friend’ does something inexplicably horrible and gets Molly fired. Now Molly is left without a job to help with the family income. While walking home she overhears that a certain Miss Nightingale needs 100 nurses to tend to soldiers in Turkey. After Molly gets denied to be a a part of the group, she makes a plan on how to get in. She turns to her best friend Will for some money and a temporary place to stay.

Molly goes to stay at Will’s sister’s house for a couple nights. She helps the pregnant lady go through labor and brings out the baby. At last Molly is allowed to go be a nurse with the rest of the nurses that have already had practice. Molly makes friends with Emma (who has a big secret) and thus begins her journey. The travel to Turkey was tiring and hectic. She sees lots of gore and injured people. One day Molly gets a letter from Will saying that he’s become a soldier so he could get closer to her.

Molly is excited and can’t wait but then she meets Dr. Maclean. He makes her heart flutter and sparks fly. Then one day he kisses her and then Will comes to see her. He drops the bomb on her and she doesn’t answer the way he wants her to answer. Problems arise and Molly travels with Emma on a secret mission. More problems occur and hearts are broken then mended again. Read the book to find out what happens. Travel the journeys with Molly and be swept away with a story that will bring you love, fear, sadness, sorrow, and adventure. It’s got everything!

OPINION:  Don’t judge a book by its cover. That’s the most thing I have to emphasize about this book. I (acknowledging that I was wrong) had pushed this book aside for awhile because I feared it would be boring. I am a type of person who hates boring books or books that make no sense. But this was totally the opposite.  Although I didn’t think I’d like the book I loved it! I mean it will blow your mind away. It’s got most of the things I was looking for. On a scale from one to ten I’d give it a 9.8. That’s how good I thought it was. My siblings stole it from me to read it too. I was very glad I came across this book and I was glad it ended the way it was. Kudos to author Susanne Dunlap in writing this book. It is freakishly awesome!

Book Review: The Musician's Daughter

The Musician's Daughter by Susanne Dunlap
Click on the cover to find a library copy.

SUMMARY: Amid the glitter and glamour of musical and court life in 18th century Vienna, fifteen-year-old Theresa Maria Shurman is trying to solve a brutal mystery. Who killed her father, an acclaimed violinist, and stole his valuable Amati violin? When Haydn himself offers her a position as his assistant, it gives Theresa access to life in the palace–and to a world of deceit. Theresa uncovers blackmail and extortion even as she discovers courage and honor in unexpected places: from a Gypsy camp on the banks of the Danube, to the rarefied life of the imperial family. And she feels the stirrings of a first, tentative love for someone who is as deeply involved in the mystery as she is. (from the Amazon.com Product Description)

OPINION: Theresa lives in comfort, if not style, until the day her musician father is murdered. Left with just her very pregnant mother and a younger brother, Theresa realizes that they have no money and little future without him. Theresa is duty-bound to hold her family together by making an advantageous marriage, but puts everything at risk to pursue the mystery of her father's death. The complicated political situation that emerges does threaten to overwhelm the story at times. I think it would have helped to know more about the geography and politics of the time to really understand the plot that Theresa uncovers. Nonetheless, you don't have to be a student of history to enjoy this story. With descriptions of clothes and court life, plenty of heart-pounding narrow escapes, and just a hint of romance, this book is a quick read. I recommend it for middle and high school girls who like their historical fiction on the light side.