August Book Review

Every month end, I look forward to writing this monthly book review. It’s actually given me the inspiration to read more. We recently were in a bookstore, and as I walked around the tables of the recommended reading, I was amazed at the ones I had read or wanted to read.  I have also been delighted to see our “share library”  be put to good use this summer.

Over the years Byron has commented about writers that have an eloquent style of writing and sometimes when he reads a complex paragraph, he’ll read it to me. Lately, my mind has  been conscience of good writing styles as well.

After thinking about good grammar, I decided that I needed to brush up on my writing skills. I know the basics, but after reading The Black Rabbit Hall and loving her writing style, I decided to purchase some good old fashion Grammar books.

The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. 

Amazingly, this book was written in 1918 by Cornell University English Professor William Strunk. Over the years many students and professional writers have learned the basics from this little book.  This edition includes editorial notes by Richard DeA’Morelli with notations throughout for grammar rules that are now obsolete.  I found the few exceptions amazing for a book written so many years ago. Byron remembered reading this book when he was younger. The book is less then 100 pages, and I am finding it very useful.

Black Rabbit Hall by Eve Chase

I loved this well written Gothic novel!  One might ask- exactly what is a Gothic novel? Found this summary by Pauline Dewan that described parts of this book perfectly-

“the trappings of the Gothic novel are familiar to many readers. The ruined castle – an imposing, isolated, haunted, ancient, and decaying structure – is its most recognizable feature. This crumbling edifice contains stock features such as trap doors, deserted wings, labyrinthine passages, dark staircases, eerie galleries, lofty turrets, gloomy vaults, subterranean corridors, decrepit dungeons, tolling bells, and secret rooms”

I have always had a fascination with old castles and buildings. Maybe that’s why we were so pulled to the Freeman. When I was a young woman attending a boarding school in Lenox, I was lucky enough to have our sleeping quarters in The Mount, which was Edith Wharton’s summer home in the Berkshires. At that time, it was in terribly disrepair, but I loved living there. We would venture in all the scary parts of the building, imagining what it was like to live there in it’s heyday.

I  have similar memories of the  Searles Castle in Gt. Barrington, which is in my hometown. The castle is now home to a school but it has been on the market for many years. If I were younger I would have loved to buy it and run it as a luxury bed and breakfast…..call me crazy…. Wouldn’t you just love to walk around this old castle?

Back to my book review- the cover of Black Rabbit Hall  immediately caught my attention as it’s a picture of a  period English villa with children happily running in the driveway. The novel is beautifully written with eloquent details and  intrigue throughout. Chase is able to give the readers a setting of the summer home in 1969 and then a perfect picture of the ruin home thirty years later. The first storyline follows the Altons before and after their charming English life falls into pieces after the mysterious death of their mother.  The present storyline is about a young woman (Lorna) who is planning her wedding and is drawn to the run down Black Rabbit Hall and all of its secrets. This is Chase’s premier novel, and I am already looking forward to her next.

My daughter, April recommended that I read this book. It is definitely outside of my normal genres as it it a combination of science and science fiction.  April’s connection to this author is so interesting- April owns the Boston General Store , and she sells Brother’s Artisan Oil’s products. We have come to know and appreciate them as well, since we use their creams as an amenity in our rooms. The oldest brother (of brother’s Artisan Oils) is married to the daughter of one of the main characters in this book, George Church who is a world renowned geneticist at Harvard University. The book is a fast read and is both educational and fun all in one. The task at hand is to bring back the Woolly Mammoth, a creature that has been extinct for three thousand years. How will they do it? By sequencing the DNA of a frozen Woolly Mammoth, harvested from above the Arctic circle and then splicing elements of it into the DNA of a modern elephant. Sound impossible? Maybe not!

Happy September everyone. We are looking forward to our wonderful fall season and just posted some new packages including our Quiet Season Dinner package and a fun New Year’s Eve package. It’s never too early to book your favorite room!