35 - The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe

Voice, 2009

371 pages

Date completed: June 17, 2010

This novel follows Connie, a PhD candidate at Harvard whose mother recruits her to clean out her grandmother's long-abandoned home in Massachussetts during the summer. Swathed in ivy and completely hidden from the road, the house has begun to deteriorate after many years of being unoccupied...Connie certainly has her work cut out for her. Before long, she is swept up in a historical goose chase as she attempts to track down Deliverance Dane's book of magic.

I thoroughly enjoyed the read, especially since the language was so relaxed. The plot was engaging, which made for quick reading. I really liked the academic aspects, too, of which there were a myriad-- Connie visits a great deal of libraries and historical places in order to do research, her grandmother's house is full of artifacts, and Connie herself is a scholar by trade.

I don't have many complaints about this book. I did think that the ending was really ridiculous-- I won't be specific since I don't want to post spoilers, but let's just say that Connie treats a valuable historical document in a way that a true scholar NEVER would, especially a scholar of history. I also thought it was a little interesting that a novel so grounded in fact at the beginning becomes so magical by the end-- but I guess that mirrors Connie's inner transformation.

Overall, this was a great book. I wasn't surprised that I liked it, since it's got classic Leslie flags embedded within: academia, magic/fantasy, books, history...what can I say? It's a perfect summer read.

Sorry that this is a bit of a crappy review. It's been a month since I read the book, and am just jotting down what I remember. Reviews are more in-depth when I write them immediately after I finish a book.