Joanne Provo

What Have I Been Reading?

The Secret Life of Sunflowers

A cleverly told story of Johanna van Gogh-Bonger, the sister-in-law of Vincent van Gogh. She dedicated her life to preserving the works of van Gogh and his relationship with his brother, Theo, her husband. Told in alternating chapters in the voice of Johanna and a young auctioneer who discovers Johanna's diary and letters while going through her grandmother’s belongings after her death.

The Wide Wide Sea

A fascinating account of Captain James Cook's 3rd voyage, well researched and written. The surveys and discoveries made by Cook and his crew inform maps still used today. His curiosity in the customs and cultures of the indigenous people he encountered served him well. In complete awe of these early adventurers who withstood incredibly challenging conditions as they ventured into the unknown, unsure of what they would find with no promise of a return home.

The Death of the Heart

A classic novel by an author considered to be one of the greatest novelists of the 20th Century. Portia, a 16-year-old recently orphaned girl is sent to live with her half-brother and his wife. She is an outsider in a world of sophisticated and politely treacherous social norms. She unfortunately falls for a cad who is indifferent to her affections. The characters are self-centered and ill behaved, and she finds the housemaid her only true confidant.