The Phoenix Ballroom By, Ruth Hogan

This was a heartwarming story about losing your "forever" spouse, the trials and tribulations of living independently, and finding your place in the world.

Ventia Hargreaves, at 74, led a traditional life, raised a son, dinners on the table at 6:00, and doted on her suceessful husband. Recently widowed, wealthy, with an enviable estate, and a married son, she feels as though she missed the target.

Through many trials and tribulations; she makes external changes, adopts a dog, a makeover, shops. Left feeling empty in a large house, she takes her dog for a walk, and rediscovers an empty ballroom that she knows all too well. In her youth, it was the Phoenix Ballroom, where she taught dance lessons. This once glorious ballroom, has been revitalized into a lively community center, helping the homeless and lost souls looking for friendship and hope. 

Of course, she buys the community center, renovates it, dusts off her dancing shoes, to become the ballroom disco queen. It was sentimental, predictble and charming. The "Phoenix" ballroom was the backdrop for the other bird characters in the book, Kite, Liberty and Swan. A bit trite, but funny. The other worthy anecdotes are the colorful characters, the dog, the 74 year old dance queen and a bookstore. Et al, it was definitely worth the quick read that it was.

Favorite Quote from Venetia, "I am not ready to be old or elderly. Cher is older than I am and I dare anyone to call her elderly." 

Other Books by, Ruth Hogan:

The Moon, the Stars and Madame Borova 2021

Queenie Malone's Paradise Hotel 2020

The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes 2019

The Keeper of Lost Things 2017

The Ensemble By, Aja Gabel

I enjoyed this book on so many levels. It was a deep dive into the classical mussic world, where we meet fascinating, flawed characters. Together, they are the Van Ness Quartet. The prose was lyrical, with a captivating premise, that proved to be a rich, engrossing read.

Jana, on first violin,  is the steely leader of the pack. Brit on second violin is a self conscious orphan searching for a home. Daniel, the persevering Cellist, has the least amount of talent and is the hardest working. Henry the natural, a prodigy who was born to play the Viola.

The book delves into their family histories, friendships, relationships, marriages, children, disagreements and personal growth. Chapters are written from each of the four characters perspective. I enjoyed reading the personal introspection and the analysis of one another.

The commitment, drive, competition, rehearsal drama, performance and the difficulties in establishing a career in classical music are believable and elegantly written. It was clear that they stayed together for the love of music, but at times were adrift. Should we stay together? Am I better then these people? Could I make it on my own? So many questions with a quantifiable answer of we are in this together, we are as one, The Van Ness Quartet.

"They were playing now, like they always had. It wasn't easy. It never had been. It was something like a miracle, all this music, each note a discovery you've already made, but it was also possibly the most ordinary thing in the world to assemble, to compose and perform night after night a life."

Search By, Michelle Huneven

Dana Potowski in this Novel that reads like a Memoir wants to whole heartedly believe that the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in SC Search Committee will be unbias, open minded, nonpartisan, rational and will choose through lived wisdom a new Minister. I did too! Well..that didn't happen.

Dana brings a daily to weekly offering (with recipes) of the nuanced happenings as well as the 'shade' brought on by youthful arrogance in the selection of a new minister. Its a tragedy of errors brought to life in a rollicking, page turning, insightful memoir. Dana is so good, so desperate to find 'the one' and she believes....BELIEVES she and the others on the committee also want the same ilks. 

"Seventeen, he said, is how many people it takes to instigate a coup in a church."

In this lacerating novel, Michelle Huneven thoughtfully explores how leadership and charisma work in our polarized age, how institutions and the people who belong to them shape our lives, and what it really it means to seek and find a place of personal refuge in community.

The diversity of ages, people, backgrounds and dissidence made this clever book much richer and compelling. I couldn't wait for the next recipe and escapade. Thank you Michelle for sharing this daily morning offering of "holy laughter."

Michelle Huneven Books:

Off Course 2014

Round Rock 2011

Blame 2009

Jamesland 2003

PEG AND ROSE SOLVE MURDER By, Laurien Berenson

This is the first book I have read by this Author and I intend to take a deep dive into her backlist. I adored this book for SO many reasons; the family saga of feuding sister-in-laws, the dog competition world, the bridge club and the mystery. 

This was a light hearted, fun read that I looked forward to returning to. I was so invested in these characters, I actually asked the question, "what would Peg and Rose do?" I enjoyed the quirky characters intermixed with the backdrop of the dog world, with the bridge world.

These silver haired sleuths have reconciled to solve a mystery of the death of a bridge club member. As they gather evidence from the bridge club members, we delve into the their interesting lives, which includes gardening, dog shows, and yummy desserts.

I appreciated the "Heft" of this cozy mystery. The intention of my blog is to highlight books written with older characters who are not stereotypical "grandmas" who are feeble, catankerous and conversation revolves around their ailing health and grandchildren.

Its all there.. punchy dialogue, sassy sister-in-laws, the love of poodles, desserts, bridge and a murder!

Other Books by this Author:

Book 2-Peg and Rose Stir Up Trouble

Melanie Travis Series

When We Were Birds, By, Ayanna LLoyd Banwo

                                                     

Set in Trinidad, this book chronicles two outsiders, challenging their destinies.

This book reads like a Folktale, with an eerie, haunting gothic overlay of death, defiance and the afterlife woven into lyrical prose.

Yejide, lives in the rain forest, which was once inhabited by animals who lived amongst each other peacefully. When the warriors came to fight, the animals left. Many turned into birds living on the edges of the forest, which sets the backdrop for the story.

Yejide's Mother is dying. She grows up listening to Grandmother Catherine's stories. She inherits a generational legacy tasked with communicating with the dead, and entrusted with the act of shepherding souls into a peaceful afterlife. With the death of her Mother, she is bereft, and feels unprepared for the task.

Darwin raised in the countryside with a devout Mother, believes attending a funeral or interacting with the dead is a curse. He is desperate to explore the world beyond his Mother and her religious beliefs. As their financial prospects become dire, Darwin finds the only work available, digging graves.His mother feels betrayed and casts him out into a hard, unforgiving world.

Yejide and Darwin are brought together at the gates of Fidelis; an ancient mystical cemetary,where the ghosts of living souls linger.

This book is rich with symbolism and a pervasive atmospheric malaise that is both haunting and captivating. The characters were richly drawn and I found the twisting tale of both protagonists challenging their destinies, to be fascinating.

This was a debut Novel. I look forward to her next book.

The Bandit Queens By, Parini Shroff

This book is loosely based on the Legend of Phoolan Devi who is known as "The Bandit Queen" in India. She endured poverty, an abusive marriage and a gang rape to claim retribution for herself and other impoverished women in her village. She led a three year campaign, to deliver justice to other rape victims, before negotiating a surrender on her terms. Throughtout her imprisonment without a trial, she remained a beacon of hope for the poor and impoverished.

In 1996, she was elected to parliament. In 2001, she was assassinated on the street in Delhi.

And so begins, Parini Shroff's version of this tantalizing tale of murder with a twist of revenge.

This eye catching cover sets the stage for a serious and at times hilarious, murder caper in a small Indian Village. Geeta lives a solitary life since her husband Ramesh walked out on her five years ago. Or, did he? The simmering mystery lurks in the background throughout the book.

Since the 'death' of her husband, Geeta is both revered and admired in this small Indian Village. When a woman in her Micro Loan group approaches her to 'assist' her in getting rid of her abusive husband, Geeta is labelled the Bandit Queen. As the women band together to fight the obstacles of abuse, a patriarchial society and poverty, the engrossing saga unfolds.

Filled with clever criminals, second chances, and wry and witty women, Parini Shroff's The Bandit Queens is a razor sharp debut of humor and heart, murder and mystery.

The Golden Spoon By, Jessa Maxwell

 "This delicious combination of Clue and The Great British Bakeoff kept me turning the pages all night." -Janet Evanovich

What a delightful, FUN, deliciously engaging read! Sabotage at the home of the annual "Bake Off" hosted, by premier baker extraordinaire, Betsy Martin. At the annual Summer event, 6 hand picked bakers descend on the grounds of Grafton, childhood home of Betsy Martin.

Betsy Martin has established herself in the 'baking world' as "America's Grandmother." Betsy sets the stage for high competition as she demands perfection and is looking for the grandest of grand. She is a tautly spun character with the seriousness of Martha Stewart and the grande verve of Julia Child. 

The Author begins the story with a brief bio of all 6 bakers, and their particular area of expertise, as well as personality traits. Naturally, they are all characters in every sense of the word. I enjoyed the many twists and turns, with seemingly inncuous errors, salt replaced as sugar, a burner left on high heat, until a murder takes place.

This delicious mystery had me guessing throughout the book. I immensely enjoyed the characters as they were all pointing the fingers and back stabbing each other throughout the Novel. This is a debut Author. I look forward to her next read. 

They're Going to Love You By, Meg Howrey

 

 ***A NEW YORK TIMES BEST BOOK OF THE MONTH

This book was a poignant reminder of the value of Art, and the passionate desire to make it a central theme of your life. Carlisle Martin, a promising ballet star, in her words,"was too tall'' but, her drive to make her mark on the ballet world, superceded any negativity she encountered.

Carlisle Martin felt destined to be a star like her Mother, a former Balantine ballet dancer. She kept trying relentlessly to be the star she felt entitled to, like her Mother. But, her aspirations and dedication to the ballet world, fell short. It was a long tormenting, fascinating, interrogation of the ballet world.

Beyond the ballet world, the central theme of the book involves her father, who once divoced, moved to Greenwich Village to live with his partner, James. Carlisle Martin had a difficult relationship with both her parents, as she struggled for their approval,financial and emotional support, that never quite arrived.

The book read like a memoir, written in the first person, its a n emotionally driven novel, that deeply affeccted me. Her taut wisdom was inspirational.

"I am a person who has never wanted children and never had them. That is its own separate sort of person. It requires an act of self relevance that should not be confused with selfishness."

"Everyone I know has someone who they love best. I am no one's best."

"The scared thing is to feel-if only for a moment--that I am not consuming or forgetting or losing the things of this world but adding to them. That I have made something true or beautiful or both. That I might do it again."

I found this book to be a poignant, relatable book about a woman delineating her triumphs and successes.

by Meg Howrey:

The Wanderers 2017

The Crane's Dance 2012

Blind Sight 2011

Unlikely Animals, By Annie Hartnett

"A quirky, poignant novel about family, community and love for our animal friends"-The Washington Post

"A delightful mess of tenderness, grief and despair, but, most importantly, hope."-Kristen Arnett

This was a delightful, enchanting read. It is loosely based on Historical Fiction, that the Author exaggerated, ran with it, jumped upside down, twisted and turned it into a delightful, engaging, memorable read.

The book is based on the life of Ernest Harold Baynes, a deceased Naturalist, who allowed wild animals the opportunity to "live" in his home.

The book takes place in a small town, Everton, NH. Emma Starling, a medical school dropout, returns home, after a 4 month absence, to tell her family, she was accepted into medical school, but never attended. She arrives, to discover her Father, who was recently forced into retirement, as a college professor, in the early stages of Dementia, attempted to "corral the cats in the classroom", so he could continue his lecture.

I found the Author's exaggeration of the narrative amusing, captivating and I can't wait to hear what Clive is doing next. This a sensitive subject, and the Author uses it, to tell a vivid, poignant story of the stages of Dementia, and the effects on family and the larger community.

This book is best described as a tragicomedy in the warmest of touching, have a kleenex ready.... way.

Other Books by this Author:

Rabbit Cake 2017

The Next Thing You Know, By, Jessica Strawser

This was an engaging story, on the surface, on a very sobering subject. I am someone who is aging  (62) and I felt the discussion of how and why one ends their life, was 'mishandled' and screamed commercial fiction. The Author clearly researched the subject matter and provided a Cliff Note version of what a Doula actually does. 

I understand this was a work of Fiction, however, the subject matter, 'the MAGNITUDE of death and dying' was not aptly conveyed in this book.  I found the book to be a trite, glossed over, 4th of July fireworks- explosion of thoughts and ideas as to the 'nature' of death of dying. I would have preferred a more in depth exploration.

An end of life Doula, Nova Huston's job-her calling, is to help terminally ill people make peace with their ensuing death. Her job, at "Parting Your Way-End of Life Doulas" is to work with 'young' people who are dying.

Mason Shaylor, an Indie favorite Singer, has an arm/hand injury that he believes will ruin his career and struggles, to envision his life without the opportunity to play the guitar. His deteriorating condition makes playing his guitar physically impossible-as far as he is concerned, he is dead already. 

We are then subjected to "Then","Now" and "Before Then" (???) forays back and forth throughout the book. It was a frustrating, difficult story to follow. 

In my opinion, neither character, Nova or Mason, are fully developed, and they appear flat on the page, bolstered by glorified theories that are scattered throughout the Novel, i.e. Kirlian Aura Photography.The premise is that leaves can be photographed and then cut, leaving an aura,residue or presence where the leaf was cut. The theory was not explained, ( I researched) to understand what she was talking about. 

I believe her point was (?), humans leave a "presence" or imprint in the world, simply by "being." The existential question of the human condition.  I wish she would have explored this point in depth rather than tossing them out here and there, without discussing them in depth. 

Unfortunately, the Kirlian photo theory is a hoax. The Author could have made the point much stronger with a proven theory.

In the end, all loose ends are left untied. I was left frustrated and distraught and somewhat angry with how the subject matter was handled. 

The intention of this Blog is to review books that I believe deserve promoting, and for whatever reason, have not received the accolades or marketing money to bolster their presence in the literary world. I read about 40-50 books a year (audiobooks, books in print & Kindle). I review the books I like.

This is the First negative review I have written. I felt compelled to write it. My intention is to raise awareness that there are some, very, very, VERY good books out there but, unfortunately they may not have the commercial cliche, that a book like this offers. 

The Memory Police By, Yoko Agawa

Provocative parable about memory and the tragedy of loss. On an unamed island off an unamed coast, objects are disappearing, flowers, hats, ribbons, birds and then more sinister tragedies develop. Initially, the island inhabitants are oblivious to the changes, but, as they gradually lose their memories and sense of smell, the dystopian, bleak narrative presents a haunting, memorizing read.

The unamed protagonist, who is a writer, carries the story. She discovers that her Editor is in danger of the Memory Police and she concocts a plan to hide him under the floorboards in her home. Once hidden away from society, his memories stay in tact. As her memories dwindle, he is there to remind her who she is and unfortunately, all she has lost.

This book is categorized as Science Fiction/Fantasy but, the haunting Orwellian trauma, drama of the loss of 'things' is beyond lasers, lights, robots and aliens. This is literary fiction, that is both thought provoking, and mesmerizing. Its a page turner, a nightmare unfolding to the point, where you gasp, "OMG what next?" Deeply sad and moving, the unamed protagonist dwindles into nothingness, a "voice."

This Author is a master of writing, atmospheric novels, that simmer with melancholy to the point of transcendence where the reader questions, their sense of self. This is another memorable novel I have read and reviewed by this Author. I look forward to her next, great book.

Other Books by this Author:

Revenge: 11 Dark Tales 2020

Hotel Iris 2010

The Housekeeper and the Professor 2009

The Diving Pool: Three Novellas 2008

The Four Winds By, Kristin Hannah

Kristin Hannah brings to the life, the period of time known as the Dust Bowl, during the Great Depression, from 1934-40. The severe drought damaged the ecology of the grasslands, causing soil erosion to the plain states, particularly Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, The Dakotas', Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska and Colorado.The book is based on historical events, but the Author acknowledges, the central character, Elsa Wescott is a culmination of several women who were left by their husbands to struggle and fight for their family's survival during desperate times. 

Elsa, tall, gangly, sickly is labelled a 'spinster' by her family. She feels destined for a solitary life in her room with her books. Her parents constant reminder of her dull, flat appearance, drives Elsa for a desperate need from attention from anyone. She meets Rafe Martinelli, as they approach each other, walking down the street. Their clandestine relationship ends with an unwanted pregnancy.

Elsa is dropped off at the door of the Martinelli family home. Forced to 'adopt' her as their son's wife and soon to be, mother of their grandchild, they have no choice but to accept her. Elsa earns their acceptance. Once prosperous, the Martinelli wheat farm, is dry and barren. The hardships the family endures are relentless. Ms. Hannah presents a true, visceral image of desperation, as the family desperarately looks for a 'potato' to eat. As the land literally cracks open, from lack of rain, Elsa must make the choice to remain on the farm or leave for a 'better life in California.'

This has been described as an 'indelible portrait of America and the American dream, and the war between the have and have nots.' It truly brought the Great depression to life for me. The strength and resilence of Elsa and her peserverence through desperate, desperate times, drove me to finish this deeply, depressing novel.

It was a struggle to finish this novel, as I found it to be, the bleakest of bleak, but there were kernels of hope throughout, but, they were rare. I did have to put it down, and return to it, as the heaviness of it all, made it difficult to absorb and continue to read, to finish the book. This is a weighty, heavy, depressing novel, but, I believe it to be a true telling, of a truly desperate period of time. 

Elsa is the driving force of this novel and I could not leave her..her family her story..her resilience her thread of a hope...a "penny" she wore around her neck. 

"Hope is a coin I carry; an American penny, given to me by a man I came to love."

Other Books by Kristin Hannah:

Comfort & Joy 2020
The Great Alone 2019
The Nightingale 2017

Home Front 2012

Winter Garden 2011

Night Road 2011

Magic Hour 2010

The Things we Do For Love 2004

Between Sisters 2003

Distant Shores 2002

Summer Island 2001

Angel Falls 2000

On Mystic Lake 1999

Waiting for the Moon 1995

When lightning Strikes 1994

If you Believe 1993

Once in Every Life 1992

Kristin Hannah Collection: Trilogy

Fire Fly Lane, True Colors and Fly Away

The Botanist's Daughter By, Kayte Nunn

Interesting, intriguing read. This book is based on Historical fiction and could best be described as a botanical mystery. The story is told from 2 different POV's, with transposing timelines.The search is on for the illusive Devils Trumpet, which could prove to be a perilous journey. 

The book takes place in Victorian England 1886 and present day, Australia. In 1886, Elizabeth Trebithick is determined to fulfill her father's dying wish to find a rare plant, which has the power to heal. Elizabeth considers this to be her destiny and risks a sea voyage and a near detah illness, to travel as a single femaile. She enlists the help of her maid, Daisy to accompany her from Cornwall England to Chile. The two unassuming females embark on a dangerous, tracherous journey that sets the stage for a fascinating, colorful botanical adventure.

In 2017, Anna a gardener, is renovating her grandmother's house, when she discovers a hidden box of botanical paintings, a diary and seeds. Anna is driven to discover the legend of this mystery, by travelling to Cornwall England, to unravel the tale. 

The Author does an excellent job, interweaving the tales, and I enjoyed the botanical references. I found both stories, equally fascinating and they kept my interest through the entirety of the book.

The introduction to the book is a quote from, Pablo Neruda:"I love you as the plant that never blooms but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers."

Other Books by Kayte Nunn:

The Last Reunion March 2021

The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant March 2020

The Silk House June 2020

Angel's Share May 2017

Rose's Vintage March 2016

The Phone Booth At The Edge of the World

In the aftermath of the Tsunami which occurrred after the 9.0 Earthquake on the Honshu Island in Japan on March 11,2011, 20,000 lives were lost. In memory of this tragic event, a garden was built at Bell Gardia Kujira-Yama. There, you will find an 'open wind phone', an unused telephone booth, which is available in spirit, for those who have suffered a loss, which provies an opportunity to speak to lost relatives. The wind then carries the conversation to a lost loved one, off the NW Pacific Ocean, where the tragedy occurred.

The book expands on the premise of the 'wind phone' whereby, an actual old phone booth is available for those grieving to use, to 'call their lost relatives' and speak to them directly. The phone booth is located in a 'hand built' countryside, named Bell Gardia on a beautiful spacious countryside which provides a seating area and is not located on a map.

"Close your eyes gently and listen to the sound around you carefully when you talk in your heart by "The Phone of the Wind." When you hear the sound of wind, waves of the sea-birds singing-convey your feeling to your lost loved ones, through the phone."

Yui, loses her mother and daughter in the Tsunami, she struggles daily, with the emotional trauma of the loss. She hosts a radio program; a man calls in to describe the phone booth, where he visits daily to talk to his wife about his day. He describes her whereabouts, after the tsunami as "whereabouts unknown." He describes solace in asking her, "How was your day?" And he feels "himself becoming the person he was before, his wife listening to him, from the kitchen, busy preparing dinner as he grumbles that the coffee burnt his tongue."

As news of the phone booth travels, visitors embark on a pilgrimage to test the veracity of the phone booth and its connection to relieve, and provide a brief interlude; a connection to long lost loved one. T

Inspired by the gentleman caller, Yui travels to the garden of Bell Gardia where the phone booth rests, waiting for the next caller. She realizes she cannot quite make it there to the phonebooth to call. But she finds solace in sitting in the beautiful garden and observing visitors come and go. She then meets a man, who has lost his wife, and his young daughter who has stopped speaking, over the tragic loss. They develop a friendship at Bell Gardia, and begin to meet there regularly.

Yui also provides assistance to the 'custodians' of the phone booth, Sasaki Itaru and his wife, who  built the garden, which they tend to and preserve. They lost their son in Tsunami. Since the phone's inception in 2011, 25,000 people have visited and spoken to lost ones through the 'wind phone.'

This book is an International best seller in 21 countires. I had heard about this book and could not wait to read it. I vividly remember hearing about the Tsunami that occurred in 2011 and the news story which described the loss of loved ones, as "whereabouts unknown." I was struck by the tragedy and the thought of, how could anyone ever survive such a tragic, tragic loss. 

In Acknowledgements, the Author describes Bell Gardia as a "magical place, profoundly imbued with spirituality, by the people who have visited there, over the years." She also states, it is her hope, that this book will imprint in our collective memory, a resounding statement to the power of resilience in a devastating tragedy.

https://www.yourstoriesofhope.com/the-wind-phone/

The Music of Bees By Eileen Garvin

                                                                     

This book was a light hearted, inspirational,well written, pleasurable read. I particularly enjoyed this book because I learned about the beekeeping world. The Author is a beekeeper and she intermixes 'Bee Wisdom' through interactions with the characters and it drives the plot. There is SO much to like about this book. 

Alice Holtzman, age 44, works for the County, and recently lost her husband. She is a "VIP" in the Bee world, and finds solace in Beekeeping, as a distraction from her difficult job. On a particularly bad day, she suffers a panic attack while driving and collides with a teenager, Jake, who is a parapalegic, in a wheelchair. The two, become fast friends, and Alice hires him as an apprentice, to help her attend to her bees. 

Alice seeks additional help, for her growing Bee population and hires, Harry, a 24 year old homeless gentleman, with social anxiety. The three unite and help each other with daily struggles, in and out of the Bee Apiary. Alice also takes on a pesticide company who is moving into town, and is a potential threat to the bee population and the fumes could be a potential carcinogenic for the community, 

This book was a delight in so many ways. I enjoyed the characters, the plot, the theme of overcoming adversity, the small town flavor, the beekeeping information and all the comical, heartwarming twists and turns. This is the Author's debut novel. I look forward to reading more from this Author.

The Housekeeper and the Professor By, Yoko Ogawa

This is a touching tale that is heartwarming, and elegantly written. With the added benefit of math lessons, that provide the basis for a friendship between a housekeeper, the Professor and her 10 year old son. The Professor is a brilliant, award winning mathematician who was injured in a car accident, causing his memory to be impaired; he is able to retain information for a maximum of 80 minutes.

The Professor is a reclusive, colorful character who pins post-it notes to his suit so, he can remember important details. "The Professor was dressed as always; a suit covered with notes, moldy shoes, pencils in his breast pocket."The housekeeper must re-introduce herself daily, as she plans outings and excursions to re-introduce him to the world beyond his remote cottage. She uses math as a way to bond and communicate with the Professor, who initially is distant, irascible and reluctant to formulate a bond with anyone.

The housekeeper mentions she has a 10 year old son, and the Professor immediately announces his concern, where is he and what is he doing? "You abandon your son every day so you can come here to make hamburgers?" The professor demands she bring him with her, so he is 'not alone' at home. The friendship is indentured, when her son mentions, he is a baseball fan, which provides the basis for a life long relationship.

Its a deeply engrossing tale, that offers you the reader, the opportunity to blur the lines, to re-imagine the role of housekeeper-friend-nurturer and caregiver. In the end, as the author states, The professor can never remember you, but he can never forget you.

Other Books by the Author:
The Memory Police 1994
The Diving Pool: Three Novellas 2008
Hotel Iris 2010
Revenge: Eleven Dark Tales 2013

What Are You Going Through By, Sigrid Nunez

 Amazon Editor's Pick for Best Literature Fiction

Named Best Book of 2020 NPR

Oprah Magazine Best Book of 2020

One of People's Magazines - Top Ten Books of 2020

National Bestseller

This is the second book I have read and reviewed on this BLOG by this Author. I also reviewed her book THE FRIEND, published in 2018. Sigrid Nunez writes introspectively and brings to the page thoughts we have but, may not say. She is also described as being a sounding board for stories of others that resonate beyond the page.

In this book she deliberates encounters she has had with others, that are at the very least awkward and weighted with all consuming deliberation. In one story, she lives with and cares for a friend from her youth who is dying of Cancer. The Author plants the seed of "a friend dying of terminal Cancer" and all the ramifications of it-quality vs. quantity of life, living with a friend and caring for someone who is dying and the "duty" of the caregiver. 

Other stories involve running in to an ex-lover who she inadvertently runs into at a forum, an Airbnb owner and her responsibilities as a guest, the wisdom of cats, and a stranger who requests she visit and comfort his elderly Mother.

A sense of duty is the operative word in this Novel. Where is the line drawn? She writes of duties and responsibilities she encounters, as a friend, neighbor, guest at an Airbnb establishment, as an audience member. With wit and humor, she debates the ramifications of "Should I" to the extreme... "Why did I?"

Sigrid Nunez brings a profoundly empathetic voice to the power of human interaction and the impact on everyday lives to both ourselves and strangers.

"The only thing harder than seeing yourself grow old is seeing the people you've loved, grow old."

Other books by Sigrid Nunez

The Friend 2018

Sempre Susan: A Memoir of Susan Sontag 2014

Salvation City 2011

The Last of Her Kind 2006

A Feather on the Breath of God 2005

For Rouenna 2002

Afterlife By, Julia Alvarez

Loved it! Julia Alvarez is the author of 6 novels, 3 books of nonfiction, 3 collections of poetry, and 11 books for children and young adults. Its a short, enthralling read about 4 sisters who are all fighting the battle of ageism, loss and the search for meaning in a broken world.

Antonia, devastated by the loss of her husband, wanders driftlessly and is pulled into an immigration dichotomy ,when she discovers a pregnant, young immigrant hiding in her garage. The surprises continue as Antonia departs on a 'sister rendezvous' to celebrate her birthday.

As she contemplates life without her husband, "No matter the sips, the narrow path, grief keeps ambushing her: unsuspecting moments, nooks, crannies, cracks where the root system of loving is embedded in her life. Brutally yanked out with that tearing sound of detaching a clump of grass from the ground."The descriptive narrative pulls you in, as you feel the weight of the pain.

The complications continue as the sisters' saga turns into a mystery; their beloved sister, Izzy, a retired therapist is missing. Its a tumultuous tale to the end, as the sorrow ebbs and flows.

The book thrives on vulnerabilities, the moment when the feeling comes as a revelation and then lingers, uncomfortably forever.As she describes, when discovering the fate of her sister, "Its finally come: the frightening moment she has fought hard to prevent, when not just the world but the words fall apart, and the plunge goes on and on."

In the end, the Author draws upon Kintsugi, a Japanese repair technique, of breaking a platter intentionally, to feel the "ridged gold lines, the damage made visible. the platter repaired. It tells a story. That it has been broken."

Other Books By Julia Alvarez:

Before We Were Free 2018
In the Time of Butterflies 2010
The Woman I Kept to Myself 2004
How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent 1991

Drive Your Plow Over The Bones OF The Dead By, Olga Tokarczuk

This book won the Pulitzer and Man Booker International Prize in 2019.

The title of the book is a reference to the William Blake Poem, "Proverbs of Hell." The title, as described and interpreted means, (*)"that the dead past is not to be respected if it hinders your work. And in nature there is no instinct of revenge." I found this book to be one that I savored, its a deep read, but worth it. It is classified as an Eco Mystery, which is a new genre, the villain is an unknown ecological problem that is harming a species.

Janina, an eccentric, cranky recluse lives in a remote Polish village. She spends her days taking care of her wealthy neighbors' homes, analyzing William Blake poetry and mapping Astrology charts.
The book begins as a murder mystery, Janina's neighbor, "Big Foot" is found dead. Her neighbor "Oddball" discovers him and elicits the assistance of Janina to find the killer. As others are found dead under suspicious circumstances, the scope of the investigation widens and the close knit community unravels.

Janina takes on the role of lead investigator and assists the local police department in looking for a pattern, and a plea for others to see the atrocities in the world -through the eyes of murder-out of desperation-to be heard.. This book has so many layers and could easily be described as 'dense.' The author provides commentary on the incongruities of living a solitary life, nature and the impact humans have on it and the savagery of killing animals.

At times, I found the Autho's tidbits of wisdom poignant and worthy of writing down. Some of my favorites are as follows:

"The best conversations are with yourself.At least there is no risk of a misunderstanding."

"Being healthy is an insecure state and does not bode well. It's better to be ill in a quiet way, then at least we know what we're going to die of."

"Perhaps there were some angels watching over him: sometimes they turn up on the wrong side."

"Perhaps that's the whole point of prayer-to think to yourself in peace, to want nothing, to ask for nothing, but simply to sort out your own mind. That should be enough."

This is a masterful tale of intrigue, which denotes the plagues of humankind and the ways in which we use and abuse the environment to the detriment of animals and the worlds ecosystem. Its a tragic tale and a warning that the author deftly describes, "we have a view of the world but animals have a sense of the world."

Other Book by Olga Tokarczuk:

Flights

The Dearly Beloved By, Cara Wall

Ten years in the creation, this is a debut novel from Cara Wall. I will certainly be following her and looking forward to her next book. This is a quiet, slow, simmering read which involves two couples, who we follow for decades from college to retirement.

The essential core of this novel is faith, an undefinable system of beliefs that provides the framework for the novel. Two couples, Charles and Lily, James and Nan. Charles meets Lily in college and is on a desperate pursuit to marry her. Lily, a rigid academic who does not believe in God, clashes with Charles repeatedly, as they debate their positions throughout the book.

James grew up poor and is looking for an outlet, an escape from an alcoholic father and an anxious mother. He is rescued from the draft by his Uncle Philip who pays for him to attend college. He struggles in college, because he does not feel a strong desire to pursue a particular field of study. He then meets Nan, the daughter of a baptist minister. James decides to become a minister even though he does not believe in God?! The author describes his belief system as follows:

"His faith was rooted in the idea that God worked through man. God did not act upon people; God inspired them, existing only as an animating force."

Nan and Lily present the quintessential dichotomy, believers vs. non believers. Nan desperate to carry on the legacy of her bible belting father is unwavering in her faith and is truly a minister's wife. She bakes and delivers pies, visits the elderly in nursing homes, leads the choir. While Lily chooses to pursue advance degrees in literature and constantly scorns the role of being a minister's wife.

The author's description of her characters are often hysterically poignant. Nan provides an overall perspective of Lily that is spot on, and cuts to the core, providing a clear cut dead pan description of their two divergent worlds. Nan, upon reflection of Lily's character states:

"What a privilege Nan thought to believe oneself completely independent, to feel unshackled by social conventions and the worry of what other people might think. What a blessing, to be lonely in that particular way."

I found this book to be profoundly insightful. It is very clear, that the author dissected the wide variety of viewpoints on faith and all the 'baggage' that comes with it. Although from the beginning, all of these characters appear deeply flawed and are clinging to religion as an unreachable savior; their lives intertwine and form a unique bond in friendship and love. Or in Lily's case. she finds religion to be a scam, a belief system people cling to, in desperation.

Although I consider myself to be spiritual, not religious I found this book to be a fascinating read. It is in no way preachy, nor does the author attempt to push religiosity.The author positions the book to be a question of the existence of God. Also, how faith is used as a weapon or as a tool to find solace in the gravity of despair we struggle with daily, as individuals and globally, across the world.

As the author deftly states."Because only in the quality of your struggle with one another will you learn anything about yourself."