Monthly Book Review: February 2020

Two completely different reads this month, equally awesome.

The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer is a gut wrenching story of survival, sacrifice and redemption. The story alternates between present day America and WWII-era Poland - dual timelines with Alice and Alina as protagonists. Alice is a daughter, wife, mother and granddaughter who's present life is consumed by being a fierce advocate for her autistic son and her dying mother-figure grandmother whom she lovingly calls "Babcia" (grandmother in Polish). I especially loved the internal dialogue both Alina and Alice have - real and honest. A+

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb is a therapist’s account of some of her patients as well as her own therapy experiences. Lori is an adept storyteller - no doubt related to her journalism and television background. The patient experiences are extremely relatable - we all have issues we're grappling with which are variations on a theme (fear of death, abandonment, regret, etc.). Lori relays sessiosn with Julie, a young newlywed with terminal cancer; Rita, a mature woman who longs for love yet pushes everyone away due to self loathing; John, a successful Hollywood writer tormented by the probability he caused the death of his young son. I'm a bit of a self-help geek so appreciated Lori's account of many psychology principles and their roots. A+

Queue:

The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell
The Gown by Jennifer Robson
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
The Kept Woman by Karin Slaughter
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher

Monthly Book Review: January 2020

American Royals by Katherine McGee imagines what America would be like if George Washington had agreed to be king instead of president. This story chronicles the three children of America’s present day king. Beatrice is the first female heir and her entire life is scheduled and monitored. She’s a gilded bird in a cage. She has to marry someone suitable and not likely for love. Samantha (Sam) is the spare who knows nothing and acts accordingly. She and her twin brother Jefferson (Jeff) globetrot and party like rockstars with no aim or purpose. Neither of them can love who they want, but for different reasons than Bea. There are two other characters - Sam’s best friend Nina and Jeff’s former girlfriend Daphne - that add dimension. What starts out as a rom-com becomes a likely realistic perspective on the sacrifice monarchs make (or should ;) for their country. This did not end at all as I expected. I was unhappy about that at first, but upon reflection it seems more plausible than what I imagined. 

Queue:

• The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer
• The Year of Living Danishly by Hellen Russell
• The Gown by Jennifer Robson
• The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
• The Kept Woman by Karin Slaughter
• The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
• Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher

Monthly Book Review: December 2019 + Year in Review

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Monique is plucked from journalistic obscurity by iconic actress Evelyn Hugo to write her biography. Why? What events transpire to warrant seven marriages? Who was the love of Evelyn's life? Evelyn is obviously heavily inspired by Elizabeth Taylor. The "behind the scenes" look into rivalries, friendships and beards (gay people marrying to appear straight) was interesting. Two twists I never saw coming made this an excellent vacation read. A-

The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams - Like Kate Morton, Williams is all about rich character development and details so her books are long, very long. This tells the stories of German Elfreide and English Wilfred at the beginning of the 20th century alternating with American Lulu in 1944 Bahamas. The intersection is punctuated by an "interesting" storyline about the Windsor's. B-

Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham - It's hard to imagine Lorelai Gilmore being played by anyone other than Graham - like her Gilmore Girls character she is fast talking, witty and quirky. I loved Graham in GG and Parenthood and she describes her experiences on both. No spoilers.

I read 24 books this year - I slid in that last one at only 4.5 hours - plus three in which I made a significant investment (looking at you with major side-eye Circe). I moved and got married this year so priorities, but definitely want to up my game for 2020.

My top 5 favorite books of 2019 in order:

1. The Night Circus
2. The Graveyard Book
3. Little Fires Everywhere
4. Delicious
5. The Dutch House

I liked The Graveyard Book so much that I'm going to go re-read The Ocean at the End of the Lane by the same author. I gave it two thumbs down in September 2016, but admitted then it may have been over my head.

Queue (there was a sale on Audible, hence I loaded up):

• American Royals by Katherine McGee
• The Year of Living Danishly by Hellen Russell
• The Gown by Jennifer Robson
• The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
• The Kept Woman by Karin Slaughter
• The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
• Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher

Monthly Book Review: November 2019

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett - One reviewer hit the nail on the head when calling this "obsessive nostalgia". Maeve and Danny grew up in The Dutch House and the story chronicles their decisions and relationships through the years. I found this to be a love story between siblings. Because who else knows your history, warts and all, better than they? The audio version is read by Tom Hanks which I was excited about but neither loved nor hated. B+

How to Walk Away by Katherine Center is a bit predictable but I found it to be an honest portrayal of the aftermath following a traumatic injury - something I know a bit about being the former wife of a quadriplegic. The characters are extremely likable and the bonus short story gives another perspective. B-

I just could not get into Circe by Madeline Miller, the fabled story of a daughter of the Greek god Helios. I gave up three hours in, lasting only that long due to the melodic voice of the narrator, Perdita Weeks.

Next up:
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

American Royals by Katherine McGee
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

Monthly Book Review: October 2019

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton - Kate is an unhurried and detailed writer, I knew that going in, so one book at 22 hours was all I could manage this month. Edith stumbles upon a secret about her mom that takes her to a castle in Kent where even more secrets lie buried for over 50 years. I enjoyed exploring the very different personalities of three single sisters living in the shadow of their famous author father and unrequited love. Percy is stoic, formidable and can harbor a grudge like nobody's business. Saffy is sweet, nurturing and a bit naive. Juniper is lively, self-assured and idealistic. All five leading ladies, including Edith and Meredith (Edith's mother), are bound by duty and their secrets to Milderhurst Castle and each other. And they all have a relatable sense of longing - to be understood, to matter to someone, to feel loved. 

I've already started The Dutch House (4 hrs into 10 hrs total) so feeling very accomplished. Tom Hanks is the narrator and I was really looking forward to hearing him - the jury is still out. Jury still out on the story as well ... not seeing where it's going but enjoying the journey.

Next up:

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Circe by Madeline Miller
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
How to Walk Away by Katherine Center

Monthly Book Review: September 2019

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang - Pretty Woman meets 50 Shades. Autistic successful career woman hires sensitive escort to teach her how to have a relationship. Predictable and graphic but not completely awful. C+

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman - A young boy, Nobody Owens is raised by a makeshift family. The catch? They're all dead (or kind of). A man named Jack will murder Bod if he leaves the protection of the graveyard. A delightful coming of age story. LOVE! A

Delicious! by Ruth Reichl - Billie the baker goes to NYC to escape the pain of a traumatic event only to find a bit of gastronomic mystery (milkweed pods taste like cheese?!). Billie also finds an eclectic family of foodies along the way. This was like four stories in one. B+

Next up:

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Circe by Madeline Miller
How to Walk Away  by Katherine Center

Monthly Book Review: August 2019

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng is superb! Deftly handles race, abortion, adoption, the Richardson's lives are forever changed when transient Mia and her daughter Pearl become their duplex rental tenants. The orderly world of Shaker Heights is rocked on multiple fronts.

Three Women by Lisa Taddeo is raw and brutally honest. A biography of three real women: Maggie in ND who had an affair with her high school teacher and wrestling with the depth of its impact (and the trial that resulted); Lina in Indiana who is in a loveless marriage and having an affair with her high school boyfriend; and Sloane who lives in upper class New England and has sex with other people at the request of her beloved husband. The author also tells a bit of her own story, or actually it’s her mother’s. The author does not analyze the relationships, that is left to the reader. For me, it reinforced the belief that a woman’s sexuality, and very identity, is complex as a culmination of childhood experiences, cultural expectations and basic need to be seen. I most identified with Maggie - or with the author’s portrayal of her. It continues to amaze me how scrupulously women's behavior is judged vs. men’s.

Next up:
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman