How is it already July? I’ve had a lot going on (daughter’s wedding among other things) but I still managed to read some great books. See if any of these might appeal to you.

My Own Country by Abraham Verghese, MD

Abraham Verghese is the author of a couple of my favorite books, but before he became a writer, he was an infectious disease doctor. This book is a memoir

published in 1994 about his early years in medicine, as HIV and AIDS were first appearing. Having worked in a hospital during the 80’s, I remember the challenges and unknowns. This book won’t be for everyone, but I appreciate Verghese’s perspective. *Lakeland friends, Verghese, practicing in Tennessee, mentions a patient who attended college here in the 60’s and visited the Green Parrot.

Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Robert Dugoni

This is the 2nd book in a (hopefully continuing) series about defense attorney Keera Dugan. Keera’s case involves a client she has known since childhood and raises good questions about a client’s truthfulness and defending someone who might – or might not -- be guilty. The investigation and trial are compelling. Interwoven are Keera’s family dynamics and hints at personal relationships. I have yet to read a Dugoni book I didn’t like, so thumbs up for those who like mysteries and legal procedurals.

We Rip the World Apart by Charlene Carr

I don’t have words to do this book justice. It’s about justice, identity, family, secrets, fear, pain, strength, and joy, all within the context of racism. It travels a road that I, as a white woman, haven’t experienced, but Carr shares the journey in a way that makes me feel the raw emotions of this family – told in the voices of 3 generations -- as they do their best to hang on and love. A must-read for those who want to better understand other cultures.

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

Not exactly a thriller, but a web of secrets and lies drives this tale. Three young women who became “sisters” as foster children in a menacing home return to that home as part of a police investigation. As you learn about their childhood, their foster mother, and who they are as adults, the questions and intrigue build. It’s a decent read. Side note for nerds like me: too many editing errors!

Margarettown by Gabrielle Zevin

First, I enjoyed Gabrielle Zevin’s more recent books enough that I picked up this novel from her early years, 2005. I get why it didn’t gain the acclaim she’s received as her writing matured. Margarettown is a love story, as well as a fantastical exploration of the various lives we each live over the course of our years. It’s a bit confusing in sections and not deep enough for my taste.

Red Letter Days by Sarah Jane Stratford

The 1950’s. Joseph McCarthy. The “Red scare” and blacklists. Reading about it today is almost haunting, considering some of the things happening now. This is a well-written historical fiction novel, based in part on real people and real settings, such as the production of the Robin Hood tv series. Basically, a young writer, with financial responsibility for a sick sister, is blacklisted and seeks safety in the UK, among other Americans. It was a great read, and maybe one day we’ll learn from history.

The Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd

More historical fiction, loaned by my friend Joan, and it was fascinating. Set in the 1740’s and 50’s, it’s based on an independent woman, daughter of a plantation owner, who must take charge of his properties at the mere age of 16. The novel is centered on Eliza’s efforts to develop processes for growing and cultivating indigo dye to save the family livelihood. However, it addresses the expectations for and limitations on women, as well as the horrors of slavery and how Eliza begins trying to change things.

More or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova

The author is a neuroscientist whose novels deal with the human condition. I’ve found them all to be enlightening as well as compelling. In this one, Maddy is a college student, dealing with break-ups, a lack of direction, and other issues of her age. However, a serious break with reality leads to a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, followed by a stay in a psych unit, medications, shame, and family concerns. The novel follows Maddy and her family’s journey with a disease that doesn’t end, as she works to break free from her internal shame and to become a comedy writer and stand-up comic.

*My family has faced bipolar disorder and other mental health challenges. For more, I invite you to read:

https://wordsofwomen.life/mental-illness-is-not-a-definition/

My Friends by Fredrik Backman

This is the latest of Backman’s quirky and ultimately uplifting novels. None may ever rival A Man Called Ove in my opinion, but this one is special. 18-year-old Louisa meets middle-aged Ted in an unusual way, after both have lost their closest friends. Brought together by a piece of art, they forge a seemingly unlikely friendship as they tell their stories of the painting and their friends as they navigate their next steps. It’s really quite a lovely tale of how friendships shape us.

In Love by Amy Bloom

Bloom’s memoir could rival any fictional love story or heartbreaker she might have written. But fair warning…it’s probably not for everyone, as it deals with the diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's in Bloom’s husband and his decision to seek “accompanied suicide” before it advances. It’s a difficult journey, not available in the U.S., that required navigating American doctors and a Swiss service provider. Within that journey is the couple’s heartbreaking love story and support of family and friends.

This Close to Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith

A good title, because this book was okay: good enough to finish, but not to keep on my shelves. A lonely therapist, a man balancing on the side of a bridge. Over one weekend, they develop a sweet friendship, though neither discloses the full truth about who they are. It’s almost a romance, until the betrayals are divulged. The ending is….okay.

Father’s Day by Simon Van Booy

Under tragic circumstances, a young girl named Harvey is adopted by her uncle Jason, a man whose temper and drinking had once landed him in prison. Their story of love and mutual protection is told in scenes from Harvey’s childhood and as a young woman living in Paris. The end is a bit unexpected and thought-provoking. Van Booy’s writing is spare but deep, tugging at emotions with his lyrical prose.

hello, Grace by Lydia Knorr

I had the good fortune of meeting Lydia and hearing her speak about her grief journey and personal growth in 2024. I’ve followed along as she wrote this book and was thrilled to buy it when it came out, so I might have a little personal bias. However, Lydia’s book is built in segments about GRACE: Gratitude, Resilience, Awareness, Connection, and Evolution. It’s not a sad book; rather it’s an authentic and vulnerable walk through love, loss, and personal growth. Writing prompts are included for readers to map their own journey. Well done, Lydia.

Strangers in Time by David Baldacci

I’ve long been a Baldacci fan, but this novel is vastly different from his usual works. Set in London during World War II, it is the story of a bereaved bookseller, a teenaged girl whose parents are missing, a boy whose parents have been killed, and the way their lives intersect. There are secrets and mysteries that are ultimately solved, but the heart of the story is about the lives we touch and those who touch ours. Readers looking for typical mystery may not like it as much, but as historical fiction focusing on characters, I loved it.

A Dead Draw by Robert Dugoni

Book 11 in Detective Tracy Crosswhite’s story with the Seattle Police Department, and while I’ve heard a 12th book is planned, I’m sensing a logical conclusion to her story. Once again, Tracy is drawn back to her hometown and the ghosts of her childhood, after a killer is released from prison on a technicality. With a focus on her championship shooting skills, a new character is introduced to train Tracy, and Tracy mentors the young woman in other ways, all while seeking justice and being threatened by the afore-mentioned killer.

A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner

I loved this novel. Two women, two time periods, two horrific tragedies, one city, one thread that ties them together in a way that feels just right. The story is intricately plotted, and it all makes complete sense in the end. It deals with loss and grief, guilt and love – everything I love in a novel. Thanks to my friend Joan for the find.