Bookshelf: July – Sept. 2023

Rootless by Krystle Zara Appiah

Motherhood. Post-partum depression. Families. Ghanian traditions. Difficult decisions. Resentment and regret. Abiding love. At heart, this novel is about finding oneself and one’s place in the world. While parts of Efe’s journey were difficult for me to relate to, this is her story, and I felt her turmoil. Powerful debut novel for this author.

After the gut-wrenching emotion of the previous 2 books, I needed something light and fluffy

before moving deeper into my TBR stack. Thus,…

The Last Time I Saw You by Elizabeth Berg

Berg is always good for a sweet story that seeks good. This one reflects on high school experiences and who the characters become. At a 40-year high school reunion, classmates gather, each with a personal desire for something. We meet jocks, cheerleaders, nerds, and other stereotypes, all with unexpected sides and stories. Everyone learns something, makes amends, and mostly finds a happy ending.

The Widow by Fiona Barton

A solid British mystery, the novel starts with a widow, police, and reporters. What about her husband’s death makes it so newsworthy? As it winds through the perspectives of these characters, as well as a young mother whose child has been snatched, the questions only get bigger. It kept me guessing who did what to whom and when.

Finding Me by Viola Davis

Davis offers a dark and sad look at her childhood, as well as ongoing family issues with poverty and addictions. Her vulnerability is real, and her success as an award-winning actor is that much sweeter. That said, at times the book drifted between what seemed like unrelated scenes, with no sense of chronology. A good editor would have helped, but I did appreciate the overall storytelling.

The Fallen Architect by Charles Belfoure

A delightful mystery with interesting – and theatrical – characters and a satisfying dose of redemption. It’s set in early 1900’s London, following the collapse of a theater balcony on opening night. Our hero was convicted and is plagued by guilt but was he really at fault? Was it a mistake? Several story lines play out. Belfoure’s The Paris Architect is still my favorite, but this was another winner.

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

Ann Patchett is one of those authors from whom I’ll buy anything she writes, because her books never let me down. First, Tom Lake is a place, not a person. The novel brings 3 adult daughters home to the family cherry orchard during the pandemic lock-downs. While harvesting the cherries, they convince Mom Lara to tell the story of the time she worked with a famous actor. The story weaves past and present, with sweet surprises and family love.

This Boy We Made: A Memoir of Motherhood, Genetics, and Facing the Unknown by Taylor Harris

Found this book randomly, but a memoir of love and facing unknown medical issues with a child is my cup of tea. And indeed, the story is strong, as this well-educated Black family struggles with unusual but dangerous symptoms in their son. Issues of racism, particularly in the school system, also come into play. It's heartfelt. What I didn’t like was the poor editing: chaotic jumps in time; references to a world event “last summer” with no context or year; and perhaps worst of all, a mention of “prostrate” cancer.

The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth

Another winner from Hepworth – a satisfying mystery built around likeable characters. Are things really as they seem to these characters, each with reasons to doubt themselves? What are we readers led to believe is the truth? With building suspense, the novel eventually lays it all out. Again, I was disappointed with the editing, particularly words omitted several times.

Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief by David Kessler

Kessler is a leading authority on grief and worked with Elizabeth Kubler-Ross on her original five stages of grief. He even got her family’s approval before adding his sixth stage, which is based on his personal grief journey after the loss of his son. Kessler’s writing is not at all academic, and this book is part memoir, part self-help.

The Sentence by Louise Erdrich

I tried. I really wanted to like it. The author won a Pulitzer for a previous novel. It just didn’t speak to me or keep me awake. It had a lot of good reviews, but I had to give up on it.

These Women by Ivy Pochoda

Five women, whose lives are interconnected in unusual ways, deliver a grim portrait of poverty, violence, power and lack thereof. No 2 ways about it: this is a harsh novel that presents a life most of us have never seen and never want to. The language itself is difficult to read. Did I love this book? No. Will I remember it? Yes.

His Whole Life by Elizabeth Hay

I was unfamiliar with this author when I found this novel at the used bookstore, but a book about mothers and sons appealed to me. The writing is stellar and evocative of places and emotions. A lot of Canadian history and famous literature are referenced, but the story is about relationships, marriage, and mostly, the bond between Jim and his mother. No great mystery or suspense, just a lovely novel. I’ll check out her other works.

Saturday by Ian McEwan

This was another novel I found at the used bookstore. The description was of a family drama, and I’ve enjoyed other McEwan books. However, this was not my favorite. It follows a neurosurgeon’s day off from waking to sleep, filled with unusual encounters. Mostly, it’s his rambling thoughts and recollections, with elaborate descriptions of surgeries, music, poetry. There is drama, but the whole thing was a bit too dense for my taste.

The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni

I saw several people in book groups online commenting on how much this 2018 novel moved them. I couldn’t resist. It was a quick read for me, short chapters that compelled me to keep going, with memorable characters and drama. At heart, it’s a mother-son story and the power of love and faith (not just religious faith). There is a Catholic component, but it was not off-putting to this universalist. I enjoyed Sam's Extraordinary life.

A Nearly Normal Family by M.T Edvardsson

How far do the bonds of friendship and the love of parents stretch? This is a solid and twisted thriller involving the murder trial of an 18-year-old, told sequentially by her father, the defendant, and her mother. The defendant’s best friend plays a key role, though it’s not clear who did what and when until the end. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin

I have always been drawn to books about the Holocaust, but this one was particularly moving to me. Set in Warsaw, Poland, it’s about best friends, one of whom is Jewish, and their love of books. It’s how their friendship persisted during this time of persecution and war, as well as how families were changed. But mostly, it’s about the drive to preserve Poland’s books for future generations. While a horrific story, it ends with hope: “This reading room not only represented the beginning of a rebuilt Warsasw, it also encapsulated books and memories and love all bundled into one perfect gift.”

This novel was particularly moving in light of today’s hate-filled climate and book-banning efforts. These lines toward the end speaks a vital truth: “We cannot allow the atrocities and persecution of the Jews slip between the cracks of history. We cannot allow education to be stifled or cultures to be erased or book to be banned.”

Starting October with Robert Galbraith/J.K. Rowling’s latest installment of the Cormoran Strike series, another 950+ page tome. Happy reading, friends.