Bookshelf: Oct – Dec 2022

Red Clocks by Leni Zumas

My daughter passed this one along, and, while technically dystopian, it’s certainly relevant for our time. However, I struggled to get attached to the characters or the writing style and gave up. I may try again.

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng

My heart was cracking by the end of this novel. It’s slightly dystopian but believable in today’s world and based on historic precedents of separating children from parents. Racism certainly plays a role. The central relationship of a mother and son grounds the emotional tale. I loved it.

The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey

A tiny book about a tinier companion during a critical part of this author’s life. Part scientific and part philosophical, the true story documents a year in which Bailey, suffering an illness that confined her to bed, watched and nurtured a snail that arrived in a potted plant. As one who also bears chronic illness, I appreciated her musings.

Chances Are by Richard Russo

Three men, friends from college now in their 60’s, reunite and reminisce. Much of their reflection centers around the mysterious disappearance of a young woman they all loved shortly after graduation and a fun weekend together. Each ponders his own story, unknown to the others. The mystery is eventually solved, and it’s a satisfying read about life, family, and friendship.

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan

I’ve long appreciated Picoult’s novels addressing relevant, hard topics for their ability to present multiple perspectives. This seamless co-authored novel grew out of Boylan’s dream and a Twitter shout out to Picoult. Together, they crafted a compelling novel for our time, including a love story, courtroom drama, and the classic unexpected twist. Excellent read.

The Maid by Nita Prose

Another winner, though I hadn’t known quite what to expect. This is a quirky novel, centering on a proud hotel maid, clearly on the high-functioning autism spectrum, who discovers a regular hotel client dead in his room and becomes a suspect. The story is character-oriented, with some interesting twists and turns, as Molly the maid and some new friends put the pieces of the death-or-is-it-murder puzzle together. (Important note: this is NOT the book that was made into a Netflix series.)

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

This dystopian novel is perhaps the most unusual book I’ve ever read. Told by Klara, the Artificial Friend (AF), it raises interesting questions about being human and the nature of love. I didn’t find as much charm as many have found in the story. While I’m admittedly not a big fan of dystopian worlds, this could not compare to the works of Madeleine L’Engle.

In a Book Club Far Away by Tif Marcelo

I needed something a little light after dystopia, and this fit the bill. Three women, army spouses, bond through a book club while their partners are deployed. Something split them up 10 years ago, but one’s health issues bring them together. Predictable, but good perspective on military life and the value of close friendships. Funny thing is that it seemed that none of them really enjoyed the books. Poor editing distracted me.

Edgar & Lucy by Victor Lodato

This thick novel held the promise of dysfunction, family, and personal growth. However, at just under 200 pages in, I’m giving up. The dysfunction that is child neglect is too much for me, and the child is the only likable character. Mostly, it just drags.

The Searcher by Tana French

Mixed feelings about this one. Some of the story is quite moving, while parts are brutal and less believable. I like a faster pace to a mystery novel, and this one includes a lot of description and extraneous detail. Of course, the novel is set in Irish farmland, so the ways of life and the brogue are a bit different. Not my favorite, but readable.

The Hope Chest by Viola Shipman

This turned out to be the perfect Thanksgiving weekend read for me. Yes, there is sadness, terminal illness, and loss, but the theme of hope is strong. The story intertwines the characters’ memories with present day and celebrates the families we make, as well as those we are born to.

Bad Blood by John Carreyrou

After Elizabeth Holmes was sentenced to prison, it seemed a good time to pick up this book Rebecca had passed on to me. And yes, the account by the investigative reporter who broke the story about Theranos is compelling and detailed. Particularly astounding was the number of intelligent people, investors, and businesses that got caught up in this massive hoax. Eleven years doesn’t seem enough for Holmes.

I know Just What You Mean: The Power of Friendship in Women’s Lives by Ellen Goodman and Patricia O’Brien

A 22-year-old book by writers and friends about friendship: their own and others. The context of the year 2000 requires remembering those times and the things we didn’t have, such as social media and cell phones in every pocket. But the overall topic of women’s friendship, in good times and bad, rings true. Back story: when my friend Mary died, her vast collection of books was set out for friends to take at the celebration of her life. I took this one, because I had always liked Ellen Goodman’s columns and Mary had also been a journalist. Bittersweet memories.

Before She Was Found by Heather Gudenkauf

A mystery centered around three 12-year-old girls, this book has a lot of twists and angsty drama. Honestly, the only likable character was a psychiatrist, whose access to the girls involved was limited. I can’t say I really liked this one or the resolution. Trigger warning: mental health and suicide.

beauty in the broken places by Allison Pataki

This is a memoir about the author’s then 30-year-old husband’s devastating stroke and the following year of recovery. Not to mention…her pregnancy at the time. Told through letters and the voices of family and friends, it’s a story of family, learning to lean on others, and resilience. Some of the time jumps and random names are confusing, but overall, it’s a sweet love story.

Homeland and other stories by Barbara Kingsolver

I’m a Kingsolver fan, so I was thrilled to find this 1989 collection I’d never read in the used bookstore. I enjoyed some stories more than others, but there’s quite a range of topics, but all have strong characters.