June 2.0

The Lost for Words Bookshop by Stephanie Butland
You know those books that sweep you into the characters' lives, that make your heart ache and your brain think? Yep, this is that kind of book, the kind that I did not want to put down at night, no matter the time. The story begins when Loveday, a young woman who works in a bookstore, finds an abandoned book on the street and posts a note in the store window. Nathan, the owner of said poetry book, invites Loveday to a poetry reading...the story unrolls from there. Through the eyes of Loveday, we revisit the past: family life at a small seaside town, as their lives unravel; life in foster care; a violent relationship; and the small cadre of loyalists who surround Loveday and help her to heal from her past. Loveday has a wickedly British sense of humor, with hilarious asides to you, the reader, as she relates the story of her life. For those of us who love life in a book shop, who love complicated characters, who love exploring how the past impacts our present, who loves smart writing, this book is definitely for you. This is a feel-good, there-is-hope-for-a-better-tomorrow, and books-matter kind of novel.

The Myth of Perpetual Summer by Susan Crandall
Susan Crandall is a master of tales of the south, dysfunctional families, heroic children, and satisfying endings. Her previous two books, Whistling Past the Graveyard and The Flying Circus, were some of my favorites, and her latest is a worthy member of her collection of Southern stories. This time around we are introduced to the James family, living in Mississippi in the 1960's: the father, a history professor who suffers from bi-polar disorder; the mother, completely uninterested in being a mother; Gran, who wants to believe in the old elegance of the south and her aristocratic family; Griff, the oldest boy trying hard to outrun his embarrassing family; the twins, Dharma who is desperate for attention, and Warner, who just wants to be loved; and Tallulah, the narrator, a smart, compassionate, courageous, independent young cuss of a girl. The story moves from California in the hippie era, back in time to Tallulah as she tries to repair the broken threads of her family, and forward to 1972 as the family tries to save one of its own. My one complaint is the ending is a bit saccharine, but then again, we all need hope, especially in the face of tragedy. This book will make you cringe, remind us of hard times past, and eventually warm your heart.

The Possible World by Liese O'Halloran Schwarz
This book is good, and I mean really good. Reminiscent of authors Jodi Picoult and Kate Morton, Schwarz is able to pull together different time periods, characters, and plot lines, weave them into a panoramic view, and then pull it all together in the end. First the characters: Lucy, an ER doc, struggling with her marriage, the crazy hours, and the emotional turmoil of incoming patients; Clare, an elderly patient in assisted living, looking back at her Depression-era childhood and the direction life took her; Leo, a young boy, given away by his mother, and in need of a home where he is loved; and Ben, a young boy, traumatized after a horrific murder scene, and scared speechless. Somehow, Schwarz pulls these disparate people together, creating a book one cannot put down, and reminding us of the power of love, the pull of our past (in every way), and the ways strong women can choose to direct their lives. In other words, Schwarz is a very talented storyteller.

Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris
I loved her first book, Behind Closed Doors, and liked her second book, The Breakdown, but it is never a good sign when one laughs at a thriller, and wants to throw the book across the room when the last page turns. The premise was promising. British male character, Finn, pulls into a roadside rest stop in France to use the bathroom. When he returns, his young girlfriend, Layla, has disappeared. Twelve years later, good ole Finn is engaged to Layla's sister, Ellen, has just completed a big lucrative financial deal, and Layla rears her mysterious head. Ellen and Finn hear find Russian nesting dolls everywhere (it's a 'thing' with Layla), Finn receives multiple emails, and Ellen believes she sees her. As this mystery unwinds, we go back to the past to see the beginning of their relationship and it throws in what perhaps the author perceives are intriguing red herrings, but really, they're just stinky dead fish (I mean, the hermit-like neighbors next door?? The childhood friend he beats terribly??). And seriously, the ending had me shrieking with laughter, with the complete implausibility of the entire 'mystery.' B.A. Paris is waaaaaay better than this.

I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death by Maggie O'Farrell
I was quite intrigued by the idea of this book - an author recounts her many near-death experiences, and waxes on philosophically about the meaning of life. Not a bad idea. However, the actuality of it was just not my cup of tea. By the fourth 'near death' miss, it just got a bit repetitive. Besides, how many times can one be that stupid? Some of it was just bad luck, but some incidences were like...really??? The philosophical part of life was occasionally provocative and thoughtful, but in general this short book was not short enough for me.

The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History by John M. Barry
Yes, I read weird stuff, and yes, this is one of those. This was a reaaaaallly long listen on Audible, that had super interesting spots and then other dry spells where my mind wandered. It gives an extraordinary history of American medicine - the lagging behind Europe, the big minds of the day, the rise of proper medical schools, etc. And yes, I found that stuff fascinating. As it starts to tell the tale of how the Spanish flu pandemic originated on U.S. military bases, and the shockingly grotesque errors the government made that allowed this disease to spread throughout the world, killing millions before it died out, I could not pull myself away. However, some of the small details of the research to find a cure and the obscure scientists who looked for it became a bit mind-numbing. However, I would definitely recommend this to anyone thinking of going into medicine, and who likes to listen to long books (reading it would be a bit of a chore). And yes, John M. Barry really knows his material.

All is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker
This is a fascinating and twisty thriller that I highly recommend listening to rather than reading. The narrator is Dylan Baker (google him - trust me, you'll know him. He always plays brilliant crazy people on television). His voice is amazing and kept me quite occupied as I walked my dog. The premise of the story is unique: Jenny, a sixteen year old girl is brutally raped and while at the hospital is given a drug to make her forget the actual hours of the rape. At the time, it seemed like a good solution to Charlotte and Tom, her parents, yet this 'forgetting' has some traumatic outcomes as memories are never truly gone. As the psychiatrist-narrator relates the story, he delves into the secret lives of Charlotte and Tom, as well as another patient of his who also was given the drug after an violent incident in the Middle East war zone. Be forewarned - there are some graphic violent details of the rape, as well as a few sex scenes.

June

Us Against You by Frederik Backman
If you read Beartown, you will be compelled to read this one. I was not sure if I was ready to re-enter the small northern town of Beartown, to relive the heart-wrenching yet incredibly heroic tale of a culture that turned its back on a vulnerable girl and her family. Yet I also wanted to know..what next? This book picks up at the end of a tragic loss for the Beartown hockey team after a young girl's story of rape sidelines the star, and forces his friends to become heroes or villains. Once again Backman is able to take our hearts and wrap them around his characters: the new female hockey coach who says she only cares about hockey but gives chances to kids who never had them before; the head thug who loves his brother and his hockey team with a purity that defies reason; the two best friends who must re-find how friendship should be defined; the star who is outed, and must find his place in the hockey stadium and the world at large; the mother and father whose life ambitions pull them apart; the politician who is willing to sacrifice them all for power; and the crusty old bartender who holds the town together. As I turned the final page, I felt bereft, as if I had lost a town of friends, people I cheered for, yelled at, shook til their teeth rattled, and ultimately drew into my heart. Yep, I loved this book; I loved it because Backman reminds us that humans are complicated, not perfect, just complicated.

Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier
This is a solid thriller that kept me turning pages late into the night. Set in Seattle, the plot line veers back and forth between the story of today (high paid executive testifies in court against high school boyfriend who is serial killer, and then begins prison sentence) and the story of their high school days (trio of friends, one who is murdered, one who goes to prison as an accomplice, and one who is the policeman who investigates). Fair warning, this is not for the faint-hearted as some blood, gore, and violence accompany this telling of a psychopathic murderer who preys on young girls, and adds in small children to the crimes of today. The author throws in numerous red herrings to send you in a variety of directions; it took me awhile to figure it all out, but eventually the clues were all there. My one complaint is that the ending was too saccharine for my taste, too pat, and a bit unrealistic. And I have to say, as a Seattle-ite born and bred, it's annoying to read about a fictitious college - just use one of the colleges that are in the city as there are a plethora of them. Just my two cents.

A Reaper at the Gates (Ember Quartet #3) by Sabaa Tahir
Ember in the Ashes began this YA fantasy series. I really liked the plot construction of the first one, but was disappointed in the weak female leads - where were the badass heroines taking on the world? But when I read book number two, A Torch in the Night, I was reminded of the value of patience, of slowly building characters, of allowing learning and life to shape people. Laia and Helene, along with Elias, have turned into some of my very favorite literary characters, showing honor, integrity, heart, wisdom, and courage - all learned in response to not only their upbringing and heritage, but to what life has thrown at them. In book number three, the fight continues for the Empire, for the Scholar slaves to find freedom, for Elias to 'catch' the dead and take them to the other side, for Helene to save her family from destruction as well as her country, and for Laia to be the heart that holds them all together. Book Three in this quartet is powerful and amazing; trust me, do not miss this series if you're a fan of YA fantasy. It's one of the best in the literary world.

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James
Historical fiction spliced together with a ghost story in a girl's boarding school and a little murder on the side - does it get better than this? Switching between two times periods, we see the issues this small town has with the now defunct school where wayward girls were once sent decades ago, and where the main character's sister was found, dead, in the not so distant past. As Fiona Sheridan, daughter of a famous journalist, investigates the school, it brings up memories and questions surrounding the conviction of her sister's murderer, the rich son of a bigshot family. Fiona begins to learn of the four girls who once lived at Idlewild Hall, as well as the long ago death of a young girl, who perhaps continues to haunt the area all these years. This book is a classic throwback to the gothic novels of old, but with some modern twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I literally could not put this book down, and now understand all the rave reviews for it. Highly recommend for that summer read, brain candy book, especially for my teacher friends who want to be entertained during the break.

Lying in Wait by Liz Nugent
I loved Nugent's debut novel, Unraveling Oliver, but her second book just did not live up to my expectations, mostly due to the ending. It is definitely a page turner and easy to read, and the first line is a doozy! "My husband did not mean to kill Annie Doyle, but the lying tramp deserved it." The story is told through two voices, wife/mother Lydia who hides a murder, and her son Laurence, who attempts to live a normal life from within a seriously messed up family. Lydia, who is just out and out batsh*t crazy, has some fairly wicked skeletons in her closet, never wants to go too far from her huge family estate, and pretty much destroys everything she touches. Poor weak, overweight, pathetic Laurence tries real hard to escape her clutches, but alas, for naught. I never really felt for either of these characters: wholly unlikable, thinly drawn, and just not that bright. The ending fell flat as well, so this book was a bit of a miss for me.

Cure: A Journey into the Science of Mind over Body by Jo Marchant
At the age of 55, I experienced my first surgery, which led to a long journey down the rabbit hole of chronic pain, varying medical advice and prescriptions, and a turn to looking for other options. This book is a powerful look at the varied options out in the world that do not preclude medical care, but also includes options outside that realm as well. Using many statistics and studies, journalist Jo Marchant explores the placebo effect, the uses of behavioral conditioning, virtual reality, religious belief, and many many more as she travels through the Western world looking for "cures" to a wide variety of medical issues. This book is a formidable reminder of the power of the mind, and our ability to harness it in the service of healing ourselves. Life-changing for those of us who need another road to healing.