September

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
Way back in 2013, our book club chose to read Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger. We all loved it, though I had never heard of his previous books. Ordinary Grace was a huge hit...but where was his next book? Usually authors capitalize on the buzz and pump out the next book quickly (and I find often, not nearly as good of a book). My oh my, I am so glad Krueger took his time with This Tender Land as it is well worth the wait. Set in Minnesota during the Great Depression, the story begins in a reformatory school for native children. Some were orphaned, some taken from their Native families to be 'retrained.' It is a terrible place, full of abuse and hate, run by the Brickman couple who are sufficiently evil bad buys to root against. When a chance arises to flee, four heroic children do just that. Each child has their own part in Odie's story: Albert, his brother and a mechanical genius; Mose, the Sioux boy whose tongue was cut out as a toddler, looking for his identity; Emmy, the little girl whose 'fits' foretell the future; and Odysseus (ie. Odie) whose search for home leads them all on their wild odyssey down the river. Yep, they run into a cyclops character, a siren who sings like the angels, and many other obstacles along the way. I became so enmeshed in these children's trials and tribulations that I could not put this book down. This book should be another huge hit for this author. Thanks to Net Galley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi
Anytime President Obama puts out a reading list, I figure all the titles are 'must-reads.' Hmmm...what a pleasant past reminder, that some presidents pick up books and read! Needless to say, Stamped from the Beginning is a powerful walk through history. Using five guides for each time period (Cotton Mather, Thomas Jefferson, William Lloyd Garrison, W.E.B. DuBois, and Angela Davis), we are given an in-depth look at not only where racist ideas came from, but how they have been nurtured through each tumultuous time period, as well as those of so-called 'peace and prosperity.' I listened to this book, thinking it might be too dry for a read. I find myself most interested in the three later 'guides' through history, but the early ones definitely gave me lots of 'ah-ha' moments. Highly recommend if you're looking for some knowledge during the times we are living through today.

When All Is Said by Anne Griffin
This debut novel by Irish author Anne Griffin was a pleasant surprise. Short, beautifully written, emblematic of Irish culture and history, I had a hard time putting this one down and in fact, read it in just one day. Maurice, an elderly Irish gentleman, sits in his village hotel bar on night. As he gives a toast to each of the people in his life who influence him the most, we take a walk with Maurice through his past. He is a complex old fella: raised poor, gathered wealth and a wife and a family, strained relationships with some, shady business deals, questionable decisions, introspective and thoughtful to the nth degree. Admittedly, I got a little weepy in spots but Griffin was really able to pull on my heart strings without being maudlin or melodramatic, so kudos to her. This could be a provocative book club choice as it deals with the consequences of life decisions, as well as end-of-life choices.

Chasing My Cure: A Doctor's Race to Turn Hope into Action; A Memoir by David Fajgenbaum
As many of you know, I am always a big fan of real-life, medical mystery stories and this one does not disappoint. David Fajgenbaum takes the reader on a story of his life: his childhood with hyper-focus ADD, falling in love, his years in college and medical school, his mother's death, and ultimately his devastating diagnosis of Castleman disease. We go on the exploration with David as he tries to hunt down not only a diagnosis, but treatment, institutions, cure regimens, experimentation, you name it. At times he gets a little stuck in the weeds with the biology of it (admittedly, I occasionally skipped the super scientific stuff!), but he always brings it back to real life and what he experience as a patient. This is an outstanding book to give the medical student in your life, or the person who like me, just loves this kind of real world mystery. Thanks to Net Galley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

29 Seconds by T.M. Logan
This is an entertaining thriller if that is what you are looking for; it moves quickly, has some good twists and turns, and is topical in its plot devices surrounding the Me Too movement. However, I will say I had to suspend belief at times or I would have gotten frustrated. If you're able to do that, it's a roller coaster of a ride. Sarah is a young college professor, single mom of two young kids, trying to get tenure at a British university, but unfortunately she works for a sexist pig. Luckily for Sarah, she is owed a debt by a wealthy but criminally active man who can solve her problem for her. The action takes off from there. Will it make you turn pages? Yep. Is it competently written? Yep. Is it memorable? Not so much, for me. It's what I would call an absorbing beach read, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that! Thanks to Net Galley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick
Lately, it feels like a pigpen cloud is over the States, with all the hateful talk, mass shootings, divisiveness, domestic terrorism. This sweet story is the perfect solution to blow the clouds away. We meet Arthur Pepper one year after his wife of forty years has died. He rarely leaves the house, is annoyed by his neighbor, has little relationship with his children, and is stuck deep in the rut of his daily routines. Yet, as he cleans out his wife's closet he finds a charm bracelet hidden in the toe of a boot. Finding the meaning behind each charm leads Arthur on a search for his wife's history, but also for a way out of his present life. Told in a crisp British accent, this narrator enveloped me in a delightful story, reminding me to reach out to all people who cross my path, to smile at the stranger, to show interest in other people, to live. Arthur Pepper is the perfect combination of Ove, Harold Frye, and Major Pettigrew so if you need a pick-me-up, this book won't steer you wrong.