April Reading

Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore
On February 14, 1976, fourteen year old Gloria Ramirez gets into a truck with a young man and life is forever altered for a cast of characters in Odessa, Texas: the young mother who opens the door, the motherless child who yearns for companionship, the bitter old widow who gives the world the finger, the Avon seller who follows the rules set out for women, and so many more. All female, all living under the rules for what they should and should not do, say, wear, act, all dreaming of something better, something farther away, something that gives them value. This debut novel is stunning in its rawness, in the harsh reality of women's lives, in the bleakness of the setting, in the acceptance of their community's complicity, in the futility of the battle against racism, misogyny, in the hopelessness of the class divide, in the hatred of the Other. Best. Book. Of. 2020.

The Echo Killing / A Beautiful Corpse by Christi Daugherty
The cross-country friends I have made on Instagram have opened up brand-new book worlds for me. Here's a series I never heard of until a bookseller in Houston recommended it. I am now officially obsessed, and have ordered all three from our indie bookstore here in town. Set in Savannah, Georgia, the female lead is smart but complicated crime reporter with deep connections to the local police due to her mother's murder years ago. Each book has a page-turning, I-couldn't-figure-out-whodunnit storyline, a little romance, a sultry southern setting, and a fast-paced plot. If you're looking for entertainment, this series will do it and they're all out in paperback and available from Village Books:)

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
I read the New York Times each morning, so of course I had to read a recent article of Ann Patchett's, author of The Dutch Girl, a favorite book of 2019. The title of the article? "Why We Need Life-Changing Books Right Now." And yes, this children's book by Kate DiCamillo was the focus of her article, the story of a lost rabbit, and his journey to find not only his owner again, but to learn how to love. So many followers commented on my IG post on this book, telling me it was their favorite childhood story, or their child's favorite read-aloud book. This magical tale of Edward filled a small hole in my heart where my daughters live, my girls who I miss so very much during this quarantine. I made sure I bought this book and have it on my shelf, for the next time I need healing. If would be perfect for any age four and above in your life - I cannot recommend it highly enough.

All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace
Need a trip to a magical world to escape the one you're in? This new YA fantasy will do it, but be prepared; it is a mix of Harry Potter meets The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Yeah, it's pretty gruesome and violent, as the cast of characters weave their soul-crushing magic (literally) in order to save their island world. It is beautifully written, creative, and exciting, but yikes, rather bloody. Just be prepared.

Heft by Liz Moore
Having now read Long Bright River and The Unknown World by this extraordinary writer, I definitely had to go further back and pick up her book from 2012; it was another five star read. Switching between two viewpoints, we first meet Arthur, a morbidly obese, retired professor, who has not left his home in over eighteen years. Next, we meet Kel, a teenage boy whose mother once knew Arthur, and whose life has been fraught with neglect, drug use, mental illness. It is a tale of two human souls, each muddling around in the world, trying to find family, meaning, companionship. Highly recommend.

Out of the Easy by Ruth Sepetys
If you like historical fiction, this is the author for you; she has yet to disappoint me and she always gives me a look into a place and a time period of which I was ignorant. This time around, it is New Orleans, post WWII. Josie is a young woman, dreaming of college, selling books in the French Quarter, who cleans the local whorehouse, who has been 'adopted' by the madam and her driver, who has a mother who doesn't know what mothering is, and who gets pulled into a murder investigation. It is a fascinating book about a time gone by, and a heroic lead character.

A Rule Against Murder  (Inspector Gamache series #4) by Louise Penny
Looking for a comfort series in this time of quarantine? This is it, definitely, and this book is my favorite so far in the series. A family reunion, a statue who kills someone (yes, a freaking statue - trust me, it's creative), the cast of characters I have grown to love from the small Quebec town of Three Pines, and of course, the always adept Inspector Gamache, who always keeps me guessing until the very end. I have yet to figure out whodunnit before Gamache reveals it - that is my goal for this series:)