October 2.0

 Fifty Words for Rain by Asha Lemmie

Picked by Good Morning, America for its September read, it is refreshing to see big names/organizations choosing debut novels by bipoc writers. For me, this was a uniquely beautiful, yet also weirdly frustrating, book. The premise is so unique - in post WWII Japan, young Nori, the product of an aristocratic Japanese mother and her African-America lover, is left at her grandmother's house in Kyoto. Imprisoned, beaten, insulted, Nori's life has no joy...until her half-brother Akira comes to stay. The story of the following years of Nori's life is fascinating, impossible to look away even when drenched in sadness or trauma. At times overly melodramatic for me, I also found myself wondering what life would have been like for them without the benefit of great wealth? And the ending...aargh. Yet, with that said, this would be a fantastic book club choice as there is sooooo much to mull over, discuss, argue over, and analyze. 

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

Having taught this book for years, it was time for a reread of my very favorite Toni Morrison novel...and of course, it did not disappoint. If anything, having read so many other books this year on social justice and race issues in America, this book was even more profoundly moving. Based on the Black man's Odyssey, Morrison uses the main character of Milkman to show the journey of identity in post WWII America. Part One shows us Milkman's childhood, the complexity of his family relationships, and truly, the degradation of his character as he practices self-hate. You will hate Milkman by this point in the book, trust me. And then Part II will blow your mind, as his odyssey takes him on a journey of self-realization about his family, his race, his history. Quite possibly the finest last paragraph in American literature, this book is EVERYTHING.

A Knock at Midnight by Brittany K. Barnett

If you loved Just Mercy, this book is for you. Life-changing in the very best sense of the word, attorney Brittany Barnett tells her story, as well as her journey to changing the world. Raised in a household where drug addiction was the monster, Brittany put herself through law school, with a goal of climbing the corporate ladder, while at the same time visiting her mom who was incarcerated in a federal prison. Brittany chose to take on pro bono cases involving Black prisoners sentenced to life in prison for ridiculously minor drug offenses. This memoir will make you angry, will make you question the idea of 'justice' in America, will make you cry as well as cheer for both Brittany and the prisoners she helps, and will make you want to join her cause for prison reform. Check out Buried Alive, the organization she and others started in order to find true justice in our country.

The Woman Before Wallis by Bryn Turnbull

Start with ideas from Downton Abbey, mix in some of The Crown and research from the History Channel, and then sprinkle some People magazine on top, and you've got a page-turning historical novel. This debut by Turnbull looks at the time period of the 1920's and 30's, as the white privileged people thought their power and ability to fascinate would never end. Turnbull focuses her story on Thelma Morgan, whose identical twin sister was Gloria Vanderbilt (yes, mother to Anderson Cooper's mother, THE Gloria Vanderbilt). I was knee-deep in royal intrigue as Thelma marries a Duke, has a years-long affair with the Prince of Wales, and fatefully introduces him to Wallis Simpson. Juxtaposed with the British world, is the 'trial of the century,' as Gloria's aunt battles for custody of Little Gloria amidst some very dirty laundry. This book had my attention until the bitter end.

The House by the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Kline

There's a reason why literally everyone has been raving over this book...because it is EVERYTHING I needed right now. While America has become a raging dumpster fire, this book made my heart grow three times the size. The premise is simple: Linus Baker must travel to the house on the Cerulean Sea, and inspect the six occupants of this orphanage to see if the head master is treating them correctly. Simple, right? Except that these six children have 'interesting' backgrounds and skills. This story is written for ages from eight to one hundred, seriously; I loved it so much I had to go purchase a copy to keep on the shelves for future grandchildren:) In other words, DO NOT MISS this book - it will give you hope and make you believe in the goodness of humanity.

Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz

First, let's be real, this book should count as TWO books! Just as in its predecessor, Magpie Murders, this mystery is a book within a book. Same lead character, Susan, who is no longer a book editor but living in Crete running a boutique hotel with her partner. But due to her previous working relationship with the same old curmudgeonly mystery writer, Susan is once again dragged back to England to help find the missing young mother, as well as try to figure out whodunnit eight years ago in the same hotel. I love a smart mystery, and Magpie was my favorite mystery of the year, but this book? Meh. Between the original story and the embedded novel inside, this book was overabundantly peopled - as in, I couldn't keep them all straight and eventually just gave up. Horowitz has a clever yet sometimes supercilious voice, too busy patting himself on the back to notice that he is boring the reader with extraneous chapters and description. More judicious editing might have saved this book for me, yet some of the subtle xenophobia and homophobia helped sink it as well.