More August Reading

 China Room by Sunjeev Sahota

A Booker Long List nominee and a Book of the Month Club choice, this is a unique story. Told in two different voices, in two completely different time periods, I was intrigued yet not all the way "In" on this one. The story of Mehar in 1929 gripped me from the very start: a fifteen year old girl, married off to one of the brothers in the house, abused by her mother-in-law, puzzled as to which brother is her husband,  naive yet seeking independence, trapped in a life not of her own making. The parallel story is of her great-grandson, a young man raised in England, shaped by the racism in his small town and the prejudice against his shopkeeper parents, struggling with addiction and his sense of identity. These two worlds collide through Sahota's writing, as he takes pieces of his own history and weaves them into fiction. The writing is beautiful, though not always the style I care for as it is very descriptive. While I did not love this book, I liked it very much, learning of a different culture, making my brain breathe bigger.

A Different Dawn (Nina Guerrera, #2) by Isabella Maldonado

This is an example of a book where the writing just did not strike me as that good - it is a bit choppy for my taste, a bit simplistic, a bit pedestrian. Yet did I care? Nope, not after the first few chapters as the story and the characters once again drew me in. As a former police officer, Maldonado clearly knows her stuff - this police procedural nails all the investigative twists and turns needed to find a highly intelligent, super creepy serial killer. She develops her main character in a way that pulls us into Nina's life, rooting for her and cheering her on, even when she makes mistakes and falls into trouble. The high chance of coincidence made me roll my eyes more than once, but still, I was thoroughly entertained + I appreciated the diverse case of characters rather than the typical 'all-white male cast with one token female badass." Once the writing skills get honed a bit more, I think this detective series will be really solid.

Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elyssa Friedland

Ah, what a sweet escape this book was as I journeyed back to the Borscht Belt, where Jewish hotels and bungalows were the place to go for New York Jews, a time where families played games, did silly shows, and competed against other similar families. In this case, two families come together to decide if they should sell their old, behind-the-times resort, or update it and try and make a go of it for the sake of the grandparents who started the hotel back in the 60's. I adored all the characters of this multi-generational stories - as we get beyond the surface of a grandmother whose hair is never out of place, a daughter whose marriage is imploding, a grandchild whose career is an 'influencer,' all the lives come together in an amazing way, one in which they must see each other as YES, times change. A little bit of Mrs. Maisel, a bit of Dirty Dancing, a bit of reality television, this book charmed and thoroughly entertained me.

The Forever War by Dexter Filkins

This book was chilling to listen to while the whole Afghan withdrawal/debacle unfolded across every international headline. New York TImes war correspondent Dexter Filkins embeds himself with a variety of soldiers, rebels, villagers, you name it, to bring us the long drawn out story of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. I mean, let's be honest - how often have many of us even thought about these wars lately? My guess is, if you're like me, not much until America decided to withdraw the troops in August of 2021 and the Taliban once again took over in Afghanistan. I mean, we've lost thousand of soldier, translators, interpreters, support staff, correspondents, you name it, over the last twenty years. Are you still confused as to what the hell we were doing there all this time? I was. This book answers many questions, yet also left me questioning even more. Filkins puts the reader right in the middle of the action, literally - at times, I could almost feel my heart beat race as his platoon was trapped by a sniper, or a village was being bombed, or a soldier was being raced to a medi-vac. As much as I normally love listening to non-fiction, I wouldn't recommend the audio. Too many people, too many names, too many different scenarios for my brain to keep up - being able to see each small incident on paper would have been a better fit for me.

Are We There Yet? by Kathleen West

This book is perfect for any parent of a middle schooler, or if you're a teacher, or if you have had a teen, or even know a teen - in other words, I loved it! The three families that tell this story are so engaging - each kid, each parent does some seriously impulsive, stupid shit, like we all do at times. Yet when you add in social media (IG, FB, Snapchat, Tik-Tok), that dumb behavior becomes permanent, forever, alive for all time. I read this book in 24 hours; it was like watching a train wreck - you know what's coming but oh my, it is compelling to witness!

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

This is such a popular memoir, but it did not hit the right note for me, probably because it hit too many of my 'sore spots.' Told by a young woman who is half-Korean, half-Caucasion American, it is the story not just of her childhood and young adult life, but more about the death of her mother and the impact it has had on Michelle. Don't get me wrong - it is a very powerful, compelling story, told with honesty and authenticity. However, having sat at the bedside of two dying parents myself, it was just too painful for me to listen to (tho the author is a fabulous narrator). It truly is a fabulous memoir, but too drenched in sadness for me at this time.

August 2.0

  Lightning Strikes by Willian Kent Krueger

The author of This Tender Land and Ordinary Grace is back to his Cork O'Connor mystery series, but this time with a prequel. And my oh my, how I loved this book!!! Having read three of the series, it felt like I was coming home as I re-entered the town of Aurora, MN, with all the beloved characters but decades past. Taking place in 1967, we meet a twelve year old Cork, his two best buddies, his heroic father who is the current sheriff, and the Native tribe members who mentor them all. Mysteries abound with unsolved deaths amidst the lake country on reservation, as Krueger uses the prejudice against the Anishinaabe to highlight the hatred that can kill. And if you have not read the rest of the series, this prequel stands alone and gives the reader an incredible tour of the small town of Aurora, Minnesota and the compelling characters who inhabit it.

Things We Lost in the Water by Eric Nguyen

Featured on Obama's summer read list, as well as Book of the Month, this book has sat on my shelves for awhile. It is the tale of the immigrant, the refugee who flees a war torn country, who seeks safety wherever they can find it it, who lands in America alone, not knowing the language or culture or idiosyncrasies of society. Debut author Eric Nguyen nails all the feels of the refugee in his tale of a Vietnamese family in New Orleans, spanning three decades of time. The tale is told through the eyes of the mother and her two boys as they grow into manhood, as we see the hole left by the father who did not get on the boat. At times, the story loses me as it jumps around frequently in time; I found the character of the youngest boy, Binh/Ben to be the most compelling and wanted to hear his voice more. The water motif is used throughout, as the push and pull of prejudice, the struggle to survive economically, and the desire to fit in moves each member of the family through their own ocean currents. I thought of my own life, remembering Lynn Nguyen in my seventh grade class, wearing hand me down American clothes, having just arrived in Seattle. I remember not knowing what to say to her, not knowing what she had been through, not knowing her experience - I wish I had known more. This book is worth the read.

We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange

Quite honestly, I was surprised by how much I loved this book. A debut novel, full of Irish Catholic siblings, family drama, financial stresses, relationship issues, this book gripped me from the very first page. When the estranged daughter comes back to her New York home, after a distance of five years and thousands of miles, the story began and never let go of my heart. Tautly written in just 300 pages, I found myself wanting more of the Brennans; I look forward to her next novel!

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Murray

If you are planning a trip to New York City, read this book. If you like historical fiction, read this book. If you get annoyed with formal voice and dated prose, I would not recommend it. For me, it was a fascinating story of the personal librarian of J.P. Morgan, charged with cataloguing, acquiring, and organizing the millionaire's enormous collection of original manuscripts and books, as well as paintings. And what was most amazing was that this force of nature was a woman born into a close-knit Washington, DC Black family, yet raised to 'pass' as a white woman. For all her life, Belle da Costa Greene was really Belle Greener, daughter of a prominent civil rights activist, yet also daughter to a mother who wanted to give her children the same opportunities as white people had at the turn of the century. It is an intriguing tale, and even more intriguing, told by the dual team of a white author and a Black author who forged a friendship through a pandemic as well as the research and construction of this book. PS if you read the Authors' Notes, you do find out the reason for the formal voice!)

Land of Big Numbers by Te-Ping Chen

Here was another Barack Obama summer-read-list choice, and once again, he has compiled a list that opens my mind to other times and places. This book is a compilation of short stories of modern-day China, of the immigrants that left and came to America, of those that stayed, of some who worked in factories and others who work in shopping malls, of ordinary lives and ordinary people. As always with a short-story collection, I found some stories to be better than others, and some characters more compelling. What I truly enjoyed about this book, though, was the way it opened up my brain and forced it to breathe. I know very little about China of today, except for the news headlines, which quite frankly don't give us much on the people and how they live. While I did not necessary love this book, I am glad I listened to this great group of narrators.

Circus of Wonders by Elizabeth Macneal

Here's a classic example of "Don't judge a book by its cover." This book was physically gorgeous, with black pages and flowers painted on the edges. I mean, incredible. Sadly, the story inside...not so much, at least for me. This historical fiction focused on the obsession with freak shows during Victorian England (yes, the Queen was a huge fan, sadly), as well as the horrendous manner in which these performers were treated. If the author had stuck with that, I think I would have liked to book more. The main character, Nell, has leopard spots on her body and is treated as a freak in her home village, so dad sells her to the circus and Nell finds fame (she kinda likes that). She also finds love with the brother of the circus owner. Yet, the author also splices in a weird telling of the Crimean War and its impact on the two brothers; this just did not work for me and felt very disjointed. Ultimately, I ceased to care much about the circus performers and was just glad when the book was over.

This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab

I adore VE Schwab and her adult books; I mean, Darker Shades of Magic was a five-star trilogy, and I adored Addie LaRue. Yet, her YA books have left me a bit more meh. The Vicious duology was fine, a unique story about dying to become a super hero. This first book in this duology is more 'monstrous,' as in some characters are monsters created from a traumatic event in a weird, messed up America. There's the trope-ish 'bad girl' who is very human, and the 'good boy' who fights against his family's past and just wants to be a good monster. I mean, it entertained me but I won't pick up the second book, so there's that.

August Reads

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

I was filled with trepidation as I opened this book; I had heard it was trauma overload, so I went in prepared. What I was not prepared for was the inability to put this book down. The writing is gorgeous, pulling me directly in to the story of generations of a family who summer in the back woods of Cape Cod, in a small cabin known as the Paper Palace. It is a family full of sorrow, ugliness, and long-held secrets with the ability to destroy itself. Each character owns various morally questionable choices, making them hard at times to like, but always compelling to watch. Some of them are strong, with an uncanny ability to survive the ugliness of life. Some allow their desires to rule them, others their anger or hatred. Yet throughout this family drama, I consistently found the story provocative, the writing stunning, and the entire book completely unforgettable. This one will be a top book of 2021 for me. Fair warning: Difficult scenes of sexual abuse will be disturbing. 

American Wolf: A True Story of Survival and Obsession in the West by Nate Blakeslee

Every wolf in every story is the villain. Think about it - fairy tales, common sayings, fantasy stories, you name it. Always the bad guy. Have we been lured into thinking wolves are the devil? After listening to this engrossing tale, I have come to think so. Nate Blakeslee spent hours teaching me about wolves and their re-introduction into the American West, after being decimated for the previous hundred years. I got to know the wolves and their families, their heroic tales (if you don't admire the female alpha 06, you have no heart!), the volunteer wolf hunters, and the Yellowstone ranger whose life revolved around these wolves. Blakeslee tries his best to stay subjective, looking at both the hunting community, the fish and wildlife government agencies, and the environmentalists; it is an even-handed tale. Yet ultimately, it is impossible not to see the wolves as vital part of our eco-system. Want to be utterly fascinated? Then listen to this book - trust me:)

Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley

Having read Rowley's previous books, The Editor (liked) and The Guncle (loved), it was time to pick up his first book. Let's just say I was...underwhelmed. The premise was right down my alley, as a fellow dog lover -Ted lives with his dachshund Lily, who at the ripe age of thirteen has developed a tumor on her head. Ted calls it an octopus and spends the rest of the book trying to capture, kill, convince the octopus to leave Lily alone. At first, this metaphorical tact is cute; eventually, I found it a bit wearing, confusing, and kinda annoying. "Just tell the love story of dog and owner," is what kept running through my head as I skimmed the final chapters. It had some good stuff to say about the purity of a dog's love, but ultimately it did not even come close to living up to The Art of Racing in the Rain, the pinnacle of dog lover book heaven.

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo

The Booker Prize winner of 2019, yet it took me two years to pick up. Wow, the wait was soooooo worth it. A collection of stories about women - gay women, educated women, abused women, women of color, women of both poverty and riches, shy women, angry women - you name it, Evaristo examines them all. Threads of connection run throughout the story, often of friendship and of maternal bonds. I literally picked this book up figuring I would read a story, then move onto another novel, coming back and reading a story at a time. Not a chance - I could not put this one down. The writing is unique - no capital letters, no ending punctuation, no quotation marks. It doesn't matter - my brain filled it all in, or it just did not care. What I did care about was each woman's life, her choices, her connections to others, her work, her dreams, her sorrow, her triumphs. Many of them were very different from my own life choices so my brain expanded and breathed bigger. Oh, how I loved this book.

The Husbands by Chandler Baker

Let me preface this with…I thoroughly enjoyed 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬, which used the perfect tone of snark and humor, mixed with social commentary, in order to deal with the serious issue of sexual harassment. In her latest book, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘶𝘴𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴, Baker takes on the idea of equal partnerships when both spouses are working. Hot topic, right?! Yet, imo, she misses the mark. The snark is not tinged with enough humor; instead, it is reeking of a bit too much meanness for me. So many questions…A main character who verges on whininess and was often inexplicable to figure out,  a husband that just wasn’t that horrible? A lawyer friend whose presence was confusing? A best friend who’s used for what purpose? Look it, there have definitely been times I wanted to shake my husband awake, to look at all the unpaid work I did for our family so I see the potential plot line here concerning the topic of equality in the home and family life but potential was ultimately squandered a bit for me.

The Killing Kind by Jane Casey

This is a stand-alone from one of my favorite mystery writers; I have read the entire Maeve Kerrigan series and loved them all). This was a 486 page book, that could have been shorter, read remarkably fast, and ultimately left me a tad underwhelmed. This legal mystery starts out strong, with a barrister, Ingrid Lewis, whose life has been turned upside by a sociopathic stalker. Over the years, he has pretty much destroyed most everything in her life, except her work as a criminal defender. And just when Ingrid thinks her stalker has disappeared, he rears his ugly head again as more murders and weirdness enter her life. I turned pages quickly, found some implausibilities in the final 100 pages, and just wished for a tighter, more logical finish. Still... a solid, entertaining mystery.

The Perfect Family by Robyn Harding

I was intrigued by this thriller as it is set in Portland, one of my favorite PNW cities. Yet, I was thoroughly not entertained by this one. A family who is FAR from perfect, is victimized with random vandalism which escalates into some weird, creepy stuff. The story is told through the four members viewpoints, with none of the family members like-able in the least bit. Halfway through the book I found myself rooting for the vandals. And don't expect a well-wrapped, tight conclusion - didn't happen.