Calling Me Home
by Julie Kibler
Has Our Country Really Made Any Advancement? (6/7/2025)
It took me awhile to get into this book, but I was eventually able to care about what about what happened to the main character. The book, published in 2021, jumped back and forth between its present day and the 1930s-1940s. Two characters, an elderly white woman and a 30ish black woman, tell their stories during a road trip from Texas to Ohio for a funeral.
The teenager who became the elderly woman, I found to be spoiled, selfish, and immature which I think is why I couldn't initially get into the book. I eventually threw these feelings aside and then was able to focus on the story. Despite the jumping between decades and narrators the story was easy to follow. The author was honest about the overt racism of the earlier time, but I found her comments about post-racism in 2021 to be sad given the anti-DEI movement by our government today.
This would be an excellent discussion for a book club, but clubs should realize they might find out what some members' true colors are.
American Dirt: A Novel
by Jeanine Cummins
Every Reader Has a Right to Like or Dislike (11/28/2024)
Wow, WOw, WOW! Just finished American Dirt and have to say that I felt like I was riding "La Bestia" at high speed the entire time I was reading it. I had not read the book because I just didn't want to deal in my head with all of the controversy surrounding its publication, but then my book club chose it to read. From the minute I started it, I couldn't put it down. I can't speak thoroughly as to whether it accurately depicts the "Latinx immigrant experience", but my thoughts are that there are as many Latinx immigrant experiences as there are Latinx immigrants and that no one book can depict it totally. I did at times feel that certain terms such as jittery,
juddery, etc., were overused to describe how the main character was feeling physically, but that is minor to how I overall felt about the book.
I also have to admit that I am somewhat hesitant to post my comments because there have been very strong arguments about the book. My way of thinking is that readers have an individual right to love a book or hate it or feel lukewarm about it without another reader or reviewer or person attacking them for having or expressing those feelings. This is a book that has opened me to educate myself more on the immigration dilemma and it will stay with me for a very, very long time.
A Short Walk Through a Wide World: A Novel
by Douglas Westerbeke
A Strange Book (11/11/2024)
This is such a strange book. For some reason I felt like I was wandering through subterranean tunnels in much of the book before Aubrey went into the library. Each place that she wandered to where she spent extensive time isolated her and made her almost like a captive in a harem. It was honestly creepy to me. I did like reading about the different environments and cultures of the world, but that did not override the overall creepiness factor. The purpose of Aubrey's travels and thus the book's message, other than self-preservation, eluded me. I didn't understand the ending at all. Sorry to say, I won't be suggesting my book club read this one.
Demon Copperhead: A Novel
by Barbara Kingsolver
Indictment of Foster Care, Big Pharma, and Healthcare System (9/7/2024)
Having never read any of Barbara Kingsolver's work, I only had other readers' word for it that she was a skilled author. Upon reading the second line of the second paragraph of chapter 1 in which she describes the climate of late fall and summer as "dog-breath air" I knew I was reading someone whose writing was going to crackle.
The character development, from Demon to the most minor, was perfection. I haven't read the entirety of David Copperfield but have read excerpts here and there and thus enjoyed that Kingsolver's characters were closely related by name and actions to Dicken's. Demon was burnt by his upbringing in unimaginable ways, yet his resiliency and basic decency always shone through. The novel exposes the negative aspects of the foster care systems and is a full-on indictment of Big Pharma and the healthcare providers who exchanged their oath to do no harm for monetary gain.
Some members of my book club were put off by the language and lifestyles depicted. I don't talk that way and admit that I don't enjoy foul language, but firmly believe that whitewashing the language and actions of the characters would have ruined the impact of the novel. I restrained myself somewhat during our discussion because everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I wanted to yell out, "Do you honestly think that the events like those described never Do happen? Do you think that if you bury your head in the sand the addiction and what led to it will go away?" If we are going to get the opioid crisis under control, we all have to open our eyes. I believe that Demon Copperhead can open American's eyes in a way that governmental reports cannot. I definitely recommend this book as a must read for those who care about the health and social fabric of our nation.
The Quiet Damage: QAnon and the Destruction of the American Family
by Jesselyn Cook
Down the QAnon Rabbit Hole (8/11/2024)
I read this book in hopes of learning how to respond to those who subscribe to the scree that is the realm of QAnon. My husband and I have been close friends of a couple for 50 years, yet we no longer feel we know them.
The book is reverting read presenting what could be described as case studies of individuals who went down the "rabbit hole." Although none of cited individuals were similar to our friends, I was able to reach some understanding of how they came to embrace this delusionary thinking. The author skillfully shows that how to maintain communication with the "anons" while at the same time maintaining boundaries. It's an outstanding book, yet sadly, after reading it, I have no hope of our friends ever turning away from the Q teachings.
Father of Lions: One Man's Remarkable Quest to Save the Mosul Zoo
by Louise Callaghan
Humanity during War (7/17/2024)
I received an ARC of Father of Lions from BookBrowse in return for participation in the First Impressions Book Club discussion of it. The author describes life in Mosul, Iraq during ISIS occupation from the perspective of two families as well as several other individuals. At the same time, she reports the efforts of the title character to save the animals of a private Mosul zoo, most especially a young lion. I was most impressed by the adaptability and resilience of the Mosul citizenry and that they live their lives as best they can. We Americans have difficulty understanding the effects of war and occupation on the civilian population and for me the author demonstrated that well. The efforts toward saving the animals were sometimes puzzling and exasperating, but I believe that is because I read the book from a Western perspective and should have viewed from the participant's situation. The author's journalism background was evident in her writing, but I appreciated this because I tend to read more non-fiction than fiction. The book is a good read that I have recommended to friends.
The Removes
by Tatjana Soli
Liberties Taken With Facts, But Still Good (5/24/2024)
I was fortunate to be selected to receive this book for participation in the Book Browse Book Club discussion. I am an avid reader of the American West, both fiction and non-fiction, but with a distinct preference for non-fiction. When I read that the author said she had taken some liberties with facts such as Libbie Custer's presence at events she was not actually at, I was somewhat dismayed. It ultimately did not diminish my appreciation of the book. If the author had not disclosed this, I believe my ultimate opinion of the book would have been dismissive, but because she revealed it, I could accept it.
I found the writing to be elegant and flowing. Some reviewers found it to be stilted and archaic, but did not. I did have difficulty with the ending and am still not sure of what happened. For this, I have rate it as good rather than excellent.
The Elephant of Belfast
by S. Kirk Walsh
For the Love of an Elephant - Based on Fact (4/26/2024)
After reading a magazine article about Denise Weston Austin, the WWII "elephant angel" of Belfast, Ireland, I wanted to know more. I didn't find any nonfiction books about Denise and the elephant, but was able to find this very good novel about them.
After Germany began bombing Belfast, the Ministry of Public Safety determined that all of the zoo's carnivores and other large animals should be put to death to prevent them from escaping if the zoo was hit. Denise took the baby elephant home with her each evening to prevent any harm coming to the baby. Although the book is loosely based on Denise's story, it is able to convey the fear of the times and the bravery and compassion of the zookeepers as well as many other people. At the same time, it shows the greed, cowardice, and treachery of the element of society that seeks to benefit from other's difficulties. The book was enlightening in that I knew nothing of the IRA's desire for the Germans to succeed in defeating Great Britain which they believed would result in a united Ireland. Their failure to realize that just the opposite would happen was astonishing to me. Hatred definitely has blinders.
The novel is well written although I really didn't see the necessity for the sex scenes. Their inclusion added nothing to the story and seemed gratuitous. There have to have been a better way to bring the involved character as fully into the storyline. The audiobook narrator was perfect; it was lovely to hear the story in the accent of a native of Ireland.
Beowulf: A New Verse Translation
by Seamus Heaney
Overall Boring (11/2/2023)
I recall reading Beowulf in high school and while not hating it, I did not enjoy it. A 50 year interval has not changed my opinion. I thought perhaps listening to the audiobook might change my opinion, but it did not. The narration by Seamus Heaney is clear and easily understood, but for me could not overcome the overall boredom I felt while listening.
The Lost Wife: A novel
by Susanna Moore
Spare and Unflinching (9/24/2023)
An excellent fictional account of the Great Sioux Uprising in Minnesota told through a character based on the memoirs of an actual female captive. The author conveys the US government's responsibility for the uprising from its failure to fulfill its treaty terms as well as its disastrous after effects for the Sioux. Although spare in language and short in length, this book left me thinking about it for days afterward.
The Family Man
by Elinor Lipman
Good Hearts Make a Family (9/12/2023)
A fun little book that shows that all kinds of people with good hearts, no matter their orientation or lifestyle, can make a family.
Lady Tan's Circle of Women: A Novel
by Lisa See
Exotic, Exquisite, Exultant (5/29/2023)
Based on the life of 14th century female Chinese physician, Tan Yunxian, Lisa See's latest novel provides an intimate behind the walls look at the lives of upper-class women during China's Ming Dynasty.
After her mother's death, eight-year-old Yunxian is sent by her emotionally as well as physically distant father to live with her grandparents, who are both physicians. There she meets Meiling. Yunxian and Meiling, whose mother is a famous midwife, develop a lifelong friendship, the bonds which cannot be broken by physical and social distance.
The author's meticulous research into the lives of upper-class women, including wives and concubines, as well as middle and lower class women, was evident on every page. The writing was spectacular; descriptions of locations and conversation placed me right in the middle of the situation. The characters' personalities were written so that a whole person, good and bad, was revealed. I learned so much from this book. I had heard and seen pictures of an empress with bound feet on her throne, but knew nothing of the tortuous process or why it was desirous and limited to the upper class. Having worked in healthcare for over 40 years, the information on illnesses and their treatments with traditional Chinese medicine was of particular interest to me. I was amazed that in the midst of yin and yang that the diagnosis was accurate, and portions of the treatment was much like current therapy. The description of the diagnosis and treatment of Yunxian's mother-in-law's cough will stay with me for a long time.
Usually, I can find something that makes a book less than a 5 on a scale of 0-5, but not with this book. Like its cover, it is a gorgeous book that I highly recommend. As soon as it is published, I am recommending this novel to my book club.
The Nazi Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill
by Brad Meltzer, Josh Mensch
As Fast Paced as Any Espionage Thriller (4/15/2023)
Although Nonfiction History, The Nazi Conspiracy is as fast paced as any espionage thriller. About the Nazi plot to assassinate the three supreme WWII Allied leaders; Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin; during the Teheran Conference in the Fall of 1943, it delivers the planning and events leading up to the conference from the perspectives of each of the participating countries and Nazi Germany. I was particularly taken by the book’s identification and crediting of the individuals behind the scenes who put their lives on the line to protect the Allies' leaders. The book outlines in the first few chapters how Hitler and the Nazis took control of Germany in a few short years which should US citizens pause given the current political situation in our country.
Trailed: One Woman's Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders
by Kathryn Miles
Excellent True Crime Account (1/26/2023)
An extremely well written true crime book regarding the murder of two young women in one of our busiest national parks. The author made her investigation of the National Park Service and law enforcement investigation more personal by writing about its effects on her personally. I know this will be one of the best books I read this year.
People of the Book
by Geraldine Brooks
A History of Jewish Survival (11/13/2022)
An unusual premise and a very enjoyable book. I especially liked the information on determining a book's age and origin and the descriptions regarding preservation. Essentially a history of Jewish survival in Europe from 1400 forward, the book illustrates the evil and goodness found in all faiths.
Anil's Ghost
by Michael Ondaatje
Sri Lanka Civil War (10/31/2022)
This is the second Michael Ondaatje book I have read and I am still not a fan. Although I was not even aware that Sri Lanka was convulsed by civil war in the late 20th century and I learned much from the book, I still found it to be lackluster. It was disjointed, flopped around between time periods, and hard to understand because of frequent words I didn't understand. Even reading an ebook didn't help as translation wasn't available. Very important theme, but the book certainly won't make it something people want to learn about.
Gilded Mountain: A Novel
by Kate Manning
Immigrants and the Gilded Age (10/30/2022)
Set in the fictional high altitude Colorado towns of Moonstone and Ruby in the also fictional Gilded Mountains Range, this novel tells the story of yearning for a better life and the will to achieve that goal. Women's suffrage, the effects of slavery, and the labor movement also figure strongly in the story. Sylvie Pelletier is on the brink of adulthood when she, brothers, and mother join their father and husband in Moonstone. Living in the company housing of the marble mining business that her father works for and going to the local school, Sylvie first works for the female editor of the local newspaper in order to contribute to her family's finances. When the opportunity arises to work as secretary to the wife of the mine owner at their home in Ruby, she seizes the live-in position. There she comes to know and establish relationships with the owner's wife, formerly a French courtesan, the owner's disaffected college age son, and the Black cook and butler, who were formerly slaves of the southern born owner.
Part of the reason I chose this book was its stunning cover of a full moon rising over the mountains. Having seen these mountains several times, I knew them to be near Aspen, Colorado. My other reason is a love for historical fiction of the American West. The Author's Note makes clear that the setting is based on the history of real-life Colorado towns of Marble and Dearfield, which are also near Aspen. My family has visited Marble several times while driving the scenic byways of Colorado. The author's descriptions of the town, surrounding mountains, and the mining operation are perfect. With the term Gilded in the book title, it is obvious that the book deals with the haves and have-nots of the gilded age. That robber baron millionaires became billionaires on the backs of immigrant workers for whom they had no regard is a theme throughout the novel. I had previously read Cripple Creek Days by Mabel Barbee Lee and thought this book would be much like it. It definitely was not; Kate Manning provides an excellent social commentary on the struggle for safe working conditions, fair pay, and decent hours in the early 20th century.
Sylvie, the main character, was strong and competent. I loved her "silent comments" on what she thought of or wanted to do to many of characters she had to deal with. Yet Sylvie's relationship with the son of the owner left me cold. I found him to be weak, spoiled, without loyalty, unable to see anything, etc. and simply could not understand how the author thought it was a good move to pair him with Sylvie. The story progressed nicely, but there were times that I hoped for better, more descriptive writing. Overall, I do recommend this book for anyone who enjoys historical fiction of the American West or who wants to learn something of Colorado's mining and labor history.
The Night Ship: A Novel
by Jess Kidd
Spectacular Read (10/2/2022)
In 1628, 9-year-old motherless Mayken is on ship Batavia sailing from Holland to the Dutch East Indies and her wealthy merchant father. Inquisitive and bright, Mayken explores the ship, learns about the sailing life, makes friends among the different classes of passengers, and avoids those with malice for her and others. Dressing as a cabin boy, she searches the bowels of the ship for the monster the sailors say lives there. In 1989, 9-year-old motherless Gil arrives to live with his grandfather on desolate Beacon Island off the coast of Western Australia, where the Batavia shipwrecked on its maiden voyage 150 plus years earlier.
Alternating chapters between each child's experiences, the story propels through Mayken's voyage and Gil's acclimation to the island. While Mayken's voyage focuses on finding the monster and dealing with her nursemaid's illness, Gil's acclimation is complicated by a scientific excavation of the shipwreck, the rumor that a ghost roams the island, and a feud between Gil's grandfather and another fisherman.
Kidd's writing is gorgeous; I was repeatedly stopping and writing down a phrase or paragraph that I wanted to save. She moves seamlessly between the children's experiences and heighten the reader's tension for each until the book comes to its dramatic conclusion. The Night Ship is a spectacular read.
Elsewhere: A Novel
by Alexis Schaitkin
Self and Motherhood (6/30/2022)
There has been a recent uptick of novels regarding motherhood and women's roles in society which is understandable given the rise in extreme conservatism in America in the last twenty years. Alexis Schaitkin brings forward via speculative fiction the fears that I believe many women currently have regarding their ability to live and work as equals to men in our society without limits established by gender.
When I read the First Look available through #BookishFirst I was intrigued by the book's premise and its setting.
The storyline was strong and easy to follow, but I did find my interest lagging occasionally during journey of the central character, Vera, outside the colony. The characters were believable, and I found the use of German street names interesting. I loved the location. We vacationed in the Pacific Northwest last summer and I felt that I knew exactly where this town was located and could picture it perfectly somewhere far back in the North Cascades. The descriptions of the physical surroundings transported me to the village with its soft mist urging everyone to get home by lightly swirling uphill and downhill through the streets in early evening. The physical environment of the book was exactly as it should be.
When I started the book, I was focused on the dystopian setting and what happened to the women who suddenly disappeared. By the end of the book, I realized that I was more concerned about the concept of motherhood and what our current society expects of women.
This would definitely be a great novel for book club discussion. There are so many opportunities for discussion: motherhood, women's roles in society, marriage vs singleness, childrearing, insular societies, friendship, merits of education, etc. I will definitely be presenting it to my book club for consideration.
Hamnet
by Maggie O'Farrell
Achingly Beautiful! (6/23/2022)
Achingly beautiful, grief-laden, resounding with love, and ultimately uplifting! Hamnet is by far the best, most beautiful book I have read this year and one of my 10 favorite books of my lifetime of reading. Maggie O'Farrell's writing is enchanting and captivated me from the first page. Her descriptions of illness and grief were perfectly nuanced and made me wonder how they could be so correct in portraying those things. I subsequently read that Ms. O'Farrell has written a memoir, "I Am, I Am, I Am" about near death experiences she has gone through which seemed to explain her understanding of illness and death.
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