Martita, I Remember You. English and Spanish, Sandra Cisneros

 

I was thrilled to get to read an advance copy of this book, by beloved Sandra Cisneros.   Basically, a love letter to youth, and relationships and mistakes, this part epistolary, part novel in flash takes the reader along to Paris, Argentina, and Chicago through the vision of three young women trying to discover who they are.  Their letters reveal the affection they remember, despite the years that pass, and lets the reader peek into the era, with world events, the despair, and the joie de vivre of youth and the special trials of the immigrant, regardless of country or era.

 

It is very short, and I was happy to get to read the Spanish version, which is also included, as the musicality of Cisneros voice comes through in both languages. A lovely gift for close friends, especially those who speak or read Spanish.

Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout 4*

 

Oh William! By Elizabeth Strout

 

Elizabeth Strout is an author who feels more like a dear old friend, or that cousin you like to be seated next to at a wedding. Her writing is both accessible and complex, as are the characters she creates.  Oh William! is the story of Lucy Barton as a woman who has divorced her cheating first husband, remarried, and lost her second to cancer. It is a family novel, examining the relationships between both parents, children, and their extended family, and it is a love story, though not a romance.  As many of Strout’s books do, it is sprinkled with historical fact that shaped the lives of the people living through events… like the POW camps in Maine, but the characters of the novel. The result is characters so authentic that I found myself looking to see if I was reading memoir.

 

At the heart of the novel is the secrets kept by both William, the cheating husband with whom Lucy retains a lovely friendship, and recently widowed Lucy.  The big secret that they investigate doesn’t feel any more important than the dozens of other revelations these characters give in this captivating book. Fans of Lucy Barton and Olive Kittredge will not be disappointed. Newcomers will be charmed by Lucy’s quirkiness.  And everyone will be saying “Oh William!”

The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman 4*

 

The completion of the Practical Magic story of the Owens family and their curse in matters of love makes the swing around to complete the circle.  The primary settings are the house on Magnolia Street where the Owens family has lived for generations, with trips across the ocean and back to the place of the original pond where the curse began in England.  As with any good series, this one tied up loose ends left open in the prior books and created a landscape all its own.  Fresh characters join the beloved one, and we feel immediately at home in the libraries and homes of the characters.

 

Hoffman’s writing has been called lush, and for this reader, some places where a bit too lush, especially once the action moved to England. But the story and characters were worth wading through a bit of brush and marsh, the ending is surprisingly inevitable.  I was charmed by the explanations of love for this family… “you stayed when you wanted to run away. You held on when you knew you had no choice but to let go.”  I wish I had the whole series to read again. 

 

 

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr, 5+ stars!

 

“A tapestry of times and places that reflects our vast interconnectedness…” Those are the words Anthony Doerr uses to describe this wonderful novel, and each thread in that tapestry is golden wire wrapped in color.

 

Told from the perspectives of young people, from four different centuries and centering loosely around a fictional manuscript written by an ancient Greek author, this book ties the stories of Konstance, from a space ship in the twenty second century to not only the ancient Greek, but also two teen agers on opposite sides of the siege of Constantinople in the fifteenth century, and a group of fifth graders in 2020, who wish to perform the play, Cloud Cuckoo Land, as translated by their friend,  Zeno, a Korean war veteran. With his gentle and caring hand, Anthony Doerr lets us inside the world of the disfigured, the orphaned, the lost, the mentally challenged, the single mother, the unrequited homosexual, the war veteran, and even the hopeless parents in fear for their children on a dying planet. He weaves these stories so perfectly that we don’t even realize what he’s doing until we reach the surprising, inevitable conclusion.

 

It wasn’t easy to get started in this book, nightmares of studying the Odyssey and the Iliad threatened to make me abandon it, but to say by midway I couldn’t put it down is not an exaggeration. This author is a master, and a treasure, and this book is a love letter to books and libraries through history. I loved it.

 

I received this advance copy from NetGalley and the publisher. Cloud Cuckoo Land will be released on September 28, 2021.

Golden Girl by Elin Hilderbrand

 

Elin Hilderbrand can always be counted on for contemporary fiction, with complex female characters and a great beach read. The characters in Golden Girl don't disappoint, though they are extremely privileged. I wasn't happy to begin the book reading from the point of view of Vivi, a ghost, because I feel that's been done so many times. 

Still, I enjoyed the book. I liked that the underlying mystery of the "narrators" death gave us a logical timeline. I liked that even in Nantucket, a place that has come to represent the American Ideal, issues of racism, sexism and abuse must be confronted. I think Elin Hildebrand acknowledged the issues, without hitting her readers too hard with them... we don't pick up a self-described beach read to rehash the issues we deal with in our regular lives.

 Golden Girl did exactly what a good summer book should. I look forward to the next one!

 

Wish You Were Here by Jody Piccoult. Another great read!

I’ve long admired the way Jody Piccoult can take a controversial current event topic and make it engaging, readable and interesting. I go into her books thinking I understand an issue, only to be presented with other perspectives. Piccoult gives me an opportunity to think about issues and I always feel smarter when I finish her books.

 Wish You Were Here begins as a romance veering off course. The beauty of the Galápagos, the varied creatures, and an isolation few have experienced set the stage for Diana to explore everything she knows about art, relationships, and grief. As an art broker for Sotheby’s, she already knows a lot about art, but not how it can expand personal relationships. As a daughter of a doting father who died, and an absentee mother afflicted with Alzheimer’s, she must learn a new kind of grief. And as the almost fiancée of a doctor in the first wave of the COVID-19 wave in NYC, she has much to learn about relationships.

I won’t reveal the shift of the second half of the book, but I will say that this book continues the exploration of life and death begun in Piccoult’s last book, The Book of Two Ways, though Wish You Were here is an easier read with a totally different story. (Many of my reading friends didn't like the intense Egyptian explanations of that one, though I found them fascinating. My review of The book of two waysHer research is, as always, stellar, and fascinating. I did not think I was ready for a “Covid” book, written during the actual worst times of the virus in the USA, but I found much peace and healing here. I guess we really couldn’t be shocked any more than we were, and it’s nice to see our feelings given credence and respect. This is a don’t miss book for 2021 and beyond. 

Wish You Were Here will be released November 30, 2021, just in time to be a wonderful gift for reader friends. I appreciate being allowed to read an Advanced Readers Copy by the publisher, Penguin Random House and NetGalley. five plus stars!

Ghosts by Dolly Atherton, 5*

(I know it seems that everything I review is 4 or 5 stars, but I'm not sure why I'd take the time to review something I didn't like!) Ghosts by Dolly Atherton Ghosts is at its heart, romantic comedy, and romantic tragedy. It is a commentary on how we find connections in this millennium, and how easily those connections can disappear. It is the story of Nina George Dean, born in 1986. Coming into adulthood in the Time of the Internet, it is natural for her friends to encourage her to try dating apps to meet interesting men. But like all things on the internet, it is easy to believe the things she is told, and when she meets Max, she can’t help but believe in him, too. Ghosting isn’t a phenomenon we had to deal with when our partners were people we interacted with outside of dating, but it’s all too easy when an app is your connection. I thought that was what the book was about, and was feeling rather ho hum about it, until this wonderful author carried the metaphor through to relationships other than those founded on an app…friends, family, and even our past. Nina is a deep and caring character, and I wanted her to have everything she wanted. You’ll have to read the book to find out if she does, and I promise it will not disappoint. Though it will break your heart in all the best ways. Alfred Knopf and NetGalley have provided me with an advanced reader copy for this review. The book will be released on August 3, 2021.

Dawg Towne by Alice Kaltman, FIVE stars and woofs!

 Tex and Jaz tried to read the book in the sun...too hot!

 

It’s rare for me to buy a physical copy of a book, but Dawg Towne, by Alice Kaltman is one I knew I’d want to pass around, and that’s not easy to do with an ebook. Besides, my dogs, Tex and Jaz, had heard so much about it they wanted to take a look. I sped through it, and was sorry, because I rather miss Towne, now that I am no longer visiting it in words, and the characters, human and canine, worked their way into my heart. Kaltman has done a marvelous job of creating people who live the emotions we all experience, those that we can talk about, and those we can’t. The overwhelming sense that I got was that everyone needs a best friend and companion, and sometimes, dogs are the best choice.

"Did she tell you we liked it?"

 

I won’t spoil the story, but merely comment that this is a book for anyone who’s lived in a city, or suburb, or outside them both, who feels the isolation that each locale can create. It’s also for everyone who’s ever known, or loved, a dog. Thanks Alice, for another wonderful story, and literary companions.

Tex and Jaz cuddled up with the book....

Then they lent it to their pal, Sasha.  

 

 

 And she agreed.  Great book for summer 2021!

To Sir, With Love, another remake ala You've Got Mail! 4*

 

As an admitted rom com afficionado, I have watched Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan answer the AOL siren call many times in Nora Ephron’s You’ve Got Mail.  I knew it was based on a classic and have promised myself a viewing of the 1940’s The Shop Around the Corner.  To Sir, With Love, brought that same romantic feeling to 2021 with of course, an app.  The delicious fantasy that we develop when we spend time in our own imagination, fueled by words of kindness and understanding, is perfectly portrayed by Lauren Layne’s Grace/Lady and Sebastian/Sir.  Setting it in a Champagne shop in Manhattan extended the fantasy for those of us who have always dreamed of New York, but know it belongs firmly there, in our dreams. 

You will love these characters, even though you have a pretty good idea of what will happen.  Thanks Lauren Layne, for a delightful escape in these serious and weary times.

 

Thanks to the publisher, Simon and Schuster, and Net Galley for giving me this break! To Sir, With Love was published today, June 29, 2021.

Songs In Ursa Major, for lovers or music and more. Five *

 

Songs in Ursa Major  by Emma Brodie

 

When Janie Quinn takes the stage at her tiny island’s summer Folk Fest, her local band suddenly subbing for superstar Jessie Reid, she has no real idea of the ride she’s about to go on. Not only does the connection she feels with her fans provide her with the sense of belonging she’s sought since being abandoned as a child, it also opens doors--to Jessie, the strength of his success, and even his piano. Janie’s gift is not something she takes lightly, and conforming isn’t part of the fabric of her family. Songs in Ursa Major leaves readers yearning for Jane to succeed, for Jane and Jessie to find their way together, and for the music industry to find a conscience. I won’t tell you which of those are resolved but will say that for anyone who’s ever been an artist—whether it be with paint or words or music, this story will grab hold and remind you why you do it, and what you are up against.

 

A great story you will not want to put down. Brava Emma Brodie!

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the advanced copy of this book.  It will be released June 22, 2021.

New Girl in Little Cove by Damhnait Monaghan Five Stars!

 

 

 I loved this wonderful trip to Newfoundland and it's fabulous characters.  If you loved Come From Away this book that will remind you of the same feelings you had then, and totally warm your heart.  New Girl in Little Cove is the story of a mainlander... Rachel, ( from exotic Ontario) who goes to Newfoundland for her first teaching job.  Each character will become a friend in your memory and you'll struggle not to want to try out the dialect.  Great read!

More book reviews! All very different. That Summer, You Can Trust Me, The House by the Cerulean Sea!

 

That Summer, Jennifer Weiner 5*

 

That Summer is another book set in Cape Cod, in the area we became familiar with in last year’s Weiner novel, Big Summer. This time we meet two families, one being wealthy, boarding school educated and suburban Philadelphia society entrenched. The other is the created family of Diana, a young woman whose life changed after a traumatic assault when she was young. How the two families intertwine and the tangles along the way create a story you will worry about and test your own thoughts on “#metoo” and money.

 

Jennifer Weiner continues to grow as a writer, tackling complicated viewpoints and issues and packaging them into contemporary fiction. That this book is being called a beach read illustrates again how beach reads have evolved into important fiction. Complex characters and smooth transitions! Culture clashes and #metoo.  Creativity v. Money orientation.  A great read!

 

The Publisher sent me an early copy of this book, which is available now!

 

You Can Trust Me, by Emma Rowley 4*

 

I’m not generally a mystery reader but like to broaden my scope. When a popular online book club chose this book for a monthly “read along” I hopped on the bandwagon, because their recommendations have led me to many books I’ve enjoyed.

 

I count this one as one of them.  An intriguing house, built on the site of a tragic fire, a wealthy social influencer with the requisite handsome husband and darling child. And the ghostwriter, who is there to expand the brand.  Or is she?

 

The book twists and turns in both viewpoint and time, leading the reader down first one alley and then the next.  Maybe it’s because this isn’t my normal genre, but I found it fun! The ending was mostly satisfying--no spoilers from me!   If you like a mystery, or need a change, give this one a try.

 

 

 

The House on the Cerulean Sea, TJ Klune 6*...if possible.

 

 

This may be my favorite book of the year.  It reads like a children's book or maybe a fable, and the magical creatures who make up the characters are nothing like what I normally read, but what a beautiful story, beautifully told.  The characters are exquisite, from the seemingly OCD Linus Baker to the fascinating master of the Orphanage, we are taught to look beyond appearances and preconceptions to the possibility of a kinder, more inclusive world.  Linus is sent to investigate the orphanage, with almost no preparation, so we discover all the idiosyncrasies along with him.  This writer makes us adore the spawn of Lucifer!

"How can we fight prejudice if we do nothing to change it? If we allow it to fester, what’s the point?”

 

Give yourself the gift of reading this one! 

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Great summer read! 5 stars

 

Taylor Jenkins Reid has shown she’s a skilled writer, unafraid of using nonlinear storylines to develop the world of her characters.  Malibu Rising is no different. Add to that the family saga of the Rivas and this is the kind of book you can sink into.

 

The Rivas value their family bonds, a value that is tested over and over with their parents, siblings and their choice of loves.  For a group as loyal as the four children, Nina, Jay, Hud and Kit, their secrets keep them from being completely authentic with each other, but for some reason, this, along with insecurities we don’t expect from the celebrities they’ve become, make them relatable characters we just want to cheer for.

 

Set against glamorous Malibu, with the ocean, surfing, fires and wild parties that just the name Malibu brings to mind, this was a satisfying novel with just enough escapism to make it an ideal summer read.  Cinematic in its scope and execution, this book would be a great movie.  Another hit for TJR!

 

Malibu Rising publication day is June 1, 2021. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my copy!

A Million Reasons Why, by Jessica Strawser. 5*

 

A Million Reasons Why by Jessica Strawser

 

When Caroline’s husband selected the Christmas gift they would give her family, he had no reason to believe it would result in anything but interesting information.  He had no way of knowing the heartbreaking secrets that would be unlocked by that simple test.

 

The information sends this family into chaos that includes infidelity and illegitimate children, to lies told to keep the secrets hidden.  Along the way, complex characters tangled together in a web of love and secrecy gamble with what they hold most dear.  And the plot continues to twist.

 

Strawser had treated moral issues most people never consider with tenderness and compassion. What would you do if you could save someone’s life…and only you could do it?  This book not only explores the morality of its characters, but also of how our society treats people with medical crises, particularly those in need of organ donation.

 

This book will grab you and keep you until the end. You won’t want to put it down.

 

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this copy to me. Publication date is March 23, 2021.

The Sweet Taste of Muscadines, debut by Pamela Terry. 4*

 

 

The Sweet Taste of Muscadines

 

The Sweet Taste of Muscadines, a debut novel by Pamela Terry, is the best of southern family drama but also part travel book. The scenes that unfold for the Bruce family, upon the unexpected death of the matriarch sport characters authentic, lovable and embarrassing, just as we’d expect in a story of a family.

 

Where Terry shines most, though, is in her descriptions and sense of place. Lila, our main character, begins the journey at her late husband, now her, home in Maine, where we as readers would be just as happy to stay, with the artists and all the great canine friends.

 

But then she travels “home” to Wesleyan, Georgia, and she not only enchants us with the tasteful homes and small town, but also lets us visit the low country Marsh. The writing in this section felt very much like Pat Conroy could have been nudging the author as she typed.

 

But she saved the best for last, as our characters travel to the Hebrides in Scotland, to the actual island (but fictional community) of Eynhallow, where the beauty makes the reader, and probably the writer, breathless.

 

Encapsulated in these lovely settings is a very real story of loss, mystery and acceptance. In these pandemic times, I’d give it five stars for the chance to “travel” alone, but the story is well done. Especially if you love dogs!

 

The Sweet Taste of Muscadines will be published March 16, 2021 by Random House/Ballantine. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to preview.

 

Four Winds by Kristin Hannah….5+ stars.

 

 

Kristin Hannah is one of those authors whose book you know you will love no matter the subject or genre. She’s that good at bringing character, time and place to life. Her research is dependable which lets the reader “live” in times too hard to fantasize, while appreciating the beauty along the way.

 

She’s done that again with Four Winds. Here more than ever, Hannah gives us a glimpse of the lives and expectations of women in the pre depression era, then raises the stakes by putting her underestimated character, Elsa, on a Texas panhandle farm immediately before, and then during, the dust bowl. Elsa and her children keep descending the societal ladder and eventually find themselves as homeless migrant workers in California.

 

I don’t want to spoil the story but must elaborate on the brilliant descriptions of the time and place. I could FEEL the dust in my nostrils. The cold wet nights of homelessness. The despair of hopelessness. And most importantly, the strength that Elsa finds within herself.

 

If you’ve missed Hannah’s other historical novels, you owe it to your hungry reader self to pick them up. Four Winds is the most recent, but only the beginning. Brava, Kristin Hannah!

 

I was granted access to this book by Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press. Four Winds releases today, February 2, 2021.

What’s Worth Keeping, Kaya McLaren 5*.

 (Warning: This book has graphic depictions of cancer and recovery, as well as first responder ptsd)

What’s Worth Keeping, Kaya McLaren

 

This is a beautiful book in so many ways.  Kaya McLaren clearly speaks from experience as she describes her character, Amy's, journey through diagnosis, treatment and recovery from breast cancer.  Poor Amy has it bad enough with just that, but when she discovers divorce papers completed by her husband Paul, she needs to leave her family and return to nature to find a way back to herself.  She revisits National Parks and Monuments from her childhood and lets the majesty of those sacred places help her heal.

 

In the meantime, Paul, who has never recovered from the PTSD of being a first responder at the Murrah Building bombing in Oklahoma City, must find his way out of the nightmares, reliving tragedy at every turn.  On top of that, Amy and Paul have an 18-year-old daughter on the brink of her own future who punishes her parents for their "shortcomings." 

 

The settings of this novel, the national parks and Great Aunt Rae's outfitting operation in New Mexico are breathtaking, and the author renders them perfectly. The story of each of the characters, told in alternating chapters give a uniquely personal insight into the emotions and physical challenges each of them face and the author is able to resolve the issues in a way that feels hopeful. 

 

Aside from being a wonderful story, I would recommend this book to anyone close to someone facing any of these crises…cancer, PTSD recovery and teenagers whose parents must deal with normal life amid near tragedy.  An emotional journey not often told well. Brava Kaya McLaren.

This book was provided to me by the publisher, via NetGalley.