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Book Reviews of the Month Reviewed by Book Clubs
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Author: Fredrik Backman The author Fredrik Backman, age 44, is a Swedish author, blogger, and columnist. He wrote A Man Called Ove, Things My Son Needs to Know about the World, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry, Britt-Marie Was Here, Beartown, Us Against You, Anxious People, The Winners and My Friends. Some have described the author and his writing as “quirky.” The novel, My Friends, is a story about the troubled young lives of an artist and the artists’ close childhood friends. Among other things, the plot covered the creation and travels of a well-known painting. The book explored the idea of friendship, by tracing lifelong friendships and by including different types of friendships, such as different aspects of parent-child, mentor-mentee and multi-generational relationships. The nature of art was also a major theme throughout the novel. This book generated a range of different reader reactions. Some readers “loved it.” “One of the best books I’ve ever read.” Some thought it was boring in parts. Others strongly disliked the story, and felt it was “too dark.” Likewise, online reviews revealed “love/hate” reactions to the novel. Despite the different perspectives, we agreed that the translation was excellent. We also agreed that the author injected humor into difficult situations. Most readers agreed that the book was thought-provoking. “A good read even if you didn’t like it.” From a Book Club perspective, the characters and plot were sufficiently rich and multi-dimensional so there was a lot of room for thoughtful discussion. Reviewed by Fiction Addiction Book Club |
Author: Frieda McFadden An absolutely addictive psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist. “Welcome to the family,” Nina Winchester says as I shake her elegant, manicured hand. I smile politely, gazing around the marble hallway. Working here is my last chance to start fresh. I can pretend to be whoever I like. But I’ll soon learn that the Winchesters’ secrets are far more dangerous than my own. Every day I clean the Winchesters’ beautiful house top to bottom. I collect their daughter from school. And I cook a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in my tiny room on the top floor. But I reassure myself: the Winchesters don’t know who I really am. They don’t know what I’m capable of… An absolutely addictive psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist. Recommended by Robin Stuck & her book club |
Author: JoJo Moyes We All Live Here follows a divorced mother, her daughters and her stepfather (and others) who all lived together in one house which was continuously under repair. The novel provoked much discussion about the various characters and the story itself. Many scenes were vivid and funny. Characters came to life and some so-called minor characters were quite interesting. Many nuggets of wisdom and thoughtful reflections were scattered throughout the book. We liked how different relationships often changed our views of characters. We all enjoyed the writing. On the other hand, we found the plot elements relatively predictable. We did not really enjoy the main character. As one reader put it, “she was not my favorite.” At times, the protagonist had some endearing qualities, but she also had really dumb and cringeworthy moments. Arguably, she remained a “hot mess” at the end of the book. We questioned whether the character had sufficient sense of self-awareness. Did she change or grow by the end of the book? We hoped so, but we weren’t entirely sure. Many of us had enjoyed other books by this author, such as Giver of Stars and Someone Else’s Shoes. Both of which we highly recommend. Despite the book’s shortcomings, our readers all agreed that the book was a fun, enjoyable, light read. A great vacation, beach or plane read. It could be a fun movie. Reviewed by Fiction Addiction Book Club
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Author: Claire Keegan It is 1985 in a small Irish town. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and family man faces into his busiest season. Early one morning, while delivering an order to the local convent, Bill makes a discovery which forces him to confront both his past and the complicit silences of a town controlled by the church. While Keegan dedicates Small Things Like These to "the women and children who suffered time in Ireland's Magdalen laundries", horrific asylums run by Roman Catholic institutions for most of the 20th century, ostensibly to reform "fallen young women", her compact, crystallized narrative does not train its gaze on these victims or the nuns who imprisoned them within high walls "topped with broken glass," but instead on Bill Furlong and his harrowing quest for meaning. Small Things Like These is a deeply affecting story of hope, quiet heroism, and empathy. Recommended by Rose Smilgys |
Author: Wallace Stegner In Crossing to Safety, Stegner explores the mysteries of friendship, and it extends Stegner's distinguished body of work that has already earned him a Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. Publishers Weekly described the novel as "an eloquent, wise and immensely moving narrative," and "a meditation on the idealism and spirit of youth, when the world is full of promise, and on the blows and compromises life inevitably inflicts." Stegner's powerful but unassuming narrative traces the bond that develops between the Langs and the Morgans from their first meeting in 1937 through their eventual separation on the occasion of Charity's death in the early 1970s. The story is told mostly in flashback; the narrator, Larry Morgan, and his wife, Sally, settle into their new home in Madison, Wisconsin, as Larry begins a term teaching creative writing at the university's English department. They soon befriend another couple, Sid and Charity Lang, and learn of Sid's ambition to succeed as a poet. As their careers mature, they take different paths, but they spend much of their time together on summer vacations in the small Vermont town where Charity's family has been coming for decades. Of the three Book Club members participating in the discussion, two would recommend, one not so much (though agreed that post-discussion, the book offered more value). We agreed the writing was excellent, in particular the descriptions of nature. The studies of the four main characters and the interactions of their personalities drive the narrative. In some respects, though the story takes place over a long period of time, the characters do not change much. Larry, the narrator, is an ambitious, disciplined writer; his wife, Sally is a model of patience, fortitude, and gentleness (to the point of unrealistic); Sid, the professor/wannabe poet and his wife, the strong-willed, dynamic, and charismatic, Charity. As their close friend, the narrator studies their marriage, describing how the magnetism of Charity and Sid both attracts and repels. Late in the book, Larry and Sid consider if their lives would be different if circumstances were different. We also discussed the title, “Crossing to Safety,” which comes from a line in a Robert Frost poem “I Could Give All to Time.” A reflection on the passage of time and its indifference, in contrast to the emotions that we keep close. Overall, we would recommend this book, particularly given the author’s importance in American (and American West) literature. Readers might want to read the Robert Frost poem as well. Reviewed by Gina Jahr Fiction Addiction Book Club |
Author: Bruce Holsinger Set at a summer rental on the Chesapeake Bay, a riveting family drama about moral responsibility in the age of artificial intelligence. When the Cassidy-Shaws’ autonomous minivan collides with an oncoming car, seventeen-year-old Charlie is in the driver’s seat, with his father, Noah, riding shotgun. In the back seat, tweens Alice and Izzy are on their phones, while their mother, Lorelei, a world leader in the field of artificial intelligence, is absorbed in her work. Yet each family member harbors a secret that implicates them in the accident. Recommended by Karen Baker |
Author: Melanie Benjamin Synopsis: A novel of the friendship and creative partnership between two of Hollywood’s earliest female legend: screenwriter Frances Marion and superstar Mary Pickford. It is 1914, silent moving pictures are enthralling theatergoers. In this fledgling industry, Frances Marian finds her true calling: writing stories for this wondrous new medium. She also makes the acquaintance of actress Mary Pickford, whose signature golden curls and lively spirit have given her the title of America’s Sweetheart. The two ambitious young women hit it off instantly, their kinship fomented by their mutual fever to create, to move audiences to a frenzy, to start a revolution. But their ambitions are challenged by their families, the men around them, and for Mary Pickford, her insecurities, many due to her lack of education and the limits imposed on her. Mary, the world’s highest paid and most beloved actress, struggles to live her life under the spotlight. Frances, far more confident, seeks adventure and finds success, often with Mary as her ticket. As in any good Hollywood story, dramas will play out, personalities will clash, and even the deepest friendships are challenged. A fascinating story of friendship between two creative women, who paved the way for women working in film today. Because the industry was being invented, the two women were defining roles for women. Frances had the opportunity and confidence to become a screenwriter and is widely considered one of the most important female screenwriters of the 20th century, wining multiple Academy Awards. Mary won the first Academy Award for Best Actress in a Talkie, co-founded United Artists, was a co-founder of Academy for Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscar org) and founded the Motion Picture Relief Fund. The story describes the ups and downs of their relationship, and their triumphs and trials in Hollywood. Reviewed by Gina Jahr |
Author: Kate Quinn A heart-stopping World War II story of three female code breakers at Bletchley Park and the spy they must root out after the war is over. 1940. As England prepares to fight the Nazis, three very different women answer the call to Bletchley Park, where the best minds in Britain train to break German military codes. Vivacious debutante, Osla, is the girl who has everything—beauty, wealth and the dashing Prince Philip of Greece sending her roses, but she burns to prove herself as more than a society girl and puts her fluent German to use as a translator of decoded enemy secrets. Imperious self-made Mab, product of East-End London poverty, works the legendary code-breaking machines as she conceals old wounds and looks for a socially advantageous husband. A local village spinster, Beth, whose shyness conceals a brilliant facility with puzzles, becomes one of the Park’s few female cryptanalysts. But war, loss, and the impossible pressure of secrecy will tear the three apart. 1947. As the royal wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip whips post-war Britain into a fever, three friends-turned-enemies are reunited by a mysterious encrypted letter, the key to which lies buried in the long-ago betrayal that destroyed their friendship and left one of them confined to an asylum. A mysterious traitor has emerged from the shadows of their Bletchley Park past and now Osla, Mab, and Beth must resurrect their old alliance and crack one last code together. But each petal they remove from the rose code brings danger and their true enemy. Recommended by Barb Shea |
Author: Gemma Tizzard In this breathtaking debut novel, a daring dancer must take her twin brother’s place as a riveter high atop the in-progress Empire State Building to save her family from ruin. She soon proves herself as capable as any man on the steel, and her affection for the loyal men around her. But when a terrible accident happens high above the city and Grace is the only one capable of saving her stranded colleague, she must make a split-second decision to risk everything or live with her conscience forever. Reviewed by Stuck |
The New York Times 36 Hours. Europe. 3rd Edition Editor: Barbara Ireland (Editor) Through ancient wonders, world capitals, and tiny places with infectious personalities, Europe packs some serious travel punches. The world’s second smallest continent makes up for size with its intricate cultures and abundant charms, boasting artistic masterpieces and architectural marvels as much as natural splendor. With 130 expert itineraries from The New York Times’s popular 36 Hours column, this updated and revised third edition of the best-selling 36 Hours Europe reveals the continent’s brightest gems and best-kept secrets, including 20 new stories. From wine tastings in Burgundy to Flamenco in Seville, from historical Cyprus to easygoing Copenhagen, you’ll find the antique and the cutting-edge, the renowned and the unexpected, and all distilled into neat 36-hour schedules, so you can transform your weekends into European adventures. Practical recommendations for nearly 500 restaurants and over 400 hotels |
Grace of the Empire State 
Author: Ashley Elston Reese’s Book Club Pick and #1 NYT Best Seller. This is a fast-paced read in the cat & mouse genre.
At page 1, the main character, Evie Porter, has everything a struggling girl could want: a wealthy doting boyfriend with a house with a white picket fence and tight group of friends. By the end of chapter one, we know the truth. Evie Porter doesn’t exist. She’s just a girl whose mysterious boss assigns her a name, identity, location and a mark. All of our readers enjoyed this book. Everything in this story is constantly changing, with plot twists and turns that pull the Reader through. A fun, enjoyable Summer read. While some of us had mixed feelings about the likeability of the main character, we all would recommend this book to others. The story raised questions that generated discussion such as “what would you do if someone was not (at all) what you thought?” Reviewed by Fiction Addiction Book Club
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Author: Lisa See Lady Tan’s grandmother had studied for many years to become a doctor. She wanted Yunxian to follow in her footsteps. From a young age, Tan Yunxian learned about women’s illnesses, many of which relate to childbearing, alongside a young midwife-in-training, Meiling. Yunxian was sent into an arranged marriage and forbidden to help the women and girls in the household and from seeing Meiling. While this is a story about medicine and the trials of the practice, it has aspects of female friendship which was not commonly allowed in upper class families, where one lived in family homes, isolated from others. Lady Tan spoke up for women and made the way for women in her home to get out and see the world. A captivating story of women helping each other in a triumphant reimagining of the life of one person, remarkable during the Ming dynasty. Well written, it gives great insight into life in ancient China and the lives of women during that time. Reviewed by Rose Smilgys |
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