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Reviews by Nancy L. (Staunton, VA)

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Girl Falling: A Novel
by Hayley Scrivenor

Falling For You (9/12/2024)

"Girl Falling" is a psychosocial story of three women who are woven together into a love triangle of sorts. It begins with Daphne and Finn, friends since high school, who know each other's most devastating secret. Finn, who is desperate to have her secret remain hidden, is basically at Daphne's beck and call. When a new woman, Magdu, enters, and Finn falls madly in love with her, the balance of her friendship with Daphne goes way off kilter in an almost unhealthy way, resulting in a horrible accident. Or was it murder? There were parts of this novel that I found to be very well done. The writing detailing Finn's grief was substantial. I could clearly feel the heaviness and disbelief that overtakes Finn after the death of her lover. I was shocked, however, and not at all prepared for the twist at the very end. I would have preferred to understand better the deeper motives for such a surprise. All in all, the book had me hooked from the beginning.

Bad Animals: A Novel
by Sarah Braunstein

Forgettable (1/3/2024)

Maeve Cosgrove is a middle-aged woman who is married and the mother of an adult daughter. She has been employed in her city's library for some years and has created some interesting programs in her designated area. Her life, as she knows it, collapses when she is laid off from her job and she feels rescued when a well-known author arrives at his seacoast home and takes an interest in her. I am the kind of reader who can be hooked and reeled in either by a good plot or interesting characters that I can care about, but "Bad Animals" contained neither. Maeve is in a world of her own, in thrall to a famous writer while in denial about her lay off as a librarian. I kept waiting for a deepening of her character so I could root for her, but, unfortunately, I never really warmed to her. Indeed, I felt that none of the characters were fully formed and were forgettable. Even the plot seemed non-existent, and I felt the story line seemed to limp along. Altogether a forgettable book for me.

This Is Salvaged: Stories
by Vauhini Vara

This Is Salvaged (8/8/2023)

"This Is Salvaged" is a haunting, thought-provoking collection of short stories about people struggling through difficult times and recovering pieces of themselves to string together into a new whole. Some of the stories are clever and really comical in places, but I found the collection as a whole a bit uneven. While I loved the story, "Hormone Hypothesis" for its warm and fascinating look at how women comfort and support each other, I found the very next story, "Puppet Master Made the Puppets" ever so choppy and unreadable, For the most part, however, I found this collection an enjoyable read.

The Critic's Daughter: A Memoir
by Priscilla Gilman

The Critic's Daughter (1/3/2023)

"The Critic's Daughter" is a memoir written by Priscilla Gilman about her relationship with her father, esteemed critic Richard Gilman. I was put off in the very beginning by the seriousness with which Richard was portrayed, as well the name dropping of so many illustrious names from the world of literature and the arts. But soon I was drawn into the story of this very real, imperfect man and the all consuming love he had for his children. Priscilla Gilman writes with so much emotion that I was soon entrenched in the world of two small girls and their relationship with their parents: their father bigger than life, playful, caring and their mother, the consummate professional and quiet presence. Soon I was immersed in Priscilla's life as she passed through her teen years and moved into her adulthood. I was fascinated by the great love she had for her father through it all. This memoir is elegantly written and I highly recommend it.

Ghost Season: A Novel
by Fatin Abbas

Ghost Season (11/17/2022)

"Ghost Season" by Fatin Abbas is a love story for the ages. This is the story of a man and a woman who come from opposing cultures in civil war torn Sudan and defy the unwritten rules of their birth communities to wed. It's also the story of the horrors of a civil war where one can so easily be imprisoned or worse for his race, and where even a trip to the market for food can be deadly. "Ghost Season" is beautifully written with clear and colorful descriptions of the people of Southern Sudan as well as their land and culture. The characters are vivid and well drawn and a few of them will live with me for a long time. I will not soon forget this eloquent story.

Natural History: Stories
by Andrea Barrett

Natural History (7/30/2022)

"Natural History" by Andrea Barrett is the natural history of a community told in interconnected stories. The stories trace the families in the Clear Lake, New York area from the Civil War to Prohibition to modern times. Most of the stories are populated by strong, intelligent, and thoughtful women as they relate to each other and to the world around them. These women are teachers, scientists, and pilots who live in worlds dominated by men. They are, at times, tentative, and at other times fiercely independent. These are women I wish I knew. Andrea Barrett is a wonderful writer and I thoroughly enjoyed her stories.

The Immortal King Rao: A Novel
by Vauhini Vara

King Rao (3/28/2022)

"The Immortal King Rao" is the story of a man of humble beginnings who becomes famous world wide. Beginning in India, we meet the Dalit clan of King Rao and see him as a youngster. Then we travel to the US and see King as a young computer genius. Finally we move into exile with the elderly King in a dystopian future.
"The Immortal King Rao" is not my cup of tea. I enjoyed the three parts separately, but found the flow of the book too choppy and often difficult to follow.

Peach Blossom Spring: A Novel
by Melissa Fu

A Journey Home (2/13/2022)

When Meilin and her three year old son, Renshu are forced to flee their home in Changsa, China before the advancement of the Japanese army in 1938, they have no idea their journey will take them across mountains, rivers, oceans, and even continents. Renshu eventually comes to the US, becomes Henry and he and his family struggle daily with identity. Are they Chinese, Taiwanese, American, or a combination? This is the story of a heroic journey to rediscover identity. While thoroughly enjoying the story, I also learned so much about the modern day history of China and Taiwan.

Honor
by Thrity Umrigar

Honor (9/9/2021)

I have read many of Thrity Umrigar's earlier works and found them all to be thoughtful and rich and "Honor" is no exception. The writing is evocative as we follow Smita, an Indian American journalist, into the deep and complex world of Indian society. We see the strong currents of religious bigotry (Hindu versus Muslim) as well as the ever present role of women as second class citizens. Umrigar explores what it is to be an Indian woman as she draws us into the horrors of what could happen if one crosses the invisible line of religion, caste, or class. This novel really spoke to me and I highly recommend it.

A Million Things
by Emily Spurr

A Friend In Need (5/11/2021)

"A Million Things" by Emily Spurt is a delightful look at an unlikely friendship between a young girl, Rae or "Kid" and her elderly neighbor, Lettie or "Old Goat". Rae finds herself suddenly alone in life (except for her dog Splinter) and is facing multiple daily obstacles and challenges. Lettie is equally lonely and is a massive hoarder with no help in sight. Together they work to find a way forward.
I found the writing to be beautifully evocative, especially as Rae describes the sights, smells, and feel of her everyday life. The conclusion of the story felt a little too abrupt for my liking. I would have liked an additional chapter that showed Rae as she makes the transition to the next part of her life.

Crossing the River: Seven Stories That Saved My Life, A Memoir
by Carol Smith

Grief Like a River (2/7/2021)

In her memoir, "Crossing the River, Seven Stories That Saved My Life", Carol Smith details the story of her young son, Christopher, born with multiple health problems who became deaf and eventually required a kidney transplant. When Christopher dies unexpectedly, Smith becomes consumed by guilt and grief. As a reporter for the Seattle Post Intelligencer Smith's beat included science, medicine, and health. Often the stories she covered included men, women, and children with life-altering diagnoses: from progeria to double amputation to horrible burns. The people she met while writing these stories taught her valuable lessons that would help her cope with her grief and move her past her guilt. I was captivated by this story and found some important lessons for myself about the power of a positive outlook. Although this is Carol Smith's personal story, it contains messages for all readers about what it means to be alive.

The Blind Light: A Novel
by Stuart Evers

The Ties That Bind (10/10/2020)

The Blind Light by Stuart Evans started slowly for me, but soon I was wanting to read more and more. Told over the course of sixty years, we watch members of two families bond in friendship, fight, despair, suffer losses, and stab each other in the back, all while the threats of atomic war and terrorism loom large. These are not all likeable characters, but it was fascinating to watch their development and growth over the decades as well as their tenacity through uncertain times. The Blind Light is a thoughtful look at the Ties that bind.

With or Without You: A Novel
by Caroline Leavitt

With or Without You (5/8/2020)

"With Or Without You", by Caroline Leavitt, is a story of what can happen to us when our lives are turned upside down by an unforseen traumatic event. After a mysterious coma for one of them, the three main characters; a young nurse, her musician boyfriend, and her best friend, a doctor all struggle to regain their previous roles. Instead, they discover that their old selves no longer ring true and each gradually uncovers a more authentic piece of themselves. I was fascinated watching the characters change and grow. Leavitt burrows deep into the characters' souls and shows us the forces that shape their lives. These are people just like us, and we see their goodness as well as their flaws. This was a totally satisfying read and I loved it.

The Paris Hours: A Novel
by Alex George

French Braid (2/7/2020)

When my daughters were young I often braided their long hair. I did normal braids while my sister-in-law created the most intricate, lovely French braids. And this is what author Alex George has done with this novel, "The Paris Hours". On a single day in 1927 Paris he has woven an intricate story with strand after strand of seemingly unrelated characters. We get a few hints of their relationships as the story moves along, but the ending is unexpected, and ties up the plot into a complicated braid of a story.

I Want You to Know We're Still Here: A Post-Holocaust Memoir
by Esther Safran Foer

Still Here (11/19/2019)

Esther Safran Foer has written an emotionally charged memoir of her family's journey after the Holocaust. It is a story filled with longing: longing to see the places in Ukraine, the shetls, where her extended family lived; longing to here the stories and trace the paths that distant relatives have taken; and longing to find the Ukrainian Christian who hid her father from the Nazis. But what she longs for most of all is to know her own story, to understand what her young parents endured to survive the Holocaust and find their way to the US. Her title words say it all, "We are still here".

The In-Betweens: The Spiritualists, Mediums, and Legends of Camp Etna
by Mira Ptacin

In-Between (9/29/2019)

The In-Betweens The Spiritulista, Mediums, and Legends of Camp Etna by Mira Ptacin is a pretty comprehensive history of Spiritualism in America, including the Spiritualist camp in Etna, Maine. The best parts for me were the interviews with present day Mediums and Spiritualists who reside at or visit Camp Etna. Their stories, told so well by Ptacin, were what held my interest the most. The history parts of the book felt a bit bogged down with too many names and dates and there were parts throughout that would benefit from additional editing. All in all, this was an appealing story.

Motherhood So White: A Memoir of Race, Gender, and Parenting in America
by Nefertiti Austin

Motherhood (8/6/2019)

As the adoptive mother of four, all now grown to adulthood, I thought I knew as much as there was to know about adoption. But I was wrong. Motherhood So White explores the black culture surrounding adoption, as well as the single parent adoption experience. Austin explores her own childhood and the many, many "informal" adoptions - Auntie or Grandma raising a child in need - found in black communities. The only off-putting note for me was the title itself. It just doesn't seem to fit with the content of the book. Austin explains the title a bit, but it does not sum up the many interesting and important things she has to say about black adoption.

The Last Collection: A Novel of Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel
by Jeanne Mackin

In Living Color (2/23/2019)

The Last Collection by Jeanne Mackie follows the lives of two internationally celebrated designers, Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli, as they navigate the fashion world of Paris immediately before its invasion by the Germans in World War II. The rivalry between the two designers is intense and the narrative is rich with intrigue as the war edges ever closer to Paris. Lily Sutter, a young American artist living in Paris, is the narrator of the story as well as the thread that binds these women together. The writing is beautiful and fills the story with glorious color, especially when describing the creations of Elsa Schiaparelli. It's a perfect glimpse into the high class world of society and fashion in prewar Paris.

The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls
by Anissa Gray

Dysfunctional Family (10/3/2018)

"The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls" follows a dysfunctional trio of sisters, their partners, and twin daughters as they attempt to navigate the trials of their lives. Eldest sister, Althea, seems to have inherited her father's hard-headedness and is in jail with her husband for stealing from funds collected for the needy in her town. Middle sister, Viola, suffers from bulimia and hides behind a stoic, professional demeanor. Youngest sister, Lillian, feels unseen and unappreciated and seems to display some OCD behavior. They are defensive with each other and avoid any real closeness until one of Althea's twin daughters is missing after threatening suicide. The sisters pull together to find the missing girl as well as begin to confront the demons of their childhood. The story is told in the alternating voices of the sisters and illustrates how problems in one's childhood can infect generations to come. Although choppy at times, I found this story to be hard to put down.

The Devoted
by Blair Hurley

The Journey (5/17/2018)

In "The Devoted" by Blair Hurley, the main character, Nicole, is on a difficult journey. Although she takes us along on the physical journey from Boston to Colorado and then on to New York City, the real journey for Nicole is the struggle to find her way out of an emotionally abusive and controlling relationship. We watch her being drawn to the mysticism of Buddhism while breaking ties with the Catholicism of her Boston family. The journey is not narrated chronologically, but dips back and forth in time to reveal Nicole's path, as well as revealing how she got to her present difficulties. What is especially difficult for her is that her abuser is also her "roshi" or Buddhist Master. I was particularly struck by the parallels drawn between Catholic priest abusers and Nicole's controlling Master. This novel is full of beautifully poetic koans and is so well written that it captured me from the very beginning.

Reviews by Nancy L. (Staunton, VA)

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Reviews by Nancy L. (Staunton, VA)

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