This Strange Eventful History: A Novel
by Claire Messud
A moving tale of loss (4/7/2024)
Covering a span of 70 years, This Strange Eventful History tells the story of a family as they search for home. Uprooted from their lives for reasons as varied as war, love, and career, the Cassare family struggles to be happy where they land.
I was drawn to the moving depictions of the primary characters as they struggled with their relationships to their homes and one another. And I enjoyed the varied locations across the globe as the family moved around, including Algeria, Australia, and Argentina. I think anyone who appreciates a sweeping family saga would enjoy this book.
The Immortal King Rao: A Novel
by Vauhini Vara
The Immortal King Rao (4/4/2022)
The Immortal King Rao is seemingly about technology and how, in the future, tech has become the overarching world political authority. However, it is also about family relationships and how we are tethered to our family. I enjoyed the story of King Rao, a Dalit in India who becomes CEO of the global government before his downfall. Interspersed with his story is that of his daughter, Athena, who chafes at the ties holding her to her father.
The Latinist: A Novel
by Mark Prins
The Latinist (10/8/2021)
The Latinist did not totally work for me. I didn't feel connected to either of the main characters -- Ph.D. candidate Tessa Templeton and her mentor Oxford professor Chris Eccles. And although I generally love to learn something while reading fiction, at times I felt that this book went into too much detail on ancient Roman poets, Latin, and the studies/work of Tessa and Chris. In my opinion, the depth of details sometimes slowed the story down.
I suspect this might be a good book for a book club, as there is much to discuss including love/obsession, family relationships, and professional callings.
The Mountains Sing
by Nguyen Phan Que Mai
Engrossing family tale (1/13/2020)
Since visiting Vietnam prior to the U.S. establishing diplomatic relations with the country, I have been drawn to books that are set in the country. So I was quite excited to read The Mountains Sing. I very much enjoyed this look at the history of Vietnam in the 20th century, as told through the experiences of a girl and her grandmother. I found the perspectives of this North Vietnamese family especially fascinating, as so much of the literature has a pro-Western bent. My only quibble with the book was the alternating viewpoint chapters. I found it distracting for the first half of the book. I was unable to totally lose myself in the story when I had to figure out with each chapter what was going on and who the characters were again.
Nonetheless, I would absolutely recommend this book. Especially now, as both the U.S. and much of the world seem to be slipping into divisiveness, it's so important to remember another time in our past when such divisiveness reigned.
Women Rowing North: Navigating Life's Currents and Flourishing As We Age
by Mary Pipher
A book to return to over the years (5/1/2019)
Although I am (slightly) under the stated target age for Women Rowing North, I found the book to be an insightful guide to aging for women. I greatly enjoyed Mary Pipher's exhortations to mindfulness and making the most of the life we actually have. As I read the book, I was able to immediately apply parts of it to my current life. And I can see myself coming back to this book many times as I grow older, using it as a touchstone for my outlook on aging, to help me get through difficult experiences, and reminding myself of what is truly important.
Our House
by Louise Candlish
Our House, by Louise Candlish (6/4/2018)
Wow, what a book! Our House is a suspenseful read, full of twists and turns that I, for one, did not see coming. Just when I thought I had things figured out, something new happened to keep me on edge. Right up to the very end, which has to be one of the most unforgettable endings I've read in a very long time. It's been a few days now since I finished the book and I still cannot get the end out of my mind.
The Stars Are Fire
by Anita Shreve
The Stars are Fire by Anita Shreve (2/21/2017)
This is a lovely book abut a woman who discovers, during a time of tragedy and sorrow, who she really is and the extent of her inner strength. Set in Maine after WWII, Grace Holland is left alone with her small children following a natural disaster. She must figure out a way to survive and, in doing so, she begins to really live and feel alive. I enjoyed this book immensely, although found the ending a little too pat. But Grace is an interesting character and enjoyable to get to know over the course of the book.
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