Banyan Moon: A Novel
by Thao Thai
Mothers and Daughters (5/8/2023)
Banyan Moon is Thao Thai's debut novel and to some degree, it shows. The book has a compelling storyline but its execution is a little spotty. The overabundance of metaphors, similes and alliteration in the early chapters was jarring: "Her gait was purposeful but pinched. There was something dry and dangerous about her, like flint meeting flint." but that tendency evened out as the story progressed. I liked the way the characters evolved and grew in understanding of themselves and each other even after death. It was also annoying to reach the end of the book with the often alluded to mystery of how Minh bought Banyan House from an "old white woman" and why she felt compelled to keep all the woman's possessions intact, a storyline which seems central to understanding how Minh became the person she was, unresolved. I'm still wondering about that days after finishing the book. In sum, it was a good but not great debut effort. I do think this author will grow into her art and I will look forward to reading her next book.
The Sunset Route: Freight Trains, Forgiveness, and Freedom on the Rails in the American West
by Carrot Quinn
What a Trip! (7/12/2021)
Once I started reading, I could not put "The Sunset Route" down until the last page. The details about riding the rails were both fascinating and terrifying. The hardships Carrot overcame, described in such a matter-of-fact tone, were stunning to read. I mourned the necessity of the lessons she learned about how to take care of herself from such a very young age and cheered the resilience she showed in the face of overwhelming obstacles. She is a very inspiring person and her story is one that I think many young people will find very relatable. It was a very strong lesson in how easy it is for someone to slip through the cracks in our society. I hope it will make me more aware of the people around me who may be in a similar situation.
Ariadne
by Jennifer Saint
Mythology From the Female Perspective (3/12/2021)
Jennifer Saint has created a fresh and thought provoking take on the myths and heroes we normally see only from the male perspective. Her characters were well rounded and much more three dimensional than the original mythological figures. While the "heroes" were shown to be less than heroic (Theseus, I'm looking at you), the heroines were also shown to have very human flaws that made them more relatable. In particular, the contrast between Phaedra's struggles with motherhood and Ariadne's absorption by it and how both were influenced by their differing experiences of their own mother was exceedingly well drawn. Overall, a well written, well researched, highly enjoyable read.
American Princess: A Novel of First Daughter Alice Roosevelt
by Stephanie Marie Thornton
Little Girl Lost (12/7/2018)
This was a solid read about a historic figure who I find fascinating. Alice was an outsider to some degree in her family because of the unfortunate deaths of her mother and her grandmother at the time of her birth. Her relationship with her beloved father suffered from these difficult losses and the rest of her life seemed to be an attempt to get her father's attention and to make a new, more accepting family circle for herself. This was a well researched and written novel that brings Alice to life once again.
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