The Financial Life of Poets by Jess Walker

Can you tell I have a "thing" about Jess Walker these days since I've read two of his books in the past month?  After reading Beautiful Ruins, I started checking out some of his other novels, and Financial Life of Poets was a deal to download on my Kindle.  It's certainly very different from Beautiful Ruins, but both are very well written.  Financial Life is the story of a man who lives with his wife, two sons, and his father who is suffering from dementia.  The man has lost his job as a reporter, and is not able to find another job.  He's days away from losing his home.  Somehow in the midst of all this bad news, there's a wacky sense of humor in the writing.  Then things get really crazy as our main character starts getting involved in selling pot, and he's convinced his wife is having an affair.  And there are several other sub-plots going on at the same time.  It may not be all that believable, but it sure is a fun read.  -June

The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman

Here we go again..... another Holocaust book.  That's kind of the way I felt about picking this one up, but a friend strongly recommended it so I added it to the Kindle.  The book starts off with a bang.  An elderly man who is attending his grandson's wedding realizes that the grandmother of the groom is his long-lost wife.  Now that gets your attention.  The author then goes back in time to Prague before the war where we meet the young woman and man along with their families.  Their stories are fascinating if you enjoy learning and reading about the horror of concentration camps and the torture the people endured.  Hard to read.  But I thought it was quite well written.

My only complaint is an odd one. The couple is separated soon after their marriage, and they continued to love each other throughout their lives.  Every couple of chapters, the author had one character or the other relive those few intimate moments they shared.  I'm no prude, and I think a few juicy sex scenes can be fun to read, but this was kind of soft porn overdone.  Some of these memories go on for pages.  I actually found myself skipping over them because they were repetitive.  But other than this one minor issue, I feel it's a good read.  If you're looking for yet another Holocaust book.  -June

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walker

While planning a recent trip to Italy, I read Nancy Pearl's review on this book.  She raved about it, and since some of it took place in Italy, I decided to add it to the old Kindle to take on the trip with me.  Good decision.  It's always interesting to be in the location of a book.  Actually, the Italy part of the book takes place in the Cinque Terre area of Italy which is a gorgeous part of that beautiful country.  This is one of those books that jumps around in time and from character to character.  The first story takes place in 1962 in Italy where we meet a man who owns a hotel on the coast of Italy.  A beautiful American actress arrives who is very ill, and, of course, the man is fascinated by this woman.  Story number two is in the present time in Hollywood where we meet a famous movie producer and his assistant.  As the two stories progress, they come together, and it's a fabulous story.  Really loved this book and highly recommend it.  -June

Straight Man by Richard Russo

When this book came out in 1998, I remember reading a review in the newspaper and knew I needed to read it.  I'd never heard of Richard Russo (this was long before his Pulitzer Prize) and I fell in love with this book immediately.  I raved about it to all my friends and made them read it.  So now, years later, I forced the book onto my book club telling them it's an all-time favorite.  Reading it now, I still love it, but as I read it this time, I wonder how my book club members will receive it.  I just hope they see the humor there and not just focus on a man who is obsessed with peeing.  The book takes place in one week in the life of Hank, a university professor and chairman of the English Department.  We meet his family and his colleagues who are all unique and, in typical Russo style, quite quirky.  One of my favorites is his secretary who ends every sentence as if it were a question by raising her voice at the end.  All hell breaks lose during this week, and as we read about Hank, it's hard to decide if he's incredibly sane or mad.  But we love him regardless.

I'm glad after all these years I was able to reread this book and know that I still love it.  I'll continue to force it on my friends. -June

The Long-Shining Waters by Danielle Sosin

This is a beautifully written book about three women who live in the same area around Lake Superior.  Although they all have the lake in common, they live in different times: one lives in the 1600's, one in the early 1900's, and one in 2000.  The book rotates from one story to another bringing each woman to life.  Each of the three women has challenges she's facing, and the author does a masterful job of revealing these characters to us.  It isn't an action-packed book, and there are times when I felt there were chapters where absolutely nothing happened.  But it still kept my interest and I enjoyed the poetic writing style. - June

The Art of Hearing Heartbeats

For me, one of the biggest benefits in being in a book group is that sometimes a member reads a relatively unknown book and wants to share it with us.  I had never heard of The Art of Hearing Heartbeats, and if someone had told me what it's about, I doubt I would have picked it up.  But it has a magical quality that I really enjoyed.  It takes place in Burma, and we meet a cast of characters that are intriguing.  The book's narrator is a woman who is looking for her father who mysteriously disappeared from their New York home.  She finds hints that he has returned to Burma where he grew up in search of a woman named MiMi.  The book then switches back to her father's childhood and we learn about his life and his relationship with MiMi.  There's a strong fantasy/mystical level to the book, and you can't read it looking for logic.  For example, Tin Win (the narrator's father) is blind as a child, and has supernatural hearing where he can hear the heartbeats of the people around him as well as find his way easily by hearing familiar sounds.  It's a slow-moving book but I enjoyed the ride. -June

The Crying Tree by Naseem Rakha

This was a recommendation from Sister BT who probably could relate to the prison scenes in the book.  While I'm not familiar with prisons, I do know a thing or two about secrets, and there were lots of those in The Crying Tree.  I had to fight the urge to gather all the characters in a room and have them all spill their guts just to see what would happen.  The main character, Irene, is devastated and angry when her son is shot.  The shooter is on death row, and after being miserable for years, Irene chooses to forgive the shooter and begins a secret correspondence with him.  Her husband, Nate, knows much more about the murder than he tells anyone.  Even the shooter has a story he keeps to himself.  This is really a great book, and the characters are well done.  However, it's a sad book, and even with the outlook of hope at the end, it still is hard to read sometimes.  Thanks, BT.  -June

Cross Currents by John Shors

I need to give up on Amazon customer reviews.  Too many times I have been convinced to buy a book based upon glowing reviews from readers and too often I've felt that they must be written by the friends and family of the author.  Maybe my taste just differs from others, but when I read these reviews, I need to see what other kinds of recommendations they give.  I feel I was certainly mislead by the reviews for this book.

Cross Currents takes place on a small island in Thailand right before the tsunami hits.  In fact 9/10ths of the book is before the big event.  During that time, we meet all the characters and we love them all because they are perfect, and in turn, they all love each other.  Part of what bothered me about the book was the narrator's point of view.  The author tells us how every character feels and what they are thinking all the time.  Perhaps I prefer books where the author leaves it up to me to determine how the character feels based upon his words or actions rather than being told these things.  So the book just didn't work for me.  The only thing that kept me reading to the end was to find out who lives and who dies in the tsunami.  And by the end, I really didn't care all that much. - June

The Poison Tree by Erin Kelly

I guess this book proves to me that you can dislike the characters but still like the book.  Boy, talk about dysfunction!  The story takes place in London, and we meet Karen (our narrator) and her friends, Rex and Biba, who are brother and sister.  We know from the start that a crime has been committed but we don't know who did it or what happened.  The suspense builds throughout the book, and the ending is quite a surprise - followed by more surprises.  All the characters are quirky but the book is well-written and I had a hard time putting it down.  -June

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

I love it when a friend recommends a book I haven't heard of, and I always want to like it.  And this one starts off with such promise.  It takes place on a Southern plantation in the late 1700's and early 1800's, and I wanted it to be like The Help where we see the relationships between the slaves and masters.  And for the first quarter of the book, I was pretty hooked.  But then it just started to fall apart and irritate me.  The writing is not good, and the author has the annoying tendency to repeat things over and over as if I didn't catch them the first time.  The book contains every type of tragedy you can imagine: incest, child abuse, rape, murder, spousal abuse..... the list goes on.  And there are all these secrets (who fathered who and such) that some people know but for some reason don't reveal to the other characters.  Anyway, I just got tired of all the drama.  I think the author tried to throw in everything that possibly happened back in those environments into the book, and it was overwhelming.  Sorry, but I don't recommend this one.  -June

The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar

Such a fascinating book!  It takes place in Bombay, and describes the relationship between a wealthy family and their employee, Bhima.  We learn about both Sara and Bhima, their children, their husbands, and how their lives differ and yet are so often the same.  The author does a marvelous job of describing Bhima's living conditions in the slums and the frustrations she endures.  The characters are well developed, and the story line is moving.  I highly recommend this one!  -June

Emily, Alone by Stewart O'Nan

Poor, sweet Emily.  First of all, I think Stewart O'Nan is an incredible writer.  I loved Last Night at the Lobster, so I was excited to read about Emily.  Perhaps I should have started with the "prequel", Wish You Were Here, but I wasn't aware that it would be smart to read them in order.  Anyway, I enjoyed getting to know Emily and (unfortunately) could relate to some of her concerns and anxieties.  Getting old sucks, and Emily is certainly struggling with the process.  The book is almost written in small short stories, but they all are chronological in Emily's life.  Each one, however, is a little nugget of wisdom about her, and although it was depressing sometimes, I enjoyed the book. - June

Good Things I Wish You by A. Manette Ansay

Where has the time gone?  I read this one a month ago, and it just seems to have slipped my mind.  I guess that's not a ringing endorsement for the book, is it?  I'm always drawn to books that have interesting concepts, and this one does.  Two separate stories - one in the present and one in the past.  The main character in the present story is writing a book about the characters in the past, Clara Schumann (wife of Robert Schumann) and Johannes Brahms.  Although I found the writing to be excellent, I never was really drawn to any of the characters.  And while their relationships were interesting, I found myself uncaring.  So I'd only recommend this one if you're interested in the lives of either Schumann or Brahms.  -June

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

Why is it that when you finally read a book that all your friends have read and raved about, you often are disappointed?  I couldn't wait to read this book based on all the wonderful reviews I'd heard, and while I enjoyed it, the book will not stand out as one of my all-time favs.  Perhaps one of the reasons is this..... when I read fiction that is about people who actually lived, I can't help but continue to ask myself, "Did this really happen?  Did she really think that way?  Did he say those words?"  I know the author made up the scenes and just used Hemingway and Hadley in them, but how much is based on truth?  I'm sure there was research involved, but some of the scenes and thoughts are so intimate..... well, I just keep wondering what's truth and what's fiction.  Another friend has recommended I read some of Hemingway's works and some of my questions will be answered.  So many books to read!  My list continues to grow.  -June

The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach

First of all, this is not a baseball book. Yes, there are several chapters that describe a game, an inning, an event that took place during a game. But this is so much more than that. It's about relationships at a small college in Wisconsin, and many of the characters just happen to be on the baseball team. I loved the writing - very descriptive - and I can see the movie being made soon. And although all the characters were flawed, they were completely lovable - and I loved them all. I highly recommend this book. -June

11/23/63 by Stephen King

It's been years since I've read a Stephen King novel, and I probably would have pushed this one away if I hadn't read and heard several good reviews. The novel is massive (over 800 pages) and I couldn't imagine that it could hold my interest without losing me somewhere in the middle. But it kept me reading. It's obvious that Stephen did his research. The book is loaded with information about the Kennedy assassination and Lee Oswald. Plus there are a variety of characters woven into the plot that are interesting and likeable. Yes, there were a few times that I wanted to shout "get on with it" - but I still highly recommend it. -June

When She Woke by Hillary Jordan

This is a book club choice that will definitely spark some conversation. It takes place in the future, and it starts with a woman who's skin has been turned red because she has committed a crime..... having an abortion. People have of course compared it to The Scarlet Letter. There are many references to futuristic technology which are very creative - and probably realistic. And the whole concept of treating "criminals" by changing the color of their skin instead of putting them in prison is certainly a creative idea. I just love it when an author really gets you thinking about a concept like this one. The book certainly has some religious and political tones so it might not be for everyone. And the ending gets a little bizarre. But I loved reading it, and I highly recommend it. -June

Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones

This was one of those books that kept popping up as a recommendation for me on Amazon. So when I saw it at the library, I grabbed it. It's a pretty quick read, and although I thought it was well written, I don't think I'll run back and pick up all the other books by the author. It's basically the story of two mothers and their daughters living in Atlanta in the 60's. Both mothers are married to the same man. One mother and daughter live their lives as part of a "normal" family with the father. The other mother and daughter are secrets, and although they know about the other family, they are not a part of their lives. The first half of the book is written from the secret daughter's point of view, and the second half from the other daughter. Of course, the characters are bound to meet, and the results are disastrous for everyone. The only character that is really difficult to figure out is the father who seems like a decent man some of the time but who doesn't understand the hurt he's caused to so many people. Recommend this one but with some reservations. - June

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

This is a well-reviewed first novel by the author, and I read it for my book club. It will be an interesting discussion since several members of my club work with children's services and family therapy. In the Language of Flowers we meet a main character, Victoria, who is just leaving the foster home program as she turns 18. We learn about her troubling past, and we can see how it has molded her into someone who has major issues with forming relationships. I thought that this part of the book was fascinating even though there were times when I wanted to reach into the book and smack her. The other interesting part of the book is the information on flowers and how they can be used to communicate emotions. The first half of the book is wonderful. There are many holes in the second half, and while it still is enjoyable to read, it becomes a bit frustrating. Even the ending leaves some unanswered questions. I think the author felt that the happy ending was complete, but there were still people Victoria dumped along the way who were truly good to her. If we are supposed to feel that Victoria has changed..... well, she still has a really long way to good. But I still recommend the book. -June

Skippy Dies by Paul Murray

This novel has it all - suspense, drugs, sex, humor, amazing characters, and more. The book takes place over the course of about six months in a boy's Catholic school in Ireland. And yes, Skippy does die in the first chapter. It's a long book and it's intense, but it's worth it. There were some parts that I admit were strange enough for me to just skim over (scientific stuff and video game stream-of-consciousness writing) but I loved how you really understand where each character comes from. But my favorite parts of the books were little nuggets of philosophy the author throws in that tie into the book - but are not really a part of the plot. Here's an example:

You know, you spend your childhood watching TV, assuming that at some point in the future everything you see there will one day happen to you: that you too will win a Formula One race, hop a train, foil a group of terrorists, tell someone "Give me a gun", etc. Then you start secondary school, and suddenly everyone's asking you about your career plans and your long-term goals, and by goals they don't mean the kind you are planning to score in the FA Cup. Gradually the awful truth dawns on you: that Santa Clause was just the tip of the iceberg - that your future will not be the rollercoaster ride you'd imagined, that the world occupied by your parents, the world of washing the dishes, going to the dentist, weekend trips to the DIY superstore to buy floor-tiles, is actually largely what people mean when they speak of "life". Now, with every day that passes, another door seems to close, the one marked PROFESSIONAL STUNTMAN, or FIGHT EVIL ROBOT, until as the weeks go by and the doors - GET BITTEN BY A SNAKE, SAVE WORLD FROM ASTEROID, DISMANTLE BOMB WITH SECONDS TO SPARE - keep closing, you begin to hear the sound as a good thing, and start closing some yourself, even the ones that didn't necessarily need to be closed.

Each time I'd run across one of these, I marveled at the creativity and talent it took to put those thoughts together. Anyway, loved the book but not for the squeamish. -June

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

I need to get back to current fiction! After reading two classics, I'm ready for a change. The Age of Innocence was a book club selection, and I guess it was "good for me".... kind of like exercising when I really don't want to. Yes, the characters are well developed and the writing is good. But I struggled to find one character I liked! And the ending.... well, I just didn't understand why the main character did what he did!! I wanted to reach into the book and shake him. The book was made into a movie, and I'm planning to rent it to see what I think of that. I hope they changed the ending. -June