How to Talk to a Widower by Jonathan Tropper

Years ago, I read (and loved) This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper. I remember the quirky characters and the wonderful dysfunctional family. So when How to Talk to a Widower appeared in my daily BookBub email for a great price, I bought it instantly. I decided I'd save it for a time when I needed a few laughs.

Recently the political news has put me in a funk, and so rather than watch cable news, I decided to spend my time reading this fabulous book. The novel centers around Doug who has lost his wife in a plane crash. He's mourning her loss and has basically spent the year since her death drinking and pushing everyone away. As the story progresses, we meet his family, his friends, and we see how his life might come back together.

But the writing...... the author is snarky and sarcastic and I simply love it! He writes about grief in a way that makes you feel his pain. The dialogue between the characters is quick and witty and probably somewhat unrealistic but still..... totally engaging and often laugh-out-loud funny. I loved it! - June

Clock Dance by Anne Tyler

There are a handful of authors whose books I will grab immediately when they come out because I just know I want to read them: Richard Russo, John Irving.... and Anne Tyler. I can't describe what it is I love about her writing. Maybe if I could, I'd write my own novel! But her characters live in my mind for a long time after I put down one of her books.

If you are like some of my friends who like plot-driven novels, this is NOT for you. It's the story of  the life a woman, Willa, who we see at four different points in  her life: a young child, a college-aged woman, a 40-something, and a 60-something. Willa is a likable person, and definitely someone who tries hard to please others. When her family was struggling when she was a child, Willa had to accept responsibility and grow up quickly. She seems most comfortable when taking care of others and putting aside her own feelings.

The bulk of the book takes place when Willa is in her 60's and receives a call about a child who needs her help. Willa comes to her aid and in the process, meets a cast of characters who she grows to care about.

This is not my favorite Anne Tyler novel. However, I still loved it and will continue to read everything she writes. - June

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Here's a funny story. A book-loving friend sent me a few book recommendations and included a note saying Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. I wrote her back and said that life is too short to read books that are just "fine" so I'll pass on that one. Ha! Good thing she responded and corrected me because Eleanor Oliphant is a whole lot more than just fine!

As we meet Eleanor in the book, we see a judgmental, socially awkward, and just plain weird woman in her late 20's living in Glasgow. There are times in the book where she will make you laugh, but when you begin to learn more about her life, your heart will break for her. It's a story about the power of friendship and impact that friends can have in changing your life. And how a person who is raised in a dysfunctional environment can overcome the trauma. Definitely read this one. -June

The Power by Naomi Alderman

I've said it before and I'll say it again and again.... I just love it when an author comes up with a unique idea... be it quirky or crazy.... and then pulls it off in a novel. Of course, one of my favorites in this department will always be Life After Life by Kate Atkinson. But I was prepared to dislike The Power. My Mother-Daughter book club selected this one, and it was one of the young Millennials who chose it. As she described it to the group, the Boomers were eye-rolling and trying to keep a neutral face. A few weeks later, one of my friends declared it to be "unreadable" and forced herself to finish it just so she could discuss her hatred for the book at our meeting.

Needless to say, my attitude was not positive as I opened it up. But I was pulled in... slowly at first, and then full on. I thought the obvious parallels the author drew between men having power over women and what might happen if this were reversed were brilliant. She described how men feared women and were afraid to walk the streets alone at night... something all of us know well. In this time of Me Too, this book was a perfect read and ideal for discussion. And it's one I never would have picked up on my own without someone pointing it out.  The goal of our book group is to share ideas across generations. Check that box for this book. - June

I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh

Have I mentioned I just finished all six seasons of The Americans? Yes, that is why it has taken me months to get through this book.

This is the perfect book to take on an airplane. It doesn't require a lot of brainpower, but it certainly keeps your interest... especially once you get about 1/3 of the way into it. I was kind of lulled into a sense of predictability while reading this book and almost thinking I'd give up on it. And then WHAM! Things twisted all over the place! And then another twist and then another.

If you liked Gone Girl or all the other books that have been written since then that say they are similar to it, you'll love this one. I won't say more because I really can't without giving things away. But just hold on and enjoy the ride. - June

Bettyville by George Hodgman

This book is at once hilarious, poignant, insightful, clever, sad and you must read it!  I'll admit I bought it for my Kindle because the blurb stated that is was about a man going home from New York to a tiny town in Missouri to care for his aging mother (Betty) AND it was $1.99.  I'm only half way through, but feel strongly enough about it to recommend (demand?). - BT

A Few Recommendations from BT

I just finished a couple books I would recommend: Becoming Nicole (the "which bathroom should a transgender use?" case in the northeast that hit the news mid 2005'ish).  Not only is the narrative around the actual case fascinating, heart breaking, joyful, hopeful, depressing, but I also appreciated the physiological treatment of human sexuality.

I accidentally bought Before We Were Yours (by that I mean, I paid full price) and found the plot intriguing as I usually wonder how an author invents a plot, begins a tale sufficiently interesting enough to take you inside the story, then fleshes out the characters and adds enough twists to bring you to the end...even if the end seems a bit contrived.  How about that sentence?!? (Well, I just went to your blog because I wondered if you had read this. And, sure enough, not only had you read it but we agreed--and are, apparently, in the minority)

I read Go Set A Watchman and admit disappointment, but chide myself for that assessment since Harper Lee was older than we are when she finished it?  (And then she died.)  Disturbing but likely at least partially accurate depiction of the "post war" southern mentality.  It made me wonder if the popularity of  was, in part, due to the fabulous movie and Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch, my hero...

I'm reading Open City...another "Best Book" selection.  We'll just see about that!😊 - BT

A Book of American Martyrs by Carol Joyce Oates

My sweet daughter-in-law gave me this novel for Christmas this year. She said she read reviews of the book and really thought I'd like it. Did she realize it is over 700 pages long when she ordered it? Yikes! I could hardly lift it! I've read other books by this author and I know she has an excellent reputation, but starting a book of this size takes courage..... and the realization that this will take some time. So I took it to Florida thinking I'd read it there. Never touched it. And although it is most certainly not a "beach book", I saved it for summer.

In the first chapter of the book, a doctor who works in a women's clinic and preforms abortions is gunned down by a member of a pro-life group. The murder is described in detail and the book moves in many directions from there. The author describes how this event affected both the family of the doctor and the family of the shooter, especially their daughters. While I would guess that the author is pro-choice, she does a wonderful job of presenting both sides to a very emotional issue.

Oates is a great writer; there is no doubt about this. However, the book could have used a bit more editing to get it down to a manageable size. But I did find that the more I got into the book, the more I liked it and became invested in all of the characters. When I get the chance, I'm sending this one to you, BT. I don't think I know anyone else who will take the time to read it other than you. And it's worth the time. -June

Hillbilly Elegy by J. D. Vance

There's been a lot of buzz about this book ever since it came out last year. I've heard that it's something we should read to try to figure out how Trump's base thinks and why the people in Ohio and Kentucky flocked to support him. And I think it accomplished this. It does portray a family and way of life that certainly is different from what I know. For that, I was glad I read it. However, it wasn't an enjoyable read for me. -June

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

What's wrong with me? Everyone loves this book. It gets fabulous online reviews. My friends can't stop talking about it. At my book club, I was the only one out of 18 people who said, "It was just OK" as everyone else babbled on how it was their favorite book of the year.

It has two story lines and while I often like the technique of a current story and a story in a different time, I only liked one of the stories here. In the 1930's, southern children were being taken away from their parents, put in the Tennessee Children's Home, and then sold to wealthy families. This part of the story is true. In the novel, we follow one young girl, Rill, and her struggle to keep her siblings together through this horrible ordeal. This was a great story.

The second story line takes place in the present time and is about Avery Stafford, an attorney from a wealthy, political southern family, who is home to help her family through a health issue. She's engaged to marry a family friend, but it's oh-so-very clear from the moment she meets Trent that her fiance is toast. The author lost me when she went into detail on Trent's looks including his ripped abdomen. I knew then how Avery's story would end. I love a good love story, but this one was just too predictable.

But then I'm the only one on the planet who questions this novel. I suppose you should read it and decide for yourself. Or just read the parts about Rill and skip over Avery. - June

Birds of America by Lorrie Moore

I don't usually choose to read short stories. They remind me of reading assignment in school where we had a huge literature anthology that included poems, essays, and short stories all bound together. I only remember The Lottery; the rest are forgotten. Give me a nice juicy novel to get lost in any day!

My book club reads novels and non-fiction, and to my knowledge, they have never read a book of short stories. So I proposed this one not having read it and only knowing that it gets great reviews. And it was supposed to be funny. I love funny. But when I read a review and I heard what the stories were about........ a woman who accidentally killed a baby, a couple finds out their young son has cancer..... I thought that there could be no way that this book has humor. I was so wrong! I can't begin to count the number of times I laughed out loud one minute and nearly cried the next.

Here's just a little example:

"Where am I from?" Agnes said it softly. "Iowa." She had a tendency not to speak up.
"Where?" The woman scowled, bewildered.
"Iowa," Agnes repeated loudly.
The woman in black touched Agnes's wrist and leaned in confidentially. She moved her mouth in a concerned and exaggerated way, like a facial exercise. "No, dear," she said. "Here we say O-hi-o."

Lorrie Moore is my new hero, and I'm determined to read everything she writes. She lives just miles from here in Madison, and I want to be her best friend. I have always had a quirky sense of humor, but so does Lorrie, so I know we could get along. She is a fabulous writer who can pack so much into just one or two sentences.

Here's a quote from one story about infidelity:

Holding fast to her little patch of marital ground, she’d watched as his lovers floated through like ballerinas, or dandelion down, all of them sudden and fleeting, as if they were calendar girls ripped monthly by the same mysterious calendar-ripping wind that hurried time along in old movies. Hello! Good-bye! Ha! Ha! Ha! What did Ruth care now? Those girls were over and gone. The key to marriage, she concluded, was just not to take the thing too personally.

Please read this, BT. I could hear you laughing with me as I read this and I want to know you really are. - June

 

The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng

There are some books that take so long to develop, that I'm tempted to put it aside. As I read this beautiful novel, I admired the exquisite writing but I just was having a hard time picking it up - and was finding it was way to easy to put it down. I almost gave up. BUT I'm so glad I didn't.

The first half of the book introduces the main characters: Yun Ling Teoh, a retired judge who has returned to Malaysia; Maritomo, a renowned Japanese gardner; Magnus, a tea farmer who lives in the Malaysian Highlands, and more. The first half of the book leaves a lot of questions in the mind of the reader. The author jumps around to different times without any headings or other indications that he's now 30 years ahead or behind. And then there's the foreign words that are a mystery. And things are stated but never explained.

But then suddenly the questions start to be answered and the author fills in the holes. And it's wonderful! When my book club met to discuss this book, we all felt that this was a book worth the wait and requires patience. There are so many wonderful themes but I loved the parts about memories and what we remember and what we wish to forget. Just a special, beautifully poetic book. - June

My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout

Lucy and I took a road trip together. At least that's the way I feel about it. She sat in my passenger seat and told me the story of her life..... her troubled childhood, her difficult relationship with her parents, her troubled marriage. And she helped make the miles go by as I listened to her stories. She's very articulate and expresses herself well, but there were times my mind wandered as she brought up childhood friends and old boyfriends.

OK, so the truth is I listened to the audio book as I road alone on a trip. The book is short, and so the narration only lasted about 5 hours or so. And as I listened, I kept waiting for a plot, for a change in a relationship or a person to step up show some emotion. That doesn't happen.

Much of the book is spent discussing the time when Lucy was hospitalized and her mother, who she hasn't seen in years, appears at her bedside. She spends five days with Lucy, and they discuss friends from their small town and make up names for the nurses. The do not discuss Lucy's children (who her mother has never met) or Lucy's husband (who the mother doesn't like or acknowledge) or even Lucy's father. I know that relationships don't get fixed in five days, but while Lucy appreciated her mother being there, it didn't seem to change their feelings for one another.

This novel is on many "Best Books" lists, and it gets great reviews from Goodreads. And generally, I like a novel where I can get inside the mind of a character. I loved Olive Kitteridge!! But this one left me wanting more... more plot... more development or change. Just more. -June

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

In hockey you're an experienced player at twenty-five, a veteran at thirty, and pensioned off at thirty-five. Sune is twice that. And with age he has become shorter and broader, he's got more face to wash and less hair to comb, and finds himself annoyed by narrow chairs and poor-quality zippers. - Beartown

I don't know why, but I love this quote.

Here's something you might not know about me. If you were to look at my high school yearbook and if you were to look at my senior picture, there would be a few comments there. One of these would be "avid hockey fan". Yes, I rarely missed a game and I yelled myself hoarse numerous times. But I'm not sure if I loved the game or loved the players. But either way, when I started reading Beartown, I thought I'd found a fun little book about hockey. And since it's written by the author of A Man Called Ove, a novel I love for it's wisdom and wit, I assumed this book would be the same.

It isn't. Yes, there is a lot in this book about hockey. But it is so much more and so much darker than I imagined. It's about friendship, loyalty, and the importance of belonging. But also about bullying, the "good old boy" mentality, and the obsession with sports.....and much more that I don't want to mention for fear of giving things away.

There are what seems like hundreds of characters in this book, so it can sometimes be tough to keep them all straight. But it's worth it. It's a fabulous book, well written and with characters that will stay with me for a long time. -June

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

I didn't see the HBO show based on this book, but when I saw how many awards it received at the Golden Globes, I thought it might be worth reading. And it was.

I will say that the book triggered some memories for me of my time as a mother of a grade school child - and not pleasant ones. For example, there was the time our son was not invited to a birthday party of a boy he considered to be a good friend. And the school politics that seemed to be all about the moms who volunteered at the school and those who didn't. And there was even the time when our "perfect" kindergarten student decided to beat up a boy who had stolen his place in the reading circle. That almost caused him to be kicked out of school! I guess I'd suppressed a lot of these memories now that our son is grown and is a charming, kind man who doesn't seem to remember any of these things.

This novel covers so many timely subjects: bullying, domestic abuse, women's self-image issues. From the start, the reader is told there has been a murder, and then the rest of the book is told as a flashback leading up to that event. The characters are fascinating even if they are a bit over-the-top and chicklit like. But I read the entire book in two days, and that says something. I recommend it. Well done. -June

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Recently, I listened to an interview with an author who talked about how she developed stories. She said that she tries to always create a story where you can see different sides to issues and agree with both sides. She doesn't try to write about good characters and bad characters - they are all characters with whom we can relate.

In Little Fires Everywhere, there are several issues where it might be easy to take a stand. But the author presents both sides so beautifully that it's almost impossible. This is a story of family dynamics, especially the relationships between mothers and daughters.

The Richardsons are an affluent family living in Shaker Heights. They have 4 children who are all teenagers. They own a duplex that has been rented by a mother, Mia, and her teenage daughter, Pearl. The two families blend when Pearl befriends one of the Richardson children and begins to spend most of her time at the Richardson's home. And Mia starts to work for the Richardsons helping around the house. Things become complicated and there are secrets that develop. And while some of the coincidences are a bit over the top and some of the plot turns are predictable, it still is an excellent read and one that kept my interest throughout. -June

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

I'm late to sing the praises of The Underground Railroad. It's already won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, the National Book Award for Fiction, AND been an Oprah book selection. And it deserves every award it has received. It's beautifully written, the author has created wonderful characters, and the story is gut-wrenching.

The plot primarily follows Cora, a slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia, who escapes with another slave, Caesar. As she works her way to South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Indiana, she is determined to continue to work towards freedom despite a series of violent acts and constant fear. The underground railroad was her way of moving to different locations, and the people who helped her often sacrificed their homes and even their lives for the cause.

Highly recommend this one, BT, if you haven't already read and loved it. -June

Shotgun Lovesongs by Nicholas Butler

I've never lived in a small town. And I don't think I'd ever want to. But reading about life in a small town can be fun, and Shotgun Lovesongs was a good read. Actually, it was a good listen since I had the audio book. The readers of the audio book do a fabulous job; each one is a different character. But let's talk about the book first.

This is the story of 5 friends who grew up together in the small town of Little Wing, Wisconsin. The majority of the plot takes place while this group is in their 30's but there are several flashbacks that give background. If you're looking for an action-packed who-dunnit kind of book, this is not for you. But if you want some excellent writing and interesting characters with lots of interaction between those characters, this might do it. It's a story of friendship, love, and loyalty, with a sprinkling of conflict and a few secrets. I enjoyed it, but I can't help but wonder if I would have given up on the book while enjoying the audio book. As each reader became a character, I felt as if I were hearing their story right from them. At any rate, I enjoyed it, and it helped pass the time on a car ride and more. -June

The Life She was Given by Ellen Marie Wiseman

I'm such an idiot! I need to start reading my own blog! Three years ago, I read and wrote about another book by Ellen Wiseman, What She Left Behind. And in my review, I clearly did not care for the writing. So what do I do? I dive into another one of her books expecting that I'll love it. Unfortunately, the author's writing style has become worse, not better!!

The Life She Was Given came with excellent reviews. Some reviewers called it a "beautiful" book. Beauty is not the same for everyone, that's for sure. Yes, there's an interesting-sounding story line. A young girl is kept in an attic by her parents who eventually sell her to the circus. A separate story line starts where a young girl runs away from abusive parents only to return home when her parents die and she inherits their estate. All kinds of unrealistic things happen and, as you'd expect, the two stories merge. However, the writing.......

The author uses a questioning technique that becomes extremely annoying. Things like..... What if the ice storm continues? What if the heat doesn't come on? Will she need to feed the horses? And what if they don't eat? What if the sky falls? And on and on. So irritating. I thought it might just be me, but I did read several other reviews that noticed the same issue.

So I'm done with this author. I just need to remember it and not buy another one of her books. Way too many good books out there to read instead. - June

The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter

This novel starts with a bang. No, it actually starts with two bangs! And after both of these, I couldn't help but wonder if the whole book was going to be one shocking event after another. I don't know how to write anything here without giving it away, and I would encourage you to read it like I did without any knowledge about the plot at all. But be prepared to be blown away with the first 100 pages.

After things calm a bit, we learn about two sisters, Sam and Charlie, both lawyers, who have a strained relationship. There are secrets and lies and mysteries to figure out. If you're looking for a good thriller, a real "who dunnit", this could be it. It's not my normal read, but I enjoyed it for a change of pace. It gets wonderful reviews and I understand why. - June

Wonder by R. J. Palacio

Several years ago, a friend of mine was telling me about her Mother-Daughter Book Club. I was jealous. I wanted a daughter I could share books with and then drag her to meetings with me. And then very recently, several friends and I were talking about how we all had daughters-in-law who have moved to our town within the past few years and who really haven't met many people yet. And a light bulb went off in my head! Let's have a book club with them!! And they agreed to give it a try! So in a few weeks, we're having our first meeting and there will be maybe 16 people there.

We wanted to start out with an easy book, one that can be read quickly and not either intimidate anyone or scare them away. One of the members suggested Wonder, and I think it's an excellent choice. Although it is technically a Young Adult book, it certainly has some adult themes too. And I think it will generate discussion. Plus - a big bonus here - if people just don't have time to read it, they can go see the movie that has just been released.

If you haven't heard of it, Wonder is the story of a young boy starting 5th grade. His face is severely disfigured, and of course he is subject to all the nastiness you can imagine in middle school. However, he is bright and funny, and he has the support and love of his parents and sister. It's a quick read and I think it will be a great way to start our club - and a great way for anyone to start off the year. - June