The Personal Librarian by Victoria Murray & Marie Benedict

What a story!!! This is historical fiction, and it portrays the story of Belle DeCosta Green, the woman who was the personal librarian for J. P. Morgan. She was responsible for helping him in acquiring and organizing his collection for the Morgan Library in NYC. Of course, a woman in this role was highly unusual at the time, but the real surprise is that she was Black and passed as a white woman! I had never heard of Green before, so her life and story were all new to me. Several people questioned Belle's background, and after looking at her photos, I can see why. But apparently she pulled off passing as white throughout her entire life.

This could have been a phenomenal book. It just needed a better author and editor. Unfortunately, her story is told by people who were knowledgeable and well-researched, but wrote in a manner that was often repetitive and overly dramatic. I usually understand something if I'm told once. Sometimes it's good to hear it again because I'm old and forgetful. But I'm insulted when it's repeated over and over.

I've also discovered that I struggle with historical fiction in general. Detailed conversations between J.P. Morgan and Belle....... did they happen? Maybe? The book references a "longing" they had for one another that they both chose to deny. She was 20-something, and he was in his 50's, fat and married, and (after looking at his photos) unattractive. Hard to imagine. So much of the "fiction" part of a book like this is simply the authors' imagination.

One part of her story that can be documented is her affair with Bernard Berenson, a fellow art-lover who was married and lived in Italy. She wrote him hundreds of letter during their relationship that spanned decades. She destroyed all of her personal papers before she died, but Berenson saved hers. Currently, the Morgan Library is working to transcribe all of her letters and make them available to the public. 

There is another book about Green that is more biographical and might be more fact-based. I'd recommend that one instead. - June

The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony

 Such an interesting book about a wildlife preserve in Africa where they are given a herd of elephants. At first the elephants are angry and fearful, and they keep trying to escape. However, the owner of the preserve develops a bond with the herd, and soon follow him and allow him to come close to them. The most interesting part to me was the way the elephants communicate with one another - how they can find the other elephants without calling out. It was fascinating. But sorry, BT, there are no giraffes on the preserve. - June

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai

 It took me way too long to read this. Just too much goofing off this summer and not reading. Or maybe it was because I didn't want this one to end? The Great Believers is about the AIDS epidemic in Chicago in the mid-1980s. The focus is on Yale, a young man who is in a group of friends who all are living in fear of this deadly virus. They are all smart, creative, loving people who are faced with one terrible diagnosis after another. 

Another story is about Fiona in 2015. Fiona had a brother who was one of Yale's close friends who died from AIDS. She's in Paris trying to find her missing daughter. The two stories somehow come together at the end to tell the complete version of what happened to all the characters.

Highly recommend this one.

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

 A year ago, our wonderful local bookseller gave a book talk, and this was one of the many books he highly recommended. I guess I assumed that it was story taken from Hamlet so it appealed to the English major in me but I didn't rush out to buy it. However, I was wrong.

This is the story of Shakespeare's wife, Anne (also known as Agnes) and his family. William is a part of the book but a minor character and his name is never mentioned. He is simply known as Agnes' husband or Judith's father. Hamnet (or Hamlet) is Anne and William's son.

This book is beautifully written. Entire chapters could be pulled from the book and read independently and they are marvelous. I highly recommend this one. Really. It's great. - June

Update several months later - I had to reread this book so that I could lead the discussion at the book club meeting. And I admit that I liked it even more reading it the second time! Excellent book.

The Sweeney Sisters by Lian Dolan

Let me say first that I love Lian Dolan. I've never met her, but I've listened to her radio shows and her podcasts for years. I feel like she's a friend. The Satellite Sisters is a funny, warm, entertaining podcast, and their FaceBook group is made up of fun-loving, intelligent women. Lian is one of the sisters who hosts it all, and she does a fabulous job.

Of course, Lian has been promoting her book on the podcast, and I wanted to give it a try. I knew the premise (after their father's death, three sisters find out their father also had another daughter) and thought it might be a creative read. I guess I'd say it was like a Hallmark movie. I got caught up in how it would possibly end but along the way, it was frustrating. Each sister has a unique personality, and she is described the same way over and over. There's a lot of focus on their clothing, their hairstyles, even their makeup. I know this is part of the character description, but it was repetitive. And I just knew that the book couldn't end until each of the sisters found a handsome man. So while I won't recommend that you read the book, I do highly recommend you listen to the podcast. I'm sorry, Lian. - June

The Cold Millions by Jess Walter

Don't you love how books can take you to a place and a time that you have never even considered before? How about Spokane in the early 1900's. There are two brothers, Rye and Gig, who jump freight trains and try to get by with day jobs. They become involved in the unions and the fight for fair pay. There's an interesting cast of characters, some of whom were real but most are fictional. It's also a book about brotherhood and betrayal. 

And at a time when women were not treated as equal, the female characters in the book are strong and outspoken - and wonderful! The writing is superb!

Definitely recommend this one. - June

The Night Portrait by Laura Morelli

Oh no! Not another WW2 book! I can't take any more!!!

But wait..... this one is a little different. Actually, each WW2 book takes a little different slant, it seems. This one is all about art - the creation of the art, the theft of the art treasurers, and the people who saved the pieces and returned them to their owners. 

Like so many novels, this work of historical fiction jumps around in place and time. We are with Leonardo di Vinci as he paints his masterpiece, Portrait of a Lady with an Ermine, and the woman who sat for the portrait, Cecelia. We also meet Edith, a German art restorer who is recruited to help in locating and moving paintings for the Nazis. And we also follow Dominic, an American soldier who is stationed in Poland during the war and assigned to help protect the Monuments Men.

The writing is good but sometimes things jump too quickly from one storyline to the next. And the author tends to state the obvious and is a tad repetitive. However, I did enjoy the book and think it's a fascinating topic. So I do recommend it. -June

Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane

This is one of those odd book titles that doesn't make a lot of sense to me so I keep forgetting it. But the book itself is quite good. It's the story of two families who live next door to one another. The book starts in the 70's and both the husbands are policemen. Something happens that changes the dynamics of the two families from that day on through multiple decades.

It's a story about mental health, forgiveness, family bonds, parenting and more. I guess I was hoping for a more dramatic ending, but I'm in the minority. Most readers loved the way it ended. I won't give anything away.

Recommend it. - June

Writers and Lovers by Lily King

Love, love, love this book. Sometimes a book just hits you, and this one was a great read! I've been struggling with reading during the pandemic, but the world and I seem to be coming out of it. I could hardly put this one down.

The wonderfully written novel is about Casey, a 31-year-old woman who is broke, living in the back of a garage belonging to a friend or her brother, while she tries to earn some money as a waitress. And she is also trying to write a novel. The story is about this period in her live as she struggles with her creativity, her relationships, and her grief after losing her mother. So much is going on in her life and yet not all that much really happens in the book. The writing is fun, poignant, and thought provoking. Just really enjoyed this book.... can you tell?  -June

P.S. And anyone who has been a waitress at some point in their life can relate to the restaurant scenes.

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

 I found this to be a very good book with a number of difficult themes: race, identity, starting over, relationships with sisters, relationships with mothers and daughters, LGBTQ, and the list goes on. The first half is about two twin sisters who live in a tiny town in Louisiana. The residents of this town are light-skinned and Black. When the twins are teenagers, they run away from home together. After being away from their hometown for a few years, one of them leaves the other to begin a new life "passing" as white.

This book, like so many others, jumps from time to time and from character to character. We learn about the love lives of the twins as well as their daughters. And, of course, all of them come together at different times to reveal their lies and struggles.

It's well written but on several occasions I felt the author was preaching and repeating - which is always something that bugs me. There's just no need to say the same thing 5 different ways. But overall I do recommend this book for the memorable characters. - June

The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson

I'm all over the place on this book, so I'm not sure where my comments will go. There were times when I was enthralled by the information in this book. Obviously, the author had done extensive research on Churchill and the first year he was PM of England. At the beginning, Larson stated that he would only attribute quotes by people if they had actually written it. I wondered how he could possible do this, but he had numerous personal diaries that Churchill's family and staff created. He used these throughout the book.

In fact, I was reminded of when I was in high school and had to write term papers. I would research my topic (one year... Emily Dickinson, another year ....AA Milne) and I would find quotes by the writers themselves or quotes that others had written about them and their work. I would put these quotes on 3x5 cards, and I would sort them by topic. Then I would write an opening sentence to a paragraph and follow it up with numerous quotes proving my point. I loved using quotes because then I didn't have to write as much text myself. I could just use other people's words! Erik Larson used this technique constantly! I'm not saying this is a negative, but I think he overdid it a bit.

The book is very detailed. Considering the fact that the book is over 600 pages long and it covers just one year's time, you can understand this. Some of the details are fascinating (how the people of London responded to the bombings of their city, how Churchill's eccentric personality dominated everyone around him, how the war seemed to give everyone a sense of sexual freedom) but there were also a lot of unnecessary details (what was for dinner or a detailed description of Churchill's robes). Perhaps a little editing might have helped, but I'm sure there are historians who will relish these details.

My favorite part of the book was the Epilogue where the author writes about what happened to each of the major players in the book after this infamous year. It tied up a lot of loose ends and satisfied the  need to know "the rest of the story". If you have a love for historical details, I'd recommend this book. - June

The Night Watchman by Louise Eldrich

I wasn't prepared for this book. I knew very little about it, and only started it because it was a book club selection. And I struggled at first having to remember a large cast of characters that all seemed somehow related. But boy, once I got into it, this is truly one of the best books I've read in a long time!!

Louise Eldrich is part Native American, and the only other book I've read by her (The Round House) is also about life on a reservation. The Night Watchman takes place in the early 1950s when the US government is trying to relocate several tribes, taking them off of their land, and moving them to big cities. The characters are beautifully developed, and the multiple story lines are thought-provoking and full of fascinating details of life on the reservation. 

You will love Thomas. And Patrice. And all of the other people you will meet while reading this fabulous novel. And they will stick with you for weeks after you've put the book down. -June

Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler

I love Anne Tyler. I've read most of her novels, and this little gem may not be her best but is certainly better than some of the other books I've read lately. One of the reasons I love her is that unlike many novelists, her characters aren't beautiful, rich, exciting, mysterious..... or really anything but just normal, everyday folk. Micah is a middle aged guy, living in  Baltimore in the basement of an apartment complex that he manages. He also has is one small business responding to technical issues.

Micah is single and set in his ways. He has a personal schedule that he keeps that includes what household chores he does each day. Women in his life have come and gone, and he's struggling to determine why he is alone at this point in his life.

This is definitely a character-driven novel - not a lot of action going on but the characters you'll meet and the relationships between them will keep you reading. - June

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

I love books and movies about do-overs. Remember Life After Life by Kate Atkinson!? One of my favs. And the movie About Time? Fabulous!! I also loved Sliding Doors, an oldie but goodie, about parallel  lives. So when I heard about The Midnight Library, I knew I needed to get my hands on it.

The Midnight Library is where I want to go when I die. That's what happened to Nora. The Midnight Library is loaded with books, each one is an alternate life that she could have led. She's given a list of all of her regrets, and she's given the chance to make different choices throughout her life. These different choices will change the direction of her life. Nora chooses several books with the help of the kindly Mrs. Elm, the librarian, and she is suddenly living the life she would have had if she had gone a different direction.

These are the things I think about sometimes. What if I'd gone to a different college? Poof. I wouldn't have met you, dear TB, and I would not have met my husband. Where would I be living? Would I be happy? Would I have children? What if I'd chosen a different profession? What if I'd taken up skydiving at a young age? What if I had five children instead of just one? What would my life be like?

While this is a creative, well-written book with a solid ending right out of "It's a Wonderful Life" where she sees how her life impacted others, I think this book would be best read in a group where it could lead to some interesting discussion. So read it and call me. -June

Café on the Edge of the World by John Strelecky

The latest from BT! Thanks, dear friend.

A traveler is seeking something (meaning?) and gets lost on his journey and ends up at a café in the middle of nowhere.  On the menu are the specials and the following questions:

1.  Why are you here? (transforms into Why am I here? As the diner discusses with the waitress and cook…perspective on purpose.)

2.  Do you fear death? (Don’t need to as long as you are doing #1 properly.)

3.  Are you fulfilled? (See #1)

 I read quickly, but am not a speed reader. This “book” (I say pamphlet) estimates it will take the reader 3.5 hours. It is 100 pages of pablum and took me an hour.  Says over 4 million copies sold world wide which goes to prove that the masses will do anything to avoid introspection and “finding” the answers to the BIG questions!  Reminds me of the hoopla around The Secret…and what was that one where God is a black woman? I liked it much better.

 There.  Now you don’t have to buy/read. - BT

Storyteller's Secret by Sejal Badani

I ended up having to power through the second half of this in time for my book club meeting. I'd like to have that time back please. It just wasn't worth it. While there were parts of this book that were interesting, it really is a romance novel. 

The book takes place in India where American Jaya travels to recover from multiple miscarriages and to find out about her family. She learns about her grandmother who was a write, and an independent woman in a very restricted situation. The book covers every topic you can imagine: grief, marital infidelity, racial prejudice, poverty, oh my...... on and on. 

More than anything, this book needs a good editor. It gets wonderful reviews but just not from me. Or from anyone in my book club. - June

Anxious People by Fredrick Backman

From the very first page.....

This book is dedicated to the voices in my head, the most remarkable of my friends. And to my wife, who lives with us.

Anxious People is funny, quirky, heartwarming, and totally wacko. This is the fourth book by Backman I've read, and it isn't his best. But even at that, it still is definitely worth reading. His writing is so witty and clever that sometimes it almost gets in the way of the story. I was so enthralled with the way he wrote a paragraph that I would forget what the book was about and just focus on that one piece. You'll want to read it with a highlighter so you can go back and read those gems. It's hard to explain. And some of the dialogue is over-the-top crazy.

I will warn you that the first half is hard to push through because you are confused as to where it's all going. But it's worth it in the second half. The characters really come to life then, and that is where Backman is at his best.

I won't even try to tell you what the book is about but here's a partial list..... Parents and children, suicide, love, marriage..... oh yes, and a bank robber. Just read it and report back. - June

Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell

This from BT........

Just finished an extraordinary book: Malcolm Gladwell's "Talking to Strangers, an intellectual adventure, a challenging and controversial excursion though history, psychology, and scandals taken straight from the news. In it he revisits the deceptions of Bernie Madoff, the trial of Amanda Knox, the suicide of Sylvia Plath, the Jerry Sandusky pedophilia scandal and the death of Sandra Bland--throwing our understanding of these and other stories into doubt."

Highly recommend!

Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montemore

I can't remember the last book I read that was written in chronological order. It seems all modern authors use the same technique of jumping around in time and place, sometimes with the same characters and sometimes with other connections as we move through time. In this novel, the main character, Oona, actually lives her life out of order.

Every New Years Eve at midnight, Oona leaps to a different time in her life (remember Quantum Leap? Loved that show). There are some people in Oona's life who stay constant throughout these leaps, but most have no idea. It can be confusing but it is also kind of fun, and it's a quirky kind of read. I love creative ideas like this one, and I do recommend it.

My only complaint is that when Oona leaps into her 50's, much is written about how old she looks and the drawbacks of aging. I'm sure it would be a shock to be 19 one minute and 53 the next, but Oona constantly wanted to leap back to being young again. As an old geezer, this was a little offensive, but I do understand it too.

Give this one a try after you've read something heavy and deep. It will be a refreshing change. - June