Two Mediocre Reviews from BT

Asymmetry by Lisa Halliday - started off like it but then meh....

The New Wilderness by Diane Cook - Yes and no - but mostly yes

from BT

We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman

As soon as I started listening to this book, I asked myself.... What are you thinking? Here I am, in a point in my life where friends are dying monthly (or sometimes weekly) and I choose to read about two friends, one of whom is dying! Do I really need to read about death and losing people we love? Well, as it turns out, I did need to read this book. It's a very well-written, thoughtful, hilarious, touching novel. 

Ash and Edie have been friends since childhood, and once the doctors say that Edie doesn't have much time left, Ash moves her to a hospice close to her home. (Edie has a young son who she wants to protect from this process and so her husband and son stay in New York while Edie moves to be near Ash.) As Edie gets closer to death, Ash does her best to support her while at the same time she makes questionable choices in her personal life. The many peripheral characters (other hospice patients, staff, other family members) all play a role in this drama and yet they manage to be endearing and funny.

I highly recommend this one - especially the audio version.

But note to the author.... did you really need to have one character names Jules and one named Jude? Couldn't you have thought of a more unique name so old people like me don't get them confused??

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

This beautiful novel has haunted my ever since I started reading it. The writing is amazing - and yet I found I had to keep putting it down, walk away, and think about it before moving on. The characters (and there are so many of them) are real to me. I wanted to get into my car, drive to Lee County, Virginia, scoop up all the hungry children and bring them home with me. Much has been written about this Pulitzer Prize winner, so I don't need to give a summary of the plot - which would take pages - but it is truly one of the best books I've ever read. I don't even want to start another book now. I just want to keep thinking about this one. - June 

Found in a Bookshop by Stephanie Butland

 Found in a Bookshop by Stephanie Butland (unfortunate last name...not her fault)  A woman inherits a used book store and must fashion a way to sustain the little store through the pandemic.  She "invents" Book Prescription wherein customers write to her describing their situation/feelings/needs and she replies and recommends several books that might speak to their needs. So, you have a story with several interesting characters and a list of recommendations, some of which I have read, others I will add to my insanely long list.  It does jump character by character chapter by chapter, but you'll get used to that style.  Her bookshop is called Lost for Words. - Turd