The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens

This novel has popped up on several "best of" lists over the past few years, and I think maybe the cover has made me think it might be boring..... the cover shows a wooden cabin partially buried in snow. But I needed an audio book and this one was available so I finally gave it a try. 

Great characters and an interesting story that kept me going. What more could you ask for in an audio book (or really any book). It's all about a college student who comes from a very dysfunctional family who is given the writing assignment to interview a senior citizen. He chooses to go to a nursing home where he meets a man who has been removed from prison because he's dying. The college student then researches the man's legal case, believes he's innocent of the crime that sent him to jail, and off we go. And all this is happening while his wacko mother is not taking care of his younger autistic brother so our little college student steps up and takes him.

A good solid read. - June

The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer

It's hard to imagine there could be another WW2 novel to recommend, but here's one for sure. This one has a very compelling story, wonderful characters, and interesting historical background. 

It's the story of Alina and her siblings and parents who live in a small town in Poland. When the Nazis invade the area, they continue to farm their land and survive as best they can. But as things escalate and people in the town are executed or disappear, things change. 

There's another storyline too. Alice and her family live in present-day America. Alice is married with two children, one who is on the Autism spectrum. Her grandmother is failing and wants Alice to go to Poland to find out some information for her about her past.

I won't say more but I highly recommend this book. There are a few sections that I think could have used some more editing, but for the most part, it's well written and certainly kept my interest until the end. - June 

The One by John Marrs

After finishing the Wally Lamb book, I knew I couldn't just dive into any old book next. I almost needed time to heal before starting another. So I picked a book that was nothing at all like the Lamb book. I don't know if this would be considered science fiction, romance, or mystery. I think it's a little of both. But I will say it was a fast read, and once I started, I could hardly put it down. It would be the perfect book for a long airplane ride.

Imagine if you could take a DNA test and based upon the results, you could find your perfect soul mate. OK, I don't believe in soul mates, but just imagine it. This book follows 5 different couples who find each other because they are Matched. Interesting premise, huh? The plot does become predictable sometimes but it was definitely interesting enough to keep me going. - June

The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb

Best book I've read all year!! This is one that I still can't stop thinking about. Wally Lamb is a master, and this is one of his best!! You'll want to stop reading after the first chapter. I almost did. But don't. Keep going and don't let anyone talk with you about the ending. Just read it.

It's all about Corby, a husband, father, addict. And when something horrible happens, he becomes a prisoner.

And FYI, this is the first book that has actually made me sob. 

A definite read!!! - June 

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T. J. Klune

I don't care for fantasy books. I've never liked the novels where there are talking animals like Watership Down or the entire Redwall series. Yet probably my favorite childhood book was Winnie the Pooh - lots of talking stuffed animals in that one! But when I started in on The House in the Cerulean Sea, I wasn't aware that it was a fantasy. I guess I just saw the wonderful reviews but didn't really READ them! So I almost put this book aside once I understood this was about "magical" people. I'm so glad I didn't. I think I had to change my mindset and began to read this book as if it were a fairy tale or a folk tale. Then I was hooked.

The book centers on Linus, a caseworker at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He is assigned the task of going to an orphanage on a remote island where he must evaluate the facility, the children, and the individual who runs the place. I won't describe what he finds there or how Linus responds to everything there.... you just need to read it. It is a tad predictable at the end, but the characters are beautifully presented, and I loved the relationships in the novel. Highly recommend. - June  

The Wrong Daughter by Dandy Smith

If I had been reading this book instead of listening to it, I think I would have put it aside long before I'd finished. But since it was being read to me each time I turned on my car, and I've been doing a lot of local driving lately, I just trudged through it. It's a twisty turny story about a two sisters... one of whom was kidnapped as a young girl. Characters aren't who they seem to be and everyone seems to be a bit bipolar. And most of the cast ends up dead. Ridiculous. And some sex scenes were downright comical. Anyway, I don't recommend this one... can you tell? - June 

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

This is one of those books that multiple people have recommended to me, and I finally was able to download it. I had high expectations. Perhaps too high. And I admit I was disappointed but it was worth finishing if only to find out "who done it". The characters are fun, and the upcoming movie should be enjoyable with a wonderful cast. But the storyline seemed convoluted and for that reason, I kept putting it down. Glad I finished and now can move onto something new. Recommend kind of - June. 

The Gown by Jennifer Robson

This novel had been hanging out on my Kindle for a long time, and I thought that reading it before going to London sounded like a good idea. It takes place just after WWII in London, and focuses on the women who made the wedding dress for Queen Elizabeth (who was only a princess at the time of her wedding). It's a fun read even if it does have a Chick Lit feel to it and is often pretty predictable. But the characters and the friendships are well developed. - Somewhat recommend

Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout

I was back and forth on this one but I ended up loving it. For those of you who must have a strong plot, put it down and back away. This is for those of us who love getting into the characters - and there are lots to choose from in this one. Good old Olive Kitteridge is back again, and so are a few others I've known from Strouts previous books. Plus, each of these characters has stories about other people and events in their lives. Just lots to think about and love in this book. Highly recommend it. - June

James by Percival Everett

I know I am the exception here.... but this book did not overwhelm me like it has everyone else. I was so excited to finally load this up and read it, but then I found it to be a struggle to pick it up. What was I expecting? I knew that James was a slave... did I think this was going to be a fun read? I certainly appreciate the author's creativity in following the Huck Finn story line but giving us a whole new perspective on it all. And the ending is positive. I'm just disappointed that I didn't love it like I wanted. - June 

Three Days in June by Anne Tyler

Anne Tyler is one of a small number of authors who I will read immediately without checking reviews or waiting to hear the buzz about the book. I saw this short novel was recently released and didn't hesitate. I simply love the way she writes.... her characters, the way she describes her environment, everything! Her characters are "real" - just everyday folks living their lives. And Anne gives us a slice of that life.

Gail is a middle aged educator who is losing her job after years in the same school. She lives alone, and the entire novel takes place in the day before, the day of, and the day after her only daughter's wedding. Her ex-husband arrives for the wedding, and their relationship is a large part of the story. 

I loved it. Highly recommend it. But what is the difference between a short story, a novella, and a novel? I read this on my Kindle but I'd guess it's only about 100 pages. Quick but so delightful.

Books I Didn't Finish for No Good Reason

Generally, if a book is half-way decent, I feel obligated to finish it. But recently (due to age perhaps) if I'm 100 pages or so into it, and I find that I don't look for time to read it or I prefer to watch some mindless movie/tv show instead, then I just put it aside. And although I feel of twinge of guilt, I'm hoping I get over that and start doing more of this. I can't always blame the books. Sometimes I'm just busy with other things and reading isn't a priority. But for whatever reason, I didn't finish the books below. I'm putting them here so in case I pick them up again and they have a familiar ring, I'll remember this.

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby by Ellery Lloyd

 

The Last Flight by Julie Clark

This novel is probably the perfect book to take on a long trip when you want to be totally lost in a suspenseful book. The premise is wacky - two women who are desperate to escape their lives meet at an airport and decide to change places. Totally unrealistic and yet so intriguing. This might have been just what I needed after reading some more serious books. The author does tend to repeat certain facts just in case you missed them the first three times she mentioned them (always drives me nuts) but otherwise it was pretty well written. There were lots of twists and turns that made it interesting and I admit to being totally hooked on it. - June

All the Children are Home by Patry Francis

I can't remember who recommended this book, but "thanks" to whoever you are. This is a very sad, lovely, hopeful book about a family of foster kids. Dahlia and Louie bring children into their home, and in the course of the novel, we learn about their past and the lives of the kids they raise. It takes place in the 50's and 60's, so some of the music and cultural references are fun. But there's also a lot of heartbreak. It's well written and worth a read. - June 

The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise

So the back of the book says, "A college dropout and an eighty-four-year-old woman are on the run from the law in the remarkable story of unexpected heart and humor". I was hoping for something similar to One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margo". Even the titles are similar, right?. In both stories, there's a relationship that develops between a young woman and an older one - they learn from one another and support each other. But I have to say I much prefer Lenni and Margo over Tanner and Louise.

Tanner was a soccer star when an injury ended her career and her scholarship at Northwestern. She's depressed and angry, taking it out on her friends and family. Her mother pushes her to help care for Louise, an older woman who lives alone but is pretty spunky and cranky. When Louise wakes up Tanner in the middle of the night and tells her to get ready to drive her to see a friend, Tanner goes along. The majority of the book is about their travels together, their conversations, and the changes in their relationship as they make their way across the country. It's the ending that gets a little weird and, frankly, disappointing. Some of the "facts" that you've been told turn out to be alternative facts which made me feel like I was being played by the author. And there were a couple of characters that are introduced but never really developed and so they disappear (the female FBI agent). And then there's August.... the totally hot guy who Tanner is in lust with, and that relationship is really an unnecessary part of the book except it gives the author the chance to describe his perfect body over and over.

There are humorous parts and the relationship between two vastly different women is fun.... but I'm not recommending it. - June

North Woods by Daniel Mason

I just finished reading this fascinating novel, and I feel like I should start over at the beginning to read it again.... not because it was so wonderful (which is was) but because I feel like I missed a lot the first time and there's so much in it! This is the story about a piece of land in Western Massachusetts and the people who live on that land over the centuries. There are themes of nature and how it changes over the years just as the people come and go. 

At first I assumed that each section in the book would just focus on a new resident of this homestead but gradually you see that there is much overlap. I can't explain it without giving away too much but I found it to be extremely well written and a worthwhile read. - June