Once We Were Brothers by Ronald H. Balson

If you're tired of Holocaust books, move on to the next review. Many of my friends are, and as soon as I mention a book such as this, they hold up their hands and say "stop".

The author in this novel has told a story inside of a story. The first story takes place in the present (or maybe the early 2000's) and is all about an elderly man named Ben who was originally from Poland. He believes that Elliott, a wealthy Chicago businessman, was once a Nazi who was raised by Ben's family before the war. Ben is out to prove to the world who Elliott really is and to recapture items that he feels were taken from his family. To do this, Ben is telling his story to Catherine, a smart attorney who has major self-esteem issues.

Ben's story is compelling. He talks about his family and all that they endured because of their faith. I wish that the entire book had just been Ben's story. The part of the novel that revolves around Catherine is not at all compelling and sometimes downright stupid. For example, as Catherine listens to Ben's story, she seems to be learning about the holocaust for the very first time and is shocked to hear about Jewish ghettos and death camps. And, of course, there has to be a predictable love interest for Catherine. Must everyone pair up to be a happy ending?

So do I recommend it? Maybe just read Ben's story and skip the story that frames it. This would involve a lot of page turning, but I'm sure you can manage.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

Recently, I had to drive a lot over several days and really wanted to listen to a good audiobook. I'd heard things about this one, but didn't know much about the plot or the characters. So what a wonderful surprise this was. It is quirky, funny, and just plain lovely. I loved hearing the narrator read with the voices of the characters, but I suppose if I had "read" the book instead of "listened" to it, I could have supplied my own voices in my head.

Bea is a young teenager living in Seattle with her eccentric mother, Bernadette, and her father who works for Microsoft. The story is supposedly a satire and it certainly does portray the Seattle lifestyle pretty well. You will learn at the beginning that Bernadette disappears, but it isn't until you are maybe 2/3 of the way into it that she actually does. For most of the book, you learn about the relationships in Bea's family and in their community.

Loved it. Read it. -June

Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger

Some books grab me right away; others take time to pull me. This book was the pulling kind. In fact, I almost put it down. But once I got 1/3 of the way in, I loved it.

This is the story of one summer in the life of a family living in rural Minnesota in 1961. The narrator is Frank, a young boy, who lives with his brother, sister, mother and father, who is a minister. There's also a group of fascinating, rich character such as Gus, his father's friend from the war, and Emil, his mother's former boyfriend who is now blind and disfigured. At the heart of the story is a mystery, and there are several people who have secrets that are slowly revealed. But for me, the best part of the book was the love between the Frank and his brother and between Frank and his father. Just a feel-good, well-written novel. Recommend it. - June

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

I just can't seem to get the title of this book straight in my head. When someone asked me what I was reading recently, I told them "What I Don't Know" or The Stuff I Forgot to Tell You". So I guess I would say that while this is a forgettable title, it's not a forgettable book.

In the first sentence, you know that Lydia is dead. Lydia is a teenage girl who has an older brother, a younger sister, and two parents who love her. The book allows you to see through the eyes of each of these characters as they grapple with Lydia's death and try to figure out what happened to her. It is a sad book in many ways, but certainly well written and one that stays with you after you're done. Recommended. -June

Let Me Be Frank With You by Richard Ford

This is my first time reading anything by Richard Ford, but after recently hearing an interview with him on NPR, I wanted to give him a try. In the interview, he was funny and quick, and that is the way his character, Frank Bascombe, is too. Ford writes very well, and although there's really no plot in this book, it's a fun read.

The book is divided into 4 chapters, each one covering a different scene in Frank's life. He's retired and getting older with the normal aches and pains, and he reveals to the reader his thoughts on aging, marriage, friendship, and more. I like Frank. I like the way he thinks and his humor and even his politics. He's got opinions and is more than willing to share them. I recommend you spend some time with him. -June

Stoner by John Williams

My brother and I don't always agree on movies and books.  While I love him dearly, he's drawn to movies like The Piano which I suffered through years ago and tried hard to like but couldn't. Maybe he's just more intellectual than I am, so when we recommend books to one another, we are sometimes disappointed that the other sibling doesn't love it like we do. However, this time I loved his recommendation. But it's going to be very hard to say why.

Stoner (this has nothing to do with being stoned, BTW) is simply the story of a man's life from beginning to end. He's raised on a farm in Missouri in the late 1800's and early 1900's, goes to college, and becomes an English professor. He is likable enough but certainly not charming and lovable. No matter how he is disappointed or beaten in his life, he plods on through and takes what life gives him. The people in his life do not always treat him well, and he, in turn, mistreats many of them. So far, the book sounds pretty awful, doesn't it? Well, once you make it through the first quarter of the book, I predict you will be captivated. There is something about the writing - it is exquisite. You will be completely transported to the University of Missouri and sit with him in his office, his home, his campus.

I wouldn't recommend this book to many of my friends who insist on powerful plot-driven books. However, BT, I think you would definitely like this, and since you are practically the only person who will read this, I'll leave this note for you. My only suggestions are to give it a chance by reading 50 pages or so before you give up, and do NOT read the Introduction before you read the book. I think it's silly to have an introduction that gives away the entire plot. I started to realize what it was doing and quickly moved on to the book itself. I'll read the Intro now that I've finished the book.

So now I need to write my brother and thank him. - June

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

I think this is the last book I'll read by Jojo Moyes. I've only read two, but that's enough. I picked up this one because after reading Deep Down Dark, I wanted something light. This one is just too light. However, it starts out with a lot of promise that was the only reason I finished - I kept waiting for it to get good again. The novel is divided into two parts, and the first part is great. We meet Sophie, a Frenchwoman who is running a hotel in a small town in France while her husband is fighting in WWI. Her husband is an artist, and he paints a picture of her that hangs in the hotel. Her town is controlled by the Germans, and it is her relationship with them that causes trouble for her and her family. All of this is fascinating stuff. But then we switch to the current time and meet a whole new cast of characters who aren't quite as interesting. The painting is at the center of this part of the novel as the true owner is determined after lots of courtroom drama.

I liked the plot and liked the story but the writing just got in the way. For example, the book would include a letter written by Sophie - and she would write it with dialogue including quotation marks. This was done in several places in the book. People generally don't quote conversations in this way when writing a letter or a diary entry. Am I wrong? It just seemed weird and contrived. And the love story is so very predictable. You know where it's going from the first moment. So I'm done, Jojo. Sorry. - June

Deep Down Dark by Hector Tobar

We all remember the frightening story of the Chilean miners who were trapped for over two months. Well, this is their story. Hector Tobar was selected by the miners to write this book, and he had access to all of them find out what had happened. The book starts with individuals preparing for work that day and ends with their release and a follow-up afterwards. It's all fascinating. And certainly eye-opening. We saw the media reports but there is so much more to it all. The author lets us know some of the individuals and how they relate to each other as their time together underground continues. It isn't all pretty, that's for sure.

This book triggered a lot of good conversation in my book group. I'd recommend it for any discussion on how groups interact and leaders emerge. - June

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

The last book I read about the end of civilization was decades ago - The Stand by Stephen King. It's my husband's favorite book, and I remember reading it but getting pretty spooked by it too. So when I first heard about Station Eleven and realized that it had a similar theme, I wasn't interested. But our local bookseller in town said it was his favorite book from last year. I had to try it.

Imagine what the world would be like if over 99% of the people died. No electricity. No leadership. No transportation. No communication. This book is the story of what happened to a group of survivors when life as we know it ended. The characters are all connected to an actor named Arthur, and the book jumps in time from before the pandemic to afterwards. Some of the main characters are part of a group of performers who travel around the midwest setting up plays and concerts for the small communities that have formed.

While not my usual read, this book fascinated me. It's well written and does make you think about "what if". -June

Stir: My Broken Brain and the Meals That Brought Me Home by Jessica Fechtor

This is a very well written memoir by a young woman who had a brain aneurysm when she was running one day. She was healthy in every way and was attending graduate school when her life came to a halt. She writes about the surgeries and the recoveries. And she writes about how getting back into her kitchen was her way of trying to be normal again. Her love for cooking and for food kept her going. When he recovery was far enough along that she could write, she started a food blog which became very successful.

Each chapter ends with a recipe, usually one that has been mentioned in the chapter. My copy of this book belongs to a friend, but I promise you I'll be copying most of those recipes before I give it back. This is an interesting and quick read, and I recommend it.

A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson

Last spring, I was in Normandy and had the chance to tour the American Cemetery there. It is a very moving place, and I found myself emotional as I walked among the graves there. There's also a wall with names of the many soldiers who were never found. I couldn't help but think of all these boys (because they really were just boys) who never had the chance to grow up and live their lives. They all should be old men now, but their lives ended in France much too soon. This is the basic theme of A God in Ruins, a follow-up book to Kate Atkinson's previous masterpiece, Life After Life.

Let me start by saying I loved Life After Life. Some people had trouble with the concept of a character living her life over and over, but I found it fascinating. And I think Kate Atkinson is a superb writer who has her own unique style. A God in Ruins (not my favorite title) takes one of the characters from Life After Life, Ursula's younger brother Teddy, and makes him the primary character. Some of the other characters from Life After Life (including Ursula) are in the book too, but it isn't necessary to read them in order.

The novel started slowly for me, and it took me some time to get used to the constant flitting from one time to another. It requires concentration to follow the story when you get bits and hints that aren't filled in until later in the book. But like Life After Life, the writing is exquisite. And the characters are alive. Yes, you will hate Viola, but that's ok. Your love for Teddy will make it worthwhile. And there are witty lines that make you laugh even when the subject is quite serious.

The author obviously did extensive research on the bombing missions that took place by the British during WWII. Teddy was a pilot, and the missions he and his crew conduct were described in detail (maybe too much sometimes but it was still fascinating). This is one of those books that will stick with me for a while. I didn't want it to end, and the ending will probably catch you off guard. It certainly did for me. (Don't cheat and read it first!) I highly recommend this one!! -June

Circling the Sun by Paula McLain

Paula McLain is best known for her popular historical fiction novel, The Paris Wife. In Circling the Sun she tackles another woman from history. Beryl Markham was a woman who lived in the early 1920's in an English colony in Kenya. She is perhaps known most for being the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic from east to west, and yet the book focuses primarily on her childhood and up to her mid-20's and barely mentions her historic flight. Instead the author details her adventurous life growing up, her involvement in horse training, and her love life. Beryl was involved in a social circle in the English colonies that involved lots of parties and lots of love affairs and spouse swapping. I had trouble remembering who everyone was married to and who they were sleeping with - because it usually wasn't the same person. Plus everyone had a nickname. Beryl herself was in a love triangle with Karen Blixen (the woman who was in Out of Africa) and Denys Finch Hatton, and much of the book was about her relationship with the two of them.

I know I'm repeating myself when I say that I struggle with historical fiction. I can't read it without constantly asking myself "Is this what really happened?" and "Did she really feel this way?" or is it just the way the author wanted things to happen to make the story better. I'm sure the author did a lot of research but it's impossible to get into the character's head. Although I continued to ask these question, I did enjoy reading this book. I enjoyed reading about this time and place which isn't described in many other books. And now I should probably read West With the Night, Beryl Markham's memoir (and a book that BT recommended to me years ago but I never read!) and then read Out of Africa (although I read that Beryl isn't even mentioned). - Recommended if you like historical fiction. -June