Let’s wander down memory lane and revisit what we were reading 25 years ago…at least what I was reading. I unearthed 2 years of reviews I’d written for the Rockville Library newsletter “must read” from 1999-2001 which began my illustrious? book review career. For those Rockvillians of a certain age, I have many “must reads” if you’re interested. Thanks to all those involved in the creation of this wonderful publication!

Most of the titles that I reviewed are available at your local libraries but if they’re not…don’t forget Interlibrary Loan!

Empire Falls by Richard Russo—Just as Anne Tyler is the queen of dysfunctional families, Richard Russo is the king of dysfunctional, falling apart, small towns. His venue is mostly in upstate New York, namely my hometown and his, Gloversville (as you all know), (which he has dubbed “Mohawk”). His most recent novel is set in Maine, in a city where literally the empire (textile mills) has fallen. But call it Mohawk or Empire Falls, it really does not matter. The theme is the same: life in small-town, blue-collar America where the prospects are few and the future is dim.

Miles Roby, divorced father of teenaged daughter, Tick, tries to deal with post-marriage life in a town where everyone knows his secrets. Russo’s cast of characters includes a deadbeat father,  frustrated ex-wife, plus her incredibly obnoxious boyfriend and Francine, the diabolical widow who still owns most of the town.

If the story were only about life in present day Empire Falls, it would still be a good novel. What makes it a great novel are the flashbacks to Empire Falls at an earlier time. We meet CB Whiting, reluctant inheritor of the mills and Miles’ mother, an ethereal character whose life is changed by one vacation with her young son.

And the secrets: everyone has them and Miles is always the last to know. Will Miles ever get out of Empire Falls?

Abe: A Novel of the Young Lincoln by Richard Slotkin—Think about all the material out there about Abraham Lincoln. Do we really need to read another book, especially a novel about our 16^th president? Our Rockville Book Discussion Group read it, and I think most of the members would have to say “yes”. Slotkin has approached the subject of a young Abe through a Huck Finn perspective. How did a young man growing up in the backwoods come to develop the anti-slavery perspective for which he is known? Like Huck Finn, Lincoln took a trip down the Mississippi River (actually two in real life) where he saw first-hand what slavery was really like. And although we see Abe develop his notable sense of humor, incredible strength and his love of reading, he is not infallible. He makes mistakes, but muses over them and learns from them.

Slotkin writes in the language of the time and like Mark Twain, uses the vernacular including the “N” word which is off-putting for many readers. But it does place the reader squarely in the 19^th century.

And there is no better way to learn about river rafting than reading about Abe’s trip down the Mississippi. A must read for American history buffs.

The Bonesetter’s Daughter by Amy Tan—This is the story of Ruth, always coping with her difficult mother Lui Ling, now afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. When she discovers her mother’s journal, Ruth learns the true story of her mother’s life. She also discovers her own voice, identity and the love that she has previously blocked out of her life.

Once again Tan succeeds in writing a story of mother and daughter that translates into every language and culture. Even the second part of the book, where we read Lui Ling’s journal set in China, is also a story of mother and daughter. Tan includes wonderful tidbits about growing up with an immigrant parent when Ruth, as a child, becomes the translator for her mother and realizes the power that she wields.

Code to Zero by Ken Follett—You can imagine my pure pleasure at finally picking up a new Ken Follett novel and really, truly enjoying it. Now, nothing may be as wonderful as Eye of the Needle but this is as close as he has come to a page turner for more than 20 years. He is back in the genre that made him famous in the first place: spy thrillers!

The premise begins simply: the year is 1958. A man wakes up in the bathroom of Washington’s Union Station dressed in cast off clothes, not knowing where he is. (Oh how I love “amnesia fiction”) The rest of the book is how Luke figures out his identity, why men are following him, what his role in the rocket launching at Cape Canaveral is and his relationship with the beautiful Billie. As Follett takes us hour by hour through these two important days, he also takes us back to Harvard and the war years where all the main characters first met. It’s a quick, fun read which will make you want to reread his earlier works. A must read for diehard Follett fans.

The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood—It is impossible to sum up this multilayered saga of life in Canada from the Depression to post WW2 years. Suffice it to say it is a story where none of the characters get what they want.

Laura and Iris Chase, two sisters brought up in the rarified air of their rich father’s museum of a house, are unprepared for real life after his factory is burned down and the money runs out. Iris is married off to a rich industrialist, while her younger sister is sent to private school. That is the bare bones. But throughout the novel we also read in alternating chapters, the story of “The Blind Assassin” about an illicit love affair between a rich married woman and an idealistic young communist hiding out from the law. Each time they meet, he narrates a science fiction tale about a blind assassin and his love for a condemned woman. We then jump to the present and meet Iris as an older woman, writing the tale of her and Laura’s tragic life so that the public will finally learn the truth.

Once again it is Atwood’s incredible writing style that kept me from putting this sometimes very confusing novel down.  Her woman characters are so finally drawn, we can even picture Winifred, the evil sister-in-law, scheming in her green lizard shoes.

A must read for dedicated Atwood fans, but many critics were not pleased with her latest novel.

Hope you’ll enjoy these “must reads”. Next month we’ll be back to new books or at least newly written reviews…but as always, if you haven’t read them, they’re new to you. Can’t believe that I’m saying this so early, but Happy Thanksgiving to all.

The Fury by Alex Michaelides—On first reading The Fury is a murder mystery. Narrated by Elliot, a close friend of Lana Farrar, a very famous movie star, it is the story of a murder, love gone awry, a tale of revenge and a plot that has gone terribly wrong. As Elliot tells the story of Lana’s invitation to her Greek island, we begin to doubt this unreliable narrator. But who are the prime suspects, and actually who is the murder victim? Could it be Lana’s best friend Kate, jealous of Lana’s career and her marriage, husband Jason, cash poor and desperate for Lana’s money, Lana’s son Leo, ready to become an actor but without his mother’s permission, her maid Agathi, protective of Lana’s life and of course, Elliot who knows everyone’s secrets.

If you’ve read The Silent Patient, you will know that there will be twists and turns in the plot. So don’t even try to guess. Just buckle up and read.

How to Read a Book by Monica Wood–Harriet is a widow and a former teacher who leaves her comfort zone and leads a book club in a woman’s prison. She is told not to get involved with her group members but ignores this sage advice. Everyone in the group has a back story, but we learn the most about Violet. She is the youngest, who was leading a good life in a small town, until she got involved with a man who ruined her life. We meet Frank, the widower of the woman who is killed in a drunk driving accident, which Violet was heavily involved in.

All three characters are at the center of this heartwarming story. We learn about defining family, grief, love, beginning life again and opening life to others. Yes I heartily recommend it.

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister—It’s Cam’s first day back to work after maternity leave. She takes her 9-month-old to her nursery school but strangely doesn’t hear from Luke, her husband, who left home very early that morning. After leaving messages for him, she assumes he is in the middle of a new book. But when the police arrive, she is informed that he is instead in the middle of a hostage crisis. He is not one of the hostages though. And that is just the first few pages. Cam is left without a clue. As time goes by, she must find her own clues. Who can she trust? Read this page turner and follow the plot twists.

Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall–It is 1963 and feisty 9-year-old Starla has had enough of her mean grandmother and is ready to run away from her Mississippi home to Nashville to be with her aspiring singer mother who she is sure is waiting for her. When Starla meets up with Eula, a young Black woman with a big heart, she doesn’t realize that Eula has even bigger problems. Their journey together opens up a new world for Starla as she learns about life on the other side of the color line. And when they finally arrive in Nashville, life becomes even more problematic. Family is not just defined through bloodlines.

Hansel and Gretel Retelling by Stephen King, illustrated by Maurice Sendak—If you are a fairytale fan, a Stephen King fan or a Sendak fan, this deliciously scary tale of a brother and sister lost in the woods, cast out by their evil stepmother and imprisoned in a delicious house, may be the perfect pre Halloween story for you, and possibly your grandchildren.

Sendak’s illustrations complement the writing. Looking at each of the characters makes the story come alive. And together, it’s a wonderful read.

And, by the way:

Enjoy the fall weather with a book at your side. See you next month!

Shy: The Alarmingly Outspoken Memoirs of Mary Rodgers by Mary Rodgers Guettel–This is a book is for all those Broadway musical aficionados, and for all the New York City dwellers, East Side or West Side. But who has really heard of Mary Rodgers? She was, in fact, the daughter of Richard Rodgers, of Rodgers and Hammerstein fame and Dorothy Rodgers (inventor of The Johnny Mop and other inventions). Mary grew up an angry child, mostly at her mother but managed to become a writer, composer and philanthropist.  

She wrote Once Upon a Mattress, a wonderfully resilient Broadway play and the original Freaky Friday children’s book. And we all know how that turned out.

So that is the bare bones of Mary Rodgers, but SHY is much more than that. She knew a lot of people, a lot of famous people and was not afraid to tell all, about them as well as herself. She collaborated with NYT theater critic Jesse Green, who finished the memoir after her death.  

I listened to the audiobook and was privileged to hear Christine Baransky narrate it. Jesse Green narrated the footnotes, with some comments of his own, and also read the last part of the book. It was fast paced, funny, sarcastic, self-deprecating, sad and a good read.

The Last List of Mabel Beaumont by Laura Pearson: Mabel and Arthur had been married for many years. He was a good husband, a dependable man who loved Mabel, no matter her faults, and he loved to make lists. When he died, his last item was “Find D” and Mabel was determined to honor that request. Dot was Mabel’s best friend who disappeared from her life before they got married and Mabel never stopped thinking about her.

But Arthur had another item on his list… he wanted to make sure that Mabel would be well cared for, so he hired a woman to help her in the event of his death. And through that woman, who became her friend, she made other friends, and they all joined Mabel on her quest. Will Mabel and her friends find Dot? You must read it to find out.

This is a story of love, marriage, friendship and the realization that life goes on even as we age. This is the second Laura Pearson book that I’ve read, and I enjoyed this even more…not so preachy.  It was a good beach book.  

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If it Bleeds: New Fiction (actually novellas) by Stephen King—You’ve heard my Stephen King raves. He is a grand storyteller with sometimes just a hint of horror and those are his books that I enjoy.

“Mr. Harrigan’s Phone” features a young boy who works for an older gentleman and together they form a friendship. Craig was 9 when he first met him and was determined to drag him into the 21st century and finally did by giving him an iPhone. And when Mr. Harrigan passed away, the iPhone became very useful.

“The Life of Chuck”, now a motion picture, shows the life of Charles Krantz, not necessarily in chronological order and his impact on the world. It’s magical.

“If it Bleeds” brings us back to King’s Mr Mercedes and his heroine, Holly Gibney, now older and working for a detective agency. When a nearby school is bombed Holly becomes obsessed with the news reporter who seemed to arrive too quickly. The theme of good vs evil, a common one of King, plays a big role here. (and one a little too close this week)

“Rat” is about an ambition haunted writer and the lengths he will go to finally write a novel. If you’re interested in the way a writer writes, it’s a creepy but fascinating piece.

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnson—Fred Fife is a down on his luck 82-year-old when he stumbles upon a wheel chaired elderly man, obviously to him anyway, very dead. In an accident, the wheelchair gets loose, plunging the dead man into the river along with Fred’s wallet. Fred somehow is mistaken for who we now know is Bernard, a resident of a nursing home. Much as he tries, no one believes Fred….and the food is so good there and the bed so comfortable and the staff and clientele so friendly. What is he to do?

What starts out as a case of mistaken identity and a silly farce, becomes a story of the power of one man to make a difference and the reconciliation of father and daughter, the father she never really knew and the daughter he always wanted.

I fell in love with Fred, and you will too. And hopefully, you’ll be able to watch this story on Netflix. Keep a box of tissues nearby.

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera—I found this book in the Lucky Day Collection at my library and indeed it was a lucky day for me. I chose it because all the blurbs on the cover were written by my favorite authors: Liane Moriarity, Stephen King, Alice Feeney and Alex Michaelides (my next book club book). I love novels where the main character isn’t perfect, where she’s the “bad” girl. And this is it.

The first sentence of the novel is: “A podcaster has decided to ruin my life, so I’m buying a chicken.” Intriguing…

Lucy, living in LA, is waiting for her boss to fire her and her boyfriend to kick her out. All because she’s widely assumed to be the murderer of her best friend, Savvy. And it’s all there for people to listen to in the latest crime podcast, Listen for the Lie. When Lucy’s grandmother summons her home to Plumpton, TX for her birthday party, Lucy must go. And she must confront Ben, the podcast guy. Did Lucy kill Savvy? We don’t know and Lucy doesn’t remember. But going home to a town full of people that are sure she is a murderer cannot be easy.

This first adult novel for Amy Tintera is funny and sad and scary with some sex thrown in (by practically everyone in Plumpton) It’s a perfect beach book and I finished it very quickly. And of course they’re developing it for a TV series. If you like Joshilyn Jackson, another of my favorite authors, you’ll definitely enjoy Listen for the Lie.

As we roll into September, enjoy my most favorite weather and get ready for under the blanket reading. Which type of reader are you?

My Friends by Fredrik Backman—If you have read A Man Called Ove, Britt-Marie was Here or other Backman novels, you know that life in Backman’s world is never easy and some of the characters are broken. My Friends is no different.

Louisa is almost 18, fresh from a life in foster care and all she wants to do is see the painting that has had an impact on her life. What follows is a journey, where Louisa learns the story of four friends.

25 years earlier, four friends, almost 15 years old, spent a summer together in a seaside town that will change their lives, but never change the love they have for each other. All are broken from families that are broken. Joar, Ted, Ali and “The Artist” have a plan to make sure The Artist paints a picture that will get him into a competition which he will certainly win and give him a wealthy and happy life.  Almost nothing goes the way they thought it would and almost nothing in the novel does as well.

I don’t want to reveal the whole story, but I will say, there are tears and laughter and you will remember all these strange characters forever, including your 15-year-old friends. I sure did. Backman always writes from the heart.

So Many Steves: Afternoons with Steve Martin by Steve Martin and Adam Gopnik—I have been a Steve Martin fan, I guess since he appeared as The Wild  and Crazy Guy on SNL many decades ago. I’ve read his books and even saw the play he wrote: “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” on Broadway!

But this is not a tell all memoir. It is a deep dive into his soul, mind and spirit. Adam Gopnik, author and writer for the New Yorker, and a friend and admirer (of Steve’s, not me), rode his bike on many afternoons, across Manhattan to Martin’s apartment, to interview him and they produced this wonderful audiobook.

And the title couldn’t have been more appropriate. He is best known for his comedic roles. But he is deeply into music, particularly banjo, acting, writing, art collecting, and at the heart of it all, philosophy.

This audiobook (and it is only available on audiobook) is sprinkled with conversations between he and Gopnik, along with comedy bits, movie excerpts and musical interludes.  It was thoroughly entertaining. I finished it feeling like I know the essence of Steve Martin. What a pleasure.

Speak to Me of Home: A Novel by Jeanine Cummins—After Cummins’ previous best seller American Dirt, she decided to write about her own background in Puerto Rico. It is a novel, but this time no one can accuse her of cultural misappropriation. This is her story, and much is based on her family. We begin with Rafaela, brought up in San Juan in a rich family, until they weren’t anymore. As a teen, she is sent to Trinidad to work and it was there that she meets Peter, an Irish American whom she marries. After their children Benny and Ruth were 9 and 7, Peter decided to relocate their family to Missouri. It was then, because Benny could never pick up English, that they banned the use of the Spanish language in their home. Rafaela became very unhappy, but Ruth embraced the American life. And as she raised her own children, 20 years later, she considered her family “white”.

The novel is not linear. Each chapter is a different year, with a different perspective. But the first chapter is in 2023, when Daisy, Ruth’s daughter, moves back to San Juan and reclaims her Puerto Rican heritage. It is in the middle of a terrible hurricane that 18-year-old Daisy was hit by a car and falls into a coma. The rest of the book is about the family history, especially her mother and grandmother, rushing to her side while contemplating their own lives.

I was entranced by the story of a multicultural family, how they identified themselves and how they adapted. When Ruth attends college and goes to the cafeteria on her first day, she must decide where to eat, because the tables were seemingly divided into White, Black, Asian and Latino. But Ruth was mixed, didn’t speak Spanish and was brought up in Missouri. She had no place to go. This was based on Cummin’s life and obviously made an impression on her.

A Bookseller in Madrid by Mario Escobar—Barbara Spiel is a young German woman full of love, ambition and a passion for books. Unfortunately, she is growing up in the wrong place and the wrong time: 1930’s Germany. Working in a bookstore owned by Jews, the bookstore is attacked but she is helped by a handsome (of course he is) Spaniard with whom she develops a relationship.  She realizes that she must flee Germany and moves to Spain where with a limited knowledge of the Spanish language, she plans to open a bookstore, selling primarily German and French books. No one thinks it’s a good idea, and with our 2020 hindsight neither do we.

But move she does and therein lies the fascinating history of 20^th Century Spain and the complex politics that lead to the Spanish Civil War. If you are a fan of books (and you are), the Spanish Civil War, feminist fiction and adventure, then this may be the book for you.

The Hunter by Tana French—Irish crime fiction, that’s where Tana French lives. The Hunter (part 2 of the Cal Hooper series) brings us up to date in the village of Ardnakelty where Cal Hooper, former detective from Chicago has retired. He and Lena, a nearby widow have formed a relationship. He fixes up old furniture and takes Trey under his wing, a teenage girl with lots of issues including an absent father and a missing/dead brother. When Trey’s father shows up, no one is eager to see him, especially Trey, and when he presents a scheme, this time involving gold and a rich Englishman, Cal, and just about everyone else, is sure he is up to no good. And just when Trey is starting to get her life on track, her father seems to set her on the wrong path.

And then there is a murder. But who is the murderer? Certainly no one in Ardnakelty will talk about it. All the villagers will do what they can to protect themselves and Cal and Lena will do whatever they can to protect Trey. And who is Trey trying to protect?

I love the characters and can still hear their Irish brogue in my head.

I hope you enjoy these worldly books from a seaside town in Sweden, New York City, Madrid, San Juan, Puerto Rico and Ardnakelty, Ireland!

I’m off to the beach, trying to keep my mind on the ocean and soft ice cream and off of politics. Stay cool.

The Sentence: A Novel by Louise Erdrich–Tookie has a history. Years ago, she made a big mistake and ended up in prison for what she thought would be 60 years. The sentence was commuted after 10 years, and she dramatically improved her life. She married Pollux, the sheriff who had turned her in, and used her degree in literature to run an Indigenous bookstore in Minneapolis with a staff of devoted followers. Pollux’s daughter arrives with a new grandson, Jarvis, and Tookie’s life is transformed, not just by Jarvis but by COVID, as well as the George Floyd murder protests which of course were very local as well as national.

But that’s just the beginning. After an annoying customer dies, Tookie is haunted by her ghost and at turns, comically and sadly tries various methods to get rid of her spirit.

Erdrich’s portrayal of an indigenous family caught up in this crazy period is alternately amusing, heartbreaking, spiritual and political. And I couldn’t put it down.

As a librarian, the importance of books and running a bookstore during the pandemic was very interesting to me. Don’t forget to read Tookie’s bibliography at the end. Oh…and look out for Louise Erdrich’s cameo as the bookstore owner. She actually owns a bookstore, Birchbark Books & Native Arts in Minneapolis.

Come to Me by Amy Bloom—Short stories and even shorter stories abound. The theme is relationships, both loving and perverse, families, both wayward and accepting, sometimes in the same family. Most stories stand on their own, but some are interconnected. A woman who is about to be married, concludes that her husband-to-be cannot compare to the strange life she has lived with her parents’ relationship as a throuple. A stepmother and her loving stepson become a little too loving. A young boy, who accidentally kills his cousin, is rescued from his father by his caring aunt and uncle. Transformative therapy sessions change a woman’s life. Oh, there are many more.

You may not approve of these characters, but you will find it difficult to stop reading. Bloom’s straightforward writing style will entice you to try more of her books. Check out In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss about Bloom and her husband’s difficult solution to his Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

Clean Up on Aisle Three by Jordan O’Halloran—Lucy McBride is a senior in high school, living with her crazy mom and nurturing boyfriend, Chuck. But one day, after discovering Chuck’s father dead in their grocery store, everything changes for her. Narrated by Lucy and sometimes, Chuck, we become part of Lucy’s life. We begin to understand her and how she copes with her bipolar disorder, her boyfriend’s autism and the friends and family, including her long-lost aunt, that surround her with love and support.

It is told with such naivety that with all her problems, there is still time to laugh as well as cry with hope that her life will change.

This young adult novel is just the right combination of mystery, coming of age, and trauma, sprinkled with teenage wisdom and humor. I enjoyed it and hopefully so will you.

Frozen River by Ariel Hawhon—Martha Ballard is a midwife, living with her husband and children in 1789, near the Kennebec River in Hallowell, Maine. It is November and the river is already frozen for the winter. When a suspected rapist is found dead in the river, no one is unhappy. But Martha, who is the first one to examine the body, knows that this man was hanged before he was thrown in the river.

This novel, which spans six winter months, tells the story of the town affected by the births and deaths in Hallowell. And Martha is more involved than just helping with the births.  With her trusted journal at hand, she is a key witness to murder, rape and illegal dealings in Hallowell. She’ll be the feminist you never knew existed. But she did. And Hawhon tells the story based on the real-life diary of Martha Ballard. We learn about her family, her patients and some true villains. I picked up this book and didn’t put it down.

A Kid from Marlboro Road by Edward Burns—Edward Burns is a writer, director, film maker and actor. You will remember him from The Brothers McMullen, his first film which he wrote, directed and starred. He also wrote a memoir of his filmmaking career. But this is not a memoir (although it really could have been) it’s a novel about a 12-year-old growing up in an Irish Catholic family in Long Island in the 70s. The story, written during COVID, is a love letter to his family, particularly his mother who shared so many memories.

We see him beginning to understand life and death in this coming-of-age story. He attends his grandfather’s funeral, witnesses his brother’s separation from the family, his parents distancing from each other, his desire to grow up and not be the momma’s boy, even when she needs him the most.

I was convinced that this is a memoir and I’m sure the novel was based on his family. I read somewhere that this may be part of a trilogy. I’m very interested to see how this young boy grows up, especially what happens to his mother…and does his brother ever become a decent person?

I hope you enjoy these selections, I certainly did. And now as we march into summer, find a cool place to sit and read…and avoid the news, please.

Once again, full disclosure, I have not read the books which the authors discussed, but I’m impressed enough to want to.

When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi. He is one of those science fiction writers I probably never would have read if I hadn’t wandered into his tent, looking for a chair and some shade. And there he was with his many devoted followers who knew way too much about all his novels including his blog. He has won numerous awards and likes to muddy the lines between truth and fiction, which seems to be what many science fiction writers do. But he does it better.

What attracted me was his humor and his strong feelings about billionaires. So, this is for all my family and friends who are SciFi readers. He has come to the book festival to discuss his newest book, When the Moon Hits Your Eye. The premise is simple: the moon has turned to cheese and the population of earth is answering the call.

An earlier book, The Old Man’s War, which I have been told is a good place to start, (OK that was from Amazon) takes place when Earth is trying to find an inhabitable planet…not so easy…and retirees are urged to join the Colonial Defense Force and stake a claim to some land somewhere. This is part 1 of 6. You’re welcome, my Sci-Fi friends.

The Wildes: a Novel in 5 Acts by Louis Bayard—Bayard is a historical fiction writer who looks for holes in history. The story of Oscar Wilde could be one of those holes. I’m sure that you’re aware of Oscar Wilde and his works, you may be aware of his famous trial and subsequent imprisonment for the crime of homosexuality, but did you know that he was married and had two sons? He dearly loved his wife Constance and their children but his affair with Lord Alfred Douglas brought not only him into the international spotlight, but his family as well. Bayard tells us what happened to his family as we get to know his wife, and what an incredible feminist she was. I’ve read Courting Mr. Lincoln, but apparently never wrote about it (about another hole in history) when Mary Todd meets Abe Lincoln, but also about his close friend, Joshua Speed.

What was most impressive was the amount of research he did, even interviewing Oscar Wilde’s son.

Speak to Me of Home by Jeanine Cummins–I am very excited that I had the chance to attend her book talk.

 If you’re trying to figure out where you’ve heard her name, just remember her novel, American Dirt, about Mexican refugees trying to get to the United States. This was a gripping novel which addresses the immigration issue from a different perspective. But you may remember it for a different reason. Cummins, whose family came from Puerto Rico originally, was demonized by LatinX writers who deemed it politically insensitive to tell a story about Mexican refugees when Cummins identified as “white”. Cummins shared with us her too real emotional turmoil as all her book events were cancelled. Well, they would have been cancelled anyway because of COVID but it only gave her detractors more time to demonize her online.

Cummins has used these five years to think about her identity and out of that came her newest novel: Speak to Me of Home about her Puerto Rican heritage. Rafaela meets Peter Brennan and uproots her life as they move to St. Louis, Missouri. I’m sure you’ve heard of the lives of immigrants, trying to acclimate to a new life. As her daughter Ruth grows up she has no trouble acclimating because she is American and puts aside her Puerto Rican heritage. When her granddaughter, Daisy returns to Puerto Rico and is critically injured during a hurricane, both mother and grandmother rush to her side. We learn of their life histories as both women sit by her side and finally come together.

I learned a lot about Cummins’ real family life and many of these characters are based on her family. I also learned that she grew up in Gaithersburg!

Anatomy of Exile: a novel by Zeeva Bukai—Another immigrant story, this begins in Israel when Tamar’s sister-in-law is murdered. It looks like a terrorist attack, but it is much more personal as it’s the result of a love affair between the sister-in-law and a Palestinian poet.

The family moves to New York to get as far away as possible, but life is starting to repeat itself when Tamar’s own daughter meets a Palestinian family who live upstairs and falls in love with the son.

Not only could this be a Shakespearian tragedy, but the story, once again, involves immigrants, acclimation, culture and of course divisive politics.

Zeeva Bukai was born in Israel and her own family immigrated to New York. How much this was about her own family, we don’t know. But it certainly is a fascinating concept. It’s on my TBR shelf.

Dancing Woman: A Novel by Elaine Neil Orr—Elaine Neil Orr is a child of white expat parents living in Nigeria.

Isabel and her husband, a very busy USAID worker are stationed in Nigeria in 1963. While she is trying to find herself and her art she becomes involved with the Nigerian culture including a very appealing musician.  Retreating to her little home, she finds a statue of a dancing woman buried in her field and she begins to put it all together against the backdrop of politics, war and suspicion.  

Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1780 by Rick Atkinson–Pulitzer Prize winning author of seven works of military history, including a WW2 trilogy, and introducing the 2^nd part of his American Revolution trilogy, Atkinson has graced the Gaithersburg Book Festival.

OK, I’m not a military history fan but when an author can make American historical battlefields as well as figures such as Henry Knox (future first secretary of state) and British general William Howe, commander of the British army come alive, then you have my attention.

In conversation with James A. Percoco, a nationally recognized history educator, they both led us through the second part of the war. Atkinson’s research was done so thoroughly you could hear it, see it and smell it. And there will be a third part.

These authors are another reason to attend any book festival, but especially the annual Gaithersburg Book Festival. Thanks to the City of Gaithersburg for a “celebration of books, writers and literary excellence”.

What Storm, What Thunder by Myriam J. A. Chancy—This is a beautifully written novel about the effects of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti through the eyes of an extended family.

It was chosen for the One Maryland One Book, 2024 by the Maryland Humanities Council so that book clubs and readers can discuss the many themes that Chancy has to offer.

Each chapter is narrated by a different character, from the oldest, Ma Lou to the youngest, Jonas. Some survived and others perished on January 12, 2010, which is known as Douz (for the 12^th). Some of their stories are about their inner lives, about Haiti and others are more political. Each can be read alone but after reading the entire novel, the reader certainly gets a feeling for one of the poorest countries in the world. No, not a happy story but certainly one that needs to be told, and a book club pick that would make a very interesting discussion.

The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede—We all remember 911 but do we recall what happened to the planes that were in midair when all the airports were closed? Probably not, nor would we if this incredible book had not been published.

38 jetliners were forced to land in Gander, Newfoundland, Canada, many of their crew not knowing what happened to cause this. There were 7,000 passengers and crew, from all over the world and the town of Gander welcomed them all, not only to large open areas like schools and public areas but to their homes as well. And the hard-working animal rescuers must never be forgotten.

Jim DeFede highlighted some of the passengers: an American couple returning from Russia with their newly adopted 2-year-old, parents of a New York firefighter waiting to find out if he was alive, an orthodox Rabbi who connected with the Newfies, and the fun-loving crowd that never forgot their hosts.

Most stayed in Gander and outlying towns for only four days but the friends they made there lasted a lifetime. I urge you to read this very uplifting story and check out the musical Come From Away based on the book. You may also wonder why our new administration could ever have this attitude toward Canada.

The Which Way Tree by Elizabeth Crook—I introduced you Elizabeth Crook’s The Madstone in Books I Read while I COVIDed. And this is the prequel that I mentioned. Benjamin (the hero of Madstone) was only 14 years old in The Which Way Tree when he and his younger sister Sam, living alone because of the death of their parents, set off to find and kill the infamous panther that killed Sam’s mother and maimed Sam. Along the way, they pick up a caring preacher with his panther tracking dog as well as a Tejano outlaw. Benjamin narrates this episodic journey in letters to a judge, and it is literally and literarily a page turner. Sam is relentless and will never let anyone turn back as she drives Benjamin and everyone else to distraction. I loved this novel and wished it would never end. Crook is a storyteller in the classical sense. I intend to read more of her works.

Three Days in June by Anne Tyler—Gail Baines is dealing with lots of issues: her job is in deep jeopardy, her daughter, Debbie is getting married and Gail wasn’t invited to her bridal spa day. Her ex-husband Max has arrived on her doorstep armed with a cat, and Debbie finds out her husband-to-be may have “strayed”. Can Gail solve all her problems in three days?

Leave it to the indominable Anne Tyler, who has been writing about family matters since 1964. If you haven’t read any of her books, you should start. At 84, she’s still writing and still writing well.

It Seemed Like a Bad Idea at the Time: The Worst TV Shows in History and Other Things I Wrote by Bruce Vilanch—If you don’t know who Bruce Vilanch is, look at the cover of the book to your right and you will recognize him as a comedian and celebrity but you may not know he has been a comedy writer for many years, specifically for television comedies, variety and award shows as well as movies. He is 77 years old and has many stories to tell. If you are my age, many of the names that he drops will be familiar.

But this book is not about his grand achievements, it’s about his grand failures, from The Star Wars Holiday Special, The Brady Bunch Variety Hour, to the Paul Lynde Halloween Special. And there’s more, a lot more. He’s a wonderful storyteller, very funny but not catty. If you’re looking for something to take your mind off, well everything, this is the book for you.

Hope you’ll enjoy these books and remember to appreciate the beautiful weather. It wasn’t as warm in St. Paul where this pic was taken!

Oh, and one more pic and final sentiment:

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods—Are you looking for a novel that incorporates magic, romance, feminism, and love of books, moves along quickly and leaves you with a happy ending? You have found your February choice.

Once again, (like so many of the books I’ve read) we travel back in time to 1921 where Opaline, under the oppressive thumb of her brother, escapes an unwanted marriage and flees to Paris where she meets (the real) Sylvia Beach, owner of Shakespeare and Co.  and makes a new life for herself, that is, until her brother finds her. Many adventures to come.

Modern day Martha, escaping an abusive marriage, flees to Dublin and meets Madame Bowden who offers her a job in her home. But is Madame Bowden who she says she is? And then Martha meets Henry, a scholar, searching for the elusive lost bookshop as well as Opaline herself.

In between, literary icons come and go, literary allusions appear and love blossoms for both women. Can you ask for more?

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali—No magic here, just a story of life in Iran from the 1950s to 2020s through the lenses of two idealistic young girls as they grow up and confront the changing landscape of Iran in the last 70 years.

Elaheh, too young to really remember her deceased father, moves with her mother, from a rich area in Tehran, to a working-class neighborhood where she meets her new best friend and free spirit, Doma. Doma becomes her mentor, showing Ellie the life she has missed, their future as women in Iran and introducing her to a real family, not like Ellie’s.

When Ellie’s mother remarries, and they rejoin life in the upper echelon of society, Ellie gradually fits in with her new friends and memories of Doma fades. But Doma suddenly reappears, and Ellie remembers what it’s like to have a real friend. But no…not the end of the book…far from it.

Kamali follows the 20th century history of Iran and the political protests, especially for women. Doma becomes part of that story, and as she says, she was hated by both the Shah and Khomeini.

This was a lovely story about friendship, growing up in Iran and how far dedicated women will go to change their lives and others. The story continues.

Wordhunter by Stella Sands—Small town Florida Maggie Moore is pierced and tattooed and she drinks and takes drugs whenever possible. She also loves to diagram sentences, can read and write backwards and has a peculiar penchant for forensics and literature. For example, when she reads a kidnapper’s notes, she can figure out where that person was born and very likely will catch the perpetrator.  But she has issues, many issues.

When a 13-year-old girl is kidnapped, Maggie, as a top student in the Forensic Linguistic class is called in to help. Life takes a strange turn as she meets Detective Jackson, starts to work for her professor and finds some leads for her long-lost friend.

The plot meanders somewhat with plot twists, but this very new and different heroine is unforgettable. I’d like to see her again and since there is a sequel in the works…and a possible TV series, you may also.  But don’t forget to read this book rather than listen to it. You wouldn’t want to miss all those wonderful, diagrammed sentences!

The Wrong Daughter by Dandy Smith—Caitlin was 10 years old when her beautiful 16-year-old sister, Olivia was kidnapped by a masked man. By the time Olivia reappeared, Caitlin was a teacher, engaged and ready to start a life.

End of story? Not even close. Olivia seemed somehow different, refusing to divulge anything, acting strangely, especially to her sister, stealing from their parents, and making strange phone calls. Somehow, Olivia keeps adding to the suspicion, almost on purpose.

Is this the wrong sister? It’s up to Caitlin to figure it out.  Only one person gives her any help: her sister’s therapist, Gabriel, who seems like he doesn’t believe Olivia either. Will he help her out? Will she find her real sister?

But wait, there is a parallel story of a brother and sister, growing up a little too close to each other under the control of their evil uncle. What does this have to do with Olivia? You’ll find out.

It’s a wild ride. Hold on for the plot twists! And let me know how you feel about the ending.

Now, let’s go in our way back machine to August 25, 1999, when I wrote this article for the Gaithersburg Gazette Newspaper. If you haven’t read Corelli’s Mandolin then it’s new to you.

Corelli’s Mandolin: A Novel by Louis de Bernieres—The island is Cephanonia and the time is World War II, during the Italian and German occupations of Greece. Part history and part romance Corelli’s Mandolin is a sweeping saga that focuses on Greek history as well as numerous characters whose previously innocent lives are changed forever.

Pelagia and her father, Iannis lead a quiet life that is highlighted by their interesting neighbors including the innocent fisherman Mandas who is engaged to Pelagia but goes off to war and returns a different man.

When the Italians occupy Cephalonia, Captain Antonio Corelli enters Pelagia’s house and the two fall in love. This is the romantic part of the story: the affair between star-crossed lovers who are bound by time, politics and treachery.

De Bernieres, in the style of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, allows his readers to see through both the eyes of the Greeks who were born on the island and the Italians who wish they could stay forever. In this way we see how history and nature combine to test and retest the faiths of these islanders.

As much as I loved this romantic and historically accurate novel, I felt the ending was a little flat. However, it is well worth the read, especially if you don’t mind the vocabulary. You be the judge.

Well, we’ve gotten through February and hopefully you’ve had some engrossing books to get you through. Will March be better? You tell me. Anyway, it’s probably going to be warmer.

The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz—When is a plot of the story your own and when is it stolen. There is a fine line. In this part literary novel and part thriller and very much plot twister, Jake Bonner is an author, 3 books under his belt and no prospects for the future. At a writer’s program, he meets Evan Parker, a young man with a “sure thing” for a novel. When he tells Jake the plot, Jake unhappily waits for this amazing novel to be published, but it never is. He does some research and finds out that Parker has died. With such a great plot just hanging there, Jake takes it and writes the bestseller that he felt he always had in him. His life becomes what he had envisioned, until he receives an email from someone who seems to know this was not his own plot and threatens to expose him. Jake is determined to find and expose the e-mailer as well. From then on, the plot twists and turns and twists again. (This was taken from my very first blog: What is Lisa Reading?!)

The Sequel by Jean Hanff Korelitz—It’s difficult to write a review of a sequel to a book to which I didn’t reveal the ending. Let’s just say that in The Plot, Jake marries Anna and, in The Sequel, she is now his widow. We’ll just take it from there. His famous book, “The Crib”, has become infamous due to his sudden death and Anna takes full advantage of living the life of a literary widow. She even writes a novel of her own. And life is good, until she receives a letter that his book was not his own…again. How far will she go to track down the sender…and to what lengths. Anna is a portrait of a bad protagonist, and the lengths are long.

As in The Plot, The Sequel is a great sendoff on publishing, writers, and how far a writer will go to get a book published. You must read The Plot first and hopefully The Sequel soon after, before you forget important facts (which I did). And check out the chapter titles to see how many you can identify!

The Secret Life of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar—I won’t say the writing is perfect, but I learned a lot about the life of Vincent Van Gogh through his sister-in-law Johanna Bonger. This is a novel and like historical fiction recently we skip from the present to the past and back again.

Emsley Wilson finds a diary in her late grandmother’s attic. It is the diary of Johanna Bonger, married to Theo Van Gogh, Vincent’s brother. This part of the book is true as is the rest of her diary. It’s a fascinating story of a woman who will not be stopped, while no one else supports her. She is determined to make sure that Van Gogh’s legacy is not forgotten. Before he died, he had sold 1 painting. And through Bonger’s perseverance, well, we all know about Van Gogh. There is even a Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

And as modern-day Emsley reads the diary, trying to discover if she’s related to the Van Gogh family, she is inspired by Johanna’s story and is determined to save her own ailing auction company. Part history, part feminist fiction and part love story, it’s an easy way to learn about Vincent Van Gogh.

The Teacher by Freida McFadden—No doubt you’ve heard of this popular suspense novelist. I chose The Teacher because it was available on audio and it was suggested by a friend.

Eve Bennet is a rather strict math teacher, married to Nate Bennet, a charismatic English teacher who is handsome and very popular with high school girls. They teach in the same high school.

Addie is a 16-year-old, with many issues, including an alcoholic father, now deceased. Her popularity has floundered severely since there are stories of a relationship with a previous teacher. And there is a girl who seems to hate her for no reason. We watch Eve and Addie’s story slowly, and I do mean slowly, take shape. It is only in the second half when Addie’s relationship with Mr. Bennet becomes more interesting and the book becomes more interesting as well. I’m not exposing anything by saying that in the opening chapter, someone is being buried, in the dark.

But the plot twists come fast and if you’re not looking for great literature, or any literature, it’s a quick read and the ending was a surprise.

The Women by Kristin Hannah—Who hasn’t read this bestseller? I hadn’t until my book club chose it and as Hannah pulled me into the story of women nurses serving in the Vietnam War, I had a hard time…putting it down.

Frankie McGrath, a nursing student, decides to follow her brother into the war by serving as a nurse and envisioned her picture on her father’s Hero’s Wall. But like everything she’d planned, life in Vietnam wasn’t anything like she had imagined. And the Hero’s Wall was apparently only reserved for men. But we learn that women can be heroes too. And she was. Along with her soon to be best friends Ethel and Barbara, we learn the day-to-day life in a hospital and MASH unit. Life “in country” shapes Frankie’s life in multiple ways. And as brutal as it was, coming home to a divided country and to parents who were embarrassed by their daughter’s commitment was far worse than being exposed to bombs. These bombs were emotional.

Although Frankie’s romantic life was intense, it was never enough for her to come to terms with her inner voices that wouldn’t allow her to let go of the trauma in her past.

The Women was a thoroughly interesting book that gave the reader a view of the Vietman War era and the part that women played in it. So, if you haven’t read it, read it and discuss it with your friends. You may also want to read Absolution by Alice McDermott, (I wrote about this in Summer in the Burbs are for Reading in the Shade).

That was January: cold, depressing, and now it’s almost done. I’m sure February will be better. Please give me suggestions for uplifting, possibly funny, maybe romantic books.

 Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout—Strout brings her favorite characters together again in the small town of Crosby, Maine. Lucy Barton is an author who moves there from NYC with her ex-husband during the pandemic (Lucy by the Sea) and decides to stay there. She makes friends with Bob Burgess, a lawyer and they develop a deep friendship that could be on the verge of something else. She also makes friends with the irascible Olive Kitteridge, now older, as they exchange stories of “unrecorded lives”.

We get to know many Crosby citizens, family, even a possible murderer. But this is not a fast-paced novel. If things happen, they happen slowly. Somehow, the story grows, and the reader learns to care about the characters because Strout paints them so realistically and humanly.

Will Strout return to Cosby? Or in her next book, will we meet many new characters that we will also learn to love?

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty—The premise is simple: An older lady boards the plane from Hobart to Sydney, Australia and halfway through the flight, she stands up, counts down 3-2-1, proceeds down the aisle, and predicts the cause and time of death for each passenger. Some don’t even hear her, some laugh, but others listen carefully. What do they do with this information? How would they change their lives?

Sue listens carefully as her cause of death is pancreatic cancer. Eve, a young married woman’s cause is death is at the hands of her husband during sex. Ethan, a young man is supposed to die in a fight and Allegra, the flight attendant, celebrating her 28^th birthday would die by suicide. Paula’s baby, death by drowning at age 7.

Will these predictions come true and if so, how much did the predictions affect the outcome? We also learn about “The Death Lady” as she is soon to be called. This was a book I could not put down. With Moriarty’s patented flair for storytelling, you will be thinking about the questions she raises for a long time.

The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up by Laura Pearson—I love amnesia books!And that is why I chose this novel.Shelley wakes up from a coma in a hospital and knows at once that her husband put her there. But where are the police and why is no one talking to her about it? And she seems to have a gap in her memory. She has no idea how long she’s been there, or where her friends are. And who is this nice volunteer who returns every day and makes her so happy?

The reader only learns as Shelley does, in bits and pieces. Every other chapter is Then and Now.  But what begins as a mystery, becomes more than that, as we learn about marital abuse and the affect it can have on the women who have been abused, and those around them, sometimes for many years. Yes, it can get a little preachy, but it is well worth the read.

Girlfriend on Mars by Deborah Willis—Satirical, a little dystopian, dark, funny, tragic, these all describe the plot of “Girlfriend on Mars”. Amber and Kevin live together with their little baby marijuana plants in Vancouver, but secretly Amber has other ambitions. She wants to go to Mars and establish life there. She joins a competition called MarsNow funded by the billionaire, Geoff Task, an Elon Musk, lookalike. But what it turns out to be is a reality show where contestants compete, not only physically and mentally, but of course who is the hottest. She meets a hot Israeli doctor, appropriately named Adam.

Meanwhile, Kevin stays home, grieving and becoming more agoraphobic and obsessive. We see him in every other chapter as he monitors Amber’s life while refusing to have one of his own.

Does Amber make it to Mars? What happens with Adam? Does Earth continue to deteriorate? Does Kevin ever leave the house? Read on.

Behind You is the Sea by Susan Muaddi Darraj—A series of interconnected stories about three families who live in a Palestinian community in Baltimore, is also about all immigrants in this country. Much of it is from the point of view of women who find it especially difficult to navigate the old world/new world life. A young pregnant teen, a housecleaner who confronts her rich Palestinian employer, a lawyer who is always paying for her family’s functions but never feels part of them. There is also a young policeman, struggling with his father who never seemed content or forgiving, but yet learns the most about his father and his own identity when he journeys to his father’s homeland.

This is a beautiful, starkly written homage to Darraj’s family and community, with a nod to the political landscape. But she mostly writes about the Palestinian community and their life in America. An interesting choice for a book club discussion.