Books That I’ve “Summerized”

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.