EVENSONG (2025) - Review

EVENSONG
by Stewart O'Nan
My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
On Sale: November 11, 2025
 

When I found Emily, Alone, I read it and fell in love with author Stewart O'Nan because his writing about the elderly so closely matched what I was experiencing. The fact that his characters inhabit Pittsburgh, where I lived for many years, counts heavily too. 

"Evensong", was a lovely title to pick up before the Christmas holidays. It doesn't take long to realize that each chapter is more like a short story and a reader of any age will recognize their own hopes and fears. 

FIRST LINE: "In 2022, Joan Hargrove falls down the stairs."

THE STORY: A group of older women in Pittsburgh called the "Humpty Dumpty Club," support each other through "aging, loss, and life's challenges", helping each other and navigating their own personal struggles.

WHAT I THOUGHT: O'Nan's writing is thoughtful and detail oriented. It's comforting, as a reader, to find that one is not alone. You can read the other books about the Maxwell family individually but it's not necessary. Wish You Were Here (2002) about Emily, followed by Emily, Alone (2011) focusing on Emily's widowhood, and concluding with Henry, Himself (2019).

VERDICT: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

DISCLAIMER: A copy of Evensong was provided to me by Grove Atlantic / Atlantic Monthly Press / netgalley.com

  

MAUREEN (2023) - Review

Maureen by Rachel Joyce
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
On sale: February 7, 2023

After reading and reviewing "The Devil You Know" by P.J. Tracy, which turned out to be #3 in a series, I was discouraged to realize that my next assignment was "Maureen" by Rachel Joyce, also a third book in a trilogy I had not read. Reviewers claimed that the book could stand alone.

The first book was "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" and was continued in "The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy", and ends with "Maureen", in what each is now referred to as 'A Harold Fry Novel'.

FIRST SENTENCE: "It was too early for birdsong."

THE STORY: There is a Preface where the author explains how readers who met Harold Fry in her first book kept insisting she continue the story. Eventually she wrote the second and thought once again that she was finished, but Maureen needed her own closure, her own journey, her own life.

WHAT I THOUGHT: "Maureen" by Rachel Joyce is a beautifully written, emotionally charged novella that serves as the conclusion following the journey of Harold and Maureen as they come to terms with their past and present.

Throughout the book, Joyce masterfully explores the complexities of love and loss, and the power of human connection. The author's writing is poignant and touching, capturing the deep emotions and relationships of the richly drawn characters, and their stories are interwoven in a way that is both satisfying and thought-provoking.

One of the standout features of "Maureen" is its exploration of the themes of hope, resilience, and redemption. Despite the challenges that Harold and Maureen face, the book is ultimately a testament to the human spirit and its ability to overcome adversity. The characters are relatable, and their journeys are both inspiring and heartwarming.

In addition to its emotional impact, "Maureen" is also a well-written, engaging book. The writing is clear and concise, and the narrative is both compelling and easy to follow. The book is a quick read, but its themes and messages will stay with readers long after they have finished it.

The descriptions of the English countryside are particularly evocative, and the book has a sense of timelessness that gives it a classic feel.

However, one of the weaknesses of the book is its brevity. The story feels somewhat rushed and underdeveloped in places. There are many intriguing characters and plot threads that are introduced but never fully explored, leaving the reader wanting more.

BOTTOM LINE: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED While the brevity of the book may leave some readers feeling unsatisfied, it is nonetheless a beautifully written and deeply affecting story that is well worth reading. Rachel Joyce is a talented author who has created a character that will stay with the reader long after the book is finished.

DISCLAIMER: I received a free e-copy of "Maureen" by Rachel Joyce from NetGalley/Random House Publishing Group for an honest review.

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A HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS (2022) - Review

A History of Present Illness by Anna DeForest
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
On Sale: August 16, 2022

FIRST SENTENCE: "All this happened, more or less."

Intending to read the first sentence or two, instead I continued on to the end. I'm still not sure what to make of Anna DeForest's first novel "A History of Present Illness". Who is the audience for this literate book composed of short, well-crafted sentences that reads like a memoir? (Descriptions and some discussions could be disturbing.)

Someone suggested that only those involved in medicine would appreciate such a book, but my fascination was with how my life has changed since I was swept up in that world as a patient. Now I have the other side of the story. Now I have some insight. Now I can put together a history of my own present illness.

Following an unnamed narrator through her first year as a medical student, her random thoughts are like listening to a friend tell you what defines life. The humor is macabre and subtle. I'm thinking I will need to read this again if only to revisit the many sections I highlighted. There is so much to think about, so much to absorb.

DISCLAIMER: I received a free e-copy of "A History of Present Illness" by Anna DeForest from NetGalley/Little, Brown & Company for my honest review.

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KEYA DAS'S SECOND ACT (2022) - Review

Keya Das's Second Act by Sopan Deb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
On sale: July 5, 2022

Theatrical connections made me request this debut novel with a strange name in the title. I wasn't sure about the part concerning an Bengali American family dealing with the death of a teenage daughter. I didn't know a family like this one, but I knew Howell, New Jersey.

FIRST SENTENCE: "The wooden box was simple, elegant even."

THE STORY: A touching, charmingly funny, story about what happens to a family shattered by the death of their daughter. Keya Das had just come out to her family and they were still struggling to understand. Shantanu discovers his daughter's unfinished script in the attic and that begins the family's journey to forgiveness and a staged production of "The Elm Tree".

WHAT I THOUGHT: The unexpected twists and turns were surprising. Scattering Bengali words and beliefs added another level of understanding. Every character is so well drawn with failings and quirks and humanity. Clear and beautiful writing makes the book a joy to read.

Touchstones that drew me in: Howell, New Jersey; the musical Rock of Ages; mounting a production of a script; George Street Theatre in New Brunswick; mentions of Linn Manual Miranda; improv classes; Carnegie Mellon University; drums and more. Deb admitted in an interview that he was a self-described 'theatre kid'. Me too. How could I not love this book?

And the ending was exactly what it needed to be leaving the reader to consider how the world will go forward.

BOTTOM LINE: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

DISCLAIMER: I received a free e-copy of "Keya Das's Second Act" by Sopan Deb from NetGalley/Simon & Schuster for my honest review.

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THE MIDCOAST: A Novel (2022) - Review

The Midcoast by Adam White
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
On sale: June 7, 2022

There's always a reason I pick a particular book to read next. In the case of "The Midcoast" what caught my attention was the setting. I have childhood memories of summer vacations near Damariscotta. It didn't hurt that The Washington Post noted that "The Midcoast" was one of the most anticipated books of 2022. The evocative cover was a plus.

FIRST SENTENCE: "Back when I lived out of state, people always used to get excited when they found out where I was from."

QUOTE: "I don't know, but maybe, or definitely, it has something to do with storytelling. When we narrate the past, it helps to place ourselves as close as possible to the center of the action. But the problem is: The vast majority of humans, or maybe just well-to-do Americans, never get all that close to the center of anything."

THE STORY: Andrew, a teacher, grew up with the goal of escaping his small seaside town. Eventually he returned with his family and was surprised to find his former boss Ed Thatch newly wealthy and powerful. Andrew starts watching and listening to figure out how this unexpected change in people he knew growing up had happened.

WHAT I THOUGHT: "The Midcoast", Adam White's debut novel, is a sobering account of life choices with lots to think about. The author has done an excellent job of describing the setting, dialect, and prevailing class distinctions as well as exploring the curiosity we have about other people's lives and hopefully reconciliation with our own existence. Definitely a cautionary tale.

BOTTOM LINE: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

DISCLAIMER: I received a free e-copy of "The Midcoast" by Adam White from NetGalley/Random House Publishing Group - Random House Hogarth for my honest review.

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ALL THE LOVERS IN THE NIGHT (2022) - Review

All the Lovers in the Night by Mieko Kawakami
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
On Sale: May 3, 2022

Not much happens and everything happens in "All the Lovers in the Night". Mieko Kawakami, the author of the internationally best-selling "Breasts and Eggs" has written an "unforgettable story about women, loneliness and relationships" beautifully translated from the Japanese by Sam Bett and David Boyd.

FIRST SENTENCE: "Why does the night have to be so beautiful?"

QUOTE: "The job that I was doing, the place where I was living, the fact that I was all alone and had no one to talk to. Could these have been the result of some decision I had made? I heard a crow crying somewhere in the distance and turned to the window. It occurred to me that maybe I was where I was today because I hadn't chosen anything."

THE STORY: There are long silences in Fuyuko Irie's day whether she is proof reading alone or is with another person. Small things in her quiet life loom large - light, darkness, weather. Two women befriend her and suggest ways she could interact with the world. Kyoko, an editor who owns her own business, has made sure Fuyuko has a way to support herself. Hijiri, Fuyuko's total opposite in temperament, shares opinions and her love of social life.

The day Fuyuko sees her reflection in a store window she recognizes how drab she has become. She reaches out to make connections finding courage in beer and vodka. After she meets Mitsutsuka, an older high school physics teacher, she joins him weekly at a coffee shop to talk about music and light.

WHAT I THOUGHT: A very intimate story, every reader will find something of themselves reflected as the author shares the differing choices women have made. Even though the men in Fuyuko's life are disappointments, exploring relationships with others helps her move forward with a sense of self-acceptance.

BOTTOM LINE: HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

DISCLAIMER: I received a free e-copy of "All the Lovers in the Night" by Mieko Kawakami from NetGalley/Europa for my honest review.


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GOOD RICH PEOPLE (2022) - Review

Good Rich People by Eliza Jane Brazier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
On sale: January 25, 2022

I have to admit that I am often drawn to a book by its cover, and Good Rich People has an eye-catching one!

FIRST SENTENCE: "There is blood in the fountain turning the water an eerie rust color."

THE STORY: When Lyla married Graham she thought she was winning, but now he is bored with her and every other aspect of his life. His filthy rich domineering mother indulges and encourages the worst aspects of his need for amusement. They play games and there is always a loser.

For their entertainment, they lure successful people to their property by providing housing. Then they ruin them. When Demi moves in, the game takes an unexpected turn.

WHAT I THOUGHT: A dark, psychological comedy, Good Rich People is also a cautionary tale of wealthy people who will do anything for amusement contrasted with the destitute who will do anything to survive.

This is not a book for everyone. The characters are unpleasant. We hope they are not like us but we find them utterly fascinating. The twists and turns are unexpected and will keep the reader turning pages to discover the next outrageous move in the game.

When I got to the end, I asked myself, "What did I just read?" I'm still trying to reconcile and understand the meaning of the title and the ending.

There seemed to be lots of unanswered questions at the end. Perhaps the game just goes on.

BOTTOM LINE: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED if you like black comedy with lots of violence. This book is NOT for everyone.

DISCLAIMER: Thank you to NetGalley / Berkley Publishing Group and the author for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

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ALL'S WELL (2021)

All's Well by Mona Awad
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
On sale: August 3, 2021

Why, yes, I do often judge a book by its cover, and Mona Awad's "All's Well" has a stunning one - a comedy mask decorated with a variety of colored pills. How could I not read a book concerning chronic illness and theatre?

FIRST SENTENCE: "I'm lying on the floor watching, against my will, a bad actress in a drug commercial tell me about her fake pain."

THE STORY: Miranda Fitch, a once promising young actress, has watched her enchanted life disappear after a fall from the stage. Now burdened with chronic pain, she is reduced to accepting a teaching position at a community college where theater is merely part of the English Department. Determined that "All's Well That Ends Well" will be the fall production, Miranda has to convince her mutinying students who expected to be performing The Scottish Play. How she does that, and all that follows, is fascinating, confusing, and disturbing but in a good way. Am I right?

WHAT I THOUGHT: Although referred to as funny, a dark comedy, it is also painful, a tragedy or perhaps somewhere in between. I was often amused and once brought to tears. Going on this journey with an unreliable narrator is disconcerting and disturbing but also exciting and fascinating. After a straightforward opening narrative, the plot blossoms into magical realism leaving the reader questioning what is real.

BOTTOM LINE: If you want to read something different, something unique; if you've felt alone suffering from chronic pain; if you love Shakespeare and theatre, this might be just the escape you are looking for.

DISCLAIMER: Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Simon & Schuster for the review copy for an honest review.

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GOOD COMPANY (2021)

Good Company by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The story sounds familiar enough, encompassing everyday lives of the sort we all live. Mostly told by Flora, a voice actor; Margot, a television actress, and Julian, the founder of a theater group called Good Company, we learn of friendships, infidelity, betrayal, and the difficulty of sending a child off into the world.

With a backdrop of stage and screen productions, the plot becomes far more interesting. Because the story is book ended by two photographs, the information seems to be revealed in pixels gathered to create a picture of the past twenty years. You have to hope these good but flawed people will have the happy ending they deserve.

"Good Company" was a happy read for me. The writing made me immediately comfortable. I enjoyed the dialogue and sense of humor the author infused.

Read the book or better yet, listen to Marin Ireland read the audio book, as I did. When it ends you will miss her voice telling you about the lives of these interesting people. Adept at characterizations and different voices, she makes it look easy.

Highly Recommended!

A copy of was provided to me by HarperAudio /Net Galley for an honest review.

Publisher: HarperAudio (April 26, 2021)
Unabridged Audiobook:  8 Hours, 59 Minutes, 4 Seconds 

Narrator: Marin Ireland

ASIN: B08M41GSLY

LIGHT PERPETUAL (2021)

Light Perpetual by Francis Spufford
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

As a reader who loves stories of alternative lives, the plot immediately caught my attention. A group of shoppers at a Woolworth's in London on November 25, 1944, are suddenly incinerated including five children. Who might they have been? What lives might they have lived?

FIRST SENTENCE "The light is grey and sullen; a smoulder, a flare choking on the soot of its own burning, and leaking only a little of its power into the visible spectrum."

An extraordinary prologue describing the coming explosion in slow motion is unforgettable. Then time returns to normal and the destruction and death is revealed. From there the author constructs new lives for the children by showing the reader snapshots from the lives Alec, Vern, Ben, and sisters Val and Jo might have lived over a period of years as the world changed. Although the characters are the author's creation, the event actually took place and five children were among those who died which makes the stories all the more poignant. The reader is constantly reminded that none of these lives were lived.

Thanks to Francis Spufford, Scribner and NetGalley for a digital copy; opinions are my own.
Publication Date was May 18, 2021 #LightPerpetual #NetGalley

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COLORFUL (2021)

Colorful by Eto Mori
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Considered a YA book, "Colorful" is instead a story that will touch all ages.

FIRST LINE: "Congratulations, you've won the lottery!" shouts the angel Prapura to a formless soul."

THE STORY: Prapura informs a random soul that he has been chosen for a 'homestay'. Even though guilty of a grave error in his life, he has won the opportunity to return to the world by borrowing another's body. The trick is as soon as the soul is able to recall his own enormous mistake, the homestay ends and he moves on. And that's how the soul came to be Makoto Kobayashi, a ninth grader, who committed suicide. With Prapura as his guide, Makoto slips into his new life and begins to discover its complexities.

WHAT I THOUGHT: This simply written story is a gem. Although there are many references to things Japanese, the story itself has already shown, by having been translated and loved in a number of other languages, that it will resonate with readers everywhere. There's an anime movie with the same name on YouTube if you should care to watch.

Makoto makes assumptions about his parents, his brother, the other students at his school and gets them mostly wrong. His journey leads him to a new understanding of those around him and ultimately, a new beginning. The reader can't help but relate those lessons to their own lives.

Jocelyne Allen did a lovely job of translating "Colorful" for an English speaking audience, but I wondered what it would be like reading it in Japanese.

The story is funny, sad, angry, painful, touching, and colorful. I was moved to tears several times.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. This is a book you share with people you love.

A copy of was provided to me by Counterpoint Press /Net Galley for an honest review.

Publisher: Counterpoint Press (July 20, 2021) (first published July 1998)
Paperback: 224 pages
ISBN-13: 9781640094420 

THE AUTHOR: Ito Mori is a Japanese novelist focusing on children's and young adult literature. She has been described as "one of the most celebrated female writers of fiction in Japan today".

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IN HER TRACKS (2021)

In Her Tracks by Robert Dugoni
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

How is it some books draw you in immediately? I wish I knew the answer, but I do know that's how I felt reading Robert Dugoni's newest entry in the Tracy Crosswhite series. And no, I haven't read any of his work before.

FIRST LINE: "Seattle police officer Bobby Chin was late, and about to pay a heavy price."

THE STORY: After a leave of absence, Seattle Detective Tracy Crosswhite has been unexpectedly and unfairly assigned to Cold Cases. Reluctantly she accepts the challenge. Two disappearances attract her attention: one is a little girl who disappeared without a trace five years earlier; and one is a young woman who has just been abducted while jogging in a park. The second is not her case to solve but Tracy suspects it may have ties to another cold case in the files.

Discovering Robert Dugoni was a delightful surprise! Even though this is the eighth book in the series, there was never a moment where I felt I was missing anything. The author's taut control of the story through careful plotting, well-drawn characters, and an interesting intersection of two 'crimes', keeps the reader turning pages. 

WHAT I THOUGHT: Tracy Crosswhite is succeeding in a difficult and demanding line of work, but she also has to deal with personal issues including having an infant at home. I liked that Tracy had a therapist to help her deal with her feelings and past traumas. I also thought it was important that the reader got to see the lives of the perpetrators of the crime. Sometimes I have trouble keeping characters straight, but not here. Through descriptions of unique characteristics, speech patterns, and other details, these characters come to life.

Getting a look at the issues that affect detectives procedurally, as they try to solve cases, is fascinating as well. Bit by bit they find the pieces that together will solve the puzzle.

BOTTOM LINE: Definitely can be read as a standalone, but if you find you love Tracy, start at the beginning! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

DISCLAIMER: A copy of was provided to me by Thomas & Mercer/Net Galley for an honest review.

Publisher : Thomas & Mercer (April 20, 2021)
Paperback : 383 pages
ISBN-10 : 1542008379
ISBN-13 : 978-1542008372

THE AUTHOR: Robert Dugoni is the critically acclaimed New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite series, which has sold more than six million books worldwide. Visit his website at www.robertdugonibooks.com. 

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THE CHILDREN'S BLIZZARD (2021)

The Children's Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

One hundred thirty three years ago on January 12, 1888, a terrifying blizzard hit the Northwest Plains. They say the temperature dropped almost 100 degrees in 24 hours. Referred to as the children's blizzard, at least 232 people perished, many of them children just dismissed from school.

Author Melanie Benjamin has taken a true event and shaped it into a compelling story. The first half, "A Disturbance in the West," sets the background for her story of two young sisters, both school teachers, and the impossible choices they are forced to make to protect their students when the unexpected storm hits. The description of the blizzard is overwhelming. The narrative switches among Gerta, her sister Raina, and Gavin Woodson, a jaded newspaper man banished from New York to Omaha.

Part two, "The Maiden of the Prairie," deals with the aftermath of the storm and consequences of the life or death decisions that were made. Holding all the stories together is the reporter who, guilty of having written false copy luring many immigrants to this desolate area, commits to write about the aftermath of the blizzard.

To make sure today's reader understands the conditions in 1888, the author describes the realities of life during that time period that allowed this tragedy to happen.

The narration of events during the unrelenting blizzard are knuckle-biters. This is a story where the reader will have no trouble remembering the characters or their ultimate fate. This is not an 'everyone lives happily ever' story but rather one of survival.

BOTTOM LINE:  This is a book you will read and recommend to all your friends! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. 

 

DISCLAIMER: A copy of The Children's Blizzard was provided to me by Delacorte Press /Net Galley for an honest review.

 

Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Press (January 12, 2021)
ISBN-10: 0399182284
ISBN-13: 978-0399182280

THE AUTHOR: Melanie Benjamin is the New York Times bestselling author of Mistress of the Ritz, The Girls in the Picture, The Swans of Fifth Avenue, The Aviator's Wife, The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb, and Alice I Have Been. Benjamin lives in Chicago, where she is at work on her next historical novel.

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THE LOST MANUSCRIPT (2021)

THE LOST MANUSCRIPT
by Cathy Bonidan
Narrated by Elodie Yong, Rupert Degas, Cecile Delepiere, and Jean Brassaard
My Rating: 4 out 5 Stars

What a charming story perfectly suited to be an audiobook! If you are feeling nostalgic about letter writing, this epistolary tale will delight you.

On vacation in France, Anne-Lise Briaird discovers a manuscript in a nightstand while looking for something to read. She is enchanted by it and resolves to return it to the writer. The manuscript 's journey is slowly unraveled and the simple mystery ends up, as Anne-Lise says "an extraordinary tale full of plot twists, great passions, and missed opportunities."

With their lovely accents, the four narrators have done an outstanding job of adding to the charm of the story.

At first you may think the characters are too literate, too willing to share their stories with strangers. Letters go back and forth too quickly; phones and e-mail are mostly unused even though the year is 2016. But author Cathy Bonidan has taken 'poetic license', requiring the reader to suspend reality and live in the world she has created. It's a magical place to spend time.

BOTTOM LINE: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, but consider listening to the audiobook.

DISCLAIMER: A copy of The Lost Manuscript was provided to me by Dreamscape Media / NetGalley for an honest review. 

Published: January 21, 2021 by Dreamscape Media / NetGalley

Unabridged Audiobook:  5 hrs and 21 mins

Author: Cathy Bonidan

Narrators: Elodie Yung, Rupert Degas, Cécile Delepière, Jean Brassard

ASIN: B08JHD7LVY

 

 CATHY BONIDAN works as a teacher in Vannes and has been writing since the age of 14. Her debut novel, The Perfume of Hellebore Rose, won 11 literary awards in France. 

TOKYO UENO STATION (2020)

by Yu Miri

My rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

 

After death, Kazu, a homeless man finds his spirit lingers in Ueno Park, one of Tokyo's busiest stations. Speaking directly to us, he considers his life, his surroundings, and how he ended up 'sleeping rough'.

A little knowledge of Japan will enhance the experience of "Tokyo Ueno Station" although the conditions of homelessness exist all over the world. It's surprising how much seems familiar.

 

FIRST SENTENCE: "I used to think life was like a book: you turn the first page, and there’s the next, and as you go on turning page after page eventually you reach the last one."

Yu Miri, a Korean-Japanese author, has written a post-tsunami work in this relatively short novel, her most recent to be published in English. Her stream-of consciousness writing is gorgeous and haunting and sad. Morgan Giles' translation does not distract in any way.

Narrator Johnny Heller has a slightly raspy edge to his voice which allows the listener to immediately relate to his portrayal and be drawn into the story. His pronunciation of Japanese words and names seems impeccable.

Length: 3 hrs and 58 mins

Release date: 06-23-20

Penguin Audio

Unabridged

Narrated by Johnny Heller

Translated by Morgan Giles 

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OLD LOVEGOOD GIRLS (2020)

Old Lovegood Girls by Gail Godwin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The amazing Old Lovegood Girls is a story of friendship between two women who become talented writers. It recalled personal memories going back many years. An extraordinary read, it was filled with thoughts I wanted to ponder, remember, and cherish.

THE STORY: Finalizing room assignments for Lovegood Junior College in 1958, the dean decides to make some adjustments and places Feron Hood with Merry Jellicoe. Feron has had an unpleasant childhood and Merry might be a good influence. These oddly compatible young women become friends, but a tragic event causes Merry to leave school after one year.

Ten years later they inhabit different worlds and have not been in touch, but their friendship remains. Feron says that once someone is in your 'reference aura' they stay there forever. Over all the years, each is a touchstone for the other.

FIRST LINE: "The dean and the dorm mistress stood brooding over the student housing plans laid out on the rosewood conference table."

WHAT I THOUGHT: Such beautiful writing evokes memories about our own lives. I read Old Lovegood Girls on my Kindle, but I need to buy a hardcover copy so I can underline and write in it (blasphemy, I know). So many memories began to surface with this book that I felt the need to reel them in to continue reading. A more careful reading would let me explore each personal memory, what it meant then and what it means now.
 
The story constantly circles back revealing more and reminding the reader. At first I found that repetitious and a bit annoying, until I settled into the ebb and flow of the story. The ending seemed abrupt, but it drew together the themes of continuity and change. The technique woke me to a bad habit I have developed in this overstimulated world. Snap decisions. Superficial judging. Both save time but miss meaning.

BOTTOM LINE: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. I read lots of books I end up loving but this one stole my heart. I felt it was written for me alone. I hope other readers will feel the same way.

Disclaimer: A copy of Old Lovegood Girls was provided to me by  Atlantic Monthly Press/Net Galley for an honest review.

Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing (May 5, 2020)
ISBN-10: 1632868229
ISBN-13: 978-1632868220

Gail Godwin is a three-time National Book Award finalist and the bestselling author of twelve critically acclaimed novels, including Unfinished Desires, A Mother and Two Daughters, Violet Clay, Father Melancholy's Daughter, Evensong, The Good Husband, and Evenings at Five. She is also the author of The Making of a Writer: Journals, 1961--1963, the first of two volumes, edited by Rob Neufeld. She has received a Guggenheim Fellowship, National Endowment for the Arts grants for both fiction and libretto writing, and the Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. She has written libretti for ten musical works with the composer Robert Starer. She lives in Woodstock, New York.

WEEK AT THE SHORE (2020)

A Week at the Shore by Barbara Delinsky
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Can you really go home again? And what will you find there?

Mallory left home some 20 years ago after a tragic accident. Unmarried but with a thirteen year old daughter, she has built a successful life for herself as a photographer of real estate in New York City. Between a phone call warning about her father's worsening dementia and Joy's begging to meet her grandfather, Mallory agrees to "A Week at the Shore."

Besides a story filled with complications, there is much that readers can relate to their own lives. And, of course, there is a renewed love story.

The perfect Chic-Lit book to take along to the beach this summer.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this early release in exchange for my honest review. Due to be published May 19, 2020.

THE SWALLOWS (2019)

The Swallows by Lisa Lutz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It took me forever to read The Swallows. I was first drawn to the story by the boarding school setting, but the cacophony of voices telling the story in first person was a challenge. And although the story was darkly humorous, it was rather unpleasant. Relevant to the #MeToo conversation, the boys take and share revealing pictures of girls and rate sexual encounters. The battle eventually turns into a war where no one is left unscathed.

FIRST LINE: "Some teachers have a calling. I'm not one of them."

THE STORY: Alex Witt reluctantly takes a job teaching creative writing at an elite Vermont boarding school where her parent's friendship with the Headmaster means her recent past will be overlooked. 

It starts with a simple writing prompt from Alex Witt in her effort to get to know the students. When the answers raise disturbing questions, Ms. Witt suspects there's more going on at the school than the faculty wants to see.

WHAT I THOUGHT: I am always attracted to a story that takes place in a boarding school, but apparently I wasn't the only reader who found the book slow going (It took me over two months to finish.) Filled with anonymous notes and secret meetings, Lutz pays homeage to spy novels with a reference to Magnus Pym, a double agent in a book by John le Carré. The actual writing is sharp and funny. And, by the way, swallow has many meanings. One is "a female agent employed to seduce people for intelligence purposes." You can guess at the others.

I enjoyed her earlier book, The Passenger, a thriller, but I'm not familiar with the Spellman series.

BOTTOM LINE: Some reviewers loved this book, some reviewers did not finish reading. The amount of frank sexual description may be too much for some readers.

Disclaimer: A copy of The Swallows was provided to me by Ballantine Books/Net Galley for an honest review.

Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher:  Ballantine Books (August 13, 2019)
ISBN-10: 1984818236
ISBN-13: 978-1984818232

Lisa Lutz is the New York Times bestselling author of the six books in the Spellman series, Heads You Lose (with David Hayward), and How To Start A Fire. Her latest offering is the thriller The Passenger (March, 2016 from S&S).

Lutz has won the Alex award and has been nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Novel. Although she attended UC Santa Cruz, UC Irvine, the University of Leeds in England, and San Francisco State University, she still does not have a bachelor's degree. Lutz spent most of the 1990s hopping through a string of low-paying odd jobs while writing and rewriting the screenplay Plan B, a mob comedy. After the film was made in 2000, she vowed she would never write another screenplay. She lives in the Hudson Valley, New York. .(from Amazon)

SCARS LIKE WINGS (2019)

Scars Like Wings by Erin Stewart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Taking my own advice, I decided to read a young adult novel. They tend to be shorter but no less compelling. This one and The Last True Poets of the Sea by Julia Drake were my choices. See May 21, 2019 entry). I guess I should point out that both books won't be available until October 1, 2019.

FIRST LINE: "One year after the fire, my doctor removes my mask and tells me to get a life."

THE STORY: What's it like to lose everything you love including yourself? 16 year old Ava survived a fire that left her alone and disfigured. How she faces trying to find a new normal is heartbreaking and inspiring. This is an amazing view into what burn survivors live through, but then all of us have scars, although some aren't as visible.

WHAT I THOUGHT: I was immediately drawn into the story by the awful facts of Ava's situation. At first she turns away from everyone but, forced to go back to high school, she encounters and makes friends with Piper and Asad.

"For each species on the planet, finding this community is not a luxury; it's an essential element of survival."

I loved the social media aspects and the musical theater references. Ava makes some bad decisions that worried me, but these issues were overcome by others who love her enough to help her find appropriate outcomes. Ava's world will never again be what it was before the fire but there is a new normal that is worth living.

BOTTOM LINE: Well written, plotted, and paced, this debut novel is worthy of the attention it has garnered. Although the story is about teenagers, I think anyone can read and take away a message of hope. Appropriate for 12 and over/7-9th grades.

Disclaimer: A copy of Scars Like Wings was provided to me by Delacorte Press/Net Galley for an honest review.

Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher:  Delacorte Press (October 1, 2019)
ISBN-10: 1984848828
ISBN-13:  978-1984848826

Erin Stewart is the author of Scar Like Wings, her debut novel. Erin is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern and a BYU undergraduate who works as a freelance writer and editor, as well as a weekly columnist in Salt Lake City.

Erin lives in Utah with her husband and three children. She is represented by the amazing Brianne Johnson of Writers House.

WARLIGHT (2018)

Warlight by Michael Ondaatje

Warlight refers to the dimmed lights that guided emergency traffic during wartime blackouts and we see the story in the same way. What remains of a mysterious childhood?

In 1945 Nathaniel (14) and his older sister Rachel are left in London by their parents with an odd and mysterious man they call The Moth. The first part of the book are his memories of people and places. The second part becomes his quest to learn about his mother's past as an important part of the intelligence work during and after the war.

Beautifully written and haunting, a reminder that the effects of war are far reaching.