Monday, May 30, 2016

The Precious One by Marisa de los Santos

This was a good short read, not a great book.
Here is the description from the Library website:

A novel about friendship, family, second chances, and the redemptive power of love.
In all her life, Eustacia "Taisy" Cleary has given her heart to only three men: her first love, Ben Ransom; her twin brother, Marcus; and Wilson Cleary--professor, inventor, philanderer, self-made millionaire, brilliant man, breathtaking jerk: her father.
Seventeen years ago, Wilson ditched his first family for Caroline, a beautiful young sculptor. In all that time, Taisy's family has seen Wilson, Caroline, and their daughter, Willow, only once.
Why then, is Wilson calling Taisy now, inviting her for an extended visit, encouraging her to meet her pretty sister--a teenager who views her with jealousy, mistrust, and grudging admiration? Why, now, does Wilson want Taisy to help him write his memoir?
Told in alternating voices--Taisy's strong, unsparing observations and Willow's naive, heartbreakingly earnest yearnings.

Monday, May 23, 2016

My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout

Beautifully written, elegant and melancholy story. It's almost a short story rather than a novel.

I can't say it any better than the Claire Messud in her NYTimes Book Review:  http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/10/books/review/elizabeth-strouts-my-name-is-lucy-barton.html?_r=0