🌟 The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

Nothing can compare to A Gentleman in Moscow and it's not fair to compare!  At first, I was ready to give up on this book, but I am glad I did not. And I am ESPECIALLY glad that I borrowed the audiobook because it is amazing! Sometimes, I know I don't concentrate enough on the language and the nuance of the text when I read/ I get distracted, I go fold laundry, or I find something else to do.  But when I am walking and I have a fantastic audio version of a book (Tess, Hamnet, On Becoming) the reading is so much more rewarding for me.  And this is a great audiobook. I found out that one man narrates the whole thing. I was convinced that there were numerous narrators, of both genders.

Anyway, I really got into the book and wish I had the time to go back and start all over again. Towles takes a while to introduce the cast of characters (and that there is!), so in my early reading days, when I was not as engaged, I think I lost some of the essence of the many characters. And even following the story, and each of the characters' stories would have been better if I had started and stayed with the audiobook. 

But don't take this as a reason NOT to read the printed book. It is great, but you must pay attention to the humor and the pathos involved.

It is a long book and took me a while, and it's one book that I really SHOULD read again.

From the NPR review:

The Lincoln Highway is, among other things, about the act of storytelling and mythmaking. The novel probes questions about how to structure a narrative and where to start; its chapters count down from Ten to One as they build to a knockout climax. Towles' intricately plotted tale is underpinned by young Billy's obsession with a big red alphabetical compendium of 26 heroes and adventurers — both mythical and real — from Achilles to Zorro, though the letter Y is left blank for You (the reader) to record your own intrepid quest.

Count the Ways by Joyce Maynard

I have always liked this author; I think the first book I read by Joyce Maynard was "Baby Love" way back in 1980. There is a bit of "gossip" revolving around Joyce and her affair with JD Salinger, but who the hell cares!  She is a great writer, I think, and critics can say what they want.

This was a pretty long book and perhaps a bit too long, but I truly felt that I got to know these people. And they were people to me - not characters.

From Kirkus:

The novel bites off a lot—a Brett Kavanaugh–inspired storyline, a domestic abuse situation, a trans child, Eleanor's career—and manages to resolve them all, in some cases a bit hastily.

Maynard creates a world rich and real enough to hold the pain she fills it with.

The novel has flaws, but that didn't bother me a bit. 

🌟 Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

 

So glad that my book club selected this book. I am so glad that I read it a second time.  I got so much more out of it and appreciated the beauty of the language so much more. I was able to check out the audio book from the library and found myself enveloped in her beautiful prose.  I got to know the characters much better, too.

I highly recommend this book and recommend reading it twice.  Hell, even thrice!

The Vixen by Francine Prose

Fabulous book. I have always liked this author but have nor read her much lately. I heard about this book and knew I had to read it. The main character, Simon Putnam, is a Harvard graduate, living in Coney Island with his parents, when he gets a job at a major publishing house. Then all hell breaks loose when he is given the assignment of editing a book about the Rosenbergs, who have recently been executed for treason. Simon's mother has a vague connection to Ethel, as they lived in the same apartment builidng. The book, "The Vixen, the Patriot, and the Fanatic depicts Ethel Rosenberg as a communist Mata Hari seducing every man in sight and, by the way, as guilty as hell."

Simon has a moral dilemma, knowing his mother would lambast him for having anything to do with this trashy version of the Rosenberg case. A touching, funny and interesting read!

The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis

This was read for my book club. It was a quick and amusing ready; not particularly deep or thought-provoking.  The plot revolves around a family who lives in the Fifth Avenue branch of the NY Public Library. That was an awesome idea, but I wish we had learned more about the building than about the plot to steal books and sell on the black market. Some of this was very predictable and some was a bit far-fetched. What the book did yield for us, the members of the book club, were some tasty NYC treats! Roasted chestnuts, pretzels with honey-mustard, Manhattan Clam Chowder, Waldorf Salad, Lox and Bagels and of course, something made with apples!

Not sure I will venture further into Fiona Davis books.  Now I have read one!

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Since I read Daisy Jones and the Six and enjoyed it, I picked this up at the library. A fast and furious read.  I was trying to figure out if it is supposed to be funny or taken seriously.....and I hope the former. After watching two shows recently that dealt with white privilege, I have to think that this book could also be made into one of these series on Netflix or Hulu and I probably would like the adaptation better.  The humor would be more obvious.  The party in this book could be portrayed so well in one of these shows.  It was comic and so over the top.

The characters?? Eh. I guess I was supposed to really like some of Mick's children, but they were not appealing to me. 

But if you are looking for a fast and amusing book - this could be it. You won't meet memorable characters; you will just be carried along a fast plotline to the conclusion.

The New York Times review was pretty critical of a lot of aspects of the book and I agreed with the reviewer all the way.

🌟 The Night Watchman by Lousie Erdrich

I am so glad that someone in my book club suggested we read the winner of this year's Pulitzer Prize (and she suggested that BEFORE we knew the winner.) I probably would not have read this because I have never finished a Louise Erdrich novel. Now I can't figure out why I did not!  This book was beautiful. I loved the characters, especially Patrice and Thomas, of course. They were so real.  And actually, Thomas is based on Erdrich's grandfather, who accomplished just what Thomas does in this book. And under some very similar circumstances. After I read the book, I went online searching for interviews with the author and learned so much about her and her quest to help indigenous people.  She is of Cherokee descent.

I learned so much from this book  (so much that upsets me, of course), and learned about the culture, beliefs and way of life of a people that I know very little about.  I reflected a lot on the Social Studies curriculum that I am involved with, and how Grade 4 teachers barely scratch the surface when teaching about NY State Native Americans.  And they rarely take the conversation into the present tense.  I discussed this with my fellow consultants, who are doing so much to make the curriculum culturally responsive.

Here is Amazon's summary of the book, so you'll know what it's about:  

Based on the extraordinary life of National Book Award-winning author Louise Erdrich’s grandfather who worked as a night watchman and carried the fight against Native dispossession from rural North Dakota all the way to Washington, D.C., this powerful novel explores themes of love and death with lightness and gravity and unfolds with the elegant prose, sly humor, and depth of feeling of a master craftsman.

 

Wayward by Dana Spiotta

I was not familiar with this author, but found she has several well-reviewed books out there and has been nominated for some pretty impressive awards.

From Slate:

Wayward is about rescuing your life from the mess you’ve made of it so far, while your body goes haywire.

I enjoyed this book. I read it in a few days. This quote from the NYTimes book review says a lot about the book:

We accompany Sam through her sleepless nights, in her newfound solitude as she restores a majestically crumbling house in another part of town. She sends plaintive text messages to her daughter, calls her mother. She eats a piece of cake. Her mind churns, she scrolls the internet, she listens to the storm of her body.

🌟 Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

This is one of those books that I will recommend over and over again. I won't forget it and I will aim to read it again soon. But it's SO long; it might have to wait a while. I actually wanted to write to the author after finishing it, but since I could not find an email address, I sent a note to her publicist and agent, raving about what an incredible literary achievement I think Great Circle is!

The book is long, but I never grew tired of it.  It jumps around in time, which is often confusing, but not this time. I also have to say that I am glad I read the e-book because I liked being able to search for character's names and go back to reacquaint myself from time to time.

I was very surprised at the ending of the book, too, and I didn't expect that at all! Surprised twice!

Here is what it is about, in essence: "Great Circle tells the unforgettable story of a daredevil female aviator determined to chart her own course in life, at any cost."  From GoodReads.

But it is so much more than that. Read it!

A Good Neighborhood by Therese Anne Fowler

I read this book in about two days - that is how riveting it was for me.  I had some problems with it initially.  Some characters are stereotypes, I know, but I still was totally engaged. I thought I might be able to predict how the book would end, and I was SO WRONG!

I recommend reading this book if you are interested in racial issues.  I don't want to spoil any of the plot, so I won't say much more about it.  

Summary from Publisher:  

A Good Neighborhood asks big questions about life in America today—what does it mean to be a good neighbor? How do we live alongside each other when we don't see eye to eye?—as it explores the effects of class, race, and heartrending love in a story that’s as provocative as it is powerful.

The Other Black Girl by Zakia Dalila Harris

A very different book that takes on real issues that Black women, and just women in general, face.  It puts everything in a crazy twisty plot that takes the reader by surprise. It is written in a way that is sometimes not really accessible to everyone, I think, so be prepared to feel confused from time to time.   I don't think that this book is for everyone.  Here is the glowing npr review. 

Just Like You by Nick Hornby

 

Lucy, a 40+ year old divorcee with two sons, starts a romantic relationship with a 22 year old guy, who also is black. He works in the local butcher shop, part time, and she first hires him as a babysitter. The boys love him! And when they start a romantic entanglement, it gets tricky. But it's interesting and funny and a very entertaining read. I won't give away the end!

The Mothers by Brit Bennett

Really great writing...and a great story, too!  From "the Guardian"

"The novel begins the summer after Nadia’s mother’s suicide. A brief romance with the local pastor’s son, Luke, leads to an unwanted pregnancy, and she’s put in the position of considering a termination. The impact of her decision follows her for the rest of the book."

I loved her next book, "the Vanishing Act" and I had this one on my "Want to Read" list for a long time. Glad I finally got around to it.  

Tess of the D'Urbevilles by Thomas Hardy

One of the members of my book club suggested that we read a "classic" and it was time for me to pick the book.  I chose this because I recall loving Thomas Hardy as a younger person (high school?) and seem to recall loving this book.

Funny thing is....as I read and ENJOYED this book very much, I didn't remember anything about the book, characters, or plot! So, did I ever read it before?  No idea! I feel certain that I DID read Jude the Obscure, so I will go back for that one now. 

I started reading the book on my iPad but then checked to see if I could get it as a audiobook and I was able to borrow from the library. I really loved listening to it. The language is so beautiful and the reader was perfect for this story.  Wonderful British accent.  Just delightful.

I am going to go back and enjoy more classics after this wonderful reading (and listening) experience!

Send for Me by Lauren Fox

I heard about this book somewhere....not sure where....and I recalled reading another of Lauren Fox's books, "Days of Awe."  This book is very different, and quite good. A pretty fast read, too.  It is a Holocaust story.

The story goes back and forth in time and sometimes I got a bit confused, but in the end, the story was poignant and very personal; the author used her own family history for inspiration.

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishaguru

Enjoyed this book. It is the first Ishiguro book I have read.  Crazy! Time to read his others. Listened to several podcasts interviewing "Ish," as they call him, and I must read other books of his!

From GoodReads:

Klara and the Sun "tells the story of Klara, an Artificial Friend with outstanding observational qualities, who, from her place in the store, watches carefully the behavior of those who come in to browse, and of those who pass on the street outside. She remains hopeful that a customer will soon choose her.

Klara and the Sun offers a look at our changing world through the eyes of an unforgettable narrator, and one that explores the fundamental question: What does it mean to love?

Forever by Pete Hamill

I read this with my book club and really looked forward to this "reread." In the end, however, I was disappointed. Why didn;t I like the book as much the second time around? Hard to say. Because I knew what was going to happen? I doubt it because I forgot so much. It was so long.  Parts of the history of NYC were glossed over and I wanted to learn more about Boss Tweed and that part of our history. 

The Push by Ashley Audrain

From GoodReads:

A tense, page-turning psychological drama about the making and breaking of a family–and a woman whose experience of motherhood is nothing at all what she hoped for–and everything she feared.

This was a disturbing book but I enjoyed it. Fast read, for sure.  I predicted the ending however. And I don't often do that.  So, maybe it was too apparent.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

 

From GoodReads:

Between life and death there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choices . . . Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets?”

A dazzling novel about all the choices that go into a life well lived.

I enjoyed this book a lot. Made me think about life, choices, regrets, successes, etc.  I recommend it.  I must say that the end was not my favorite part of the book, but I totally understand why the author ended the book the way he did. 

White Ivy by Susie Yang

This was a compelling and disturbing book about a young woman with lots of problems!  From USA Today:

"Ivy Lin was a thief but you would never know it to look at her," the book begins. Little do readers know, settling in to read, that Ivy Lin is many other things she doesn't appear to be.

The question of how far one a person will go to get what she wants is explored in many novels. But how far Ivy will go is another question altogether, as is what she's willing to lose along the way, giving the book the feel of a thriller, but not in the classic sense. It keeps readers on their toes the entire way. 

Since the main character is Asian I was disturbed because of all the recent discrimination against Asians; reading a book about an evil Asian woman was disconcerting at this time.  Her problems do stem from her feeling of not being "trendy, preppy and American" however.  

There are lots of twists and turns in the book. It was certainly a page-turner and good psychological study of a young woman trying to attain happines.

The End of October by Lawrence Wright

I first heard about this book at the beginning of the pandemic; the author was interviewed by Pamela Paul on the NYTimes Book Review podcast.  I thought to myself, "I am not ready for that book yet." So I didn't even attempt to take it out.

As time went on and we became used to the current state of affairs, I kept recalling that interview...how uncanny it was that the author (so well-respected for his NON fiction and a Pulitzer Prize winner) wrote this book BEFORE this current pandemic.

Then, when talking about the book with my daughter, she told me how the book was written by the father of a friend of hers from Brown, who I had met years ago. The sheer coincidence prompted me to check out the book.

And I am not sorry! It was a gripping page-turner, but so informative and revealing about viruses, and I just could not stop reading.  Thank God, it goes way further than our pandemic has gone, so it was not quite to close to home.  But you realize, that what happens in the book COULD happen to us.

Here is a quote from the NYTimes Book Review:  

"...much of the book not only reads like nonfiction, it is nonfiction: Wright weaves into the book accounts of historical epidemics, descriptions of Russian cyber- and biowarfare capabilities, the story of the 1803 attempt to save the New World from smallpox, and other curious nonfiction set pieces. In writing the novel, he interviewed scientists, epidemiologists, government officials and military officers. His understanding of world affairs, Middle East gossip, politics and governmental ineptitude is exceptional."

Highly recommend this book!

Monogomy by Sue Miller

I have not read anything by Sue Miller in a while, but I do recall loving her books, especially "The Good Mother." In the latest book she deals with marriage and loss and infidelity: 

Graham and Annie have been happily married for nearly three decades when Graham’s sudden death leaves Annie reeling — not only from the loss of her husband but also from the secrets his passing reveals. Those truths challenge everything Annie thought she knew about Graham and force her to reconcile the vision of who she thought her husband was with who he turned out to be. Sue Miller weaves an engaging story of marriage that Publishers Weekly describes as being “grounded by vibrant prose, vividly portrayed secondary characters, and the resiliency of everlasting love.”

A good read!  

The Forger's Daughter by Bradford Morrow

Read this for the Book Club. It was OK but not great. And we all seemed to agree.  Part of the book was interesting - learning about forgery and old books, etc. "It is a loveletter to the art of forgery." Listened to an interview with the author and referred to it this way.  This was a sequel to another book and without having read that one, pieces of the story were missing.

I won't be recommending this - except maybe to people who are interested in the art of forgery.

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

 

This is not my typical book to read, but it kept showing up on so many "Best of 2020" lists so I gave it a try...and enjoyed it!  There is a lot going on in this thriller, more than just the chlling spooky stuff.  The book deals with colonialism, eugenics, fungus and more.  I enjoyed it!

Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam

Loved this book and it has a very unexpected ending. At least for me.  It's gotten a lot of attention of late, made a lot of "best" lists, but not all readers like it.  I can understand why, for certain readers.

But I wanted to discuss immediately with someone after I finished it and had no one who had read it.  I made my husband read it and he loved it too.  

And we talked about it!

Girl with the Louding Voice (again!)

Read this again for book club and liked it even more than the first time I read it.  Makes me realize how the reading experience is often better the second time around!