Thank you for joining me here!   (Reminder: the page numbers I list here reflect the number of Kindle pages, not paper pages.)  I hope you enjoy this series and I’d love to hear from you about what you are reading these days.

Book #1:

Lying Next to Me by Gregg Olsen (Length: 391 pages).  I’m a sucker for a good psychological thriller, emphasis on GOOD.  I don’t like to figure out the mystery or the twist right away, nor do I enjoy being manipulated emotionally while reading.  This psychological thriller set in a small town outside of Seattle is very much plot driven with a very well-drawn setting, evoking a strong sense of place.  The main characters here aren’t very likeable, but that’s okay.  Detective Lee and one of the main characters had a childhood relationship based on a traumatic event, which results in an interesting dynamic in the investigation.  I did figure out the central mystery pretty early on, but there was still enough here, along with strong writing, that kept me interested and reading to the very end.  

From the publisher:

No matter what you see, no matter what you’ve heard, assume nothing.

Adam and Sophie Warner and their three-year-old daughter are vacationing in Washington State’s Hood Canal for Memorial Day weekend. It’s the perfect getaway to unplug—and to calm an uneasy marriage. But on Adam’s first day out on the water, he sees Sophie abducted by a stranger. A hundred yards from shore, Adam can’t save her. And Sophie disappears.

In a nearby cabin is another couple, Kristen and Connor Moss. Unfortunately, beyond what they’ve heard in the news, they’re in the dark when it comes to Sophie’s disappearance. For Adam, at least there’s comfort in knowing that Mason County detective Lee Husemann is an old friend of his. She’ll do everything she can to help. She must.

But as Adam’s paranoia about his missing wife escalates, Lee puts together the pieces of a puzzle. The lives of the two couples are converging in unpredictable ways, and the picture is unsettling. Lee suspects that not everyone is telling the truth about what they know—or they have yet to reveal all the lies they’ve hidden from the strangers they married.

Book #2:

Reading People by Anne Bogel (Length: 211 pages).  I am a huge Anne Bogel fan (of her website and her podcast), and have had her first book waiting on my Kindle for quite awhile.  This very short book is an interesting read about how various personality frameworks/tests reveal how we think.  Anne analyzes ways to use the results of these tests as tools to better our lives.  I am a fan of some of these tests, especially the Enneagram (Enneagram type 1, and ISFJ here!) There isn’t much new information in this book but as I’m a fan of the author, this was worth a read to me.  A definite library book pick!

From the publisher:

If the viral Buzzfeed-style personality quizzes are any indication, we are collectively obsessed with the idea of defining and knowing ourselves and our unique place in the world. But what we’re finding is this: knowing which Harry Potter character you are is easy, but actually knowing yourself isn’t as simple as just checking a few boxes on an online quiz.

For readers who long to dig deeper into what makes them uniquely them (and why that matters), popular blogger Anne Bogel has done the hard part–collecting, exploring, and explaining the most popular personality frameworks, such as Myers-Briggs, StrengthsFinder, Enneagram, and others. She explains to readers the life-changing insights that can be gained from each and shares specific, practical real-life applications across all facets of life, including love and marriage, productivity, parenting, the workplace, and spiritual life. In her friendly, relatable style, Bogel shares engaging personal stories that show firsthand how understanding personality can revolutionize the way we live, love, work, and pray.

Book #3:

Wrapped in Rain by Charles Martin (Length: 383 pages).  This is another Charles Martin classic.  During this weird time, I wanted a comfort read that I knew I could get lost in.  I will say the first third of this book is WAY too slow.  There are also scenes with intense childhood abuse, but they’re never exploitative and do further the author’s narrative.  I loved the setting in this novel (Waverly Hall, a plantation in Alabama), as well as the writing, per usual.  This is absolutely worth a read, and it’s a nice long one.  Having said that, however, this is not the book I’d choose to introduce a good friend to this author.  For that, I’d refer them to Life Intercepted, which I reviewed here back in June of 2018.  

From the publisher:

“Life is a battle, but you can’t fight it with your fists. You got to fight it with your heart.”

An internationally famous photographer, Tucker Mason has traveled the world, capturing things other people don’t see. But what Tucker himself can’t see is how to let go of the past and forgive his father.

On a sprawling Southern estate, Tucker and his younger brother, Mutt, were raised by their housekeeper, Miss Ella Rain, who loved the motherless boys like her own. Hiring her to take care of Waverly Hall and the boys was the only good thing their father ever did.

When his brother escapes from a mental hospital and an old girlfriend appears with her son and a black eye, Tucker is forced to return home and face the agony of his own tragic past.

Though Miss Ella has been gone for many years, Tuck can still hear her voice—and her prayers. But finding peace and starting anew will take a measure of grace that Tucker scarcely believes in.

Thank you for joining me here!   (Reminder: the page numbers I list here reflect the number of Kindle pages, not paper pages.)  I hope you enjoy this series and I’d love to hear from you about what you are reading these days.

Book #1:

You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott (Length: 349 pages).  I really enjoyed this psychological thriller that is set in an elite gymnastics gym/social circle.  This novel is surprisingly well-written, with a plot twist at the end, but a not-very satisfying wrap up of the plot.  I think the author was trying to be shocking and it works, in a way.  I would recommend if you enjoy this genre as it’s way better written than most!  (The Girl on the Train, I’m looking at you!)

From the publisher:

How far will you go to achieve a dream? That’s the question a celebrated coach poses to Katie and Eric Knox after he sees their daughter Devon, a gymnastics prodigy and Olympic hopeful, compete. For the Knoxes there are no limits — until a violent death rocks their close-knit gymnastics community and everything they have worked so hard for is suddenly at risk.

As rumors swirl among the other parents, Katie tries frantically to hold her family together while also finding herself irresistibly drawn to the crime itself. What she uncovers — about her daughter’s fears, her own marriage, and herself — forces Katie to consider whether there’s any price she isn’t willing to pay to achieve Devon’s dream.

From a writer with “exceptional gifts for making nerves jangle and skin crawl” (Janet Maslin), You Will Know Me is a breathless rollercoaster of a novel about the desperate limits of parental sacrifice, furtive desire, and the staggering force of ambition.

Book #2:

Whiteout by Adriana Anders (Length: 512 pages).  I’m not sure why I own this book, but I found it to be surprisingly well-written and an excellent action/thriller plot for a “romance novel”. (The love scenes are a bit too intense, in my opinion, but since I rarely read romance novels, maybe this is normal?)  Set in Antarctica, a killer virus is drilled out of the permafrost and is possibly going to be used as a biological warfare weapon (this part isn’t very clear).  While there is decent character development, I will say this isn’t relaxing COVID-19 reading given the killer virus topic. I do hope there is a sequel because of the cliffhanger ending.  

From the publisher:

With a storm coming and a killer on the loose, every step could be their last…

Angel Smith is finally ready to leave Antarctica for a second chance at life. But on what was meant to be her last day, the remote research station she’s been calling home is attacked. Hunted and scared, she and irritatingly gorgeous glaciologist Ford Cooper barely make it out with their lives…only to realize that in a place this remote, there’s nowhere left to run.

Isolated with no power, no way to contact the outside world, and a madman on their heels, Angel and Ford must fight to survive in the most inhospitable—and beautiful—place on earth. But what starts as a partnership born of necessity quickly turns into an urgent connection that burns bright and hot. They both know there’s little chance of making it out alive, and yet they are determined to weather the coming storm—no matter the cost.

Book #3:

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson (Length: 322 pages).  I first became aware of this novel when I read about the plagiarism controversy involving the author JoJo Moyes whose novel “The Giver of the Stars” is alleged to be lifted from this one, with many similar scenes and characters.  I have no opinion on this controversy but I did choose to read this particular book instead, and I’m glad I did!  This is such an interesting account of the Pack Horse Librarian project started by FDR as part of the WPA (Works Progress Administration), which ran from 1935-1943.  The joy people had/have in treasured books and reading material, the extreme poverty of Appalachian Kentucky, and very well-drawn characters make this book hard to put down.  There are some very dark and sad parts of this novel, but it’s an important and worthwhile read.  

From the publisher:

The hardscrabble folks of Troublesome Creek have to scrap for everything—everything except books, that is. Thanks to Roosevelt’s Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project, Troublesome’s got its very own traveling librarian, Cussy Mary Carter.

Cussy’s not only a book woman, however, she’s also the last of her kind, her skin a shade of blue unlike most anyone else. Not everyone is keen on Cussy’s family or the Library Project, and a Blue is often blamed for any whiff of trouble. If Cussy wants to bring the joy of books to the hill folks, she’s going to have to confront prejudice as old as the Appalachias and suspicion as deep as the holler.

Inspired by the true blue-skinned people of Kentucky and the brave and dedicated Kentucky Pack Horse library service of the 1930s, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is a story of raw courage, fierce strength, and one woman’s belief that books can carry us anywhere—even back home.

Book #4:

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins (Length: 387 pages).  This very controversial novel is my book club’s pick for the month of April.  I will say that, in a vacuum, I did enjoy this book.  It’s a very, very fast read, as it’s primarily plot driven (ie, will the two main characters, Lydia and Luca, a mother and son escaping cartel violence in their hometown of Acapulco, make it safely across the border of the United States).  The two main characters are the most well-developed, with many of the other secondary characters drawn pretty stereotypically.  There are several pulse-pounding moments of their journey which are written very descriptively and the author does do a good job of invoking empathy from her (very privileged) readers for the migrant experience, which is especially needed in these times.  The main issue of the controversy behind this book is that the author is a white citizen of this country who uses her husband’s immigration experience as one reason she’s empathetic to the migrant struggle.  One problem:  he’s Irish and white.   Excellent choice for a book club! 

From the publisher:

También de este lado hay sueños. On this side, too, there are dreams.

Lydia Quixano Pérez lives in the Mexican city of Acapulco. She runs a bookstore. She has a son, Luca, the love of her life, and a wonderful husband who is a journalist. And while there are cracks beginning to show in Acapulco because of the drug cartels, her life is, by and large, fairly comfortable.

Even though she knows they’ll never sell, Lydia stocks some of her all-time favorite books in her store. And then one day a man enters the shop to browse and comes up to the register with a few books he would like to buy—two of them her favorites. Javier is erudite. He is charming. And, unbeknownst to Lydia, he is the jefe of the newest drug cartel that has gruesomely taken over the city. When Lydia’s husband’s tell-all profile of Javier is published, none of their lives will ever be the same.

Forced to flee, Lydia and eight-year-old Luca soon find themselves miles and worlds away from their comfortable middle-class existence. Instantly transformed into migrants, Lydia and Luca ride la bestia—trains that make their way north toward the United States, which is the only place Javier’s reach doesn’t extend. As they join the countless people trying to reach el norte, Lydia soon sees that everyone is running from something. But what exactly are they running to?

American Dirt will leave readers utterly changed. It is a literary achievement filled with poignancy, drama, and humanity on every page. It is one of the most important books for our times.

Already being hailed as “a Grapes of Wrath for our times” and “a new American classic,” Jeanine Cummins’s American Dirt is a rare exploration into the inner hearts of people willing to sacrifice everything for a glimmer of hope.

Thank you for joining me here!   (Reminder: the page numbers I list here reflect the number of Kindle pages, not paper pages.)  I hope you enjoy this series and I’d love to hear from you about what you are reading these days.

Book #1:

Three Wishes by Lianne Moriarty (Length: 378 pages).  I enjoy Moriarty’s novels and decided to pick up this one, her first published novel centered around triplets in Sydney.  The book focuses on them and their adult relationships with one another, their parents and their spouses/partners.  This is very funny in parts, and incredibly fun to read as the plot is fast-paced, the characters are well-drawn and the setting is interesting.  There isn’t much of a plot per se, as it’s a bit predictable, but the character portraits are the stars here.  I found the author’s use of flashbacks (to childhood and beyond) to be really interesting, as well as the use of various third parties watching the triplets interact from afar.  (I didn’t understand these at first, but as the novel progressed I enjoyed this literary device, especially toward the end when some of these scenes overlapped with one another and we meet these third parties.)  This is a lengthier novel and would be a fabulous vacation/travel read!

From the publisher:

A New York Times bestseller, Three Wishes is the funny, heartwarming and completely charming first novel from Liane Moriarty, also the author of #1 New York Times bestsellers The Husband’s Secret, Big Little Lies, and Truly Madly Guilty.

Lyn, Cat, and Gemma Kettle, beautiful thirty-three-year-old triplets, seem to attract attention everywhere they go. Together, laughter, drama, and mayhem seem to follow them. But apart, each is dealing with her own share of ups and downs. Lyn has organized her life into one big checklist, Cat has just learned a startling secret about her marriage, and Gemma, who bolts every time a relationship hits the six-month mark, holds out hope for lasting love. In this wise, witty, and hilarious novel, we follow the Kettle sisters through their tumultuous thirty-third year as they deal with sibling rivalry and secrets, revelations and relationships, unfaithful husbands and unthinkable decisions, and the fabulous, frustrating life of forever being part of a trio.

Book #2:

Miracles and Other Reasonable Things by Sarah Bessey (Length: 239 pages).  I picked up this book because I’ve heard of Sarah Bessey and this book in particular, as it’s recommended for those who are spiritual (and not necessarily religious).  The author experiences a major medical miracle while in Rome to meet the Pope (an unusual event in and of itself as she’s not Catholic).  This is very well-written, and I do see the appeal to non-Christians as it’s very practical in terms of how to find and keep a relationship with God or a higher power even in times of turmoil and great stress.  Worth a library check-out for sure.  

From the publisher:

A deeply moving and life-affirming account of wrestling with faith and God and finding miracles in the most unexpected places.

In the brief instant Sarah Bessey realized that her minivan was, inevitably, going to hit the car on the highway on the bright, clear day of the crash, she knew intuitively that it would have life-changing consequences. But as she navigated the winding path from her life before the accident—as a popular author, preacher, and loving wife and mother—to her new life after, inhabiting a body that no longer felt like her own, she found that the most unexpected result wasn’t the way this shook her body, but how it shook her deeply rooted faith, upending everything she thought she knew and held so dearly.

Weaving together theology and memoir in her trademark narrative style, Sarah tells us the story of the moment that changed her body and how it ultimately changed her life. The road of healing leads to Rome where she met the Pope (it’s complicated) and encountered the Holy Spirit in the last place she expected. She writes about her miraculous healing, learning to live with chronic pain, and the ways God makes us whole in the midst of suffering. She invites us to a path of knowing God that is filled with ordinary miracles, hope in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, and other completely reasonable things.

Insightful, profound, and unexpected, Miracles and Other Reasonable Things is a wild, spirit-filled story of what it means to live with both grief and faith, suffering and joy, as we wrestle with God.

Book #3:

Over the Edge: Death in the Grand Canyon by Michael P. Ghiglieri, Thomas M. Myers, et al. (Length: 500+ pages).  This was another book I picked up in preparation for my upcoming hike in the Grand Canyon.  This is a surprisingly well-written account of all of the known deaths in the Grand Canyon.  Written with lots of atmospheric detail, this book contains dozens of helpful facts and suggestions but is not exploitative in any way.  The authors provide some interesting history lessons along the way.  This is an oddly specific, but incredibly entertaining and worthwhile read.  

From the publisher:

Gripping accounts of all known fatal mishaps in the most famous of the World’s Seven Natural Wonders.
Two veterans of decades of adventuring in Grand Canyon chronicle the first complete and comprehensive history of Canyon misadventures. These episodes span the entire era of visitation from the time of the first river exploration by John Wesley Powell and his crew of 1869 to that of tourists falling off its rims in Y2K.

These accounts of the 550 people who have met untimely deaths in the Canyon set a new high water mark for offering the most astounding array of adventures, misadventures, and life saving lessons published between any two covers. Over the Edge promises to be the most intense yet informative book on Grand Canyon ever written.

Book #4:

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (Length: 256 pages).  When one is the mood for a satisfying mystery, an Agatha Christie book will fit the bill every time!  I read this years ago, but honestly didn’t remember who the murderer was and enjoyed it just as much the second time around.  This is a Hercules Poirot mystery and I enjoy how Christie refers to him in the third person, so the reader is not in his mind as we would be if he was narrating.  This mystery is such a good, classic set-up, and is beautifully staged with 12 different suspects/characters.  I love this fast-paced, quick read.  Perfect for a quiet Sunday afternoon.  

From the publisher:

“The murderer is with us—on the train now . . .”

 

Just after midnight, the famous Orient Express is stopped in its tracks by a snowdrift. By morning, the millionaire Samuel Edward Ratchett lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. Without a shred of doubt, one of his fellow passengers is the murderer.

 

Isolated by the storm, detective Hercule Poirot must find the killer among a dozen of the dead man’s enemies, before the murderer decides to strike again.

 

Thank you for joining me here!   (Reminder: the page numbers I list here reflect the number of Kindle pages, not paper pages.)  I hope you enjoy this series and I’d love to hear from you about what you are reading these days.

Book #1:

Stones From the River by Ursula Hegi (Length: 531 pages).  This was the February pick for my personal book club.  I read this book when it was originally published in 1997 as part of the Oprah Book Club, and I remembered adoring it.  I still do.  It’s a sprawling, character-driven novel set primarily in a small town in Germany in WWI.  Trudi, a dwarf, tells stories (often embellished) to her neighbors, and the novel is one big story.  This is beautifully written, with heartbreaking scenes of love, loss, violence and war.  Much of the public sentiment surrounding the Holocaust is being repeated today in this country, making this a very relevant read.  

From the publisher:

From the acclaimed author of Floating in My Mother’s Palm and Children and Fire, a stunning story about ordinary people living in extraordinary times—“epic, daring, magnificent, the product of a defining and mesmerizing vision” (Los Angeles Times).

Trudi Montag is a Zwerg—a dwarf—short, undesirable, different, the voice of anyone who has ever tried to fit in. Eventually she learns that being different is a secret that all humans share—from her mother who flees into madness, to her friend Georg whose parents pretend he’s a girl, to the Jews Trudi harbors in her cellar.

Ursula Hegi brings us a timeless and unforgettable story in Trudi and a small town, weaving together a profound tapestry of emotional power, humanity, and truth.

Book #2:

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes (Length: 337 pages).  As a HUGE fan of the TV show “Scandal” (rest in peace!), I have been excited to read this memoir written by the creator of that show (as well as “Gray’s Anatomy”, et al).  There are lots of revelations the author has in her year of saying yes to “everything” . . . she experiences less social anxiety, stronger and more meaningful personal relationships, better health (losing 127 pounds!) and a better work-life balance.  There’s nothing earth-shattering in this book but if you enjoy(ed) the lightning-quick verbal banter of Shonda’s TV show characters, you’ll enjoy the writing style in this very fun, easy read.  

From the publisher:

She’s the creator and producer of some of the most groundbreaking and audacious shows on television today. Her iconic characters live boldly and speak their minds. So who would suspect that Shonda Rhimes is an introvert? That she hired a publicist so she could avoid public appearances? That she suffered panic attacks before media interviews?

With three children at home and three hit television shows, it was easy for Shonda to say she was simply too busy. But in truth, she was also afraid. And then, over Thanksgiving dinner, her sister muttered something that was both a wake up and a call to arms: You never say yes to anything. Shonda knew she had to embrace the challenge: for one year, she would say YES to everything that scared her.

This poignant, intimate, and hilarious memoir explores Shonda’s life before her Year of Yes—from her nerdy, book-loving childhood to her devotion to creating television characters who reflected the world she saw around her. The book chronicles her life after her Year of Yes had begun—when Shonda forced herself out of the house and onto the stage; when she learned to explore, empower, applaud, and love her truest self. Yes.

Book #3:

The Other Mrs. by Mary Kubica (Length: 368 pages).  I didn’t expect to enjoy this psychological thriller as I did.  The writing quality is pretty good, and the pacing is fantastic!  I read the entire novel in under 4 hours because I literally didn’t want to put it down.  Set on a very small island in Maine, the setting is appropriately dark and spooky, and the central mystery keeps the plot moving in a forward direction.  I did figure out 1/3 of the mystery (the “third” being the key) immediately but the rest of the mystery was a bit of a surprise, thank goodness.  There will be a Netflix movie/series based on the book which will be fun to watch if this is any indication.  I wouldn’t recommend this as a book club book because it’s not “deep” enough for any meaningful discussion, but this would be a fantastic airplane/travel read.  

From the publisher:

Propulsive and addictive, and perfect for fans of “You,” The Other Mrs. is the twisty new psychological thriller from Mary Kubica, the New York Times bestselling author of The Good Girl

Sadie and Will Foust have only just moved their family from bustling Chicago to small-town Maine when their neighbor Morgan Baines is found dead in her home. The murder rocks their tiny coastal island, but no one is more shaken than Sadie.

But it’s not just Morgan’s death that has Sadie on edge. And as the eyes of suspicion turn toward the new family in town, Sadie is drawn deeper into the mystery of what really happened that dark and deadly night. But Sadie must be careful, for the more she discovers about Mrs. Baines, the more she begins to realize just how much she has to lose if the truth ever comes to light.

Thank you for joining me here!   (Reminder: the page numbers I list here reflect the number of Kindle pages, not paper pages.)  I hope you enjoy this series and I’d love to hear from you about what you are reading these days.

Book #1:

The Spark: A Mother’s Story of Nurturing, Genius and Autism by Kristine Barnett (Length: 281 pages).  This is an incredible account of how a boy who is severely autistic was able to “wake up” and become one of the world’s leading astrophysicists at a very young age, thanks to “play” therapy designed by his mom.  I heard about this book from Anne Bogel on What Should I Read Next, and because I work with children in my current job (a substitute teacher at an elementary school) my interest was piqued.  Jacob’s mom ran a daycare and discovered  that autistic children began to develop social skills when they were permitted to deep-dive into whatever their passion happened to be (dinosaurs, cooking, how light moves in space, in the case of Jacob).  This book is very well-written and very readable.  (However, I will say DO NOT Google this author until after you’ve read this book.  Let this sweet story stay with you awhile first.  You’re welcome!)

From the publisher:

Kristine Barnett’s son Jacob has an IQ higher than Einstein’s, a photographic memory, and he taught himself calculus in two weeks. At nine he started working on an original theory in astrophysics that experts believe may someday put him in line for a Nobel Prize, and at age twelve he became a paid researcher in quantum physics. But the story of Kristine’s journey with Jake is all the more remarkable because his extraordinary mind was almost lost to autism. At age two, when Jake was diagnosed, Kristine was told he might never be able to tie his own shoes.
 
The Spark is a remarkable memoir of mother and son. Surrounded by “experts” at home and in special ed who tried to focus on Jake’s most basic skills and curtail his distracting interests—moving shadows on the wall, stars, plaid patterns on sofa fabric—Jake made no progress, withdrew more and more into his own world, and eventually stopped talking completely. Kristine knew in her heart that she had to make a change. Against the advice of her husband, Michael, and the developmental specialists, Kristine followed her instincts, pulled Jake out of special ed, and began preparing him for mainstream kindergarten on her own.

Relying on the insights she developed at the daycare center she runs out of the garage in her home, Kristine resolved to follow Jacob’s “spark”—his passionate interests. Why concentrate on what he couldn’t do? Why not focus on what he could?  This basic philosophy, along with her belief in the power of ordinary childhood experiences (softball, picnics, s’mores around the campfire) and the importance of play, helped Kristine overcome huge odds.

The Barnetts were not wealthy people, and in addition to financial hardship, Kristine herself faced serious health issues. But through hard work and determination on behalf of Jake and his two younger brothers, as well as an undying faith in their community, friends, and family, Kristine and Michael prevailed. The results were beyond anything anyone could have imagined.

Book #2: 

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout (Length: 280 pages).  I have had the physical copy of this book for awhile, and picked it up because this won the author the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.  I knew going into it that it’s a polarizing book–people either love it or they don’t.  I fall somewhere in the middle.  Set in a small town in Maine, these short stories feature (at times just tangentially) Olive a middle-school math teacher.  Olive is not a likeable character, by any stretch of the imagination, but by the end of the book, the reader will at least empathize with her.  The writing here is absolutely excellent, and I enjoyed the author’s in-depth character portrayals as well as how the stories interconnect in small ways . . . for example, two characters who appear well in the background in one story are later mentioned in a more fleshed-out way a few chapters later.  The stories are mostly depressing and sad, but I do think the writing style and quality make this book a worthy read.  

From the publisher:

In a voice more powerful and compassionate than ever before, New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Strout binds together thirteen rich, luminous narratives into a book with the heft of a novel, through the presence of one larger-than-life, unforgettable character: Olive Kitteridge.

At the edge of the continent, Crosby, Maine, may seem like nowhere, but seen through this brilliant writer’s eyes, it’s in essence the whole world, and the lives that are lived there are filled with all of the grand human drama–desire, despair, jealousy, hope, and love.

At times stern, at other times patient, at times perceptive, at other times in sad denial, Olive Kitteridge, a retired schoolteacher, deplores the changes in her little town and in the world at large, but she doesn’t always recognize the changes in those around her: a lounge musician haunted by a past romance: a former student who has lost the will to live: Olive’s own adult child, who feels tyrannized by her irrational sensitivities; and Henry, who finds his loyalty to his marriage both a blessing and a curse.

As the townspeople grapple with their problems, mild and dire, Olive is brought to a deeper understanding of herself and her life–sometimes painfully, but always with ruthless honesty. Olive Kitteridge offers profound insights into the human condition–its conflicts, its tragedies and joys, and the endurance it requires.

Book #3:  

The Man Who Walked Through Time by Colin  (Length: 258 pages).  In preparation for an upcoming Grand Canyon hike, I picked up this “must read” first-hand account of the first person to walk the length of Grand Canyon National Park, in 1965.  The author’s writing is beautiful, and his narration is very descriptive and give the reader the sense of actually being there in the Canyon.  He describes the geology, flora and fauna of the Canyon in great detail, but the writing is not dry at all.  He made me appreciate the length of time that it took the Grand Canyon to evolve (Creationists may disagree with the half a billion years that geologists have determined the Canyon took to form).  I will say this book will not be relevant reading to you unless you’re also planning on hiking the Canyon.  

From the publisher:

The remarkable classic of nature writing by the first man ever to have walked the entire length of the Grand Canyon.

Book #4:  

Night Road by Kristin Hannah (Length: 396 pages).  This apparently is a “must read” according to fans of Kristin Hannah.  I enjoyed The Great Alone so I picked this one up with great anticipation.  I was disappointed that I figured out the plot “twist” immediately, and I was not a fan of the main characters (Lexi and Jude).  I especially was not keen on how they both reacted to the major plot development.  The second half of the book (after the plot change) dragged to me, and to add insult to injury, the ending was entirely too pat and way too abrupt.  I will say that I enjoy Hannah’s writing style, so that was the redeeming factor in this altogether disappointing read to me.  I do see how this could be a good choice for book clubs, however, as there is plenty to discuss here.  

From the publisher:

For eighteen years, Jude Farraday has put her children’s needs above her own, and it shows—her twins, Mia and Zach, are bright and happy teenagers. When Lexi Baill moves into their small, close-knit community, no one is more welcoming than Jude. Lexi, a former foster child with a dark past, quickly becomes Mia’s best friend. Then Zach falls in love with Lexi and the three become inseparable.

Jude does everything to keep her kids out of harm’s way. But senior year of high school tests them all. It’s a dangerous, explosive season of drinking, driving, parties, and kids who want to let loose. And then on a hot summer’s night, one bad decision is made. In the blink of an eye, the Farraday family will be torn apart and Lexi will lose everything. In the years that follow, each must face the consequences of that single night and find a way to forget…or the courage to forgive.

Vivid, universal, and emotionally complex, Night Road raises profound questions about motherhood, identity, love, and forgiveness. It is a luminous, heartbreaking novel that captures both the exquisite pain of loss and the stunning power of hope. This is Kristin Hannah at her very best, telling an unforgettable story about the longing for family, the resilience of the human heart, and the courage it takes to forgive the people we love.