Before We Were Yours
by Lisa Wingate
I started 2022 with my favorite genre: heartbreaking historical fiction. This book weaves the (shocking) true story of children ripped from their homes during the Great Depression and placed into foster care, with a modern family whose roots stem from those horrid events. I enjoyed the book overall, but found it to be very cookie-cutter. I thought the use of two points of view – one telling the history, the other pulling it into modern day – was pretty basic storytelling. It definitely works, but not groundbreaking.
LA Weather
by Maria Amparo Escandon
As the saying goes… if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.
Middlesex
by Jeffrey Eugenides
I don’t know how I missed this book 20 years ago, but I am so glad I found it. Truly one of the best books I’ve ever read. Ever. It took me a little while to get into because it’s such a dense read, but what a story. The character development is beyond anything I’ve ever read. Eugenides realizes that to tell one human’s story, you must tell generations of stories. A fascinating look at how the choices we make affect those we love and who they become. It’s a masterpiece ahead of its times. I’ve told everyone to find this book and read it. Hands down, it’s a must read.
The Alice Network
by Kate Quinn
I enjoyed this book, especially because the Alice character was a real person – an incredibly brave spy operating in France during WWI. The rest of the book is a story, but using a real-life person makes it fascinating. Would I be that brave? Would I risk my life for the greater good of humanity? I like to think yes, but would I leave Moxie behind? Oh, or Tache? The story gets you hooked and you do want to know what happens, but I wouldn’t say it’s an amazing book. There are two storylines and one could have been left out completely, in my opinion (which is what all of this is).
Out of the Easy
by Ruta Sepetys
Since we were going to NOLA, I thought I’d try to find a book that takes place there. Google suggested this one, but I couldn’t find it at the library. I finally asked the librarian for help and she told me the YA next to the Dewey Decimal number meant it was in the young adult (YA) section. I decided to give it a shot anyway. So, yes, it takes place in New Orleans. Other than that, I found the book to be shockingly un-YA. It’s about a prostitute’s daughter who is wrapped up in the brothel life because her mom steals from her; and the same horrible mom pins a murder on her. So.. yea… YA?
In a Dark, Dark Wood
by Ruth Ware
I feel like I was annoyed this entire book. Luckily it’s a super fast and easy read, so the actual length of time I was annoyed wasn’t that long. The characters annoyed me; even more so, their decisions annoyed me; and worst yet, the fact that I almost guessed the entire plot of the story annoyed me. The main character was so incredibly ridiculous that I found the whole thing stupid. There I said it.
Cloud Cuckoo Land
by Anthony Doerr
This was a quick read – despite its length – which is a good thing because the library only allotted me a 2-week rental due to its popularity. I found the beginning confusing and verbose. By the middle, I understood what was going on. At the end, yea, I liked it. I found the characters to be a tad superficial – perhaps because Doerr was trying to weave together too many stories and constantly cut the chapters short. It was very imaginative and I liked that it tiptoes into the gravity (pun intended!) of the direction this world is going.
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
by Angela Duckworth
This book was interesting and I’d like to think I learned some things… the question is, will I put any of it into practice? Grit takes passion and perseverance; and grit – according to Duckworth’s research – is the number one indicator of success. So if I don’t put any of this book into practice, does that mean I don’t have any grit and therefore I’m a total loser?!? Duckworth pulls her research together with relevant stories and makes a solid argument. My issue is that I don’t think grit is necessary for true happiness. What’s more important: being successful or being happy?
Calypso
by David Sedaris
Yes, yes, yes, yes! I honestly don’t know how David Sedaris does it – he is so goddamn funny! And somehow, with this one, he works his odd humor into a topic most people don’t want to confront: aging. In a sense, it’s a “beach book,” but he tackles larger family problems and darker issues. He’s such an odd ball, yet many of the stories are mundane enough that they resonate. And trust me – you will be laughing out loud the entire time. Do not miss this one, people! Hot tip: he reads his own audio books and they’re totally worth it!
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
by Jamie Ford
This story takes place in Seattle and is a sad part of WWII American history that is little discussed. Although the book was a little slow at times, it’s well written and eloquently weaves together friendship, family, and love. It was fun to read about streets I know and the history of Pioneer Square’s jazz scene. And you better believe I’m going to check out the Panama Hotel the next time I’m in Seattle! As we’re seeing more and more in the US, it’s hard for a country to admit its past (and present) racism – for that reason, I think everyone should give this a read.
The Handmaid’s Tale
by Margaret Atwood
Ugh… why did I read this, you ask? Well, when the leak about Roe being overturned came out, I realized I had never read it growing up. Given the circumstances, it seemed timely and sadly apropos. I have to say, I wasn’t a huge fan of Atwood’s writing style. Seriously, so, many, commas. SO MANY! So ignoring that (which was hard), the story is just… awful. And, now, sadly too real. How are we moving the opposite direction of women’s rights? How is it that a fictional book written in 1985 about women being forced to have children is so realistic today? Ugh.
The Bartender’s Tale
by Ivan Doig
While the rest of the world was fighting the anti-establishment counterculture revolution of the sixties, this book tells the tale of a small Montana town moving at a much slower pace. Doig makes the bartender’s 12-year-old son, Rusty, the narrator, which creates a sense of naivety and innocence in the storytelling. New characters arrive throughout the book, helping Rusty grow and giving him new life experiences he’ll never forget. I guess it’s what you’d call a coming-of-age book. A bit slow to start, but a good read.
The Lincoln Highway
by Amor Towles
Such a good story – and the characters are what make it. Closing the book felt like saying goodbye to those friends you meet along the way. There were times I laughed out loud, and other times I was touched by the love and friendship, sadness and realness that is life. One chapter tells the tale of when Emmitt learned of Zeno’s Paradox, which posits that to get from point A to point B, you have to go halfway first. If you keep going halfway indefinitely, you’ll never get there. That’s the theme of the book in a nutshell, but isn’t it also the paradox of life?
The Music of Bees
by Eileen Garvin
The characters make this book – three underdogs brought together by unique circumstances. They’re all struggling in their current life situation, but chance brings them together and provides them with a sense of family. The eldest character has an apiary; the two younger characters are drawn to the bees and the story takes off from there. There are some good details about beekeeping and infuriating information about pesticides. My one complaint would be that the book went from a lighthearted read to a social commentary on a beehive of issues (pun intended).
The Buddha in the Attic
by Julie Otsuka
This was a very unique read. Otsuka uses plural pronouns, making it sound more like poetry than a novel. The story is about the early 20th century Japanese picture brides, who came to America in hopes of a better life. That was often not the outcome and the larger story told in this book is quite depressing. By using plural pronouns, Otsuka tells all the women’s story in one: “some of them hurt us” and “most of us cried.” Or “we did this” and “they did that.” By the end we were over it, but we suggest they give it a try if they want soemthing different.
Call Your Daughter Home
by Deb Spera
Around page 200, I was thinking this book isn’t bad and it’s better than okay. It’s good… it’s just not… oh dang, then I flipped the page. Wow, the story just took a turn. The book is good up until then, but a new detail makes for a quick finish. The story covers love, family, drama, and death in the Deep South prior to the Great Depression. It’s a book about three women from completely different life experiences (rich, poor, and black) – and what they will do for their daughters. Mothers: I’m sure you can guess the answer to that.
The Altruist
by Andrew Ridker
This book had so much potential, but ultimately the author never capitalized on available themes. With a title dealing with altruism, you would think there would be opportunities to expound on human nature and whether we’re intrinsically good or bad. Swing and a miss! The author dabbled in some complex feelings of give and take in relationships, mental health, and socioeconomic status, but ultimately left a lot of these concepts dangling for the reader to figure out what he was saying. I found myself quickly reading to the end just to be done.
The Dutch House
by Ann Patchett
I really liked this book. Ann Patchett puts you right into the characters’ lives. As the title suggests, the Dutch House is the main character of this book – the human characters revolve around it. It’s a unique story, but it’s also the story of every family: how parent’s behaviors shape sibling’s relationships and interactions; how parent’s choices determine the lives their children will have; how families make you who you are – good or bad.
Hey Lyndsay! I appreciate the book reviews. I somehow missed Middlesex as well and now I have to find it. It sounds like exactly the read I love. I feel the same about Handmaid’s tale as you do……just too much. I really liked Lincoln Highway but I absolutely loved A Gentleman in Moscow. And lastly, I never have read anything by David Sederis that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy!
This is fun! Thanks for the reviews!!!