Still Life with Bread Crumbs is the latest novel by Anna Quindlen, and perhaps her best. It is the story of Rebecca Winter, an aging photographer from NYC, famous in her younger days, but now short of money and living alone in a run down cottage in the country. She is lonely and a bit lost when we meet her, but this is a story of redemption and second chances. What could have been an ordinary, even forgettable story is…
Songs of Willow Frost is the new novel by Jamie Ford, author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. The novel is set in Seattle’s Chinatown, during the 1920’s and 30’s. It is the Story of Liu Song, whose stage name is Willow, and her son William Eng. William is growing up in Seattle’s Sacred Heart Orphanage along with many other children whose parents have died, or left them there because they cannot take care of them any…
Ghana Must Go is the debut novel by Taiye Selasi. This is an extraordinary novel. It is the story of Kweku Sai, a surgeon from Ghana, and his family that he left years ago when he felt he had failed them. Sai’s ex-wife and four kids all come together in Ghana when their father dies of a sudden heart attack; his death marking a new beginning for his family. Selasi is more of a poet than a novelist, in the…
The Supreme Macaroni Company is the latest by Adriana Trigiana. I usually enjoy her books, but this one I found more fluff than substance. None of the characters seemed very real to me, they didn’t draw me in this time and I never really cared much about them. It seemed like she wanted to finish this series in a hurry and just expected her fans to hang in there with her. This book was very disappointing. If you’re new…
Life After Life by Jill McCorkle, has the same name and came out around the same time as the novel by Kate Atkinson, but these two novels have nothing else in common. McCorkle writes from the point of view of many different characters living in or around a retirement home in the South. From 12 year old Abby to 85 year old Sadie, McCorkle writes in each of their voices. The novel works for the most part and paints an…
The Golem and the Jinni is the debut novel by Helene Wecker. I loved this book. It’s an example of really great story telling, which I don’t find often enough in current fiction. Set in 1899 in New York City, two mysterious creatures come to life and discover each other living among the cities immigrant populations. The writing and the details were so wonderful, I felt transported to that time and place. I fully bought into the story, caring deeply…
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson is one of the most original novels I have ever read. The protagonist, Ursula Todd is born in England on a snowy February day in 1910. She dies many times, including once at childbirth, and yet is always reborn, though she has only the faintest memories of these other lives. The story culminates during WWII and the Blitz. In an incredible feat of storytelling, Atkinson interweaves Ursula’s many seperate lives into one cohesive story….
The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty is a page turner that will keep you up late at night. Set in Australia, the lives of three families intersect as a shocking secret from the past comes to light. I won’t say much more, as I don’t want to spoil anything. Moriarty places her characters in impossible situations, and then we get to see what happens. Suspenseful and compelling. I was hooked from the beginning. A great read!
Beautiful Day is the latest by Elin Hildebrand. It is a novel set on Nantucket that takes place over one weekend during a family wedding. Jenna, the bride, is using The Notebook, left to her by her deceased mother, to guide all her preparations for the wedding. Her mother wrote it when she knew she was dying and wouldn’t be able to be there for her daughters wedding. The problems that occur over the weekend are usual family problems. Nothing…
Hyperbole and a Half is the new graphic novel by Allie Brosh based on her blog of the same name. I loved this book. It is incredible how expressive her drawings are considering they are composed of just a few lines. Brosh tackles depression and other unfortunate situations in this book, and it is at times depressing. But it is also highly insightful and extremely funny. I laughed out loud through most of it and wanted more at the end….