I read in the acknowledgments that this book started out as a short story and was developed over time into a novel. I think it might have lost its ideI read in the acknowledgments that this book started out as a short story and was developed over time into a novel. I think it might have lost its identity along the way. On the one hand, it's a slice-of-life look at the Ramirez family, two decades after the disappearance of 13-year-old Ruthie. On the other hand it tries to actually answer the question of What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez? At 240 pages it was too short to do both, though I will say the writing was strong....more
Following the death of her mother, 12-year-old Kit Crockett struggles to connect with her loving but distant father, and is drawn to a kind female neiFollowing the death of her mother, 12-year-old Kit Crockett struggles to connect with her loving but distant father, and is drawn to a kind female neighbor. In a parallel storyline, Kit narrates from the near future, where she is residing in a Christian boarding school alongside other Cherokee children. I don't always care for precocious children as characters, but I loved Kit’s voice. The whole book gave me to Kill a Mockingbird / Scout Finch vibes, which I found very satisfying....more
Endpapers is one of the more unique stories I've read in awhile, and I really liked it! Dawn Levit is genderqueer, in her mid-20s, and working as a boEndpapers is one of the more unique stories I've read in awhile, and I really liked it! Dawn Levit is genderqueer, in her mid-20s, and working as a book conservator at the Met in New York City. Struggling with her identity, her relationship, and her art, Dawn becomes intriqued when she finds a decades-old lesbian love letter hidden in the endpapers of a vintage book, prompting her to search for its author. This is a character-driven novel, and I appreciated that Dawn was not drawn as a hot mess of an early adult, but simply someone that was questioning. You will be rooting for her to find self love and acceptance....more
When I turned the last page of My Last Innocent Year, I asked myself, "What was the point of that?" Florin hooked me with her effortless prose and theWhen I turned the last page of My Last Innocent Year, I asked myself, "What was the point of that?" Florin hooked me with her effortless prose and the storyline of college student Isabel Rosen becoming entangled with a professor. With the Monica Lewinsky scandal in the backdrop, it's clear we are pre- Me Too Movement. Toward the end the pacing felt off to me, as we fast forward through Isabel's later life without much resolution regarding her past. But the lack of a satisfying emotional arc may be the brilliance of this novel. Florin understands that we as readers are still processing, too....more
I spent most of this book wanting to smack protagonist Audrey upside the head for her profound lack of perspective and selfish choices. But as the booI spent most of this book wanting to smack protagonist Audrey upside the head for her profound lack of perspective and selfish choices. But as the book progressed I realized there is *something* here, if not fully developed. Growing up with striving immigrant parents who wanted the best for her but struggled to connect emotionally across language and cultural barriers; all her early adult choices that led her "onward and upward", complete with a well-to-do and well meaning white fiancé; Audrey frustratingly painting her past in one dimensional strokes as she moved further away from home literally and figuratively. I will be thinking of this one for awhile, but I fear the themes may be lost on readers that don't relate to Audrey's background as young person caught between cultures....more
The publisher's blurb for The Chinese Groove likens Ma's style to Anne Tyler (a favorite of mine), and I can see why. Shelley Zheng is a young, bumbliThe publisher's blurb for The Chinese Groove likens Ma's style to Anne Tyler (a favorite of mine), and I can see why. Shelley Zheng is a young, bumbling Chinese immigrant who readers will find endearing. I loved the slice of life aspects, where Shelley interacts with his American relatives, a great uncle, his son, and son's wife who have previously suffered a great loss. The side plots involving local San Francisco politics and tech startup schemes distracted from what could have been a deeper exploration of their relationships, which were layered with so much left unspoken. I just wanted a little bit more from this one....more
Reader reviews warned that this book isn't for everyone and I'd say it wasn't for me, or at least not for me right now. I was distracted while readingReader reviews warned that this book isn't for everyone and I'd say it wasn't for me, or at least not for me right now. I was distracted while reading, preventing me from getting absorbed in the story of Greta, a transcriptionist for a local sex therapist. After a chance encounter, Greta begins having an affair with one of the therapist’s patients, nicknamed Big Swiss. Big Swiss does not realize Greta is privy to the intimate secrets she has shared with her therapist, making for a striking premise. But this book veered too weird/dark for my tastes. Pretty sure much of the symbolism was lost on me (I’m sure those bees and donkeys had some deeper meaning!), and the audiobook narration was not my favorite....more
I was a bit skeptical of this one as the style initially felt a little juvenile, but as the stories of the protagonists - two promising young African I was a bit skeptical of this one as the style initially felt a little juvenile, but as the stories of the protagonists - two promising young African American women with big dreams in the 1950s - began to intersect, I got hooked. This ended up being such a satisfying read, even if it did tie up a little neatly. I don't want to say more as it's hard to do so without spoilers! ...more
I read Unlikely Animals because I was experiencing FOMO with it showing up on so many Top Books of 2022 lists. It's the story of Emma Starling, a med I read Unlikely Animals because I was experiencing FOMO with it showing up on so many Top Books of 2022 lists. It's the story of Emma Starling, a med school dropout who has returned home to small town Everton, New Hampshire to be with her dying father Clive. Along the way we meet other Starlings, as well as community members alive, dead, and missing. It wasn't terrible, but I should have trusted my instinct that this one wasn't for me. In the end it wasn't the animals, ghosts and magic that I couldn't get past. It was just far too twee, with numerous far-fetched storylines wrapping up way too perfectly for my tastes. ...more
I'm not sure I could love a book more! SAM reminded me of books that made me fall in love with reading at a young age. Coming of age stories like AnneI'm not sure I could love a book more! SAM reminded me of books that made me fall in love with reading at a young age. Coming of age stories like Anne of Green Gables and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn that managed to articulate familiar feelings with exactly the right words. The earnestness of the characters - teenage Sam, her mother Courtney, her father Mitchell, and others that come into Sam's life mostly through her love of rock climbing - was so endearing to me. And the ending was perfect. I had worried the book might be YA, but rest assured it does not cater specifically to younger readers. While Allegra does an amazing job capturing the perspective and voice of young Sam - her writing is deceptively unpretentious - this book will most certainly resonate with adults (at least it did with this one!)....more
It was fine. 2 stars for the army part (brace yourself cause it's loooong) + 4 stars for spilling the tea on Willy (but spoiler alert, I don't hate WiIt was fine. 2 stars for the army part (brace yourself cause it's loooong) + 4 stars for spilling the tea on Willy (but spoiler alert, I don't hate Willy) = average of 3 stars. Imagine a gossipy book written by a lower level exec at an f'ed up family corporation and that's what this is. I couldn't help but think Harry hasn't fully processed everything he's been through yet, and he's currently in the indignant phase of his journey. Meanwhile Will holds the weight of the institution on his shoulders and is in a fundamentally different position. I don't envy either of them. ...more
I used to read a lot of books like Pineapple Street, about well-to-do white families dealing with their rich people problems and dysfunctional relatioI used to read a lot of books like Pineapple Street, about well-to-do white families dealing with their rich people problems and dysfunctional relationships. I loved these books! and while Pineapple Street was perfectly enjoyable, I realized this genre just isn't that interesting to me anymore. There were some decent plot points - like when the sister’s Korean-American husband is fired from his exec job while his white peers are not - but none of them were developed fully. Then all of a sudden everything gets nicely tied up in a bow, and now I will proceed to forget it all....more
I had super high expectations for Makkai's latest - a literary thriller about a podcaster who begins investigating the long ago death of her boarding I had super high expectations for Makkai's latest - a literary thriller about a podcaster who begins investigating the long ago death of her boarding school roommate. Makkai certainly delivered a page-turner with highlight-worthy sentences, but I also felt it was clunky. Too many characters, too reminiscent of true crime stories you have heard before, and just way too much crammed into an overly long book. It also tries hard to be an issues book about 1990’s era casual misogyny and unchecked sexual assault, while failing to have anything really new to say. All that being said, I really want you to read it so we can talk about it…so I guess that means it was successful overall!...more
This modern classic was the most incredible book to read over the holidays. I didn't rush and I savored every page. I even took a 2-day break to bingeThis modern classic was the most incredible book to read over the holidays. I didn't rush and I savored every page. I even took a 2-day break to binge-watch Dopesick, which heightened my reading experience (I highly recommend this pairing!). I won't soon forget our beloved protagonist Demon, who we meet as a young boy deep in Appalachia. His father is dead and his mother is strung out on opioids, and his only saving grace is the family of his best friend who lives next door. What proceeds is a coming-of-age story that illuminates the structural problems of our time in a deeply personal way, as classics like The Grapes of Wrath and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn have done before. I loved it....more
I'm pretty stingy with my five stars but Hold You Down is pretty darn close so I'm rounding up. It's the story of two sisters raising their boys on StI'm pretty stingy with my five stars but Hold You Down is pretty darn close so I'm rounding up. It's the story of two sisters raising their boys on Staten Island at the height of the crack epidemic, each taking different paths with lasting impacts. I felt so deeply for each character and was heartbroken over their circumstances. This one is not for the faint of heart, but it's so beautifully done....more
This story of a woman caring for her best friend in hospice is refreshingly void of sentimentality. It's emotional for sure, just not saccharine. At fThis story of a woman caring for her best friend in hospice is refreshingly void of sentimentality. It's emotional for sure, just not saccharine. At first I was caught off guard by the flawed narrator Edi, a 45-year-old mother of teens who has separated from her husband and is now floundering a bit. But I also found myself underlying sentences because they rang so true to the experience of losing someone dear. Catherine Newman's house tour featured on Cup of Jo is a great companion read as it brings her novel's New England setting to life. I'd say this was a worthwhile read even if it probably won't stay with me....more
Maame was enjoyable but felt like a story I've read before (see Queenie and Someday Maybe). A late-blooming 25-year-old stumbles through early adulthoMaame was enjoyable but felt like a story I've read before (see Queenie and Someday Maybe). A late-blooming 25-year-old stumbles through early adulthood, juggling Ghanaian parental expectations, poor romantic choices, and bouts of depression. The protagonist did a LOT of Googling on how to navigate basic life situations. Perhaps this Gen X-er (or Boomer! as my teens would call me) isn't the target audience for this one. I will say the audiobook narration was excellent. ...more