A Book A Week

By the time of his passing in 2014, Gabriel García Márquez had already secured his place among the literary greats. Works like One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera were celebrated as masterpieces, and the Colombian author enjoyed his later years as a revered figure in global literature. Toward the end of his life, his publisher hinted at a new novel in the works. However, news of Márquez’s battle with dementia cast doubt on whether this final piece would ever see the light of day. Now, a decade after his death, Until August has been released posthumously, offering readers a final glimpse into the mind of the legendary storyteller.

On the surface, Ana Magdalena Bach’s life appears perfect. She has been happily married for over twenty years, with a loving husband and children waiting for her at home. So why does she perform this peculiar ritual each August? Every year, she boards a ferry to a remote Caribbean island where her mother is buried, spending the night in quiet contemplation—and in the company of a stranger. She knows how the evening will end. It is always the same. She’ll leave the bar with one of the men, lose herself in a fleeting night of passion, and then return home the next day as if nothing has happened.

But with each passing year, Ana finds herself drifting further into the shadowed corners of her desires and anxieties, forced to confront the fragile balance of the life she has constructed. In this annual act, she begins peeling back the layers of her heart, wrestling with the haunting realization of what might lie beneath the perfect image she presents to the world.

I question whether Until August is a novel Gabriel García Márquez would have wanted the world to see. In the afterword, his longtime editor acknowledges the author’s frustration with the book’s progress, feeling the limitations of his diminishing faculties and growing dissatisfied with his attempts to evoke the magic that defines his earlier works. Yet, even within this unfinished narrative, Márquez's genius flickers, especially in his ability to pull profound emotional weight from seemingly simple, everyday moments. Ana’s character, burdened by guilt and haunted by the life she’s chosen, reflects the poignant image of a self gradually slipping away. Her portrayal feels hauntingly reminiscent of what Márquez himself might have experienced in those final years—a struggle to hold on to an identity that time and circumstance slowly erode.

Despite these evocative moments, Until August feels incomplete, lacking the lush vibrancy and depth that characterize Márquez's best work. While it serves as a fascinating, intensely personal window into the mind of a literary legend, it’s also a sobering reminder of his decline—a book that, while intriguing, underscores the frailty of even the most significant artists in their final days.

For more information, visit Amazon and Goodreads. 

(2024, 82)

Think back to the classic literature you read in school. How many were written by women? While authors like Harper Lee, Mary Shelley, and Kate Chopin made the list, most “essential” works in my literary education were written by men. But what if that wasn’t entirely the case? Take William Shakespeare, for instance. Known for his brilliant storytelling, mastery of language, and genre-spanning talent, he is celebrated as one of history’s most prolific playwrights. Yet, the authorship of some of his most famous works has sparked controversy for decades. What if, some suggest, he didn’t write them all himself? What if a woman penned these iconic plays? From this tantalizing “what if,” Jodi Picoult spins her latest novel, By Any Other Name.

Melina Green has all but let go of her dream to see one of her plays produced in New York. She knew the path to becoming a playwright wouldn’t be easy, but her resolve faltered after a disheartening experience in a masterclass with one of the city’s leading critics. Melina poured her heart into a story drawn from her own experiences, tackling the delicate dynamics of a mentor crossing the line with a student. But the critic, Jasper, dismissed her work as lacking authenticity and depth. Now, she’s losing hope of breaking into the theater scene dominated by men. 

With renewed inspiration, Melina has written a new play based on the life of her ancestor, Emilia Bassano. Tempted to submit it to a prestigious festival, she hesitates, haunted by the memory of Jasper, who’s set to judge the competition. When her friend secretly submits the play under a male pseudonym, Melina decides to roll with the plan, determined to prove the strength of her writing and, perhaps, make Jasper rethink his earlier judgment. Will her work finally be judged on its merits without her gender standing in the way?

Picoult weaves Melina’s journey with the story of Emilia Bassano, a young woman in 1581 who lives as a ward of English aristocrats. Emilia’s language, history, and writing studies sharpen her wit and feed her gift for storytelling, but like many women of her time, her voice is suppressed. Drawn into an affair with the influential Lord Chamberlain, she becomes captivated by the powerful effect of theater. Determined to see her words brought to life, Emilia enlists a young actor, William Shakespeare, to present her plays as his. As Melina’s and Emilia’s stories unfold, Picoult reveals a timeless struggle for women seeking recognition in a world that often silences them.

In By Any Other Name, Jodi Picoult combines meticulous research with compelling fiction to question whether William Shakespeare truly authored the iconic plays we celebrate. This isn’t just a provocative exercise in speculation, although Picoult provides plenty of that across the novel’s 500+ pages. At its core, it’s a story about the resilient power of women, who often have to work twice as hard to receive even a fraction of the recognition their male counterparts enjoy. Through alternating timelines, the book captures this timeless struggle, showing that despite progress, certain obstacles endure.

The parallel narratives—one set in history and one in the present—underscore this universality with skillful resonance. Picoult’s clever narrative mirroring reveals how both her contemporary and historical protagonists navigate a world stacked against them. It's a story that feels as relevant today as it would have centuries ago. If I have one critique, the present-day storyline doesn’t quite reach the gripping intensity of the historical one. Nevertheless, By Any Other Name is a remarkable novel that challenges readers’ assumptions while providing an engaging and thought-provoking read.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2024, 80)

 "I’ll just say that we would not be who we are today without the calamities of our yesterdays."

The news of Salman Rushdie's brutal stabbing at a Chautauqua Institution literary event in August 2022 was both shocking and, in a sense, expected. Given the tumultuous history surrounding Rushdie's provocative 1988 novel, The Satanic Verses, and the subsequent fatwa issued against him by Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini, it seemed almost inevitable that such an attack would occur. Rushdie had spent years living under constant police surveillance, largely withdrawing from public life until relatively recently, when the threat against him appeared to have diminished.

The vicious assault in 2022 served as a stark reminder that sentiments against Rushdie and his written words remained as violent as ever. Despite the mental and physical toll of the attack, Rushdie's response was characteristically defiant. Ironically, the event where the attack took place was a speaking engagement on the importance of safeguarding writers—a cruel twist of fate that underscored the ongoing threat against him. Rushdie confronted this violent attempt to silence him by doing what he does best: writing about it.

In Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder, Rushdie offers a candid reflection on the events leading up to the attack, his arduous path to recovery, and his perspective on the future. He recounts the 27 seconds of frenzied violence that forever altered his life, leaving him with catastrophic physical injuries and deep psychological scars. Buoyed by the support of his family and loved ones, Rushdie's resilience and unwavering spirit shine through. 

Knife transcends the narrative of mere survival; it delves into the complex emotions and philosophical reflections that arose from Rushdie's brush with death. Despite his staunch atheism, Rushdie grapples with the inexplicable miracle of his survival. It questions the very nature of existence and mortality. His imagined dialogue with his would-be assassin, whom he refers to as "A," offers a poignant exploration of human nature and the motivations behind such senseless acts of violence.

Ultimately, Knife is a testament to Rushdie's resilience and intellectual depth, offering readers a profound meditation on life, death, and the enduring power of the human spirit. Through wit, humor, and candid introspection, Rushdie navigates the complexities of his experience with grace and insight, crafting a narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is compelling.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2024, 38)

Téa Obreht has been a fixture in the literary landscape for as long as I can remember. I recall when I first began blogging about books, her debut novel, The Tiger's Wife, was on everyone's reading list. Like many instances since, I eagerly purchased the book, caught up in the excitement, only to let it languish unread on my shelf. There it remained, untouched, a silent reminder of my tendency to be swayed by the latest literary trends. While perusing the new arrivals at my local library, I recently stumbled upon Obreht's latest offering, The Morningside. Once again, I was drawn to the allure of a shiny new title, conveniently overlooking the neglected books waiting for me at home. This time, I made a conscious decision to follow through. Over the course of several days, I immersed myself in the pages of The Morningside, finally experiencing Obreht's writing firsthand. 

In The Morningside, the eponymous building stands as a symbol of faded grandeur, a once opulent high-rise now fallen into disrepair. Set in the not-too-distant future, the story unfolds in a world ravaged by the effects of climate change, where a Manhattan-like city has succumbed to flooding and a dwindling population. In response to these challenges, the government has devised a repopulation program, recruiting refugees with promises of a secure future within the city's confines. Despite these assurances, the anticipated influx of residents and laborers has yet to materialize, leaving the National Bureau of Posterity to advocate for patience and perseverance in the face of uncertainty. The echoes of past glory still linger, fueling hope for a resurgence of prosperity on the horizon.

In this building, we encounter Silvia, an eleven-year-old newcomer who resides with her mother. Encouraged by her mother to assimilate into their new surroundings, Silvia is instructed to converse only in the local language, concealing their past from prying eyes. While Silvia yearns for excitement and adventure, her mother's aspirations are more modest. She seeks only a life of quiet solitude for themselves and her fellow expatriates.

Silvia's longing for something beyond the ordinary is kindled by the enchanting tales spun by her aunt Ena, the superintendent of The Morningside. Ena regales Silvia with fantastical stories, including one about a mysterious artist residing on the building's 33rd floor, accompanied by three unusually large dogs. “Isn’t it obvious? They’re not dogs,” Ena says. “They’re men during the day and dogs at night.” Through these captivating tales, Silvia is transported to a realm of boundless imagination that starkly contrasts her mother's more pragmatic aspirations for her future. As she'll soon discover, the fancies of imagination can have dire consequences in the real world.

There's a wealth of themes to delve into within The Morningside, and Téa Obreht makes a valiant effort to integrate these elements into a cohesive narrative. Through the innocent perspective of Silvia, the child protagonist, readers are transported to a world where perception clashes with reality. The novel confronts the undeniable impacts of climate change, immigration, and warfare, yet the inhabitants of this fictional world remain fixated on the past rather than addressing the present challenges. Silvia's inquisitive nature serves as a driving force, leading her to explore the lives of her fellow residents within The Morningside. As she unravels their stories, the novel touches upon many complex themes.

Despite its ambition to tackle nuanced topics, the novel struggles to maintain a clear narrative focus as it progresses. Instead, it meanders from one exploration to another, leaving little time for readers to deeply engage with the underlying subjects. When the novel finally confronts the harsh realities beneath its fantastical facade toward the end of the book, it is delivered as a shocking twist. Instead of allowing readers the space to ponder the weighty implications of the significant revelation, Obreht appears to employ it primarily for its shock value, diminishing the opportunity for genuine emotional resonance. Ultimately, The Morningside presents readers with many themes to unpack, but its erratic pacing and lack of narrative direction detract from its potential impact, rendering it more of a mystery than a satisfying revelation.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2024, 35)

Merry Christmas! Whether you partake in the festivities or not, I wish you a day filled with joy, tranquility, and a sense of community. I spent last night celebrating Christmas with my family and will be traveling back home today for additional festivities this evening. In what has become a Christmas Eve tradition, I dedicated the late hours of last night into the early morning to finishing a book. This year, I chose a classic novel that I hadn't read since my school days. Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol is a timeless holiday classic that has sparked numerous retellings and reinterpretations. Immersing myself in the original text, I rediscovered its narrative and found the work to be as impactful as ever.

Attempting to summarize the book feels somewhat futile, given the well-known tale of the cantankerous Ebenezer Scrooge being visited by three spirits—a narrative that has become a trope for numerous retellings. Instead, this review aims to reflect on the enduring power of Dickens's classic tale. Through his distinctive prose, Dickens instantly transports readers to Victorian England, creating a rich setting that envelops them in a cool sense of nostalgia. While classic literature can sometimes be challenging, this story effortlessly flows off the pages. I found myself captivated, even though I was familiar with the narrative, irresistibly drawn to the next page by the enchanting writing.

Despite elements of whimsy and a joyfully happy ending, the work carries a darkness that lingers. Scrooge is a man haunted both literally and figuratively—by his past, grappling with life's what-ifs; by his present, a listless existence yielding great wealth but little satisfaction; and most terrifyingly, by his future, a looming certainty approaching with each passing day. This duality is what, I believe, continues to captivate readers with A Christmas Carol. We all encounter similar reflections on our lives, filled with regrets, upsets, and uncertainties. The holidays, while a time of exuberant celebration, also compel us to step back and reflect on the year gone by. As I turned the final pages of the book,  I was overcome with a sense of gratitude for my own life. Yes, the past year had its challenges, but Dickens's narrative reminds us that no one is beyond redemption. It is never too late to embrace the spirit of love, charity, and community that the season brings. As we approach the final days of the year, I hope you, too, take a moment to reflect and appreciate the gifts in your own life. 

For more information, visit Amazon and Goodreads.

(2023, 92)

Imagine for a moment that you are a 19-year-old student who has just written your debut novel. You've accomplished what few at your age could dream of, but you're just getting started. The esteemed publisher Alfred A. Knopf picks up your work and begins producing a sizeable first run in hardcover. Pretty great, right? As if things couldn't be going any better you get a call from none other than the queen herself, Oprah Winfrey. She tells you that she's read your book and wants it to be the next pick in her famous book club, all but assuring your debut novel will be a best seller. It may sound too good to be true, but this is the whirlwind reality of author Leila Mottley whose debut novel Nightcrawling was released back in June. I've had a publisher-provided copy of the book on my stack for a while now, so I finally cracked it open to read. 

At only 17, life for Kiara has already been a challenge. Her father is out of the picture, and her mother is currently incarcerated at a psychiatric correctional facility. This has left Kiara and her elder brother Marcus responsible for keeping their lives together. Money is tight. Marcus spends his days chasing his dreams of being the next great rap superstar, making no other effort to have any income. Their East Oakland apartment luxuriously named The Regal-Hi is anything but luxurious. No, Kiara knows that she lives in poverty. She's resorted to crashing funerals just to have a shot of eating a free meal. 

In addition to her tumultuous attempt to keep her own family afloat, Kiara has taken a neighboring boy under her wing. His mother has been tightly wound into the grips of addiction, often leaving her son alone for days on end. She has little time to mother the boy, let alone keep a job or pay the rent. Kiara diligently does her best to shield the child from the reality of his strife, allowing the boy to stay at her apartment and doing everything she can to keep him on the straight and narrow. Then comes the devastating news that her landlord is hiking up the rent. With the impending due date hovering over her shoulders, Kiara must find a way to make ends meet. 

What does a high school student do to bear the weight of an entire family? It happens quickly at first, almost as if it were just a dream. Kiara first has a chance encounter with a man at a bar. He initiates contact, following her out of the establishment. He says that he knows why she is there and what she wants. Kiara is afraid to admit to herself that she knows exactly what he means, but desperation can be quite the motivator. She's disgusted with herself in the aftermath. She never would have thought that she would sell out her body like she did, but she can't deny that the money she made will help her situation. What goes from a "just this once" occurrence soon grows, placing Kiara and her entire family into a precarious underworld of crime and agony. 

It is hard to comprehend that Nightcrawling is a debut novel. Mottley has crafted a narrative that is fully realized, vivid, and emotionally complex. It is a masterwork of literature akin to the best writing from the most seasoned and celebrated authors. I kept having to remind myself that this brilliant writing came from such a new voice. Mottley derived the inspiration for the book from a true story of a young girl who was physically and mentally taken advantage of by a group of corrupt police officers. She takes the crumbs of this premise and weaves it into a sobering portrait of poverty in America. The harshness of the reality depicted is balanced by the relationships between the protagonist and other characters. The dark and explicitly adult problems and scenarios that Kiara encounters are juxtaposed against the subtle reminders that she is still a child. This isn't an easy read from a content perspective, but Mottley's writing soars off of the pages, keeping a brisk pace through even the most gut-wrenching passages. Nightcrawling is a phenomenal debut from a promising author who is worthy of all of the hype and praise that she has already received. 

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2022, 34)

As Hurricane Laura made landfall on the Louisiana and Texas coasts, I happened to be finishing a collection of short stories that are set largely in that same area. Stephanie Soileau's publisher sent me a copy of her debut collection of short stories Last One Out Shut Off the Lights to read and review. Soileau grew up in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and she sets this collection firmly within the setting that she is intimately familiar with. This intimacy sees Soileau imbue each story with the rich culture, community, and resilience of the people of her home state.

The first couple of stories set the tone for the work as a whole. So This Is Permanence and An Attachment Theory both see young mothers coming to terms with the realities of their motherhood. In one, a teenage mother is grappling with raising a child of her own while still being a child herself. She has little support and simply wants to go back to life as it was before. In the other, The mother and child have a more established relationship. This mother is purchasing her own place, finally leaving the security of her childhood home to make it on her own. Both grapple with the bond between mother and child and reveal the different realities of family life in the area.

I'm sure the fact that a massive storm was threatening to make landfall in the area I was reading about had an impact on which stories I connected with most. It should come as no surprise then that my favorites of the book were both about everyday people making the most of a disaster. Haguillory tells the story of a man and his wife making due in the aftermath of a major storm. The couple lives in a smaller town, overshadowed by the major cities that were also ravaged by the storm. The damage was no less devastating, but the support of those more populated areas is much stronger than theirs. The story reveals the man's internal struggle to make sense of his place in life while also battling inner demons that tell him his life doesn't matter.

The Boucherie is the final story in this collection, a perfect ending that encapsulates many of the themes of the other installments. This time, the community isn't dealing with a natural disaster, but a freak accident that caused a big rig hauling cattle to overturn, leaving the bovine to roam freely away from the vehicle. One stray cow has made its way into the tiny neighborhood and into the yard of a Sudanese family. I personally witnessed the way a community can come together in the aftermath of Hurrican Harvey, and Soileau's writing captures that sense of community and erosion of division for the sake of a common goal. It provides optimism and understanding that seems to be severely lacking these days. After several stories that were a bit darker in nature (even this one has its share of gloomier moments) this was a brilliant way to end the collection on a high note.

It was hard to read Last One Out Shut Off the Lights without having the impending storms cast their shadow over my reading. Louisiana is a state that is no stranger to disaster, but it is also no stranger to what it takes to work through and overcome adversity. Be it weather events, economic hardships, or strained personal relationships, the characters in these stories are each facing some kind of challenge that we can all relate to. Behind every generalized news story or statistic lies a real person, the kind of people that Soileau is familiar with, and the kind of people who inhabit her writing. Her prose is direct and often times stark, allowing the depth of her characters and their emotional development to be the focus of her words. As with any collection of short stories, you'll no doubt find some stories that you enjoy more than others. That being said, there is no denying the inherent humanity that resides on each page. This is a fantastic debut from a promising author who I can't wait to read more from in the future.

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2020, 38)

"So many Jonathans. A plague of literary Jonathans."

Jonathan Franzen has reluctantly accepted his role as one of America's most prominent literary authors. He writes massive novels about broad ideas that garner critical and popular success. Despite the persistent buzz around his previous novels The Corrections and Freedom, I've never been inclined to read any of his works for myself. When a book club that I follow through Goodreads announced his latest Purity as their monthly selection, I decided to see what all the fuss was about.

The main protagonist is Purity "Pip" Tyler, a twenty something year old who is saddled with overwhelming debt, an underwhelming job with a corporation that she's pretty sure is nothing more than a scam, and a reclusive and emotionally unstable mother who refuses to reveal the identity of her absentee father. Pip uses her sarcasm and unyielding devotion to her mother to cope with the less than ideal place she finds herself in. She comes up with a plan to address the first of her problems. If she can discover the true identity of her father, she might be able to convince him to help alleviate some of her debt. Unfortunately, Pip's mother refuses to give even the slightest hint to the man's identity.

The story begins to turn from a focus on family drama to more current affairs when Pip is afforded the opportunity to intern with The Sunlight Project. The initiative is comparable to WikiLeaks. The project is led by Andreas Wolf, the German equivalent to Julian Assange, who claims his work comes from pure intentions. As Pip travels across the globe to further bring to light the truths of the world, she secretly hopes to unearth a truth of her own. Even though she is excited to do what she considers to be meaningful work, she is equally eager to use The Sunlight Project's vast resources to finally uncover the name of her father.

At nearly 600 pages, Purity is an ambitious work that blends complex characters and situations around its central theme. Beyond the present day story of Pip's search for her father, Franzen writes numerous backstories that end up forming the majority of the work. Through these detours, we gain a greater understanding of each of the characters that Pip is encountering in her life. With the dexterity of a masterful wordsmith, Franzen strings together these plots in a way that allows each to have a unique identity without ever detracting from the book as a whole. It is the idea of purity that brings these pieces together. Each character is motivated by their own idea of what they believe to be pure actions. Even with an ending that did not seem worthy of the story that preceded it, Purity is a thought provoking and surprisingly enjoyable read that makes me eager to read Franzen's other novels.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.

(2016, 22)

"What they're doing down there is mourning. As millions of people across the infinitude of the grid shall always be mourning, coping with every imaginable variation of loss. Every loss deserves a telling."

8-11 was the day that changed everything. Twenty-year-old Skylar was watching from her apartment window when she noticed the object falling from the sky. Before she could reach the young boy she was babysitting, the night's sky was illuminated by the brilliant flash of the mass impacting the earth. The Golden Gate Bridge was reduced to rubble, and a haze of ash and debris enveloped the city. As soon as she ascended to the chaos on the streets, Skylar's fate was sealed. The toxic air polluted her lungs and she, like so many others that day, fell victim to the catastrophic tragedy.

Several years later the world is still coping with the effects of that incident. Authorities were never able to determine what exactly caused the disaster and have no idea who, if anyone, was responsible for the attack. Some claim that the object was a missal or a bomb. Others swear it was an object from outer space. In the end, whatever the object was doesn't really matter. The events of that day have caused an immense shift in the daily lives of everyday people. They now, "live, day to day, with the chance of something violent, something tragic happening at any moment."Motivated by this constant fear, post-incident America has responded in a historically misguided way. Much like Japanese Americans after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Muslim Americans have been corralled into camps. As Americans search for any scapegoat to place their anger and grief upon, Muslims become the victims of hate and distrust.

Skylar's family has found her death to be unbearable. So much so that her parents, Mitch and Kathryn, have erased any trace of their deceased daughter.  Whether they have done this consciously or not is unclear, but they constantly tell their youngest son, Dorian, that he does not and has never had a sister. Dorian was a toddler on 8-11, so he has no recollection of Skylar. But the young man is beginning to suspect that his parents are hiding something from him. He has vivid dreams of a young woman watching a blinding flash from an apartment window in the city. His parents refuse to acknowledge any questions about the girl, but Dorian persists that evidence of a sister must exist somewhere.

Dorian's life becomes even further conflicted when his elderly neighbor introduces a young boy, Karim, who he has adopted from one of the Muslim camps. Dorian is instantly filled with hate for the boy. "Hating . . . not him exactly, but the idea of him, or the idea of people like him -- and though he has been taught to not believe in the sameness of all such persons, a logic as inborn as the structure of his DNA connect each and every one of them. . ."

Karim is equally troubled with his new life. In the camps, he was indoctrinated with the teachings of self-sacrifice to reach eternal paradise. The Sheik had Karim memorize a number that he was to use to contact the camp after he settled into his new home. Once contact was established, Karim would begin the process of planning for a suicide bombing mission. But as he assimilates to his current situation, Karim begins to realize that he may have more similarities than differences with the people he has been taught to hate.

In Not on Fire, but Burning, author Greg Hrbek explores the ways in which people deal with the grief and fear that comes from loss. He changes between first and third person point of view as each of the characters are explored. At first, this can be a bit disconcerting, but the changing perspectives soon fall into a steady rhythm that allows for a breezy pace. By shifting to the different characters, Hrbek provides intimate insight into each of their situations. While they are all connected as participants in the main narrative, the characters are further united by the same internal conflict. Each character is trying to reconcile societal decorum with their own conscience. This makes for a layered drama that delves beyond the main story. Through this extensive character study and an almost poetic prose, Hrbek crafts an exquisite novel that works as a metaphor to America's reaction to the events of 9/11 and a stunning exploration of the human reaction to tragedy.

For more information, visit Amazon and GoodReads.

(2015, 29)

Dan Brown reached commercial and critical acclaim when he released his controversial and entertaining novel, The DaVinci Code. In the book, he combined combined a fast paced thriller with elements of ancient European history, making controversial conjectures about the Catholic church in the process. Brought together by his character, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon, Brown gained an instant following and was regarded as an author at the top of his game.

But then the third novel in the Robert Langdon series, The Lost Symbol, was released, and Brown's star seemed to have faded. Gone was the tight pacing and seamless integration of historical details. The Lost Symbol, while commercially successful, seemed like an example of an author going through the motions. The convoluted plot and unnecessary tangents of American history, really fell flat, paling in comparison to the previous two installments.

With the memory of The Lost Symbol still fresh on my mind, I was cautiously optimistic that Inferno, the fourth and latest Robert Langdon novel, would be an improvement. The novel sees Langdon return to Europe, this time finding himself in Florence. There is only one problem . . . he has no idea what he is doing there!

As the novel begins, Robert finds himself in a Florentine hospital bed. Suffering from amnesia, Langdon has no recollection of the events leading up to his current situation, but he is haunted by the image of an elderly, white-haired lady who seems to be suffering in a fiery cave. The action is kicked into high gear when a menacing Goth woman, think Lisbeth Salander from The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, breaks into Langdon's hospital room, killing his doctor and leaving Langdon and the beautiful Dr. Sienna Brooks running for their lives. Now, Langdon must rely on his unique intellect to rediscover his actions of the last day and to escape the assassins who threaten his life.

After the disappointment of The Lost Symbol, Inferno marks a return to form for author Dan Brown. Like the previous novels there are moments of unbelievability, but Brown deftly makes up for these narrative shortcomings by keeping the pace moving and the historical information flowing. Brown builds his story upon the classic Inferno by Dante Alighieri, taking Langdon and Brooks through his own modern circles of Hell. By returning his focus to Europe's rich and mystical history, Brown crafts another thriller that is as equally smart as it is entertaining.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and GoodReads.

(2013: week 38, book 33)

Nick and her cousin, Helena, are two women searching for their place in the world. With the Second World War drawing two a close, both women find themselves ready to take on the rest of their lives. In author Liza Klaussmann's debut novel, "Tigers in Red Weather", readers are provided with the strong characterization of an intriguing family.

Nick and her husband Hughes are finding it difficult to adjust to domestic life after the end of the war. They live in a small, Florida cottage where the repetition of their daily routines is taking a toll on them. Hughes follows the role that most men of the era do, consistently attending work to provide for his family. Nick, never much of a cook, finds it difficult to complete her daily tasks, and longs for something more.

Meanwhile, her cousin Helena is starting her new life by marrying a Hollywood producer. After the unfortunate death of her first husband, who lost his life in the war, Helena finally seems to be on the path to her dream life. Unfortunately, the lights of her Hollywood marriage are not as bright as she thought. Her husband seems interested in only using her family's money to fund his ill-fated project.

Fast-forward ten years, and both Nick and Helena are mothers to Daisy and Ed respectively. The two women, along with their children and Hughes, are spending the summer at the family's coastal property, The Tiger House. Despite their age, both women still long for something more. When Daisy and Ed stumble upon the brutally murdered corpse of a maid, the facade of happiness that the entire family has built begins to come crashing down.

In this debut, reminiscent of "The Great Gatsby" in both style and substance, Klaussmann provides readers with a tale full of genuine characters and suspense, making this novel the perfect intellectual summer read. The story is broken into five sections, each narrated by a different main character, providing intimate insights into each person's thoughts, emotions, and motivations. Chronology became a bit muddied at times, especially when characters reminisce through flashbacks, but Klaussmann does a commendable job keeping the times labeled. There is a murder in the story, but the focus becomes more about the characters, the murder merely a means to explore the family dynamics. Overall, this novel has a great mix of historical setting, interesting characters, and narrative momentum. I definitely recommend this book as a strong summer read.

For more information, visit Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/review/R1L2THWW9QNFFO/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm,
and http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13528417-tigers-in-red-weather.

(week 29, book 33)

In The Lifeboat, author Charlotte Rogan explores the actions of a group of people who are forced to survive on a small lifeboat and the repercussions of this event. The premise seems simple enough, but in the dexterous hands of Rogan, the story takes on a larger life that invites readers to join in on this fascinating journey.

The year is 1914, and newly wed Grace is traveling with her husband, Henry, across the Atlantic Ocean aboard the luxurious ocean liner, The Empress Alexandra. After a sudden explosion, the passengers frantically evacuate the sinking ship, doing whatever it takes to secure a spot in a lifeboat. As Lifeboat 14 begins its descent into the ocean, it stops just long enough for Henry to put Grace and seaman John Hardie onto the boat. Hardie, who clearly has the most experience with all things nautical, takes lead of the small boat, navigating through the debris, and coldly passing other passengers who struggle to stay afloat in the sea. Hardie is the only one aboard the lifeboat who understands that the small vessel is already overcrowded and to take in even one more passenger would be suicide.

As the days pass, the passengers all follow the lead of Hardie, who has assigned tasks for each of the evacuees. They all seem to believe that despite their misfortune, help will arrive soon. After several days, the solitude of the sea begins to take its toll on the passengers. Hunger and thirst muddy their minds, a looming storm threatens to sink their boat, and different opinions threaten to tear apart the unified effort of the passengers.

The novel is told from the point of view of Grace who is writing a journal of her time on the lifeboat. We learn, through many flashbacks, that Grace is currently on trial for murder. As the novel progresses, we gain further insights into the events that took place on the boat, and are forced to face the question of how far a person should go to further their survival.

Being the debut novel from Rogan, I was very impressed with the strength and clarity of her story telling. The suspense of both the struggle to survive in the ocean and to clear her name in a murder trial kept the pages turning and my attention fully held. Rogan descriptions offer subtle glimpses into human nature and the desire to live. Despite the fantastic build up, I felt a bit let down by the ending. It seemed as if these philosophical ideas about survival were leading to some kind of revelation. Instead we get a resolution to the plot with no emotional punch. That being said, I think this novel is worth the read for that build up alone. Perhaps the lack of a real answer to the questions that come up, in this situation, perfectly captures the reality of the event. Either way, this novel forced me to conjure ideas about life, death, and the will to survive.

For more information, visit the author's website,
http://charlotterogan.com,
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12888599-the-lifeboat, and Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/review/RIX76M7RSLIO5/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=0316185906&linkCode=&nodeID=&tag=.

(week 21, book 23)

Gender equality has always been an important issue. Even with today's increased opportunities, the fact remains that women are not always afforded the same chances that men receive. This longstanding struggle was even more common in the 16th century, where author Regina O'Melveny sets her debut novel.

Joseph O'Loughlin is facing some tough times. His fourteen year old daughter, Charlie, recently suffered a traumatic kidnapping and hasn't been the same since. He has separated from his wife of over twenty years, Julianne, and a divorce seems imminent. On top of all his family issues, Joe has been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, and the involuntary ticks are slowly taking over his body. A seasoned psychologist, Joe lectures at the local university, assists in court cases, and attempts to keep the last strands of his personal life from unraveling.

Despite their strained relationship, Joe picks up his daughter and her best friend, Sienna, from school. He intends to take them back to the family home, but Sienna insists that he drop her off to meet with her boyfriend. Joe knows the "boy" is really closer to a man, but after a confirmation phone call to Sienna's mother, he agrees to drop her off. That evening, Joe receives a startling phone call from Julianne. Sienna has shown up at their home, catatonic and covered in blood. After sending the girl to the hospital, they learn that Sienna's father has been murdered at his home.

Immediately, Sienna is committed to a hospital for psychological analysis, and becomes the only suspect in the murder case. She is unable to remember any of the previous evening's events, and has no reasoning to explain her father's death or why she was covered in blood. Joe sets out to reach Sienna, discover who killed her father, and hopefully regain a relationship with his daughter.

In the tradition of other "literary" detective authors such as Dennis Lehane and Tana French, Michael Robotham has written a grim and moving novel while never sacrificing the suspense. Each character has a unique sense of reality in them that Robotham is able to relay to the reader, without getting bogged down with descriptions. As each layer of this mystery unfolded, I felt more and more connected to the characters and to the situations they were presented. My heart ached for the troubled Sienna and the flawed O'Loughlin family. This is one of the best novels I have read this year, and readers should definitely take notice.

For more information, visit the author's website,
http://www.michaelrobotham.com/index-usa.php,
the publisher's page, http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/books_9780316126380.htm,
my Amazon review
http://www.amazon.com/review/R3GO8HXJ1M2FWI/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm,
and http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11641557-bleed-for-me

(week 17, book 19)

It is not easy to write about music. I think everyone has experienced that moment when a song sets off some kind of emotion that you just can't find the words to describe. As a composer, I have always struggled with finding the words to describe my pieces. In my mind, I know what the piece is doing, but I am of the belief that it is much easier to music about music than write about it.

Author and musician Rick Moody has tackled the unenviable task of writing about music for many years. In this book, he compiles a varied collection of essays and thoughts that shed some light on his views of our world of music. Of particular note is his opening essay "Against Cool" in which he chronicles the word's journey from truly meaning cool to becoming another way to say "neat". He begins with the origin of the "cool" bluesy jazz of Miles Davis. He argues that the commercialization and over exposure of the cool (think Kool-Aid or Kool Cigarettes) diminished the value of the word.

In another well written section, Moody attempts to grasp what the music of heaven will sound like. To me, this was the most effective section. Moody somehow manages to relay his emotional connection/response to certain pieces and artists (Simon and Garfunkel, Arvo Part, etc.). Through these descriptions and personal recollections, Moody makes an interesting point about the sounds of the afterlife, and admits his fears of nonbeing.

Other sections of this book fail live up to the level of the better written ones. Like an album of music, certain essays really worked while others just fell flat. Despite Moody's fantastic writing, some of his pieces simply failed to come to any important point. With that in mind, this book is well worth reading for the many gems it contains. Anyone who has had a connection to music will find meaning in Moody's writing and gain a larger knowledge of the music that inhabits our world.

For more information visit the author's website
http://www.rickmoodybooks.com/, the publisher's site
http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/books_9780316105217.htm,
and http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12240466-on-celestial-music and
http://www.amazon.com/review/RWWKHGE75XV5/ref=cm_cr_dp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=031610521X&nodeID=283155&tag=&linkCode=.

(week 16, book 18)

To fifteen-year-old Cal, his father is like a stranger. The family resides on Loyalty Island, a costal Washington community that relies on the Alaskan king-crabbing season to provide economic stability. Each winter, Cal and his mother are left alone while Henry braves the harsh conditions of the Bering Sea. Despite Henry's well intentions, Cal feels a disconnect with his father. His mother, who moved to the island after falling in love with Henry and becoming pregnant with Cal, spends countless hours in the basement, listening to her large record collection and recalling her earlier years.

Now that he is older, Cal is noticing trouble in is parent's marriage. They argue about whether or not he should become a fisherman like is father. His mother unrelentingly insists that he will complete school and find a job away from the community's difficult lifestyle. Even more troubling than the disagreements, however, is the amount of time that his mother spends with local tycoon John Gaunt.

Gaunt owns the entire fleet of crabbing boats and the local cannery. When he suddenly dies, the entire business is left in the hands of his son Richard, who has never embraced the lifestyle of his father. As Richard threatens to disrupt the livelihood of the community, and Cal's mother, now pregnant and distraught with grief, flees to a friend's home in California, Cal is forced to remain with his father. When the winter crap season approaches, Cal discovers information that shows how far his father has gone to protect their way of life. What follows is a harrowing tale of a young man, forced to come to terms with his family, himself, and to decide what is the "right" thing to do.

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this novel. This is author Nick Dybek's debut, but he writes with the confidence and simplicity of a natural storyteller. Each character is believably conflicted and their introspections, during a very unique situation, are subtle and genuine. Overall, the novel asks how far we would go to maintain a lifestyle and to protect the ones we love. The story takes a bit of time to find its legs (oddly appropriate for a novel about fisherman and choppy seas), but the characters are interesting enough to keep the plot moving. The discovery in the middle of the novel left me shocked, and the last half had me completely riveted. This is an extremely solid novel that expertly blends strong characters with a vivid setting, original plot, and a moral awareness that is rarely found in debut novels.

For more information visit the author's website,
http://nickdybek.com/ Amazon, http://www.amazon.com/review/R3RSCK4OII38JE/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12379545-when-captain-flint-was-still-a-good-man

(week 15 , book 17 )

Facing the unimaginable grief that comes with the loss of a newborn child, married couple Jack and Mabel have moved to the rugged wilderness of 1920's Alaska. Upon their arrival, they realize that despite their best efforts to escape, grief has followed them to their new home, bringing even more troubles bare. Not the strong young man he once was, Jack struggles to keep up with the heavy labor of maintaining a farm. Left to the solitude of the cabin and a husband who can barely look her in the eye, Mabel has nothing to do but wallow in her loneliness.

But there is hope. Jack, who has to take several trips into town, befriends a local man who invites him and Mabel to have dinner with his wife and sons. Although Mabel would rather stay in the quiet of their cabin, she agrees to go to the dinner. After that evening, the couple leaves the neighbors place with their spirits slightly lifted. Upon their arrival home, a frivolous snowball fight ensues, culminating with the construction of a small snow child.

In the night, Jack awakes, startled to see that the snow child is gone. He sees small footprints leaving the site where the child stood, and as he looks out into the woods, he glimpses a young, fair-haired girl running through the trees. The next day, Jack attempts to keep what he saw to himself, but soon, Mabel notices the tracks as well. When she too sees the girl running amongst the trees, the couple is truly puzzled. Is this child the answer to their prayers, or simply the "cabin fever" effect of their grief?

This debut novel by author Eowyn Ivey is a modern day fairy tale filled with a powerful emotional presence. Ivey's simple portrayal of this grief stricken couple leaps off of the pages and stays with you for a long time. I really enjoyed the way that the setting/tone seemed to reflect the main character's emotions. The opening, when the couple is overcome with the grief of their lost child, is written in a way that I could almost feel the coolness of the landscape. This tale of love, loss, and moving forward combines the fantastic with the harsh realities of the world, providing an extremely satisfying read.

For more information, visit the authors website,
http://www.eowynivey.com/,  the book's preview,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSS0lK6Fy24&feature=player_embedded  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11250053-the-snow-child and
http://www.amazon.com/review/RQL4M6NPE2Z7W/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=0316175676&nodeID=&tag=&linkCode=

As a teenager, I read the novel The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. I remember being attracted to the idea of kids who went against the social norm and really enjoyed reading the novel. Now, many years later, I find myself in awe at the power of another novel about young "punks" and growing up. In Banned for Life, author D.R. Haney captures the realism and grit of growing up an outsider, on a level I have never experienced before.

Every once and a while, a book garners such commercial and critical acclaim that it becomes a kind of phenomena. Since its release, I have heard nothing but praise for The Help. As is often the case, I put the book on my list of books to read, and there it has sat. With the movie adaptation of the novel receiving award recognition, I finally got my hands on a copy of the book and decided to see what all the talk was about.

The story opens with a narrative by Aiblileen, a black maid maid working for a young, white family in Jackson, Mississippi, 1962. She carries a sense of wisdom, as she raises the young daughter of the family, her seventeenth white baby. Despite the loss of her son, he couldn't get the proper care in the "colored" hospital, Aibileen finds a kind of solace through her job, her faith, and her best friend Minny. Minny is also a maid. While she is praised for her cooking skills, her sassy mouth has gotten her in trouble with previous employers, and finds her with no job and a husband who beats her regularly.

Eugenia Phealan, Skeeter, is a fresh out of college, 22 year old white woman, who has returned home, to her mother's dismay, without a husband. We learn that Skeeter has always had trouble fitting in with what society, and her mother, expect of her. Upon her return home, she is shocked to learn that the maid who raised her, Constantine, has left the family home, and no one seems to want to tell Skeeter what happened to her. Saddened by the loss of her childhood companion and eager to get a job at a big publishing company, Skeeter decides to write something important. After a chance encounter with Aibileen, Skeeter enlists her and her friends to tell their stories of being, "The Help" to white families.

I found this to be an unputdownable read, that perfectly mixed lighthearted fiction with the horrors of racism in the south during the 1960's. It is fascinating to read about three strong women who are forced to deal with problems that, unfortunately, many can still relate to today. By relaying the story of each main character through their perspective, Stockett provides beautifully imagined insight into the minds of these progressive women. In knowing the history of this time period an the violence it entailed, there was and underlying sense of suspense throughout the entire story. A kind of To Kill A Mocking Bird for modern audiences, The Help is a book that demands to be read by all.

I post all of my reviews to Amazon and always appreciate those who mark them as 'helpful'. You can see this review by clicking here. Thanks for taking the time to read and respond to my review!


For more information check out the author's website http://www.kathrynstockett.com/
and http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4667024-the-help.


(week 9, book 10)

I came upon this book through the recommendation of a friend. He warned me that it would be unlike any novel I had read before, so I entered this story with excitement and curiosity. In Cloud Atlas, author David Mitchell has proved that he has the technical capabilities to write anything that his heart desires. A master of construction and dialect, Mitchell combines six separate stories into a fascinating novel that spans from the 19th century to a distant future.

The novel begins with the story of Adam Ewing, an American notary who is on a ship, headed home. Presented as Ewing's personal journal, Mitchell wonderfully captures the voice of a homesick man, full of religious zeal. When a black, foreign stowaway is discovered on board, Ewing fights to keep the man away from the harm and racism of the captain and crew. When Adam begins to feel ill, his only friend on the boat, Dr. Henry Goose, begins to treat him for a "poisonous worm" living inside of him. With the threat of death, Ewing struggles to maintain his morality in the seemingly sinful environment of the ship.

Abruptly, the novel jumps to the early 20th century with the letters of a young aspiring English composer, Robert Frobisher. He finds himself in Belgium, short of financial stability and a clear musical direction. He seeks out local composer Vyvyan Ayers, whose music he sees a revolutionary, to become a kind of understudy to the ailing composer. Ayers accepts the offer and begins to have Frobisher assist him in writing new music. Unfortunately, Robert finds himself in the middle of a forbidden affair, and begins to feel that Ayers is taking advantage of his own musical ideas.

The story of young American journalist Luisa Rey, reads like a fast paced thriller. The year is 1975 and Luisa, who is struggling to overcome the shadow cast by her famous journalist father, believes she has found the story that will provide her with her big break. As she attempts to uncover the reported corruption of a local nuclear company, she finds herself entangled in a web of conspiracy, love, and murder.

Timothy Cavendish is a sixty-something publisher who finds unexpected success after his client, a gangster who recently published his memoirs with Cavendish's company, murders a critic at a local event. The client, of course, is sent to jail, and the novel becomes a bestseller. With his newfound wealth, Timothy seems to be living the high life. When the brothers of his client attempt to violently persuade Cavendish to give them the money from their imprisoned brother's book, he flees the city. Unfortunately, he mistakes a nursing home for a hotel and finds himself unable to escape.

Sonmi-451, a genetic fabricant, created to serve food in a fast food restaurant of the dystopian future, is being interviewed about her escape and rebellion of the established society. She tells of how she was able to leave the restaurant, and discover how she, and others like her, have been taken advantage of by the established society. As she amasses knowledge she was never supposed to posses, she begins to feel emotions and make human connections that were never intended to be possible.

In the very distant future, we find Zachary, a primitive member of a tribe who is learning to face his fears in this strange world. After the death of his father and the capturing of his sibling, he blames himself for not preventing the attack. When a woman, a visitor from another group of people who seems to have more "knowledge" than Zachary's tribe, moves in with his family, he must face new threats to his tribe's beliefs and ways of life.

The stories, except for the one about Zachary, are all interrupted in the middle, giving the novel a kind of ABCDEFEDCBA arc. Mitchell ties this all together by making each new character the witness, mostly through reading, of the previous character's story. I think that each character could also be interpreted as a reincarnation of the previous because they all seem to share a similar birth mark. With each story, the author adapts to a different style of narrative, making some of the tales read easier than others. Notably, the strong dialect of the middle character makes his story nearly impossible to comprehend. Despite his ingenious presentation and construction, I couldn't help but feeling a bit disappointed at this end of this. The novel can be such a chore to read, that I didn't feel that I got some revolutionary message at the end of this, otherwise, expertly crafted story. Despite being glad that I took the time to read this unique novel, I can't help but wonder if my time would have been better spent reading something with a deeper meaning.

For more information, visit the authors website,
http://www.thousandautumns.com/cloud-atlas/ and
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49628.Cloud_Atlas.

(week 5, book 6)