Adrenaline (Jeff Abbott)
Sam and Lucy Capra are CIA agents living and working in a secret London office. One morning Lucy interrupts a business presentation to tell Sam to get out of the building. Fearing that there is something wrong with Lucy, who is pregnant, Sam vacates the building just before an explosion destroys the office and kills everyone in it. The book tells Sam’s story as he tries to determine what happened to his wife, and who might be responsible for the explosion. This is likely the first in a series of Sam Capra novels.
A Woman in Berlin (Anonymous)
This was a very interesting book and gives a totally different perspective on the war theme. The book is the diary of a young woman living in Berlin at the end of the Second World War as the Russian army invades the city. The diary entries cover a two-month period, but it certainly gives you a sense of the deprivation and atrocities the people were enduring.
Behind the Scenes at the Museum (Kate Atkinson)
This story covers four generations of an English family, and is told from the point of view of Ruby, one of the youngest generation. The footnotes in the text are actually chapters unto themselves that delve more deeply into the past secrets and tragedies of the family. There are lots of characters and it is hard to keep them all straight, but everything ties together in the end.
The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
This is the first of a series of six books that take us through the life of Ayla, a Cro-Magnon child who is referred to throughout the book as being one of the Others. Ayla is five when her people are killed in an earthquake. She wanders alone and is near death when she is found by the Clan (Neanderthals). The Clan is searching for a new cave after the earthquake has destroyed their home. Ayla has very few memories of her life before the earthquake and she struggles to learn the very strict rules and traditions of her adopted family. When Ayla is just into her teens she is forced to leave her home with the Clan, but in that short period of time she has become a good hunter, a medicine woman and a mother to a much loved, two-year old son.
The Valley of Horses (Jean M. Auel)
In the first part of the book we see Ayla’s struggle to survive after being forced out of the Clan. The story introduces two brothers, Jondular and Thonalon, traveling on their Journey. Ayla has made great progress in her hunting skills, and she has made friends with both a horse and a cave lion. It is an event sparked by the cave lion that brings the three humans together.
What the Body Remembers (Shauna Singh Baldwin)
The history of how the British came to leave India, splitting it into India and Pakistan, is told through the lives of three main characters. Roop is a young Sikh woman who becomes the second wife to Sardarji, an English-trained engineer. Sardarji hopes that his first wife, Satya will become a “sister” to Roop. But Satya is unwilling to share her husband; even though it means he will have the son she cannot give him. The book is a good way to learn about the history of the area, but not a particularly good story.
Imajica (Clive Barker)
I’ve always been fascinated with this author, although I have no idea why. This is a thick book (more than 800 pages) and apparently was based on dreams the author had. The Imajica is made up of five “dominions”, one of which is earth, but only four of the dominions are in harmony with each other. There are three main characters who are trying to bring earth back into the fold. But the window of opportunity is small, and it won’t recur for another 200 years.
The Templar Legacy (Steve Berry)
Similar to the Dan Brown books, this story also deals with the wrong-doings of the Knight’s Templar. I enjoyed the book thoroughly, perhaps even more than the Dan Brown stories.
Silver Wedding (Maeve Binchy)
The secrets of a family are all revealed as they plan for and attend the Silver Wedding Anniversary of the parents.
Victoria Line, Central Line (Maeve Binchy)
This collection of short stories is lovely and each of the characters could probably, or may already, have appeared in one of Ms. Binchy’s novels. I thought that all the characters would eventually meet, but the connecting thread is the stops in the London Underground.
Whitethorn Woods (Maeve Binchy)
Another book of short stories, but this time the stories are connected. The thread running through the stories is the controversy surrounding the impending destruction of a miracle-producing well to put in a modern roadway (it is Ireland so it is a roadway and not a freeway).
Summer Sisters (Judy Blume)
I’m more familiar with this author from her children’s stories but, having sisters, the name appealed. Two young girls bond while spending summer vacations at Martha’s Vineyard. Caitlin is from a wealthy and privileged family. No one is more surprised than Victoria, who has never even seen the ocean, when Caitlin asks her to spend the summer with her at Martha’s Vineyard. The unlikely friendship between the two continues through adulthood, with the expected bumps along the way.
Midwives (Chris Bohjalian)
This was a great story about the life of a midwife working in a rural community. When a delivery goes horribly wrong in the middle of a snowstorm, the midwife is accused of murdering the mother. The case goes to trial and has a very surprising ending – the kind where you are just a little uneasy about the outcome.
Secrets of Eden (Chris Bohjalian)
Alice and George Hayward have a very violent relationship that many in the small rural community in Vermont are aware of, yet powerless to stop. When Alice and George are found dead, an apparent murder-suicide, Reverend Stephen Drew is not surprised and feels a bit guilty that he hadn’t seen it coming. Not far into the story we learn the minister has a few secrets. The plot thickens when the minister begins a relationship with a best-selling author who believes in the power of angels and their auras. I enjoyed the book, but not as much as Midwives. Perhaps it was because I knew the author was going to provide a surprise at the end, so all the way through I was trying to figure out what the surprise would be.
Mothers and Other Liars (Amy Bourret)
A young woman, Ruby, finds a newborn baby in a trash bin as she is enroute to California. Taking the baby along with her, they eventually settle in New Mexico. When Ruby recognizes a photo of her daughter in a tabloid magazine she learns that the child, Lark, had been abandoned by the drug-crazed duo who carjacked the car she was in. Feeling compelled to bring the issue forward to the authorities, the mother must face the possibility of giving up “her” daughter after nine years together.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (John Boyne)
I loved this book about two young boys during the Second World War. Bruno is the son of a high ranking Nazi and Shmuel is a prisoner in the Out-With Concentration Camp. The boys secretly make friends, and the story takes a gripping turn when the boys manage to cross through the fence that divides them.
A Box of Darkness: The Story of a Marriage (Sally Ryder Brady)
After her husband’s death, Ms. Brady finds gay porn in her husband’s dresser drawer. She knew from early in their marriage that he had had at least one affair with a man. The book explores her doubts about their 46-year marriage. Reading the book was a little like people watching, and at times it seemed too personal. I understand why she would write the book, but I’m not sure why she chose to publish it.
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (Anne Bronte)
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Part of the story is told in the voice of a young man, and part of the story told through the diaries of a young woman. The writing style is very much like the writing of the other Bronte sisters and the story was just as satisfying.
Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
I’m surprised it took me so long to read this book because I love reading classic novels. As I read it, I found it hard to believe that the story was written in the mid-1800s. The story, narrated by Jane Eye, tells of her life as an orphan living with uncaring relatives, and her torment and eventual triumph in a harsh boarding school. As a young adult Jane leaves the school to become governess to a young child in the home of a wealthy older man. This is a love story and the book takes us from the acknowledgement of their love through to despair when the love is deceitful and then back to a renewed love.
Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
I read this book years ago, but I couldn’t have told you much about it except that it was a love story with an unhappy outcome and that I loved it. I thoroughly enjoyed this re-read and I still loved it. The story is told through the memories of a servant who worked at Wuthering Heights and at an adjoining property called Thrushcross Grange. The main characters are from two different families – Heathcliff is an orphan who has been brought up with Catherine and Hindley Earnshaw. Catherine eventually marries the owner of Thrushcross Grange, although it is clear she has feelings for Heathcliff. After Heathcliff has taken over Wuthering Heights by lending money to Hindley, and after his marriage to Catherine’s sister-in-law we learn that Heathcliff considers Catherine to have done him a great wrong by her marriage and he sets out for revenge. The story covers three generations and, surprisingly, has a happy outcome by the third generation.
Caleb's Crossing (Geraldine Brooks)
The novel is based on the real-life character of Caleb who was the first Native American to earn a bachelor's degree from Harvard during the mid-1600’s. The story is told from the view of Caleb's friend, Bethia, whose father was a minister to what later became Martha's Vineyard. From the story we can gain some insight into the struggles Caleb might have had straddling two very different cultures.
White Hot (Sandra Brown)
This is one of those trashy novels that everyone (whether they admit it or not) loves to read from time to time. A successful interior decorator returns to her hometown for the funeral of her brother, who may or may not have committed suicide. The handsome lawyer for the family seems to thwart her every attempt to find the truth. Family secrets are revealed and the girl gets the guy.
The Weird Sisters (Eleanor Brown)
The three sisters in this story are named after characters in Shakespeare’s plays, as their father is a famous Shakespearean professor. The Andreas sisters, Rosalind (Rose), Bianca (Bean), and Cordelia (Cordy), have all returned to their childhood home. Each of the sisters has her secret reason for being back. These secrets have nothing to do with the fact that their mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer, although that is the excuse they have given. I loved this book and was sorry to have it come to an end.
The Salt Spring Chronicles (Roger Brunt)
I’ve know this author for years, and his sister is my best friend. This collection of stories, based on Roger’s newspaper column, gives a wonderful picture of life on Salt Spring Island.
A Small Hotel (Robert Olen Butler)
A couple, who have been married for 20+ years, is about to finalize their divorce. The story is told from both her and her soon-to-be ex-husband’s points of view. Each reminisces about their lives together, but under very different circumstances. Kelly is in a hotel room in New Orleans with a bottle of Scotch and a vial of sleeping pills while Michael is at a plantation, about 50 miles away, with a young woman who is about to become his lover.
After You (Julie Buxbaum)
I don’t know what it was about this book, but I just couldn’t put it down. The story, which is very predictable, is about Elle who loses her best friend, Lucy, through a random act of violence. Lucy leaves behind a husband and an eight-year-old daughter. Elle travels to London for the funeral, and then decides to stay on to help out the bereaved family. Elle’s own marriage is less than perfect, for reasons we learn in the book, and as time passes it seems more likely that Elle will remain in London and start a new life on her own.
Sniffing the Coast (Silver Donald Cameron)
I read this book after my trip to the East Coast and it brought back lovely memories of the places we saw.
New England White (Stephen L. Carter)
This is a murder mystery with some politics thrown in. The murder story is okay, but the solving of it is a long, roundabout and often boring tale. The main characters appeared in an earlier novel, but I don’t think my lack of knowledge of the first book is what dampened my feelings about this one. I was so disappointed in the book that I have no interest in reading his earlier novel.
The Midwife’s Confession (Diane Chamberlain)
When Noelle, a midwife, commits suicide her best friends, Tara and Emerson, cannot believe they missed the signs. Although the note Noelle left gave no indication of why she took her own life, as Tara and Emerson sort through her belongings they begin to find clues that lead them to wonder if they even knew Noelle. This novel was as gripping as any of the Jodi Picoult books.
The Lies We Told (Diane Chamberlain)
This was a good story, but I didn’t like it as much as The Midwife’s Confession. There were a few twists, but it didn’t keep me guessing in the same way her other book did. It is an easy read, and would be perfect for the beach.
Her Mother’s Shadow (Diane Chamberlain)
When Lacey O’Neill is a young teen she witnesses her mother’s murder. The entire town loved her mother and had nicknamed her Saint Annie. A few years later Lacey learns some astonishing news about herself and her mother. The news sends Lacey on a trail of self-destruction. When her best friend from those teenage years dies suddenly she leaves her daughter in Lacey’s care. It’s a good story and a quick read but nothing special.
Before I Say Goodbye (Mary Higgins Clark)
I may have to read this one again as I don't remember a thing about it!
River, Cross My Heart (Breena Clarke)
This was an Oprah’s Book Club pick. The story revolves around the life of the Bynum family living in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC. Johnnie Mae is the eldest daughter and while her parents work she is largely responsible for her younger sister, Clara. On a hot summer day Johnnie Mae and her friends, with Clara following, make their way to the Potomac River. Although they have been warned of the dangerous current, the girls go for a swim and the younger sister drowns. The story moves forward as the family grieves and as Johnnie Mae fights against the segregation in her own community.
Elizabeth and After (Matt Cohen)
I loved it.
City of Bones (Michael Connelly)
I liked it.
The Closers (Michael Connelly)
I liked it, but was tired of the character by the 2nd book in this series.
Marker (Robin Cook)
A medical/science thriller.
Spider's Song (Anita Daher)
This author took part in one of the SFU Symposium of the Book series. Although it is listed as a children's book it held my interest. The story takes place in Yellowknife and it was fun to picture where things were happening.
Breath, Eyes, Memory (Edwidge Danticat)
This was a quick, but interesting, read. When the story begins we meet Sophie, a Haitian girl of about 12, who is being raised by her aunt. We soon learn that her mother has gone to America and, as the book progresses, we find out why she left her daughter behind. Sophie soon joins her mother in America, but never feels far from her family in Haiti. I loved the characters the book introduced, but I would have liked more depth to the story.
Love Walked In (Marisa de los Santos)
I loved it.
Belong to Me (Marisa de los Santos)
I loved the story and the book cover.
Sarah's Key (Tatiana de Rosnay)
The book starts out telling the story of a young French girl, Sarah, living in Paris during the Second World War. She and her family, with the exception of her brother, are arrested and sent to concentration camps in Poland. Sarah’s story is alternated with the present-day story of Julia Jarmond, an American journalist who has married into a well-to-do French family. These two stories intersect in a most interesting way. I loved the book, but I found the ending a bit contrived.
April Fool (William Deverell)
A bit corny.
The Laughing Falcon (William Deverell)
A bit corny.
A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens)
I love the classics and, although I’ve seen the movie several times and in many different versions, I’m not certain I ever read the book. I thoroughly it, and I think I will add it into my Christmas book rotation.
Great Expectations (Charles Dickens)
I was surprised that I had never read this before, or if I did read it I had forgotten the story entirely. The book follows the life of Pip from his encounter with a convict when he was a young boy, through the rejected love of a rich woman’s daughter and his own luck at coming into some wealth (his Great Expectation). Pip’s road through life isn’t smooth though and we meet an odd assortment of characters along the way.
The Year of Magical Thinking (Joan Didion)
This book was favorably mentioned several times during a symposium about memoirs. I knew nothing about the author, and had never read any of her many books. It has tended to reinforce my view on memoirs - I'm only interested in them if they cover an event of interest, or if I have some interest in the author. In this case the memoir takes us through the grieving process when the author loses her husband of nearly 40 years. It is well written, and perhaps at a different time in my life I might enjoy it more.
Dancing in the No Fly Zone (Hadani Ditmars)
I was disappointed.
Room (Emma Donoghue)
Jack is a five-year-old boy who has lived his entire life in one room. He is the child of his mother and the man who abducted her seven years earlier. Since the boy has never known any other life, he doesn’t find his daily routines at all strange, and he doesn’t long for anything different. In a daring move the mother and her son risk everything to be free. But if they do make it out, will freedom bring everything Jack's mother wants for her son? This is a great book.
The Garden of Last Days (Andre Dubus III)
The story revolves around the lives of April, an exotic dancer, and her daughter Franny. Jean, the downstairs landlady, looks after Franny while April works and the two have become quite attached. When Jean is taken to hospital with a heart problem April decides to take Franny to work with her "just for one night". The story adds in a terrorist, a disgruntled customer and one of the bouncers at the club so you get to know these characters and their backgrounds. Lots of story lines, all of them interesting, but I'm not sure the book held them together well enough.
The Memory Keeper's Daughter (Kim Edwards)
I loved it.
Sign of the Cross (Anne Emery)
I liked it.
Middlesex (Jeffrey Eugenides)
Very interesting.
Missing Pieces (Joy Fielding)
This author always provides a good read.
Heartstopper (Joy Fielding)
This book made the lunchroom rounds. I was completely surprised by the ending.
Kiss Mommy Goodbye (Joy Fielding)
Joy Fielding is always good for a quick read.
I’m a big fan of Joy Fielding, but when I first started this book I wasn’t sure I was going to like it. I thought perhaps it was just “the first book after a really good book” syndrome. I didn’t like the main character from the get-go and the storyline wasn’t my favorite as it deals with a woman convicted of the torture/murder of three children. As the story unfolded, I came to like the characters more and even thought I may have solved the mystery before the book ended. However, there are always surprise endings to her novels and I was wrong.
Grand Avenue (Joy Fielding)
I always think of Joy Fielding books as a bit of guilty reading, but I’m always surprised that once I start into one I can hardly put it down. No exception here. The story follows the lives of four young mothers who become friends when they meet at a neighborhood park. The story follows their lives as their friendship grows, and then wavers, and finally, under unforeseen circumstances, their lives are brought together again.
The Other Woman (Joy Fielding)
Another book I found hard to put down. A young student lawyer approaches Jill at a party and tells her that she is going to marry her husband, who is also a lawyer. At first Jill thinks this is some sort of joke, but as she herself was the “other woman” when she and her husband married, she continues to worry. As time passes, it becomes clear that there is something wrong in the relationship. It takes a surprising and violent act of a friend to bring Jill to understand the truth of what her life has become.
The First Time (Joy Fielding)
To her friends, Mattie Hart seems to have it all – married to a successful lawyer, mother to a beautiful teenaged daughter, and a job that includes shopping for art for her clients. She knows her husband is unfaithful and she has decided that she will strike out on her own and get her life back in order. After being on her own for only a short time Mattie is diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Although the subject matter is not easy, I found the book very interesting and very different from other Joy Fielding books.
The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)
This book has been out for quite awhile and the publication of a follow-up book spurred me on to read the first in the series. This was another electronic book (this time from Kindle) and although there were differences between iBook and Kindle I again enjoyed the experience. The story follows two families during the 1100’s – one a stone mason and another the daughter of an Earl. Of course their paths cross during their lives.
Hitman (David Foster with Pablo F. Fenjves)
I heard an interview with David Foster that made me want to read his memoir. As I read the book I felt he came across as very arrogant and the whole thing seemed like a brag fest. He is a huge fan of a couple of my favorite singers (Barbra and Celine), so at least we had that in common. After I finished the book I listened to replays of a couple of interviews and my impression of him was very different – quite humble and very humorous. Perhaps it was the tone of the book and, because I haven't heard him speak much, I had the wrong impression.
The Cellist of Sarajevo (Steven Galloway)
A very good book.
Killjoy (Julie Garwood)
I liked it.
Deception on his Mind (Elizabeth George)
This was my first Elizabeth George book and although I loved the mystery and the character development it wasn't as exciting as I had hoped for.
With No One As Witness (Elizabeth George)
I thought Elizabeth George was English, but she is an American writing about English detectives. This is the second book I've read by this author, and I was pleasantly surprised to recognize some of the characters. There is a serial killer loose in London and after six murders the detectives working the case seem no closer to finding the murderer than they were after the fourth murder, when they first realized they were looking for a serial killer. The clues in the investigation seem to be pointing everywhere, and just as you think the detectives have solved the mystery another lead appears. I loved the book from start to finish.
Gravity (Tess Gerritsen)
I liked it.
Bloodstream (Tess Gerritsen)
I liked it.
Sweetness in the Belly (Camilla Gibb)
Lilly, a young English child, traveled the world with her parents until they died suddenly while in Ethiopia. Lilly, left in the care of an Ethiopian teacher, becomes a devout Muslim. Due to her remote connection to Emperor Haile Selassie, Lilly is forced to flee Ethiopia when his rule comes to an end. Once in London, Lilly begins working with other refugees in their struggle to find lost family and friends. The story alternates between her time in Ethiopia and her work in London. Both parts of the story were fascinating.
Prairie Tale (Melissa Gilbert)
This was my first iBook experience and I wondered how it would compare with holding a “real” book in my hand. I enjoyed both the electronic reading experience and the book. I knew about Laura Ingalls as portrayed by Melissa Gilbert, but I knew very little about the rest of her acting experiences and her life. It was a good read, and Laura Ingalls has definitely grown up.
Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
Very interesting.
Garden of Lies (Eileen Goudge)
Review to follow.
Secret Daughter (Shilpi Somaya Gowda)
There are a couple of threads to the story. Part of the story is about Kavita who, due to the prejudice of Indian culture towards girls, has already lost one daughter. When a second daughter is born she makes a long trek to Mumbai where she places Usha up for adoption. The other thread of the story introduces Krishnan and Somer, both doctors, who are devastated to learn that they can’t have children of their own. Because Krishnan is Indian they return to Mumbai and adopt a baby girl named Asha. Asha has returned to India for a special journalism assignment but as she learns to love her Indian family she longs to know who her mother was and why she was given up for adoption. When her Grandmother passes her some information, Asha’s search takes on new meaning and importance. By the end of the story Asha has learned more about the love of her adoptive parents and family than she has about her biological mother. I loved the ending – you decide if it was happy or sad.
The Romantic (Barbara Gowdy)
Louise Kirk desperately wants to be adopted by her neighbour, Mrs. Richter, when her own mother mysteriously disappears from her life. As Louise is welcomed, but not adopted, by the family it is the son, Abel Richter, who she falls in love with. Although the romance is destined to fail, the book tells a really good story.
The Broker (John Grisham)
I liked it.
Bleachers (John Grisham)
Not as good as his legal stories.
Playing for Pizza (John Grisham)
Not as good as his legal stories.
Water for Elephants (Sara Gruen)
This is the best book I’ve read in a long time. The story is told from the point of view of a 90 (or 93) year old man, Jacob, who is looking back on his days working in the circus. The chapters are interspersed with life in the present, and reminiscences of Jacob’s days with the circus. It would be hard to decide which parts of the story I liked better – fortunately I didn’t have to make a choice. And who wouldn’t love a story about running away to join the circus – twice!
The Sudden Disappearance of Seetha (Andrea Gunraj)
Neela and Navi are children being raised by their grandmother because their mother has gone overseas to find, Navi is a gifted mathematician and wins a scholarship to study overseas. Neela has always been jealous of Navi’s skills and longs for something she can shine at. Neela wins a scholarship to attend a local Teachers College but the desire for change is so great that she accepts a position as a teacher in a camp where the governing party are building a resort (Eden) that they hope will attract tourists and help the country improve their economic conditions. Her boyfriend, Jaroon, follows her to the camp where he soon becomes a leader among the workers. As Jaroon’s power becomes stronger Neela realizes that she must leave the camp. When she arrives back home she finds her Grandmother has gone overseas to join her brother and mother, Just when things look like they might work out for Neela, Jaroon’s thugs kidnap the child, Seetha. Will Seetha be returned? Can this broken family be mended, or will Neela’s pride keep them apart?
The Journal of Mortifying Moments (Robyn Harding)
Laugh out loud funny.
Chronicles of a Mid-Life Crisis (Robyn Harding)
The first book I read by this Vancouver author (Journal of Mortifying Moments) was very funny, but I enjoyed this one even more. Perhaps it is my age, but I relate more to mid-life issues than dating issues. After 16 years of marriage Trent has decided to leave his wife (and his daughter by default). This act catches Lucy completely by surprise and devastates her. Trent begins an affair with a co-worker and Lucy is trying hard to avoid an affair with the star of the TV show she is working on. There were times when I was laughing out loud over this book.
The Heights (Peter Hedges)
The story is told from the point of view of several characters, but the main characters are a married couple, Tim and Kate, who live in a neighbourhood known as the Heights. When a rich couple, Philip and Anna, move into the neighbourhood Tim and Kate are drawn into their lives almost by accident. An old love re-enters Kate’s life, and Tim discovers he has a chance to be Anna’s lover, if only for one weekend.
Unbroken (Laura Hillenbrand)
Louis Zamperini, as a young man, appeared poised to make Olympic history running the 1500-meter sprint. World War II broke out before that happened and Louis signed up. This true account of Louis’ amazing life story was one I wasn’t anxious to read, but once I started I was mesmerized. The hardships faced and his triumph over many demons is remarkable.
Here on Earth (Alice Hoffman)
March Murray is surprised one day when her father brings home an orphaned boy, Hollis, after a trip to Boston. March takes to the boy right away, although he is quite standoffish, but her brother Alan makes life as difficult as possible. As the years pass Hollis and March fall in love. After her father dies and Alan takes control of the family holdings, Hollis disappears. After waiting for several years March moves to California. Several years later, with her daughter in tow, March heads back to her home to attend a funeral. Hollis has also returned, but he is now a wealthy widower who owns most of the properties in the town. Alan has become a reclusive alcoholic, and his son has been taken in by Hollis. This was an Oprah Book Club pick, and it is the first time I’ve questioned her choice.
The Knitting Circle (Ann Hood)
I knew about this book from an article I read in my Real Simple magazine. The author lost her 5-year-old daughter very suddenly and for almost two years afterwards she was unable to read or write. During this time she learned to knit, and found it a comfort that led her back into her literary world. This is a fictional account of a young mother who loses her child. Her absent mother encourages her to knit and puts her in touch with a knitting circle run by a woman who voluntarily teaches her to knit – scarves at first and by the end of the story she has graduated to sweaters. It is a sad but beautiful story and we learn that all the ladies (and man) in her knitting circle have heartaches of their own.
Somewhere Off the Coast of Maine (Ann Hood)
I liked this book the first time I read it and enjoyed it again for the second time. The story is about three very different young women who become friends while at college. The story follows their lives from the late sixties through to the mid-eighties. It was published in 1987 so was quite contemporary when I read it the first time. What struck me this time was the unexpected ways that the women's lives changed over the years. And I liked that there was no climax - the lives of these "real" women were just going to continue and the women they had become would deal with whatever came their way.
Places to Stay the Night (Ann Hood)
Another re-read of a book from my past. Tom and Libby are high school sweethearts from a small town and marry right after graduation. They have a son and a daughter and both are well respected in the town, although we see that the family is slightly dysfunctional. Renata attended the same school but was always "odd" and leaves for New York right after graduation. Seventeen years later, Libby has suddenly left her family and set out for Las Angeles and Renata, with a terminally ill daughter, has returned "home". How will Tom and the kids cope with Libby's absence? Will Renata find the miracle she is hoping for?
The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
This book has been on my book list and on the bookshelf for quite some time. It is a brief glimpse into the life of two young boys. Although they have always been aware of the difference in their social class one day a single event leads to a distancing between the two that seems impossible to bridge. The story is set in Afghanistan in the 1970’s, follows through to one family’s escape and immigration to the States in the 1980’s, and a trip back into Afghanistan in the 1990’s during the Taliban rule.
I loved it. Her choice of words is exquisite. The characters are well developed and I could "see" every scene.
Never Let Me Go (Kazuo Ishiguro)
Very interesting, and it wasn't until I was a bit into the story that I realized what was going on.