Dear Mr. M is my third book by Herman Koch, and I think it's safe to say that I'm a fan. I previously read The Dinner and Summer House With Swimming Pool, both of which were captivatingly disturbing in their own rights. Like these books, Dear Mr. M is a complicated story made up of flawed characters and sinister acts, but it's far less disturbing than his previous books. In … [Read more...]
The Mothers: A Judgment Free and Mesmerizing Novel
Following her mother's suicide, Nadia Turner is hurting. At 17, she has good grades and is filled with dreams and ambitions, but she also harbors a hole in her heart that she fills with rebellious acts. So when Luke Sheppard, an older boy and son of the local pastor, shows interest and compassion, they ensconce themselves in a world of their own making. But young … [Read more...]
‘Commonwealth’ Doesn’t Live Up to the Hype
Every year there's a bestselling novel that I can't get onboard with. In years past it has been The Book Thief, Fates and Furies, and The Luminaries, and this year it's The Vegetarian by Han Kang and Commonwealth by Ann Patchett. It's not that I don't understand the underlying complexities within both stories, nor that I don't appreciate the writing, but rather that I … [Read more...]
‘Winter of the World’ Hits Close to Home
Every time I pick up a Ken Follett novel, particularly one of his trilogies, I know I'm going to love it. I first discovered him with Pillars of the Earth, which is a stunning historical fiction series about the building of a cathedral, and was such a hit it was turned into a mini-series. His latest trilogy, The Century Trilogy, is just as stunning but takes place in more … [Read more...]
Escaping the Wreckage of Another’s Crime in ‘The Veins of the Ocean’
Reina had a hard life. Her relationship with her mother is complicated and she was raised believing she was cursed. By the age of 30, her brother was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Living with her own private guilt for her role in her brother's crime, she gave up her own life to remain by his side as best she could. So when Carlito dies, Reina is forced to … [Read more...]
Slow and Steady, ‘A Gentleman in Moscow’ Shines
A few years ago, I fell in love with a book called Rules of Civility by Amor Towles. At the time, I was hesitant to pick it up for a number of reasons but it ended up on my list of favorites that year and I knew that I would read Towles' next book. It took a few years, but that book, A Gentleman in Moscow, is finally here. It's a long, serious, novel that demands you pay … [Read more...]
‘The Girls’ and the Allure of Teenage Rebelliousness
Fifteen years ago I read Helter Skelter, the comprehensive book detailing Charles Manson, his followers, and the horrific murders they committed. I remember reading it when my parents were out of town - racing through the pages all through the night and sleeping during the daytime because I was afraid to go to sleep under the cover of darkness. Some of the most haunting … [Read more...]
Childhood Bonds and Environmental Destruction Collide in ‘Marrow Island’
When Marrow Island by Alexis M. Smith popped up in my library feed, I was intrigued. I was first drawn to the cover but the synopsis, which sounded a lot like a real-life, post-apocalyptic eco-cult of a book, had me hooked. It's the story of Lucie, who, as a child, was forced to leave her home after an earthquake devastated the island and killed her father, who worked … [Read more...]