Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.0/5.0 - Some books I can fly through, others need to savored, read slowly, and perhaps put aside and read again at a later date. I struggle with literary fiction, I want a book to tell a story, rather than be focused on characters or setting. Gilead is a beautifully written book, in fact, the list of awards it won includes: Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (2005), Orange Prize Nominee for Fiction Longlist (2006), PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction Nominee (2005), Ambassador Book Award for Fiction (2005), Los Angeles Times Book Prize Nominee for Fiction (2004), Chicago Tribune Heartland Prize for Fiction (2005), Rodda Book Award (2006), National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction (2004), Frederic G. Melcher Book Award (2004), Society of Midland Authors Award for Adult Fiction (2005), Grawemeyer Award for Religion (2006). It is written in an epistolary manner, John Ames, at 76, knows his days are numbered. He has a wife, who is half his age, and a beloved young son, who was a gift to him in his old age. Keenly aware that he won't be there to guide his son for much longer, he spends time each day writing in a diary, trying to impart a lifetime of wisdom and guidance. He tells of growing up, the son of a preacher, who was a son of a preacher, of the Civil War and its aftermath, and how that affected his father. He tells of his boyhood, meeting his first wife and losing her in childbirth, and many years later, finding Lila. He speaks of faith, regret, philosophy and theology.
The structure of the book could be off-putting to some, it has no chapters, no clear divisions except some spacing between paragraphs that would indicate the next setting in his writing. One could even say it rambles. This is the first book of the Gilead series, I have previously read Lila, and will read the others.
Book 226 of 2021

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The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis

The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.0/5.0 - This historical fiction alternates between the 1920s - Clara's story, and Virginia's story in the 1970's, finally tying them together by the end. The Grand Central Terminal in NYC plays a major role in both timelines, being the location of the Grand Central School of Art from 1923-1944, and as a subject of the campaign to save the terminal from destruction.
For fans of books about NYC, Grand Central Terminal, or the art world, and readers of historical fiction.
Book 224 of 2021

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It's a wrap

The 2021 garlic harvest is a wrap. The photos show our remaining fresh (we've used or shared a like amount already), our 250-300 seed garlic (each head will yield 4-5 cloves), 4.5 lbs of frozen garlic, and 2.5 lbs of dehydrated. And the harvest wouldn't be complete without memorializing my broken arm, which I got when disturbing a yellowjacket nest while digging the last of the garlic.

Home for the Summer by Holly Chamberlin

Home for the Summer by Holly Chamberlin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.0/5.0 - After a tragic accident steals the life of Ariel and her father, Aaron, while the family is on a dream vacation to Jamaica, remaining family members, Bella and her mother, Frieda, struggle to put their lives back together. The first year is so difficult, they decide to spend the summer in Maine, with Ruby, Frieda's mother. During that summer, so much changes for both of them, new friends and responsibilities, and even a reconnection with Frieda's father. It is a summer of healing and love.
Book 220 of 2021

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The passage of time

One of my favorite artists once said, "The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time." How do you measure that passage? What value can you put on 69.5% of your life? Or 65% of another's? Those are the percentage of our lives that John and I have shared together. Today, 45 years. A long road. Four children, thirteen foster children, one niece for whom we were guardians, six grandchildren, one son-in-law, two daughters-in-law. Shared losses, our parents, his sister. Sickness and health, richer and poorer. Four states, seven towns, fourteen residences, and four homes we owned. Numbers. Sharing dreams, supporting one another, fighting, loving, growing. Traveling and seeing different things through one another's eyes. Learning, loving, worshiping, quiet companionship, loud bickering. Learning to compromise, struggling when we both want to be right, in charge. Raising our children and enjoying our grandchildren. Listening to books together, working in the garden, nights in the hot tub watching the stars. Baking bread, making meals, getting groceries. The little things that make a life. Playing peek-a-boo with August, watching the boys run, sending goodies to the kids in college. Playing pinochle with family, taking walks in the park. Struggling to find the answer to why John was dying, and fighting to keep that from happening. Grieving the loss of friends and family members who passed on.Figuring out what we want to do with the rest of our lives together.

Paul Simon was right.

Give us a smile Isn't it a lovely ride? Sliding down, gliding down Try not to try too hard It's a lovely ride Isn't it a lovely ride? Sliding down, I'll be gliding down Try not to try too hard It's just a lovely ride

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5.0/5.0 - This debut novel takes place in the Wembley section of London, and is one of my favorite genres - books about books. The reading list contains eight books, ranging from Pride and Prejudice to Life of Pi, with a note - in case you could use this. There are a number of these found in the neighborhood, a few in the library, one in temple, and another on the ground. Who has created the list remains a mystery until the end. But the fact is that each person who finds a list has a strong connection to the same person. A reader herself, this person is loving and giving, and knows people will need something to help them get on with their lives.
These people eventually come together in different ways, but always through the magic of books, and share their thoughts, their weaknesses, and their strengths. The library plays an important role in their lives before the book concludes, even though it may not have before.
This is one of the few books that I could read again and again!
Book 216 of 2021

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The Patchwork Bride by Sandra Dallas

The Patchwork Bride by Sandra Dallas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5/5.0 - Sandra Dallas is a favorite author of mine. I've read at least seventeen of her books, and there are several common elements - a strong woman seeking her way in the world, quilting, and a setting that almost always includes Colorado. This book contained them all, including two generations of women - June, a twenty-something, fresh out of college in the 1950s, who comes to her grandparents house, fleeing from an impending marriage. Her grandmother, Nell/Ellen, tells her the story of her life, and three marriages she also fled from, before finding happiness with grandpa Ben. A good solid addition to the Sandra Dallas collection.
Book 211 of 2021

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Dreams of Falling by Karen White

Dreams of Falling by Karen White
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.0/5.0 - In a small southern town, three girls, Margaret, CeeCee and Bitty are best friends. As a graduation present to themselves, they go to Margaret's aunt's home in Myrtle Beach, where two of the girls fall in love with brothers. One night together brings lasting consequences for the group. But its 1951, the younger brother feels a duty to enter the military, like the older brother did.
Fast forward two generations, twins Mabry and Bennett are best friends with Larkin, the granddaughter. Larkin's mother, Ivy (child of Margaret and a brother), was raised by CeeCee and Boyd, after Margaret dies in a devastating fire.
It's a wonderful example of southern lit, with just a little bit of magical realism thrown in, as well as love, friendship, a plantation house in ruins, and secrets. Always secrets.
Book 209 of 2021

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Indemnity Only by Sara Paretsky

Indemnity Only by Sara Paretsky
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5.0/5.0 - I'm not sure why I've never read this author before, this book was excellent. I see her as the model for other female detectives to come - Stephanie Plum, Kinsey Millhone, strong, independent, sure of herself. Unlike a different book I recently read, which was also the first book in a series, this book builds a background for V.I. that makes her seem like a real person, with a full life story. Thoroughly enjoyed this almost 40 year old offering, and will probably read more. A couple of notes to finish up - she references Sir Peter Wimsey several times, a character I have just become familiar with, and one of the characters uses the alias Joe Hill (also an alias for Stephen King's son, and a new character alias on Blue Bloods).
Book 202 of 2021

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Memorial Drive: A Daughter's Memoir by Natasha Trethewey

Memorial Drive: A Daughter's Memoir by Natasha Trethewey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.0/5.0 - Natasha Trethewey is the former US Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner, whose mother was murdered by her estranged stepfather when Natasha was 19 years old. This well written book is her attempt to come to terms with it, after more than three decades. In an interview with Atlanta, Trethewey explains her motivation for writing the memoir when she did.

And in the telling of my backstory, there was mention of my mother as a footnote or an afterthought, as this victim, as this murdered woman. And she was being written out of the story, I think, in terms of her real, important role in my life. People were drawing a direct line from my father, who was also a poet, to me being a poet, and it troubled me because, not only was he a poet, but he was my white parent; he was also my male parent. When I was growing up in the deep South, white people would say to me when I did anything well, “Oh, that’s your white side,” as if nothing good came from the other side. So, I wanted to set the record straight. I felt like if she was going to be mentioned in my backstory, she was going to have her proper place as the reason I write—to contend with that great loss.

(Atlanta, Sept. 2020). Excellent book, if difficult to read.
Book 203 of 2021

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