The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

I heard about this book several years ago and picked it up a good while back but for some reason I just never got around to reading it. So when I needed to pick a book for my book club for this year I decided to choose this one so I would finally get it read. I'm so glad I did.

A.J. Fikry lives on Alice Island, on the Northeast Coast of the United States, not far from Providence, Rhode Island. Although still a young man, he has been recently widowed after his wife dies in a car accident. A.J. is still running their independent book store but his heart is no longer in it. He's drinking heavily, not taking care of himself and hating his life. The one item of value he had in his life was a rare copy of Tamerlane by Edgar Allan Poe and it gets stolen from his house one night after he has had too much to drink. This book was his retirement savings plan and now his financial future is uncertain because the book store isn't making a lot of money.

Then one day there is an unexpected delivery at the store and A.J.'s life changes in an instant.

This is a delightful read, filled with talk about other books. Because A.J. runs a book store he is always talking about books with other characters. Book lovers will love that aspect of the story. I love A.J.'s opinionated ways and his strong feelings about literature (many of which I share). The book is filled with fun characters and an engaging story. Maybe it all comes together a little too easily, but it is still a sweet little book. It won't take you long to read it, but almost everyone in our book club enjoyed it. One member said she wasn't really getting into it, but everyone else really enjoyed it.

I really don't think you can go wrong with this one, especially if you are the type of person who could spend hours browsing in an independent or used book store. This one was a big hit for me.

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Only four people were able to attend our book club meeting last weekend and none of us had finished the book. It was expensive with long waits at the library so some of us had a hard time getting our hands on a copy. I actually bought a digital copy (which I really don't like doing, I love turning actual pages) so I could read it. I'm so glad I did. This one was a big win for me.

This is the story of Count Alexander Rostov who, in 1922, was tried and convicted of being an "unrepentant aristocrat" and sentenced to life under house arrest in the Hotel Metropol in Moscow. He is given a tiny room in the attics of the hotel and eventually given a job as the head waiter in their high end restaurant. The Count is forced to watch as the Russia he loves crumbles and is replaced by new leaders and new ideology. From his place within the hotel he watches the  country change over the course of several decades. He creates a family made up of the employees of the hotel, along with some other notable guests. As he ages he is given the responsibility of raising his friend's daughter, Sophia. Not knowing anything about children he is a bit overwhelmed at first but can't imagine how big a role Sophia would go on to play in his life.

Admittedly, I don't know a lot about Russia's history but I found this to be a fascinating read as you see how the ideologies shifted and how that affected the people. I was intrigued by stories of propaganda (rural peasants not being allowed in the cities, city residents not being allowed in the country, train windows being blacked out) so no one could truly see how others were being affected by all the changes.

In addition to being a great story it was also beautifully written. Some parts were quite funny, some heartbreaking, but it was all beautifully done. This guy definitely has a way with words.

If you are looking for a book with a lot of action, this isn't the book for you. It's certainly not a page-turner in the traditional sense. Because it is all set in the hotel, there's not a lot happening. But the wonderful writing, fascinating history and interesting characters combine to make a fantastic, quiet read.

The Accidental Further Adventures of the Hundred-Year Old Man by Jonas Jonasson

Several years ago, I, like many others, found myself completely enamoured with Allan Karlsson, The 100-Year Old Man Who Climbed Out a Window and Then Disappeared. I found the book to be incredibly unique and laugh-out-loud funny. I bought it as a gift for several people and recommended it highly.

I hesitatingly watched the movie when it was on Netflix and really enjoyed that as well.

I started another book by the same author the next year (The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden) but just couldn't get into it. It is one of three books I have abandoned in my reading career (accompanied by Catch-22 and Captain Corelli's Mandolin). It just wasn't for me. Last year Rob read and thoroughly enjoyed Jonasson's Hitman Anders and the Meaning of it All  but after my experience with  The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden I didn't read it myself.

For this reason I found myself a bit torn when I saw this book in Costco this summer. I just wasn't sure what I would think of it. Would it recapture the magic of the first book or would it mirror his later writing that I didn't enjoy? The first book is one of Rob's all-time favourite books so he bought it right away. He has been too busy with work to read so he gave it to me to read first under strict instructions not to reveal anything about the book to him.

Soooo, it's good he's probably not reading this.

It was a huge disappointment. There were a few funny sentences here and there, but overall it just wasn't interesting. It was very political which just isn't my thing. There are no flashbacks to Allan's past in this book (I guess the whole 100 years had been covered in the first book) so it was all set in the current day. Donald Trump, Kim Jong-Un and Angela Merkel are all characters. This is more of an ensemble story so Allan is almost like a supporting character (and kind of an annoying one at that). We all know Donald Trump is unstable and boorish. I hear about it on the news all the time. I read to get away from that sort of thing.

I did read to the end, but it wasn't worth it. If you loved the first one, like I did, then leave it at that. Don't spoil your image of that book by reading this one.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

I first heard about this book back when it was released and I saw an interview with the author on television. It seemed like a fun read, but I never got around to it. A couple of weeks ago I was in a book store with a gift card and it was on display again, preparing for the upcoming release of the movie. While in the store both a staff member and other customers saw me looking at it and recommended it highly. So I picked it up.

I'd call this one a fun summer read. Definitely not my favourite book of all time, but still fun.

This is the story of Rachel Chu, a Economics Professor in New York City. Her boyfriend, Nick Young, invites her to travel to Singapore with him for his best friend's wedding. What he doesn't tell her is that his family is one of the wealthiest families in Singapore and that this wedding is on par with a royal wedding. Rachel is completely unprepared for the lavish, extravagant lifestyle Nick's family leads and it leads to all sorts of problems.

Nick's mother doesn't know he is dating Rachel and isn't happy that Rachel doesn't come from a recognizable family tree. She wants Nick to marry someone rich, who can add to the family fortune. Nick's wife must be someone from the "right kind" of family and Rachel doesn't fit that bill.

I feel like some of these scenes were written with a possible movie in mind. The beautiful settings, incredibly scenery and over-the-top luxury will look incredible on the big screen.

The book is supposed to satirize the lifestyle these people lead, but at times I just found their disregard for how much things cost disturbing. The amount of money wasted was troubling at times.

One criticism I have is that when words need to be translated, this was done in a footnote at the bottom of the page. If I read that word again and couldn't remember where it was first mentioned, it was hard to find the right footnote. I would have preferred a glossary of Chinese terms at the end of the book as an easier reference.

For the most part, a fun read. I'll probably read the other two books in the series just to see where the story goes.

Pride and Prejudice Manga Edition by Jane Austen and Stacy King

I have written often about two things: the fact that I don't like adaptations of my favourite books and the fact that I love classic novels being adapted into graphic novels. So, now those two things have combined and I was hesitant to see how I would feel about it.

After falling in love with the Sense and Sensibility Manga edition a few weeks ago, Darcy and I got in line for the Manga edition of Pride and Prejudice. P & P is #2 on my all-time favourite books list and the source of Darcy's name. Once we picked it up from the library, she pounced on it and finished it 3 times in a day and a half. Darcy absolutely loved it and now can't wait to watch the BBC miniseries (be still my heart). Then it was my turn to read it.

I thought it was great! It was a very true adaptation of the original story, once again featuring incredible art. They inserted little character introductions throughout the story, which I thought was a fun touch and would help someone new to P & P understand the characters a little better. I don't think the characters were as well developed here as they are in the full version of the book so those backgrounds helped.

It's not the original, but it's a great, fun, modern interpretation. It made Darcy pick up the original, but she still found the language a bit daunting.

All in all, this is a fun way to spend an afternoon. It could help introduce a new generation of readers to this classic story. Take a look for it at your local library and let me know what you think.

Shooter by Caroline Pignat

Caroline Pignat is one of Darcy's favourite authors (she actually got to attend a writing workshop with Caroline earlier this year) who is actually based in Ottawa and is a high school teacher here. She writes books aimed at teens and teens love them. This one was released while I was doing my placement in a high school library and it was in high demand. Darcy read it then, but later bought the book at a meet and greet with the author at a local Chapters store. She's been on my case to read it ever since so I took the opportunity during my summer vacation to give it a read.

Anyone in my age group knows and loves the movie The Breakfast Club. We loved watching those five students trapped together in Saturday detention, starting the day as strangers and ending the day as friends. The situations they faced forced them to see beyond high school labels to the real people inside.

Shooter operates in much the same way. 5 students are trapped in the boys' bathroom during a school lockdown. Each student speaks in their own unique voice (poetry, prose, text messages, writing journals) and they combine to tell the story of what happens that day in their school. There's Alice, a lonely writer who is a caregiver to her older brother, Noah, who has autism. Hogan is a former football player who is always in trouble after the death of his older brother. Isabelle is the student council president and always feels pressured to present a perfect image to the other students and her parents. The final student is Xander, a social misfit who sees the world better through the lens of his camera and needs to do "social autopsies" on conversations after they happen so he can understand what transpired.

At the beginning they assume the lockdown is a drill, or simply related to a series of pranks that have been happening at the school in recent weeks. Things change when Isabelle receives a text from her friend locked down in the office that this isn't a drill or a prank, there is a shooter in the school.

These five students need to understand each other (and more about themselves) in order to get through. Maybe there is more to perfect Isabelle than she lets on. Hogan's painful past has damaged him in ways he can't get past. Alice feels a huge responsibility for Noah and may have to put her own dreams aside to help care for him. Xander is trying to fit in in a world he doesn't understand and the one friend he thought he had leads him on a dangerous path. These students look to each other and into themselves to learn how to work together to survive.

I loved reading this book and I highly recommend it for anyone, but especially any teens you may have in your life. My library doesn't currently own a copy of this book, but I'll be getting one during this school year. Please look into Caroline's work and support this fantastic local author! Here is a link to a review I did of Egghead a few years ago.

The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure

This is me getting the jump on my fall book club meeting by reading the book during the summer! I'm a book club superstar! I also happen to be temporarily unemployed...

I hadn't heard anything about this book when it was selected for our club and I don't remember when I bought it. It has been on my shelf for a few months and I finally picked it up last week.

This is the story of Lucien Bouchard who, as you can probably guess from the title, is an architect based in Paris. The year is 1942, so Paris is under German occupation during WWII. The occupation is definitely hindering Lucien's ambitions of becoming a famous architect. There is little to no work to be found. Lucien is approached by a very wealthy man with a challenging proposition. Can Lucien create a space where Jewish people can safely hide during Gestapo raids? It has be better than a false wall in the back of the closet. If he is successful he will be given commissions to design factories for the Germans which means he'll finally be able to prove to the world that is a talented architect.

Lucien is a selfish man. He has never done anything just out of kindness. Hiding Jewish people is a death sentence for anyone involved and their family. He doesn't love his wife, but he still doesn't want to put her life at risk by getting involved. Yet the money provided by these jobs will allow him to once again enjoy some of life's luxuries that he had been missing since the occupation began. So he takes the job, but only for the money. He wants no part of helping these people, but it's the only way to advance his career during war time.

As you can imagine this creates a series of problems for Lucien and his life takes turns he was not expecting. It's a wonderful story with fantastic characters. It's an interesting look at why we do the things we do and how taking a risk can lead to something amazing. I just read that the film rights have already been purchased and I think it will make a beautiful movie.

I don't remember which of my book club members chose this book, but whoever she is, I'm glad she did! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one and highly recommend it. And to any book club members reading this, my copy is available to borrow before the September meeting, first come, first served!

Sense and Sensibilty Manga Edition by Jane Austen and Stacy King

It's no secret that I've not always been a big fan of adaptations/sequels of my favourite books. I hate when the stories and characters are changed from their original forms.

However, I am becoming a big fan of classic stories being told in a new way. Graphic novels are a great way to introduce new readers to these amazing stories. Wesley has recently read graphic novel versions of Frankenstein and Dracula and loved them. Amelia has a graphic novel of Anne of Green Gables and then on a recent trip to the library I stumbled across this version of Sense and Sensibility. Darcy read it first and fell in love with it. After I told her about all the Harry Potter actors who were in the movie she needed to see that right away. We absolutely loved watching that together.

I have now read the book myself and only have great things to say about it. The adaptation is very true to the original story, using the original text in most cases. The art is beautiful and adds a wonderful dimension to the story.

In true manga form this book reads from right to left so that took a bit of getting used to, but I was fine after a page or two. They also include a manga reading lesson at the beginning of the book to help old timers like me.

If you are looking for a new twist on an old favourite, give it a try. We are now waiting in line for Pride and Prejudice in manga form. I hope I love it just as much as I loved this one.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

This book has been on a lot of lists for YA reads over the past year. I added it to my school library and recently brought it home to read it.

This is the story of Starr, a 16-year old girl living in a predominantly black area of an unnamed US city. In her neighbourhood of Garden Heights gangs are everywhere, drugs are easily available and she watched one of her two best friends get killed in a drive-by shooting when they were ten years old. When she is 16, she leaves a party (because shooting has broken out) with her other best friend, Khalil.

Starr felt out of place at the party because she doesn't go to school in Garden Heights. Her parents send her to a private school in the city to give her and her brothers a shot at a better education. She feels she has to be one Starr in Garden Heights and a completely different Starr at school. At school she can't be too "black", or invite friends back to her home in the "ghetto".

On the way home from the party with Khalil, they are stopped by the police because Khalil has a taillight missing. As Khalil reaches into the car to see if Starr is OK, the officer begins shooting and Khalil is shot three times and he dies there, with Starr again watching one of her bests friends dying.

This is a powerful look at race relations in a country where things seem to be getting worse, not better. Although not based on an actual case, we've all followed similar stories in the news. I felt the book to be very well-written and I read it very quickly.

I can't imagine living in many of the situations faced in the book, they are things I've never had to face as a white, Canadian woman. It's definitely eye-opening and shocking. I recommend it.

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

I picked this one up at a used bookstore last summer and it has been on my shelf ever since. I've seen it around and know it has been a popular book, but thrillers aren't really my thing even though they're a huge trend in books right now. However, summer vacation has begun and so has my summer reading. I thought this would be a fun place to start.

I was right. It's far from being the most exciting book I've ever read but it was a good, suspenseful read. I was intrigued enough to want to keep reading and even stayed up late a couple of nights to keep reading. That's not a luxury I allow myself during the school year!

This is the story of Laura (Lo) Blacklock, a travel journalist who is just about to embark on a luxury cruise ship with only 10 cabins. She is trying to advance in her career and this could be the opportunity she has been looking for to help her make her mark. However, just days before her departure, her home is broken into leaving Lo feeling nervous and afraid. She has always had panic attacks which she was managing with medication but now they are resurfacing. She can't sleep and is constantly afraid. She hopes the trip will allow her some time to relax and get her fears under control.

The first night on board she meets the small group of people she's travelling with, including her ex-boyfriend. There are other journalists, a few investors and a very helpful staff all travelling together. After a lovely dinner and a few too many drinks, Lo returns to her room to finally try to get some sleep. She is awakened by a scream and a splash and she's convinced she's just heard a body be thrown overboard from the cabin next door. There had been a woman in there earlier (Lo had borrowed some mascara from her) but that woman hadn't appeared at dinner. When Lo calls the ship's security to come investigate they don't seem to believe her and tell her that no one was registered to stay in that cabin and he shows her that the cabin is uninhabited. Everyone else on board is accounted for, and no one believes that she saw a woman in that cabin earlier. So what did Lo hear, who went overboard, and where did that woman go? Who was she?

One of my problems with thrillers is that they take too long to end. Even after you have figured out the mystery there are still a bunch of scary situations thrown in just to keep you on the edge of your seat a big longer. I really hate that. She could have cut about 20 pages out of the end of the book and still had a great story.

Again, it wasn't the greatest mystery I've ever read but it was fun and it was a page turner. If you are looking for a book to take on vacation, this would be a great one.

A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler

I seem to have fallen behind in my blogging. The end of the school year was so busy, followed by a fun first week of summer vacation. I seem to have some time to myself today, so let's see how we do.

A Spool of Blue Thread was our book club selection for June. I wasn't quite finished in time for the meeting but finished a day or two later.

This is the story of Red and Abby Whitshank and their family, both the generation before them and then their own children and grandchildren. Red and Abby live in Baltimore in a house that had previously been built and loved by Red's father. The house is the centre of their universe and as much a member of the family as any of their children.

Red and Abby's son Denny has always demanded a lot of their attention and energy, leaving the other children struggling for their parents attention. Denny has never seemed like part of the family, despite his mother's constant attention, or maybe because of that. The others make their way through life, dependably reliable, but always hoping for a bit more attention from their parents, especially their mom.

I found this to be a beautifully written book, but there just isn't a lot of action. The story is full of interesting characters but leaves you with a very unsatisfying ending. We get to read the back story of how Red and Abby met and fell in love, and even how Red's parents met and began their relationship. There's a lot of background given, but not a lot of resolution. You finish the book with nearly as many questions as you have at the beginning.

If you like to finish a book with all your i's dotted and your t's crossed then this isn't the book for you. But if you enjoy a slow moving story with fun and interesting characters then you would probably enjoy this one. Our group was a bit mixed with it, a few didn't finish it and no one raved about it. It's not a page-turner but it is a well-written book.

The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James

It is a truth universally acknowledged that I am a big fan of Jane Austen. I've read all of her books, some of them several times. I've also read a lot of other peoples' takes on her work, especially "sequels" to Pride and Prejudice. Without fail, they annoyed me. Whenever an author takes on Jane's familiar characters I feel like that author doesn't understand them as well as I do. I had promised myself that I wouldn't read anything else adding to work. Then this book was chosen as our book club selection for May so I found myself reluctantly entering someone else's views on Jane Austen again.

This book pretends to be Jane's actual memoirs. The premise is that these journals were found in a house that once belonged to her brother. You read the book as if you were reading Jane's own diary. As you read, if you are familiar with her works you will recognize many of the characters and scenes as being from Jane's books, as if she had modelled the scenes after people she had met.

As far as someone else putting their own spin on Jane Austen, this is the best one I've read. That's not to say I liked it, but it was better than most of the others. It just didn't feel original to me, because I had already read most of these scenes before in Jane Austen's own books. It was funny to see how the author wove the different characters and scenes into her story, but it all just felt so familiar as I was reading.

On it's own it was a fun story with a nice romance thrown in. However you also might not enjoy it much if you don't know Jane Austen's works and don't understand the characters and scenes Syrie James is referencing. It was a pretty quick read and I didn't hate it, but I feel like Jane Austen's work can stand on its own and doesn't need anyone else's interpretation.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

A few weeks ago some students in grade 7 were trying to decide on books to use for novel studies. Several groups wanted to use this book, based on its description as one of the best mystery stories of all time. So many wanted to read it that we didn't have enough copies at our school and we needed to borrow some from other schools. They were so excited about it, that I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

You see, I'd never actually read an Agatha Christie book before. I don't often read mysteries, because I when I can't solve them I stay up all night reading them and I'm far too old for that sort of thing now.

And this one sucked me right in. This is the story of 10 strangers who are all, through various means, invited to stay at a mysterious island. Once they arrive it is discovered that each person has at some point in their life been responsible for the death of another person (or people) in a way that the law can't possibly get involved. Has the time finally come for them to pay the ultimate price for their actions?

Suddenly, one by one, they start dying. Who is killing them? Who brought them all there? Will anyone survive?

It's no surprise this is considered to be one of the best mystery stories of all time. Agatha Christie's storytelling is superb, the elements of the mystery are fun and engaging. You will be wondering "whodunnit" the whole time and still turning some questions over in your mind once you are done.

One caution I will make is that this book was originally published in 1939, so some racial/cultural terms are used that are no longer appropriate.

If summer ever comes, this would be a fun beach/vacation read. If it doesn't come, it sure helped me get through a cold rainy weekend. It's a fun read that you will not want to put down until you're done.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

Although this is a classic children's book, I had somehow escaped reading it. I know a lot of people love it and with the movie being released I wanted to give it a read.

It's just not my thing. Maybe it's a bit too science-fictiony for me. I just didn't love it. Darcy really wants to see the movie and we'll probably see it at some point, but I don't think I'll go on to read the rest of the series.

This is the story of Meg Murry, a young lady who doesn't seem to fit in. She is bright, but not in a way that does well in school. She doesn't have a lot of friends and is constantly in trouble. Life at home is pretty good with her mom and three brothers. Her dad, however, is a scientist who is doing special work for the government and all communication from him has mysteriously stopped. The family doesn't know where he is or what has happened to him. Everyone in town thinks he has left them but Meg knows that isn't true.

Her youngest brother, Charles Wallace, strikes up a friendship with some ladies who live in a "haunted house" not far from the Murry's house. While visiting the ladies, Meg and Charles Wallace meet Calvin, a popular boy from Meg's school. Meg, Charles Wallace and Calvin suddenly find themselves on an incredible adventure, with the help of Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which, the ladies from the haunted house. Will it lead them to finding Meg's dad? Where has he been all this time? Is he safe? Will they be safe?

I'm not a lover of science fiction and this was too much in that genre for my liking. However I loved the characters. You just want to pick Charles Wallace up and squeeze him. And you are constantly rooting for Meg to see her worth and realize all she can achieve. She is a fantastic female lead character, a great role model for young readers.

While I was reading the book, Darcy and Wesley read the graphic novel version and both loved it. The art is beautiful and much of the story is kept intact. It's a great alternative, but the rest of the series doesn't seem to be released in graphic novel format yet.

As with any classic, I'm glad I've read it. It won't be one I return to over and over, but I'm still glad to have read it once.

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

This was my book club's selection for March and even though I couldn't make the meeting I still finished the book (although I finished it a few hours after the meeting was held). I'm glad I did.

This is the story of Belle and Lavinia, a woman and a girl both in slavery on the same Virginia plantation in the late 1700's. Belle is the illegitimate daughter of the plantation owner and Lavinia is a white child who was purchased after her parents died on one of the ships owned by the plantation owner. He kept the girl in payment for her passage from Ireland. She is given to Belle who runs the kitchen house on the plantation and she is raised as Belle's daughter.

Both characters find themselves in between the other slaves and the members of the family. Belle sometimes gets special treatment as the owner's daughter and is anticipating getting her emancipation papers from her father. She is forbidden to marry one of the slaves, who she loves, as her father is trying to find a more "suitable" marriage for her. Lavinia, because she is white is given opportunities the other slaves aren't given.

This was an awful time in history and it can make for difficult reading at times. People are bought and sold and treated like animals. They are put in positions no one should have to face. But through it all you see the strength of many of the characters. Rape, domestic violence, alcohol and drug addiction, incest and child molestation all factor into the story. There is a lot of suffering and death.

While not always an easy read, I still found the story really compelling and couldn't put it down. I worked through this one pretty quickly. The subject matter makes it hard to say I "enjoyed" the book, but I found it to be well-written and a good read. I loved the characters (well the ones I was supposed to love and I hated the ones I was supposed to hate). I do want to say there's not a lot here to set this apart from other books set in this time period, but it is still a good read.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Wesley read this book last fall and has been encouraging me to read it ever since. I started it one day on my lunch break and then a student borrowed it later that afternoon so I never got around to finishing it. He has now ended up with two copies so I have borrowed one and finally got to it. I am so glad I did.

Wonder is the story of August (Auggie) Pullman, a young boy who was born with severe facial deformities. Even after several surgeries his eyes sit too low on his face, his lips are scarred from a cleft palate repair, his ears are misshapen and his his skin looks as if he has been burned. As a result, Auggie has been homeschooled until the fourth grade. But by the time he is ready for fifth grade, his parents decide it is time for him to go to "real school".

Auggie then heads to Beecher Prep, a private school in the heart of New York City. Being the new student is hard, being the new student with Auggie's face is incredibly difficult. He is nervous as he tries to make new friends and deal with the stares and taunts of the other students. What he doesn't know about at first is that the other students are afraid to touch him for fear of catching "the plague". A few students befriend him, but others are cruel and the transition to school is very hard. Auggie wants to quit, but is convinced to continue on.

What will Auggie learn about himself as he goes to school each day, and what will his classmates learn about themselves. At the beginning of the school year they are challenged with the words of Dr. Wayne Dyer, "When given the choice between being right and being kind, choose kind." Great advice for all of us, but how often do we make that choice?

While this is a book aimed at kids aged 10-12, I'd highly recommend it to anyone. It is a great lesson in looking beyond appearances to see the wonder that lies within each of us. Wes and I are going to check out the movie tomorrow morning and I can hardly wait. I hear they've done a wonderful job of bringing Auggie's story to the big screen and I'm looking forward to seeing it.

The Names of Dead Girls by Eric Rickstad

There are all kinds of books in the world and all kinds of readers. You win some, you lose some and for me this one was a loss. It has a 3.89/5 rating on Goodreads, so there are clearly people who have liked the book, but I am not one of those people.

This book picked up where The Silent Girls left off. The first book ended with a cliffhanger and I was curious to see what happened so I decided to read the second book. But I felt this one to be too dark for me, teen girls were murdered and as the mother of a teen girl I found that unsettling.

When the first book ends you know that the killer Frank Rath has been seeking is now targeting Frank's daughter, Rachel. Frank rejoins the police force to give him greater access to the killer and better methods of keeping Rachel safe. A former victim of the killer goes missing, another local girl is killed and Frank is contacted by a Canadian detective who is investigating the deaths of 3 girls just outside of Montreal. How does it all fit together?

I found the story dark and disturbing. Many of the grammatical issues that bothered me in the first book had been corrected in the second book, but a few remained. But aside from being disturbing, I just didn't find the story compelling. It was hard for me to be inspired to pick it up to keep reading. But I eventually worked my way to the end. It did not end with a cliffhanger but there are some questions that weren't answered. I guess that leaves room for a third book, but if it comes, I won't be reading it.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

I am actually a bit ahead of the game and have completed our book club's selection for February a little early. I have had my eye on this one for a while and Rob bought it for me just before Christmas so I wanted to get started on it as soon as I could.

Wow. This book grabbed me right from the start and I read it fairly quickly, even though I've been pretty busy lately. I had to put a stop to things last night at midnight with only 30 pages left to go and was able to finish it this morning.

Eleanor Oliphant is a fascinating character, I haven't met anyone like her in real life or fiction in a long, long time. It is very clear from the beginning of the book that Eleanor has been the victim of some serious abuse and trauma at the hands of her mother, but it takes until the final pages of the book to really figure out what that means and what she has endured. She has physical and emotional scars that affect her every day. There was one twist at the end that actually made me gasp out loud! That has only ever happened two other times (in Gone With the Wind and I Know This Much is True for those keeping track).

As a result of this trauma, Eleanor's life has been very lonely. She was in and out of foster homes through her teen years and then lived on her own from the age of 17 on. She goes to work, she goes home, her routine is very established. She eats the same things, enjoys a drink and a program on the radio and goes to bed. She doesn't need anyone else, and no one has ever needed her.

Then she goes to a concert with a co-worker and discovers the man of her dreams. The singer captivates her and she is convinced they will have a happy life together and tries to prepare herself for that new relationship. At the same time, she and a co-worker help a man on the street who has a medical emergency. Is it possible that someone could need her after all?

All my life, I have been heartbroken by the loneliness of others. I am an extreme extrovert who refuels by spending time with people. The thought of living such a lonely life overwhelms me. I ached with Eleanor and struggled to see her struggle.

At the same time, I loved her personality. She has a great vocabulary, she sees the world in very defined ways and anything outside her expectation is hard for her to process. Her genuine surprise at what most people would consider normal activities was pretty funny at times. Gail Honeyman has created a fantastic character and I absolutely loved reading about her.

Everybody's Son by Thrity Umrigar

I had heard very little about this book when I started reading it, it is our book club's selection for January. I borrowed it from a friend who said she and the rest of her book club had really enjoyed it, so I was excited to get started.

This is the story of Anton, who as a 9-year old boy is left alone in an apartment by his mother, Juanita, during an incredible heat wave. She leaves to buy drugs and is kept by her dealer for 7 days. Anton is alone the whole time in the sweltering apartment with little to no food. After he breaks a window to get out, he is taken into protective custody and placed in a foster home.

His foster parents have recently lost their own son in a car accident and are thrilled to have Anton in their lives. David, his foster father, is a judge and has connections that can help keep Juanita in prison longer to allow Anton to stay in his home. When the time comes for Juanita to be released, what should happen to Anton? Where does he belong?

As an African American child being raised by white parents, Anton thrives but sometimes feels like he doesn't quite belong. As he heads to university his girlfriend causes him to question who he is and where he belongs. Is he the whitest black man, or the blackest white man? These are words that haunt him into adulthood.

Anton follows in his father's footsteps and ends up in a career in the law. But there is a lot he doesn't know about his past and as he learns more he begins to question who he really is.

This book raises some excellent questions. Which is the better home for the boy? In poverty with his mother who has made bad choices but truly loves him, or in his lavish home with his foster family who can afford to provide what she never could? Who gets to make that decision? What role does race play in it? White privilege, institutional racism and poverty are all themes. I was reminded again of how I can never truly understand what challenges people of other races and cultures face that I will never have to even consider. It is a challenging read in that light, and especially in view of all that is happening in today's world. It is beautifully written and a very compelling story.