The Daughters of Temperance Hobbs

 by Katherine Howe
March 29-April 6, 2020

I remember liking the Physick Book. A lot. Because I love witches and magic. Howe really impressed me with her crafting of the story. And while I remember the general gist of the story, the details are long forgotten. 10 years later, we have a continuation to the story. It probably would have been helpful to get reacquainted with the Physick Book first, but perhaps a better solution would have been to not wait 10 years for a follow-up. That's simply self-indulgent and gratuitous.

This time around, I am considerably less impressed. The repeat characters were hollow and lacked any depth. The fringe characters were pointless. I just didn't find Connie and Sam's relationship to be believable, passionate or event truthful. Connie, who now is in her early 30s, is extremely immature and behaves like someone barely in college. The dialogue had a much younger audience in mind (I know, right?!). There was entirely too much focus on Connie's attempt at tenure and she's always grading papers and ....blah...I'm here for the witches.

There was just no real mystery or drama to support this story. The family "curse" is revealed, with very few oohs and ahhs. It felt vaguely familiar to its predecessor, without any of the intrigue. What I did like, however, was keeping track of the generations of witches in the family, dating back to the late 1600s.

Deliverance   Mercy   Prudence   Patience   Temperance   Faith   Verity   Chastity   Charity

I really wish there would have been more focus on the past witches than the current ho-hum one. And don't get me started on the names of the newest witches, born at the end of this book, again with very little fanfare.

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Mostly Dead Things

by Kristen Arnett
March 20-29, 2020

Well, now I'm mostly dead. The biggest emotion this book evoked was rage. Some would view that as an accomplishment, but that certainly isn't my intention. I feel like I hate-read the entire novel, hoping that just maybe it would redeem itself. The author even took it upon herself to deliver the CliffsNotes version not even halfway through, just in case anyone needed a little push.

  "There was my mother, with her sudden deviation from anything I’d ever known or expected from her. My father had killed himself in a place where he knew I’d find him, leaving me a note that said it was my responsibility to take care of the things he wasn’t strong enough to handle. The only woman I’d ever cared for I’d shared with my brother, a person I simultaneously loved and hated for it." 

And still, I couldn't have cared less. Every single character was so shallow and unlikable that I struggled to focus, skimming many of the repetitive sentences. The author chose to describe people by their zits and scabs, rather than with any real emotion. The narrator was so hollow it was a wonder she was still breathing.

These characters aren’t simply unlikable. They are all horrible people who actually commit horrific crimes and suffer no consequences. I can’t image one person who would enjoy reading about the illegal killing of animals; while these acts barely got a modicum of reaction. The final chapter attempted to “make this OK” and was completely outrageous, ludicrous.

Atmospherically, everything was dirty and gross. Each scene took on some type of heavy, overused descriptive, becoming so frequent that I was more focused on the miasma than the moment itself. A long-awaited, soul-baring moment between brother and sister was ruined with disgusting details. A tender scene with two people finally declaring love (in and of itself unbelievable because no character depth was ever established) was spoiled when one licked bug parts of the other's palm. My face was in a constant grimace. Not my form of entertainment.

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Marilou is Everywhere

by Sarah Elaine Smith
Feb 9-23, 2020

I happened upon Marilou by chance. A dear friend of mine emailed one day from Chicago to tell me that an old high school friend of hers was doing a book reading at a bar in Cleveland the next night. On that cold, rainy night I was instantly hypnotized by Sarah's voice. I bought the book at the event, which she signed with a thoughtful, joyful passage. I couldn't wait to get started.

The book begins so atmospheric and calming, and I could still hear Sarah's voice reading aloud in my head. I could instantly put myself in that time and place. It was evident that the author meticulously crafted each and every sentence – she has two Master's degrees; fiction and poetry.

"The pond looked alive to me, even the shape of the hills around it... I felt, all at the same moment, that it was valiant for beauty and also so plain that it embarrassed me to belong to it... under the hawthorns, fine dappled mushrooms winked like they had invented themselves..."

Her metaphors were dreamy and yet so descriptive. But at some point, I felt that I was just indulging the poet.

"It was my time and I felt fat. A rose is. The dew of a frigid October. Buster Keaton's beautiful eyes."

I must have read those sentences five times trying to figure out what it had to do with the game of charades two characters were playing (I think – nothing.). What makes a great novel is the character development, but suddenly the characters felt empty and shallow.

"I felt like my words were made out of bones and hot dogs and nonsense."

How does that help the reader? This short book was moving at a snail's pace, and I really wanted to find out what happened, but instead one chapter was entirely devoted to soy sauce. And some excerpts were completely out of character comparative to the perfectly-honed ones:

"And Clinton didn't say about it, so I didn't say about it, and the green fur was was coming back up in divots..."

That feels like it belongs in a different book. The randomness seemed to grow rampant. The plot definitely lost track. When the climax was finally revealed, I found myself appalled at what an absolutely horrible person the so-called protagonist was – unfounded and out of nowhere. I feel like the book would have been better served to stick to a more concise plot and "try" a little less. I grew so very weary of the poetry and the metaphors, I was bored.

There's no doubt Sarah has a talent, it just needs a bit more focus for future novels. Three stars for the friend connection, but really only 2.5.

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The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna

by Juliet Grames
Jan 20-Feb 9, 2020

There is nothing I like more than a sweeping saga that spans time and generations, and in this case, more than one hundred years. So much needs to be told. Perceptions of characters may change for better or for worse, and some may stay the same. It's a true testament to the author who can evoke such strong feelings for these fictional characters.

Immediately, Grames paints a picture of a staunch Catholic upbringing where tradition is everything. And yet, you can't help but laugh out loud.

"Assunta was shy of boys and had been successfully trained to channel that groin-tightening teenage energy into concentrating on Mother Mary’s virginity while reciting the rosary."

And while there were plenty of laughs – especially every time Stella's sister threw herself to the ground in hysterics – the brutally painful moments erased any of the humor. But for me, a successful book is one that can take my emotions on a roller coaster ride.

"Those who eat alone choke alone." ~CALABRESE PROVERB

A sign of a great book for me is when I think about getting back to it every minute of the day. I actually woke up early this morning anticipating the last few chapters. I also "accidentally" stayed up way too late on a school night as the time passed unnoticed over Stella's story.

"Without faith there are no miracles, just coincidences."

In the end it's about family, faith and tradition and what it takes to endure all these things successfully over the course of a lifetime.

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The Huntress

by Kate Quinn
Dec 28, 2019-Jan 19, 2020

2020 is off to a good start! The Huntress immediately drew me in with its alternating chapters based on three of the main characters. Definitely a history lesson, definitely not a mystery (in a good way). It's evident right from the jump who the huntress is, but that doesn't in any way take away from the suspense.

I admit I'm mostly interested in France and Poland's role in WWII, so I wasn't as engrossed in Nina's wartime experience from her Russian perspective. However, it must be said that Quinn did her research and introduced me to the Night Witches – fearless Russian women fighter pilots that played a huge role in conquering the Nazis. But dividing the book into thirds, with the first part establishing the background, the middle defining specific details and history, and the last part tying everything together, the middle dragged on a little too long and tried to include too many extraneous elements. This alone is what knocks my rating down to three (and a half) stars from four. I found the 540+ pages a bit gratuitous.

“We’re standing in the ashes of a war like no other – if we don’t try harder to see the shades of gray involved, we’ll find ourselves in the thick of a new one.”

Irregardless, a highly entertaining, suspenseful book loaded with symbolism. Credit the ending for being a real page turner with a satisfying ending.

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Ask Again, Yes

by Mary Beth Keane
Dec 3-22, 2019

What a great way to (almost) end the year. I love a good family drama, especially one with such well drawn out characters, so this one surely satisfied. There were twists and turns I didn't see coming, storylines well crafted for future reference, and a comfortable ending.

“Then and now, I say yes.”

It's funny to me how the more I like a book, the shorter my reviews are. Ask Again, Yes is my sixth 4-star review of the year. Those that know me know that it takes a LOT to achieve a 5-star rating! But in a year that saw its share of far too many duds – nine 2-star reviews – I'm happy with the less-is-more review.

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On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous

by Ocean Vuong
Nov 10-24, 2019

This one was a challenge! What at first seemed a little self-indulgent on the author's part, soon became apparent that Vuong, most simply put, is a poet. People are raving of the beauty in his prose, and I can't disagree, but the sleepy, poetic quality really just disconnected me from the story and the protagonist. It was difficult to form any emotional investment around Little Dog, his mother, or his grandmother.

The novel, written as a letter to Little Dog's illiterate mother, jumped in timeline and stories, but wasn't difficult to follow. The book boasts an "unforgettable revelation," and there were plenty of times that I thought I could see the foreshadowing on the wall, only to be wrong time and time again. Finally, for me, said revelation was a complete letdown, and so quietly revealed, that I nearly missed it.

"What were we before we were we?"

(Beautiful, but not "the" revelation.) A bit of a slow burn with some excruciatingly graphic scenes; maybe a little too abstract for my tastes.

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The City of Flickering Light

by Juliette Fay
Oct 23-Nov10, 2019

In the span of just one year, two strippers burlesque dancers and one tagalong get everything they ever wanted. That shallow description pretty much sums up the effort given to forming the plot of this book. So many reviews that I read lauded the author for her extensive research (if I read one more review that says how well-researched this book is!), but none of that really matters when the final result is so poorly executed. The descriptions and dialogue are meant to suggest the essence of the roaring 20s, but instead it comes off sophomoric and quite corny.

"She nodded and looked away to hide the gratitude in her eyes."

Huh?

Pick a hot topic and you'll find it within the pages. Rape, murder, pregnancy and drug abuse are just the beginning of the list. The result is almost laughably predictable, and again, seemingly a tactic to imbue a sign of the times. It's as if the author didn't give the reader enough credit to understand what was happening without dumbing it down  – I'm looking at you, Author's Note. Thanks, but I think I got it.

"The silence from Irene’s side of the bed was loud."

Well OK, then.

Overall, a completely non-challenging, quick read of an implausible "isn't-Hollywood-grand" stereotype. 2-1/2 stars.

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The Water Cure

by Sophie Mackintosh
Oct 15-21, 2019

I don't get it. Dystopia? Nope. Sadistic women? Totally. But with vague descriptions and insinuations of the world around them, this book leaves the reader with more questions than answers, and not in a good way. Although I tore through The Water Cure, it was only because the writing was so shallow and asked very little of its readers. The author seemed to be under the assumption that the reader would know what the hell she was talking about.

The plot centers around three sisters and their parents living remotely on an island to supposedly shield themselves from toxins on the mainland and the violent men who inhabit it. But there is no solid proof that it's a dystopian society, and no real desire to find out more. Instead, it's a tactic that attempts to add intrigue and fails. What in truth is flat-out abuse in a cult created by ruthless parents, filling space with the abstract of "what is really happening in the world" was only distracting and really confusing.

"I am always alternating between invincibility and the sick fear of dying."

I think readers who are true fans of the dystopian genre are far more outraged than I am. I'm simply annoyed by all the hype and false comparisons to better novels.

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A Ladder to the Sky

by John Boyne
Sept 19-Oct 14, 2019

This book pulled a protagonist-fast-one on me. For whatever reason, I was ready to abandon it within the first 50 pages, mistaking its intention, when suddenly the pace picked up with no turning back. What at first appeared to be about an old German writer, Erich, changed dramatically in tone when the true lead, Maurice, took center stage.

Wow, what an utterly pathetic human being. I have never read a more dislikeable character, nor have I read such a skillful build-up and decline of a person. Just when I thought I couldn't like him any less, Maurice became even more despicable. Just when I thought, "oh no, he can't possibly," he did. Boyne was superb at bringing Maurice to life and creating a story that simultaneously could and couldn't ever really happen.

“... he was essentially talentless, nothing more than a good-looking hack, and that only charm and sycophancy could keep him in the game.”

The surprise appearance of Gore Vidal was clever and made me want to pick up a couple of his higher-praised works. The book constantly leaves the reader questioning the proverbial good vs. evil. Are Maurice's actions really that of a sociopath, or of cunning, calculated success? The fact that Maurice had absolutely zero self awareness answers that question with the former.

And then, out of nowhere, this:

“You’ve heard the wonderful news, I presume?” “No. Has Mr. Trump died?”

Ha! One could only imagine that world.

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The Lost Girls of Paris

by Pam Jenoff
Aug 18-Sept 18, 2019

I wanted to like this book more than I did. What on the surface is a terrific premise, I came away with two major issues. The first was that the facts and the timeline were poorly researched and seemingly rushed to publish without proper fact-checking. The second was the author's note at the end. Much of why I love historical fiction is for the reason that I learn about events, people, etc. that I didn't know about before, and a successful novel will spur me to research its subject further. But pretty much the first sentence of the author's note said that while these overall events actually did happen, none of the actual story lines can be taken with even the slightest grain of salt. Extremely disappointing considering the backbone this book started with. Instead of an homage to these female heroes, we were "treated" to insipid love stories and unfortunately, stereotypical, shallow women.

The 1946 chapters told by Grace were completely gratuitous and did nothing to further the plot. While Grace's portions were meant to increase the drama, they did nothing but induce eye rolls and diminish the female viewpoint. A much more credible novel would have omitted this altogether. The "love" story between Marie and Julian was shallow, unbelievable and unnecessary. Again, trying to be too much. It speaks to why I would go several days in between before picking the book up again.

However, I will never tire of reading about Paris!

* * and 1/2 * * *

The Lost Vintage

by Ann Mah
July 22-August 25, 2019

The Lost Vintage wasn't on my radar until a friend recommended it. I am feeling very behind on my to-be-read list, and I try to stay with books released in the present year and not go too far back. But when I looked up the audiobook version and saw that it was narrated by Saskia Maarleveld, I was all in. I also hadn't listened to an audiobook that wasn't somehow related to The All Souls World in a couple of years (they are amazing, look them up). They were how I knew about the fantastic voice of Maarleveld.

Anyway, what a great story. In times when Nazi-occupied France is a very popular genre, it's nice to get a little different perspective. And listening to it was a great refresher in French – for the most part, I still got it! The author's crave-worthy descriptions of Burgundy are enough to make me want to run out to the nearest wine store.

With a wine lesson, history lesson, and love story all mixed into one, Mah did a great job at keeping the story interesting, believable and not the least bit cheesy. It's always a good sign when I sit in my car in the garage to finish a chapter. Really an unexpected treat!

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The Peacock Feast

by Lisa Gornick
July 23-August 18, 2019

A lot happens in this book. Almost too much in the beginning, and it felt a little disjointed, difficult to follow, then it hit its stride and was engrossing to the finish. Spanning from the early 1900s to present day, I found the mid-century stories to be the ones that kept me coming back for more. While some of the timelines lost a little focus, the successful ones gave a payoff that was completely worth it.

The subtle character development of each of the multiple generations of the family unfolds in both heartbreaking and satisfying ways. The character's relationships with one another are believable and surprising. The plot was a bit of a slow burn, but one that I didn't predict. I love that. While I think that it could use some editing and cleaning up of the presentation of facts, I was deeply moved by the ripple effect one action can have on future generations. A unique and original concept that takes just a bit of patience.

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The Editor

by Steven Rowley
July 3-22, 2019

What has happened to time when the 1990s are now considered historical fiction?? Even so, this book was delightful and kind of snuck up on me in an unexpectedly charming way. I adored the protagonist's subtle sense of humor and found myself laughing out loud right from the beginning.

Equally enjoyable were the countless poignant moments between James and all the other characters. James' mother was built up to be cold and heartless, but by the end, the reader can easily empathize. For a while James loses his way with his partner Daniel, but he finds his way back in a way that was endearing and not the least bit forced.

“I posit that any riddle whose answer is woman is inherently unsolvable.” 

Of course no review of The Editor can go without mentioning the elephant Onassis in the room. What a treat to read a fictionalized version of a true historical gem and not feel for one minute like it was made up. Her entrance into the story was delightful. The friendship she formed with James was not only believable, but enviable.

Overall, a lovely story full of wit and wisdom.

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Daisy Jones & the Six

by Taylor Jenkins Reid
June 9-July2, 2019

Documentary style – following a rock band through the height of their career – a super fun premise for a novel that kept it quick-reading and initially half-doubting if it was indeed true or not (did this band actually exist??). The problem is that the further I read, the more cheesy it became, with a lot of "of course" moments in the end. Think of every stereotypical impression people have of rock bands and it's in here – sex and drugs at the top of the list, "of course."

The band is also supposed to be loosely based on my all-time favorite, Fleetwood Mac. However, if you know anything about them, it doesn't really come close. The similarities boil down to one – a  band that rose to stardom in the 70s. The number of band members isn't even the same! FM didn't break up after Rumors! And Daisy as Stevie is a major NO. Not only did their lives not align even fictionally, but Daisy was desperate, pathetic and needy.

The last pages of the book served as a dust jacket of sorts, with all the song lyrics written out. Talk about cheesy! I found this to be a bit indulgent on the author's part, and honestly, just filler. I skimmed the lyrics at best. I don't see how this furthered the story in the least. Perhaps I'm being harsh, but I expect a lot of my book choices. In the end it was still fun, just missed the mark of being fun and great.

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The Altruists

by Andrew Ridker
May 18-June 9, 2019

Obviously the title is as ironic as it gets, because these people sucked. And that is about as much feeling as I can muster for this book. I'm completely indifferent about the plot and I'm just glad to be finished with it. The story lagged, was not funny (as it claimed to be) and generally fell flat.

Like a comatose patient with no DNR, his sedate lifestyle required a steady drip of funds.

A little indulgent, no? I also may or may not have choked on my wine when I found out the author was born while I was in college. So I suppose I can give him a break on his debut and hope that he succeeds in the future. But this book is utterly forgettable with zero impact.

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Alternate Side

by Anna Quindlen
May 5-15, 2019

I read all genres, all age groups, all kinds of subjects, but the last few Quindlen books have just felt old to me. Even though the main human was less than 10 years older than I am, the whole thing felt so geriatric. And I said "human" because evidently the main protagonist was a parking lot. Not one thing felt fresh or inventive about this group of ho-hum neighbors on a coveted block in NYC. The dust jacket describes the story as "provocative" but that couldn't be more off-base.

A quirky technique that was hard to ignore was the constant use of the past perfect tense.

"Nora had had to yank their dog away from a cardboard container of moo shu something..."

I don't normally dial-in on grammatical styles, but I couldn't help but notice how often it was used – I don't think normal day-to-day conversation calls for it so frequently.

This is the third dud in recent years from Quindlen. For me she's lost her dazzle from the Black and Blue days. I'm done.

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My Year of Rest and Relaxation

by Ottessa Moshfegh
April 30-May5, 2019

Well, that could very well be the most unlikeable character I've read in some time. The unnamed narrator of this story is a selfish, narcissistic, manipulative drug addict. She is downright mean. With the amount of prescription drugs she took, it's a wonder she didn't kill herself (yes, I know it's fiction).

The book jacket praises the book in many ways, but the description of being "at times blackly funny" is so far off the mark as to miss it completely. It's impossible to feel sorry for "her." She treats her best friend like dirt; she thinks of herself as a 10 even when she's withered away in a drug-addled state. Her psychiatrist...oh God, please tell me that there aren't real doctors out there like this one. Every facet of this book is unbelievable. And with the constant pushing of the date in the reader's face (2000-2001) it's plainly obvious where this book is going. And that ending was downright offensive.

As I'm reading other reviews, I'm learning that this is the author's "thing" –  to write extremely unlikeable feminine characters to the point of shock value. Doing that over and over again shows a lack of originality and even with this one book, I'm bored by it.

And magically, sleeping for a year drugged out of her mind, and suddenly she is cured! Um, OK.

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The Library Book

by Susan Orlean
April 19-30, 2019

The Library Book is absolutely the author's homage to the library. Explained in the blurb: "weaving her lifelong love of books and reading into an investigation of the fire ... author Susan Orlean delivers a mesmerizing and uniquely compelling book that manages to tell the broader story of libraries and librarians ..." This is all true, EXCEPT, I wouldn't say the book weaves. It's kind of an unorganized jumble.

"It is where we can glimpse immortality; in the library, we can live forever."

All of it was fascinating, from the history of the LA Public Library, to the 1986 fire that destroyed nearly half a million books, to the suspect Harry Peak, but for me this was one case where I would have preferred a linear timeline. And while the main focus should have been on the fire itself, it wasn't. That's what I wanted more of. Everything else was very interesting, but the combinations of so many topics and dates left the book spread a little too thin.

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The Tattooist of Auschwitz

by Heather Morris
April 14-19, 2019

A book that was short on pages, but not on importance. Morris did an incredible job portraying Lale's will and tenacity to survive the horrors of Auschwitz. In a time that seems to flooded with books on WWII, a reader can get a little weary of the subject. But it helped that this one was centered around real people and that the author interviewed him for years before writing it all down. Although it's evident that Lale survives, it didn't ease the stress level of reading what he went though. It's amazing how a person finds ways to risk his own life in order to help others when they have never had to do anything close to it in "real life."

“If you wake up in the morning, it is a good day.”

It's difficult to rate a book that is based on facts. Especially these gruesome facts. Of course Lale and Gita's story is one that should be shared and never forgotten, so read this book for that reason alone. Morris is clearly a screenplay writer and it shows here in her debut novel.

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