A Fall of Marigolds

by Susan Meissner
Dec 22, 2015-Jan 2, 2016

Everything happens for a reason. Love is meant to be given to another. Grief lives in an in-between place. While this may sound incredibly sappy, and so not the subject matter I am typically drawn to, A Fall of Marigolds enchanted me from chapter one.

A scarf entwines two women who live a century apart. Both survived horrific tragedies – Clara, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and Taryn, 9/11. Trying to cope in the aftermath of each, both women must find the will to move on.

I definitely enjoyed Clara's story – a nurse on Ellis Island – more than Taryn's. I think the storytelling was better, but I also think that it was easier to remove myself from events that happened 100 years ago than it was for September 11. Taryn's story was beautiful, but incredibly difficult to read, if also a little under-developed.

It's that time of year. Hibernation season. This is the perfect book to get cozy with.

* * * * *

Did You Ever Have a Family

by Bill Clegg
Dec. 19-22, 2015


I am stunned. That doesn't happen often. My favorite thing is when I can't stop thinking about a book, long after I've turned the last page. This is most certainly one of those. Even more rare, I am contemplating rereading this book SOON. It's short, but I still tore through it in three days. Reading on a beach in Mexico probably played a big part, but it doesn't diminish the beauty that is Did You Ever Have a Family.

Character study achieved to perfection. The first time I cried was on page 61, the next was page 109, then I lost count. By the end I wanted to sob. It's definitely heavy, heavy reading, but worth every word. I simply could not put this book down.

“The world’s magic sneaks up on you in secret, settles next to you when you have your head turned.”

I know it's crazy, but I am speechless. Isn't it funny that I have little say about such an amazing novel? It's kind of pointless to relay the plot, since it's both simple and complicated, and easy to find on the dustcover. But I recommend going in blindly. It makes for a better experience. I can't possibly recommend this book more. Go. Now.

* * * * *