Sunday, January 9, 2022

Book Review From Last Two months of 2021

I haven't posted in the last two months. Here is my book review from November till January. 

Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett



I enjoyed reading, The Vanishing Half.  I recommend highly to live in the skin of an Afro- American, but also darker vs. lighter skinned person.  The short summary is one sister is darker-skinned than the other.  Both sisters left together as teenagers. One sister married a white man in tech valley. The other sister went back to the very racist town. Both sisters had children. They both met as adults. After they met, one cousin was dark-skinned. The other cousin wasn't aware she was from a diverse heritage.  And how each one of the cousins, and sisters lived their lives. I would recommend Vanishing Half. 




Are you a book lover? If you are, you must have heard of Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles.  He is the same author who wrote The Gentleman from Moscow, and Rules of Civility.  I can't tell you in great detail about the novel.  Because it took me a while to get my thoughts together. I will do my best, though.
 I  loved The Lincoln Highway. 

 In Nebraska, 1954.  Emmett is driven home by the warden of the juvenile work camp.  Coming home, his father has passed away, and their homestead has been foreclosed by the bank. His young brother, Billy,  and Emmett decide to journey cross country to California. The plan is for them to travel to California. 

But, then everything changes. Emmett has no idea Wooley, and his Dutchess stowed away in the warden's car taking Emmett home from the juvenile work camp. The plan for Emmett and Billy falls apart.  Instead, Duchess and Wooley have another plan. Wooley has an inheritance. He wants to convince Emmett instead of going to California. Let's go to the opposite direction and get my inheritance. He promises to share it with them. So Emmett's plan of course falls apart.  While traveling, Emmett and Billy, Wooley and Dutchess are separated. The car is taken. Emmett and Billy have no choice but to get on a train and journey on to find the other two toward NYC. 

The four main characters have very different personalities.  Emmett is a do-gooder, Billy is a little boy and very gullible. Dutchess is a smooth talker, full of life, and sly, and takes many shortcuts to get what he wants in life. Wooley on the other hand is gullible, naive and acts immature for his age. All the characters are interesting in their own way. The book reminds me of a cross-country joy ride. 

The journey across the country reminded me how different our culture is in different parts of the region of the USA. There are so many differences in our country spanning from East to the West Coast, and North to South. 

 The time is 1954. It is the beginning of the awakening of the civil rights movement.  But also the differences of class as well.  

Like always I love Mr. Towles's writing style.  If you like sophisticated and unique writing. You must read his novel slowly. Like a glass of wine, and a piece of chocolate.The only thing some people may have a difficult time with so many of the characters. If you are character-driven. And like how the characters develop you will enjoy reading. But if you are plot-driven this may not be your cup of tea. I am hoping the paperback comes out sooner than his previous Gentleman in Moscow. As our book club is set to discuss at the end of the year. If not, we will just have to wait.  





I didn't read, The Lights We Didn't See. I wanted to like and give, Cloud Cuckoo Land a try. I heard some wonderful things about his previous book, The Light We Do Not See.  So, I thought even though I don't read books normally like this. I'm sure I will connect. 

I read the flap of the book. It didn't sound like it was for me. But, I gave it a try. It was a fantastical read. But, it was way over my head. Usually when I have attempted to read fantasy or science fiction. I have a hard time imagining the imagery. So that may be the problem.

 I gave the novel 160 pages. I want to be fair. I don't read these kinds of books.  But, I don't think this is considered science fiction. It is not considered dystopian, or fantasy either. I don't know what it is considered.

 I believe the theme of the book is climate and environmental change.  I felt the book was way out there. Not for me. When it takes place in Constantinople. The next thing you know you are in modern-day Idaho. Somehow between Constinople and Idaho, you are in a spaceship, what?

I don't do acid. But, I felt like I was on an acid trip.  Nothing seemed connected, rather disconnected. Sorry, I wanted to like the book.  I'm sure you science fiction readers will most likely like the book. Unfortunately, not me. 


I wish it didn't take me as long to post my thoughts on The Family Roe as it did.  I was a young woman in the '70s. I didn't follow the politic and the abortion issue much. All I knew was Roe vs. Wade passed. 

For the past few years, I didn't understand why are we visiting the policy again. I always felt separations of religion vs state. Something that happened from the 1980s to now has changed. After reading the book I realize individuals, politicians have been attempting to unravel the law. 

 I can't believe we are going backward again.  I am an advocate for women's rights.  I believe it a women's right to privacy. It is her right and her partner to decide, and make the decision what happens to our bodies, not men or the US government.  

 I'm glad I gave the book another chance. It s worth reading. The different perspectives of Roe vs. Wade no matter what side you are on. It is very hard to get into the technical info. If you are not a legal expert. I was ready to say enough. But after reading from 250. The book sped up. If you are interested in abortion rights, and the legal system, and the different parties involved. What happened to Roe vs Wade after the case was resolved. The people, the family, and all those involved.

The book is very good investigative reporting. So much information to unpack and understand the relevance to the Roe VS Wade case. The people involved. Sad on all sides. To the attorneys, courts, advocates, abortionists, medical doctors.

What hit me the most was the powerful people who took advantage and manipulated and abused Norma. Which Norma did the same. But, still the pro-lifers, religious leaders, politicians, propped up Norma and Roe for their own gain. What I also found interesting. The way abortion was used for the feminist movement, ERA, the Republican party leaders, and the sexual revolution, promiscuity, and gay movement, and racism all rolled up in one. The result of this is what is going on now in our society today.

I was too young to understand what was Roe VS Wade. Reading Family Roe gave me insight. I'm glad I read the book. If you consider yourself an activist on either side and you have a curiosity. It may interest you. I don't recommend it to everyone. It is very difficult to read, and some parts are a bit graphic. But if you are interested in the topic. It's a bit dry and difficult to read. But once you get halfway through it perks your interest. Just to say the author was objective and his opinions were left out of it. 



T
  reading,  State of Terror by First Lady, Hilary Rodham Clinton, and Louise Penny was a great ride. All I can say is, Wow! If you are stuck over the weekend in the snow then this novel is for you. It is a non-stop page-turner, and roller coaster ride, and doesn't stop. It will keep you in suspense until the last paragraph.  I hope she and Louise Penney will consider riding together again. But, I'm afraid this was a catharsis.

This is not just a political thriller, it also has themes of women friendships and their importance in our lives.  If you aren't looking to read something that hits very close to home( our US politics). Then you may want to move on. I enjoyed it. 😉 I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who is a Trump supporter. Ms. Clinton gets to give a few jabs and makes fun of the previous administration. Which I don't blame her. 

 Remember it's fiction. There is also humor added to spice up the novel. It's a heart-pounding thriller. It doesn't give you a chance to take a breath. And it is very close to real life, it's scary. Many times I wondered if it's true. It sounded like it was ripped from the pages of the newspapers.  I would recommend for a fun ride. 


I read Sankofa because of the recommendation of one of the celebrity book clubs. I don't usually take their word for it. I have found, I'm sorry to have purchased the book a few times. Celebrity book clubs are in it for profit don't kid yourself. So, I read the synopsis first. What I read sounded interesting. 

Sankofa takes place in London, as well as a non-existent country in South Africa called Bamana. Anna is married in a troublesome marriage with an adult daughter. Where their relationship is complicated. 

 Anna is a bi-racial married 48 years old daughter living in London.  Her mother, a white woman has recently passed away. She is looking through her Mother's things and finds a diary from her black African father. 

 Her Father becomes a political activist before leaving England.   He was living in London and left her in a short-lived relationship. They break up and he leaves England to go to S. Africa.

 He is a political activist who sees social change and equality.  Of course, it doesn't happen. Instead, the new government is formed and he becomes an authoritarian dictatorship with corruption.

 Anna goes to Bamana to search for her father. Whereof course there is trouble in the country. Where her newfound half-sister wants to cause trouble and is jealous of her newfound relationship with her father. And she is unable to leave the country which her Father has caused conflict for her. There are themes of love belonging, country, racial threats, etc.

I found the book synopsis was interesting. I have not read any book which takes place abroad and in S. Africa. It perked my interest. I hope to read other books that the setting takes place in S. Africa. I am sorry to say for me the book was lackluster. There was just no spice to it.  I am still glad I read the book because it was a book I would not have picked up. 














The Sentence, By Louise Erdrich, is a wonderful read. I usually have a difficult time getting through her novels. For some reason, The novel was a bit strange at first. But, after I settled in, I connected.  

The novel opens up with the main character Tookie. Her best friend asks her to retrieve a body. She is arrested for stealing the body. She eventually goes to jail for some time. She is then released and finds a job at the book store.  There are many interesting characters working at the book store. I loved each, and every one of them.

 What I found strange. Is in real-time we are experiencing the same thoughts, feelings, and emotions during the pandemic.   We have experienced the empty streets, the hoarding of groceries,  remember the toilet paper shortage, the hand sanitizer problem, the loneliness, and isolation for some of us who live alone, etc. 

 The novel of course I read a couple weeks ago so it is a bit fuzzy. I will just give you my impression of the novel. First off the title of the book can mean different things. It could mean the structure of several words making a sentence. It also can also mean a person's time in jail or prison. I have always wondered why in our society, why " sentence". Just many questions to ask if you decide to read the book for book club. 

First off Louise Erdrich is a Native American living in Wisconsin.  I believe she lives in Milwaukee. She owns and sells, and educates, and preserves the Native American culture at Birchwood Books.  

The Sentence was written just before the pandemic and during the Pandemic in 2020. During President Trump's presidency, The George Floyd killing, the demonstrations, and rioting. The author, Louise Erdrich was front and center of the protest there. So many of us could see a  perspective we were unable to see. Even though this was a novel.  The book has many themes about social justice, and equality of many diverse cultures in our country.  It also delves into the beginning of the Pandemic. 

Louise wrote about the experiences she and other booksellers were experiencing shutting down our countries businesses across the country. Finding a new way to innovate and survive.  It's about a fictional book store. But, I think in some ways it is an autobiography of her experience as a bookseller. We even have a customer who dies and ghosts the book store for months called, Flora. There is humor mixed in as well. 

Have you ever been to an independent book store instead of the big corporate book store? There is a big difference. If you haven't you are missing a treat. The booksellers know their customers after years. They have a passion for books. They will go out of their way to match you with the book. Even sometimes if they are very passionate about books they will go out of their way to go to your home to get it to you.  Example of one customer in the story. Tookie goes out of her way to especially find the book the customer wants. It doesn't happen at a big book store. There is a big difference between independent stores vs. a big stores. 

Where I live there aren't any book stores except one Barnes and Noble. The closest independent book store is two hours away either in Wilmington, NC or Pawley's Island. We are a tourist town so I doubt it will happen.  
 The Sentence is an ode to independent booksellers and their customers. Even though the book store is closed the customer's spirit survives. 



Do you know who Stanley Tucci is? I didn't at first. I did sort of know he was an actor in Devil Wears Prada. I didn't know he was a big name. I watched recently, Searching For Italy on CNN. Which was about Italian food in the different areas of the country. I also started watching him since the Pandemic. I guess he didn't have much to do. He was posting mini cooking classes, and his bar drink recipes. 

 In recent years, he has written a cookbook. He loves to cook and eat different foods in different regions of the world. You think it, right, he is a "Foodie". I don't know what the expression means.  But, I'll take it.

 He has a great sense of humor as well. You should check him out. I didn't know he no longer lives in the US since he married his wife. 

This is my last book of the year, Taste by Stanley Tucci.  I am not interested in cooking that much. I don't own many cookbooks. I don't buy gourmet utensils. I buy the essential tools, pots, and pans, and tools. Not unnecessary tools.  As you can see reading about food and cooking is going out of my norm. 


  I don't make unnecessary changes in my cooking unless I have to. I make the same boring dinners each night for my family.  Reading the book made me think otherwise.  I decided to listen, instead of reading the book for my review. I did break down and purchase Taste for my Kindle. It was an end-of-the-year Christmas sale on books. 

I enjoyed listening to Taste. His sense of humor and style was wonderful. I felt like I was having a conversation with Mr. Tucci discussing his growing up in an Italian, loving family. He is about the same age as me. Some of the growing-up years brought up some memories. I loved the part about his lunch box, and his mother's gourmet meals brought to school. I can remember jealousy abounding with some of the student's mom's lunches were brought to school.  The other part I recall was making Italian Tomato Sauce, LOL! Bloody massacre in the tub like Hamlet, lol!

He also wrote about the meals while working and filming. I found it interesting since I wasn't familiar with how that works. I thought actors had to supply their own meals at work like us normal people. Traveling around the world to his favorite restaurants, and favorite Chef's would prepare specially for him. He also wrote how food has become important in his life, and his foodie experiences. 

The last part of his memoir is about the pandemic and the isolation with his family and how his illness plays into, taste. The only expectation I had with his memoir. Was some of the foods I had hoped he would explain, he didn't. I am not Italian and had no idea what he was talking about. That was my only complaint. Other than that, I loved him, and his memoir. These are my favorite books of the year. I also loved What Happened to Maude Dixon.











 

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