September ~
Demon Copperhead - Barbara Kingsolver. Very well written and brave story telling to show a sad but very real - esp in my neck of the woods - (though likely across this land) and honest telling of the drug abuse that is rampant. Thanks to the desperation in human's lives, the Sackler family, Big Pharma, and hospitals/medical corporations/providers/JCAH who were all so complicit in accepting the pharmaceutical companies' insistence that we were not following and addressing our patients' pain adequately and appropriately. The pain scales that were adopted as a requirement in daily patient evaluations were, and continue to be, completely BOGUS!!! They provide no real information and all reasonable providers were already accessing and treating pain in far better ways and continue to do so with little help from said pain scales though insurance now requires that they be completed. Back to the story ~ Bit of a tough read to say the least, given the vivid portrait of the down hill spiral created by drug abuse and foster care, especially coming to my reading on the heels of Young Mungo, but with important characters you care about - even when you want to ring their necks.
Clytemnestra - Costanza Casati. "Human lives are based on pain. But to have a few moments of happiness, lightnings tearing the darkness of the sky, that is worth it." The story of Clytemnestra, sister to Helen and wife of Agamemnon. While it did not reach as high as Circe did for me, it is well written and demonstrates the lives of strong women who faced motherhood, abuse, love, horrible choices, and unfaithful partners/friends with resilience, strength, and grace.
Afterlife - Julia Alverez. Unlike old me who would read any book I started, or finish any movie - somehow believing it would get better, is not how I roll these days. The blurbs made this sound like a book I would enjoy. Was interested in the topic of undocumented immigrants from an author who immigrated to the US from the DR at the age of ten, but I just couldn't get past the start. Probably my mood at the time, but there you have it.
The Covenant of Water - Abraham Verghese. I loved Cutting for Stone so very much! It probably falls among my favorite top ten of all novels I have read! Sadly, for me, this work did not reach those heights. Ranging from 1900 to 1977 from Scotland to Kerala. Topics ranging from medicine (including historical surgical techniques, untreated neonatal hypothyroidism, leprosy, difficult childbirth, deafness, depression, drug addiction) to Indian culture (including marriage practices, caste system, clothing, farming, politics) - WHEW!!! It was a lot. Most characters were well drawn and interesting. I guess my biggest problems with the book were the occasional preachy dissertations regarding Indian life, politics and history, while important, combined with the fact that some important events occurred far too easily and conveniently, while others were too complicated - all conspired to burst your bubble of happily suspended disbelief which I found to be unsettling. So, while there were characters and stories here that I shall never forget, and therefore a very worthy read, it did not rise to the level of Cutting for Stone for me. Sorry, Oprah. Yet, with appreciation, Mr. Verghese.
October ~
This Must be the Place - Maggie O'Farrell. Along the same lines - LOVED Hamnet, so... perhaps unduly high expectations were in place here. A good read, with well drawn characters. However, none I particularly connected with. Kudos for addressing eczema in a well informed way. Events were often a bit too far fetched for me. And while I dealt with it - the seemingly excessive and unnecessary jumping back and forth in time and between characters was not particularly appealing. The hopping from one character, in different times to others in other moments made the story line somewhat needlessly difficult to follow (from one who has never published a book much less several excellent ones!!!) and made the similar presentation utilized in Fried Green Tomatoes and Cloud Atlas a walk in the park!
There There - Tommy Orange. While the topics (the treatment of American Indians, drug use, alcoholism, gun violence, marginalized communities) are so incredibly sad, relevant, important, in dire need of recognition and redress - I had a hard time loving the way this book was written. I wanted to get to know and understand the characters better and had trouble doing it in the way they were shared in snippets that came and went. Still, there was lots to think about within.
The House by the Cerulean Sea - T.J.Klune. I loved this book, though this sort of fantasy (children with strange/magical/unworldly gifts and abilities) is not my usual jam, the writer made them such real children (who to my mind all possess amazing gifts and abilities - though some have had them beaten out of them, forgotten them, or simply abandoned them as adults) that it was simply a beautiful tale of what love and support can do for all of us. Definitely recommend!
Happy chaotic reading! - les
