Ticking Boxes

“After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.” —Phillip Pullman

You’re so right, Phillip. We desperately need stories in this crazy mixed-up world of ours. If they’re insanely good stories, all the better. I’ll take an inspiring narrative over nourishment unless we’re talking about tacos. Chips and guac too. I want to ask, what makes a story good for you? Originality? Unforgettable characters? Maybe you’re a fan of daring novels that push boundaries? Who doesn’t love the unputdownable? Anticipation and suspense are hard to resist. I’m a devotee of pages that make me feel and consider. And reconsider opinions. I love the power of deep thought—it keeps me on the path to self-discovery.

I don’t know about you, but I love when I finish a book and feel the need to talk about it. After the last line of R.F. Kuang’s Yellowface, I promptly phoned Rae to see if she’d read about June Hayward—a struggling, insecure writer who steals her dead friend Athena’s manuscript when opportunity presents itself. This is no ordinary friend, mind you. Athena Liu was a best-selling author whose rise to fame was meteoric. She was a standout among her Asian peers. June refuses to admit theft. Accusations fly. June’s rationale and responses are sometimes mind-bending to me. Here’s one of many: "It all boils down to self-interest. Manipulating the story...If publishing is rigged, you might as well make sure it's rigged in your favor." More than once, I felt exasperation. At times, June felt like an unreliable narrator, which didn’t alter the fact that Kuang’s novel was compelling, and I had to see where the literary chips would fall.

Yellowface ticks boxes. Originality: check. Unforgettable character: check. Pushes boundaries: check. I’m on the fence as to whether it was insanely good. But I’m glad I read Yellowface. Here’s what the incomparable Stephen King had to say: “This is a great read. Crime, satire, horror, paranoia, questions of cultural appropriation. Plenty of nasty social media pile-ons, too. But, basically, just a great story. Hard to put down, harder to forget.”

Posted by Tracy

Portable Magic

“What a wonderful thought it is that some of the best days of our lives haven’t even happened yet.” Anne Frank

Happy New Year! What a wonderful thought it is that some of the best books of our lives haven’t even been read yet. Looking back on 2023, books like Demon Copperhead, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Hello Beautiful, The River We Remember, and The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store were some of the best reads of my middle-aged life. Such a great reading year for this old girl. I hope 2024 is equally grand! If my Christmas haul is any indicator, I’m off to a remarkable start, I can tell. Let’s begin with the darling, the aficionado, the two at twenty-seven brainchild—my girl Rae’s perfectly wrapped hardcover under the tree was Anne Berest’s The Postcard. This biographical fiction has earned prizes and bright stars from thousands, but Rae’s stamp of approval is all I need. Can’t wait to dig in. Rae and I both received The Covenant of Water from our study abroad pal, Tam. I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about Verghese’s latest. (I need a vacay and some sunscreen to get after it.) The future looks bright.

I finished out the reading year the way I started it—with an author who was new to me. Daniel Mason, you are an absolute winner! The fact that Mason’s a real wonder boy shouldn’t come as a surprise. He is a physician who studied at Harvard and beyond, while writing novels and winning prizes (including Pulitzer Prize finalist). Oh, and he teaches literature at Stanford on the side. I mean honestly. Gifted in both the left and right hemispheres? I am here to tell you the man can write. There were moments in North Woods where I felt completely transported back to New England. Mason provides the history of a cabin-turned-home deep in Massachusett’s woods, dating back to Puritan times. We meet a succession of people who occupy the yellow house amid the ash, the elm, the hemlocks, and the unforgettable chestnut trees. (And apple-obsessed Osgood’s orchard.) Mason shines a light on a variety of memorable characters over the centuries. Some owners feel an uncanny connection to nature. Others to previous owners in their ghostly state. I have no words for the magic Mason creates. So I’ll defer to a trusted lit guru or two. From Anthony Marra: “North Woods is a sui generis work of pure brilliance… a universal story of loss and reclamation. It’s the best book I’ve read in ages.” Abraham Verghese had this to say: “North Woods is the most original and spellbinding novel I’ve read in ages. Mason makes bramble, brush, and orchard come alive with the spirits of their unforgettable former inhabitants. Their lives . . . had me glued to my seat.” From me: What a perfect way to finish up 2023.

Loyalty Over Royalty

Please say you’ve checked out our holiday gift guide. Rae has outdone herself once again! You know who else has outdone themselves? Nita Prose. If you’ve been reading our blog for any length of time, you know we’re loyal readers. Because loyalty over royalty. We follow authors we love (and like for that matter). I think it’s safe to say we were a little surprised by Nita Prose initially. Her debut novel The Maid was quirky, surprising, and suspenseful. It was thought proving too. The best part of her debut? Her central character Molly Gray. Molly processes the world differently than you and me. She’s hyper literal and her social skills don’t shine like the silver she polishes. But her attention to detail is off the astute charts. I’m here to tell you Molly was just as endearing the second go around.

If you haven’t met Molly, you really should. These books can be read independent of one another, but I recommend meeting Molly in The Maid. Molly’s insane attention to detail helped her crack a murder case that occurred in her place of employment—The five-star Regency Grand Hotel. When a famous author dies during a press conference at the Regency Grand, Molly’s innate sleuthing skills kick in once again and become the premise for The Mystery Guest. If you’re lucky enough to find a silent night this holiday season, pull up a chair by the fire and cozy up with “the most charming amateur sleuth in modern literature.”

Posted by Tracy

Mo' Money, Mo' Problems

It’s Thursday. Let’s throw it back because it’s been ages since we’ve given an oldie a nod. This go around, I picked a 2017 narrative nonfiction. Why you ask? Leo DiCaprio—that’s my answer. That’s why I chose to give Killers of the Flower Moon a listen. Books first, film adaptations second.

I hate to cry ignorance here, but I was completely unaware of the plight of the oil-rich Osage Indians. How did I miss this? Was I sleeping in history when Mr. Gordon taught the Osage were the richest people per capita in the world over a century ago. Yes, that said richest. Turns out a permanent reservation purchased by the Osage in north central Oklahoma was golden ground. They couldn’t have known they put targets on their backs when they negotiated a deal with the US government. (Every full-blooded Osage received an allotment of land, including headrights in the community mineral trust.) White opportunists married Osage Indians to get at their money. Murders ensued. Lots of them. (The mysterious murders led to the inception of the FBI.) Everyone should learn about The Reign of Terror. David Grann’s bestseller proves a good teacher.

P.S. I was so glad to learn that I was not the only one in the dark here—one reviewer shared this:

I came to learn more about the FBI’s past but turns out this book is much more about the true story of what was once one of the most famous periods of time in American history but has now been forgotten: an oil boom led a native tribe to become the richest people per capita in the world and then they started getting murdered. It’s amazing true crime storytelling and an important part of history that shouldn’t be forgotten.

Oh my, here’s another p.s.—I listened to KFM. Sharee and I both agreed this makes for a better read. (Sorry narrators.)

Posted by Tracy

Your Life is Your Magnum Opus

“We all die, but some of us—those who are blessed or maybe just lucky—have the opportunity before that end to be redeemed. We can let go, forgive others, and also forgive ourselves for the worst of what we are or have been.”

Currently, I have a crush on William Kent Kruger. I’m smitten with his rich perspective and captivated by his sapient storytelling. He’s a dreamy writer. I just finished his latest, The River We Remember, and I’m so sad it’s over. Of course, stories must end—I know this—but it doesn’t get any easier to let characters knit inside your heart go. It’s as if Kruger inserts bright, breathing fictional people into my heart, wraps them counterclockwise around my soul, and pulls them through me. A part of me wanted to stay put in Jewel, Minnesota. (I kept hitting repeat on the sleep timer deep into the night to coexist there, and I’ve got the eye bags to prove it!)

I can still remember the small town feeling I had when I read To Kill a Mockingbird for the first time. Harper Lee transformed the South into a memorable character. Kruger has the same gift. A beautiful landscape is his muse. In 1958, Jewel is a homey place—of course, the town gossip is as good as gospel. When wealthy Jimmy Quinn’s body, full of buckshot, is found in the Alabaster River, there’s no stoppin’ the rumors. Prejudices, not long buried, surface. Sheriff Brody Dern arrests a Native American Vet who looks good for the murder but refuses to plead one way or another. The story revolves around solving Quinn’s murder. But Kruger’s real focus has more to do with “the wounds left by the wars we fight abroad and at home.” My crush isn’t afraid to confront the fact that we’re all broken. Much of being human means finding ways to heal. Kruger is too good. The River We Remember is beautifully written. Some have suggested this may be Kruger’s magnum opus—you’ll need to visit Jewel to decide for yourself. You’ll be incredibly glad you did.

Posted by Tracy

Brainy New Thriller

“Since there is nothing so well worth having as friends, never lose a chance to make them.” ― Francesco Guicciardini

That’s right, Francesco. Never lose a chance to make friends—in life and in books. I’ve made some awesome friends this year, by way of new authors and new characters. I’m gonna hang onto James McBride. Without a doubt. Of course, Jacqueline Winspear is a keeper, so is Clare Pooley. John Boyne too. Angie Kim is my latest newfound friend and I’m thoroughly pleased with my find. Thanks to Ann Napolitano for shining a light on Kim via high praise: “I fell in love with the fascinating brilliant family at the center of this riveting book.” Jodi Picoult pitched in with, “I read this in a single day…a story with so many twists and turns I was riveted through the last page.”

Happiness Falls was riveting for sure. Angie Kim’s second novel revolves around a memorable family consisting of a Korean mother, a linguist who works full-time and who babies 14-year-old Eugene—her youngest son with a double diagnosis of Angelman syndrome and autism. Adam (an American) is a caring father. He finished up his career to stay at home and care for speechless Eugene. Adam vanishes one day on his morning hike with Eugene, and so the mystery begins. The twins, Mia and John, are beyond bright; they’re gifted. They work together to crack the disappearance (or is it a murder) case. Deeply analytical Mia narrates the story—she has the best shot as solving the mystery.  You’ll be engrossed. In the words of Charles Barkley, I gua-ran-tee it!

*Reader beware: Mia drops more than her fair share of f-bombs!

Posted by Tracy

R.E.A.D.

“B.E.A.C.H.: Best Escape Anyone Can Have.”

I’ve been promising myself a much-needed trip to a beach. Funny, I can’t seem to find my way to the sand and the sea. (Funny, not funny.) I need an escape right about now. Since I can’t seem to get to the shore’s edge, I decided the next best escape is a R.E.A.D.: Rewarding Escape Anyone (and Everyone) Deserves. It seemed fitting to choose a beach read, and while Emily Henry’s book by the same name came to mind, I went with Barbara Davis this time. (My girl Devron mentioned Davis when I saw her last.) So I downloaded The Echo of Old Books and dove in.

For me, it’s hard to resist a book about books. I appreciated rare book dealer Ashlyn Greer for obvious reasons. Thankfully, she let her superpower—the ability to feel the emotions of previous book owners by simply touching a book’s cover—be her guide. When she stumbles across two leather-bound, self-published books with the same look, her bookish spidey-senses get a pins-and-needles tingle. She uncovers a sad romance rolled into a decades-old mystery. Tired as I am, I did unravel the mysterious part of the novel before it was revealed. No bother. This is a beach read after all. I wouldn’t call The Echo of Old Books “the best escape anyone can have”—but with the sun, a light breeze, and the sound of the ocean as a paradisical backdrop, you’ll enjoy Barbara Davis’s latest. I especially relished the quotes from The Care and Feeding of Old Books at the start of Ashlyn’s chapters; let’s end with one of those: “Books are rib and spine, blood and ink, the stuff of dreams dreamed and lives lived. One page, one day, one journey at a time.”

Posted by Tracy