Remarkably Bright Pages

“Shelby Van Pelt has done the impossible. She’s created a perfect story with imperfect characters, that is so heartwarming, so mysterious, and so completely absorbing you won’t be able to put it down because when you’re not reading this book, you’ll be hugging it.” –Jamie Ford, author of The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Any book bestie of Rachel’s is a book bestie of mine. Naturally, when the adorable Jenna Bush picked Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel Remarkably Bright Creatures, I was intrigued. The First Lady of Book Clubs’ recommendation was enough. Combined with this promise, it became a must—“For fans of A Man Called Ove, a charming, witty, and compulsively readable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope, tracing a widow’s unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus.

Books are a lot like people. They’re unique. They carry a whole world within them. They promise a range of emotions, which allows us to connect and relate. And they have distinct personalities. I must say, of all of the personalities in Van Pelt’s premiere, Marcellus the Octopus is the hands-down favorite. It sounds crazy to call a cephalopod charming, but that’s exactly what Marcellus is. Of course, he’s incredibly clever. And wry. A captive in the Sowell Bay Aquarium since his youth, he’s spent far too much time behind the glass getting to know predictable, sometimes quirky, mundane humans. He’s not particularly fond of our kind. But he does take lovingly to a highly productive, emotionally inscrutable seventy-year-old woman named Tova—so much so that he solves a cold case for her, one that put a lead weight on her heart for 30 years. Score one for the loveable misanthrope!

Posted by Tracy

Confession

“Sometimes, we need to look at our lives from a different angle to recognize the dysfunction and damage certain relationships are causing.”

The first session is Confession, and this is ours: we’re suckers for a twisted ending. A mediocre book can take on a whole new feel if you get us with a plot twist in the end. An unorthodox therapy approach from a recently de-barred therapist claims that you can work through any sticky situation in just 10 sessions. Would you work with her?

Writing duo Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen are back (think The Wife Between Us) with The Golden Couple, a story centered on an unusual method of therapy. Recently unlicensed, Avery tells her story to The Washington Post to convince D.C. residents of her highly effective 10-session therapy plan. (It hasn’t failed yet!) Desperate for a solution to her one-and-done infidelity, Marissa Bishop seeks out Avery to help her and her husband work it out and regain their relationship.

The Bishops have EVERYTHING: wealth, status, a boutique, blonde looks, and a complete willingness to do everything Avery asks of them. They are truly the Golden Couple…or are they? As Avery works through the Bishop’s 10 sessions, she uncovers secret after secret into their not-so-perfect life and realizes that not all that glitters is gold.

The Golden Couple was silver-medal material along the way, but the ending truly pushed it to gold status. The unexpected twist alone is worth five stars. Overall, the book is probably in the 4.2 range. As W.H. Auden said (and as Hendricks and Pekkanen so eloquently construct), “There’s more than meets the eye” with the Bishops.

Posted by Sharee and Michelle

Say It Real Pretty

“Take my hand when you are worried/Take my hand when you're alone/
Take my hand and let me guide you/Take my hand to lead you home.” — Ben Harper

Clearly, I’m outta steam. Or is it gas? Whichever phase is closer to exhaustion, that’s the one that’s got me. I had big plans for a fitting Juneteenth post about Dolen Perkins-Valdez’s latest novel, Take My Hand. Her “jewel of a book” revolves around a horrific true story that took place in post-segregation Alabama nearly 50 years ago. Perkins-Valdez shines a light on the likes of brave Minnie Lee and Mary Alice Relf. I was previously unaware of the two African American sisters who were involuntarily sterilized by tubal ligation, at a federally funded family planning clinic no less. The fact that they were ages 12 and 14 sent me flying.

Perkins-Valdez knocked me for six with the timing of her book release. Her main character, Civil Townsend, is a strong, assertive, principled woman who maintains female bodies “belong to us…poor, disabled, it [doesn’t] matter.” Civil takes seriously Martin Luther King Jr’s reported last words (that inspired the novel’s title)—“Ben, make sure you play ‘Take My Hand, Precious Lord” in the meeting tonight. Play it real pretty”—in fact, she embodies them. Civil joins hands with the least among us and tries, with all the energy of her deep-beating heart, to understand. And Lift.

Posted by Tracy

In a World Where You Can Be Anything, Be a Reader

“I loved The Violin Conspiracy for exactly the same reasons I loved The Queen’s Gambit: a surprising, beautifully rendered underdog hero I cared about deeply and a fascinating, cutthroat world I knew nothing about—in this case, classical music.” —Chris Bohjalian

“Alone, we are a solitary violin, a lonely flute, a trumpet singing in the dark. Together, we are a symphony.”

I need to read. Need like a persistent itch that I’ve got to scratch or it will drive me insane. Hearing other people’s experiences (real or imagined), witnessing their personal stories up close, fills in the seams for me. Cracks and holes too—the ones news and social media (and frankly, some people) open up. Sometimes I simply need to escape. To transport my heart and mind to another place, like portable magic. Sometimes I feel utterly compelled to climb into someone else’s shoes, to see how they feel, only to walk around and get comfortable in a size 13. The fact is reading gives me a new set of eyes to see the world with.

Rayquan McMillian’s eyes felt illuminating to me. Illuminating like Richard Wright’s black boy, Zora Neal Hurston’s Janie Crawford, and Toni Morrison’s Milkman. Yes, The Violin Conspiracy is about a priceless Stradivarius, an unlikely virtuoso, and music that is the full spectrum of colors: golden, blue, red, green, and gray. Beyond that, it’s a coming- of-age story about a boy who course-corrects his future destined for the grind of poverty and, against all odds, replaces it with inconceivable but reachable dreams. This new release reminded me that life needs beautiful rhythm as much as it needs structure and familiarity. More importantly, the heart of Brendan Slocumb’s message is one we all need to hear right now: acceptance shouldn’t be reserved for a select group. Time to shake off archaic, sometimes unwitting, ideas about race (among other things) and belonging. Time to ditch whoever put the rat in rat race.

I know it’s unlikely, but I’d love to meet Bryan Stevenson sometime, Zora Neal, and Toni Morrison too. (God rest that woman’s beautiful soul.) I’m adding a newcomer to that list. I wouldn’t need but a few seconds of Brendan Slocumb’s time—just long enough to thank him for letting me see the world through his mature eyes.

Posted by Tracy

Historical Fiction Homerun

“Let us never underestimate the power of a well-written [book].” —Karen Joy Fowler

Rachel’s been hangin’ with my boys, Rocky and Ryland. And I couldn’t be happier about it. I think it’s safe to say her lovin’ heart pumped chocolate too as she listened to Ray Porter’s expressive voice enlarge Weir’s so-much-more-than-science story.  Project Hail Mary continues to be at the top of my 2022 favorites. I just finished a book that will also land squarely on that list.

 Am I late to the Karen Joy Fowler party or what? She’s a New York Times best-selling author, a PEN/Faulkner Award Winner, and a Man Booker Prize short-lister. Plus she loves Jane Austen. Seems like I should have connected with her via the well-written page long before now. Fowler just offered me a fascinating look into John Wilkes Booth’s chaotic family life and insight into the impossibly vain mind of Lincoln’s assassin.

“Yes, we know even before we turn the first page where the intertwined timelines of the Booths and American history will lead, but Fowler’s deftly imagined family portrait keeps us riveted”—I couldn’t agree more with this Washington Post reviewer. Fowler’s strategy to peek into the Booth family dysfunction through the eyes of 3 of John’s siblings works brilliantly.  Now I better understand where the brother-who-could-do-no-wrong got it dead wrong.

P.S. Literati, you’re gonna love how Fowler intricately weaves Shakespeare throughout this historical fiction homerun.

One more P.S. This made me think I should read my niece’s recommendation Chasing Lincoln’s Killer. Asap.

Posted by Tracy

Big Book Hankerin’

“Where is human nature so weak as in the bookstore?”—Henry Ward Beecher

Right on, Henry Ward, right on. I can get behind a guy who’s all about God’s love and books, books, and more books. Weeks ago, I got a big hankerin’ for some new reads. Entranced, my car headed west towards Barnes & Noble—I was powerless to turn around. The flesh was weak. Inside, when I read this claim about debut novel Shadows of Pecan Hollow, I felt defenseless: “Set in 1970-90s Texas, a mesmerizing story about a fierce woman and the partner-in-crime she can’t escape, perfect for listeners of Where the Crawdads Sing and Valentine.” They had me at the promise of “perfect” for listeners of Crawdads.

I liked 13-year-old orphan, Kit Walker. She’s lost—understandably so—but she’s gritty, determined, and has a backbone that commands both respect and envy. Of course, she’s a child, which means she’s also vulnerable. When Kit meets Manny, a charming con-artist, her life bolts from despairing to pretty twisted. I couldn’t agree more with the Publishers Weekly reviewer who explains, “Much melodrama ensues, including some gratuitous violence. Nevertheless, Frost offers plenty of punchy lines. It’s uneven, but there’s promise here.” Speaking of promise, I don’t think this was “perfect” for listeners of Where the Crawdads Sing. Nope, can’t go there. Crawdads was special. Sharee and I agree Pecan Hollow was entertaining. But in the great expanse of stars, it’s lost somewhere in the 3’s.

Posted by Tracy

Back in a Big Way

"Sometimes, the things we think are lost are only hidden, waiting to be rediscovered."

Sadly, we all have seasons in our lives when we're MIA from books for a minute. My book-starved season is now—the current hurdle of grad school has swallowed my dedicated reading time whole—instead I’ve been chewing on textbooks and research papers for the past nine months. My month-long semester break means I need to get in as many good reads as possible. I turned to my trusted ladies for a recent release that would start my month strong. As always, Rachel and Tray don't disappoint!

I first fell in love with Anthony Doerr's writing in the summer of 2016. On a commuter train from New York City to New Canaan, Connecticut, I devoured All The Light We Cannot See in two days. I could've finished it in hours if it weren't for a pesky, high-demand internship. Will it surprise that I’d go so far as to take the book into the bathroom to steal a page or two?!?

Similar to ATLWCS, Cloud Cuckoo Land is a brilliantly woven together tapestry of stories with a beautiful overarching message at the end. Set in Constantinople and the Bulgarian Forests during the 1450s with Anna and Omeir; Lakefront, Idaho in 2020 with Seymour and Zeno; and years into the “not-so-distant future” on space mission Argos with Konstance, Doerr details the story of those five characters whose lives are brought together in a single strand. All find their way to the translations of the Greek tale of Atheon (Cloud Cuckoo Land)—a shepherd on a quest to find the city of dreams in a cloud. It may sound like a bad bar joke, but in true Doerr fashion, the book is paced out to come to a point in the five individuals' lives that showcase how transformative and influential books and stories can be.

Cloud Cuckoo Land rekindled my love of reading quicker than you can say veracious. Doerr took me back to those days of trying to squeeze out every moment possible to turn great pages. I wouldn't call the first 150-200 pages slow, but I would call them steady. A wealth of information is shared upfront for the reader to remember as the story picks up in the next 400—a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Of note: This book would be tough to Audible because there are essentially five different stories you’re jumping back and forth between – click the link above and get yourself a physical copy! You won’t be sorry. One more thing, I've been asked if this book is better than All The Light We Cannot See. I stand in Tracy's camp that ATLWCS is a timeless classic. But Cloud Cuckoo Land is a brilliant way to rediscover a good story.

Posted by Michelle

Finger Flippers

“In the times of greatest darkness, the light always shines through, because there are people who stand up to do brave, decent things…it doesn't matter what you were born to be. It matters what you choose to become.” —Kristin Harmel, The Forest of Vanishing Stars

Is Rae talkin’ book besties? She’s forever mine. When it comes to the very best pages, she has yet to steer me wrong—Rae put the rock in rock-solid, folks. I can’t wait to get eyeballs on her latest recommendations. Love me the good stuff. Meanwhile, here are a few of my latest reads that qualify as “finger flippers.”

Lucy’s makin a name for herself

Sharee and I both pounced on this late-February release. I’ve never read a Lucy Foley novel, not one, so I thought I’d give her a try. She had me turning pages. And she had me guessing. How ‘bout we let a dedicated crime fiction blogger do the honors for this cloak-and-dagger novel? “The Paris Apartment reads like a cross between Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, Riley Sager’s novel Lock Every Door, and the game of Clue; this immersive mystery delights and thrills in equal measure, weaving an engrossing tale that will keep readers guessing whodunnit until the book’s final pages.” Me and Sharee agree—this little thriller warrants 4 stars for plot twists alone.

P.S. This probably isn’t well suited for your mom’s book-of-the-month selection; a somewhat steady stream of f-bombs get dropped in the chic Parisian apartment building where everyone’s a suspect. 

Kwame’s got game

We’ve been accused of not reviewing enough children’s lit here at 2@27. Guilty as charged. Forgive me, and thank my 14-year-old boy, Jonah, who procrastinated his English assignment and had to read a book in less than 24. My first thought: You know I’m an English teacher, right? What I verbalized: Should we listen to The Crossover? Jonah was game. The main character Josh Bell, a twin brother and baller at heart, felt totally relatable to Mista Jones. We both loved Kwame’s “mad beats.” Poetry in forward motion. Here’s a fantastic snippet, an ode to Josh’s hair:

If my hair were a tree

I’d climb it.

I’d kneel down beneath

and enshrine it.

I’d treat it like gold

and then mine it.

Each day before school

I unwind it.

And right before games

I entwine it.

These locks on my head,

I designed it.

And one last thing if

you don’t mind it:

That bet you just made?

I DECLINE IT.

I think anyone who can get kids to love a book written entirely in free verse poetry deserves a medal—glad Newberry thought so too. Personally, I love the theme that even imperfect families are where it’s at.

Kristin does it again

Why do I feel like Kristin Harmel and I should be fast friends? Because we’re equally obsessed with Nazi Germany? Uniformly preoccupied with remarkable stories of survival against all odds that ultimately inspire hope and other glorious feelings? Really the only difference between us is she actually writes motivating stories and I just think about it. I find, like me, she is a teacher. In The Book of Lost Names, she taught me about the value of forgers for Jewish children trying to escape the evils of the Nazi regime. In The Forest of Vanishing Stars (also based on true events), I learned about courageous partisan fighters who risked their lives to hide Jewish refugees in the depths of the wild Naliboki Forest. To the British author who said this story will “touch, educate, transform, and uplift,” Ima holla back, Amen!

Posted by Tracy