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Published on 2 Comments on The Marriage Portrait
The Marriage Portrait Book Cover The Marriage Portrait
Maggie O'Farrell
Fiction
Knopf
September 6, 2022
Hardcover
355
Purchased

Florence, the 1550s. Lucrezia, third daughter of the grand duke, is comfortable with her obscure place in the palazzo: free to wonder at its treasures, observe its clandestine workings, and devote herself to her own artistic pursuits. But when her older sister dies on the eve of her wedding to the ruler of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio, Lucrezia is thrust unwittingly into the limelight: the duke is quick to request her hand in marriage, and her father just as quick to accept on her behalf. Having barely left girlhood behind, Lucrezia must now enter an unfamiliar court whose customs are opaque and where her arrival is not universally welcomed. Perhaps most mystifying of all is her new husband himself, Alfonso. Is he the playful sophisticate he appeared to be before their wedding, the aesthete happiest in the company of artists and musicians, or the ruthless politician before whom even his formidable sisters seem to tremble? As Lucrezia sits in constricting finery for a painting intended to preserve her image for centuries to come, one thing becomes worryingly clear. In the court’s eyes, she has one duty: to provide the heir who will shore up the future of the Ferranese dynasty. Until then, for all of her rank and nobility, the new duchess’s future hangs entirely in the balance.

My review:

She got me again!! I went into this novel almost completely blind save for the fact that I loved Hamnet, her previous novel. I am not one to enjoy novels set before the 20th century, that is until Maggie O'Farrell came along. The novel starts with a historical note:

In 1560, fifteen-year-old Lucrezia di Cosimo de’ Medici left Florence to begin her married life with Alfonso II d’Este Duke of Ferrara.
Less then a year later, she would be dead.
The official cause of death was given as ‘putrid fever’, but it was rummoured that she had been murdered by her husband.

Wait.....WHAT? The novel follows Lucrezia, a spitfire of a girl who loves nothing more than painting and is not thrilled with the idea of having to take her sister's place in marriage. You can't help but fall in love with Lucrezia, while at the same time dread her fate. The writing is absolutely exquisite (as was the case with Hamnet), and I loved the glimpses we get into the arduous task of creating those Renaissance paintings we revere. We get to see it not only from how the artists create the work, but the hours of sitting for the portrait. After reading this book, you will understand why the women are never smiling in most of those paintings, ugh...what a life they had! You will root for Lucrezia, who surmises her fate and tries to figure a way out. The ending is superb, no more can be said (if you know, you know).

I highly recommend this historical fiction, and coming from someone who is fairly picky about this genre, that's high praise. It's almost like a historical thriller as we draw near to Lucrezia's fate!

Published on Leave a comment on Spare
Spare Book Cover Spare
Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex
Biography & Autobiography
Random House
January 10, 2023
Hardcover/Audio
410
Purchased

It was one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother’s coffin as the world watched in sorrow—and horror. As Princess Diana was laid to rest, billions wondered what Prince William and Prince Harry must be thinking and feeling—and how their lives would play out from that point on.

For Harry, this is that story at last.

Before losing his mother, twelve-year-old Prince Harry was known as the carefree one, the happy-go-lucky Spare to the more serious Heir. Grief changed everything. He struggled at school, struggled with anger, with loneliness—and, because he blamed the press for his mother’s death, he struggled to accept life in the spotlight.

At twenty-one, he joined the British Army. The discipline gave him structure, and two combat tours made him a hero at home. But he soon felt more lost than ever, suffering from post-traumatic stress and prone to crippling panic attacks. Above all, he couldn’t find true love.

Then he met Meghan. The world was swept away by the couple’s cinematic romance and rejoiced in their fairy-tale wedding. But from the beginning, Harry and Meghan were preyed upon by the press, subjected to waves of abuse, racism, and lies. Watching his wife suffer, their safety and mental health at risk, Harry saw no other way to prevent the tragedy of history repeating itself but to flee his mother country. Over the centuries, leaving the Royal Family was an act few had dared. The last to try, in fact, had been his mother. . . .

For the first time, Prince Harry tells his own story, chronicling his journey with raw, unflinching honesty. A landmark publication, Spare is full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.

My review:

First and foremost, if you have no intention of reading this book, please scroll on by! I'm involved in several on-line book communities, and it has been SO tiresome when people just want to discuss the book, and people chime in and announce they have no intention of reading such crap (you don't throw your family under the bus, they are just looking for attention, Meghan must have put him up to it, blah blah blah!!). If you don't want to read it.......great, have at the millions of other choices there are out there, but let those of us who actually have read it, be able to discuss it. Sorry for the rant, but the vitriol out there has been unmerciful!

Now, if you've gotten this far, let's discuss and I'll give my thoughts. For those in the camp of why did he write this book, it is explained within the first few pages in the introduction. He basically is telling his story leading up to why he felt it was necessary to leave England (in a nutshell, he was protecting his family from what happened to his mother). The book starts off around the time of his mother's death, and I was moved to tears by his account of this time in his life. It definitely effected his entire life from that moment on. He then recounts his boarding school years (the only part I found kind of dull) and his years in the military. I was really surprised at how much of his time was spent in real danger, as opposed to his brother (who as the heir didn't do any combat). He doesn't hold back in discussing his drinking and drug use after the war (PTSD likely), and I felt he didn't make any excuses for the things he actually did. The major part of his narrative is surrounding all of the things reported by the media that he didn't do. I honestly thought he didn't throw as many people under the bus as he could have. He includes code names for the members of the monarchy staff who actually gave the press false information about him (and later Meghan) to make sure other family members were seen in a more positive light by the people. The person(s) who come off the worst are probably my least favorite of the Royals anyway, so I can't say I was surprised. I found the book to be compelling, honest, and am hopeful that by telling his truth it will help him heal from all that has been done to him by the press.

For a final side note, I listened to this book on audio, and would highly suggest that format (if you are an audiobook listener) as Harry narrates it himself. At the end of the audiobook, it tells the children's charities that proceeds from the book will be going to (take that, all you "he's only doing this for the money" people!).

I've never had any issues with Harry, and after reading this book, I still don't. I was happy to experience his side of the story, and hope the press (and all the mean people) can let him live his life with his family.

Published on Leave a comment on Just the Nicest Couple
Just the Nicest Couple Book Cover Just the Nicest Couple
Mary Kubica
Park Row Books
January 10, 2023
Advance reader copy
320
Free from publisher

Two couples, two close friends, one missing husband… Jake Hayes is missing. This much is certain. At first, his wife, Nina, thinks he is blowing off steam at a friend’s house after their heated fight the night before. But then a day goes by. Two days. Five. And Jake is still nowhere to be found. Lily Scott, Nina’s friend and coworker, thinks she may have been the last to see Jake before he went missing. After Lily confesses everything to her husband, Christian, the two decide that nobody can find out what happened leading up to Jake’s disappearance, especially not Nina. But Nina is out there looking for her husband, and she won’t stop until the truth is discovered.

My review:

I've read almost, if not all, of this author's works. You can always count on her for a solid thriller that will keep you engaged throughout. I say that last part because I think some thrillers rely too much on that final twist. I'm a reader that no matter how good the twist is, I need to be interested in the entire book, not just the last part. And if you can throw in some smaller hooks along the way, that makes it even better. This book did a nice job of keeping you guessing as we follow the wife of the man that is missing, and the husband of her friend (and possibly the last to see him alive). The characters are well fleshed out, although none of them are particularly likeable. I did think that Lilly was a bit wishy washy and could have maybe had a bit more of a backbone, but that's the girl power in me coming out 🙂 I liked the back and forth perspectives from the two characters and the fast flow to the story. While I had a couple glimpses of potential twists, I can't say that I really figured it out (no surprise there, I'm not very good at these things!).

A well written thriller that keeps you on your toes throughout. I don't think any of Kubica's books will ever top The Good Girl for me, but this one is definitely worth the read.

Published on Leave a comment on Best Books of 2022

At the end of each calendar year I like to look back at my reading. It's fun to see how it changes year to year in regards to amount read, content, and ratings. My overall total for 2022 was 290 books, with most of those consumed via audiobook. My overall rating slipped this year coming in at 3.3. While this was a bit disappointing, given the way I rate books, that means it falls slightly higher than good (which is a 3 star read for me), so that's fine (every book can't be stellar and still be enjoyable in the moment). These 10 books were my 5 star reads for the year. To receive a 5 star means not only was it a great read, but it is one that I will think about for years to come! Without further ado, here they are:

I typically only rank my top 5, but all of these are excellent reads. I always find it hard to pick my favorites, but here goes.

#5 Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus........I loved the protagonist in this one and the way she found a way to educate through cooking. I will think about her for a long time to come as the epitome of girl power in the era I grew up in.

#4 Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.........Who would have thought I would fall in love with an octopus, but Marcellus was one of the best (and most unique!) storytellers of all time. I loved that the other protagonist was an older woman, although her storyline did end up a bit predictable.

#3 The Appeal by Janice Hallett...........What a unique premise, and I loved it! We follow along as two students try to crack a years old murder case. We as readers go through the evidence in the case (emails, texts, newspaper articles, letters, etc.) as though we were on the case. Can you solve it? So fun!

#2 Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng...........A scary and thought provoking look at how our country could end up if the wrong people come to power! Brilliant writing and wonderful characters nearly gave this the top spot.

And my favorite book of 2022 (drum roll):

#1 The Measure by Nikki Erlick..........I was hooked from the very beginning thinking about what I would do if put in this situation, and then I was hooked on seeing what was to happen to the ten people we follow through the book. So many issues brought up in this one that I couldn't put it down! While the writing was not as on par with that of my #2 book, I just couldn't ignore the uniqueness of the plot!

Looking at this list, I think what stands out to me the most is that my top picks all had something that made them different than the average story. Maybe because of how many books I consume, this is something that appeals more to me now? Only time will tell.

If you've made it through this far, I hope some of these books will interest you, or have you already read them? What were some of your favorites of the year? Now onto 2023!

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Published on 1 Comment on Demon Copperhead
Demon Copperhead Book Cover Demon Copperhead
Barbara Kingsolver
Fiction
Harper
October 18, 2022
Hardcover
560
Purchased

Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, this is the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father's good looks and copper-colored hair, a caustic wit, and a fierce talent for survival. In a plot that never pauses for breath, relayed in his own unsparing voice, he braves the modern perils of foster care, child labor, derelict schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses. Through all of it, he reckons with his own invisibility in a popular culture where even the superheroes have abandoned rural people in favor of cities.

Many generations ago, Charles Dickens wrote David Copperfield from his experience as a survivor of institutional poverty and its damages to children in his society. Those problems have yet to be solved in ours. Dickens is not a prerequisite for readers of this novel, but he provided its inspiration. In transposing a Victorian epic novel to the contemporary American South, Barbara Kingsolver enlists Dickens' anger and compassion, and above all, his faith in the transformative powers of a good story. Demon Copperhead speaks for a new generation of lost boys, and all those born into beautiful, cursed places they can't imagine leaving behind.

My review:

The Poisonwood Bible was such a memorable book by this author, I was anxious to see how this newest novel would resonate. Despite having never read David Copperfield, on which this book is based, I really enjoyed the story, and particularly the eloquent writing. Perhaps enjoy is not the right word since this is a very depressing story of poverty (and all that results from it) in Appalachia. The story is told from Demon, and he is a character you will fall in love with, and find yourself rooting for, hoping for some way that he can escape all the pitfalls life throws at him. Despite the length of the story, it never felt slow or laboring in plot, and the characters were so well done. As was mentioned, this author has a way of telling a story that sucks you in and never lets go until the very last page. I did get my usual angst over the page count, but that's more of a me thing, and certainly no reflection on the quality of the story and writing. This really makes you think about the effects that extreme poverty has not only on individuals, but entire communities. Demon was such a survivor, but sadly the vast majority are not!

While not a happy story, the resilience of Demon shines through on each and every page. The story and writing are transcendent, and the message shines bright. If you can tolerate the length, this is well worth your time invested.

Published on Leave a comment on Anywhere You Run
Anywhere You Run Book Cover Anywhere You Run
Wanda M. Morris
Fiction
William Morrow Paperbacks
October 25, 2022
Advance reader copy
384
Free from publisher

It's the summer of 1964 and three innocent men are brutally murdered for trying to help Black Mississippians secure the right to vote. Against this backdrop, twenty-two year old Violet Richards finds herself in more trouble than she's ever been in her life. Suffering a brutal attack of her own, she kills the man responsible. But with the color of Violet's skin, there is no way she can escape Jim Crow justice in Jackson, Mississippi. Before anyone can find the body or finger her as the killer, she decides to run. With the help of her white beau, Violet escapes. But desperation and fear leads her to hide out in the small rural town of Chillicothe, Georgia, unaware that danger may be closer than she thinks.

Back in Jackson, Marigold, Violet's older sister, has dreams of attending law school. Working for the Mississippi Summer Project, she has been trying to use her smarts to further the cause of the Black vote. But Marigold is in a different kind of trouble: she's pregnant and unmarried. After news of the murder brings the police to her door, Marigold sees no choice but to flee Jackson too. She heads North seeking the promise of a better life and no more segregation. But has she made a terrible choice that threatens her life and that of her unborn child?

Two sisters on the run--one from the law, the other from social shame. What they don't realize is that there's a man hot on their trail. This man has his own brand of dark secrets and a disturbing motive for finding the sisters that is unknown to everyone but him . . .

My review:

I had read a copy of this author's last novel and enjoyed it, so was anxious to check out another book from her. I went into this without knowing much about it, and was surprised to find that it is quite different from her previous work. That's not a bad thing (especially since I think I liked this one even more), I appreciate it when an author can vary their stories to not always follow the same formula. This was definitely more historical fiction with suspense, not something I would categorize as a thriller (as her other work clearly was). In this book you get a feel for how despite new laws, it really didn't make any difference with regards to how blacks were treated in the south. Our main protagonists (sisters) have different reasons to escape the oppressive regime, but both are in danger, before and after they finally reunite. This is a well done narrative, and the suspense keeps you turning pages to root for Violet and Marigold and hope for their happy ending. I love when a book can shine a light on historical aspects, but also have a fast moving plot. Definite trigger warnings for physical and emotional abuse.

With this second book which showcased how this author can write very different material yet keep that suspenseful element, I have decided that I will definitely keep my eye out for what she puts out next. This one is a great combo of historical fiction and suspense that I think lots of readers will be pulled into.

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Published on 2 Comments on Mad Honey
Mad Honey Book Cover Mad Honey
Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Finney Boylan
Fiction
Ballantine
October 4, 2022
Hardcover
464
Purchased

Olivia McAfee knows what it feels like to start over. Her picture-perfect life—living in Boston, married to a brilliant cardiothoracic surgeon, raising a beautiful son, Asher—was upended when her husband revealed a darker side. She never imagined she would end up back in her sleepy New Hampshire hometown, living in the house she grew up in, and taking over her father's beekeeping business.

Lily Campanello is familiar with do-overs, too. When she and her mom relocate to Adams, New Hampshire, for her final year of high school, they both hope it will be a fresh start.

And for just a short while, these new beginnings are exactly what Olivia and Lily need. Their paths cross when Asher falls for the new girl in school, and Lily can’t help but fall for him, too. With Ash, she feels happy for the first time. Yet at times, she wonders if she can she trust him completely . . .

Then one day, Olivia receives a phone call: Lily is dead, and Asher is being questioned by the police. Olivia is adamant that her son is innocent. But she would be lying if she didn’t acknowledge the flashes of his father’s temper in him, and as the case against him unfolds, she realizes he’s hidden more than he’s shared with her.

Mad Honey is a riveting novel of suspense, an unforgettable love story, and a moving and powerful exploration of the secrets we keep and the risks we take in order to become ourselves.

My review:

She's back! I haven't really enjoyed the format of the last couple books by this author because they veered away from her more typical drama with a trial involved. Of course I always enjoy the characters she writes, they are always so well constructed and make you feel really connected to the story. Such was the case with this book. Written with a co-author (who I was not familiar with), this has the usual current hot button topics included. The main one I'm not going to discuss since that would be a huge spoiler (that did indeed make me gasp). The education about beekeeping was wonderful, and one I've read about in other books and have always had a fascination for. I didn't make the connection (until I read another review) that the lawyer who represents the young man is the same lawyer from my favorite Picoult book Nineteen Minutes! It was interesting that while Asher's story is told in chronological order, Lilly's is told in a backward fashion. This was how A Spark of Light was told and I really did not like it in that book, I'm still not sure that I think it totally worked in this one, but I was much more tolerant of it here. The main thing I always come away from in a book by this author is an education on something that I may not know much about. I love reading fiction that immerses you in a story, but still has you learning while reading. I thought the writing was seamless, I really could not tell which author wrote which parts of the story, and if there were not two names on the cover I would have thought it was written by one person. My only other small criticism (other than the backward storytelling) was that I thought the ending was a bit too convenient. Not a big deal, but I would have appreciated a bit more ambiguity.

As always, this author has a way with characters and hot topics that will keep me coming back for more! The story of mothers and their relationship with their children was definitely the overarching theme, but the added educational aspects and trial were the main highlights for me. I'm happy to be back on the Picoult hype train!

Published on Leave a comment on Our Missing Hearts
Our Missing Hearts Book Cover Our Missing Hearts
Celeste Ng
Fiction
Penguin Press
October 4, 2022
Advance reader copy
352
Free from publisher via BookBrowse

Twelve-year-old Bird Gardner lives a quiet existence with his loving but broken father, a former linguist who now shelves books in Harvard University’s library. Bird knows to not ask too many questions, stand out too much, or stray too far. For a decade, their lives have been governed by laws written to preserve “American culture” in the wake of years of economic instability and violence. To keep the peace and restore prosperity, the authorities are now allowed to relocate children of dissidents, especially those of Asian origin, and libraries have been forced to remove books seen as unpatriotic—including the work of Bird’s mother, Margaret, a Chinese American poet who left the family when he was nine years old.

Bird has grown up disavowing his mother and her poems; he doesn’t know her work or what happened to her, and he knows he shouldn’t wonder. But when he receives a mysterious letter containing only a cryptic drawing, he is drawn into a quest to find her. His journey will take him back to the many folktales she poured into his head as a child, through the ranks of an underground network of librarians, into the lives of the children who have been taken, and finally to New York City, where a new act of defiance may be the beginning of much-needed change.

Our Missing Hearts is an old story made new, of the ways supposedly civilized communities can ignore the most searing injustice. It’s a story about the power—and limitations—of art to create change, the lessons and legacies we pass on to our children, and how any of us can survive a broken world with our hearts intact.

My review:

I feel like this book doesn't need anything said except:

JUST READ IT

However for those who may need a bit more proof (or prodding), I offer my thoughts. This book is set in a dystopian world that is scarily comparable to where we may be heading. Many of the themes are ones that have already occurred, are presently happening, and could happen if we continue down the path some people in power want us to follow. This is a dark look at what happens when the government institutes a new policy, and you either follow along or suffer the devastating consequences. The characters in this book are ones that I will remember (and worry about) for a long time to come. The writing is beautiful, and the protagonists are so well developed. The ending is devastating, yet somehow also manages to convey a sense of hope for the future. I absolutely loved the role of the librarians, major kudos to all of you! Such an impactful novel about family bonds, and trying to change a broken system.

I'm keeping this review vague on purpose because I don't want to give any kind of spoilers (or start on a political rant). Suffice it to say that this book should make you very fearful of the future. An amazing book that I hope everyone gets their hands on.

Published on Leave a comment on The Winners
The Winners Book Cover The Winners
Beartown #3
Fredrik Backman
Fiction
Atria
September 27, 2022
Advance reader copy
688
Free from publisher

Two years have passed since the events that no one wants to think about. Everyone has tried to move on, but there’s something about this place that prevents it. The residents continue to grapple with life’s big questions: What is a family? What is a community? And what, if anything, are we willing to sacrifice in order to protect them?

As the locals of Beartown struggle to overcome the past, great change is on the horizon. Someone is coming home after a long time away. Someone will be laid to rest. Someone will fall in love, someone will try to fix their marriage, and someone will do anything to save their children. Someone will submit to hate, someone will fight, and someone will grab a gun and walk towards the ice rink.

So what are the residents of Beartown willing to sacrifice for their home?

Everything.

My review:

I'll admit I was nervous going into this one. Not because I thought I wouldn't love it (this author never lets me down!), but because I wasn't willing to invest the time to reread the first two books in the series (I'm not a repeat reader), and I might not remember enough. I needn't have worried, and I should not have doubted the fact that Backman gives enough information that you could read this as a standalone novel and still love it. Would I recommend doing that? No. First, you'd be missing out on two fantastic previous books, and second, I definitely think I felt more immersed in the setting and characters having spent so much time with them in the past (which did come back to me very quickly). While this book has a lot going on with regards to plot, I definitely feel that it's the characters that make it shine! Also the writing, which is so eloquent that I found myself stopping to reread passages (that kind of rereading I will do) several times per chapter! Some may be put off by this series when they hear it's about a hockey town, but please do not be! It's about so much more! It's about community, loyalty, found family, the angst of youth, and some of the most memorable characters you'll ever read about (and yes, Benji still has my heart!). If I had any complaint to make it would be that it is just really long. As much as I loved it, any book that is over 600 pages is probably going to get that criticism from me.

While I'm super sad to be leaving this town, I felt this was the perfect concluding saga. Enjoy the gorgeous wring, relish the plot, but be mesmerized by the characters. Well done Mr. Backman, you have my heart (still).

Published on Leave a comment on Daisy Darker
Daisy Darker Book Cover Daisy Darker
Alice Feeney
Fiction
Flatiron Books
August 30, 2022
Hardcover
352
Purchased

After years of avoiding each other, Daisy Darker’s entire family is assembling for Nana’s 80th birthday party in Nana’s crumbling gothic house on a tiny tidal island. Finally back together one last time, when the tide comes in, they will be cut off from the rest of the world for eight hours. The family arrives, each of them harboring secrets. Then at the stroke of midnight, as a storm rages, Nana is found dead. And an hour later, the next family member follows… Trapped on an island where someone is killing them one by one, the Darkers must reckon with their present mystery as well as their past secrets, before the tide comes in and all is revealed. With a wicked wink to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, Daisy Darker’s unforgettable twists will leave readers reeling.

My review:

This is one of those books that started out so promising, but lost me toward the end. It states in the synopsis that its a nod to Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, but I have not read that book to know how accurate that is. If that one ends the same way this one does, I think I'll pass! I will say that the reason I disliked the ending is much more of a "me thing" than anything against the book itself. I can't really explain what I didn't like without giving away one of the huge twists, but suffice it to say it just isn't a plot point that ever works for me. Other than my issue with that, this was a completely engaging novel about a dysfunctional family (which IS my favorite trope) who are on a deserted island (where you can't drive off when the tide is in) for the family matriarch's 80th birthday. As is true in most thrillers like this, there are secrets and grudges galore. I'm not sure that it was all totally believable, but I was along for the ride for most of it. It was fast paced, well written, and had many twists throughout (not just the one I mentioned).

A fast and compelling read. As long as the major twist doesn't annoy you, I think it's well worth it. Also, if you haven't read Rock Paper Scissors by this author, that one was a 5 star for me! Maybe that is another reason I felt a bit let down by this one, I was maybe going in with my expectations too high.