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Published on Leave a comment on The House Is On Fire
The House Is on Fire Book Cover The House Is on Fire
Rachel Beanland
Fiction
Simon & Schuster
April 4, 2023
Advance reader copy
384
Free from publisher

Richmond, Virginia 1811. It’s the height of the winter social season. The General Assembly is in session, and many of Virginia’s gentleman planters, along with their wives and children, have made the long and arduous journey to the capital in hopes of whiling away the darkest days of the year. At the city’s only theater, the Charleston-based Placide & Green Company puts on two plays a night to meet the demand of a populace that’s done looking for enlightenment in a church.

On the night after Christmas, the theater is packed with more than six hundred holiday revelers. In the third-floor boxes, sits newly widowed Sally Henry Campbell, who is glad for any opportunity to relive the happy times she shared with her husband. One floor away, in the colored gallery, Cecily Patterson doesn’t give a whit about the play but is grateful for a four-hour reprieve from a life that has recently gone from bad to worse. Backstage, young stagehand Jack Gibson hopes that, if he can impress the theater’s managers, he’ll be offered a permanent job with the company. And on the other side of town, blacksmith Gilbert Hunt dreams of one day being able to bring his wife to the theater, but he’ll have to buy her freedom first.

When the theater goes up in flames in the middle of the performance, Sally, Cecily, Jack, and Gilbert make a series of split-second decisions that will not only affect their own lives but those of countless others. And in the days following the fire, as news of the disaster spreads across the United States, the paths of these four people will become forever intertwined.

Based on the true story of Richmond’s theater fire, The House Is on Fire offers proof that sometimes, in the midst of great tragedy, we are offered our most precious—and fleeting—chances at redemption.

My review:

I loved this historical fiction account of the Richmond theater fire of 1811. Not surprisingly, because it's usually the case with most of my historical fiction, I had no knowledge of this devastating fire that killed hundreds, until reading this book. As with most novels of this type, while it is based in fact, and a few of the characters were in fact real people, the four people we follow (and their stories) are fictional. I definitely felt Cecily's story was the most compelling, and the tension that built surrounding her circumstances made for major page turning to get back to her sections. The other three character's stories (which are told in alternating chapters) were also very interesting and engaging, but hers was by far the one I was most invested in. All of the characters were really well drawn, and the parts we got about caring for the injured (who made it out), and the investigation into what started the fire were really interesting. I thought the pacing was great, the chapters are short, which for some reason keeps me reading longer (it's that "just one more chapter" concept). I loved that we were given closure for each of the four characters we followed, but it was not necessarily done up with a big red bow (which can often make the ending cheesy in my opinion). The last paragraph brought me to tears and gave me chills.

I was a fan of this author's previous work Florence Adler Swims Forever (check out my review of that one if you haven't read it), but I think this one was even better as far as the writing style and plot. I definitely recommend if you are a historical fiction fan!

Published on Leave a comment on Hang the Moon
Hang the Moon Book Cover Hang the Moon
Jeannette Walls
Fiction
Scribner
March 28, 2023
Advance reader copy
368
Free from publisher

Sallie Kincaid is the daughter of the biggest man in a small town, the charismatic Duke Kincaid. Born at the turn of the 20th century into a life of comfort and privilege, Sallie remembers little about her mother who died in a violent argument with the Duke. By the time she is just eight years old, the Duke has remarried and had a son, Eddie. While Sallie is her father’s daughter, sharp-witted and resourceful, Eddie is his mother’s son, timid and cerebral. When Sallie tries to teach young Eddie to be more like their father, her daredevil coaching leads to an accident, and Sallie is cast out.

Nine years later, she returns, determined to reclaim her place in the family. That’s a lot more complicated than Sallie expected, and she enters a world of conflict and lawlessness. Sallie confronts the secrets and scandals that hide in the shadows of the Big House, navigates the factions in the family and town, and finally comes into her own as a bold, sometimes reckless bootlegger.

My review:

I've read a few books set during Prohibition, but it's been a while, so this was very entertaining for me. I love a feisty woman and Sallie Kincaid was that and more. From the time she was a young daredevil riding her wagon, to hanging with bootleggers later in life, she was a fantastically written character! Throughout the novel the shadow of her larger than life father (known as the Duke) looms large. She is also very protective of her younger half brother, who doesn't quite fit into the family mold as well as Sallie seems to. There are some humorous parts to this story, as well as lots of drama and sadness. The only part I was a bit bored with were the fights among the various bootlegging factions, however they did add to the authenticity of the story (and were based on real life events). I should point out that my violence level tolerance is very low so take that with a grain of salt. I was totally invested in this story and can imagine it making a great movie someday. The characters and setting were very well drawn, and the parts about bootlegging made for interesting reading (minus the fights 🙂 ). There is lots of drama in this one to push the plot along, and I appreciated that Sallie had a different perspective on things by virtue of being a woman in those times.

A really well written historical fiction set in the Prohibition era, with a protagonist you will want to root for. Issues of inheritance, class, loyalty, and gender inequality are prevalent throughout.

Published on Leave a comment on The Violin Conspiracy
The Violin Conspiracy Book Cover The Violin Conspiracy
Brendan Slocumb
Fiction
Anchor
February 1, 2022
Hardcover
353
Purchased

Ray McMillian loves playing the violin more than anything, and nothing will stop him from pursuing his dream of becoming a professional musician. Not his mother, who thinks he should get a real job, not the fact that he can't afford a high-caliber violin, not the racism inherent in the classical music world. And when he makes the startling discovery that his great-grandfather's fiddle is actually a priceless Stradivarius, his star begins to rise. Then with the international Tchaikovsky Competition—the Olympics of classical music—fast approaching, his prized family heirloom is stolen. Ray is determined to get it back. But now his family and the descendants of the man who once enslaved Ray's great-grandfather are each claiming that the violin belongs to them. With the odds stacked against him and the pressure mounting, will Ray ever see his beloved violin again?

My review:

This one was a treat I didn't see coming. While this book may be listed as a mystery/thriller, don't expect that will be the focus of the story. The book starts with finding out that Ray's priceless violin has been stolen, but then we go back in time to follow his life starting at t young age until we catch up again to present day. No one believes in a young black boy's musical abilities, especially his mother who wants him to get a job to help out the family. However, Ray's grandmother is the exception, and she leaves him an old violin which was her grandfather's so he can continue to pursue his passion. Said violin is worth millions and lots of people have reason to want to get a hold of it. A lot of the book also deals with the ongoing racism Ray experiences throughout his life, even once he has achieved success. I absolutely loved the descriptions of the concert world, was saddened by the trauma Ray had to endure, and not at all shocked by the steps some people took to claim what was his. Was the mystery pretty easy to decode? Well if I could figure it out fairly easily, then it must have been (I'm not known for my detective prowess), but for me, the mystery was not really the main plot of the story. I loved the character of Ray, and was rooting for him to rise above the fray and achieve his dream.

This is well worth the read, especially if you like your mysteries to have lots more meat on them than just the 'who dunnit' aspect. And who doesn't love a rags to riches story, especially if the character is deserving of the accolades?

Published on Leave a comment on Pineapple Street
Pineapple Street Book Cover Pineapple Street
Jenny Jackson
Fiction
Pamela Dorman Books
March 7, 2023
Hardcover
304
Purchased

Darley, the eldest daughter in the well-connected, carefully guarded, old-money Stockton family, followed her heart, trading her job and inheritance for motherhood, sacrificing more of herself than she ever intended. Sasha, middle-class and from New England, has married into the Brooklyn Heights family and finds herself cast as the arriviste outsider, wondering how she might ever understand their WASP-y ways. Georgiana, the baby of the family, has fallen in love with someone she can’t (and really shouldn’t) have and must confront the kind of person she wants to be.

Rife with the indulgent pleasures of life among New York’s one-percenters, Pineapple Street is a smart escapist novel that sparkles with wit. It’s about the peculiar unknowability of someone else’s family, the miles between the haves and have-nots and everything in between, and the insanity of first love.

My review:

I really enjoyed my time with this book, but there are a couple reasons why some may want to avoid it. First of all, if you don't like character driven books without much of a plot, this is probably not going to be one you'll want to pick up. Second, if you don't like reading about the day to day lives of the upper class, I would also skip. However, if those things are not an automatic deterrent, then this is a fun and well written story. One of my favorite tropes is what I call "rich people behaving badly", but I wouldn't really classify this family as that. Do they have frivolous and flippant tendencies? Yes, but mostly from the matriarch, and this novel focuses more on the three children and their significant others. I could definitely appreciate the humorous moments and the absolute over the top privilege, but I also felt that these characters did grow (for the most part, Tilda not so much) as the book progressed. By the end, I actually liked most of them! It's a case study of being born into wealth, how that looks, and what you actually do with your circumstance.

Do I think this novel is a work of genius with lush prose and important topics to highlight? No, but I do think it was a really fun read, and let's not forget the beautiful cover (and who doesn't love that?).

Published on Leave a comment on The Night Swim
The Night Swim Book Cover The Night Swim
Megan Goldin
Fiction
St. Martin's Press
August 4, 2020
Hardcover
352
Purchased

After the first season of her true crime podcast became an overnight sensation and set an innocent man free, Rachel Krall is now a household name―and the last hope for thousands of people seeking justice. But she’s used to being recognized for her voice, not her face. Which makes it all the more unsettling when she finds a note on her car windshield, addressed to her, begging for help.

The small town of Neapolis is being torn apart by a devastating rape trial. The town’s golden boy, a swimmer destined for Olympic greatness, has been accused of raping a high school student, the beloved granddaughter of the police chief. Under pressure to make Season Three a success, Rachel throws herself into interviewing and investigating, but the mysterious letters keep showing up in unexpected places. Someone is following her, and she won’t stop until Rachel finds out what happened to her sister twenty-five years ago. Officially, Jenny Stills tragically drowned, but the letters insist she was murdered, and when Rachel starts asking questions, nobody seems to want to answer. The past and present start to collide as Rachel uncovers startling connections between the two cases that will change the course of the trial and the lives of everyone involved.

Electrifying and propulsive, The Night Swim asks: What is the price of a reputation? Can a small town ever right the wrongs of its past? And what really happened to Jenny?

My review:

The biggest question I asked myself when I finished this novel was what took me so long to pick it up? Despite seeing rave reviews, I was skeptical. First, while I really enjoy thrillers, they usually are fun while I'm reading, but nothing stands out to make it a favorite. Second, this one deals with a true crime podcaster, neither of which (podcasts or true crime) are my thing. After consuming this book, I can see why it was a hit with readers. I was completely immersed in both parts of the story (the rape trial of the town's golden boy, and the supposed drowning death of Jenny twenty five years prior). The podcast portion is from the current rape trial, and the congruent story is of our main protagonist who decides to help a girl find out what really happened to her sister. It was fast moving, engaging, well characterized, and one part of the ending I never saw coming! I've read both other books by this author, and they definitely fall into my 'great fun while I'm reading' category, but in my opinion, this one was definitely the best.

A propulsive novel with small town vibes (where everybody knows everything, but won't say), this is a thriller not to be missed.

Published on Leave a comment on Someone Else’s Shoes
Someone Else's Shoes Book Cover Someone Else's Shoes
Jojo Moyes
Fiction
Pamela Dorman Books
February 7, 2023
Hardcover
449
Purchased

Who are you when you are forced to walk in someone else’s shoes?

Nisha Cantor lives the globetrotting life of the seriously wealthy, until her husband announces a divorce and cuts her off. Nisha is determined to hang onto her glamorous life. But in the meantime, she must scramble to cope--she doesn’t even have the shoes she was, until a moment ago, standing in.

That’s because Sam Kemp – in the bleakest point of her life – has accidentally taken Nisha’s gym bag. But Sam hardly has time to worry about a lost gym bag--she’s struggling to keep herself and her family afloat. When she tries on Nisha’s six-inch high Christian Louboutin red crocodile shoes, the resulting jolt of confidence makes her realize something must change—and that thing is herself.

My review:

I really enjoy this author's writing style. It's not something that is going to win any literary awards, but I like the flow and cadence, and always feel fully invested in the plot and characters. While I would put this book in the contemporary fiction genre, she has also done a great job with historical and romance titles. Her characters are always relatable, and the books have multiple combinations of poignant moments. This particular book is something that has certainly been plotted in other books, but it is essentially how one small thing can set off a string of events leading to the betterment of those involved. Nisha is an uppity self serving woman whose husband has just cut off her funding. Sam is a woman struggling to make something of her life. When Sam mistakenly picks up the wrong bag (Nisha's) at the gym, things take off from there. Both woman grow as the book progresses, and both are left feeling much better about themselves in the process. There is a bit of a mystery surrounding the Louboutin shoes that adds to the plot. I found myself really intrigued and genuinely interested in how things would all pan out.

I think if you are a fan of this author's previous works, you will enjoy this one. It's the same style we've come to enjoy. Me Before You will always remain her number 1 for me (I still think it holds the title of book that made you cry the most), but I really liked this one for the growth of the characters.

Published on Leave a comment on All the Broken Places
All the Broken Places Book Cover All the Broken Places
John Boyne
Fiction
Pamela Dorman Books
November 29, 2022
Hardcover/Audio
400
Purchased

Ninety-one-year-old Gretel Fernsby has lived in the same well-to-do mansion block in London for decades. She lives a quiet, comfortable life, despite her deeply disturbing, dark past. She doesn't talk about her escape from Nazi Germany at age 12. She doesn't talk about the grim post-war years in France with her mother. Most of all, she doesn't talk about her father, who was the commandant of one of the Reich's most notorious extermination camps. Then, a new family moves into the apartment below her. In spite of herself, Gretel can't help but begin a friendship with the little boy, Henry, though his presence brings back memories she would rather forget. One night, she witnesses a disturbing, violent argument between Henry's beautiful mother and his arrogant father, one that threatens Gretel's hard-won, self-contained existence. All The Broken Places moves back and forth in time between Gretel's girlhood in Germany to present-day London as a woman whose life has been haunted by the past. Now, Gretel faces a similar crossroads to one she encountered long ago. Back then, she denied her own complicity, but now, faced with a chance to interrogate her guilt, grief and remorse, she can choose to save a young boy. If she does, she will be forced to reveal the secrets she has spent a lifetime protecting. This time, she can make a different choice than before -- whatever the cost to herself....

My review:

If you haven't read The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, I highly recommend it (but have tissues ready for the ending!). This book looks at the life of Bruno's sister in the years directly following her escape from Germany, and when she is in her old age living in an apartment building in London. There she meets a young boy who she is befriended by. I loved both the past and present timelines in this book (not often the case with me when it comes to historical fiction). Gretel is written in such a way that you cannot help but fall in love with her and want to give her teenage self a hug. She is carrying enormous guilt over her past life. How much of that is she really responsible for is one of the moral dilemma's the reader must ponder. The other is how involved should she get when her young friend may be in danger from his family? Past and present collide when Gretel decides to take a stand to help her rectify past mistakes. I was completely captivated by this novel, as I am with pretty much anything this author produces. The writing is exquisite, without being overly wordy, and his characters are so well brought to life. I couldn't get enough of Gretel's story, and went through a whole range of emotions with her.

Another absolutely breathtaking read from one of the finest authors of this generation (in my opinion). This man can pen a story, and I highly recommend you read any of his works if you haven't already!

Published on Leave a comment on The Lost Ticket
The Lost Ticket Book Cover The Lost Ticket
Freya Sampson
Fiction
Penguin
August 30, 2022
Paperback
369
Purchased

When Libby Nicholls arrives in London, brokenhearted and with her life in tatters, the first person she meets on the bus is elderly Frank. He tells her about the time in 1962 that he met a girl on the number 88 bus with beautiful red hair just like hers. They made plans for a date at the National Gallery art museum, but Frank lost the bus ticket with her number on it. For the past sixty years, he’s ridden the same bus trying to find her, but with no luck.

Libby is inspired to action and, with the help of an unlikely companion, she papers the bus route with posters advertising their search. Libby begins to open her guarded heart to new friendships and a budding romance, as her tightly controlled world expands. But with Frank’s dementia progressing quickly, their chance of finding the girl on the 88 bus is slipping away.

More than anything, Libby wants Frank to see his lost love one more time. But their quest also shows Libby just how important it is to embrace her own chances for happiness—before it’s too late—in a beautifully uplifting novel about how a shared common experience among strangers can transform lives in the most marvelous ways.

My review:

I am very picky about my romance books. They have to have substance to them, preferably topics more important than the romance part. This one fit the bill nicely, and it certainly didn't hurt that one of the main protagonists was a little old man (a definite buzz word for me). Talk about a romance, this man has been riding a London bus for sixty years to find the girl who got away. Enter into the picture two unlikely heroes who try to help Frank find his long lost girl, who also may develop feelings for each other along the way (sort of a subset romance which fits my description above). I just loved all the characters in this one! The idea for the plot was a brilliant one, and of course I love books set in London (I listened to this one, and give me a narrator with an English accent any day!). Without giving anything away, I was also super impressed with the ending. Everything was not done up in a nice bow as is often the case with romances I'm not as enamored with.

I would definitely recommend this book if you are looking for a clever plot, great characters (did I mention the little old man?), and just such a sweet story of strangers helping strangers. This one was such a breath of fresh air!

Published on Leave a comment on The House of Eve
The House of Eve Book Cover The House of Eve
Sadeqa Johnson
Fiction
Simon & Schuster
February 7, 2023
Advance Reader Copy
384
Free from publisher

1950s Philadelphia: fifteen-year-old Ruby Pearsall is on track to becoming the first in her family to attend college, in spite of having a mother more interested in keeping a man than raising a daughter. But a taboo love affair threatens to pull her back down into the poverty and desperation that has been passed on to her like a birthright Eleanor Quarles arrives in Washington, DC, with ambition and secrets. When she meets the handsome William Pride at Howard University, they fall madly in love. But William hails from one of DC’s elite wealthy Black families, and his par­ents don’t let just anyone into their fold. Eleanor hopes that a baby will make her finally feel at home in William’s family and grant her the life she’s been searching for. But having a baby—and fitting in—is easier said than done. With their stories colliding in the most unexpected of ways, Ruby and Eleanor will both make decisions that shape the trajectory of their lives.

My review:

This author is adept at taking a piece of history and framing a novel around it. I very much enjoyed her look at slavery in The Yellow Wife, and this book takes on the institutions (let's call it like it was) that existed for wayward girls faced with pregnancy back in the mid 20th century. The book is told from two women's perspectives. Both Ruby and Eleanor are young black women looking to better themselves through education when unplanned pregnancies leave both in a bind. The aftermath for each woman turns out very differently, but the thread of motherhood runs deep within the plot. The eye opening look at the homes that young girls go to while waiting out their pregnancies shines a grave light on the adoption policies of the 1940's and 50's. Also highlighted is the taboo around adoption itself, and why so many people of my generation grow up never knowing they have been adopted! The pacing in this novel is well done, and the characters very well portrayed. My one tiny complaint would be that I never really connected with either character (particularly Eleanor, who was whiny at times). You suspect fairly early on how Ruby and Eleanor's stories will intersect, but you would only be partly right. The ending was very satisfying (although pretty implausible), and I would love to see a sequel.

This is a well written book exploring not only the theme of motherhood, but also race, class, and education. I'm excited to see what this author tackles next!

Published on Leave a comment on Meredith, Alone
Meredith, Alone Book Cover Meredith, Alone
Claire Alexander
Grand Central Publishing
November 1, 2022
Hardcover
368
Purchased

Meredith Maggs hasn't left her house in 1,214 days. But she insists she isn't alone. She has a full-time remote job and her rescue cat Fred. Her best friend Sadie visits with her two children. There's her online support group, her jigsaw puzzles and favorite recipes, her beloved Emily Dickinson, the internet, the grocery delivery man. Also keeping her company are treacherous memories of an unstable childhood, the estrangement from her sister, and a traumatic event that had sent her reeling. But something's about to change. Whether Meredith likes it or not, the world is coming to her door. Does she have the courage to overcome what's been keeping her inside all this time?

My review:

When a download of this audiobook was given to me I decided to take a chance, even though I hadn't read too much about it. I'm so glad that I did since this ended up being my last 5 star read of 2022! All I could think while reading was that it reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant, also a book that I loved. I think the other thing that bonded me to Meredith was that she really didn't mind not having left her home in almost three years. I was literally that person during the pandemic! Just to be clear, this book is not set during the pandemic (some people still don't want to read books set in that time), but as the book plays out the reader sees just what has caused Meredith to want to remain in her home. I loved how the main character was so normal in her everyday pursuits, and how the author starts slowly peeling back her past so we see a completer picture of the character. The supporting characters were all wonderful, and kudos to the author for not giving me the schmaltzy romance ending that I feared was coming.

I loved the character of Meredith, and the supporting cast who are there for her no matter whether she socializes with them outside of her home. A great representation of a different form of mental health that we don't often read about. I would love to hear about Meredith's life after the book ends, and that's when you know a character will stay with you.