Darby left small-town Illinois 12-years-ago to become a trans-masculine individual in NY. But now unemployed, he returns to his home which is unsettling. And when he enters the local bookstore where he used to work, he experiences time travel back to 2009 and he meets … himself! Can his pre-transition self be influenced, and can fraught relationships be altered? At its core, this is a story of love and self-discovery. Highly recommended.
We Solve Murders – Richard Osman
Osman is the author of the wildly popular Thursday Murder Club series. In his 5th novel, he introduces a new cast of characters: Steve, a retired policeman; his daughter-in-law Amy, a bodyguard; and Rosie, a best-selling author. This unlikely trio investigates money smuggling and murders, in wide-spread places like South Carolina, St. Lucia, Ireland and Dubai (where a murder-broker operates, of course), all while Amy is a target for killing! The plot is very clever: who is the principal villain? And above all, the writing features Osman’s trademark wit – very entertaining.
Prairie Edge – Conor Kerr
This gritty story by Mr. Kerr is reminiscent of Katherena Vermette‘s great writing, and so a trigger warning could have been utilized. Isadore (Ezzy) Desjarlais and Grey Ginther are distant Metis cousins living in and around Edmonton, and candidly they are very flawed characters. Bison are stolen from Elk Island Park and released into Edmonton’s river valley, bison representing the past before colonialism. And there are other criminal acts. Powerful writing provides a biting critique of modern activism. The abysmal foster care system and subsequent substance abuse are also key elements. This is a novel that is both triumphant and tragic, so highly recommended (thanks Amy, for this book).
Witchcraft For Wayward Girls – Grady Hendrix
Simply put, this is a powerful book. As always, the context is crucial. In 1970, Wellwood House in Florida is a home for unmarried pregnant women, only these are pregnant children aged 14-15 who have been ostracized by their families and banished. They experience shame and guilt, and profound helplessness. So, what will happen when a librarian offers them a book about witchcraft? Can spells offer an alternative to feelings of being powerless? But power has a price, and every price must be paid. The story contains graphic descriptions of childbirth, so reader be warned. The misogyny and abuse directed to these girls is astonishing – highly recommended.
Intermezzo – Sally Rooney
Ms. Rooney (author of Normal People) has written another superb relationship book. Peter and Ivan are dissimilar brothers, 10 years different in age who are grieving the recent death of their father. The younger brother begins a relationship with an older woman. Meanwhile, the older brother has a complicated relationship with two women. Can you care passionately for an unsuitable person? The prose is exceptional with frequent stream-of-consciousness thinking. And there is a need for honesty, and for forgiveness by others and by oneself. Highly recommended.
The Door-To-Door Bookshop – Carsten Henn
Full disclosure: this is a hopelessly sentimental book – blame my age and the obvious reality that I love books. Carl is a 72-year-old German bookseller who delivers books to special customers in the evening. A chance encounter with 9-year-old Schascha changes his life. All is not sweetness and light – the novel contains considerable darkness. But at its core, this is a story about friendships forged through books.
Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade – Janet Skeslien Charles
Anne Morgan, the daughter of the financier J.P. Morgan, established the American Committee for Devastated France (Le Comite americain pour les regions devastees, or CARDs). In January 1918, Jessie Carson leaves her NYPL librarian post to travel to Blerencourt in Northern France to establish children’s libraries, sometimes using bookmobiles from converted ambulances. Her efforts are complicated by ongoing and brutal WWI actions requiring temporary resettlement in France. Ms. Carson’s notable achievements are researched in 1987 by Wendy Peterson also working at the NYPL. This story is a tribute to human resilience.
The Briar Club – Kate Quinn
Consistent with previous Quinn books (The Rose Code, The Alice Project), this is a book about women and their female relationships. The context: Washington DC from 1950-54, so the era of paranoid McCarthyism and racism. Women living Briarwood House, an all-female boarding house, are united by the Thursday night Briar Club for potluck food and conversation. This book about female friendships and secrets makes for compelling reading.
Back When We Were Grownups – Anne Tyler
Ms. Tyler is a favorite author, having written classic novels like Breathing Lessons and The Accidental Tourist. Surprisingly, I had missed this 2001 novel and reading it now was just a joy. Rebecca is a 53-year-old widowed woman living in a Baltimore row house where the ground floor is used as a venue for parties. She is part of a large fractious family with one biological daughter, three stepdaughters, and a host of other relatives. Much of the story consists of poignant musings on a might-have-been existence. The language, as always, is exquisite (“newborn infants looking like wrapped burritos”, page 143), and the story culminates in an extraordinary birthday party for a 100-year-old family member that is must-read. Tyer’s writing is funny, sad and intelligent.
What David Read 