Reading Recommendations from the Northwoods

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Are you wondering if I have written about a specific title down somewhere in the archives?     It's easy to search to see if I have already reviewed a book or author that you like.

For example, you can type in "orphan," and see that I recommended Orphan Train in July 2014.  Or, search for "Moyes" to locate both Me Before You and One Plus One.

I hope this "search" feature makes it easy for you to use the "Northwoods Reader" blog, and do hope you will continue to recommend it to your friends, too.     Thanks for taking the time to click in here!

The Half Moon--Mary Beth Keane

 

The Half Moon was a "hate-to-put-down" novel for me, one of the first in a long time.     The married couple, seeing themselves approaching middle age, were so likable and believable, as were the small-town neighbors who surrounded them.

Malcolm has long been a popular bartender at the Half Moon, a local bar.   Now, he goes against the advice of his lawyer wife Jess to purchase both the bar and the property it stands on.  Their marriage has been on sorta shakey ground anyway, following years of unsuccessful tries at in-vitro fertilization.    To me, the main conflict of the book was a loving couple, both watching their dreams shrivel, who must try to discover what the next steps are for themselves and their marriage.  

I felt that Malcolm and Jess, their mothers, and their best friends, became people I knew, and wanted only the best for.    

Other plot elements are interesting and riveting:   a town-stopping snowstorm; a customer who has disappeared; business fraud; a single father of three small children.   But, what I will remember is the inner lives of Malcolm and Jess as they make life-time decisions with the best intentions.  

 I will tell you that the resolution was satisfying to me, and hope you will feel the same.   The book is not long, and you will read it quickly.

 

You Could Make This Place Beautiful--Maggie Smith

 

Maggie Smith is a well-known poet (I've learned) and has survived a difficult divorce;   both those facts are important in her new memoir You Could Make This Place Beautiful.   However, you don't have to like reading poetry, or have suffered a divorce or any other life tragedy, to like and appreciate Smith's recent book.   

Her prose book is written in a series of vignettes, often shorter than a page, starting with her discovery of her husband's infidelity, through marriage therapy, financial and vocational worries, and finally alone, to care for her young son and daughter.   This style makes the book easy to read and more than that, to appreciate.

Mothers will respond to Smith's focus on her children.   As she works to keep herself centered through hard times, she always tries to avoid bitterness, both for herself and the kids.   

I"m going to copy below the poem that gives the book its title.   Reports say it "went viral" and thus, may have led to the downfall of her marriage.     My short take on the poem is that even though the world contains terrible things, we all have the power to "make this place beautiful," if we try.    

From a reviewer:     Smith’s words will bring comfort to many simply by showing readers that they are not alone, and that navigating this world is hard. Smith does so in a way that is exceptionally incisive and authentic, leading to nothing less than an exceptional reading experience.

        Thanks very much, Di, for the recommendation.

 

 

Good Bones

    Maggie Smith

Life is short, though I keep this from my children.
Life is short, and I’ve shortened mine
in a thousand delicious, ill-advised ways,
a thousand deliciously ill-advised ways
I’ll keep from my children. The world is at least
fifty percent terrible, and that’s a conservative
estimate, though I keep this from my children.
For every bird there is a stone thrown at a bird.
For every loved child, a child broken, bagged,
sunk in a lake. Life is short and the world
is at least half terrible, and for every kind
stranger, there is one who would break you,
though I keep this from my children. I am trying
to sell them the world. Any decent realtor,
walking you through a real shithole, chirps on
about good bones: This place could be beautiful,
right? You could make this place beautiful.

 

 

Black Cake---Charmaine Wilkerson

Black Cake had been well-reviewed, but somehow the title and the cover did not appeal to me.   So, thanks very much, Aliza, for the recommendation, because I liked the book very much.

An American women, Eleanor Bennett, of Caribbean heritage, leaves a taped message with her lawyer for her two adult children, Byron and Benny, to listen to following her death.    Among the many unbelievable secrets her tape reveals is the news of that they have a another sister.  

I usually am not fond of the writing style in which past and present stories alternate, with secrets gradually being revealed.    But, I found Black Cake to be easy reading, perhaps because I thought characters in both eras were likable and believable.    

Some major coincidences help tie the plot together and lead to a satisfying ending.  Eleanor's life story is resolved in ways that I could not have predicted.  

The black cake of the title becomes a unifying symbol of family ties.  As one reviewer writes:   the lengths we go to to survive and protect our loved ones and how we carry our family histories, no matter where we go.

Another reviewer:    We are left to think about the things we inherit from our ancestors — physical traits, mental and emotional strife, even cultural attachments, like a beloved recipe that has the power to bring us home.

 

Still True---Maggie Ginsberg

 

I can't remember when I last read a book that I hated to put down;  I wanted to see what the characters were going to do next.   Still True was a page-turner for me, even though I thought it had a kinda slow start.

In small-town Wisconsin, Lib and Jack have been happily married for 35 years, even though they live in houses separated by about two miles.   Lib's life gets over-turned when her 40-plus son, whom she abandoned soon after his birth, shows up in her yard.   In all her years with Jack, she has never told him about her first marriage, and especially, about this son.

Another couple is new in the small town of Anthem, and wife and mother Claire is having trouble adjusting.   Jack helps her young son Charlie solve a problem with his bike, and through that friendship, the two families become entwined.

I could not have predicted the plot twists which kept me reading, along with the empathy for all (most) of the characters.

The author was born in MInnesota and now lives in Madison WI, where the book was published by University of Wisconsin Press.   After you have read Still True, you may find some interesting similarities between the plot and the author's background.

 

“The unsettling, slow burning, deeply pleasurable story of Lib Hanson, a fiercely independent woman  . . . Throughout Still True, Ginsberg’s prose is both precise and lush, and she is brilliant at depicting the million tiny gestures and private moments that spring up between people. To be honest, it’s hard to believe that Still True—gutsy, bold, and achingly beautiful—is her first novel.”—Laura Anne Bird, Readers Lane

“Still True feels as intimate as eavesdropping, with characters so well drawn and so believable there is a sense that they are in the room with you as you read about their sometimes turbulent, sometimes mild lives.”—Nickolas Butler, author of Shotgun Lovesongs and Little Faith

 

Romantic Comedy--Curtis Sittenfeld

I don't think the title of Romantic Comedy  gives an accurate description of the book.    Yes, there turns out to be a romance, and yes, the book is very amusing.    But, the book has lots more to it than what I consider a typical "rom-com" movie or book.

The first section of the book was fascinating to me, as it told about life in weekly preparation for a TV show very like "Saturday Night Live."    Sally is employed there as a writer, and works with that week's guest host, pop star Noah Brewster.    

In the second section, covid-19 strikes, and Sally and Noah carry on a witty and deepening friendship by email.      In the third section, you will have anticipated the pair become a couple, where they learn that it is very difficult for a famous person to have a private relationship.

I liked all three sections, and of course, they tie directly into one another.    I like Sittenfeld's writing, and admire the range of variety in the many books of hers I have read.      It was a fun book to read, and would likely be a fun book to discuss also.

(When I just looked, I was surprised to find more "less than favorable" reviews than I expected, so you can maybe see what you think.)

 

Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club--J. Ryan Stradal

 

I don't think you have to live in Northern Minnesota or Wisconsin, or have eaten hundreds of dinners in an old-fashioned supper club, to enjoy this novel---but it can't hurt either.   You will recognize the small-town characters and the lakeside environments.

Stradal write books that feel simple as you read.  But, when you finish, you realize he has shared lots of insights about families and expectations.   In this case, four generations of Pragers have owned the Lakeside Supper Club, which has now fallen on hard times.    

Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club is relaxing and easy to read, with well-intentioned characters who make their ways to a positive ending.   Below, I copied from reviewers who give you an idea why the book is so likable.  

 

“This gratifying multi-generational story of two families who own restaurants in northern Minnesota serves up a bounty of humor, heartache, and affection. J. Ryan Stradal’s novel celebrates community, forgiveness, progress, and finding one’s own way.”
—Christian Science Monitor

 In this colorful, vanishing world of relish trays and brandy Old Fashioneds, J. Ryan Stradal has once again given us a story full of his signature honest, lovable yet fallible Midwestern characters as they grapple with love, loss, and marriage; what we hold onto and what we leave behind; and what our legacy will be when we are gone.    ---amazon.com

“Stradal’s novels...always resonate...He explores universal themes: love, loss, regrets for one’s past mistakes, and longings for what might have been—plus, of course, the importance of family.”
—Publishers Weekly

 

Pineapple Street---Jenny Jackson

 

Pineapple Street seems like a typical family novel, with the focus on three grown sibings.    The difference is that this NYC family is one of America's most wealthy one-percent citizens.   The Stocktons are so wealthy that younger daughter Georgina doesn't have any idea of the multiple millions that constitute her trust fund; and when she learns about it, has no idea what to do with it.  

 

The following review from amazon.com describes the plot better than I could.    

 The story is told from three points of view: Darley, the eldest daughter who gave up her lucrative career to raise kids; Sasha, who grew up middle class and married into this moneyed foreign world; and young Georgina, who is still finding her way. There’s fabulous real estate, forbidden romance, old money shenanigans, and endless rounds of tennis at the club. But there’s also lots of heart, a family who truly loves each other (even if their attempts at showing it can be misguided), class struggles, and a happy ending.

The family members are not stereotypes, and their lives seemed very unfamiliar, but believable to me.   The characters are not spoiled villains and are actually pretty likable.   I agree with reviewers who found the book amusing.   Amazon called Pineapple Street the best book of March 2023.  

The author doesn't try to convince us that we need to feel sympathy for these most wealthy Americans, but she does let us see their humanity.   It will be your decision whether, in spite of their wealth, the Stocktons are just like us!   I do think you will like the characters and will read about their lives quickly and easily.

 

The Great Passion----James Runcie

 

You don't have to be a devotee of classical music to enjoy and appreciate this historical fiction about J.S. Bach and his household.   You will empathize with boy soprano Stefan, lonely and bullied at a boarding school in Leipzig in 1727.   Bach recognizes Stefan"s talent and invites him to become a member of the Bach household.  

This relatively short novel becomes a coming-of-age story for Stefan, but even more, lets the reader experience the enormous creative genius of J. S. Bach as he composes the "St. Matthew Passion" and prepares musicians for its debut on Good Friday 1727.   

Although I liked learning about life in 18th century Leipzig,  The Great Passion  is more than a history lesson.  Characters, both the Bach family and the musicians, are believable and likable.   The grief surrounding the loss of Stefan's mother and a Bach family member are emotional, especially watching how Bach turns loss into great art.  

You know I like learning something new, and finishing this book sent me right to a YouTube production of "St. Matthew Passion."   But, I also appreciate engaging characters, along with a well-developed plot and excellent sentences.    The Great Passion had all these.      

Reading the book in the weeks leading up to Easter made it feel even more timely.

 

Joyous, revelatory, and deeply moving, The Great Passion is an imaginative tour de force that tells the story of what it was like to sing, play, and hear Bach's music for the very first time.

“Runcie, best known for his empathic Grantchester mystery series, displays the same gifts for characterization in this account of Johann Sebastian Bach's composition of the “St Matthew Passion” in 1727 . . . This is historical fiction of the highest order.” ―Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

 

 

Sam----Allegra Goodman

 

Samantha, whose name gives the book its title, grows from age seven to nineteen in the course of this easy-to-read novel.   Since author Goodman tells through the story through Sam's eyes, her writing style also gradually becomes more "grown up" as Sam becomes more aware of real life.  

Sam's family is pretty much on the edge of poverty, as her young single mother works two jobs to provide for Sam and her younger brother.    Sam's unreliable dad loves and encourages her, but disappears unpredictably, probably as a result of addiction and mental illness, seen through Sam's eyes.   

Sam's coming-of-age story follows her tenacity and excellence at rock climbing--pretty clearly a metaphor for the ups and downs of her childhood and young-adulthood.   ---One pleasure of the book was learning more about geology and rock climbing.

If you have been a parent or teacher, you will suffer along with Sam, a disinterested student, as she faces getting herself through junior high and then high school.  But, I always felt hope that she would succeed---and the author delivers as promised for this maturing young woman.  

Here are a couple of quotes from reviews:

“An irresistible coming-of-age portrait . . . a profound and gorgeously written gem about the tough, tender route Sam must navigate—grappling with friendships, love, insecurities and burgeoning womanhood—to chart her own course.”—People

“Sam is about as perfect of a coming-of-age story I have ever read. It explores what happens when one girl loses the wonder of childhood—the innocence of her early years only to reclaim her power and hope. ”—Jenna Bush Hager, Today

 

 

Properties of Thirst---Marianne Wiggins

 

It may take you a while to get hooked on Properties of Thirst, with its wide range of characters and historical setting and writing style.   But, I soon got familiar and appreciated reading this book every other step of the way.  

I have been fascinated with the period of Japanese internment following the bombing of Pearl Harbor.   I was first drawn in by Schiff, a young Army lieutenant changed with setting up the camp at Manzanar.   The camp's next door neighbor Rocky owned a huge CA ranch, and he'd long been fighting the diversion of their water to supply Los Angeles.   Rocky had twins, a son who'd been lost at Pearl Harbor, and a daughter, a chef, who becomes involved with Schiff.   

You can see that this is a big book, and one well worth the time.   Characters are complex and believable, and mostly admirable, and have stayed with me.   The plot covers a lot of ground, but was easy to follow, I thought, although the little extra effort to read made me appreciate it more.

There is an interesting back story---which I did not know till I had finished the book---about this well-recognized author experiencing a debilitating stroke, and her daughter helping her finish the book.  I was aware the ending felt a bit hurried, and the information about Wiggins' health explained that.   

Properties of Thirst was very well reviewed, and I will be eager to know if others like it too.

 

“A changing American landscape is beautifully portrayed in PROPERTIES OF THIRST, a moving and gripping new novel by Marianne Wiggins.  At the start of World War II, while Japanese families are relocated to Manzanar, the Rhodes family, who live on a ranch near the camp are equally uprooted by memories and circumstances.  What follows is a rich and powerful portrayal of love, loss, and the enduring strength of family.  A novel to be read and savored.”—Gail Tsukiyama, bestselling author

“[a] grand novel of principled and creative individuals caught in the vise of history… Loss, desire, moral dilemmas, reflection, and zesty dialogue with the energy of Frank Capra films generate a WWII home-front tale of profound and far-ranging inquiry and imagination, scintillating humor, intrepid romance, and conscience.”—Booklist *Starred Review*