spineandprose

[spineandprose]

This Tender Land | December 2022

Please leave your review when you’re able! I will post mine once I’ve finished reading. :)

[spineandprose]

A Gentleman in Moscow | September 2022

Please leave your review when you’re able! I will post mine once I’ve finished reading. :)

[spineandprose]

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek | June 2022

Did you read along for our summer read, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek? I had low expectations going into this book, so I wasn’t thrilled to read it. In picking it up, I reminded myself that I’ve been happily surprised by a couple of our past reads (At Home in Mitford and Educated most prominently), so even though this book started at a low point for me, I knew it could turn around and become a novel I enjoyed!

But...that did not happen.

I wasn’t impressed or captivated with any aspect of this book (!) so I will try to keep my criticism very succinct and follow with a few praises.

Criticism

While the author claimed to desire writing a story that would honor the blue people of Kentucky, I felt she not only failed to do that, but also incorporated too many other topics that each could have held the theme of any book: poverty and extreme hunger, horseback librarians, or arranged marriages and disingenuous pastors. I also felt each of these other themes were resolved so quickly; each concern really only lasted a few chapters before being quickly settled—the whitening of Cussy’s skin included.

The style of writing made me feel like the author placed dots of thought for the reader to connect, but then connected those dots for the reader, which made every allegory so overstated that it lost any spark of creativity. Multiple times I looked at how much longer my audiobook would play, and seeing too many times that it was hours more, I eventually sped up my listening to 1.25 speed.

I thought the ending circumstances were ridiculous: why would Jackson need to make secret trips into Kentucky when Cussy and Honey could just move?

Praise

I thought Cussy and her dad had a sweet relationship.

I thought the quick resolution of the arranged marriage and the lurking pastor at least kept me intrigued for what the rest of the story would be, considering those antagonists were quickly removed from the plotline. But again, I didn't think the story improved after their demise.

The opening lines provided a mystery that I was trying to piece together throughout the story.

What did you think of the novel? Any criticism or praise you would add?

[spineandprose]

At Home in Mitford | March 2022

Happy 2022!

I’ve finished At Home in Mitford and while it was a rough start (I grumbled about how there was no plot line, everything was too perfect, and I didn’t like the characters), I ended up surprising myself and really enjoyed the read.

The turn-around for me happened around chapter eight, and while there was no one specific event or character that peaked my interest at that point, I think it was good timing for having all the characters settle in to your mind and all the little plot lines merge and weave among each other. I think the author did a wonderful job of introducing characters at a pace you could track with; by the end there are over a dozen unique personalities that you’ve become well acquainted with!

In some ways this story brought Gilmore Girls to mind: the quaint town, the wildly different cast of characters, the charming undertone of each interaction. More so, it reminded me of my hometown of Brush, Colorado: everyone coming together for a common good (the reward for Barnabas), the unchanging character traits and personalities that are at times annoying and yet also dependable—just innately knowing how someone will respond and continuing along in life with them, the relaxed usage of the English language, and the overall feeling of joy.

My favorite quote was from Father Tim on page 401: “Father,” he prayed, “I ask you to heal any vestige of bitter hurt in your child, Sadie, and by the power of your Holy Spirit, bring to her mind and heart, now and forever, only those memories which serve to restore, refresh, and delight.” I feel that reading At Home in Mitford promotes thoughts that restore, refresh, and delight.

My second favorite quote was from Puny on page 447: “Anybody who shot a tree stump thinkin’ it was a man, and then fell in a hole up to his neck will need some upliftin’.” Ha! A true gem of this story is that it made me laugh out loud almost a dozen times.

I also appreciated (and could very much relate to) the main crux of the plot: the struggle of pursuing and protecting rest. How wonderful to be reminded, through a heartfelt and joyful story, that to believe we have to continue spinning all the plates or the world will crash is to kid ourselves. Let’s retreat and soak up adventure and rest and encourage others to do the same.

P.S. For all my cold-heartedness toward animals, I was deeply sad to read all that happened to Barnabas. Thankfully he bounded back with very little change.

[spineandprose]

The Sun Does Shine | December 2021

Welcome to the end of the year, friends! I feel like 2021 laced up racing spikes and sprinted past us—pausing, though, for the most glorious fall Colorado has ever witnessed.

Did you read The Sun Does Shine? I listened to it and found the story very approachable, which is surprising given the content. Ray has a hopeful personality, and that came across even in the retelling of his frustrating 30 years on death row as an innocent man.

He mentally escapes by taking imaginary trips; the book portrayed this as a large portion of how he spent his time on death row. In real life, he invests in getting to know the other inmates through yelled conversation from cell to cell, creating a book club for the inmates, and reading in the law library. Personally, he reads his Bible and prays: for truth to be revealed, for the victims of crimes, for his fellow inmates, for his mother.

I don’t think about the lives of those in our prison system, so I appreciated being educated on the faults of the system through a personal account. Ray advocates for recognizing the human behind the criminal. He acknowledges the guilt and horrid crimes committed by other inmates, but also provides a background for what might have caused them to act so violently: they were born slow or suffered from mental illness, they never knew love from an adult or parent or they were abused as children or neglected. Though we can’t apply this to every criminal, it is largely true that the abused become the abuser; those hurt become those who hurt others; those unloved are those who show no love toward others. It is a vicious and depressing cycle.

A bright hope is that people can change. Henry Hays was a great example of this. He confessed that “Everything my parents told me was a lie,” and introduced Ray to his racist parents by declaring, “He’s my best friend.”

The theme pulsing beneath the criminals on death row is the daunting question: Are we more than the worst thing we have done? And Ray advocates that yes, we are. For Christians, we have to agree. I’m interrupting more than Ray explicitly said, but I believe we are more than the worst thing we have done because we are humans made in the image of God, and by His grace, revelation, and spirit at work within us, we can change. If we were not more than the worst thing we have done, then our sin and defiance against God would rule and Christ’s death would have no power over our sin. Praise God that that is not true! We can confidently say that yes, we are more than the worst thing we have done. It is a striking truth to acknowledge in the context of the unimaginable horrors committed by those on death row. It is a gracious God who would provide a new hope, mind, and heart for those who so brutally expressed sin toward others.

I felt the beginning chapters, which detail his arrest and trial, could have been more clear. Without the breakdown of the case in the foreword, I would have been lost. I was also unclear on timing, and perhaps that is because I listened to the book instead of reading it. I was often uncertain of how long he had been imprisoned. I also missed how they were awarded extra time outside; I didn’t know about it until it was threatened to be taken away. Perhaps my biggest question: how did Ray get connected with Brian Stevenson’s team? These were details that I missed.

Ray says that you can “make a family out of anyone.” Through his actions you can tell that he has taken that statement to heart. He brings a humanity to death row: relaying the friendships and conversations he had with specific people and including the list of names of those currently on death row. He advocates for pausing the death penalty until it is a ruling without fault or error. He states:  “...we can’t be sure of guilt, save for an admission of guilt. A person could believe in the death penalty and still believe it should be ended, because men are fallible and the justice system is fallible. Until we have a way of ensuring that innocent men are never executed—until we account for the racism in our courts, in our prison, and in our sentencing—the death penalty should be abolished” (page 267). Do you agree? I was convinced, but am curious to hear your thoughts.

As someone who, again, doesn’t spend time considering the lives of those in our prison system, I definitely haven’t considered how just or unjust the death penalty is. I haven’t even touched on the systemic racism that contorts the ruling in our courts and is the main cause for concern when considering how unjust the death penalty is. Ray’s account provides so many examples of systemic racism. Would anyone like to comment more on that in their review? 

And a final acknowledgement to Lester's unwavering friendship. The unfailing love Ray received from his mother, Lester, Lester's wife, and Lester's mom was unquestionably a stronghold for him, and Ray acknowledged it as such. Please, feel free to share your thoughts and takeaways from those relationships in your review as well.

Thanks everyone for reading and growing together on such a difficult and hidden subject.

[spineandprose]

The Warmth of Other Suns | September 2021

Hello, and happy fall!

Did you read The Warmth of Other Suns? I am still working my way through it, and have hundreds of pages to go. I am loving the writing, but the content can be difficult. My goal is to finish by the end of the year and post my review then. :) If you’ve already finished, please go ahead and post your thoughts! Looking forward to our future discussion.

[spineandprose]

The Guest List | June 2021

Let’s get straight to it (SPOILER DIRECTLY BELOW!):

Aoife murdered Will with the pearly, shiny cake knife outside the Folly!

Was anyone surprised? Who were you suspecting?

I try to pick our lightest read for our summer book, so in terms of pure readability, this book hit the spot. I should clarify that a “light” read for me means that it doesn’t require my intense concentration and it isn’t on a topic that is emotionally or mentally draining. Even though this was a murder mystery, I think we can all agree that this was a fluffy read. For me, it was easy to read during our annual summer trip with my in-laws: on the porch swing during a rainy day, on the couch while children played around me, at the game table during breaks. It is always nice to read a story that requires the same effort as watching TV or scrolling your phone, and I like to take advantage of our vacation week to read our summer book.

The Guest List was fun to read, but my expectations going into it were low anyway. For me, it was just a fine read—a 3? But for a summer book that I read on vacation, often a 3 is the best fit. 

It was interesting to read the English phrases, and likely Sarah has a list of them all ;), but I remember “hen do,” “stag do,” and “ring off.”

I thought the characters themselves, their individual struggles and backgrounds, and the plot line were all very uncreative—the sex scenes of course added to my reasoning that this book is unoriginal and lacks anything new or different. Again, largely uncreative. I could see the author trying to make the island itself a character—the ghosts and dark figures in the Folly, the bog that sucks in bodies, the sea and storm that rages uncontrolled—but it never landed with me to actually fear these things in the story.

Once we learned the details about Loner’s death, I guessed that Freddy was Loner’s fat friend and that he murdered Will. I felt pretty proud of myself, haha, and I wasn’t too far off, with Aoife killing Will, but I didn’t see Aoife being Loner’s sister. I did not predict Will’s sexual background: dating Alice as well as Olivia and the complexities and past hurt there. 

I think the author did a good job of instilling a motive for several of the characters (revenge, justice, jealousy), along with their destructive tendencies (Olivia), obsessive drinking and getting high (Hannah, Charlie, Johnno, the groomsmen), lack of anger control (Jules), or just overall mystery (Freddy, Aoife). However, I do think these were all a bit forced, yet clear enough that the reader could see how each could be suspected—how each weakness in character or bad habit could go awry.

The author told us that Aoife’s motive for seeking out Will and enticing Jules to host the wedding on the island was for the publicity. But this was a lie to the reader: her real motive was to talk to Will and ask him questions on why he killed her brother. Then in the heat of the moment, with new information and Will’s lack of remorse, Aoife is inspired to murder. It’s pretty clear that the book would lose most of its suspense and intrigue if the reader knew Aoife’s true motive, yet the author had to communicate a false motive to the reader in order to keep the suspense high. How do you feel about this? Should an author never lie to a reader, or for the sake of the plot line, is it ok?

Overall, again, it was a fine summer vacation read but nothing I would read again, recommend, or seek out similar titles. 

What did you think of The Guest List? I’d love to hear.

[spineandprose]

Not For Ourselves Alone | March 2021

“Woman will bless and brighten every place she enters and she will enter every place.” -Frances Willard of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union

Helllllo 2021 book club! It’s so fun to get to chat with you again, and especially on such an important and interesting read: Not For Ourselves Alone.

The physical book itself was a surprise, as I wasn’t expecting a textbook with so many photos! It was an odd experience to hold this book for a pleasure read—was it the same for any of you? But thankfully the story was compelling.

What I knew about the American suffrage movement before reading this book was that Susan B. Anthony was imprisoned many times, beaten, and she had a hunger strike. Let’s fact check that. Clearly, I knew nothing about the suffrage movement (Elizabeth Cady Stanton who?) or Anthony’s life, as all my “knowledge” was wrong. What did you know about the suffrage movement prior to reading the book? 

Anthony’s one arrest is actually such a small slice of her story and an even smaller sliver of the suffrage movement as a whole. I had no idea of the very limited freedom that women experienced and also was not taught that the anti-slavery movement (and also the temperance movement) was so closely intertwined with the suffrage movement. Most shockingly, I had no idea how long the suffrage movement lasted: from the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 when Stanton read the Declaration of Sentiments to when Tennessee became the last state to ratify the 19th Amendment in 1920, the woman’s suffrage movement lasted 72 years.

I find it almost laughably absurd (or pathetically unprogressive?) that the whole fight for equality at the polls hung on one Tennessee representative’s vote in which his mother persuaded him. Is it ironic that a woman’s persuasive strength is found in her motherhood?

I think the friendship between Stanton and Anthony was really elaborately conveyed. Even with all their different life experiences, their friendship was strong, sweet, committed, and impactful to so, so many.

I really enjoyed this book because it was fascinating history! I am still excited to read Finish the Fight! when my hold comes through at the library.  What did you think of the book? Do you have any interest in reading more about this topic?

One reoccurring thought for me while reading this book was seeing that the oppression of women was birthed out of a lack of biblical leadership from men. It’s hard to not see the pride, fear, and ignorance of so many men over the course of those 72 years. Relatedly, a friend gifted me the book Worthy, which I have really loved reading. I’m about 100 pages in, and I think it is an excellent book on how the Bible celebrates women; I think supporters of the woman’s suffrage movement would delight in what this book has to say.

To round out my review, I’ll include some major milestones of the movement, as well as some final quotes. What other milestones would you add? Any favorite quotes?

1860: The Married Women’s Property Act was passed. Women had the right to own property, keep all their earnings, transact business on their own, to sue and be sued, and to share custody of children. 1861: The civil war begins. 1862: The New York legislature repealed the provision of the Married Woman’s Property Act. 1866?: The Fourteenth Amendment passed, but didn’t explicitly give freed slaves and black men the right to vote. 1867: The Kansas vote for woman suffrage and black votes was lost. 1868: The first issue of The Revolution newspaper was published. 1869: American Equal Rights Association was founded. I thought the book included great dialogue on the arguments of black men vs. white women getting the vote. I also think the National Woman Suffrage Association and the American Woman Suffrage Association were founded at this time; a division in the fight for women suffrage. 1869: Wyoming granted women the right to vote, the first state to do so.  1870: The first issue of The Woman’s Journal was published. 1872: Anthony votes along with 15 other women and all are arrested. Her trial was in 1873; charged guilty and that she pay a fine of $100 plus the cost of the prosecution.  1876: America’s centennial and the Woman’s Declaration of Rights. 1878: The Sixteenth Amendment is proposed to the Senate; it wasn’t voted on until 1887 and lost 34 to 16. It was reintroduced in every session of Congress for the next 42 years. I find that fact shocking!  1890: The two suffrage movements merged to create the National American Woman Suffrage Association.

“An uneducated woman trained to dependence, with no resources in herself, must make a failure of any position in life. ... The talk of sheltering woman from the fierce storms of life is the sheerest mockery, for they beat on her from every point of the compass, just as they do on man, and with more fatal results, for he has been trained to protect himself, to resist, and to conquer.” -Elizabeth Lady Stanton

“We are sowing winter wheat, which the coming spring will see sprout and which other hands than our swill reap and enjoy.” -Stanton, 1900

“I have been striving for over sixty years for a little bit of justice no bigger than that, and yet I must die without obtaining it....It seems so cruel.” -Anthony, 1906

“We little dreamed when we began this contest, optimistic with the hope and buoyancy of youth, that half a century later we would be compelled to leave the finish of the battle to another generation of women. But our hearts are filled with joy to know that they enter upon this task equipped with a college education, with business experience, with the fully admitted right to speak in public—all of which were denied to women fifty years ago. They have practically but one point to gain—the suffrage; we had all. These strong, courageous, capable young women will take our place and complete our work. There is an army of them where we were but a handful. Ancient prejudice has become so softened, public sentiment so liberalized and women have so thoroughly demonstrated their ability as to leave not a shadow of doubt that they will carry our cause to victory.” -Susan B. Anthony

[spineandprose]

Hey, 2021! We’re ready for you!

Merry (belated) Christmas and Happy New Year! 

2021 is in our sights, and with it, these four books for our year.

Not for Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns | March 2021 I’m thinking of pairing it with Finish the Fight! for my own personal reading to possibly get a more complete view of history.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley | June 2021 Our first murder mystery! This will be a fun break in our thought-provoking reading list.

The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson | September 2021 I’ve placed this book prior to The Sun Does Shine to hopefully provide us with some context as we finish out our reading year.

The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row by Anthony Ray Hinton and Lara Love Hardin | December 2021 This was the most popular book on our list! Just Mercy seems like a prerequisite for reading this book, so I’m adding that to my personal reading list as well.

It should be an informative year! See you there. :)

[spineandprose]

The Tattooist of Auschwitz | December 2020

Once again, I'll write a rave review about a book I didn't even want to read. I guess that's the beauty of a book club! So thanks for keeping me reading: a way to explore the world and expand my mind.

I wasn't excited to read this book because I felt like I'd already read so many WWII books: Unbroken, All the Light We Cannot See, Lilac Girls, The Hiding Place, Night, The Zookeeper’s Wife, The Nightingale (ok, I only read half of that book). I wasn't interested in delving into that dark stain on the world's history again—to read about it requires a giving of your own emotions, and it can be quite draining.

But the writing of this exquisite, unbelievable story was an ease to engage with. The writing was a window, allowing the reader to see past it and focus on the story being told. It was a true page-turner for me and a quick read. I read most of it while sitting with my daughter, waiting for her to fall asleep for her nap (sleep struggles over here).

Though the novel is saturated with pain, sorrow, and injustice, there were moments of deeper sadness that struck an already sore heart even more. For me, those moments were:

When Dana cannot continue on the march, and Gita is helped along by four strangers.

Understanding the life of those in Block 31, aimlessly moving boulders back and forth until they die.

The hungry cries of the children in the Gypsy camp.

The attempted rape of one of Gita's new friends, when they were staying in one of the villages.

Cilka's sexual imprisonment during the Holocaust and reading that she was charged as a Nazi conspirator and sentenced to fifteen years' hard labor.

Mengele's sick "medical" treatment of prisoners and Leon's castration.

The murder of the Gyspy prisoneers.

The heartbreaking and confusing goodbye of Lale and Gita.

In reading this book, I was aghast at the deep evil of the human heart. How shocking and scary to know that we are all capable of the atrocities read about if we are not held to a more understanding, caring, and giving lifestyle and mentality. The accountability of the company that surrounds us matters deeply.

Yet in that stark narrative, there is the choice for love: neighborly love and, in this case, romantic love. Our human nature is also inspiring; we read of accounts of defiance and courage, care and protection, all from an outpouring of love. For me, those moments were:

When Lale learns of Aron saving him from the death cart and his fellow block mates, along with the tattooer, nurturing him back to health.

In a strange way, Baretski's perhaps subconscious resolution to never kill or endanger Lale, despite his threats otherwise.

The multitude of prisoners who contributed to the bombing of one of the crematoriums by sneaking gun powder in under their nails.

Jakub's coaching on how to survive Block 11 and his tempered beating of Lale.

Lale and Bella's coordination in Mendel Bauer's escape from hanging.

The handfuls of families and individuals who housed, helped, or hid Gita and Lale on their separate escapes after imprisonment.

Most shocking to me was having my own expectations of the plot line disrupted. I thought that Lale and Gita's freedom would be from an act of the Allies liberating the camp. Instead, they both on individual terms and circumstances had to escape in order to eventually survive and return home. When the girls offered to Gita to make a run with them to the house, I thought surely she wouldn't go, and the girls who did would be shot. But they ran—and survived. The encounters they had with the handfuls of welcoming strangers thereafter was the most dramatic part of the book for me. It was an inspiring challenge to rethink how I want to live. This line really stands out to me: "The door to the house is opened before they reach it" (page 214). Those inside the house were watching—and they acted.

I really enjoyed this book! The romance carries the story along; Lale and Gita’s reunion and proposal are truly extraordinary. But Lale's narrow escapes, lucky chances, well-thought-out schemes, and caring acts were the most fascinating. Heather Morris’ The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a true love-at-first-sight romance novel with a very intriguing backdrop.

[spineandprose]

Becoming Mrs. Lewis | September 2020

Happy fall! I hope you were able to read along with us through Becoming Mrs. Lewis, where the whole plot danced along the lines of falling in love. Let's chat!

As a read, I thought this book was really enjoyable. Patti Callahan's writing style fit me like...a well-read book? Ah, in any case, I thought the story flowed really nicely, never dragging and never skipping, and the opening prologue was one of the most captivating and imaginative I've ever read. That's a statement!

In reading Joy and Jack’s first letters to each other, I researched and was disappointed to find out that Callahan did not include the exact wording of the original letters in her novel (there was mention of them being destroyed?). I was definitely disappointed about that, as I love truth and accuracy. But as I continued to read the novel and learned about Callahan's research (including her note at the end), I realized that she really did take the accuracy of this story seriously while allowing the events of Joy and Jack's life to be told in a manner fitting for a novel.

Callahan includes a list of discussion questions at the end of the novel, so I will touch on a few of them here, simply.

1) I never knew that C.S. Lewis married! So I had never heard of Joy Davidman before. Did you know of her before reading the book?

2) I equate their three-year pen-friendship in the 1950s to our modern email and social media conversations; in that sense, it doesn't seem strange to me to communicate through correspondence without meeting. Additionally, I do think friendship can be established, sustained, and deepened through writing alone...but it is often tainted. We present the best parts of ourselves, don’t we? The whole of who we are is better understood in person through the lens of daily life and interactions.

3) I was confused as to why Joy couldn't remarry within the church, and so why their marriage was a civil, practical one for the first year (years?). This article sheds a bit of light on that. It likely also helps to provide some background on why Tollers had reservations about Joy's friendship with Jack.

7) The most difficult part of the novel for me to read was Joy's time in England when she was still married to Bill, leaving her boys in America for five months. I've never been forced to advocate for my own self-care with a decision that could also be so emotionally wrenching. 

8) I'm interested in reading Joy's published works and in Jack's books that relate to her: A Grief Observed and was there another? I've already read Till We Have Faces (years ago, in college, and I enjoyed it).

It's interesting to read the different paths Renee and Joy took. Starting from the same path (they both had abusive, alcoholic husbands), Renee continued life with a man of the same character while Joy was able to break free and enjoy life with a man of respectable character. Can there be any doubt that God intervened to provide Joy and her boys the freedom and rescue they needed, first through relationship with God Himself but then the additional gift of a godly husband?

It’s interesting to think of Callahan’s target audience with the book. I can see the temptation to paint C.S. Lewis as the most ideal of intellectual and godly husbands, not taking a wrong turn throughout the whole of knowing Joy. I think Callahan’s inclusion of Joy’s confusion in understanding the women who lived in the Kilns before her (a mother and daughter, and I forget both their names), Joy’s jealousy of the lady Jack wrote to in a similar pen-friendship as he had with Joy (again, I forget her name), and the tension and frustration Joy communicates to Jack about their civil marriage helps to show that these are real people, neither of whom is all right all the time.

I liked the read! It was based on a true story and yet was a relaxing story to consume. I give it 3.5 stars.

[spineandprose]

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine | June 2020

I started and finished this book during the third week of April, so let’s just say I’m thrilled June 30 is finally here! I’m excited to discuss this novel with you.

I started Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine in a most unusual way—actually in two unusual ways. The first was that the opening chapters were read to me. With libraries closed due to the coronavirus, I was only able to borrow an audiobook; practically a first for me. Right away, I heard a Scottish accent and had to listen extra attentively, especially with the lingo (”hen,” for example).

The second unusual start to this book came to mind in the first minutes of listening: I realized I hadn’t read the back cover! Now, maybe I had years ago, but I wasn’t remembering anything about what this book was about. As I was listening to the audiobook, I didn’t have a synopsis to turn to. But only a day or two after starting the audiobook, a friend dropped off her copy of the novel for me to borrow, and suddenly a small game began to play in my mind. How far into the book could I read without flipping the pages over and reading the back cover? Surprisingly competitive, I was successful and didn’t read the back cover until after I finished the book. So, it was a gloriously fun introduction to the book to not know in the least who or what the story contained and how the plot would progress. Have you ever read a book without reading the synopsis first?

It was hard for me to follow along with the audiobook (I think I’m a visual learner), but once I had the physical copy in my hands, I could.not.put.it.down. I toted the book around the house with me, in hopes that if the kids were playing well enough together, I could sneak in a few pages. I loved this book. Kyle gave me such praise because “it’s fiction!” I’m happy I enjoyed it, too. :)

Alright, let’s move on to some questions. I’ve included my answer after each one, but I’ll also list just the questions at the bottom of this post for you to copy and paste for your review (pick and choose as you like).

Loneliness is the theme first introduced in the book. Based on your own experience of loneliness, could you relate to Eleanor? What other themes are presented in the novel?

I’ve had two bouts of lonely seasons in my life: the first was my second semester of college, right after I had transferred schools, and the second was the first six months or so after moving to Seattle. While I can relate to the feeling of being lonely, I cannot relate to the depths of Eleanor’s chronic loneliness. Six months is short enough to endure a season of loneliness, especially when you have things to look forward to (I was actively engaged in becoming more connected). Eleanor's loneliness was a static, not dynamic, part of her life. However, just because I couldn’t relate to her loneliness on point, that did not hamper my ability to connect with her as a character.

What I loved most about this novel were the themes the author presented through a wondrously seamless tapestry: loneliness, social awkwardness, addiction, abuse and neglect, mental health, the foster care system, the role of family, and grief. This novel packs a punch for addressing real-life issues in the midst of humor and lovable characters.

What was your impression of Raymond? Why do you think he intentionally walked with Eleanor after work, which later lead to their witnessing Sammy’s fall?

Loneliness is actually the foundation for Raymond’s introduction. Did you catch it? When he walks with Eleanor after work for the first time, and waits for her as she fixes her shoe, he shares with her that he is only a couple weeks into the job. Raymond was a new employee, lonely, and looking for friends. It’s a subtle comment that really is a bridge between them and explains in part why Raymond initiated their first hang out.

Can we just take a moment to applaud how wonderful Raymond is? I mean, this guy: welcoming, thoughtful, a servant, loyal, caring, respectful, fun. In listing those attributes, I can imagine how hard it would be as an author to swirl those qualities up into a character that is not only relatable and lovable, but most of all believable. I thought Gail Honeyman did an amazing job.

Was Eleanor’s crush on Jonny believable?

I was relieved to read the climax of Eleanor’s crush on Jonny halfway through the book. Toward the last few chapters of the “Good Days” section, I was beginning to find her obsession and crush on Jonny a bit too intense to be believable. However, factoring in Eleanor’s state of mental health that was revealed throughout the rest of the novel, it does seem plausible for a real-life experience.

Did you find this book funny?

I thought this book was funny! There were a few lines that made me laugh out loud (is there a better way to phrase that?), and besides those instances, the book had an underlying quirky tilt, thanks to Eleanor’s personality. Even those it addresses such difficult issues, I thought it was a light read, funnily enough.

Did you see the twist coming related to Eleanor’s mummy? What did you think of their ongoing “conversations”?

I was completely surprised to learn Eleanor’s mummy had passed away in the fire. What a clever trick by the author to show how deeply Eleanor needs to process and regain her mental stability. It’d be interesting to go back and see how the author phrases the introduction to each of their conversations; I can’t remember a time she mentions the phone ringing. I appreciate an honest author.

What role does foster care play in Eleanor’s life?

Foster care provided physical health for Eleanor. On a couple occasions, she recalls that she always had what she needed related to food, clothing, and shelter through the foster care system. Of course, we can gather from the novel that she was protected in the foster care system from abuse and didn’t suffer additional harm from any other caregiver. But, it provided her little else: no forever family, no healing from her past, no lasting relationships, no one and nothing to depend on or turn to as she aged into adulthood.

Did you find the ending conclusive and/or satisfying?

I enjoyed the ending, Raymond and Eleanor enjoying a meal together but continuing to discuss their lives and care for each other more deeply. Perhaps I’m just totally not a romantic (arguable true), but I was glad the book didn’t end with a proposal or a wedding. The routine ending enforced the believably of the characters, and I appreciated that. It also left the book open for a sequel. ;)

Overall, what did you enjoy about this book? What did you dislike about this book?

I’m sure you can already tell: I simply loved this book. I enjoyed it because it was so different from the books I normally praise. But mostly, it was wonderfully crafted. I appreciate the author’s attention to themes such as foster care, social awkwardness, and loneliness, all within a character set that is believable and realistic. Five stars!

What was your impression of the book? I’d love to hear your thoughts. And if you’d like to contribute on any of the questions I listed, here they are again:

Loneliness is the theme first introduced in the book. Based on your own experience of loneliness, could you relate to Eleanor? What other themes are presented in the novel?

What was your impression of Raymond? Why do you think he intentionally walked with Eleanor after work, which later led to their witnessing Sammy’s fall?

Was Eleanor’s crush on Jonny believable?

Did you find this book funny?

Did you see the twist coming related to Eleanor’s mummy? What did you think of their ongoing “conversations”?

What role does foster care play in Eleanor’s life?

Did you find the ending conclusive and/or satisfying?

[spineandprose]

Crossing to Safety | March 2020

What a great read to kick off our 2020 reading year! Crossing to Safety was recommended by a friend of mine, and I’m glad I read it. I’ll pinpoint my highs, lows, and provide some book club questions below.

The Highs I really enjoyed Stegner’s writing. He made such normal occurrences (the smell of fall, for example) so impactful by his thoughtful observations that it made you wonder at the beauty of every aspect of life. His dialogue was exquisite in two ways. First, Stegner allows the reader to learn about a character through their dialogue instead of providing a written explanation introducing a character or explaining why a character has the tendencies they do. This is my favorite kind of writing. Second, the dialogue he crafts between Larry and Sally is so deeply touching in the most minimal of words that it solidifies for the reader the sweetness of their marriage and how committed their love is.

I love—love—the subject matter: friendship. Yes, please! Can we have more authors write about deep and meaningful friendship the way Stegner does? I also enjoyed reading a male perspective, as most of my reads have female leads. I enjoyed his playfulness of Charity’s encouragement to Larry to “write something about a really decent, kind, good human being living a normal life in a normal community, interested in the things most ordinary people are interested in—family, children, education—good uplifting entertainment.” (Page 256) That gave me a giggle because Stegner does that so well!

The Lows Two parts of the book were harder for me to read, just because I was a bit bored! Haha. The first chapter had me confused a good while and I had to keep rereading just to feel like I got myself settled into the book. The other section I didn’t enjoy was Larry’s imagining of Sid’s first visit to Battell Pond and the events and exchanges that happened there with Charity and Aunt Emily. It was too much for this non-fiction girl to handle; this was fiction on fiction!

Lastly, I was left longing for some elaboration on their daughter, Lang, and how their love for her changed their family and what she added to their life—even what her personality was like. From my estimation, Stegner allotted a whole two sentences to talking about Lang after she was born. I appreciated Stegner’s focus on the friendship between the Langs and the Morgans and can see his reasoning for not branching out to discuss any of their children, but I was left wanting to hear more about Lang.

Favorite Quotes Coming from the kitchen bringing the rum bottle and the teakettle for a fresh round of drinks, I see them there, and think how in those two women four hearts are beating, and it awes me. -Page 60

All off us felt it. We must have. For in front of their gate, before we drove away still wearing the burnooses, we fell into a four-ply laughing hug, we were so glad to know one another and so glad that all the trillion chances in the universe had brought us to the same town and the same university at the same time. -Page 46

Can anyone help me find the quote where it talks about the fall air smelling of leaves and football—”the smell of autumn anywhere in America”?

Book Club Questions I thought it might be fun to treat this as a more traditional book club and provide some questions. They are a mix of my own questions and those I found online.

Why to you think the book is titled Crossing to Safety? I don’t think Stegner hints at it during any part of his novel.

My best guess is that the Langs were a solid form of safety for the Morgans, both relationally and financially. Meeting them made it feel like they had crossed over from poor orphans into a rich family.

At the end of the book, Sid is missing for five hours, beginning right when Charity leaves for the hospital to die. Where do you think he was?

I think Sid was actually up at the picnic, following Charity’s orders!

What is your option of Charity? Can you see her argument for insisting everyone—including her husband—have a picnic while she leaves to go die alone in a hospital?

In some ways I can see myself in Charity—that controlling nature! Ugh. Though I am thankful for a husband who lovingly corrects me when I get out of line. I thought Charity’s plan for her family while she “just slipped away” and passed was a thought-provoking example of the trajectory of control. How harsh that ending is for someone who plans and protects her ways.

If you’re interested, here are some additional questions to answer:

How do you see the friendship of the two couples? Do you like it, envy it or is it not for you?

What do you make of the eight year span before Charity dies where the Langs and Morgans really had little to no contact with each other? How does that transform their friendship?

Given the difference between their upbringings (social class), what is the basis of friendship between these two couples? What does each couple gain from the friendship? Is it an equal or unequal relationship?

What are Charity's expectations of Sid? Does she desire academic status? Does she want him to realize his full potential or live up to his best self? What does she want from him?

Final Thoughts I would recommend this book and miiiight reread it; it seems like a cozy autumn companion. I give it four out of five stars!

[spineandprose]

Educated | December 2019

For the entire year, I wished this book wasn’t on our reading list. Seeing Educated  as our December read gave me caution for what I would learn in its pages and how that information would roll around in my head and heart, weighing me with a burden I didn’t need to bear. I don’t handle hard stories well. As this final book selection rolled nearer, my uneasiness grew. I knew this would be a hard read, and even contemplated a few times explaining to this club that I knew myself too well and decided to cautiously decline reading even one page of this memoir. But I wondered if I would regret missing out.

Ten days ago,* I cracked the book open and read about the Indian Princess and the family she housed at her base. Somehow, I was hooked. More than that, I was captivated, spellbound, fascinated with Tara’s story. One more chapter, then one more, then just another. Ultimately, I found Tara to be an exquisite storyteller, a master of words. I found her descriptions to be detailed enough to engulf me and transport me to her world, but she allowed the reader to have emotions for themselves; she didn’t describe her emotions in order to take you into her world, and I liked that. Instead, she let the events and people speak for themselves and for the reader to discover in their own understanding.

Home: Again, and Again, and Again I loved the foreshadowing of the prologue: “[My father] never told me how I’d know when it was time to come home.” Returning home, to her beloved Buck’s Peak and her complicated, unstable home was the thread that weaved, always rough and harsh, through Tara’s novel. As the reader, it was easy to take the stance of run away and never return! and I assumed that her move to college would be such. But she returned: during school breaks and summers, on weekends and for a sole midnight intrusion, for weddings and funerals, reconciliation and reunion, before a final resolve for a peaceful goodbye on her terms. Yet, did you catch it? I think she holds out hope that she may yet be welcomed home, in time. Does anyone else agree with me on this?

As the reader, each time you see her begin a journey back to Buck’s Peak, you wonder: why. I think the author does a tremendous job of displaying how real, deep, and valued family ties are. Though she confronts her parent’s mistreatment, neglect, and failings in their caring for her, she always thinks the best of them. She always says she loves them. She always explains how they are acting in their understanding of love toward her; I saw this especially in her parent’s visit to Harvard, including the Sacred Grove and Niagara Falls. I think Tara can really see that her parents are not whole beings and are loving her as they think is love. But it takes Tara ten years to learn that she cannot be loved by her parents, in their peculiar way, and remain a whole person. In her final visit to Buck’s Peak and her intentional goodbye, she describes this beautifully: “He gave me a stiff hug and said, ��I love you, you know that?’ ‘I do,’ I said. ‘That has never been the issue.’” (Page 310).

List of Traumatic Events About halfway through the book, I thought I would write down each incident of injury. I found these to be the most intense.

two terrible car crashes

falling 18 feet in a junkyard with a deep leg wound at the age of ten

acting as first responder to a fire burn at the age of ten

physically, emotionally, and verbally abused from roughly the age of 15 to 25

Us vs. Them Because of her father’s, Gene’s, obsession with preparing for the End Days and his distrust of the government, he instilled in his family the mentality of us vs. them: a prevalent thinking that our family knows the real truth and everyone outside these walls---even those inside the same church as us---is out to harm us, destroy us, rip us apart. It’s us vs. them, and they can’t win.

This is ironic. Charles pointed it out---I’m not exactly sure when---but over the course of her story I had developed the same thought: there was no us for the Westovers. They are not looking out for each other. This is displayed in a dozen ways throughout the book:

Not yelling for help when Shawn was being abusive. This is true for likely all the siblings, but it’s known for Tara (the Thanksgiving choke and pin in the family room, the hundreds of times she was inverted into the toilet bowl), revealed through Audrey’s account of violence, and is hinted at through Tyler and Richard’s stance and uneasiness when they witness Shawn’s aggression. Somehow, they each knew that to call on a family member for help was not an option. 

No communication with each other. Again, related to Shawn’s violence, no one shared with another member of the family the abuse they suffered until years after they had all left the house.

No teamwork. On the junkyard and at sites, Gene established it was each man (child, really) for himself. I’m chucking lead, so you better duck. I’m concerned about this wildfire, so you better drive your burning body home yourself. I value money above all things, so you best learn how to balance on that pallet and stop wishing for a cherry picker.

A focus on individual responsibility and strength. Tara describes this specifically when she recalls her instincts on page 102: “All my life those instincts had been instructing me in this single doctrine---that the odds are better if you rely only on yourself.” I think this is also displayed through two events that happened when she was ten: her 18-foot fall from the metal bin at the junkyard and her first response care to Luke’s burned leg. After she fell from the bin, her father responded with, “What happened? How’d you manage that?” (Page 65). After she cared for Luke, her mother responded with, “You were lucky this time, Tara. But what were you thinking, putting a burn into a garbage can?” (Page 71). The parents assumed no responsibility for the danger they flung their children into. Instead, Tara grew up being taught that every hurt and failing was her own doing.

I thought the struggle to name who was ultimately responsible for each hardship was beautifully described at the end of the chapter called Apache Women (page 40), when Tara is wrestling with wondering who was at fault for the first car accident. She crafts the most wonderful conclusion. “Me, I never blamed anyone for the accident, least of all Tyler. It was just one of those things. A decade later my understanding would shift, part of my heavy swing into adulthood, and after that the accident would always make me think of the Apache women, and of all the decisions that go into making a life---the choices people make, together and on their own, that combine to produce any single event. Grains of sand, incalculable, pressing into sediment, then rock.” To me, she is saying that the accident was her father’s fault for not leading the family by being the driver and her mother’s fault for letting him be so selfish. But those are grains of sand overlaying a rocky ground of her father’s untreated depression atop a foundation of false believes (not calling an ambulance for medical help). It’s a long spiral down of many poor choices.

Family Under A Firm, Compassionless Father When I think of Tara’s family, I think of a house full of force, emptied of service; full of physical harm, emptied of protection; full of emotional manipulation, emptied of quiet, listening ears. I thought Tara brilliantly described her father through the example of the math equation: “Dad could command this science, could decipher its language, decrypt its logic, could bend and twist and squeeze from it the truth. But as it passed through him, it turned to chaos.” (Page 126)

The image she describes of her laying on the mattress in the back of their van alongside her mother and Audrey, while her dad accelerates through a snow storm seems to be the perfect picture of how life existed under his authority. He is stubborn, always right In his own eyes, always selfish, never listens, and thrusts his family into harm. I feel so sad for her mom, thinking of her laying there with a quiet question of, “Shouldn’t we drive slower?” answered with acceleration; her eyes closed, body tense, knowing her children will crash alongside her. It is heartbreaking to me to think of the hopelessness of that moment.

After reading about Shawn’s physical, emotional, and verbal abuse toward Tara, I thought she would be most hurt by him. And she was, of course, very hurt---so much that she removed herself from her family. But in how she describes her hurt, it seems that she is most hurt by her father. This at first surprised me. But I now understand; it was under his leadership that all her hurts originated. And it was him who she had to guard herself from as she attempted to reconcile with her mother.

Audrey I found it interesting that no memory or event with Audrey was specifically called out in Tara’s memoir until the revealing of Shawn’s abuse toward her. For the reader, it felt like Tara was connecting with a stranger, but for Tara, we can assume that their relationship as sisters was deeper for her than what we interpret. It isn’t a wonder why there is little to recall of her memories with Audrey, though; Audrey seemed to always have a job outside the home from an early age in order to avoid her father’s junkyard and Shawn’s abuse. I found it so sad to learn that Audrey later retracted her statements of abuse from Shawn. I wonder: how long can a person lie to themselves?

Shawn When I think of Tara’s relationship with Shawn, I feel such a sadness for the emotional complexities and shifting assurances that that relationship brings. How does someone reconcile that their greatest protector and defender is also their most harmful abuser? What a twisted relationship for Tara to process for her own health and wellbeing. Perhaps because the violence toward her is so terrible, the moments of protection he provides are astonishingly remarkable. 

The description of Shawn advocating for Tara’s safety in not running the Shear (page 140) brought me to tears. This violent stranger of a brother risks himself for a month in order to keep her from harm. And yet, he himself is her greatest harm. 

Another moment is described when she is trapped on the runaway horse, Bud. This sentence struck me as beautifully written: “All this would happen in seconds, a year of training reduced to a single, desperate moment.” (Page 103) And he rescues her.

And the one that sets this bipolar relationship into motion, after he has “fixed” her neck and she sees him as, “...some longed-for defender, some fanciful champion, one who wouldn't fling me into a storm, and who, if I was hurt, would make me whole.” (Page 97)

Tyler Contrast this with Tyler, who is the shining hero in her story. The one who encouraged her education, protected her from Shawn, and stood by her when her family disowned her. This single sentence is remarkable: “How do you thank a brother who refused to let you go, who seized your hand and wrenched you upward, just as you had decided to stop kicking and sink? There aren’t words for that, either.” (Page 317) 

Reading that sentence made me weep, and this is what I think Tara is best at: in bringing the complicated emotions and abuses of the human heart into such beautiful descriptions that the reader is left knowing the depths of the potential of the human race’s unthinkable harm and yet abundant rescue a bit more poetically.

Final Thoughts Oh, there are likely a dozen more moments I’d like to discuss; I feel as if I’ve barely scratched the surface of my notes. I loved this book because I love reading non-fiction, and I’m finding memoirs are my favorite. I loved this book because the writing was simply beautiful and her storytelling supreme. Her realization, “...that a life is not a thing unalterable.” (page 286) might sum up the triumph from tragedy that her life represents. Amazing. Of course, I give it five stars.

I’d love to hear what you thought of the book, even if you have a less glowing review than mine. Please share your takeaways below!

Also, one of my favorite podcasts did a book review of Educated. Take a listen here if you’re interested.

*It took me twice as long to write my review as it did for me to read the book! So the start of this review isn’t hot off the press. ;)

[spineandprose]

Seeking Refuge | September 2019

Hellloo and soooorry because I’m writing this September review almost two months late. No time like the present, right? Thanks for your patience. I love this relaxed book club.

Seeking Refuge was a book on my reading list for over a year, so I’m glad to have read it. For this review, my personal thoughts will be brief; the quotes I marked, however, will be long.

Personal Thoughts All in all, I thought the book was really well put together. I thought it covered a very complex topic in a thorough way—though of course sticking to the surface in most regards. I actually didn’t know the book was written by three Christians, so I had to adjust my expectations as I read the opening pages. I so appreciated their direct approach in bringing in scripture to each argument and hesitation.

One thought that ran through my head throughout the book was how much time it really takes to welcome refugees well. When they provided examples of churches or organizations or specific people who had cared for refugees in the deep and meaningful ways needed, I just thought: that reorients your whole week (and so month and year as well). The people highlighted were not slipping in time with refugees for an hour every other week. They were skipping social activities with friends, Netflix in the evenings, facials at the spa, relaxed Saturday mornings, free time to be spontaneous, and more. They changed their whole life in order to care for their foreign neighbors. It really makes me think: what can I change, where can I reschedule my time, what would I give up? (Even though, let’s be clear, I’m not watching Netflix in the evenings or going to the spa for facials, and I rarely have relaxed Saturday mornings and spontaneous free time. So, lots to think about there!)

Notable Passages Even if welcoming refugees were genuinely unsafe, though, God’s command would still apply. “Do not be afraid,” not because there is nothing to fear but because, God says, “I am with you” (Geo. 26:24; Jer. 1:8; Matt. 28:20), because “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1). Page 82

The average amount of time from when a refugee first flees their country until they are finally settled in a permanent setting is seventeen years. Page 88

…sponsoring a refugee was not only an appropriate response to the biblical commands to extend hospitality but also “an opportunity to be blessed by the incredible friendship of newcomers from all over the world.” Page 119

However, we were only able to purchase a house—and move almost overnight into a much brighter long-term financial outlook—with help from family. Most of our refugee neighbors who, like us, were covering their rent payments and surviving month-to-month but not earning enough to save up for a down payment, did not have the option to buy a house, because they arrived in the United States with no assets beyond what could fit into a suitcase. Even those who had been middle or upper class in their countries of origin had, in most cases, lost everything when they fled. Page 125

While we regret that so many people are detained and that so many are forced back to the countries of origin, we are grateful to have the opportunity to express Christ’s love to them for a  time. At least one detainee who accepted Christ within the facility because a church planter in China after his deportation. Page 129

All resettled refugees are grateful to escape danger and move to a safe country, but their journey to cultural adjustment is never immediate and rarely smooth. Page 146

When a refugee family is resettled, children and adolescents who are immersed in school and more exposed to mainstream culture typically learn the language and acculturate faster than their parents. With faster adjustment, children and adolescents acquire more power within the family structure, as parents become increasingly dependent on them. Refugee parents have occasionally said that they no longer dare to discipline their children, fearing that they might need their help later to translate a bill or respond to an important call. Psychologists refer to this phenomenon as “role reversal.” Their dynamic can be very challenging for many refugee families, particularly because they typically come from cultures where family roles are clearly defined and children are expected not to question the authority of their parents. Page 148

In my opinion, there i son better healing experience for a refugee family than getting to know and American family that chooses to come alongside them and guide them through their new journey. When refuees are treated with love, patience, respect, and honor instead of rejection, intolerance, shame, and disgrace, past wounds heal and refugees learn to expect to be treated with kindness and dignity again. Page 149

The church’s response to the global refugee crisis must also include and prioritize supporting local churches and relief efforts in the countries most impacted. Page 153

…this horrific problem is made even worse because some cultures stigmatize women and girls who have been raped or sexually violated, leaving them “socially isolated, shunned, or even subject to further acts of violence from family or community members intent on protecting a traditional sense of honor. Page 160

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. illustrated the importance of engaging policy issues to confront injustice, alluding to Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan: On the one hand we are called to play the Good Samaritan on life’s roadside, but that will be only an initial act. And ay we must come to see that the whole Jericho Road must be transformed so that men and women will not be constantly beaten and robbed as they make their journey on life’s highway. True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar. It comes to see that an edifice with produces beggars needs restructuring. Page 170

According to the map on page 173, only the states of Washington, Hawaii, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Connecticut, and Delaware would welcome refugees in 2015.

We believe it is time for the church to speak up. Page 175

I Was a Stranger Challenge Bookmark (a Seattle friend gave this to me years ago).

At the local church level, the statistics are discouraging; while, as of September 2015, most Americans supported a US government plan to increase the overall number of refugees resettled here, white evangelical Christians were opposed to the plan by a two-to-one margin. While 86 percent of American Protestant pastors surveyed the LifeWay Research in 2016 affirmed that “Christians have a responsibility to care sacrificially for refugees and foreigners,” less than one in ten said their church was currently involved in caring locally for refugees, and less than one in five was serving refugees overseas. Nearly half acknowledged that, among the members of their congregation, there was a sense of fear about refugees coming to the United States. Page 183

Last Thoughts I feel like I have half a dozen links to articles, films, and resources that relate to this topic, but for now, I’ll leave it at this simple review. What did you think of this read? Let me know in the comments below.

[spineandprose]

What Are You Reading?

We’re midway through summer (being optimistic here ;)), and I’m curious: what have you been reading?

In early July, I read Chip and Joanna Gaines’ book The Magnolia Story, expecting it to be super fluffy. I wasn’t quite sure why I even wanted to read it. Surprisingly, I found myself really enjoying how they described their life and work together. It fits well in this season of our own fixer-upper life, as we’ve been homeowners since October 30 and have yet to move in! Their story honestly gave me encouragement and a good amount of perspective. It also made me realize that other people do crazy things too, and it feels nice to be in the company of other risk-takers when normally that is not my jam. I would really recommend the read if you’re looking for an encouraging book about doing something big now. You can finish the book in a week!

Please let me know: what have you been reading? I bet we’d all love to hear your recommendations.

[spineandprose]

After the Crash | June 2019

Happy summer! After the Crash was my lakeside read as we vacationed with my husband’s extended family. I turned the pages while relaxing on the large lake house patio and finished the book one evening after sunset—complete with my own soundtrack of gasps and “I knew it. Called it!” Even with the complex storyline, it was a lighthearted read for me, so I’ll keep this review simple.

What I Liked I had very low expectations for this book. I’ve never read thriller/mysteries and didn’t think I would find this story that interesting, so I wasn’t anticipating much. I think because my standard was set so modestly, I enjoyed the experience of reading this book. It was an easy storyline to follow, and it keep me wanting to figure out the identity of Lylie. It also wasn’t scary to read, and for a huge wimp like me, that gives a book major bonus points. Another bonus is that this book has been fun to discuss with my mom, husband, and MIL, all of whom read the book.

Predictions and Surprises Before even reading the first page, I thought it’d be interesting if the baby girl was not related to either of the families, but rather tied to a third option; which, she turned out to be! I did figure out that Lylie was talking about getting an abortion, a few chapters before it was explicitly stated. I was surprised that the detective was alive and that he was the killer—I thought Lylie was the shadow that killed Leonce and the lady with the A name in the woods (sorry!). Where you able to make any accurate predictions? What places in the plot took you by surprise?

What I Didn’t Care For About a hundred pages in, I was a bit frustrated with the writing quality. When I realized that it had been translated from French, I could put that frustration aside and enjoy the rest of the book; I recognize that strong writing and smooth descriptions must be lost in translation. I thought there were odd references to sex and sexuality: the detective’s attraction to Nicole and the endless talk of how she was well endowed, as well as Marc and Malvina’s sexual aggression and threats toward each other.

Marc and Lylie I think it’s pivotal to consider if the author’s argument for Marc and Lylie being lovers is believable. He presents a dilemma for the reader: if two lovers—a future devoted husband and wife—met as children and grew up together as siblings, could their love (their nature) conquer their circumstances (their nurture). The author is banking on the reader believing that yes, they could become and remain as lovers (given that they are not biologically related). After all, think of how romantic that is! That even when they shouldn’t allow their love for each other to exist, their love is so strong that it triumphs over any other relationship. However, I just don’t agree. I really think that nurture would prove too strong a defensive against their romantic love, and it wouldn’t allow their feelings for each other to move beyond a close brother and sister relationship. I’m curious to hear what you think! Did you think Marc and Lylie’s relationship was romantic or really weird?

The Hope of a Baby As I read, I found myself seeing an underlying assumption that a baby—a new, young life—provides an enormous amount of hope. And when that hope is taken away, lives are completely changed; ruined; and in this story, death consumes. How interesting to see how the loss of a child rippled deathly effects through entire families.

Abortion In a similar thought train, the author provided two views on abortion. Did you catch them? Lylie, in her first text messages to Marc, confesses that she’s going to commit murder; she’s going to kill an innocent person! In opposition, Nicole questions with Marc, how could Lylie see that as a crime? How could Lylie think that was murder? While I think we should save any further thoughts on abortion for in-person discussions, I did want to bring it up here just in that I thought it was interesting that the author provided both viewpoints.

Star Rating: ★★ Overall, I give this read two stars. Interesting, light, easy to pick up, but also easy to move on from.

I’d love to hear what you thought of the book. While I write longer reviews to provide some structure and spark discussion, there’s no need for you to write a long review if you’d rather not; instead, a simple sentence or even a star rating (just copy and paste this guy ★ as many times as you like) is more than okay. Keep it simple and sweet!