American Dirt by Jeanine Cummings
378 pages

What’s it about?
 Lydia lives in present day Acapulco.  She is married to a journalist and has an 8-year-old son named Luca.  Lydia owns a bookstore and is not unaware of the drug cartels infiltrating the city.  She is able to largely ignore the problem until the cartel strikes her family and she is forced to flee Mexico to save Luca.  

What did it make me think about?
 It seems to me that this book was written with two goals in mind.  To be a page-turner and to make us feel something about the immigrants that arrive from the South.  It certainly achieves both goals.

Should I read it?
 This book will appeal to a mass audience.  It is a quick read with lots of action and a quick plot.  It was predictable! Everything you could think of that stereotypically happens to immigrants on there way North is thrown into the plot of this book.  But anyone looking for a quick read will enjoy this book.

Quote-
"She and Luca are actual migrants.  That is what they are.  And that simple fact, among all the other severe new realities in her life, knocks the breath clean out of her lungs.  All her life she's pitied those poor people.  She's donated money. She's wondered with he sort of detached fascination of the comfortable elite how dire the conditions of their lives must be wherever they come from, that this is the better option.  That these people would leave their homes, their cultures, their families, even their languages, and venture into tremendous peril, risking their lives, all for the chance to get to the dream  of some faraway  country that doesn't even want them."

***I wanted to read American Dirt for myself since it has generated so much controversy.    First, I absolutely agree that more books by people of color should be published and promoted by the publishing industry.  Second, does having the moral high-ground give anyone the right to bully, intimidate, and publicly shame an individual?  In a world that values words and ideas- are we really going to promote that only some people have the right to write about certain issues?

This may not have been one of my favorite books of the year, but I absolutely see why a publishing company would want it.  Publishing is a business and this book will sell. In my estimation Ms. Cummings achieved her goal.  She wrote a book  designed to sell a lot of copies and promote a particular viewpoint.  She wanted to make her readers see immigrants coming North as individuals- with compelling reasons for showing up at our border.  Maybe we should view this book as not the enemy- but as a catalyst for change.  Hopefully this novel will spark an interest in readers and we will see more novels published and promoted about Latin America.  Next on my list are In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado and The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros.  
​
If you like this try-
Dominicana by Angie Cruz
Prayers for the Stolen by Jennifer Clement
​In the Midst of Winter by Isabel Allende
The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Chritsty Lefteri

​7 1/2 stars

Imagine Me Gone by Adam Haslett
356 pages

​What’s it about?
Margaret and John meet and fall in love. As they are planning their wedding John is suddenly hospitalized with debilitating depression.  Should Margaret carry on or escape from this union?  Margaret forges ahead and this novel looks at the repercussions of that decision.  

What did it make me think about?
 This is the story of one family living with mental illness. 

Should I read it?
 This was not an easy book to read.  Not because of the plot or the pace, but due to the subject matter.  I felt so badly for every member of the family- and make no mistake John's mental illness touched everyone in the story.  I would highly recommend this book.  If you read to enlarge your experiences then don't miss this one.
 
Quote-
​"A few months ago, a fog blinded me, thicker than ever before.  I slept in the monster's arms.  I felt it's breath on my neck, its scaled stomach rising and falling against my back, its head and face invisible as always.  I couldn't pretend anymore to Margaret that I was working.  The children receded into noises grating on my ears.   I stopped moving."

​I you like this try-
All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews
The Good Luck of Right Now by Matthew Quick
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
On Earth We're Breifly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

9 stars

Olive Again by Elizabeth Strout
304 pages

What’s it about?
 This novel revisits the character of Olive Kitteridge.  Elizabeth Strout won a Pulitzer Prize for her earlier novel, Olive Kitteridge, and I could not have been more pleased to spend some more time with Olive.   

What did it make me think about?
 How differently we all see the world.  

Should I read it?
So reading Olive's inner dialogue is enough to give you pause about judging others- and isn't that an amazing feat!  It would be so easy to pass judgement on Olive's actions, and yet when you get to know her you see how different her intentions are.  I have never, EVER been disappointed in a book written by Elizabeth Strout- and this book was no exception.  Olive is a porcupine of a woman, but a lovable one anyway.  If you are fan of Elizabeth Strout then run to get this book!

Quote-
​“When you get old,” Olive told Andrea after the girl had walked away, “you become invisible. It’s just the truth. And yet it’s freeing in a way.”

If you like this try-
Driftless by David Rhodes
The Sound of Things Falling by Juan Gabriel Vasquez
​​The Noise of Time by Julian Barnes
Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson

​9 stars

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
387 pages

What’s it about?
 Alice Wright is an Englishwoman who has yet to find a husband- much to the chagrin of her parents.  When a handsome American, Bennet Van Cleve, comes to Europe they meet and decide to marry.  It is a win-win as Alice is infatuated with Bennett and it also gets her away from her overbearing parents.  Unfortunately, when they return to Kentucky nothing is as she imagined.   Luckily the new traveling library is looking for women volunteers to deliver books into the countryside.  Alice volunteers and finally finds what she has always longed for.

What did it make me think about?
 The history was interesting.

Should I read it?
 This is a work of historical fiction, but it also has all you have come to expect from Jojo Moyes, lots of drama and romance.  It took me a while to be interested in the characters, but the second half of the book kept my interest.  I know there is some controversy surrounding this book.  I gather another book that was released shortly before, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, is eerily similar. I have not read the The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek so I have no idea.  Although this story was not one of my favorites, I can see that this book will have mass appeal.

Quote-
​"Riding all winter, a librarian would wrap up so heavily it was to remember what she looked like underneath: two vests, a flannel shirt, a thick sweater and a jacket with maybe a scarf or two over the top- that was the daily uniform up in the mountains, perhaps with a pair of man's thick leather gloves over her own, a hat rammed low as she could get it, and another scarf pulled high over her nose, so that breath might bounce back and warm her skin a little."

If you like this try-
Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford
The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict
The Second Mrs. Hockaday by Susan Rivers
White Houses by Amy Bloom

7 stars

In the Midst of Winter by Isabel Allende
340 pages

What’s it about?
 A snowstorm in Brooklyn brings Richard, Lucia, and Evelyn together.  When Richard hits Evelyn's car during a snowstorm he hands her his information and is surprised when she runs away.  Things take a turn when Evelyn, an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala, arrives at his door later that evening needing help.   Richard turns to his neighbor Lucia to help translate. 

What did it make me think about?
 This was just an easy, enjoyable read.  The topic Allende's story focuses on is immigration, but there are so many current novels discussing immigration in a deeper way.  Having said that- Allende may get readers thinking about this topic that veer away from heavier books.

Should I read it?
 I would put this in the beach book category.  Great when you just want to read for pleasure, enjoy a little romance,  and not think too hard...

Quote-
"For years now he had lived in a perfectly controlled environment where there were no surprises or upheavals, and yet he had not completely forgotten the fascination of the few adventures he had known in his youth, particularly his mad passion for Anita.  He smiled at his apprehension, because driving a few blocks in bad weather was not exactly an adventure. At that moment he saw clearly how small and limited his existence had become."

If you like this try-
Number One Chinese Restaurant by Lillian Li
City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer
Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney

7 stars

A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum
337 pages

What’s it about?
 Isra is just 17 years-old in 1990 and living in Palestine when her marriage is arranged to Adam.  She leaves everything she knows and moves to America.  Traveling back in forth in time from Isla to her daughter Deya in 2008 we see how the conservative Palestinian culture is surviving in America.  This novel chronicles what life is like for many Palestinian women. Their lives are almost incomprehensible to me.  What an eye-opening novel.  I can not imagine it has been well received by the conservative Palestinian community.

What did it make me think about?
 Yes people another sad story.  But what a story...

Should I read it?
This novel had really well-drawn out characters and kept me interested from cover to cover. Etaf Rum is a beautiful writer. It is hard to believe this is her first book.  I can not wait to see what she writes next.  Having said that- I must add that the story was really disturbing.  The women are so oppressed in this culture!   This is happening in Brooklyn as we sit here?   Rum hints that this way of life is damaging to the men in the culture as well.  What a book!

Quote-
" 'Love each other? What does love have to do with marriage?  You think your father and I love each other?'
​     Isra's eyes shifted to the ground. 'I thought you must a little.'
     Mama sighed, 'Soon you'll learn that there's no room for love in a woman's life.  There's only one thing you'll need, and that's sabr, patience.'

If you like this try-
Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa
​A Place For Us by Fatima Farheer Mirza
Dominicana by Angie Cruz
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie

9 1/2 stars

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood
​344 pages

​What’s it about?
Wavy is the daughter of drug dealers.  When the story opens she is an 8-years-old master of staying out of the way.  Wavy does her best to look after her little brother Donal, and spends her time gazing at the constellations in the sky.  Over time she forms a strong bond with one of her father's henchmen- a bear of a man named Kellen.  Over the next few years Kellen will become the only adult she trusts and loves.  When Wavy's  aunt is called into the situation- she sees this relationship in a totally different way.   What Wavy sees as the most beautiful thing in her life, the world views a different way.

What did it make me think about?
This is a most unusual love story.  Something about this book reminded me of The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson.  I read that book years ago so I am not sure what triggers the comparison, but I liked them both.  Two very unusual love stories.

Should I read it?
 OK- so I really did like this one.  It was so different than anything else I have read lately.  The beginning and end were really strong for me- but I must admit to getting slightly bogged down in the middle of the book. I gather that Bryn Greenwood's mom is a recovering addict and the details in the book ring true. I would recommend this book, especially to anyone who likes a good romance.  Be warned though- this is a different romance than most of us are comfortable with...

Quote-
   " 'Everything's going to be different this time,' she said.
   The first two weeks at The Program, it was different. She was Good Mama and          followed the rules.  She washed our clothes and put them away in drawers in the new apartment.  She cooked dinner.  She didn't hide in her bedroom and smoke her pipe like she did before she got arrested.
     Then she woke up Scary Mama instead of Good Mama, and I knew things weren't going to be different.  I never knew which Mama she would be when she woke up."

If you liked this try-
The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson
​All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain
​Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

​8 stars
​

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
254 pages

What’s it about?
 Ten years after leaving boarding school ,under troubling circumstances, Lillian's former roommate and old friend Madison calls out of the blue asking for a favor.  Madison needs help with her strange 10-year-old step-kids.  She wants Lillian to be their caregiver and keep them out of the public eye.  The only problem is that they combust into flames at the drop of a hat....

What did it make me think about?
 The unlikely places we find love.

Should I read it?
 I SO enjoyed this book.  It has sat on my shelf for awhile just because it just sounded so strange- and am I pleased I finally picked it up.  It was just a quick, fun, unexpected story- told with a sense of humor.  Did I say quick- because this is an exceptionally fast read?  I can't wait to see what Kevin Wilson comes up with next!  

Quote-
​"This was how you did it, how you raised children.  You built them a house that was impervious to danger and then you gave them every single thing that they could ever want, no matter how impossible.  You read to them at night.  Why couldn't people figure this out?"

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Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett
2 AM At The Cat's Pajamas by Marie Helene-Bertino
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
​The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman

9 stars

The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri
307 pages

What’s it about?
 Nuri, Afra, and their son Sami live in Aleppo, Syria amidst the chaos of a civil war.  Nuri is a beekeeper in the countryside and Afra sells her paintings in the market.  As the war infringes more and more on their lives they know they must leave Syria in order to be safe.  This novel imagines their journey out of Aleppo.

What did it make me think about?
This novel was unbearably sad.  It made me think about the millions of refugees out there and the millions of stories they must have to tell. 

Should I read it?
This is a beautifully written account of an immigrant family’s journey out of a war torn country.  Hard to fathom that this is a reality for so many people today.  Although the plot will keep you interested, the story will break your heart.  

Quote-
“And for awhile on those evenings, with the apricots sweet and the smell of night jasmine, Firas on his computer and Aya sitting beside us with Sami in her arms while he chewed her hair, and Agra’s and Dahab’s laughter reaching us from the kitchen, on those nights, we were still happy.  Life was close enough to normal for us to forget our doubts, or at least to keep them locked away somewhere in the deep recesses of our minds while we made plans for the future.”

If you liked this try-
And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
Exit West by Moshin Hamid
Girl At War by Sara Novic
Rooftops of Tehran by Mahbod Seraji

8 1/2 stars

Hum If You Don't Know The Words by Bianca Marais
415 pages

What’s it about?
Robin Conrad is a 9-year-old white girl living with her parents in Johannesburg in the 1970's.  When the Soweta uprising happens her world drastically changes.  She will cross paths with a cast of new characters, including Beauty Mbali.  Beauty has come to the city from her rural village to find her college age daughter and bring her home to safety.  Their relationship will forever change how they view "the other side".

What did it make me think about?
 Racism and hope.

Should I read it?
Not only do the characters in this story pull you in, but the plot was so nicely paced that you could almost read this book in one sitting.  Ok- so most of us can't do that, but you will want to.....  I highly recommend this book and can't wait to pick up her next novel, If You Want To Make God Laugh.  Ms. Marais handles a serious subject with a light touch, just enough humor, and hope for what can be.

Quote-
​"Our homes are borderless just as the world was once free of boundaries; there would be no walls or roofs at all except for the essential shelter they provide.  Privacy is not a concept my people understand or desire; we bear witness to each other's lives and take comfort in having our lives seen.  What greater gift can you give another than to say: I see you, I hear you, and you are not alone?"

If you liked this try-
Dominicana by Angie Cruz
​The Invisible Life of Ivan Isaenko by Scott Stambach
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Prayers for the Stolen by Jennifer Clement

9 stars