 | Varina by Charles Frazier 353 pages What’s it about? Varina Howell is a teenager when she meets and agrees to marry a much older widower- Jefferson Davis. This is the story of Varina and her life as the wife of Jefferson Davis. We follow Varina from Mississippi to Washington D.C. and then on to Richmond as the wife of the newly elected President of the Confederacy. We also see how her complicity in the Civil War forever changes her heart and her life. What did it make me think about? This was an interesting look at the costs of the Civil War from an unusual perspective. In this novel Charles Frazier writes about choices, complicity and guilt with a light touch. I sometimes wished I understood Varina and the choices she made on a deeper level. Maybe this is the genius of Charles Frazier- his stories are complicated and nuanced. No easy answers here. This is a really good book about landing on the wrong side of history. Should I read it? If you liked “Cold Mountain” then you will enjoy “Varina” as well. Charles Frazier is a beautiful writer. It must be said that his stories go at a leisurely pace. He slowly reveals his characters. For me, it was definitely worth the wait! Quote- “V tells James, I sometimes imagine meeting my seventeen-year-old self. She’s still here inside me somewhere. Maybe one morning in the mirror, there she’ll be. I look at her with affection and understanding and hope. She sees me and backs away in horror while I try tyo explain why I made the choices I made. Back then, a good marriage did not require love. A good marriage meant security- money and position and a man who didn’t knock you around. We all wanted both, of course- love and security- but mostly we settled for the second and manufactured an attraction to keep from acknowledging the arranged, contractual foundation of the relationship, the mercantile nature of it. All those years, I can’t remember one girl from a good family who settled for only love. “ If you like this try- Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders News of the World by Paulette Jiles The Second Mrs. Hockaday by Susan Rivers Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead 9 stars |
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 How to Stop Time by Matt Haig
325 pages What’s it about? How would you choose to live if you were going to live centuries? How would your relationships work? How would people receive you? Well in this novel we meet Tom Hazard. It is the present day and Tom is still alive and well, yet Tom was born in 1581… What did it make me think about? This is an imaginative story of a man who does not age at the normal rate. I am a sucker for time travel novels and this book shares some with that genre. Should I read it? This was a fun book that also made some interesting observations. It has a good main character and a plot that moves along. It would make a great vacation read! Quote- “I often think of what Hendrich said to me, over a century age, in his New York apartment. ‘The first rule is that you don’t fall in love’, he said. ‘There are other rules too, but that is the main one. No falling in love. No staying in love. No daydreaming of love. If you stick to this you will just about be okay.’” If you liked this try- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His yeats of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami Exit West by Moshin Hamid *Levels of Life by Julian Barnes 8 1/2 stars  Brain Food by Lisa Mosconi, PhD, INHC
326 pages What’s it about? Lisa Mosconi is both a neuroscientist and a certified integrative nutritionist. In this book she delves into the question of what to eat for the health of your brain. Here is link to her TED talk that covers a lot of the same material. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twG4mr6Jov0 What did I learn? my biggest take aways- in no particular order -drinking natural spring water is really important. Think 8- 8oz. glasses a day. -try to eliminate white sugar/ white flour foods. -Try a little honey, coconut sugar, or maple syrup to sweeten foods. -eat plant based foods -best overall brain food is caviar... -eat cold water fish a couple of times a week wild caught salmon, mackerel, blue fish, sardines, and anchovies -eat 2-3 eggs a week -exercise -sleep well -play board games or card games for maximum benefits If you drink make it a 5 oz. glass of Red wine and not too often... red meat and pork- only 1 to 2 times per month Should I read it? If you have any interest in brain health then this book is informative. Quote- "In terms of brain activity, foods that metabolize quickly into sugar and contain very little fiber are the worst you can eat. These include sugary beverages, sweetened fruit juices, baked goods, and candy, as well as white-flour foods such as pasta and pizza". 8 1/2 stars  And Now We Have Everything by Meaghan O Connell
226 pages What’s it about? Meaghan O’ Connell is in her late twenties when she finds herself engaged to be married, and then unexpectedly pregnant. This is the story of her journey into motherhood. What did it make me think about? This is a honest look at a hard transition in life. Meaghan is brutal about the good and bad of becoming a mother before she was ready. Not only how it changed her body- but how it changed all the relationships in her life. Should I read it? A big takeaway from this book is how self-aware people are these days. I am sure social media has played a role in this- and this trend is endlessly fascinating to me. Meaghan’s ability for self-examination is quite remarkable. In many other ways this book took me back. Although I did not always feel as Meaghan did- her honesty was refreshing and it made me remember days where my biggest accomplishment was getting a shower and wearing clean clothes. Quote- “Most of us swore we were not interested in having children, and those who might be were supposed to act blasé about the idea. The only acceptable response other than "God, no" to the question of wanting children was "Oh, maybe someday." Wanting to have a baby was desperate quality in a woman, like wanting a relationship multiplied by a thousand, and it got more desperate with age. " If you like this try- The Nest by Cynthia D''Aprix Sweeney Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng Swimming Lessons by Claire Fuller 8 stars
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A sad, poignant, mystical read. I won't give too much away. Quick and well worth it!
9 1/2 stars!
A coming of age story set in Mexico. It certainly gives you a whole new view of all the people coming over the border.
9 stars
Quirky characters and the story told through letters to Richard Gere. Who could ask for more? 9 stars
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“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.”
― Charles William Eliot
― Charles William Eliot
ratings
1 to 2- I did not enjoy this book.
3 to 4- I found some aspect of this book redeeming but would not recommend it.
5 to 6- I really enjoyed something about this book (characters, plot, meaning etc.) but it was uneven. Some aspects were stronger than others.
7 to 8- It was a good book. I liked lots of aspects of this book. I would recommend it.
9 to 10- I was sorry to turn the last page. I highly recommend this book!
3 to 4- I found some aspect of this book redeeming but would not recommend it.
5 to 6- I really enjoyed something about this book (characters, plot, meaning etc.) but it was uneven. Some aspects were stronger than others.
7 to 8- It was a good book. I liked lots of aspects of this book. I would recommend it.
9 to 10- I was sorry to turn the last page. I highly recommend this book!
