 | Agatha of Little Neon by Claire Luchette 271 pages What’s it about? Agatha takes her vows to become a nun in her early twenties and spends the next nine years under the care of Mother Roberta and alongside Therese, Frances, and Mary Agatha working in the nursery. Over time more and more professional daycares open and fewer and fewer babies come for the nuns to take care of. The church decides to close the nursery and move the nuns to a new location. Mother Roberta retires and the three sisters are moved together and put in charge of a halfway house serving recovering felons and addicts. "Four sisters in heavy habits, muttering Glory Bes, who slept with their mouths open and ate beef jerky straight from the plastic. We were the opposite of invisible, but still difficult for people to see. When people saw our habits, they ceased to see our faces." What did it make me think about? Who is called... Should I read it? This slim novels reads like a series of short vignettes. Sister Agatha really touched my heart. She is worth getting to know. Quote- "We'd come to Woonsocket to care for these people, but we had no idea what that meant. We thought we had things to give them, prayer and compassion and mercy and home-cooked meals, but none of this was enough. It's truer to say that we -or, I, at least-had come because we'd been told it was God's plan, which a lot of the time has nothing to do with what you had in mind for yourself." If you liked this try- All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews Driftless by David Rhodes What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez The Weekend by Charlotte Wood 8 1/2 stars |
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NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • A Best Book of 2021: Entertainment Weekly, Good Morning America, Wall Street Journal, and more From the indie rockstar of Japanese Breakfast fame, and author of the viral 2018 New Yorker essay that shares the title of this book, an unflinching, powerful memoir about growing up Korean American, losing her mother, and forging her own identity.
 Ramadan Ramsey by Louis Edwards
383 pages What’s it about? It is 1999 and Ramadan Ramsey is 12-years-old and living in New Orleans with his grandmother, Mama Joon. His mother passed away when he was small and he has never known his father. When his grandmother dies and leaves him alone with his Aunt Clarissa (and lots of cousins) he struggles with what to do. Ramadan decides to sneak away and travel around the world to find his father. His unexpected journey is at the heart of this story. What did it make me think about? This book is filled with great characters. Should I read it? This is a book that I have great admiration for. For me the beautiful, descriptive writing (and the writing is beautiful) could sometimes actually get in the way of the story that Louis Edwards was telling. I feel the plot was sometimes bogged down by all the words... Having said that Mr. Edwards writes some of the best characters. I really liked this book but I would have loved it about 30 pages less. If you liked this try- Everywhere You Don't Belong by Gabriel Bump Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson 7 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!
