Challenge Accepted

Thanks for the challenge, Mary! Here are two that I recently finished:

If you’re on Facebook with me, you know that a few weeks ago it was national book lovers day. I asked everyone what they were reading. From the responses, I added to my Amazon wish list. One of those books was You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me: A Memoir by Sherman Alexie. This book is primarily about his conflicted relationship with his mother, but includes so much more. He talks very plainly about racism and how it has affected him, his family, and the members of his tribe.

I like that he moves between prose and poetry. I like that he doesn’t sugar coat his observations or feelings. It was a very moving book.

Then, I don’t know if it was last year or perhaps the year before, but it was at a December coffee / book swap that I got O Jersualem by Laurie R. King. This is the 5th book in the Sherlock Holmes / Mary Russell series. However, time-wise it takes place right after the 1st book in the series (1918).

I don’t know why I kept this book and I don’t know why I picked it up to read now. But, I’m glad I did.

What can I say about the plot – it’s murder and mystery in the Holy Land. And, it’s typical Sherlock Holmes – making observations no one else sees. I do like Mary Russell, however. I’m not especially fond of the word plucky, but that’s what she is. Mostly what I like is King’s writing and description of the country and people. I think this is a series I will come back to when I want something “good” to read.

Sister of Mine and When I'm Gone

I've read quite a few books over the past few months, and there are 2 I'd like to tell you about.

Sister of Mine is a novel set in rural Northern Georgia just before and at the beginning of the Civil War. From the description on Amazon: "Adelaide Mannheim—daughter of Mordecai, the only Jewish planter in the county—was given her own maid, a young slave named Rachel. The two became friends, and soon they discovered a secret: Mordecai was Rachel’s father, too. As the country moved toward war, Adelaide and Rachel struggled to navigate their newfound sisterhood—from love and resentment to betrayal and, ultimately, forgiveness." I liked how the book explored two different characters' attitudes and beliefs as Jewish slave owners. Love story, family saga, history - this author explores and intertwines these themes beautifully.

An interesting note about the author: "Sabra Waldfogel grew up far from the South in Minneapolis. She studied history at Harvard University and received her Ph.D. in American History from the University of Minnesota and since then, has been fascinated by the drama of slavery and freedom in the decades before and after the Civil War."

When I'm Gone is a contemporary novel of the popular, easy/quick read 'you-thought-you-knew-your-spouse-but-boy-you-are-in-for-a-surprise' genre. "Luke Richardson has returned home after burying Natalie, his beloved wife of sixteen years, ready to face the hard job of raising their three children alone. But there’s something he’s not prepared for—a blue envelope with his name scrawled across the front in Natalie’s handwriting, waiting for him on the floor of their suburban Michigan home. The letter inside, written on the first day of Natalie’s cancer treatment a year ago, turns out to be the first of many." There was a lot more to this book than I would have guessed from the description. The sass and poignancy of the letters; the relationships he has with his children, Natalie's best friend and his mother-in-law; the other plot lines that weave together to make for a good mystery. I liked that the vulnerable protagonist was a male for a change.

So, Bookmarkers: I like hearing about what you ladies are reading but we seldom have time for those conversations at our meetings. So please take a couple of minutes to let the rest of us know what keeps you up for 'just one more chapter' before you go to bed!