The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo

 

Reviewed by Kristin

While browsing Tennessee READS for an audiobook, I came across The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo. I almost didn’t check it out because I had never heard of the author (despite the fact that this debut was a New York Times bestseller—I just missed it!) and also it was long—20 ½ hours! The cover was attractive though, with four yellow ginkgo leaves lying in a vertical line with the title overlaying the image. The title itself is also a little non-descript, but I decided to give it a try. I’m glad I did.

David Sorenson and Marilyn Connolly met, fell in love, married, and started a family, all in quick succession. David is a young doctor and is struggling to build his family practice. Marilyn is almost done with her own degree when first daughter Wendy is born, and she quickly decides that balancing exams with motherhood is too difficult. Not to mention, second daughter Violet comes along less than a year later. When Liza arrives there are three, and then a decade later there is Grace.

The story moves back and forth in time, telling the Sorenson’s story in pieces. David and Marilyn remain madly and demonstratively in love with each other through the decades, creating a “perfect” relationship model. With their parents seeming so happy, the girls question whether they will ever find true love. Despite their common roots, each of David and Marilyn’s daughters grow up to be very different and unique people.

Wendy is an independent soul from the start. Wendy married a wealthy, somewhat older man and then is widowed all too soon. At first, this is presented a bit stereotypically with a lot of alcohol and an extravagant lifestyle, but as the story progresses we learn more about both the happiness and the pain Wendy has endured.

Violet is definitely a type A personality, making straight A’s, going to college and law school, and eventually becoming a stay-at-home mom who manages her family’s schedule as if she’s still billing in six minute increments. Tightly wound, Violet still has insecurities that she tries to hide from everyone, perhaps even herself.

Liza is overshadowed by her older sisters, but manages to become a tenured professor in her early 30’s. She has been living with Ryan for almost a decade, and they are having a baby. But Ryan won’t get off the couch, and living with someone who is likely clinically depressed is wearing on Liza.

Grace has finally left the family home in Chicago, going to college in Oregon and then applying to law schools on the west coast. She is the furthest away geographically, and perhaps the one most uncertain of herself. Grace feels the pressure of measuring up to her older sisters who have always thought of her as the baby.

And there is Jonah. The baby given up for adoption fifteen years ago by one of the daughters, who is back in their lives after a series of events which left him in foster care for most of his life.

This cast of characters is woven together with strands of love, but pulled and pushed in different directions with the stresses of their situations and the decisions they have made. Lombardo’s writing is moving, and she skillfully reveals motives for characters’ previous actions at just the right moments. This is a family saga worth reading; yes, even over several hundred pages or many hours in the car.

Nevermore: Birds of America, Murmur of Bees, An Only Child and Her Sister, Circe

 

Reported by Garry

 

Birds of America by Mary McCarthy is the coming-of-age story of Peter Levi, a sheltered and shy young man who has come to Paris in 1964 to study at the Sorbonne. Determined to live a life free of stress and unnecessary complications, Peter soon learns that adulthood will replace his childhood whether he is ready for it or not. Paralleling Peter’s chaotic emergence into adulthood are the stirrings of war in Southeast Asia and the growing social unrest in the West. Our reader said that McCarthy does an excellent job evoking the overall feelings of the turbulent 1960s in this historical fiction novel, and recommends it highly.  DC

 

The Murmur of Bees is the best-selling magical realism novel by Sophia Segovia. This is the first of Segovia’s novels to be translated into English, and if the reaction of our reader is anything to judge by, this will definitely not be the last. Simonopio is an abandoned child with amazing powers – he is protected by a swarm of bees, and when he closes his eyes he can see the future. The book follows the lives of Simonopio, his adoptive family and the fates and fortunes of those in the small, Northern Mexican town where they live. Set against the backdrop of both the Mexican revolution and the Spanish Flu of 1916, this historical novel is “absolutely beautiful” as our reader exclaimed.  AH

 

An Only Child and Her Sister by Casey Maxwell Clair is the harrowing memoir of a Hollywood family that was dysfunctional to the extreme. Casey and her little sister, Christine were born into an affluent, successful Hollywood family: a starlet mother and a successful songwriter father. But looks can be deceiving – their mother didn’t like or want children, and their father had a hidden drug habit that turned the charismatic, charming man into a hair-trigger rage monster. Our reader was aghast at what the two children went through and was frankly amazed that the writer, Casey, survived to be a successful as she is.  CD

 

Circe by Madeline Miller. Daughter of the Helios, God of the Son, and a beautiful human woman, Circe is a conundrum – she does not appear to have inherited any of her father’s powers or her mother’s beauty. But Circe does possess power: witchcraft, with which she can threaten the very gods themselves. Zeus banishes Circe to a deserted island where she hones her craft and powers until she is forced to choose whether she is a god or a mortal. While the names of the Greek gods confused our reader a bit, she said that the storytelling was top-notch and gives voice to a character whose story has until now existed only on the peripheries of others.  MH

 

Also mentioned:

 

Properties of Thirst by Marianne Wiggins

Finding Your Way Without Map or Compass by Harold Gatty

Mountain of the Dead: The Dyatlov Pass Incident by Keith McCloskey

The Sweet Remnants of Summer by Alexander McCall Smith

Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes

Switchboard Soldiers by Jennifer Chiaverini

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

Any Other Family by Eleanor Brown

Geiger by Gustaf Skördeman

Fighting Words by Kimberley Brubaker Bradley

Raising Lazarus: Hope, Justice, and the Future of America’s Overdose Crisis by Beth Macy

When The Moon Turns to Blood: Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell, and a Story of Murder, Wild Faith, and End Times by Leah Sottile

Unmask Alice: LSD, Satanic Panic, and the Imposter behind the World’s Most Notorious Diaries by Rick Emerson

A Melungeon Winter by Patrick Bone

The Aliens of Transylvania County by Patrick Bone

The Books of Earthsea:  The Complete Illustrated Edition by Ursula K. Le Guin

Chivalry by Neil Gaiman, art by Colleen Doran

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

 

Elderly widow Mrs. Whitaker likes to stop at the Oxfam shop on her way home from the post office on Thursdays. You never know what you might find at a thrift shop: a stuffed cobra, for instance.  This day Mrs. Whitaker finds some romance novels to read and the Holy Grail.

She thinks it will look nice on her mantelpiece.

It does, but then a young man on a horse comes by and wants the Grail.  His name is Galaad, and he’s on a quest, you see.

Only Mrs. Whitaker likes the way it looks on the mantelpiece and doesn’t want to give it up.

I first read this as a short story in a collection of Gaiman’s work and found it charming.  It’s just as charming in graphic novel form, with beautiful watercolor artwork and hints of illuminated manuscript that fit in well with the tone of the story.  It’s not surprising to read in the afterword that artist Doran fell in love with the story and waited years to be able to illustrate it. Her attention to detail is really extends the story, especially as it pertains to Mrs. Whitaker and her late husband. It's truly a gorgeously illustrated version.

The juxtaposition of the ordinary and the fantastic is handled so well in both formats, and the gentle humor just shines.  One thing I love about both versions is that Mrs. Whitaker is no fool.  To say more would venture into spoiler territory, I think.

Frankly, I like both versions.  I love Gaiman’s way with words, with the nuances that he coveys.  I do envision the story my way, though, and I’m glad that I had read it first before seeing the illustrated version. And, I confess, I still like the text only version a little bit better because sometimes illustrations take me away from the words.  It’s sort of the difference between reading a book and seeing the movie but let me hastily add that I feel Doran has been far more faithful to Gaiman’s vision than almost any movie version.  She truly wants to compliment his work and I believe she has succeeded brilliantly.

And I have to say that I think this version will find its way into more hands and introduce this lovely tale to more people, which is a most noble and worthy quest.

The Secret History of Food by Matt Siegel

Reviewed by Christy

            Why is vanilla – an expensive and finicky spice – also used to call things “bland” or “boring”? Why were people afraid to eat tomatoes for hundreds of years? And how do food photographers keep ice cream from melting under hot lights? If any of these questions interest you, you might want to check out Matt Siegel’s quick read The Secret History of Food.

            This non-fiction work is an enjoyable, fast read packed with lots of interesting little facts to tuck away for trivia questions around the dinner table (my stepson’s preferred table talk). Siegel meanders throughout world history, bouncing from food topic to food topic but also discusses some modern day “secrets” about the food industry. (Those parts aren’t quite so fun.) You’ll learn that World War II soldiers made up their dream Christmas menus to pass the time. To paraphrase one soldier: “Full belly, you think of women. Empty belly, you think of food.” You’ll see how the extremely wealthy would quite literally play with their food just because they could – serving pig heads sewed onto chicken bodies and vice versa. And ice cream doesn’t melt for photographers because they use colored lard!

            The variety of food covered kept me engaged, and Siegel’s authorial voice is wry and often times funny. One particular favorite anecdote was when he discussed a BBC segment on a “spaghetti plantation” where farmers would pick the cooked noodles out of trees (an April Fool’s joke). According to Siegel, many people called into the station to find out just where this plantation was located so they could go. “Keep in mind this was 1957, 12 years after the creation of the atom bomb.” Ok, that made me laugh out loud. (The segment is available on YouTube for those interested!) My only real quibble is that sometimes Siegel’s commentary would veer into snide and smug territory, which I found unpleasant.

            Overall, however, I was pleased with this, and the audiobook narrator Roger Wayne does a great job as well. It’s a good book to pick up during a reading slump because it doesn’t overstay its welcome on any one subject, and it’s a breeze to get through.

Nevermore: Cleopatra, Girl in Duluth, Best American Science and Nature Writing, Bean Trees, Pigs in Heaven

 

Reported by Garry

Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff is the biography of one of the most famous women in history. Cunning, ambitious and utterly cutthroat in her pursuit of power (she waged a civil war against one brother, poisoned another and had her sister killed), she was one of the most powerful women in the Middle East, forging ties with the Roman Empire that still echo today. Schiff utilizes classical sources to reconstruct the life (and death at age 40) of this fascinating icon of history.  SH

The Girl in Duluth by Sigrid Brown tells the harrowing story of June Bergeron – an 18 year old whose mother has disappeared. Fearing the worst, June investigates the disappearance and is pulled into the dark, violent underbelly of northern Minnesota, and her own family’s dark secrets. This tight-paced thriller really captivated our reader who stated that the characters are particularly well-written and relatable.  MS

The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2021 edited by Ed Young. “Excellent. Absolutely excellent.” was the review by our reader. In this compilation of the best science and nature articles written in the US in 2020, editor Ed Young has curated a collection that spans three broad topics: Contagion, Connection, and Consequences. Our reader has been a fan of this series of compilations for quite some time and states that this collection of articles ranks up there with the best.  CD

The Bean Trees and Pigs in Heaven are a duology by Barbara Kingsolver that follow the story of Missy, a spirited young lady from poor, rural Kentucky, who decides to get away and change her life. Changing her name to Taylor is the first step. Driving to Tucson, Arizona is the second. Life has other plans for her, though, as within hours of arriving in Tucson, she is handed a 3-year-old Cherokee girl named Turtle. Taylor adopts the young girl and settles in Tucson, setting roots where she did not intend. When a lawyer for the Cherokee nation starts to investigate the (highly unorthodox) adoption of Turtle, Taylor and Turtle’s new life begins to crumble.  MH

Also mentioned:

Just Came for the Donuts – NH    (   :D   )

Valley of the Amazons by Noretta Koertge

Why Nations Fail:  The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty by Darren Acemoglu and James Robinson

A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier

Out of Istanbul:  A Journey of Discovery along the Silk Road by Bernard Ollivier

Picking Cherries

Surviving the White Gaze: A Memoir by Rebecca Caroll

Switchboard Soldiers by Jennifer Chiaverini

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers

Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky

Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

The Regulators by Richard Bachman (Stephen King)

The Sweet Remnants of Summer by Alexander McCall Smith

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

The Women’s House of Detention: A Queer History of a Forgotten Prison by Hugh Ryan

Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women by Geraldine Brooks

Trashlands by Alison Stine

The Lioness by Chris Bohjalian

Properties of Thirst by Marianne Wiggins

The Codebreaker’s Secret by Sara Ackerman

Staff Picks!

 

With Rhythm and Roots upcoming we decided that instead of our usual display only featuring books about music that we would poll the staff for some of their favorite books.  Then we could set up a display of “Staff Picks,” using guitar picks.  Maybe a bit corny, but we had a lot of fun seeing what everyone chose.  The BPL staff certainly has varied interests!

That said, there were a few books that showed up on more than one list.  Here are some of those:

Two titles by TJ Klune kept turning up on lists. Klune writes strikingly original fantasies, peopled by memorable characters, and leaves his readers with a warm glow.   The House in the Cerulean Sea tells the story of Linus Baker, a bureaucrat who works in an office dedicated to checking on the care of “Magical Youth.” He lives a colorless existence until he’s sent to check up on an orphanage where he meets an amazing assembly, including a gnome, a dragon, and the mysterious Arthur Parnassus.  Oh, and the Antichrist.  Linus’ life will never be the same.

In Under the Whispering Door, Wallace Price’s life will never be the same, either—mainly because Wallace is dead.  He’s very disappointed and more than a bit angry when only five people show up at his funeral: his three law firm partners and his ex-wife, none of whom seem particularly upset by his demise.  This is probably because Wallace was, frankly, not a very nice person. The fifth person he doesn’t recognize. It turns out that she is his Reaper, sent to guide him to the waystation called Charon’s Crossing so he can pass into the afterlife. Charon’s Crossing is managed by Hugo, a ferryman who guides souls but Wallace is going to prove to be more stubborn than most.  Populated by a cast of delightful and unforgettable characters, this is another “feel good” tale by Klune that also tackles the big questions, like the meaning of life—and death.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson showed up on three lists. The story is narrated by Mary Katherine, known as Merricat, who lives in an old mansion with her sister and an uncle.  A family tragedy has made them outcasts from the town, and Merricat must keep a watchful eye to keep outsiders away. While Jackson’s best known book is arguably The Haunting of Hill House, our staff members seem more drawn to this title.  We found the book to be deliciously atmospheric, with intriguing characters and a mystery at its core.

Japanese author Hiro Arikawa’s The Travelling Cat Chronicles touched the hearts of a couple of staff members.  The story is told from the point of view of a stray cat adopted by a kind young man who takes the cat on a trip to find a new home.  Warm, poignant, and ultimately uplifting, this tale has a special poetic charm all its own.

Another author who has done well in translation is Fredrik Backman.  His breakthrough book was A Man Called Ove, about a curmudgeonly Swede who takes a dim view of modern society in general and his neighbors in particular. His Beartown was the start of a series of books set in a town whose inhabitants live and breathe for hockey, their one claim to fame.  It’s since become a TV series for Netflix.

Jon Krakauer writes compelling non-fiction, so it’s no surprise that his name turned up on the lists. Into the Wild examines the life and death of Chris McCandless, an idealistic young man who set out on a search for truth and ended up dying alone in the Alaskan wilderness, while Into Thin Air is the author’s personal account of a climb up Mt. Everest in 1996.  That’s the year that a storm hit, causing the deaths of eight people in one day, and remains a controversial event in the history of mountain climbing.

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides was a debut novel that thrilled its readers, including two of our staff members.  Artist Alicia Berenson is a convicted murderer who shot her husband in the face six times, but since then has refused to speak.  A new therapist is determined to try to unlock the secrets she’s held since that awful day.

Finally, Agatha Christie is also included on a couple of lists, proving the classic, Golden Age mysteries never go out of style!

These are just a few of the selections that garnered more than one mention.  There could have been a lot of others, judging from the overheard murmurs of, “Gee, I should have included that one on my list…”

And as for displays, we do still have one set up featuring music—and genealogy! Rhythm and Roots indeed!

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers

 

Reviewed by Kristin

Almost exactly a year ago I read and reviewed A Psalm forthe Wild-Built, the first in the Monk and Robot series by Becky Chambers. It was then that I fell in love with the characters Sibling Dex and Splendid Speckled Mosscap, and have been looking forward to the next in series ever since.

I love it when a book remains memorable even after such a time.

Dex and Mosscap—monk and robot—are still travelling and learning more about the societies from which the other came. Mosscap has an insatiable curiosity about the world around it, and enjoys meeting and understanding organic life whether they be human, marblehead turtles, purple crawler worms, or a leaf.

Mosscap is also discovering more ways to learn about the world, soon acquiring a pocket computer, downloadable books, and maps. Everywhere Dex and Mosscap travel, people are anxious to meet them and interact with the robot. Well, almost everywhere. In the Coastlands the roads and trails covering much of Panga cease, and the dwellers there have long chosen to avoid technology or travel outside their immediate area. When Dex and Mosscap approach, they are not sure if they will be welcomed.

The cast of characters in this second volume is diverse, including: members of Dex’s rather large family, Ms. Amelia who has her own collection of paper books to share with Mosscap, Mx. Avery who lives in an isolated village, and Leroy—the printer who creates 3D objects and who also makes Dex’s knees go a little wobbly.

Just like the first in series, this short novel had me bursting out with laughter at some of the dialog and situations in which Dex and Mosscap found themselves. The themes go much deeper than fun and games; deep philosophical musings unfold as the wild-built and the natural born of Pangan society explore their shared world. At a mere 149 pages, I have time for a second pass through before returning the book to the library to share with others.