The Women by Kristin Hannah

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

Frankie wants to make her parents proud. The idea that women can be heroes too, whispered in her ear by her brother’s friend, has never occurred to her before, but when it is uttered, it hits her like a breath of fresh air. What better way to make her father, especially, proud than to join his “wall of heroes” by enlisting and serving her country as an army nurse in Vietnam? What she finds, as she disembarks from that first plane, is nothing like she’d ever imagined. And what she encounters there, whether she likes it or not, will stay with her for the rest of her life.

Here is yet another MUST READ, gifted to us from Kristin Hannah. It is not an easy one. It is harsh but realistic in its graphic detail of the horrors of the Vietnam war. It is a constant reminder, again and again, of what is lost in each and every battle. It also is historically and acutely accurate in its documentation of how horrifically veterans of this war were treated upon return to their country after their service, as if it were their choice to continue the war that most were drafted to serve in. More importantly, for this story, it documents how horrifically the WOMEN veterans of the war were treated. These women were denied their very existence there. Frankie was told, again and again, “There were no women in Vietnam,” when in fact, there were thousands of women in Vietnam – nurses, and support staff – serving their country, endangering their lives, and witnessing the trauma every day of their lives there.

Is the story all doom and gloom? No, of course not. It is also a story about love. Frankie finds so many versions of love. She finds beautiful friendships that last her lifetime. She opens her heart enough to have it broken time and again, which hurts but also helps her to grow. She also learns to appreciate that love can be demonstrated in many ways, even if it is not how we’d prefer. Frankie also learns to love herself, as she succeeds and fails and succeeds again.

It is an inspiring, gruesome, and heartwarming saga of a woman’s search for meaning and for herself. It is hard – perhaps impossible –  not to love this book.

 

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn

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When we are first introduced to the Briarwood House, we are informed that there are 2 dead bodies found within. This is in 1954.

We are immediately transported back to 1950, however, when Grace is first shown the tiny closet of a room on the top floor of this women’s boarding house, when she decides she can make this work, at least for the time being. Her answer to the cold, mean and nosey Mrs. Nilsson who runs the place? To undermine her rules and start a dinner “club” in this tiny room for all the tenants of the house on Thursday nights, when she is out at her regular card game. In this way, Grace creates a community within the house and actually makes the house a home to this disparate group, gets to know their various stories, even as her story remains quite mysterious.

This is yet another astonishing feat created by the extraordinary Kate Quinn. With the disturbing background of the McCarthy era, the oft-ignored Korean War, the pervasive fear of a Russian nuclear attack, and the absence of power that women still had over their lives and livelihood, Quinn sheds light on the fact that the 1950’s were not necessarily “Happy Days.” Her characters are not the sweet and shiny women we often expect from this time period, but they are real and they are hurting and they reflect the life experience they’ve each been through. We learn that there is a reason we are who we are.

The plot is also so intricate and suspenseful that I guarantee you will not be able to put this book down until you turn the final page. I was absolutely kept guessing until the very end.

This may be one of Quinn’s best novels, in my opinion – and that is high praise! It is deeply-researched, with relatable characters, and with a twisty plot that kept this reader’s light on through all hours of the night just to get to the finish line. Here’s one more MUST READ to add to her list!

Help Wanted by Adelle Waldman

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A change in store management is imminent in this big-box store in this upstate NY small town, and there is a buzz about this in Movement. The whole department, responsible for unloading the trucks of merchandise and distributing it throughout the store, is discussing how this might impact them. Perhaps they can find a way to rid themselves of Meredith, their patronizing, misguided supervisor who does more to hinder than help them throughout their shifts. When Val comes up with a plan, it feels like they suddenly have a purpose. But will it work?

Imagine “The Office” for a Target-like warehouse, with characters with real-life problems (such as trying to stretch their paychecks at the end of the month by checking in at the local church’s food bank when their food stamps aren’t working) — and this is that story. These characters work together, rely on each other to ensure that their assembly line functioning runs smoothly, and they get to know each other as we get to know them. We become familiar with their quirks, their senses of humor, their short tempers, their vanities, and their personal sources of shame. But we also see how they unite toward a common goal, and how this energizes and inspires them. Even for a moment.

I love this story because it is about the Americans who truly run this country. It is about the folks who are behind the scenes, working their day-to-day jobs, following the rules, but who are at the mercy of our economy. They are the ones who suffer when companies cut back hours and cut back on benefits, not allowing for overtime pay, for healthcare, for earning a living wage. But at the same time, these companies expect hard work and loyalty, even when they do not show this in return. And heaven forbid these employees unionize in order to gain these benefits.

I may sound like a socialist here. I’m not. But I do believe that folks have a right to earn a living wage. I do believe folks have a right to healthcare. And I believe that treating employees well does foster a healthy, energized, and loyal workforce that creates better businesses. Not every decision should be about dollars and cents. Some business decisions should be about sense.

An interesting story, great characters, and so true to life.

Trust by Hernan Diaz

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

We first meet Ida as she recounts her visit, later in life, to the home of her previous boss, Andrew, who has hired her to help him write his life story, as he sees it. You see, it has been written, by one Harold Vanner, albeit disguised as fiction. But it carries some accusatory and, as he sees them, misguided details, particularly about his dear, departed wife, Mildred. And he needs to see this story corrected. The story within the story, within the story, becomes clear only as we near the very end, when Ida herself clarifies for us who and what we should actually “trust.”

Not only is this a brilliant telling and, of course, retelling of a story, but it also shows how perspective and motive is key. Everybody has a story they want to tell about themselves, how they would like to be perceived, how their legacy is viewed. And yet, that story may differ from the truth. Do we get to change that truth, or the perception of that truth? What if we have the means to do so? What if we care not about stepping over others in our way to do so? Maybe then, no one will know the truth? What, then, is the cost of our legacy?

Without giving too much away, I think it is important to draw similarities between Ida’s father and her boss. While they would see themselves as completely opposite, because of such differing sociopolitical views, they both use Ida to retell their own stories. They are both dishonest to her and to themselves, while trying to appear to be looking out for her best interest, as if doing her favors. They are both undeserving of her trust.

What is strikingly unique here in the writing is the construction of this novel within a novel within a novel, which builds upon itself to a suspenseful crescendo. It is clear why it is a Pulitzer Prize winner – and I would be remiss if I were not to make it a MUST READ!

The Best Minds by Jonathan Rosen

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When Jonathan Rosen moved to Mereland Rd. in New Rochelle at the age of 10 and met Michael Laudor who lived down the block, their friendship was immediately kindled. Jonathan was taken by the brilliant, athletic, and charming personality that Michael exuded, and he felt constantly challenged, entertained, even a bit intimidated by him. While they remained close friends through elementary, middle and high school, their friendship took on a bit of a competitive edge, and when they both were accepted to Yale University, they remained friendly but found divergent paths. Jonathan now writes about his friend not because of this friendship, but because of the perspective that this friendship lends him. Because eventually, Michael, while truly brilliant and charming, was also diagnosed with schizophrenia, and this became Michael’s ultimate challenge.

This is a topic of epic importance, particularly in this moment when so many are suffering from mental health disorders. It is vital that we acknowledge that these conditions are prevalent, need appropriate high-quality treatment, and should not be treated as if they do not exist. And it is urgent that it is brought to the attention of the masses, so that there can be discourse on how best to address the needs of the most ill among us, particularly those with the possible propensity to lack control over their actions, even to the point of violence toward others or themselves.

This book, was disappointing in its efforts to accomplish this, however. I found it utterly frustrating in the overwhelming number of detailed tangents, distractions, and offshoots, while the gist of the story kept getting lost. Whether it was the writing or the editing – likely a combination of the two – I am not sure, but I had a very difficult time getting through. (If I were not reading this for a book club, I would have given up much less than halfway through.) I did not need to know the background of everyone who weighed in on every detail of Michael’s life. I did not need to know every painstaking detail of every historical backstory of everything that was going on at the time each event occurred. I did not need to know every comment from everyone Michael ever met. It was painful. 

I had approached this book with much anticipation. Since I have lived in New Rochelle, have children who went to the middle school and high school here, was familiar with the barbershop and the local toy store Jonathan refers to, I was excited to read about them all in a now-famous book. Moreover, knowing the urgency of this topic, I was thrilled that someone was championing this cause in an accessible story. Sadly, I found this to be neither accessible nor a “story” in the true sense of the word. It was more a textbook with a theme, riddled with too many facts, muddled by an attempt to achieve too much.

I am glad that Michael’s story is told. I am disappointed that his story is so hidden underneath so much data.

 

Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown

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Molly is smart and she is tough. She knows she’s different from those around her but she truly doesn’t care. While her mother, Carrie, and her best friend, Leroy, try in their own ways to convince her to bend to what is “acceptable,” especially when it comes to both gender and sexual stereotyped norms, she remains true to herself.  And this is no simple task, not in the early 1950’s and not in rural Pennsylvania, nor on the Florida coast.  It is clear to Molly that she must make it out of her small town to survive, but how she accomplishes this and what she finds when she gets there shows that life can be challenging wherever we may find ourselves.

This was a groundbreaking book in 1973, but of course it was initially ignored and kept underground because of its unabashed celebration of lesbian sex. Only a few years later, when a more established publisher took on the title did the book become more widely sold and gain something of its current notoriety. Now, of course, there are many books about this topic and it is less of a standout, but it must be acknowledged for its pioneering spirit and daring language. Few ventured into this terrain at the time; few were brave enough to “out” themselves when it was not only not fashionable but it could actually be quite dangerous to do so. But doing so clearly spoke to millions of folks who either identified with the characters or felt they needed to learn more. Doing so opened up a world of dialogue about the topic, freeing many to speak their truth and to acknowledge what might be in their hearts. 

That said, the story itself is quite depressing. It feels as if there is a constant tugging at the heart, a constant thrum of defeat. Molly has high hopes, high expectations of herself and while she works hard and keeps herself focused on her goals, she has one obstacle thrown at her after another. Whether her family, her friends, her lovers, or her so-called mentors, everyone seems to disappoint. However realistic it is, in her world at that time, it is a hard story to take in. No matter her incredible achievements,  she lived in a world where men ruled unchecked and women had no legal protections. 

This novel functions as a crucial reminder of some rights we take for granted – and some that we should be continuing to fight for. 

 

The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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Here I have fallen again into another book of short stories – but luckily so. While, again, I am generally not a fan of them, these stories are virtually novels unto themselves. Not in physical length, but in the depth of characters the author creates and in the lives and experiences they convey. We have a writer attending a workshop surrounded by writers afraid to stand up to the man in charge who is inappropriate and sexist and racist, out of fear they will threaten their own opportunities. We read about a young bride of an arranged marriage, newly brought to New York from Nigeria, about her disappointments and resentments. And we read about a young woman trying to come to terms with the death of her brother, so many years prior.

The many characters and the many stories here bring us closer to understanding the African experience in America and the African experience in Africa. We are exposed to the conflict that often arises from clashing cultures, religions, origins, and beliefs – and how each character must struggle to identify where they fit into the world where these conflicts exist. Just as exists anywhere, there is conflict between old and young, between man and woman, between one culture and another. The human experience, on display so vividly in these pages, is finding what our role is in that morass and how we resolve our differences with those around us. It is both specific to these cultures and generalizable to almost anyone living in the world.

Of course there are some stories I enjoyed more than others, but that is to be expected. On the whole, however, I found these stories to be powerful, deeply moving, and well worth the experience of going out of my comfort zone to read short stories in spite of myself. I encourage you to do the same!

 

 

One Way Back by Christine Blasey Ford

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Within these pages, Christine Blasey Ford reclaims her narrative – without distortion by the media, by politicians, or by any outsiders – of the facts of her experience of sexual assault by the man who is now sitting on the highest court of our land, Brett Kavanaugh. It is here, with a clear mind, a clear conscience, and clear focus, that she is able to communicate her backstory, her patriotic motivation, and the attempts she made to tell her story earlier in order to prevent Kavanaugh from coming to the point of being nominated in the first place (and in so doing, having to be exposed as he was). She tells about her experience of presenting her testimony and the abhorrent dereliction of duty of the FBI in their non-investigation of the case against Kavanaugh. She also bears her soul about the way in which she endured death threats, shaming, and other hateful acts against her that so many other survivors of sexual assault share – the backlash and the victim-blaming that comes with coming forward. She also shares the moments of support, from those whose names we recognize and those we may not. It is an inspiring, albeit painful, recounting of her journey.

It was our hope, at least that of those in my circle, that we in our country had learned our lesson after Anita Hill. That after our horrific treatment of that courageous woman who stood in front of a panel of old White men who battered her with ignorant questions and brazenly shamed her and disregarded her – we hoped we’d do better when another woman so bravely came forward to challenge the character of a man we were choosing for the highest court in the land. But no, we did not. One might argue that we did worse. We instead chose to discredit, shame, and mock Blasey Ford, who so boldly came forward to do her civic duty, who gave up her own quiet, private, comfortable existence to reveal such personal, intimate details of her life in order to bring a man’s questionable background to light. And it was worse because of social media, the 24-hour news cycle, and the internet access to personal information that enabled thousands to send her hate mail and death threats via so many different routes.

In a country of how many millions, we couldn’t find anyone better than Kavanaugh? There was really no one we could find who HADN’T sexually molested anyone??? Seriously? Oh, but of course we had to choose him. Because we have to only choose those farmed and nurtured by the Federalist Society in order to ensure the most conservative justices to make the most civil rights-limiting decisions on the bench. Because heaven forbid that anyone except White men have any power.

And yes, I am using this platform to rant because Blasey Ford needs to have others support her, to hear her, and to acknowledge that she did the right thing by coming forward and speaking up for herself, for women, and for this country. Because she is right. If little by little, woman by woman, each brave soul comes forward (in spite of the vicious backlash and victim-blaming that so often occurs), perhaps our daughters might have a spitting chance of having a better world. Perhaps our daughters will live in a world in which there are men who are more aware of consent and what defines assault. Perhaps when a woman comes forward, the folks in the room – however large that room may be – will actually hear her.

 

Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

Sasha, much to her dismay, has left her clean, shiny, new apartment to move into her husband’s family’s 3-story brownstone in the historic “fruit” section of Brooklyn. Mind you, she appreciates the generosity of her husband’s extraordinarily wealthy parents for letting them move in there, but when she was told to make it her own, there were a bit too many caveats. She could not change the dark, long curtains that hung in the huge windows, because, well, they’d been made especially for those huge windows and what would you possibly find to fit those? And you couldn’t think about replacing the shabby old couch, even though it had given her a rash when she’d sat on it – because, well, you know it came directly from the governor’s mansion. Nor could her sister-in-law’s entire bedroom be cleared of the junk in there, because, well, she had no idea why. It drove Sasha completely mad. In fact, the way the family clung to their traditions, and to each other, if she were entirely honest with herself, sort of drove her a bit mad. But she did love her husband, Cord. And wasn’t it worth it just to be with him? Or was it?

Apparently, this is this author’s first novel, and I have to say, I can’t wait for her next! I enjoyed this novel from the very first page until the end of the acknowledgements. Her writing is crisp, clever, witty and had me giggling along as often as I was empathizing with her utterly delightful characters. We hear the story not only from Sasha, an artist from a middle class upbringing from a suburb of Providence, RI (center of the universe!), but from her sisters-in-law, Darley and Georgiana, who are the ultimate in NY upper crust, and so privileged they are completely oblivious to how privileged they are; that is, until it hits them smack in their clear-skinned, tanned and tennis-playing faces.

I also hold a special place in my heart for the Rhode Island humor hidden deep in these pages. References to the quahog and its appropriate pronunciation, the use of the word “bubbler” (anyone know what that is???), and teaching their kid to speak Rhode Island – I was sold way before that, but that clinched the deal. It was pure poetry to my Rhode Island-born ears. While you might not guess I am from there from my accent, I still carry a very treasured place in my heart for that tiny state that is not, in fact, an island.

This novel addresses class difference and social justice with a sense of humor, a light touch, and a kindness that might be a bit generous, but it is also done in a way that is digestible. I for one loved it and, as I said, cannot wait to see what is next from this very promising author. Because of the pure fun I had reading this one, I’m giving it a MUST READ!

 

The Thread Collectors by Shaunna J Edwards and Alyson Richman

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

When Stella and William say a passionate farewell at the beginning of this story, they have no idea if they will ever reunite. William is an enslaved Black man in the South, escaping his master at the outset of the Civil War, and Stella is an equally indentured Black woman who technically is free but is “kept” by a White man for his “pleasure.” All William has is his flute and his magically musical ear, but this wins him a place by the side of his newfound friend, Jacob. Likewise, Jacob, a Jewish New Yorker, who has signed up on the side of the Union, with the dream of fighting to end slavery, has also bid goodbye to his true love, Lily. He also has no idea if he’ll be able to return to her, fearing the worst as he moves closer and closer to the front. All he can hope for is that her continued correspondence and her love for him will help him through his arduous fight.

This narrative was apparently based on true characters in the history of the two authors’ families. Each of them is writing about the marginalization and, particularly in the case of the Black men who fought for the Union, dehumanization, experienced by these soldiers. And how relevant is this story now? With the rise of antisemitism and racism that is rampant in this country – and worldwide – it is both tragically and unsurprisingly, unchanged. Both Jacob and William experience the feeling of being treated as less-than, socially, financially (William is paid less than his White counterparts in spite of doing their scut work), and in terms of supplies, food and healthcare. Moreover, I feel that many of us can, sadly, relate to the schism in Jacob’s family, as he finds that his brother sides with the South and defends the vile institution of slavery, while Jacob and Lily fight for abolition.

As a novel in itself, however, I feel it is just ok. While it tells an important story, and there are some gritty and heart-rending scenes, it is mostly on the predictable side and just a bit corny. A few coincidences are just too perfect and a few situations turn out just too well to believe.

On the whole, however, it is a worthy read and one can learn quite a bit about this slice of history, from a more insider, less glamorized perspective.