Women’s fiction – Page 15

Home Again by Kristin Hannah

Posted on January 8, 2022 by marjorieseidenfeld

Home Again: A Novel - Kindle edition by Hannah, Kristin. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Angel DeMarco has been living in the fast lane for so long now, that he cannot even catch up with himself. Famous for his blue-eyed, teen fan-wilting smile, and his roles in smash-hit action films, he has amassed the fortune to finance the most impulsive drug and sex sprees imaginable. And yet – he still finds himself as lonely as ever. When he is suddenly faced with a health crisis, all of this comes rushing in to challenge his very ability to face his past in order to make possible a future.

Meanwhile, Madelaine, back home in Seattle, has become a successful cardiologist, working with a transplant team that is renowned for its success. While she is top of her game professionally, she is struggling personally. Her role as a single mom has become more and more challenging as her teenaged daughter, Lina, has begun to challenge everything about their relationship. Trying so hard to protect Lina, Madelaine hides truths from her daughter. But will this be sustainable? And who is this really protecting?

It is so disappointing when a book starts out well but then is heartbreakingly dull and predictable, right? Hannah had a great premise for this book: lovely characters, an interesting plot idea, and a challenging ethical dilemma. Sadly, this great idea was muddled by repeatedly, prolonged character musings over past failings intertwined with drawn-out, ruminative thoughts. The characters were flat — too pretty and stereotypical, with little depth. And the plot was so devoid of surprise or twist that I felt I was reading the story just to prove there was no surprise or twist to be found.

Is it the writer’s oversight? The editor’s? I wonder.

In any case, there is too little time and too many books to read, so don’t spend our precious gift of literature on this one.

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

Posted on December 18, 2021 by marjorieseidenfeld

Wish You Were Here: A Novel: Picoult, Jodi: 9781984818416: Amazon.com: Books

It is March, 2020, and Diane may have just made the faux pas of her career. She’d been on such a positive trajectory, climbing the ladder in the art business world just as she’d planned. In fact, most of her life was going as planned – her life with Finn, her boyfriend, their New York, fast-paced, busy lives — really everything. But now, who knows? This would be the perfect time to get away to the Galapagos, as she and Finn had planned, Unfortunately, it doesn’t look as though Finn will be able to get away, as this novel coronavirus has coopted his surgical training, and all hands are on deck for caring for Covid patients at the hospital. Should she go on her own, as he’s suggested? The next few months will turn their lives upside-down, as they have done for all of us – but not nearly in the way you will expect!

When I realized that this book was taking place during Covid, I was apprehensive about reading it. We’ve all been through it and we’re all pretty over it – to say the very least! The masks, the distancing, the isolation – enough already!!

But actually, this story has a novel plot line, with ample twists and turns that keep it fresh. Covid is only a part of the story. There are gorgeous natural scenes in the Galapagos that engage our imagination. There are characters who are experiencing familial issues that are unrelated to the pandemic that will distract you from thinking about your mask and your disinfectant. And there is deep discussion about art that always highlights our humanity.

Most importantly, this narrative suggests we strive to seek our own silver lining from the pandemic. Diane finds hers, in her relationship with her mother, in her self-discovery, in her appreciation of living in the moment. While there has been devastating loss, unspeakable fractionation within our population, and the unearthing of so much injustice during this pandemic, there has also been newfound light. There has been a slowing down, a “time out,” so to speak, during which we’ve had a chance to reevaluate and reassess. There has been more intensive time with some loved ones, even while there has been time away from others, which can give us time to appreciate each other on a whole different level. There’s been time to appreciate what we do have.

Yes, this may all sound a little pollyannish, but I am, at the end of the day, an optimist. It helps me to find something good even in things that are hard.

How exactly is this expressed in the story? I guess you’ll have to read it to find out…!

Tidelands by Philippa Gregory

Posted on December 13, 2021 by marjorieseidenfeld

Tidelands (1) (The Fairmile Series): Gregory, Philippa: 9781501187155: Amazon.com: Books

Alinor was very alone in the graveyard on a windy, cold night, wondering if her husband was going to be returning to her or if he had died at sea, when suddenly she found herself faced with a finely dressed gentleman of the cloth. She quickly recovered herself and sprung into action, feeling compassion for this young man who was clearly in danger of his life. What she could not foresee was that saving him would have an impact on her future and the future of both of her children. And what she will not know if this would be for better or for worse.

I was reminded by this novel was that some of the best stories require patience to reveal themselves as such. It took time to build the world in which Alinor lived, that of great political conflict, as revolutionaries were rebelling against King Charles in the 1600’s in England. Even as Alinor tried to stay out of the fray, it was impossible, as she was inextricably caught between her brother who fought for the freedom of the ordinary man and her lover who served the king he believed was ordained by his Lord directly. And the fray was mundane as well, with her tiny, provincial, seaside town being fertile ground for festering grudges and jealousies. The tidelands, as her land was called, because of the sand on which she lived which flooded and eroded with the ocean forces, was a beautiful metaphor for the shifting alliances she found herself exposed to. As these conflicts both large and small grew, so too did the literary tension, such that it really grew hard for the reader to look away.

This is a lush, striking story with beautiful imagery, forceful characters and great power. The question now is, do I read the next one in the series now or save it for later???

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Posted on October 20, 2021 by marjorieseidenfeld

Nina is just not sure she has it in her to go through with her annual Malibu bash this year, given her current, very mortifying, so painfully public circumstance. How could she have been so foolish as to have trusted Brandon with her heart, especially after watching her mother go through this very same thing? Unfortunately, since no one is actually invited to these parties – they just come! – ,she cannot disinvite them either. She is committed and she’ll get through this just as she has every other hardship she’s had to endure through her young, somewhat glamorous, but inwardly difficult life. And she’ll take care of her siblings as they confront their trials and tribulations as well, just as she’s done all of their lives. It’s just the way it has to be. Well, it certainly feels that way…

Taylor Jenkins Reid has a flair for delving deep into the hearts of the glitterati, often revealing the dark underbelly of fame. While so many crave the spotlight, Jenkins Reid exposes the isolation and the emptiness that often lies there. As she narrates the tale of Nina and her siblings and their current day issues, she also flips back in time to the story of Nina’s parents: her “Elvis”-like father who lusts after stardom almost like a drug, to the exclusion of everything else, including Nina’s mother, and his own children. This strongly contrasts with Nina, who has achieved her own degree of recognition from her new, but quite successful, modeling career,; however, Nina shies away from the attention when she possibly can. She is utterly devoted to her siblings, and while this is difficult, she also has their love and support always. There is a clear and present message here.

And yes, there is quite a bit that is predictable here. And yes, there are many stereotypes here. But it is a fun read, with some twists and turns, and some crazy surprises, especially as the big, Malibu bash gets going. There is no end to the trouble these stars cause!

Not a MUST-READ, but definitely a fun read! Enjoy!

The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes by Elissa R Sloan

Posted on September 21, 2021 by marjorieseidenfeld

“There’s nothing the public loves more than to tear down someone who was once their idol.”

It had been years since Gloss had exploded onto the music scene and then dissolved into disaster when Cassidy deserted the pop girl band, seemingly out of nowhere. Even so, the other surviving band members were still taken aback upon learning of Cassidy’s untimely death. While she was never solidly “one of them,” she did spend a lot of time with them – on tour, in rehearsals – so why did they all feel clueless about what happened to her? Or were they?

This novel is reminiscent of Daisy Jones and the Six, in that it testifies to the drama and strain of sudden fame and exhaustion of the traveling pop star. The image promoted by the media is often completely disparate from what is behind the curtain, so to speak. Moreover, there are so many who rely on, and prey on the maintenance of this image. We see this sort of thing happening on social media often enough with the ordinary person – imagine how magnified it is for the extraordinary.

The narrative here is very effective. The voice swivels around from Cassidy before and during her time in Gloss to the various members of Gloss in current day, post-Gloss. The story is built, layer by careful layer, from this rotation of storytelling and from it we get a gradual, global perspective. The few “aha” moments are quite satisfying and make for an overall, really fun read.

I highly recommend this – as entertaining as a Gloss concert might have been in its heyday!

The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd

Posted on September 13, 2021 by marjorieseidenfeld

Amazon.com: The Book of Longings: A Novel: 9780525429760: Kidd, Sue Monk: Books

Ana is not the typical Jewish girl of her era, the first century, just outside ancient Jerusalem, under Roman rule. She is acutely aware of her powerlessness, even while she is better off than many, with her father being first scribe to the Tetrarch. No, she is still female and still feels the sting of having little agency over her future. While others her age appear to anticipate with wonder their upcoming matches and engagements, she is filled with dread. This is not the life she seeks. Ana is a writer of stories, hungrily stealing away with any papyrus and ink she might snatch from her father’s cache. She documents the pain and the courage that she witnesses in the women around her. She cannot imagine herself with any man – that is, until she stumbles upon the man called Jesus…

This fascinating novel of historical fiction imagines Jesus not as a celibate ascetic, but rather more as a man. He is pious and righteous and utterly generous and he promotes kindness, forgiveness, love and all of the doctrines for which he is known and beloved. But he is also human, with human instincts and human desires.

More importantly, the focus of the novel is not directed toward Jesus, but rather on Ana. The message here, I believe, is that we are ALWAYS hearing about the men. We always hear about how righteous they are and how they opine. Very few women are highlighted in the Bible, for example, and if they are, it is often to let us know whom they have “begotten,” or worse, if they have not been able to “beget.” There is quite a lot of violence toward these women, and there is quite a lot of hushing and rejection of them as well. Ana makes it her business to tell their stories, the stories of her women, not only of the Bible, but also of her peers and her family. She sees it as her mission to ensure that they are not forgotten, as women often are.

The characters depicted here are lifelike and enduring in our minds. We are drawn to Yaltha, Ana’s aunt, for example, because of her untiring loyalty and rebellious spirit. We also have deep sympathy for her because, bit by bit, her dark and tragic history is revealed to us. She has been so mistreated but yet she remains steadfast in her devotion to Ana. We cannot help loving her for this.

This is a beautiful work of imagination and imagery that I believe will stay at least with me for a long time. I’d very much love to hear what others think of it as well!

The Secrets We Keep by Kate Hewitt

Posted on August 10, 2021 by marjorieseidenfeld

Tessa is praying that this summer in the Finger Lake region of New York will be a reboot for her family. Back home in Brooklyn, her daughter, Katherine, so shy and disconnected, and her son, Ben, energetic and rambunctious, have had such difficulty making friends, just as Tessa herself has. Maybe this is just what they need. When they meet the family in the beautiful house next door, they are a bit taken aback. Rebecca, and her 3 children appear at first to be the type of New York family they have been trying to escape. On the other hand, Rebecca does seem different, offering something of herself, some vulnerability that Tessa has not seen from the Brooklynites she’s encountered. Could this ben the friendship she’s looking for? Could this be her opportunity for change?

The writing in this novel is wonderful in that it plays into the stereotypes of the Manhattan upper-crust socialite and the Brooklyn self-righteous idealist – and presents motherhood and its challenges as the great equalizer. Both Tessa and Rebecca are battling their own demons — and demons do not see caste, do they? Loneliness and trauma can exist in anyone, no matter how they may look on the outside. Moreover, it can blind us to other people’s pain as well, even the pain of our own family.

I would have liked to have known more about Charlotte, Rebecca’s daughter. She is described only as “easy” and beautiful, and confident, but there is clearly more going on with her, as we ultimately learn. It might have been interesting to add a third voice, to learn what is going on in her head. She is obviously a much more complicated character, even at only 11 years old, but we are only allotted surface details.

This is a gripping novel that will keep you reading late into the night and it is also guaranteed to wrench at your heart – but, I think, you will also be glad you’ve read it!

The Good Daughters by Joyce Maynard

Posted on August 6, 2021 by marjorieseidenfeld

Nine months after a stormy night in a small town in New Hampshire, 2 baby girls were born to 2 different families within 2 hours of each other, earning them the moniker of the “birthday sisters.” Ruth was brought home to her parents’ farm, home to many generations of Planks who were deeply rooted to their many acres of New Hampshire soil. Dana was brought home to her family, the Dickersons, a bohemian, nomadic household. And even though the Dickersons’ wanderings soon took them away from their small town, Ruth’s mother, in particular, made a strong effort to keep the families in touch. Who could explain that magnet that kept pulling the families together, when they felt so very different?

There was so much in this novel but yet I felt a bit let down. The writing was solid, as expected in a novel by Joyce Maynard. The characters are complicated and messy (in a good way!) but yet somewhat predictable and just this side of stereotypical. I think it is the plot that was most disappointing, for as it builds to what is likely the crescendo, we also kind of know what is likely going on. We’ve figured it out already and are just watching it play out. And though there are some subtle turns of events that are revealed, we’ve sort of guessed at these as well, and we take these in as expected. I did not have a huge “aha” moment, which I crave from a book like this.

I don’t think I’m cynical– I love a good plot twist! I just didn’t find any here, where I felt it needed one.

I”d be very curious to hear what others think! Please write and let me know…!

Minding Frankie by Maeve Binchy

Posted on August 2, 2021 by marjorieseidenfeld

Although Noel is a grown man, he doesn’t think it odd that he still lives with his parents. He goes about his business and they go about theirs. In fact, they are so immersed in their own quirky religious observances and their own private anxieties that they are oblivious to the fact that Noel has been spending every evening sitting alone at (and often being kicked out of) the neighborhood bar. Life may have continued along this path, had Emily, Noel’s older cousin from New York, not come to visit, in order to reconnect with her Irish roots. Emily quickly immerses herself in their little community and in her tactful way, provides Noel with the support he needs to confront his alcoholism. But will he be able to continue to be strong when he is confronted with the ultimate stressor of them all?

Within the pages of this entertaining novel by Maeve Binchy, we are introduced to a colorful cast of characters that are intertwined with Noel and Emily. We are invited into the fabric of their stories almost as if we are yet another one of their idiosyncratic neighbors ourselves, and we delight in their successes and worry over their problems as if they are our own. Because they are depicted with such extraordinary detail, they are tactile and 3-dimensional. Binchy’s imagination is in full evidence here.

While there is a bit of blind faith in believing this story and how it all plays out, it is worth the bit of the stretch for the fun of it. Follow along and you will be entertained, you will laugh and worry, and you will not “mind Frankie” at all!

Our Woman in Moscow by Beatriz Williams

Posted on July 17, 2021 by marjorieseidenfeld

Amazon.com: Our Woman in Moscow: A Novel (9780063090231): Williams, Beatriz: Books

Ruth has always been more like an older sister than a twin to Iris, guarding her and shielding her to the extent that she could, especially after losing both their parents. When in Rome at the start of WWII, Ruth is fully aware that Iris is falling for this seemingly noble Sasha Digby, but she still believes it safest for Iris to leave when the Americans are evacuated. When Iris defies Ruth, she incises a rift between the sisters that cuts deep and festers for years. So why is it Ruth whom Iris calls upon when she is suddenly lost in the abyss of Communist post-WWII Russia? Will Ruth be able to save her sister this time?

Beatriz Williams never, ever disappoints. Using her chatty, familiar, and utterly engaging storytelling style she has created a truly suspenseful historical fiction masterpiece in Our Woman of Moscow. The secrecy and counterintelligence of the post-WWII era is a centerpiece of the novel and sadly, feels eerily relevant today, as we are still at war, albeit virtually, with suppressive, paranoid Communist regimes.

What I love so much about Williams’ books is that her female characters are strong women of substance and dominate the plots. And while there are a few good men, so to speak, there are many who are weak and vulnerable. Most importantly, here in particular, the men– and even some women– are duped primarily because of their preconceived notions about women. This is the sweetest part.

Another MUST READ by Beatriz Williams!