The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley

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It is five years since the summer Maisie and Grant stayed with their “guncle” Patrick, while their father was in a substance rehab facility, and bonded closely with Patrick. Since then, the children have grown into tween/teens and are now challenging Patrick in entirely new ways. Greg, their father, has done well. He’s remained sober, focused on raising the children with the support of Patrick who relocated to NYC to be near them, and is, in fact, now engaged to a marquesa from Italy, named Livia. The only obstacle was the children’s vehement opposition to Livia, and they are determined to enlist Patrick in their quest to derail the wedding plans.

Once again, this book was delightful: infused with sarcastic dialogue, tender moments, and beautiful descriptions of Patrick’s travels through Europe with the children. Patrick treats his niece and nephew not like grownups, but with respect, caring, and an attentive ear; trying to get to know them as they are at this new stage, as individuals. And as he copes with their maturity, he also struggles with his own advancing age, an issue that he’s allowed to impact his own love life. So while this novel might be tossed off as feathery and superficial, there are much deeper and more meaningful themes here. They’re merely dressed up in Hermes scarves and Prada accessories.

I do think it’s worthwhile to read this series in order, beginning with The Guncle and then proceeding to this one, in order not to feel behind. And the other is just as entertaining anyway, so, again, worth it.

The perfect summer read – whether you’re traveling abroad or just staying in your own backyard!

33 1/3: Parallel Lines by Kembrew McLeod

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This series, 33 1/3, reviews the making of individual albums and is written by various authors for the series. In this edition, McLeod writes less about the album Parallel Lines specifically than about Blondie as a band and historical influencer. Although I loved this album in my youth (and still think it is awesome), I had no idea about its historical context and Blondie’s roots in not only punk, but in 60’s pop, disco, and the radical art scene happening in the 1970’s in downtown NYC. This book was in in-depth review of the subculture that bred Blondie and the other bands of their kind.

While I was a bit disappointed that the book did not go into detail about each song on the album, the way a prior book in this series did (see my review of the 33 1/3 on Court and Spark), it went into great detail about the music scene in downtown NYC in the late 60’s and early 70’s that lit the way for the making of this album. We are given a lesson on the forces that brought together various art forms (visual art, theater, music) as well as various cultural and societal forces (the queer, Black and Latino rights movements) that were undergoing radical changes at this time. Dance clubs and music venues were about the only place where these marginalized folks were able to gather, dance, and enjoy time out together (particularly the queer contingent), most often occurring at venues below 14th Street. This subculture was supported not only by some of the local businesses (restaurants, clubs, hotels) but also by some more successful artists such as, most famously, Andy Warhol. It was Warhol who managed the Velvet Underground at their onset, and who sponsored large parties, often under his own roof, bringing together folks from all backgrounds, gender and sexual identities, and genres. It was out of this melting pot of genres and identities that Blondie was birthed, and from which Parallel Lines eventually was created.

And while each song is not necessarily discussed in full (including my favorite on the album, which was not ever even mentioned), we are given a glimpse into the varied nature of the songs on this album. While Heart of Glass is considered to be more disco, other songs are more poppy, and others outright punk. The most radical and unusual on the album, Fade Away and Radiate, combines theatrical vocals with sparse, mystical instrumentation and an uncharacteristically slow beat.

If you have listened to and enjoyed this album, this book will give you quite a bit of insight into its historical origins and the personal and creative dynamics involved in the making of it.

(And if you’re wondering, my favorite on the album? Sunday Girl. )

Keep Quiet by Lisa Scottoline

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All Jake wants is to reconnect with his son, Ryan. Given all his absences because of having to build his business from scratch, he feels now is the time, before Ryan leaves for college. So when he agrees to pick up Ryan after a movie and Ryan begs to drive home even though it is beyond the legal time for him to be doing so, all Jake can do is agree to it. Little does he suspect that this decision will be the worst he’s ever made. What happens next leads to the need for both to lie, and of course one lie begets the next and the next…

This is every parent’s nightmare scenario, one in which we are responsible for a horrific outcome and all we want to do is protect our child, no matter the consequences to us. We see the tragic outcome of Jake trying to be a friend instead of a parent, a mistake we all make at one time or another. Most of us have been fortunate that the consequences were not fatal, but not everyone is as lucky.

On the whole, this novel was taut, suspenseful, and completely unnerving. As a parent reading this, it was difficult, to say the least.

Getting more into the weeds of the writing, however, I have to say that I found it somewhat repetitive, almost perseverative (which might have been intentional, as the circumstances would warrant a repeated self-flagellation). The plot was intricate and twisting and certainly kept one’s attention – it was literally an accident that one could not look away from – but the entire book was plot-driven. The characters were flat, superficial. We learned some insight into Jake’s character, but his son and his wife were merely cardboard figures created to facilitate the plot.

That said, if you’re looking for suspense, twists and a riveting page-turner, this fits the bill. And perhaps many of us could benefit from reading this – it is truly a cautionary tale!

Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict

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Dorothy Sayers is tired of men taking control of everything. In spite of the literary accomplishments of her female colleagues, they are being completely minimized by the men who are initiating the new Detection Club. a club for mystery authors seeking to heighten the prestige of the genre. Well, Dorothy will not take this lying down! After her little gathering of five women authors she feels have proven themselves worthy of being included, she hatches a plan to have them inducted into this club as well. Nevertheless, the men continue to ignore, even denigrate them. What if they, as writers of murder mysteries themselves, solve an actual, real-life murder mystery? Perhaps then their male peers will take them seriously. This, however, turns out to be more complicated than she ever imagines.

If you’re looking for a bit of morbid fun, this book is for you! The “Queens” as they call themselves, find themselves deep in the mire of a brutal murder that could potentially stump even them. As they delve deeper and deeper into the details, they learn to work together, to appreciate each other’s strengths and support each other through their weaknesses. We learn that everyone appears to have some sort of secret, some part of themselves that they would prefer be kept hidden from the public eye. They are vulnerable, because particularly at the time this story takes place, the interval between the great wars, women had little in the way of independence and relied not only on their “upstanding” reputations but also, of course, on the men around them. Even women with means. Even women who were as famous for their brilliance and talent as this authors were.

The characters themselves, as well as the plot, hold intrigue, humor, sensitivity, and surprise – keeping at least this reader completely engaged. Once again, Marie Benedict has done it!

The Tennis Partner by Abraham Verghese

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Dr. Abraham Verghese is a senior medical school faculty member and an infectious disease specialist in El Paso, TX. He is also a huge tennis fan, having played the sport since he was quite young. Upon meeting one of his new medical students, David Smith, who not only is smart and motivated to learn, but has also played professional tennis, Verghese feels he’s met his match, so to speak. Finally, here is someone he has something in common with! Moreover, he sees his own loneliness reflected in the face of this new friend, and he understands that they might be a support for each other. As Verghese learns more about David, and specifically about his addictions, he sees that this relationship may be more challenging than he imagines.

This autobiographical work by Verghese is an emotional and moving portrait of what it feels like to be close to someone who has an addiction as well as to be blindsided by it. While Verghese has clinical experience (albeit in a different area of medicine) and as well as deep compassion and understanding, he cannot help being sucked in to the dramatic ups and downs of his friend’s disease. Verghese becomes the only true friend David Smith has, the only consistency in David’s chaotic life; on the other hand, he is in the awkward position of really not being David’s peer as well as having quite a bit of stress of his own (his dissolving marriage, his worry for his own two young sons). Nevertheless, we watch as he becomes the friend that David comes to rely upon and he finds himself caught up in David’s world.

I did find the story a bit repetitive and predictable, although that may be a function of addiction itself. Many sufferers of addiction bounce in and out of rehab, feeling the low of needing to detox and the high of coming out feeling rehabilitated. While there are many who succeed in remaining sober, it is a daily if not hourly struggle – and the repetition seen here is likely a reflection of this. It may be that one has to convince others even as they are convincing themselves that THIS time will be their time to make it. That seemed to be the case with David – and Verghese may have tried to believe it each and every time. I imagine it is the hardest thing to overcome.

If you’re interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the terrible disease of addiction, if you’d like to learn how loneliness and abandonment can impact an addiction, this book is for you. [Also, be ready for much in the way of tennis details. If you hate the sport, this may not be for you!]

Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino

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Margo and Ian have been searching for her dream house for months now. Thinking ahead, they’d bought an apartment in an up-and-coming neighborhood, anticipating that they’d sell at a higher rate and increase their money for a down payment on their “forever home.” Of course, this was all Margo’s idea; Ian could rarely be counted on to plot this far ahead, being consumed with his job solving the world’s climate crisis. And, as Margo reasoned, one cannot be too aggressive in this overwhelmingly frustrating market. After losing not one, not two, but ten houses because of being outbidden by entitled, cash-wielding competitors, she is ready to do what it takes. No matter the cost…

This is an outrageous story that begins benignly and builds to an utter “Gone Girl” crescendo. We learn of Margo’s repeated disappointments, her challenges growing up in a financially unreliable family, and her first taste of stability upon visiting her husband’s more privileged family. When Margo learns of a “perfect” home coming onto the market – the one she MUST have – she is determined to convince the owners to sell it to her and no one else. In Margo’s world, this perfect home equals happiness and she will make it her own – no matter the cost…

This is the type of novel you can swallow whole. It is that story that keeps you reading until the wee hours, perhaps sneaking it out during your lunch at your desk. Even while Margo becomes more and more unhinged, and Ian, her husband is more and more stumped by her behavior, we also see her humanity, her desperation. Her attachment to her friend’s dog, Fritter, is an example of her more tender and vulnerable side. When Natalie seems to ignore the needs of her own dog, Margo steps in to care for him. At the same time, Margo is also truly flying off the deep end.

If you were held captive by such books as The Girl on the Train or the Woman in Cabin 10, you will be excited to read this one as well. It is clever, twisty, and unputdownable.

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

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Nora Stephens has been convinced by her younger and very pregnant sister Libby to come away with her for a few weeks to a small town made famous by a book Nora has actually promoted. While Nora is usually impossible to tear away from either her work as a literary agent or her home in NYC (and her Peleton…), she agrees to come because she will do anything to make her sister happy, as she’s done since their mother died when they were teenagers. So here she is, in this sad little town, still trying to sneak a bit of work into her day, in spite of the task list Libby has created for them to try to break out of their usual routines. And no good deed goes unpunished, for the only spot where she can find any bit of reliable wifi is where she runs into – to her utter shock – her absolute work nemesis, Charlie Lastra. Immediately, there is an email exchange between them which grows into an outright battle of wits. And even as Nora is focused on her sister and her sister’s welfare, she finds herself becoming more and more entangled in this mystery that is Charlie Lastra.

If you’re looking for a light, fun, and very summery/vacation-y read, this should be the first thing you pack to take along. While it is somewhat predictable – ok, very predictable – it is also replete with witty (giggle-along-with) dialogue, endearing family drama, and even a few steamy romance scenes. While Nora thinks of herself as being a “shark” and not exactly a people-person, she is actually someone who loves deeply and protects those she loves with the ferocity of a mother bear. She becomes the character we cannot help but love back – and this makes the story so utterly engaging.

So even despite the many romcom tropes to be found here, I still found this book a delight to read (or, in truth, listen to). I believe you will too!

The Third Angel by Alice Hoffman

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Three timelines and three narratives come together in this mystical, haunting story of heartbreak and misguided love. We meet Maddy in 1999 who comes to London for her sister’s wedding and becomes entangled in a tragic love triangle. We then meet Frieda, a young woman mistaken for a rule-follower who goes to London in mutiny against the father she’s always idolized. And finally, we meet Lucy, a 12-year old girl who, while trying to overcome her mourning for the mother she’s lost, is brought also to London, where she is expected to participate in her stepmother’s sister’s wedding. Each of these women has in common their rebellious streak, their stark honesty, and their connection to London’s Lion Park Hotel.

As I struggle to sort my feelings about this novel, I have to go back to my inclination, initially, to abort it entirely. I am glad I did complete it, just to see where it would lead, but I have to admit it was more work than a book should be. While each story line had potential, I believe the characters were so unlikeable – or at best, difficult to engage with – that it was hard to feel invested. Their stories were also a bit contrived, and not only because of the mystical elements (which I often flinch at). Throughout each narrative, it was emphasized how strong and independent each of the women characters were. Yet, each, in her own way, was waylaid by a man of dubious virtue and usually selfish intentions. Of course, the earlier stories of both Frieda and Lucy, took place in the 50’s and 60’s, when women had less power, particularly within their family structures. But still… smart and “independent” women should not have been so easily duped by such utterly shady men.

So, all in all, not my favorite. there are so many other choices that would better fill your time, in my opinion!

When We See You Again by Rachel Goldberg-Polin

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Late on October 6, 2023, after having Shabbat dinner with his family, Hersh Goldberg-Polin traveled south to join his friends at a festival celebrating love, light, music and dance. Little did anyone in their family suspect that this would be their last Shabbat dinner, their last hug goodbye, their last anything. Because early the following morning, Hersh would experience an invasion of radical Islamic terrorists whose mission was to kill, maim, rape, burn and capture as many Jewish victims as possible, including Hersh himself. Attempting to hide, Hersh sought refuge in a bomb shelter with many others, until the terrorists threw in the grenade that would blow off his dominant left hand. He would then be taken into captivity, starved, tortured, and kept in subterranean tunnels for hundreds of days before being shot and killed at close range by these terrorists.

Immediately on hearing of his being taken captive, his family sprung into action, meeting with anyone and everyone to try to advocate for Hersh’s release. Even in their fog of unimaginable pain from loss and terror for his welfare, they traveled the world, spoke both publicly and privately, trying anything to gain the assistance of anyone who might be able to get Hersh released. What this did to his mother, Rachel, is laid out here in all its pure, raw, raging agony.

I believe it is incumbent upon all of us to bear witness, through these poetic, philosophical, and agonizing words of Rachel Goldberg-Polin, to what happened on October 7, 2023. Because it has affected not just her but thousands of others all over the world. Because it affected Jews, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, and Hindus. Because it affected people from Israel, Germany, Thailand, the US, Russia, and the UK. Because it was a demonstration of evil so public and so brazen that it changed the world. And because we are obligated to know, to comprehend the atrocities that occurred on that day as it affected individuals in order to understand the impact it has had on a global scale.

This is not just a MUST READ, but an obligatory one.

I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhorn

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It’s been years, decades even, that Anna has been fighting in a German court to establish her identity as the Grand Duchess of the Romonov family. She’s been grateful for the support of her loyal childhood friends, who have shuffled her around from sympathizer to sheltering sympathizer. But she resents that she’s been abandoned by her extended family and her former teacher, who have accused her of being an imposter. Through this dual timeline, we learn both of Anna’s traumatic experience of living through the cruelty of the Russian revolutionaries, as well as her fight to survive the aftermath.

A huge fan of this author, I was somewhat disappointed by this particular novel of hers. I am always game for a dual timeline as well as most historical fiction. I was interested in the history and fate of Tsar Nicholas and the Russian Revolution. However, because this timeline skipped around so much, both in time and location – and never in a linear fashion – it became onerous to keep track of. Moreover, the story was relentlessly heartbreaking, with little in the way of lightness. Of course, it is a brutal story, but even the most brutal history can be relayed with moments of tenderness, some expressions of wit. There was poor little of relief in this telling and, so, a heavy load to carry.

That said, I absolutely learned from it and was, in fact, surprised at the ending. Glad I read it? I’m still not sure. But I certainly feel a bit smarter for having done so.