#books – Page 28 – kindread spirits

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!

Deacon King Kong by James McBride

Posted on October 13, 2021 by marjorieseidenfeld

Amazon.com: Deacon King Kong: A Novel: 9780735216723: McBride, James: Books

What could possibly possess that bumbling, mumbling, stumbling old man, Sportcoat — everyone is thinking — to walk to the middle of the crowded flagpole square, here in Brooklyn in 1969, and shoot Deems Clemens in broad daylight? Everyone knows that Deems has grown up to be the lead drug dealer in the neighborhood, in spite of their communal dream that he’d use his brilliant baseball arm to pitch his way out of there. Now they all have to worry about protecting Sportcoat, even if he himself doesn’t seem to even remember having done the deed and isn’t being at all cooperative about laying low. How will he manage to evade revenge, now that this seems to have triggered a much more magnified response among the parties involved. What could Sportcoat have been thinking?

As Sportcoat meanders through the buildings of the Cause Houses, he brings us with him on a journey that feels random but is, in fact, a meticulously and methodically crafted tale. His warm and breezy manner is deceptive, and unless you’re paying close attention to his intoxicated rambling, you might miss his astute observations and profound wisdom. Other characters, too, have surprising depth and heart and casually drop the clues that create the cleverly drawn story that entangles them all. The “Elephant,” or Tommy Elefante, the son who inherits his father’s, um… let’s say, “import/export” business in the neighborhood, is another such player. As we peer into his heart, we know he’s committed some foul deeds, but he’s also been consistent and honest, which, in his business – and really in any business – counts for a lot. We feel their internal struggles, and we are privy to the reconciliation with their pasts.

There is so much that is subtly brilliant about this novel, it, no doubt, deserves to be read more than once. McBride’s writing enables us to easily fall in love with his characters, their wonderful names, their gritty dialogue, and their wildly human vulnerabilities. We feel trapped with them, inside their lanes, trying desperately to break out of the stereotypical cards that are dealt them. Each of them is in his or her segment of the same neighborhood, managing the social and economic forces that are trying to pit neighbor against neighbor in Brooklyn, 1969. Because of the poignant writing, we are right there with them, feeling their pain, laughing along with their victories.

This novel is utterly beautiful, in all its gritty splendor. An absolute MUST-READ!

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!

China Boy by Gus Lee

Posted on August 25, 2021 by marjorieseidenfeld

Amazon.com: China Boy: 9780452271586: Lee, Gus: Books

Kai has had a tender beginning, with a loving mother who has nurtured him, even favoring him as the “Only Son” among his sisters. Now, however, he finds himself at a much harsher juncture, being the tiny, nearsighted, vulnerable target of all the neighborhood bullies. Caught between his family tradition and his worldly circumstance, Kai struggles to overcome his daily obstacles, utilizing strength he never knew he had.

On its face, this is a potentially beautiful story, but I felt it was disappointingly told. While Chinese history and culture from the 1940’s was colorfully embroidered into Kai’s family/back story, this background encompasses over half of the book. Admittedly, some of it was interesting and deepened the context, but there is both redundancy and repetitiveness throughout. Further, while we endure every gory detail of each of Kai’s beatings, there is only minimal detail about his relationships with his sisters. Kai’s sister, Jane, for example, is a strong, willful character who stands up to her stepmother. I would have loved to have heard more about her and her relationship with Kai. She is, unfortunately though, kept at bay. Likewise, we know even less about his 2 older sisters.

Similarly, once we do (finally) get to the plot, there is not much there that we cannot predict. While Kai is a very endearing character, and we do root for him, we know where the story will take us before we get to the ending. No surprises, no twists. Nothing.

There is so much potential in the idea of this story. Was it the writing? The editing? Not sure, but at least in my opinion, someone failed.

A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende

Posted on August 14, 2021 by marjorieseidenfeld

A Long Petal of the Sea: A Novel: Allende, Isabel, Caistor, Nick, Hopkinson, Amanda: 9781984820150: Amazon.com: Books

Victor Dalmau has found himself rooted, with only a few years of medical training, in the trenches of the Spanish Civil War, repairing the wounds of the Republicans fighting the Fascists who are seeking to rule Spain. While he is useless with a gun — quite unlike his brother Guillem, the consummate warrior — he finds purpose in healing those who are, and he supports them in their calling. Little does he know how deeply he would continue to feel the pain of injustice and persecution and how this early mission would direct the trajectory of his life and that of his family.

This is a beautifully written novel, based on the true story of one survivor of the Spanish Civil War. After this war, thousands fled first to France, were placed in dreadful concentration camps, and two thousand fortunate souls were rescued by the poet Neruda on a ship to Chile called the Winnipeg. In Chile, they were welcomed and given refuge and opportunity and allowed to flourish until there was political unrest there as well. Our hero, Victor, embodies the strong, immigrant character: hardworking, valuing family above all else, and devoted to the preservation of humanity and justice.

I am so thankful to have read this novel. In my ignorance of history, I have never known much about this tragic era in our world’s history. Learning it through the eyes of these gorgeous characters was, in my view, the best way to attempt to correct this, because the facts are interwoven with deep emotion, and this is how they are best etched into our memories. And while this is not necessarily an absolute/comprehensive and final look, it is certainly a great start to learning about this dark moment in Spain, France and South America.

And even while enlightening us about the historical period, the author does not neglect to interweave a complex plot, with suspense, subplots, and even romance that bear surprise twists. She keeps us intrigued with each step of Victor’s harrowing journey.

This is an important read for those who are are unaware of this period of history – and even for those who aren’t. And while I don’t like to overload the “MUST READ’s,” this has to be placed there – sorry!

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!