book-review, books, reading, YA Lit

Amy Sarig King:  “Attack of the Black Rectangles” and “Me and Marvin Gardens”

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Author Amy Sarig King (also published under A.S. King) writes about middle schoolers from their perspective – and does it with empathy and talent. Both of these books focus on pre-teen aged boys who are strong enough to know who they are and go against the social ethos of fitting in at any cost.

In Me and Marvin Gardens you meet Obe Devlin, an 11 year old boy living through the suburbanization of the farm land his Great-Grandfather drank away. He is getting nose bleeds daily, started by the sucker punch from his former best friend to prove Tommy was “cool enough” to hang with the new kids that moved in. Obe’s new best friend is “putrid Annie”, another person the new boys don’t like. Obe stands up for Annie when she is kissed without consent and calling it inappropriate as it should be, even when adults don’t get it. Obe goes on to find a surprise on his property that becomes his friend. As he works to save the new friend from encroaching modernization and society, Obe finds a way to stay true to himself while also learning to accept that time moves on.

In Attack of the Black Rectangles you again meet a pre-teen boy – Mac – who is dealing with a father that calls himself an alien, a crazy teacher that covers words in a book (as though the word “breast” would be something that boys will giggle at when in context of a girl being lead to a Nazi shower in a concentration camp), and a town with rules that creep in to meet one person’s view of how the world should think or act. Again, Mac stands up against the injustice of censorship even when adults don’t care. He finds a way to do the right thing without compromising his own view of right or wrong. And he learns to face the reality of what his father truly is.

Both books show determination and the strength of knowing right from wrong, and when to ask for help from adults. It also shows that adults don’t always get it right. Well written and engaging, with lessons for all ages.

book-review, books, Family Drama, reading

The Real Mrs Tobias by Sally Koslow

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This is the story of three generations of wives that have married into the Tobias family. Veronika, a survivor of WW2, married David; Melanie (Mel) married their son Jake; and Birdie married the grandson Micah. Veronika is a psychiatrist, Melanie is a social worker and Birdie is an aspiring author. Birdie and Michah have been having challenges in their marriage, which comes to a head when a drunk Michah hits a woman with his food truck and runs from the scene. The meddling and self serving interference of both mother Mel is annoying. If we are to have any compassion for her it is very hard. All revolves around what she wants – to have her granddaughter with her always, regardless of what is best for the child or her parents. She is also unethical by keeping a patient she has a conflict of interest with (it was her nanny that Micah hit) and her counsel to her patients was about how it made her feel for her own choices. Veronika, also a meddler, is not easy to care about either. Condescending and self-righteous, she too meddles to her family’s life. In the end, however, all seems clear that the meddling can do some good, even if it is misguided. While I never liked most of the characters, I did want to learn how it was all going to wrap up.

book-review, books, mystery, reading, romance

Two books at once: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder and Red, White and Royal Blue

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Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanna Fluke

A baker, Hannah Swensen, in a small town where everyone knows you, finds her dairy delivery man dead behind her store “The Cookie Jar” one morning before she even opens. We meet Hannah’s mother, who is intent on getting her oldest daughter married to any eligible bachelor she can find; Lisa, who works at the Cookie Jar with Hannah; Andrea – Hannah’s sister – and Bill, her husband, as well as their daughter Tracey. As Hannah helps Bill find clues to solve the murder, Hannah gets to know Norman – the newly arrived dentist in town that their mothers have fixed up. We meet other colorful characters of the town, all on the way to finding a second murder and ultimately find out “who done it.” Fun, not difficult to figure out, but enjoyable to read.

Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

A standard love story, but with the two fair haired boys of UK and US as the romantic pair. Focus on what you need to do to maintain the status quo, and the cost of familial expectations, versus being true to yourself. A fun read.

books, read around the world, reading

The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid

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This story is slow to build, but compelling. At the outset we are approached by a man asking if we need assistance – but to be assured that while he is not from America, he is a lover of it. The speaker, Changez, begins to tell his story to a foreigner at a café in Pakistan. A student at Princeton, he was able to crack into the American dream, graduated at the top of the class and earned a job at the coveted Underwood Samsom valuation firm on Wall Street. He meets and falls in love with Erica, who is still in love with her dead boyfriend, Chris. The warmth she shows him at first, and her pointing out his politeness and conforming to American ways gives way to her turning her back on him and disappearing. Easy to see that Erica represents America. We appreciate those that come to our shores as long as they are polite and conform to our ways. When 9/11 happened there was a shift in Changez’s view – it was exhilarating that somehow America was brought to its knees at home while they continue to create chaos elsewhere in the world – Erica became overcome with her need to recreate the past. Just as America was trying to recreate the indignation after Pearl Harbor.

As Changez continues to share the story, we learn more of his true feelings of being an outsider, of his self-hatred of turning his back on his people. The person hearing the story has shown himself to be cautious, and suspect of Changez. As the story closes, you are left with the question – how has the arrogance of America impacted Changez and how far has he gone to avenge his country? Is America being duped or are we being overreactive?

books, reading

Twice a Quinceañera by Yamile Saied Méndez

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One month before her wedding, Nadia Palacio decides to stand up to her fiancé, whom she had been with for over 10 years, five of them engaged, and call off the wedding. With her family coming to Utah from all over the world, and the wedding date scheduled for the day before she turns 30, she decides to celebrate herself. She has always been an achiever, always working to please her family, being the first to graduate college and the first to be a lawyer. How had she let everyone, especially Brandon Lewis, take away her belief in herself?

So why not use the wedding venue to celebrate herself? She never had a Quinceanera – why not a double one? The money is non-refundable anyway. But when she goes to discuss this change with the venue, she finds herself face to face with her passionate fling in college – known only to her as Rocket.

Marco, who had returned home from wandering the world over the last ten years, had been haunted by the memory of that incredible time with Nani. He fled college to keep her from being held back by him – his family always said he broke everything he touched. And now, he is face to face with her – and finally knows her real name!

Through alternating points of view of the two main characters we learn how to accept yourself for who you are, unapologetically, and to forgive yourself for making mistakes. And if you are open to being honest with who you are to yourself, you will be more able to be open to sharing that with someone else.

books, reading

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

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Each summer of her life Belly, her mom Laurel and brother Steven go to Susanne’s house on Cousins Beach to spend the summer with her and her sons Conrad and Jerimiah. Laurel and Susanne have been friends forever. The children are brought up as one family in the summers. Belly, the youngest and only girl, from the beginning just wants to fit in. As she hits her tween and teen years, we are given glimpses into each summer in random order. You see shifting attitudes as the children grow and hormones rage. You also see how divorce can change some dynamics, as well as illness.

In this sweet coming of age story, you see all the normal anxieties of teens – especially of teen girls – on how to navigate friendships, body changes, and newfound love. Touching, even if a bit predictable, this is well worth the read.

books, reading

Ali and Nino by Kurban Said

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Written in 1937, and originally published in German, the author is thought to be Lev Nussimbaum, a Jewish writer that used the pseudonyms of Essad Bey and Kurban Said. Born a Jew, he converted to the Muslim religion. Before the true author’s name was unknown, the Nazi regime included his works on the list of “excellent books for German minds”.

The story is set in the early 20th century on the cusp of the Great War in Baku, Azerbaijan. There we meet a schoolboy – Ali Khan Shirvanshir. We learn of his ancestors – great warriors of high esteem and standing in the community for centuries. He is Asian at his core – a man of the desert, just like his ancestors. He is also Mohammeded (Muslim). We learn of the many tales, songs and verses created in honor of his ancestors and homeland.

Baku, newly rich with oil resources, has been a source of Western interest. Most recently conquered by Russia, the Western world has come to encroach its ways on this Asian country. Ali is enrolled in a Russian school, which tries to impart the Western ways on the future generations. The home culture remains strong, however, with teachers still in fear of real life retribution from the long established families.

With the Russians came the Georgian aristocracy. Christian in faith, Western in manner, they believe the natives of the country are barbarian – with blood feuds, eating with fingers, and drinking. Nino Kipiani, a princess of this world, is the love of Ali’s life. From the beginning, Ali Khan is torn by his love of the woman and her Western sensibilities. He loves to look at her, and touch her, but that would never be allowed for Muslim girls. Nino, for her part, is a strong believer in her Christian Orthodox religion, enjoying the approving looks of all men, and refusing to hide under a veil. These two opposing views of the world, while at conflict with each other, are part of the reason they love each other.

Throughout the story we learn of Muslim ideology, deep rooted differences in customs of Shiite, Sunni, Turk, Armenian, Georgian and Persian beliefs. These two lovers overcome the weight of ancient customs and the expectations of the “modern” western world to be married.

Both are torn by the love they have of each other, and the weight of their history and expectations of life. We learn here – and must remember that this was written almost 100 years ago now – that the East and the West view the world differently and judge each other in different ways. Until the West and East sensibilities understand and appreciate the differences, there will be no understanding that the ancient rules of civility that were created by the ancestors will always be a part of who the people are.  Expecting something different without that historical context or understanding is at the West’s peril. The same is true of the West, also, who must remember that their way is not the only way.

As for the marriage of Ali and Nino, there are times when it seems they have found a place to live together, but that is only true when they are alone together. The expectations of others breaks the peace they found.

Is there any way that a man of the East can come to terms with the sensibilities of the West? Or can a woman of the West agree to the terms of the East? With the unrest we are seeing around the world, is the moral to the story that we can learn to love each other, but we can not learn to live in peace together?   

books, reading

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

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If you don’t know Thornton Wilder’s play Our Town, you are in for a crash course. The theme of this play is also the theme of this book, even if it is shown in a round about way. This is told in three acts.

The Play’s Act One focuses on Daily Life. You meet the townsfolk, learn of the gossip around Simon Stimson, the town alcoholic. The day closes with you seeing two main characters – George and Emily – on the cusp on growing up. In Tom Lake you meet Lara, her daughters and her husband. You learn the everyday trials they all go through and how they end up together during the pandemic.

The Play’s Act Two focuses on Love and Marriage – the preparation for George and Emily’s marriage. Both say they are not ready, but George pledges to stay home to take over his uncle’s farm and Emily accepts her place to be his wife. Tom Lake shows you the complicated lives of Lara and her fellow community at a regional theater named Tom Lake. You see what people yearn for, how they want things to be, and how they interact. You even meet the town’s drunk.

Act Three is nine years later, we witness Emily’s funeral, having died in childbirth. She goes back to witness her 12th birthday and realizes you never pay attention to the things that matter when you are doing them. The question of whether anyone truly values the life they live while they are living it is asked, and answered, no. Tom Lake shows the choices made to make things change, how they create a type of death of the starlet that was Lara, but the birth of the woman Lara was meant to become. You see her choosing to make things be a certain way, staying at Joe’s uncle’s farm, choosing to live the life he offered her.

The similarities of Lara’s story to the play are compelling. Set at the time of the pandemic, Joe and Lara’s grown children return to their cherry farm in Traverse City Michigan to be together. Three daughters – Emily, the oldest is the most capable and willing to stay on the farm; Maisey is in veterinary school, looking to help others whenever she can; and Nell is pursuing acting full time in New York. Lara had been an actress, and had known a famous actor – Peter Duke – whom Emily was sure was her father. During this time together the three daughters finally prevail on Lara to tell them her story. Even the three daughters line up with the three acts of the play – the youngest pursuing a lofty future, the middle content to make everyone comfortable, and the oldest knowing her role in the play.

Without too many spoilers, the story unfolds in similar fashion to that of the play – straining for a future; wanting it all; and understanding what is at stake. For both, the need to understand the value of the life you live is the key. While the play ends in three acts, the book shows that Lara learned the lesson of the play and looked to ensure the life she lived was real and what she wanted. She never regretted anything, and felt that she had lived understanding the true lessons. Her life was the one that Emily wanted, but didn’t get. While the play leaves you sobbing, this leaves you a bit melancholy for what can so easily be lost, but also hopeful that the play will continue on with future generations in their own ways.

books, reading

The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman

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Another engaging story on the strength of women and their need for self-determination.

First we meet Mia, walking away from all she knows and then we are sent to an other time, much earlier. We meet Ivy, who helps drive the story, even when it is not really about her. Mia takes over the story again, and we follow until there is another time shift. While these shifts are confusing and not at all realistic, they are mystical.

Ivy, a wild child of a rich Boston family, gets pregnant and is slapped when she asks her father for help. She leaves that night, since she has no hope of help from the father of the child, or choices to make over her own body. She joins The Community, a cult with a charismatic leader with a need to rule with an iron fist, only finding his lies after the marriage.  

Mia needs more than The Community can provide her. Through the intervention of her mother, Ivy, she discovers the world of books – something forbidden in The Community. Through these books she finds redemption.

That redemption for me goes a bit wonky when she falls through time to meet Nathaniel Hawthorn, the man who’s book she finds herself in and discovers her own strength. An overriding theme here is that no one saves you but yourself. And that is what ultimately happens.

Well written, enjoyable, but not my favorite of this author’s.

book-review, books, Family Drama, Hispanic and Latinx Cultures, reading

Neruda on the Park by Cleyvis Natera

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Who would have said that the earth with its ancient skin would change so much? Pablo Neruda

The Neruda quote is a wonderful way to kick off this story. This is about what change can bring about – both good and bad – when you make choices in relations to that change.

Change always seems to happen at once. Luz is awakened by the crashing of demolition on the building next door. She heads out in her power suit to meet her boss, Raenna, who has said she has news. Luz is expecting to be promoted. She is, however, blindsided that she will be fired and is advised to quit before it happens. Luz is as shattered as the building. Even worse – Angelica, a former friend from school, was at her first day as a waitress at the exclusive restaurant where this happened – and heard the whole thing. How will Luz tell her parents, Vladimer and Eusebia, who had worked so hard to help her achieve this success?

As expected, Angelica tells the local gossips, The Tongues, before Luz can bring herself to tell her parents. Hurt about hearing the news from the Tongues, Eusebia is not paying attention as she is pulling a cart of dirty clothing to the laundry mat. She falls, hits her head and is shaken badly. The Tongues help her up and take care of her to make sure she is alright. But is she?

As the tenants around Northar Park are watching the destruction of the building, they all begin to receive notices from landlords of other buildings that the apartments they have lived in for decades will be converting to condos, and they can be bought out or just move. But where can they move that they can afford? What about all the time they spent building the community? What would become of them all? Eusebia, whose head continues to throb after the fall, becomes enraged at the prospect of being pushed out and hatches a plan to halt the building.

While the plan is being put in place, Luz attends a block party where she meets Hunter, the white developer that is leading the gentrification of the neighborhood. Undeniable attraction brings them together.  Just as with Luz’s career, there is a divide between where she came from and what she is defined as to be “successful”. She enters Hunter’s world of wealth and privilege with wariness and discomfort that she had shed at Harvard and in the NY law firm.  

We then hear the story from Eusebia. How she will make the area seem undesirable to those outside the community, orchestrating robberies, peeping toms, and assaults. All while Vladimer, her husband and Luz’s father, chases a suspect that killed a boy and wrote “Go Home” on the body for the NYPD. We eventually learn she had been reluctant to come to the US with a 9 year old Luz, and had always talked about moving back with Vladimer at some point. Unknown to her, he and Luz were building a dream home in DR as a surprise, but she no longer wanted to return.

The choices that everyone makes – to try to halt the building project, to participate in the schemes of Eusebia, or to build a home in DR, there are questions about what choices you make. How do you choose to support your family? How do you choose to react to a letter of eviction? How do you choose to react to those that choose a different reality? All these questions are the explorations of the members of the community.

The demolition was ahead of schedule, just like the dismantling of Luz’s career/identity and Eusebia’s definition of self. As the women begin to find themselves and their voices, the building begins to go up. Through shattering events, the world crashes in on the family again, and the community again embraces them and helps them move forward. Each woman is scarred, differently, but each will grow as they need.

There are many more ways in which the choices we make are shown, and how the culture of acceptable and not are bantered about. This book is a study of these themes, as well as the complexity of the relationships of women, especially mothers and daughters. The book Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair by Pueblo Neruda was quoted more than once in the book. This collection of love poems is an amalgamation of women he loved. This novel takes the name for the building, and I believe is the amalgamation of the many people we all represent to ourselves and the world.