Fall Book Reviews 2021

1.) Howards End by E.M. Forster

From Goodreads:

Howards End is a novel by E. M. Forster about social conventions, codes of conduct and relationships in turn-of-the-century England. A strong-willed and intelligent woman refuses to allow the pretensions of her husband's smug English family to ruin her life. Howards End is considered by some to be Forster's masterpiece.

I loved this beautifully written book. The plot was interesting and the characters intriguing. I enjoyed the Schlegel sisters, Tibby, and their Aunt Juley. I loved the interweaving of the lives of the wealthy Wilcox family with the bohemian Schlegels. I am also a sucker for a house that feels like a main character in a book; especially one set in the English countryside. I was all in.

I appreciated the discussion on social classism...capitalists, progressives, and the working class...and hypocrisy. Forster discusses, via the entanglements of our main characters, the complications of class and money. But while I appreciated the discussion I felt that there were a few too many tangents. Just let the plot play out. We get it.

One thing that fascinated me as a reader was that this book was not "set" in pre-WWI England. It was a contemporary novel written at that time...around 1910. I was captivated by the conversations of the characters in the book about Germany and the differences between Germans and the English. The Schlegels are half German and knowing that historically WWI would soon break out and Germany would never be thought of as a place of romantics and philosophers after that. It was so interesting.

Margaret was my favorite character with Henry Wilcox close behind. The themes of connection and the importance of the inner life versus the exterior life were ones to ponder. I so enjoyed my time reading this engaging novel. I savored it.

My Rating: A pleasurable read.

2.) Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

This book has been on my radar for a long time. I'm glad I finally had an opportunity to read it. What a saga!

From Goodreads:

In the early 1900s, teenaged Sunja, the adored daughter of a crippled fisherman, falls for a wealthy stranger at the seashore near her home in Korea. He promises her the world, but when she discovers she is pregnant — and that her lover is married — she refuses to be bought. Instead, she accepts an offer of marriage from a gentle, sickly minister passing through on his way to Japan. But her decision to abandon her home, and to reject her son's powerful father, sets off a dramatic saga that will echo down through the generations.

This is a story of a multi-generational Korean family. We move through the years with the story being told from the perspective of several different family members. There are a lot of large time jumps which I usually hate but surprisingly didn't in this novel. There was still sufficient character development with each of the characters over time and as they related to one another throughout the book. The author also did an incredible job of giving the story a rich sense of time and place. There were wonderful details and imagery woven throughout the narrative including food descriptions that made me crave both Korean and Japanese food. The setting was vivid and invited me to research more about the places in the novel including pachinko parlors. I had never heard of them before.

It was especially interesting to learn more about the history of Korea and Japan; their dynamics and complicated history, and the oppression and prejudice that existed. I had no idea. 

This is a long and sweeping book. The pace starts slow and the action builds as the years pass and the family grows. I was immersed in the characters and the plot from the first page to the last. Although the ending took the novel down a notch for me. We've been through so much with this family and the ending literally had me saying aloud, "What was the point?!" Why did we follow this entire family for generations? I also wondered what had become of some of the minor characters who we follow and, even get a few too many details about, but whose stories then drop off of the page. Again, I asked myself what was the point? But despite my plot point questions I did enjoy my time reading this bittersweet literary fiction that asks some important questions about family, connection, belonging, and identity.

My Rating: An interesting exploration of identity and resilience.

3.) Papa Married a Mormon by John D. Fitzgerald

This was a book that my dad wanted me to read. He remembered liking it as a kid and wanted to share it with me. So much so that he bought me the book. I read it so that we could discuss it. I had no idea what to expect. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

From Goodreads:

Set in the fictional southern Utah community of Adenville, Fitzgerald creates a nostalgic picture of small town life in early 1900s. The story tells of the conflicts between the Mormons and gentiles within the community, and how leaders on both sides managed to unify the town, despite their differences and animosities. Because many parts of the book are similar in prose to Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn novels, Papa Married a Mormon fits the mold of a Victorian look at an era long gone.

I actually had no idea that the author was the same person who wrote the The Great Brain series. I remember reading those in elementary school with the iconic covers illustrated by Mercer Mayer. Now I want to reread them since the main character is based on Tom from Papa Married a Mormon.

This novel is loosely semi-autobiographical. I am not sure what exactly is true and what is fictionalized as the author includes family pictures in the novel. But basically it is a wild west story with gamblers, gunslingers, outlaws, dance hall girls, romance, and a family living in a frontier town in the early days of Utah. The characters/family members are colorful and memorable! Papa is a Catholic who follows his wayward brother out west as a death bed promise to his mother. While in the Utah territory he meets and marries a nice Mormon girl and they raise a crazy family of four wild boys and one girl together. Neither of them converts to the other's faith but learn to love and appreciate the merits of both. They raise their family with both faiths. Some of their kids adopted the LDS faith and some adopted Catholicism. The author, according to the story, chose Catholicism. Tom, of The Great Brain series, chooses the LDS faith and serves a mission!

I appreciated the themes of acceptance, unity, love, and religious tolerance in the novel. Neither the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is favored nor is the Catholic Church. The family is basically split down the middle as far as their religions go and both faiths are seen with positives and negatives. I wouldn't say that religion is the main subject of the book. It was just a part of the plot with the Fitzgerald family and their small town as the emphasis.

The author wrote this in the 1950s and it harkens back to what he considered to be the "good old days" of frontier life. This is an entertaining book about a colorful and loving family and their adventures.

My Rating: Good.

4.) The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

This was my book club's pick for October 2021. It looked like a fun Halloween read.

From Goodreads:

Patricia Campbell had always planned for a big life, but after giving up her career as a nurse to marry an ambitious doctor and become a mother, Patricia's life has never felt smaller. The days are long, her kids are ungrateful, her husband is distant, and her to-do list is never really done. The one thing she has to look forward to is her book club, a group of Charleston mothers united only by their love for true-crime and suspenseful fiction. In these meetings, they're more likely to discuss the FBI's recent siege of Waco as much as the ups and downs of marriage and motherhood. But when an artistic and sensitive stranger moves into the neighborhood, the book club's meetings turn into speculation about the newcomer. Patricia is initially attracted to him, but when some local children go missing, she starts to suspect the newcomer is involved. She begins her own investigation, assuming that he's a Jeffrey Dahmer or Ted Bundy. What she uncovers is far more terrifying, and soon she--and her book club--are the only people standing between the monster they've invited into their homes and their unsuspecting community.

This book is a whole lot of things. It's stylistic, funny, and entertaining. It is also dark, gross, gritty, and disturbing. It is horror but it is also snarky satire. The premise is superb. A group of South Carolina housewives start a book club where they mostly read true crime. I loved how discussion of the books the women were reading each month was woven into the plot. I also loved that it's set in the 1990s, which is not quite as high on the nostalgia scale as the 1980s, but still pretty good because not a lot of books are set in this time period. 

This book packs a punch and is not for everyone. It's unique. I've never read another book quite like it. It is propulsive and it kept me reading. But it is also super dark and the humor is dark.  It's horror meets the Stepford Wives. It starts out light and funny and but then it takes a darker and more disturbing turn than I expected. The characters don't have quite as much depth as I would have liked. They are fairly one dimensional and stereotypical. I suspect this is intentional.

There are definite trigger warnings. There is graphic sexual violence, child predators, domestic abuse, and glaring racial stereotypes. The husbands are infuriating. They are patronizing, condescending, patriarchal misogynists. Why wouldn't the wives be intrigued when a mysterious stranger moves into their town and wants to join their book club?

Despite all of that I *think* I enjoyed it. LOL. The plot kept me reading. I loved the honor paid to book clubs, reading, and True Crime. I especially loved that the author pays homage to 70s and 80s horror fiction. He actually wrote a history of that very topic and there are a lot of winks and nods to people who love and read horror. He also pokes a little fun at the clichés and tropes of that genre. 

In addition, I enjoyed the dynamics of the women in the book club and their complicated friendships. But there were some dropped storylines. Blue? His storyline and build up just ended. I also wanted more about the vampire's back story and how he came into existence. Finally, I hoped for a big twist concerning some of the characters but literally did not predict the smaller twist that did come. I thought something was going to happen and the complete opposite occurred. That was interesting!!

Take this genre bending book for what it is...gross...disturbing...funny...satirical... and entertaining.

My Rating: I weirdly liked it!

5.) The All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor

From Goodreads:

It's the turn of the century in New York's Lower East Side and a sense of adventure and excitement abounds for five young sisters - Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte and Gertie. Follow along as they search for hidden buttons while dusting Mama's front parlor, or explore the basement warehouse of Papa's peddler's shop on rainy days. The five girls enjoy doing everything together, especially when it involves holidays and surprises. But no one could have prepared them for the biggest surprise of all!

This is the first book in a middle grade series that I somehow missed reading as a child. It's too bad. It's delightful! The series is set in New York City around 1912 and follows a Jewish family of five girls. The book is a fictionalized account of the author's own childhood. The characters are named after the author's sisters and the book came from stories that the author would tell her daughter about her life growing up. I love that!

This wonderful family lives in the tenements on New York's Lower East Side. They are first generation immigrants. Papa is a junk dealer and Mama maintains the home and cares for her five lively daughters. In the first book we follow the family and their adventures for a year and learn about many Jewish customs and holidays along the way. Fantastic!! The book is both heart-warming and informative.

Despite being set in 1912, there was still so much that was relatable. It was interesting to read, especially in COVID times, about when the family had to quarantine due to scarlet fever. Quarantine and pandemics have always been a part of life and continue to be. This provides a wonderful opportunity for discussion. It's good to share this with children who think that quarantine is something new. 

I loved reading about this hardworking happy family! It's a cozy read about a charming family who love holidays, adventures, the library, the junk shop, and their neighborhood. I loved experiencing New York City with it's neighborhoods, Coney Island, and bustling markets in the early 1900s. So fun!

My Rating: Excellent. Wonderful children's literature.

6.) All-of-a-Kind Family Downtown by Sydney Taylor

This is the second book in the All-of-a-Kind Family series. Book two takes us through another year with this delightful Jewish American family living on the East Side of New York City at the turn of the century. We meet some wonderful new characters: Miss Carey and Guido. This book had a few more sad elements that the sisters must face as they meet some new characters who they lovingly befriend and support. As always it was interesting to read about the Jewish faith and culture. I loved the Purim play and the building of the sukkah. This is a sweet and simple story. These books are great read-alouds.

My Rating: Sweet

7.) Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

If you look on Goodreads...which I always do...many reviewers say that they like the movie better than the novel. I've seen the movie but only remember the fabulous house from it so how good could the movie have been?! LOL. I wanted a fun October read and this book totally fit the bill. 

From Goodreads:

For more than two hundred years, the Owens women have been blamed for everything that has gone wrong in their Massachusetts town. Gillian and Sally have endured that fate as well: as children, the sisters were forever outsiders, taunted, talked about, pointed at. Their elderly aunts almost seemed to encourage the whispers of witchery, with their musty house and their exotic concoctions and their crowd of black cats. But all Gillian and Sally wanted was to escape. One will do so by marrying, the other by running away. But the bonds they share will bring them back—almost as if by magic...

I loved loved loved this book! It was perfect autumnal reading! I am not even a fan of magical realism but I guess this book found me at the right time. I had a terrific reading experience. I loved Alice Hoffman's unique descriptive and poetic prose. It was mesmerizing. I also loved the "witch" culture building of the aunts, their home and garden, and their family history. It was wonderful. I loved all of the vivid details and imagery. I was completely drawn in and enchanted.

This was a great story of love and the complexity of sisterhood and family with some magic woven in. The novel is definitely more character driven than plot driven although the things that happen kept the plot moving forward in an interesting way. I was never bored. I thoroughly enjoyed my introduction to the Owens family and I look forward to reading Hoffman's subsequent Owens family books...the two prequels and the newly released sequel.

My Rating: Extremely enjoyable.

8.) More All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor

This is the third book in Sydney Taylor's series about a Jewish family living in New York City in 1915. We continue to follow the adventures of the 5 sisters and their little brother. Perfect middle grade historical fiction. These are wonderful read aloud books and the illustrations are delightful. 

From Goodreads:

In the third book of Sydney Taylor's classic children's series, Ella finds a boyfriend and Henny disagrees with Papa over her curfew. Thus continues the tale of a Jewish family of five sisters-Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte and Gertie-and little brother, Charlie, living at the turn of the century in New York's Lower East Side. Entertaining and educational, this book brings to life the joys and fears of that time and place.

The first book dealt with quarantine and this book deals with an epidemic of infantile paralysis (polio). It provides great opportunities for children living through the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine to learn about other times in history when families have faced similar things.

My Rating: Good. A sweet story about a loveable family. 

9.) Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman

I couldn't wait to read this pre-prequel to Practical Magic! I had high hopes for it and it did NOT disappoint! I loved it! I give it ALL the stars. It was wonderful!

From Goodreads:

Where does the story of the Owens bloodline begin? With Maria Owens, in the 1600s, when she’s abandoned in a snowy field in rural England as a baby. Under the care of Hannah Owens, Maria learns about the “Nameless Arts.” Hannah recognizes that Maria has a gift and she teaches the girl all she knows. It is here that she learns her first important lesson: Always love someone who will love you back. When Maria is abandoned by the man who has declared his love for her, she follows him to Salem, Massachusetts. Here she invokes the curse that will haunt her family. And it’s here that she learns the rules of magic and the lesson that she will carry with her for the rest of her life. Love is the only thing that matters.

This book is the origin story of the Owens family. We learn how it all began in the 1600s with the matriarch of the family, Maria, and the curse of the Owens women. I gave Practical Magic five stars but this book is even better and Practical Magic surprisingly paled in comparison. In this novel the storyline is better, the characters are better, and the writing is better. I absolutely loved the characters of Maria, Hannah, Samuel Dias, and Abraham. This book is more character driven...but in a good way... than Practical Magic and I loved that about it. Maria had so much more depth than Sally and Gillian. Hoffman has definitely honed her craft over the years and her writing is even more lyrical and beautiful.

In Magic Lessons, instead of reading about the complexities of sisters, we read about the complicated mother/daughter dynamic. The mother choosing one path in life and her daughter choosing another. It was brilliant. Hoffman's descriptions are vivid and evocative. She does such a great job with her sense of time and place. I enjoyed learning more about the history and origins of New York City. Fascinating!!

This is a magical and captivating novel about mothers and daughters, love, betrayal, revenge, and redemption. There was the perfect amount of magical realism without being over-the-top. I absolutely loved this book. It has been a long time since I've found an author that I want to read multiple books written by them or a series that I want to devour. My second foray into the Practical Magic Universe was even better than my first and I cannot wait to dive into Rules of Magic!! This was October reading perfection!

My Rating: Exceptional! Even better than Practical Magic!

10.) All-of-a-Kind Family Uptown by Sydney Taylor

This is book four in the All-of-a-Kind Family series. It was just as wonderful as the previous books!

From Goodreads:

Based on the author's family and childhood, these charming books capture the everyday life of a home with little money but lots of love and good times to share. Each book shares the ups and downs in the lives of this special family, through the eyes of Ella, Charlotte, Henny, Sarah, Gertie, and their little brother, Charlie.

In this book the family has moved to the Bronx. The girls are growing up. The oldest daughter, Ella, is now seventeen and her boyfriend enlists in the army and goes off to fight in WWI. The look into wartime NYC and how those at home dealt with that and supported the troops was interesting. As usual the author interweaves the more serious chapters with funny ones. This was another charming book in the series where the family loves, supports, and encourages one another and those around them as the girls grow and mature.

My Rating: Charming. Just like the rest of the series.

11.) Ella of All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor

This is sadly the last book in the All-of-a-Kind Family series. As the title informs us, this book is all about Ella. She is heading out into the world and has many grown up decisions to make.

From Goodreads:

World War I has ended, and Ella, the oldest of the five sisters, who dreams of singing and dancing in the theater, is discovered by a Broadway talent scout. It seems that she will have her chance at a theatrical career after all, starting in vaudeville. But her thoughts are also on Jules, just returned from the War, and marriage. Once again a loving family provides the support needed to make the right decision.

Sadly this book was my least favorite in the series. I wasn't interested in Ella's burgeoning stage career and her stint doing vaudeville. I also didn't enjoy Jules in this novel. I thought that the storyline with Charlie started out rather dramatic but then kind of peters out. I wanted to follow up with him more after his recovery. I also missed the charming illustrations that were in the other books.

Even though I didn't like this book quite as much as the others; this series is a great comfort read and I am going to miss the All-of-a-Kind Family. The author planned to write a book about each of the siblings but sadly died of cancer after publishing this book.

My Rating: A decent end to a delightful series.

12.) Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

 

I've seen this backlist title for years but never took the opportunity to read it. I am so glad that I finally did. I had no idea what I was getting into. What an incredibly wonderful surprise! I want to hug this book.

From Goodreads:

Leif Enger's debut novel...narrated by an asthmatic 11-year-old named Reuben Land, is the story of Reuben's unusual family and their journey across the frozen Badlands of the Dakotas in search of his fugitive older brother. Charged with the murder of two locals who terrorized their family, Davy has fled, understanding that the scales of justice will not weigh in his favor. But Reuben, his father, Jeremiah—a man of faith so deep he has been known to produce miracles—and Reuben's little sister, Swede, follow closely behind the fleeing Davy.

This haunting and evocative coming of age story is set in rural Minnesota and the Badlands of North Dakota in the 1960s. You had me at Minnesota. I am all about Minnesota these days and having recently traveled through rural Minnesota made me love the book even more. Enger's writing is a thing of beauty. His lyrical and rhythmic prose draws you in and soothes you even while describing intense and upsetting events. There were so many compelling and beautiful passages that I must buy my own copy to annotate. There are sentences I want to reread and savor. And the literary allusions! Enger is a master at weaving biblical, mythical, historical, musical, and even wild west allusions throughout the book in a way that added extra layers of depth and richness to this family saga. Fabulous.

In addition to the gorgeous prose the plot is propulsive. You are immediately drawn right into the thick of the Land family: Jeremiah, Davy, Rueben, and Swede who are wonderfully vibrant and memorable characters. I particularly loved Reuben and Swede but after finishing the book and letting a week or two go by it was their father Jeremiah who has stuck with me the most. He is a truly fascinating character and I have come to love and respect him even more. I was intrigued by the questions that he (and the rest of the family) wrestles with: How do we reconcile our beliefs of what is right and wrong and fair when people we love makes decisions with disastrous and far-reaching consequences? Reading about Jeremiah's struggle with this as a parent was both heartbreaking and poignant. 

As Jeremiah, Rueben, and Swede set off to North Dakota to try to find Davy their journey becomes both physical and spiritual. Their search becomes a powerful story of loyalty, faith, family, and forgiveness. You get all the feels from this novel. Sadness intermingled with joy. Beauty with starkness. Humor. Nostalgia for simpler times. You fall in love with Swede and her epic western ballads that lighten the heavier moments and also help her to process trauma. I loved the interesting perspective of the narrator, who is a grown up Reuben, recounting the events of his childhood and seeing how sometimes we aren't the most reliable narrators of our own lives and lived events. 

This book gives you so much to think about and discuss. There is great depth and symbolism. I think for seasonal readers, of which I am one, it is a great winter read. I highly recommend this book. It is wonderful! I give it all the stars!

My Rating: Excellent!