Quick Review: And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer, by Fredrik Backman

And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer, by  Fredrik Backman

Simon & Schuster Audio - 2019
Literary Fiction
Audiobook

1 Hour, 9 Minutes
Narrated by David Morse

Publisher's Summary:

From the New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, and Britt-Marie Was Here comes an exquisitely moving portrait of an elderly man’s struggle to hold on to his most precious memories, and his family’s efforts to care for him even as they must find a way to let go.

With all the same charm of his bestselling full-length novels, here Fredrik Backman once again reveals his unrivaled understanding of human nature and deep compassion for people in difficult circumstances. This is a tiny gem with a message you’ll treasure for a lifetime.

My thoughts:

The book might be small, but the story is huge. Real, raw, and filled to the brim with heart and emotion. Nobody can get to heart of what it is to love and be human the way that Fredrik Backman can. His stories always run the reader through the gamut of emotions with a balance and complexity few authors can compete with. This short book was no exception.

David Morse did a very good job narrating this audiobook and was well suited to the story. 

And Every Morning The Way Home Gets Longer and Longer is a great, quick read that will hit you right in the feels, and make you thankful to have picked it up.

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: The Antidote For Everything, by Kimmery Martin

The Antidote for Everything, by Kimmery Martin

Penguin Random House Canada - Available February 18, 2020
Literary Fiction
Print
352 Pages

* I received this ARC courtesy of Penguin Random House Canada. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own.

A rich, complex, and timely story, The Antidote for Everything is not only a good story, but a good conversation starter.

Dr. Georgia Brown is a urologist working at a hospital in Charleston South Carolina. She has no relatives to speak of, and her love life has gone from bad to non-existent in the most spectacularly embarrassing way. Her best friend, Dr. Jonah Tsukada is a family medicine practitioner in the same hospital complex.  He has been estranged from his family since he came out to them and he and Georgia have become family to each other. 

An important part of Jonah's practice is the care and treatment of transgender individuals. When the hospital bans the treatment of transgender patients, terminates their care without discussion, and threatens to fire any doctor providing care to them, Jonah's refusal to quit on his patients puts him in the line of fire so to speak. With no law protecting the rights of these patients or Jonah, Georgina and Jonah come up with a plan to force the hospital to reverse their decision, but when the plan goes awry, they stand to lose far more than just their jobs.

Let's start by saying that the first line of this story is probably worth buying the book for! Seriously, I almost sprayed the pages of my book with tea as the unexpected laugh caught me off guard! 

Martin tells this story of persecution and discrimination with sensitivity, enough suspense to keep the story moving, and just a touch of humor - "a spoonful of sugar...", so to speak, because in spite of Martin's humor, this book touches on some serious and timely issues. While transgender discrimination is the main issue at the heart of this story, she also touches on other issues such sexual discrimination & harassment and drug & alcohol abuse/addiction. 

I found Georgia an especially likable character. I think the word that comes to my mind when thinking about her is "feisty".  Not one to just "go with the flow", she is determined, fiercely loyal, and not willing to stand by as people she cares about are bullied and mistreated. She is willing to fight clean or fight dirty to see justice prevail. Her relationship with Jonah is the definition of friendship.  

The Antidote For Everything is a timely piece of fiction infused with wit and warmth. 

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: Smile, by Roddy Doyle

Smile, by Roddy Doyle

Penguin Random Audio - 2017
Literary Fiction
Audiobook
Narrated by the author, Roddy Doyle

5 Hours, 3 Minutes

This book in its print edition is 224 pages, so short enough to be my choice for #5 - The Quick and Easy, on my 20 for 2020 Reading Challenge.  You can see the whole challenge HERE - its not too late to join - you can retroactively add any books you read in 2020!

This was a good story, but for me it fell short of its potential. I feel like I should have liked it more than I did. 

As the story starts, we meet Victor Forde, a middle aged man looking for a pub to call his local after just having returned to his old neighborhood on the heels of a divorce. From here the story is told in multiple time lines. His traumatic childhood, where he attracts the attention of one of the teaching brothers at his high school, his adult life where he forges a successful career and has a beautiful, somewhat famous wife, and the present as he struggles to settle in to his new life dynamic.

It is in the present that Victor runs into Ed Fitzpatrick. He doesn't really remember Fitzpatrick at first, nor does he really like him, but he does sort of remember the mans sister - the one all the boys liked. But Fitzpatrick's sudden presence is stirring memories and emotions that Victor would rather not have, and in the final twist, Victor is forced to confront his past.

I could not say that I found listening particularly enjoyable. The copious F-bombs (and even worse language) seemed overwhelming in volume and became very tiresome. Had it not been such a short book, I might have bailed and DNF'd it. I have no objection the use of most of these words in moderation, but I found the use of them rather excessive in this book. I have always found that these words easily lose their impact when thrown around too easily; Less is more and all that. 

With that said though, Doyle was very effective in creating a mood for this story - and isn't that what good writing is about; to make us feel something? It felt dark, it felt oppressive and it felt a bit...Grimy? Gritty? Disturbing?

This story was narrated by the author Roddy Doyle who did a good job of bringing voice to his characters. 

Smile by Roddy Doyle is a good story, and he does a superb job of setting the mood, and yet for me, though I enjoyed it, I couldn't say that I loved it. 

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: Dear Edward, by Ann Napolitano

Dear Edward, by Ann Napolitano

Penguin Random House - 2020
Fiction - Literary (inspired by a real event)
Print
352 Pages

* I received this ARC courtesy of Penguin Random House Canada, in exchange of an honest review. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own.

I am using this title to fulfill item #2 - The frontlist - read a title less than 6 months old, on my 20 For 2020 Reading Challenge. You can see the challenge in its entirety HERE. It isn't too late to join the fun! 

Dear Andrew is a coming of age story, and more. It is at once hopeful and heartbreaking.  It is a profoundly moving story about finding one's way in life after having it torn from its foundation, about re-building when all seems lost, of processing our grief in our own time, and paying homage to lost loved ones while still living our own lives. 

The story follows a cast of characters, but focuses primarily on Edward "Eddie" Adler. As Edward boards a plane one fateful morning, he is aware that his life is going to change forever - after all, his family is moving from New York to Los Angeles. What no one on the plane can know, is that the plane will never reach its destination.  In a horrific turn of events, the plane crashes, and Edward - found still strapped to his seat, is the only survivor. 

His story captures the attention of the nation. Devastated and stunned by grief, Edward struggles to find his footing in his new world without his brother and parents. He has formed a bond with the young girl who lives next door to him in his new home with his Aunt and Uncle, but it isn't until an unexpected discovery that he is able to find peace, to find a way to honor the past while finding meaning in the present, and purpose and hope for his future. 

Napolitano's writing in Dear Edward shows an incredible amount of compassion.  Her ability to show The juxtaposition of the subjective and individual nature of grief versus the shared experience is incredibly well illustrated.  The characters in this novel are multi-faceted and even the minor characters in this story were well developed. The story is told in alternating time lines between the day of the crash, and the present. While this is a common method for writers, in this book works on multiple levels and is the perfect vehicle for this story. 

While primarily a work of fiction, this story was inspired by the real world events of May 12, 2010 in which a plane travelling from South Africa crashed before reaching its destination in Tripoli, killing all on board except a nine-year-old Dutch boy. 

Dear Andrew is a book that is a powerful and moving book that will take the reader through a range of emotions and reminds us that our connections may be deep or fleeting, but always contribute to who we have become or will become over time. 

NOTE: Library Journal has published a conversation with Ann Napolitano regarding the writing of this book which can be read HERE. 

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: When We Were Vikings, by Andrew David MacDonald

When We Were Vikings, by Andrew David MacDonald

Gallery Scout Press - Available January 28, 2020
Fiction - Literary
Print
336 Pages

* I received a review copy of this book courtesy of Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange of an honest review. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own.

A brilliant and charming tale of a modern day viking.

Zelda is a viking enthusiast.  She has read everything she can about them, and tries to lives according to the viking code. She is fiercely loyal to her tribe, and she is a warrior of sorts. 

Zelda was born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.  When her mother died, and living with their abusive uncle did not work out, it was up to her brother Gert to take care of her. For a while everything was good. But when Gert starts associating with the wrong kind of people, and trying to make money by questionable means,  Zelda embarks on a quest to protect the tribe, and save them both. 

This story was a touching and refreshing look at the struggles of a neurodiverse person in today's world. MacDonald has written a character that although afflicted with FASD, is not defined by it.  She is whole and multi-faceted, easily likable, and despite what cognitive challenges she does have, she also has a certain insight into the world around her.  

The marketing blurb indicates that this book is a good choice for people who enjoyed The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, by Mark Haddon. While I more often than not find these comparisons to be a distant reach at best, I think this time it is an appropriate comparison.  The Characters Zelda and Christopher both have a sort of cut-and-dry, no-nonsense charm to them, they both work hard to be fit into a world that doesn't really understand them, and they are both immensely likable.  

When We Were Vikings is a thoughtful and poignant tale of what it means to be a true warrior, and tells us that we can all be legendary if we try. 

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: The Book Of Dreams, by Nina George

The Book Of Dreams, by Nina George

Random House Audio - 2019
Fiction - Literary
Audiobook
Narrated by Steve West, Elizabeth Knowelden, and Xalvador Tim-Bradbury

10 Hours, 11 Minutes

The Book Of Dreams, by Nina George is a stunning story told from the the spaces between life and death, dreams and memory, past and present, and regret and redemption. 


The book follows three main characters. Henri, Sam, and Eddie. Each having their own story, yet each being very much part of each-other's. 

Henri, is a former war correspondent who has never been able to make the right decisions, and lives with his regrets. Sam is his estranged son. He is a Mensa candidate and a synesthete, experiencing the world quite differently than most people, and with greater sensitivity. Eddie is a woman who was once rejected by Henri.  She has moved on but she has yet to deal with the feelings she still has for him.

When Sam's school is holding a father-son event, he invites Henri to attend.  On the way to reunite with Sam, Henri has a horrible accident.  Badly injured and in a deep coma, he is admitted to a neurological facility with a questionable prognosis.

Sam starts skipping classes to visit with Henri, and it is while visiting that he meets Eddie. The two continue to visit daily, and bond over their mutual concern for Henri.

While Henri lingers in a coma, these three people all confront their own lives in the strange ethereal space where life and death, dreams and reality, and past and present meet. The threads of their lives beautifully woven into each other, swirling around and intersecting, each finding meaning in and from each other.  

I really struggled with writing my synopsis for this review.  To say too little risked making the story sound uninteresting, to say too much could spoil the beauty and magic of experiencing this story oneself.  While this story did not come across as a complicated read, it did have a subtle complexity. 

George's prose was breathtaking. The story evoked a mystical and ethereal feel that paired perfectly with the exploration of feelings of grief, regret, forgiveness and hope; of realizing our lives are not self-contained even if we may, at times, feel isolated. 

This story was narrated by Steve West, Elizabeth Knowelden, and Xalvador Tim-Bradbury. Each performing with clarity and pleasing tone, as well as performing with emotion appropriate to the story. Having a full cast of course makes it easier to follow a story such as this - told from multiple points of view.

Emotionally rich and poignant, The Book Of Dreams is a beautiful and moving story that will stay with a reader long after finishing.

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: Rooms, by Lauren Oliver

Rooms, by Lauren Oliver

Harper Audio - 2014
General Fiction / Horror
Audiobook

Narrated by Orlagh Cassidy, Barbara   Caruso, Elizabeth Evans, Noah Galvin, Cynthia Darlow,   and      Courtney Shaw

9 Hours, 20 Minutes

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rooms by Lauren Oliver is a beautifully haunting ghost story. 

Richard Walker has breathed his last breath. Estranged from his family, he was all but alone when he died...or was he really?

Now his family is coming to settle his estate and collect their inheritance. It is going to take more than the reading of the will to settle the affairs of this house though. His scorned ex-wife Caroline drinks too much, his daughter Minna enjoys the company of men too much, and his son Trenton is depressed and on the verge of suicide. There are other inhabitants in the house. Ghosts. The spirits of people who lived there before, that are bound to to the house itself, wearing it like a shared body.

All of the inhabitants of the house - living and dead, are dealing with painful memories, secrets, and traumatic histories, and they take turns in telling their stories, little by little. When Trenton begins to communicate with a new ghost, the lives of the living and the dead meet. The results are powerful and dramatic.

What bothers me about this book is that it is - in my humble opinion, often misclassified on two fronts. Because Lauren Oliver previously wrote YA books (I LOVED Liesl and Po!), many have mistakenly assumed that this book too is a YA. More importantly, I feel that it is classified as "Horror" just because of the presence of ghosts in the story, but the depth and beauty of the story would suggest something else. Literary fiction or Paranormal Fiction perhaps would seem more accurate to me. It was deeply moving, one of the most touching ghost stories I have ever read. 

One of my favorite passages from this book:

The audiobook was narrated by Orlagh Cassidy, Barbara Caruso, Elizabeth Evans, Noah Galvin, Cynthia Darlow, and Courtney Shaw. The narrators all had clear, pleasant voices and they were all well suited to their characters.  It is always a treat to listen to an audiobook with a cast of performers.

Rooms easily drew me in to its haunting tale and moved me the way few ghost stories do.

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: Ask Again, Yes, by Mary Beth Keane

Ask Again, Yes, by Mary Beth Keane

Simon & Schuster Canada - Available May 28th, 2019
Literary Fiction
E-book 

400 Pages
* I received this digital ARC courtesy of Simon & Schuster Canada, via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own. 

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A deeply moving story about the legacy of trauma and the healing power of forgiveness as told through two families over several generations.

The story opens in 1973 as Francis Gleeson and Brian Stanhope meet while both are rookies on the police force in New York. They ultimately end up being neighbors in a small suburban community as Francis and his wife Lena move in to the house next door to Brian and his wife Anne. The two  couples never develop any kind of close relationship, but the Stanhope's son Peter and the Gleeson's daughter Kate end up being the very best of friends.

One night something horrible happens which results in both families going in directions they could never have imagined. The Stanhopes must leave suddenly and Peter and Kate are torn apart, forbidden to contact each other.  The absence of each leaves a hole in the other's life, and eventually they find their way back together, their childhood friendship blossoming into something new; but the events of that fateful night years before cannot be forgotten Together, they lead themselves and their families on a journey of enlightenment, acceptance and forgiveness.

There is a saying, "be kind, for every person is fighting a battle you may know nothing about". This book beautifully captures that idea. Each of these characters is fighting battles- their own personal demons. This book also demonstrates the soul freeing power of forgiveness.  Keane's writing was superb and took me through a wide range of emotion, her characters complex but not complicated. The story so expertly woven that you do not immediately realize how delicate some of the threads are until you finish and see the story as a whole.

This stunning  and poignant story of trauma and tragedy, friendship and forgiveness,  is a great read by itself, but would be an excellent choice for a book club read or a buddy read.  

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: The Murmur Of Bees, by Sofia Segovia, translated by Simon Bruni

The Murmur Of Bees, by Sofia Segovia, Translated by Simon Bruni

Brilliance Audio - 2019
Literary Fiction
Audiobook
Narrated by Xe Sands and Angelo Di Loreto

14 Hours, 20 Minutes

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book has become an instant favorite of mine!

Intricate and heartwarming, with whispers of magic and destiny, this tale spans several generations, but is set primarily in early 1900's Mexico when a flu pandemic and a revolutionary war both work to change the course of the country.

The story follows the Morales family, but focuses mainly on Simonopio - the mysterious young boy they adopt after he is found abandoned under a bridge as a newborn, covered with the bees that will prove to be life-long companions. Simonopio is not a typical boy. Born with a cleft palate, his survival was in itself a miracle at the time. While some people of the town are superstitious and frightened of him, claiming his disfigurement was the result of being "kissed by the Devil", his adopted family adore him as one of their own. Simonopio has the ability to sense the future, and he and his bees use the gift to help his beloved family navigate the uncertainty of the time and fulfill his destiny. 

I simply cannot describe the beauty of this story with its subtle nuances and intricate design. It is at once about love and hate - but mostly love, selflessness and jealousy, the families we are born into and those we choose. It is the history of a nation that struggled to survive despite itself. It is an ode to resilience and compassion.

Written in Spanish, this is the author's first work translated into English. It was translated by Simon Bruni who has the amazing talent of ensuring that the words find their way to the reader with all the subtleties, power, and mood intact. I have have read two other novels that Bruni translated  - The Light Of The Fireflies, by Paul Pen and more recently Desert Flowers, also written by Paul Pen (read my review of that book HERE) - both were excellent reads as well.

Narration for this book was also superb. Performed, in part, by someone who has become one of my favorite narrators - Xe Sands, who has the most amazing ability to evoke a full and powerful range of emotion from the listener, a perfect choice for this story rife with delicate and subtle shifts of mood and emotion.  The story had a second narrator who was new to me, but was stellar in his performance as well. Angelo Di Loreto has a smooth, deep voice and his performance was able to stand with his fellow narrator in this story. This pair was the perfect combination to deliver this stunning story.

Tender and subtly nuanced, the beauty of this story took my breath away. I highly recommend it.

Happy Reading,

Christine