The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead is a 2019 Doubleday publication.
Drawing from the events of real-life Dozier School for Boys, this novel is centerThe Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead is a 2019 Doubleday publication.
Drawing from the events of real-life Dozier School for Boys, this novel is centered around ‘The Nickel Academy’- a similarly nightmarish reform school.
The story follows a good kid named Elwood Curtis, who is in the wrong place at the wrong time and gets sent to the notorious reform school, and the more worldly and street smart, Jack Turner, who takes Elwood under his wing.
Years later, the discovery of an unmarked graveyard catapults the school into the spotlight, and prompts Turner to reflect on his time as a ‘Nickel Boy’ and to finally confess to his wife the atrocities of the school and the truth of what happened to him and Elwood.
This book, short though it was, is a harrowing novel, right from the first chapter to the final page. Its passages are tense and difficult and then ultimately it rips your heart out. I was icy hot with rage, and utterly gutted by this story. To think this book borrows from true events makes it more tragic and disturbing.
This novel is well-written as it certainly drew me in and held my undivided attention, and brought to life the possibilities that died, the lives destroyed and ruined, and the scars that followed the survivors the rest of their lives.
I must admit this is my first book by this author. I’m always very, very, very late to add Pulitzer Prize winners, or any other award-winning novels, to my reading list- If I add them at all- which is why I am just now getting around to reading this book.
With all the big prizes and awards attached, I wasn’t expecting such a raw, minimalist approach – but it was much more effective- and realistic, to be totally honest.
While I normally feel these great award winners have a short shelf-live on relevancy, I certainly don’t think that is the case here- or with ‘Railroad’, though I have yet to read that one.
Despite the straightforward, bare-bones prose, the story knocked me back on my heels and left me feeling numb, and unable to process it fully for a while.
Several reviews have been honest in saying that as a follow up to the massively successful ‘Railroad’, this one didn’t quite have the same impact. Be that as it may, for now, I have to say this is an exceptional novel, which should stand on its own merits, away from the shadow cast by its immediate predecessor. The story packs a heck of punch and is important enough that I urge everyone to read it.
Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker is a 2020 Doubleday publication.
This is a hard review to write.
I knew goiHidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker is a 2020 Doubleday publication.
This is a hard review to write.
I knew going in the book was bound to be a difficult read, but I had no idea how emotionally draining it would become. I also didn’t realize, until I finally sat down to write this review, how conflicted I would still feel about it…
Don and Mimi Galvin started their family in the mid-forties and continued having children, despite doctor’s orders, until the mid-sixties, eventually adding a total of twelve children to their family. While the size of their family raised eyebrows, they seemed well adjusted- at least on the surface. But, behind closed doors the family was trying to internally cope with an epidemic of mental illness.
Meanwhile, those children who were not afflicted, were left to their own devices, emotionally neglected, and were at times victims of horrific abuse inflicted on them by their mentally ill siblings.
The author alternates the developments in the Galvin family with facts about Schizophrenia and mental illness, the way psychiatry approached it, the medical treatments, genetics and environmental connections through the years. I was amazed by the attitudes about mental illness and the effects of the drugs prescribed to help control the disease, with the side effects greatly reducing the quality of life and leading to an early death at times. I just can’t imagine!
While I agree that the author took a very measured and delicate approach with the family, I still picked up on a distinct narrowing of blame, despite all efforts to avoid it. I think that even now, with all the various avenues of support available, with the push to destigmatize mental illness, there is still a feeling of shame attached to it for many people of a certain era.
In the seventies, mental illness was often handled privately in families, or labeled as some other type of illness, because no one wanted to admit, sometimes not even to themselves, what the true nature of an illness might be. I’m not making excuses for anyone, but some will want to judge this family by today’s standards, which is not entirely fair.
I had to wonder if Mimi also suffered from a form of mental illness herself, or if her ‘magical thinking’, acting as though everything was normal, was a coping mechanism for someone who has lost control of her life, who is watching her children suffer greatly, and is helpless to prevent it. Perhaps her actions were an attempt to hold herself together- because what would happen if she collapsed under the strain?
The only good thing that has come from this terribly painful situation is that the family DNA has been beneficial in the study of this very difficult disease, opening up avenues in understanding genetics, treatment, or maybe even prevention- which gives the reader much needed hope after watching a family endure such incredible pain for so long.
This is an agonizing book to sink oneself into. My heart went out this family. My feelings are all over the place, though. I’m pained by some of the judgments passed, while also understanding why one might feel that way about the Galvin’s. Although, I have to admit, if I had been in Mimi’s shoes, I would have been completely overwhelmed. It sounds unbearable.
I once knew a couple who had four children- one of which has beaten cancer. While the child was in treatment, I could see how hard it was to divide the ratio of time between the sick child and the healthy children. I see that it’s not fair, but I also saw a support system in place, there were people around to pick up the slack, to talk to, to provide counseling, although it’s rarely enough.
I didn’t see that Mimi had much of this kind of support. In fact, she once admitted she had no one to talk to, and frankly her children’s lives were obviously at risk too, as it was so shockingly made clear.
My point being that apparently people are still judging mental illness in a different way, and Mimi wasn't given the help and support she might have if her children had been physically handicapped or ill.
At the same time, Mimi's response to her daughter’s revelations was almost too appalling for me to digest. My brain is still on overload, and I remain very torn on how to feel about this book. I really can’t see how anyone could have a pat answer, though.
It’s a painful story to read, incredible on so many levels, but also one that is compelling, and informative. I’m glad I read the book because it has awakened a desire to learn more about severe mental illness and to better understand the needs of families living with this disease.
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite is a 2018 Doubleday Books publication.
Genius!
That provocative title and amazing cover art certaiMy Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite is a 2018 Doubleday Books publication.
Genius!
That provocative title and amazing cover art certainly piques one's curiosity. Noticing all the positive reactions the book received, I just had to see for myself if it was worth all the kudos.
Well, I have to say, this is my kind of book!! Seriously, I really, really, really love satire and dark humor. I do understand it is often an acquired taste, but it takes a special kind of creativity and balance to pull it off. Dark humor and satire are often very subtle and if you aren’t in on the joke, it can sail right over your head. It requires a little more effort, from the reader, too, on occasion, and that is the case with this book.
Family is supposed to help one another out, right?
Set in Nigeria, amid a corrupt system of law and order, Korede is forever coming to the aid of her beautiful, but kooky, younger sister, Ayoola, who has a bad habit of killing her boyfriends. She always claims self-defense, but she’s never injured, and her conscience never seems to suffer.
Korede, is a borderline, antisocial nurse, more comfortable around her comatose patient, to whom she bears her soul, than with anyone else. She has a crush on Tade, a doctor she works closely with. However, when Ayoola shows up at the hospital to visit her sister, Tade is immediately smitten with her. So, not only is Korede hurt emotionally, with her sister’s history with men to consider, this development is quite troubling.
Deep down, Korede is angry, jealous of her beautiful, favored sister, but she always comes to her rescue. Ayoola is self-absorbed, flaunting her beauty, and appears not to notice the stress and strain she causes Korede.
Both sisters are flawed, with abominable character traits, but at the same time, they both managed to, inconceivably, elicit sympathy from me. The author creates a unique brand of suspense, an ever- present sense of dread, while toying with the readers' emotions. The social commentary could be at the core of the story, perhaps playing a key role in the sisters’ pathos.
“I cannot imagine her resorting to stabbing if that particular knife were not in her hand; almost as if it were the knife and not her that was doing the killing. But then, is that so hard to believe? Who is to say that an object does not come with its own agenda? Or that the collective agenda of its previous owners does not direct its purpose still?”
There’s much to ponder on in this amazing debut novel. Kordede’s stoic inner thoughts stole the show for me, though. The story is meant to be dark, meant to be taken seriously, but so sardonic, it is morbidly funny at times.
But, one thing is for certain, this author has done an incredible job creating these wickedly entertaining characters, adding rich layers to the story, while keeping the prose pointed and sharp, even minimal, and still manages to add the rarity of humor into the mix with perfect balance and poise. I simply could not tear my eyes off the pages. It is also a rarity for me to say I liked a book better than I thought I would, but this one caught me completely off guard.
Overall, I am mightily impressed with this stunning, but unsettling debut, and yes, it deserves the kudos...more
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern Is a 2011 Doubleday publication.
Enchanting
I’ve been having so much fun reading books "the entire world has read-The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern Is a 2011 Doubleday publication.
Enchanting
I’ve been having so much fun reading books "the entire world has read- but me"-and this book- with 619,169 ratings and 67,560 reviews on Goodreads, and 8,712 ratings on Amazon, should meet the qualifications for my personal reading challenge. I have heard such wonderful things about this book and have been meaning to read it for ages. Now seemed as good of a time as any-
Le Cirque des Rêves is alluring, with a quality unlike any other circus- but it’s only open at night! However, underneath the surface an intense, fierce battle is playing out between two magicians, Marco and Celia, who have trained since childhood for this challenge. Yet, once the games begin, unforeseen complications arise…
The couple falls hopelessly in love with each other- but tragically the competition is not one that can be forfeited- it is one that must be played out until there is only one of them left standing.
The story is whimsical, suspenseful, and of course I loved the doomed romantic theme. I loved the imagination, the historical settings, and of course, that wonderful magical atmosphere.
However, as excited as I was to read this book, it fell just a little bit short of living up to the hype. In my opinion, the depth was superficial, and the emotional connection never fully developed for me. That is not to say I didn’t enjoy the story immensely, because it did hold me spellbound. It was a fast read, very absorbing, and a nice change of pace for me, as I don’t read much fantasy or magic realism.
I am glad I finally managed to read this book. Although it didn’t meet all of my expectations, it certainly swept me away into a magical world far away from the stresses of real life- and that’s good enough for me.
I am Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon is a 2018 Doubleday publication.
No matter how many movies, documentaries, or books I’ve watched or read, the romantic I am Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon is a 2018 Doubleday publication.
No matter how many movies, documentaries, or books I’ve watched or read, the romantic in me simply can’t resist the fascination and the mystery of Anastasia Romanov. This book examines the life of Anna Anderson, who claimed she was Anastasia, while also chronicling the period of time the Romanov’s were in exile, leading up to their execution during the Bolshevik Revolution.
Anna’s claims captured our imaginations for decades and sparked many debates over the legitimacy of her pronouncement. While she was often met with skepticism, she also had many staunch supporters. I, for one, always loved the notion surrounding this legend. I hoped, no matter how far-fetched or doubtful the probability, that Anna Anderson really was Anastasia Romanov.
If a miracle did happen, and Anastasia somehow managed to survive, we could all rationalize our fascination with the Czar’s daughter, from Ingrid Bergman’s oscar winning portrayal, to the animated Disney film, and all points in between. But, of course, the reality is far more serious and grim.
This novel is obviously a very ambitious undertaking. Giving voice to Anastasia, and Anna Anderson, describing minute historical details, adding authentic and vivid dialogue, along with solid pacing, and well-drawn characterizations.
This story is very interesting, and the author certainly did her homework, doing a great job of laying out Anna’s complexities. Anna was difficult, but also lived with a host of mental issues, making her a sympathetic figure on occasion, which left me with conflicting emotions. I often wondered how other people who have read this book felt about her in the end.
However, I must address the elephant in the room when it comes to the way the author structured the novel. She explains the method to her madness in a note at the end of the book, and it does make sense, from the viewpoint of the writer, and logically, I see where she’s coming from. However, the backwards/forwards, first and third person narratives made the book more difficult to read than need be, in my opinion. I did struggle with the format, I must say. However, others may not be bothered by it at all, and may even benefit from it. I’m not always the sharpest tool in the shed, so there is that. However, I did agree with the concept of separating ‘Anastasia’ from ‘Anna’, but I did wish for a more traditional type of dual timeline, without all that skipping around.
The novel’s strongest area is the pacing and the agonizingly taut build -up of suspense. We must watch with mounting dread as the Romanov’s are taken to Siberia, the clock ticking away as they careen towards their ultimate, tragic fate. This part of the story is interwoven with Anna’s as she sits in a German court waiting on their decision, hoping she will at long last lay legitimate and official claim to the name ‘Anastasia Romanov’. The theories mapped out here are very imaginative, plausible, realistic and thought provoking. I can tell the author put a great deal of thought and time into this novel, which is much appreciated. Although it took me a long time to get through the book, really struggling with it at times, ultimately, I found it to be quite interesting and I’m glad I didn’t give up on it.
One point I think we can all agree on, no matter what, is that Anna’s claims turned Anastasia Romanov into a legend, taking on a life of its own. If not for her, Anastasia and her sisters would most likely have long been forgotten over time, along with other royal families who were met with the same fate. Just a little something to ponder over-
I do recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Romanov history, of course, but be prepared- this is not a fairy tale! I would also recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction in general. This book will most likely spark your curiosity about the Romanov family and you will want to learn more about this them, and the events leading up to their capture, exile, and murders.
Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan is a 2017 Doubleday publication.
Hilarity and intrigue merge to create yet another wildly entertaining installment iRich People Problems by Kevin Kwan is a 2017 Doubleday publication.
Hilarity and intrigue merge to create yet another wildly entertaining installment in this fabulous series!
As with the previous installments, a little time has elapsed, meaning there have been a few changes since we last touched base with all these zany characters.
Rachel and Nicholas receive word that his grandmother is suffering from congestive heart failure. As the family begins to gather around her, Nicholas feels pressured from all sides to return home.
He finally agrees, but in the meantime Eddie is working hard hoping he will be the one to inherit from his grandmother’s will, and Astrid is going through a contentious divorce as is her lover, Charlie Wu.
Kitty is still playing all angles, working to get all she deserves, (or thinks she does), while engaging in a battle of wills with her step-daughter.
What I enjoyed most about this installment was the background information provided about Su Yi, and the surprising turn of events that gives Nicholas the chance to finally understand his grandmother. It's poignant, insightful, and very interesting- but the irony! OMG! Hilarious.
But, never fear, all the fabulous clothes, food, and destination spots are described in vivid details, and there is certainly no shortage of drama!!
The way everything came together in the end suggests this is the last installment in the series. Boo!
I have really had a lot of fun reading about these insanely rich Asians and all their conniving, manipulative shallowness, as well as learning about their language, slang, and traditions. But, the epic and wonderful love stories were at the heart of everything. The characters evolved and changed beautifully, most of them finding contentment in one way or the other, which is very satisfying.
I have heard there was a movie in works based on this series, so at least I have that to look forward to!
Overall, this third, and last, book in the series is every bit as entertaining as the first two, but with a slight bittersweet tone at times. But, the divine ending was all I could have asked for!!
The Hollywood Daughter by Kate Alcott is a 2017 Doubleday publication.
Alcott captures the glamour and awe of Hollywood amid the tensions and fears ofThe Hollywood Daughter by Kate Alcott is a 2017 Doubleday publication.
Alcott captures the glamour and awe of Hollywood amid the tensions and fears of McCarthyism and the scandal that sent shockwaves throughout the industry, but is also an intimate look at family, the cracks in the veneer, the loyalty, the secrets, and the importance of learning priorities, relinquishing false illusions, and learning to forgive, not only others, but yourself.
This story may have gotten off to a slow start, but by the half way mark, I was completely immersed in the drama surrounding the paranoia of McCarthyism and Ingrid Bergman’s shocking affair that made her a cast out for nine long years, but equally compelled by Jessica’s family dynamic and personal experiences at her Catholic school, and her relationship with her parents, especially with her mother.
Jessica’s father is Ingrid’s publicist, and Jessica is absolutely devoted to Ingrid. Her reverence for Ingrid is so deeply rooted she remains devoutly loyal to her through the scandal and her exile, which came at a very high personal cost to Jessica and her family.
The author did an incredible job of bringing Ingrid Bergman to life, of creating the anxiety and toll the Hollywood witch hunt took on the industry, how it hurt people, and the fall out of Bergman’s adulterous affair, as seen through the eyes of young Jessica during her teenage years.
The story delves into Jessica’s personal life, as she struggles through the angst of growing up, dealing with her mother’s periods of depression and her parent’s marital woes. Her personal journey is tied in with Bergman’s life in so many ways, as it is with her father’s career, which causes her to make, then regret, personal and very controversial decisions, that will follow her into adulthood, haunting her to the point where she finally reaches an emotional precipice of adulthood.
I have always loved novels centered around the ‘golden age’ of Hollywood, because let’s be honest, that level of glamour, writing, and acting has never quite reached that pinnacle in any era since then. I was not familiar with the big Bergman scandal until, while watching ‘Casablanca’ with my parents, they related the story of how she became a pariah in the United States, with her scandalous affair, reaching all the way to the Senate floor, where she was lambasted as ‘powerful influence of evil’.
But, the story is much more than a coming of age tale, and touches on more than a young girl’s fantasy surrounding her favorite actress. It was also about judgmental hypocrisy, the drive to censor the arts, the conflicts Jessica faces about her church and religion, especially after the harsh and swift retribution passed in Hollywood, on Bergman, and her own family.
But, I think it also speaks to the incredible and unrealistic pressure we place on celebrities, by placing them on a pedestal to be worshiped, insisting they live up to our idealized image of them, when the truth is, they are people, just like you and me. When they fall, make a blunder, like an ill -advised tweet, for example, we will crucify them today, just as Bergman was judged and shamed back in 1949/50.
But, in the end, Jessica's struggle to understand her mother, fighting her own personal inability to forgive herself,unable to move forward without relinquishing her idealist hero worship of Ingrid Bergman, is at the heart of the story.
In the end, Jessica will mature enough to see which realtionships are the most important, will find understanding, and move on into adulthood, stronger and more at ease with herself.
I enjoyed Jessica’s journey, her voice was real, honest, and heartfelt, and realistic and really struck a chord with me.
I would like to say we’ve moved forward, upwards and onwards from those days, but we still fall into those same traps, and are ever in danger of seeing history repeat itself, but one thing we will probably never experience again in the same way, is the Golden Years of Hollywood.
The Sleepwalker by Chris Bohjalian is a 2017 Doubleday publication.
This book caught my eye when it started to crop up on my Goodreads feed. So, I madThe Sleepwalker by Chris Bohjalian is a 2017 Doubleday publication.
This book caught my eye when it started to crop up on my Goodreads feed. So, I made a request for my Overdrive library to buy a copy of the book and would like to thank them for adding it.
Touted as a suspenseful thriller, ‘The Sleepwalker’ delves into the murky world of sleep disorders. What happens when someone walks in their sleep? Could they engage is risky behavior? Could they harm someone or themselves?
That is what is on the mind of Lianna Ahlberg when her mother goes missing. Did her sleepwalking condition play a role? Are all the rumors about her to be believed? Was she in an accident or did something far more sinister take place?
This story is a little moody and there is an edgy atmosphere that left me with an uneasy feeling all the way through the book, unsure who to believe or who to trust.
The sleep disorder theme, which is a major thread throughout, touches on Parasomnias, and sleep sex. Some of the imagery and symptoms made me feel a little uncomfortable, but, the topic is fascinating and prompted me to do a little internet search on it.
While the story has its intense moments of psychological suspense, it was also a story about family and all its complexities, especially when coping with such an unusual family trait.
However, the story took a surprising turn towards the end and I wasn’t quite sure how to feel about it and still don’t, to be honest, it is thought provoking and the storyline is original, so there is that.
Although the story didn't quite resonate with me the way I had hoped, it is a good read, one psychological thriller fans should really like.
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah is a 2016 Spiegel & Grau publication.
I’ve been a fan of Trevor Noah since he starBorn a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah is a 2016 Spiegel & Grau publication.
I’ve been a fan of Trevor Noah since he started hosting ‘The Daily Show’, but after reading this book, I’m an even bigger fan.
I admit I know virtually nothing about South Africa other than the absolute obvious, like what is reported in the news. So, Trevor gives readers like myself a bit of a history and a maybe a civics lesson too, in how people are divided by class and race and the thought process or mindset of those who live in this country.
Noah is of mixed race, born right before the end of apartheid, which made his birth illegal because whites and blacks were not allowed to have intercourse, a crime punishable by up to five years in prison.
Despite his unique heritage, and his early isolation, Trevor’s mother provided him with an unconventional upbringing, one that obviously shaped him into the man and the success he would become as an adult.
So, while this book is a memoir centered around Trevor’s childhood memories, and is an enlightening peek into the culture of South Africa, what I took away from this book was how much his mother loved him, how her parenting influenced him, made him strong, taught him respect, and protected him from serious missteps.
I think, in his way, this book is not only a collection of Trevor’s vivid childhood memories and experiences, it’s an ode to his mother.
These stories are often hysterically funny, but of course there are few difficult passages, too. But, overall, I enjoyed this book all the way from start to finish. Trevor’s voice is fresh and real, and his stories seem to come from his heart, showing a deep affection for his mom, detailing his adventures, both good and bad, with wry wit and humor that captured my heart and imagination.
Trevor Noah is a wonderful comedic talent, but he’s proven he can write with equal success. I hope he continues to drop by the book world from time to time and of course wish him much luck with his hosting duties on ‘The Daily Show’.
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