The Revisioners

 

A book filled with powerful characters, family connections and history. While the groundwork was laid for a really satisfying read, it fell just slightly short for me.

Josephine is our main character here, and she's represented in the various timelines presented. We see her as a child in 1855, her family in the bonds of slavery. We meet her again in the 1920s, as she's free and raising her own family. And we meet her again through her granddaughter, who is living in present-day New Orleans, raising her son and facing the echoes of the racism her grandmother fought through.

There are ghosts of the past throughout this book. There are stops and starts on powerful connections between timelines. But the ends never quite connected for me in a way that was meaningful or memorable. 

Loved the characters and concept. It was well-written, too. But, I wanted something to more powerfully honor Josephine and the sacrifices she made for her descendants' freedom. 

A Thousand Ships

 

It's probably the most written-about war in human history. Finally, after all of these centuries, we get to hear about the Trojan War from the women.

I love this whole genre of literature. Loved it in Circe, love it here. Haynes explores the fall of Troy from the women who were made into slaves, the women who loved the warriors, the women left to fend for themselves. It changes the perspective completely, as women are no longer the ones blamed (Helen) or the ones watching. We hear instead about life as second-class citizens or worse and we are also allowed to be awed by their strength.

If you have even a passing interest in Greek Mythology, this is a fantastic read. It gets tricky at times to keep track of all the women because of their names and the names of the men to whom they're typically attached. But, the payoff of beautiful storytelling is worth it.

My favorite parts of the book are the inserts from Penelope, written as letters to her husband Odysseus. He may be remembered by literature as a brave exploring warrior, working his way home. Penelope sees it another way - and, she's OVER IT. 

Finally (and of least relevance), I love the title so much. The entire time this was on my nightstand, I remembered one of my favorite works of songwriting. The final verse of the Indigo Girls "Ghost" is perfection.

May I?

The End of October

 

Look, I've made some questionable choices over this last year. Reading a book about a pandemic during a pandemic was up there as one of the worst. The book was good - but maybe wait until this pandemic is over to give it a try.

The End of October starts with a pandemic overseas and the attempts to isolate it. A key researcher with the CDC happens to be there as it unfolds, and tries to warn his wife and family in America to prepare. Quickly, we see the pandemic spread across the globe and the government attempts to stop it.

But, shit gets dark. 

Like, kids burying adults dark.

And government conspiracy dark.

While much of this story was interesting in a Michael Crichton kind of way, the author complicates things a bit by introducing plotlines and characters that, on their own, would be chilling enough. Throw in the pandemic and it's just a lot to take. At least for those dumb enough to read it before being vaccinated.

Light from Other Stars

 

There were times when I was reading this book when I wasn't sure if it was going to pay off. Now, a couple of weeks after I've finished, I can't stop thinking about it. What a unique, creative story with a twist that took my breath away.

The story shows our main character Nedda as a child and as an adult. As a child growing up in the shadow of NASA, she dreams of becoming an astronaut. Her dad is connected to the space program, too, and much of their bond involves watching the stars.  Her life changes dramatically the day she witnesses the Challenger explode (as someone who has a child on that day, the implications of her memory are powerful.) 

Flashing forward in the novel, we see Nedda living her dream: she's in space, as part of an experimental group that will colonize a new planet. They've had to say goodbye - forever - to everything and everyone they love and make this sacrifice for the future of civilization. What she and her fellow astronauts are going through is made possible through an experiment her father had done decades ago. An experiment that - when it happened - went horribly wrong.

I hesitate to give away anymore, because the details of that failed experiment and its connection to the later space mission provide fascinating plot twists. But, it's a powerful book about family and friendship and dreams and what we do for those we love, no matter the cost.

Want

 

This is not what it's about, but take a moment and appreciate this cover. The title, the colors... No question what made me want to read this book. And the plot drew me in, too. Three weeks later (as I try to catch up on these reviews), I can barely remember what it's about.

Our main character is one I'm seeing a lot more of now: a successful woman, married with kids, who is exhausted by life and desiring more. I realize this has been a trope for decades, but I'm reading more of these characters now. Could be my age, position in life, whatever. Either way, I may need a break because as soon as these novels start, I have a sense where they're going. They're just not as interesting to me anymore.

In this book, our main character is at this turning point in life and is desperately trying to connect with a childhood friend. It's that relationship that has defined her life - and that friend is dealing with a crisis of her own. Their reconnection helps define our protagonist's response to her own life and I honestly can't remember how it ends because it wasn't that interesting anymore by then.

God-level knowledge darts: Life lessons from The Bronx

 

I should have written about this book right after I read it, but I read it so quickly, life just passed me by.

I cackled at this book. I read passages out loud to my husband. He's reading it now and little does he know, I already read most of it to him.

I saw this on the shelf at my favorite local independent bookstore and it just felt right to me. Even though I DIDN'T KNOW WHO DESUS AND MERO WERE BEFORE I READ THIS! Given my reaction to their book and my obsessive listening of their podcast since, this was a gross oversight on my part. But, it's rectified now. We're all good.

 
Desus and Mero have been around for years. They're funny, smart, somewhat irreverent, but not crude for the sake of being crude. This book bounces back and forth between them (you can keep it straight by the different fonts for each voice.) It's their take on everything from raising kids to finding love to drugs to being a man.

I loved it. You could pick it up and put it down with weeks in between and not lose any sort of plot or continuity. But, like me, you may find yourself devouring it in one night.