The Museum of Ordinary People

 

I started 2026 by reading The Wedding People by Lily King. It had some impressive accolades associated with it as well as recommendations from family members. It all seemed very promising. However, once I began reading the book, I knew it wasn’t for me. Admittedly, I didn’t get terribly far into it. Its overall tone is rather cynical and bitter. Also, there are too many F-bombs and indecent language for my taste. That just isn’t good writing in my opinion.

So, I had to turn my attention to another book…

Clearing out her mother’s house after her death was an emotional experience for Jess. That’s how The Museum of Ordinary by Mike Gayle starts.

From her belongings, Jess keeps an old set of encyclopedias that her mother gave her when she was 11-years-old. These books represented a hopeful future to Jess. So, she couldn’t dream of parting with them. Yet it is now time for her to let go of them if she’s going to move forward in life with her boyfriend Guy, but does she actually want the future that Guy is offering her? That’s when she hears about the Museum of Ordinary People from her best friend as a possible permanent home for them.

The Museum of Ordinary People is a storage room that houses a collection of items that no one wants, but shouldn’t be totally disregarded, like Jess’ encyclopedias. As an aspiring museum curator, Jess becomes fascinated with the museum and its history at her first visit to it. That’s when she meets Alex, a mysterious young man with facial scars who presently owns the museum.

Jess is so moved by the concept of the museum and saw great potential in it that she asks Alex if she could curate its unusual assortment of treasures to give it some legitimacy. Doing this project would give Jess a sense of purpose – something she has been missing for a while. They eventually agree that she would work on it for six months in her spare time. Jess is thrilled with this arrangement, and as a reader, I am swept up in her enthusiasm and want to see her and the museum succeed.

As a first-time curator, Jess experiences the growing pains of starting a new and innovative museum. Also, during this time, Jess faces personal challenges and comes to startling realizations about her own life. It is certainly a time of self-discovery.

This is the third book by Mike Gayle that I’ve reviewed for Maria's Book Banter. All three of these novels center around the themes of death, dying, the grieving process and their complexities. He writes with sensitivity and poignancy while telling meaningful stories without using offensive verbiage. Thank you Mike Gayle!

Become a Banterer! If you would like to be placed on Maria's Book Banter’s e-mailing list, please e-mail me at mariabookbanter@gmail.com. You will receive links to blog posts shortly after they are published. Your contact information will not be sold. If you would like to be removed from the list, let me know. Any questions, comments or book recommendations can be sent to this e-mail address too.

The Homemade God

 Artist Vic Kemp announces to his four adult children that he's getting married to a much younger woman named Bella-Mae who he met online six weeks earlier. That’s how The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce begins.

This news shocks the Kemp siblings since Vic has always been opposed to the institution of marriage. They have a lot of questions like what changed his mind about getting married and is Bella-Mae pushing him to do this. In the meantime, Vic is supposedly working on a major work of art that would be his masterpiece at his advanced age. However, the children wondered whether this was actually happening since Bella-Mae came into his life.

Bella-Mae raised their suspicions from the beginning. She made excuses not to meet the rest of the kemp family. Bella-Mae is an internet influencer. How much influence does she have on their father, they asked themselves. It seemed that Bella-Mae was taking over Vic’s entire life, and yet she remained quite a mystery to all of them.

After Vic marries Bella-Mae – a wedding his children aren’t invited to - he disappears from their lives. That’s when they received word that their father is dead from a drowning accident. What comes next for the Kemp siblings is a lot of chaos and confusion regarding the last weeks and days of Vic’s life, the actual drowning itself and what was to follow. There's also the matter of the painting he was working on at the time of his death. What happened to that? The stress of it all is causing the close-knit Kemps to turn on each other at a critical time when they should be banding together.

Going deeper into the story and as more jaw-dropping, family secrets are revealed, I form theories and guesses about what is really going on here. It’s that kind of a book.

The Homemade God is a wonderfully written novel with well thought-out characters who make this story come alive. Each Kemp child has their own unique backstory and distinct personality that blend well together to create an engrossing narrative that shouldn’t be missed by anyone who loves mysteries wrapped up in family drama.

This may or may not be the last Maria's Book Banter post of 2025. It’s hard to say at this point. If it is, I wish you a Joy-filled holiday season and all the best for 2026.

If you would like to be placed on Maria's Book Banter’s e-mailing list, please e-mail me at mariabookbanter@gmail.com. You will receive links to blog posts shortly after they are published. Your contact information will not be sold. If you would like to be removed from the list, let me know. Any questions, comments or book recommendations can be sent to this e-mail address too.

The Story of Grenville King

 The Story of Grenville King by Jean Grainger is not a book I would normally choose for Maria's Book Banter since it’s the third book in a series. I usually blog about standalone books. However, after reading its summary, it didn’t seem like a continuation of a story.

About a year ago, I read the first book in this series, The Tour. I absolutely loved it for its wit and overall cheeriness. So, I'm happy to give The Story of Grenville King a try.

Here, we meet Conor O’Shea again. He is now married to Anastasia and they have twin boys. Conor is still leading bus tours of Ireland when one of his former tourists, Corlene Holbrooke, convinces him to buy and renovate Castle Dysert turning it into a hotel. Conor would be running the place once it’s opened for guests. With his charm and experience working in the tourism industry, he would be perfect for the job.

This story takes us through the tragic history of Castle Dysert and its ghost haunting mysteries, its restoration process, the hotel’s publicity campaign, as well as the general business of launching an upscale resort.

For me, The Story of Grenville King doesn’t have the same delightful spirit that The Tour had. There isn’t an assortment of fun characters with life stories and situations that keep the reader engaged and wanting to read more. Much of it deals with Conor’s marital and family concerns, which wasn’t what I had in mind when I picked this book. That said, there is a story arc involving Corlene and her son that is compelling, worthwhile reading.

It’s hard to find books to read with enthusiasm. At least, it is for me. That is part of the reason for the long delay since my last post. If you have any book recommendations for Maria's Book Banter, please send them to the e-mail listed below.

If you would like to be placed on Maria's Book Banter’s e-mailing list, please e-mail me at mariabookbanter@gmail.com. You will receive links to blog posts shortly after they are published. Your contact information will not be sold. If you would like to be removed from the list, let me know. Any questions, comments or book recommendations can be sent to this e-mail address too.

The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris

In The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris by Daisy Wood, Juliette is in Paris looking for a particular square where her grandmother used to spend time. She has only a picture to help her find it. However, while there, she discovers that her marriage is in serious trouble. Not wanting to go home, Juliette decides to stay in France.

Now alone in Paris, Juliette is looking for a sense of purpose. She believes there's a reason for her to be there. Could it have something to do with the closed-up shop that is on the ground floor of her apartment building? She learns that it was a bookstore at one time. 

The story also takes us back to German-occupied France where we meet a young, Parisian couple, Jacques and Mathilde. They are staying there during the occupation to protect the bookshop that Jacques owns. His store, La Page Cachee, sells books that are forbidden by the Nazis. To hide them, Jacques builds a secret room in his store. This storage area will eventually be used to hide individuals away from the invaders.

Jacques and Mathilde are taking dangerous risks working against Hitler’s regime since the penalty for hiding a person is death. These chapters capture the fear, trepidation and despair felt by many French people during these times.

Despite Jacques and Mathilde’s cloak-and-dagger activities, I didn’t get a sense of exciting intrigue that I would expect from historical literature like this until the end. It is only when Jacques hides a small group of children that I became more emotionally involved. Much of these parts are written in a very matter-of-fact style. The main reason I enjoy this type of book is for its suspenseful, unexpected twists and turns. I don’t feel I got enough of that here.

As for Juliette and the forgotten bookshop, I didn’t find that storyline to be too realistic. Not that a novel and its characters have to be staunchly true-to-life. It’s just that its conclusion is a bit too idealistic. Also, like the most of Nazi narrative, this plot is lackluster as well.

I chose this book because I liked its title – The Forgotten Bookshop of Paris – but in the end, it left me rather disappointed.

If you would like to be placed on Maria's Book Banter’s e-mailing list, please e-mail me at mariabookbanter@gmail.com. You will receive links to blog posts shortly after they are published. Your contact information will not be sold. If you would like to be removed from the list, let me know. Any questions, comments or book recommendations can be sent to this e-mail address too.

Good Material

I first heard about Good Material by Dolly Alderton on a local morning news show. The anchor raved about it. What she described sounded like the perfect book for Maria's Book Banter.

Andy’s longtime girlfriend, Jen, recently broke up with him and he's not taking it well. In fact, he's obsessing over her and why she ended the relationship.

This book chronicles the days, weeks and months following the break-up. It takes us through the changes in Andy’s life – the good decisions he makes and the bad ones too. We are privy to Andy’s neurotic thoughts, moods and activities, and how he is handling the split and facing life without Jen.

As a profession, Andy performs as a stand-up on London’s comedy circuit. A fellow comedian and other friends suggest that Andy use his experiences with Jen in his act, hence, Good Material.

For much of the story, there isn’t too many dramatic plot shifts. Also, Andy’s inability to let go of the past gets tiresome. Yet, I can't overlook the amusement of the quirkiness of his life. There are several humorous characters that make this a fun book. Take, for example, Andy’s conspiracy theorist housemate, Morris, who sort of predicts the pandemic months ahead of time. The bottom line is Good Material gave me many chuckles and even belly laughs. So, for that reason, I think it’s a book worth reading.

If you would like to be placed on Maria's Book Banter’s e-mailing list, please e-mail me at mariabookbanter@gmail.com. You will receive links to blog posts shortly after they are published. Your contact information will not be sold. If you would like to be removed from the list, let me know. Any questions, comments or book recommendations can be sent to this e-mail address too.

If We Were Villains

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rios centers around 7 fourth-year theater students who are in a rigorous, competitive academic program that focuses on the work of William Shakespeare. The main character is Oliver, a self-described average looking young man who has mediocre acting abilities.

This story takes the reader into these scholars’ acting classes, rehearsals and other school activities making for enlightening reading. It is here where we learn about the true nature of these characters – their strengths, their weaknesses, their friendly interactions, and most importantly, their conflicts with each other. We also witness how their own emotions and experiences spill over into their onstage performances. They are an interesting cast of characters for sure. Pardon the pun.

Fairly early in the story, one of their instructors says “Fourth year - year of the tragedy”. This must be foreshadowing, I think to myself. Foreshadowing is a writing technique commonly used by William Shakespeare where hints are given about events that will occur later in the play.

As I continue to read, I sense a major plot twist coming. With these volatile personalities, who knows what it could be. Then, a catastrophe happens that changes everything for all of them, especially Oliver. I can't wait to see what comes next. I have a feeling there are more surprises in store.

Like a Shakespearian play, this book is divided into acts and scenes, not chapters. Much of the dialogue is written like a script of a play. To better understand the narrative, it is helpful to know at least a little bit about Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and King Lear.

The person who recommended this novel said the story gets crazy and she wouldn’t be offended if I didn't stick with it. Well, I'm glad I stuck with it because it’s an amazing psychological thriller that’s extremely well written. The author, M.L. Rios, has another book coming out later this year. You may see it featured in a future Maria's Book Banter blog.

If you would like to be placed on Maria's Book Banter’s e-mailing list, please e-mail me at mariabookbanter@gmail.com. You will receive links to blog posts shortly after they are published. Your contact information will not be sold. If you would like to be removed from the list, let me know. Any questions, comments or book recommendations can be sent to this e-mail address too. 

The Woman Beyond the Attic: The V.C. Andrews Story

 

I first heard about this book from a clue on Jeopardy!. Immediately, I knew it had to be my next book and I couldn’t wait to get started. It’s The Woman Beyond the Attic: The V.C. Andrews Story by Andrew Neiderman.

If you don’t know who V.C. Andrews is, she is the author of many standalone books and novel series. While it’s difficult to categorize her work into a single genre, it could be described as a combination of gothic horror, romance and family sagas. I read many of her books in my younger years. My lasting impression of them is that the storylines are unique, but they are extremely well written. If you read them, you’ll know what I mean. As I compose this blog post, I realize that these books probably influenced the type of literature I like reading today.

Before reading the biography, I didn’t know much about Andrews. I have heard that her life was like one of her novels, and indeed, there are some striking similarities between her life and the plots of her books. For instance, having a controlling mother, restrictions and confinement, struggle for independence, and unfavorable views of organized religion are all themes that are in her books as well as parts of her own personal journey. However, her stories largely came from her imagination.

Additionally, V.C. Andrews was a woman who lived with multiple disabilities and chronic medical issues in the mid-1900s. Because of this, she experienced a stoppage in education, and social isolation as an adolescent and young adult. It was a much different time for someone with a disability than it is today. Although the world has become more accessible and overall accepting for those of us with disabilities than when Andrews was living, we still have a long way to go.

In closing, this is a fascinating biography about a noteworthy individual. Its reader gains knowledge and great insight into Andrews' personal and professional lives as well as her writing techniques and inspirations.

If you would like to be placed on Maria's Book Banter’s e-mailing list, please e-mail me at mariabookbanter@gmail.com. You will receive links to blog posts shortly after they are published. Your contact information will not be sold. If you would like to be removed from the list, let me know. Any questions, comments or book recommendations can be sent to this e-mail address too.