The Kids Are Gonna Ask

 

I chose The Kids Are Gonna Ask by Gretchen Anthony for my next selection because it supposedly combines mystery with humor - an interesting combination and something different for this blog.

After tragically losing their mother, twins, Thomas and Savannah are being raised by their grandmother. They are seventeen and secretly want to know who their father is.

At the start of the story, the twins have their own podcast that are recorded conversations with dinner guests. It is during one of these sessions when Thomas first expresses a desire to meet his father – something he nor Savannah have ever done before now. Since the guest for that dinner was rather unusual who told an odd story about her father eating his twin in utero, that particular episode goes viral. As a result of this popularity, they do another podcast about looking for their father called The Kids are Gonna Ask.

Doing the search in a public format, they hope to learn more about themselves and their origin story as well as their mother, Bess, and the parts of her life she kept hidden. Themes of belonging and connection begin to emerge as the story progresses.

Inevitably, the twins meet with vocal opposition. Saying it is an invasion of Bess and their father’s privacy - a legitimate point, I thought. However, having outspoken critics only increases the podcast’s listenership. This is where it gets crazy.

Soon, Savannah and Thomas find themselves at the center of a national controversy with ramifications for themselves and others that they would have never imagined. Some of which weren’t entirely plausible I thought or maybe I'm just naïve.

Did I like this book? There's no easy answer to that question. I basically did and wanted to keep reading to see what happened next. So, there's that. I had a few issues with character likeability and the logic of the plot.

This is not my first Gretchen Anthony novel. Before I started Maria's Book Banter, I read her debut novel, Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners, and really enjoy it. This author has a unique way of telling a story, which incorporates subtle, but offbeat humor – something I very much appreciate.

My next book will probably be Here One Moment by my favorite novelist, Liane Moriarty. It’s a long one. So, the blog post for it will most likely be published in November. Looking forward to it!

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.

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The Tour

For my next book, I wanted to read something that was easy and light-hearted, allowing for a blog post that would be a breeze to write. I may have struck gold at the end of the rainbow when I came acrossed The Tour by Jean Grainger.

This is where we meet the kind, yet practical-minded Conor O’Shea. He's the type of person you would want as a friend, which makes him the perfect guide for a tour of Ireland. Early in the book, Conor receives a letter from an old girlfriend, Sinead, that says she is coming home to Ireland after being away for over 20 years. Sinead is the only woman Conor has truly loved, but he's not sure how he feels about her now. In the meantime, I couldn’t help wondering if there could be something between him and his friend, Anastasia.

As Conor is grappling with the prospect of seeing Sinead again, he is leading a 7-day tour with a group of Americans. On this life-changing trip is an array of travelers who are in Ireland for different reasons and looking for different things from their journey.

These amusingly engaging characters will have unique and wonderful experiences, meet unexpected people, discover new strengths, confront their past, and face harsh realities about their lives. It could be said these individuals’ stories have overly optimistic conclusions, but I say sometimes it’s good to read a book that is positive and uplifting.

While there's a bit of Irish history and culture mixed in here and there, The Tour is mainly character-driven. There are some surprising turns in this book that are somewhat dark. However, those disturbing instances didn’t stop me from enjoying it. if you're in the mood for something that will put a smile on your face, I suggest you take The Tour.

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.

Using any content from this blog for AI training purposes is strictly prohibited.

The Night She Disappeared

The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell asks the question what happened to Tallulah and Zach. They went for a night out and haven’t returned. Usually, they are very responsible young adults who take good care of their son. Now, Tallulah’s mother, Kim, is frantically worried. The last she heard is that they were going to a party at Dark Place, Scarlett’s family home. Scarlett is someone Tallulah knows from college whose house is right next to a wooded area.

Fast forward a year, Sean takes a new job at Maypole House, a boarding school, as the head teacher. Apparently, the position has had scandal linked to it before Sean came. Maypole House is also located near the same wooded area as Dark Place.

Sean’s significant other, Sophie, moves with him to the school. On the first day in their new home, Sophie finds an unusual sign that says, “dig here”. Sophie thinks that there's something familiar about this sign.

As a detective novelist, Sophie becomes fascinated by what happened to Tallulah and Zach and launches an amateur investigation on her own. She meets Liam who is a classroom assistant and former student at Maypole House. He was also at Dark Place the night of the party. What can he tell Sophie about the disappearance?

My initial impression after reading the first few chapters is that it’s shaping up to be a solid mystery with interesting characters, an intriguing setting, and a curious wooded area.

As the story progresses, we see glimpses into the lives of Tallulah, Zach, Scarlett and Liam. We learn about their relationships and how they interacted with each other. More importantly, we know their thoughts and feelings – even their secrets. What can these moments tell us about what happened that night? I believe there are clues to be found in these parts of the book.

Moving forward, I formulate my own ideas about what took place at Dark Place. However, as I continue to read, I abandon these theories somewhat. Considering all these unique individuals involved in this story and certain events leading up to that night and after it, I realize there's much more that still has to be revealed.

Approaching the end, I have a general sense of what occurred that night. So, I'm ready to wrap this thing up and put a bow on it, but there's probably even more that has to come to light. Indeed, there are a lot of moving parts to this mystery.

This is my first Lisa Jewell novel. I’ve heard good things about her work. I wasn’t disappointed in The Night She Disappeared. Although it didn’t have an entirely believable ending, I do recommend it because of the overall story it told.

 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. Rest assure, your contact information will not be sold. If you would like to be removed from the list, let me know. Any questions or comments can be sent to this e-mail address too.

The Marriage Portrait

Set in Renaissance Italy, The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell is the fictionalized story of Lucrezia de Medici, who became a Duchess at the young age of 15-years-old by marrying Alfonzo II, Duke of Ferrara.

Early in the story, it is revealed that Alfonzo plans on murdering Lucrezia soon after their wedding. Why does he want to kill her is my first question. After all, he's the one who suggested the union. The marriage was arranged by Lucrezia’s father, which was customary in those days. Lucrezia always had a bad feeling about the marriage and begged her father to get her out of it.

The Marriage Portrait received fairly good reviews, but I'm going to have to disagree with them. The story is told so disjointedly and unfocused that it was difficult for me to connect with it and its characters. The painfully slow, fragmented narration only causes confusion as well as a lack of advancement. The writing style rambles, which doesn’t help matters. I wanted to yell “Get to the point already”!

Nearing the end of the book, Alfonzo becomes very dark and controlling towards Lucrezia. Clearly, he's a dangerous man with many secrets. It is only now when an interesting plot begins to develop. While there is some suspense at the end of The Marriage Portrait, it’s really not enough for me to give this book an endorsement.

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. Rest assure, your contact information will not be sold. If you would like to be removed from the list, let me know. Any questions or comments can be sent to this e-mail address too.

Half A World Away

 

It’s been awhile since my last blog post. There are a couple of reason for that. First, I had difficulty choosing the next book. Second, I eventually selected Tom Lake by Ann Patchett, a book that received mixed reviews. I got not quite halfway through and decided to put it down because much of it is mundane. I also found some of the characters to be a bit irritating as well. Fortunately for me, some of my readers (a.k.a. The Banterers) sent me some promising titles for future blog posts. Even more fortunate for me is that someone suggested Half a World Away by Mike Gayle.

Kerry is a hard-working, resourceful, single mother who cleans houses for a living. Admirably, she's instilling good values in her son. As the story begins, there are hints that Kerry has had some recent problems in her life – perhaps involving her health.

Then we meet Noah, a defense barrister (lawyer) with Caribbean heritage. He is currently experiencing marital problems that lead to a separation. He is distraught over the break-up.

So, we have 2 outwardly very different main characters. Telling their own stories, they are both at crossroads in their lives. What will their eventual connection be? Let’s see where this will go.

And, oh yes, there is a connection. Looking back in retrospect, I should have realized exactly what it is from the beginning. All the clues are there.

Despite her history with heartache, Kerry is a delightful character with interesting insights regarding her clients and life in general. Noah, on the other hand, is more polish and serious, but fair-minded. There are some truths about his early childhood he needs to know about, even though he's the type of person who doesn’t like to reflect on the past. His relationship with Kerry and marital difficulties will force him to do so in manners he hasn’t done until now. Likewise, Kerry needs Noah in a way he could never imagine.

Half a World Away draws you into the lives of these individuals. They are so very different, and yet, so accepting of each other. It’s very inspiring. This book takes you on Kerry and Noah’s personal and shared journeys of discovery and rediscovery, and I for one, was happy to be part of it. This is the second novel Maria's Book Banter has featured by Mike Gayle. He's quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

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. Rest assure, your contact information will not be sold. If you would like to be removed from the list, let me know. Any questions or comments can be sent to this e-mail address too.

The Great Alone

 

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah has been on my book radar for many years. I guess I’ve always been hesitant to read it because the subject matter seemed too depressing, but it landed on my recommendation list last year. So, I think it’s time I gave it a shot. Let’s see how it goes…

Ernt Allbright hasn’t been the same since returning from the Vietnam War where he was held as a POW. He is sad, angry and physically scarred by his captors, and his family is suffering because of it. Despite their difficulties, the Allbright still have a lot of love for each other. When a military buddy leaves Ernt a house and land in Alaska, he sees it as the perfect opportunity to make a much-needed change for his family.

Cora and Leni – Ernt’s wife and 13-year-old daughter – make the move to Alaska because want to see him happy again. Would the move to the Last Frontier work? Will Ernt revert to the man he was living off the grid in Alaska? Ernt sure thought so, but what about Cora and Leni? Would they be happy there too? Their new lifestyle – living in the wilderness without electricity, running water or telephone service – is quite a departure from what they have known. I know I could never live like that. It seems their lives become more about surviving and not actually living after the move.

Although Alaska is a lot of work for the Allbrights, they find a tight-knit community there too. When Leni meets Matthew on her first day of school, she feels she has met a true friend and a kindred spirit. These 2 characters will face unimaginable heartache that no young person should have to endure.

On the other hand, the friends Ernt makes are doomsday survivalists who are against any kind of modernization coming to their area. These radical individuals are obviously not good for Ernt’s mental stability, which spells trouble for Cora and Leni, and the rest of the town as well. 

This novel asks the question how far would you go for someone you loved – geographically or otherwise. What is love anyway? Does love mean tolerating abusive behavior? What would it be like to live with an abuser in Alaska, also called The Great Alone? The complex relationship portrayed here between abuser and the one being victimized is classic textbook, which is startling yet compelling reading.

Additionally, the author describes in great detail the loveliness and brutal harshness of Alaska’s seasons, and overall sense of what life is like for the Allbrights. Much of it is pretty bleak and savage-like. Admittedly, these are not my favorite parts of the book. However, Cora and Leni’s predicament and how they would survive it kept me engaged and wanting to read more. There are some jaw-dropping, gut-wrenching moments that lead to a highly emotional ending making The Great Alone a worthwhile book.

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. If you would like to be removed from the list, let me know. Any questions or comments can be sent to this e-mail address too.

Lucky Girl

 

Maria's Book Banter is back for more in 2024. Sorry if that rhyme has gotten to be a bit cliché lately. To start the new year off, I wanted to blog about a book that is positive and uplifting. Lucky Girl: Lessons on Overcoming Odds and Building a Limitless Future by Paralympian Scout Bassett seemed to be the perfect choice.

Scout Bassett was born in China, where as an infant, she lost her right leg in a fire. For 7 years after that, she lived in an orphanage where life was hard, particularly for a child with a disability.

Adopted by an American family, Scout writes about the difficulties she had being accepted in her new environment as a Chinese girl who has a limb difference. Things changed for the better when she got a running prosthetic in eighth grade. With her new leg, she started competing in races. This is where she discovered her true self and eventually became a world-class track and field athlete.

Scout calls herself “Lucky Girl” because she has beaten the odds that seemed stacked mightily against her. She has learned life lessons that she wants to share with those of us who have disabilities or other differences that may set us apart from the rest of society. These lessons are the essence of this book.

With her realistic view on life, Scout has valuable insight on the human condition. Reading the book, I found myself agreeing with her often, especially with her thinking on facing adversity, a disability not defining you, low expectations for people with disabilities, the dangers of loneliness, and people with disabilities having a “seat at the table”. I was also moved by the story about a little girl named Hope, Scout’s friend from the orphanage.

It could be said that Scout’s thoughts are obvious or unoriginal. I would argue that it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of these simple, yet important principles. Moreover, for some, it could be the first time being exposed to such ideas making this a worthwhile book to read. I do recommend it for any young adult with a disability or a professional who works with people with disabilities.

On a completely separate note, over the holidays, I finished a series of books on the 6 wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir. If you're a fan of historical literature like I am or are interested in the British Royal Family, I highly recommend this series. Additionally, Rosalyn Landor, the audiobook narrator, does a phenomenal job with these books. Her velvety voice really makes these stories and their characters come to life for anyone listening to them.

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. If you would like to be removed from the list, let me know. Any questions or comments can be sent to this e-mail address too.