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.

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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.

The Wife Between Us

 

Nellie’s wedding to Richard is quickly approaching when she begins to get strange phone calls. She is working 2 jobs, but that will all change once she is married, since Richard is a very wealthy man. As the story progresses, we find that Nellie is a woman with a mysterious past.

Vanessa is Richard’s ex-wife. She's resentful that the marriage ended and Richard is marrying again, or so it would seem. Vanessa’s life has outwardly become much harder since the divorce. However, we quickly learn that Vanessa takes responsibility for the couple’s split. She wasn’t a good wife and Richard through her out of their house. Knowing this, I'm not sure if I should sympathize with her.

With all this in play, it’s setting up to be quite a story. Will The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen deliver on its intriguing start? As I continue reading, little bits of these extremely flawed characters' lives are revealed. Should we assume that Vanessa is behind the crank calls that Nellie has been receiving? That is what we are led to believe, but that’s too obvious an explanation for me to consider.

I wonder where this storyline is going. Crazy ideas fill my mind as I wait patiently for a major plot turn that will bring it all together.

Suddenly, the narrative takes a startling and a bit confusing twist. I have to stop reading to fully understand it. I didn’t see it coming at all. I am now tempted to re-read some parts of the book, just so I can fully get it.

As I continue to read after the major revelation, I'm really not sure who is the hero and who is the villain in this scenario. I guess that’s a mark of a good suspense novel – it keeps you wondering.

The pieces of this story do eventually come together to form an intricate pattern that is these individuals’ lives, but it’s a wild, enthralling, and sometimes disturbing ride getting there. I have to pay close attention to get every detail, which there are many.

Nearing the end of The Wife Between Us, there are still more surprises in store making it a very worthy two thumbs-up suspense thriller.

This will be my last Maria's Book Banter post for 2023. It’s been a good year and I look forward to continuing this blog in 2024. I have a long list of book recommendations for this blog that I would like to whittle down in the new year. Until then… Happy Holidays from Maria's Book Banter!

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.

The Hope Family Calendar

 

One of the most challenging aspects about doing Maria's Book Banter is choosing the books. My aim is to blog about a variety of books, while picking ones that I will enjoy. The Hope Family Calendar by Mike Gayle was a recommendation I received not too long ago. It has very good ratings on Amazon and Goodreads. So, it seemed like a promising start.

Tom is burying his grief over his wife’s death in his work as a television producer. For his daughters’ sake, he needs a wake-up call, which he gets from his mother-in-law, Linda, who has been caring for the girls for the past year. Now, it’s time for Tom to be a parent again. Will he rise to the occasion?

This book is about coping with grief and how it affects a family and its individual members. In this case, the Hope Family. What is life like after a sudden and tragic death? Can there still be peace and joy for those who are mourning the loss. The narrative is told alternatingly from the viewpoints of Tom and Linda with clarity, making this an easy book to read and also, a fairly straightforward blog post to write.

The Hope Family Calendar was described to me as a slice of life story. I think this is very accurate. Although for much of the book, nothing particularly extraordinary happens. Yet, these characters, their choices and the truths they had to confront held my interest and kept me wanting to read more.

With its emotional ending, The Hope Family Calendar is a feel-good story without being corny or manipulative – something I truly do appreciate.

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.

Save What's Left

 

Save What's Left by Elizabeth Castellano is another Good Morning America’s Book Club pick and was named one of People Magazine’s Best Books of the Summer for 2023. These acknowledgements are all pretty impressive. Yet, after reading this book, I'm not sure that it lives up to all the hype.

Kathleen is stunned when her cardiologist husband, Tom, wants out of their 30-year marriage. Feeling bitter about the separation, Kathleen spontaneously purchases a water-front home in Whitbey, New York State sight unseen. As soon as she arrives at her new place, Kathleen realizes she has made a terrible mistake.

Her life now consists of a massive renovation project to the house next-door that is unlawful, noisy and leaves her own home dusty. Life goes steadily downhill from there for Kathleen.

She files many grievances with the local government about the new development, but it is no help. She has so many complaints about the construction and the town itself that I frustratingly can’t keep track of them all. Each chapter starts with a long-winded cantankerous e-mail composed by Kathleen to a local government official. The rambling correspondence doesn’t advance the barely-there plot at all. It only adds to this book’s confusion. Additionally, Kathleen is having misunderstandings with her overly opinionated neighbors about the future of the Whitbey community.

Right off the bat, I'm struck by this book’s biting humor and I like it at first. However, after a while, Kathleen’s cynicism and whining became irritating. So much so, that it was a struggle for me to finish, even though it’s a relatively short book. Instead of being about starting over after a failed marriage, Saved What's Left is a catalog of Kathleen’s gripes. While I sympathize with her situation, there is just so much grumbling that I found myself tuning it out almost altogether.

In the past, I have mentioned that I listen to audiobooks rather than reading the book due to a physical disability. In my opinion, the narrator’s performance was over-the-top, which may have negatively influenced my view of this 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.

Hello Beautiful

 

When I first heard about Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano, I thought it sounded like a book about Barbra Streisand for some odd reason. Actually, it’s a New York Times bestseller and the 100th Oprah Book Club selection. With these awesome credentials as well as endorsements from family members, I was eager to get started.

My first impression is that the narrative is very slow-paced. There isn’t much of a plot to speak of – just ordinary people living ordinary lives, experiencing ordinary problems with definitely not the best responses to these problems and the lasting effects of their poor life choices. At least, that’s what it appears to be on its surface.

As I continue reading, I can see that it’s a saga about a family, the Padavanos, their history, their dynamics and how they react in crisis situations. Almost halfway through the book emotions run high when William, who married into this family, reveals his deepest secrets to his sister-in-law, Sylvie Padavano. These are intimacies he should have shared with his wife, Julia. If William had only been honest with Julia, all three of these characters’ young lives would have been much less complicated. Likewise, Sylvie feels more herself with William than any other person.

How does William and Sylvie’s closeness effect the loving relationship between the two sisters and the rest of this tight-knit family? What will be the result of their unexpected connection? Their bond will have consequences on all the Padavanos for decades to come. This is the essence of the novel.

Hello Beautiful asks the questions how well do you know those supposedly closest to us - our family – and how or why they hurt. Are they who we want or need them to be and what happens if they are not? How well do we know anyone for that matter, even ourselves? This book is about honesty – being honest with oneself and the people around us.

Once I understood what this book was and what it wasn’t, I was better able to appreciate it. In fact, the more I read, the more invested I became in the lives of these individual family members.

To really enjoy Hello Beautiful, you have to look past its soap opera qualities to see what it’s trying to accomplish. I was able to do that for the most part. However, when I finally reach the end of this rather long book, I was happy to be through with all the drama of the Padavano Family.

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.