I finally got my reading groove back. Now that I’m truly reading nothing but books that I’m excited about, I am just ripping through my antelibrary! This social distancing is also helping. I read 11 books at 3,282 pages for an average of 106 pages a day. So here we go!
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (368 pages). This novel told the story of Kya Clark, the Marsh Girl. When Kya was 6, first her mother, then all 4 of her siblings left her alone with her abusive, alcoholic father (who also finally left). So Kya made her own home of sorts in the marshland surrounding the shack she grew up in. Brilliant and beautiful, wild and naive, she fell in love twice. First with Tate, the sweet boy who shared her love of the marsh and taught her to read. But left her for college. And then with Chase, the popular boy who was never faithful to her (or anyone else). In 1969, Chase is found dead at the fire tower in the marsh. With no tracks, no fingerprints, nothing to help solve the murder. But then the Marsh Girl is arrested and tried for the murder. For someone who’s always been free and alone and self reliant, Kya cannot understand what has happened to her. And she cannot allow herself to trust even the people who want to help her. I loved it! I laughed, I cried. I finished in 3 days.
Remembrance by Rita Woods (411 pages). This was my Once Upon a Book Club box. So I’ll admit, I’m easily swayed by the promise of gifts. This novel was the intertwined stories of 4 women. Abigail, an enslaved woman belonging to the Rousses in 1791 Haiti and New Orleans and then a free-woman in 1852 Remembrance, Ohio (which she created). Margot, an enslaved woman belonging to the Hannigans (née Rousse) in 1857 New Orleans and then a free-woman in Remembrance. Winter, a free-woman in 1852 Remembrance and modern day Cleveland. Gaelle, a free-woman in modern day Cleveland after escaping an earthquake destroyed Haiti. These women are all have powers of some sort. And very strong powers at that. And these women are all connected. By their stories, their powers, and one man, Josiah. I enjoyed this more than I thought I would within the first 1/3 of it. And the gifts always help! I finished in 2 days.
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell (338 pages). London, 1994. Police have found the bodies of Henry and Martina Lamb (former millionaires) and an unknown third man in their Chelsea mansion. Dead of an apparent suicide pact. Missing are the other adults and children who had been living in the house for years, including two of the Lambs’ children. The third, baby Serenity, is found happy and healthy in her crib. Fast forward 25 years. Libby Jones receives a letter from a solicitor, informing her of her inheritance. She is, in fact, Serenity Lamb. The story leading up to the suicide is told through the eyes of young Henry, Libby’s missing older brother. Another storyline follows Lucy, a homeless mother of two who is just trying to get herself home to England after 25 years in France. But all of these stories come crashing together in an amazing conclusion that left me a little shook. I finished in 2 days.
Discover Your CliftonStrengths by Gallup and Tom Rath (188 pages). I was asked to read this book in preparation for being on a board next year. Fortunately, after taking a survey to determine my strengths, I then only had to read the parts of the book that applied to me. So I really only read about 50 or so pages. I finished in less than 1 day (because I was asked to).
Becoming Odyssa by Jennifer Pharr Davis (300 pages). I had the pleasure of listening to Jennifer share some of her story at a wellness retreat. She is awe inspiring! Fresh out of college, Jennifer decided she wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail (despite never really hiking before). Over the next 4 1/2 months and 2175 miles, she adopted the trail name Odyssa and began to figure out who she was. While her body was battered and her resolve sometimes faltered, her faith in her Lord never did. The book was fantastic, as I do love a good trail journal. I finished in 4 days.
The Pursuit of Endurance by Jennifer Pharr Davis (302 pages). This is (sort of) the story of Jennifer’s 3rd thru-hike. Her record breaking thru-hike. But it’s predominantly the stories of other hikers and their journeys. In 2011, Jennifer broke the record for the fastest thru-hike (46 days). That record has since been broken, but only by men. Making her the current record holder for females on the AT. That record also landed her the title of National Geographic’s Adventurer of the Year. But unlike the other book, this one focus more on other people- her idols, her mentors and her friends. She looks more into the science and finesse of endurance athletes and FKT (fastest known time) holders. I finished in 4 days.
Briar Rose by Jane Yolan (261 pages). A reimagined fairy tale that is also a holocaust story? Yes please! Becca’s beloved grandmother always told her the story of Briar Rose (aka Sleeping Beauty). But her version was very different than Grimm’s. When Gemma gives a deathbed confession that SHE herself is the Briar Rose of her story, Becca goes on a quest to learn her family’s history. This quest took her to Poland and the extermination camp of Chelmno (which I had never heard of). A camp that was housed in an old schloss, aka a castle. A camp where 320,000 people were killed in a 3 year time span. While in Poland, Becca meets Josef Potocki, who helps her finally piece together all of her Gemma’s past. I finished in 3 days.
The Astor Orphan by Alexandra Aldrich (257 pages). The Astor family fortune began with John Jacob Astor, a German gentleman who moved to America and took over the fur trade. One of his sons, William, inherited the bulk of the fortune. When he married Margaret Armstrong, they moved into her family home, Rokeby. That home has stayed in the Astor family line. Alexandra, the fifth great granddaughter of William and Margaret, grew up in this house. This is her memoir. Kind of combination of Glass Castles and Grey Gardens. While Alexandra isn’t technically an orphan, there was one generation of Astors (William’s 11 great grandchildren) who were orphaned when their parents died 2 years apart. One of those orphans was Alexandra’s great grandmother. The Astors had become land rich but money poor. And Alexandra wanted to escape the house that owned her. I finished in 3 days.
Once Again to Zelda by Marlene Wagman-Geller (276 pages). I’d been looking forward to ordering and reading this one from the moment I heard about it. Each of the 50 chapters is devoted to a different dedication in a work of literature and the story behind it. So fascinating!! Honestly, I never really pay too much attention to the dedication in a book. I have a feeling I’m going to pay attention from now on. I finished in 5 days.
Frog Music by Emma Donoghue (403 pages, including references and glossaries). Donoghue does historical fiction so well. This was the story of Jenny Bonnet, an infamous cross dresser in San Francisco, who was murdered in a saloon on September 14, 1876. Her friend, burlesque dancer/prostitute Blanche Beunon, was with her. The murder was never solved. So Donoghue took it upon herself to come up with an option. All of the characters were historical figures and somehow connected to the murder. But with no murderer ever found, I loved this version of what could have happened. I finished in 4 days.
Poison by Sarah Pinborough (178 pages). Another reimagined fairy tale this month. This one was Snow White. For the most part, it was very similar to the original telling. With a few fun exceptions. For example, the author gave a little more background in the Evil Queen’s lineage- she decided to make her the granddaughter of the witch from Hansel and Gretl! But the best part, to me, was the author’s imagining of what happens after they kiss and “live happily ever after.” Let’s face facts- that’s the part we all want to know about. And this author gave us a very different ending than I expected! I finished in 4 days.
This month’s favorite was... Where the Crawdads Sing. With Briar Rose coming in second.
