Walking on Water by Richard Paul Evans

 

Walking on Water  by Richard Paul Evans  305 pages

When the long walk from Seattle to Key West finally nears an end, Alan Christoffersen must return to the west and face yet another crisis just as he has begun to heal from so much loss.

This is the 5th and last book in this series.  When I started this series, I didn't know if I would like it, but I quickly became a huge fan and couldn't get the next book quick enough.  This concludes his walk across America, but first he must deal with more heartache and a pause in his walk.  When he finally reaches his goal, the ending is very touching and worth the wait!

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

 Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner - 239 pages

In this exquisite story of family, food, grief, and endurance, Michelle Zauner proves herself far more than a dazzling singer, songwriter, and guitarist. With humor and heart, she tells of growing up one of the few Asian American kids at her school in Eugene, Oregon; of struggling with her mother's particular, high expectations of her; of a painful adolescence; of treasured months spent in her grandmother's tiny apartment in Seoul, where she and her mother would bond, late at night, over heaping plates of food. 

As she grew up, moving to the East Coast for college, finding work in the restaurant industry, and performing gigs with her fledgling band--and meeting the man who would become her husband--her Koreanness began to feel ever more distant, even as she found the life she wanted to live. It was her mother's diagnosis of terminal cancer, when Michelle was twenty-five, that forced a reckoning with her identity and brought her to reclaim the gifts of taste, language, and history her mother had given her.

The Still Point of the Turning World

The Still Point of the Turning World by Emily Rapp // 272 pgs

⭐⭐⭐

Like all mothers, Emily Rapp had ambitious plans for her first and only child, Ronan.  He would be smart, loyal, physically fearless, and level-headed, but fun.  He would be good at crossword puzzles like his father.  He would be an avid skier like his mother.  Rapp would speak to him in foreign languages and give him the best education.

But all of these plans changed when Ronan was diagnosed at nine months old with Tay-Sachs disease, a rare and always-fatal degenerative disorder.  Ronan was not expected to live beyond the age of three; he would be permanently stalled at a developmental level of six months.  Rapp and her husband were forced to re-evaluate everything they thought they knew about parenting.  They would have to learn to live with their child in the moment; to find happiness in the midst of sorrow; to parent without a future.

The Still Point of the Turning World is the story of a mother’s journey through grief and beyond it.  Rapp’s response to her son’s diagnosis was a belief that she needed to “make my world big”—to make sense of her family’s situation through art, literature, philosophy, theology and myth.  Drawing on a broad range of thinkers and writers, from C.S. Lewis to Sylvia Plath, Hegel to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Rapp learns what wisdom there is to be gained from parenting a terminally ill child.  In luminous, exquisitely moving prose she re-examines our most fundamental assumptions about what it means to be a good parent, to be a success, and to live a meaningful life.

--

This was a sad and poignant read about death and disability. I felt like I was reading a mother’s personal diary detailing her acceptance and grief over the death of her still living child. 

I found Rapp’s perspectives on parenting and death to be refreshing, and it’s easy to empathize with a mother who must grieve what she loves the most. I feel like it was healthy and therapeutic for her to write this book, and I always love seeing new perspectives on death and the meaning of life. Rapp’s personal anecdotes of being disabled were also interesting to read, as well as the connection through that she could have with her son.

It was different from what I was expecting, which was a more biographical approach to her son’s life. While we did get a lot of that (I absolutely adored reading about the little things Rapp loved about her son, the language she used was hauntingly beautiful), it was more so a philosophical exploration of life itself. Rapp showcases a wisdom shadowed by unbelievable grief in a beautiful way, and I’m thankful to have experienced her perspective.

When Sea Becomes Sky by Gillian McDunn

 

When Sea Becomes Sky  by Gillian McDunn  214 pages

Every summer, Bex and Davey spend their days exploring their beloved salt marsh. But this year a record-breaking drought leads to a surprising discovery in their favorite corner of the marsh: a mysterious underwater statue. Where did it come from? Who could have put it there? Could this be the summer adventure they've been waiting for? But the answers don't come easy -- and when Bex and Davey learn of a development plan that will destroy their special spot, they'll need to act quickly. Unfortunately, sometimes progress happens whether you're ready or not. What will it mean if they can no longer spend their summers where otters frolic and dragonflies buzz, in their place to be siblings together? As Bex and Davey attempt to save the statue and their beloved marsh, they come to see that the truth is not as simple as it seems... and ultimately discovering so much more about life, permanence, love, and loss than they ever expected.

I read this because it is a Mark Twain Award Nominee.  From the beginning I knew the secret, but it is revealed about 2/3 of the way through the book.  I thought it was well written and the author even explains at the end of the book why she chose to write it this way.  I wonder how 4-6 graders will relate to her "talking" to her brother.  Cute summer story with a little grief. 

The Walk by Richard Paul Evans

 

The Walk   by Richard Paul Evans 289 pages

What would you do if you lost everything--your job, your home, and the love of your life--all at the same time? When it happens to Seattle ad executive Alan Christoffersen, he's tempted by his darkest thoughts but then decides to take a walk, heading for the farthest point on his map: Key West, Florida. The people he encounters along the way, and the lessons they share with him, will save his life.

This book had me intrigued at the beginning and I wasn't sure I would like it, but the more I read the more interested I became.  Losing everything affects different people in different ways.  I enjoyed this book.

Nineteen Steps by Millie Bobby Brown

 Nineteen Steps by Millie Bobby Brown-304 pages

Nightly air raid sirens are a fact of life in 1942 London.  Intent on keeping everyone in the family safe is all consuming.  Eighteen year old Nellie counts herself as one of the lucky ones to have everyone she loves still living.  Until one night, when in the chaos of the sirens, something unthinkable happens and her world is shattered.  

Very well written as you are transported to another time and place.  I enjoyed this very much.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness-206 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

At seven minutes past midnight, thirteen-year-old Conor wakes to find a monster outside his bedroom window. But it isn't the monster Conor's been expecting-- he's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the nightmare he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments. The monster in his backyard is different. It's ancient. And wild. And it wants something from Conor. Something terrible and dangerous. It wants the truth. From the final idea of award-winning author Siobhan Dowd-- whose premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself-- Patrick Ness has spun a haunting and darkly funny novel of mischief, loss, and monsters both real and imagined-synopsis from Goodreads.

This is our next Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book to Movie Club pick. It is a haunting, emotional exploration of grief and loss. It is very well written and I would give it 5 out of 5 stars. 

Must Love Flowers by Debbie Macomber

 

Must Love Flowers by Debbie Macomber-321 pages

Joan is not living the life she expected. Now a widow and an empty-nester, she has become by her own admission something of a recluse. But after another birthday spent alone, she is finally inclined to listen to her sister, who has been begging Joan to reengage with the world. With her support, Joan gathers the courage to take some long-awaited steps: hiring someone to tame her overgrown garden, joining a grief support group, and even renting out a room to a local college student. Before long Joan is starting to feel a little like herself again.

Across town, Maggie works mornings as a barista, tending to impatient customers before rushing to afternoon nursing classes. She's been living with her alcoholic father, ducking his temperamental outbursts and struggling to pay the household bills. But her circumstances brighten when she finds a room for rent in Joan's home. In the unexpected warmth of her new situation, Maggie finds a glimmer of hope for a better life. 

This book was light and refreshing. Especially watching Joan emerge from her grief and opening her heart to new adventures.  I enjoyed the book.

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

 

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, 350 p.

"Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars: same year at Yale, same debut year in publishing. But Athena's a cross-genre literary darling, and June didn't even get a paperback release. Nobody wants stories about basic white girls, June thinks.So when June witnesses Athena's death in a freak accident, she acts on impulse: she steals Athena's just-finished masterpiece, an experimental novel about the unsung contributions of Chinese laborers to the British and French war efforts during World War I.

So what if June edits Athena's novel and sends it to her agent as her own work? So what if she lets her new publisher rebrand her as Juniper Song--complete with an ambiguously ethnic author photo? Doesn't this piece of history deserve to be told, whoever the teller? That's what June claims, and the New York Times bestseller list seems to agree.But June can't get away from Athena's shadow, and emerging evidence threatens to bring June's (stolen) success down around her. As June races to protect her secret, she discovers exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves.

With its totally immersive first-person voice, Yellowface takes on questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation not only in the publishing industry but the persistent erasure of Asian-American voices and history by Western white society. R. F. Kuang's novel is timely, razor-sharp, and eminently readable."--Goodreads blurb

I've loved everything I've ever read by Kuang, and this was no exception. She deserves the hype, and you want to know why? Because despite the fact of me hating every.single.character in this book, I still couldn't put it down. Her writing style, dialogue, and atmosphere of her stories is so engrossing. This book made me feel gross on so many levels. June's delusional thinking has the reader thinking "WTF" on so many levels.  She surrounds herself with enough 'Yes men' to completely buy into her delusions, and for a fleeting moment, be very lucrative in doing so. This book left me shaking my head, and I can't wait for more from Kuang. This is the first book I've ever rated 5 stars, loved completely, yet hated everyone in it. Now THAT'S good writing. 

Where the Coyotes Howl by Sandra Dallas

Where the Coyotes Howl by Sandra Dallas, 320 p. 

"1916. The two-street town of Wallace is not exactly what Ellen Webster had in mind when she accepted a teaching position in Wyoming, but within a year’s time she’s fallen in love—both with the High Plains and with a handsome cowboy named Charlie Bacon. Life is not easy in the flat, brown corner of the state where winter blizzards are unforgiving and the summer heat relentless. But Ellen and Charlie face it all together, their relationship growing stronger with each shared success, and each deeply felt tragedy.

Ellen finds purpose in her work as a rancher’s wife and in her bonds with other women settled on the prairie. Not all of them are so lucky as to have loving husbands, not all came to Wallace willingly, and not all of them can survive the cruel seasons. But they look out for each other, share their secrets, and help one another in times of need. And the needs are great and constant. The only city to speak of, Cheyenne, is miles away, making it akin to the Wild West in rural Wallace. In the end, it is not the trials Ellen and Charlie face together that make them remarkable, but their love for one another that endures through it all."--Goodreads blurb

I've been a Sandra Dallas fan for years as she is a master of heartfelt and emotional stories that are simply written. This one left me with one main thought: goodness I am glad I didn't live during that time. It left me with heartbreak and love, anger and sadness. What more could you ask for in a novel? This was joyful at times, but that feeling of "what is going to happen now' is always in the back of your head. Because that's just how life was back then. Dallas puts you right in the wilds of Wyoming with Ellen, Charlie, and their friends and family, and they stay in the heart even after the book is over. I will forever read Sandra Dallas.

 

Beyond the Bright Lights by Settle Myer

Beyond the Bright Lights by Settle Myer, 417 p.

"My name is Lana Young and I’m not okay. I’m 40 years old and still grieving the death of my fiancé, 18 years later. Tyler Taylor died of cancer and he spent his final days helping others. He was an inspiration, enough that his sister wrote a book about his life. Now that book is becoming a movie, and the actor portraying Tyler on the big screen just walked into the bar I own. He's begging me for help. "Help me become Tyler Taylor." There’s one problem: Mylan Andrews is battling his demons, and I’m worried he can’t win.

My name is Mylan Andrews and I’m not okay. I’m a 25-year-old alcoholic and addict. I just got out of rehab and this movie is my last chance to save my career. Lana agrees to work with me on becoming Tyler Taylor and every day we're together, my attraction to her grows stronger. Could she be the one to help me win back control of my life? For her to consider me for her future, she must first move on from her past."--Goodreads blurb

This was a fun and steamy romance. A quick read that was a good palette cleanser after some long series.  

 

If We're Being Honest by Cat Shook

If We're Being Honest by Cat Shook, 304 p. 

"When Gerry, the beloved Williams patriarch, dies suddenly, his grandchildren flock from across the country to the family home in Eulalia, Georgia. But when Gerry’s best friend steps up to the microphone to deliver his eulogy, the funeral turns out unlike anyone expected. The cousins, left reeling and confused, cope with their fresh grief and various private dramas. Delia, recently heartbroken, refuses to shut up about her ex. Her sister Alice, usually confident, flusters when she spots her high school sweetheart, hiding a secret that will change both of their lives. Outspoken, affable Grant is preening in the afterglow of his recent appearance on The Bachelorette and looking to reignite an old flame with the least available person in town. Meanwhile, his younger brother Red, unsure of himself and easily embarrassed, desperately searches for a place in the boisterous family.

The cousins’ eccentric parents are in tow, too, and equally lost—in love and in life. Watching over them all is Ellen, Gerry’s sweet and proper widow, who does her best to keep her composure in front of the leering small town. Clever and completely original, If We’re Being Honest reminds you that while no one can break your heart like your family can, there’s really no one better to put you back together."--Goodreads blurb

 Families = drama, right? If We're Being Honest by Cat Shook illustrates that with all the emotion you'd expect with the family gathering for the funeral of their family's patriarch. The different storylines of the family were engrossing, with some characters you just rooted for and others you couldn't stand. The writing style was simple and easy, driving the storyline forwarding from one viewpoint to another. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and writing and will be looking for more books written by Shook.

 

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams

373 pages

★★★

Finding a sticky note with a list of classic books, Aleisha has to work at the struggling public library to help her brother take care of their mom. Mukesh finds an overdue library book among his wife’s things after she’s passed. They meet at the local library and help each other through their struggles through books and friendship.

This was just a random audiobook I saw on hoopla that sounded decent and it lived up to that expectation. It wasn’t bad but it didn’t blow my socks off. It was pretty cute but I found myself bored pretty often. I would recommend it as a simple, cozy read.

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

377 pages

★★★★★

This romance novel by popular author Emily Henry pokes fun at its own genre by making the characters work in publishing and self-aware of all the common romance tropes. Nora Stephens is a literary agent who lives in the Big Apple and is your stereotypical New York business woman, and Charlie Lastra is a big-shot editor who is your stereotypical cold businessman. When Nora’s sister, Libby, drags them to small town Sunshine Falls for a month-long getaway and to push Nora to have a small-town romance like in the books, Nora wants to do nothing but work and go home. That is, until she runs into Charlie working at the local bookstore. 

As someone who doesn’t normally read or enjoy romance, I was surprised how much I loved this book but it hit all the right marks by making it funny, about books, and not too cheesy.

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

352 pages

★★★★

Emma Blair marries her high school crush, Jesse, and they spend their young lives traveling the world together. On their first wedding anniversary, Jesse goes on a trip to Alaska and doesn’t return after the helicopter he was in crashed. With the love of her life missing, Blair is crushed so she moves back home and begins working with her parents at their bookstore that she hated growing up. Over the next two years, she falls in love with her hometown, reading, her parents bookstore, and her childhood best friend. Vowing to never forget Jesse, Blair creates a comfortable life with Sam. Until she picks up a call and hears Jesse on the other end.

This was a wild ride from the very beginning and the premise was so interesting to me as I had never heard of it before. While reading it, I realized that there are other movies and books with similar plots but as this was my first one, I thought it was great. The middle dragged on a little but it was an emotional push and pull between two loves of her life.

 

Seven Perfect Things by Catherine Ryan Hyde-308 pages

Thirteen-year-old Abby lives in an unhappy home in the Sierra Nevada foothills where her father makes life miserable for her and her mother, Mary. One day Abby sees a man dump a litter of puppies into the river. Diving in to rescue all seven, she knows she won’t be able to bring them home. She takes them to an abandoned cabin.  Returning every day to care for them.

Grieving widower Elliot's life has lost meaning. Looking for comfort, he retreats to the hunting cabin he last visited years ago, before his wife’s illness. Not expecting to discover seven puppies and one determined girl with a huge heart.

As Abby and Elliot’s friendship grows, Abby imagines how much better her life―and the puppies’ lives―would be if her mother were married to Elliot instead of her father. But when Abby’s father moves the family hundreds of miles away without any warning, Abby and her mother must decide how long they’re willing to put off being happy.

I enjoyed this book very much.  A teenager that has a purpose; a man who is willing to help and her mom who is willing to change, fight back and try again at love  You find yourself rooting for Abbey and Mary and the pups.

The Switch by Beth O'Leary

 

                                                   The Switch by Beth O'Leary-328 pages

Three generations of women, all dealing with the same loss, but in their own ways.  A beautiful story about how a sister, mother and grandmother cope with grief.  Wouldn't it be fun to change lives with someone else?  That is exactly what  granddaughter and grandmother does.  Grandma Eileen goes to London to find love.  Granddaughter Leena moves to Eileen's tiny Yorkshire village. The predicaments these two get into are hilarious.  Along the way, both of them find ways to help people and in the end heal from their loss.  You may be asking.."What about mom?" I guess you will have to read it to find out!  Very funny and uplifting.  I enjoyed it very much. 

The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers

The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers
32 pages

"There is a wonder and magic to childhood. We don't realize it at the time, of course...yet the adults in our lives do. They encourage us to see things in the stars, to find joy in colors and laughter as we play. But what happens when that special someone who encourages such wonder and magic is no longer around? We can hide, we can place our heart in a bottle and grow up...or we can find another special someone who understands the magic. And we can encourage them to see things in the stars, find joy among colors and laughter as they play."  --from the publisher

The book is better than the description, and lives up to the rave reviews. It is a beautiful, touching illustration of loss and rediscovering joy. I'll definitely be getting a copy for myself. I give it five out of five stars.

In Honor by Jessi Kirby

In Honor by Jessi Kirby -- 235 pages

Honor receives her brother’s last letter from Iraq three days after learning that he died, and opens it the day his fellow Marines lay the flag over his casket. Its contents are a complete shock: concert tickets to see Kyra Kelly, her favorite pop star and Finn’s celebrity crush. In his letter, he jokingly charged Honor with the task of telling Kyra Kelly that he was in love with her.

Grief-stricken and determined to grant Finn’s last request, she rushes to leave immediately. But she only gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn’s best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn’t seen him in ages, thanks to a falling out between the two guys, but Rusty is much the same as Honor remembers him: arrogant, stubborn . . . and ruggedly good-looking. Neither one is what the other would ever look for in a road trip partner, but the two of them set off together, on a voyage that makes sense only because it doesn’t. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn--but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences?

What Remains by Helene Dunbar

What Remains by Helene Dunbar - 259 pages

It's alwasys been Cal, Spencer, and Lizzie -- best friends since first grade.  Cal and Spencer have devoted themselves to making sure Lizzie is okay.  Then everything changes in an instant.  Lizzie is dead.  Cal required a heart transplant that takes away his life plan of playing baseball.  Now Cal must figure out how to deal with the loss of Lizzie and the aftereffects of the transplant.

I've now read all of Helene Dunbar's books that have been released.  (Another book comes out later this fall.)  I think this is my favorite of them so far.  While once again it deals with topics that are not happy, this book seems to me to be more optimistic than the others.