The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan

The Lover's Dictionary - 211 pages

David Levithan

Summary (From Goodreads)

There has to be a moment at the beginning when you wonder whether you're in love with the person or in love with the feeling of love itself.

If the moment doesn't pass, that's it―you're done. And if the moment does pass, it never goes that far. It stands in the distance, ready for whenever you want it back. Sometimes it's even there when you thought you were searching for something else, like an escape route, or your lover's face.

How does one talk about love? Do we even have the right words to describe something that can be both utterly mundane and completely transcendent, pulling us out of our everyday lives and making us feel a part of something greater than ourselves? Taking a unique approach to this problem, the nameless narrator of David Levithan's The Lover's Dictionary has constructed the story of his relationship as a dictionary. Through these short entries, he provides an intimate window into the great events and quotidian trifles of being within a couple, giving us an indelible and deeply moving portrait of love in our time.

Review

I found this to be an interesting and creative method of both writing about love and building a narrative in general.  The book is indeed formatted in the style of a dictionary, but instead of merely defining each of the chosen words, a scene is described - anywhere from a line to a page or two in length - that bears some relevance to the accompanying word.  The style doesn't lend itself particularly well to creating a singular, cohesive narrative, however, as the majority of the entries aren't in chronological order.  That said, the namelessness of the narrator and their partner, as well as the breadth of scope of the words and scenes included - both positive and negative - lend well to creating very real, relatable vignettes for people in all stages of love.  

Just Once by Karen Kingsbury

Just Once by Karen Kingsbury 327 pages I enjoy most books by Karen Kingsbury and I have read most of her series, but this stand alone book was above and beyond her other writing. I love to read historical fiction and this story is set in the 1940s, but an older couple is retelling the story before the wonan, recently diagnosed with alzheimers, forgets the stories of the war. I coulbn't put it down until I finished it! In 1941, beautiful Irvel Ellis is too focused on her secret to take much notice in the war raging overseas. She's dating Sam but in love with his brother, Hank, and Irvel has no idea how to break the news when the unthinkable happens - Pearl Harbor is attacked. With their lives turned upside down overnight, Sam is drafted, and Hank wants to enlist. But Sam insists Hank stay home, where he and Irvel take up the battle on the home front. While Sam fights in Europe, an undeniable chemistry builds between Irvel and Hank but neither would dare cross that line. Then a telegram comes, and the news is devastating. Hank enlists the next day and has just two weeks until he ships out. Will either brother make it home alive? Or will Irvel lose everything? And can love find a way, even from the ashes of the greatest heartbreak?"

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg-395 pages

⭐✩✫✫✫

This is our next book for the Book to Movie Club chosen by our group. I have to be honest. I didn't like it very much. I finished it, of course, but it has borderline racist overtones. The African-American characters are very "stereotypical." Also, the timeline throughout the book is scattered and off. The stories are all over the place and it doesn't seem for most of the book to be a cohesive, coherent story. It reads mostly like a lonely old woman babbling to a younger woman at a nursing home about the "good old days." Mrs. Threadgoode (the old woman) and Evelyn Couch do strike up a friendship, but I just didn't get emotionally invested in the characters. Lastly, it seems like a creative writing class project and not a published novel. It seems the author was going for a folksy feel, but it didn't work for me. Overall, I would not recommend this book. However, maybe this will be a rare occasion when the movie is better than the book (it definitely was!). 

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

 Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen-368 pages

Jacob Jankowski falls on hard times after his parents unexpectedly die in a car accident in the 1930s. He joins the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show by accident after jumping their train. This is a story about Jacob and his time with the Benzini Brothers circus where he meets Marlena and works as a veterinarian for Uncle Al and August. Marlena is married to August who is the leader of the animal Menagerie. Jacob and Marlena quickly become star-crossed lovers, but can't act on it for fear of August and Uncle Al. Events unfold somewhat slowly early but very quickly near the end and this has a fairly surprising ending. I liked this book, although some of the things that happen are pretty sad. I would rate this 4 out 5 stars, though.

A Relative Murder by Jude Deveraux

 A Relative Murder by Jude Deveraux--459 pages (LP)

4th in the Medlar Mysteries series.  What is not to love when it involves an author, a love story and a murder or two.  Delightful series, looking forward to the next one!

Sugar and Salt by Susan Wiggs

 Sugar and Salt by Susan Wiggs, 354 pages

I am a fan of Susan Wiggs and I was waiting with eager anticipation for this one as it has been awhile since she had released anything.  I must say I was disappointed.  I did not think the plot line was very feasible..it didn't really keep my interest like her books usually do.  Maybe she was just out of practice!

The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin

 The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin, 328 pages

We read this for our book to movie club.  I enjoyed the book for its ability to go in depth with the characters.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

 The Book Thief by Markus Zusak-566 pages

I previously read this during a teen librarianship class while studying for my MLS. I thought it was a good book then and I have an even greater appreciation for it after reading it a second time. It's the story of a young girl named Liesel who arrives, starving and lonely, at 33 Himmel Street, Molching, Germany during World War II. It's a story of love and loss. It's about Liesel's love for her foster parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann and their love for her. Also, it's about the love between Liesel and Max Vandenburg, Liesel and Rudy, and all of Liesel's friendships. It's a coming-of-age story for Liesel. She goes from illiterate to writing a book of her own. Along the way, Liesel "steals" books and steals words away from Hitler and Nazi Germany. A quote from Liesel that stays with me is "I have hated the words and I have loved them and I hope that I've made them right." Words can be a very powerful tool for both destruction and building up. Hitler gained power through his rhetoric. He was a demagogue who said what the German people wanted to hear at the time. Albus Dumbledore says to Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows that “Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it.” This is another great quote about the power of words. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. 

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

 Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks-Audiobook, 6 CDs (340 pages in print)

I listened to this in my car on a recent road trip. It's a good listen. Katie Feldman (aka Erin Tierney) arrives in a small seaside town in North Carolina (called Southport). She has a hidden past and tries to keep to herself. However, with a little pushing from her new neighbor, Jo, she starts to fall for the local general store owner (and widower), Alex. He has two young children, Josh and Kristen. Katie falls for them, too. Katie ran from her abusive husband, Kevin Tierney and ended up in Southport. I won't say anymore, except that I liked this book. It's my favorite Nicholas Sparks novel so far (I haven't read nearly all of them, though). 

The Beginning by Beverly Lewis

 The Beginning by Beverly Lewis - 344 pages

Susie Mast's Amish life in Lancaster County has been shaped by events beyond her control, with the tragic deaths of her Dat and close-in-age brother casting long shadows. Now twenty-two, Susie remains unmarried despite her longtime affection for friend Obie Yoder. 

Unfortunately, her concerns are soon multiplied due to her mother's worsening health and her younger sister's urgent desire for answers about her adoption. Once again, Susie faces the possibility of loss. Will long-held family secrets and missed opportunities dim Susie's hopes for the future? Or is what seems like the end only the beginning?

Once again, Beverly Lewis has come through with a thoughtful, yet realistic book about life. Her ability to speak to her readers about life, and keeping their faith, that God has a plan and if we follow His lead, he will be faithful to us, astounds me everytime I open one of her books.    

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, 291 pages

"January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she's never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb...

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.

Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society's members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever."

This well-known book has been on my TBR for many years and resurfaced recently due to the Netflix movie. I wish I would have read it sooner. What an absolutely wonderful read. Written as correspondence after WWII, these friends come together to make a life and the journey we get to follow them along is fantastic. Highly recommended.
 

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

 Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin #1) by Robin LaFevers, 549 pages

CW: abuse, violence

"Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?"--Goodreads blurb

This was a run-of-the-mill fantasy novel with all the tried-and-true fantasy tropes. That's not to say it wasn't a good read, because it kept me interested to the end. I love a good story of a girl that kicks butt (and then usually falls in love), and this one was just that. This series follows different characters in the series, so while I enjoyed this book, with a change in main character, I won't be reading the rest of the series. 

Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie

 

        Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie-351 pages

        True to Dame Agatha's form of writing, there are many characters and alot of subplots.  Didn't          see the end coming so I enjoyed it very much.  She truly was a master at her craft.

The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs

 

                                       The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs-355 pages

In the wake of a shocking tragedy, Natalie Harper inherits her mother’s charming but financially strapped bookshop in San Francisco. She also becomes caretaker for her ailing grandfather. Natalie thinks it’s best to move him to an assisted living facility to ensure the care he needs. To pay for it, she plans to close the bookstore and sell the building which is in need of constant fixing.  But Grandpa Andrew owns the building and refuses to sell. Natalie adores her grandfather; she’ll do whatever it takes to make his final years happy. Besides, she loves the store and its books provide welcome solace for her overwhelming grief.

After she moves into the small studio apartment above the shop, Natalie carries out her grandfather’s request and hires contractor Peach Gallagher to do the necessary and ongoing repairs. His young daughter, Dorothy, also becomes a regular at the store, and she and Natalie begin reading together while Peach works.

To Natalie’s surprise, her sorrow begins to dissipate as her life becomes an unexpected journey of new connections, discoveries and revelations, from unearthing artifacts hidden in the bookshop’s walls, to discovering the truth about her family, her future, and her own heart.

I enjoyed this book very much.  There is also some romance and surprise twists and turns.

Ms. Marvel, Vol. 3: Crushed by G. Willow Wilson

 Ms. Marvel, Vol. 3: Crushed by G. Willow Wilson-112 pages

Ms. Marvel's story continues as Valentine's Day approaches in Jersey City and Loki arrives tasked with finding remnants of The Inventor/an infant villain left behind by him. Love is in the air as Bruno is in love with Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel. However, he doesn't get the chance to tell her his true feelings. An old friend, Kamran, who recently moved back to Jersey City comes over to visit Kamala and they hit it off. Later that night, he convinces her to sneak out and reveals that he, too, is an Inhuman. Kamala thinks she might be in love with Kamran and they nearly kiss. Is Kamran all he seems to be?

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

 Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens -384 pages

For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life–until the unthinkable happens.

I enjoyed this book. I was not sure what to expect when I checked it out to read. I can see why it has been on the NY Times bestsellers list for so long.

The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner - 402 pages
Book 2 - A Queen's Thief

Eugenides has been caught by the Queen of Attolia.  As punishment, she cuts off his hand.  This simple act starts off a three-way war between the countries of Attolia, Eddis, and Sounis.  All three countries are fighting to maintain their independence and to hold off the Medes who want to take over their continent.  Now Eugenides must rise above this handicap to bring peace to Eddis and Attolia.  He has a wild plan . . . to kidnap the Queen of Attolia and convince her to marry him.

I'm continuing to re-read the Queen's Thief series.  It is my favorite series.  With this book, we start to get more into the political intrigue that marks the series.  It's a turn from the adventure story that was the first book. 

As Dust Dances (Play On #2) by Samantha Young

As Dust Dances (Play On #2) by Samantha Young -- 446 pages

Once upon a time Skylar Finch was the lead singer of a hugely successful American pop-rock band. But fame made her miserable. When years of living a lie suddenly ended in tragedy, Skylar fell off the map.

Eighteen months later she’s sleeping in a tent in a cemetery in Glasgow, making just enough money to eat by busking on the streets. She manages to avoid recognition, but not the attention of one of Glasgow’s ambitious A&R executives.

Killian O’Dea works at Skyscraper Records, Scotland’s most successful record label. Raised by his uncle and owner of the label, Killian’s upbringing would have been devoid of affection entirely if it wasn’t for his loving sister. Killian is unflinchingly determined to bring the label more success than ever, and the young homeless woman who busks on Buchanan Street is going to help him do that. Her music speaks to him in a way he refuses to over-analyze. All he knows is that if it can touch his dark soul, it’ll set everyone else’s alight.

Skylar makes it clear that she doesn’t want to sign with him. But when she experiences the dangerous reality of a woman sleeping rough, Skylar has no one else but Killian to turn to. An undeniable connection forms between them. But Skylar doesn’t want the career Killian is trying to forge for her, and when her past comes back to haunt her Killian will be faced with a decision that could ruin him. He must either free Skylar from his selfish machinations and destroy everything he’s ever worked for, or lose a woman who has come to mean more to him than he ever thought possible…

The Giver of Stars by JoJo Moyes

The Giver of Stars by JoJo Moyes-390 pages

A wonderful fictional account of a factual group of women who delivered books sponsored by the WPA in the 1930's.  Quite a cast of characters who hold their own in all kinds of situations.  Strong bonds of love and friendship are what keeps the packhorse librarians going.  I had a difficult time getting in to it, but once I did I could not wait to see how the author wrapped up all the different story lines.  A very enjoyable read that gives you insight into how people lived in the mountains of Kentucky after the depression.

Sisters by Danielle Steel

Sisters by Danielle Steel - 341 pages

Four sisters, a Manhattan brownstone, and a tumultuous year of loss and courage are at the heart of Danielle Steel’s novel about a remarkable family, a stunning tragedy—and what happens when four very different young women come together under one very lively roof.

Candy–it’s the only name she needs—is blazing her way through Paris, New York, and Tokyo as fashion’s latest international supermodel…Her sister Tammy has a job producing the most successful hit show on TV, and a home she loves in L.A.’s Hollywood Hills. . . .In New York, oldest sister Sabrina is an ambitious young lawyer, while Annie is an American artist in Florence, living for her art. . . .

On one Fourth of July weekend, as they do every year, the four sisters come home to Connecticut for their family’s annual gathering. But before the holiday is over, tragedy strikes and their world is utterly changed.

Suddenly, four sisters who have been fervently pursuing success and their own lives—on opposite sides of the world—reunite to share one New York brownstone, to support each other and their father, and to pick up the pieces while one sister struggles to heal her shattered body and soul. Thus begins an unscripted chapter of their lives, as a bustling house is soon filled with eccentric dogs, laughter, tears, friends, men . . . and the kind of honesty and unconditional love only sisters can provide. But as the four women settle in, they are forced to confront the direction of their respective lives. As the year passes and another July Fourth approaches, a season of grief and change gives way to new beginnings—as a family comes together to share its blessings and a future filled with surprises and, ultimately, hope.