The Lying Game by Ruth Ware

The Lying Game by Ruth Ware

I never used to read mysteries or thrillers, I didn't like heart pounding feeling they gave me so I steered away.  But I have a friend who reads nothing but thrillers and frankly, now I'm addicted.  I still read my tried and true literary fiction but now have tendency to mix in a blood curdling murder or two.

The Lying Game is the story of four bratty and self absorbed girls, Isa, Kate, Thea and Fatima who all end up at a questionable girls boarding school for different reasons.  They exert their power over the other students by creating the lying game and only the four of them know the rules.  It eventually gets them all expelled.

Seventeen years later Kate summons the rest of the group to her home near the school.  She needs them.  Bones have been found near her property on the beach.  Isa now has a young baby, Fatima is a doctor and practicing Muslim and Thea, well she's yet to figure out what to do with her life.  Within a day, they have all dropped their regular lives and appeared on Kate's doorstep.

I can't tell you any more of the plot, only that for the most part, The Lying Game is a page turner.  But don't expect to like any of these characters.  They haven't grown up or left their teenage aspirations behind.  Isa, who narrates the story, has a wonderful partner, Owen at home and she criticizes him every chance she gets.  She whines a lot and it gets annoying. Kate is a control freak and Thea may have anorexia.  Meanwhile, Fatima won't drink alcohol and prays 5 times a day and yet she still inserts herself into this aging, immature clique.  Maybe that will make sense to some readers but it didn't to me.

I've read several other Ruth Ware novels and here's how I would rank them.  Number one is The Woman in Cabin 10, next is In a Dark, Dark Wood, third is The Lying Game and lastly The Death of Mrs. Westaway.  If you are in the mood for an edge of your seat thriller any of these will fit the bill.  They are all good, some just more satisfying than others.  You'll have to decide.  

Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak

Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak

Bridge of Clay is a new release I couldn't wait to read.  I read in Time Magazine, it took Markus Zusak 13 years to write.  I am a slow writer myself but that's a long time to be involved and engrossed in one story.  But the story is complex, he needed to take his time with it.

Bridge of Clay is the story of the Dunbar family.  The parents, Michael and Penny have five sons.  Matthew who is the narrator of the story, Henry, Rory, Clay and Tommy.  They are a family immersed in love.  Michael and Penny's love affair began when her beloved piano was delivered to the wrong address.  The piano serves as a character in the story.  Michael wrote "Marry Me" on the keys and those letters, though faded remained during the years.

What I loved about this book are the characters.  All the boys are rich and vibrant.  Their feelings, likes and dislikes, emotions are felt as painfully by the reader as they are for the boys themselves.  Penny is the glue that holds them all together.  Her drive to make something of herself in a new country is shared not only with her children but with the students she teaches English to in school.

What I didn't love was the structure of the story.  It goes from the present to the past to the future and twirls all around in between.  I never had a good sense of the places that were important or where they were in relation to the story.  It skipped around so much I had trouble following what was going on.  My kindle said I'd read 30% of it and I still didn't know who was who or what was what.  And when I turned the last page, I had to say to to myself I just didn't get it.

My sister loved Bridge of Clay.  She said Clay was the bridge that held them all together.  Okay but did I need to read 500 plus confusing pages to come to that conclusion?  She did and I didn't.  

Bridge of Clay is full of wonderful stories of love and grief.  The descriptions and character development are superb.  Don't get me wrong.  There are portions that are absolutely brilliant.  It was fitting the pieces into the puzzle that drove me crazy.  But if you're of a different mindset, like my sister, you might not feel the same way.  If you're a lover of The Book Thief, as I am, you will want to decide whether to invest the time in Bridge of Clay.

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

I found this title on a list of must read books. I can't remember where but I quickly dismissed everything else on it.  Having recently returned from a fabulous trip to Japan and having made some purchases in the abundance of Japanese convenience stores on every corner, I was intrigued.

Keiko, at age eighteen takes a part time job in the Smile Mart on its opening day.  Having never found acceptance in her life, she finds happiness in the structure of the Smile Mart as laid out in its operation manual.  She greets every customer, stocks the shelves and is the top seller of the daily specials.  Managers come and go and Keiko stays.  Suddenly she finds herself at 36 still working in the convenience store.

Convenience Store Woman is a quick read with not much of a plot.  It's translated from Japanese so keep in mind it was initially written for a different audience.  I found these stores in Japan to be clean, with good food and efficient check out.  While 7 Eleven does have a Japanese version, an American store, it is not.  Not even close.

I loved being immersed back into the Japanese culture I had come to love.  But you have to keep an open mind if you plan on understanding what it's like to be a Convenience Store Woman.

The Big Burn by Timothy Egan

The Big Burn by Timothy Egan

The Big Burn is history but as enjoyable a read as your favorite fiction, full of political struggles, interesting characters  and unthinkable tragedies. The main topic is a wildfire of 1910 in the Bitteroots of Montana that turned into the perfect storm of drought, hurricane force winds and lack of land management.

Leading the charge for conservation in the west was Teddy Roosevelt. He used his political know how to circumvent his opponents.  But that didn't mean that his ideas, such as starting the National Park system were well received.  Most people thought conservation wasn't necessary.  And the inhabitants of the still wild west felt no respect for the newly formed forest service who struggled to keep brush fires under control and homesteaders off the government owned land.

The stories of dedication and heroism in fighting this devastating fire illuminated the true backbone of America.  The most interesting things I learned however, were that we haven't learned from our mistakes.  No matter what political party you belong to, there is still infighting and underhandedness between those we elect to represent us in Washington.  And believe it or not, even in 1910 severely injured people lost everything because of the high cost of medical care.

If you love history, The Big Burn is fascinating.  The story is so well told that you will be able to see the fire race over the mountains, hear the thunder of the wind whipped flames, and feel the scorch on your skin.  You will find yourself fanning the flames as you quickly turn the pages.

Lies by T. M. Logan

Lies by T. M. Logan

OK folks!  If you pick up this psychological thriller be ready to hold onto your seat because the pages will turn so fast you may get blown away!

Joe, a high school teacher is married to Mel, a gorgeous fast moving salesperson.  He believes their marriage is on solid ground until one day their son, William, spots Mel's car and insists Joe follow it so William can see her.  He follows her into a hotel parking lot and finds her in the cafe having an argument with another man, Ben.  Joe knows him as the husband of a woman in Mel's close circle of friends.

At home Joe confronts Mel who insists she was playing tennis at the time.  Let the lies begin!  Joe falls head over heels into the trap he believes is being set by Ben.  Each lie leading him further down a road he can never escape from.  

I don't want to tell you any more of the story.  You need to experience it for yourself.  If you're anything like me, you'll be gasping for air by the end.  If you love thrillers, this is a good one.  

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

A. J. Fikry is the cranky and cynical bookstore owner of Island Books, a small independent store on Alice Island somewhere in the northeast.  He has good reason to be depressed, his wife died at a fairly young age leaving him with no one to share his love of books.  Sales are slumping at the store and he has no idea how to change and no desire to do so.  Until a pushy book sales woman comes to call.

One day a two year old girl is left between the stacks in his store.  At first he wants nothing to do with her and calls the authorities.  Once faced with the prospect of Maya, a very precocious reader, being sent to foster care, he succumbs to her charms and instead starts the adoption process.  Over the years their bond grows quickly stronger and Maya is the catalyst for A. J to make amends with Amelia, that pushy salesperson he met four years earlier.

This is one of those books that tells a charming story through books of a man's loss, discovery of new love and purpose in life.  A.J.'s delightful book reviews added depth to his heart and soul and love for his daughter.  I just thought the rest of the writing was sub par.  I felt there were too many gaps in the story that could have been used to develop the secondary characters more fully.  Even though I loved A. J. and Maya, I wish the storytelling itself would have been more deeply connected.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

I'm always looking at book blogs and book club lists searching for something my own book club would enjoy.  I stubbled across this title on Reese Witherspoon's list.  Even though I enjoy her work as an actress, I never thought I'd be considering any of her choices for books.  Until now.

Where The Crawdads Sing is a beautifully written story of Kya, a girl who lives alone in the march in North Carolina, having been abandoned by her family. One by one she watches first her mother, then her brother and finally her father walk down the sandy path never to return.  Knowing the secrets of the marsh, Kya manages to elude all the truant officers and social workers who come looking for her.  She scrapes by collecting mussels and smoking fish to sell to Jumpin' in his backwoods general store.

Until one day she meets Tate, a boy who loves the marsh as much as Kya.  He teaches her to read and write using discarded biology and math books he took from school.  Their loves blooms until he too, leaves her without an explanation.

Woven into the love story is the murder of another boy from town who also betrays Kya.  The two storylines move seamlessly through the book converging in a trial.  The prose is gorgeous in this book. For that reason alone, it's worth reading.  But Kya is a very dynamic character the reader can't help falling in love with.  She's never felt love in her own life and against all odds she learns to stand on her own two feet.

Reese got this one right.  I'll be looking for more great reads on her list.

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonsson

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonsson


Major Pettigrew is retired from Her Majesty's Army and lives in a small village, Edgecomb St. Mary's.  He's become a reclusive widower and is devastated by the death of his only brother, Bertie.  His father, Col. Pettigrew who served in colonial India left each of his son's a rare Churchill rifle with the intent that the gun of the first son to die, would be reunited with the other.  At least that's what Major Pettigrew wanted to believe.

Bertie's wife and daughter wanted to sell the valuable guns to enrich their lifestyle.  Major Pettigrew's son, Roger agrees with them, further straining their already distant relationship.  And when the Major falls in love with a Pakistani shopkeeper, Mrs. Ali, Roger, along with most of the villagers are stunned.

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand is a wonderful British comedy with serious undertones about race and acceptance amongst people known to have a stiff upper lip. The characters who make up this romp through the countryside are rich and full and a pleasure to come along with. The lessons are current and real to our lives today and maybe they can more easily be learned if we can laugh along the way. 

Sister Mother Husband Dog by Delia Ephron

Sister Mother Husband Dog by Delia Ephron

I'm not sure how this title ended up on my reading list.  The Ephron sisters are all talented writers so I must have read a good review or two about it.  I'm always interested in learning how to write from people who have had success at writing.

Sister Mother Husband Dog is a group of personal stories and essays about Delia Ephron's life.  It starts out with one about her dog, Honey, who is eating her paw.  The doggie dermatologist puts Honey on a diet of kangaroo to combat food sensitivities.  I liked the story about Honey.

Then the stories became all about Nora.  Delia really wanted to convey how much she loved Nora and how sad it was that she died.  I'm sure she does love her sister, but page after page after page about how Delia took the backseat to Nora's great success led me to the conclusion that maybe she was more than just a little bit jealous of Nora.  I started skimming I became so bored with all the whining.

The most interesting essay in the book was about Delia's mother.  Now she was a bitter and interesting character who drank herself to death while her children watched.  It showed insight into alcoholism and its effect on children who are unable to escape from its daily grip.  I wish she'd written more about her mother, but I know from my own experience it's not easy especially when the relationship between mother and daughter is rocky at best.

The book contained very little about the husband, in fact I don't even recall his name.  And after Honey's grand debut, she even fell into the shadows.  Maybe Delia made herself feel better by writing this book and even though it was a quick read, I wished I'd spent my time reading something more engaging and interesting. The only thing good about Sister Mother Husband Dog was it passed the time on a long plane ride.

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware

Hal is a young woman who reads tarot cards for a living on the pier.  She's barely scraping by since losing her mother, who was recently killed by a hit and run driver.  The loan sharks are after her for money she borrowed but being winter on the pier, she's not generating enough business to even pay the rent.

And then the letter arrived, an official letter from a lawyer.  It states her grandmother has died, listing the time and place of the funeral and the reading of the will.  Hal has never known who her father is or about any other family.  Her mother kept that hidden from her.  But she goes to the funeral hoping that she can con this family out of enough money to solve her financial woes.

Even though I loved the character of Hal, the rest of the ensemble were irritating to say the least.  The reader was inside Hal's head so much of the time, that her angst repeated over and over again also became annoying.  I liked the explanation of the tarot cards which was peppered into the story, but they didn't really help her solve the mystery.  The story left many unanswered questions.

I've read other Ruth Ware novels and found them all to be exciting, can't put down, page turners leaving me gasping until the end.  The Death of Mrs. Westaway did not do any of these things.  I figured out fairly early on who the culprit was and I had to keep reading just to confirm my assumption.  I was right, which for me, detracts from the enjoyment of the book.  The Woman in Cabin 10 and In A Dark, Dark Wood kept me on the edge of my seat, something Mrs. Westaway was unable to do.

Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris

Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris

Ellis Reed is a struggling reporter in Philadelphia in 1931. He makes his living covering the few society events in the area during the Great Depression.  Anything to keep food in his own belly and a roof over his head.  When he stumbles across the sign, "2 children for sale", at a run down farmhouse, he uses the company camera to snap a picture.

The Chief is anxious to print the gut wrenching story and accompanying photo.  However, for some reason the photo was destroyed before it could go to print.  Ellis goes back to the farmhouse only to find it empty.  Desperate to make a name for himself, he convinces two neighbor children to recreate the picture.

Lily, who has a secret of her own, discovered Ellis' original photo in the dark room and set the wheels of the newspaper story in motion.  When she realizes what Ellis has done in taking the second picture, she joins forces with him in an effort to make it right.

Sold on a Monday is a heartbreaking story of how children of the time were treated in desperate situations.  They were sometimes sold by parents hoping to break out of poverty, not knowing they were sending their children into a life of abuse and neglect.  But I thought this story dragged on through the middle.  The author added many sub plots that maybe didn't all need to be there and didn't add any depth to the story.  This book is an interesting slice of history but the writing itself is over done.

The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict

The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict

Not much is known about Albert Einstein's first wife, Mitza Maric.  I call her Mitza, her nickname, not her given name, Mileva, because I grew to know her quite well on the pages of this book.  The Other Einstein is historical fiction but the author has done extensive research into Mitza and Albert's relationship in order to craft her story.

In the late 19th century the only career option for women was learning how to cook and clean in preparation for marriage and children.  Mitzi, born with a deformity which caused her to limp, knew from a young age that marriage was not in the cards for her.  A close relationship with her father set her on a path of education in math and science.  She secured a position in the physics program at the University of Zurich which would make a teaching career a real possibility.  It is there however, she met Albert Einstein.

The pair fell in love with each other but also with their ability to collaborate so well on their physics projects.  Mitza got Albert out of many a jam in math calculations but being a woman meant her brain power was not respected.  When Albert began leaving her name off of their published work, Mitza had to learn to stand up for herself.

Albert Einstein was just not a nice guy, smart but with a big ego.  Mitza was equally as intelligent but pushed aside because she was a woman.  There are a lot of lessons in The Other Einstein to be learned especially for young women, such as the power of an education, standing by other women instead of competing with them and standing up for our rights as a human being.

The Other Einstein is a brilliant glimpse into a part of history most of us know little about.  And it also tells us about the power of women.  The Other Einstein is definitely worth your time.  

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

Lo Blacklock wakes up from an alcoholic binge to find her flat is being burgled.  That's how they say it in Britain.  He slams the bedroom door, cutting her cheek and locking her in before running off with her purse, phone and money.  If all that wasn't traumatic enough, she's only a few days away from a journalistic assignment for a travel magazine aboard a luxury yacht.  Her boss is ill and she's been asked to take her place, a real coup if Lo is ever going to make her way up the corporate ladder.

Once onboard, Lo's labeled as paranoid when she thinks she's seen a body being tossed overboard in the middle of the night.  Thus unfolds the drama of wealth, risk, illicit affairs and murder, all the components of a good mystery.

Yes, I've read other reviews from readers who were turned off by the constant use of alcohol and drugs and feeling like crap all the time.  I understand that, but if Lo was on top of her game at all times, what kind of page turning, tension filled novel would be left.  I've read other books by Ruth Ware and she's a master at building stress and anxiety that leave the reader tense and wanting more.

I enjoyed The Woman in Cabin 10.  I even stayed up reading past my usual bedtime to find out what happened.  It's a high anxiety story that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Ohio by Stephen Markley

Ohio by Stephen Markley

I grew up in Ohio, you know, round on the ends, hi in the middle.  Although I moved away a long time ago, lots of family and friends still live there.  On a recent visit back for my high school reunion, I realized that Ohio will never leave me.  It's who I am and where I will always be from.  It is my heart.

When I heard about this novel, Ohio, I wasn't sure I wanted to read it.  It's about the opiod crisis that is gripping our nation and especially small rural towns.  I didn't want to believe that was true.  I wanted my memories of a safe, serene place with fresh air and a Dairy Queen to remain intact.  During my trip back I learned those precious things were no longer reality.  Doors are locked now to keep out those looking for money to fuel a drug habit.

Ohio tells the story of several teenagers growing up in a small, rural Ohio town and the trajectories of their lives as they moved to adulthood.  Some went off to college at Bowling Green, where I got my degree and Wittenberg, where my brother and sister both got degrees.  The author also threw in Cedar Point amid some civil war Ohio history.  Alcohol and drug use started early in this tiny enclave and impacted how each one of their story lines evolved.

This book is long and dark and highlights the Iraq war and diverse political views on top of the already heavy weight of alcohol and drug use.  Often I thought the story dragged on but I was kept interested in how each of these kids turned out.  For all of them their lives weren't pretty, loaded with past baggage they couldn't seem to shake.  I connected with the characters maybe because they were Ohioans and I'd driven the same roads and been to a lot of the same places in my life.  But they broke my heart because they are navigating a world I know nothing about.

If you have the time, Ohio is worth the investment.

Laugh Out Loud: 40 Women Humorists Celebrate Then and Now

Laugh Out Loud: 40 Women Humorists Celebrate Then and Now Before We Forget

I regularly enter the Erma Bombeck writing contest put on by the University of Dayton. I have yet to win or even place but still hold out hope that one year I'll create the perfect funny essay that will wow the judges. 

When I received an email asking me to read this book, I jumped at it. Why wouldn't I? I'm well over 40 and I still remember rotary phones, rolling my hair on orange juice cans and wearing garter belts to hold up my nylon hosiery. Throw in night sweats and hot flashes and I was all in. None of these things were especially funny when they were happening but time between then and now has turned them into fair game.

The first few stories reminded me of some things from my youth that I had forgotten like Jean Nate and having my ears pierced. I got a chuckled out of that. But the longer I read, even though they were written by different authors, the stories repeated themselves. I was no longer laughing by the fifth story about that lemon perfume. 

I blame the editor for my disappointment not the individual writers. There is some funny stuff in here that any woman can relate to. Maybe don't try to read the whole book at once. Reading one or two stories at a time might keep it fresh and funny.

State of Wonder by Anne Patchett

State of Wonder by Anne Patchett

Dr. Marina Singh is a pharmaceutical scientist for a large company in Minnesota.  Marina's boss, Mr. Fox, who is also her much older lover, receives a letter from Dr. Swenson who is working in the Amazon, stating that a colleague the company sent to check on Dr. Swenson is dead. Marina is tasked with breaking the news to the man's family before getting on a plane to Brazil.

Marina dreads being the one to finish the job that Anders, the dead man, was unable to.  What she hates even more is taking the pills necessary to ward off malaria in the insect rich jungle.  Once in Manaus, Dr. Swenson proves to be an elusive character guarded by a unique mix of paid protectors.  Marina is ready to go home but when her ride into the Amazon finally arrives, she can't resist the challenge.

As you would expect, things in the jungle are not what they should be.  And because of those developments, I'm not sure what I should feel about this book. Anne Patchett is a fabulous writer, her description of the thin, blue airmail letter that folds itself into its own envelope on which the news of Andres death was reported, is amazing.  But the only characters who are likeable are Anders and sometimes Marina.  The rest of the cast have big flaws that even in the depths of despair are never resolved.

State of Wonder drops the reader straight into the jungle of the Amazon without any protection from the snakes, mosquitoes and rare creatures living there.  The setting alone is a science lesson in itself.  Ms. Patchett takes us on a journey that is sometimes believable and sometimes not but at the end your heart will be both happy and sad all at the same time.  The level of emotion felt is what makes State of Wonder a good book.  

The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve

The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve

During a recent family vacation in Maine, the women decided to read The Weight of Water and take an excursion to the Isles of Shoals in kind of a combination summer book club and field trip. It's always fun to add to our reading enjoyment with a visit to the setting even if the topic is murder.

In March of 1873, the gruesome murder of two women took place on the island of Smuttynose, one of the 9 islands or sometimes 8 depending on the tide, of the Isles of Shoals.  The islands are an archipelago off the coast of Maine and New Hampshire.  In fact some of the islands are in the State of Maine and the rest in New Hampshire.  The landscape is desolate, rough and rocky 7 miles offshore of the mainland.

Jean is a photographer researching the murders for a professional assignment.  She, her husband, Thomas, and her daughter, Billie join her brother-in-law, Rich and his girlfriend on a sailing trip to the islands for some fun in the sun while she's working.  This family's present day problems are woven with the lives of Maren, her fisherman husband, John and her sister Karen in 1873.

My understanding is that the author's historical account of the actual murders is far from factual, but still made for a good story.  The way the book is written and formatted however, is often distracting and gives a jolt to the reader every time the story switches centuries.  In any event our vacation book club had plenty to talk about as we sailed from New Hampshire to the Isles.  Could Louis Wagner, the man hanged for the crime, have rowed in a small boat to Smuttynose that night?  Was his motive that his advances to the women were rebuffed?  Or did Karen push her sister to the edge with her constant complaining?

We may never know the truth but the story was intriguing and the discussion, lively. More importantly we had a wonderful day discussing a good book and exploring a new place.  See if you can find a book that relates to your next vacation destination and add a book discussion.  You'll see how fun it can be.

City of Thieves by David Benioff

City of Thieves by David Benioff

It's World War II in Leningrad, Russia.  17 year old Lev elected to stay behind in the city when his mother and sister flee to the country.  When an already dead German paratrooper lands in the street after curfew, Lev and his friends rush out to see what can be looted from the body.  This is a crime punishable by execution and Lev is caught while helping the others escape.  

His prison cell is a dark and lonely until the arrival of his cell mate, a soldier accused of desertion.  Kolya vehemently denies any such thing.  He's a man capable of talking himself out of a paper bag.  So when the Colonel says he will spare them both in return for 10 eggs by Thursday to bake his daughter a wedding cake, Koyla agrees to the challenge. 

The unlikely pair end up on a grueling journey through the countryside in search of the rare and elusive eggs.  Koyla says what he thinks at all times in all situations.  The naive and shy Lev learns many life lessons from him while trekking through the snow.  Their banter is often funny and quite entertaining.  There are many laugh out loud moments even though the backdrop is the death and destruction of war.  

I liked this story alot. The writing is wonderful, characters engaging and lovable, the scenes authentic.  City of Thieves will hold your interest whether you're laughing, crying or feel like throwing up while you're immersed in a very real tale of war and despair. 

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See

Li-Yan is a girl child born into an Akha family, one of China's ethnic minorities.  They live on a remote, rural mountain and their lives are guided by strong traditions and superstitions.  In the late 20th century, they know nothing of electricity or television or gas powered automobiles. Their lives are simple, uncomplicated.

The families make a meager living by harvesting tea leaves.  When a stranger arrives one day in his car and enters through the spirit gate, the village is changed forever.  He teaches them the value of different types of tea which brings wealth and prosperity to their lives.  He also opens Li-Yan's eyes to the outside world.  On the recommendation of her teacher, who convinces the tribe elders the Li-yan has promise, even though she is a girl, to go to the city to further her education.

Li-Yan, however has fallen in love with Sanpa, a boy whose stars do not align with hers.  The marriage is forbidden but their love overrides whatever the horoscopes have predicted.  That choice sends her life down a path that even the wisest sage of the village couldn't have predicted.

I am a huge Lisa See fan, having read almost all of her novels.  I loved, loved, loved The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane. In my opinion, this is her best novel yet.  Included in a great story of Chinese tradition meets the whirlwind, you will learn all you never knew about tea.  Trust me, you'll want to sit down with a nice hot cup and have a good conversation to go with it.  I couldn't put this one down.  

The Round House by Louise Erdrich

The Round House by Louise Erdrich

Joe, a 13 year old boy and his family are members of the Chippewa Nation, living on the reservation. His father is a judge in the tribal judicial system.  When his mother, Gerlaldine becomes a victim of a violent crime, a search for justice on all levels of society begins.

Geraldine withdraws to her darkened bedroom.  Joe is left with out a mother for reasons he doesn't understand.  His father is left without a wife and companion, replaced by a crime he is desperate to solve. Joe seeks comfort in his friends and family on the reservation, teenagers and adults, young and old, all who help him to understand a small piece of his anger.  He is left however, to put the pieces of the puzzle together on his own.

Sometimes I found the story difficult to follow.  The story begins in 1988, with Joe as the narrator. Throughout the book, we are thrust into the future to see Joe as an adult, married man with children and then we are whipped quickly back into past again. He is older and wiser but to me he seemed like a different person than the Joe at 13, I adored. We are all different than in our teenage years but I wasn't quite sure if I liked the grown up Joe.

The Round House is intense. The window into tribal life is interesting and engaging.  The insight the story gives into racism and hate crimes in this country is enlightening.  Don't pick up this title thinking it will be a light, summer read, it's not. Read with an open mind and be ready to learn about other cultures, racial division, love of family and relish in the utter craziness of boys experiencing puberty. You won't be sorry you took the time to lose yourself in The Round House.