The Painter by Peter Heller
I would give this book 3.5 stars. It was a challenging read for me. The main character, Jim Stegner, the painter, a killer, and a father who has lost his only child. He has a lot of baggage. I liked him despite all of the negatives. Each chapter was subtitled with the name of a painting and the size of each piece. Each painting was part of the chapter, almost like a character. I felt like I could envision the paintings in real life. The story at times felt disjointed and lacking flow- it was not a fast paced read. About 50-75 pages in I wanted to quit the book and that is never a good sign. I am glad I carried on and read the whole thing. It reminded me of a western, not that I read westerns, but this book is what I think of when I think Westerns.
Hallelujah Anyway by Anne Lamott
Four star read. I love Anne's writing and thoughts. This was a easy read/quick. The book looks at some timely topics, hard stuff, and great reminder of what I need to work on in my everyday life. Grace/mercy has been given to me- what a gift. Here is just one quote from the book that spoke to me...
pg 80 "People say that expectations are resentments under construction."
Thanks Anne for continuing to write words I need to read.
The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis
Audiobook
The kids and I went to NYC for Spring Break. This book was on my TBR before I went to NYC, but I hadn't gotten around to reading it before our trip. When I returned I listened to my first Fiona Davis book- highlighted below "The Address"- and I enjoyed it so much I then moved onto this one. I love how Fiona Davis writes a story- she goes back and forth between time periods. This story spans the 1950's NYC and current day NYC. Fiona knows how to write leading ladies- in two time periods. She also, at least in the two books I've read thus far, has a character that has unexpected personality change. Better yet the character will show their true colors- i.e. looked like a "good guy" but is really "bad guy". This made me wonder if Fiona has been "burned" in the past by a character in her own life.
The historical perspective of this book is intriguing- set in NYC at the Barbizon Hotel. This was an all women residential hotel up until 1981. The story is mainly a go between two ladies (one in 1950 the other current day). They both are strong, independent, and challenged by friends in their lives. They are both trying to figure out who they are and where their life will take them. Themes in the book cover friendship, independence, deceit, love, and 1950's heroin trade in NYC. It was a great read/listen and I gave it 4 stars.
Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
5 Stars!!! I'm always surprised when I find an author I've never heard of/read and BOOM the first book I pick up is great. This was the kind of read that if I didn't have kids, a job, a house to clean, etc I would have read this book in a day. It is a great psychological thriller. Laurel, the mother and main character in the book, has lost her daughter Ellie. It has been 10 years since Ellie's disappearance and the story unfolds from there. It is written in a genuine/thoughtful tone and I think the honesty of the writing makes it such an enjoyable read. I thought she wrapped up the ending of the book cleanly, which I always appreciate. She has written several books and I will picking up more by Lisa Jewell.
Present over Perfect by Shauna Niequist
Audiobook
5 Stars!!! The subtitle of the book says it all:" leaving behind frantic for a simpler, more soulful way of living". One of my bookies was reading this book and started talking to me about it and I knew I just had to get my hands on it. It was such a GOOD and TIMELY read. I enjoyed listening to it, but I really wished I had the hard copy so I could underline and highlight all the great lines that spoke to me. So I ran out and ordered it and now have the hard copy and will do just that .
These are the author's words and if this interests you I would suggest you pick this book up.
A few years ago, I found myself exhausted and isolated, my soul and body sick. I was tired of being tired, burned out on busy. And, it seemed almost everyone I talked with was in the same boat: longing for connection, meaning, depth, but settling for busy.
I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, neighbor, writer, and I know all too well that settling feeling. But over the course of the last few years, I’ve learned a way to live, marked by grace, love, rest, and play. And it’s changing everything.
I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, neighbor, writer, and I know all too well that settling feeling. But over the course of the last few years, I’ve learned a way to live, marked by grace, love, rest, and play. And it’s changing everything.
The Making of a Chef: Mastering Heat at the Culinary Institute of America by Michael Ruhlman
This was our book club book for April. I am not a "foodie" and I'm not a chef. I gave this book 3 stars. It was a challenging read. I found his story interesting, but when I discovered that he, the author, wasn't really becoming a chef, but was in fact a journalist writing the story of the experience of those at CIA, the writing/story lost some power for me. Don't get me wrong the author (a journalist) passed "basics"and that class alone sounded horribly challenging. I'd definitely come away from "basics" minus a digit or two. The stories and the people Michael wrote about in the book were interesting. It makes one realize just how hard the life of a chef is. As always, book club makes me pick up books I likely wouldn't choose on my own- so it is always helping me broaden my reading life.
The Hat U Give by Angie Thomas
Audiobook
5 Stars! I will never know what it feels like to be an African American. This story brings to light so many things broken in society/America. Great story; sad/horribly sad, but a real picture of what occurs daily. Starr Carter is 16 years old. She rides home with an old friend, Khalil, after a party one night. They are pulled over by a cop and end point of the being pulled over- Khalil is shot by the cop. Starr's story then unfolds from that shooting to confront other side stories all circling back to Khalil. Side stories: the death of her friend Natasha by gang shooting when Starr was in elementary school, although she lives in the "the hood" she attends a private school (mainly white) and this part of the story is all about Starr trying to find who she truly is, and then the story of her family and what that means for Starr. The audio reading was really powerful. We all need to read/listen to this book, this type of story, because that will open our eyes to injustice and help be the change that is much needed.
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
Two stars. This book was a read for my Advanced Practice Provider book club. It just wasn't my kind of book. I did take away how small changes can make or break a business and marketing is a big deal, but otherwise not a favorite read of mine.
The Address by Fiona Davis
Audiobook
5 Stars! I know it seems unreal that I was so lucky to have so many 5 star reads in April, and this book was the first one of the bunch. I loved this book. I had just gotten back from visiting NYC and to listen to a story told about a famous hotel in NYC was so enjoyable. This book spans two time periods- late 1930's and the 1980's. Sarah Smythe (1930's leading lady) is an English woman who has been talked into moving to NYC to be the manageress of The Dakota. The Dakota was a new way of living in NYC. It was built away form downtown (ironically it sits across from one of the most famous parks in the US- Central Park) and some questioned whether it would last. It was a new idea of living in a apartment with the amenities of a hotel- butler, cook, maid, wait staff, etc. The Dakota did last- it houses some famous people- and it was on the doorsteps of The Dakota where John Lennon was murdered (yep he used to live there). The 1980's leading lady- Bailey Camden has recently gotten out of a drug rehab program and finds herself living in the Dakota and working on rebuilding her life and career by redecorating her cousin's apartment in The Dakota. Sarah and Bailey are leading very different lives, but they are connected. It is a great story and it made me want to return to NYC soon.
The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne
Another Bookie suggested read. This was an epic story. Spans 1945-2015 covers heavy topics: unwed mothers, Catholic Church/specifically Ireland- darkness, homosexuality, AIDS, family, lies and love.
When I first started reading the book it reminded me of the book "Middlesex"- not the content, but the style. It was very well written. Multiple characters and layers of exploration of life. I don't think I could give this book 5 stars because I never fully liked the main character Cyril Avery. I got annoyed with his continuous lies and mistakes and the upheaval his choices caused others. However, this is likely a description of real life. His book "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" is now on my TBR.
It was a very full and "happy" month of reading with I think the highest 5 star count of a month of reading I ever have had.