Someone

Someone by Alice McDermott is a deceptively simple novel about the life of Marie Commeford, an ordinary girl growing up in pre-Depression era Brooklyn. This is a beautifully written book full of observations of everyday life with all its ups and down.

It is a slim novel, and I would have loved even more character depth, but a lovely read nonetheless.

The Things We Keep

The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth is a novel about a young woman Anna, only 38, diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's. She is placed in an assisted living facility with older people and one younger man named Luke, only 41, who also has Alzheimer's. While their memories quickly begin to fade, they find unexpected happiness with each other.

A sad, tender and compassionate look at this disease and how it affects families as well. Not as good as Still Alice, by Lisa Genova, but still a worthwhile read.

Go Set a Watchman

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee is the follow up to To Kill a Mockingbird. Written before Mockingbird, Watchman is set two decades later when Scout is a young woman 26 years old living in NYC and returning to Maycomb, Alabama for a visit. What she finds when she returns home, disturbs her greatly and turns her whole world upside down.

Her Father and her fiancee are not the perfect men she always believed them to be and she cannot reconcile her feelings with her childhood beliefs. A compelling novel, beautifully written and painfully honest. A must read for fans of To Kill a Mockingbird.

The Dalai Lama's Cat

After reading Dinner with Buddha, someone recommended The Dalai Lama's Cat by David Michie. Told from the cat's perspective the book is filled with rare insights and bits of wisdom gathered while sitting on the Dalai Lama's lap or in the windowsill while he entertains famous visitors from around the world.

A funny, charming book for cat lovers, Buddhists, or anyone interested in an entertaining read filled with simple life lessons for greater happiness. This is the first in the series, I look forward to reading the rest.

Winter Stroll

Winter Stroll by Elin Hilderbrand, is set on Nantucket Island at Christmastime where the Quinn family reunites for their yearly ritual. The past year has been full of sorrow because one son is in jail for insider trading and another is missing in action in Afghanistan. However, they come together to celebrate the baptism of the third son's new baby girl and there is much joy to go around as well.

It was somewhat fun to escape into a family's drama whose problems are so much worse than your own. Mildly entertaining, yet forgettable; not Hilderbrand's best.

Emma

Emma, by Alexander McCall Smith is a modern day retelling of  Jane Austin's classic. I'm embarrassed to say I've never read the original, so I can't make a comparison of the two. However, I did enjoy McCall Smith's novel.

Emma is a spoiled, snobbish and rather unlikable young woman living in the English countryside, zipping around in her Mini Cooper and meddling in everyone's lives. Over the course of one summer, she learns a lot about life and becomes self-reflective enough to be considerate of others feelings and not just her own.

This is all accomplished with McCall Smith's usual wit, charm and humor. A light, enjoyable read.

My Name is Lucy Barton

I'm not sure why I keep reading Elizabeth Strout's books, but I do. Her latest, My Name is Lucy Barton, is about a woman who lives in New York with her husband and two young daughters and is in the hospital for nine weeks when her mother, who she hasn't seen or spoken to in years, shows up from her childhood home in Agmash, llinois.

The book is made up of Lucy's reflections on their conversations during this week. Strout's writing is deceptively simple and sparse, it gets right to the heart of the matter with little fuss. I have always felt compelled to read her books, yet I always feel mildly depressed by the end. Her characters are rarely happy and not fully formed enough to care about. A well written, yet unsatisfying read.

The Other Daughter

The Other Daughter by Lauren Willig is a novel set in 1920's London. When Rachel's mother dies, she returns from her job as a governess in France to discover a picture of her father who she believed died when she was four. He is a famous and respected Earl, while she has lived her life in near poverty.

She seeks entrance into society to find out the truth about her family and to seek revenge. It was all a bit cliche and forgettable to me.

Dinner with Buddha

Dinner with Buddha by Roland Merullo is a follow up to his earlier novel Breakfast with Buddha. Fifty-one year old Otto Ringling had lost his wife, his job and his way.

He takes time out to visit his sister and enlightened brother in law, Volya Rinpoche and embarks on another road trip across the Western United States in search of...he's not exactly sure. It's impossible not to be drawn into Rinpoche's simple wisdom, humor and gentle nature.

A wonderful story full of insight and small beautiful moments worth worth slowing down to enjoy. A recommended read.