The Maid by Nita Prose
(mystery, contemporary)
Format: audiobook
Summary: Molly, a meticulous maid at the Regency Grand Hotel, finds one of the hotel guests dead in his suite and ends up in the center of a murder investigation.
Content: A few swear words
Review:****
Final statement: I thought this book was really "cute" (not the usual adjective for a murder mystery), and I found Molly quite endearing. Also, just a note, this book is not to be confused with Maid, the memoir by Stephanie Land.
Home Front by Kristin Hannah
(family, war)
Format: paperback
Summary: During a time of marital difficulty, Jolene, a military helicopter pilot, is deployed to Iraq, leaving her husband and two daughters.
Content: A few swear words and some mild marital passion, but I would let my grandma read this.
Review: ****
Final statement: This book was recommended by my friend whose husband served in Iraq. She and her husband both said that some of the feelings and situations described in this book were very real to them, so it was interesting to soak some of that in. I can't even imagine!
The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
(historical fiction, WWII)
Format: e-book
Summary: Odile works in the American Library in Paris when the Nazis begin to take and burn books and ban patrons from accessing literature. The book is based on true stories of librarians during WWII who protected books from the Nazi regime and participated in resistance efforts. Odile is fictional, but many historical figures are included and woven throughout the story.
Content: A few swear words and sexual situations - a little more than I’d let my grandma read.
Review: ****
Final statement: Unfortunately, when I read this book, I was extremely distracted by some things going on outside of my little world of books, so I read it with only half a brain. I enjoyed the book but missed a lot because my mind was mush.
The Spirit of Revelation by David A. Bednar
(religion, Christianity, non-fiction)
Format: audiobook
Summary: David A. Bednar, an apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, discusses ten principles of receiving, recognizing, and acting on personal revelation. Then he shares some of his personal experiences with those principles.
Content: churchy goodness
Review: *****
Final statement: This book is divided into two sections. The first section reviews and outlines ten principles of personal revelation. The second section is composed of examples of how revelation has come into Elder Bednar's life. I found the first section to be the most pertinent and can think of examples of each principle in my own experiences (in other words, if you want to cheat... just read the first section. Then skim or skip the second. But you didn't get that advise from me!)
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
(young adult, contemporary, LGBTQ, poetry, coming of age)
Format: e-book
Summary: Teen Xio finds poetry as an outlet for her experiences with her faith, friends, and family.
Content: language, sexual situations and descriptions, casual teen drinking and drug use.
Review: ****
Final statement: I'm very conflicted about this book because I really enjoyed it, but the reason I read it is because it is required in my son's 9th grade English class, and the teacher sent out a description of some of the book content to parents as an FYI. After reading it, I don't think it should be required reading for school. That gets into the controversial topic of censorship and banned books, and I don't want to go there. Nicky and I have talked a lot about this book (and a few others that are required at his school).
The Nanny by Gilly McMillan
(thriller, crime)
Format: audiobook
Summary: Jo and her daughter move home with Jo's mother after the death of Jo's husband. Shortly after their arrival, human remains are found in the nearby lake, and Jo's childhood nanny, who left without a trace when Jo was seven, suddenly reappears.
Content: Language
Review: ***
Final statement: This book was somewhat entertaining, but it's one of those books where the characters do a lot of stupid things that have you asking, "How are you so dumb?" I stuck it out, but you're not missing much if you never read this book.
After the End by Clare Mackintosh
(contemporary, ethics)
Format: audiobook
Summary: Max and Pip's toddler son, Dylan, has cancer, and they must make the grueling decision to either continue fighting for his life or stop treatment at the recommendation of their medical providers. Max and Pip disagree on what to do and end up taking the case to court - against each other. The story explores the possible outcomes of each parent's wishes.
Content: Language
Review: ****
Final statement: I always enjoy a book that raises ethical questions. When should life be prolonged and at what cost? I hope I never have to make that kind of decision. This book really made me think, and what really makes it interesting is that the author, herself, had to make those decisions with her own child, so this book was written with that experience. I commend her for what she has been through and how she was able to channel that into a novel.
The Truth About Melody Browne by Lisa Jewell
(family drama, mystery, coming of age)
Format: e-book
Summary: Melody Browne has no memories prior to age nine. After participating in a hypnotist's performance, she begins to have memories resurface, and she discovers that she hasn't always been Melody Browne. Over time, Melody discovers who she really is.
Content: Language, infant death
Review: ****
Final statement: This is another book I feel conflicted about. I enjoyed it, but there was one interesting plot thread that left me going, "Really? How do I feel about that?" Without giving too much away, it involves Melody's relationship with a man named Ken. It's just... weird. So if you ever read this book, please email me and tell me what you think of Ken. I need to know.
Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah
(contemporary, magical realism)
Format: hardback from the library
Summary: Jo is a cancer survivor and graduate student studying indigo buntings for the summer in Illinois when she finds a young girl in the forest who claims she is an alien.
Content: Brief language and sexual situations (non-descriptive)
Review: ****
Final statement: This was my book club's selection for May. I read it, but I wasn't able to make to to book club this month.
The End of Her by Shari Lapena
(thriller, mystery)
Format: audiobook
Summary: Some guy might have killed his first wife. Or maybe he didn't. But either way, some nasty woman named Erika is going around blackmailing everyone, and the guy's second wife has to decide what to believe.
Content: I don't remember... but probably sex and language.
Review: ***
Final statement: This one kept me entertained and curious, but it's not one I would recommend. The characters are horrible and have no redeeming qualities. This book is like getting juicy gossip from an unreliable friend. You drink it up, but you know most of it is blown out of proportion and completely untrue.
Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult
(contemporary, women's fiction)
Format: audiobook
Summary: Diana gets stuck in the Galapagos Islands when the world shuts down for COVID.
Content: Brief language and sex.
Review:****
Final statement: This book felt a little premature for me, as I'm not ready for COVID novels. The pandemic isn't far enough behind us yet (especially for an epilogue taking place in 2023). At the half-way point, I wasn't liking the book at all and was planning on a two-star rating. I didn't like the characters, and I wasn't thrilled about some of Diana's behaviors and mentalities. But as the book went on, it grew on me. By the time I finished it and read the author's note explaining her reasons for writing this story, I'd been won over!
Fifty Words for Rain by Asha Lemmie
(historical fiction, coming of age)
Format: e-book
Summary: Nori is of illegitimate birth, born into a high ranking Japanese family. Her grandmother mistreats her for 453 pages.
Content: A couple of swears, rape (non-descriptive)
Review:****
Final statement: Another blogger tagged this book as "tragedy porn" - meaning the book thrives on bad things happening to the protagonist incessantly. That is accurate. This story is not happy, and the ending is unsatisfactory. Despite that, I liked it!
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I would like to note that three of the books I read in May feature female protagonists named Jo. There are always little things that interweave between one book and the next. Sometimes it's a theme or a similar plot. Sometimes it's the name of a character or the setting of the story. Even when I try to pick something drastically different from one book to the next, there is always something that carries over. One of these days I'm going to map it out.
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