“The Book of Form and Emptiness” is a story about love of books, understanding, nonjudgmental tolerance and the insignificance of material things. In general, the story is told by the book, which may sound obvious, but in this case, the book is a form of being. And the book is telling the story of Benny’s
French Braid – by Anne Tyler
If you love Anne Tyler as I do, you will love French Braid, which is pure Anne Tyler and a breath of fresh air.
The novel starts in March of 2010 with Serena Drew and her boyfriend, James, in the Philadelphia train station. Serena sees someone she thinks might be her cousin and James intercedes
Oh William! – by Elizabeth Strout
“Oh William” is Elizabeth Strout’s third Lucy Barton novel. The novel focuses on family, the importance of formative years and the lifelong process of filling in the holes of knowledge about ourselves and others.
Lucy is now 62 years old, divorced, widowed and the mother of two adult daughters. Lucy has a close friendly relationship
The Candy House – by Jennifer Egan
The Candy House is a simply amazing novel about the intrusive nature of evolving technology and the ever increasing importance of real human interaction. The novel is a companion to Egan’s Pulitzer prize winning “A Visit From the Goon Squad,” featuring some of the same characters and using interlocking narratives to tie the characters together.
Violeta – by Isabel Allende
“I was born in 1920, during the influenza pandemic, and I’m going to die in 2020, during the outbreak of coronavirus…I’ve lived a century and I have a good memory…I’ve witnessed many events. I’ve amassed a lot of experience, but either because I was too distracted or too busy, I haven’t acquired much wisdom. If
The Lincoln Highway – by Amor Towles
“The Lincoln Highway” is the story of a cast of characters who find themselves out on the road with intertwined stories. The story begins with 18 year old Emmett Watson. Emmett has just been released early from Salina, a workhouse for young men, where he had been sentenced to 18 months for killing Jimmy Snyder.
The Sentence – by Louise Erdrich
“In love as in death and mayhem, small things start a chain of events which veer so out of control that sooner or later an absurd detail intrudes, bringing the trail of events back for us to ponder.” The Sentence is an amazing story of big and small events which give us a lot to
These Precious Days – by Ann Patchett
“These Precious Days” is a compilation of 23 essays, an introduction and an epilogue, describing Ann Patchett’s life, relationships and experiences.
In the introduction Ann Patchett explains that she fears death the most when she is writing a novel. She is afraid something will happen to her before she is done creating the world she
Harlem Shuffle – by Colson Whitehead
“Harlem Shuffle” is an atmospheric story about the thin line between criminality and honesty, the complexities of class and family and survival. The story takes place between 1959 and 1964 and is a family saga, mystery and story of intrigue. The novel takes on big issues, tells a complex story and is impeccably written.
Ray
Intimacies – by Katie Kitamura
Intimacies is a story about interpersonal connections–deep rooted and shallow–and how they grow and die.
The narrator and main character has relocated from New York City to The Hague, where she works as an interpreter at the international court (the Court). Her father has recently died and her mother has moved to Singapore. The novel