Monthly rundown vol. 18

Mysteries, love, dysfunctional families, and the meaning of life

Hello, hi! Is everyone’s air conditioning in tip top form at the moment? If you’re living in the Northern hemisphere, I certainly hope so (unless you are one of those lucky people who live somewhere that is very temperate in June and July, in that case, are there any affordable vacation homes for sale near you?) My family kicked off the summer with a short vacation in Chicago. It was so fun! I love that city. It was the first time visiting with our kids, and I was happy that they had a good time too. Other than our early in the month travel, I’ve been baking more (crazy in the heat, I know, but I don’t care!), we’ve been taking advantage of the neighborhood pool, and I’m trying to take care of one or two projects that had gotten put off through the school year. To be honest, I’m not making as much headway as I’d have liked, but summer isn’t over yet! And–this is probably the most exciting news this month–I typed that often-illusive THE END on my third manuscript, another romantic novel that I can’t wait to share with everyone! I’ll be sharing more news on that as it comes, and I’ve got some ideas percolating on what comes next, but mostly I’m letting my brain breathe for a little while (in other words: I am reading a lot and embracing my summer sloth). 

Reading:

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose. This is the second book starring the intrepid Molly the Maid. Molly is now head maid at the Regency Grand Hotel, and when a famous author drops dead at a press conference being held at the hotel, Molly finds herself caught up once again in ensuring that the true murderer comes to justice, while dealing with some old memories that surface after the event. While I liked The Mystery Guest, I didn’t love it.  To me it didn’t quite have the sparkle of the first book. 

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer. I thought the premise of the story was creative and intriguing–the author of a beloved children’s chapter book series holds an exclusive contest where the winner gets the only copy of the long awaited next novel. Stakes are high for each of the contestants, but perhaps for Lucy most of all. However, the main character got on my nerves almost the whole book, and I thought the tone was a little uneven. Was the book supposed to be whimsical? Spooky? Heartfelt? It was a little all over the place. But overall, I was very invested in the outcome, and it was a quick, enjoyable read. 

Strangers and Sojourners by Michael D. O’Brien. This is a door-stopper of a book, and definitely not a fast read. It’s a character-driven novel that follows the lives of Anne and Stephen from their pre-World War I childhoods in Ireland and England, through their adulthood in the remote wilderness of British Columbia. The writing is lovely and descriptive, and the narrative spends a good bit of time philosophizing and asking questions through the perspective of the two main characters, two people who are searching for answers to questions about love, beauty, purpose, the nature and existence of God, and how logic and spirituality intersect. This won’t be a book for everyone, but if you’re in the mood to immerse yourself in deep thoughts and lyrical prose, it’s a good one. (I will say that I think this book was the first of a series, and I don’t know that the rest of the series looks up my alley–a little too apocalyptic, but I did enjoy Strangers and Sojourners).

Ashes in the Pines by Chad Allen Gibbs. Teenage sleuths Izzy and Elton are at it again, this time trying to solve a decades old murder at an elite summer camp for spoiled rich kids while dealing with plenty of personal drama. In this series, I enjoy how the author weaves in cultural touchstones from this unique period in the early 2000s (i.e., Izzy’s continued struggle with opioid addiction, as well as his ability to perfectly capture teenage snarkiness and that balance of cluelessness and competence. Plus, the mystery itself is solid.

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett. Ann Patchett is one of those modern classic authors whom I had never read, and I’m so glad I picked The Dutch House as my first dip into her catalog because I absolutely adored it. A friend told me that while the story is different she thought the vibe was similar to Hello Beautiful, by Ann Napolitano which I also loved, and I agree. I loved the characters and their complicated relationships, and the way Patchett manages to burrow into my soul through this beautiful and sad and lovely story about family and sacrifice and forgiveness.

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle. I’m not going to say too much about this book, because I don’t want to get into spoilers (although…it’s been out for a while, so…you’ve probably read it, ha!), but mostly I wanted to like this book more than I did. I liked the premise and the celebration of strong, intimate friendship–please, more books about strong friendships! But the main character just really got on my nerves. 

The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle. This was a really lovely, feel-good story. A year after her mother’s death, Jess is finally going through her childhood home to clear it out and sell it. In the process, she discovers a collection of random and disconnected items in the back of a furniture warehouse: The Museum of Ordinary People. This depository for everyday items of questionable value speaks to Jess’s tender, bruised heart. She throws herself into the project of turning this museum into something meaningful, and changes her life along the way. There was a plot bomb toward the end of the book that I thought came out of nowhere and could have done without, but overall I really liked the premise of this story, the characters, and the experience of reading it. A great cozy read. 

Then Comes Marriage by Emily B. Riddle. So many rom-coms stop at the wedding, and one of the things I love about this book is that it sort of starts at the “happily ever after.” It’s got a whirlwind romance, family dysfunction, and life on a farm that’s not exactly what Iris expected. This is a quick, breezy read that made me smile. 

I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger. It took me a few chapters to get into this story, but once I did I was completely hooked. The tone is like a myth or a fable, about a grieving man on the run from an enigmatic enemy. It’s set in the near future, on Lake Superior, which is it’s own character in the story. It’s a story about human connection, grief, and resilience with a very satisfying ending. It reminded me of the book Station Eleven.

All right, time to bring this extra long letter to a close. Thanks for reading, and may all your summer reads be five stars!