The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together

Solidarity. If you’re as sick and tired of divisiveness as I am, consider reading Heather Mc Gee’s finely written book titled, The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together. Her premise is that when we buy into the notion that progress for some of us comes at the expense of others, we incur great losses for all of us. Not everything is a zero sum situation. There’s something evil about the process of pitting some of us against others of us when practical things can be done for the benefit of all of us. It’s past time to stop dividing and it’s imperative that we start uniting. This book offers a message of solidarity along with practical advice on how to move ahead for the good of us all. Rating: Five-star (I love it) Click here to purchase The Sum of Us from amazon.com.

Mirrorland

Twins. The shadows and hidden spaces in the present and the past keep readers somewhat in the dark as Carole Johnstone unveils a psychological thriller story in her debut novel titled, Mirrorland. As I read this book, I kept thinking of 1 Corinthians 13:12: “For now we see through a glass, darkly…” (King James Version). Protagonist Cat returns to Edinburgh from Los Angeles after a dozen year estrangement from her twin sister, El, who has disappeared. El and her husband, Ross, purchased the old gothic family home in which Cat and El had created an imaginary world they called Mirrorland, a place with secrets and shadows. As readers follow Cat inside the family home trying to follow clues left by El, we become enlightened about events in the past and the present. Johnstone’s fine writing keeps the plot intricate and precise, as we twist in the dark and the light searching for answers. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Mirrorland from amazon.com.

Truly Like Lightning

Big. Many novelists select a sliver of human experience and convey something about life with insight. In his novel titled, Truly Like Lightning, David Duchovny tackles the big questions of life and offers a story of a tragic hero who struggles with finding his place in the world doing what he discerns is right and trying to be aligned with what he thinks God would want him to do. The setting of this novel in the desert offers a backdrop for addressing those big questions through the choices protagonist Bronson Powers makes for himself, his wives, and his children, as they try to live out a life as Mormons conflicted with the mores of contemporary American life. We all try to answer for ourselves the big questions explored in this finely written novel. We feel deeply for the characters in this novel as they struggle to discern a right path forward in their lives. Rating: Five-star (I love it) Click here to purchase Truly Like Lightning from amazon.com.

Red Widow

Mole. Readers who enjoy spy fiction are likely to enjoy Alma Katsu’s novel titled, Red Widow. Protagonist Lyndsey Duncan has been called home to CIA headquarters on administrative leave following an indiscretion that has put her career at risk. After three Russian assets were exposed, the CIA suspects a mole at either Moscow Station or headquarters. Lyndsey has been asked to investigate. Katsu’s plot is engaging, and the characters are complex and interesting. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Red Widow from amazon.com.

Peaces

Train. Amtrak Joe has never been on a sleeper train like the one in Helen Oyeyemi’s novel titled, Peaces. A kind aunt gives Otto and Xavier Shin a special gift: a train journey on The Lucky Day. All journeys involve mystery and discovery, and Otto, Xavier and their mongoose become bound closely together thanks to this magical train trip. Many readers will find this novel weird, and others will see it as wonderful. I had to grab the straphanger at times to lurch with Oyeyemi’s unexpected leaps. Readers who enjoy eccentric literary fiction are those most likely to enjoy this novel. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Peaces from amazon.com.

Early Morning Riser

Sweet. Katherine Heiny’s novel titled, Early Morning Riser, could have gone off the rails in many different ways. With just a few tweaks, we could find ourselves laughing at these characters rather than with them. She could have skipped the complexity she layers in each character, and we would not have recognized them as complicated people, just like us. The lightness of the story could have become too saccharine to penetrate our senses; instead, we receive a story that is sweet in just the right ways. I felt better about the world and the people in it after reading this novel. That’s a tribute to this fine writer whose wisdom about life fills these pages. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Early Morning Riser from amazon.com.

Good Company

Bonds. The people closest to us have the power to break our hearts. In her novel titled, Good Company, Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney draws us into the bonds of marriage and friendship. When bonds are based on an expectation of loyalty, infidelity provides the kryptonite to weaken those bonds. When secrets are finally disclosed after a long period of time, the ability to restore bonds may be lost. Brave book clubs who are open to conversation about the fragility of our bonds will likely find members drawn closer together by a common understanding of our vulnerability to each other. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Good Company from amazon.com.