Rutabaga's Reads 2024: Part 10

Here’s the only adult fiction compilation post that I have for this year. Maybe next year, I’ll read enough for two compilation posts!

The Book of Lost Names (July 21, 2020) by Kristin Harmel.

<This is a standalone novel.>

Under dire circumstances, Eva Traube discovers she is skilled at forgery in 1942. She lives with her parents in Paris. While she was born in France and grew up speaking the language, it’s no secret that she and her parents are Jewish; her parents are Polish Jews. Tatuś is taken by French police. Eva and Mamusia flee to Aurignon in southern France, it being part of the Free Zone until it isn’t. Eva and her mom let a room from Madame Barbier. She’s part of an underground network helping people, mainly children, flee to Switzerland. She gets Eva in contact with Père Clément at the Église Saint-Alban, where she meets a handsome forger named Rémy Duchamp. Giving new names to those fleeing may help them survive, but Eva despises the idea that she’s erasing people; hence, The Book of Lost Names. The book itself is lost to the Nazis, and it’s in 2005 when Eva, now Eva Traube Abrams, sees a photograph in a magazine at her local library, where she works as a semi-retired librarian, now well into her 80s. She’ll fly to Berlin to reunite with the book. One thing lost to her is about to be returned, though so much and so many were lost to her during WWII, including Rémy, when the resistance cell they worked for was compromised. Eva’s son knows nothing of this part of her life. Is she ready to share it?

            It’s the title that caught my eye, and the story captured my interest from the first chapter. At turns heartfelt and heart-shattering, tender and devastating, this historical fiction novel is poignant, powerful and purposeful. Despite inhabiting a dark, terrifying time, the characters show bravery, courage and the resilience of the human spirit while walking amongst evil, much like far too many had to do in real life then and, sadly, are doing now. My first story by Harmel, and I was swept up in its emotion and realism. This story is thoughtful and compelling.

Happiness Falls (Aug. 29, 2023) by Angie Kim.

<This is a standalone novel.>

Their father is missing. The father is Adam Parson, and the mom is Dr. Hannah Park. Their biracial children are a mash-up of their names: twins Mia and John Parkson and Eugene Parkson, their 14-year-old brother, who’s six years their junior. Mia is the only one at home when Eugene comes running full speed ahead. He’s alone, disheveled and bloody with blood under his nails. Adam isn’t with him, not that Mia notices straight away, with her eyes shut against the sun. By the time Hannah and John have returned home from their respective workplaces, hours have passed. Eugene cannot tell them what happened to their father, as he’s unable to communicate orally or through writing. Eugene has both autism and the rare genetic condition called Angelman syndrome. When Eugene gets in trouble for accidentally assaulting a police officer, it becomes even more imperative to learn what happened to Adam. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, he’s fortunately able to be under house arrest at home instead of kept overnight in an unfamiliar environment (detention center) with complete strangers. As the rollercoaster search continues, it’s discovered that Adam had secrets of his own. Namely, the HQ (happiness quotient) and something major to do with Eugene. The clock is ticking in this investigation. What did Eugene witness?

            There is so much to this domestic drama that’s also a compassionate mystery containing themes of philosophical inquiry, the power of language and its role in perceived intelligence and human connection filled with emotionally rich storytelling. The story is told from Mia’s perspective. She’s hyper-analytical and very judgmental, and I struggled with her character. I can be as judgmental as the next person, but I was also raised to be compassionate. I can stand up for myself without coming across as disdainful. So, whereas John’s niceness as a narrator might’ve been easier to read, it’s Mia’s impertinent, over-thinking mind that moves the story along. I didn’t love this adult fiction novel, which I did read because of the hype – it’s a GMA Book Club Pick – but I can’t deny that it’s one of the smartest books I’ve read this year. It’s multi-layered and thought-provoking. This is a novel that shines with hope amidst heartache and wrests joy from tragedy.

The Sound of Sleighbells (June 27, 2023) by Janet Dailey.

*This is the sixth novel in a series.*

After divorcing her abusive husband, Ruth McCoy is looking to create happy memories and new holiday traditions for her kids: Skip (15), Janeen (6) and Tammy (4). Money may be tight, but she’s got a stable roof over her family’s heads and food on the table. Branding Iron, Texas, is Ruth’s hometown. It’s also Judd Rankin’s hometown, but she’s avoided him easily enough over the years. Her first love, she knows Judd’s history, of his time in jail, but Judd’s turned his life around. He owns a successful custom saddle-making business and Angus ranch. Skip’s friend, Trevor, convinces him to help him with a project out at Judd’s. Ruth is hesitant, worried that Judd and Skip will notice too much. When a blast from the past comes to Branding Iron, a man called Digger, Ruth fears it’s only a matter of time before her secret isn’t so secret anymore. Judd’s never truly gotten over Ruth, but will Ruth give him another chance?

            My first novel from the late author, I found this sixth in The Christmas Tree Ranch series to be sweet with tones of trepidation. While I read this one in the summertime, it’d be perfect for reading on a cold night, wrapped up in one’s favorite blanket with a generous mug of hot chocolate containing extra marshmallows. It is part romance and part intrigue. It’s a wholesome story for readers who love the magic of Christmastime any time of the year. I’m not big on romance novels, but this one with its multigenerational cast delivers good pacing and appeal for readers looking for chaste romance.

"I Guess I Live Here Now" by Claire Ahn

I Guess I Live Here Now (May 24, 2022) by Claire Ahn.

<This is a standalone novel.>

After a minor transgression (in her eyes), Melody Solmi Lee is stunned to hear that she and her mom are leaving New York City to join her dad in Seoul, like, right now! She barely has time to say goodbye to Sophia Taye, her best friend, before she’s flying First Class (how?). Melody is resentful and homesick. But she soon finds herself trying to settle into her family’s luxurious apartment, while being set up on blind dates, gaining rich friends at her fancy international school, struggling through AP courses when she’s not entirely fluent in Korean herself (Honors Korean, for real?), and comparing Seoul to NYC and constantly finding it wanting. It takes a new friend calling her out on her judgmental attitude to really begin seeing that she isn’t being fair to her new home and some of the people around her. Thanks to her new friends, her eyes are opened to amazing food, trendsetting fashion and design that she loves but was unfamiliar with (hanoks). It doesn’t hurt that her dad has a black card and a personal driver, and there’s a cute boy named Wonjae in her new friend group. There are cracks, too, in the strained relationship that her dad has with his parents and in his treatment of her (to Koreans, strictness is the norm, but not so for one who grew up in America) and in the secrets her mom’s been keeping from her. Melody has a plan to return to NYC. All she needs to do is make the final round for a prestigious design internship and then have the best interview to be the overall choice. Oh, and she has to come out of all of her ultra difficult midterms with straight-As. That’s it. Ha.

            Reading this YA novel, in which a fully Americanized teenager is sent “home” to Korea, is fresh and fun. Melody (also called Solmi, which is her Korean name) is 16 years old, so there are believable teenager vibes, but readers also watch Melody’s journey of self-discovery and her up-and-down emotions, like in the doldrums of uprooting all you’ve known and the ups of young love. This story basks in the glow of Seoul’s neon lights and dazzles every bit as much as the hottest artists and actors in K-pop and K-dramas. While Melody’s umbrage is understandable, it doesn’t mean that I always liked her character, but with a steady plot, family drama, the discomfort of moving forward in a new place and the adventure of misadventures, it kept my interest overall. It’s entertaining and the Seoul backdrop is well-done. The transcultural themes are important, and I now want to go eat too much Korean food!

"A Breath of Hope" by Lauraine Snelling

A Breath of Hope (Apr. 3, 2018) by Lauraine Snelling.*

While the Carlson family still reside with Onkel Einar and Tante Gerd Strand, Signe and Rune have their own acreage on which to build a place of their own. Einar remains as difficult and ornery as ever. He won’t call Signe by her name, and anything that he can unfairly blame on her, he will. But the long winter has turned to the spring of 1910, and, though the work is as grueling and endless as ever, Signe and her family have found comfort and camaraderie with Gerd, the Benson couple, a neighbor and others from the local Lutheran church. When Rune and Bjorn are not busy helping Einar, they and the other two sons, Knute and Leif, labor on their piece of land to ready it for building a house. Einar, obsessed with his own interests, never helps.

            Signe takes heart, as two of Rune’s siblings are traveling to Amerika and to them in Minnesota. Nilda Carlson (also Signe’s best friend) and her younger brother, Ivar, are set to help on the Strand farm. Nilda is thrilled to go to America, though the transatlantic voyage leaves little to be desired. Nearing Duluth, they meet a fellow voyager named Petter Thorvaldson, who does not appear to be married and is going to Blackduck. There’s also Fritz Larsson, a teacher and organist who teaches English. He, too, is single. Might there be matchmaking in Nilda’s future?

            When a tragedy strikes, will the reason for Einar’s extreme anger toward the community come to light?

            How I enjoyed this story! As with the first story in the Under Northern Skies series, I was impressed with the realism of this inspirational historical fiction novel. The characters are all supremely hard workers; their toil is almost tangible as I picture Snelling’s words in my mind. Einar continues to frustrate me, only because I cannot imagine having such lumps of coal in my heart. I read this winsome story at a brisk pace. Because of all of the modern conveniences I’ve been privileged to grow up with, I am astounded by all of the hard work this family puts in to make a house a home and a farm their own. Through it all, there is a deep connection of faith, which makes love for one another all the stronger.

            Book One: The Promise of Dawn

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"The Promise of Dawn" by Lauraine Snelling

The Promise of Dawn (Aug. 1, 2017) by Lauraine Snelling.*

Moving from Norway to Minnesota in 1909 is dauntingly life-changing, but with opportunities scarce in Norway and Rune Carlson’s uncle, Einar Strand, offering to loan them money for passage to America, it seems the most viable option. Still, Signe Carlson hesitates to leave home, especially as she suspects she is pregnant with the couple’s fourth child after multiple miscarriages. But Einar has promised them land of their own, something they’d never be able to afford in Norway.

            Rune and Signe, with their three sons Bjorn, Knute and Leif, travel to Minnesota. They are no strangers to hard work, but Uncle Einar and Aunt Gerd are a very demanding and seemingly callous couple. Einar, Rune and Bjorn make it a daily task to fell trees, while Signe has the unenviable task of getting a house back in shape after months of neglect with Gerd fallen ill. As Einar’s demands and his expectations put someone she loves in striking distance of grave danger, Signe’s faith wobbles. Rune is there to encourage her faith as he keeps his. Can Signe find the fortitude she needs to help lead her family and protect them in this new land?

            I have not read many books by Lauraine Snelling, but I was first drawn to this story when I read that the characters emigrate from Norway to Minnesota. It reminded me of American Girl character Kirsten Larson. “The Promise of Dawn” did not disappoint. It is clear that Snelling has put in a great deal of historical research. Reading the story was an immersive experience. It was also emotional, as I’d have strong feelings toward Einar’s treatment of, well, everyone, and Gerd’s apparent dissatisfaction of everything. The amount of love Signe and Rune have for their family is astounding, but their lifestyle in Minnesota isn’t just honest hard work. The environment they’re in is toxic, and I’m not talking environmentally. Patience is a virtue oft-displayed by the Carlson family. They also show us what hard work is and what it means to endure. I was wrapped up in this book and look forward to reading the next installments in the Under Northern Skies series.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"The Silver Boat" Review

From Luanne Rice comes a story of love, pain, searching and family myth in “The Silver Boat” (Apr. 5, 2011). This book is an adult fiction novel set mostly on Martha’s Vineyard, but it also includes a mission to Ireland.

            “The Silver Boat” centers primarily around three close sisters who have dealt with pain and grief in their own unique ways. Their grief swells from the abandonment they felt when their father set sail in a solo transatlantic mission to get from Martha’s Vineyard to his home country of Ireland. He planned to search for a certain document and vowed not to return until he located it. Twenty-eight years later, and he hasn’t come back. The only communication they had from him was a phone call when he’d first arrived in a port in Kerry, Ireland. The sisters’ mother had passed away the previous fall, so the loss of a parent is quite raw again as they gather in the early spring at their childhood home on Martha’s Vineyard.

            Darrah “Dar” McCarthy is the oldest sibling. Closest amongst the sisters with their dad, she finds steely determination to find out what really happened to their father. Never married, she receives comfort, friendship and commitment from longtime friend Andy Mayhew. She is the sister who excels at being able to read emotions in her sisters. She deals with the unknown regarding her father by throwing herself into the drawings for her graphic novel. They concentrate on a character named Dulse.

            Dulse is a water spirit who’s motivated by grief and desire. This makes her very powerful, so much so that she is able to bring her sisters – Heath and Finn – back to life after they’d been turned into “Rosa rugosa” (beautiful beach roses) by their maternal grandmother (who seemed to lack respect for their father).

            Middle sister Rory McCarthy Chase is in the throes of a love-hate relationship with her cheating husband Jonathan, who’s left her for a much younger gal. She still loves him because she’s loved him so long and for the kids (two kids with him, plus a daughter from a previous marriage), but she despises him for having an affair. She despises herself to some degree as well, being compulsive at times when she checks her husband’s e-mail with the password she’s known for years or checking his cell phone’s call log on their billing statements. Can she move forward without thoughts of her husband weighing her down?

            The youngest, Delia McCarthy Monaghan, is a married woman worrying a lot about her son, Pete. Pete left a couple years back for Alaska to try to make a living by fishing. He has never met his two-year-old daughter, Vanessa. The grandparents are mostly raising their granddaughter with Pete gone and Vanessa’s eighteen-year-old mother about to have another baby. Delia yearns to have Pete back, especially for Vanessa, but her husband, Jim, doesn’t seem to want him around. He appears to have written him off as an irresponsible alcoholic and drug addict. Will Pete come around and return to finally meet his daughter? Can Jim and Pete reconcile?

            The sisters learn much in Ireland. They reach Cobh (pronounced like Cove) in their search to learn what happened to their dad, Michael McCarthy. Will they find the answers they seek? Is their dad still alive? If so, why didn’t he return?

            Rice’s writing on “The Silver Boat” is cohesive and gently paced, and it did not leave any questions unanswered in my mind. This is a novel to read if you’re already a Rice fan or enjoy novels that are heartwarming yet heart-wrenching. Consider picking up the book if you’re simply looking for a new read. If you prefer more action/adventure or scenes from the paranormal, this book will not give you that.

"One Summer" Review

Since I did not know much about author David Baldacci, I pictured him to just be a novelist of thrillers and crime fiction. I was pleasantly wrong about that. In “One Summer” (June 14, 2011), Baldacci gives readers a moving, domestic fiction novel about a family falling apart, picking up the pieces and learning to love again after a tragic loss.

            Christmas is approaching, and patriarch Jack Armstrong is doing all he can to hold on until Christmas is over. He is dying from a disease doctors tell him is always fatal. Given mere months to live, he knows he will never walk his daughter down the wedding aisle, he won’t send off his middle child to college, and he will long be gone by the time the youngest graduates from high school. But he is determined to hang around through Christmas, living on an oxygen line and bedridden. He catches all the glimpses he can of his family: the love of his life, Lizzie; their daughter, Mikki, a rebellious 16-year-old who’s not close to her dying father; son, Cory, a 12-year-old thespian; and son, Jack Jr. (known as Jackie), who’s 2.

            Life throws them a major curveball when Lizzie dies in a car accident. The parent who everyone expected to be around suddenly isn’t, and Jack seems mere days away from being gone, too. Anticipating that the children will soon be orphans, Jack’s mother-in-law, Bonnie, splits up all three children and puts them with various members of the maternal side of the family (Jack has no living relatives). Jack is left in Cleveland to die alone without any family around, much to the dismay of Bonnie’s husband, Fred, and of course, Jack.

            Miraculously, Jack discovers he has started to breathe on his own again. Soon he’s trying to support his own weight without anyone’s help. Instead of going to hospice prepared to die, he works up to going to a rehab facility. His good friend, fellow military man and co-contracting business owner, Sammy Duvall, helps him train to gain physical strength back. As soon as he’s discharged, Jack goes to retrieve each of his kids, starting with Lizzie, who’s with her grandparents in Arizona.

            Jack struggles to balance time between working to support his family as a single parent and actually spending time with the kids. Sadly, he puts work ahead of the kids and almost misses Jackie’s birthday. He is reminded of it not-so-gently by Mikki, who clearly thinks he is failing as a parent. Jack is not even aware that Cory is being bullied at school until Mikki informs him of that, too.

            When Lizzie’s stylish, eighty-something-year-old grandmother, Cecilia Pinckney, passes away, Jack is shocked to learn that she has left him the old Pinckney house on the South Carolina coast. The house is referred to as ‘The Palace,’ and it is where Lizzie grew up. She had wanted to take the kids there for the summer, and Jack had never seen it, so in her memory, he packs up the family and heads to South Carolina. Sammy goes along as well and brings his dog, Sam Jr.

            Jack and Sammy find work in the small beach town, but Jack still struggles to primarily be a dad. He has also become obsessed with fixing ‘Lizzie’s Lighthouse’ as she had painted on a sign in her youth. And he has caught the eye of a lawyer-turned-diner-owner named Jenna Fontaine.

            “One Summer” explores the struggle that the Armstrongs (especially Jack and Mikki) go through to piece their broken family back together. There will be obstacles for all of them, one of which is big enough for Jack to wonder if his second chance with his family is prematurely ending. What will the outcomes be? How can he let go of Lizzie? Can he learn to love again?