Stargazer

Gunty, Tess: The Rabbit Hutch: A novel

Verghese, Abraham: The Covenant of Water (Oprah's Book Club)
The positives were the immersion into the culture and history of India, the fascinating medical stories and the beautiful ending. What I didn't enjoy were the length of the saga (much too long and dragged at times) and the sometimes underdeveloped characters. The love stories also left me cold. 3 1/3 stars. (***)

McBride, James: The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store: A Novel
Very well-written but a jumble at times and full of fascinating but overwhelming characters. The ending was unbelievably beautiful and took it up to 4 1/2 stars. (****)

Patchett, Ann: Tom Lake: A Reese's Book Club Pick
Because of the lovely writing (typical Patchett) I rated this one higher than I would have normally. It's slooowwww.There is no action and no plot; most of the events take place in the past. I'm not sure how we'll talk about this at Book Club, so I'm hoping for excellent discussion questions! (****)

Napolitano, Ann: Hello Beautiful (Oprah's Book Club): A Novel
Although it wouldn't be everyone's style, I bonded strongly with this family saga and its complicated and endearing characters. I found it well-written (sometimes repetitive), and emotionally satisfying. It isn't plot driven and the family members are messy and confused at times, but overall, it was an excellent read. 4 1/2 stars (*****)

Brooks, Geraldine: Horse: A Novel (Random House Large Print)
At the beginning I thought it would be a solid 5 star, but I didn't find the modern-day stories (especially the love angle) compelling. It often felt like a vehicle for sending messages about the dangers in the present, as well as the past, for black people in the U.S. (tragically true) The parts about the horse, horse racing circles, Jarret, and the pre- and post-Civil War era were absorbing and deserve 5 stars. (****)

Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai: The Mountains Sing
Full of history (new to me) and unspeakable acts, this book introduced me to Vietnam through the eyes of its people and the horrifying events they experienced. The writer took seven years to write it; it's obvious (to me) that her first language isn't English--which doesn't hurt the story although the language does feel stilted and contrived at times. I'm hoping for an illuminating Book Club discussion! (****)

Strout, Elizabeth: Lucy by the Sea: A Novel
If you enjoy conversational type writing and complex characters (and stories from the beginning of the pandemic), you would love this book as much as I did. If you're looking for a strong plot or traditional storytelling, you won't like it. (****)

Wilkerson, Charmaine: Black Cake: A Novel
3 1/2 stars and a disappointment. It started with an intriguing and engaging story then devolved into numerous characters and timelines. I stopped caring about the people or what had happened to them. It was a jumbled mess when I expected a 5 star read. On the plus side, I did enjoy the interesting history and culture in it. (***)

Lefteri, Christy: The Beekeeper of Aleppo: A Novel
A 4 1/2 star read for me since it had beautiful writing, fascinating characters, and tragic events/history. The book was full of sadness yet also hope. I'm not a fan of the non-linear structure though. I learned a lot about the Syrian Civil War and the refugee crisis; it was unimaginably disturbing. (****)