First Six Months of 2022 in Books...

It’s that time of the year again!

Namely, it’s June. This is usually when I am busy hyperventilating as the school year wraps up and I am faced with my attachment issues. However, it’s also when I usually share my year in books so far-sharing some recommendations and reviews with you.

Here goes then (because I do have to get back to all the hyperventilating)…

The Fall of Marigolds (Susan Meissner) 4-stars

I don’t read much historical fiction but was drawn to this title because of my interest in immigration history and Ellis Island itself. It was a well-researched, vivid novel with a good amount of heart.

The September of Shiraz (Dalia Sofer) 5-stars

I received this book as a gift in a holiday book exchange. It is the first physical book I’ve read in a while (I usually listen on Audible). Set during the early days of Iranian Revolution, this book is eloquently written. I could not put it down.

Woman No. 17 (Edna Lepucki) 4-stars

An interesting premise and some good observations of mothers and children with special needs and their relationships. I found it painful in its insight, at times, actually. Which is exactly why I would recommend it.

The Girl With Stars in Her Eyes: a Story of Love, Loss, and Rock-and-Roll (Xio Axelrod) 2-stars
I was really looking forward to this one because it was so highly recommended on various book lists and blogs. Unfortunately, it disappointed rather profoundly, both in plot and character development. It’s just flat and predictable all around. I hate to leave negative reviews (and don’t, actually), but I do not recommend this one…to anyone.

Rodham (Curtis Sittenfeld) 5-stars

What a cool concept-to take a real person and run fan-fiction with it. It gives a satisfying ending for Hillary fans. Recommend.

The Lost Daughter (Elena Ferrante) 5-stars

A painful read, and I mean it in the best way. Highly recommend, particularly to mothers of daughters.

Signs of the Survival: a Memoir of the Holocaust (Renee Hartmans) 5-stars

I bought this at an elementary school Scholastic book fair. I am hardly the target audience for this but the book is a true story of real sisters (one deaf, one hearing), making it through the Holocaust without their parents. I do recommend this to middle schoolers and their parents alike. It’s not very graphic and a good introduction into personal narratives of Holocaust survivors.

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead (Olga Tokaczuk) 5-stars

It feels silly to critique a Nobel prize winner so I hardly know what to say. An unusual read with an unexpected ending, I’ll say this much. Quirky and poignant.

The Personal Librarian (Marie Benedict) 5-stars

This was probably my favorite pick by MR BOOK CLUB. This, too, is historical fiction but based very much on thorough research. What an incredible (and almost unbelievable) true story of Belle DaCosta Greene! I want to go back to the Morgan Library now.

I Must Betray You (Rita Sepetys) 5-stars

This is a YA novel about Romania in 1989, when it finally overthrew its communist government. Yes, this is another historical fiction. I have to admit that this much historical fiction is quite out of character for me but I must say I highly recommend this title as well. I had no idea what life in Romania was like though I, too, grew up behind the Iron Curtain. Highly recommend to anyone curious about what life was like under communism in late 1980s (probably more for YA).

All’s Well (Mona Award) 5-stars

Oooh, this one I could not put down. My favorite psychological thriller in a while, that’s for sure. Very raw and a bit reminiscent of Twin Peaks from time to time (and I love me some Twin Peaks). Spooky and character driven in the most delicious of ways. Highly recommend.

Currently, I am reading The Sentence by Lousie Eldridge. It’s another pick of MR BOOK CLUB. I’ll report on this one when I finish it.

So… what are you reading? Anything to recommend?

Reading in 2021

Personal best, reading-wise! 20 books! If I were a person with any kind of influence, I would totally be asking to be the face for Audible because, OMG, without it, I’d never read anything! My goal was 10 books and I read twice as many. Lesson? Keep those goals and expectations low and you’ll surprise yourself! Right?! Right…

1. Class Mom by Laurie Gelman

   Perhaps not the most literary of starts to the year but it was a light and fun read. There are more volumes in this series. I’m not yet sure if I’ll exploring those but I might!

2. Just Like You by Nick Hornby*

   A big fan of Nick Hornby, I was disappointed in this one. There were some keen observations of society and politics but the characters fell flat and hardly developed. There are better ones out there by Nick.
   

3. The Bad Muslim Discount by Syed M. Masood

   One of my favorites this year. Talk about honesty and character development! I love immigrant lit mostly because it never ceases to amaze me just how similar we all are despite our background.
   

4. Send for Me by Laren Fox*

   Another favorite of the year, this one left me broken-hearted in a fairly literal meaning of the expression. My chest truly ached here-for everyone in this multi-generational WWII drama. Inspired by her own family letters from Germany, the author did an incredible job of fictionalizing members of her family while keeping the original letters intact. Highly recommend!
   

5. How to Walk Away by Katherine Center

   It’s obvious how much research went into writing this book. The author does a great job of having us truly feel what the protagonist is feeling here. Unfortunately, the plot became predicable in the “all a girl needs is a boy” way. Solid 3 stars though.
   

6. Return to Life by Jim B. Tucker

   If you have any interest in past life stories, this is the one for you. Dr. Tucker is quite an authority when it comes to children’s past lives memories. A fascinating read rooted in scientific approach and study.
   

7. True Story by Kate Reed Petty

   A good novel touching on MeToo involving an unreliable narrator.
   
   

8. Good Neighbors by Sarah Langan

   What a good novel! Painful and gut-wrenching but so good! It’s like the author puts up a mirror to your face and forces you to look. Highly recommend.

9. Dominicana by Angie Cruz*

   I love immigrant lit (as I seem to mention every chance I get) so this was a no-brainer of a selection for me. Set in Washington Heights, NYC during the 1960s, this novel was a fascinating trip back in time.
   
   

10. The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

    An entertaining suspense read. I didn’t see the final twist coming, which is always fun.
    
    

11. One by One by Ruth Ware

    A very engaging thriller. Very Agatha Christie. Recommend.
    
    

12. A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight*

    I didn’t like Kimberly McCreight’s first novel so I was a little hesitant to read this one. But no worries-this one managed to surprise me in the best of ways. I truly enjoyed it and, as opposed to totally transparent revelations in the author’s first novel, this one had me guessing.
    

13. The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty

    When in doubt, go with Liane Moriarty. The lady never disappoints. The characters are so distinct and crystal clear. Highly recommend.
    
    

14. The Night Swim by Megan Goldin

    A solid novel but very thick on making a point to be on the right side of MeToo. Some parts of very triggering so you’ve been warned.
    

15. Survive the Night by Riley Sager

    Unfortunately, this book was the biggest disappointment of the year for me. I love Riley Sager’s books, and was eagerly awaiting this one, but it did not live up to the author’s reputation. It almost felt like it was written simply because he was on a deadline and had to produce something regardless of inspiration and quality.
    

16. 56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard*

    Totally one of the faves this year! Talk about putting lockdown to good use and writing a killer novel! Highly recommend.
    
    

17. Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty

    Two Liane Moriarty’s books in one year is what I call awesomeness. Again, Liane excels at character development without sacrificing the plot, so this one, too, was a thrill to read.
    

18. The Neighbor’s Secret by L. Allison Heller

    A fun read reminding us that we just never know our friends and neighbors the way we think they do. As a parent, I found some parts a little difficult to read, but these are important questions to ask yourself.
    

19. The Nesting Dolls by Alina Adams*

    Should I say immigrant lit again?! Loved it! Multi-generational family drama is illuminating and helpful in my own immigrant universe. Highly recommend.
    

20. Memoirs and Misinformation by Jim Carrey and Dana Vachon

    It’s hard to give this one a rating. Jim Carrey is undeniably a genius, and I am simply not worthy of being inside his brain. The book is profound in its observations, poignant in its reflections. Some of it is absurd, some of is funny. A one-of-a-kind read, that’s for sure.

    Currently, I’m reading A Fall of Marigolds. I’m not sure if I’ll have enough time during this busy time of year to finish it before 2022 but so far, I’m enjoying the Ellis Island setting. Immigration history has always been of interest and passion for me, and I’ve been toying around with an idea for a novel tying in multi-generational immigration history, but I must finish my YearOne project (my quasi-memoire about my first year in America) before distracting myself.

    Let us know what you read this past year. Any faves? Any fun recommendations? Please share.

    Legend: * MR BOOK CLUB official selection. Please join us! We meet on zoom every other month.

    We wish you lots of health and happiness this upcoming year. We need a break from life, don’t we?! We deserve it! So we wish you lots of satisfying reads in 2022!

Second Person Singular

I met Sayed Kashua once. A friend of a friend, we were introduced after a screening of Write Down-I am an Arab, a documentary about a renowned Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. I found him intimidating. Kashua, not Darwish. His mood that day can easily be explained by the timing of our meeting—we’d just come out of the discussion about the film and the life of Mahmoud Darwish, and inevitably, the conversation had turned to the life and status of Arab Israelis. My friend Mira Award (who’d adapted Darwish’s poetry to her original music for this project) and Sayed Kashua (who himself is an Israeli Arab journalist and novelist, writing primarily in Hebrew) were poised and polite in the face of some rather ignorant questions, but when it was over and we all headed over the a nearby bar somewhere around NYU, Sayed was visibly shaken and annoyed. By way of context, he had apparently recently moved to the United States with his family, vowing never to return to Israel. He spoke very fast, mostly in Arabic and Hebrew (neither one of which I speak), and I remember feeling very intimidated. He smoked a lot and left before anyone else did. I was relieved! Needless to say, I didn’t even think to mention that I am a writer—a title I still feel insecure about throwing around by way of a self-descriptor. Now, half a decade older, I realize what a wasted opportunity this meeting was! Not because I regret not making a “contact” in Mr. Kashua, but because, had I been braver and not allowed myself to become so easily flustered, I could’ve learned something from such an accomplished author! I’ve been kicking myself and wanting to read Sayed’s novels ever since.

I proposed reading Second Person Singular to my Facebook Book Club, MR. BOOK CLUB, but it lost to American Like Me. I, of course, knew that, win or lose, I was going to finally read this novel, and I have to say, I am glad that I did. I am embarrassed to admit that this is the first work of fiction I’ve read that was written by an Israeli Arab. I’ve read literature by Jewish Israelis leaning to the left of the local political spectrum, of course, but obviously that is not the same thing.

I must say, I don’t remember the last time I felt like I truly learned something from a novel. For example, I had no idea about the friction between Israeli Arabs from the Galilee vs those from the “triangle,” the Christian and Muslim Arabs etc. The way I see it, underneath it all, this book is about insecurity. On all levels—personal, cultural, political. No wonder I can relate! The writing is crystal clear, despite the translation from Hebrew, and truly pulls you in. On the whole, this is a fascinating and rewarding read and I highly recommend it.

Six Months in Books

Summer is a busy time around my house. What used to be my writing hours are no longer mine at all. Summer is a competitive time for a writer (who doesn't want to be read at the beach?!), but if you're writer who's also a parent, summer is also a tough time on the production end. I'm working on my upcoming novel-Good Morning, Bellingham. It's about half way there. This will be a multiple POV psychological thriller and I'm unreasonably giddy about it. I like to push myself to experiment with different genres and can't wait to share it with the world, but it'll be a little while before I'll be able to announce a release date. Why? See above! Still, a stout believer in routine and maintaining muscle memory, I try to write something every day just to keep the muse happy. Sometimes, it's only a long-winded e-mail, but it's summer so it counts! Again, see above! Summer sucks! This Six Months in Books update is a writing exercise of sorts. Plus, everybody looks for book recommendations in the summer. Two birds? Here we go...

January through June 2018

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson

3-stars

This book fell into my lap (or rather, my car's Bluetooth) at the most opportune time-my father had just passed away after five and a half months of torture that is pancreatic cancer. Though we knew from day one that prognosis wasn't optimistic in the least, his actual death came fast: Tuesday, I am driving him to see his oncologist about canceling his treatment in favor of in-home hospice, and Saturday morning he is gone. Left behind was hospice equipment that had barely had the time to be delivered, a boatload of medications, and a lifetime (at least an American one) of acquired junk. Clothes and shoes never worn, countless loose post-its with unidentified phone numbers, and three sheds of cables and screws. Torn between grief and practicality, we cleaned fast. So needless to say, when I came across a title with the words Death and Cleaning in it, it caught my attention. 

I was expecting a how-to, which, luckily, this wasn't. Now that I think about it, how could Ms. Magnusson tell me what to get rid of and what to keep? She didn't try and I thank her. These decisions are tremendously personal. For me, this book served as a gentle kick in the butt to start downsizing now. Hopefully I'll have enough time to do a decent enough job of it before it's my time so as not to leave my mess for my loved ones to deal with. All in all, this was an interesting perspective to read and it did inspire a change in my life. Recommend!

Read more about my thoughts on the book here: https://www.marinaraydun.com/blog/2018/2/26/death-cleaning

Train Girl by Kristina Rienzi

4-stars

I received this short story free of charge as a token of thanks from the author for joining her mailing list. Which is a neat idea, I admit. I, too, must come up with a tangible reward for signing up for my mailing list. Somebody please remind me to do this!

I actually interviewed Kristina back in February of this year. You can read our interview here: https://www.marinaraydun.com/blog/2018/2/5/author-interview-series-kristina-rienzi. The story is incredibly short and is a real page turner. Which, of course, means I swallowed it in one sitting (yes, I read this one instead of listening to it!). It was suspenseful and engaging and the ending was a twist I was not expecting. Recommend!

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

5-stars

I could not, would not put this down (or turn it off). I got this recommendation on a facebook book group and it was so totally worth it. I listened every chance I got! Even if it meant five minutes at a time, I had to listen. Behind Closed Doors truly kept me on the edge of my seat. I was able to visualize everything so clearly, the writing is that crystal clear. Highly recommend! 

The Breakdown by B.A. Paris

5-stars

Having loved Behind Closed Doors so much, I had to see what else B.A. Paris had to offer. The Breakdown did not disappoint.  Definitely recommend. I will be reading more B.A. Paris books in the near future, I'm sure!

The Girl Before by JP Delaney

4-stars

A sucker for anything British, I do have a bias for books set across the pond. Now that I listen to books, the fact that they are narrated with a British accent is an added bonus. I don't remember now how I came across this title but it was an engaging one. The suspense was executed well and the ending was a bit of a surprise. All in all, a fascinating read.

The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani

3-stars

I'm sorry to say, but this was a total disappointment for me. The book is a winner of a very prestigious award and I feel a bit like a jackass for finding it overrated. It goes for profound, grappling with some serious societal issues, but winds up stretched very thin and superficial. I just did not like it, although I read it very fast (and at the beach). I have a separate entry about this one. Read it here: https://www.marinaraydun.com/blog/2018/4/9/the-next-gone-girl

After Anna by Lisa Scottoline

5-stars

A reader at a street fair recommended this book to me. I won't lie-the whole thing did remind me of a quintessential Lifetime movie but it did hold my attention. The twist wasn't entirely unexpected, but the execution was entertaining. 

You Think It, I’ll Say It by Curtis Sittenfeld

5-stars

Short stories are my jam! I find it such an intriguing and difficult genre. Putting out a compilation of short stories is on my bucket list. It's an ambitious dream. It's collections like this one that make it seem so intimidating because, oh my G-d, these stories right here are just sheer brilliance. So poignant and nuanced. So relatable. If you like short stories, please do yourself a favor and check out this book. One of my favorites!

The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy

5-stars

This was the one "the new Gone Girl" book that did not disappoint. Good suspense, yes, but it also delved into some real struggles that new mothers face. Highly recommend.

Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking

3.5-stars

There are many Little Books out there nowadays. I was afraid this one was going to be a preachy book about finding your happiness. I don't do those. I'm one of those rare few people out there who did not like Eat, Pray, Love. But no, this wound up reading like a funny scholarly paper with a bit of statistics and anthropology. It was fun. I now want to learn how to ride a bike and light some candles.