The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff

My Rating: 4.2

A servant girl escapes from a colonial settlement in the wilderness. She carries nothing with her but her wits, a few possessions, and the spark of god that burns hot within her. What she finds in this terra incognita is beyond the limits of her imagination and will bend her belief in everything that her own civilization has taught her.

This book got RAVE reviews so I am in the minority. For me, the story dragged at times and I felt it should have been edited down. Some mentioned that this book was dark and depressing which I can see when she was questioning God and thinking that bears had souls. Overall, I was fascinated by her ability to survive and her resourcefulness. As always, even if the storyline doesn't enthrall me, Groff's writing is lyrical.

 

Njuta: Enjoy, Delight In: The Swedish Art of Savoring the Moment by Niki Brantmark

 

My Rating:  4.2

Njuta (pronounced “nyutah”), which means “enjoy” or “delight in,” is the Swedish art of savoring the moment. Focused on finding happiness in even the smallest things, njuta can be applied to every area of life: Daily rituals Creating a comfortable home Nature and friluftsliv (open-air life) Meal times and fika (coffee breaks) Adapting to the seasons Celebrations with family and friends From relishing a quiet moment of comfort to enjoying the beauty of nature or even just reveling in the deliciousness of a favorite snack, you too can do like the Swedes and open your eyes to all of life’s pleasures, no matter how simple.

Maybe it is the fact that I have been blessed to live in European countries but I didn't find anything profound in this book. That being said, it was a good reminder to not let work swallow me up and to make the time for those little wonderful breaks that are the things you will remember about your day.

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

My Rating: 4.9

1789 Maine: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own. Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie.

I absolutely LOVED this book. It transported me back in time to this small town in Maine. I got immersed not only in the rape trial, the question of the drowning but also in Martha's life. Her diary entries made the weather, her work and her family come alive.  The writing was beautiful and I will definitely read more by this author.

Dear Child by Romy Hausmann

 

My Rating: 4.7

A woman held captive finally escapes and wakes up in the hospital. She says her name is Lena. Lena, who disappeared without a trace 14 years prior. She fits the profile. She has the distinctive scar. But her family swears that she isn’t their Lena.

I am a huge fan of books translated from other languages. Combine this with a great narrator on the audio version and it is a definite win. I had only some very minor pieces figured out and there were some definite 'reveals' that I had no clue about. Well done! Great thriller/mystery.

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

 

My Rating: 4.6

Lara’s three daughters return to the family's orchard in Northern Michigan. While picking cherries, they beg their mother to tell them the story of Peter Duke, a famous actor with whom she shared both a stage and a romance years before at a theater company called Tom Lake. As Lara recalls the past, her daughters examine their own lives and relationship with their mother, and are forced to reconsider the world and everything they thought they knew.

As with all of Patchett's work, this is about people - their lives, the dynamics and the many layers of their lives. It is well told and makes you feel like you know all of the characters intimately.