The Weight of Heaven by Thrity Umrigar

My Rating: 3.0

It has only been four months since Frank and Ellie's only boy, Benny, died. The raw grief is palapable, as is the rift in their marriage. When Frank's company offers him a job in India, he is about to decline but Ellie sees this as a way for them to have a fresh start and persuades Frank that they should move.

I felt like I was being lectured to throughout this whole book. I don't recall Umrigar involving her political views in previous books and that REALLY detracted from my enjoyment of this book. I do understand how she built it into the storyline but I feel she could have easily built the story around the Frank and Ellie, their loss, their marriage, India and left out the political aspect. Although this isn't on part with Umrigar's other books, the writing is beautiful and she captures so much in her phrasing.

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

My Rating: 4.4

As young girls, Tully and Kate make a pact to be best friends forever. Tully was abandoned by her mother at an early age and this has meant she is constantly striving to prove her worth to the world. Kate was raised in a loving secure family and that is all she wants for herself. Two different girls that are inseparable.

This covers thirty years of turbulent friendship. It was equal parts fluff and depth. Hannah is such a strong writer that even though this light plot that can't compare to her current books, it pulls you in and makes you want more.  Thanksfully, there is a book 2 which I will be reading in the near future.

Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson

My Rating: 4.0

When Hen (short for Henrietta) has finally gotten onto the right meds, and with her husband Lloyd, have bought a new house she feels like her life is finally on track and settling out. Then the next door neighbors invite them over to dinner and Hen spots a sports trophy that looks like the one that went missing from a young man who was murdered a few years ago. Is her neighbor Matthew a murderer or is Hen's old obsession and paranoia haunting her again?

For me, while this was good, it was no where near in the same realm as The Kind Worth Killing. This was very slow and for most of the book, felt predictable. There were a few twists and it kept me entertained.

Four Soldiers by Hubert Mingarelli

My Rating: 4.8

In 1919, shortly after the outbreak of the Russian Civil War, four soldiers meet up and become the best of friends. They face the ravages of war but, when the cold of winter settles in and the fighting ceases, this wears on them almost as much as the horrific battles. In order to survive, they are forced to commandeer food from the locals, eat their horses and scavage any food they can find. So many hours of idleness that they fill with shooting dice and walking to/from a nearby lake.

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This is part of my quest to read books by authors of some of my past favorites. I loved A Meal in Winter and this had the same quiet beautiful writing. It is a book to be savored, not devoured. It is about the journey, not the destination. You get to know the characters and it shouldn't be rushed as not a lot happens, but it is worth savoring.

The Accident by Natalie Barelli

My Rating; 4.0

Katherine and Eve go out on the town for some fun...and have too many drinks. Katherine knew she shouldn't be driving but Eve goaded her into it and reassured her she was fine. She shouldn't have listened and now it is too late. Katherine is haunted by what she has done and although Eve says she won't tell, she keeps bringing it up and won't let it go.

For much of the book, this story felt too drawn out (think of Gone Girl and every book in that genre) but, then there were twists that pulled me back in. Definitely a fluffy thriller but, if that is what you are looking for, this will keep you on the edge of your seat with tension.

Her One Mistake by Heidi Perks

My Rating: 3.2

Charlotte is going to take her children to the fair and agrees to take Harriet's daughter Alice along with them. Three of the children are going through the bouncy ride while Charlotte and her youngest daughter watch a magician. Charlotte is glancing up from her Facebook page and keeping an eye on the ride exit for the three kids. When only two children exit, panic ensues. How is she going to ever tell Harriet that she has lose her daughter!

It is amazing how your frame of mind can affect how you feel about a book. I actually started reading this a while ago and abandoned it. When it was picked for bookclub I decided to give it another go and enjoyed it quite a lot. I felt for both Charlotte and Harriet and wasn't expecting the twist at the end. This is another thriller/suspense type of book and it had a good twist at the end. If you don't expect it to win a Pulitzer Prize you should find it entertaining.

Girls Like Us by Cristina Alger

My Rating: 3.2

FBI Agent Nell Flynn hasn't been home in ten years. Nell and her father, Homicide Detective Martin Flynn, have never had much of a relationship. And Suffolk County will always be awash in memories of her mother, Marisol, who was brutally murdered when Nell was just seven. When Martin Flynn dies in a motorcycle accident, Nell returns to the house she grew up in so that she can spread her father's ashes and close his estate.

There were parts of this that dragged but overall, it was a quick easy mystery.

The Painter by Peter Heller

My Rating: 4.7

Jim Stegner is a famous painter who has lived a tough life. Jim is a man with a lot of violence and loss – he is haunted by his mother’s death when he was a teenager and by his teenager daughter’s murder as well as by the man he shot years ago in a bar. He also has a peaceful side that is expressed through his fly fishing and his painting.

One afternoon, on a dirt road, Jim comes across a man beating a small horse, and a brutal encounter rips his quiet life wide open. Fleeing Colorado, chased by men set on retribution, Jim returns to New Mexico, tormented by his own relentless conscience.

There were several times I almost stopped reading this book - especially the part where the horse was being abused. Unlike his other books, Heller doesn't make "Nature" a character but it still includes a lot of nature. The writing is absolutely pitch perfect stunning and that is what kept me reading despite not caring for Jim. And then something happened…Jim, along with the story, got under my skin and I couldn’t wait to get back to this book. It is violent, savage and uncomfortable. It is also good. This isn't as good as his other novels but, still excellent. Thank you Mr. Heller! I hope you are working on your next book. 

Best Books of 2019

I always find it interesting to look back over the books that I rated "Best Of" for the year. I read over 70 books in 2019 but it still surprised me that I had 14 books that made my "Best Of" list - I thought it would be less as I felt like I had a lot of duds. When I went back and reviewed the list, I found myself not only nodding my head at the amazing memories that each of the books evoked but, I was surprised by the variety of genres.

It also reminded me that I want to read more by these authors and writing this post prompted me to check out several other ebooks by these authors from my library. I have decided that when I get old, I am going back to all of my "Best Of' lists from previous years (links to Best Of lists are on the right hand side of this blog) and reread them - something to look forward to!

What were some of your 'Best Of' books from this past year?

The Silent Wife by Kerry Fisher

My Rating: 3.5

This is the story of two women who are both the second wives of Italian brothers, It is told in alternating perspectives between each of the women.

This is a story of lies, history, being a step-mother and trying to forge your place in a family as a second wife. At times this really pulled me in and the author's writing had real promise but unfortunately the majority of the book felt rather formula.

Maybe In Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

My Rating: 3.2

Having recently moved back to L.A., Hannah goes out on the town with her best friend Gabby. She reconnects with her old boyfriend Ethan. Then the plot splits into two storylines - like Sliding Doors. In one version, she goes home with Gabby and in another version she goes home with Ethan. It goes back and forth between each version of the story.

This is a fluffy easy read and follows the author's format of her early books. It doesn't compare with her current books (Daisy Jones & The Six or The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo ) which I hope are indicative of the new direction she is going with her writing but, it was a fun light read.

The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand

My Rating: 2.0

Alexis/Lex's brother has committed suicide. Lex is a math major and her psychiatrist Dave recommends she journal her feelings. She is keeping the secret that her brother sent her a text before he died and she is carrying that guilt.

This wasn't bad but after reading so many other similar Young Adult books, it was very cliche. A Y.A. novel dealing with a tragic topic. This deals directly with a lot of difficult topics including suicide, grief, depression, guilt, etc.

A Place For Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza

My Rating: 4.8

This is about Rafiq and Layla's children Hadia, Huda, and Amar, first generation Americans trying to define their paths while deciding how to incorporate their parent's customs and beliefs. This covers the children's journey from children to adults...and the parents journey as well.

I loved all of the characters. To my surprise, I particularly loved Part 4, where the same circumstances were retold but this time, from the Father's perspective. I am glad I didn't read too much about this and when my gf from India recommended it, I remembered I had it on my kindle and moved it to the top of the queue. It is about coming of age, Muslim-Americans, struggling with different cultures and being a parent. More than anything, it is about family.

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes

My Rating: 4.0

Evvie is a widow and everyone feels sorry for her - not knowing that she was going to leave her husband the night he died.

Dean is a major league pitcher who suddenly can't throw straight, and has no idea why.

When Dean moves into the apartment in the back of Evvie's house, they both agree to not talk about their biggest issues - her being a widow and his not being able to pitch. This is the start of an unlikely friendship that grows into more.

I honestly didn't know if I was going to stick with this one. It was fluffy, wholesome  and predictable. Once I adjusted my expectations, I quite enjoyed it.

Things You Save In A Fire by Katherine Center

My Rating: 4.7

Cassie is one of the only female firefighters in her Texas firehouse. She's a total pro at other people's tragedies, but when her estranged and ailing mother asks her to give up her whole life and move to Boston, Cassie suddenly has an emergency of her own. Cassie reluctantly decides to move and embarks on a new firehouse, a new relationship and a new journey.

At times, this was a little off the meter for me on the romance scale but, overall I enjoyed it. I felt that it brought the firehouse to life and I really enjoyed that. Although Cassie's relationships - with her mother, with the rookie and others - was rather predictable, it wasn't so cheezy as to lose me. A very enjoyable read.