Currently Reading
The Return (PFP, 2014) by Roland Merullo
Roland Merullo is one of my favorite authors (and not just for his road trips with Buddha books – although I do like those!) but I haven’t kept up with him, and have a lot to catch up on, including two WWII novels. He writes on a wide variety of topics, both fiction and nonfiction. In the fall, I visited an independent bookstore in a New Hampshire tourist town and picked up two of his books that I hadn’t read yet.The Return is a sequel to Revere Beach Boulevard.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (Macmillan, 2020) by V.E. Schwab
Don’t Overthink It (Baker, 2020) by Anne Bogel
A Year of Writing Dangerously (New World Library, 2012) by Barbara Abercrombie
Recently Read
The Vanishing Half (Riverhead, 2020) by Brit Bennett
Books about sisters tend to be lumped under the category of “women’s fiction” where estrangement never lasts and family secrets are never as damaging as the characters think. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett is a novel about two twin sisters from the self-segregating town of Mallard, which doesn’t appear on any official map, populated by African-Americans who pride themselves on the light color of their skin; marry carefully based on genetic skin color; and look down on people with darker skin.
Despite their close relationship and identical looks (they could pass for each other), Desiree and Stella had always felt different from each other, deep down. The twins leave Mallard together, but eventually become estranged – embarking on entirely separate lives, with Stella “passing” as white. The residents of Mallard look on all these comings and goings, passing judgment like a Greek chorus.
The Vanishing Half delves into so many topics, ideas, and beliefs that it’s hard to list them all – making it great for a book club discussion. The themes of identity and belonging run through all the different story lines of the three generations of characters in the book.
Recently Listened To
The Cold Millions (Harper Audio, 2020) by Jess Walter
The Eighth Detective (Macmillan Audio, 2020) by Alex Pavesi
Currently Listening To
White Ivy (Simon & Schuster Audio, 2020) by Susie Yang
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This post is linked to “It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?” hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. Check out the link-up party there for more book lists!
