Tag: ★★★

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Read: The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout ★★★ 📚

As he steered the sailboat back to his wharf, it came to him how he had once, when he was a kid, said to his father, "I'm going to have a boat one day," and his father had smiled and said, "No, Artie, you're not ever going to have a boat." This did not hurt Artie to remember.

Rather melancholic novel. Older teacher Artie, goes through things in a Strout-ian way. Some rather dramatic twists, turns & happenings. Sadder than I expected, perhaps a little crammed with ideas, but the writing goes straight in.

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Read: Fever Beach by Carl Hiaasen ★★★ 📚

Viva who works for corrupt philanthropists & her Eccentric millionaire partner take on said philanthropists, corrupt politicians & MAGA activists to stupid for the proud boys. Heavy satire, fun but feels a bit forced.

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Read: Misinterpretion by Ledis Xhoga ★★★ 📚

An Albanian interpreter gets into a lot of communication difficulties. Set in New York & Albania Constantly surprising narrative as the narrator bounces from one complex situation to another.

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Read: Same as it ever was by Claire Lombardo ★★★ 📚

but the strangest thing I remember about having young children is how interminably the time moves, just these days upon days upon days, and every single one of them feels a million years long, but then suddenly months have gone by, enough time for a new baby to be born or one of the kids to start kindergarten, or college for God’s sake

Took me a long a time to get into this one. The central character irritated at first. She did grow on me as I got further.

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Read: Reconstruction by Mick Heron ★★★ 📚

he was Civil Service; they could take his life, but they'd never take his annual leave

Slough House adjacent novel. After a confusing start, where there seemed to be too many characters, it settled down to an exciting read where absolutely no one was what they first seemed.

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Read: Watershead by Percival Everett ★★★ 📚

Geologist, Robert, becomes involved with fictional Native Americans exposing pollution plot. Mixed in with quotes about geology & legal treaties. Details of Robert childhood & his families involvement with the Black Panthers fits well with the Plata tribe fight for water rights. His awful relationship with a 'mad' girlfriend less so.