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Brimstone Hollow
by Archer Sullivan
Brimstone Hollow is the second book in Archer Sullivan’s Annie Gore series. Annie is a spunky, independent private investigator we first met in The Witch’s Orchard. Sullivan has again written a Southern Gothic-esque mystery filled with interesting characters, a fast-paced plot, and an engaging protagonist. This time, Annie is approached by a young mother who wants to know how her estranged father, a “snake handling” preacher named Ezra King, died. The case takes Annie to a small Appalachian town, where she meets an assortment of townsfolk — some who followed the preacher, and some who didn’t. With help from the Chief of Police, Annie uncovers more than just murder: an entire underworld of criminal activity.
I expected to enjoy this novel, and I did. It’s a great palette cleanser if you’ve been steeping in heavy literary fiction — a quick, plot-driven read with a very likable main character. Sullivan also has a knack for slipping in a twist or two to keep things from getting predictable.
Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the copy. Brimstone Hollow will be available for purchase August 11th.
Stone Yard Devotional
by Charlotte Wood
I’m not entirely sure why I picked up Stone Yard Devotional. I think it had something to do with a book podcast I came across, where the host mentioned it was the kind of book you read slowly, pausing to sit with what the words on the page are really trying to say. Not so much the telling of a story, but the meditation surrounding the narrator’s contemplation.
Our narrator walks away from her life running a “Threatened Species Rescue Center,” feeling it is essentially pointless. The world is going to hell in a handcart (my interpretation), and she retreats to a religious community of nuns. Not out of faith, but because “nothing is asked of [her], nothing expected” (pg. 18). From there, she turns inward, revisiting the events she believes shaped the woman she has become. As she settles into convent life, she begins to reflect on her upbringing, and particularly on her complicated relationship with her mother. Then three life-altering events unfold: a plague of mice, described in genuinely horrifying detail as the narrator and the nuns scramble to contain the infestation; the discovery of the remains of a nun who once belonged to their community, whose death appears to involve criminal circumstances; and the arrival of another nun, someone our narrator has crossed paths with before.
This is a deeply human novel. The examination of our narrator’s inner life is genuine, frustrating, and at times confusing, but through it all, it is rooted entirely in her truth.
Charlotte Wood’s writing is simple yet beautiful. There were several moments where I had to stop and just sit with her prose. For example: “Crossing the grass I made a clean track of footprints, deep green on the white spread of the lawn. It returned me to my childhood, to the sense of secret authority, imprinting one’s presence into a place with those clear, sharp prints. I exist” (pg. 39).
And: “I’m used to it now, the waiting. An incomplete, unhurried emergence of understanding, sitting with questions that are sometimes never answered” (pg. 69). The discussions you could spark from contemplating either of those passages alone would be well worth the read.
Stone Yard Devotional is a novel that can be finished in a relatively short time, yet its complexity and themes run deep. That combination of accessible length with rich, layered content makes it an ideal pick for book clubs and high school independent novel studies alike.
The Correspondent
by Virginia Evans
I absolutely love reading epistolary novels. They make me want to write letters again. Real letters. We live in such an “instant” time where, at the click of a button, we can communicate with no pondering, no pause to clarify our thoughts, no attempt to communicate not just effectively but beautifully.
Years ago, I was lucky enough to read letters my grandfather wrote to a young woman who would just happen to become my grandmother. They were simple but heartfelt, and I truly felt like I got to know a grandfather I had never met, a man who existed before he was ever a “grandfather” to me. I think we have become a people where, unless we feel we have something important or riveting to say, we say nothing at all. And yet what we should be doing, what people like my grandfather, did so naturally in the past, is simply share the simplicity of their everyday lives. Little things: the simple goings-on of the day, what you ate for dinner, what books you’re reading, or something as unassuming as the weather.
I lived in Glasgow for a portion of a year, many, many years ago, back when the only internet you could access was at the local internet café where I had pay by the hour. So I wrote letters the old fashioned way to everyone and anyone in my address book: old university friends, my little nieces who were too young to read, previous colleagues, just to tell them about my everyday life living in Scotland. And I received a plethora of mail in return, sometimes twice a day (the Royal Mail was absolutely magnificent). It is a practice I miss deeply.
All this to say: I absolutely loved The Correspondent.
Our main character is 73-year-old Sybil Van Antwerp, a retired law clerk for a celebrated judge. Sybil has always written letters, first to her best friend Rosalie, whom she met at summer camp as a young girl, and eventually to an ever-growing constellation of recipients: her brother Felix, living in France; her children; her neighbour Mr. Lubeck; various authors she admired, among them Joan Didion and Ann Patchett; a university dean; and others. Her mailing list expands across a lifetime, and we come to understand not only her ritual for letter-writing (she has specific days and times set aside, and spends about an hour crafting each letter, a discipline we learn about through her friendship with a young student who becomes enchanted by the practice) but her motivation as well.
Woven through the novel is something more tender and more sorrowful: through letters, we learn that Sybil is losing her eyesight, and we come to know the heartbreak and tragedy that has quietly shaped her life. And throughout all of her correspondence Sybil has been writing to someone she never names. In these letters, we meet a different Sybil entirely, unguarded, reflective, sharing her most personal feelings and regrets. These letters are written never to be sent.
The Correspondent is a beautifully crafted love letter to the art of letter-writing itself. It is also a novel about identity and grief, and the preciousness of relationships and the ways we choose, or fail, to communicate across a life. By the end, I desperately wanted to receive a letter from Sybil myself. It is a quick read, and an easy one to fall into and stay until finished.
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Saoirse
by Charleen Hurtubise
Sarah Walsh is on the run. The threat to her life is so intense that she steals the identity of another woman and flees to Ireland. On her flight, she meets Paul, a man who takes an uncomfortable interest in her, but Sarah has no one, so she accepts Paul’s help navigating a new country, even agreeing to stay with him and his family upon arrival. However, just like Sarah, Paul isn’t everything he appears to be. Soon, Sarah starts finding her own people and making friends, which is a huge relief after dealing with Paul and his oppressive family. The one exception? Paul’s dad is a kindly doctor who actually recognizes Sarah’s vulnerability and notices and encourages her artistic talent.
Her new friends anoint her with the name Saoirse (meaning ‘freedom’-an appropriate christening, as we shall soon see).
The novel alternates between Sarah’s time in Ireland as Saoirse, where she begins to reinvent herself and build her life anew, and Sarah’s past in Michigan, where we learn of the trauma she endures and her need to flee. The catalyst for the main conflict of the story (I’m not spoiling it because it happens at the beginning of the novel) is Saoirse’s public recognition as an artist, where she wins a prestigious award and is compelled to hold a public exhibit of her work.
The novel is one of resilience, heartbreak, love, found family and the importance of art in healing and recovery. I found it romantic (although at times frustrating with regard to Saoirse’s choices and rationale), infuriating in its themes of the archaic nature of the lack of a woman’s right to choose, and intriguing in its discussion of art. The chapters are organized and titled according to various artworks produced by Saoirse that seem to reflect, in both subject matter and medium, various periods of her life.
I both read and listened to this novel. If you are so inclined to listen to the audiobook, the narrator is wonderful.
Thank you to Netgalley and Caladon House for the copy.
The Orphanage by the Lake
By Daniel G. Miller
Hazel Cho thinks of herself as a tough, no-nonsense private detective, and she is, to an extent. Having to deal with angry clients who refuse to acknowledge the brutal truth behind the reality Hazel uncovers, living paycheck to paycheck because of a lack of clients due to her gender, and navigating a sticky relationship with a roommate, a cherished friend that would like to be more than friends. One day, a gift seems to drop from thin air; a prospective client comes her way with an offer that is too irresistible to refuse. Madeline Hemsley graces Hazel’s detective agency with a job that requires Hazel to investigate the disappearance of a young girl from St. Agnes Orphanage. If Hazel takes the job, she will be paid an exorbitant amount of money, but along with payment comes a list of guidelines and deadlines Hazel must follow or not get paid.
Of course, this offer is irresistible to refuse. But immediately, the roadblocks and morsels of truth that arise make this “gift from thin air” seem more like a curse.
The plot is quick-paced, which definitely helps create suspense, with smidgens of romance interspersed. The author gives us little snippets of Hazel’s back story and her motivation for picking this peculiar line of work. The characters all seem to fulfil a purpose in developing the plot and serve as credible suspects in the mystery.
The Orphanage by the Lake is a perfect summer mystery to put on your tbr list.
Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the copy.
The Mask of Merryvale Manor
by Pete Sherlock
The Mask of Merryvale Manor is an entertaining and sometimes unsettling mystery. The novel begins on a dark and sultry evening at Natasha Merryvales’s wedding. Natasha and Ben have escaped the wedding party in an attempt to spend time alone together…the only problem is that Ben isn’t the groom; in fact, he is Natasha’s cousin. If this doesn’t complicate matters enough, whilst walking along the bank of the lake, they stumble upon a corpse, half buried in the water. Not only is this discovery shocking to all, but a few family members coincidentally recognise the shoe. They can, therefore, identify the corpse. But there is a dark secret surrounding the dead woman that someone in the family is privy to, and it is so condemning that it could lead someone to murder.
The plot of this novel is engaging enough, although a few segments are rather slow. Ben’s character is also quite interesting. Still, the story is written from his perspective. It is a first-person narrative, so the reader is left wondering exactly how reliable he is.
I really appreciate the author’s writing skills and story ideas. Still, I did figure out the “guilty party(ies)” (no spoilers) well before the end of the novel.
It’s definitely worth a recommendation.
…plus I think the cover is cool!
Thank you to Fairlight Books and Netgalley for the copy!
The Curse of Eelgrass Bog
by Mary Averling
Kess Pedrock lives with her brother in a fascinating old museum filled with all sorts of natural and unnatural curiosities. With her scientist parents far away on the other side of the world conducting research, Kess has only her neglectful, somewhat abusive brother for company. Kess spends most of her time alone with her only friend being Jim (I don’t want to say who or what Jim is…but he is one of my favourite characters). Kess and Jim spend their time on the periphery of Eelgrass Bog on the hunt for unique artefacts for the museum, hoping to draw enough crowds to keep the museum afloat. One day, a young girl, Lilou, arrives, eager to use her birthday money to see all the exhibits the museum has to offer. Lilou brings with her not only the potential for friendship but also a quest to find the answers to mysteries surrounding not only the museum itself, but also Kess’s family.
I am so excited about this book for several reasons: First of all, as a reader- what a wonderfully engaging story with a fast-paced and thrilling plot and an engaging, sympathetic young protagonist. Canadian author Mary Averlying’s writing style is beautiful and sophisticated for a middle school book. I mean, “ bats fly hither thither like tiny black comets”…come on, how wonderful is that! Secondly, I’m excited about this book as an educator. This book would make an excellent read-aloud, individual book study and/or class study. It also lends itself as a mentor text for writing! Teachers can use a plethora of paragraphs as small mentor texts to teach literary elements, syntax, and vocabulary.
Excellent squishy parts, several moments of creepy suspense, a relatable main character, and strong themes of identity, friendship, family, and courage make this a perfect addition to any middle school classroom.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the free copy.
None of This is True
by Lisa Jewell
This book ruined my plans for the day. Once I started it, I could not do anything else until I was finished. It was creeeeeeeeepy!!! A perfectly paced plot that created a crazy sense of suspense. In fact, he plot immediately sucks you in, and you can’t escape until you reach the “wtf” conclusion.
The story is about Alix Summers and Josie Fair. Two women, strangers to each other, who just happen to be “birthday twins”. But having the same day of birth is the only thing these two women have in common. They meet by chance at a restaurant whilst celebrating their birthdays! Alix is a beautiful, vibrant woman with a podcast celebrating the accomplishments of women who have overcome adversity. Josie is an unassuming part-time seamstress who is in want of a life different from her own. When Josie discovers who Alix is, she approaches her with a proposition; to tell the story of her life, a life she is determined to change.
However, Josie’s life has been anything but normal. Soon Alix uncovers uncomfortable truths about this birthday twin of hers (little objects are beginning to disappear from her house, and Josie is spotted on her home’s security camera rifling through recycling). Is Josie a victim? Or is she a psychopath?
Loved this novel. Perfect if you are looking for a quick-absorbing read.
Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for the free copy.
When Women Were Dragons
by Kelly Barnhill
On April 25, 1955, thousands of women spontaneously morphed into dragons. Some flew off without incident, but others left a trail of death and destruction behind them. What would cause these women to do such a thing? After all, they should have been perfectly happy and content in their socially suitable lives. But to change into something fierce and beautiful and utterly independent! What a horrible tragedy. And all hoped it would never happen again….but it did.
This novel follows young Alexandra (or Alex as she prefers to be called) from childhood to young adulthood as she navigates a world where female role models struggle to figure out their identities. Alex’s aunt Marla is a dynamic woman who flew aircraft in the war, works in a garage and has never married. Alex’s mother was a gifted mathematician who built a name for herself in banking and investment but chose to become a wife and mother and leave her mathematical aspirations behind. And seeing how the story takes place in the 1950s and 60s, this struggle for identity is divisive both in society and the family dynamic. To make matters worse (or better), it seems that those women breaking from the societal norm of how “womanhood” is defined spontaneously turn into dragons. Alex must first decide how she views herself in a society defined chiefly by men and then decide what path she will take to live as her authentic self. Will that include turning into a dragon? Read the novel to find out.
A Path Divinely Intended
“The spirit of a man is constructed out of his choices.” ― Irvin D. Yalom, When Nietzsche Wept
The paths of life are varied.
All of us,
each and every one,
have several paths from which to choose a direction.
Our choice is our own.
To have someone dictate which path to take
or
to allow ourselves to be easily swayed by someone or some ideology
would be a crime against our spirit
and
we would not be living our truth.
Media, society, peers, politicians or even our family can attempt to carve a path they’d like us to take
but
if these paths are not divinely intended
if we do not participate in the carving of our own path
or
opt out of the carving of our own path because of fatigue or indifference,
then
we violate our own existence…
diminishing who we are –
a living, breathing gift to the universe.
“Mud-luscious and Puddle Wonderful
“The world is mud-luscious and puddle wonderful” e.e. cummings.
Spring is here. Finally. After months and months the sun has come out in full force reminding me, every time I come home from work, how truly dirty my condo windows are.
But I don’t mind.
The warmth and the shine are worth the slight on my housekeeping skills.
It’s muddy and slushy and puddley in them thar streets outside my window. Spring is truly a gloriously messy month. No longer is the land hidden by feet of pure whiteness of the driven snow.
No,
there is a slow revealing that takes place in my neck of the woods. The marshmallow whiteness slowly sinks and turns to beige
then tan
then brown. (Yes there are subtle differences in the colour change).
Any refuse that has been hidden by the snow is now being slowly uncovered to show, for a few weeks anyway, the slovenliness of a society that has been rendered incapable of environmental citizenship
because of an inability to find their mittens.
But a spring cleanup will occur. The garbage bags come out when there begins to be a slight subtle tinge of green in the newly uncovered grass. I can already see it happening. I have spied a prophetic sign…small pussywillows have been spotted…a harbinger of warmer days
and lighter steps
and urges to muck about in the great outdoors.
I’ve noticed the same thing can happen to people. A stagnation of thought or an entrapment of a single stubborn idea can render an individual inert, trapped under a big
heavy
cold blanket.
And then, with the gentle yet persuasive introduction of a new idea, or a “self permission” to shift a paradigm once held fast, a slow melting can occur, uncovering that which is raw,
or basic
or simply brown…until it is allowed to be tended and encouraged to sprout and grow.
I love the potential of spring. I love the hope and promise it holds
even though it sometimes forces me to see the dust and water stains on my windows or cause me to wait in an endless lineup at the car wash.
Ink And Spine 