The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

This is a good example of why you should always read an entire book, and not just the first couple of chapters! At the beginning of the book, a married woman (who we know nothing about yet) leaves her husband, children, mother and friends visiting inside her home while she goes outside to have sex with a childhood friend (who we know nothing about yet). It's shocking and made me cringe. Right away I envisioned this "rendezvous" as something distasteful and so incredibly wrong.

The farther I got into the book, the more I connected with the characters and their individual feelings and histories. It sucked me right in. The main character, Elle, spent her summers at "The Paper Palace", which included a main house and a cluster of cabins in Cape Cod. The buildings are in rough shape after generations of weathering and apparently limited maintenance or upkeep. But this is where Elle's heart is, despite the tragic things that have happened to her over the years.

Elle's grandparents and parents seemed to all be "searching for love in all the wrong places". They each married a few times, but none of their marriages lasted. Elle married Peter, who was by all accounts deeply in love with Elle. He was a wonderful, trusting, supportive husband and an awesome dad. All around good guy. Even Elle's crabby & critical mother loved him. Elle and Peter have three children, who are well-loved. So, what's the problem, right?

The problem is Jonas. Jonas was Elle's childhood friend. Jonas was younger than Elle, but they connected on a deep level. Jonas was the only person in Elle's life that knew Elle's "good, bad and ugly". Elle protected herself and others through lies of omission. Jonas was the only person in Elle's life that she never lied to. They spent their summers together. After a tragedy happens one summer day, when Elle, Jonas and Elle's step-brother (Conrad) are out sailing, Jonas' mother sends Jonas away and he doesn't come back to the Cape for a few years.

Elle & Peter eventually reconnect with Jonas and his wife, Gina, and they become "couple friends". The problem is, Elle and Jonas love each other. The novel is split into sections. We read about the present day (which is only 24 hours in length); we read about Elle & Peter's relationship; we read about Elle & Jonas' relationship. After delving deeply into Elle and her feelings for both men, and understanding what exactly happened in each person's life that guided them to make the decisions they each made, the opening chapters make a lot more sense. Therefore Elle is faced with a true dilemma. Does she choose safety & security & love with Peter - or does she choose the love of her life, Jonas?

The ending is ambiguous on a surface level. I read the last couple of paragraphs several times. But if you really know the characters and you understand the significance of the final words & gestures (by Elle & Peter) - and the foreshadowing of the ending in the opening chapter of the book - then the ending is clearer. I won't give it away here though. ;)

I really enjoyed this story. This novel is a first for Heller. I can't wait to see what she writes next.

Wendy's Rating: ****

The Paris Bookseller by Kerri Maher

I think I am supposed to love this book. After all, it's about a real American living in Paris during the early 1900s who sells American literature to Americans living in France. She meets, and is friends with, several classic authors. Some of these authors I studied intensely in college, like Ernest Hemingway and James Joyce. (Alas, I have never read Ulysses, which is odd in and of itself. I guess I will have to rectify that omission.)

Although I admire Sylvia Beach and her passion and strength, I found the book a little slow to read. I had to force myself to pick it up and continue reading. It just didn't hold my interest like I thought it would. Usually I love to read books about books.

It wasn't terribly surprising that many of these well-known "classic" authors were self-centered, eccentric and unstable in their mental health. True artists often have these qualities, whether they are painters, singers, writers, actors or mathematical geniuses. A couple of them really annoyed me though, like James Joyce!

The fight to have Ulysses published was an important part of this novel of course. Sylvia Beach published it herself because no one else would touch it at that time. Then she illegally sent copies of the book into America. The book explains all the people involved in trying to get the book published, trying to keep the book banned, trying to stop others from publishing it since it wasn't properly copywrited. I couldn't keep all of the people straight - quite honestly because I didn't really care! 

I am against the banning of books, and Ulysses was definitely a banned book at the time. So I appreciate the fight that was waged to get it published. Other than that, it was difficult for me to sustain my interest.

Wendy's Rating: ***1/2

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

I read this book many years ago - and saw the movie - but this was the book choice for our "family book club" since the main character is nearly the same age as my son. Since my (youngest) son isn't a big reader - and neither is my husband - I decided that the three of us would listen to the audio book together. We also watched the movie together before listening to the book. Anyway....yikes! I had apparently forgotten how boldly written the book is! At times it was downright uncomfortable listening to it with my son. Illegal drugs, underage drinking, suicide, sex, masturbation, homosexuality, physical abuse, sexual abuse by family members. You name it, it's in this book. It's actually quite shocking - especially listening to it with a 14 year old. So, would I have chosen a different book to discuss if I had remembered it better? Yes.

But, with that being said, the book is well-written and explores a lot of puberty-related issues that teenagers often struggle with. I certainly hope that most teenagers don't experience all the things that Charlie experienced though (best friend dies by suicide; sexual abuse; being hospitalized; not having a peer group). My childhood and adolescence was idyllic in comparison to Charlie's. I felt sad for Charlie and his struggles. Even though it was wonderful that Patrick and Sam befriended him with no judgement, they probably were not the best role models! They did encourage him to "participate" in his life more though, which was good. I also loved Charlie's English teacher, Bill, who took an interest in him and gave him extra books to read & writing assignments about the books. They say it only takes one adult in a child's life to make a remarkable difference in that child's life. Bill was that adult for Charlie. Bill saw something in Charlie and he valued that something, which had a positive influence over Charlie.

Both classic literature and music are prevalent in this book, and to Charlie specifically. Charlie uses music as a form of expression as to what and how he is feeling. The books that Bill gives Charlie are so meaningful to him that he splits them up and gives them all to the two people he values most in his life: Patrick & Sam. (Charlie's family is super important to him too and they provide a solid support system for Charlie when he needs it most.)

By-the-way, the book is MUCH more detailed than the movie. That is usually the case however, so anyone who reads regularly won't be surprised by that.

Wendy's Rating: ****

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

I really enjoyed this fast-paced novel. The two main characters are Hannah and her 16-year old step-daughter, Bailey. Hannah's husband/Bailey's father, Owen, disappears suddenly one day, leaving Hannah a very short note ("Protect her") and leaving Bailey with a note and a bag full of money. Owen's boss is found to be corrupt and has been taken into custody by the FBI. Then there is the U.S. Marshal (Grady) from the Austin, TX branch showing up at Hannah & Bailey's home (a houseboat docked in Sausalito), in addition to some FBI agents. Pretty much no one knows what's going on, where Owen is - or who Owen really is.

Hannah & Owen have not know each other very long (two plus years) and they have only been married a year or so. I liked how the author shared their short history in flashback chapters. Both the reader and Hannah gets some insight into Owen and what's important to him in the flashbacks. His number one priority is Bailey, who lost her mother when she was really young. That's how Hannah knows that Owen's note refers to Bailey. Hannah knows she needs to protect Bailey, but she doesn't know from what. She also doesn't know who to trust.

Fortunately Hannah has a trusted friend, Jules, that assists her along the way. Hannah also turns to her ex-fiancé, Jake, who is a lawyer. In the end though, Hannah trusts her own instincts and does her own thing to discover who Owen really is and what he wants her to do. There is not necessarily a happy ending to this story, but there is an ending which makes sense. Sometimes in life we need to sacrifice one thing for another.

Wendy's Rating: ****

The Guilt Trip by Sandie Jones

This was an entertaining beach read. The relationships between the six main characters were definitely complicated. Even though Rachel is married to Jack (and they have a teenage son) and Noah is married to Paige, Rachel and Noah used to be best friends. Now Rachel and Paige are best friends, even though there still seems to be some residual feelings between Rachel and Noah that appears to make Paige jealous. Then you bring in Jack's brother, Will, who is getting married to Ali, who is younger and beautiful and used to work with Jack. Jack doesn't seem to like Ali (and actually got her fired from his company), but Ali is always seeking out "alone time" with Jack, which makes Rachel jealous - and worried.

So these three couples fly to Portugal together for Will & Ali's wedding. Will, by the way, is a super nice guy and is liked by everyone. He is also the only one that seems ignorant of all the undercurrents flowing underneath the relationships of the other five people. Lucky him!

The four days spent in Portugal are filled with secret conversations, secret meetings, insecurities, fears of affairs, questions regarding paternity, unexpressed feelings, hurt feelings and erroneous suspicions. Personally, although the author sets things up to lead the reader in one direction, she leaves enough doubt and throws out some hints that things are not what they appear, which sent me in a different direction. I was correct about what was really happening (which I will let you find out for yourself!) and so I wasn't surprised at the "unveiling" of the truth. With that being said, I was surprised at the ending. It was a "just and fair" ending, in my opinion, therefore satisfying. ;)

Wendy's Rating: ****

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

This book is another masterpiece by Kristin Hannah. I have been reading this author for years (starting with The Things We Do For Love, which left me bawling at the kitchen table at 2am!) and her writing style and subject matters keep getting better and better. She certainly has an effective, engaging and passionate way of telling a story.

Although this novel is very well-written, it is not a happy story. It's not easy to read about someone who suffers one hardship after another. The main character is Elsa Wolcott, who is treated as an "underdog" in her own birth family. She had suffered an illness as a child, so she is treated as an invalid far after she should have been. She is not as pretty as her sister, so she considers herself ugly and unlovable. Her family does nothing to change this opinion of herself, which is a tragedy in itself. They all believe she is "unmarriable", which means a grim "spinster" future for women in the 1920s.

Elsa takes matters into her own hand (kudos to her!) when she meets and falls in love with an Italian by the name of Rafe Martinelli. This is a turning point in her life since her birth family disowns her for sleeping with and getting pregnant by an Italian. (This is in Texas is the 1920s, when the farmers were wealthy and life was good - but immigrants were discriminated against. Which isn't so different from the 2020s, sadly.) Anyway, Elsa & Rafe are forced to marry and Elsa moves into Rafe's family home with his parents, Tony & Rose. Tony & Rose become the parents that Elsa never had - and the ones she deserves. They are wonderful, hardworking and loving parents/grandparents.

The story jumps to the 1930's, the decade of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. Elsa & Rafe have two children and their once lucrative wheat farm has dried up. Dust storms arrive unexpectedly, quickly, and often, covering everything with a thick layer of dust. There is limited food & water, so both people and their animals are starving. Many people give up trying to farm and head west to California to start a new life. The Martinelli's stay put on their dried up farm, praying for rain. As immigrants, the Martinelli's believe that owning land in America is what makes them "Americans" and they refuse to give that up.

Eventually, Rafe leaves his family in the middle of the night, presumably to head to California. This is a devastating blow to the entire family. A number of months later, Elsa is forced to leave Texas as well, in order to save the life of her young son. The story continues as Elsa and her children move to California. Once there, they face poverty and intense discrimination. They all have to work in the fields picking cotton just to barely survive. It's a painful existence. Elsa's daughter, Loreda (pre-teen age) connects up with a communist labor group. This is another turning point in their lives. 

I'm not crazy about the ending, but it is an realistic ending. This is not a story for the weak of heart. It's really difficult for me to read about other people suffering for years and years - even though they have people to love and support. Elsa was one hardworking, brave and resilient woman.

Wendy's Rating: *****

The Quiet Room by Lori Schiller & Amanda Bennett

This is a fascinating and insightful revelation of what it's like to have schizophrenia. Having worked with people who struggle with mental health issues for nearly three decades, this was an eye-opening account of what someone who hears voices, as a symptom of her illness, actually goes through. Some of the people I have worked with personally who have schizophrenia also hear negative thoughts like Lori, but some hear informational/positive voices. One woman in particular simply lives in two different "worlds" and prefers it that way. We just have to ask her if she is talking about her birth family members or her "internal communication family members" if we get confused by what she is talking about.

Anyway, what I loved about this book is how honest and descriptive Lori is when sharing her journey. I can't even imagine how difficult it would be to "silence" the voices in my head, especially such negative ones, while continuing to live daily life. In my field we talk a lot about using a combination of medications and therapy for best results, but so many people with mental health issues don't like being on medications because it can slow down their thinking processes or numb their creativity. Other people just want to be fully medicated and are reluctant to work through their mental illness using talk therapy. What's impressive about Lori's drive to learn to manage her symptoms is that she was willing to try so many medications and combinations of medications and different doses of medications; that she continued to have a strong bond with each of her parents throughout the long process; that she was willing to stop using cocaine, when confronted about her use, a few different times; that she asked to be put on an experimental, un-approved medication to relieve her mental anguish; that she persevered for years until she found a way she could live with her mental illness. It's an amazing story of strength.

I first started working with a man diagnosed with schizophrenia, who took Clozapine to manage his symptoms, back in 2003. At the time I didn't know much about this medication except that it was his "miracle med" when nothing else had worked for him. I worked with him for the next decade, taking him to his psych appointments where each appointment was a discussion of his medications and how to decrease or discontinue the number of meds he was taking for his symptoms, or relief from the side effects from his medication regimen. The psychiatrist was able to lower his dose of Clozapine to 400mg daily eventually and he is still on this same dose living a satisfying, productive life. I loved finding out about the "history" of Clozapine in this book. It truly is a "miracle med" for some people who are thought of as "hopeless cases".

This is a "must read" for anyone who has a friend or family member diagnosed with schizophrenia or another significant mental illness. It's extremely informative.

Wendy's Rating: *****