537 Books
See allI was really looking forward to reading this, based on some reviews I saw online, and it being included in the Modern Mrs. Darcy summer reading guide, and I wasn't disappointed! This story is about family relationships and expectations, misunderstandings when too many things are left unsaid, and secrets that come to the surface over time. This is a very well-written book - the author is very talented and reading this was a pleasure. The proverbs referred to had me bookmarking far too many pages; the dialogue written in a voice of a character where English is not the first or even second language, and the plot development and revelation were done so so well. I would love to see this developed into a film but only if they keep much of the dialogue, because it was one of my favorite parts.
I read this with some friends as a summer read, and I'm so so glad I did. It's a substantial read that took a minute to get into, but once I did, I loved it. If you are interested in reading a story about ordinary lives and interesting characters, this is for you. I read Zadie Smith's essay about the book “Middlemarch and Everybody” from her book Changing My Mind, and it's absolutely correct. Middlemarch is about everybody, about small town life, about love and career choices and moral choices. There is something here for everyone to relate to and think about.
Note to readers - if you have trouble reading it, try listening to it while reading it at the same time. It made all the difference to me. The Juliet Stevenson version of the audio book is fantastic.
I received an autographed copy of this book from a good friend who knows the author, and I'm so so happy I read it! The premise is that a woman returns home from a trip early and discovers that her house is on fire, and her husband is caught on scene with another woman. Her husband is a politician, causing the fire and a photo of the situation becoming big news overnight. The woman is also shown in the photo with a period stain on her pants, and overnight also becomes famous for sparking a movement that people should no longer be ashamed of their menses. I enjoyed the story and the journey the woman goes on over the course of the month after the fire. The book encourages the reader to think a little deeper about the effect that social media, news media, and cancel culture have on all of us and our families. It's a unique story and one I enjoyed reading. There is a lot to think about and spark conversation with the story, and this would be a great book club book.