“It is a theory generally accepted in certain circles that love, like the rest of the known universe, can be broken down into an exact science.” First of all, let me just admit that it took me an embarrassingly long time to figure out that this book took place in the Philippines. I just assumed that it involved an immigrant family in the United States. It wasn’t until I was very far along in the book that the author mentioned Manila, and the whole book […]
Not the best book for parents
I guess I’m a sucker for lists because Do Not Become Alarmed (2017) by Maile Meloy also came off a list. This list had something to do with gripping or fun summer reads. I first heard of it when we were discussing what to read for our next book club. I remember that we widely rejected it for book club because it involved children in danger, and the parents in the group had no interest in imagining their own children in similar situations. I figured I could […]
A Hero as well as a servant
I swear at least half of the books I’ve read this year have come from NPR’s Best Books of 2016 list, and Listen to the Moon by Rose Lerner is no different. I was browsing the “love story” section of the list when I came across Lerner’s novel. The blurb stated in part: “Fans of historical romance know that if there’s one thing fictional England has in spades, it’s dukes. But they might not be as accustomed to encountering valets. You might see one briefly, making certain a coat […]
Real and raw
I read Chemistry (2017) by Weike Wang for my book club. It is a short, unique book about a young, Chinese-American woman trying to earn her P.h.D. in Chemistry. Her loving boyfriend wants to marry her, but she isn’t so sure. The stress of the chemistry lab is getting to her, the pressure from her parents is getting to her, and she has no idea what she really wants. Wang has a very unique voice. Instead of names and genders of characters, it is always: “the boy, […]