Reading for Me

I finally did it! I finished reading Nancy Johnson’s The Kindest Lie. Here’s hoping that my reading drought has finally come to an end.

Don’t misunderstand. My reading drought had nothing to do with the novel. I liked the book a lot and found the plot interesting and fun to read. I just did not want to sit in my corner chair with a book in hand. This weekend, I decided to simply put my nose back in the book, enjoy some good food, and read. I’m glad I did.

The Kindest Lie tells the story of Ruth, a successful African-American engineer living in Chicago with her husband during the election of President Obama. As the couple begin to discuss beginning a family, Ruth must confess that she was a teen mother, but does not know her child or where he ended up. Saddled with guilt, Ruth travels back to her Indiana home in an effort to discover the truth about her child. Along the way, she comes face to face with lies, deceptions, and cover-ups intended to keep her from discovering her child’s identity. What lies are we willing to tell in order to protect our children and allow them to fulfill their dreams? Is a lie ever an act of love? Johnson raises these and other interesting questions in her latest novel as it explores the meaning of parenthood and when a lie can be the kindest act of love a parent can express.

February has not been a particularly good reading month for me. I don’t know what the problem is, but I always tend to find that my reading decreases during this cold winter month every year. I thought this year would be different since there would be less travel occurring due to COVID restrictions. Still, I could not find motivation to sit quietly with a book most days. This week, in the midst of all of the snow, I finally managed to finish reading Memorial by Bryan Washington. It was not a favorite reading experience for me.

Memorial focuses on Ben and Mike, an interracial gay couple living in Houston. Both men struggle with their relationships with their parents, especially their fathers. Ben is African-American and Mike is Japanese-American. When Mike’s mother arrives for a visit, her son abruptly decides to travel to Japan to spend time with his father — leaving his mother and Ben alone. Mike has been estranged from his father for many years. Now that the old man is dying, Mike feels as though he must get answers to his many questions.

I found the book confusing. The narrative shifted between past and present without adequate warning. The portrayal of gay men and their relationships with family, friends, and significant others seemed more of a stereotype than an honest examination of the challenges they may face. This fact really surprised me since the novel was written by a gay man. I expected a more heart-felt, thought-provoking read. Reviews of Memorial that I had read and heard were quite good. Am I missing something? I simply was not impressed and was very thankful to turn the last page so I could move on to another novel very quickly. I needed to rid myself of the bad taste that was left in my mouth.

What’s next in the TBR stack? I am just beginning another selection from the Book of the Month Club — The Kindest Lie by Nancy Johnson. Already, I am enthralled by the story and losing myself in the magnificent story telling. It is a most welcome change to the recent fare I’ve encountered in My Reading Chair.