Reading for Me

The final book on my summer to-read shelf was Summer Sisters by Judy Blume. If you are familiar with Blume’s works for young adults — most notably, Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret – it should come as no surprise that this work for adults is also a coming-of-age story of two teen girls.

Victoria and Caitlin come from different worlds. Victoria, nicknamed Vix, comes from a middle class family living in New Mexico. Caitlin is the wealthy daughter of divorced parents and splits her time between Santa Fe and Martha’s Vineyard. As fate would have it, the two girls become “summer sisters”, spending their school vacations together on the island. The teens learn much about life, love, sex, and loss together.

When tragedy strikes Vix’s family, the two girls begin to grow apart. Victoria becomes the recipient of a prestigious scholarship from the foundation managed by Caitlin’s family. This award allows her to attend Harvard and pursue her academic dreams. Caitlin chooses to forego school and travels the world. As the novel progresses, it is clear that Vix is the focus of Blume’s novel as her choices are often pitted against the “less desirable” ones made by Caitlin. The girls’ struggle through the beginnings of their careers and families as they face unwelcome realities.

This was certainly not my typical novel, but I chose it based upon Blume’s success in the young adult market. Despite the sexual exploits that appear throughout, the characters are nicely developed and their stories draw the reader into the novel. Summer Sisters is definitely a beach read, but not one of the best that I have ever experienced.

I’ve been a fan of Toni Morrison since I first read Beloved in college (and wrote more papers about that novel than I care to remember). God Help the Child is her latest novel and quite different from her other works. The main difference is that the plot is the first to be set in modern times. That single difference makes it difficult to compare the work to her other books, but I can definitely say that I am a fan.

God Help the Child tells the story of Bride, a successful beauty magnate whose childhood memories continue to haunt her. As a child, Bride felt unloved by her mother simply because of her skin. You see, Bride was not blessed with a light pigment; instead, she is “blue-black” as described by the narrator. In an effort to gain her mother’s love and respect, the child testifies against an accused child molester.

When the pedophile is scheduled to be released from prison, Bride is drawn to meet her and offer money, travel vouchers, and skin care products. This one decision — as though she is attempting to make amends — creates problems for Bride in her professional and personal relationships that brings the novel to an unexpected conclusion.

God Help the Child reminds the reader that all people are shaped by their childhood. Statements made in jest or in an offhand manner can create unintentional wounds that the child will carry the rest of their life. Pain suffered in childhood can often remained unhealed, causing problems as we become adults. Sadly, the pain suffered by one generation is often passed on to the next until someone finally breaks the cycle of sadness and pain.

For anyone who has ever experienced one of Morrison’s novels, it is no surprise that a central theme of all of her novels is that of race. In light of issues currently facing Americans in our current political environment, I found the following passage from God Help the Child to be very interesting.

“It’s just a color,” Booker had said. “A genetic trait – not a flaw, not a curse, not a blessing nor a sin.”

“But,” she countered, “other people think racial –”

Booker cut her off. “Scientifically there’s no such thing as race, Bride, so racism without race is a choice. Taught, of course, by those who need it, but still a choice. Folks who practice it would be nothing without it.” (Morrison, God Help the Child, 143)

I find this view of racism very interesting coming from an African-American author. Honestly, I have found myself returning to this passage repeatedly since finishing the novel to fully delve the depths of the idea. When a passage or any piece of writing stays with me so long after reading it, I know that I have read something that can only be considered a modern masterpiece.

Let’s just cut to the chase….The Last Child is the best book I have read in 2016 so far! It is a page turner that is well-written by a former defense attorney who resides in both North Carolina and Virginia. I definitely plan to check out his other novels because I enjoyed this one so much.

In The Last Child, we meet Johnny, a young boy who decides to find his twin sister who had been kidnapped a year ago. Armed with his bike and Indian relics, Johnny and his friend, Jack, monitor the movements of pedophiles throughout the county. Johnny doesn’t fully realize the danger he is in — but thankfully a local police officer, Hunt, has taken an interest in him.

Populated with wonderfully complex characters, The Last Child provides a compelling plot that readers will not be able to pull themselves away from. While entertaining, Hart’s novel will look at issues related to the definition of family, issues of faith, as well as the “nature vs. nurture” debate.

For more information about John Hart and his writing, visit http://www.johnhartfiction.com.

Book 7 of the year was definitely a lucky read for me! Magic Hour was one of the best contemporary novels I have read in a very long time. Kristen Hannah weaved together a powerful story filled with emotion, humor, and thought-provoking scenes. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to experience a great story that is written very well.

Magic Hour centers around the mysterious arrival of a young girl in a sleepy lumber community in Washington state. The girl — who we will call “Alice” — appears in a large tree in the city park after having attempted to steal food. She is dirty and is not accompanied by an adult. Actually, she is holding a wolf while perched in the treetop. Alice’s only method of communication is through a series of howls and growls.

The local police chief, Ellie, has no idea how to best help this child. She calls in her estranged sister, Julia, who is a world-renown psychiatrist specializing in children who have suffered trauma and abuse. Julia is facing her own troubles though; one of her patients went on a rampage at school, killing herself and several of her classmates. Julia’s reputation and career is ruined.

Magic Hour traces Julia’s treatment of Alice as well as Ellie’s search for the truth. With each twist, Hannah’s prose will grab your heart-strings as Julia and Ellie fall in love with this helpless child. You will laugh in the most unexpected places. I assure you, tears will fall as you learn of the suffering Alice has experienced and watch as events spiral beyond the control of Ellie, Julia, and Alice.

My only complaint about Magic Hour is that it ended far too soon. I have fallen in love with Alice and want to know the rest of her story. That’s a complaint I’m willing to deal with at the end of such a lovely book.