Reading for Me

I could say that I was a little feverish while recovering from bronchitis when I selected this book. I could claim momentary insanity. The truth of the matter is that I just wanted a Christmas story to read. It wasn’t until I had completed the check out process at the library that I noticed the lovely sticker on the spine that indicated the novel was a romance. I read it. I want to maintain my honesty as a blogger, so here’s my public review.

Merry Christmas, Cowboy actually is based on a charming story line. Paula, a Denver police officer, volunteers at the Christmas House, a Victorian mansion that is lavishly decorated for the holidays. The Christmas House is run by Edith, an elderly woman who cares for her teenage grandson, Brandon. As the volunteers hustle to put things together for the opening of the Christmas House, a rugged cowboy assists with some carpentry and quickly catches Paula’s eye. Brandon becomes involved with some local thugs despite the warnings he receives from Edith, Paula, and Zach (our cowboy). When the Christmas House is robbed, Brandon and his “friends” are prime suspects. Will the cop catch the young man red-handed or is she simply overly suspicious of a good kid?

There’s no need to attempt to fool anyone. Merry Christmas, Cowboy is not high literature. Honestly, I don’t know that it can even be classified as “literature.” It’s a piece of fluff that passes the time without requiring the use of brain cells. The on-again, off-again romance between Paula and Zach was annoying and lacked depth. The robbery and eventual criminals could be clearly seen a mile away by a remotely intelligent reader. Thankfully, the romance was never overly graphic. The idea had potential, but needed the aid of a different author.

Now it’s time to move on to something a bit more interesting to read.

What do elephants, murder, grief, and a psychic have in common? They all feature prominently in Jodi Picoult’s newest offering, Leaving Time. If you have followed my reading adventures for very long, you know that I am a HUGE fan of Picoult’s novels and this one is no exception! I was completely floored by the twist at the end and neglected some responsibilities this afternoon in order to get to the end of the story.

Leaving Time explores the bond between mothers and daughters. Alice is a scientist who has devoted much of her life to the study of elephants and how they deal with grief. Her young daughter, Jenna, is dealing with her own grief due to the tragic events of a single night at the elephant sanctuary. A woman was crushed by one of the elephants, Jenna’s father lands in a mental institution, and her mother is nowhere to be found. Desperate for answers, Jenna hires a washed up private investigator and a psychic of questionable abilities to aid in her search. In typical Picoult fashion, the story is carefully woven as each of these characters share their tale. The result is a beautifully crafted work that will move you to tears and stretch your imagination.

This is one of the best books I’ve read all year! It’s definitely not to be missed.

I became a fan of Wally Lamb’s work after reading I Know This Much is True and The Hour I First Believed. (I still haven’t fully figured out She’s Come Undone; maybe I should revisit that book to see if age gives me a different perspective.) I had high hopes for this latest novel from the author and was rewarded with a very enjoyable read.

We are Water traces the life of the Oh family who can be best described as dysfunctional. Orion, a psychologist, is going through a painful divorce from his avant-garde artist wife, Annie. To add insult to injury, Annie has declared that she has fallen in love with her female art agent and will be married in the small Connecticut town the couple raised their family since same-sex marriage is legal in the state.

The three adult children are not without their own problems. As everyone struggles with their own demons, the family gathers one last time for the wedding. As the truth begins to unfold, the reader realizes that each one’s challenges stem from the horrific events of Annie’s childhood that took the lives of her mother and younger sister.

While I hated to see the pain the characters faced throughout the novel, I found its purpose clearly explained by the author in the closing chapter. “‘We are like water, aren’t we? We can be fluid, flexible when we have to be. But strong and destructive, too.’ And something else, I think to myself. Like water, we mostly follow the path of least resistance.” (p. 560)

We are Water is filled with tragedy, disappointment, and determination. It is a page-turning family drama filled with wonderfully deep characters. This novel is not to be missed!