IT ALL COMES BACK TO YOU by Beth Duke

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It All Comes Back to You is an enjoyable read that will keep your attention. There are many emotions the reader will feel while reading this book - happiness, sadness, surprise, and some anger for starters.  Duke weaves together two stories of strong women, one taking place in the 1940s/1950s and the other is current day. Topical themes are explored in It All Comes Back to You, such as adoption, domestic abuse,  mother/daughter relationships, and aging.

The story centers around Ronni, a nurse who befriends a beautiful and lovable woman named Violet who lives at the assisted living/nursing home facility where Ronni works. When Violet passes, she leaves Ronni some money along with the challenge that if she writes her story, she will receive more money. Ronni has always wanted to be an author so this provides her with the motivation to try to achieve that goal. The story alternates between Ronni and Violet’s past, which makes the story all that more compelling. The reader gets to know both main characters very well and may very well feel sad to say goodbye to them when the book ends.

It All Comes Back to You is a book about coming to terms with your life and the choices you make. There are second chances and themes of hope, perseverance, love/loss, transformation, plus lots of secrets to discover. There are a few big surprises that I did not see coming at all. I strongly recommend this book for its writing, themes, character development, and relationships.

THE MASTERPIECE by Fiona Davis

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The Masterpiece is a love letter to artists and Grand Central Terminal in NYC. It is a story of love, betrayal, ambition, mystery, and jealousy.  It is also about misogyny and how much more difficult it is for women to succeed than men

The story takes place in two different time periods, late 1920s/early 1930s and the 1970s, and each features a strong woman — Clara Darden in the former and Virginia Clay in the latter. Clara Darden is an illustrator who works at the Grand Central School of Art and who struggles to make a name for herself. Her counterpart, Virginia Clay, is newly divorced with a college-aged daughter and is trying to find her way in the world. Virginia starts a job at Grand Central Terminal’s information booth and she discovers the abandoned School of Art. The story alternates between these two women who have many things in common, such as Grand Central Terminal, a love of Art, a struggle to be independent, and the realization that life is much easier for men simply because they are men.

Fiona Davis contrasts Grand Central during the 1920s and 1970s — her descriptions are filled with so much detail that it seems to come alive in your mind’s eye.  Davis has done extensive research and it is evident in the factual historical details woven into the story. There was actually a Grand Central School of Art back before the Depression, which as a New Yorker, I was surprised I never knew about it.  Also, there was a plan to eliminate Grand Central terminal’s landmark status so that it could be replaced with a skyscraper. Jackie O. did in fact lead the charge to save the historical terminal and ultimately the Supreme Court ruled in favor of its landmark status.

The reader will feel like she has gotten to know both Clara Darden and Virginia Clay through the telling of their trials and tribulations. Witnessing Clara’s life during the Depression brought home the despair and the constant struggle to survive. Artists were one of the worst hit professions because their creations were considered luxuries.  

Closed galleries, slashed museum budgets. No one in their right mind would waste money buying a painting these days. Artists were at the bottom of the food chain. They had nothing of value to offer; they didn’t bake bread or knit scarves. They put liquid on paper and watched it dry. That was it.

But what really comes through the story is the struggle that women had (and unfortunately, still have to a degree) being considered second only to men.  The misogyny comes through loud and clear especially when one of Clara’s employers tells her that because of the depression, it’s either her or a man with a family that can be kept on the payroll.

“In any event, he has a family to feed. It’s either let you go or fire him, and I can’t do that to a man with responsibilities.” He put a meaty hand over hers. “You don’t want me to put a man out of work, now, do you?”

Their guests were drinking heavily, the more successful artists in chairs, with various girlfriends and former students sprawled about on the floor around them. Again, the men in thrones simply because they were men. They had access to the best galleries and patrons, and because of that, they became better known, and because of that, they were rewarded with success. It wasn’t fair.

I really enjoyed reading about Clara’s passion and determination to create Art that spoke to her and her alone.

But even if she didn’t speak like they did, her confidence and passion in her own work were unwavering. When she drew or painted, it was as if an unseen hand guided her own. She’d never been able to explain that to anyone. To her, painting was an internal expression, not a political or social one. She didn’t have a manifesto or an affiliation, other than to please herself doing what she loved to do and make money doing it. The first part was easy—the second, more elusive.

Davis explores many elements of the artistic life including whether Art succeeds or fails on its own and not because of the identity of the artist as well as how painting differs from illustrating for the artist. 

She finally understood why Levon was reluctant to put his work up for inspection. His art was a direct reflection of his very being, which meant an analysis by someone like Mr. Hornsby was in fact an examination of Levon’s soul. Clara’s illustrations were a completely different animal, outside of herself, a separate product. A business, as Levon had put it.

Between the wonderful writing, the history, the Art and the three-dimensional characters, there is much to savor in this book. I highly recommend The Masterpiece and am looking forward to catching up with Davis’ earlier historical fiction works, The Address and The Dollhouse plus her upcoming work The Chelsea Girls (to be published in July 2019).

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF TIME TRAVEL by Kate Mascarenhas

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3.5 stars

Part mystery and part faux science fiction (limited to the time travel notion — there are no aliens, other planets, etc.), the Psychology of Time Travel is a fascinating read that had me thinking about the logistics of time travel and its effect on people. I found myself contemplating elements of traveling through time that I had never ever considered before.

I came to the story with certain expectations about time travel, having seen it in lots of TV shows, movies and books, but it is slightly different here. In all other instances that I am familiar with, the individual can only be in one time period at a time.  But Mascarenhas puts a new spin on time travel in that multiple versions of oneself can exist in the same time period. Younger versions are called green selves and older versions are called silver selves and many versions of each can exist in the same time period with the “original” self. In other words, there could be a twenty year old and a forty year old both existing in the same time as the actual thirty year old, if that makes sense. In fact, they can all hang out together.

The Psychology of Time Travel is highly original with a unique premise that I found compelling and entertaining.  But the flow of the story was problematic for me — it jumped around too much and I found myself going back to see the year of the previous chapter(s). Note that each of the 62 chapters is titled with a year. While most of the book takes place in 2017, 2018 and 2019, nearly 20% is scattered across various times spanning 32 years (1967, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1982, 1983, 1994, 1999).  In addition, there are too many characters to keep track of. It was difficult to tell, upon first encountering one, whether the person is a primary, secondary or tertiary character.  I did not feel like I got to know anyone in depth so I was not as invested in the storyline as I would’ve liked to be. What kept me reading was curiosity to see how it would progress and end.  

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

ONE DAY IN DECEMBER by Josie Silver

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The opening sentence drew me right in to One Day in December and the second sentence kept me there!

It’s a wonder everyone who uses public transport in winter doesn’t keel over and die of germ overload. In the last ten minutes Ive been coughed on and sneezed at, and if the woman in front of me shakes her dandruff way again, I might just douse her with the dregs of the lukewarm coffee that I’m no longer able to drink because it’s full of her scalp.

One Day in December has a great and unique premise that makes the book hard to put down.  It’s a light and fast read that you will find to be charming and fun. You may cry but you will definitely smile and feel good inside. The characters are very likable and have depth — you feel like you know them. The reader cannot help rooting for each of them and their relationships.  While parts of One Day in December felt somewhat predictable, it did not lessen my enjoyment. 

The story is told from two different POVs which adds another layer to the narrative. The pacing is perfect and I did not feel bored at any time. The writing style captured me with its wit and clever use of metaphors/similes. The words evoked many different feelings from me as I read, including happiness, surprise, fear, sadness, excitement, and hope.  Here is a sampling of the writing that I particularly enjoyed: 

The bus shudders to a halt at the end of the street and I watch as down below a stream of people jostle to get off at the same time as others try to push their way on. It’s as if they think it’s one of those competitions to see how many people can fit into one small space.

I don’t pour one for Jack, because as I already know, he’s more of a beer kind of guy. I’m warmed by the fact that I know what he’d prefer without needing to ask, as if this one tiny snippet is a new stitch in the quilt of our intimacy.

Behind Sarah, Jack manages to laugh while frowning at the same time, a feat of facial engineering.

While reading, I couldn’t help but picture A Day in December as a movie — that may be partly due to the author’s skill at showing rather than telling.  It’s a great book that would make a great movie. I highly recommend this book.  A major home run for a debut novel that makes me eager for Silver’s next one! 

THE HOPES AND DREAMS OF LUCY BAKER by Jenni Keer

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This debut novel from Jenni Keer is a charming and engaging story that will leave you feeling warm all over. Lucy Baker is 25 years old and is a homebody who loves to knit. One of her closest friends is her 79 year old neighbor Brenda whose only wish in life is to see Lucy happy. 

At the start of this book, the reader is pulled right in with the opening two sentences— “Bloody hell. There’s a cat back here.” What cat? Back where? Who is speaking and who is listening? Why bloody hell? Now what happens?

We meet Lucy Baker at an inopportune moment in her life — her car is blocked for more than two hours by the moving truck delivering a new neighbor’s possessions. Because she doesn’t assert herself, Lucy keeps quiet while silently lamenting that the craft store is going to close before she can get there. Here we are on the first page and already, much of the story is set up — a handsome new male neighbor, a cat and a meek protagonist. In fact, that stray cat plays a central role in this book and has more of an impact than it first seems.  Between a black cat and a magical locket, the story is a whimsical tour de force.

The reader spends a lot of time with Lucy at home as well as at her job with a toy company.  Lucy struggles not just with a lack of confidence but an uncertain career path and the absence of a significant someone in her life. This absence is felt even more acutely because her mother is planning her own big birthday bash and Lucy will need a boyfriend in her life soon so she will have someone to accompany her to the party. 

Lucy is a caring and endearing character who is extremely likable and personable. Her friendship with Brenda is touching and the reader cannot help but feel grateful that the two women have each other. Throw a handsome albeit socially awkward new neighbor George into the mix and an enchanting story ensues.  The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker is a book that will warm your heart and touch your soul.

Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

THE HIDING PLACE by C.J. Tudor

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I didn’t read the Chalk Man so I was unfamiliar with C.J. Tudor’s work. Also, I stayed away from reviews and descriptions of The Hiding Place so I did not have any expectations. I wasn’t aware of the many comparisons of Tudor to Stephen King — that would’ve told me something because I am not a King fan.

The Hiding Place is part thriller and part horror/supernatural.  The beginning and the middle of the book were particularly slow for me but I stuck with it partly because I remember so many people loving The Chalk Man. It wasn’t until the last 1/4 of the book, that it picked up and there were some great twists, especially at the end. 

For me, part of the problem with The Hiding Place was that there was no one to like and as a result, I was unable to become invested in the story.  I didn’t care about anyone and so was not motivated to see how things would turn out but I kept reading.  Perhaps the book would have greater appeal among fans of the horror genre, of which I am not one. However, I do plan to go and read The Chalk Man and see if it holds more appeal for me.

Thank you to Crown Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

A DANGER TO HERSELF AND OTHERS by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

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A Danger to Herself and Others is a YA novel that deals with mental illness and coming to terms with a diagnosis. The book is part mystery, part thriller and is a compelling and fast read.  I recommend it and I plan to read Sheinmel’s previous books. A Danger to Herself and Others grabbed me with the very first sentence: 

“When I first got here - when they brought me here - a man with blue pants and a matching shirt, both of which looked like they were made out of paper, asked me questions.”

We soon learn that our protagonist is Hannah Gold, a 17 year old high school student is in a mental institution after her roommate Agnes is in a terrible accident and she is a suspect.  Hannah keeps reminding herself and the reader that it is exactly that — an accident.  She wholeheartedly believes that her “imprisonment” is a huge mistake and is determined to correct it and get back to school.

A Danger to Herself and Others keeps the reader guessing and it’s not clear what’s real and what’s not. Is Hannah a reliable narrator? I was intrigued by Hannah’s description of the hospital’s setting the end of chapter 1 and the end of chapter 2, which led me to suspect that she is an unreliable narrator:

“I stand on my tiptoes to look out my small window and wait for the few plants and trees I can see to dry out and die.” (end of ch.1)

“It’s not true that I can only see a few plants from here. We’re actually in the middle of a forest. I was lying before.” (end of ch. 2)

One gets to know Hannah well through her internal thought process. Some of her thinking is pure stream of consciousness which I enjoyed reading, like at the beginning of chapter 5 when she looks at and contemplates the sky, then the ceiling, then the walls, and then the ceiling lights. From there she imagines what would happen if the bulbs stopped working. Would they let a maintenance worker come in her room to fix them, considering that they have labelled her “a danger to herself and others?” Would they send her outside? There is a lot more detail to these thoughts in Hannah’s mind. 

Sheinmel writes Hannah as witty and clever, which makes A Danger to Herself and Others a more entertaining read. For example, she nicknames her psychiatrist Dr. Lightfoot because she wears ballet slippers and taps the floor as she walks. Also, Hannah doles out interesting tidbits to ponder along the way.

"I suppose your name is the first thing that ever really belongs to you, but when you think about it, it’s not yours at all. Your parents chose it.”

“They needed someone to blame, and I was the only available scapegoat. Their daughter was my best friend. Playing the scapegoat was the least I could do under the circumstances.”

“Being locked up is absurdly boring. The monotony is enough to drive a sane person crazy.”

Some of Hannah’s thinking is amusing, which endears herself to the reader. She is a likable protagonist and I found myself rooting for her.

“I know a bedpan is supposed to be humiliating, but I have to disagree. There’s something oddly luxurious about not having to leave the bed to pee. And about the fact that someone else has to take your waste away. You don’t even have to flush it yourself.”

“I don’t feel like talking. I don’t feel like thinking, either. Thinking means doubting, and doubting means Lightfoot has gotten under my skin like a rash that won’t stop spreading. Doubt means I’m beginning to believe what she says about me. I wish there were an antidoubt drug I could take instead of whatever Lightfoot gave me.”

Hannah alludes to a classic psychology experiment in the early 1970s in which a psychologist and others easily get themselves admitted to a mental hospital after claiming they heard voices saying empty, hollow and thud. Once they are diagnosed and admitted, these pseudo patients explain that they are not insane and act normally. However, now that they have been labelled, all their subsequent behavior is viewed thru the mentally ill filter.  For example, they take copious notes since this is a research experiment but such behavior is considered obsessive-compulsive by the hospital staff.  The conclusion was essentially that one cannot differentiate between the sane and insane within the confines of a mental hospital.

“‘Whoa there,’  he says, reaching out to catch me. I want to shrug off his touch, but I don’t. He might report it to Dr. Lightfoot. I imagine her noting the incident in my file. Hannah Gold doesn’t like to be touched by nameless strangers. Out in the real world, that’s good common sense. In here, it’s a symptom."

“Well, I understand everything. I understand that Dr. Lightfoot is lying to me, playing some kind of game, enjoying a sick power trip. Maybe she’s still mad at me for getting locked out of my room the other day. Maybe she wants to remind me that she’s the one in control, that as long as I’m in this room, the truth is whatever she decides it is.”

But that is Hannah’s mission, as she sees it, to prove to them that she is completely fine, this has all been a terrible mistake and what happened to Agnes was an accident.  But does she know what she is really up against? Is her thinking in fact faulty and is she irrational?

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.