ALL THAT’S BRIGHT AND GONE by Eliza Nellums

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It’s unusual for a protagonist and narrator to be 6 years old but that’s what makes All That’s Bright and Gone so special. It’s fascinating to see the world through the eyes of a young child and be privy to her thoughts. We get to see how a child interprets a sentence/thought literally, which is not always correct. For instance, Aoife’s Mama tells her that her Uncle Donny has a silver tongue but Aoife says she saw it and it’s pink. When her neighbor is able to watch Aoife while her Uncle Donny is away, he calls them lifesavers and Aoife notes that it’s a candy. Eliza Nellums does an amazing job capturing a child’s voice and thought process.

Aoife has a very special imaginary friend named Teddy and guess what, he is a bear and he is able to change his size. For example, when they are at the park, Aoife says he shrinks to his smallest bear size which is the same height as her and they play together. Aoife sends Teddy downstairs to check for intruders because he can make himself bigger than they are and eat them. And if she is ever confused about something, Teddy is able to clear I it up for her. Essentially, Teddy is her constant companion — he is her best friend, protector and adviser.

The reader gets to know Aoife very well and cannot help but feel for her as well as root for her. She is innocent and adorable, often saying things that will make the reader smile. For example, Aoife admits to trying to be a big girl at the hospital but would rather go home to see her stuffed animals. Also, she says that God makes people different colors like a rainbow but doesn’t understand why no one is a fun color.

The first sentence of All That’s Bright and Gone pulled me in and piqued my curiosity. Aoife states that her brother is dead. This reader had to stay to find out more, like the When and Why for starters.

Aoife knows her Mama gets “confused” and that’s why she is in the hospital. She believes that if she can find her brother’s killer then her Mama can come home. Aoife enlists the help of her next door neighbor Hannah, who loves to play detective and solve mysteries. She learns all about finding clues, evidence, suspects, and material witnesses. 

This six year old girl understands more than her age would lead you to believe. She does a lot of growing up in the course of the story, learning about her Mama’s past, her father and what happened to her brother. All That’s Bright and Gone is a story about family, mental illness, love, secrets, and misunderstandings. Come along on Aoife’s adventure with her sidekick Teddy the bear and help her solve the mystery. You’ll be glad you did.

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

THE CACTUS by Sarah Haywood

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3.5 stars

I was a little disappointed by The Cactus and cannot really understand the comparisons with Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and Don Tillman from The Rosie Project.  In fact, I think the comparisons are way off for the simple reason that Eleanor and Don were both likable from the start as well as funny. That our protagonist is someone I would not want to get to know made it difficult for me to get through the book. Think of a person who is like a cactus.  Need I say more?

Susan is 45 and pregnant. She has just lost her mother and dislikes her brother. She likes to live a highly organized life and be in control. But she’s having a baby and won’t be able to be completely in charge anymore. 

I like to know exactly what’s going to be happening and precisely when it will happen. That way you can guard yourself against unwelcome surprises and ensure that everything proceeds satisfactorily. 

I’ve single-handedly created the ideal life for myself in London. I have a home that is adequate to my current needs, a job that is appropriate to my skills and easy access to cultural stimulation. Except for my working hours, I have control over every aspect of my existence.

The Cactus is a story of transformation.  Susan prefers her own company and believes that others will let you down in the end. 

I could have suggested that he walk the fifteen paces from his own desk to mine, but I don’t like to encourage that sort of thing.

Recent events had proved what I’d known all along; other people couldn’t be trusted.

Susan also believes that she doesn’t need a husband or a man for any reason, including raising her child. She can do it all herself.

I’ve never, ever had any desire to share my life with anyone. I enjoy my own company, I value my independence, I like doing things my way. I don’t want some great lumbering man messing up my house and getting under my feet.

I find, though, that men invariably expect more than I’m prepared to give. Some want

romantic love, a meeting of minds, a sharing of thoughts and feelings; others want veneration, deference, subservience. I’m not cut out for any of that kind of nonsense...

Through the course of The Cactus, Susan’s world grows, her life becomes fuller and she becomes better able to handle uncertainty. Eventually she does become more likable when the reader gets to know her better.

I’m not ruling anything in or anything out; I’m going to wait and see. The world seems bigger, louder and more colorful than it did a few weeks ago, a few days ago. At the moment, I’m not entirely sure who I am in relation to it. But that’s fine.

The writing is witty and clever with laugh out loud moments sprinkled throughout the story.

I remember you saying families were like prisons but without the hope of a release date.

Dealing with members of the opposite sex isn’t that dissimilar from training a dog; you need to be firm and persistent.

If it wasn’t for the fact that I have colleagues, office life would be bearable.

              

             

             

             

THE TURN OF THE KEY by Ruth Ware

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I have yet to read a Ruth Ware book that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy and The Turn of the Key is no exception!

Rowan Caine gets the job she desperately desires — to be a nanny to four children at a remote mansion in the countryside.  What makes the position even more attractive is that it pays extremely well, which brings to mind the old cliche that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. 

The warning signs are all there. At the end of the job interview, one of the children pleads with Rowan that she shouldn’t live there because it’s not safe and the ghosts won’t like it.  Four nannies have left in the past fourteen months. What drove them away? There are rumors and tales that the house (named Heatherbrae) is haunted. Could it be true? In the end, the salary overrides any hesitation or doubts.

The house is a character in the book as it plays a major role. Heatherbrae is a “smart” house, filled with surveillance equipment and the ability to turn on and off anything electrical by command, using an app named “Happy.”  There are  a few incidents where it seems to malfunction but such things do happen, right? The Turn of the Key serves as a warning to advancing the capabilities of a smart house because it shows the reader how things can go very wrong.

If the house isn’t trouble enough, Rowan has her hands full with a baby and two children that constantly challenge her. (The fourth one does as well but doesn’t show up until later). During a respite from the two children, Rowan refers to them and their behavior in the most unappealing way — “..Ellie’s uncomfortable misery, and Maddie’s bitter campaign of vengeance.”

The book starts off slow and I found myself expecting a twist or turn on every page. In fact, I felt as if I was waiting in anticipation for much of the book, which added to the suspense and intrigue. Trust me, your patience will pay off with all sorts of twists that will surprise and astonish you!

THE LAST HOUSE GUEST by Megan Miranda

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I was disappointed in The Last House Guest because of the lack of character development.  I did not feel that I knew anyone and more importantly, I didn’t care what happened to any of them.  As such, it was difficult to become invested in the story. I continued reading The Last House Guest because I thought maybe further along or the ending would blow my mind (or come close).  But sadly, I did not find the payoff sufficient to make the whole read worthwhile. While I was surprised, I didn’t feel like the revelations were “twists” that were A-ha moments or ones that put me on the edge of my seat. 

ALL THE FLOWERS IN PARIS by Sarah Jio

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Wow - what a ride! I just loved All the Flowers in Paris.  The story and characters will be front and center in my mind and in my heart for some time to come. 

There are two alternating timelines in this book. One takes place in Nazi-occupied Paris in the early 1940s. It centers on Céline who is of Jewish descent and her young daughter Cosi.  It is a story of survival and the lengths a mother will go to for her daughter.  

The second timeline is the present day Paris and tells the story of Caroline who is in an accident and as a result, has amnesia. 

“‘Hello?’ I call out, both to anyone who can hear me and, I suppose, to myself. I am deeply and sorely lost. I am a strange soul trapped in an even stranger body. The only thing I know is that I am alive, and that I am, in, well, Paris.”

“...I am currently a person without a story. But I feel more like a person without a soul.”

Caroline feels lost though people tell her how much happier and friendlier she is since losing her memory. She wants to remember her life yet does not want to return to being sad and miserable.

“What if my memory comes back and I hate my life, or worse, hate myself? From all I can tell, I was miserable before. I don’t want to be that woman.”

While these two timelines tell two disparate stories, Jio eventually and effortlessly joins them together, which makes for a very satisfying outcome for the reader. 

These stories touched me on several levels - the horrors of the Nazis and their occupation of Pairs, a fight for survival, coping with loss, second chances, and a mother’s determination to protect her daughter.

For most of the book, the present day story seemed somewhat mundane compared to story taking place in  the 1940s.  As such, they felt mis-matched - a life and death thriller juxtaposed with a humdrum romance. I found my emotional response varied between disgust and almost indifference depending on which timeline I was reading. Ultimately they do fit and in fact, join together nicely.

“To think that all around me—the letters in my apartment, Monsieur de Goff—are remnants of such an ugly time in history. It makes my amnesia pale in comparison. In fact, for those who suffered trauma, as Monsieur de Goff reportedly had, amnesia could even be a gift.”

I was unable to put this book down.  It was extremely well-written with highly developed characters that will live in your heart. 

“I’ve always loved the city in winter, particularly the way the rooftops look as if they’ve been dusted with a heavy layer of confectioner’s sugar, turning the formerly anemic balcony gardens of winter into scenes straight out of a fairy tale.”

“.... sweeping a few stray rose petals off the cobblestones in front of the shop. I always feel bad for fallen petals, as silly as that sounds. They’re like little lost ducklings separated from their mama.”

All the Flowers in Paris was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. I cannot recommend it highly enough!

..the truth is, these days we’re all in trouble.” He’s right, of course. We’re all sailing in a ship that’s taking on water. Life rafts are sparse.

We will see her again. That’s what love does. It binds people together with ties that are stronger than time, stronger than war and destruction, evil, or pain.

Thank you to Random House Publishing - Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

SECRETS OF THE CHOCOLATE HOUSE by Paula Brackston

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I loved The Little Shop of Found Things and was very excited to read the second book in the Found Things series. Paula Brackston does not disappoint! Secrets of the Chocolate House is an extremely enjoyable read that I don’t think requires reading the first book. Brackston seems to provide the necessary information to new readers while also reminding the “old” readers. It was delightful to meet up with Xanthe again and to accompany her as she travels through time. It was also fun to see the Appleby clan, especially Samuel. 

Xanthe has a gift. Certain objects “sing” to her, prompting her to travel to a certain time where her help is needed. She feels compelled to heed the call because otherwise the outcome could be regrettable and the future thrown off its proper path.

Secrets of the Chocolate House begins with the discovery of an old chocolate pot that “sings” to Xanthe and produces quite an adventure that challenges her resourcefulness and perseverance. Xanthe must deal with danger, intrigue and questions of who to trust and who to fear. She learns she is not the only time traveler or spinner. However, this other spinner is evil and wants to hurt her beloved Samuel. What can she do to save him?

I really appreciate that Brackston developed the time travel element. We learn more about spinning, for example that objects cannot travel forward in time because they will degrade or deteriorate. Xanthe learns to have a little more control over how to travel to specific times. Also, it was interesting for her to “compare notes” with another spinner and have a mentor to further her abilities. 

The story is well structured and the characters are well developed. I particularly like Brackston’s writing style and her use of imagery. I cannot wait for the next book in the series to see what object sings to Xanthe and where it takes her. 

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

MAYBE YOU SHOULD TALK TO SOMEONE by Lori Gottlieb

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Maybe You Should Talk to Someone is a fascinating look into the world of a therapist and how therapy works.  Sprinkled throughout the book are snippets of psychology, including explanations of defense mechanisms, stages of change, tasks of mourning, and brief glimpses of the contributions of Freud, Erikson, Rogers, Franklin, and others to the field of psychology. It’s almost like getting a psychology education. Profound insights about human nature abound:

...people who are demanding, critical, and angry tend to suffer from intense loneliness. I know that a person who acts this way both wants to be seen and is terrified of being seen.

We marry our unfinished business.

It’s not that people want to get hurt again. It’s that they want to master a situation in which they felt helpless as children.

Sometimes “drama,” no matter how unpleasant, can be a form of self-medication, a way to calm ourselves down by avoiding the crises brewing inside.

...pain can be protective; staying in a depressed place can be a form of avoidance. Safe inside her shell of pain, she doesn’t have to face anything, nor does she have to emerge into the world, where she might get hurt again.

Lori Gottlieb takes us on a journey of self-discovery with herself and her patients. We learn about the world of therapy — how it works, what’s it like from the therapist’s point of view, how change happens, when therapy ends, what’s it like when a therapist goes to a therapist, and much more. 

...therapy is about understanding the self that you are. But part of getting to know yourself is to unknow yourself—to let go of the limiting stories you’ve told yourself about who you are so that you aren’t trapped by them, so you can live your life and not the story you’ve been telling yourself about your life.

...change and loss travel together. We can’t have change without loss, which is why so often people say they want change but nonetheless stay exactly the same.

The things we protest against the most are often the very things we need to look at.

Included throughout Maybe You Should Talk to Someone are conversations between therapist and client.  Over the course of the book, we get to know several of Lori’s patients and their stories. These patients are fascinating and the authenticity of their sessions rings through.

Gottlieb writes well, in a friendly style with much insight, depth and meaning included in every paragraph. I appreciated her discussing her own problems — people often forget that therapists are human and have problems just like the rest of us.  Gottlieb is not shy about revealing her issues and her thoughts as well as the process of therapy she undergoes for herself.

I just need a little crisis management, a few weeks to “process” an unexpected breakup, and then I’ll be good to go. I’ve done therapy before, I say, so I come “preshrunk.”