Saints for All Occasions by J. Courtney Sullivan

"As she walked, she thought of her mother, and of the sister Nora had never mentioned before yesterday.....Bridget thought of her family in terms of what they didn't know about her. She had rarely wondered about the mysteries they harbored. How could you be this close, be a family, and yet be so unknown to one another?"
                    -Bridget's musings, from the novel

This book was selected  for June because it was a Book Bundle, multiple copies of the same book available on loan from the public library. The ratings looked pretty good.

The story centers on two sisters who immigrate from Ireland in 1957. Nora Flynn, at age 21, is the serious, introverted older sister thrust into a role of responsibility by the death of their mother. Seventeen-year-old Teresa is flighty and more of a social butterfly.  The tale actually begins in Boston with the tragic accidental death of Patrick Flynn, oldest son of Nora, in 2009 and then moves back and forth between then and the late '50s and 60's. 

You may be able to guess from the beginning quote that the family situation is complicated. The two sisters become estranged for many years as a result of a secret I won't reveal. Teresa has become a nun renamed Mother Cecilia and lives in an abbey in Vermont. The author introduces us to Nora's children---John, whose relationship with the deceased Patrick was seriously damaged; Bridget, who has her own secret from her mother; and Brian, the youngest, who had idolized Patrick. In flashbacks we learn more about Patrick and begin to understand his tortured personality. Suffice it to say, there are too many secrets and the family members don't communicate well.

The plot was engaging but I didn't find the ending very satisfying. I am rating the book a 3---liked it, didn't love it. I thought it was interesting that Nora was a big Red Sox fan and player David Ortiz was mentioned. Big Papi as he is known, has recently been in the news after being shot in the DR. And although Nora was not extremely simpatico I really liked this quote that Brian remembers his mother saying: "What would you have today if you woke up with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?" That will stick with me!
-----------------------
Our Page Turners met on Thursday to discuss the novel. Our average rating was 3.6. Most everyone liked the book to some degree but many of us agreed that Nora was not the greatest mother. I think we all wished to have the story "wrapped up" a bit better at the end.
Our group seems to feel that a story structure of multiple time settings is a trend in novels these days. It can sometimes be quite confusing but at least this author informs you of the date changes.

The President Is Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson

"What does it mean to be an American today? It's a question that will answer itself if we get back to what's brought us this far: widening the circle of opportunity, deepening the meaning of freedom, and strengthening bonds of community. Shrinking the definition of them and expanding the definition of us. Leaving no one behind, left out, looked down on."
                    -from the novel

For a long time, I was quite a fan of James Patterson but have been disappointed in some of his collaborative efforts. However, this one caught my attention, with Bill Clinton as the co-author. Also the novel's time on the best-seller list was impressive.

U. S. President Jonathan Duncan is facing possible impeachment proceedings in the midst of a cybersecurity emergency. The code word "Dark Ages,' only known to 8 top-ranking officials is passed on to the President, giving him reason to believe one of the eight is a traitor. The country is in grave danger of a cyber attack and the President "goes missing" as he tries to prevent disaster. The plot is pretty far-fetched but even so, the novel became a page-turner for me as I tried to keep up with the twists and turns. Since I musn't be a "spoiler" I will leave it at that.

This combination of authors is very compelling since Patterson is extremely popular as a suspense writer and, obviously former President Clinton has extensive personal experience with what goes on with White House staff, foreign relations, political conflict, etc. Often, especially toward the end,  I "heard" Clinton commenting on current political situations. Some reviews of the novel are negative---critical of the prose and believability of the plot---but for sheer entertainment, I rate it a 4.

I found out there is a TV adaptation in the works from Showtime. It will be interesting to see who is cast in the main roles BUT I will know the outcome!