American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

 "This is a cycle, she thinks. Every day a fresh horror, and when it's over, this feeling of surreal detachment. A disbelief, almost, in what they just endured. The mind is magical. Human beings are magical....Lydia thinks about how adaptable a migrant must be. They must change their minds every day, every hour. They must be stubborn about one thing only: survival."          -from the novel

This is the first book I have read by this author but it surely won't be the last! It was such a PAGE-TURNER I could hardly put it down! I can only hope the next Cummins novel is a little less intense.

I should have know this would be an excellent book when I saw it was an Oprah selection. I did not read her opinion until I had finished:  

    “American Dirt just gutted me, and I didn’t just read this book―I inhabited it….Everything about this book      was so extraordinary. It’s suspenseful, the language is beautiful, and the story really opened my heart. I      highly recommend it, and you will not want to put it down. It is just a magnificent novel.”

High praise, indeed!

Living in Acapulco, Lydia Quixano Perez and her young son, Luca, experience an extremely traumatic loss right at the beginning. Under threat of violence, she determines immediately that she must take Luca and get to "el norte" as quickly as possible. She knew it would not be an easy journey but had NO idea the perils they would face.

Along the way, figurative doors are alternately opened and slammed in their faces. They experience great hunger and thirst, physical abuse, injuries and even death. They meet evil people---like narcos (drug traffickers) and la migra (border patrol). There are also many characters who provide help and support, even at unexpected times. I found myself emotionally involved with several of these: Lydia, herself; the very precocious Luca, eight-years-old, going on 20; teenaged sisters Soledad and Rebeca; and the assertive, sometimes humorous youngster, Beto.

I thought often of We Are Not From Here, a novel by Jenny Torres Sanchez that I read a year ago. Both stories detail the incredible courage and determination that people in horrible circumstances, especially in Central America, must summon to try to get to the U.S. and a better life, oftentimes to actually save their lives! These two novels have given me much greater empathy for these migrantes.

I recommend this book highly! It is a riveting story of sacrifice, firm resolve, loyalty and survival. Although I can't say it was exactly enjoyable, I found it exceptional. My rating is 5+!

It is a few weeks until our group meeting. I hope others appreciate this novel as much as I did.

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Page Turners met in person today---first time in over a year due to COVID! The average rating for the book is 4.4 with almost everyone voting a 4 or 5. We enjoyed a stimulating discussion using questions provided by the publisher. Only a few attendees knew much of the controversy about the book. I heard about it after reading the book and delved into it so I was able to share some of what I learned. In my opinion, it boils down to a number of Latinx authors resenting the fact that their writing about their culture and experiences is not as valued as American Dirt by a nonMexican writer. (I watched a video of Oprah Winfrey discussing her selection of the book with Jeanine Cummins and 3 Latina authors who have problems with aspects of American Dirt. The publisher and editor answered questions, as well. I learned there was a bidding war for the book and Cummins received 7 figures---pretty rare!)

Most of us thought the book was excellent and that it increased our understanding of what many immigrants go through to get to the country we too often take for granted.

Miss Julia Happily Ever After by Ann B. Ross

 ""Oh, nothing much....Somebody got married. A few others are planning to. Another one is hoping to. Mildred is planning a party. A naked man came to visit. I got shot at, and Lillian speaks Japanese."

      -Julia's answer to Sam's query about what went on while he was away

          

I have read and enjoyed all the novels in the Miss Julia series and this is to be the finale. How bittersweet that is! I am such a big fan. I can only hope Ms. Ross has some more amusing ideas up her sleeve. This book arrived at a perfect time for me. The last three historical fictions I had read were emotionally intense and disturbing in parts: American Dirt, The Four Winds and The Last Correspondent. Miss Julia is always good for some giggles and some laugh-out-louds and this one did not disappoint. Plus the mystery of the streaker keeps the reader wanting to know: WHO IS IT?

The title and the quote above will offer clues about the plot(s). One of the most compelling is Miss Lillian, Julia's wise and loveable housekeeper, may receive a marriage proposal from a very prominent businessman in town and Julia is distracted by worrying about losing her as a valued employee. Of several possible weddings, only two actually take place. I will let you wonder which of Julia's friends marry and read for yourself.

Much of the humor is offered by the mystery of the naked man appearing to several ladies in the town. Eventually they take it upon themselves to catch the culprit.

I will rate this book a 5 for sheer enjoyment! I will surely miss reading new Miss Julia episodes.

The Last Correspondent by Soraya M. Lane

 "We have a job to do that no one can really understand, not unless they've walked in our shoes....The desire the show the truth, to see everything with our own eyes and try to write words that convey the action as well as the emotion. It consumes us."           -Michael Miller, from the novel

This is the third novel, in a row, I have read with women facing great danger! The first was American Dirt with a Mexican mother trying to get to the US to save her young son. Then I read The Four Winds in which another mother is trying to get her children to California, seen as the Promised Land by many escaping the Dust Bowl. The Last Correspondent is an historical fiction of WWII involving journalists in war-torn France.

The reader becomes acquainted with 3 women: Ella Franks, who loses her job with United Press when they discover she has been writing under a male pseudonym; Danni Bradford, a veteran photojournalist working with her partner Andy in Europe, both aspiring to get to Normandy; and Chloe, Andy's sister, a rather naïve former model in London who is desperate to find her Parisian lover from before the German occupation.

We learn each woman's story and then, one by one, they come together and eventually must rely on each other for survival. The plot kept my interest with the suspense, romance and even a bit of humor here and there. I admired the women, especially Danni and Ella, who were very passionate about their work as war correspondents and very brave and resilient. The romance(s) was somewhat predictable, I thought, but it was a welcome contrast to the horrors of war being witnessed by the characters.

I rate this novel a 4. I think I need to find some light reading now!

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

 "Elsa smiled, thinking again of her grandfather. It had taken decades, but she finally knew exactly what he'd meant by the things he'd told her. It wasn't the fear that mattered in life. It was the choices made when you were afraid. You were brave because of your fear, not in spite of it."

                    -from the novel

Having just finished American Dirt, an absolute page-turner, this one started off slowly. I have read a few novels by this author and I am a fan but this historical fiction didn't engage me as quickly as most. By the end of 400+ pages, I had become quite involved with the characters and really liked the book! I will rate it a 4.

In 1934 Elsa Wolcott Martinelli lives on a farm in the Texas panhandle during the Great Depression and the drought that became known as the Dust Bowl. Her family and others must either fight to survive the horrible conditions or make the difficult decision to go West---to the "promised land" of California.

Reluctantly, Elsa takes her two children, Loreda and Anthony, called Ant, and bravely sets out in hopes of making a better life. After a challenging journey, they find that Californians call them "Okies" and treat them with appalling disrespect. I couldn't help comparing Elsa's plight with that of Lydia in American Dirt. They are both mothers escaping dangerous surroundings and trying to do what is best for their children. Lydia and Elsa must both summon great courage and overcome huge, often dangerous challenges. While it is not surprising that Mexican immigrants are not welcomed by many in the U.S., it is rather shocking that other Americans are scorned the way the Martinellis are.

I was also reminded of The Grapes of Wrath, which our book club read recently---similar settings and themes of hope and determination. I thought, too, of Mildred Taylor's series beginning with Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. The Logan family (in ...Thunder...) valued their land above almost anything else and would hold onto it at any cost just as Rose and Tony Martinelli, in The Four Winds.

I could see this being a future pick for Page Turners. I might even read it again.

The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich

 "...I am writing to enlist your assistance. As you may know, a piece of serious news has reached us from Congress. According to House Concurrent Resolution 108, our tribe has been scheduled for termination. This is about the worst thing for Indians that has come down the pike. I firmly believe this bill means disaster for our people. I am writing to request your assistance in testifying before the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs."

       -excerpt from a letter to Millie Cloud from Thomas Wazhashk, Tribal Committee Chair

One of our Page Turners suggested this title for this year. Quite honestly, I don't think I would have finished it had it not been a book club selection. My rating is a 2.

The author centers the story around a character, Thomas Wazhashk, who represents her grandfather. In 1953 the U.S. government was trying to break a treaty and take back tribal lands promised to the natives of Turtle Mountain Reservation in North Dakota. Thomas who is a night watchman in a factory, becomes a political activist to try to save his community. He leads an effort to raise funds to get a group of his people to Washington, D.C. to plead their case. 

A subplot has Patrice "Pixie" Paranteau bravely planning a trip to Minneapolis in an effort to find her missing sister, Vera. This, for me, was the most compelling part of the story but the final outcome was not very satisfying. (I am trying NOT to include a spoiler!) 

Many more interesting characters are introduced but the perspectives are confusing at times. I found the author's style choppy. Erdrich writes poetry as well as prose and this is borne out in The Night Watchman. I am not a huge fan of poetry and perhaps that was another factor in my lack of fondness for this book.

This book informs the reader of the gross mistreatment of Native Americans in this setting. Of course, we know natives all over North America experienced the same abuse. I found myself comparing the plight of these characters with that of the Seminoles of Florida. It makes me sad and angry to be reminded of this ugly part of American history.

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The Page Turners had an interesting discussion of The Night Watchman, using 30 questions from ReadingGroupGuides.com . Several members liked the book very much; a couple said it was the best book they've read in quite a while! The average rating was 3.5. Some thought the characters were well-developed and appreciated the author's style. All of us learned a great deal about the culture of the natives of Turtle Mountain and the problems they faced so courageously. We compared their story to that of natives of the northeast, Seminoles of Florida and those who could be adversely affected by pipelines being built or proposed even today. 

One interesting point was made in response to this question: "Thomas chooses to view Arthur V. Watkins, the senator behind the termination bill, as an adversary instead of an enemy. What's the difference?" Our group member related the difference to his experience with boxing when he was young. He said he never saw an opponent as an enemy to be destroyed but as an adversary to challenge him. (The comment was especially appropriate since a boxing match is featured in the story.)

Our talk made me see the value in the novel, which happens often, but I don't believe I will read it again!

A Promised Land by Barack Obama

"We, the People, recognize that we have responsibilities as well as rights; that our destinies are bound together; that a freedom which only asks what's in it for me, a freedom without a commitment to others, a freedom without love or charity or duty or patriotism, is unworthy of our founding ideals, and those who died in their defense."  

                           -Barack Obama

I had to wait a couple of months to get this library book on my Kindle. When I discovered it was 700 pages long, I wondered if I could finish before my loan expired. I barely made it, finishing on the due date! I don't read memoirs often, but somehow this one called my name. Obama's writing style is excellent. All of the book was interesting, parts were over my head (like the financial stuff) but much of it I enjoyed. My rating is 4.

Former President Obama shares some of his earliest history, facts about his family and memories of youth, and then his formal education. He writes about meeting his wife, Michelle, their marriage and the beginnings of his political aspirations. I have read Becoming by Michelle Obama and it was interesting to read some of his perspective of their relationship and journey to the White House, as compared to hers.

In this volume, Obama takes the reader through the first term of his presidency; it turns out there will be a Volume II. He certainly didn't have an easy start after his inauguration in 2009. One could say he faced one crisis after another but it would be more realistic to say one crisis on top of another! First, he had to tackle the HUGE global financial catastrophe. He spent much time and energy getting the Affordable Care Act passed and trying to address climate change in a meaningful way. As commander-in-chief, he had momentous decisions to make about Afghanistan and Iran. Along the way, there was Wall Street reform, the Deepwater Horizon oil well disaster and the planning of Operation Neptune's Spear that ended with the death of Osama bin Laden. In trying to live up to his campaign promises of "Hope and Change," he had to fight Congress far too frequently!

Obama shared personal reflections about his marriage and daughters which showed his devotion to family and he demonstrated humility in sharing his regrets and disappointments, making him seem very human. There is a good amount of humor, as well, especially the banter with his closest aides and often from Michelle.

Fairly recently I saw a documentary called "As I See It" featuring Pete Souza, former Chief Official White House Photographer. It was SO entertaining and gave me excellent background for this book. In fact, there are numerous photographs at the end of the memoir, some of which were likely Pete's work. If you are a fan of our former president and don't mind tackling a tome, I recommend A Promised Land.

And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

January 29, 2014

"Sometimes [Father] had Abdullah and Pari sit raptly before him...and told them stories his grandmother had passed on to him when he had been a boy, sending them off to lands populated by sultans and jinns and malevolent divs and wise dervishes. Other times, he made up stories. He made them up on the spot, his tales unmasking a capacity for imagination and dream that always surprised Abdullah. Father never felt more present to Abdullah, more vibrant, revealed, more truthful, than when he told his stories, as though the tales were pinholes into his opaque, inscrutable world."
                                                           -from the novel

This is the third novel by Hosseini I have read. He is truly an amazing storyteller! In fact the quote above could describe the author himself.

The setting is mostly Afghanistan but also Paris, San Francisco and a Greek Island. The story takes place over many years, from 1949 to 2010. And so many characters!  Multiple generations of one family and those whose lives they touch. I actually took notes which helped me keep up with them all. The foreign names could be a problem for some readers, as well.

The story begins with Abdullah and Pari, brother and sister living in the small Afghan town of Shadbagh. When they are tragically separated as children, one can only hope the plot will twist to have them reunited by the end. One obvious theme is how the choices people make reverberate through their lives and the lives of others. "Hosseini explores the many ways in which family members love, wound, betray, honor, and sacrifice for one another" (from the book jacket).  The emotional intensity of the novel certainly made it a page-turner for me! My rating is a 5.

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February 24, 2021

"Seeing her father's face in those photos stirred an old sensation in Pari, a feeling that she had for as long as she could remember. That there was in her life the absence of something, or someone, fundamental to her own existence. Sometimes it was vague, like a message sent across shadowy byways and vast distances, a weak signal on a radio dial, remote, warbled. Other times it felt so clear, this absence, so intimately close it made her heart lurch."

                         -from Chapter 6, Pari's story

When this book was suggested for Page Turners for this year, I agreed to include it since I remembered it fondly. The funny thing was I remembered almost none of it from 2014 as I began to reread. I gave it a 5 seven years ago but I will demote it to a 4. I have read too many books I have appreciated more in those years, including two others by this author, The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns. I cannot deny that Hosseini has a beautiful writing style and weaves an intricate plot. In this case, almost too intricate! 

The novel is more like a series of interrelated short stories, narrated by different characters. And there are SO many characters! The multiple time lines and geographical locations make it even more confusing at times, moving from 1952 to 2010, through Afghanistan, Paris, the Greek island of Tinos and San Francisco. To be honest, there is not much joy in this story, more a tale of persistence and survival. It will be interesting to hear reactions from the other Page Turners. More after that....

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Page Turners had a rousing discussion on Zoom with 14 in attendance. Ratings ran the gamut---from 5 all the way down to 1, with an average of 3.2. Many participants praised Hosseini's writing but did not think this book was nearly as good as his first two (mentioned above). One member felt the author portrayed some of the more recent history of Afghanistan with great skill and emotion. Another noted  themes of human passions----especially extremes like jealousy and hate---and how decisions made in the heat of a moment can "echo" through ones life and cause much suffering. A few in the group agreed that Mr. Markos is one of the only "*rightdoing" characters in the novel; many of the others did horrible things. (*See publisher's discussion questions #s4-6.) We could pretty much agree the book was tedious, not really a page-turner, and we found the ending disappointing. We are hoping next month's book is more uplifting!