Books, Books & More Books

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah is set in the 70s so for someone who grew up in that decade, there was a lot of nostalgia. Firefly Lane is where Tully and Kate meet in middle school, agree to be friends forever, and stick by each other through thick and thin. Through the jealousy, resentment, and anger, the two stick by each other through three decades of life changes. Tully is desperate to prove her worth to the world. Abandoned by her mother at an early age, she longs to be loved unconditionally. And she does become famous. Kate wants to fall in love and have children and live an ordinary life. the two lead lives as different as can be. Will a single act of betrayal tear them apart?

Autopilot: The Art and Science of Doing Nothing by Andrew Smart was something completely different. Andrew wants you to do nothing more often – and he is sharing the neuroscience to explain why. Acknowledging that at every turn we are   pushed to do more, faster, and more efficiently, he argues that that “efficiency” and our focus on Multitasking is actually harmful to our well-being. He is very open about is loathing of the time-management industry. And he’s passionate about helping us understand what the brain does when we do nothing. It turns out that it does quite a lot, much of which is important for the health of our brains.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel was a delight. I must have seen a dozen prompts to get this book before I finally did. And I’m glad I did. Civilization collapses after an airborn flu hits the world like a hammer. But this isn’t just another apocalyptic tale. The narrative moves between present and past, looking at where we are, how we got here and just how different life could be if all that technology we take for granted up and went away. It’s something the characters deal with, especially those who have lived in both worlds. Those characters are connected by a moment in time before the pandemic hit. Arthur falls in love, Jeevan watches as newscaster say goodbye to their loved ones, Kristen is first a child actress and then performs with the Travelling Symphony in the new, altered world. There’s a violent prophet, ex wives, friends, brothers.

Heartburn by Nora Ephron was a delight. Known for her fabulous movies (she created greats like Sleepless in Seattle), Nora Ephron knew how to spin a tale. When Rachel finds out her husband, Mark, is in love with another woman, she is seven months pregnant. Ouch! The fact that the other woman is someone Rachel detests is salt in the wound. The writing is furiously witty, the main character a woman you come to admire for her spunk. Smart, funny and unpretentious, it’s a story that will make you cringe even as you smile. Written a couple of decades ago, it’s supposedly a lightly veiled retelling of her own marriage breakdown after her husband, Carl Bernstein left her for the daughter of a British Prime Minister. Nora didn’t die and neither does her character, Rachel, who isn’t above spreading rumours that her husband’s new mistress has herpes.

The Flight of the Silvers by Daniel Price is the story of six people who are transported from the earth they know to a parallel earth. When the world – as they know it – comes to an end, sisters Hanna and Amanda are saved by mysterious strangers. So too are David, Mia, Zach and Theo, who are so different from each other that it’s clear the only thing binding them together is their very strange circumstances. The story is absorbing, and it’s fascinating to watch as the Silvers begin developing extraordinary abilities. Forced to take flight to save themselves, the six bond, fight, unravel, love and laugh together, and I was dragged along for the wild ride.

Any Other Name by Craig Johnson is another in the Walt Longmire series. I love this series. In this episode Walt’s old boss, Lucian Conally, asks Walt to help him uncover what was behind his old friend’s suicide. Walt’s daughter is about to give birth to his first grandchild and she wants him by her side in Philadelphia. But Walt’s intense sense of responsibility in tracking down the truth threatens to keep him away. All my fav characters show up to the game… Vic Moretti, Walt’s deputy and love interest, and, of course, Henry Standing Bear, who may be one of my fav fictional characters. Craig Johnson is a wonderful writer able to draw his character so finely that you feel like you’re walking right beside them as you follow their story. You can even feel the buffalo breath on your face.