Book Review: "Paper Ghosts" by Sarah Addison Allen

“Once upon a time, there was a family of witches. But witches, it turns out, are sometimes only women who have been hurt, and are determined not to be again.”

More and more, I realize how much I love magical realism in my books. Sarah Addison Allen is definitely a standout in creating worlds with just a dash or two of magic, but real issues as well.

In the 1970s, Willamena Wester lives in the North Carolina town her family founded. She’s raised by her grandmother and she’s never wanted for anything—except the freedom to be a little rebellious. But her grandmother, rumored to be a witch, knows everything Wills is thinking. All she wants Wills to do is follow the path she’s set for her.

But when a handsome young musician comes to town, his presence shakes everyone up, especially Wills. She falls for him but plans to keep her promise to her grandmother, until one fateful night changes everything.

Years later, following a tragedy, Wills’ son returns home with his young daughter Bailey in tow. Wills is determined to act completely different toward Bailey than her own grandmother did, but at times it’s hard to outrun the pain and regret of your past. And as Bailey grows, she learns many of the same painful lessons, but she’s determined to end the cycle.

I find Allen’s books so captivating, and the Southern settings are always magical in and of themselves. This is a book about fierce love, sacrifice, sorrow, and the choices we make when our backs are against the wall. At the same time, there was a bit of sweetness here too, which I also loved.

Book Review: "The Tide Between Us" by Cem Say

It’s fun to read the books that get lots of hype and publicity, the ones you see everyone else talking about. At the same time, I love stumbling upon a book I’ve never heard of and being taken by complete surprise.

The Tide Between Us definitely falls in the latter category. I’m not even sure how I found it. But this portrait of love, longing, and being truly seen honestly took my breath away. There were so many sentences, paragraphs even, that I highlighted while reading.

“Because you don’t know what missing someone feels like. You’ve never once let yourself do it. Everyone you ever lost, you skipped the missing and went straight to the wall. You built a whole personality out of not needing anyone, and you did it so well you forgot that need is just, a thing people feel. Ordinary people. Every day.”

Emre left Istanbul for an unnamed coastal town. He vowed that he would no longer wait to be seen, to be loved, and he would stop living his life in the margins of others’. At a cafe, he meets Julian, a charismatic older man. There is an immediate attraction but neither knows what their first move should be—if there should be one at all.

Julian has the ability to make people feel like they are the most important to him. But he can only sustain that for so long before he hurts them. His seven-year marriage to Marco is filled with moments of joy and pain, yet neither wants to ask questions they don’t want answers to. As Julian and Emre turn toward each other, both know the gravity of their choices and the inevitability of the end. But how do you distinguish love from feeling seen?

This was an exceptionally beautiful debut novel. The feelings these characters lay bare, the waves of joy, jealousy, pain, and love they experience were so poignant and yet so real. I cannot wait for Cem Say’s next book. I’m so glad I found this.

Book Review: "The Secret Dinner" by Raphael Montes

“There’s death behind every meal. People prefer to shut their eyes to it, but it’s there. Death.”

Wow. This book was WILD! I think I’ll be sticking to salads for a while, but I enjoyed this far more than I expected.

Four childhood friends—Dante, Miguel, Hugo, and Piglet—decide to leave their small Brazilian hometown and head to Rio, to find an apartment in Copacabana. The apartment they find is absolutely perfect and the price is a steal.

As the economic situation in Brazil worsens, their rent skyrockets. And when they’re threatened with eviction, they need to scramble to find a lot of money—fast. So they decide to capitalize on the secret dinner party trend, and host people for gourmet meals that they’ll pay top dollar for. But when Piglet taps into the hunger of wealthy Brazilians for something exotic, their get rich quick scheme nets them more money than they can imagine, yet it sends them down a path of no return.

“People associate madness with evil and rationality with goodness. According to statistics, 12 percent of so-called normal people are criminals, murderers, or dangerous offenders. Meanwhile, only 3 percent of so-called crazy people become involved in serious crimes. That means that normal people kill at a much higher rate than crazy people. If there were more crazy people in the world, there would be less violence.”

The book is definitely gory, so it’s not for the squeamish. But it’s also a fantastic, compelling read, one that makes you wonder how you’d handle the type of desperation the characters found themselves in. I probably will think twice before going over to someone’s house for a meal!!

Book Review: "Hollywood, Ending" by John Green

As someone who stayed up until 2:00 am to finish The Fault in Our Stars the day it was released, I’ve been waiting for a new love story from John Green for a while. This is Green’s first foray into adult fiction, and it was so much more than I expected.

“I figured that in the night sky of my life, Kai Laramie would be one of those shooting stars that streaks across the sky but then burns up almost before you can even get excited.”

Kai and Juniper meet when both are cast in a new movie called Andy Warhol Never Gets Old. Juniper is a former child star who has exceptional talent but a bit of a reputation for being hard to direct. This is Kai’s first movie, and he cannot believe he’s gotten to this point.

Even though much of the moviegoing public doesn’t know who Andy Warhol is anymore, Kai and Juniper’s performances generate star-making buzz. The sky’s the limit for both of them, and they start falling in love. But then the moviemaking machine starts its manipulations, and threatens to destroy everything—including their burgeoning relationship.

“I do not want to want to be loved by strangers, but I do not want to want most of what I want.”

There are sentences, paragraphs in this book that took my breath away. This is an emotional book, with some possible triggers, but it’s an incredibly timely look at the price of fame and the way everyone feels like they own a piece of you. I really loved this.

Book Review: "All Them Dogs" by Djamel White

I felt this book in my soul. Not that I identified with the characters or the violence, but Djamel White’s storytelling was so powerful it grabbed hold of me and didn’t let go.

“He was beautiful. There was no denying it. Nothing would change that. To see past it felt impossible. Hating something beautiful must make your insides shrivel. It made me ugly. It made me see that I’ve always been ugly.”

After he killed a rival gang member, Tony fled his home in Dublin and went to England. He longed for home, but needed to be sure the fury died down before it was safe to return. And when he returned five years later, he discovered one of his closest friends and mentors had been murdered and his other friend has abandoned the gangster life they lived.

Tony gets a job working as an enforcer for a local thug. He mostly picks up drugs and goes after people who owe money. He wants to be more powerful, but even though time has passed since he killed, he’s always looking over his shoulder. And having a very short fuse doesn’t help.

His job is to assist Flute, his boss’ right-hand man. Tony knew of Flute when they were growing up, but he is mystified by this quiet yet brutal giant. And when the two find themselves drawn together, it sets them on a dangerous path, as past and present crimes take their toll.

This is definitely not a book for everyone, and the Irish slang the characters use was tough to follow at first. But this story has so much heart, and even though you know tragedy is impending, I still found myself a bit hopeful. A surprising, beautiful read.

Book Review: "Plant Lady" by Minyoung Kang, translated by Shanna Tan

I really enjoyed this! It’s a little creepy, a little mysterious, and a bit thought-provoking. I’ll definitely be thinking about this for a while.

Yoohee was an office worker who decided to leave her job and open a plant shop. She found space in a neighborhood that didn’t appear to have much foot traffic, but it’s not long before the shop becomes popular, both with customers and on social media.

She cares tremendously about her plants, painstakingly caring for them and ensuring they get the climate and lighting they need to thrive. People visit because they know how much she knows plants, and that she carries many unusual varieties.

But those aren’t the only reasons customers flock to Plant Shop. Troubled women—those frightened or abused or mistreated by men—seek Yoohee’s counsel. She is all too willing to help free these women of the burdens that are causing their unhappiness, fear, even pain. She has tools at her disposal and she’s not afraid to use them.

Yoohee knows how these women feel. At one point, back in her hometown, she fell victim to a young man she believed to be kind and good. The pain of those days has haunted her, so she’s willing to do whatever it takes to help her customers. No one will miss them anyway, right? And if they do, would they ever suspect the owner of Plant Shop?

This isn’t quite a horror novel; it’s more dark literary fiction than anything else. But I was utterly captivated. I wondered if things would get creepier or if Yoohee would get her comeuppance. In the end, though, I cheered her heroism, even if it took a much more sinister tone.

Book Review: "Main, Middle & Gay: A Chef Finds His Place in the World Against All Odds" by Patrick O'Connell

Some of you may know that I’m a huge foodie and utterly fascinated by reading books about chefs, restaurants, and cooking. I also went to culinary school about 25 years ago, so the whole business intrigues me.

All this to say, when I think of the best meals I’ve ever had, Patrick O’Connell’s The Inn at Little Washington is near the top of the list. It’s the most expensive meal I’ve ever eaten but worth every penny. What O’Connell has created in such a small Virginia town is impressive—even more when you realize he never had any formal culinary training.

“Only because I’ve finally arrived at a place where I’m unafraid can buried secrets be exhumed and set free without danger.”

For the chef at the helm of the first U.S. restaurant to receive 3 Michelin stars, O’Connell followed an unusual path. Raised in Maryland, he had a difficult relationship with his father because he was unathletic and effeminate, unlike his brothers. He started working at a restaurant in his teens, and quickly fell in love with the atmosphere as well as the way flavors worked together in the foods he tried.

The book recounts the difficult journey in creating the Inn at Little Washington, as they faced opposition from the town. He touches on the milestones as they created this incredible empire of sorts. And he also touched on the often-rocky relationship with his longtime partner, which nearly destroyed everything they built.

I enjoyed this so much, both because I’ve been to the restaurant and seen interviews with O’Connell before, and because his path was so different than many others. If you’re a foodie, you’ll love reading about the many meals he created—and you’ll probably be hungry, too!