Personal Reading
by Katherine Reay
From the library description: When an anonymous benefactor offers to put Samantha Moore through grad school, with the stipulation that she write frequent letters to him on her progress, Sam finds safety in the letters as her program and her peers force her to confront her past.
This is a reimagined version of
Daddy-Long-Legs for lovers of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and Jane Eyre. I found this to be so much more enjoyable and fulfilling than
Daddy-Long-Legs. It delves into the insecurities of a young woman who spent her life moving from one foster home to another and enduring horrific abuse from her parents as well as from some foster families. She learned to hide herself in books, especially Jane Austen, and to protect herself from being hurt emotionally by hiding behind quotations from those books. Her letters to her unknown benefactor provide a safe, "soul-purging" outlet as she learns to live in the real world, make real friendships, learn to trust and be trusted, forgive and be forgiven. This book has many of the elements that I love: complex, imperfect characters who make mistakes, are confronted, and grow; great dialog, and literary allusions to books that I love. And there were a couple of books referenced that I haven't read -- those are now on my to-read list. There are "breadcrumbs" of truth about God and Christ and the gospel, but no explicit explanation. This story was very powerful and moving to me. I stayed up way too late to finish it and then had to re-read it again more slowly to digest, absorb, and relish it more fully.
The story impressed on me (but not it's explicitly stated) that every person has a "back-story" -- a complicated web of circumstances and interactions that cause or influence them to think and act the way they do. This "back-story" of a person's past does not have to define them or grant them status as a "victim", and it does not excuse wrongdoing, but knowing it does help others to understand them and give them grace. Just knowing that each person you meet has a back-story, even if you don't know what it is, can help you be kinder and more compassionate. Even those shy, withdrawn people or those aggressive bullies have deep hurts that color their view of the world and how they interact with people. I guess I also identified with the main character in that I probably tend to "escape" into books and stories (though not quoting them) when dealing with real life gets too hard.
Content considerations: several uses of the word "crap," kissing, pressure by a boyfriend to spend the night as his apartment (she doesn't), descriptions of physical abuse of a child by adults, and attempted trafficking.
The Austen Escape
by Katherine Reay
From the publisher's description: Mary Davies finds safety in her ordered and productive life. Working as an engineer, she genuinely enjoys her job and her colleagues—particularly a certain adorable and intelligent consultant. But something is missing. When Mary’s estranged childhood friend, Isabel Dwyer, offers her a two-week stay in a gorgeous manor house in England, she reluctantly agrees in hopes that the holiday will shake up her quiet life in just the right ways. But Mary gets more than she bargained for when Isabel loses her memory and fully believes she lives in Jane Austen’s Bath. While Isabel rests and delights in the leisure of a Regency lady, attended by other costume-clad guests, Mary uncovers startling truths about their shared past, who Isabel was, who she seems to be, and the man who now stands between them.
Like Dear Mr. Knightley, this book has many of the elements that I love: complex, imperfect characters who make mistakes, are confronted, and grow; great dialog and literary allusions to books that I love. If you haven't read all of Jane Austen's books, this book will make no sense. But if you have read them (preferably multiple times) and loved them, you will probably enjoy this one. Like Dear Mr. Knightley, it deals with complex friendships, misunderstandings, trust, and forgiveness. And like Dear Mr. Knightley, I stayed up too late reading it, then started reading it all over again to absorb all the nuances and details.
Here's one great quote: "How people treat you is only 10 percent about you and 90 percent about them, so you need to be careful how you react and how you judge. You never know someone's story."
Content considerations: kissing, the characters socialize in bars.
Lizzy and Jane
by Katherine Reay
From the library description: A story of two sisters, bound together by family, food, and a passion for Jane Austen. Lizzy and Jane were named after Jane Austen's characters, but couldn't be further away in personality. When her mother died, Elizabeth fled home and the overwhelming sense of pain and loss. But fifteen years later, with no other escapes available, Elizabeth finds herself in the unlikeliest of places: by her sister's side in Seattle as Jane undergoes chemotherapy. Can a New York City chef with a painful history settle down with the family she once abandoned... and make peace with the sister who once abandoned her?
This was the author's second book, but the third one I read. It has similar themes and content considerations as the other two.
The Printed Letter Bookshop
by Katherine Reay
From the publisher's description: One of Madeline Cullen’s happiest childhood memories is working with her Aunt Maddie in the quaint and cozy Printed Letter Bookshop. But by the time Madeline inherits the shop nearly twenty years later, family troubles and her own bitter losses have hardened Madeline’s heart toward her once-treasured aunt — and the now struggling bookshop left in her care. While Madeline intends to sell the shop as quickly as possible, the Printed Letter’s two employees have other ideas. Reeling from a recent divorce, Janet finds sanctuary within the books and within the decadent window displays she creates. Claire, though quieter than the acerbic Janet, feels equally drawn to the daily rhythms of the shop and its loyal clientele, finding a renewed purpose within its walls. When Madeline’s professional life takes an unexpected turn —and a handsome gardener upends all her preconceived notions – she questions her plans and her heart and begins to envision a new path for herself and for her aunt’s beloved shop. Yet, even working together, these three women may find their best efforts too little and too late.
This one is a little different from the author's other books (reviewed above). This one is told from the perspective of three different women: one is first person past tense, one is first person present tense, and one is third person past tense. These tenses were deliberately chosen to reflect the woman's character and how she sees herself. I found it to be an interesting literary device, especially when one character's tense changes near the end. Similar comments and content considerations as the previous books. Also, this one features characters dealing with the fallout from infidelity and divorce.
Of Literature and Lattes
by Katherine Reay
This is the sequel to The Printed Letter Bookshop. This one is told all in third person and shifts perspective among many characters. The main focus is on Jeremy and Alyssa, both single and in their early 30s. Jeremy has moved to town so that he can be active in his seven-year-old daughter's life. He has a difficult relationship with his ex-wife, and his renovated coffee shop is struggling financially because he's failed to connect with the close-knit community. Alyssa has moved back home after the disastrous and scandalous collapse of the California company she worked for. She's had an antagonistic relationship with her mother her whole life, but especially since her mother's infidelity. Her mother and father are working through forgiveness and reconciliation, but Alyssa is still hostile to her mother, though her mother is seeking forgiveness and peace with her.
Summary thoughts on Katherine Reay's books: All of these books that I've read so far are classified as "modern romance." (She has some historical fiction books as well, which I have not read yet.) The main characters are in their mid-twenties to early thirties. I would classify these stories as adult fiction, not recommended for teens. They all deal with deep hurts that affect their relationships (with everyone, not just their romantic interest). I enjoyed how the author explored how these characters work through their issues and learn to relate in more healthy ways. I read these at a time when I was recognizing and pondering a number of relationship challenges in my own life and in the lives of those around me. There are some hints of God and Christianity in these books, but no clear gospel or relationships with Jesus. One thing I don't like in these books is that the characters kiss and spend time alone in each other's homes (not sexually) very early in their relationships and before any commitment is made.
The Berlin Letters
by Katherine Reay
From the library description: Near the end of the Cold War, a CIA code breaker discovers a symbol she recognizes from her childhood, which launches her across the world to the heart of Berlin just before the wall comes tumbling down. A fascinating, gripping novel told in first person from two perspectives: the CIA code breaker in America, and the father she's never known in East Berlin. Content considerations: a few mild words and suggestions that might make it inappropriate for children or teens. This was especially interesting to me because I was in high school when the Berlin wall came down, so it's not just way-back-there-history to me. I also found it insightful to think about how living through WWII and its aftermath in Germany affects how people think and act even after they have lived in a free country for many years.
The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler
by John Hendrix
This is sort of a "graphic novel," except it's a biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor who got involved with a plot to kill Hitler during WWII. It was well done, using actual quotes from his writings as well as explanatory narrative and illustrations. I had heard of Bonhoeffer but had never read much about him. I recommend this book for maybe 12+. The only complaint I had was that the print is very small.
Unbreakable: The Spies Who Cracked the Nazis' Secret Code
by Rebecca Barone
This non-fiction book expands the story of WWII codebreaking from just Bletchley Park (as in
The Enigma Girls) to spies and codebreakers all over Europe who had a role in cracking the Nazi codes and affecting the outcome of the war. This is an excellent complement to the non-fiction
The Enigma Girls and the fictional
The Bletchley Riddle (see below).
Predestination Calmly Considered
by John Wesley
John Wesley (1703-1791) logically and calmly lays out his Scriptural reasons for opposing the Calvinistic belief of "unconditional election." He explains that "unconditional election" necessarily implies "unconditional reprobation", which cannot be reconciled (by Scripture) with God's justice, wisdom, love, sincerity, etc. It was enlightening, though not easy reading. The print in this version is tiny, and there are numerous punctuation errors that make it hard to read at times. But it was a worthwhile investment of time to read it. My father-in-law recommended this book, as there has been a lot of discussion about Calvin's theology in our extended family.
Middle Grade Fiction
by Anne Nesbet
From the publisher's description: During a hiking trip with their parents in the mountains of California, cousins Owen, Vivian, and Amy are finally allowed to camp for one night at a little lake all on their own. But when a massive earthquake blocks their return path, there's only one way home: the long way around, through a wilderness filled with fierce animals, raging rivers, unstable weather, and high passes. The hardest challenges the cousins face, however, are the troubles they've brought with them: bold Vivian's fear of starting middle school and of changes she can't control, Owen's lingering emotional scars from a car accident, and Amy's desire to live in stories rather than in boring regular life. Drawing on courage and humor, the cousins weather storms, make the most of dwindling rations, and face their deepest fears in order to bring each other safely home.
It was an okay book, but I had to kind of push myself to finish it. The youngest child seemed a bit whiny and annoying at first. They mention evolution as fact, and one character "prays to the universe" when they are in trouble.
Read another review here.
The Green Ember Lost Tales: The Lost Key
by S. D. Smith
The latest release from the author, hot off the press. This short book actually contains two stories with the Green Ember characters. If you like the Green Ember and have read at the least the 4 books of the main series, you will want to read this one too. If you haven't read the Green Ember series,
take a look at my review from October 2020.
Young Adult Fiction
by Ruth Sepetys & Steve Sheinkin
From the publisher's description: Nineteen-year-old Jakob Novis and his quirky younger sister Lizzie share a love of riddles and puzzles. And now they're living inside of one. The quarrelsome siblings find themselves amidst one of the greatest secrets of World War II--Britain's eccentric codebreaking factory at Bletchley Park. As Jakob joins Bletchley's top minds to crack the Nazi's Enigma cipher, fourteen-year-old Lizzie embarks on a mission to solve the mysterious disappearance of their mother. The Battle of Britain rages and Hitler's invasion creeps closer. And at the same time, baffling messages and codes arrive on their doorstep while a menacing inspector lurks outside the gates of the Bletchley mansion. Are the messages truly for them, or are they a trap? Could the riddles of Enigma and their mother's disappearance be somehow connected? Jakob and Lizzie must find a way to work together as they race to decipher clues which unravel a shocking puzzle that presents the ultimate challenge: How long must a secret be kept?
The novel is written in first-person, present tense (which I dislike, but seems to be a popular way to write these days); the chapters alternate narration between the two main characters. It seemed a little disjointed at times, but overall it was pretty good. I think it helped to have already had some background on Bletchley Park from reading
The Enigma Girls last month. This novel added a few more details I didn't see in that one. This was a fun read and relatively clean. Slight romance (Lizzie develops a crush on another character, but they both recognize they are too young for being more than just friends.)
Read another review here.
