We are the Brennans, by Tracey Lange

 

This was a pretty good book for a first novel, but I think it has many flaws. First, the positives: it is an engaging story (on the surface) that would appeal to many people, especially those who love drama and romance. The writing is also pretty good; the plot moves along in a way that draws the reader in. Now, the negatives: I found the plot and backstory to be entirely implausible. I found it hard to believe that someone would leave town for five years because (spoiler alert) she was physically attacked by an acquaintance and had a miscarriage. Especially when she was madly in love with a man she’d been with for eight years. One of the themes of the book is the damage caused by secrets and lack of communication, but it’s hard to take it seriously when the secrets and non-communication are so hard to believe; it’s pretty hard to suspend disbelief. We’re expected to believe that she not only left her family, fiance, and whole life behind for five years while she toiled away on the west coast as a waitress living in a hovel while trying to make it as a writer, publishing two short stories in those five years. Leaving her cognitive-impaired brother behind to have a breakdown and be institutionalized (temporarily), while she stayed in CA. It’s just too much to believe, so as the basic building blocks of the novel, it just doesn’t work. The rest of it is just a soap opera, with drama after drama unfolding.

The golem and the jinni, by Helene Wecker

 

I really loved this story about the friendship between a golem and a jinni who meet in turn-of-the-twentieth century New York City. The golem (Chava) is only a few months old (although she was created as an adult woman) when her "master" husband dies on the crossing from Europe to New York, and the jinni (Ahmad) is released from a thousand-year-long confinement in a copper pitcher when Boutros Arbeely, a metalsmith in the Manhattan neighborhood Little Syria tries to repair the pitcher, which had become dented and scratched over the years. Both Chava and Ahmad are trying to hide their true natures, but things get complicated when the man who created Chava decides to relocate to New York.

This is such a well-written book that it's hard to believe that it's a first novel. The plot is well-developed and the characters have a lot of depth. One of the things that I like about it is that it's clearly written for adults, with mostly adult characters, but it's written in a way that's believable and compelling. I really enjoyed it, and am looking forward to reading its sequel, which just came out this year: The Hidden Palace.

Punch me up to the gods: a memoir, by Brian Broome

 

I am fond of memoirs, especially those that show how someone has overcome challenges to become a better person or to gain success in a career. I really liked this memoir. First of all, the writing is top notch; there’s not a word out of place. Right from the start, the story draws you in. I like the way Broome frames the book with a modern day bus ride that he took during which he observes a young father interacting with his toddler son on a bus. As Broome watches the father throughout the long bus ride, each phase of the ride stimulates a memory from Broome’s childhood.

This book covers Broome’s life from childhood through adulthood, growing up in rural Ohio. He writes about his parents’ loveless marriage and the impact of his father’s losing his job when the steel mills closed. Since childhood, Broome was forced to pretend to be something he was not, hiding the fact that he is gay even from himself. He leaves first chance he gets to go to college, only to find himself surrounded by bigots. He goes further, to Pittsburgh, where he finally begins to find people that he can relate to, and for many years he loses himself to casual relationships, hard drugs, and alcohol. Throughout the book, Broome keeps taking us back to his childhood, and his relationship with his parents. He reflects on how several women, including his mother, have had a significant impact on his life, serving as a savior at critical or dangerous moments. He pulls no punches as he discusses the damage his father caused, not only to him, but the whole family.

While Broome tells us about sad, scary, and hurtful experiences, this book is ultimately hopeful, as Broome begins to address his addictions, and follows in the footsteps of his idol, James Baldwin, by taking a sojourn in Europe. This book is similar in theme to How we fight for our lives, by Saeed Jones, which I also liked.

Front row at the Trump show, by Jonathan Karl

 

This is an insightful look at the Trump administration from a reporter who has known Trump for decades. Chief White House correspondent for ABC News, Jonathan Karl had front row access during the Trump candidacy and administration, and he shares his experiences dealing not only with Trump, but with each successive Press Secretary. He discusses anecdotes that he was unable to share during his routine reporting, such as how Sean Spicer behaved behind the scenes (hint: not very nicely) and the many times Trump officials and others lied to reporters. This book was published prior to the election and the January 6 insurrection. I'm looking forward to reading his more recent book, Betrayal, to learn more about the election and its aftermath.

When Harry met Minnie: a true story of love and friendship, by Martha Teichner

I was happy to read this book, as I’m a fan of memoirs written by people about their pets. I was not overly familiar with author Martha Teichner, so I appreciated learning more about her and her career, in addition to her love for her series of bull terriers. However, this book is not just about the dogs; it’s more about the relationship that Martha establishes during the last days of another woman’s life. Carol Fertig is dying of cancer and wants someone to take her dog so that he doesn’t have to be euthanized upon her own death. This book tells the story of Martha’s getting to know Carol and the dog (Harry), building the relationships between the two women as well as Martha’s own dog, Minnie, and Harry. Over the course of less than a year, Martha and Carol arrange doggie dates, visits to each others apartments, sleepovers, longer stays, etc., until Carol ultimately has to ask Martha to keep Harry permanently.

I found the friendship that developed between the two women to be very touching. In just a few months, they were very close, brought together by their mutual love for their dogs.