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In this novel in stories, ironically named Hope, a small village in Alaska, introduces us to a variety of denizens, most of them with hard-luck stories. There’s a bewitching witch who provides a spell to get rid of someone’s cheating husband. It works, the first taste of magic realism. Then bad luck abounds: a boat explodes, a meth lab burns down, neighbors feud over lifestyle choices (an established hunter vs the next-door newbie who just wants to enjoy his peaceful view), and more. The contrast of incredible natural beauty and the scrabbling, imperfect folks who live in it is striking and poignant. The author, who grew up in Alaska (and is also a library colleague as well as my blog editor—huge thanks, Sommer), has created a haunting piece of work.
PJ should have been a happy man; he won the lottery quite a while ago. But now he's lonely, his health is iffy, and his once-fat bank account has shrunk after all those nights in the bar. He decides to drive from Massachusetts to Arizona to woo recently- widowed Michelle, his high school crush. But then he finds out he's now the guardian of his suddenly deceased brother's two children. Though he and said brother have been out of touch for years, PJ is the only remaining family member. One grumpy elder, two traumatized children, and a tag-along cat who knows how to predict people's death--a mix that results in madcap adventures and eventually the denouement we all hope for. Sometimes dizzying, sometimes verging on sentimental, but who doesn't love a road trip, especially on the page.
Big topics, for sure, but finely focused on the story of an unnamed writer who is working on a book about trees. This connects him with generous Phil, who knows a great deal about the subject, and Phil's wife Sarah. Therein lies the rub, because Sarah and the writer fall under nature's spell in a meadow and it gets very tricky. Disaster strikes, followed by a surprising resurrection. But a final tragedy makes one question just what message God is trying to convey. Intriguing and thought-provoking.
A historical novel that takes us from 1941 to present day through the lens of Meridian, who has a passion for ornithology but gets sidetracked when she marries her much older professor. He's drafted to work on developing the bomb in Los Alamos, and she's relegated to company wife. There go dreams of graduate school. Yet she studies the behavior of crows, is sorely tempted to run off with a much younger hippie, but eventually sees her husband through his death. Much about women's limitations, and questions of loyalty vs Meridian's wish to experience the freedom she missed by marrying so early. Finally released, Meri develops a program called Wingspan to support young women to pursue their passions. Yes!
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