The Book of Dreams by Nina George (FIC Geo)

This is kind of a hard book to describe but I'll give it a shot.

On his way to meet his 13-year-old son for the first time, Henri is struck by a car and ends up in the hospital on life support.  For the next 46 days, he is joined by his son, Sam, and his former love, Eddie (short for Edwina).  Deep in his coma, Henri relives his life, sometimes confronting reality and other times not. 

Meanwhile, Sam becomes attached to Madelyn, the only surviving member of her family who is in the same hospital wing as Henri.  Sam is a synesthete, someone who sees voices and words as colors, and he can see and sense both what Henri is feeling as well as what Madelyn thinks and feels.

Eddie finds herself in the position of holding Henri's medical power of attorney.  As she sits by his bedside, she remembers their relationship (it is her version that we ultimately believe) and mourns its passing even years after it ended.

And then there are the doctors and nurses who treat both of these patients as well as others on the floor.  It is through them that Sam and Eddie (and the reader) come to better understand comas and how they work.  And also through them that we understand that sometimes science doesn't hold all the answers.

I really liked this book. I liked the way the author
blends both the real world and the dream world.  It is a little sad but ultimately uplifting and reassuring.   Reading this book was time well-spent and I mourned its ending just a little bit.

The Guest Book by Sarah Blake (FIC Bla)

The story of three generations told back and forth in time.

In 1936 and a year after the sudden and tragic death of their oldest son, Kitty and Ogden Milton buy an island off the coast of Maine with a house on it.  They return, with their children, to the Island year after year.  It becomes the anchor for their family and friends.

In 1959, their youngest daughter, Evelyn, is about to be married.  Their oldest daughter, Joan, meets and falls in love with a man not of their "kind" (meaning East coast white upper class privilege).  He is, in fact, Jewish, and his best friend is African American.  And their oldest son, Moss, is struggling to find his way.  All of these people end up on the Island to celebrate Evelyn's impending marriage and nothing is the same after.

In 2019, Evie, Joan's only child, mourns the passing of her mother.  Suddenly she is confronted by all she doesn't know about not only her mother's past but, in many ways, her own.  And now she and her five cousins must decide whether they can afford to keep the Island or if they must sell it.

I liked this book almost in spite of itself.  The tone is moody and contemplative and thoughtful.  There were times when I wanted to shout at the characters and tell them to just get over themselves and move on.  There's a lot of talk about what makes "us", well, "us".  I realized in reading this that in many ways our society has not moved on from long held prejudices but that, in the end, there is hope.  I'm curious now about the author's other books.

The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict FIC Ben

      An historical novel on the life of Hollywood star Hedy Lamarr.   I remember seeing her in movies (decades ago!) and I am certain I knew that she was from Europe,  This book will take you into Hedy's life from the decade leading up to WWII through the war.
     When the novel begins Hedy is living a good life.  She lives with her parents (her father was her idol but the relationship with her mother was much more complicated) but is also doing well as an actress.  She catches the eye of a rich and influential man named Friedrich Mandl who begins to send her beautiful flowers. Then he corresponds with her parents asking for permission to come introduce himself and to take out their daughter.
    Hedy's father was very well versed in the dangerous politics of the time.  He felt it would be ill-advised to turn Friedrich away.  It leads to a hellish marriage.
      Later Hedy will end up in Hollywood.  The war is still raging.  It was time for Hedy to use her knowledge to try and help her new country put an end to the war that was tearing apart her beloved Austria .  An interesting read.

My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing FIC DOW

     I always like a psychological thriller and this was no exception.  The plot is exceptional.
      The story begins in a bar.  A man begins to flirt with a woman by pushing his phone toward her to introduce himself - Tobias, and he is deaf.  With his ability to read lips they begin a flirty conversation.
     In reality "Tobias" is an alias and he isn't deaf.  He is looking for a mark.  He is in fact a father and a husband who is wildly in love with Millicent, his wife.  "Tobias" is the narrator of the story and we never do learn his name.
     Throughout the book we learn more about the background of these two people and why killing women is the thing that spices up their marriage.  In the meantime they live their lives as if they are your normal couple.
     It's different and I enjoyed it!