Title: The Way Back to Happiness
Author: Elizabeth Bass
ISBN: 9780758281425
Pages: 352
Release Date: May 28, 2013
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: Publisher & Author
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:

When Bev Putterman learns that her sister Diana has died, she’s sad. Though she and Diana had a falling out years ago, Bev still keenly feels the loss of her sister. It’s up to Bev to take in her teenage niece, Alabama, but it becomes difficult when Alabama makes clear that she’d rather be anywhere than with her estranged aunt.

Review:

The Way Back to Happiness is the story of Bev and Alabama Putterman, and how they put aside their differences in order to become family. Alabama is extremely difficult when the novel begins. It’s clear that her mother turned her against her aunt over the years, and it’s important to remember that while reading or readers may dislike her. But over the course of the novel, Alabama grows and changes, coming to understand what her aunt has been through and seeing that no one is perfect.

Bev is a great character in The Way Back to Happiness. She’s a home ec teacher, which makes her position unique. It’s a class that’s considered outdated, yet Bev teaches her students about important life skills, such as how to manage money. Bev has always wanted something more for herself, though, and readers will ache for her as she tries to find happiness. She has wide and vast dreams, but life has taught her not to want too much because most ambitions aren’t achievable.

The story of The Way Back to Happiness is generally predictable, though the mystery behind the Putterman sisters’ past will keep readers guessing. Readers will enjoy getting to know both Alabama and Bev as they navigate their difficult relationship. It’s rewarding to watch them slowly become family, to come to trust and depend on one another. This would make a great summer read for the pool or on the beach.

Other books by Elizabeth Bass:

Miss You Most of All
Wherever Grace is Needed

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Title: The Asylum
Author: John Harwood
ISBN: 9780544003477
Pages: 272
Release Date: May 21, 2013
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Genre: Historical Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Gothic Mystery
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:

A woman awakens to discover that she’s in an asylum in England. Despite the fact that she knows to the core of her being that she’s Georgina Ferrars, she’s told that she checked in under the name Lucy Ashton. When Georgina insists that there’s been a misunderstanding, the doctor cables to Georgina’s uncle in London, only to be told that there’s been a mistake, as Georgina is as home with him. As she begins to question her own sanity, Georgina must discover who she really is and what is happening around her.

Review:

The Asylum is set in the Victorian era, and once again, John Harwood delivers a compelling psychological gothic mystery within these pages. Though Georgina is clearly troubled—after all, she checked herself into an asylum and has no memory of doing so—the reader is inclined to trust her. Who is doing this to her and why? What grand plan is there, that multiple people are working together against Georgina to ensure she stays put in the asylum? While it’s enough to make any reader question Georgina’s sanity, her integrity and surety keep the reader invested in her story, convinced that she is, indeed, correct in her assertions.

The novel also has wonderful atmosphere, beginning with the fact that it’s set in an asylum in a large, old house. Readers will be able to picture Georgina’s place of confinement through Harwood’s descriptions. Though she initially committed herself to the asylum, it becomes Georgina’s prison as the doctor believes she’s a danger to herself and others. Harwood writes this beautifully, making the novel close, with a claustrophobic feeling. If you’re a fan of haunted, atmospheric writing, The Asylum is absolutely a novel you should pick up.

The plot of The Asylum moves as a steady pace, as Harwood weaves puzzle after puzzle around the reader. As the novel progresses and more information is revealed, readers will be able to guess at the final outcome, but they could never imagine the level of intricacy or detail in Harwood’s plotting. It’s incredibly well done and makes the novel difficult to put down. He makes a bit of a leap at the end of the book that I didn’t love, but overall, this is an excellent read.

If you enjoy well-written and tightly plotted psychological novels, then you should definitely consider any of John Harwood’s novels. He’s a talented writer, and it shows on every page of The Asylum. The addition of a potentially unreliable narrator in Lucy will keep the reader guessing, while the atmosphere will send chills down the reader’s spine. All in all, it makes for one delicious package wrapped up neatly into this engaging book.

Other books by John Harwood:

The Ghost Writer
The Séance

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Title: Sight Reading
Author: Daphne Kalotay
ISBN: 9780062246936
Pages: 352
Release Date: May 21, 2013
Publisher: Harper
Genre: Literary Fiction
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:

Remy is a second chair violin player in a Boston student orchestra, and she’s surprised to find a new conductor waiting for them one day at rehearsal. Remy is intrigued by Nicholas, and though Nicholas has a wife, Hazel, and young daughter at home, he seems to return the interest. Over the years, the lives of Remy, Nicholas, and Hazel intertwine and their actions affect one another as things inexorably move forward.

Review:

Sight Reading is the story Remy, first and foremost. While Hazel and Nicholas are important characters, it is by far Remy’s self-exploration and introspection that dominate this novel. Remy’s a great character; she’s certainly flawed and makes some decisions the reader might cringe at as the novel progresses, but she’s realistic. Readers will have an easy time sympathizing with her, as she receives everything she wants only to experience a different kind of loss. It’s well done and makes for a thoughtful read.

One of the main themes of Sight Reading involves Remy’s position as the second chair in an orchestra. This means that she’s a very good violin player, but she will never be the best. That’s reserved for the first chair. Remy struggles against this characterization in many areas of her life—she’s young when the novel begins and imagines living a grand and bold life, full of adventure and excitement. It’s only later, as she gets older, that she begins to wonder whether it’s the small, everyday things that should fill our lives. Is it okay to accept that one will never be first chair, to find contentment and even pleasure with being a second chair violinist?

Intertwined with the lives of these three characters is music, and Kalotay treats it well in Sight Reading. The life of a musician is one that many readers romanticize, and Kalotay presents it for the better and worse in this book. It’s interesting to see these glimpses into another world, and it provides a stable backdrop to the ever-changing lives and circumstances of these characters.

Beautifully written, with incredibly flawed but wonderfully realistic characters, Sight Reading is an exploration into change, into love and loss, and into the way we all come together and are connected. It’s very character driven, but the music that frames the novel provides additional depth, as well as a fascinating source of information. It’s a novel that spans different worlds and many different locations in order to offer insight into ourselves and the way we live our lives.

Other books by Daphne Kalotay:

Russian Winter

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Title: The Caretaker
Author: A.X. Ahmad
ISBN: 9781250016843
Pages: 304
Release Date: May 21, 2013
Publisher: Minotaur
Genre: Literary Thriller
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Summary:

Ranjit Singh was the commander of a squad in the Indian Army, but he’s since fled India with his wife and daughter to escape the demons that haunt him. Trying to eke out a living in Cape Cod, he becomes the caretaker for the house of a famous senator. But what Ranjit doesn’t know is that there are secrets in that house, and what he uncovers during the long and cold winter will have repercussions that will affect him and his family for the rest of his life.

Review:

The Caretaker is a literary thriller featuring a man who is shadowed by trouble, no matter how far he runs. Ranjit is a solid man, eager to provide for his family by doing whatever he must. But he’s also proud and expects to be treated with respect and dignity. While these seem like simple demands, especially considering how far Ranjit has fallen since his time in the Indian army, these values are hard for him to come by. Readers will appreciate Ranjit’s integrity and emotional strength, as he has to face quite a bit of adversity in this book.

Ahmad’s writing style is not what you’d expect for a typical thriller, but then again, The Caretaker is not your typical read from this genre. Ahmad writes with beautiful, fluid prose; his descriptions are vivid and readers will enjoy becoming lost in his writing. What’s more, the cultural aspects set this novel apart from other thrillers. Ranjit’s heritage is important to him, and he maintains his traditions even though his family has left India. Readers will appreciate learning more about Sikh culture while also being thoroughly entertained.

Juxtaposed against the present day, explosive storyline of The Caretaker is the tale of Ranjit’s dark past. It’s clear that he hasn’t been able to let go of what happened to him all those years ago, and Ahmad does an excellent job of drawing the story out. It’s rare that an author manages to make dual storylines equally compelling, yet Ahmad does so with ease. Readers will appreciate these glimpses into Ranjit’s past, as they both flesh out the character and provide a cultural backdrop to the story as a whole.

If you’re looking for a unique novel with many different aspects—cultural, historical, political, and more—then The Caretaker is a great novel to pick up. What might seem like a mixed up jumble in any other novel becomes a seamless, suspenseful read, thanks to Ahmad’s careful plotting and gorgeous prose. It’s hard to find books that successfully stray from the beaten path, so if you’re looking for something new, don’t hesitate to pick this novel up.

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Title: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking
Author: Susan Cain
ISBN: 9780307352156
Pages: 368
Release Date: January 29, 2013
Publisher: Broadway
Genre: Non-Fiction
Source: Personal Copy
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Summary:

In her book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, Susan Cain examines our culture, which values extroverts over introverts, and discusses the costs of turning our backs on the introverts.

Review:

The line between extroversion and introversion is one that’s been discussed extensively in many different respects. There are various definitions of each and different ways to determine into which category you fit. There are extroverted introverts and introverted extroverts; the lines blur, and the label you’d give those around you might not be the one that they themselves would claim. It’s an interesting subject, especially considering American society undervalues introverts, instead putting an emphasis on group work and social situations. This is where Cain’s book, Quiet, comes in.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a Word That Can’t Stop Talking is a fascinating look at introversion. She doesn’t in any way claim that introverts are better than their extrovert peers, merely that they should be valued and accommodated in equal measure to extroverts. She goes through various examples and situations, emerging each time with the same conclusion: to put it simply, there’s nothing wrong with being an introvert, and society should stop trying to push introverts to be extroverts.

Cain also studies how we’ve come to think of outgoing, gregarious people as more beautiful and successful in Quiet. How did this happen, and what are the results? Additionally, Cain tries to help introverts by showing them how to take advantage of their singular abilities and strengths. In a world that tells us over and over again that being “shy” is a bad thing, and it’s wrong to prefer a glass of wine and a book over going out to socialize, Cain’s study provides validation to the many introverts struggling to make their way in a world that’s constantly trying to change them.

Whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, Quiet is a book you can consider. It’s nearly impossible for extroverts to understand the craving for solitude, or the preference to stay in on New Year’s Eve rather than attending a loud party, but this book is a great first step to seeing that there’s nothing wrong with that. Or, if you’re an introvert, this book will provide you with a lot to think about, as well as some validation that there is absolutely nothing wrong with being who you are!

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Title: Fly Away
Author: Kristin Hannah
ISBN: 9780312577216
Pages: 416
Release Date: April 23, 2013
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: Publisher
Rating: 3 out of 5

Summary:

Tully Hart and Kate Ryan were the best of friends, as readers witnessed in Firefly Lane, but now Kate is gone. Tully doesn’t know how to cope with her best friend’s death, and what’s more, she has no idea how to be there for Kate’s children. Kate’s teenage daughter, Marah, can’t fathom life without her mother and begins to act out because she doesn’t know how to deal with her grief. As these two spiral downward, they struggle to remember Kate’s legacy and be the people she’d want them to be.

Review:

Fly Away is the sequel to Kristin Hannah’s hit novel Firefly Lane, and it tells the story of Tully’s and Marah’s reactions to Kate’s death. It jumps through time, through past and present, but it roughly picks up straight after the first novel ends. If you haven’t read Firefly Lane, you should be able to pick up Fly Away as a standalone without too much trouble. Hannah reminds the reader of what happened in the first book; indeed, if you’ve read Firefly Lane you might find the constant reminders of the previous book’s plot a bit tedious.

This can be a difficult book to read. Hannah’s writing is, as always, crisp and clear and she develops her characters well. Though they can be frustrating at times, making poor choices, they’re relatable and sympathetic. However, this novel is very painful. Rather than having the worst of the worst come in one fell swoop and have Fly Away be about recovery and healing, the novel itself feels like a downward spiral. Hannah puts her characters through the ringer, and there isn’t much redemption or hope within its pages. It’s very sad and painful, which makes it hard to read.

One brighter aspect of Fly Away is that the reader finally gets to hear the story of Tully’s mother. She was a drug-addicted, alcoholic, absent mother who never showed her daughter much love. It was easy to vilify her in Firefly Lane; Fly Away gives the woman the chance to tell her own story, turning her into a three-dimensional person who walked around in a drug-fueled haze to escape the pain of her childhood. Worth reading, but again, painful and sad much of the time.

If you’ve read Firefly Lane, you’ll probably want to pick up Fly Away just for the continuation of the story. If you haven’t, though, it becomes difficult to recommend Fly Away. Though you can read it as a standalone, it’s full of so much pain that, without the background of the characters, it might just be too difficult. In the end, it was a book worth reading, but a hard one to be sure.

Other books by Kristin Hannah:

Firefly Lane
Home Front
Night Road
Winter Garden

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Title: The Boleyn King
Author: Laura Andersen
ISBN: 9780345534095
Pages: 368
Release Date: May 14, 2013
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Genre: Historical Fiction
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:

History knows the story of Anne Boleyn very well, the story of the woman who supposedly set her sights on the throne of England, prompting the breaking away of England from the Catholic Church so King Henry VIII could procure a divorce, gave birth to Elizabeth I, one of the most famous monarchs in the country’s history, and in the end, was put to death because she could not give King Henry VIII the son he so desperately wanted.

But what if she had?

Review:

The premise of The Boleyn King by Laura Andersen is fascinating: Suppose that Anne Boleyn had indeed given King Henry VIII his promised son, and as a result, she’d been spared from the axe and continued to reign as queen. What if that son, named William in this novel, was able to succeed his father upon Henry VIII’s death? And, what if, after all that, Elizabeth still became queen? The thought is enough to excite any fan of English history, the Tudors, or historical fiction in general.

The Boleyn King is the first of a trilogy, and it introduces William, son of Anne and Henry. He’s seventeen years old now, and is chafing under the restrictions of the Lord Protector, George Boleyn, his uncle. Soon, he’ll be able to reign in his own right. But William must face other difficulties: the continued slander against and hate of his mother, his half-sister Mary’s continued quiet refusal to acknowledge his mother, and difficult situations with foreign governments. Andersen conceives of her character well; he’s absolutely believable, and it’s easy to forget he didn’t actually exist within history. While he’s clamoring to be seen as an adult, it’s clear that he’s still very much a teenager, unsure of himself at times and preoccupied with matters of the heart, much as his father was.

Andersen takes great liberties with history in The Boleyn King, and it’s absolutely fascinating to see. She basically erases everything up to and including Anne’s death; there is no rise of the Seymours, no downfall of Thomas Cromwell, no Katharine Howard. People who were put to death later in Henry’s reign are still alive and well in this novel; it’s interesting to see how they fare. If you aren’t as familiar with English history, you’ll still find this novel interesting, but if you are? Well, let’s just say you’ll have fun with what Andersen does.

Minuette is a fictional character (as far as I can tell) introduced in The Boleyn King, a young woman who was raised with William and Elizabeth. She provides much of the narrative voice of the novel, and she’s an appealing character. She’s smart and resourceful, and she’s also very much a teenager. Indeed, I wouldn’t be surprised if this novel was marketed as a crossover between the YA and adult fiction markets; while enjoyable, it doesn’t delve into history quite as much as one would like and it has the general, lighter feel of a YA novel.

Still, The Boleyn King is a quick, absorbing read that any fan of historical fiction should definitely consider. Playing “what if” is always a fun game, made even moreso by the fact that the reader knows what is going to happen from the outset. It’s interesting to see how Andersen changes history, and yet makes it seem the same, weaving pieces of actual history into the narrative. It’s a creative read that will delight fans of court intrigue.

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Title: On Sal Mal Lane
Author: Ru Freeman
ISBN: 9781555976422
Pages: 336
Release Date: May 14, 2013
Publisher: Graywolf Press
Genre: Literary Fiction, Cultural Fiction (South Asian)
Source: Publisher 
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Summary:

On one ordinary day in 1979, the Herath family moves onto Sal Mal Lane, a quiet, dead-end street in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Their arrival affects the balance and politics among neighbors on Sal Mal Lane, as Sri Lanka finds itself on the road to civil war.

Review:

On Sal Mal Lane is a beautifully written novel focusing on, specifically, the Herath family, and more broadly, on all the families who live on Sal Mal Lane. Freeman pays special attention to the children; as Sri Lanka is becoming increasingly divided along cultural lines, the relationships among the children of Sal Mal Lane only become stronger. Freeman writes these children with strength and vigor, and each will leap off the page for the reader. It’s clear she’s sending a message through these children, and readers should definitely pay attention.

As previously mentioned, the backdrop to On Sal Mal Lane is the tensions leading up to the Sri Lankan civil war. The larger politics are barely mentioned when the novel begins; the people of Sal Mal Lane go about their business, confident that they are shielded by their quiet street. But as the novel progresses, the fraught political situation becomes more and more relevant to the lives of the people on Sal Mal Lane. The way Freeman wrote this is incredibly interesting, because you’d imagine that’s how the normal citizens, away from the actions, also felt about the war. It was insidious, worming its way into their lives, until they could talk about nothing else around the dinner table.

Freeman wrote On Sal Mal Lane from a very interesting perspective: that of the street itself. It’s so well done, as it provides the reader a glimpse into every character’s life. The street can see when relationships change, how they grow and how they stumble. The characters are everything in this novel; Freeman really brings them to life with each word in this novel, and she uses them to comment on many different aspects of life, both universally and in Sri Lanka during this time period.

The writing style of On Sal Mal Lane seems to be something from another time entirely. It’s beautiful and easy to read, yet the reader will want to take this novel slow. There are so many connections, so many different characters and small plots, that it’s easy to miss them if you’re breezing through this book. No, this is a novel to savor from beginning to end. It’s gorgeous and entirely heartbreaking, and is a wonderful accomplishment that readers of cultural fiction must absolutely pick up.

Other books by Ru Freeman:

A Disobedient Girl

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