Tom Lake by Ann Patchett - 11 hours on Libby audio- beautifully read by Meryl Streep

 This was an amazing and beautiful story that spiraled a little darkly by the end...this glowing crazy hero, Duke, crashes and burns near the end. Still, the mood and the writing and the settings are interesting and even lyrical at times. It was a perfect get-away listen as I managed Len's knee replacement after-care. 

The two stories of the present and the past weave beautifully together. A wonderful theme is how your children imagine your life began with their lives! Getting acquainted with their mother's past is the story that drives the novel, and these daughters are interesting, witty, and canny. The main character, the mother, is insightful and loving and introspective. As she struggles with how much and what to share with her daughters (and husband) it made me think about my own past and how and what to share. Of course my daughters and my son don't ask about my past, so it won't be a problem! 

The language is occasionally harsh, but fitting with the characters. Not gratuitous at all. The setting of the pandemic was the perfect foil for why and how they had time for these stories. I could also relate to the beauty of the orchards and the work of the farm. Just beautiful! Sorry that Duke ended up so messed up, but it wasn't surprising...

Meryl Streep's voice and reading were incredible. I've listened to Ann Patchett on her Instagram stories, and actually, Streep's voice is very similar to Patchett's. It was a calming and peaceful tone, perfect for the woman whose story was unfolding. I enjoyed that aspect too. 

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman - on Libby Audio - 10 hours

 A very fluffy and sweet novel set in a Florida senior living resort that features interesting characters. This novel also has a little magic and fantasy thrown in, and the story is not believable either, but still, it was a fun romp for me as I cared for Len in his second knee replacement recovery!

I enjoyed the Brooklyn and Florida settings, and particularly enjoyed the Jewish customs and food and people that play a big part. The pharmacy aspects were interesting too. But this is not a novel I would recommend to anyone...too fluffy. Still, it got me thinking about a wasted-arguably-life of an 80 year old woman who finally gets "her" man.... 

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki, 16 hours of Audio listening on Libby

 Pattie in the Ridgeview Ward extolled the virtues of this book at our last book club meeting. It's going to be discussed in September, when we meet again. It's not really a biography, it's a novel, and yet it matches up with events on Wikipedia about her life. It's very fluffy and a real page-turner. I enjoyed it and really looked forward to each time I could take a listen. Is it worth 16 hours of my time? No, but I drove or cleaned or walked as I listened, so ...

What struck me was how this supposedly bright woman kept making the same mistake as she chose husbands! She led a charmed life--lots of money, oodles of money. more privilege than most, and did a lot of good. Yet...she "fell in love" deeply and quickly four times and ended up divorced four times. There were subtle hints every time about the way she lorded her money and power over her husbands, so it wasn't surprising as they turned bitter and ugly. Still, this is an author's license and who knows if this is really the way it unfolded for her. 

I enjoyed hearing about the opulent life and homes and yachts and parties...such a glamorous life, often punctuated with Post feeling guilty and then going back to her roots of good deeds and philanthropy. Her time as Ambassadress in Moscow was really interesting, as the country's leaders prepared for war...These were interesting times and she met interesting people. A very fun romp!

The Pursuit of Endurance by Jennifer Pharr Davis - on Libby Audio, 12 hours, 42 minutes

 I really enjoyed listening to this upright strong woman share her research about endurance. She interviewed well-known through-hikers and ultra marathoners and tried to uncover what makes them endure so well. She also interviewed physicians and other anatomy experts and shared their insights as well. It was an engaging listen, and I felt motivated to work out harder and longer as a result of listening to her,

I have read her earlier book about her experience on the AT, so it was good to get this follow-up on her life and hear how it's going. She's serious and yet knows how to have fun. She stays humble as she interviews these luminaries, while she is a record-setter in her own right. 

I have been walking to a park a mile and a half away from home, and working on my pull-ups in the playground there. I also do lunges and squats. I noticed that I wanted to do better and work out harder during the days I was listening to Jennifer. All good info, and lots of interesting insights about the people who set records for endurance. I am not in their league but I love reading about them!

The Leavers by Lisa Ko - on Libby Audio - 15 hours

 I would never have read this book or stayed with it if it weren't for the new Monterey book group that I recently joined. It's not one I would have chosen, and after the first few depressing chapters I was ready to give it up, but I stuck with it because I like this group of women and wanted to be a contributor to our discussion. I'm glad I did, even though most of it was hard to live through.

This young Chinese boy is given up by his mother TWICE, and the resulting mental trauma is carefully chronicled through his years of searching for her, finding her, and eventually finding his own way. It's a torturous journey, however, helped along by well-intentioned adoptive family members. The story alternates through the viewpoints of Deming, the boy, and his mother. It's enlightening to ready about how easily people miss cues and interpret silence as neglect. It was also instructive to read about how tightly one clings to one's natural, known culture, despite its hardships and deprivations. 

I have long been aware of this culture deprivation through my experiences with Native cultures in South Dakota. How important it is to preserve language and family ties and traditions cannot be over stated, and it was beautifully illustrated in this book. I felt like the author had lived through these experiences herself and thus could describe them so accurately and heart-rendingly--if that's a word!

I listened to this book on my July road trip to Sacramento with Henry (when we weren't talking and he was on his games) and then on my way home alone, through Yosemite, and after I left Ann, on my way home to St. George. It made the long driving times very enjoyable and quick, despite the hard content!

Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife by Linda Berdoll

 I have been reading a lot of Jane Austen knock-offs as well as history, and this one was mentioned several times by different authors. It's an incredible undertaking with fantastic imagination and vocabulary. The sexy parts are not especially graphic and are almost comical in their ardor. I think this aspect of the story is most trumpeted and the least well-done. However the story line and the characters and the language are pretty good! I was impressed by the commitment it would take to fashion such a long and complicated and well-written work. I think the author was mostly true to the characters as well, though I didn't like thinking that Bingley was a philanderer... And I didn't end up admiring Darcy or Elizabeth as much as I do when I read Austen herself. Yet this novel was a fun romp...and it was satisfying to see Lydia and Wickham get their due...

Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson on Libby, read by Moira Kelly, 3 hours

This Newbery book was a great young adult story that I really enjoyed.  Sara Louise is the unhappy twin to gifted and loved Caroline. She spends her youth resenting her and it's painful to hear about, and very relatable as she tries to understand her feelings. The captain becomes a great friend but then provides Caroline with a lifeline that sends poor Louise into even more resentment. It was interesting to read about her isolated island life, demented grandmother, and sympathetic parents. Talk about a victim mentality! 

I was thinking it would be interesting to get Henry's take on this story and this character when we're on our road trip in a couple of weeks. I don't know if it would appeal to him or not... 

I remember those surprising feelings and how they would come upon me without warning. I remember thinking I was crazy and that I could live out my life in a certain way, just as Louise was thinking. This author really understands the 13-15 year old mindset! It was good food for thought as I walked in St. George's summer heat!