Ocean State - Stewart O'Nan

 A kind of depressing, kind of enlightening story of young love gone out of control. Angel, Myles and Birdy's triangle ends in tragedy, but the journey there is a portrait of a lower working class life in a small Rhode Island town. Marie, the younger sister, is a study in lonely pre-teenager, while Carol, her mother, is a portrait of a woman trying desperately to hold onto the moments of her youth. Since the main protagonists are teenagers, I felt a missing depth of character. The story was disturbing, but O'Nan left me feeling a little out in the cold.

Bread of Angels -- Patti Smith

I am a huge Patti Smith fan and was looking forward to reading Bread of Angels, but, I found myself speedreading, since it wasn't quite my cup of tea. Somewhat dreamy, abstract, and self-indulgent, I had a hard time feeling connected. For fans of Smith, there are secrets revealed which are interesting, but many things are hidden from sight. Memory is different for all of us...Smith remembers a lot and shares selectively. 

The Correspondent - Virginia Evans

I am usually hesitant to read best sellers...too formulaic, or manipulative, or simplistic...but The Correspondent, a word-of-mouth hit, was a lovely read. A masterful debut novel, Evan's story of Sybil's life told through letters is thoughtful, captivating and moving. Sybil is 73 and in decline. She is losing her sight, is estranged from her daughter, and is living with the grief and guilt of her son's death at the age of eight. How all these strands come together in an epistolary form is really quite the feat. In her letters to family, friends and celebrities (especially authors), and the letters she receives in return, the question of what is most important in our lives comes to the forefront. I was totally caught up and couldn't wait for the next letter to drop. 

The Librarianist - Patrick DeWitt

An odd book about an odd man. The story of Bob Comet, librarian and self-contained man, is one of a life that had potential for love, but missed out. Bob is not really sorry about this, but he lives a life that feels as though it could go further. I liked Bob a lot, especially his love of books and libraries. Bob has the things a librarian needs...empathy, curiosity, and a striving for order. Bob also has moral fiber and the respect of those around him. The other characters in the book are all lively and interesting, but Bob rules. And since he's a good guy, that's a good thing. 

The Cafe with No Name - Robert Seethaler

A sweet story of a little cafe in Vienna in the 1960s. Robert, the owner, has a life of its own patterns of candor and resilience when he is not tending to his Cafe with No Name. Mila, his one employee, also has an inner realm of meaning. As these two tend to business, customers and friends come and go and the world changes. A quiet little novel with a poignant tone that carries you through until the end. 

Some Bright Nowhere - Ann Packer

Some Bright Nowhere is a cancer story, a marriage story, and a story of confidence. Eliot has been taking care of his wife Claire who has metastasized lung cancer for nine years. As they reach the end of this journey, their wishes for, and understanding of each other, swirl around them. Eliot questions himself when Claire's friends move in, and their children express themselves. While Claire is the patient, Eliot is the main focus of the story, and he really tries to be a good guy. Death in a close-knit family is a very hard thing, I'm sure every family story is different, this was an interesting take. 

Discontent - Beatriz Serrano

Marisa, the surprising narrator of Beatriz Serrano's debut novel Discontent, is a mid-level manager in an advertising agency in her thirties. Adept at avoiding work and escaping into YouTube videos, Marisa possesses a depth of feeling about her place in the world that is both sad and engaging. She is a woman on the brink who is struggling to find a way to relieve her existential dread. As she teeters between finding connections and dissolving Ativan under her tongue, Marissa tries to breathe. Discontent is laugh-out-loud funny, but also deeply disconcerting. If you enjoyed Ottessa Moshfegh's My Year of Rest and Relaxation, this will be right up your alley.

Wreck - Catherine Newman

Catherine Newman writes somewhat saccharine family stories. Rocky, the main character in two novels, LOVES her family. Joy for her children oozes out of her, she misses her mom, her husband has a lovely warm back, and her elderly dad happily dodders around. It's all a little much. But, she does incorporate humor and pathos that kept me going. I'd pick up another of her books if I was on an airplane for a few hours, otherwise, I think I'll pass. 

Audition - Katie Kitamura

Both novels I've read by Katie Kitamura (Intimacies and Audition) are cool, intellectual, and mesmerizing. There is a distance in her tone, but she deftly draws you into the story. Minimalist and intricate, Audition weaves together family, identity, artifice and theater. The unnamed main character is an accomplished actress. The two sections of the novel radically change our understanding of who is who, bringing into question our own comprehension of those we love. While for some the coolness of her writing may be off-putting, I couldn't put it down.

Among Friends - Hal Ebbott

Among Friends is Hal Ebbott's debut novel. In this story of male friendship, families, and self-worth, Ebbott strives to show us the value in longtime friends, and also the danger of delusion. Emerson and Amos have been friends since college, and Emerson and Claire, Amos' wife, have been friends since childhood. When they gather with their families for Emerson's 52nd birthday, both dark and light are revealed. Ebbott loads his story with metaphor and imagery, making this a lyrical read. As you flow through the realities that must be faced, you are in a timeless world where history and emotion both overwhelm and resolve.