Blessings by Anna Quindlen

A novel that takes you back and forth in time with the characters that can sometimes be hard to follow.  The basis of the story pulls you in and makes you wonder what could possibly happen.  Quindlen made the characters very rich and likable, even in the roughness and coldness of some.  Everything folded together in a way that flowed beautifully and made for a deep story that left me with some questions but also a satisfaction that things work out one way or another.  I am curious to see what some of her other books are like.

A Cat Named Brat by Lydia Adamson

This book I picked up at a marina and it was a fun, quick read.  I am always a sucker for a murder mystery and this one had several layers that lead you on a goose chase right up to the end.  The main character, Alice, is a cat person and gets involved in the mystery.  She is one of those characters that seems to stick her nose in where it shouldn't be, but does not get in much trouble.  There are colorful characters that work well and you get to know just enough.  This is just one of those books that if you want to get lost in a quick mystery for several hours that does not require much thinking, this is just right.

Megan's Way by Melissa Foster

A wonderful story about family and friends having to deal with the death of a key woman in their lives.  It was a bit hard to read at the time since my grandmother had just died, so reading about death and loss was difficult.  For a difficult subject it was beautifully put together and I could feel all of the emotions.  I was pulled in and made to laugh and cry.  Death is never easy to deal with and we always question the relationship and things that we did and did not do.  Foster did a great job and if you want to experience raw emotions put together so eloquently I highly recommend this novel.

The Crimson Rooms by Catherine McMahon

This took place in the early 20th century in England.  Women did not have much going for them and this was about a female lawyer and how she was trying to make a go of it.  It was post war and there were the layers of that being worked through with her and her family.  Then there was a surprise from overseas that rocks the whole family.  It did have a lot going on but I do not think that anything was glossed over or poorly portrayed.  The building of the characters and how they worked together had very good flow and I can say that I really saw them, which does not always happen for me.  I will probably pick up more of her books if I do see them.

the photograph by Penelope Lively

I found this book to be very unsettling.  It follows several people who are dealing with a new piece of information about a loved one who has died.  The questions that arise about what they knew of her and who she was made them question every little thing about her.  Would going over every last thing make a difference?  Does it change anything?  I would like to think for myself that I would let the past be the past and remember what I wanted to and not let things taint that.  I just felt very uncomfortable reading the book.