Book Review: Said the Dead by Doireann Ni Ghriofa

 

This book is a treasure.  It is an excellent combination of an interesting topic, brilliant writing, and clever imagination. 

In this mixed genre book readers experience something magical- part memoir, part history and part imaginative fiction, this mash up works to transport a reader across decades. 

In Cork, Ireland, a derelict Victorian mental hospital is being converted into modern apartments. Our writer, calling themselves "the reader" throughout, is inexplicably drawn to this building and it's history. 

The building itself seems to have called to her. 

Our modern reader takes on a task to discover what she can about the buildings inhabitants, the residents, workers and physicians all come under her careful scrutiny.  No stone is left unturned to discover the voices of these people- previously unheard. In this way, the inhabitants of this building are laid to rest as a new generation and building take over. 

The reader continues to live in the modern world, but is increasingly also "in" this Victorian timeframe, experiencing the daily lives of the mental hospital. 

The lines between past and present seem blurred, and as a reader myself, I did start to question the sanity

of "the reader" 

The reader does indeed follow the threads of existence to the very end, to give closure to all of us readers, and perhaps herself. 

      I had an advanced copy of this on Audio- as well as an Electronic version, and I read the entire thing immersively.  Highly recommend.  The audio is narrated by the author, so every phrase, and every inflection seem so pointed and perfect allowing a certain atmosphere to be created.  The print novel has actual photos from this asylum, which further immerse readers, and helped me to understand exactly how "the reader" could be so drawn to these persons, long dead, who spoke to her through history, photos and the barest of physical artifacts found at the demolition site! 

 

I did not expect to love this book, but by the end I was entranced.  This one is a must read. 

It asks focus and attention from the reader, but the reward is immense! 

Vibes alone- 5 stars! 

First Published :  9/2/26

Pages: 368

Available as an Audio Book :  Yes  ~ 9 hr 

Trigger Warnings: Death, misogyny, Irish politics, mistreatment, mental health,  (this is not a full list, read responsibly)

Book Review: Dinner with an Astronaut by Leroy Chiao (with Victoria Bruce)

 

If you are following along with me in 2026, you know, I chose Outer Space as a reading theme for this year! I have been straying into some Science Fiction that isn't really space related, and several other genres as I've been offered various reading options.  So, when I saw this book listed on Net Galley, I jumped with joy!  I was even more excited because it was an audio copy, which is always helpful for me with my eye issues.

With this very appealing cover, I was so ready to dive into this one. Leroy notes he is the first "full blooded Chinese" person to go to Space, (his words- not mine!) and his experiences are fascinating. 

   The format of the book is meant to feel as if one is enjoying a meal with Leroy and he's answering some questions that most space enthusiasts have. As the audio is also read by Leroy himself, it has a bit of a homey feel. For me it felt as if I was experiencing one of those  "story worth"  creations where families choose prompts for their loved ones and create their own memoirs.  The main difference of course, is that Leroy has massively interesting stories about going to Space, doing Space Walks, and working with Russian and Chinese Astronauts. 

   I feel like the audio production could have leaned into this some more with an additional narrator to ask the questions and possibly even add in commentary, but- it might have been hard to do that without it drifting into the hokey category. As it is, the audiobook is an effortless read/listen that moved along with perfect pacing. 

    This is a good one for adults and kids to listen to together. Leroy covers his early childhood passions for planes and rockets, his education choices that lead to his astronaut candidacy and qualifications, and his training and missions as an astronaut. He has a lot of "flying" time, and EVA (Extra-vehicular activity) time in Outer Space, and so brings a great perspective - having experienced NASA through several iterations.  Also a good choice for book clubs, and readers who want to include some non-fiction in their reading diet. 

This comes out June 16, and would be a fun one for family listening if you are taking a road trip this year!

First Published :  6/16/2026

Pages: 256

Available as an Audio Book :  yes ~ 8-9 hrs

Trigger Warnings:   discussion of various space missions that resulted in deaths, alcohol use, marital issues, mention of some controversial political figures (this is not a full list, read responsibly)

   

Book Review: Child of the Dream by Sharon Robinson

 I picked up this short memoir from my library.  I was attracted to the cover and I was curious about a memoir by Sharon Robinson, child of Jackie Robinson. 

A joke was definitely had at my expense because I read about half of the book, when I started to think... this is "sort of YA".  I felt like things were VERY concrete, and that the entire nuance involving the Civil Rights Movement wasn't being addressed.  I looked around a bit and discovered, LO AND BEHOLD.  It is a book intended for young adult audiences. 

  I think this is a book that a lot of school libraries would like to have on their shelves. Sharon tells the story of her year, going to her first dances, figuring out how she can raise awareness of the Civil Rights movement in her school and beyond, attending her first sleep away camp, and getting her first kiss. She tells the story in a matter of fact way, that was very approachable and relatable.  

As an adult, I did feel that it lacked a certain nuance.  For a young reader, however, it presented facts and events in a natural way, as they interspersed with Sharon's day to day life during that year.  As Sharon was the child of a celebrity, her life was not the norm, and I enjoyed learning about her father's efforts and interactions with Civil Rights Giants. 

Do I recommend this book?  I DO, for the 11-14 yr old crowd. Not for an adult. It would be a good one for a tween book club. 

STATS

First Published :  2020

Pages: 320

Available as an Audio Book :  YES (~5 hrs) 

Trigger Warnings: violence, references to historical past, racism (this is not a full list, read responsibly)

Book Review: The Many Lives of Mama Love By Lara Love Hardin

 So this may be my one "Hot Take Review" 

This is a well written book, with a compelling and interesting narrative. Many people find it worth reading and many people say that it is inspirational and enlightening.  I'm not one of those people. 

I found it to be sort of... not enlightening. nor inspiring.  in fact, this reminded me, oddly of the book "Careless people"  as this story is the epitome of someone who lacks self awareness about the way they move through the world 

 Lara Love Hardin was a middle class woman, living in a middle class neighborhood with a middle class education, and family. She notes that she started taking prescription pills due to feeling awkward and unwelcome at an extended family gathering. This spiraled into using heroin, and stealing from strangers and neighbors to do so, all while raising several children, including an almost 4 year old child.  She intentionally stole, and cheated her way through while putting her children at risk.   I think the moment I became unengaged was the moment when I realized she and her husband were actively using drugs in their suburban home with their child present. After reading some more, I realized that she never seemed to really grasp that she was extremely neglectful and dangerous to her child. For whatever reason, that was it for me. What's kind of odd about this is that I don't even particularly like children. 

Lara eventually went to jail and recounts becoming "Mama Love" in jail and helping other inmates with her amazing writing and leadership skills. Given that she had a Master's Degree when she was arrested I would hope she would have some skills.  Once arrested, she became very concerned that her child needed her- but really her child needed an environment with adults who were clear headed enough to supervise a child, focus on a child's needs etc.  She spends a lot of time discussing how she missed her children's life experiences while she was in jail, but never quite grasps that prior to her incarceration, she was already missing her children's lives- because her life was revolving around obtaining money for drugs. She is proud she attended PTA meetings, and volunteered at events, but I suspect her kids all knew she had a problem.  She notes that her older ones had started to stay at their father's home because indeed, she was not providing meals regularly or helping them get to school on time. So while she paints herself as a PTA soccer mom, it's clear that this wasn't quite what was going on. For her, the intense realization that her children needed her seemed to only apply to when she was physically separated from them, not the fact that she was using drugs so heavily that she was clearly not as present mentally as she might have been physically. 

  Once out of prison, she discovered that life is difficult for someone with a felony record and eventually was extremely lucky to find employment with someone who didn't do a background check. From this, she was able to evolve, have a third marriage, and become a literary superstar.  I do appreciate that she has used that platform to discuss prison reform.  Her discussion of her third marriage where she casually says she couldn't pretend to be interested in her third husband's work  (which was standard work, and not at all glamorous) shows again that lack of depth of understanding. Her husband didn't want her to be into his tradecraft, he just wanted her to be interested in HIM, how he experienced his world, his reactions to things, the day to day things that we all experience. I feel Lara Love Hardin is one person who would fail "the bird test".  I hope that man found the love he clearly deserves. 

She's a great writer.  Unfortunately for me, her entire story still fell flat.  I just could never quite relate to her situation and the casual way she states that she doesn't understand why people disliked her so passionately after she stole "only about 500 dollars" from them, sort of baffles me. She's unhappy that the legal system made it difficult for her to rent a home, or get a job.   While she is clearly now a very successful person, and her children are "fine" per her own report- I found myself very uninterested in the story of how this average white lady ended up in prison for crimes she was guilty of committing, and discovered that jail is bad, neglecting your kids to do drugs is ill-advised, and that not everyone is going to be interested in being your buddy after you lie cheat and swindle them.  

For the multitude of white ladies (and Oprah) who were captivated by this story,  I think I'd recommend reading a story that Lara Love Hardin Co-wrote which was a heck of a lot more powerful, and does demonstrate strength and resilience.  And that would be:

The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life, Freedom, and Justice  by Anthony Ray Hinton. 

Another choice might be:  Witness: An Insider’s Narrative of the Carceral State by Lyle C. May

So folks, this one wasn't for me. 

Sure it's well written and interesting, but when I see reviews talking about this person's strength and resilience to "go through what she went through" I note that the really strong folks are people who manage the day to day life challenges - like having dinner with your soon to be in-laws- without turning to the percocets or heroin. Those folks out there just raw dogging their lives, being present, and keeping things real  for their families.  I suspect a lot of the "resilience" commentary is coming from people who do recognize themselves in the author. They might have a harder time relating to Anthony Ray Hinton, but a self proclaimed "soccer mom" is definitely relatable. Though, her description of herself as having it together is her description, I suspect people knew long before her arrest that something wasn't quite right. 

I'm a little sad this is the last book I read all year, hopefully I can finish one off today on a higher note. 

STATS

First Published :

Pages: 336

Available as an Audio Book : Yes!

Trigger Warnings: child endangerment, prison drug use, alcohol use. Not a full list - please read responsibly

How are those reading goals coming along?

 So, It's already Mid-November, and I am sitting here, bewildered at how it seems like it was just August. How are your reading goals going?  Did you want to read more books in translation? Dip in poetry?  Read a little more non-fiction? Are you short the number of books on your goal?  No worries! I've got help for you! Many of my recommendations are parts of series of short novels, so if you find something you like- there's likely more where that came from! 

But first, let me digress- and explain - if you've fallen behind on a reading goal- I ENTIRELY UNDERSTAND!

For me, this year has been a whirlwind. 

Earlier this year, my company was bought out by another, and while they assured me my job was "safe" I noted that there were some definite changes, and some very smart people, moving strategically elsewhere. Other changes in benefits, and a new very top down management style just weren't my thing.  So, I started looking. I didn't intend to be looking for another job, but the world is a changing place, and we do sometimes need to reinvent ourselves. 

I will say the job market currently is not a kind place, and especially for those like myself- with a very niche skill set and above the age of 30. While employers want decades of experience, they seem to still want someone who is too young to have those decades of experience!  So, most of this year was spent doing loads of interviews. With the help of strong references from former employers,  I finally was offered - strangely- a pretty ideal position, with improved pay and benefits, what appears to be a great leadership team  and  a 15 minute commute-- doing exactly what I'm trained to do. 

After that process, I will freely say, I  AM TIRED.  Until that offer became super solid, I had NO IDEA the amount of stress my body was holding.  So I wish anyone searching for employment, the best of luck and connections. I start that job next week and I will have to be "On" all the time so who knows what will happen! 

   That said, some weeks, I barely read at all because I was pre-occupied. If you have had a few weeks like that- maybe you're behind on your reading goals? 

Here are some great short options that check a lot of boxes! 

Georges Simenon is a master at creating immersive novels with short prose. 

I recommend any of his Maigret novels. For me, I was introduced to these by my Dad and devoured the entire series while in-between work assignments one summer. 

Read these if you want:

-a shorter novel

-Mystery genre

-books in translation

-Novels from the 1930's-1940's (and more) decade

Going WAAAY Back- I recommend Basho. 

Basho- born Matsuo Kinsaku is well know as a Haiku Master from the 17th century. 

One of my favorite editions of his work is The Narrow road to the Deep North and Other Travel Sketches 

  

Read this if you want:

-a short book (176 pages) 

-Book from a different century

-Book in translation

-Poetry 

Looking for Non-Fiction?  Look no further than the Object Lessons series! 

I read metronome earlier this year and it was a fascinating read about how the metronome, a seemingly bland tool in a musicians box shaped the way music was performed! 

Read this for: 

- A brief Non-fiction read (184 pages) 

-Non-fiction! 

-If the metronome isn't for you- the Object lessons series is a delightful series which includes other unassuming objects like lipstick, Taco, Snack, and Concrete, you'll be sure to find something to pique your interest. They are all a similar length and so interesting. 

If you just want something to make you forget the world we are currently living in- I really recommend Ruby Dixon. She has multiple Novellas most featuring space aliens or  various other out of this world characters.  There's nothing too serious, it all takes place in an unknown jungle planet, with no dire parallels to real life. 

 

Read this if you are:

 -Looking for escapism

-short novel (77 pages) 

-Looking for vampires

-Looking for romance

-Looking for some "spice" 

-Looking for a Happy ending! 

If you'd like something more serious- perhaps a classic? maybe a classic that isn't one that you were supposed to read in high school? 

Passing by Nella Larsen is a semi-autobiographical novella,  coming in at about 141 pages.  A mixed race woman decides to live her adult life as a white person. This novella looks at race and culture from several perspectives. 

Read this for:

 A book from decades past (1920's)

A short classic (141 pages) 

Diverse author and topic. 

  I've got a few more recommendations-  but I think these 5 are great to start.  All of these authors have other works of a Short nature, so if you find one you like, you know there's more where that one came from. 

 Happy Reading! 

Book Review: An Owl on Every Post by Sanora Babb

 If you ever wanted to read a book about survival in adverse circumstances, this would be one I'd recommend. 

   I am a HUGE fan of Babb.  Her work Whose Names are Unknown should get more readership and praise, and it was overshadowed by The (also excellent) Grapes of Wrath. Given that Steinbeck is such a fantastic writer, that's no problem, but it is kind of ironic that it's well known that Steinbeck used Babb's field notes while writing his classic- and didn't give her any credit.... 

  For me, I personally think both are fantastic novels, and should be taught in conjunction.  They have different styles and approaches to the topic and compare marvellously. 

But I'm here today to talk about an Owl on Every Post, Babb's autobiographical work about growing up in a one room dugout -- farming broomcorn.  This was a definite poverty situation, with 5 people living in a one room home that was basically dirt.  Here's a link to what this might have looked like. 

An Owl on Every Post is considered "YA"  which I find, very strange.  It is ABOUT a young girl, growing up on the plains, but the topics, are really also appropriate for adults.  After all, we were all aged 7 at one time. This is a coming of age memoir, but not one  where Babb grapples with maturity or the challenges as such, in fact, I think she just happens to grow up in the pages of the book.  In that way, it seems less YA than many YA novels that are written to address that time of life.  Rather, Babb is describing her time of life. There's no romanticizing the harsh winters, or lack of food at times, nor the sometimes challenging isolation of the way of life chosen by her father, but there is a deep thread of resilience throughout. The writing itself is perfection- it's not flowery, or overly descriptive, but each word paints the perfect picture, and for me, I felt as if I was right there, in almost every moment. 

This book also would make a good gift for a reader you are unsure about. It's interesting, well paced and written, and doesn't moralize. Let me know if you pick this one up! 

First Published :1970

Pages: 266

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: medical situations,  poverty, hunger, child death, snakes, animal ghosts.

    Not a full TW list, please read responsibly.   

Book Review: Up Home - One Girl's Journey By Ruth J. Simmons

 I picked this up on Audio from the library as a "Skip the Line Loan"  Available for 7 days only, so I did have to prioritize it and speed right through it. 

 This is a non -fiction memoir written by the author, describing how she was born the child of Texas Sharecroppers and went on to become the President of Smith College and Brown University. 

For me, this was interesting and educative, but as far as a piece of reading- it fell a little flat. The subject matter is so important that I can forgive it for not being an extremely engaging read. In it's favor- it is written in plain language, and follows Ruth's life in a very easy to digest linear fashion (I don't really like books that jump around in time, so this was very nice) and I can see it being easily read by young adults to old adults.  Not in it's favor- the book itself has sort of the same timbre (if you will) throughout. Simmons was  involved in several pivotal moments in time encompassing the rural sharecropping life, the end of segregation in the South, and the Civil Rights movement. These events are described in the novel in the same tone and timbre as descriptions of what was eaten for breakfast.  I do get the feeling though - that part of Simmons life success is because she isn't prone to drama (unlike her teen years!) and faces things with a practical and matter of fact approach. 

   Definitely recommend- especially for older students in conjunction with American History classes, and for folks interested in learning more about how things were over time in the American South.  I do feel like I learned quite a bit from reading about and learning from her experiences. 

First Published : 1/2025

Pages: 224

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: Racism, Domestic Violence, poverty, Sexism, Parental death, Medical situations. 

Not a full TW list, please read responsibly. 

Book Review: The Grave Robber by Tim Carpenter

 I have not read much non-fiction this year.  Frankly, I've started a lot of Non-fiction and DNF'd it.  Ask me about the "Biography of Water"  (or maybe, just don't). 

  I saw Tim Carpenter's book (in audio) on Net Galley and hesitated. I have a lot of galleys at the moment, but honestly a book about the FBI and Art Crime? I finally just decided to give it a go. I'm so glad I did.  I honestly didn't even know an "Art Crime" division of the FBI existed and now I'm quite jealous of that career. (kinda sorta).  It's definitely not something I immediately associate with the FBI. Carpenter makes a great case for the critical importance of solving crimes involving art.  

Without any spoilers- even though it's non-fiction one can still spoil a book... Carpenter gives us the story of an unlikely FBI case where he and his team worked to assess, process and repatriate thousands of artifacts and remains which had all been collected by a single "collector" over decades. Much of the items were Native American, but Carpenter notes items from multiple other countries including Haiti and China. This wasn't a case of a few small items but instead an entire compound of displays tucked away on a mid-western farmstead.  You can read more on the case outside of this novel Here. Even though this was major news, I really don't recall it. 

Carpenter tells the story of first discovering this trove of mostly illegal items, to building the case, and the careful execution of recovery and repatriation of these artifacts and remains. An excellent book for book clubs, and students the narrative raises questions about collectors, collections, cultural nuance, and cultural rights. 

I loved it.  It was an easy listen and held my interest all the way through. There are some moments where Carpenter strays away from the point and then, 45 minutes later returns to the point, but, he's not a professional author and it didn't detract from my enjoyment. This is slated to come out in October and I'm hoping to bring it to my book club!  This would also make a great gift for the non-fiction reader in your life who's interested in true crime, police procedurals, and the rights of indigenous peoples. 

First Published : 10/2025

Pages: 320

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: violent events, true crime, illness of child, mention of pandemic. 

Not a full TW list, please read responsibly. 

Book Review: The Color of Water By James McBride 4.5/5 stars

 James McBride is a household name after his Absolute Banger - The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store. 

In 2024 this book was everywhere, and I wanted to read it and also didn't want to read it, so in the end, it being in very high library demand, I never picked it up.  I'm imaging I'll find it at my lovely used store soon enough because so many copies were sold, it's going to drop in there soon.   

But, as I am reading on my 2025 Water Theme, I did decide to pick up The Color of Water: A black man's tribute to his white mother.  To be honest, I wasn't sure I was going to like this book. 

But, my water theme demands I pick things up that don't seem to be exactly my style. In this case, I am so glad that I did. The one message that I took away from this novel is that, despite what people say about the 1930's, 1940's and 1950's in America, things really were not exactly as orderly and homogenized as people would like to believe. 

McBride's Mother, an immigrant, grew up in a strict household. She left, married two different black men, had 12 children and raised them in a chaotic world.  Reading this in 2025 it's easy to sort of "move the timeline" especially because of the dual timeline.  The James timeline is that of the 1960's-1970's and beyond while Ruth's timeline starts way back in the 1930's. So sometimes it's easy to think of Ruth's life as mostly happening around say 1974 - when the world was a more tolerant place than it was before and would be after. 

We are generally taught - in the US-  that things like inter-racial marriage, and 12 children wasn't really something happening in the 1940's and 1950's but reading from Ruth's story it's obvious that while she stood out, she knew several other people in similar relationships/families.  So, I love that this book really shows this as not an unusual phenomena, but something that did occur occasionally (more frequently than textbooks or advertising from the times show), despite it being risky and difficult. Ruth was a brave woman, just by existing every day with her family.  

There is more to this story than just that, but I think it's one that gives different things to different people, and that for every reader there's areas that are so relatable and meaningful and others that slide by- like water in a stream. And for me, what really stood out was the time frame for Ruth's life and how she really did take the harder road and had no real regrets about that.  

Did I enjoy it, yes! I thought it was worth my reading time, and I really did enjoy especially Ruth's timeline. Do I recommend it, also Yes. Will it be one of my top ten reads? Not that likely despite it being a good piece of writing, and very impactful, I suspect it will fall into one of those books I recommend, but didn't love with my whole chest. This is likely because it was just too real, and reminds me that we're still a society working on itself.  This is a great book for book clubs, classes, and event that want to generate discussion. 

STATS

First Published : 1995

Pages: 336

Available as an Audio Book : YES 

Trigger Warnings: parent death, child death, SA, child abuse, racism, poverty, 

As always - this is not a complete list, read responsibly! 

  

Book Review Black Water, by David Robertson 3.5/5 Stars

   Continuing with my 2025 theme of Water- I read Black Water- Family, legacy and Blood memory  by David A Robertson.  

This was not a light recollection of the childhood of a Cree man in Canada. It was an award winner and best seller but I did find it a bit difficult to get through, likely a me problem, more than an author problem. 

  I was fascinated by the story to start with. David is the son of a Cree father and a white mother. For unknown reasons, the Cree side of his heritage was never discussed, so much so that when questioned about his ethnicity- he entirely denied being "indian"  and had no real feeling that he was Indigenous, despite having apparently a typical Cree appearance which was noticed (and commented one) by folks around him.  

       Robertson tells essentially a dual memoir, one of his father, a man who grew up on a reservation, and became a pastor and academic leader in Indigenous education, and one of himself, a man who grew up with a largely absent father  and no awareness of his own roots. 

   Robertson does not flinch away from the many truths about his life, and the lives of Indigenous people in Canada. He's able to pull in so much material and relate it to his life, but also the outer world around us. While he mourns not growing up more aware of his Cree heritage, he understands that growing up with more knowledge doesn't mean that his life would have been "easier"  or "better", just different.  Although in the writing, I can see that he does clearly believe that not knowing did cause some unspoken trauma, which may have lead to some mental health concerns. 

   Robertson is given a new chance to really get to know his Dad, when he re-enters their lives more fully, and he takes full advantage of this, as he and his Dad visit Dad's old home, and David records hours of memories, from not only his Dad but other relatives and friends, and becomes familiar with the people and the land his Dad grew up on - David anchors himself a bit to the land, and it's fascinating to read as things come full circle, David has his own family and chooses a very different path for his children who are growing up fully aware of their heritage. 

    I wasn't swept away by this book. I don't believe that was the point of the book, I feel the author wanted to raise awareness and generate discussion. I definitely might put this one forward as a Book Club book!   For me - I felt like the author didn't entirely commit and sort of danced around a few topics - which I felt perhaps he hadn't completely resolved for himself, but of course, he's still living, and aren't we all experiencing, adjusting and changing our minds as we continue on our life journey.  At the same time that I wasn't swept away,  I recognized it as an important piece of writing, that offers thoughts on belonging, identity, generational trauma, family, racism, internalized racism, and more.  I also recognized that the work done on this book, the research etc, likely informed Robertson's The Theory of Crows published 2 years later. 

I did read this via Audiobook  and it is narrator by the author. I will say the author has a bit of a reedy quality to his voice, and POSSIBLY I might have enjoyed this more with different voice, but when a book is narrated by the author, you know you're getting the whole she-bang so to speak, so, maybe if I were doing it again, I'd read the book in print. 

STATS

First Published 2020

Pages: 288

Available as an Audio Book : YES

Trigger Warnings:  Racism, Mental health discussion, 

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)

Book Review: Wave by Sonali Deraniyagala 4.5/5 Stars

 

 Wow!  this was such a surprise!  The fact that I was surprised, was really all my own issue. I was happily adding all sorts of water/ocean/lake/river and pond books to my list and the Librarian suggested this short memoir, Wave.  I started it entirely blind, and was not entirely prepared for the depth and sorrow communicated within. We often think of water in terms of warm baths, sun-kissed beach days, or a storm, viewed from indoors with a cozy cup of tea, but Wave reminds us that water can be wild, dangerous and changemaking. 

Lest anyone feel they might want to jump in unawares, I'll note that this is a beautiful memoir told by a woman who - with almost no warning- lost much of her family to the historic tsunami in Sri Lanka in 2004. This is a story of grief, loss of parents, children and partners. It is, however, also a story of recovery and new beginnings. 

Deraniyagala tells her story of loss, grief and recovery with a direct and unapologetic prose that is so welcome, as it is a difficult story to absorb, without any added literary "flair" 

   She highlights the capriciousness of both nature and life, and gives the reader a clear view of the many pieces of grief- the good (where she is able to connect with old friends and memories), the bad (when she decides to haunt the renters of a former home)  and the healing (moving on to a new environment and taking her memories with her, rather than escaping them).

   This is a worthy read as we have all experienced loss and grief. Deraniyagala- an Economist by trade- allows us in to experience a "worst things imagined" real life situation, and in a way, she shows us all that there is a way out and forward, even if it isn't straightforward, or clear.  I didn't feel a "Happy ever ending"- but I did have a sense of satisfaction and peace at the conclusion. 

    

STATS:

First Published: 2013

Pages: 256

Available as an Audiobook: YES

Trigger warnings: Child loss, Partner loss, Parent loss, alcohol use, depression , natural disaster

 Have you read this book? Do you have another similar book you'd recommend? Let me know in the comments!