Cathy's Top 5 of 2022
The urgency of the opening chapters is breathtaking, and then the source of it is laid bare: this is the imagined not-so-distant future resulting from the chaos and painful transformational change similar to what we’re going through right now in our world. The young man, the dog and the older woman at the center of the story are trying to survive in a world on fire, one burning to the ground with fire and hatred. Each choice they make – big and small – may cost them their lives, or someone else’s. A haunting story, one that makes you really think about the trajectory of our collective lives. I couldn't put it down!
What starts out as a Margie-begins-her-life-anew-with-her-successful-BBQ-venture-and-meets-man-of-her-dreams tale turns into a deeper and challenging story of one woman’s journey to hell and back. Domestic violence, murder, a powerful and corrupt local family, an unwanted pregnancy, and despair threaten to turn this story into a complete tragedy. But through the kindness of friends and savvy lawyers who care, and the grit and resilience of Margie, along with her very vulnerability, the story rises, filled again with hope and trust that good can indeed overcome the bad. You’ll be rooting for Margie all the way!
I LOVED this book! I want Cara Reynoso to be my next door neighbor and friend! Feisty, caring, funny and resourceful, she values the small things in life: sharing a cup of coffee, helping a neighbor with her children, overlooking a friend’s character flaws, and many other things. Oh, she’s far from perfect, and she “steps in it” just like most of us, which makes me like her more. Cara’s immigrant experience (to the US from the Dominican Republic) enriches her storytelling and her humor makes you laugh while making a point. I enjoyed the audio version of this book. The reader made the language so alive and Cara so believable! A delight to listen to! One of my favorites this year!
Vivian tries to live her dream of becoming a star through her three daughters, who’ve become a local sensation as a singing trio. She’s spent years training them vigorously on the roof top of her home and booking performances at nearby venues, when one day she gets a promising offer that could change their lives. But the girls have dreams of their own, and one by one each unfolds, threatening the vision Vivian has built for them all. At the same time, and the neighborhood is about to change as developers descend on Vivian’s community to buy up homes and business properties. Set in 1950’s San Francisco, I enjoyed this family drama and each member’s search for individual fulfillment, in the midst of their collective struggle to keep their community together. Intimate, emotional – a pleasure to read!
Life in the US has changed, and not for the better. 12-year-old Bird lives with his father, their lives a bit dull and routine, especially after Bird's mother left - a few years ago for reasons he does not know. One day he receives a letter with drawings of cats, no words, and he's certain it's a message from his mom. This sparks Bird's quest to discover the truth about his mom, and about the broken world and what we can do to make life better. These past few years with the pandemic and all the social and political upheaval we've experienced make this story relatable and disturbing. Bird, though, makes it magical and hopeful!