#14 The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

#14 The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney

After hearing about this novel from so many people, I felt compelled to buy this book just to feel in the literary loop. 

The Nest follows Leo Plumb, the handsome and charming eldest brother of Jack, Beatrice and Melody. When Leo becomes embroiled in a unsavory situation, the family trust fund is put in jeopardy.  Through his accident and high profile divorce Leo’s siblings, who have counted on the money to fund their futures, are left with virtually nothing and are forced to preserve the wreck of their lives. Grappling with the consequences of their privileged upbringing, each of the Plumb’s must face their often poor life choices and their presumptions about their future. They find themselves scrambling to cover their tracks, which lead each of them to a deeper understanding of themselves and each other. Yet despite the back-stabbing and devious behavior, I found myself caring about the characters and hoping everything would turn out alright for this dysfunctional family. 

This is a fast-paced novel filled with razor sharp wit that you will not want to put down.  It shines a spotlight on family dirt in a delightfully venomous way while at the same time revealing our human frailties with compassion and remarkable insight. Until next time…have you read a book today?

Julie

#13 Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen

#13 Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen

I found this book in the discount bin at my local bookstore and after reading the jacket, was intrigued to read a story about one of America’s most famous authors.

Frances Osgood is a poetess in 1845. Abandoned by her painter husband, she is forced to support her girls through her writing.  Frances is introduced to Mr. Poe at a literary gathering at a time when his poem “The Raven” is all the rage. They begin a professional relationship where he kindly encourages her to take risks in her writing which yields some published works in local newspapers.   In addition to his own writing, Mr. Poe also reviews the work of other authors, often scathingly, yet he delivers glowing reviews of Frances’s poems leading to much speculation as to the true nature of their relationship.  Naturally the speculation is true and their relationship turns into something more; an illicit love affair of hushed words, secret meetings and love poems to each other published in a journal for all the world to read.

What complicates their love affair is the fact that they are both married. Despite her husband abandoning her, divorce is not an option as she would automatically lose custody of her children as was the norms of the day.  By the time Poe meets Frances, he has been married 10 years to Virginia, a cousin who was 13 when they married…which is gross at any period in time! Now a woman in frail health and not often in society, Mrs. Poe’s fragility allows Frances and Poe’s relationship to blossom. Despite her naiveté, Virginia learns of their relationship and through a series of dark and twisted events, Frances becomes convinced that her life is in jeopardy.

I enjoy reading period pieces because they give us a glimpse back in time. Through the lens of the present, we may view them as old-fashioned or quaint and perhaps, in some ways they are; reminding us of simpler times when manners mattered and people’s behavior was predictable.   But I always find something of relevance; a paragraph or even just one line that practically screams through the centuries, still ringing true today. On page 102 there is an exchange between Frances and Edgar early in their relationship at a time when she begins to see him as a kindred spirit. She says, “How quickly the world changes, yet we are so busy trying to live that we don’t notice it.” To which he replies, “And yet it doesn’t change quickly enough.”  I would argue the same is still true. And on that note, dear reader…have you read a book today?

Julie

#12 Ed Sheeran A Visual Journal by Ed Sheeran and Phillip Butah

#12 Ed Sheeran A Visual Journal by Ed Sheeran & Phillip Butah

I don’t presume to know your likes and interests, dear reader. What I do know is that if you’re reading this blog, you must enjoy reading books and are perhaps looking to read something new, a book you won’t regret spending your hard earned money on. I enjoy music.  I teach elementary music by day and try to have fun making music by night. As a musician, I do tend to gravitate toward musical memoirs to which I seem to be on a bit of a kick lately (having just reviewed Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run) and I have a few more memoirs waiting to be read. 

I bought this book for my daughter for Christmas a while back due to her enjoyment of Ed Sheeran’s music and her love of artwork. His memoir is very easy to read and describes his life, how he learned music and his early influences leading to the artist we know and love today.  I always enjoy learning about how an artist gets their start, the struggles they’ve encountered learning their craft and the journey they’ve had getting to where they are now. Ed writes in a very casual, straight forward way giving the reader a sense of the man himself. He seems like the kind of guy you can share a pint with at a local pub, completely lacking the snobbery of the unapproachable hyper-famed stars of today.

All the artwork, with the exception of the photographs (which were supplied by Ed and his family) is by Phillip Butah. An extremely talented artist, his images are rendered in a variety of mediums: ink, colored as well as black & white pastel, watercolor, wax pencils and graphite. While some became cover art used for Ed’s albums, majority of the art captures Ed throughout the years by Phillip who is a family friend and artist represented by his parents. Music and Art. The best of friends. Until next time...have you read a book today?

Julie