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    Reading Wednesday

    Book Review Isola by Allegra Goodman

    April 1, 2026
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    Isola by Allegra Goodman is a luminous and contemplative novel that explores exile, identity, and the fragile threads that bind people to one another. Here is my book review Isola by Allegra Goodman

    Survival

    Set against the stark beauty of an isolated island, the story follows a young woman cast out from the structures that once defined her life. Goodman’s prose is restrained yet evocative. It captures both the physical austerity of the landscape and the emotional turbulence of her protagonist. The island setting becomes more than a backdrop. It functions as a crucible in which questions of faith, survival, and selfhood are stripped to their essence. This poses a psychological story of human endurance through hunger, heartache, loneliness, and resilience.

    Isolation

    There are quiet and terrifying rhythms of isolation. Goodman’s story builds and places readers clearly in the visual and painful story. The story inhabits the slow passage of time alongside her characters.

    Based on a Real Woman

    Like many of my favorite books, Isola is a fictional tale based on a real woman. Marguerite de La Rocque was an orphaned French noblewoman from the 16th century who endured abandonment.

    Ultimately, Isola is a meditation on what it means to endure—physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Goodman resists easy resolutions, instead offering a nuanced portrait of transformation shaped by hardship. The novel explores themes of friendship, love, abandonment, death, faith and a women’s strength against all odds.

    Book Review Isola by Allegra Goodman

    Thank you for reading my book review Isola by Allegra Goodman. ****Four stars for Isola by Allegra Goodman. See last week’s book review Pick a Color.

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    Isola by Allegra Goodman
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    Reading Wednesday

    Book Review Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout

    March 18, 2026
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    Pulitizer Prize winning novelist Elizabeth Strout is known for her novels with shared characters expertly developed and engaging. Although she has many more books, this is the fourth novel I have read of hers. And per usual Tell Me Everything reintroduces the reader to several of her most loved characters. Here is my book review Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout.

    Unrecorded Lives

    A theme in this book revolves around storytelling, and recognizing “unrecorded lives”. In the small Maine town where everybody knows your name, prominent and aging Olive Kitteridge begins a friendship with writer Lucy Barton. The two get together regularly to talk and Lucy tells Olive stories of people. Exceptional stories of unrecorded lives. Olive, a bit of crumudgion and nosy octogenarian of the town, sees a loneliness in Lucy.

    The Kindness of Bob

    While Olive is considered a little difficult, Bob Burgess is the local good guy. Bob has he lived his life taking the blame for an accident he did not cause, and yet he is always ready to help others. He is also is Lucy Barton’s close friend. The two seem to be headed to a romantic relationship out of shared stories and loneliness. Bob brings groceries every week to a shut- in, helps anyone and everyone who asks, and sits in the pew every week listening to his wife’s sermons in the local church. And yet something is missing in his life.

    A Murder

    Bob is an attorney and he agrees to take on a client who has been accused of murder. Here the novel continues to explore themes of empathy and loneliness, family secrets and love. Strout has a particular way of bringing to light the hidden stories of people in the community. She explores how tragedy and regret from childhood and young adulthood can define lives. She does this in a simple storytelling style through meaningful characters we can identify with.

    Book Review Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout

    I think I was in the right frame of mind for this book, and I enjoyed the most of the books I have read by Elizabeth Strout.

    *****Five stars for Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout

    Thank you for reading my Book Review Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout. Please see last week’s Book Review Her Cold Justice by Robert Dugoni.

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    Reading Wednesday

    Book Review The True True Story of Raja the Gullible by Rabih Alameddine

    March 4, 2026
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    Humorous and poignant, and told in a very funny voice of the protagonist, this unexpected book was one of my favorite reads on a recent travel trip. Here is my book review The True True Story of Raja the Gullible by Rabih Alameddine.

    Sixty Years of Gullible

    Raja tells the story of his life. At 63 he is living with his mother, in a tiny apartment with a dining room table that takes up most of the space. Raja, a philosophy teacher and the “neighborhood homosexual” just wants to live in peace in his sixties. But his 80 year old mother will have none of it. Raja has spent his whole life not really seeing who his mother really is, only that she meddles in his life.

    Family

    Raja despises his greedy brother who takes advantage of their mother. When Raja’s mother is left without a place to live due to his brother’s greedy tendencies, she moves in with Raja. And bring’s her family heirloom gigantic dining room table. Raja’s mother becomes active in neighborhood and Lebanese activism and Raja sees no peace in his future and needs to get away from his mother.

    Unexpected

    When Raja receives an invitation to attend a writing conferecne in the USA he jumps at the chance. But on arrival it doesn’t take long to see something is fishy. Ghosts from Raja’s past appear and he has to flee. Returning to Beirut thanks to his mother enlisting the help of her wealthy activist friend. Only after the death of Raja’s mother will he understand more clearly who she really was.

    Book Review The True True Story of Raja the Gullible by Rabih Alameddine

    Laugh out loud funny, Raja takes us through his sixty years of a life of trauma, drama and his mama, with humor and humility.

    ****Four stars for The True True Story of Raja the Gullible of Rabih Alameddine.

    Thank you for reading my book review The Tue True Story of Raja the Gullible by Rabih Alameddine. See last week’s book review Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood.

    We are always grateful for your pins, shares and comments.

    Book Review The True True Story of Raja the Gullible
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    Reading Wednesday

    Book Review Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood

    February 25, 2026
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    This novel I listened to, a 2024 Booker shortlist, on Audible. I loved it for it’s quiet prose and lovely voice. I wonder if I would have loved it as much if I had read the physical book? But for me it was a much needed book of meaning and empathy during this crazy time in our world. Here is my book review Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood.

    Reflection

    This quiet, contemplative novel is written and read in a direct style. At times it feels like you are intruding on someone’s private journal. The narrator, whose name we never know, has left her life and job in Sydney Australia. She has retreated to a rural religious community. Despite her agnostic beliefs, she finds a new home in the community as she faces her past and her personal grief and despair.

    Stillness

    Throughout the book we meet and begin to understand the Sisters of the commune, and members of the community. We are introduced to one visiting Nun whose presence brings back a flood of regret for our narrator. Though stillness and reflection is a major part of life of the community, daily trials persist. The trials include COVID, a mouse plague, lack of resources, and the sudden reappearance of a murdered and missing nun. This creates meaningful and thoughtful introspection for each resident to deal with grief, faith, forgiveness and the reality of the world we occupy.

    Book Review Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood

    I thought this was a beautiful book and the reader of the Audible version was perfect. It opens a thoughtful narrative of how the difficulties of the world can bring us to our knees. And how stillness can calm the chaos.

    *****Five stars for Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood.

    Thank you for reading my book review Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood. See last week’s book review The Names by Florence Knapp.

    We are always grateful for your pins, shares and comments. Thank you.

    Book Review Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood
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    Reading Wednesday

    Book Review The Names by Florence Knapp

    February 18, 2026
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    Unique plot and storyline, I enjoyed this book very much. Here is my book review The Names by Florence Knapp.

    What’s In a Name?

    Knapp’s debut novel creates a unique and intriguing plot, that explores how the choice of a child’s given name may change the course of his and his family’s life. Spanning 35 years in 7 year increments, The Names will keep your turning the page.

    Bear

    Mother Cora and her 9 year old daughter take the baby to register his name. Abusive father Gordon expects and assumes Cora will name the child Gordon…there really has been no other name considered. But Cora is hesitant. Nine year old Maia suggests the name Bear. She says it’s warm and cuddly but also brave and strong. That night, when Gordon finds out Cora has named the child Bear…someone will die, leaving the survivors behind to deal with the results of that one decision.

    Julian

    In another scenario mother Cora registers her choice of name, Julian, instead of Gordon. She reasons that since the name means Father Sky, Gordon will accept her choice. Julian, born to be an artist, can’t possibly know how this decision will affect the future of the family. And not just the immediate family of four but his grandmother in Ireland as well. But mostly it will affect Cora’s future.

    Gordon

    After years of physical and mental abuse, mother Cora does not go against her husband’s choice of naming their son Gordon. But Cora finds it hard to love this child who carries the name of the man she despises. She is distant and Gordon grows up thinking abuse is normal…despite a nagging feeling something isn’t right.

    Choices

    Each of these stories is told in parallel timelines, following the results of the choice made. The novel explores themes of abuse, decisions, free-will, alcohol, family, sexual persuasion and love. I enjoyed this well done novel. Thanks for reading my book review The Names by Florence Knapp.

    See last week’s book review Heartwood by Amity Gaige.

    ****Four stars for The Names by Florence Knapp.

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    Reading Wednesday

    Book Review Heartwood by Amity Gaige

    February 11, 2026
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    This novel was my choice for my book club for 2026. We each chose one book and this was mine. I chose it because it’s a book that would appeal to a wide range of readers. Here is my book review Heartwood by Amity Gaige.

    Appalachian Trail, Maine

    The setting for this book is beautiful Maine, one of my favorite places in the USA. Gaige beautifully describes the nature of the Appalachian Trail, as we get to know details about missing hiker, 42 year old Valerie Gillis. The search and rescue team looking for Valerie is headed by Game Warden Beverly, who has the auspicious title of the first women to hold this post in Maine.

    Female Leads

    Through out this suspenseful novel the author blends perspectives and story-lines back and forth of three unique women; Valerie the missing hiker and her personal struggles with self, Beverly the Game Warden and her own challenges in her career and personal life, and Lena an elderly women using her computer “friend” to combat loneliness.

    These three women will become connected in a surprising suspenseful thriller in the Maine woods.

    Pieces of the Puzzle

    Without giving too much away, I recommend this novel for it’s interesting setting and character development. Themes of survival, self-confidence, mother/daughter relationships, marriage, career, emotional depth, midlife and the will to live. This is the first novel I have read by Amity Gaige and I found her writing engaging and easy to read.

    Book Review Heartwood by Amity Gaige

    Thank you for reading my book review Heartwood by Amity Gaige. ****+Four and a half stars. See last week’s book review Audition by Katie Kitamura.

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    Reading Wednesday

    Book Review Audition by Katie Kitamura

    February 4, 2026
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    Family dynamics and the truth lead the plot in this uniquely written Booker Short List novel by Katie Kitamura. Here is my Book Review Audition by Katie Kitamura.

    A Puzzle

    Kitamura tells this story in multiple narratives between two characters who drive the plot. It opens in a coffee shop where a well respected actress is dining with a much younger attractive man. The reader is left to ponder what exactly is going on here? When the women’s husband comes into the restaurant, but apparently doesn’t see her, she is left to wonder who is hiding what from who.

    Family Dynamics

    The plot leaves you hanging but eventually it becomes clear that the actress is hiding a secret from her past. Keeping that secret from her husband as well. The young man is possibly her son…but the narrative flips between chapters and the reader is left to figure out what is the truth in this women’s story.

    Book Review Audition Katie Kitamura

    This short novel (only 197 pages) left me flat, but it’s a quick read and some people might enjoy Kitamura’s work. As I mentioned in an earlier review, I am less than enamored by the 2025 Booker Award and shortlisted novels.

    ***Three stars for Audition by Katie Kitamura. See last week’s book review Confessions of a Problem Seeker by Howard Steinberg.

    Thank you for reading my book review Audition by Katie Kitamura. We are so grateful when you comment, pin and share our book reviews.

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