Goodbye Summer
As summer says goodbye and autumn leaves begin to fall, you may be contemplating what book to read while cuddling by the fire this winter. As I write this, I’m in Michigan where there is a chill in the air and leaves really are changing color. It is a beautiful time of year here.
I know those of you in the southwest are still in the triple digits so you may be contemplating what to read while laying by the pool this winter. Regardless of the region, I’m always looking for a good book so I’m sharing a few favorites I read over the summer.
Orphan Train
If you have any experience with child welfare, this is a must read. My daughter, son-in-law, and two grandsons opened their hearts to foster care several years ago. We soon learned that the process causes emotional whiplash for the foster family and those who love them. Caring for abused or neglected children, falling in love with them, then having to say good-bye is not for the weak. It requires immense strength and courage to take on this impassioned task.
Although my daughter’s family faced stories with sad endings, there was a happy outcome to one of them. This past summer, just as I was finishing Orphan Train, two beautiful children were adopted into our family forever.
Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline, touched my heart and soul. In short, it parallels America’s child welfare system during the Great Depression to Foster Care today. Molly Ayer is seventeen, living in a foster home, and well aware that she is about to “age out” of the system. Although pure of heart, Molly makes a poor choice that sentences her to community service.
When Molly first sets to work for an elderly lady as her community service, she feels doomed. Ninety-one year old, Vivian Daly, has lived a respectable and quiet adult life. Molly is assigned to clean her attic and, over time, a secret life is uncovered. Vivian and Molly discover they are very much alike. They form an unbreakable bond that ultimately frees them both from their past.
I recommend this book to anyone (guys too – it’s not just for chicks). But, I especially recommend it for those who work in civil service such as teachers, social workers, police, etc. For me, having seen my daughter’s experience, this book shows parallels that are eye-opening. There are many similarities between child welfare in the 1920s and today. It makes one ponder if times have really changed that much. It also makes one aware that it takes kindness, understanding, and love to really make a difference.
A Man Called Ove
This book may made me laugh and cry, sometimes in the same paragraph. It is a work of art that defines the importance of non-judgment and persistent kindness.
Ove appears to be nothing but a cranky old man. We’ve all met people like that, right? Well, you may look at crotchety old folks very differently after you read this book. As it turns out, there’s a beautiful love story behind his anger and crankiness.
The love story unfolds as Ove’s colorful new neighbors impose on his rigid lifestyle. They burden him consistently, interrupting his desire to end his life. The scenarios are so comical, I often laughed out loud. Then the stories of his wife had me looking for a tissue.
Simultaneous to learning about Ove’s love story, we learn another story of love. Not the kind that ends up in marriage or a baby carriage. But the neighborly kind of love it takes to really learn about a cranky old man.
Frederik Backman’s unique writing style is easy and enjoyable to read. I enjoyed the story so much, I could hardly wait to see the movie. However, I won’t be recommending the movie. It’s a foreign film. Since I already read the book, I didn’t want to read it again in subtitles. I suppose you could choose to read the movie rather than the book. But, I do believe the book is always better.
The Pecan Man
One of my favorite things about The Pecan Man by Cassie Dandridge Selleck, is the fact you can read it in one sitting. It’s a great pick for a Sunday afternoon by the fireplace or a day on the beach in your Tommy Bahama chair. I recently took this book on a week-long group vacation. Four people from our group read it that week and all enjoyed the story.
This is Cassie Dandridge Selleck’s first novel. She tells a beautifully sad story, grasping your attention from the first page. The Pecan Man is an elderly and homeless black man that is hired to mow Ora Lee Beckworth’s lawn.
After a series of tragedies, the Pecan Man is convicted of murder. Though innocent, he pleads guilty and spends the remainder of his life behind bars. Twenty-five years later, Ora Lee Beckworth reveals the truth of the Pecan Man’s false confession.
This book addresses racism and judgment. At the same time, it defines the meaning of friendship and loyalty. The ending will leave you contemplating long after you close the book.
Why Book Reviews?
The title of this blog, I Love Food and Nice People, not only refers to the food that passes our lips. Food for the soul is just as important as what we eat. Books are one of the many things that feed my soul and I plan to fill my archives with great reads for you. In return, I hope you will share some books that have fed your souls as well.
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