Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Perhaps because I entirely missed the epigraph, I mistook the tone of this book for awhile, thinking it was something along the lines of Bridget Jones or some of the other better written books in the genre that I still think of as Chick Lit. I found it engaging and funny, but I still wasn't sure why it had been recommended to our book group. However, once I realized that it had unsuspected depths, and was willing to treat openly of subjects like loneliness and shame, I was hooked. Its two main characters are each engaging in unique ways, and it highlights the importance of simple kindness in our lives in a way that makes us see this virtue with fresh eyes. Some of Eleanor's back story seemed a little obvious, but I'm not sure that the author was all that focused on some big reveal as much as just telling Eleanor's story.

The Chain by Adrian McKinty
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

McKinty's fans will notice that this book shares something in common with many of his other titles. He likes to figure out both plans of attack and plans of escape. He likes to think up situations that seem impossible to solve, and then solve them. In this story however, the villain seems to have come up with the perfect crime. How do you get someone to do the unthinkable? Get someone else to do the unthinkable to them first. In this case, the unthinkable is the kidnapping of a child. If your own child is abducted, how far will you go to get that child safely back?

"The Chain" as this fiendish strategem is called, seems to be unbreakable, and Rachel, our protagonist, is resourceful, but she's not a superhero. She goes to work to save her child, and in the process becomes part of the dark side herself. Although in the screenwriting world, this story is what would be called a 'high concept' work (and it does have 'movie' written all over it), it also takes some passing glances at the deeper sides of human nature and human meaning. What can it really mean to call oneself a good person when in reality we are all vulnerable and thus easily compromised?

In an afterword, McKinty refers back to the dark power chain letters had in the small northern Irish community of his childhood, where the danger of breaking the chain was taken more seriously than it was in, say, my youth. The author witnessed someone take it upon herself to break the chain and it made a lasting impression on him. I have no doubt that the power Rachel ultimately finds in herself derives in no small part from that woman.

One thing I miss in this novel is McKinty's trademark humor, as there is very little to laugh about here. But never fear. Word is that there's a new Sean Duffy coming out in the fall. Good time now then, to catch up on or reread that series.


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From Cold War to Hot Peace: The Inside Story of Russia and America by Michael McFaul


I bought this book originally because at the time of its publication, Vladimir Putin had just suggested that Trump send McFaul over to Russia to be interrogated and Trump didn't immediately denounce this outrageous and frightening idea. I thought buying the book would be a good way to express solidarity with McFaul, but I didn't necessarily think I'd read a lot of it. I did read it through, though. It held my interest because McFaul writes from a unique viewpoint, having worked both in Washington DC as Obama's Russia expert, and then going on to become the U.S. ambassador to Russia. He worked with both the more moderate Medvedev and the autocratic Putin in their positions as Russian president. I have rarely been given such a clear glimpse into the way people inside government think about issues and how many factors come into play in trying to steer the right course, not always successfully.

The Indian Bride by Karin Fossum
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A friend who always pointed reliably to good mysteries recommended this author and I believe even this book to me a long time ago. Somewhere along the way, I snagged a used copy of it, and it has been sitting on my shelf ever since. I threw it into my backpack as I headed out to the airport, but didn't manage to get too far into it on my holiday trip. Initially, I found its premise mildly interesting if somewhat unlikely--a reclusive middle-aged Norwegian man gets it into his head to go to India and find a wife. Surprisingly, he does.

In most cases, I think, this would continue as a cautionary tale about foolish schemes. It is a mystery novel, after all. But that is not where Fossum takes it. Instead she uses what happens to this particular marriage to paint a portrait of a small Norwegian village caught in its wake. My mild initial interest slowly turned into real absorption. I will definitely be reading more of Fossum.

Reposted from GoodReads. I'll add here that there was a nice coincidence while I was reading this book that I also happened upon Geoff Dyer's reflection on reading books that have been sitting on his shelf for too long--or so some might say. You can read it HERE.