The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
One cannot deny the beauty of Verghese's writing- lyrical, and engaging.
This is an epic story with multiple threads that he brings together in the end. But it is somber with several deaths, a dearth of joyful moments, and very long.
I strongly suggest reading the notes at the end before you read the book in order to appreciate the many cultural, historical, and literary references.
A-
All The Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby
I must confess that I am a huge fan of Cosby. His stories are set in rural Virginia and contain a lot of violence as befits his genre of "Southern noir".
But his talent is inescapable. His personal story is notable as well https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/05/books/s-a-cosby-razorblade-tears-crime-novelist.html
A
Such Kindness by Andre Dubus III
How do you regain your self-worth when you have lost everything of meaning? This is what our protagonist is working for -desperately. There is no exultant breakthrough in this tale, just a slow build to acceptance of what life is and how we must carry on.
A-
A Line In The Sand by Kevin Powers
This is a thrill ride- breathless pacing, realistic storyline, and police-procedural detail. Superb illustration of boundless greed by for profits in our military business juxtaposed with the profound grief of those who lost loved ones to war.
A
Loot by Tania James
An absolute gem of a book! Wonderful story that begins in eighteenth century India, moves to France, to England, and back to France. The story of a famous wood carving and the young boy who follows it after it is pillaged from Tipu Sultan.
Delightful writing and characters make for a marvelous read.
A
Little Monsters by Adrienne Brodeur
Family drama set on Cape Cod- mainly Wellfleet. Atmospheric with beautiful depictions of the landscape. The family interactions are recognizable to any reader even if the triggers are different in one's personal history.
A captivating summer book with more heft than a beach read.
A
Books that did not garner an A rating, but you should check out for yourself-
The Celebrants by Steven Rowley. Not as good as The Guncle which was hilarious! (Hint- listen to the audio)
Save What's Left by Elizabeth Castellano. A funny summer read about an ocean town on the East Coast. Characters are spot on- some a little too annoying.
Fireworks Every Night by Beth Raymer. Darkly comic coming-of-age novel of a girl in Florida in the 1990's and her dysfunctional family and how she saves herself. Do not listen to the Audible version- the narrator loses all the comic aspect to the story.
Owner of a Lonely Heart by Beth Nguyen. Memoir about her relationship with the mother she did not grow up with .