July Book Club Reviews
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The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Stella Lane is an econometrist (economist but with more math) who has found wealth and success in her career by age 30. But, according to her parents, at least, she’d be much more successful if she could get a steady boyfriend and settle down. Maybe give them grandchildren. The only thing stopping her is that she’s just not interested in that. Stella is autistic and, frankly, finds a lot of social interaction and romance more effort than it’s worth. But after her mother prods her yet again, Stella decides to approach romance as a problem to solve, and what could be a better solution than to hire a professional?
Enter Michael Phan, a “professional.” As in a male escort. He breaks one of his core rules to take on Stella: no repeat customers. But there’s something about her that he finds refreshing and honest. So her offer of retaining his services regularly for an irregular amount of money is too good of an offer to walk away from. But of course, emotions get involved, confusing each of them.
The first thing I noticed about this book was that it started off a bit. . .steamier than any previous book club pic. That’s not to say it was intensely graphic, but it was a little more explicit than I was expecting at first about physical activities. And then, I kept reading and realized that this was because of Stella’s autism. The physical descriptions eventually pull back as Stella becomes more emotionally involved in her project and Michael. And that’s the part of this book that clicked with me: Stella’s voice as the main character comes through too clearly in the narrative. She’s not (just) reminding us about how particular she can be. We see the story from her perspective, which helps us see her as a fully realized person.
I couldn’t help but compare this to The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, a previous book club selection. That book is likewise about the attempted romantic exploits of someone on the autism spectrum. But in The Rosie Project, we are repeatedly shown how fastidious and particular and, frankly, controlling the main character is. His perspective seems like something that he must overcome or the people around him must bend to. But in The Kiss Quotient, Stella’s autism isn’t just something that gets in her way. Yes, it frustrates her, causes awkward and sometimes hurtful social interactions, and makes her parents reevaluate their priorities for their daughter. But that same perspective is also something that Michael immediately appreciates about her.
I think it’s telling that Graeme Simsion specifically went out of his way to avoid labeling the main character of The Rosie Project as autistic (at least at first), and Helen Hoang does not shy away from using specific language to talk about it. Similarly, it’s also telling that Simsion wrote his book based on friends and coworkers he’s known, while Hoang’s book comes on the heels of her own diagnosis as autistic. The internal vs. external perspective makes it shine rather than appear dry or even trying. It is a case where better representation isn’t there to fill in a checkbox. It’s there because it lets the writer give us a level of nuance and humanity that draws the reader into a story that could have been dry and off-putting in other hands.
Review by Adam
The Singing Bones: Inspired by Grimms’ Fairy Tales by Shaun Tan
For those familiar with Shaun Tan, it should be no surprise that this book is different from most. It’s neither a fairy tale retelling nor a graphic novel. More like an art book, The Singing Bones examines and showcases 75 passages of Grimm’s Fairy Tales using simple yet stunning papier-mâché and clay sculptures created by Shaun Tan himself. Included is a foreword by author Neil Gaiman, an introduction by world-renown fairy tale expert Jack Zipes, and an annotated index that delves further into each fairy tale and gives a background for those unfamiliar.
The main part of the book contains 75 sculptures and a short passage from the fairy tale they were based on. Each sculpture, inspired by Inuit stone carvings and pre-Columbian clay figurines, demonstrates a combination of whimsy and seriousness. Shaun Tan has managed to create some beautiful, honest, and almost eerie pieces of art that aim to showcase each fairy tale in its most raw form. The passages that inspired the sculptures inspired me to read up on some fairy tales I either did not know about or wanted to read again. With each sculpture and passage, Shaun Tan takes us on mini adventures through the world of Grimm’s Fairy Tales, left for you to either enjoy as is or to seek out the full story for yourself.
Why do I recommend this book for adults? Shaun Tan is a unique author in many ways, but I love his works because they feel like they were meant for all ages to enjoy, The Singing Bones being no exception. This book can be read in one sitting, but it is also perfect for those who do not have a lot of time to invest in a book since you can read from anywhere in the book and enjoy it all the same or read a few passages at a time. I absolutely adore this book, and if you are an art lover, enjoy fairy tales, or want to read something a bit different, The Singing Bones is a solid choice.
Review by Liz
Let’s Take the Long Way Home: A Memoir of Friendship by Gail Caldwell
This is a poignant memoir of an amazing writer losing her very best friend. Gail Caldwell tells how she met her friend Caroline Knapp, the loving way their relationship developed, and how she coped and moved forward from her untimely death. If this sounds like a sad book, it’s not, really. It’s tragic – Knapp dies quickly of lung cancer at 42 – but it’s also hopeful and beautiful and inspiring and powerful. The two fiercely independent women come to love and care for each other (and each other’s dogs, an important part of the story) with such intensity that it makes the reader grateful for their friendships.
The book takes place primarily in the woods and rivers of Boston, providing a setting-as-character technique mostly reserved for New York. Instead, you come to love the city through Caldwell’s eyes, despite the cold weather and scary incidents. The importance of dogs and what they teach about love, loyalty, and mindfulness are also an integral part of the book; however, you don’t need to be a dog person to enjoy reading it. Caldwell’s writing is as superb as ever, with several lines that just knock you over and make you want to write them down. It’s a book that stays in your brain in the best way, reminding you about both the wonderful and terrible things about life.
Review by Shelly
Beach Read by Emily Henry
In the Behind the Book, at the end of the novel, Emily Henry writes, “When friends ask me what Beach Read is about, I tell them it’s about a disillusioned romance author and a literary fiction writer who make a deal to swap genres for the summer. When other writers ask me what Beach Read is about, I tell them it’s about writer’s block.” Both of these things are true. Emily goes on to write about how she was suffering from writers’ block just like the two main characters in the novel, both needing to write but unable to do so until they strike up their deal – Gus will attempt to write a romance novel and January will write literary fiction. Both will unpack their lives throughout the summer as they write, bond, and fall in love.
I was heading to the beach for a vacation and wanted a fun summer beach read and happened upon this novel. I got caught up in the banter between these Gus and January and forgot to reapply my sunscreen! I enjoyed the idea of two established authors taking on the task of writing outside their genre and the ways their chosen style still influenced their writing. I also enjoyed the secondary cast of characters. They weren’t just there as background, they were engaging in their own right, and I would have loved to have spent more time with them. This is one of those books I can see being made into a Hallmark movie; it was sweet, light, and just perfect for a summer read.
Review by Amelia
Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys, Andrew Weiner, Brittney Williams
Lolo believes she’s just a regular 14-year-old, going to school, spending time with her best friend, and dealing with an annoying older brother. That is until her brother is mistaken for a robber and almost arrested at gunpoint. Almost because just then, Lolo discovers she has powers and then literally throws the cop off her brother. When a dangerous dealer learns of Lolo’s powers, he’ll try anything to get her on his side, but Lolo wants nothing to do with him and will fight to save those closest to her. Lolo isn’t the only one with powers and secrets. She struggles to keep her family safe while also trying to stop the dealer.
Both the well-named author and the description of this graphic novel bumped it to the top of my list. I love a good average person who discovers they have powers and uses them for good story. I also love Alicia Keys. The story was engaging, and the artwork was clean and vibrant. Lolo is dealing with a lot even without superpowers; she’s trying her best to fit in and not draw attention to herself. She learns that sometimes you have to speak up and stand up for yourself and others; it’s not just those with superpowers who can stand up for what is right. It also shows the power of forgiveness and looking past how people project themselves instead of looking at who they are. Take Eric, for example, is he mean, or does he have a lot of pressure from the expectations expected of him because of his family?
Review by Amelia
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
The main character in The House of the Cerulean Sea is Linus Baker. He’s a forty-year-old man who lives with his cat and works as a caseworker at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. His job is to visit orphanages that house magical children and evaluate their abilities to take care of the children. Suddenly Linus is given a top-secret assignment from Extremely Upper Management: to investigate Marsyas orphanage, located on a remote island. The six children at the orphanage and their mysterious caretaker Arthur, are nothing like Linus expected, and he must set his fears aside and determine whether they’re likely to bring about the end of days. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice that decides the fate of this family.
Reading The House in the Cerulean Sea felt like watching a Pixar movie, and it was such a light and easy book to read. It has the found family trope, and you get to meet a lot of fun and interesting characters with unique personalities. We watch Linus’s world tilt on its axis as he forms a bond with each of the children and Arthur as he spends time at the orphanage. This book has good LGBTQ+ representation and is one of the best books I have read this year.
Review by Sai