The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys
I am in and out of the school library several times a day. Not only is it a hub within the building, but it’s also right next to my classroom. I was flattered when the school librarian flagged me down upon receiving The Fountains of Silence. She remembered that I loved Sepetys’ other novels and knew I was probably dying to get my hands on her latest. And, I was. The master of historical crossover fiction, Sepetys, has impressed me once again. The Fountains of Silence tells the story of post WW2 Spain. Franco reigns, and Texas oil tycoons are being welcomed into Madrid. Daniel, a young Texan and aspiring photographer accompanies his parents on a trip to Spain to work out an oil deal. While there, he is beguiled by a young woman who works at the hotel he and his family are staying at. Their love story is complicated by the strict Franco driven culture. Ana is terrified to get close to Daniel for fear she will lose her job and her family will succumb to poverty. I love this book because it weaves the stories of Daniel and Ana with those of Ana’s cousin, Puri, who works at the local orphanage and suspects foul play. Additionally, there is a storyline surrounding Ana’s brother, Rafa, who is back with his family after a hellish experience in a boys’ home. In addition to being entertained, I always learn something from Sepetys’ novels. She has a way of uncovering the more ignored parts of history. The Fountains of Silence was no different. I’d recommend it to anybody who loves historical fiction.
The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
A recommendation from my coworker and friend, Caitlin, The Immortalists sucked me in instantly. It tells the story of four siblings who, as children, visit a fortune teller said to be able to state the exact day on which a person will die. After the visit, the lives of Varya, Daniel, Klara, and Simon veer off rather steeply. Alternating in perspective, the reader sees how the fortune teller’s predictions affect the way each sibling lives his/her life. Each individual is unique and fascinating. I will admit that I found the first two stories to be the most engaging. I got through the first 200 pages super quickly. Then, it slowed down for me a bit as I wasn’t sure where the story was headed, but I felt like everything came together in the end. I would recommend The Immortalists to anybody who enjoys fiction-- it really was a unique, thought-provoking book. It would be the perfect book club read, which begs the question, why am I not in a book club?
Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley
I didn’t know what to expect with this book since it was not a recommendation from a friend, which is typically where I get my reading material. It was however, well decorated as far as awards for young adult literature go, and I thought the blurb sounded interesting, so I figured why not? In the novel, it is the summer before Cullen Witter’s senior year of high school when the shit hits the fan. His cousin passes from an overdose; his brother goes missing; his town has been taken over by a search for a bird believed to be extinct. The storytelling was abstract in a sense that I never felt like I fully grasped what was going on. The language was not difficult to understand, but it was almost intentionally vague. Still, I found myself intrigued by the quirky characters and overarching message of the book. Would I recommend it to anyone? Probably not. But, I do think those who love young adult fiction, especially realistic YA fiction with a little quirk, would enjoy!
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
It has been 30 years, but there’s finally a sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale. I read the predecessor a couple of years ago. I was so engrossed by the whole idea of Gilead and the characters therein, I immediately gobbled up the Hulu series. Both were amazing, so I had high hopes for The Testaments, especially since I knew the second and third seasons of the show were only very loosely based on this sequel. If you have not read The Handmaid’s Tale, you need to start there. If you have read it, it’s important to know that the sequel no longer follows Offred, but instead follows the perspectives of three different women more than fifteen years later as Gilead is on the brink of crumbling. Two of the perspectives are of those of the first generation to come of age in the new order. The final viewpoint is that of Aunt Lydia, a pivotal figure in both novels. The Testaments dives further into the corruption lurking inside this so-called utopia. It also sheds light on the thoughts and emotions of those born into this world who don’t know any other way. I enjoyed this novel for all of its relevance, and I honestly marvel at how Atwood made this new society come to life. Both The Handmaid’s Tale and The Testaments are, in a way, cautionary tales. They made me think and reflect, which is why I would recommend both.
