Once Removed

Once Removed by Colette Sartor

Everyone knows a woman in their lives they admire.
A mother, a wife, a daughter, a partner, that tenacious
person that holds them all together.

This fabulous collection of short stories celebrates the
perseverance of women, flawed as they may be, and
their innate ability to nurture and protect. In this engaging debut,
you'll find the same rich characters flowing from one story
to the next, aging and evolving over time.

In "Daredevil", Grace struggles to teach Sunday school
to a little girl riddled with birth defects, while her own
troubled son prefers no one knows she's his mother.
When the two children finally do acknowledge one another,
and he chooses to carry out his new-found friend's ultimate "dare",
the consequences are life-changing. Why couldn't Grace have
saved her own son from this fate?

In " Lamb", a gay couple reluctantly allows a grandmother to
meet her grandson, Luca, on Easter, the holiest day of the year.
But when the news of how they intend to raise Luca in the Jewish faith
is finally revealed, it forces a determined matriarch to take drastic
action to save a child's soul. Can forgiveness reunite a fractured
family that steadfastly holds on to the past?

In perhaps a favorite, "La Cuesta Encantada", Althea carries the
weight of watching her husband's mind slip in and out of the fog
of dementia. She decides to retreat and hide, rather than tell life-long
friends the truth, creating a meticulous facade. But with talk of
moving for retirement a constant topic of conversation, Althea
pushes her soulmates farther and farther away, fearing the change
will destroy what little she has left of her beloved mate. Memories
of their youth flood her mind, carefree days spent exploring, stolen
kisses, and the one haunting recollection that fills her heart with shame.
Was she responsible for robbing a good friend of happiness so many years ago?

These and seven other stories, from an author to watch, are a
delight to read, perhaps in one sitting as I did. Brimming with
emotion and humor (albeit on the dark side), it's ultimately
about women and their imperfections, sacrificing so much in the
never-ending search for peace, hoping to be victorious in the end.

Anything Is Possible

Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strout


I'm in awe each time I read one of Elizabeth Strout's novels; such moving, insightful words that effortlessly flow page after page to the delight of her readers. Her latest collection of short stories is no exception.

You'll meet a janitor who lost his home in a sweeping fire, but didn't lose faith in humanity.  Reaching out to a troubled soul, he dares to unlock a secret that somehow,  just by revealing it to a lonely neighbor, transforms his view of the world and the existence of a higher power.

Then there are the sisters who choose different paths as adults. One, trading her dignity and self-respect for a guaranteed life of wealth and affluence. The other, finding words of wisdom in the pages of a book that give her the courage to ask for forgiveness after her hurtful words, spoken in anger, shatter a defiant teenager.

And a successful, weary grandfather who can't fathom the "ungraspable concept of time going by". An unlikely encounter with a has-been, eccentric actor opens his eyes to facing painful memories with a new perspective, while at the same time, facing a brush with death.

These stories and more are told flawlessly by the author of Olive Kitteridge, The Burgess Boys, and My Name is Lucy Barton.  The main character in the latter one is effortlessly weaved into the nine stories throughout this latest release. Readers can easily follow along, even if they haven't read that particular book, although I highly recommend taking the time to check it out. Lucy is now a successful author, having escaped the confines of her small town, Amgash, Illinois, where many of these rich characters still live, haunted by past sins, and the shame of poverty.

 Stout's interpretation of life is at times hopeful, other times, overwhelmingly sad. But in the end, it's her thought-provoking words and signature prose that make her novels a pleasure to read.

Chestnut Street

Chestnut Street by Maeve Binchy

Author Maeve Binchy had a gift; the gift of observation. She watched and listened to everyday people with ordinary worries and troubles, then eloquently wrote about what she saw and heard. The end result is a collection of stories filled with joy and triumphs, sorrow and regrets, and ultimately a life lesson to be learned at the end of each chapter. This book is a treasure chest brimming with her astute reflections on human nature. It's not really a novel, rather a book of musings and contemplation.

You meet so many complex characters, each full of flaws and imperfections, always searching for a happy ending to their tangled lives. These neighbors all live in Dublin, Ireland on a quiet fictional road known as Chestnut Street. There's sixteen-year-old Dolly, plain and nondescript, envious of her own mother's enchanting beauty until she realizes that perception is not always reality. Friends Wendy and Rita dream of becoming successful entrepreneurs until they realize how foolish it is to put misplaced faith in those they trust. They begin the WR (Wronging a Right) Club. Let's see who looks foolish now. Bucket Maguire washes windows, a perfectly respectable way to make a living except when you are the object of ridicule from judgmental people, including his unsettled disrespectful son, Eddie. Yet it's Bucket's supportive and unwavering presence that saves Eddie in his darkest hour. Then there's Nan, raising three children on her own, working endless hours to carve out a meager existence when the doctors say she has a weak heart.  So odd, she thinks, because her "heart must be very strong indeed"  to endure a husband walking out on her. Nan surprisingly finds a most unlikely suitor who finds that she has a remarkable heart after all. There are thirty-six chapters of individual stories just like these told with insight, humor, and a delightful easy-going pace.

Much like her popular A Week in Winter (posted on my blog in May of 2013), Maeve Binchy proves once again that she was a talented storyteller. Upon her death in July of 2012, publishers were able to gather her many years of observations and release a final book for her devoted fans. She had an uncanny ability to create a series of memorable anecdotes representing life with all its ups and downs.

Have a cup of tea, relax and enjoy the entertaining residents who call Chestnut Street home.