The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang – 352 pages ARC from Berkley and Netgalley for an honest review Book Blurb: When violinist Anna Sun accidentally achieves career success with a viral YouTube video, she finds herself incapacitated and burned out from her attempts to...
The World Played Chess by Robert Dugoni– 400 pages ARC provided by Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing Book Blurb: In 1979, Vincent Bianco has just graduated high school. His only desire: collect a little beer money and enjoy his final summer before college. So he...
The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner – 384 pages ARC from Berkley and Netgalley for an honest review Book Blurb: Sophie Whalen is a young Irish immigrant so desperate to get out of a New York tenement that she answers a mail-order bride ad and agrees...
Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune by Roselle Kim – 320 pages ARC from Berkley Books and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review Book Blurb: At the news of her mother’s death, Natalie Tan returns home. The two women hadn’t spoken since Natalie left...
The Dressmaker’s Dowry by Meredith Jaeger – 384 pages Book Blurb: An exquisite ring, passed down through generations, connects two women who learn that love is a choice, and forgiveness is the key to freedom… San Francisco: 1876 – Immigrant dressmakers...
Review:The Museum of Failures by Thrity Umrigar is another excellent example of creating a novel with richly layered characters while comparing Indian and American lifestyles. In this story, Remy returns to Bombay, which he has dubbed the museum of failures, as he sees his native country through the lens of his American life. He’s there to meet his friend’s niece with the hopes of adopting her baby, as he and his wife are unable to conceive. This innocuous trip turns into a much more complex time as Remy is hit with roadblocks time and time again.It’s the story about Remy and his mother that really got to me. He lived a life of never measuring up and feeling quite unloved by her. Through their time together in Bombay, he learns critical information that allows him to see her in a more thoughtful and understanding way. This time away has brought what’s left of his shattered family back together.His trip extends much longer than anticipated and he realizes the value of being home. His American wife Kathy seemed too good to be true, but I did like their relationship, born of trust and equality. Remy’s life as a poet was buried away, but through his visit in India, he realizes the importance of doing work you love, not just working for a higher paycheck.Overall, this was a satisfying read and one that fans of Umrigar will appreciate. Her last book, Honor, along with The Space Between Us, are my two favorites of hers. I haven’t met an Umrigar book I didn’t enjoy!@thrity_umrigar @algonquinbooks 📘: Do you dress up for Halloween? If yes, what's your costume of choice? If not, what's a scary book you've read? ... See MoreSee Less