Partita

Livia Cable grows up in the rural South with an unkind mother, a passive father, and a childhood overwhelmed by the devastating loss of her brother. Her refuge is the piano, always. Music is not just something Livia plays, it is how she understands the world, translating feelings and experiences into notes and rhythm. Livia is determined to pursue her extraordinary talent, and finds her own way to college with the assistance of a caring teacher. It is there that she meets a man who becomes the other great passion of her life. Their connection is as deep and consuming as her love for music. When tragedy changes the direction of Livia’s future, she returns to the farming community where she grew up and builds a very different life from the one she always imagined. Barbara Kingsolver writes beautifully about grief, family, class, love, and the complicated choices that shape us. She perfectly captures the relationship between an artist and her art. This story dragged a little for me, and I found the final chapter unnecessary and unsatisfying. Despite those reservations, I still enjoyed Partita and think it is a worthwhile read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Meredith, Alone

Meredith Maggs has not stepped outside her home for almost four years. Following a devastating trauma, the 40 year old woman has retreated from the world, not because she is incapable or irrational, but because crossing her own doorstep has become utterly terrifying. Told from Meredith’s POV, the story moves between her present self-isolation and flashbacks to her childhood with her sister, Fiona, and their emotionally and verbally abusive mother. Gradually, we come to learn what happened to Meredith and why remaining inside her home feels like her only choice. This is undeniably a sad story, but it is written with sensitivity and compassion. Meredith is intelligent, funny, and real. The author puts us completely inside her mind which is filled with fears that feel real and understandable. The handful of people trying to help Meredith bring warmth to the story and remind us that we truly are a village. This novel explores trauma, isolation, and mental health issues with remarkable insight for a debut novel. It feels strange to say I “enjoyed” such a heartbreaking story, but I found it absorbing and extremely well done. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Unselected Journals of Emma. M. Lion Volumes 4, 5 & 6

I continue to absolutely love this series. These relatively quick, easy reads follow the journals of Emma M. Lion, a funny, wonderfully witty, slightly risqué young woman attempting to make her own way in the late 1800s, something unheard of for an unmarried woman without money or a title. Orphaned but fiercely attached to the home she inherited, Emma takes in a (handsome) tenant, tries to earn an income, and navigates life with an independence and spirit that make her impossible not to adore. These books are laugh-out-loud funny, unputdownable, and filled with clever observations that leave you smiling as you read. They feel a little Jane Austen, a little Bridgerton, but also entirely their own. I don’t read the volumes back-to-back, but love returning to Emma’s world and reviewing them in groups. Everyone seems to fall in love with Emma Lion and I completely understand why!! I’m thoroughly enjoying this charming series and cannot wait to read Volumes 7 and 8. Highly, highly recommended! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐