The Death of the Heart by Elizabeth Bowen

Bowen writes of orphaned Portia who goes to live in London with her stepbrother and his wife. Both are wealthy and emotionally unavailable. Portia sets her sights on Eddie, a rough-around-the-edges player who manages to dazzle her because of her youth. I liked Bowen’s talented, witty writing. And how she evolves Portia as a character. But I was reminded that I don’t like how many classics, including this one, rely on unnatural, inflated dialogue to reveal so much of the story.

Gwenamon says: Good

Days Without End by Sebastian Barry

A victim of Ireland’s Great Famine, 17-year-old Thomas McNulty joins the U.S. Army with his friend, John Cole. They fight the Sioux and the Yurok on the frontier before the Civil War. This book is about the horrors and hardship of war. It also is about family, love, and being true to oneself. At first, I found it hard to listen to Thomas’ voice, but once I figured out its rhythm, I was hooked. This novel is beautifully written. I admire the revelations and word pictures.

Gwenamon says: Beautiful

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders

I loved this book, from my initial confusion about who was narrating, to figuring it out, and to the incredible language and storytelling. “Lincoln in the Bardo” is, on the surface, about the death of Lincoln’s son during the Civil War. But overall, this book is about narration.

Gwenamon says: A masterpiece!

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood

This novel is about the complicated relationship between Wavy (a fairy-like little girl, then a teenager), and Kellen (a gentle giant and ex-con) who is one of her meth-dealing father’s helpers. I think the book does an excellent job of making you take a position on the relationship. What’s completely unbelievable is how Wavy’s mom, a meth addict, is conveniently out of commission in her room for most of the story. And how Sandy, also an addict, remains so healthy and beautiful.

Gwenamon says: Provocative

Wenjack by Joseph Boyden

This is the tale of an Ojibwe boy who runs away from a residential school in order to return home. At first, he’s accompanied by two other students. Always, the forest spirits watch his journey. The writing is beautiful and heartbreaking.

Gwenamon says: Short, sad, and beautiful

After the Parade by Lori Ostlund

This novel tells 40-year-old Aaron Englund’s story. He leaves his long-term partner in New Mexico and drives to San Francisco to begin again. In re-establishing his life, he has to deal with the past’s ghosts. I loved the writing, the characters, and the balance of plot and character development. Also, Ostlund does a great job of keeping to a fairly linear plot with interspersed flashbacks. I have only two small problems with this novel: there’s a passage that spells out the title (which is overkill), and Aaron has a moment that is too self-aware for a character, like meta-narration.

Gwenamon says: Pitch perfect

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

This novel is about Cora’s escape from a plantation on the underground railroad. The best part of the novel, I feel, is that Whitehead makes the railroad a real thing rather than a metaphor. For that exceptional idea alone, I wish I could have loved this book. I couldn’t stand it. The characters are two-dimensional, most likely because of very little dialogue and just the arm’s-length, third-person narration.

Gwenamon: Doesn’t live up to the hype