Reading Roundup #30: Family Ties

Y’all, when I tell you this was a good week for reading, I mean it was a good week for reading. From the tenderness of Pachinko to the laughter and tears of The Guncle to the swoony romance of The Perfect Waltz, I fell in love with these fictional families. Every book was a winner and exactly what I needed in the moment. And maybe one of them will be just what you need, too!

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee: This sweeping inter-generational saga has been on my radar since it released back in 2017. It was one of those books that vaguely interested me and also felt like an Important Book I Should Read, but I might never have gotten around to it if it hadn’t been selected for one of my book clubs. And I’m so glad it was! Because, for me and my specific reading tastes, this is a don’t-miss story. Following a family from 1910 to 1989, through sickness, war, and political upheaval, Pachinko is about love, strength, and the gambles we all must make in life. While the story is dramatic, the telling itself is matter-of-fact, beautifully spare except where the writer wants extra impact, and reminiscent of the kind of older historical sagas I grew up on, like James Michener’s Texas and Edna Ferber’s Show Boat. I don’t know that it’s for everyone, but I thoroughly enjoyed the journey.

The Guncle by Steven Rowley: This book stole my heart. Centered around gay 40-something and former TV star, Patrick, who suddenly becomes temporary guardian to his young niece and nephew following the death of their mom and his best friend, The Guncle is bittersweet and laugh-out-loud funny by turns and one of the happy surprises of 2021, destined to become a favorite. From the opening passages, in which Patrick tries explaining Stockard Channing and Grease to two unimpressed children, I knew this book was for me. I mean… flashback to the time I, at 17, tried telling a 14 year-old about the coolness that is Bob Fosse. Hello, kindred spirit, Patrick!

The Perfect Waltz (“Merridew Sisters” #2) by Anne Gracie: After a solid start with the eldest in The Perfect Rake, the series moves on to the younger Merridew sisters, who are now coming into their own properly. I absolutely fell in love with passionate Hope and her prickly Sebastian. (He has a few shades of Mr. Thornton, which you know I will never balk at!) Watching them sizzle and burn was delightful, but as always with Gracie, there’s more than just romance to enjoy. Seeing Sebastian and his little sisters learn to heal and trust brought tears to my eyes more than once, and I just want to gather them all in a big warm hug. We already have a few hints of where Faith, the next sister’s, story is headed, and I can’t wait.

And how about you? Has your reading week been as satisfying as mine? Let me know and share your recommendations! Because my TBR obviously isn’t long enough. 😉

–b