Editor’s note: The opinions of the smart, well-read women in my Denver book club mean a lot, and often determine what the rest of us choose to pile onto our bedside tables. So we asked them, and all Denver Post readers, to share their mini-reviews with you. Have any to offer? Email [email protected].
“Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow,” by Gabrielle Zevin (Knopf, 2022)
Author of the touching “The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry,” Zevin pivots from a love story about reading to one about gaming. Not a gamer? Don’t worry! This novel is so inclusive that it will not hinder your appreciation.
Collaboration and synergy propel creators Sam and Sadie through years of discovery, growth, success and heartbreak. They are supported by their best friend, Marx, who quietly wrangles myriad business details and coaxes them back to reality when needed. I liked all the characters, but I loved Marx. Cultural references and gaming jargon anchor this book, but Zevin’s clear writing doesn’t allow us non-gamers to get lost. There are a few loose ends, but not so many that I would hesitate to recommend this book. — 3 stars (out of 4); Neva Gronert, Parker
“Hum,” by Helen Phillips (Simon & Shuster/Marysue Rucci Books, 2024)
Written by Colorado native Helen Phillips, this novel depicts a world where robots and artificial intelligence have become normalized and permeate society in countless ways. Like Margaret Atwood, Phillips draws on science and facts, and she uses that information as her baseline to pull the reader speculatively into, in her own words, “a dark, near future.” The eponymous “hum” refers to the robots and could be derived from the shortened form of “human,” or perhaps from the ubiquitous sound of all electronic devices. But the hum is insidious, manipulative and glibly persuasive. In this novel, Phillips gently asks, “What would you do in the face of such tyrannical technology to support and protect your children and their future?” — 3 1/2 stars (out of 4); Kathleen Lance, Denver
“All the Ugly and Wonderful Things,” by Bryn Greenwood (St. Martin’s Press, 2016)
Some children are able to overcome an abusive, violent childhood, while others are doomed to create chaos as they desperately seek a way out of their difficult circumstances. The young daughter of a mentally ill, drug-addled mother and a charismatic but sadistic drug-dealer father, Wavy struggles with an apparent eating disorder as well as a number of other mental
health issues. On top of that, she is the only one around to care for and protect her baby brother. At 8 years old, she helps a young man who works as a strong-arm for her father survive a motorcycle accident, and in turn he is grateful and kind to her, becoming perhaps the only male adult in her life who shows any interest or affection toward her. Wavy becomes quite attached to Kellen, and an obsessive love affair grows between the two as the years go by, becoming sexual at an inappropriate age. Many readers will find this story compelling and thought-provoking; others will be offended by the idea that a child can “groom” a normal person to become a pedophile. Has a crime been committed upon this “innocent” child? Or can a pure, lifelong romantic love happen between a child and a grown man? You decide. — 3 stars (out of 4); Karen Goldie Hartman, Westminster
“The Grey Wolf,” by Louise Penny (Minotaur Books, 2024)
Gamache is back! And he is back in Three Pines, so fans can breathe a sigh of relief. Gamache is back on his game, battling evil forces that would destroy not only Montreal but also much of Quebec and beyond. Will he decipher the breadcrumb trail of clues? Can he shut down the terrorists in time? When should he warn the public, and will that warning scare the terrorists into hiding, biding their time for another crack at destruction? A nail-biter and page-turner, for sure. — 3 1/2 stars (out of 4); Kathleen Lance, Denver
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