Ask Again Yes by Mary Beth Keane

This is a story of 2 families who are living in the Suburbs, the dads are both

Irish Brooklyn cops. We see what happens behind the closed doors of each

household. But the son Peter and daughter Kate fall in love at age 14 and

are then divided by a chance incident when Peter's mother shoots Kate's father.

Peter's mother Anne is a mentally ill, abused woman who abandons him during

her institutionalization. Then he is again abandoned by his Dad who moves away

 and becomes physically and emotionally unavailable. Peter also becomes a cop

and an alcoholic. The story continues for over

30 more years when Peter and Kate eventually marry and have kids

and forces the two families to interact and to ultimately forgive.

It is a book about mental illness and alcoholism and their toll on all

the characters they touch.

We do feel that all may end well as our families heal and cast away blame

due to family loyalty and love. Kate would say "Yes" if he asked her to

marry him again. It was a good story of ordinary people and their

marriages and relationships.

Sarah chose "The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse" by

Louise Erdrich.

      

When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin

 In January we zoomed to discuss Donna's book "When Crickets' Cry"

by Charles Martin. This was actually listed as Christian reading.

The hero is a non practicing heart transplant surgeon who has a

painful past and he meets with a spirited child who is in need of

a heart transplant. We soon learn why crickets cry and that miracles can occur.

There is a wonderful love story between the hero Reese and his wife Emma.

The book is full of wonderful characters and is threaded with quotes

from the bible and poetry and full of such good people that you have to like them. 

We learned a lot of medical facts about the heart and its functions. 

And who doesn't love a miracle? It was a feel good story.

Kathy Chose "Ask Again, Yes" by Mary Beth Keane for the  next read.

  

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

 We postponed  the meeting till December due to the

difficulty of getting the book and reverted to Zoom due to

the surge in the Covid cases brought on by Thanksgiving gatherings.

This was a quirky laugh out loud novel, a totally original story.

It's about a would be bank robber who disappears into thin air

and eight completely anxious  strangers who find out they have more

in common than they suspected. There are many twists and surprises

but Backman tells us that though we live in a messy ambiguous world

we can turn to each other to find calm and assurance.

The book is as insightful into human nature as it is heartwarming

and heart wrenching. 

We had lots of good discussion of the many oddball characters that is

 truly Backman. Good choice Madeleine.

Donna chose "When Crickets Cry" by Charles Martin for the next 

read and meeting designated to be Zoomed in January.