Long Island by Colm Tóibín

Long Island  is the sequel to Tóibín's Brooklyn. At the end of that novel Eilis Lacey had decided to leave her native Ireland at the end of a sojourn there from Brooklyn.This was despite the fact that she would miss her mother, her best friend, Nancy, and the man with whom she had rekindled romance despite the fact that she was secretly married.

Nearly twenty years later Tóibín's latest novel picks up her life in New York with husband, Tony, in their Lindenhurst home on Long Island. They are the parents of two teenagers, Rosella and Larry. But then Tóibín drops the bomb that will change the course of her life. A man appears at her home alleging that while on a plumbing job at his home, Tony has had an encounter with his wife who is now pregnant with his child. It is the man's intention that when the baby is born, he will be dropping it on the doorstep of her home. Eilis will have not part of this and the scheme that her mother-in-law and Tony have devised. 

She needs time to mull over this situation and decides to head back to Ireland and the comfort of Enniscorthy. It will be time to spend with her mother and after a few weeks to bring Larry and Rosella over to meet their Irish grandmother. In that time she reconnects with Nancy and Nancy's planning of her daughter's wedding. And of course in that vein, she also rekindles her friendship with Jim Farrell, owner of a local pub. Long Island actually becomes a novel, not only about Eilis, but of her friends and the people of Enniscorthy. There are secrets that are exposed and secrets that are kept. At times we know their innermost thoughts and at other times, we can only guess.

The novel engages the reader from the get-go and doesn't let go until the end. It was a read that immerses a person in a place faraway with people who struggle with ordinary life and tragedy. It is one of those books that a reader can't wait to see the plot resolved, but at the same time does not want it to end. It bodes well that there might be another Eilis Lacey work to come.

 What a delightful evening it was on 16 September when Colm spoke. He has an incredible sense of humor and really gave insight into his books. 

 

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

 

Ann Patchett has been one of my favorite authors since I read Bel Canto. Tom Lake has been on my TBR list since it was published. I was glad when we selected it as a Book Club choice. I wasn't disappointed. 

Told in the first person by Lara Nelson during the pandemic, the novel toggles back and forth between the present and Lara's past. She and Joe's daughters have come home to the family farm in Michigan to spend the pandemic lock down with their parents. Emily is the oldest and has a degree in horticulture with an eye on taking over the farm. Maisie is in vet school and Nell was about to move to NYC to pursue an acting career before COVID-19 hit. Each has a distinctive personality that comes through in their reaction to their mother's story. 

When Lara (originally Laura, but she removed the u after reading Dr. Zhivago), was a teenager, she was volunteering at a community theater's auditions for a production of Thornton Wilder's Our Town. After seeing so many trying out for Emily who were less than stellar, she tries out and is selected. This starts her on her acting career and she becomes hooked. During the course of her life, she takes on that role numerous times. During one of these times, she meets a Ripley, a talent scout who encourages her to go to Los Angeles to audition for a movie role. Lara recounts her meeting Peter Duke, a famous actor and their summer stock experience at Tom Lake, her return to New Hampshire that leads her to NYC where she rekindles her friendship and eventually her marriage to Joe Nelson. 

The cherry orchard provides the backdrop for this novel and the memories that Lara shares. It is also a cathartic journey for her as she puts her life in perspective for her daughters. It is especially telling as she remembers her time with Peter Duke, during which Emily is convinced that she was conceived. By recounting the time at Tom Lake, she realizes that love at 24 years old is so totally different that the love she feels for Joe. It is then that she is at peace with her life. 

 Thoroughly enjoyed this book with its style and the emotions that it elicited. Another great Ann Patchett experience.

I'll Push You by Patrick Gray and Justin Skeesuck

An incredible account of a journey shared by two men, Patrick and Justin, who had been boyhood friends. Justin had seen a Rick Steves program on the Carmino Santiago, a pilgrimage route of 500 miles in Spain. It leads to the Cathedral at Campostella where it is said that the bones of the Apostle James are buried. Justin was intrigued and decided that he would like to embark on this journey. There was one issue that proved daunting. Justin had been diagnosed with a neurological disease a number of years earlier that left him without use of his arms or legs. He would have to do the journey in a wheel chair. He asked his Patrick if he would accompany him and he agreed. 

The two planned the trip - ordering a specially made chair for Justin and getting the blessings of their wives and children. The book is a diary of that journey with some flashbacks to the history of their friendship and lives. It was eye-opening to read of their struggles and joys as they hiked the trails, many of which were just rocky paths. They met many other pilgrims along the way who helped them and became friends. 

It was an interesting book, but I wished that it had been more descriptive of the towns along the way. However, it was more devoted to faith, belief and the Christian way. There is a documentary that was produced from the videography that was taken on the journey. It further emphasized the ruggedness of the trails and the tribulations that were encountered. 

A quick read for those who may want to bolster their belief in the human spirit.