The Conditions of Love
by Dale Kushner

I'm reading and loving this. Eunice, or CC as she calls herself, is growing up with her single mother, Mern, who hasn't quite mastered motherhood (or a lot of other things). Even as a child, CC can sense that she’s being shortchanged a good childhood, but takes pleasure where/when she can. CC's father is out of the picture, no matter how much CC longs for his return, but she finds friendship and comfort with a neighbor, Mr. Tabachnik. The book is divided into 3 parts—I've just finished part 1 and I can't wait to see what happens next in CC's journey!

The Conditions of Love is a June Midwest Connections Pick.

Quiet
Susan Cain

I first read Quiet a couple of years ago. It’s worth re-reading, to be reminded of the strengths and weaknesses of both introverts and extroverts. For our society to function best, we really need both.

All That is Solid Melts into Air
by Darragh McKeon

This book is set in Russia and begins April 26, 1986, the day of the Chernobyl disaster. (Gold star to anyone who recognizes the title as a line from the Communist Manifesto.) The reader follows the lives of a handful of characters in Chernobyl's aftermath: a nine-year-old piano prodigy, his factory worker aunt, a wealthy surgeon struggling with the end of his marriage, and a teenager in Belarus. This is what I call a thorough novel - it takes place over years and goes deep. We really get to know the characters. The victories are sweeter and the disappointments more bitter than those in a book with less depth. The writing, pacing, and characters are oh so good. For me, the real connect was the time of the novel. On April 26, 1986, I was celebrating my 11th birthday in the United States, having a lovely childhood in a stable world. Across the ocean, where my ancestors once lived, disaster occurred and consequences followed.

Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands
by Chris Bohjalian

And speaking of meltdowns.........I recently finished Chris Bohjalian's forthcoming book. I picked this one because it's the new Bohjalian novel and I love his books. I was surprised when I learned Close Your Eyes begins with the meltdown of a nuclear plant in Vermont. Close Your Eyes is focused on one character in a relatively short amount of time. Emily Shepard is the daughter of the plant's engineer held responsible for the meltdown. Both Emily's parents worked at the plant and she becomes an orphan when they are killed in the meltdown. Bohjalian has imagined a good story, but what is most compelling is the voice. Emily is a teenager filled with a lot of typical teenage struggle plus the very real struggle of her family - her parents are unhappy alcoholics. In reading Close Your Eyes, I'd swear Emily was whispering in Bohjalian's ear the whole while. The voice never wavered. Emily has a habit of making incredibly bad choices and yet Bohjalian has crafted this perfectly—with a really flawed victim, an author runs the risk of putting the reader off, making it so clear how out-of-whack a character is that the reader just doesn't like the character. That never happened for me in this novel. With all of Emily's flaws and bad choices, I cared for her and rooted for her the whole way. Woven throughout the novel is Emily Shepard's fascination with Emily Dickinson. Like All That is Solid, the book opens with a major disaster and the consequences that flow from it. You don't want to miss this one. It'll be out in July and you can pre-order it now from Beagle or Sister Wolf.

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena
by Anthony Marra.

In a small rural village in Chechnya, eight year old Havaa escapes out the back door of her home when Russian soldiers come in the front door to arrest her father and burn down the house. The next day, their neighbor, Akhmed, finds Havaa and takes her to an all-but abandoned hospital a few miles away. The only doctor left at the hospital, Sonja, reluctantly agrees to give Havaa shelter. Over the next five days, the lives of these three people are totally changed as the hidden connections of their past are slowly revealed and their fates are unexpectedly decided. The book explores the transcendent power of love in wartime, and is incredibly topical. This is an extraordinary book.

The Late Scholar
by Jill Paton Walsh

If you, like me, are a devotee of the Peter Wimsey/Harriet Vane mystery series written by the late Dorothy Sayers, you are probably aware that Jill Paton Walsh finished Thrones, Dominations, the book Sayers was working on at the time of her death. Walsh has gone on to write three more books based on Sayer’s characters. The most recent, The Late Scholar, will be released on June 17. In it, Wimsey and Vane return to Oxford (the setting for Gaudy Night) and investigate a string of murders. The characters are true to the way Sayers developed them, and updated in satisfying ways. Pre-order now at either Beagle or Sister Wolf.

Benediction
by Kent Haruf

I’m re-reading Benediction in preparation for book group later this summer. Although I rarely re-read books, I’m glad to be making another trip to Holt Colorado where Dad Lewis is dying of cancer. The book is a beautifully written and understated account of the lives of ordinary people in a quiet community. As Dad’s wife and daughter surround him with care, friends and neighbors face their own challenges. The beauty of Haruf’s storytelling is that this book transcends death to explore the connections which make up our lives.

Minnesota State Parks
by Anne Arthur

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys visiting the beautiful state parks of Minnesota. Arthur has organized the book by regions.  Readers will find maps and a description of each park, including its facilities and recreational possibilities. The author includes a section entitled “Anne’s Tips” which gives her personal recommendations for enjoying each park. Another bonus is a section on nearby attractions for each park. This book might pique your interest in a park that you’ve never visited, and is sure to enhance a visit to any of our state parks. 

The Best of Itasca
by Deane Johnson

Whether you’re heading to Itasca State Park for the first time or are a frequent visitor, this guide will enhance your experience. The easy to follow format provides a thorough description of Minnesota’s oldest state park from the most popular attractions to those that are off the beaten track. The book includes a comprehensive hiking guide and detailed sections on both the natural and human history of Itasca. You’ll find beautiful photographs throughout the book. The Best of Itasca is a great reference and just fun to peruse!