Book Review- Lorna Landvik's Once in a Blue Moon Lodge

Thank You to the University of Minnesota Press for providing me with an advanced copy of Lorna Landvik's novel, Once in a Blue Moon Lodge, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT - Set in both Minnesota and Norway, spanning decades, Lorna Landvik's latest novel, Once in a Blue Moon Lodge, continues the story of Patty Jane and her family. Patty Jane's daughter, Nora, finds herself falling in love with a Norwegian doctor, just as she discovers that she's pregnant with triples from a one-night stand. Ione, Patty Jane's mother, visits Norway to see her dying cousin and rekindles a romance with a boyfriend from her youth. Patty Jane has shut down her salon and is enjoying retired life with her long-time boyfriend. She also has a new venture, helping Nora start her lakeside lodge, including the reboot of Patty Jane's popular   learning series, where locals attend such things as lectures, concerts, and dance classes.

LIKE- I've been a longtime fan of Landvik's writing and I've enjoyed her previous novels. There is a sweetness to her storytelling, that I compare to something akin to Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie series. Both are filled with relatable, likable characters, and they each balance the heartbreak and joys of life. 

My favorite part of Once in a Blue Moon Lodge, was the flashbacks to Ione's childhood in Norway. This was the storyline that packed the biggest punch with regard to drama and mystery. I also enjoyed the setting of Norway. I have distant relatives in Norway, that like the characters in Landvik's novels, immigrated and ended up settling in Minnesota. Her characters, their gentle humor and world view, feel like home to me. It's this aspect that probably draws me towards Landvik's novels the most.

Landvik peppers her story with Norwegian words and phrases. "Uff Da" is a phrase that my mom used all of the time, but I was surprised by how many Norwegian words were similar or flat out the same, as ones that I know from being around my Swedish step-children. I've never been great with learning foreign languages, so it was exciting to make those connections.

DISLIKE- Once in a Blue Moon Lodge is not as compelling as Landvik's previous novels. I was unevenly interested in the various plots. For example, Silvia and Harry's courtship and Broadway musical aspirations/success felt forced. I wasn't very interested in the triplets. I thought about why this might be the case and I suspect that it had to do with the glut of plot lines and characters. There was so much going on, that I didn't have a chance to invest deeply in any one character or plot. I would have rather had less and felt more. My focus waning, I actually set Once in a Blue Moon Lodge, aside, and finished another book, before going back to Landvik. 

RECOMMEND- Maybe. Yes, if you've read Landvik's other books and need to find out what happens with her beloved characters. However, if this is your first time reading Landvik, I'd like to direct you to Patty Jane's House of Curl instead. Read Landvik, but don't start with this one!

Book Review- Cyndy Etler's The Dead Inside

Thank You to Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with an advanced copy of Cyndy Etler's memoir, The Dead Inside, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT- In her memoir, The Dead Inside, Cyndy Etler recounts her time spent in a Straight Incorporated facility during the late 80's. Straight Incorporated was a highly controversial treatment program to get troubled kids clean from drugs. The program preyed on the drug paranoia of the 1980's ( Just Say No) and some of the kids, like Etler, were placed in the program, despite not having addiction problems. 

LIKE- In efforts to write a fair review, I need to be upfront and admit that upon requesting The Dead Inside from Netgalley, I did not realize that it was a memoir aimed at young adults. I do not often read YA literature ( occasionally, but rarely) and I don't think that I've read a YA memoir, since I was a young adult. That said, at nearly forty years old, I'm not the target audience for Etler's memoir.

I requested this, thinking it was an adult aimed memoir and I was interested in Etler's traumatic experience in a cult-like immersive therapy situation. I had heard of Straight Incorporated, as its controversy has popped up in many news stories, but I was interested in a deeper look, which drew me to Etler's memoir. Her story is upsetting and outrageous. She is very candid with regard to sharing the intimate details of her profoundly disturbing experience.

At the end of the advanced readers copy, there is a note that the final version will have a mini biography about Straight Incorporated. I think this will improve The Dead Inside, as I felt that the program needed a stronger explanation to compliment Etler's experiences. I hope that it will include info on what the parent's were told to manipulate them to keep their kids enrolled in the program. What was Straight Incorporated sales pitch to Etler's parents? It must have been very slick, as it's hard to imagine parents allowing their children to be away from them for months, even years, with little contact.

DISLIKE- To be fair, I'm unsure if my major dislike has more to do with it being written for young adults, or YA aside, I didn't connect with Etler's writing? I felt like I was reading a teleplay for an ABC After School Special from the 80's. It was very melodramatic throughout. The problem with this, is almost immediately, I didn't trust Etler. I thought that she was an unreliable narrator, which given this is a memoir, made me feel a little guilty. Even with the terrible things that happened to her at Straight Incorporated, I never wavered from thinking that she wasn't as innocent as she was claiming. I can believe that her drug use was a new thing and not likely to escalate, however, she had major attitude towards her mom and a desperate desire to be accepted by the kids in the bad part of town. She was definitely looking for rebellion and I can understand her mother's fear. Etler was running away from home, heading on the path for bigger trouble.

Etler mentions problems with her step-father and alludes to abuse, including sexual abuse. She mentions her mother turning a blind eye and she thinks that her mother sent her into the program to get her out of the way, more than to help her. I believe the abuse, but going back to the unreliable narrator situation, I didn't believe this about Etler's mother. Etler's family situation should have been more at the heart of the story, but I felt muddled regarding their dynamic. I didn't have a good grasp on why Etler was acting out or how things escalated to having her sent to the program. I wish this had been a larger portion of her memoir for clarity.

The sensationalism of Straight Incorporated is the primary focus of The Dead Inside. As such, I felt removed from the emotion of Etler's experience because the outrageous and often unbelievable techniques from the program, took center stage. Assuming all of this is true, it's shocking and horrific. I couldn't shake Etler as an unreliable narrator, so some of the crazier antics, I had trouble believing happened.

But my main issue with The Dead Inside, is the lack of reflection or purpose. Etler sums up her adult life by mentioning that she now helps troubled kids, which is wonderful, but this quick summation doesn't offer much introspection. I think it would have been a stronger read, if she had added more of her adult perspective, including how her experience has impacted the kids she helps now. The shock value aspect could have been used more sparingly for greater impact.

Again, I do not have experience with YA memoirs, so I'm not sure if this is the norm for the genre, but Etler writes in a manner that is youthful: filled with slang and bad language. The vibe is "adults just don't get me." It felt disingenuous. It was cringe worthy in many parts and I can't think of any teenager that I know who would respond to this narrative. I'm a little younger than Etler and looking back, I can't imagine this appealing to me as a teen. 

RECOMMEND- No, however I could be off the mark with my assessment of the YA memoir. I think Etler has both a fascinating and disturbing story to share, but The Dead Inside did not work for me.  

Book Review- Samantha Verant's How to Make a French Family

Thank You to Sourcebooks for providing me with an advanced copy of Samantha Verant's memoir, How to Make a French Family, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT- In her early thirties, Samantha Verant found herself divorced, working as a dog walker, and living at home with her parents in California. Thinking about her past, she decides to send an apology letter to Jean-Luc, a Frenchman whom she had met in her late teens while traveling in Europe. Verant had promised to stay in touch with Jean-Luc, but failed to keep her promise. Now, nearly two decades later, she discovers that Jean-Luc is a widower with two teenage children, Max and Elvire. Jean-Luc and Verant quickly fall back in love, marrying a year later. Verant's memoir captures the joys and frustrations of moving to a foreign country and becoming a step-mother to two French teenagers. 

LIKE- I've read many "fish-out-of-water" memoirs about living in foreign country, but Verant's unique details make How to Make a French Family, compelling. Verant is not only living in a foreign country, but she is now the step-mother to two French chidren. As a American step-mother to two Swedish children ( and a former dog walker, divorcee and Californian), I could relate to Verant. We still live in the United States, and only have the children on holidays, but it's not out of the question that we could one day move to Europe. I admire Verant, as she is both tough and brave following her new destiny in France. Luckily, Max and Elvire are accepting of Verant, and normal teenage issues aside, they accept her as part of their family. 

Verant is in her late 30's/early 40's, when she decides to try for a baby with Jean-Luc. Verant suffers multiple miscarriages, but the support of her French family, allows her to embrace the idea of her current family being enough. Although Max and Elvire were happy about the prospect of a new sibling, both time and the loss of the babies, gave them the courage to express to Verant that they feared she would not view them the same as a child of her own. Verant came from a blended family. and was very close to her own step-father, so this was the last thing that she wanted Max and Elvire to think. This frank dialogue and love, is what I liked most about Verant's family. 

If you're a Francophile or simply curious about French culture, Verant peppers her story with her American perspective of living in a foreign country. She certainly has some frustrations and mishaps, but most of her writing reveals an affinity for her new home. 

Food is a huge part of French culture and Verant includes the recipes for all of the meals mentioned in, How to Make a French Family. Do not read on an empty stomach!

DISLIKE- Nothing. Verant's memoir is entertaining and it will warm your heart. 

RECOMMEND- Yes! How to Make a French Family is proof that your life can shift course when you least expect it. Verant has a beautiful life to share, and it will certainly make you want to visit southern France.