A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens (5.0)
Always lovely to return to this world of Mr. Dickens. His usual comedic characters are understandably subdued in this tale, given the setting of the French Revolution. I’ve always appreciated how he balances the London/Paris rich/poor to show the complications when these intermingle. While the prose is often hard to read and forces me to re-read and go slowly, many of the lines are the most quoted of literature. It’s worth taking the time to catch the intricacies of the story. Many of the ‘aha’ moments are revealed in a few words. This remains one of the only books whose last few pages consistently bring a tear to my eye.
After Annie, Anna Quindlen (4.0)
When a book starts with the assumed protagonist’s death, you tend to wonder what you’ve gotten yourself into. Luckily in this author’s hands, it is sad, but redeemed by excellent writing. The story unfolds from the eyes of the daughter, husband and best friend of unlucky Annie. She is fleshed out by their memories and grieving. The characters are realistic and varied. I particularly enjoyed the poignancy of the daughter trying to hold a young family together while getting through her own grief. The sad subject made the book tough to read, but a worthwhile journey.
