Sea of Tranquility asks the question of whether this life is real or whether we are living in a simulation. The story is influenced by the COVID pandemic, the increasing importance of artificial intelligence and the rise of authoritarianism.
The
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The Book of Form and Emptiness – by Ruth Ozeki
“The Book of Form and Emptiness” is a story about love of books, understanding, nonjudgmental tolerance and the insignificance of material things. In general, the story is told by the book, which may sound obvious, but in this case, the…
French Braid – by Anne Tyler
If you love Anne Tyler as I do, you will love French Braid, which is pure Anne Tyler and a breath of fresh air.
The novel starts in March of 2010 with Serena Drew and her boyfriend, James, in the…
Oh William! – by Elizabeth Strout
“Oh William” is Elizabeth Strout’s third Lucy Barton novel. The novel focuses on family, the importance of formative years and the lifelong process of filling in the holes of knowledge about ourselves and others.
Lucy is now 62 years old, divorced,…
The Candy House – by Jennifer Egan
The Candy House is a simply amazing novel about the intrusive nature of evolving technology and the ever increasing importance of real human interaction. The novel is a companion to Egan’s Pulitzer prize winning “A Visit From the Goon Squad,”…
Violeta – by Isabel Allende
“I was born in 1920, during the influenza pandemic, and I’m going to die in 2020, during the outbreak of coronavirus…I’ve lived a century and I have a good memory…I’ve witnessed many events. I’ve amassed a lot of experience, but…
The Lincoln Highway – by Amor Towles
“The Lincoln Highway” is the story of a cast of characters who find themselves out on the road with intertwined stories. The story begins with 18 year old Emmett Watson. Emmett has just been released early from Salina, a workhouse…
The Sentence – by Louise Erdrich
“In love as in death and mayhem, small things start a chain of events which veer so out of control that sooner or later an absurd detail intrudes, bringing the trail of events back for us to ponder.” The Sentence…
These Precious Days – by Ann Patchett
“These Precious Days” is a compilation of 23 essays, an introduction and an epilogue, describing Ann Patchett’s life, relationships and experiences.
In the introduction Ann Patchett explains that she fears death the most when she is writing a novel. She…
Harlem Shuffle – by Colson Whitehead
“Harlem Shuffle” is an atmospheric story about the thin line between criminality and honesty, the complexities of class and family and survival. The story takes place between 1959 and 1964 and is a family saga, mystery and story of intrigue.…