June/July

First Comes Love by Emily Giffin, 2016

Giffin writes complex relationships well. The tension between sisters Josie and Meredith is very relatable.

They want to be happy for each other but their inability to control innate feelings prevents them from being supportive.

History prevents them from looking objectively at things and the tension grows and grows. Stopping the tension requires such discipline.

Unfortunately, the story itself is not as compelling.

The story revolves around Meredith's marriage, Josie's plans to have a baby on her own and the death of their brother - a hodge podge of events.

The last few Giffin novels I have read or started but could not complete had similar themes:  Less than perfect marriage, fractious relationships and stories that just don't seem realistic or compelling.  

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, 2016

Stories of two half sisters from Ghana and their ancestors through each generation.  One growing up Fante, the other growing up Asantes tribe.

The half sisters end up on both sides of the slave trade, one shipped off to America while the other staying in Ghana as the second wife of an English slave trader.

The stories of brutality are heartbreaking.  The characters vivid and strong.  Eventually, the ancestors meet up at Stanford.

Born a Crime: Stories From A South African Childhood by Trevor Noah, 2016

Autobiographic story of comedian Trevor Noah.  Raised by a focused, strong black woman who asked her Swedish boyfriend to father a child with her.  A child she would raise on her own with no desire for the father to be involved.

An amazing story of South African law outlawing interracial relationships, formalizing segregation down to where someone can live, what job they can have based on how they are classified.  A classification that can be arbitrary, especially for mixed race people.  Families separated if parents ended up changing classifications.

Townships like Soweto, where Noah's mother grew up in, are purposely built to segregate black South Africans from Dutch Afrikaners.  Institutionalized apartheid is no joke, despite Noah's witty accounts.

Noah writes about growing up and using humor to fit in.  He starts a business burning CDs and then DJ'ing.  He eventually flees South African fearing his stepfather whose abuse culminated in a murderous rage.

An amazing story and a glimpse into a country with truly atrocious laws.