The Mother Act by Heidi Reimer

Around two decades ago, Sadie Jones decided to leave her husband and daughter, Judith, to focus on her career as an actress and a provocative feminist. She insists her experience is valid and important to shape the direction of life. 

After several years, she tried to reconcile with her estranged daughter. She sees her daughter's organized life as mundane and has never felt like she belonged in social circles. The story unfolds through the alternating viewpoints of Sadie and Judith, delving into the complexities of their mother-daughter relationships as they revisit the past, ultimately leaving Judith deeply affected. At the same time, both characters are unlikeable but understandable. You know what I mean? Hehe. They were nothing alike temperamentally but difficult the same. The ending appeals to me. It's clear that both parenthood and relationships require a considerable amount of time, sacrifice, and understanding. 4 ⭐️ 

Thanks to @times.reads and @putrifariza for the review copy. My opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores 

The Night in Question by Susan Fletcher

I absolutely loved the main character's portrayal in the book! Florence Butterfield is such a remarkable lead, full of charisma and charm. Despite her age and disability, she's incredibly observant and insightful, and I couldn't get enough of her. The setting of Babbington Hall Residential Home and Assisted Living provided the perfect backdrop for the mysterious accidents and Flo's determination to solve the mystery. 

While it took me some time to get into the book at first, I soon found myself thoroughly enjoying the author's writing style. The friendship between Flo and Pinky, her seventy years of secret, and her life after divorce are delightful and add an extra layer of intrigue to the story. This book beautifully captures the essence of melancholy in a way that surprised and intrigued me. It's a slow-paced but poignant tale of desire and dread, centred on friendship, family and search for love that truly warmed my heart. 4.3 ⭐️

Thanks to @times.reads and @putrifariza for the review copy. My opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores 

Table For Two by Amor Towles

I enjoyed reading this book for many reasons. The most obvious is that there are so many life lessons written in between these pages with assembles of outstanding characters. I think short stories are much harder to love than novels, but this proves otherwise. Not all good writers are good storytellers and vice versa. But Amor Towles excels at both. To sum up, it deserves a solid 4.5 ⭐️. Here are some of my thoughts.

1. The Line

- Pushkin and his wife were peasants as they moved from the countryside to Moscow during the 19th century. Pushkin ends up waiting in line to obtain the necessities for his household. He had been revealed as a man of considerable talent and turned society into a productive citizen. It's a thought-provoking satire and resonated with me.

2. The Ballad of Timothy Touchett

- Timothy was determined to be a novelist. He met Peter Pennybrook, a purveyor of used and rare editions. The twist with the job offer involving forging a signature was unexpected and intriguing.

3. Hasta Luego

- His flight was delayed, and Jerry had a brief encounter with an approachable man named Smith. When Smith's wife called anxiously asking for Jerry's help, he could have chosen to ignore her plea. However, he didn't. 

4. I Will Survive

- This story revolves around Peggy, who thinks her husband is having an affair. It is a bit cliche theme, but being told from a first-person point of view added another interesting layer to the marriage insight.

5. The Bootlegger

- Tommy and his wife are a concertgoer. He found an old man beside him, recording the concert. The event left a lasting impression on Tommy. 

6. The Didomenico Fragment

- Renaissance art was one of Percival Skinner's specialities. The DiDomenico fragment, a painting from 1475 that was in his family's possession, has attracted the interest of an agent.

7. Eve In Hollywood

- This novella follows Evelyn Ross, the inherent optimism and boldness lady who'd come out of nowhere. She became a good friend to young actress, Olivia. When Olivia is being blackmailed, she is determined to find the culprit with help from a friend. It gave off film noir vibes in the Golden Age of Hollywood!

 

This is my first time reading by the author but definitely not the last.

Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing and Izah for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online store