I was excited to get my hands on Commonwealth by Ann Patchett, and was thoroughly disappointed by it. While I did finish the book, I feel no better for having done so. I should have abandoned ship in the first 50 pages. The storyline certainly had potential, and, if you have read any of the hype about the book or the flyleaf, you would certainly pick it up: “One Sunday afternoon in Southern California, Bert Cousins shows up at Franny Keating’s christening party uninvited. Before evening falls, he has kissed Franny’s mother, Beverly—thus setting in motion the dissolution of their marriages and the joining of two families.” But, the following five decades jump back and forth and around to such an extent that I could never keep anything straight. It made for an unenjoyable experience.

It would be impossible not to be deeply moved by the story of Welles Crowther as told in The Red Bandanna by Tom Rinaldi. I had never heard Welles’ story and was heartbroken to read it. By all accounts a determined and kind child and young man, Welles was successful in all ways when he went to work on September 11, 2001 at Sandler O’Neill on the 104th floor of the World Trade Center II. What he went on to do before and after the second tower was hit was extraordinary. And, while he perished doing so, his spirit, and that of the red bandanna he always had in his pocket (which identified to the survivors who had come to their aid), live on for many, many people. This is an achingly devastating account of a close family and the son they loved as well as a brief glimpse into what it was like inside the World Trade Center on September 11.

I did not know too much about the Kennedy family history until I read Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter by Kate Clifford Larson. The book was a loan from a friend who loves books and knows how much I do. Rosemary Kennedy’s story is, of course, tragic. I enjoyed this no-frills account of the Kennedys in general and Rosemary in particular. I especially liked the first half of the book. After that, I didn’t feel like there were enough details. About 40 years of Rosemary’s life were detailed in the last 50 or so pages. While I know there is not a lot of documentation about this part of her life, I was nevertheless disappointed that I didn’t learn more about her. I may have to pick up another Kennedy biography since this one presented so many interesting threads that were not fully explored. I appreciate the loan and feel more informed for having read this one.

Tig Notaro’s autobiography, I’m Just a Person was a quick, down and dirty read that didn’t have a lot to it. Not knowing her, I wasn’t aware of her story and I enjoyed learning it – what a wild ride her year was – intestinal disease, breakup, mother’s death, and double breast cancer. However, perhaps in her style (though I don’t know it), the text was spare and unemotional. I finished it in an evening, but don’t know that I would recommend it unless you are a fan of hers and want to know more about this time in her life.

When We Meet Again by Kristin Harmel was a surprise hit. I don’t know where I read/heard about it, but I couldn’t put it down and enjoyed every minute of it. When Emily receives a painting out of the blue with a note that her grandmother had always been loved, she is compelled to figure out its provenance. In doing so, she uncovers her family history and rekindles a relationship with her father. At the same time, she deals with her life-long relationship issues. While one could argue that this story ties everything up too neatly at the end, I like the way the mystery unfolded and thoroughly delighted in each step of the journey.

“For every woman who has ever fantasized about driving past her exit on the highway instead of making dinner, for anyone who has ever dreamed of boarding a train to a place where no one needs constant attention, here is Maribeth Klein. A harried working mother who’s so busy taking care of her husband and twins, she doesn’t even realize she’s had a heart attack.” And so Leave Me by Gayle Forman begins. Shortly after her heart attack, subsequent bypass surgery, and recovery, Maribeth ups and leaves her family. She makes a new life for herself in Pittsburgh and confronts her adoption and marital issues from afar. I enjoyed Leave Me very much. While leaving her young twins seems implausible, the story works and is a pleasant read. Not too deep, but just right for those who try to juggle it all.

Another Susan Crawford book ended up on my to-read list. The Other Widow, much like The Pocket Wife (reviewed here), was a fast-paced thriller, with not much to it. It was perfect for this cold, eerie, Halloween time of year. In this thriller, Dorrie is in a fatal car crash with the man she is having an affair with, Joe. Joe leaves behind a mess at his business and a stunned wife. Each chapter is from a different character’s perspective and is written in a different font (a feature I like in novels). Looking for a quick no-brainer read? This is it.

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch could not have been more different than Nine Women, One Dress, my last book. I could barely put it down and kept updating my family at every turn about the next surprise the book held. It is very challenging to write about Dark Matter without spoiling it. Suffice it to say, Jason is living a normal life with his wife and son until one night when he is knocked unconscious. He wakes up to a life where his wife is not his wife and he has no son. In addition, his life is no longer ordinary: he is a celebrated genius who has invented something impossible. Is this a dream? How does he get back to the life he knew? The story twists and bends reality and keeps you on your toes at every step. And, while I am not sure I fully figured out how it all could possibly work, it was a good ride, nonetheless.

I admit it – I am fascinated with polygamy. I can’t figure out how it could possibly work for any family. Ever. This is why I devoured “Big Love” and “Sister Wives.” The Sound of Gravel is a memoir of a girl growing up in a polygamist sect in Mexico. Ruthie was the thirty-ninth of her father’s forty-two children. Her family lived in poverty and she was abused by her step-father. It’s a depressing story, but one of hope as well. I read the whole book in a few hours because it was so readable and interesting. The author didn’t get into the weeds about the sect itself, but focused on her own day-to-day experience. I really wanted to find out how she escaped this life and what her adult life is like. I didn’t get much of this at the end, but the story carried itself anyway.

I was excited to read Nine Women, One Dress by Jane Rosen because the premise sounded unique and the story sounded light and appropriate for a busy time of year. And, this book succeeded in being just what I was looking for. Each chapter connects with the others through a little black dress designed by Max Hammer. The dress brings happiness and good luck to this group of unrelated woman. Following their stories is fun and easy. Just what I needed right now.