An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine

Aaliya lives in Beruit.  She knew the city when it was beautiful and when it was destroyed but at 72, she rarely leaves her apartment.  Fluent in multiple languages, she translates great and important novels.  She has done 37 of them - but no one else has ever seen them.  As the reader, we are allowed inside her brilliant, complicated, and humorous mind.  Although she lives alone, she is attuned to the sounds of the city as well as the words of the group of women who live in her apartment building. Often this eavesdropping results in an explosion of commentary and quotations.  It's really a test of the reader's own literary education.  Although a tragedy ultimately reveals and opens her solitary life,  this is really a story of the life of one mind.  Unnecessary? Hmmm?

Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan

Apparently there is a movie about the relationship between CS Lewis and Joy Davidman, the woman who would eventually become his wife.  There is a lot of longing and soul searching along the way.  Both are writers seeking recognition.  Joy has a family which must be undone to begin their life together.  They are interesting people.  Given the times and the role C.S. Lewis played in religious philosophy, there was much to contemplate and sacrifice.  It probably made a good movie.

The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud

Is this more than an inside view of the life of the members of the New York intelligentsia?   Danielle Minkoff, Marina Thwaite and Julius Clarke, all met at Brown University.  Marina's father, Murray is a social activist, journalist, and opinion maker in the City.  Much to his disappointment, his daughter can't quite get her frivolous novel written.  Her friends are no more successful.  Throw in a few less entitled characters to force some introspection. Whatever - I didn't warm up to any of the characters. Too much whining and shallow sex.  Maybe the plan was to strip away the Emperor's clothes. Nice work. Who cares?

Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue

Dreamers - the thousands of people who make great sacrifices to find a better life in America.  This is the story of one such couple. Jende Jonga and his wife Neni leave Limbe, Cameroon with their young son so they can marry and begin a better life.  They are lucky enough to find good jobs with a wealthy New York City family, Clark and Cindy Edwards.  There is much to think about in the contrasts of these two couples - one willing to do whatever it takes to make their way.  The other living a life of privilege but lacking in meaning.  When the 2008 recession and banking crisis hits,  all their lives will change.  Which family will survive?  Whose dreams will be sacrificed? The author was born in Cameroon but grew up in the United States which no doubt contributes the the authenticity of the story and the probability of the ending.

Lisette's List by Susan Vreeland

Lisette and her husband Andre love their artistic life in Paris in the 1930's.  At first she regrets having to move to a small village in Provence to care for Andre's grandfather, Pascal.  But there is much more to this village and to Pascal.  Once he too lived in Paris and gained a reputation as a framer for the likes of Pisarro and Cezanne and Picasso.  His payment was often one of their paintings which now hang on the walls of his humble home.   As the war approaches the paintings are hidden and Lisette begins a life with Andre at war and Pascal gone.  She discovers great wisdom in the characters in the village and makes a list of vows for her own life.  Eventually she must add to that list "find the paintings."  So many rich stories attached to the paintings.  Such a lovely picture of life in the countryside.  Such a satisfying read.

Illuminations:a novel of Hildegard von Bingen by Mary Sharratt

I have often found the stories of Hildegard fascinating. They all seemed to center around the idea of this brilliant woman who chose the religious life in order to pursue her intellectual interests.  This is not that story.  This is the mystical Hildegard.  As a young child she is bricked into an anchorage to be the servant for the beautiful, saintly Jutta von Spodheim.  Eventually Hildegard's own visions, poetry, and music place her in the spotlight.  This is the early church at it's most mystical and a very odd life indeed.

My Notorious Life by Kate Manning

Axie Muldoon begins her story as one of the thousands of poor Irish immigrant children sent west on an orphan train.  But the pull to return to her Mam and the plan to reunite her family is too strong so she and the renegade Charlie head back to the slums of NYC.  She is eventually taken in by a "Dr." Evans and his wife, who practices in the "area of female care." What she learns under their tutelage will one day make her Madame DeBeausacq - one of the wealthiest - and most dangerous - women in the city.  She not only becomes adept at delivering babies but also at making sure that there is an alternative to an unwanted pregnancy.  The story spans from the 1860's to the beginning of the 20th century and is loosely based on the life of Ann Trow Lohman who originally earned the title of "most notorious woman in NYC".  Both came under the hammer of the Comstock laws enacted in the late 19th century.  The chance to explore the role of women in this time make this a compelling read.  And the ending is great.