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How to Read a Book
A charming, deeply moving novel about second chances, unlikely friendships, and the life-changing power of sharing stories.
Our Reasons meet us in the morning and whisper to us at night. Mine is an innocent, unsuspecting, eternally sixty-one-year-old woman named Lorraine Daigle…
Violet Powell, a twenty-two-year-old from rural Abbott Falls, Maine, is being released from prison after serving twenty-two months for a drunk-driving crash that killed a local kindergarten teacher. Harriet Larson, a retired English teacher who runs the prison book club, is facing the unsettling prospect of an empty nest. Frank Daigle, a retired machinist, hasn’t yet come to grips with the complications of his marriage to the woman Violet killed.
When the three encounter each other one morning in a bookstore in Portland—Violet to buy the novel she was reading in the prison book club before her release, Harriet to choose the next title for the women who remain, and Frank to dispatch his duties as the store handyman—their lives begin to intersect in transformative ways.
How to Read a Book is an unsparingly honest and profoundly hopeful story about letting go of guilt, seizing second chances, and the power of books to change our lives. With the heart, wit, grace, and depth of understanding that has characterized her work, Monica Wood illuminates the decisions that define a life and the kindnesses that make life worth living. .
Our Reasons meet us in the morning and whisper to us at night. Mine is an innocent, unsuspecting, eternally sixty-one-year-old woman named Lorraine Daigle…
Violet Powell, a twenty-two-year-old from rural Abbott Falls, Maine, is being released from prison after serving twenty-two months for a drunk-driving crash that killed a local kindergarten teacher. Harriet Larson, a retired English teacher who runs the prison book club, is facing the unsettling prospect of an empty nest. Frank Daigle, a retired machinist, hasn’t yet come to grips with the complications of his marriage to the woman Violet killed.
When the three encounter each other one morning in a bookstore in Portland—Violet to buy the novel she was reading in the prison book club before her release, Harriet to choose the next title for the women who remain, and Frank to dispatch his duties as the store handyman—their lives begin to intersect in transformative ways.
How to Read a Book is an unsparingly honest and profoundly hopeful story about letting go of guilt, seizing second chances, and the power of books to change our lives. With the heart, wit, grace, and depth of understanding that has characterized her work, Monica Wood illuminates the decisions that define a life and the kindnesses that make life worth living. .
288 pages, Paperback
First published June 18, 2024
4922 people are currently reading
73298 people want to read
About the author
Monica Wood
24 books1,183 followersMonica Wood is the author of four works of fiction, most recently The One-in-a-Million-Boy, which won a 2017 Nautilus Award (Gold) and the 2017 fiction prize from the New England Society in the City of New York. She also is the author of Any Bitter Thing which spent 21 weeks on the American Booksellers Association extended bestseller list and was named a Book Sense Top Ten pick. Her other fiction includes Ernie’s Ark and My Only Story, a finalist for the Kate Chopin Award.
Monica is also the author of When We Were the Kennedys, a memoir of her growing up in Mexico, Maine. The book won the Maine Literary Award for Memoir in 2013, and the Sarton Women's Literary Awards for Memoir in 2012.
Monica is also the author of When We Were the Kennedys, a memoir of her growing up in Mexico, Maine. The book won the Maine Literary Award for Memoir in 2013, and the Sarton Women's Literary Awards for Memoir in 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,804 reviews
May 23, 2024
“I am a reader. I am intelligent. I have something worthy to contribute.”
Twenty-two-year-old Violet Powell is released from prison after serving twenty-two months for a car crash that resulted in the death of the other driver. Violet, who was driving under the influence at the time, is consumed by guilt and finds it difficult to adjust to her new life in Portland - having lost her mother while serving her sentence and abandoned by her boyfriend, her remaining relatives distance themselves from her including her sister who sets her up in an apartment in Portland (away from her hometown of Abbott Falls, Maine) and tells her to stay away.
“I miss how Harriet was forever showing us how to read. How to look for shapes and layers. How to see that stories have a “meanwhile”—an important thing that’s happening while the rest of the story moves along.”
In prison, Violet had been part of a book club hosted by retired English teacher Harriet Larson. While searching for a book that she hadn’t been able to finish in prison, Violet is surprised to come across Harriet in a Portland bookstore. Harriet is sixty-four and a widow, whose children have settled abroad and her niece, who lives with her, will be moving out soon. Harriet has her share of regrets and often feels that she is underestimated by those around her. Harriet is a kind, compassionate soul who enjoys her time volunteering at the prison, giving the inmates a voice and a safe space to share their thoughts while discussing books.
“People set their husbands afire, they nurse their dying mothers, they rob demented old men, they sing songs that bring listeners to tears, they kill a woman while drunk on love and 86-proof. The line between this and that, you and her, us and them, the line is thin.”
Coincidentally, on the same day Violet meets Harriet she also encounters Frank Daigle, a sixty-eight-year-old retired machinist working as a handyman in the same bookstore who was also the husband of the woman who lost her life in the car crash. With his daughter married and settled, Frank lives alone in the home he shared with his late wife. Though he was aware of Violet’s early release from prison, he wasn’t prepared to see her in person or for the onslaught of emotions that would follow.
What follows is a transformative journey of catharsis, redemption and new beginnings.
"We are a continuum of human experience, neither the worst nor the best thing we have ever done. Or, more exactly, we are both the best thing and the worst thing we’ve ever done. We are all of it, all at once, all the time."
Whenever I see a book with the image of a stack of books/ a bookstore/ a library on the cover, I’m immediately drawn to it, but rarely have I picked up a book without perusing the blurb/ description or reading a review, more so if I’ve never read anything by the author in question. Strangely enough, How to Read a Book by Monica Wood was an exception and I went into this one blind.
Let me begin by saying that this book was not what I expected. But yes, it proved to be one of the best selections I’ve made recently because it was so much more than I had hoped it would be. This is the kind of story that stays with you long after you have turned the last page. The author writes beautifully, with insight and heart, and the way she addresses complex human emotions is both realistic and relatable. The narrative is presented from the perspectives of the three characters, the different threads of the story deftly woven into a compelling narrative that was hard to put down. Though I didn’t agree with all of her choices, I felt for Violet and was invested in her journey. Frank is an endearing character and I absolutely adored Harriet, but I must say that Ollie captured my heart! The segments about the parrots were informative and entertaining in equal measure and I appreciated the Author’s Note on the nature of the research referenced in this novel. The book club segments truly enriched the narrative, emphasizing the importance of empathy, kindness and how sharing perspectives on the books we read contribute to our understanding of the human condition. I enjoyed the literary references and found the discussions deeply thought-provoking.
“The writer writes the words. The given reader reads the words. And the book, the unique and unrepeatable book, doesn’t exist until the given reader meets the writer on the page.”
A heartwarming and evocative story about friendship and found family, kindness, self-acceptance, forgiveness and starting over and how books can motivate and inspire positive change, this story left me with a smile on my face and a lump in my throat! I couldn’t recommend it enough!
“Because life is the same as books, Misha. There’s a story and a meanwhile, and we get to say which is which.”
This was my first time reading this author, but it surely won’t be my last.
Many thanks to Mariner Books for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on May 7, 2024.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
Twenty-two-year-old Violet Powell is released from prison after serving twenty-two months for a car crash that resulted in the death of the other driver. Violet, who was driving under the influence at the time, is consumed by guilt and finds it difficult to adjust to her new life in Portland - having lost her mother while serving her sentence and abandoned by her boyfriend, her remaining relatives distance themselves from her including her sister who sets her up in an apartment in Portland (away from her hometown of Abbott Falls, Maine) and tells her to stay away.
“I miss how Harriet was forever showing us how to read. How to look for shapes and layers. How to see that stories have a “meanwhile”—an important thing that’s happening while the rest of the story moves along.”
In prison, Violet had been part of a book club hosted by retired English teacher Harriet Larson. While searching for a book that she hadn’t been able to finish in prison, Violet is surprised to come across Harriet in a Portland bookstore. Harriet is sixty-four and a widow, whose children have settled abroad and her niece, who lives with her, will be moving out soon. Harriet has her share of regrets and often feels that she is underestimated by those around her. Harriet is a kind, compassionate soul who enjoys her time volunteering at the prison, giving the inmates a voice and a safe space to share their thoughts while discussing books.
“People set their husbands afire, they nurse their dying mothers, they rob demented old men, they sing songs that bring listeners to tears, they kill a woman while drunk on love and 86-proof. The line between this and that, you and her, us and them, the line is thin.”
Coincidentally, on the same day Violet meets Harriet she also encounters Frank Daigle, a sixty-eight-year-old retired machinist working as a handyman in the same bookstore who was also the husband of the woman who lost her life in the car crash. With his daughter married and settled, Frank lives alone in the home he shared with his late wife. Though he was aware of Violet’s early release from prison, he wasn’t prepared to see her in person or for the onslaught of emotions that would follow.
What follows is a transformative journey of catharsis, redemption and new beginnings.
"We are a continuum of human experience, neither the worst nor the best thing we have ever done. Or, more exactly, we are both the best thing and the worst thing we’ve ever done. We are all of it, all at once, all the time."
Whenever I see a book with the image of a stack of books/ a bookstore/ a library on the cover, I’m immediately drawn to it, but rarely have I picked up a book without perusing the blurb/ description or reading a review, more so if I’ve never read anything by the author in question. Strangely enough, How to Read a Book by Monica Wood was an exception and I went into this one blind.
Let me begin by saying that this book was not what I expected. But yes, it proved to be one of the best selections I’ve made recently because it was so much more than I had hoped it would be. This is the kind of story that stays with you long after you have turned the last page. The author writes beautifully, with insight and heart, and the way she addresses complex human emotions is both realistic and relatable. The narrative is presented from the perspectives of the three characters, the different threads of the story deftly woven into a compelling narrative that was hard to put down. Though I didn’t agree with all of her choices, I felt for Violet and was invested in her journey. Frank is an endearing character and I absolutely adored Harriet, but I must say that Ollie captured my heart! The segments about the parrots were informative and entertaining in equal measure and I appreciated the Author’s Note on the nature of the research referenced in this novel. The book club segments truly enriched the narrative, emphasizing the importance of empathy, kindness and how sharing perspectives on the books we read contribute to our understanding of the human condition. I enjoyed the literary references and found the discussions deeply thought-provoking.
“The writer writes the words. The given reader reads the words. And the book, the unique and unrepeatable book, doesn’t exist until the given reader meets the writer on the page.”
A heartwarming and evocative story about friendship and found family, kindness, self-acceptance, forgiveness and starting over and how books can motivate and inspire positive change, this story left me with a smile on my face and a lump in my throat! I couldn’t recommend it enough!
“Because life is the same as books, Misha. There’s a story and a meanwhile, and we get to say which is which.”
This was my first time reading this author, but it surely won’t be my last.
Many thanks to Mariner Books for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on May 7, 2024.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
May 21, 2024
"Apologies require acceptance...But as I understand it, forgiveness flows in one direction only."
I absolutely loved this book. It is equally a story of found family, grief, loss, acceptance, forgiveness, and so much more.
Violet made a poor decision to drive under the influence and she killed a woman. Serving her prison sentence, she gets involved with a book club, run by retired teacher Harriet. These books and discussions are the most important part of the women's weeks, and Harriet shares a bit more of her life than she is supposed to. Violet is released after serving almost two years, set up in an apartment by her sister who wants nothing to do with her. At the local bookstore, she encounters Harriet, but she also comes face to face with Frank, the husband of the woman she killed. As these three people learn how to work through their individual problems, they discover more about life and each other.
It's really difficult to write a short synopsis of this book, because there's so much nuance. There are amazing grey parrots (which caused me to go on quite a tangent of looking up videos of how absolutely smart these birds are) and learning and growth. There were times that Violet frustrated me, but after a while I really understood that the years she spent in prison changed her emotional maturity. I did like how she eventually learned how to stand up for herself.
I also really liked how the different books were used as jumping off points for the growth of the characters. Particularly Spoon River Anthology, which is now on my TBR. I love books that explore second chances, and this book does that in such a unique way. It has the characters exploring what their lives mean and what they want to be remembered for.
This is such a heartfelt, lovely book that will really stay with me.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
I absolutely loved this book. It is equally a story of found family, grief, loss, acceptance, forgiveness, and so much more.
Violet made a poor decision to drive under the influence and she killed a woman. Serving her prison sentence, she gets involved with a book club, run by retired teacher Harriet. These books and discussions are the most important part of the women's weeks, and Harriet shares a bit more of her life than she is supposed to. Violet is released after serving almost two years, set up in an apartment by her sister who wants nothing to do with her. At the local bookstore, she encounters Harriet, but she also comes face to face with Frank, the husband of the woman she killed. As these three people learn how to work through their individual problems, they discover more about life and each other.
It's really difficult to write a short synopsis of this book, because there's so much nuance. There are amazing grey parrots (which caused me to go on quite a tangent of looking up videos of how absolutely smart these birds are) and learning and growth. There were times that Violet frustrated me, but after a while I really understood that the years she spent in prison changed her emotional maturity. I did like how she eventually learned how to stand up for herself.
I also really liked how the different books were used as jumping off points for the growth of the characters. Particularly Spoon River Anthology, which is now on my TBR. I love books that explore second chances, and this book does that in such a unique way. It has the characters exploring what their lives mean and what they want to be remembered for.
This is such a heartfelt, lovely book that will really stay with me.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
September 8, 2024
What’s with this title? Honestly...two thumbs down.
I like to think as a reader, I know how to read. It could be interpreted as demeaning and condescending. Or, it could be what its intent is: read slower, think about what you are reading and the meaning in what you read.
Now, let me tell you what’s inside the cover.
A trio of characters with a history that intersects and brings them together.
Violet-the recently released 22year old criminal. Committed what could be seen as an unforgivable act. Harriet- the book club host at the jail known affectionately as Bookie. Frank- the man who works at the bookstore whose life would have changed dramatically with or without the tragedy.
Books are the common denominator here- the radius within which the three find themselves. And yes, there is discussion of books but the bigger message is about forgiveness, acceptance and 2nd chances.
A feel good story.
4⭐️
I like to think as a reader, I know how to read. It could be interpreted as demeaning and condescending. Or, it could be what its intent is: read slower, think about what you are reading and the meaning in what you read.
Now, let me tell you what’s inside the cover.
A trio of characters with a history that intersects and brings them together.
Violet-the recently released 22year old criminal. Committed what could be seen as an unforgivable act. Harriet- the book club host at the jail known affectionately as Bookie. Frank- the man who works at the bookstore whose life would have changed dramatically with or without the tragedy.
Books are the common denominator here- the radius within which the three find themselves. And yes, there is discussion of books but the bigger message is about forgiveness, acceptance and 2nd chances.
A feel good story.
4⭐️
January 20, 2024
If I waited, I could write a more coherent review. But instead I want to record the way this book made my heart feel full, and warm, and overflowing with light.
Few books manage to capture the human condition so clearly. Few stories maintain their realism while showing that life is hard. It is unfair. And it often takes more than it gives. But it DOES give. And there is good. And you find it in the most unusual places.
This book taught me love and compassion anew.
Each characters viewpoints revealed different aspects of being human. They were each unique and believable and real. And I love them all. (Especially Ollie).
Read the book.
Few books manage to capture the human condition so clearly. Few stories maintain their realism while showing that life is hard. It is unfair. And it often takes more than it gives. But it DOES give. And there is good. And you find it in the most unusual places.
This book taught me love and compassion anew.
Each characters viewpoints revealed different aspects of being human. They were each unique and believable and real. And I love them all. (Especially Ollie).
Read the book.
May 27, 2024
The first half of this book is great, almost magical in the sense that it’s written in a complex and even surprising way that both makes sense and shocks a bit. Things take a turn in the absolute wrong direction when the main character, Violet, seemingly falls in love with her older, married boss out of nowhere. Cheesy sex scenes and dialogue ensue, even though I felt extremely uncomfortable in the MeToo era watching a young girl being preyed upon by a lecherous boss twice her age (and I wasn’t sure if the author wanted me to root for this drek or if I was to see how wrong it all was). It all comes together in an insanely rushed ending, which includes a strange “whole life overview” for Violet that is accomplished in all of 2 sentences.
Started off like an interesting Fredrik Bachman book and ended up a bit too Colleen Hoover for me. Any and all romance involving Violet was completely unnecessary to the more interesting story or redemption, forgiveness and second chances.
Started off like an interesting Fredrik Bachman book and ended up a bit too Colleen Hoover for me. Any and all romance involving Violet was completely unnecessary to the more interesting story or redemption, forgiveness and second chances.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2025
“I am a reader. I am intelligent. I have something worthy to contribute.”
Be still my heart. ❤️🩹
How does one describe a book that leaves a reader with so many emotions? How do I share my reading journey with these 3 broken people; Violet, Harriet and Frank, who find something, not just through books, but through each other and their experiences – even though, it was something so unexpected for them?
Wood is a thoughtful writer who creates characters that are beautifully fleshed out and deeply felt. I first was introduced to her writing with her book, “The One-in-a-million boy.” Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And, now I come here to this book. It is more than ‘how to read a book.’ It is an opportunity for all readers to feel the soul of a book through its pages. And, as we read, we also come to recognize that it leads us to such things as: how to find forgiveness, or love, or self-esteem, or connection.
This book is filled with sweet anecdotal moments that will wrap its readers in warmth, longing and healing. How can we not be affected in some small way by the narrative voices of Violet, Harriet and Frank?
Each has experiences they would rather not feel again. And, each deserves a second-chance at whatever life has in store for them, for completely different reasons. And, we as their readers, can become their cheerleaders. Knowing that as their lives intersect, something wonderful needs to happen, because we readers believe they deserve it, despite their pasts.
And those of us who have had the experience of being a part of a book club, may even appreciate the one that exists between these pages. I could even relate to the thought expressed… “I miss me in Book Club.”
“…in order for reading to become an exercise in empathy, it helps to think of all the characters in all the books as fellow creatures.”
Amen. Doesn’t it feel so much better when we appreciate and root for the characters that are presented to readers within the story?
“Is it possible to sum up a human life?”
I love that quote. Because it is so true. Where do we even begin to answer that question? Do we need to – will the characters?
This story resonates as Hope in so many ways. Hope for a better life. Hope for friendship. Hope for love. Hope for acceptance. Hope for new beginnings. And, it truly emulates the beauty of books and their magnificent stories and how they can affect us.
“Books won’t solve my problems.
No, but they give your problems perspective. They allow your problems to breathe.”
Oh yes. Breathe. Let’s breathe. And, in breathing we can also heal. This book has all the feels and moments to allow readers to do just that. With this book, readers can allow themselves the experience of meandering through these pages. And, take time to appreciate the small moments. Including the parrots, who bring their own level of fun, joy and whimsy to the story. (No spoilers from me.)
Be still my heart. ❤️🩹
How does one describe a book that leaves a reader with so many emotions? How do I share my reading journey with these 3 broken people; Violet, Harriet and Frank, who find something, not just through books, but through each other and their experiences – even though, it was something so unexpected for them?
Wood is a thoughtful writer who creates characters that are beautifully fleshed out and deeply felt. I first was introduced to her writing with her book, “The One-in-a-million boy.” Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And, now I come here to this book. It is more than ‘how to read a book.’ It is an opportunity for all readers to feel the soul of a book through its pages. And, as we read, we also come to recognize that it leads us to such things as: how to find forgiveness, or love, or self-esteem, or connection.
This book is filled with sweet anecdotal moments that will wrap its readers in warmth, longing and healing. How can we not be affected in some small way by the narrative voices of Violet, Harriet and Frank?
Each has experiences they would rather not feel again. And, each deserves a second-chance at whatever life has in store for them, for completely different reasons. And, we as their readers, can become their cheerleaders. Knowing that as their lives intersect, something wonderful needs to happen, because we readers believe they deserve it, despite their pasts.
And those of us who have had the experience of being a part of a book club, may even appreciate the one that exists between these pages. I could even relate to the thought expressed… “I miss me in Book Club.”
“…in order for reading to become an exercise in empathy, it helps to think of all the characters in all the books as fellow creatures.”
Amen. Doesn’t it feel so much better when we appreciate and root for the characters that are presented to readers within the story?
“Is it possible to sum up a human life?”
I love that quote. Because it is so true. Where do we even begin to answer that question? Do we need to – will the characters?
This story resonates as Hope in so many ways. Hope for a better life. Hope for friendship. Hope for love. Hope for acceptance. Hope for new beginnings. And, it truly emulates the beauty of books and their magnificent stories and how they can affect us.
“Books won’t solve my problems.
No, but they give your problems perspective. They allow your problems to breathe.”
Oh yes. Breathe. Let’s breathe. And, in breathing we can also heal. This book has all the feels and moments to allow readers to do just that. With this book, readers can allow themselves the experience of meandering through these pages. And, take time to appreciate the small moments. Including the parrots, who bring their own level of fun, joy and whimsy to the story. (No spoilers from me.)
October 25, 2024
I listened to How to Read a Book and was immediately captivated! It starts with twelve incarcerated women who are part of a weekly book club led by a volunteer, Harriet. The comments, questions, jokes, and perspectives about each book are hilarious and at times, troubling and poignant.
Violet is released from prison early due to good behavior and struggles to find a job. She is hired by a Russian bird scientist and is responsible for taking care of several unique birds.
This book is about the intersection of several different people's lives. Forgiveness, compassion, understanding, and clarity are key elements of this memorable journey.
Violet is released from prison early due to good behavior and struggles to find a job. She is hired by a Russian bird scientist and is responsible for taking care of several unique birds.
This book is about the intersection of several different people's lives. Forgiveness, compassion, understanding, and clarity are key elements of this memorable journey.
December 10, 2024
Violet is released from prison after a fatal drunk driving accident. She has limited family connections and is racked with guilt about what she’s done.
As she attempts to readjust to civilian life, Violet is surprised by the kindness of others, including Harriet, an older woman and former teacher who ran the book club at the prison where Violet was. Harriet is a widow and her niece is moving away for college.
Violet also encounters Frank, who works at the local bookstore and is now a widower as a result of Violet’s accident. It’s safe to say Frank didn’t expect to see Violet either and is still coming to terms with his marriage, different than what it may have seemed on the surface.
How to Read a Book a story with several themes related to family in its various forms, guilt, forgiveness, and friendship. The primary message being that people are more than their worst mistake. I felt for Violet, Harriet, and Frank as they faced their emotional challenges. I didn’t love the ending (though I didn’t hate it either). I enjoyed the story overall and especially liked the reading theme — 3.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and Mariner Books for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
As she attempts to readjust to civilian life, Violet is surprised by the kindness of others, including Harriet, an older woman and former teacher who ran the book club at the prison where Violet was. Harriet is a widow and her niece is moving away for college.
Violet also encounters Frank, who works at the local bookstore and is now a widower as a result of Violet’s accident. It’s safe to say Frank didn’t expect to see Violet either and is still coming to terms with his marriage, different than what it may have seemed on the surface.
How to Read a Book a story with several themes related to family in its various forms, guilt, forgiveness, and friendship. The primary message being that people are more than their worst mistake. I felt for Violet, Harriet, and Frank as they faced their emotional challenges. I didn’t love the ending (though I didn’t hate it either). I enjoyed the story overall and especially liked the reading theme — 3.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and Mariner Books for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 25, 2024
How to describe "How to Read A Book":
It's a refreshingly different and heartwarming tale of deeply flawed individuals, new beginnings, forgiveness, perseverance, and resilience.
It's a "Fall Down Seven Times, Stand Up Eight" kind of book.
And it's also a commentary on how life can horrifically change in seconds, as well as the power of positive change.
I especially enjoyed the author's well-crafted epilogue.
I listened to the audiobook read by Eileen Stevens, who did an outstanding job with the narration.
Since the book unfolded from multiple POVs, a full-cast audiobook narration would have been preferred.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
June 11, 2024
Honestly this is so disappointing.. I was SO excited to read this after reading numerous 5 star reviews, plus the plot seemed really interesting. I have to say that this book unfortunately is overhyped and I have a couple of complaints with this. The first half was super promising and I was flying through it, but everything started to decline starting in the second half.
Number 1: the random side plot with the scientist?
This was actually the most unnecessary plot point in the entire book. Why would the person who is trying so hard to be forgiven for her crime and start over with her life do something else that is really bad bro. Obvi not a crime but hooking up with your BOSS that is TWICE YOUR AGE😱 and MARRIED is foul😭😭😭
Number 2: please forgive me I love animals but the whole plot of the book becoming mainly about parrots was so random?? I was getting so annoyed because why was it about parrots what did they signify
Number 3: the 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓴𝔂 parts in the book were so so unnecessary and weird.. I’d rather not read a page about 2 old people having fun!! it was actually revolting why am I reading about what’s under gma’s blouse🤧
Number 4: the ending was just like what? I genuinely had no idea what was going on. The epitaph thing is cool in concept and I understand what was trying to be done, but it wasn’t executed well and was just another unnecessary aspect of this book.
I’m lowkey raging because the first half of this was really really good. I loved the setting that the book set up, the characters were pretty likeable, and I was like “wow this book is so good!” The amount of disappointment the second half of the book brought is very unfortunate, not even sure that the first half would make up for it.
Number 1: the random side plot with the scientist?
This was actually the most unnecessary plot point in the entire book. Why would the person who is trying so hard to be forgiven for her crime and start over with her life do something else that is really bad bro. Obvi not a crime but hooking up with your BOSS that is TWICE YOUR AGE😱 and MARRIED is foul😭😭😭
Number 2: please forgive me I love animals but the whole plot of the book becoming mainly about parrots was so random?? I was getting so annoyed because why was it about parrots what did they signify
Number 3: the 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓴𝔂 parts in the book were so so unnecessary and weird.. I’d rather not read a page about 2 old people having fun!! it was actually revolting why am I reading about what’s under gma’s blouse🤧
Number 4: the ending was just like what? I genuinely had no idea what was going on. The epitaph thing is cool in concept and I understand what was trying to be done, but it wasn’t executed well and was just another unnecessary aspect of this book.
I’m lowkey raging because the first half of this was really really good. I loved the setting that the book set up, the characters were pretty likeable, and I was like “wow this book is so good!” The amount of disappointment the second half of the book brought is very unfortunate, not even sure that the first half would make up for it.
December 24, 2024
not at all what i expected and a great new author to me. loved it
If you are looking for that warm hearted, feel good story to finish out the year I highly recommend this book. There is a lot less about how to read and more about what to read, and the lessons that can be learned from sticking one's nose and mind in a good book.
“The problem with retrospect is it never shows up beforehand.”
This book is primarily about 3 people. Two older and one younger and a coming of age for all.
Voilet--22 and just released from prison for a drunk driving accident which resulted in the death of Frank's wife.
Frank-64 and working as a handy man at a local bookstore
Harriet--63 a widow and leads the book group at the prison where Violet was imprisoned.
And then there are the parrots.
There is a lot of rough going for all in this book, wrong impressions, wrong conclusions and not a few mistakes by one and all.
4.5 rounded up and as I was sorry when it ended. A new favorite author.
If you are looking for that warm hearted, feel good story to finish out the year I highly recommend this book. There is a lot less about how to read and more about what to read, and the lessons that can be learned from sticking one's nose and mind in a good book.
“The problem with retrospect is it never shows up beforehand.”
This book is primarily about 3 people. Two older and one younger and a coming of age for all.
Voilet--22 and just released from prison for a drunk driving accident which resulted in the death of Frank's wife.
Frank-64 and working as a handy man at a local bookstore
Harriet--63 a widow and leads the book group at the prison where Violet was imprisoned.
And then there are the parrots.
There is a lot of rough going for all in this book, wrong impressions, wrong conclusions and not a few mistakes by one and all.
4.5 rounded up and as I was sorry when it ended. A new favorite author.
December 13, 2024
Maybe I should up this to 5 stars, because of that wonderful last chapter.
I often complain that a lot of contemporary authors just don't excite me these days. I have a few that don't bore me, and that's because they write about real people instead of niche characters. Millennial, Gen Xers, Gen Zers, teens, young marrieds....been there , done that as we Baby Boomers say. I don't care about groups and mindsets, but I do love a great story about real people living real lives because I can connect. I have a few new to me authors that do that. David Nicholls, Ethan Joelle, Maggie O'Farrell, and now I'm adding Monica Wood to that group.
I had initially nixed adding this book to my TBR, because it seemed it might be a cutesy addition to the current trend of book store settings. A few trusted reviewers were giving it very high marks, so I borrowed it from my library to check it out. It started with Harriet, a retired English teacher who voluntarily conducted a book club in a woman's prison. She struggled with finding something to resonate with these tough ladies. Violet is a young woman doing time for a drunk driving accident in which a woman was killed. She gets an early release and has to start a new life. Frank is our third narrator, the husband of the woman in the accident. These three people accidentally meet in a bookstore one day, setting off a chain of events that kept me reading and caring and relating til the last page.
And there are parrots!
I often complain that a lot of contemporary authors just don't excite me these days. I have a few that don't bore me, and that's because they write about real people instead of niche characters. Millennial, Gen Xers, Gen Zers, teens, young marrieds....been there , done that as we Baby Boomers say. I don't care about groups and mindsets, but I do love a great story about real people living real lives because I can connect. I have a few new to me authors that do that. David Nicholls, Ethan Joelle, Maggie O'Farrell, and now I'm adding Monica Wood to that group.
I had initially nixed adding this book to my TBR, because it seemed it might be a cutesy addition to the current trend of book store settings. A few trusted reviewers were giving it very high marks, so I borrowed it from my library to check it out. It started with Harriet, a retired English teacher who voluntarily conducted a book club in a woman's prison. She struggled with finding something to resonate with these tough ladies. Violet is a young woman doing time for a drunk driving accident in which a woman was killed. She gets an early release and has to start a new life. Frank is our third narrator, the husband of the woman in the accident. These three people accidentally meet in a bookstore one day, setting off a chain of events that kept me reading and caring and relating til the last page.
And there are parrots!
March 24, 2025
Having read and loved 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘯𝘦-𝘪𝘯-𝘢-𝘔𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘉𝘰y, I was excited to read Monica Wood’s latest- 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤. It was everything I'd hoped for: charming, moving, reflective and comforting. I was moved by the slice-of-life elements alongside second chances, unlikely friendships, and found family. It also reminded me of the transformative power that comes with sharing our most vulnerable stories.
I think I need a copy for my shelves.
MORE: I cannot recall a time where I've loved an acknowledgement section more.
“𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘶𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘯𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦. 𝘖𝘳, 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺, 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘦’𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦. 𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦.”
I think I need a copy for my shelves.
MORE: I cannot recall a time where I've loved an acknowledgement section more.
“𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘶𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘯𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦. 𝘖𝘳, 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺, 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘦’𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦. 𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦.”
June 7, 2024
3.5 Stars.
This is a book about second chances, found family, forgiveness and the magic of books and parrots- just so you know, really smart grey parrots.
We meet Violet, a 22 yr old, who has just been released from jail after serving time for killing a woman while drunk and driving. While in prison, she attended a bookclub being given by Harriet, a retired teacher. We also meet Frank, the husband of the woman killed by Violet. Their paths intersect and their lives become intertwined.
Overall, this was a sweet, easy read. We want these three to find happiness but and this is a big but for me, it just was so darn easy. A bit of a fairytale in my opinion.
Monica Wood is a go to author for me. I have loved her memoir When We Were the Kennedy’s and Ernie’s Ark and The One in a Million Boy. I liked this book, but I did not love it as I loved her others.
Published: 2024
This is a book about second chances, found family, forgiveness and the magic of books and parrots- just so you know, really smart grey parrots.
We meet Violet, a 22 yr old, who has just been released from jail after serving time for killing a woman while drunk and driving. While in prison, she attended a bookclub being given by Harriet, a retired teacher. We also meet Frank, the husband of the woman killed by Violet. Their paths intersect and their lives become intertwined.
Overall, this was a sweet, easy read. We want these three to find happiness but and this is a big but for me, it just was so darn easy. A bit of a fairytale in my opinion.
Monica Wood is a go to author for me. I have loved her memoir When We Were the Kennedy’s and Ernie’s Ark and The One in a Million Boy. I liked this book, but I did not love it as I loved her others.
Published: 2024
June 15, 2025
Violet Powell had been convicted of manslaughter while driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and was serving time. The only bright spot in the prison routine was a weekly book club meeting with eleven other inmates and Harriet, a retired English teacher. When Violet was released from prison early for good behavior, she saw Harriet at a Portland, Maine bookstore. She also unexpectedly met Frank, the husband of the woman who died.
The first part of the book is set in a women's prison in Maine. We understand what devastating lives some of the women had before they committed a crime as they talk, read, and write during their weekly meetings with Harriet. Most of the story revolves around the lives of Violet, Harriet, and Frank in Portland. Violet works as an assistant in an avian-cognition lab which studies African grey parrots. This is a story of second chances as 22-year-old Violet starts her new life. Frank and Harriet also find new beginnings in their retirement years after the loss of their spouses. They find a family in their new friends.
"How to Read a Book" had well-developed, imperfect characters. There is a theme of forgiveness and mercy. In a realistic way, some characters were not ready to forgive yet. The avian lab was the site of an interesting subplot. The African grey parrots put an element of fun in the book because each of the parrots had a distinct personality. One of the parrots is sure to steal your heart!
4.5 stars, rounded up.
The first part of the book is set in a women's prison in Maine. We understand what devastating lives some of the women had before they committed a crime as they talk, read, and write during their weekly meetings with Harriet. Most of the story revolves around the lives of Violet, Harriet, and Frank in Portland. Violet works as an assistant in an avian-cognition lab which studies African grey parrots. This is a story of second chances as 22-year-old Violet starts her new life. Frank and Harriet also find new beginnings in their retirement years after the loss of their spouses. They find a family in their new friends.
"How to Read a Book" had well-developed, imperfect characters. There is a theme of forgiveness and mercy. In a realistic way, some characters were not ready to forgive yet. The avian lab was the site of an interesting subplot. The African grey parrots put an element of fun in the book because each of the parrots had a distinct personality. One of the parrots is sure to steal your heart!
4.5 stars, rounded up.
December 3, 2024
"Every week, they began with an invocation: I am a reader, I am intelligent. I have something worthy to contribute."
This is the invocation with which Harriet starts every book club session she conducts in the prison.
* * * * *
Reviewing the book is almost the last part of my process - after that it gets archived back on shelves that only pass by me if there are mentions, or cross-references that have turned up in my latest hunt and scramble. Knowing that, especially on new reads that have burrowed deep within me, I drag my feet (fingers?) on the review. . .this has been one of those. I love this book. Don't be surprised if it floats to the very top in the 2024 wrap-up.
There are three narrators in this tale: Violet, Harriet and Frank. There are a bundle of other great characters, but these make sure the three-legged stool supporting this comforting and hopeful book will uphold a questing reader. Its message is a gift that hit me straight in the heart. Terrible happenings surround everyday life, and how we muck through it is meaningful; this author's statement is powerful - it's ok to take it all in, the good, bad and ugly - all at once, and keep breathing, give yourself space, and . . .yes. . .pick up a good book and read it slowly. Nothing more from me on the storyline. I urge you - do yourself a favor and read this book.
I will say this - this is a book about how reading the wisdom of others however they present it - fiction, poetry, non-fiction - however it is done is a worthy resource for gathering hope, help and healing. A worthy tool, an effective remedy, a value builder and a significant solace. An antidote to Everyday. The good ones and the bad ones. And the awful ones. An enhancement for Everyday. The best ones. Those filled with ennui.
Books/Reads presented (it's possible I missed one here or there - please let me know if you find one - I'd be pleased to correct my list):
Scar Tissue
To Kill a Mockingbird
Of Mice and Men
The Great Gatsby
Ethan From
Franny and Zoey
Catcher in the Rye
Spoon River Anthology (I now have my own copy on my bedside table - it will be my 2025 morning read)
The House on Mango Street
Wuthering Heights
Poems of William Butler Yeats, including:
When You Are Old
A Prayer for My Daughter
Poems of Maya Angelou, including:
Phenomenal Woman
All the stars, with their own bookmarks at my favorite spots. . . .see quotes below.
*A sincere thank you to Monica Wood, Mariner Books, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #HowtoReadaBook #NetGalley 24/52:52
This is the invocation with which Harriet starts every book club session she conducts in the prison.
* * * * *
Reviewing the book is almost the last part of my process - after that it gets archived back on shelves that only pass by me if there are mentions, or cross-references that have turned up in my latest hunt and scramble. Knowing that, especially on new reads that have burrowed deep within me, I drag my feet (fingers?) on the review. . .this has been one of those. I love this book. Don't be surprised if it floats to the very top in the 2024 wrap-up.
There are three narrators in this tale: Violet, Harriet and Frank. There are a bundle of other great characters, but these make sure the three-legged stool supporting this comforting and hopeful book will uphold a questing reader. Its message is a gift that hit me straight in the heart. Terrible happenings surround everyday life, and how we muck through it is meaningful; this author's statement is powerful - it's ok to take it all in, the good, bad and ugly - all at once, and keep breathing, give yourself space, and . . .yes. . .pick up a good book and read it slowly. Nothing more from me on the storyline. I urge you - do yourself a favor and read this book.
I will say this - this is a book about how reading the wisdom of others however they present it - fiction, poetry, non-fiction - however it is done is a worthy resource for gathering hope, help and healing. A worthy tool, an effective remedy, a value builder and a significant solace. An antidote to Everyday. The good ones and the bad ones. And the awful ones. An enhancement for Everyday. The best ones. Those filled with ennui.
Books/Reads presented (it's possible I missed one here or there - please let me know if you find one - I'd be pleased to correct my list):
Scar Tissue
To Kill a Mockingbird
Of Mice and Men
The Great Gatsby
Ethan From
Franny and Zoey
Catcher in the Rye
Spoon River Anthology (I now have my own copy on my bedside table - it will be my 2025 morning read)
The House on Mango Street
Wuthering Heights
Poems of William Butler Yeats, including:
When You Are Old
A Prayer for My Daughter
Poems of Maya Angelou, including:
Phenomenal Woman
All the stars, with their own bookmarks at my favorite spots. . . .see quotes below.
*A sincere thank you to Monica Wood, Mariner Books, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #HowtoReadaBook #NetGalley 24/52:52
May 21, 2024
✰ 3.5 stars ✰
“We are a continuum of human experience, neither the worst nor the best thing we have ever done. Or, more exactly, we are both the best thing and the worst thing we’ve ever done. We are all of it, all at once, all the time.”
You may think just by reading the title that How to Read a Book would be a a novel that tells its readers what is the right way to read a book - how to savor it for what it's worth, how to appreciate all the finer details that enrich the content and truly absorb it to its full potential. And while Monica Wood's latest novel did concern books, it is so much more than simply about reading books. It is the story of three different people whose lives become intertwined through fate or coincidence or simply the opportune moment where all three of them desperately needed each other to fill the void, to find the balance, or to simply guide each other from out of a shadow of a past and into a chance for a better life. 🫶🏻🫶🏻 Told through their three distinct perspectives, it is a story about redemption and forgiveness, second chances and contrition, as well as the heartbreaking glimpse into those unfortunate souls who may never have the opportunity to make amends, but it doesn't mean that they are any less deserving of having a shot of happiness. 🫂
“What is the purpose of an epitaph? Whom would you trust to write yours? Is it possible to sum up a human life?”
To say that I enjoyed a story that deals with such a serious subject feels wrong, but it was a very moving and touching read. You can't help but feel for twenty-two year old Violet Powell, who paid the price for her ill-timed actions that cost her three years of her young life in prison and now finally released, she's trying to make a chance for a new lease on life. Being on the Outs - it is a struggle for her - a challenge. 'I am a person trying to face my mistakes.' 😞 Finding love again after the dreadful way her previous relationship ended - that, too, is a conflict that she doesn't know how to navigate in - especially considering the circumstances, but she's trying. She's trying to right the wrongs - to amend her mistakes in the eyes of her family - to not be judged too harshly by those she hurt and find a way to forgive herself for what she did. ❤️🩹❤️🩹 You want her to succeed - to be able to cope with the change in her life and find a way back to the world of the living. Even when it's to make the unlikely mistakes - even if it's about finding a place for yourself - it is up to her to figure out whether carrying the guilt of her past will always be a part of her present. Or can she overcome those feelings of shame to forge a path entirely of her own? 🥺
“A long, humming flood of adrenaline comes out of nowhere. You get that a lot in prison, but this time I think it’s just gladness—gladness that two people besides Vicki know where I live.”
Alongside Violet's journey are two unlikely characters who made her story slightly more interesting in the way that an unexpected meeting has them become a part of her life - handyman Frank - the husband of the woman Violet killed in a drunken car accident and retired English teacher, Violet - who ran the book club in the prison Violet was in. I liked their honest personalities - their open-heartedness - their eagerness to help and appease others, which, somehow, feels like it is a setback to how they allow others to walk over them - namely, their own family members, but it just showed me how much more love they had to give. 'Tomorrow, though: tomorrow was already a wonder-in-progress, a gift unwrapping, as if Frank, too, had just been released from prison.' 😟 How much kindness and acceptance and forgiveness was something that came so readily easy for the both of them that they trusted each other with their innermost secrets - an unlikely confidante that they found in one another - learning to overcome their own fair share of loneliness, by revealing intimate details about their own marriages and how they, too, were behaving differently than what their hearts truly felt. Love and attraction wasn't exactly what I was expecting and perhaps, could have done without, but it leaves you with a feeling of hope. That, despite the unfortunate circumstances, despite the lingering doubts, that door somehow finds a way to open itself again. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
“She’d fully committed to exposing the women to the open air of literature, to the sunshine of fresh ideas—an endeavor not unlike gardening after all. The sowing and reaping. The fruitful mistakes. The tang of expectation.”
The writing was very -- calming. Calming even in the most hectic of moments or impassioned of instances - even when either of them was anxious or the tension was palpable - I just felt at ease with the writing. A soothing motion that despite how heavy the scene would turn - things would turn out okay. I don't want to divulge much into the storyline, itself, but one part of the narrative that stood out for me the most were the moments when Harriet was conducting her book club at prison - gauging the reactions of the inmates as they read the books she brought them, exchanging their thoughts and ideas, being able to express their own feelings and convey the message of what their heart is unable to cope with or handle - it was bittersweet and heartbreaking. 🥺 Their penchant for reading, their love for traveling into worlds unseen and unheard of - living other people's lives and amusing themselves with their problems and issues. 'Those books felt like family. Those books took us through the worst of winter—a heartless one, too much snow, too many days without yard time.' 📚😢 It is that sharp contrast of how those on the outside can never understand how good they have compared to those who are on the inside. It is that sinking truth of uncertainty of whether or not they will ever have the chance to be outside again - that in these few moments of escape where Harriet allows them to feel normal - to feel good about themselves - who would want to rob them of that one hour of reprieve where they can just be who they are? 😔
“Because life is the same as books, Misha. There’s a story and a meanwhile, and we get to say which is which.”
This is the story where I was left asking myself what is it in life that I want? What am I living for and am I living it enough? Am I making the most of it when there are those who would do anything -- give anything to have another chance at it? Life is very much like a book - there is the beginning, a middle, and an end to it. It is not so much about how to read a book, but how to live a life. The choices we miss - the mistakes we make - the chances we take - the friends we lose - the family we have - and learning to live with it in the best of ways. 😢 Even if the story is centered around how the three of them are connected, it is perhaps the reflection of the sadness and loneliness in the prison inmates who have no sight - no sign of having a happy life again that is what is most hard-hitting. It is so subtly down, but heartbreakingly so. It served as a reminder of how important it is to be kind to yourself - to not hurt yourself so much that you don't even regard your own emotions. Each of the three characters sacrificed a part of themselves - gave up something of their own - to simply accept what they were given. It takes time, but learning to realize that you are worthy of having more - that life is a blessing that we shouldn't take for granted is the feeling that I walked away with. 🤍🤍
“We are a continuum of human experience, neither the worst nor the best thing we have ever done. Or, more exactly, we are both the best thing and the worst thing we’ve ever done. We are all of it, all at once, all the time.”
You may think just by reading the title that How to Read a Book would be a a novel that tells its readers what is the right way to read a book - how to savor it for what it's worth, how to appreciate all the finer details that enrich the content and truly absorb it to its full potential. And while Monica Wood's latest novel did concern books, it is so much more than simply about reading books. It is the story of three different people whose lives become intertwined through fate or coincidence or simply the opportune moment where all three of them desperately needed each other to fill the void, to find the balance, or to simply guide each other from out of a shadow of a past and into a chance for a better life. 🫶🏻🫶🏻 Told through their three distinct perspectives, it is a story about redemption and forgiveness, second chances and contrition, as well as the heartbreaking glimpse into those unfortunate souls who may never have the opportunity to make amends, but it doesn't mean that they are any less deserving of having a shot of happiness. 🫂
“What is the purpose of an epitaph? Whom would you trust to write yours? Is it possible to sum up a human life?”
To say that I enjoyed a story that deals with such a serious subject feels wrong, but it was a very moving and touching read. You can't help but feel for twenty-two year old Violet Powell, who paid the price for her ill-timed actions that cost her three years of her young life in prison and now finally released, she's trying to make a chance for a new lease on life. Being on the Outs - it is a struggle for her - a challenge. 'I am a person trying to face my mistakes.' 😞 Finding love again after the dreadful way her previous relationship ended - that, too, is a conflict that she doesn't know how to navigate in - especially considering the circumstances, but she's trying. She's trying to right the wrongs - to amend her mistakes in the eyes of her family - to not be judged too harshly by those she hurt and find a way to forgive herself for what she did. ❤️🩹❤️🩹 You want her to succeed - to be able to cope with the change in her life and find a way back to the world of the living. Even when it's to make the unlikely mistakes - even if it's about finding a place for yourself - it is up to her to figure out whether carrying the guilt of her past will always be a part of her present. Or can she overcome those feelings of shame to forge a path entirely of her own? 🥺
“A long, humming flood of adrenaline comes out of nowhere. You get that a lot in prison, but this time I think it’s just gladness—gladness that two people besides Vicki know where I live.”
Alongside Violet's journey are two unlikely characters who made her story slightly more interesting in the way that an unexpected meeting has them become a part of her life - handyman Frank - the husband of the woman Violet killed in a drunken car accident and retired English teacher, Violet - who ran the book club in the prison Violet was in. I liked their honest personalities - their open-heartedness - their eagerness to help and appease others, which, somehow, feels like it is a setback to how they allow others to walk over them - namely, their own family members, but it just showed me how much more love they had to give. 'Tomorrow, though: tomorrow was already a wonder-in-progress, a gift unwrapping, as if Frank, too, had just been released from prison.' 😟 How much kindness and acceptance and forgiveness was something that came so readily easy for the both of them that they trusted each other with their innermost secrets - an unlikely confidante that they found in one another - learning to overcome their own fair share of loneliness, by revealing intimate details about their own marriages and how they, too, were behaving differently than what their hearts truly felt. Love and attraction wasn't exactly what I was expecting and perhaps, could have done without, but it leaves you with a feeling of hope. That, despite the unfortunate circumstances, despite the lingering doubts, that door somehow finds a way to open itself again. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
“She’d fully committed to exposing the women to the open air of literature, to the sunshine of fresh ideas—an endeavor not unlike gardening after all. The sowing and reaping. The fruitful mistakes. The tang of expectation.”
The writing was very -- calming. Calming even in the most hectic of moments or impassioned of instances - even when either of them was anxious or the tension was palpable - I just felt at ease with the writing. A soothing motion that despite how heavy the scene would turn - things would turn out okay. I don't want to divulge much into the storyline, itself, but one part of the narrative that stood out for me the most were the moments when Harriet was conducting her book club at prison - gauging the reactions of the inmates as they read the books she brought them, exchanging their thoughts and ideas, being able to express their own feelings and convey the message of what their heart is unable to cope with or handle - it was bittersweet and heartbreaking. 🥺 Their penchant for reading, their love for traveling into worlds unseen and unheard of - living other people's lives and amusing themselves with their problems and issues. 'Those books felt like family. Those books took us through the worst of winter—a heartless one, too much snow, too many days without yard time.' 📚😢 It is that sharp contrast of how those on the outside can never understand how good they have compared to those who are on the inside. It is that sinking truth of uncertainty of whether or not they will ever have the chance to be outside again - that in these few moments of escape where Harriet allows them to feel normal - to feel good about themselves - who would want to rob them of that one hour of reprieve where they can just be who they are? 😔
“Because life is the same as books, Misha. There’s a story and a meanwhile, and we get to say which is which.”
This is the story where I was left asking myself what is it in life that I want? What am I living for and am I living it enough? Am I making the most of it when there are those who would do anything -- give anything to have another chance at it? Life is very much like a book - there is the beginning, a middle, and an end to it. It is not so much about how to read a book, but how to live a life. The choices we miss - the mistakes we make - the chances we take - the friends we lose - the family we have - and learning to live with it in the best of ways. 😢 Even if the story is centered around how the three of them are connected, it is perhaps the reflection of the sadness and loneliness in the prison inmates who have no sight - no sign of having a happy life again that is what is most hard-hitting. It is so subtly down, but heartbreakingly so. It served as a reminder of how important it is to be kind to yourself - to not hurt yourself so much that you don't even regard your own emotions. Each of the three characters sacrificed a part of themselves - gave up something of their own - to simply accept what they were given. It takes time, but learning to realize that you are worthy of having more - that life is a blessing that we shouldn't take for granted is the feeling that I walked away with. 🤍🤍
August 11, 2025
An intriguing premise that, for me, didn't quite deliver on the "deeply moving" part.
The novel alternates between Violet, convicted of a fatal drunk driving accident; Harriet, a widow who runs the prison book club; and Frank, whose wife died in the crash.
Each of them has a minor character in their life whose main personality trait is being unlikeable. It is fine to have unlikeable characters, but these were so similarly annoying that they felt almost interchangeable.
It references Spoon River Anthology A LOT and drops a JD Salinger quote like I should recognize it with the same familiarity as "to infinity and beyond." The literary allusions to classics tended to pull me out of the story… and make me feel a little guilty that I should want to read them, but I don’t.
I did want to read the book the prison book club discusses in the first chapter:, Scar Tissue: A Memoir, described as a true story about a famous NY cardiac surgeon who grew up poor in Texas with an abusive father who forced her to eat dirt. I scoured Goodreads with no luck. I enlisted ChatGPT in my search only to discover it’s not real book. With all the name-dropped actual books, figures I’d fall for the only one that doesn’t actually exist . I admit, this has me feeling (unreasonably?) annoyed that Scar Tissue will never be on my TBR.
The novel alternates between Violet, convicted of a fatal drunk driving accident; Harriet, a widow who runs the prison book club; and Frank, whose wife died in the crash.
Each of them has a minor character in their life whose main personality trait is being unlikeable. It is fine to have unlikeable characters, but these were so similarly annoying that they felt almost interchangeable.
It references Spoon River Anthology A LOT and drops a JD Salinger quote like I should recognize it with the same familiarity as "to infinity and beyond." The literary allusions to classics tended to pull me out of the story… and make me feel a little guilty that I should want to read them, but I don’t.
I did want to read the book the prison book club discusses in the first chapter:, Scar Tissue: A Memoir, described as a true story about a famous NY cardiac surgeon who grew up poor in Texas with an abusive father who forced her to eat dirt. I scoured Goodreads with no luck. I enlisted ChatGPT in my search only to discover it’s not real book. With all the name-dropped actual books, figures I’d fall for the only one that doesn’t actually exist . I admit, this has me feeling (unreasonably?) annoyed that Scar Tissue will never be on my TBR.
June 6, 2024
Added on June 6, 2024: Rating modified from four to five stars and why is that? Cuz I find myself thinking about this book over and over! Darn book! But when that happens, when it sticks to me like glue and I keep remembering Harriet, Violet and the wonderful Frank I have got to give it five stars. And...
Kind of a feel-good story, maudlin actually, and I'm really not the reader for this kind of book, however...
These kinds of tales do draw me in, and I actually (again!) need a break now and then from horror mystery more horror more mystery...
Set in Maine, USA.
Violet, twenty-two, is serving time for causing the death of a woman. (Spoilers if I say too much!) She's a member of a book club which Harriet, an older, retired woman (a widow) runs. This part of the book, fabulous. A group of women - old and young, timid and out-spoken - serving sentences for a variety of crimes, and sitting in a group discussing books. Of course, the conversation meanders into other things: ex-boyfriends, ex-husbands and why they (the women) are sitting in prison. Harriet tries to keep things on track - 'we should be discussing books, not personal matters' - but often meanders herself.
So the story is about Violet, about Harriet - and about Frank, the husband of the woman who died because of Violet. (Again, not saying too much - spoilers!) The interaction between these three - and those in the book club - and a few 'others' was very well done. Realistic. You can see and hear these people in your head and are the kind of characters that for me, the reader, want to shout at: "Don't put up with that!" "OMG, just tell her off!"
I didn't. But there's another facet to the story which I found very compelling: research done with gray parrots, based on actual research with actual gray parrots. Truthfully, I'd like to read more of this in another story. Fascinating!
So even though it was a sentimental read - but about some very true-to-life issues -
Four stars? Nope
Five ACTUAL stars!
Kind of a feel-good story, maudlin actually, and I'm really not the reader for this kind of book, however...
These kinds of tales do draw me in, and I actually (again!) need a break now and then from horror mystery more horror more mystery...
Set in Maine, USA.
Violet, twenty-two, is serving time for causing the death of a woman. (Spoilers if I say too much!) She's a member of a book club which Harriet, an older, retired woman (a widow) runs. This part of the book, fabulous. A group of women - old and young, timid and out-spoken - serving sentences for a variety of crimes, and sitting in a group discussing books. Of course, the conversation meanders into other things: ex-boyfriends, ex-husbands and why they (the women) are sitting in prison. Harriet tries to keep things on track - 'we should be discussing books, not personal matters' - but often meanders herself.
So the story is about Violet, about Harriet - and about Frank, the husband of the woman who died because of Violet. (Again, not saying too much - spoilers!) The interaction between these three - and those in the book club - and a few 'others' was very well done. Realistic. You can see and hear these people in your head and are the kind of characters that for me, the reader, want to shout at: "Don't put up with that!" "OMG, just tell her off!"
I didn't. But there's another facet to the story which I found very compelling: research done with gray parrots, based on actual research with actual gray parrots. Truthfully, I'd like to read more of this in another story. Fascinating!
So even though it was a sentimental read - but about some very true-to-life issues -
Four stars? Nope
Five ACTUAL stars!
September 24, 2024
Monica Wood's memoir, When We Were the Kennedys: A Memoir from Mexico, Maine is a memorable book for me and so, I wanted to try her new novel.
This book features a 22 year old character named Violet. We first meet her in a book discussion group in prison. Violet is serving time for manslaughter. She had gotten drunk and accidentally killed a woman while driving. The other main characters are: Harriet and Frank. Harriet (age 64) is a retired English teacher who leads the book group. The inmates affectionately call her "Bookie." Frank (age 68) was married to the woman who died in the car accident. How their lives intertwine is the basis for the story.
Each character is well developed and engaging. I found myself rooting for each of them. Early on, Violet gets released from jail, and begins to rebuild her life. She finds herself estranged from her family, who can't forgive her for her crime. Harriet becomes her adopted mother. Violet starts working for an imperious cognitive scientist in a university sponsored lab with African gray parrots. The scientist is studying them for their abilities to learn the English language - not merely mimicking words, but conversing and understanding concepts. Violet loves the work and bonds with the parrots. I found this part of the story to be fascinating.
I agree with other readers who say that this is a feel-good story. A few threads seemed unbelievable to me (ie., would Frank so readily forgive Violet for accidentally killing his wife in real life? I don't think so.)
Readers will enjoy how the author weaves conversations about literature and poetry into the plot, primarily through the prison book group. The Spoon River Anthology becomes Violet's favorite.
This book features a 22 year old character named Violet. We first meet her in a book discussion group in prison. Violet is serving time for manslaughter. She had gotten drunk and accidentally killed a woman while driving. The other main characters are: Harriet and Frank. Harriet (age 64) is a retired English teacher who leads the book group. The inmates affectionately call her "Bookie." Frank (age 68) was married to the woman who died in the car accident. How their lives intertwine is the basis for the story.
Each character is well developed and engaging. I found myself rooting for each of them. Early on, Violet gets released from jail, and begins to rebuild her life. She finds herself estranged from her family, who can't forgive her for her crime. Harriet becomes her adopted mother. Violet starts working for an imperious cognitive scientist in a university sponsored lab with African gray parrots. The scientist is studying them for their abilities to learn the English language - not merely mimicking words, but conversing and understanding concepts. Violet loves the work and bonds with the parrots. I found this part of the story to be fascinating.
I agree with other readers who say that this is a feel-good story. A few threads seemed unbelievable to me (ie., would Frank so readily forgive Violet for accidentally killing his wife in real life? I don't think so.)
Readers will enjoy how the author weaves conversations about literature and poetry into the plot, primarily through the prison book group. The Spoon River Anthology becomes Violet's favorite.
June 30, 2024
The best part of this book was Ollie the parrot.
March 10, 2024
Having read The One In a Million Boy and When We Were The Kennedys, I was very excited to read this author's new book. I was not disappointed. The focus is on forgiveness and second chances. The characters are well developed and engaging. Violet is a young woman we meet as an inmate participating in a prison book club. Harriet is the 64 year old woman who runs the book club and Frank is a handyman who is also the husband of the woman violet killed in a drunk driving accident. The way the character's lives come together is at the center of the book. As an animal lover I found the Grey African Parrots that Violet works with in her first job after her release adorable. Definitely worth the read.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy
July 26, 2024
4.5 ✨
I’m closing this book with a full heart. ♥️
I hope it gets the attention it deserves.
I’m closing this book with a full heart. ♥️
I hope it gets the attention it deserves.
July 29, 2024
3.5 stars, rounded down for that time the author described a walnut as "juicy".
All in all, this book is FINE. It's heartwarming, and sweet, and comfortingly predictable. It's a literary-themed Hallmark movie in book form. With parrots.
Thank GOD the "romance" between Violet and the professor (I can't remember his name) was
Ok, romance rant over. It turned out FINE in the end. Not great, but fine. And I think that sums up my general feeling for this book. It didn't wow me, I didn't find it particularly unique, but it was....fine. I know exactly which library patrons to recommend this one to.
All in all, this book is FINE. It's heartwarming, and sweet, and comfortingly predictable. It's a literary-themed Hallmark movie in book form. With parrots.
Thank GOD the "romance" between Violet and the professor (I can't remember his name) was
Ok, romance rant over. It turned out FINE in the end. Not great, but fine. And I think that sums up my general feeling for this book. It didn't wow me, I didn't find it particularly unique, but it was....fine. I know exactly which library patrons to recommend this one to.
May 28, 2024
A heartwarming, feel-good book about a woman recently released from prison who finds comfort in a book club and the community of its members and gets caught up in an affair with a Professor who is conducting research on African Grey Parrots. This was good on audio and perfect for fans of books like Colleen Hoover's Reminders of him. Recommended for anyone who enjoys a good book about books and book clubs (think the Jane Austen book club by Karen Joy Fowler).
June 23, 2024
Breathtaking, astounding, heartbreaking. Monica Wood is a master of stringing words together in the most perfect, luminous way. This book will make you think and feel and cry…and appreciate the nuances of forgiveness.
September 2, 2025
What a mess. I can’t even talk about it without giving anything away.
My takeaway from this book was more about how to train a bird than how to read a book. Maybe that should have been the title?
My takeaway from this book was more about how to train a bird than how to read a book. Maybe that should have been the title?
August 2, 2024
Spoilers ahead! This is a tough book for me to rate - it has a warm vibe, and I liked the 3 main characters, even if 2 of them made choices that had me shaking my head (drinking/drugging/driving, telling people while volunteering in prison one’s real name and address, very quickly leaping into an affair with an older man who’s one’s BOSS when having just gotten out of prison for manslaughter). And yes, stupid decisions help “make a story” but my patience wore thin. I loved the parrots, I liked the tender caring between the 3 main characters, I liked the redemptive power of books and writing, I liked the bookstore sections. The first half was better, then as the book got closer to a conclusion events got more rushed and harder for me to accept. And definitely didn’t need the rushed coda delineating Violet’s life story. So I liked some of it, the rest not so much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2024
I know I am in the minority here, rating this book only 3 stars. I loved the premise of the book, the characters, and the heartwarming aspects of forgiveness, love, and grief. I feel the second half of the book had storylines I didn't care for and really wanted more about growth and family. I found the ending to be very abrupt and wanted more.
October 14, 2024
This bookclub happened fiftygabillion years ago so bear with me as I try to remember…
We read How to Read a Book by Monica Wood which led to soooo many “wait were you illiterate this whole time, I knew it!” Jokes from my husband. 🙄
I was… NOT A FAN. I gave this book two stars in part because I was not in any type of mood to read a heartwarming story but also because it felt undercooked, overly convenient and filled with characters I just didn’t enjoy being around. Now, there were two holdouts—the Edmonton sector of our bookclub who always zoom in quite liked this book, one of them totally loved it—so I think there may be a quality of you need to read it at the right time for it to hit. But, I think the rest of us gave it around three stars or less.
How to Read a Book is about a retired teacher who offers a bookclub to inmates at a women’s prison and then the relationship she strikes up with one of the women after she gets out. We follow this woman, Violet, as she gets reacclimatized to the outside world, gets a job at a research lab taking care of parrots 🦜 (only redeeming feature of this book for me! More birds!), makes terrible relationship choices and strikes up a strange friendship with the man whose wife she accidentally killed. 😬
I dunno something about the way this book glossed over the realities of prison life didn’t sit right with me, and then the gross relationship between Violet and her boss 🤮 that felt like it was written to be titillating but DID NOT LAND THAT WAY (he stuffs a walnut in her mouth like she’s one of his birds at one point wtf) and the convenient way the victim of Violet’s crime is painted as a terrible bitch to make everyone ok with killing her? Just let me fetch my eyeballs that rolled so hard so many times they fell out of my head….
The birds were wonderful, though. Unfortunately it did feel like Monica Wood was looking for any excuse to write about them and just shoehorned them in here. They were wonderful but the rest of the book sort of just felt like it was there. For… reasons…
If you love heartwarming books this will probably still work for you—but I’m in my horror era, so no thanks.
We read How to Read a Book by Monica Wood which led to soooo many “wait were you illiterate this whole time, I knew it!” Jokes from my husband. 🙄
I was… NOT A FAN. I gave this book two stars in part because I was not in any type of mood to read a heartwarming story but also because it felt undercooked, overly convenient and filled with characters I just didn’t enjoy being around. Now, there were two holdouts—the Edmonton sector of our bookclub who always zoom in quite liked this book, one of them totally loved it—so I think there may be a quality of you need to read it at the right time for it to hit. But, I think the rest of us gave it around three stars or less.
How to Read a Book is about a retired teacher who offers a bookclub to inmates at a women’s prison and then the relationship she strikes up with one of the women after she gets out. We follow this woman, Violet, as she gets reacclimatized to the outside world, gets a job at a research lab taking care of parrots 🦜 (only redeeming feature of this book for me! More birds!), makes terrible relationship choices and strikes up a strange friendship with the man whose wife she accidentally killed. 😬
I dunno something about the way this book glossed over the realities of prison life didn’t sit right with me, and then the gross relationship between Violet and her boss 🤮 that felt like it was written to be titillating but DID NOT LAND THAT WAY (he stuffs a walnut in her mouth like she’s one of his birds at one point wtf) and the convenient way the victim of Violet’s crime is painted as a terrible bitch to make everyone ok with killing her? Just let me fetch my eyeballs that rolled so hard so many times they fell out of my head….
The birds were wonderful, though. Unfortunately it did feel like Monica Wood was looking for any excuse to write about them and just shoehorned them in here. They were wonderful but the rest of the book sort of just felt like it was there. For… reasons…
If you love heartwarming books this will probably still work for you—but I’m in my horror era, so no thanks.
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