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The Book Club: An Oprah selection, a Nobel winner and more

Editor’s note: The opinions of the smart, well-read women in my Denver book club mean a lot, and often determine what the rest of us choose to pile onto our bedside tables. So we asked them, and all Denver Post readers, to share their mini-reviews with you. Have any to offer? Email bellis@denverpost.com. – Barbara Ellis

‘The River is Waiting,’ by Wally Lamb (Marysue Rucci Books, 2025)

"The River Is Waiting," by Wally Lamb. (Marysue Rucci Books/TNS)
“The River Is Waiting,” by Wally Lamb. (Marysue Rucci Books/TNS)

(Note: Spoilers ahead.) Corby Ledbetter’s life is unraveling. He’s lost his job, his marriage is on the rocks, and the stress of being a stay-at-home dad to twin toddlers is sometimes a bit much for him. So, he starts his day with a secret splash of 100-proof Captain Morgan to wash down a tranquilizer (or two, but who’s counting; after all, they were prescribed by a doctor!).  One morning, as he prepares to drive the children to their grandmother’s house for the day, a momentary lapse in judgment causes an unthinkable tragedy.  He is given three long years in the penitentiary as punishment for his crime, where he grieves and seeks forgiveness from others and, especially, himself. In prison, he experiences brutality at the hands of certain guards and inmates, but also some small acts of kindness and camaraderie. Corby resolves never to give up hope that someday he will be reconciled with his wife and become the father and husband that he once was, and return to a life that could have been happy and fulfilling but for one devastating error. (Note: Oprah Winfrey chose this for her 115th Book Club pick, the third time she has chosen Lamb for her coveted list.) — 4 stars (out of 4); Karen Goldie Hartman, Westminster

‘Theft,’ by Abdulrazak Gurnah (Riverhead, 2020)

Life in Zanzibar is rough for those who stayed on after the official end of colonialism. Long-held grudges, family secrets and attempts to right wrongs all result in misunderstandings, intertwined relationships and disappointments. The lives of Gurnah’s richly drawn characters are dramatically upended by the whimsical dabblings of a short-term European aid worker, signaling that colonialism never really ended. Gurnah delivers a powerful message in his understated writing style. (Winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature.)  — 3 1/2 stars (out of 4); Kathleen Lance, Denver

‘The Original Daughter,’ by Jemimah Weh (Doubleday, 2025)

“An existence animated by anger is not the same thing as living a life.” When she is 8 years old, Genevieve suddenly gets a 7-year-old sister, Erin. The girls eventually bond — perhaps too tightly — as they grow up together in Singapore. Erin becomes a media star and Genevieve — well, read the book to see what she becomes. Written well enough to keep my interest, I was still annoyed at times with the characters and the arc of the story. Genevieve is often petty and vindictive. Will she redeem herself?  Weh establishes time and place adroitly; the cultural elements add authenticity. This contemporary novel would make for a good book club discussion. — 2 1/2 stars (out of 4); Neva Gronert, Parker

‘There, There,’ by Tommy Orange (Knopf, 2018)

There There by Tommy Orange (Knopf)

Can a debut novel convey the depth and sensitivity of a tour de force? Yes, if it’s “There, There,” in which we meet 12 characters as detailed as an MRI. All are from urban Native American communities and attend a major pow-wow gathering in Oakland, Calif. Broken families, romance, violence, native history, destructive forces on indigenous culture, a kaleidoscope of personal narratives and emotions and, finally, mass violence perform like traditional Native American dances. The author comes from Cheyenne and Arapaho heritages, and its mesmerizing cast of characters struggle with every challenge stereotyped on our indigenous peoples — heavy drinking, poverty, fetal alcohol syndrome — juxtaposed with an array of their many talents and gifts. The story stands as a major example of the wealth our land loses if we disregard diverse voices. (A 2019 Pulitzer Prize finalist.) — 4 stars (out of 4); Bonnie McCune, Denver (bonniemccune.com)

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