The Last Dance of the Debutante by Julia Kelly

 

The Last Dance of the Debutante by Julia Kelly. Gallery Books, 2021. Adult historical fiction.

Until 1959, wealthy girls dressed in white and were "presented" to the Queen of England to herald the announcement of their presence in society. A series of teas, parties, and balls followed so that the girls could meet "the right" people and be seen by eligible bachelors. Lily Nichols is not terribly excited about the whole Season, but her mother and grandmother insist on the tradition. The friends she makes will influence her entire life. Family secrets loom large in this detail filled look at London and life in the late 1950's.

The Measure: A Novel by Nikki Erlick

 

The Measure: A Novel by Nikki Erlick. William Morrow, 2022. Adult fiction.

Suppose that when adults get up in March, small boxes wait for them. A string is enclosed and only accompanied by a paper that reads, "The measure of your life lies within." As people learn that the string shows the length of the rest of their lives, they fight battles of long stringers vs. short stringers. Ben, Hank, Maura, and a few others join a short string support group. They form the narrative as each chapter moves the story along and their lives intertwine in unusual ways. Time passes. Life happens. Readers will be caught up in their lives and learn that living long is not the same as living well. A fascinating notion for a book and well written, this would make a good book group read. 

Independence: A Novel by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

 

Independence: A Novel by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. William Morrow, 2023. Historical fiction. Adult fiction.

The subtitle of this book is "Three Sisters, Their Deep Bond, and the Struggle for India's Freedom." That really says it all. Priya in 1947 India loves Amit and dreams of becoming a doctor like her father. Deepa, the beautiful one, wants to marry and bring prestige to her family, but falls in love with a Muslim. Jamini walks with a limp, but is the one who can help her mother make beautiful quilts and who secretly craves the attention of handsome Amit. Caught up in the growing tensions of the Hindu and Muslims as the country of Pakistan fights for its birth, the daughters become adults and fight their own battles. Beautifully written, easy to understand even if readers know nothing about this part of the world.