How To Read a Book

 How To Read a Book by Monica Wood

Violet is serving a three year sentence for a DUI in which a  60 year old kindergarten teacher was struck and killed. She and several other female inmates attend a book club led by Harriet, a widow who brings books into the prison once a week hoping to find one that will interest them enough to spark conversation. They call her Bookie, the Book Lady, and so far they've hated every book she's chosen. But they come anyway because, in Violet's words "I feel the way I always feel in Book Club. The way I believe we all feel. Safe." Before each meeting she has them repeat together "I am a reader. I am intelligent. I have something worthy to contribute."

When Violet is released, her sister drops her off at an apartment, leaving her with enough money to start over and making it clear that she should expect nothing more from her family, who would like not to see or hear from her again. 

As Violet is out dropping off job applications, she is surprised and relieved to run into Bookie, who convinces her to come to the bookstore with her and help choose the group's next book. Working as handy-man in the store is Frank, the husband of the woman for whose death Violet is responsible. When she steps inside the door Frank recognizes her, and is so distraught he throws down his tools and the piece of glass he was installing and runs from the store. The reason for his intense reaction will not be what you expect.

Violet finds work when Harriet's niece, Sophie, goes off to university leaving her position as research lab assistant vacant. She'll work with a temperamental researcher, Dr. Petrov, conducting cognition trials with African grey parrots. Four birds - Oliver, Charlotte, Bob, and Allan - all with quirky personalities of their own, will become important to Violet, as, unfortunately, will Dr. Petrov, a jerk who cares only for himself.  

Violet, Harriet, and Frank are all flawed people, too, but facing their mistakes and their grief they learn much about forgiving others and themselves, about accepting people as they are and choosing love over judgement. I love Harriet when she says "You're not a terrible person, Violet. You're a good person learning a terrible lesson." And Frank in these lines: "He wanted to laugh out loud. He'd been alone for decades; he understood this now. These two marvelous women, and this exceptional bird, were snapping a lid on that solitude. Or blowing the lid clean off. Right now, this minute. Sometimes, rarely, we understand a moment in the moment. Frank understood this moment."

These are some of the most gracious characters I've ever met. I've become rather cynical in these turbulent times but Harriet and Frank made me hope again that people could really be that generous, that accepting and kind. Observing the world through the 6 o'clock news everyday is disheartening, but when I turned the last page and closed this book I felt like Sam when he said "There's still good in the world, Mr. Frodo, and it's worth fighting for." Yes, it's only a novel, but somehow I feel better about the world and our chances in it now - a pretty good recommendation for any book.