The Two Family House by Lynda Cohen Logiman -- Battle of the Book

Hello Deweys!

I stole this picture from Jillian's post...

We did not meet with the Spine Breakers this month for a & I'm behind on my book club books for work, so Jillian agreed to let me read a book that's my next book club choice for work and that she has already read.  Thank God.

Which brings us to tonight's review of Lynda Cohen Logiman's novel The Two Family House. & OMG this book is just wow.  I wasn't sure what I was digging into when I picked it up.  I just know that everyone that has read it has LOVED it, and now I know why.

So a bit about this book.  This book is about, you guessed it, a two family house.  The house is owned by two brothers who live there with their wives and children.  Mort and his wife Rose have all daughters, and Mort isn't the nicest or most affectionate husband.  Mort seems to always be bothered, and Rose thinks that if she could give him a son that things might start to be better in their home life.  Abe and Helen have all boys.  Helen desperately wants a daughter and I think her husband does too, but unlike Mort, Abe is affectionate, loving, and happy.  Miraculously, the two sister-in-laws get pregnant around the same time by accident.  

Then one night when the brothers are away on a business trip,  both sisters go into labor during in a terrible blizzard.  They can't get to the hospital, but a midwife happens to be in the area delivering a neighbor's baby.  One woman gives birth to a boy and the other to a girl.....and you can probably guessed what happened.

This novel is about motherhood, connection, relationships, love, and ultimately about forgiveness.   & It's safe to say that if you read this book, you won't be disappointed.  

So Dewey Readers I leave you with a rating of 5 out of 5 Coffee Beans.

Until the next read!
~Jessica 

P.S. Check out Jillian's review here. 

The Two Family House by Lynda Cohen Loigman- #TheBookDrop

Happy World Book Day!

It's beautiful out here in the Dirty (You know, people call New Jersey "Dirty Jersey"... Yes? Maybe? Anyway...)

Okay everyone... You all need to read what I'm about to say...

Everyone needs to go out and buy this book.  Just stop whatever you're doing and hop in your car or on a bus, train OR the subway (even a helicopter, if need be) and go out and get this book (And if you live in Northern NJ, you'll need to find an open bookstore on Sunday. Depending on your county of residence. You all know who you are...!).

Maybe all of that was a slight exaggeration... Maybe it was not!
I do, however; recommend going out and grabbing yourself a copy of The Two Family House by Lynda Cohen Loigman.
I must say that the last two books from #TheBookDrop have been *fantastic* reads! I am even more excited to see what the May book for the Jane Box will be.  The pressure is ON #TheBookDrop. Don't let me down now!

One thing is for sure though and that is this book is an EXCELLENT read! There is a reason why it has received such praise as Loigman's debut novel.

Loigman presents the complex dynamics that exist in relationships between both husband and wife and families. 

The book follows the two families of brothers, Mort and Abe.  Mort is married to Rose and has three daughters: Judith, Mimi and Dinah (and Teddy).  Abe is married to Helen and together they have four boys: Harry, Sam, George and Joe (and Natalie).  As a reader we see the interactions between Mort and Abe; and we see how the relationship between Rose and Helen becomes strained and falls apart. 

You can find Loigman's inspiration behind The Two Family House here.  Normally, I would paraphrase it but I believe that in this case, it's better to read Loigman's words directly.  

I don't want to say too much about the book because I don't want to give out any spoilers! 

But...

There was not one thing that I didn't like about this novel. 
...The story was captivating.
...The actors were well developed and thought out. 

The story had a sense of mystery to it.  All the clues were there to solve the mystery (I thought) but Loigman was still able to provide a slight sense of suspense until those last few chapters.  Along with that sense of mystery and suspense, there was also sadness and tragedy, happiness and love.  

Aside from showing how family dynamics can differ, how relationships between the closest of people can fall apart, and how love can fade away.

The book contains Reading Group Gold, where the other issues I also feel like the the issue of postpartum depression was present in the novel, I thought you could see that Rose might have been affected by it.  That was the first thing that I thought about when we learned that her relationship changed with Helen and how she was often found in front of the window staring out or napping.

I'm giving this book five out of five coffee beans. I hope that everyone who reads it finds much as enjoyment as I did (:

~ Jillian