It’s the end of October, and we are on book number 45. I can see the end in sight - pending I get to the library at lunch today because I have nothing to read on the bus. Can we do it? I’m thinking we can.
Book Read: Halsey Street
Author: Naima Coster
Number of Books Read: 45
Penelope moves to Pittsburgh after an explosive fight with her mother, looking to make it as an artist. Then her father fails for the second time, her mother has left, and Penelope returns to Brooklyn to care for her father. But Halsey Street and Brooklyn itself have changed.
She finds a family renting their attic, and moves in down the street from her father. Penelope finds a bar and befriends a bartender who is looking out for her. She gets close to him, and a little too close to her landlord. She thinks the Harper’s are an ideal family.
Mirella, Penelope’s mother, left and moved home to the Dominican Republic. When she gets in touch with Penelope, Penelope visits for a weekend. At times things are tense, while others are good.
Tragedy strikes, as it usually does in Books like this, and Penelope still struggles to admit her true feelings.
I didn’t particularly love this book. I didn’t particularly hate it either. I’m rather indifferent. I found Penelope to be whiney and pretty annoying. She uses every excuse as to why she won’t contact her mother. Then after she sees her, uses every reason to not do it again.
Would I recommend this book? Probably not. Yes, some parts are good - I liked hearing about Mirella’s past because it gave other stories some context. But I had a hard time feeling sympathy for Mirella - I can see where Penelope got her whining.
You win some reads, you lose some reads. I’ll put this one in the tie column (if the NFL can do it, so can I).
Next Read: The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
P.S. I mentioned Penelope lived in Pittsburgh. Her home while here was in Squirrel Hill. As I write this, the location continues to hit me and I feel like something should be said. So I’ll leave it with this:
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
― Fred Rogers
**Pittsburgh Strong. **
